Finally Home: Wayhaught

“What if I like that?” Wynonna smirked, tipping back her cup of coffee.

Nicole’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “I am literally a day away from proposing to your sister, are you freaking kidding?” She sipped her beer at a much more reasonable pace.

With a snort, Nicole grabbed the mug and pulled it away to stop the fidgeting. “Are you seriously telling me you wanted us to make a big show of this?” She raised a brow over her beer can.

“Smart ass.” The brunette mumbled now fiddling with the cuff of her leather jacket.

Sitting up a little on the cushions, Nicole tilted her head with a gentle smile. “Seriously though, how are you feeling about it all.” 

Wynonna shrugged, letting her mind drift for a moment back to how she’d felt when she found out…

Scattered over the bathroom floor, all positive, twenty seven pregnancy tests. Twenty seven, every single one they had at the store. She couldn’t stay in the bathroom any longer; it was freezing, but her entire body felt like it was burning, she had to get out, to go somewhere - anywhere. There was only one person she wanted to see, one person who wouldn’t force her to make a decision, who wouldn’t judge her or tell anyone else: her sister.

Sitting on the cold steps of her sister’s house, she started regretting not thinking through any of her decisions. She’d run out of the house and sped here without thinking and now she was freezing her gorgeous ass off on the stone steps, without her phone and unable to call her sister. Despite all of that she couldn’t leave. There was no where to go. She couldn’t go home, all of the tests had been left in her bathroom, she couldn’t see them again. She couldn't tell Doc, what if he wanted to keep it… or what if he didn’t want to keep it. Either way she didn’t want the answer. She would have told Nicole, but she would be with Waverly anyway. The only place she had to be, the only place she wanted to be, was developing a mild case of hypothermia on the freezing step of her sister and best friend's house.

As if on cue, the squad car rolled up to the driveway and Wynonna leapt up, sprinting over to her sister. "Waves, I really need to speak to you babygirl.” She pleaded and Waverly’s eyes widened as she looked over to Nicole quickly.

The redhead stepped past them both, handing Waverly the keys to her squad car. “I’ll go inside and feed Whiskey and CJ and let you talk.” She kissed Waverly’s cheek and and nodded with a small smile at Wynonna, walking past and through the front door.

“Wynonna what is going on?” Waverly sobered up almost instantly at the look of distress on her sisters face.

“Let’s just get in the car, I’m freezing my top shelf tittles off.” Wynonna crossed her arms over her chest and stormed towards the car, Waverly hurrying after her and unlocking the door.

Once sat next to each other in the car, Waverly started to panic a little bit at the silence. “Okay you’re really freaking me out right now Wynonna.” She swallowed hard, blinking to re-adjust her eyes as the soft light from the car shut off and they were left in the late evening darkness. “If you’re dying just tell me, I want to know, I can help, I just-“

“I’m not dying.” Wynonna rolled her eyes, reaching into her pocket and pulling out one of the pregnancy tests. Without looking, she held it out to her sister, shutting her eyes. “I’m pregnant.”

Waverly sucked in air with an almost inaudible squeak. “Woah, uh holy… holy shit.” She twisted the pregnancy test round as if somehow the change of position would change the result, trying to adjust her eyes in the darkness to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. Finally, she looked up at her sister who was now looking at her too.

Wynonna didn’t say anything, she just leaned back in the chair, squeezing her eyes shut. Suddenly, Waverly was 13 again, sitting cross legged on Wynonna’s bed with a mug of hot chocolate which she’d been allowed as a treat. She remembered wondering why Wynonna was being so nice to her, why she’d made her hot chocolate and held her hand. She remembered the look of fear, hurt and confusion on her sisters face as she told her Mama had left and trying to figure it all out in her head in the moment.

“Okay, okay.” Waverly nodded, finally recovering from the initial shock and realising her sister needed her. “Okay, it’s okay. Are you okay?” She shifted in the seat, brushing Wynonna’s hair behind her ear so she could see her sister properly. She wanted to ask if Wynonna wanted to keep the baby, if Doc wanted too, if they’d ever spoken about it, if she was sure, but none of those questions seemed appropriate. Waverly knew her sister better than anyone and she could see on her sisters face she was terrified and confused and not to push.

The older Earp let out a short laugh which almost sounded like a sob. “I don’t know Waves. How can I be okay? I’m pregnant. Like there’s a… inside me!” 

Waverly smiled softly. “I know, but we have time. You’re still so early on, you have options Wynonna.” She stroked her sisters hair.

