Ray Chapter 2, a nashville fanfic

I own nothing, this amazing show and characters belongs to the ABC network television series Nashville. Well I guess now that Nashville is now a part of CMT, it all belongs to them. Either way I own nothing. I am just borrowing these extraordinary characters.

This chapter actually proved to be a lot more difficult then I had originally anticipated. I struggled with really trying to decide which direction I wanted to take the story. I actually wrote this chapter several different ways each leading in polar opposite directions. I ultimately decided with this path because I wanted this story just provide more background into the past of Deacon. Deacon is a character that the show developed from the very beginning to have this dark and twisted history, but is talked about in a very vague way. I just want to expand upon Rayna and Deacon's relationship from the beginning. I hope you enjoy.

The first night I met Ray, is one of those moments in my life I will never forget. I remember every detail of that night. I can still picture the way that dress hugged her body complimenting her so beautifully. I can remember the smell of her perfume and how intoxicating it was to every nerve in my body. I can even remember the exact note she swung that door open on. I can vividly replay every detail of that night over and over again inmy head because that night was the beginning of our story. However, as impossible as it may sound the next day is just as memorable. Day Two of Ray, made me realize that she was about to change my world for the better.

Day Two

After I walked back into The Bluebird I instantly missed her. She is unlike anyone I have every met before. All I want is to be able to spend every minute of every day with her. Our conversation had just started when she said she had to leave but I knew from the moment she walked in that she was someone I had to get to know. And after our kiss, I know I'm never going to let her go. I head to the bar to close out my tab. After I pay Tim I head towards the side of the stage to grab my guitar. I pack it up and grab the handle to the case when a guy pats my back.

- Watty White: "Hi I'm Watty White. Are you Deacon Claybourne?"

- Deacon: " Yes sir I am. How can I help you?"

- Watty White: " Well son a friend of mine recommended I come and listen to you and your sister play tonight, but unfortunately something came up and I missed yalls set. But I was hoping yall had another gig soon around here that I could come and check out."

- Deacon: "Uhhh. (Nervous cough and clear my throat.) Yes sir, we are actually filling in for a last minute cancelation here tomorrow night."

- Watty White: "Great. I look forward to hearing you tomorrow. You have a good night."

Watty turns to walk away but I tap his should to stop him.

- Deacon: "uhm Mr. White if you don't mind me asking sir who is this friend of yours?"

Watty chuckles a little and grabs at his white scruff.

- Watty: "Well son tomorrow when I come to hear ya and if I agree with what they said about ya maybe I'll tell you."

Watty turns back around and heads for the door.

I stand there with my guitar in hand in aw. That was WattyWhite. The Watty White! The Watty White who has the reputation of making people, and he just asked when my next gig was. Shock would be the biggest understatement of a word to describe how I feel in this this moment. Once feeling retuned to my legs I left and started walking as fast as I could home to tell Beverly. She is going to freak out when I tell her! I get to the door but hear voices inside. I look across the street to see his car parked. Of course he's here. Of course the night we get a huge break in our careers he finds his way back to our house trying to worm his way back into my sister's heart. I barge in and see him standing on the opposite side of the living room. I walk towards him he starts to back up a little throwing his hands up in a way of telling me to stop but I wrap my hand around his throat and pin him up against the wall.

- Deacon: "WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE? DID I NOT TELL YOU THE LAST TIME TO STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION? DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT I SAID I WOULD DO TO YOU IF YOU EVER CONTACTED HER AGAIN?"

- Beverly: "DEACON! DEACON STOP IT! I CALLED HIM! DEACON STOP HE CAN'T BREATH.

I let go of him and he falls to the floor grasping for air and clinging to his throat. Beverly rushes over to him and places one arm over his shoulder trying to comfort him with a side hug. She has tears just rolling down her face. I'm beyond angry but most of all confused. She called him?

- Deacon: "What do you mean you called him? I thought you were done with him? I thought you realized he wasn't going to be able to give you the life you deserve. I thought you came with me to get away from him? What's going on?"

- Beverly: " (sobbing) I'm pregnant.

I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. Catching my breath becomes difficult and I start to hyperventilate trying to force my self to breath. Pregnant. Bev is pregnant. My sister is going to be a mom. How could this have happened? Right when we are about to get our shot. I can't even wrap my head around this situation.

