I am only using characters from the Nashville Television Show. I have no ownership rights or claims whatsoever.

Please note: I have changed the baby's name from Jolene to Cadence to fit the show. I have also bought this in line with the show. The continuation will focus on Juliette's condition, behaviour and how these can be resolved.

And baby makes three.

Chapter 5. The Unfolding.

Layla's practical music abilities surprised him. Initially she had timing and technique faults but she corrected these with a minimum of instruction. Her overall understanding of the subject, her performance and what she needed to achieve were another matter altogether. She was having major difficulties grasping the concept and he was discovering that teaching music was no recreational pastime. He tried to break the subject into pieces she could understand.

"Think about what you're doing. Music isn't noise," he'd been at this for too long now. He was wearing down. "Think what you're trying to say." She would play a passage and he would express his frustration at her attempt.

"No, no, no. It's a musical instrument, make it respond like that. You're not thinking. Look, to play music you need to work at it. You don't sit back and enjoy your performance. The audience does that. Take your mind off what you're doing and it becomes a pointless exercise. Now, think and try again."

"You just don't get it do you?" He needed a change from this. "Put the guitar down, it's suffered enough for now. Let's go back to the very basics. You might be intelligent and you might have deferred Harvard but you're a real novice here. You have to get this. It's what music is all about."

"Ok, tell me, what is music?" He was surprised at his tolerance.

"Sounds," she answered vaguely.

"So is a car back-firing. Be more specific. What is music?"

"Sounds we like to hear."

"I like to hear lots of things and most of them are not music. I'd like to hear you give me a decent answer; that would be great, but wouldn't fit the definition of music. Let me try something else. What is a scale? If you say something off a fish I'll hit you."

"It's musical notes played in alphabetical order."

"Yes, thank God! Finally. What is a melody?"

"It's the notes of the scale played in a non alphabetical order."

"More or less; They're organised into a determined order."

"Now, when you write a melody, what's that called?"

"Creation."

"Art. Creation is a little all encompassing. Now, define art."

"To turn something we imagine into something real."

"Partly, say I show you a painting of a train. From it you can see what one train looks like but only one specific train. Yet there are many trains and all are different. The painting will certainly not let you hear what a train sounds like. You with me so far?"

"Yes."

"Good, but I can play what a train sounds like on the guitar. Listen." He began playing chords in the rhythm of a locomotive starting. "Get the idea? I can turn this into a train song by adding fills and so forth."

"That's really clever. You just made that up? That's amazing."

"Nope, there's nothing particularly clever about it. The point is what it does. In your mind you see a train, it may be the one in the painting, it may not be. But it will still be a train. I see a train as well but it's almost certainly not the one you see. You get the idea?"

"You're painting pictures with sound."

"Yes, but I'm really doing more than that. I'm in your mind. I'm influencing your thoughts. But that's not all I can do. Let me give you another example. Have you ever seen a horror movie?"

"Of course."

"Now, almost all movies have music in them but I'll use a horror movie because it's the most obvious example. Now, imagine this, here's our hero and it's dark and he's sneaking along a wall. Up ahead is a corner and we know a zombie is there ready to jump on him. Now even if we don't know the zombie is there we know something bad is going to happen. How? Because the music tells us and it tells us by creating what are called tensions. These are extremely powerful, so powerful that some people cannot tolerate them. Many people cover their ears to block the music but very few cover their eyes. You ever seen that kind of thing?"

"Yes, I have," Layla said indicating she had just been enlightened. "I never noticed, but yes, I have seen that, even done it myself."

"So, armed with this information what do you think music is?"

"It makes us feel something."

"Yes, but more correctly it's an expression of human emotion and if the music doesn't do this it might as well be noise. What will make your music successful is how well you express emotion through it. Make people feel and they will respond. Have you ever heard of music making someone cry?"

"Yes."

"That's what you're aiming for. Generate a response and you'll be a musician. Here, let's try another one. Suppose I tell you I feel sad. Now how sad am I? Am I just a bit off or am I miserable? The description isn't specific enough but I can play how sad I am on the guitar, listen" He played a short passage. "So, how sad am I?

"Miserable."

"Right, you understand now?"

"Yes."

"Now you can try it. I'll give you an image. I want you to imagine a misty meadow. You got that?"

"Yes."

"Good, describe it for me."

"Ok. It's early morning but the sun hasn't risen. There's no wind. The mist is laying on the ground, it's about waist deep. There's a light dew on the grass."

"Do you see any trees, cows?"

"Yes, one tree and three cows. They're feeding and the mist is swirling when they move."

