After seeing Frankie celebrate his sobriety anniversary, I wrote this chapter about Deacon's 2 years of sobriety and all the emotions that would bring about.

"Mornin', babe," Rayna said as Deacon walked into the kitchen, still in his pajamas and hair slightly messy, looking sexy as hell.

He came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, turning his neck to kiss her on the cheek.

"Mornin' to you too."

"Coffee?" Rayna asked as she reached for the pot.

"Mhmmm."

"So, what have you got planned for the day? I was thinking maybe we could grab lunch together?" Rayna asked.

"I'll probably stop by the bar and make sure everything is set for the open mic tonight. And actually, in the afternoon, I'm…uh…going to a meeting. It's my two year sobriety 'birthday' and Scarlett insisted she come out and bring a cake to it and all."

"Deacon! Why didn't you tell me before! I wanna be there."

Deacon had been trying to get around telling her. He wasn't going to make a big deal out of it to anyone except Scarlett had remembered and refused to let it go. He knew if Rayna knew she'd want to come, but for some reason it just felt weird to him. All the years he spent going to meetings, telling practically complete strangers about his struggles, about his desire to stay sober for Rayna. It felt weird having her be there too, in the place where he went to find the strength to be the man she deserved.

The fact that it was his two year sobriety birthday was also a painful reminder of the fact that he'd again failed her after getting drunk when he found out about Maddie. He remembered those first few years after he was out of rehab for the last time and back in her band. He'd been so proud to show her his chip each year, small little symbols of how he was trying to be better for her, even if she didn't see it then. For his 10th, she'd stopped by his house with a wrapped box in her hand.

"Ray, you didn't have to do this," he'd told her.

"Oh, it's just a little something. I just wanted to know how proud I am of you, really, Deacon."

She'd given him a smooth, leather guitar strap that had his name imprinted on it and he used it for every show since.

"Rayna, you don't have to come. It's not going to be a big thing. It's just a small meeting in some church basement with bad coffee and stale donuts."

"Hey! Family and your support system are important parst of your recovery process. And I want to be there to celebrate with you, Deacon," she insisted.

"Okay, okay," he conceded.

"Just tell me when and where and I'll be there."

"Rayna coming today?" Scarlett whispered to Deacon as they sat in the chairs set up in the basement of a local church.

"Yeah, she said was."

Just as he finished saying it, he saw her coming down the stairs. She scanned the room, her eyes landing on them, and made her way over.

"Sorry, I got held up in a meeting. Did I miss it?"

"We'd like to invite one of our own and his family up to the front today, to celebrate his two year birthday."

"Nope, right on time," he responded and the three of them made their way up to the front.

Scarlett and Rayna stood off to one side and he stood in the center to give a little speech as was customary.

"I'll keep this short and sweet. I just want to thank y'all for being here for me, for hearing me out and helping me fight this fight we all share together. I got my beautiful wife and niece here today and they have made me a better man and have pushed me to be a stronger one for them. We always say that sobriety is a daily battle, and I wouldn't be able to do it without you guys by my side each and every day of it. Thank you."

Scarlett had lit the candles on the cake and had it ready as Deacon finished speaking. The whole room joined together to sing him "Happy Birthday".

Rayna couldn't help but have tears in her eyes as he blew out the candles. This was a big day for him, for them and she had this overwhelming feeling of joy and pride for the man he was.

"Thanks for being here, baby," he said and leaned down to kiss her lips.

"I wouldn't miss it for anything. I'm so proud of you, Deacon."

"This is how it always should've been and how it'll always be," he responded.

She could hear the guilt and self-blame in his voice as he said it. She wanted to tell him to stop, to stop putting that on himself. Instead, she pulled him towards her and kissed him deeply.

She put her hands on his cheeks and looked him in the eyes and said, "I love you, Deacon. So, so much, babe," hoping he could see the forgiveness in her eyes and hear the meaning in her voice.

"I love you, too, Rayna. C'mon, let's go home."

Back at the house, she grabbed the present she had been waiting to give him for when they were by themselves.

He unwrapped the present and opened the box to see a large photo album inside. He flipped it open and began to scan through the pages. It was filled with photos of them and the girls. Old ones from when they were dating and the early days out on tour. The majority were from the past couple years. A few from the past couple holidays and birthdays they'd celebrated together. There were some candids of Maddie, Daphne, and him laughing and making silly faces. There were a bunch from their wedding. Him and Rayna during their first dance, looking madly into each other's eyes. Deacon twirling around Daphne and Maddie.

It was all their best moments, the happiest, the big ones and the small ones he cherished each and every day. He was getting misty eyed just looking at it all and how happy he was that he had them in his life every single day.

"I feel like sometimes we look back and we only see all the darkness in our past. All the pain and heart ache. I wanted to give you something to remind you of all the good stuff. Something you can look back on, especially when it gets tough to see it," Rayna said.

"It's perfect, Ray. Thank you, for everything."