Something great
Chapter 19 – Something great
One day you'll come into my world and say it all
You say we'll be together even when you're lost
One day you'll say these words
I thought you'll never say
You say we're better off together in our bed
I want you here with me
Like how I pictured it
So I don't have to keep imagining
It was a strange feeling for Nicole to be busy on Christmas. Her uncle used to make a nice dinner and they would open the presents, but nothing more than that. Most times they didn't have guests, so they'd watch a Christmas movie and that was it. After he died and Nicole hit rock bottom, she'd be with only her misery as a company. This Christmas was a whole different thing because she was about to get inside the Earp's homestead.
Besides the cold night, the door was open, as if they were waiting for her.
"Hello?" Nicole put just her head inside the house and she smelled something weird.
"Hey, Nicole. Come in," Wynonna said. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas. Do you want me to close the door?"
"No, leave it open. Dolls burned the potatoes and now we need to let the smell go out," Wynona explained.
"Where is Waverly?"
"She is in the kitchen, but I'd be careful if I were you," Wynonna whispered. "She's kinda furious about the whole ordeal with the potatoes."
"Alright," Nicole moved to the other room. "Hey, Merry Christmas."
"You are here already?" Waverly gasped surprised. "Are you early?"
"I'm on time, baby."
"Oh, no. Oh, no. I should have everything ready for when you arrived," the brunette groaned almost crying.
"Hey, don't worry about it, love," Nicole tried to sound as supportive as she could. "I can help you with whatever you need."
"No, this is not how it's supposed to be," Waverly still sounded defeated.
"It's not a problem, Waves."
"The potatoes are ruined. I put them in the oven and went to take a shower, but when I came back Dolls was distracted playing with Alice and he didn't take them out," Waverly explained. "I still have to put some more in and I don't have the salad ready yet. This is all wrong."
"What is actually going on, love?" Nicole asked. "I know you like to plan things, but I don't think this is the only thing that is happening."
"You haven't had a Christmas celebration in years…"
"That is true."
"So I wanted today to be perfect, but it's not. It's ruined and it's all my fault."
"Hey, come here," Nicole got closer and hugged her girlfriend from behind. "It's not ruined, my love. We still have time to get these potatoes ready and enjoy our night."
"I'm sorry."
"There is nothing for you to be sorry about," Nicole kissed the back of the brunette's head. "You wanted it to be perfect, guess what? It has been perfect ever since you invited me."
"Nicole…"
"I'm serious. I've been so happy all week just by the thought of being here with you all tonight. Besides, is it really Christmas with family if not even one little thing goes in an unexpected direction?" The redhead chuckled.
"I guess," Waverly sighed.
"Please know that I am the happiest I can ever be whenever I am with you."
"Smooth talker."
"I just want you to understand how happy you make me, Waves."
"I love you so much."
"I love you, too," Nicole whispered. "Now, what can I do to help? Boss me around."
"Green salad," Waverly stated.
"On it," Nicole turned her girlfriend in her arms so she could give her a proper kiss. Every time she did that she was sure those lips were magnetic and it was getting harder and harder to stay away from them.
"Did I just overreacted?" Waverly frowned.
"Just a tiny bit," Nicole showed her thumb and her index finger almost touching each other. "But I know that you mean well, love."
"Alright, so let's get to work," Waverly told her.
After that, things got back to a course that eased Waverly's worry. Dolls had come back to the kitchen and apologized again with Waverly about the whole potato ordeal, but the brunette dismissed him, admitting that she had made the situation bigger than it should have been.
"Did you calm down or should I still fear for my life?" Wynonna stood at the kitchen's door.
"Yeah, I'm sorry," Waverly resigned. "It wasn't as bad as I thought."
"No shit, Sherlock," Wynonna said to her sister and then looked at Nicole. "This party almost became a funeral, you know?"
Nicole shook her head, she knew better than to get between the Earp sisters. Wynonna opened the fridge and pulled out some drinks. She poured one glass and tried it, but she made a disgusted face.
"What on earth is this?"
"Oh, yours is the green one," Waverly told her sister. "The red one is for Nicole and me. It's non-alcoholic."
"Cool, dude. So can Alice have some of the red?"
"Of course. It's strawberry."
"Nice," Wynonna grabbed a few glasses, but she turned around right before she was out of the kitchen. "Oh, Willa and Robert just arrived."
"We'll be there in a moment," Waverly said.
"So… you actually made some drinks thinking about me," Nicole rested one hand on the brunette's waist.
"I would never leave my best baby out of the Christmas fun," Waverly leaned closer. "But be careful with the grinch drink. There's vodka in it."
"Noted," Nicole lowered her head and kissed her girlfriend. "You can have the grinch as much as you want. You know that, right?"
