A/N: A reviewer on my last story mentioned an alternate backstory that was supposedly considered for the beginning of the show regarding Deacon and Rayna. Deacon knew about Maddie, but had left Nashville when she was born. At the beginning of the show, he was returning and both his and Rayna's careers were on a downward track. I don't know if that's true, but I thought it was intriguing. So I used that germ of an idea to come up with an AU story that begins at the beginning of the show, and uses some of that premise (but not all) and the storylines from S1, but takes a little different path.

I'll be (loosely) following S1 storylines, but because the initial premise is different, characters may act and evolve a little differently. But it is still a Deacon and Rayna story. Hope you like it.

He stopped at the Tennessee Welcome Center after he'd crossed over the Mississippi River into Memphis on I-40. He was tired, even though he'd stopped and spent the night in Little Rock the night before. He still wasn't sure why he was doing this. It was a long drive from Austin and the closer he got to Nashville, the heavier all that history felt, weighing on his shoulders.

He pulled his phone out and looked at his text messages again. Please come home. We need you. He sat back against the seat and closed his eyes. He put the phone back in his pocket and rubbed his face. He was three hours from Nashville. A place he hadn't been to in thirteen years.

When he'd left that day, thirteen years ago, he'd left behind everything he'd ever loved. He remembered having probably the worst hangover of his life. The drive had been torture, but for more reasons than the fact that his head felt like it might explode, his mouth tasted of puke and stale whiskey, and his stomach was roiling. His heart hurt. Because he was leaving behind the love of his life and their daughter.

He wondered why he let that cryptic text lure him back after all this time. He hadn't heard from her in all those years. The last time he'd seen her, he'd sobered up before he'd gone to her house, when her husband was at work, and she'd let him in.

"I shouldn't be doing this," she'd said. "She's not your daughter anymore."

"She's my blood. If I'm gonna let you do this, I have a right to see her."

She'd sighed and then walked him back to the nursery. It was all pink and white, with a white cradle and rocking chair. They had stood together by the crib, looking at the tiny baby with her dark hair. He sat in the rocking chair and she'd let him hold their daughter and he couldn't help crying. Then she told him to leave and to leave them alone so their daughter could have the life she deserved. He'd never seen his daughter again and never heard from her in all these years.

After he'd left, he went straight to a bar and drank until he passed out. He woke up out in an alley behind the bar. That was the day he got in his truck and just started driving. He didn't know where he was going but when he stopped at a budget motel off the highway south of Little Rock on I-30, he watched "Austin City Limits" on TV and decided to go there.

He'd spent the last thirteen years in Austin. He'd played around town, making enough money to buy a bottle of whiskey every day and pay for a bed in a boarding house. He finally stopped thinking about what he'd left behind. Later he turned his life around, got sober, and was the front man for The Deacon Claybourne Band, one of the most successful country acts of the last decade. But his personal life had gone to hell over the last couple years and that was one of the reasons he'd decided to make the drive to Nashville. But the real reason was because she'd said she needed him. And that had reawakened all those feelings that had always been just below the surface.

He'd had lots of other women in the past thirteen years. Hell, he'd been married to one for five years, a marriage that had ended badly. But none of them had compared to her and he knew it, deep down inside, even though he'd tried to bury those feelings.

He pulled out his phone again and scrolled down his contact list and hit call. He put the phone to his ear and waited.

"This is a surprise," came the voice on the other end. "How long's it been?"

He smiled sadly. "More than ten years, I guess." He paused. "I'm on my way to Nashville, Watty."

Watty was silent for a moment on the other end. "Did she call you?"

"Sent me a text. Said she needed me. Or more correctly, that they needed me. What's going on?"

"She and Teddy have separated. There are rumors of infidelity. His."

He worked his lip. "How's Maddie? Have you seen her?"

"She's a pretty thing, Deacon. Looks just like you. Has her mama's voice and can play a guitar like you wouldn't believe. She's most definitely the daughter of Rayna Jaymes and Deacon Claybourne."

Deacon swallowed hard. "I'm in Memphis, Watty. I'll be there in about three hours."

"See you then."

Deacon leaned against the mixing board at Watty's studio. He hadn't seen Watty since that day ten years ago when he'd walked into the bar in Austin where he was playing and Watty had been waiting for him. He'd tracked him down and then sent him to rehab one last time. That was when things turned around for Deacon in a big way. Watty had hooked him up with some of the top music people in Austin and his career had taken off. He owed everything he had to Watty. Twice now.