"Excellent," he said. Then handing her the guitar he said, "Play it for me."

"What? The picture in my head?"

"Yes, of course."

"I don't think I can do it that quick."

"Ok. That's your project for tomorrow. Get it worked out and you can play it then. Now, let's have a look at these lyrics of yours."

For the remainder of the day they worked on Layla's lyrics. They actually put music to two of her songs and she learnt them. Avery was pleased. She was going to be good and she was picking it up much better than he thought she would. "These are really good. How do you do this?" Layla remarked. "If I didn't see you writing I would never have believed what you do and how easily you do it." She called to Rayna and performed the songs for her.

"I can see this is really going to work. Layla, those are excellent. We want more. Well done." Layla had a smile that illuminated her face. She'd always dreamed of being a true musician and now for the first time in her life she could see it happening."

Then, Rayna to Avery, "Thank you."

That was basically their set routine over the next few weeks. He would work with her on her performances, breaking down, analysing and correcting every facet of her music. He was an exacting task master and often he drilled her repeatedly over a passage or phrase until she was almost ready to collapse from exhaustion. But she kept going. He would conduct her, join and lead her singing. Only perfection was good enough. Each phrase needed to be expressed, not just the lyrics but the emotions, even visual expressions. In the beginning she didn't realise what was happening but he was working her, developing her talent, moulding her into an artist. Now she was beginning to understand. She began to feel what she was singing, deep down inside, she was feeling the emotions and it was coming through in her voice. The song was about wanting a love that could not happen. Devotion to someone who could never be hers. She felt the song, she was the song and the song was her. Her pain was there, her sense of loss, her desire for what could never be, but how she still could hope and dream. Her commitment to the emotions was so complete, so overwhelming a tear ran down her cheek.

Avery grabbed her by the shoulders and braced her. "You've got it. You understand. That's exactly what we've been looking for. Now, you can call yourself a musician. We're ready for the studio."

She threw her arms around Avery's neck drawing herself against him. Getting caught up in the emotion of the moment she started kissing his face, then suddenly realising what she was doing she pulled away from him embarrassed. She wasn't sure if Avery knew what happened or just put her behaviour down to uncontrolled enthusiasm. That's what he indicated at least. "Ok, Ok, you can let the emotions go now. It's time to come down." But as they separated she was a little bewildered, she admired him greatly. She saw him as unique. She had never met anyone like him. "Oh god," she thought, "please don't let me get out of control." But now she feared that might actually be happening.

When he got home Juliette was in the middle of preparing to go out for the evening. "Have I forgotten something?" He asked. "Do we have something on?"

"No, just me. My album is being released tomorrow and the label is throwing a party."

"That's great. I'll get ready and come with you."

"No, that's not necessary. I can go on my own." He was being excluded again but this time it wouldn't work.

"Come on Baby, we've been so busy we've hardly seen each other over the past couple of weeks. This is a great chance to get together."

"No, you don't need to come. I can handle it."

"You're turning down a date with your husband?"

"It's not a date, it's a business function." She was starting to become agitated at his insistence.

"Irrespective, I still want to come."

"I don't want you to." She was short and abrupt. It was time he stopped this and threw her out of gear. Despite the fact he knew through Emily he could trust Juliette he decided to let her have a curve and put her off her game.

"Why are you so angry and insistent about me not coming with you? You're back having it off with Fordham aren't you? You want me out of the way so you can screw each other tonight. What's it going to be this time? The back room or hire a hotel room and get home tomorrow morning with the old 'party was late' story? Here you accuse me and Layla when there's nothing between us and you're the one doing it. This is going to wreck us. I hope you're happy."

Immediately a look of horror crossed her face. He really put her off stride, she hesitated forming the words. "No I'm not. I promise you, I'd never do that. Please, you have to believe me."

He needed her completely defensive. "Well, you're having it off with somebody. Who is it? Wheeler?"

She was crying, suddenly desperate for him to believe her. "I'm not doing it with anyone. Avery I love you, you know I love you. Please believe me. You must believe me." Her sudden desperation revealed something to him; Doc Edwards was probably right. Dreading the prospect she may lose him, that he believed she was unfaithful had a profound effect on Juliette. Suddenly her paranoia dissolved. For the briefest time she became clear and coherent. He felt a measure of confidence that his plan may work.

"Ok. I believe you. I'm sorry I upset you, but Baby, what's wrong? Why are you shutting me out? Why don't you want me there?"

She looked at the floor. "I'm scared," she mumbled.

