Rayna walked into the room and pulled the chair up next to Deacon's bed. She slid her hand in his and looked at him. He was still asleep, the tube finally out of his mouth, his chest rising and falling regularly, a relaxed look to his face. The nurse had said he'd probably sleep until morning as the anesthesia worked its way out of his system. She looked up at the monitor, its steady beep comforting her.

"You did great, babe," she said as she smoothed her thumb across his hand. "They said it might take you little while to wake up, but I don't want to waste any time."

She laid her head down, resting it against his arm, thinking of all the years she'd dreamt of being this close to him and now they would be, forever.

"So, I told you I'd been dreaming of our wedding, and truth be told, I've been dreaming of it for years, probably twenty years. I mean, the people involved have changed over the years, but one thing's always been the same-you've always been there, babe."

She looked up at his face. The creases were deeper than when they met, the touches of gray just starting to appear on his temples. Life hadn't been easy for either of them, but Deacon wore more of it on his face and body.

"So, I'm thinking we do it somewhere outside. Maybe at the cabin? I know, you're thinking that's our private place, but honestly, I want this to be pretty private. You'd be okay with that, wouldn't you?

"I mean, the girls, of course, and my sister. And Scarlett. And Bucky. Would you want Gunnar? I think maybe Scarlett would. And Avery. And Juliette, I suppose. I mean, I just didn't even have time to tell you, but that girl has gone and done it again. She blew up at me and I think she quit the label, but I know you love her and she's your friend, so she's invited. But she's not singing anything."

Rayna brought Deacon's hand up to her lips and kissed it softly. "To be honest, as long as you and the girls are there, I don't care about anything else.

"Of course, someone will have to marry us, and if Daphne is my maid of honor and Maddie is standing up for you, well, then I guess we could get Scarlett ordained online or maybe Bucky? I mean, we do have options." Rayna looked down at Deacon and smiled. "I think the girls were kind of hoping for a big wedding, but at this point I think they'll be happy for us no matter what. They love you so much, Deacon.

"I think I'll just wear something pretty, nothing too fancy. I've had a couple of wedding dresses and I'm over that. But I want you in a vest. I love how you look in a vest, Deacon Claybourne. And boots. You'll wear boots. Heck, maybe I'll wear boots. And I'm gonna have a whole bunch of wildflowers, just like you love. Maybe the girls and I can go pick them from that field over by the cabin.

"And we'll need music. I'd like to think I'd sing something for you, maybe write something. But I don't know, babe. I might be a bit of a mess that day. You know how I get..."

She laid her head down on his arm and chest again, her arm snaking around as much of him as she could reach and just listened to his heart.

"I was so afraid all those years to think about that day too much, cause it would have just broken me apart if it never happened. And it's not about the day, either. It's about our life, the one that we're going to have together. I think that's why this has been so hard. I just...I just never thought we'd lose that chance. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that. I prayed that somehow you'd be mine and I'd be yours, that we'd have always.

"So, I can't wait to come walking up that aisle to you, with our girls around us and to say those words again, that we love and honor one another, that we'll be together no matter what, for better or worse…"

She sat for a moment, the silence interrupted only by the beep of the heart monitor. Her head was tempted to think about all the things going on outside the room...Beverly, Teddy, Juliette, but as they did, Deacon's fingers tightened around hers.

"I vote Bucky," Deacon interrupted, his voice rough.

"Oh, you do?" she answered, smiling. "God, babe, it's so good to hear your voice."

"And don't worry about Juliette. You'll work it out," he replied, his eyes still closed.

Rayna smiled at him, then leaned over and pressed her lips to his.

"And I think you're right," Deacon started, coughing slightly. "You wouldn't make it through a song." His eyes began to open a bit and a smile slowly crossed his face. "But I'll sing one. I already wrote it."

"You did, did you?"

"Of course," he replied. "I've been thinking about this day for a long time, too, Ray and now, you're mine and I'm yours. Always."

TBC