Watty sat back in his chair, his fingers steepled and his elbows resting on the chair arms. "You should come to the Opry tonight. For some reason, they're doing a tribute to me. You'd be a nice surprise for the crowd."

Deacon crossed his arms over his chest and grinned. "You, you old hound dog? That's kind of crazy."

Watty laughed. "Yeah." Then he looked up at Deacon. "How you been, Deacon?"

He shrugged. "Okay. Can't hardly complain when you can still sell out a stadium tour. But, I don't know, I'm feeling too old for this grind these days. It's a hard life."

Watty nodded. "I was sorry to hear about your son."

Deacon looked down at his feet. "Yeah, that sucked bad." He worked his lip. "At least I could go out on the road and get away from it. It was harder for Blair. Probably no surprise she left."

"Are you okay?"

Deacon raised his eyebrows. "How would you feel if your son died less than twenty four hours after being born? And your wife couldn't stop crying and couldn't be in the same room with you?" He shook his head. "It was a fucking party, ya know?"

Watty sighed. "I'm sorry."

Deacon shook his head again. "No, I'm sorry. I had to listen to Blair blame everyone but the person she saw in the mirror for the fact that her drug habit, the one I didn't know about, had killed our son."

"I'm really sorry, Deacon. I didn't know that."

"No one did. What would have been the point of telling people that? She let me get excited about that baby and then…" He shook his head. "Water under the bridge."

Neither one said anything for several minutes. "Rayna's gonna be there tonight," Watty said, finally.

Deacon looked at him. "Yeah?"

Watty nodded. "Yeah. I bet she'd love to see you there."

"I don't know. I haven't seen her in thirteen years. Haven't even talked to her. Not sure that's where I want to have that reunion."

"Well, think about it. And I'm sure they could fit you in the program."

He wasn't sure why he'd come here after all. The last time he'd been at the Grand Ole Opry, he was still in Rayna's band, just her lead guitar player. He was still a drunk, in between rehab visits. He might have even been drunk on stage. This time, he walked down the hall with his head bent, trying not to look at anyone and hoping no one would recognize him. Then he heard someone beside him say his name.

"Deacon Claybourne?" He turned and saw a petite blonde he recognized as the newest country pop artist, Juliette Barnes. She grabbed his arm, looking star struck. "Is it really you?"

He smiled and shook his head. "No, it really ain't."

She gave him a coy look. "You don't fool me. What are you doin' here? I didn't think you did Nashville."

He shrugged. "I don't. But, you know, it's Watty."

She stuck her hand out and shook his. "I'm Juliette Barnes. And I'm a really big fan of yours."

He slid his hand away from her, although not in a way as to appear rude. "Nice to meet you, Juliette."

She grinned. "I'd love to do a co-headline tour with you," she said.

Damn, she's ballsy. "I'm sorry, but I don't co-headline." He turned and continued down the hall.

"I'm gonna have my people call your people!" Juliette shouted behind him.

He shook his head and grinned. He wasn't co-headlining with anyone, least of all a country pop tart. As he kept walking, he caught a flash of red hair in his peripheral vision. He stopped and took a step back.

Rayna was standing in one of the dressing rooms, a bottle of water in her hand, looking lost in thought. She looked good, he thought, in her tight jeans and her billowy top and her sky high heels. She turned and put the bottle on the counter and leaned forward to look in the mirror, picking at her hair. Then her eyes caught him. He stood in the doorway and gave her a tight smile.

She felt white hot lightning race through her. His effect on her had not changed in thirteen years. She felt a catch in her breath. She straightened up and ran her hands down her thighs, running her tongue over her lips. She turned. "You came," she said.

He walked in the door and stood in the middle of the room. "I came," he said quietly.

The next thing she knew, she was in his arms, feeling his comforting presence in the warm arms he wrapped around her back. She felt tears come to her eyes. "Oh, Deacon, I've missed you," she whispered.

He didn't respond, just held her for a moment, then moved his hands to her arms and stepped back from the embrace. He looked down at her. She looked older, of course, but she still took his breath away.

She smiled up at him. "I can't believe you're really here. And how did you know I'd be at the Opry?"

