Disclaimer: I do not own Nashville and have no association with anyone involved in the show. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
*****
Emily had heard that your priorities changed from the moment you became apparent, and that was certainly true for Juliette and Avery. It was true for her as well, although she kept having to remind herself that she wasn't actually part of this dysfunctional family. Not really. No, she wasn't anything but a homewrecker. One of Juliette's many mistakes, and one which didn't have the decency to go away.
She tried, but she was weak. All Juliette had to do was give her a look, maybe briefly tell her how much she needed her, and Emily was agreeing to stay. Stay and be an uncomfortable reminder of Juliette's mistake. If Juliette even remembered it.
Of course that wasn't a guarantee, because even though there had been definitely no drugs or alcohol involved may be Juliette really had chosen to forget everything that happened during her pregnancy. Maybe it would be easier that way. Even though it had only been just over a month it seemed so long ago now that Emily was beginning to wonder if she had imagined it.
It may be Juliette had slipped her something so she could get a contact high or just laugh as Emily hallucinated a love affair between them. But there were things which filled Emily with most likely false hope, like the fact that while they had mended fences Avery still wasn't living with Juliette, and that one time he had tried to kiss Juliette she had quickly shut him down. Which admittedly wasn't much, but Emily really was that pathetic.
Then one day while Avery was playing with his daughter in the living room while Emily was cooking in the kitchen Juliette approached her, gently placed a hand over hers and whispered softly, "I haven't forgotten. I... I haven't forgotten about you. About, us."
"Juliette-" Emily croaked while staring in disbelief at their hands.
"Not here, okay?" Juliette pleaded, "I can't do this while Avery's still here."
"Okay." Emily nodded.
"Love you." Juliette smiled, kissing her cheek and then returning to the living room as if nothing had happened.
*
For a minute or two Emily had just stood there dumbly staring at where Juliette had disappeared too, somewhere along the way brushing a hand over her cheek. Then she got back to work prepairing the dinner, to which she was invited too, which was sweet, and something that had been happening more and more since their relationship had moved to the next level, but Emily declined this time.
She just couldn't take anymore of watching Avery doting over Juliette, making it obvious that he was still in love with her, making her feel all the more guilty about this entire thing. It didn't matter that her relationship with Juliette had begun after they'd broke up, now they had a child together Emily was officially a homewrecker.
That fact weighed heavily on Emily's shoulders for the next few hours, or at least more than usual, but she forgot it in any other thought as soon as Avery left, taking the baby with him, and leaving her alone with Juliette, Emily listening to them go with bated breath from another room. There was then a brief pause, footsteps and suddenly they were alone together.
She and Juliette were alone together in Juliette's big house, and Emily wasn't sure what she should say. Or what Juliette was going to say. Part of her hoped that Juliette would do the right thing and break up with her, even if it destroyed her at least that way she wouldn't destroy Juliette's family. Which selfishly she wanted to destroy Juliette's family, and perhaps even her professional, life just to be with her.
"Hi." Juliette said after a long pause.
"Hi." Emily parroted, unable to think of anything else to say. Then when Juliette approached her with a familiar look in her eyes she quickly protested, "Wait, wait, wait! What, what is this? What are we? What do you want?"
"I don't know." Juliette said softly after a brief pause, and then seeing the look on Emily's face quickly added, "That's bullshit. I want you. I do. I'm just, I'm just scared. Maybe I always was."
There was a long pause and then Emily pointed out, "You have a family now."
"I do." Juliette agreed.
Another pause, and then Emily added, "Avery would probably take you back now."
Yet another pause and then Juliette admitted, "He proposed."
"Oh." Emily murmured, feeling crushed, "And?"
"And I told him I needed time to think. But I don't. I don't want him, I want you. I'm just too much of a coward to tell him that." Juliette admitted softly.
Summoning all her decency Emily reluctantly said, "You, you should tell him yes. You should marry him. If only for the baby. Then maybe-"
"I love you!" Juliette interrupted firmly, her eyes getting teary, "I don't care what I should do."
Emily sighed and reluctantly questioned, "Are you going to come out? Tell the world that you chose your assistant over the father of your child? Are you going to tell your fans you're a lesbian?"
"Hey! Bisexual." Juliette almost laughed, "What, it's all the rage nowadays. And the scandal would actually be good for my career."
"Or it might end it." Emily pointed out.
"I know." Juliette said softly.
"I, I can't be your dirty little secret forever." Emily said softly, before admitting, "That's a lie, I totally would do that if you asked. Hell, I'd let you marry whoever the hell you wanted and fuck you every day behind their backs, because I'm a pathetic loser who would do anything for you. But it's not fair on me, you or anyone else. Especially not your kid."
"I know, I know, I know." Juliette groaned in frustration, before promising, "Which is why I want to come out. I do. I just need a little time. Just please, baby, give me some time."
Juliette taking her hand softly promising that broke Emily, as she practically sobbed, "Take all the time you need."
Smiling softly Juliette pulled the other woman into her arms and softly told her, "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." Emily admitted without hesitation.
"Kiss me." Juliette softly pleaded, "Please?"
There was a brief pause in which Juliette almost said something else, although she had no idea what. Thankfully before she could put her foot into her mouth Emily leaned in and gently pressed her lips against hers. Juliette wanted more, so much more, but for this moment it was enough. More than enough.
It was a sign that she had Emily, maybe more than before, and she didn't want to ruin the moment. So she stayed perfectly still for a few long seconds, before beginning to softly caress Emily's lips with her own. Then just as Juliette had moved a hand up to cup Emily's cheek the assistant pulled back, which momentarily scared her.
Especially when Emily asked, "Should I go?"