- Beverly: "I found out a few weeks ago. After I had a few days to think I called him to tell him he is the father. We talked a lot and we have agreed to try again and to try to make this work for our child. We…uhhwe decided to head back to Natches after the show tomorrow. I was going to tell you tonight when you got home. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner I just needed time to come up with a plan. Time to think and to process."

Again shocked just doesn't seem to be the right word to explain this situation. I run my fingers through my hair and let out a long deep breath.

- Deacon: "Yeah process. I think I need a little time to do that myself."

- Beverly: "Ok. I'm going to walk him to his truck so that he can head to the hotel he is staying at. I'll be right back."

She helps him up off the floor and they walk out the front door. I let out another deep breath, ball my fists up and punch the air. Confusion has now just turned into frustration. I hate that guy more than anything and can't believe he did this to my sister, but I feel more frustrated at her. She has always said all she wanted was a career with me. She wanted to make it big and have this great singing career and then maybe, maybe have a family. She's going to have a baby so now what? She's just going to become a wife and a mother and work at the restaurant in town? Have the simple life she swore she would never have? She walked back in about five minutes later and headed straight for her room.

- Deacon: "Uhm hello where do you think you're going? You tell me something this important and think you can just head to your room as if nothing happened?"

- Beverly: " I was just going to change into my pajamas and give you a few more minutes to think. Is that ok?"

- Deacon: "Ok. Fine go change."

She walked back out about ten minutes later looking tired and scared.

- Deacon: "So, pregnant."

- Beverly: "Yeah. Pregnant. I was having a hard time keeping any food down and I was a week late so I went and bought a test, well three and they all said the same thing."

- Deacon: "Wow. We are going to have a baby Claybourne. Didn't imagine that would be happening anytime soon."

- Beverly: "Well that makes two of us."

- Deacon: "Are you sure this is what you want? You know that I will help you. Bev you don't have to go back to that guy if it's not what you want. We can do this together. He can visit and help pay for whatever this kid will need. But you sure as hell don't need to go back to Natches. We left that place for so many reasons!"

- Beverly: "I know you would help me. You are an amazing brother who would help me get rid of the body if I killed someone. But this is not your responsibility. I made a choice and now I need to be the one to take responsibility for what comes with that choice. He isn't perfect, we both know that but he is the father. I owe it to this baby to try. I want to give him/or her a home with two parents and a childhood so much better then the one we got."

- Deacon: "I understand that but Beverly do you really understand what you are giving up? You are giving up on the dream you have had for yourself since we were kids. You are choosing to go back and have a simple boring life. A life you never wanted. Do you think you can really do that? Walk away?"

- Beverly: "I know. I never imagined in a million years I would be in this situation, but I am. And I am going to have to make a lot of sacrifices for this child but I believe that in the end it will be worth it. Life never follows the plan you have for yourself, why would I have been any acceptation? This baby changes everything I ever had planned but maybe this new dream of a happy family and raising a beautiful girl will be enough for me."

- Deacon: "If this is truly what you want to do you know I will support you. I just don't want you to wake up one day and regret the decision you are about to make."

- Beverly: "Who knows what the future holds but I know that this is what I have to do. I'm exhausted and a little nauseas so I am going to go to bed. I love you Deacon. I will see you in the morning.

- Deacon: " I love you to Beverly. goodnight."

She gets up and walks into her room shutting the door behind her. Exhaustion suddenly overwhelms me as well and I do the same.

I wake up to the smell of bacon and eggs. At first I think it is a dream because Bev never cooks unless it's a holiday or a special occasion, but no way this strong of a smell is imagined. I put a shirt and sweat pants on and head out towards the kitchen. The clock says 9 am and I was right Bev made breakfast.

- Beverly: "Morning. I thought I'd make breakfast my last morning here."

- Deacon: "Morning. Thank you it looks and smells amazing but you didn't have to."

- Beverly: " I know I wanted to."

