*All songs used from Nashville. I don't own anything.

Chapter 13.

Juliette entered The Bluebird and straight away clocked Avery at the bar with his back to her. He was speaking to a woman, and her heart skipped a beat, and sank as her stomach filled with dread again. She spotted Zoey, who waved over to her and then Deacon greeted her with a friendly hug.

"So glad you can make it. "

"Me too," she smiled, nervously. Deacon excused himself to welcome some other newcomers and Juliette glanced back over to the bar. Avery was still in deep conversation with the two women, but she could now see the side of him. She knew she needed to be cool with this, but inside her heart was screaming.

Avery turned to look at her at that moment and she managed to shift her gaze quickly. At least she hoped she did. But within minutes, Avery had excused himself and was at her side.

"Hey Juliette!" he gave her a quick hug, and he felt her slightly stiffen in his embrace.

"Hey, haven't heard your voice in a while. I had forgotten what you sounded like."

"Look, about that. I just needed to have some time to process everything. I'm sorry I have been distant. I didn't mean to not be there for you."

"It's fine," she said, with a slight edge to her voice that Avery knew very well. She was not fine with it at all.

"I need to talk to you. Could we meet tomorrow? Maybe for lunch?"

"Sure, ok," she said, trying to ignore the fact that her heart was once again on fire.

At that point, Rayna and Maddie came in and before Rayna could stop her, Maddie had run over to Juliette and gave her a huge hug hello.

Rayna smiled apologetically at Juliette and Avery and they all exchanged hellos.

Maddie piped up, "Can you please tell my mom that I have what it takes to make it big, she will not stop going on about school!"

Juliette smiled warmly at Maddie. "You are very talented and you are going to be a star one day, but right now you need to do as your mama tells you. If I have one word of advice, it's enjoy your childhood while you can! There's plenty of time for all the other stuff. "

Rayna smiled at Juliette and went to find some other people.

"Mom, can I please stay with Juliette?"

Rayna looked at Juliette. "Umm…"

"Of course you can," said Juliette, nodding.

"Shall we grab a table, the shows gonna start in 5 minutes," Avery said to Juliette.

Juliette was taken aback. "Oh sure, ok. Sorry, I thought you came with someone else."

Avery looked confused. "Um, no. Hey, you don't have to sit with me if you don't want."

Maddie suddenly looked awkward.

"Don't be silly." Juliette made a face at Avery, that made him laugh, and they sat down at a nearby table.

"Y'know Maddie, your mama really loves you so much and just wants what's best for you. The music business is a tough place for a young girl. I wish I'd had a protective mamma when I was your age. Lord knows I needed it." Juliette looked sad for a moment, but then shifted her attention back to Maddie.

"Get yourself through school, you can keep writing, keep performing small shows, but above all, listen to your mama, because you have a good one and you need her. You'll need her for a long time yet, and remember she knows the business well. She's just trying to protect you. You'll thank her for it one day."

Maddie nodded. "It's just so hard, when I know what I want to do now."

Juliette patted her hand. "I know, but I think we all know you are going to get there."

Maddie grinned and looked to the stage where her parents were getting ready to perform. She gave them a wave.

Juliette looked at Avery who was staring at her intensely. He quickly looked away, obviously sprung. He was really touched by her words to Maddie. She had given good advice, the same advice that Maddie's parents had probably said a thousand times but the way Juliette had said it to Maddie, filled with warmth and love, and empathy, she had really gotten through to her. Not only was he impressed, he felt proud of her. He couldn't help himself, as his hand slid under the table and squeezed her knee. They exchanged smiles and then Deacon announced the first song.

Deacon and Rayna started. They did one of their old songs, and it was a hit, of course. Then Deacon did a solo and dedicated it to Maddie. Maddie grinned a huge grin the whole way through the song. When he finished he said "For my next song, I'm going to ask Juliette and Avery to come to the stage, where are you?"

Juliette and Avery exchanged glances and walked together up to the stage.

Deacon smiled warmly at both of them. "Do you guys mind doing a song together so I can go and sit with my daughter for a minute?"

Avery looked to Juliette, feeling extremely worried about what she was going to say.

"Of course," she smiled, and looked at Avery, her eyes sparkling.

"Great, thanks. Ok, so here is Juliette and Avery with Everything I'll Ever Need."

Avery picked up his guitar and started strumming.

The atmosphere in the room was great. The crowd were drawn to the sweet sound of two voices that complimented each other so beautifully, but also the chemistry. The something special between the two was translated through their music. They didn't shift their gaze the whole time, it seemed they only had eyes for each other.

When the song finished, the crowd applauded and cheered and the two said thank you and then left the stage.

Juliette walked to the bar and ordered an orange juice. Avery followed.

"Maybe we should talk now," he said cautiously.

She looked at him thoughtfully and nodded.

They went outside and sat in Avery's car.

"The reason that I haven't called is because I have been really worried about providing for the baby financially. I mean, money is tight and I just about cover expenses as it is."

"This is why you have been so distant?"

"Yeah."

"Avery, I thought you had changed your mind. I thought that you didn't want to be involved or something."

She was so relieved.

"Are you kidding? Juliette, don't get me wrong, I am scared about having a baby and being a father, but I am really looking forward to being a father too, I did want to be one eventually. Just maybe not this soon."

Juliette let out a laugh. "You're telling me!"

"But I still can't shake the feeling that I've failed before I've even got started. I don't want you to have to foot the bill for everything. I want to be able to support you both, and I'm just so worried that I won't be able to do that."

