Chapter 12

It was just after 8 when the two of them heard the rest of the household waking up, making their way to the kitchen. Daphne slide open the double doors that Maddie had closed earlier that morning looking like she had all the energy in the world. Juliette was helping Rayna into the kitchen, guiding her to one of the kitchen counter chairs. "Morning ladies" said Deacon handing them each their breakfast. "Morning" said Juliette and Daphne between bites of their breakfast. Rayna leaned over and gave him a kiss before she started on her breakfast. They ate their breakfast, talking about what the girls wanted to do for the rest of the day. Daphne wanted to go Christmas shopping as she couldn't have gone earlier when Maddie did, so Deacon said he would take her as he wasn't busy. He also knew that Rayna and Juliette had a few issues to sort out that morning with the whole affair thing and Rayna dad. "Maddie, do you need anything from the shops" asked Rayna looking at her middle child. "No, I think I am going to be staying on the couch today and besides someone needs to answer the phone when the media phones to ask about mom, or the affair that Lexie is having" answered Maddie cleaning out the last of her breakfast. "Where did you hear about the affair" asked Juliette as she put her dish in the dishwasher. "It was all over twitter and Facebook" answered Maddie holding up her phone. The three grownup looked at each other this was more serious than they thought it would be but before more thought could be given to it there was a knock on the back door. "I will get it" said Juliette as she was the closes to the door. The other wonders if she had realized that she was still dressed in her pj's.

As Juliette opened the back door she found the man that she had been dreaming about the whole of last night standing there smiling back at her. "Morning beautiful" said Avery leaning in to give her a kiss. "What brings you to this side of the world, not that I mind" asked Juliette stepping aside to let him into the house. "I thought you would like to go to breakfast" answered Avery. "We are actually having breakfast at the moment, if you give me five minutes we can grab a coffee" said Juliette taking his hand in hers leading him into the kitchen. "Morning Avery" said all four as they walked into the kitchen. "Morning guys" said Avery sitting down at the kitchen counter. "Are you Juliette boyfriend now" asked Daphne from her seat. Avery looked at Juliette before he turned to the little girl once more. "I am her boyfriend" answered Avery. "I need one of those, now that both of my sister have once" said Daphne running up the stairs before either of her sister could scream at her. "I am going to go watch some more TV" said Maddie getting up quickly before her parents could ask questions. "I am going to go get ready for the day, you need help upstairs" asked Juliette looking at Rayna. "Yes, please" answered Rayna. Juliette helped Rayna upstairs leaving the boys in the kitchen to finish their coffee.

Thin snow flacks fell on to the roads, and sidewalks of Nashville making it clear that winder was in full swing. The sound of Christmas carols and children filled the air, this was a time of the year that you shared with family and friends. A special time for so many around the world who could spend it with those close to their hearts and souls. Unfortunately the news of an affair that changed so many lives was also being heard in the air between the sound of Christmas. Ms Scarlett O'Conner sat in the back of one of her record labels vehicles looking at the many articles that filled the newspapers and magazines about her husband's affair with Rayna young doctor. When they returned from their mini honeymoon their front lawn was covered in journalist and reports asking questions. Scarlett had followed Gunner into the house that they had shared before their marriage, closing the door behind her before she asked him if it was true. All he said was that it was a once off thing, and that it meant nothing, he was serenely not going to explain himself to his wife anytime soon. Before Scarlett could kill him with her bare hands, her phone had run informing her that Rayna was sending a car to pick her up within the next few minutes. She had gone to their room, packing her things and taking her guitar before she walked out the front door leaving Gunner standing in their kitchen looking shocked. Scarlett looked down at the ring set that still sat on her figure, she had thought that this was truly the man that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She had told her best friend that he was the love of her life and that this would work. Before she could give it more thought the car came to a stop outside Rayna and Deacon home in Bell Mead.

The driver had already taken her bags into the house, where she knew they were already taken to the guest bedroom where she would be staying for the time being while they figured out how to handle this. Her side door opened and she saw that it wasn't the driver that was getting her out of the vehicle but her loving uncle. He guided her into the house out of the flashing of cameras and the questions of reports had about her shattered marriage.