I enjoy my breakfast and the rest of the day is uneventful. I spent the day helping Bev pack up all of her things. I forgot how much of what our apartment consisted of is technically hers. After that we made a set list for tonight and ran through it a few times. I decided to not tell her about the whole Watty White thing just yet. I mean no guarantee anything even comes out of tonight. Once the set was made we had a very relaxing day just enjoying one anothers company. Throughout the day I couldn't help but think of Ray though. Her face kept popping into my thoughts, and I kept replaying our kiss over and over again in my head. I couldn't wait to see her tonight. We were set to go on at 8 so we left the house at 7 to head to The Bluebird. We pull into the parking lot and I see Ray's car. My heartbeat instantly speeds up. She actually came! I can't believe she actually came! We get out I grab my guitar from the back of the truck and we walk inside. Right when we get inside Bev turns to me and says,

- Beverly: " I need to go to the bathroom but I'll meet you in the back so we can get ready for our set."

- Deacon: "ok sounds good."

I look around but I don't see Ray anywhere. I mean the place isn't all that big so she has to be here somewhere. I go to the back room to set my guitar down. Once that I set it down I head back towards the door but Tim walks into the back room stopping me first.

- Tim: "Hey man they just sent me in here to tell you that you and Beverly are on in 10. The guy ahead of you had car troubles and had to cancel. We are moving yallup and then opening it up to the floor. Good luck."

- Deacon: " (a panicked scrambling begins) oh ugh ok man no problem thanks."

Bev comes into the room looking confused.

- Beverly: "Hey what's going on? Why are you putting your guitar on we still have forty-five minutes before our set?

- Deacon: "No, we are on in ten. We got moved up. You ready?"

- Beverly: "oh uhm yeah I guess so."

We get up on stage and the first thing I do is look for her in the audience, but I don't see her. I get a little disappointed but shake it off because I know this is the last show I do with my sister and I need to make it count. Our first four songs went perfectly and the audience seemed to really be enjoying themselves.

- Deacon: "Before we sing our last song for the night I just wanted to tell yall thank you for coming heretonight. Music, uhh well music is the only thing we were able to rely on in our lives and we love getting the opportunity to share it, so thanks for listening."

The audience claps.

Song begins.

Beverly:

Lyin' here with you so close to me

It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard

to breathe

Caught up in this moment.

Caught up in your smile.

Deacon:

I've never opened up to anyone

So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my

arms

Beverly and Deacon:

We don't need to rush this

Let's just take it slow

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight

Just a touch of the fire burning so bright

No I don't want to mess this thing up

I don't want to push too far

Just a shot in the dark that you just might

Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life

So baby I'm alright, with a kiss goodnight

Beverly:

I know that if we give this a little time

Beverly and Deacon:

It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find.

Beverly:

Its never felt so real

Deacon:

no its never felt so right.

Beverly and Deacon:

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight

Just a touch of the fire burning so bright

No I don't want to mess this thing up

I don't want to push too far

Just a shot in the dark that you just might

Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life

So baby I'm alright, with a kiss goodnight

No I don't want to say goodnight

Deacon:

I know its time to leave

Beverly and Deacon:

But you'll be in my dreams.

Deacon:

Tonight

Beverly:

Tonight

Beverly and Deacon:

Tonight

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight

Just a touch of the fire burning so bright

No I don't want to mess this thing up

I don't want to push too far

Just a shot in the dark that you just might

Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life

Deacon:

So baby I'm alright,

Beverly and Deacon:

Ohhhhhhhhhh

Beverly:

Let's do this right

Beverly and Deacon:

with just a kiss goodnight

Beverly:

with a kiss goodnight

Deacon:

kiss goodnight

The audience abrupts into a loud clap and some screams. I take off my guitar and hug my sister. That was the best we have ever sounded and I think its because we both know it's the last time we will be singing together anytime soon. We take a bow and walk off the stage. We are talking to a few fans in the audience and signing a few autographs when I feel a deja vu tap on my shoulder.

- Watty White: "Mr. Claybourne excuse me I'm sorry to interrupt you but when you are done me and my friend are in the far back corner table. Would you come join us after you are done here?"

- Deacon: "Yes sir."

I finish up with my fans and head to that table. I look around for Beverly but can't find her anywhere so I figure she made another trip to the bathroom. I head towards the table Watty said he was sitting at but I can only see Watty from the angle of the booth table.

- Deacon: "Hello Mr. White thank you for coming to hear us play. It is truly an honor to get to play for yousir."

