Nashville: Can a Baby Bring Juliette and Avery Back Together?

[Warning: This story contain spoilers about Wednesday's episode of Nashville. Read at your own risk!]

Will she or won't she?

Wednesday's episode of Nashville ended with Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) on the fence about her once-steadfast decision to get an abortion. Will she change her mind now that it's more likely that the baby's father is Avery (Jonathan Jackson) and not Jeff Fordham (Oliver Hudson)?

The fact that Panettiere is pregnant in real life may provide a big, spoilery clue as to the answer — but we're just speculating. For some firsthand scoop, TVGuide.com turned to Jackson to find out whether there's still hope for Avery and Juliette.

TVGuide.com: Why is it so hard for Avery to give Juliette a second chance?
Jackson: Avery's just completely reeling from the news that Juliette cheated on him. It takes people some time to really clear their heads and try to look at something from a more objective place. And whether or not Avery's going to be able to do that, I don't really know. But at least initially, he's just completely heartbroken.

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Are you rooting for a reconciliation between them? Do you think Avery and Juliette are good together?
Jackson: Yeah. I've really enjoyed the relationship with Avery and Juliette. I think they're two headstrong characters that can easily clash with different people, and somehow, because of various circumstances and things in their lives, there was something that they brought out in each other that was really good. ... Avery was fairly dysfunctional in his past relationships. Juliette was obviously very dysfunctional in her relationships, and then to see them find each other is a really interesting thing for people to watch, and to have a sense of hope that each of them could find true love. So, that's the devastating part of having the whole thing kind of implode.

If Juliette decides to tell Avery she's pregnant, how do you think he would react to the news?
Jackson: I think it would depend on the way in which it was communicated. I don't know if he'd be angry just by the mere fact of it, but I think the way in which it's communicated to him would matter. He's obviously, as we saw in the first couple episodes, drinking a lot and not in a very stable place, so that doesn't help being able to process life-altering news. He's in a fragile place.

If she had an abortion without telling him, as she's planning to do while thinking it's Jeff's baby, how would that sit with Avery?
Jackson: I don't think that would sit well with him at all. Whatever Avery's faults are, I think that he would have an instinct towards responsibility in this kind of a thing.

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We see Avery hooking up with the new waitress at the end of the episode. Is he ready to move on or is he just trying to distract himself at this point?
Jackson: I think it's just coming from his pain, really. I don't think he's in a place of actually wanting to have a relationship with anybody, but I think he's just trying to find ways to dull the pain. ... I think it's going to be a little while before he's actually in a headspace for having a mature relationship.

He tells Juliette that he can't stand the sight of her. Is there any hope for them to reconcile?
Jackson: All that's spoken from pain and drinking and anger. So, I think that's the question, that's the drama — whether or not they'll be able to find a way back to each other. ... But I do know that whatever anger is being spoken or whatever pain he's going through, it's painful because of how much he loves Juliette. Whether or not he can get past that pain or not is yet to be seen, but it's there because of how much he cares about her.

Musically, what's ahead for Avery this season?
Jackson: At this point, he's not focusing on his music career as an artist like he was in Season 1. I think he's just trying to kind of put one foot in front of the other and survive his personal life kind of going up in flames. But there's a couple really great songs coming up. ... I'm always amazed at how they find really great songs that connect with the characters and what they're going through. It's such a cool part of the show, to connect the audience with kind of the soul of the character through music.

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You also play in the band Enation. Will any of your original songs be focused in the show?
Jackson: It could be. There aren't any in the works at the moment, but it's always possible. I was grateful to have "The Morning of the Rain," which is a song that I wrote, be in Season 1, which was really fun. But we kind of just take it episode at a time and see if something makes sense, if it fits.

Is it difficult to juggle the band and your role on Nashville?
Jackson: We wrapped Season 2 on a Wednesday and Thursday morning I was in the studio starting work on our album. It's coming out October 14.

Finally, do we get to meet Avery's parents this season?
Jackson: I've heard that rumor too. I haven't actually had [confirmation], but I've heard whisperings.

Nashville airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC. Do you think Juliette will have the baby? And are you rooting for her and Avery to get back together? Sound off in the comments!