"Baby, we talked about this before. What if I don't want to?" Waverly asked. "What if what I want is to be able to share all my experiences with you?"
"I don't want you to miss anything. You deserve a proper Christmas."
"And I'm having one," Waverly started. "I know everyone has a different feeling about the holidays, but for me is the chance of being with my family, my friends, and my love. It's all I want for Christmas."
"I don't want to make a big deal of it," Nicole said. "I just want you to know you have options."
"I know I do. But no matter the options, I'll always choose you," Waverly spoke in a way that it was clear she was not up to discussion.
"And from all the colors for our drink, you choose red?" Nicole teased in an attempt to lighten the conversation that was going to a deep tone.
"I love red," Waverly shrugged. "Can you blame me?"
"Not at all, babe."
"Let's go to the living room and say hi to Willa," Waverly pulled her by the hand and guided them out of the kitchen.
A few minutes after that, the house was completely crowded because Doc and Kate joined them. And then Chrissy and Rosita, followed by Robin and Jeremy, much to Nicole's surprise. Everyone was laughing and having fun around Alice with how excited the girl was about having so many gifts under the tree only for her. Waverly told Nicole the grown-ups would not exchange presents, but she could feel free to buy something for the little girl if she wanted.
Nicole looked around the room and it was like there was something different in the air, something she hasn't felt in a long time, hell, maybe she never did before.
She stood up and walked out to the porch. Waverly looked to her sister to check if she had noticed the redhead's reaction, too. Wynonna only nodded at her, and Waverly went after her girlfriend.
Once outside, the brunette found Nicole leaning against one of the pillars. She could hear sobbing, so she approached her slowly, to avoid startling her.
"Nicole?"
"Hey, Waves," the redhead hurried to dry her tears.
"What is going on, sweetie?"
"Nothing, nothing."
"Hey now, you can talk to me," Waverly held her right.
"I know. I know."
"Come here," Waverly guided them to sit at the bench under the window. "I've got you."
"I'm just… overwhelmed."
"Yeah?"
"This is so much more than I ever imagined I would have," Nicole confessed. "It's still hard to believe that this is my life now."
"I see. Well, you have to know that you deserve it. You deserve every single moment of happiness that you have in your life."
"It's really good to be here tonight."
"So you are having fun…"
"The most fun," Nicole giggled.
"Oh, thank goodness. You scared me," Waverly sighed relieved.
"Were you afraid that I wouldn't like it?"
"Of course I was," Waverly looked almost offended. "I love Christmas and I wasn't ready to give it up."
"What?" Nicole was surprised. "What do you mean to give up Christmas?"
"Well, if you hated it, you wouldn't want to celebrate it again," Waverly said.
"Would you be willing to give up Christmas forever just because of me?" Nicole couldn't believe it.
"I love Christmas, yes," Waverly looked deep into her girlfriend's eyes. "But you, Nicole Haught… damn, I love you so much. It was hard before we were together, but now that we are here, I don't think I can be without you anymore," the look on the redhead's face was something Waverly wasn't waiting for. "Sorry. I'm going too far, right? I don't want to scare you away."
"No, that is not it," Nicole shook her head and cleared her throat. "Look, I know you said no gifts, but…"
"Nicole!"
"No, wait. Don't be angry yet," Nicole hurried. "It's just… I've been thinking about us and our future together and… I wanted to give you this."
She pulled a small box from her pocket and gave it to Waverly. When the brunette opened it, there was a key inside.
"Is this what I think it is?"
"A key to my house. And I cleaned part of my closet as well," Nicole said. "I know you love to be here at the Homestead, so this is not something like 'hey, move in with me right now'. It is just for you to know that you are welcome at my house at any time you want, even when I'm not there. I want you to know that I'm aware of the fact that I don't say it much, but I want you in my life for as long as you'll have me."
"This means so much to me," Waverly was surprised her voice didn't fail her.
"Merry Christmas, Waverly Earp. I love you," Nicole brushed her lips over her girlfriend's, but the brunette wouldn't have the tease. She deepened the kiss, without worrying about her family inside the house.
"You know, I bought something for you as well," Waverly was breathless. "And I'm wearing it right now, under this Christmas sweater. It also might involve some dancing and singing."
"Merry Christmas to me," Nicole bit her lower lip.
"You two, come back inside before you freeze," Willa shouted from the door.
"If you burn the potatoes again, I swear I'm making you eat just salad," Wynonna followed her older sister.
"We're coming," Waverly entwined their fingers.
"They do it on purpose. I swear," Nicole whispered harshly.
The redhead pretended to be annoyed for a few moments, but she didn't manage to keep the angry face for too long. It was Christmas after all.
One day I'll come into your world and get it right
I'll say we're better off together here tonight
Come on, jump out at me
Come on, bring everything
Is it too much to ask for something great?
You're all I want
So much it's hurting