I pull my eyes to the corner of the booth and see the face I had been search for the whole night. . . Ray.

- Deacon: "Ray! You came I didn't see you in the audience and figured you had something come up. I'm glad to see you.

- Rayna: "Hi Deacon. Yes of course I came I said I would. I'm glad I got to hear all five songs it was amazing. I am in love with that last song you and Beverly performed. It was different in terms of how you arranged it. In the majority of your songs your sister takes the lead you and just compliment her with back up, but I loved the verses you sang alone. You are amazingly talented.

- Deacon: "(shy smile) Thank you I really appreciate that. Yeah you are right that song I was a lot more then just a guitar player. I love performing for people I just am more comfortable on the guitar then in my vocal abilities."

- Rayna: "Well you sounded very comfortable to me. You connected with that song so beautifully; I closed my eyes for the second half and just listened. You poured a lot into that performance and I don't think it could have been any better."

- Deacon: "Thank you. Seriously you have no idea how much that means to me."

- Watty: "Well I would have to agree with Rayna you were good. Your guitar playing is quite impressive especially that little rift you added on the third verse of your second song. That's what pulled me in and then the vocals in the last song. You are a talented musician and I am very impressed."

- Deacon: "Wow thank you sir."

- Watty: "Which brings me to a very important question."

- Deacon: "Ray! You came I didn't see you in the audience and figured you had something come up. I'm glad to see you.

- Deacon: "Thank you. Seriously you have no idea how much that means to me."

- Deacon: "Wow thank you sir"

- Watty: "Which brings me to a very important question."

I can see Ray smiling out of the corner of my eye. God that smile is so gorgeous. I could stare at that smile for the rest of my life and feel complete. I could write so many songs about that smile and them never get old.

- Watty: "Actually Rayna do you want to tell him?"

I turn my body towards Ray eager with anticipation.

- Rayna: "Uh yeah sure I can tell him."

She places her hand over mine and it sends a shock through my body. Her touch felt like electricity poured through my veins instead of blood. A single touch has never affected me in such a powerful way.

- Rayna: "Well like I said last night I am heading out on a tour soon as an opener. The only problem is I need a guitar player and a band leader. My current guy I had to let go after my last show for creative differences. So I was hoping you would be willing to come out on the tour and play with us. Will you join my band Deacon?"

For the third time in less then a twenty four hour time span shocked does not quite fit. I am speechless. I kind of just sit there for a moment. I'm blow away by what this beautiful woman just asked me but I am also just stunned by how gorgeous her eyes are. They are filled with hope and excitement with a hint of scared and they are burning into me.

- Deacon: "I uh I don't know what to say."

- Rayna: "(squeezes my hand) Well before you even ask of course I want your sister to come with us as one of my back up singers. I wouldn't want to split you guys up. This could be a kick off tour for you guys and once its done I can find a more permanent solution. But in the mean time you guys have a paying regular gig, can make a lot of connections, and will have plenty of time to write music in between shows. Please just say you'll think about it? I don't need an answer tonight."

- Deacon: "I ugh I'm honestly just stunned. Uhm I think I'll need a day to talk to my sister. Can I get back to you tomorrow? Would that be ok?

- Rayna: "Yes of course tomorrow is perfect. Here's my number (she writes her number down on a napkin) and you can just call me tomorrow at anytime. We can meet up for lunch and talk more about it then."

- Deacon: "Ok thank you."

I really don't want to leave her. I don't want to move my hand. I don't want to get up from this table. But I know I need to go and talk to Beverly. This changes everything and she needs to know all the details before she leaves tomorrow.

- Deacon: "Thank you Mr. White for coming. I need to get going."

- Watty: "Of course. No problem. You have a good night. I hope to see you around."

I walk all through The Bluebird twice looking for Beverly. She is nowhere to be found I even sent a girl in to check the bathroom for me. Nothing. I pack up my guitar and head for my truck thinking she must have just left without out me. I get in my truck and sit there. This night just became unforgettable. This job could be the start of everything for me. I have so much to consider but how could I honestly turn it down. I sit in my truck for I don't even know how long just thinking. My head is leaning on the steering wheel when a knock on my window scares me.

- Rayna: "Hey, sorry did I scare you? I just saw you sitting here and wanted to make sure you were ok."