Deacon gave her one of his hugs before he walked out the backdoor again, she heard his car pull out of the driveway a few moments later leaving her standing in the picture perfect kitchen. She followed the music down the hall to the study/office that she knew well since this was where the label was currently being run from as the business side. She found Juliette and Rayna in the study working on their respected laptop looking like businesswomen rather than the biggest music stars that they were. But what shocked her the most was the fact that they were singing along to Avery who sat on the couch playing on his guitar as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Avery looked up when he senses someone at the door giving her one of his smiles before putting his guitar down. Juliette and Rayna looked up wondering why the music had stopped to see her standing in the doorway. Avery walked to her folding her in his arms and warmth giving her a hug along with a kiss on the head. "You will get through this" said Avery looking into her eyes. Scarlett swallowed her tears and gave him a node. "I need to head to the studio before Deacon gets his jeans in a twisted, call if you guys need anything" said Avery. "Thank you, we will Avery" said Rayna with a small smile. Juliette got out of her seat and walked towards him with the same loving look she had in her eyes since that morning. "See you later, my love" said Juliette giving him a kiss on the lips. "Not before I see you beautiful, love you" said Avery giving her one more kiss. "Love you more than life" said Juliette. She watched him give her a wink before he picked up his guitar and walked out of the study with a look of only love in his eyes. Scarlett was glad that the two of them had finally gotten their ducks straight. Juliette turned to Scarlett who had yet to move from her spot just inside the door. "Scarlett come here" said Juliette pulling the blond in for a hug. She cared about this girl in a way, like she did for the rest of the family. Scarlett shed a few tears before she let go of Juliette. "Thank you" said Scarlett as Juliette took her hand and lead her over to one of the couches. Rayna stood up from her seat behind the desk shaking her head at Juliette as she also attempted to get out of her seat to come help, slowly but surely she made her way to one of the leather chairs opposite the two of them. "Scarlett, are you ok" asked Rayna. "I am trying my best to be strong, Ms. James" answered Scarlett. "Scarlett, we will handle this as a family and we will all be here for you" said Juliette trying to keep her own tears at bay. "He said it was a once off thing, that it didn't mean anything and that he wasn't explaining himself to me" said Scarlett. "Honey, I need you to know that it wasn't a once of thing, but you need to make the next move" said Juliette. "Whatever you decision is we will respected and support you in it" said Rayna. "100%" said Tandy as she walked into the study. The other two women looked up at Tandy, she and Bucky had been at the lawyers for the last few days trying to find a way to get everything in order before Scarlett made her decision. "All ok with the lawyers" asked Juliette from her seat. "Whatever Scarlett decide everything is in order" answered Tandy sitting down in the chair next to Rayna. Scarlett noticed that Tandy gave Rayna a look over, making sure she was fine. "I am sorry you have to deal with this as well" said Scarlett she felt bad for the situation her ex-husband had put them in. "It is fine babe" said Rayna with a smile. "I want a divorce, but I want it to be a clean one without a mess" said Scarlett. "Ok, we will get the settlement in order" said Juliette rubbing Scarlett back. "I know it's wrong, I still love him" said Scarlett putting her hands in her head. The others looked at one another, they didn't know how they were going to deal with this one. So Juliette simply just continued to rub Scarlett back as Rayna moved from the chair to the coffee table in front of the two of them laying her hand on Scarlett knee. They heard the sound of Scarlett tears finally fall for the lost love and out of embracement for what her husband had done to her.

A few minutes later Scarlett looked up from her hands at the other women, she saw that they shared in her pain. "Sorry about that" said Scarlett rubbing her eyes. "Babe, its fine you never have to explain crying to the three of us" said Rayna not moving her hand from Scarlett knew. "The three of us will be here for you along with our friends every step of the way" said Tandy as she sat down on the end of the couch. "Avery said he will go get the rest of your things along with the other boys later today" said Juliette with a small smile. "But for now, I think you should go lay down for a while and then we will set up a meeting with the lawyers later this afternoon" said Rayna. Scarlett node her head and got up from her seat following Juliette out of the study up to the guest bedroom that Rayna was sure she would call her soon.

"This is going to be mess, even if we try and keep it clean" said Tandy looking at her sister as she got up to move back behind her desk. "What are the lawyers saying about Gunners contract" asked Rayna wanting to get rid of the young artiste or keep him at bay. "We can't get rid of him yet, he is under contract for the next nine months" answered Tandy typing on her IPad. "Then we will keep him for the next nine months, but make sure that it's clear that is the only reason he is being kept on" said Rayna. Tandy sat down and started typing an email to the lawyers detailing everything that needed to be done. Rayna started working on some of the paper work that allowed Scarlett to move out of her house but to still be able to keep the house in the divorce. Juliette joined them a few moments later saying that Scarlett was out like a light before she started working on a press statement. The three women worked tougher to make sure everything was in order to try and keep Scarlett name clean.