''Watty told me. He told me about this tribute thing. I wasn't gonna come, but turns out Scarlett and her boyfriend are here, so I figured, why not?"

She gave him a coy look. "You could come out and be my lead guitar," she said.

He gave her a small smile and shook his head. "No, I can't." He breathed out. "Besides, I told Watty I'd do a song at the end. As a surprise guest."

"Oh, Deacon, that's awesome! Your first time back in Nashville and it's for Watty. Very fitting."

He nodded. "Yeah, I guess."

"Can we talk afterwards?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No. I'm beat. I've been driving for two days. I'm gonna sack out at Scarlett's tonight. I'll come see you tomorrow."

Rayna's eyes turned sad and she fidgeted with her hands. "Come late morning, okay? After the girls are in school."

He smirked. "Oh, right, you have another daughter."

She looked away. "I just want to talk privately," she said, ignoring his comment.

He frowned and then he put his hands in his pockets. "So where do you live these days?" he asked.

She looked back at him. "1358 Page Road. Just buzz at the gate and I'll let you in. Then come to the back door."

He nodded and stepped back. "So Steve got a dressing room for me so I can hide out." He rolled his eyes. "Although Juliette Barnes spotted me, so it might not be a behind the scenes surprise anymore."

She smiled. "You sure I can't talk you into coming out with me?"

He gave her a tight smile. "'Fraid not. I'll see you tomorrow though, okay?"

Rayna sighed. "Okay."

He turned and walked out, heading briskly to the dressing room he was assigned, his head down. When he got in the room, he shut the door and took a deep breath. It had taken all his strength to keep from really taking Rayna in his arms and kissing her the way he used to. Everything he'd ever felt for her had come flooding back when he saw her again.

He reclined on the couch, watching Rayna on the monitor. She did "Already Gone", one of the first songs they'd written together. It had always been one of his favorites. She looks damn good. Still the hottest female singer out there. He smiled almost proudly.

He dozed for only a minute when a knock came at the door. He bolted up and was shaking away the cobwebs when Steve Buchanan walked in. "Deacon, we're ready for you. Juliette Barnes is finishing up, then Vince goes out. We've given him a little intro to do then you'll go out."

Deacon smiled. "Thanks, Steve. And I'm sorry to be such a late entry. I'm just gonna do one number, if that's okay, that I can do alone."

"Whatever you want. We're just glad to have you here tonight." Steve clasped his hands together and did a semi-bow and left.

Deacon took a deep breath and then got his guitar out of the case. He looked in the mirror wondering again what the hell he was doing in Nashville. He walked out the door and towards the stage. Vince Gill was finishing his second song to loud applause. Deacon stood and watched from the side stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have a really special surprise for you tonight. As you know, we're here to honor Watty White, a man that's responsible for many of us getting our start in this town. We have one more person to pay tribute to Watty, someone that Watty discovered over two decades ago. And not only is this special for Watty, but it's special for all of us here at the Opry. I could not be more pleased to introduce a special guest, Deacon Claybourne!"

Deacon took a deep breath as he heard the crowd roar its approval. He walked out on the stage, his right hand in the air, a smile on his face, as the crowd rose to their feet, cheering loudly. He met Vince at the circle and they hugged, then Vince stepped away. Deacon slipped his guitar strap over his back and chest and waited while the crowd continued to roar. Finally he spoke into the mike. "Thank y'all for that great welcome!" he said. "Thank you!" The crowd finally settled down and he leaned towards the mike, clearing his throat. "Thank you very much." He took a deep breath. "It's been a really long time since I've been in Nashville and I'm glad to be back." There was more cheering. "I'd like to do something for you that's kind of become an anthem for my band. Hope y'all are ready to breathe in."

As the crowd roared its approval for one of his biggest hits, he started the guitar intro and then began to sing the words to the song he wrote after he got out of rehab the last time and started on the path that ultimately brought him back to Nashville that night, full circle. Ain't gonna wait / Ain't gonna pray / Got what it takes to keep me on the run / Not gonna stop / For anything / I'm gonna roll, roll into the sun….

So, as you see, since in this story Deacon has spent the previous thirteen years out of Rayna's influence, he will be different in many ways. More self-assured and confident in himself. But then, he's coming home to Nashville, finally, and everything could change….