- Deacon: "Hey. Yeah I'm fine. You just gave me a lot to process. Plus this day was already kind of insane to begin with."

- Rayna: "Want to talk about it? I'm a pretty good listener?"

- Deacon: "Sure. Hop in."

She walks over to the passanger side and slides into the seat.

- Deacon: "Sorry it isn't much and is a little dirty but I wasn't expecting to have you in it."

- Rayna: "No don't worry about it. My car is by far way worse and it's a nice truck. I like it. It gives me a little more insight into who you are."

- Deacon: "Oh really? What does it say about me?"

- Rayna: "Well it's lifted so when you were adding to it you didn't think about a girl trying to get in. Which means you probably don't have a girlfriend. You have several guitar picks in the cup holder probably because you lose them often and these are your back ups. On top of the dash is a notebook with a pen on top which makes me think you do a lot of writing either in your truck or you drive to write instead of just writing at your home. How'd I do?"

I'm amazed by how observant she is to tiny and what I would consider unimportant details. But somehow she turned them into something and is showing interest in getting to know me. She amazes me in so many ways and I have only known her for a day.

- Deacon: "uhm how did you figure all of that out from less then a minute in my truck? That's impressive, and I don't get impressed easily. Yet somehow you have managed to do it both times I have spent time with you."

- Rayna: "(chuckling and playing with her hair) well I'm going to take that as a compliment then."

- Deacon: "Good. You should."

- Rayna: "So what's on your mind? I mean I know I just offered you a job but I don't think that's all that's bothering you."

- Deacon: "(let out a deep breath) Ohhh the job is definitely part of it."

- Rayna: "Go on."

- Deacon: "Ok well last night my sister told me she is going back to where we are from. It's this small town in Mississippi where nothing happens. She is pregnant and thinks that she needs to head back and become a wife and mom and live this ordinary uneventful life now that there is a baby growing inside of her. But I know that's not really what she wants. She is just stuck, because she knows this lifestyle is not one you can raise a kid in, at least not at this stage. So I don't really know what to do. Do I tell her about the job you are offering us or not? Do I make her decision to leave that much harder knowing that this opportunity is going to open up so many doors for us? I just don't know what to do. I feel like whether I tell her or not I lose."

- Rayna: "Wow. That's a really tough position to be in. I don't know your sister but do you think there is a chance that if she goes back she could be happy? Do you think maybe that life she thought she would hate could satisfy her?"

I turned and thought about the question she asked me. I pushed out what my sister told me last night. I only thought about what I know about my sister.

- Deacon: "No. I don't. I think she is going to regret leaving. I think she is going to eventually, not right away or maybe not anytime soon but eventually regret having that child. And I think she is going to hate me for going on with my career and leaving her behind."

- Rayna: "Then I would say you don't tell her."

- Deacon: "I don't?"

- Rayna: "No you don't. From what you just said this decision to leave was something she thought long and hard about. This decision she has fought with in her head and probably cried herself to sleep over every night since she found out she was pregnant. She is sacrificing her life for this baby. You can't tell her because if you do it will make all of that convincing vanish. It will all disappear and become irrelevant because she wont be able to say no. This is what she wants but unfortunately she no longer gets to have it. You can't tell her because she already made her decision and she is happy with it for now. You can't make her regret it before she's had a chance to go through with it. You can't make her resent that child before it's even been born."

I just sit there and breathe. I know Ray is right. This kid deserves to be born to a mother who loves her. If I tell Beverly I take that away from that kid. But can I really lie to her?

- Deacon: "You're right."

- Rayna: "Yeah you should probably get use to that."

- Deacon: "Oh really?"

- Rayna: "Yeah. I am never wrong."

- Deacon: "Hmm well I guess we will see about that."

- Rayna: "If you say yes to the tour we will. (a pause of silence) Anyways, it's getting late and I need to be getting home. You have a good night Deacon and let me know your answer tomorrow. Call me when you are ready to talk."

I laugh a little and run my fingers through my hair. She leans in over the center console and kisses me. She kisses me so passionately and is pulling ever so slightly on the hair at the base of my neck. God it's intense I feel my erection grow. She pulls away abruptly leaving me craving more. She grabs her bag and opens the door. She flips her hair back and in the most erotic way and says Goodnight Deacon.