Disclaimer I do not own NCIS

Authors note Thank you for all the support with this story, I'm really amazed by the support. I hope that this is not a terrible ending.

Thanks to my reviewers: BeckyPo, nashvillefan4life, natbenson, swimlets3, soaper410, Guest87

Back in the Limelight

Epilogue

Last time around, her wedding to Teddy that was, she hadn't much cared about the finer details. In fact she was pretty sure she'd ended up letting Tandy plan it all, tuning off whenever the conversation hit wedding yet again. It hadn't been what she wanted; it had been what the press wanted. It had been filled with red roses and cliché speeches, none of which Rayna even slightly cared for. So this time around she was determined to make it about her and Deacon and nothing else.

It took over a year for Rayna and Deacon to finally get their wedding. By that time, Maddie was 2, and Rayna was back on civil speaking terms with her father. She and Deacon were more in love by the day, and that was evident to everyone. Deacon had managed to stay sober; in fact his sobriety had meant Rayna barely drank. Which was, in turn, better for her health too. When it came to the business side of things, well their personal relationship had meant that they'd written more, which had then lead to four number one hits in the past year. Their tours were sold out, and Deacon was still her guitarist.

Then there was Teddy; the man who had turned her world upside down. It turned out that Lamar chose not to interfere in the case of abuse. Thanks to that Teddy was handed a 9 month sentence in prison, of which he served 6 months, and then a further 3 of community service. He and Rayna had not spoken face to face since that night, and even at the divorce hearing they had both sat there silently. They ended up splitting everything down the middle; the house was his to live in only she got 50% of the money when it sold. Both of them knew he would hold off on selling as long as he could though.

It was April in Nashville, spring had softly settled upon the city. Cherry blossom trees were bursting with delicate pink flowers; a wind blew petals onto the street, carpeting the rough tarmac. It was that day, April 21st that Rayna Jaymes was set to become a fully fledged member of the Clayborne family. So that morning, she woke up in her childhood bedroom of the country club mansion, ready to begin the rest of her life.

Whilst their wedding was not set to be tradition in many aspects, for instance it was being set in a field and their reception would be a picnic. Furthermore there were under forty guests attending. However, one piece of tradition they were keeping to was that Deacon would not see her before they tied the knot. That was something they had both agreed on.

Hours later, and both Rayna and Deacon were getting ready but neither was even the slightest bit nervous. After all both of them knew very well that the other was hopelessly in love with them. So Deacon stood in his bedroom, which was now their bedroom as Rayna and Maddie had officially moved in. He wore a smile on his face as he looked in the mirror.

The wedding wasn't going to be formal, and thankfully the weather had held out. Even though a soggy wet wellie wedding would not have dampened their spirits. Yet outside the sun was shining and the radio said it was set to be a warm day for this time of year. He was wearing a plain white shirt, with an open collar, plant pant trousers, and black blazer that he was pretty sure would be over her shoulders by the end of the night. However they had both decided on barefoot.

So he smiled, and walked out to see Coleman who was acting as his best man. "I still don't get quite why we're doing this thing barefoot man." Stated the politician as he handed Deacon a cup of coffee. He was dressed in a pale blue shirt and a black suit; the pale blue would match the dresses that Maddie and Tandy would be wearing.

"Because me and Ray used to go and run through the field barefoot years ago. And it's nothing fancy anyway. It felt right." Deacon stated, and the other man simply nodded.

Scarlett walked into the kitchen, dressed in a dress that matched Maddie and Tandy's. However she was not a bridesmaid, instead she would stand with Coleman and her Uncle in the ceremony, because she was family and because Deacon needed her there. "You look very handsome."

"Thank you darlin'." Said Deacon, giving her a hug.

Over at the Wyatt house things were as calm as could be expected. Rayna had not been able to decide between Bucky and her father as to who would give her away. So she had decided that her father would walk behind her holding Tandy's arm, and Bucky would hold Maddie and walk behind her. That way neither got offended. So that was why there was tension in the room, because after all Bucky was the father Lamar had never been.