"Avery, it doesn't matter though because I don't need your money. What I do need is someone I can rely on, someone who is going to be there and be a supportive Daddy and someone who is going to love this baby and be the best Daddy in the world, and nobody fits that description better than you. You'll do more for us, by just being you. The richest man in the world wouldn't cut it as a father in your place. You are going to be the best. I know it. This kid is going to be so lucky to have you as a father."

Avery looked away as tears sprung to his eyes. He was overwhelmed by her words, as he could tell she wasn't just saying it. She meant every word. He could feel the love in every syllable as they ignited his heart. It was so good to hear someone he loved so much, talking about him in this way.

"Juliette. I think I made a mistake," he said quietly, he couldn't look at her.

"What?" she sounded confused.

"I made a terrible mistake, breaking up with you. I think we should be together."

"Avery, what are you talking about? We cannot be that couple who get back together just for the sake of a baby…there's no need honestly."

He heard the break in her voice as she said it and he then turned to look her straight in the eye.

"No, Juliette, it's not…"

She cut him off. "It's ok, Avery. We can make it work like this. We can be a part and raise this baby. We can work something out. You can still be a huge part of the baby's life. You don't have to worry about that."

"No, Juliette, it's not just because of the baby, it's because I love you, and I want to be with you. I want to be with both of you. All together, we can be a family."

Juliette bit her lip, and looked at the sincerity in his eyes, but she still couldn't give in to it. Her heart hurt as she searched for the words.

"Us having a baby together does not change what I did. I still broke your heart, I ruined what we had. We will never be the same. I don't deserve you and you deserve someone better," she fought to keep it together, but it was too late as the first tear rolled down her cheek.

She quickly opened the door and jumped out the car and hurriedly made her way back inside. She spotted Rayna, as Maddie made her way up on stage.

"I thought you were gonna miss it!" Maddie exclaimed happily, as she made her way to sing with her Dad.

Juliette sat down with Rayna.

"Everything ok?" Rayna asked, suspiciously.

"Not really," Juliette said quietly, staring at the stage.

Rayna patted her hand and gave her a sympathetic smile.

Juliette gave her a brief overview of what had happened, but before Rayna could respond, Deacon introduced Maddie, and the song they were going to sing.

Juliette watched but her eyes shifted to the bar. Avery was standing there looking at her. He looked devastated. She loved him so much, which is why she was saving him from a life with her. She was damaged goods and he was best off without her. He deserved better, like she told him.

She looked back to the stage and concentrated on the performance. Maddie was amazing, of course, and she and Deacon sounded beautiful together as they sang "Believing". The lyrics touched her deeply, and she couldn't help get swept up in the lyrics as she thought about Avery and all that had been between them. Her eyes welling up with fresh tears she looked over at him and smiled apologetically. He smiled back, but she could see it was tinged with sadness.

The next time she looked at him, he had disappeared. She scanned the room and saw him crouching down next to Zoey and Gunnar.

After the song, Juliette watched as Avery approached Deacon and began talking to him intently. Deacon smiled a big smile, and nodded.

Juliette's heart began to beat fast, but she didn't know why.

"Hey everyone, I'm going to be playing another song with Avery, but we're going to be joined by Zoey and Gunnar also."

The crowd applauded as the two joined them on stage.

Avery picked up his guitar and made his way to the lead microphone.

"Hi everyone, I just wanted to play a song for someone very special tonight. It's called One Light Shining. Juliette, this is your song. I hope you like it."

The song started up and Juliette stared, entranced at Avery, while the lyrics he wrote for her poured out of him. She could feel the emotion in the lyrics, the love he felt for her in his voice. She couldn't believe that despite what she had done to him, here he was singing these amazing heartfelt lyrics to her.

She could not take her eyes off him, the whole time he was singing. She loved the way he sang, the words he sang, the music was perfect. It was amazing, he was amazing, Then she froze.

He looked right at her as he sang "…we're in this thing together, I ain't afraid to say forever…"

Her breath was knocked out of her, she felt like she was suffocating. The pit of her stomach grew heavy, her heart fluttered and she felt faint.

So much love, she loved him so much. He had wanted her forever. What had she done? How could she get past this? How did he still want to be with her, after all this?

Rayna broke into her thoughts.

"You need to stop running and realise what you have here. You have the love of a good man, and someone once told me that there are very few of those around. Don't throw that away. If he's forgiving you, and I think he is, you need to trust that he knows what he's doing."

"I need some water." Juliette got up and went to the bar and got a drink of water.

Two drunks were getting rowdy and suddenly fell back and banged into her hard, making her stumble backwards.

Avery was suddenly at her side.

"Hey watch it!" Avery shoved one back as the guy quickly put his hands up in peace.

"Avery, I'm fine, really."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him away. He clasped her hand and then took her other hand in his other hand.

"Sorry. I thought they hurt you."

Her heart skipped a beat at his protectiveness.

"What did you think of the song, did you like it?"

"It's an amazing song…"

"But?" he said, looking hurt and worried.

"…It just reminds me of what I have lost."

"But you haven't lost me. I'm here."

"It's not the same. You're never going to trust me, not in the same way. I don't want to live like that."

"But…"

"Avery, I'm going to go home. I need some time, but I'll call you tomorrow."

She gave him a hug and kissed him on the cheek.

"Ok," he said, defeated.

She slipped out the door and was gone.

"Did it work?"

Avery turned to see Deacon behind him. He shook his head, obviously at a loss for words, his misery haunting his eyes.

Deacon smiled, sympathetically.

"This is worth fighting for. You know it, I know it and deep down she knows it. But it's been buried with fear and self hatred. You need to make her see it. Go after her, get through to her."