Every night for the next two weeks, the guys would gather at the bar and practice. Chance was having to learn all the words to the songs plus their moves while on stage.

Nathan Rhodes, a long-time friend of the guys, was helping out on the lights. He was working out which lights looked best with each song. He was giving Avi a few pointers in case he ever had to fill in.

Sometimes Avi would take Avery over to Ericha's and he would go to the bar and watch them practice. Other times he would just stay home but would always have some hot tea with lemon waiting on Tim when he got home. The hot tea helped sooth Tim's throat. 

On Sundays since the bar was closed, everyone would come to the bar to watch them practice. Avery, Cerise and Lydia would sit at a table near the stage. They loved watching their daddies sing. Every time the group would sing "Hillbilly Bone", the little girls would yell "Yee Haw!".

"I can't go no more. Kaput. I'm done." Austin groans as he sits down in the middle of the stage, exhausted.

"I hear ya. My voice is just about gone." Tim says as he sits down on the edge of the stage.

"I think you guys are ready. Y'all sound awesome." Avi says as he gets up to carry Tim some water.

"Are you sure? I don't want to get up here and screw up on my first night." Chance says as he sits on a stool.

"No, Avi's right. Y'all sound amazing." Kelsey smiles. "But you guys don't want to over-do your voices. Y'all need to rest up."

"I'm all for that." Austin chuckles. "Rest sounds really good."

"It's cool that you guys changed up the song list. It's fresh material for the crowd." Ericha smiles.

"Yeah, we were getting pretty burnt out on some of the other songs." Tim nods.

"What do yall say about having some pizzas delivered? I'm starved." Rob chuckles. "Then we'll call it a night."

"Sounds good to me." Adam says. "If we're not ready by now, we'll never be."

"I just hope I don't let y'all down." Chance says.

"I just wish you could hear yourself through our ears, Chance. You have a beautiful voice." Avi says as he sits down next to his husband. "You voice is smooth as butter."

"And the harmonies are better than ever." Olena adds.

"Not to mention, your bass notes are kicking some serious ass." Tim says. 

"That really means a lot to me, guys. Thanks." Chance smiles. 

"What about those pizzas? I wasn't kidding when I said I was starving." Rob chuckles as his stomach growls.

"I think we should rest up this week, practice Thursday and then jump right into it Friday night." Tim says as he reaches for another slice of pizza.

"I'm excited but nervous at the same time." Chance smiles.

"You'll blow them away." Austin says patting his friend on the back.

"But what if I forget the words?" Chance sighs.

"Hey, Austin forgets the words all the time. They hadn't booed him off the stage yet." Tim chuckles.

"Yeah, Tim make make a few jokes about it. We're not professionals. We're just here to have a good time." Adam adds.

"Well, I know that the crowd will love it." Kelsey says.

"Yeah, me too. Y'all are bringing all new songs this time around." Avi adds.

"We need to work out a song set. We got the songs down pat but we need to get them in order." Rob says.

Kelsey goes behind the bar to get a pen and a notebook. She comes back and hands it to Tim.

"Okay, What should we start out with?" He asks as he reaches into his jacket pocket for his glasses.

"I think 'Life Is A Highway' would be good to start out with and end the set with 'Timeless/Try Everything'." Adam says.

Tim glances at everyone to see if they agree. When everyone nods their head he writes it down.

"I think 'Blue Ain't Your Color' would be cool to start the second set." Tim suggests.

"And end the show with 'Hillbilly Bone'." Austin says.

"Okay, we have the beginning and the end of each set but what about the middle?" Chance chuckles.

"Y'all heard all the songs, any suggestions?" Tim asks as he looks around at Avi, Jenika, Ericha, Kelsey and Olena. Bad idea. They all started naming songs.

"In The Blood"

"Mayday"

"Castle On The Hill"

"My Church"

"I Can't Outrun You"

"It Looks Good"

"Hold up, y'all." Tim chuckles as he tries to write down the suggestions. "I don't take shorthand. Wait, I'm not too sure about 'It Looks Good'."

"And why not? Because you wrote it?" Austin asks.

"Yeah, I mean ..." Tim says as he runs a hand through his hair. He was very uncomfortable putting one of his songs into their set. He loved writing but didn't think his songs were good enough.

"Sounds like Chance ain't the only one that needs a boost of confidence." Rob says as he adjusts his glasses.

"Tim, it's an awesome song. Write it down." Avi orders and then adds. "Please, for me?" Kissing his husband's cheek.

Soon they had enough songs listed to fill two sets with a few extra to switch the sets up on the following night. The group worked on putting them in order while Avi, Ericha and Kelsey rocked the girls to sleep. It was way past their bedtime.

"That's it." Tim says as he takes his glasses off and rubs his tired eyes. "I guess we're ready."

"I don't know about y'all but I'm excited about this show." Adam smiles. "It's like a fresh start."

"I would be too if I wasn't so exhausted." Tim says as he yawns.

"Yeah, it has been a very long day." Austin adds.

"Well, do you guys realize that it's two o'clock in the morning?" Avi says as he lays his head over on his husband's shoulder.

"Are you serious?" Rob says as he looks up at the clock. "Holy crap."

"But, y'all got a lot accomplished today." Olena says, laying her head down on the table.

"And you have a few days to rest up before the big night." Jenika smiles as she leans against Chance. "Let's go home."

"Yeah, let's go home." Tim says as he turns and takes his sleeping daughter from her Papa's arms.

"Thank you." Avi smiles as he rubs his arms to get the circulation flowing again.

They all walk outside into the cool mountain night air and wait until Rob locks the door and turns on the security alarm.

"Bye y'all. Drive safely." Avi waves to the others as Tim straps Avery into the car seat.

They all head home for some much needed sleep.

**********

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