In Your Corner - Chapter 4
"Jules, baby, it's time to go." Avery said, shaking her from her slumber.
"I know, I know...I've been awake for a while." she grumbled, finally releasing herself from the warmth of her sheets.
"Really?" he asked, zipping away some final clothes in his suitcase, "I didn't feel you moving around at all last night."
Juliette looked at him, "That's because you were in a deep deep sleep, Barkley. At one point I got up to get some water, and I tried to you know, shove you a bit so that you'd let me go but you wouldn't budge. I had to literally wiggle out from under you, 'cause would not wake up."
Avery was amused, "I'm sorry I made you prison break from my arms."
"As soon as I got my water I went right back into them, so don't worry." she winked.
Avery smiled, If there was only one thing better than going to bed with Juliette Barnes, it was waking up next to Juliette Barnes. As their relationship progressed he found himself in her house at least five days a week, and the other two days odds are she was at his quaint apartment. When they were on tour away from Nashville, there was an unspoken rule that only one hotel room was necessary for the both of them. And they both wouldn't have it any other way.
Even though she normally got the best sleep when she was cuddled up next to her boyfriend, the reason for Juliette's lack-of-slumber was because of the four hour car-ride that was ahead of her. She was excited for the road-trip portion of the day, but only because her plus Avery plus the open road sounded like heaven.
Meeting the Barkley's was the problem.
Like she had thought before, she loved the fact that the guy she loved wanted her to meet his momma and dad and all of that. She worried for many reasons, and let the insecurities that she urged him to let go flood her mind.
She was more dangerous than a truck-stop hotdog. She was portrayed as Nashville's home-wrecker. Her mother was an addict. She got kicked out of Edgehill Republic. She got conned and it got her momma killed. She had no family. She was rich and irresponsible. Juliette was never that great at math, but even she knew the odds were stacked against her. How could this possibly go well.
Avery loaded up his pick-up with their things and watched as she stood outside her house, staring at the truck like it was toxic.
"The car ain't gonna eat you, I promise." he shouted outside from the window.
"Oh shut up." she rolled her eyes, getting out of her funk and getting in the car.
Noticing she still wasn't talking, Avery turned the car off and she looked at him.
"Did you forget something?"
"No, but you need to forget something." he said.
Juliette got snippy with him, "If I wanted to date Yoda I would go-"
"Hey hey hey." he smiled, trying to calm her down, "I'm not trying to be cryptic, I just want to you forget those thoughts you're havin' right now."
Juliette softened her look. He got her.
"Barkley, you can read me like a book."
"I know." he grinned proudly, "That's why I know everything's gonna be fine."
"Everything's gonna be fine." she repeated, looking forward.
"Yes. So, promise me, no more negative thoughts the rest of this car ride."
"I swear." she rolled her eyes playfully.
"Wonderful." Avery said, turning the car back on and reaching over to grab her hand.
Juliette looked at him, and he looked at her. All the love and trust that was between them was understood with that one glance, no words were needed.
Now that she was feeling secure, Juliette wanted -or rather needed- to know some things, "How many people are in your family?"
Avery was shocked at such an out-there question, but then quickly understood, "Well I guess you should know that um, my parents are Paul and Judy, I have an older brother, Dustin, my sister Nicole and then my little sister Taylor, she's 17."
"Paul, Judy, Dustin, Nicole, Avery & Taylor Barkley." she repeated, trying to remember.
"One big, happy family." he joked.
"Please, honey, you have no idea how lucky you are." she smiled, remembering how it all went to hell once her father died.
Avery didn't want to touch that subject so he said the first thing that came to him, "What's your favorite food?"
Juliette turned her head from looking out the window of the truck to look at him like he was an alien. He loved that look.
"What's this, twenty questions or something?" she asked.
"Sure." Avery reasoned, "We can use this ride to bond, you know, find out some stuff about each other."
"I think we've bonded a lot, if you know what I mean." Juliette laughed and Avery got wide eyes.
"Juliette Barnes, you're bad."
"See, you already knew that." she smirked.
"What's your favorite food, and alcohol doesn't count." he asked, waiting for the repercussions of that last comment.
Juliette bit her lip in the way that drove him crazy. If he wasn't careful, he was going to crash the car because he always wanted his eyes on her.
"Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches." she said.
Avery did a small fist-pump, "I knew that!"
"There's no way in hell you knew that." she scoffed.
"Look in the cooler, see what I packed us for lunch." he confidently said.
"Avery Barkley I swear…" Juliette said, reaching behind her. Her eyes grew three sizes as her hands made contact with two perfectly made PB&J's.
"You are the best boyfriend in the entire world." she said, still staring at the sandwiches like they were delivered from God, "By the way, your favorite food is mashed potatoes."
Avery let out a chuckle, "Yeah that's right."
"See, I know you too." Juliette smirked, "But sorry, I can't make them magically appear in a cooler."