"You're scared of me? Baby you know I love you. There's nothing to be scared about. You shouldn't think like that. It's just that you're sick and need help."

"I'm scared you'll be ashamed of me. You won't respect me. I'm not confident. I made this album without you and I'm worried about it."

"Oh Baby. Is that all? None of that matters. Good album, bad album, so what? We have each other. We have Cadence. That's all that matters. When this is over and you're well we can sort everything out and make albums again. Good albums."

"I'm not sick Avery. I don't need help I just want my career back. I need this album to work." He could see the obsession returning. Getting her over it would take a dramatic turn of events.

"Well, I'm sure it will. Now I'll get ready and we can go to this thing together since the dramas are out of the way. Ok?"

"Yep, Ok."

The party was exactly the same as any other music industry party he'd been to and he was bored. Other than the banners of Juliette with that mischievous smile and sequined top around the venue there was nothing he found in the least interesting. He looked at a banner, God she was beautiful. They could photograph her in a flour sack and her beauty would still be just as obvious.

She hadn't left his side all evening. Now they were here, she seemed to really enjoy being together with him. He indicated towards a banner. "You're amazingly beautiful," he whispered in her ear.

She gave him that radiant smile and lightly kissed him. "Thank you, I love you too."

Tracks from her album were playing over the venue's system. Avery secretly was angry with both Fordham and Wheeler. Neither of them had the understanding, knowledge or skills to manage someone of Juliette's abilities. Her talent was so far past them she was lost in the distance and that was just confirmed with the quality of this work they consider 'career defining' for Juliette. Avery had mentioned to Juliette earlier, 'good album, bad album it makes no difference.' By any criteria of her standards, this was a bad album. Rayna was right, this could be very embarrassing for Juliette. Her lack of confidence in the album he interpreted to mean that deep down she knew it as well. Her condition and obsession had clouded her judgement. However, he would keep his mouth shut. Now is not the time to voice opinions or create waves. Let this run it's course, it will all be resolved in the end and he was going to do everything in his power to make that happen.

Luke Wheeler took the stage and after going though the usual pleasantries he unleashed a lengthy elaboration on his label and how it was promising to set revolutionary standards for the entire music industry. Then he announced his first signing, Juliette and got her up on the stage. He went on and on about how great he was and how great his label was and how great Juliette was. Avery was getting sick of it all. "Blah, Blah, Blah," he thought "Spiel, Spiel, Spiel, for God's sake shut up. You're just wrapt in the sound of your own voice and leave Juliette out of it. She's so far out of your league she's in another game. Damn it all to hell, I need a drink."

Luke Wheeler sang some song about driving trucks or something. Avery wasn't sure, he didn't really pay any attention to it. Then Juliette sang one of the songs from her album. The song was not good but he could hear she still had all that quality in her voice. Then Juliette and Wheeler sang some old standard as a duet. As far as Avery was concerned Wheeler's contribution spoilt it. "I'm probably biased, prejudiced even," he thought, "but no-one has ever said I have to like the conceited dick." Wheeler was not Avery's favourite performer. There was lots of smiling and waving at the crowd and Wheeler announced that he and Juliette would commence their tour in two weeks. The first venue would be Houston.

After the stage show a television reporter interviewed them both but Wheeler took charge and Juliette barely had the opportunity to pass a remark. Then the reporter asked a question to Wheeler, "So, you two are obviously spending a lot of time together working in this situation. Is there a chance you could have an even closer relationship?"

Wheeler jumped in with an answer before the question even registered with Juliette.. "Well you know how it is." He had a little smirk on his face. "Put two people…."

Juliette jumped straight over the top of him. "I want this on the record and I can't be plainer. This is strictly a professional and business arrangement. It will never be more than that. I'm married to the most talented and wonderful man I know and I would never put that in jeopardy." She spun on her heel and headed straight for Avery leaving Wheeler and the reporter both with their mouths open.

She took his arm and said, "You've got a drink, good, give me a swig of that. Let's get out of here." She led him towards the door. Suddenly the night took a whole new value for him. He was proud of her.

"You start touring in two weeks. Have you got a schedule yet?" He asked when they arrived home.

"Yes, we're doing Texas, three cities. We start in Houston then San Antonio, and finally Dallas. I should only be gone three weeks tops. You don't have to worry. I'm going to have my chaperone Emily to keep me in check."

"I'm not worried. You know I trust you. I was so proud of you tonight. You're wonderful."

"So, I'm wonderful eh? I make you proud. I'm not so sure. I reckon you need to show me."

"Here?"

"Where ever you like."