"Tandy would you please take a large bottle of something and force Daddy and Bucky to drink it. They are about to drive me mad!" Rayna said with a chuckle as she applied her makeup. Unlike last time she had no expert to do her hair and makeup; instead she was doing it herself. Soft curls in her hair, and make up that was completely natural.

"Not a chance I am even entering that room before I have to." Stated the sister as she fixed Maddie's dress. Both Tandy and Maddie were in pale blue sundresses, and would have barefoot too. Tandy's hair was left lose and natural, while Maddie's was plaited. Rayna smiled at her sister, before taking her own dress and going to get changed.

It may not have been her first wedding, and so she technically should not have been wearing white, however this was the wedding that mattered, so she had chosen to do so. It was a lose material; the dress had straps over her shoulders, and an empire line. There were almost soft pleats as it went lose from the empire line and felt just below her knee. It was nothing fancy, but Rayna loved it and knew Deacon too would do.

Around her neck was an emerald pendant that had been her mum's. She smiled at her reflection and left the room. "Wow, and I thought that this was meant to be an understated affair." Said Tandy, looking at her sister.

"You look beautiful Ray." Said Bucky as he walked into the room, a very irritated looking Lamar following behind him.

She turned to look at him. "Thank you Buck, you look quite fetching yourself." Rayna gave the older man a hug. "Thank you for coming."

"You're more than welcome. I've waited a long time to see you happy."

"I've waited a long time to be happy, and I am now." She stated, and the older man just smiled.

"You look lovely Rayna." Said Lamar, giving his daughter a hug. It was slightly stiff, but a large improvement considering were they had been when she last got married.

"Thank you daddy." She responded before looking at them all. "We ready to go?" She questioned, and with that they left the country club and headed to the field just outside of the city.

When she walked up the make shift aisle, people sat on the floor on either side, Deacon was sure he had never seen anyone ever look so beautiful. The sun shone on her hair, making it shine and look like pure gold. Her eyes sparkled like perfect and flawless gems whilst the white dress exaggerated her curves and floated as she walked barefoot towards him. And when he finally stood opposite her, he took her hand and held it all the way through.

Holding the plain gold wedding band he had picked out her said his promise. "With this ring, I give you my heart. I promise to love you, to play guitar for you, and to forever be there for you – in sickness and health, until death do us part." As he slid the band on her finger she wiped away a tear.

She then took his ring. "With this ring, I give you my eternal love. I promise to always be by your side, to place my heart in your hands, and to sing with you – in sickness and health, until death do us part." She slid the ring on his finger carefully with a big smile. The vicar didn't even need to say 'you may kiss the bride' because their lips were on one another's soon enough. And he kiss was searing, filled with passion and love.

"I now pronounce you man and wife." The vicar said and there was a cheer from everyone.

The wedding reception was perfect, the band that played for Rayna when they went on tour got together and played music, which eventually ended in people singing along. Maddie was spending the time with Bucky and Tandy, as she would be staying with them both for a few days whilst the newlyweds went on their honeymoon. Bucky and Tandy had been growing closer, so it was Rayna's way of playing cupid.

"You think we could go to that hotel yet?" Deacon asked, they were laid down, and his hand was running through her hair. She sat up and rested her chin on his chest.

"I think they would notice." She stated.

"So?"

"So, this is our reception, enjoy it."

"I'd be enjoying myself a lot more if I had you to myself." He stated, leaning down and kissing her.

"You have me for the rest of my life, so don't be impatient." She stated, laughing before pecking his lips and grabbing him for their first dance together.

It was the perfect night; it was the beginning of a new chapter, and the end of an old one. It was almost the beginning of a new life. So that night they relished in being man and wife, just as they would do for every single day that was to follow.

Sometimes living in the limelight is hard, but other times if you plan it right, then you can use it to your advantage. It's all well and good as long as there are moments like that, when you can escape. And these two were escape artists.

As they danced, after everything that had happened Rayna could smile, because she was safe in her husband's arms and in the knowledge that her life was destined to be a happy one - because she had everything that she wanted and more.

The End

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