They both laughed. Juliette was having the best time. She loved how she could be herself, her goofy, natural self around him. Avery, in the drivers seat, felt the same way. It always seemed that Juliette was the only one who truly knew him for who he really was, and the only one who cared for that matter.
"Okay, let's take this up a notch." Juliette said, "Who was your first kiss?"
Avery sighed, this had to come out sometime, "Scarlett. First day of college."
Juliette quickly played off the mention of his ex-girlfriend, "College, huh?"
"Hey, I wasn't always as drop-dead gorgeous as I am now." he replied.
Juliette ruffled her fingers through his slick hair, "Yeah, that's it. Mine was Danny Strait, middle school, new year's eve."
Avery curled his lips ever so slightly and Juliette loved it. For some reason, any mention of someone else kissing her, even in middle school, made Avery's protective side pop out. So to ease his extremely minor concern she said, "Don't worry, you're still the best kiss I've ever had."
He gave a half smile, "Good. When was Juliette Barnes' best day ever?"
"When I got inducted to the Opry. It just meant so much to be recognized in that place, with all my idols and mentors. And I got to sing our song for the first time, I don't care if half the world hated me, it was amazing."
"Nice." Avery agreed, "Mine, cheesy as it may sound, is today."
Juliette let him continue, "I'm going on a roadtrip from my current home to my hometown to see my family, I'm so excited, it's a beautiful day. My career is in an amazing place, I've gotten to do some amazing things, I finally have my girl and-"
Juliette couldn't help but smile, and then she thought for a second, "Wait right there buddy, you finally have your girl?"
Avery didn't respond so she pushed harder, "Okay so next question, how long exactly did you want me?"
Her boyfriend fiddled with an answer in his mind, "I know I fell in love with you when we we're writing "Don't Put Dirt on my Grave"...it was like everything we'd been through was building it up and there was this one moment, when we finished the song, you looked at me and...I don't know...something changed, my heart just started pumping faster and I knew."
"Aw, honey, that's so adorable." she poked a little fun at him, but nonetheless was absolutely touched by his revelation.
"Yeah, yeah." He smiled, "How about you?"
"Everything I'll Ever Need." Juliette was able to spit out. No more words were needed because she knew Avery also remembered every detail of that wonderful night where she started to look at him like her world depended on it.
"What about your biggest fear?"
"Hmm." Avery thought, "Not being true to myself, not doing what I love. That's the kind of guy I was before I met you and...I hated that guy."
"My biggest fear is ending up like my momma. Absent druggy, no kid deserves that." she wondered aloud.
Something then, struck Avery. Boldy, he decided to ask, "Do you want kids?"
Juliette ran her hand through her hair, "You know, I always thought I'd be the worst mother and that I never wanted kids..."
Avery had a feeling he knew what she was going to say. But she was Juliette Barnes and could be surprising, so he let her continue.
"Until I met you and it hit me that I could finally have what I never did...a family. I think about our kids running around in a big 'ol yard and it's just…" she paused and looked forward, a slight smile approaching her features, "It's everything. No fame, no business, no awards, none of it matters when you have a family."
Avery agreed with her wholeheartedly. But his mind was stupidly caught up on one thing, "Did you say our kids?"
Juliette's blush complimented Avery's, "It's not your turn to ask a question."
"Don't be embarrassed, I think about it too, you know." he admitted.
"You do?"
"Of course, I mean I don't want to spend my life with anyone other than you. And I think about how our little ones would be as beautiful and talented as their mother-"
"And as caring and wise as their father." Juliette finished for him.
"Damn, we'd make some perfect kids." Avery smiled to lighten the mood.
"Yeah well not for a while." Juliette said, "As much as I wanna have a family, I've got some things I need to do with my life before I bring others into it."
Avery quickly responded, "Like get married?!"
Juliette let out an audible yelp and Avery laughed, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack, my goodness." Juliette gasped as she adjusted herself in her seat.
"I was just kidding, don't worry."
She squinted, "Wait, so you don't want to marry me?"
His eyes got wide, "What, no, of course I do, that's-"
"So we're engaged?"
Avery squirmed. Was it getting really hot in here all of a sudden? "Um, I mean this obviously isn't the time or the place that I wanted this to happen but-"
All of a sudden Juliette bursted out laughing, and Avery's wide eyes finally looked over at her, "See how it feels?"
He bit his lip, a smile itching from his lips, "I hate you."
"Love you, too."
A/N: For some reason, I watched the final two episodes of Season 2 this afternoon and wow those scenes were so intense I just needed to get some happy Javery going. It's been awhile for this fic, so hope everyone enjoyed their road trip game of 20 questions. Next chapter we're going to go inside and finally meet the Barkley's.
Also wanted to make a quick comment on how some incredible Javery fics are being produced as of late so I suggest everyone go and read it ALL. Like I said, incredible work.
Yinz be sure to review! -Bettakappa