"Well to really show you how proud I am and how wonderful you are this may not be the best place for a demonstration."

"Really, where do you suggest?"

"The bedroom."

'No arguments from me here. Let's go."

Avery spent most of the next two weeks leading to Juliette's tour in the studio with Layla. The engineer from when he made Sadie's album was on the desk. "Hey, Graham," Avery said as soon as he saw him. "What happened? Did you draw the short stick and cop working with me?"

Graham, was well over fifty and he looked and sounded like an out of place sixties hippie. Irrespective, he was the best engineer Avery had ever worked with. "No man," he drawled with a distinct, beatnik flavour. "I do the slave sheets around here man and hey, as soon as I saw the cool daddy was in I did a brain interview and hey, we got to jungle up right on. I tell you man, us slaving together was extra plus.

They started working. Avery checked, adjusted and confirmed every aspect of every track. Instrumental tracks were cut first and every musician was vetted and so was his performance. Arrangements were confirmed or adjusted, depending on need. On some occasions he allowed the musicians to feel passages and play accordingly. Other times he directed when he needed the exact feel or effect that was most appropriate. Not even the most insignificant was ignored. His process was painstaking, laborious and tiring. He was even more demanding of Layla, directing, conducting, coaching, encouraging. Graham always confirmed the end result after they finished a track. Remarks such as "far out man", or "kick back and enjoy", or "man, you really know your groceries," or "everything's plus cool," satisfied Avery, he knew Graham was a fastidious judge.

They completed the album two days before Juliette was to leave for Houston. They wrapped well into the evening but at last the end result. Graham showered them with antiquated phrases of congratulations. Layla was speechless. Avery reckoned she didn't believe it, didn't really believe this album was her. He was pleased, he knew he could not achieve one iota more than what they had done. He rang Rayna. "It's finished," he simply announced.

"I have never anticipated anything more than this album. Bring it around now please. I have to hear it," Rayna demanded.

"I know you're the boss Rayna and you know I always do what you ask but we've just finished and we're both bushed. Surely nine in the morning will be ok. Then Bucky and anyone who wants to can hear it."

"Ok," Rayna said. "Make it nine in the morning. I probably won't sleep now I'll be too geared up."

When he arrived home Juliette was watching some show on the television. He kissed her and collapsed into an armchair.

"How did you go in the studio? Are you getting any closer to the end?"

"Yes, thank God. It's finished."

"Can I hear it?"

"You're watching television besides I thought you couldn't tolerate even small doses of Layla."

"The television is nothing. Is that the album?" She indicated towards the small package on the table.

"Yes, that's it, Rayna hasn't even heard it yet."

"Well I can be your sounding board. I'll let you know what it's like."

"Ok, if you really want to you can." This should be interesting, he thought. Seeing as she lacked confidence in her own album we'll see how she likes Layla's.

She put the album on the sound system and plonked down on the couch, folding her legs underneath her, very relaxed. Avery watched her very intently. He wanted to see her reaction. Juliette's posture didn't change until the chorus on the first track. Avery could see her becoming more attentive. By the time the first track finished Juliette was sitting up straight, becoming more focused on the music. She unfolded her legs and he could see she was fully focused now. She put her elbows on her knees and leant forward toward the speakers. A tear ran down her cheek and she quickly brushed it away hoping it wasn't noticed. Her hand remained on her cheek and he could see her shoulders shaking slightly during the fourth track. She moved her fingers over her lips as if she wanted to prevent herself from saying anything. She began weeping during the sixth track and quickly stood and turned the recording off, ignoring the remaining three tracks. Then, without saying a word or so much as looking at Avery she went straight into their bedroom and did not return.

He waited about fifteen minutes then followed her. She was in bed. He could see, even in the dim light she had been crying. He got into bed beside her. After a few minutes she rolled against his full length and put her arm over his chest. "Hold me," was all she said.

He adjusted his position and settled her head into the crook of his shoulder. He still said nothing. This album clearly had a significant impact on Juliette. He felt confident she recognised this as well and needed to adjust to what happened. He was sure, this had awakened her to what she had done and was the first step towards her realising her illness and admitting she needed help with it. Irrespective, he was sure she recognised the shortcomings of her career choices and the directions Wheeler and Fordham were leading her.

"I love you so much," she suddenly said. "You know that don't you? I love you more than I could love anyone…ever."

"I love you as well," he said. You're the most important person in my life." Then he added, "just ahead of Cadence." She looked up at him and they both smiled.

Then she wrapped herself around him, arms and legs entwined, and that's how they slept.