“I don’t even know what I want babygirl.” Wynonna shook her head in frustration and Waverly lifted her hand up to turn the car light on so she could see her sisters face. She felt 20 again, sitting Wynonna down on the rails of the homestead porch and trying to explain to her that she thought she liked girls. Remembering how Wynonna told her it was okay not to know and that she’d figure it out. She remembered Wynonna promising that no matter what, she was here to help and support her and then telling her that she’d always thought J-Lo was a total smoke show. She remembered her joking that if she liked both it just meant she had more options. It had amazed her that Wynonna had known exactly what to say, how she’d found the perfect balance between caring and joking. 

“That’s okay too.” Waverly dropped her hand to take Wynonna’s in her own, rubbing her thumb over it softly the way Nicole always did to calm her down. “I’m going to be here for all of it, no matter what you decide.” She promised with a soft voice. All that could be heard was Wynonna’s unsteady breathing and Waverly’s sighs as she tried to think of the best way to help her older sister.

After a moment of silence, Wynonna sighed loudly. “I never thought I wanted kids, but now this is happening I don’t know anymore.” She shook her head, pressing her palms into her eyes.

Waverly nodded and looked out the windscreen for a second in thought. “Well start here, why wouldn’t you want kids?” She asked carefully, casting a glance back to her sister. Inside the house she could see the light coming from their cosy living room and a tall shadow padding from the stairs round the corner to the kitchen. She smiled a little, knowing her girlfriend was in their house, cooking them dinner and feeding their pets. “Is it Doc?”

With a little laugh Wynonna shook her head. “No. I mean yes, a little bit, of course it is. We weren’t trying Waves.” Wynonna turned in her seat now so she was facing Waverly, who tore her gaze from the glowing window and back towards her sister.

“I know.” Waverly nodded. “But that doesn’t mean he won’t be excited. Have you never spoken about it?”

Again Wynonna shook her head. “We don’t all have perfect communication skills.

Waverly snorted, unable to hide it. “We definitely do not have perfect communication skills.” She thought back to her avoiding Nicole just last week and before that to the mishap with the pain medication. Definitely not perfect. “But I guess long distance gave us a little practice.”

Wynonna squinted at her little sister, but didn’t push further. “It’s not Doc.” She sighed. “But how am I supposed to tell him if I don’t even know what I want?” Her shoulders dropped and Waverly reached out again, squeezing her arm gently.

“Hey, that’s a good thing. That’s exactly when you should talk to him.” Waverly explained. “You can decide together, but forget about him for a second. How do you feel about it?”

“I feel like an idiot.” Wynonna admitted, biting her lip a little. “I can’t believe this is happening to me, but mostly I can't believe I thought I could go through my entire life without ever talking about it.” She sighed. 

“You’re not an idiot Wynonna. This hasn’t ever been in the vicinity of your thought, you’ve had a lot to deal with and this…” she waved her arms around. “This is not your fault and how you’re feeling is so so normal.” 

Wynonna let out a wet laugh and leant across to rest on Waverly’s shoulder, her body shaking more than the small girl had realised in the darkness of the car. “Is it normal to feel like I’m going to be the worst mom alive?”

Waverly smiled and wrapped an arm over her big sister’s shoulder, rubbing her arm gently. “I think that’s the most normal thing of all.” She assured Wynonna, pausing as she saw the blinds shut in her house. “But you’re not.” Waverly removed her arm and turned to Wynonna, trying to demonstrate how serious this was. “You’re not going to be the worst mom. If anything you’re going to be the best, because you care for the people you love so much more than anyone else I know.” She watched as Wynonna shifted a little bit uncomfortably. “I’m serious Wynonna. You don’t even have to say it, but I know you would do anything for me… and Doc and even Nicole if it came down to it. If you choose to keep it, this baby will be the luckiest little one alive to have you as her mama.”

Suddenly, Wynonna dropped her head on Waverly’s shoulder and the younger girl rubbed the back of her head slowly. “I’ve got you, we all have, you’re not in this alone.”

The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, outside entirely dark now as night settled, Wynonna sniffling softly, trying to contain her sobs and Waverly gently stroking her hair until she was ready to look up and face the world again. Eventually Wynonna sat up and sighed heavily, looking over at her truck.

“Do you wanna stay the night?” Waverly asked quietly with a genuine smile.

Wynonna frowned and narrowed her eyes. “I mean that depends, am I going to have to listen to you two getting it on all night.” 

Shaking her head, Waverly grinned. “No, I pinky promise.” She held out her little finger and with a snort, Wynonna took it. “Just dinner and a movie? You can have the spare room."

“Can I pick the movie?” Wynonna raised a brow and Waverly giggled.

“If you can convince Nicole, sure.” She opened the car door and walked round to hold her sisters arm as they walked into the house.

“You can convince her, she’ll do whatever you want.” Wynonna’s eyes sparkled, partly with unspilled tears, but partly with the mischief of getting her sister to take her side this one time.

“She does not do whatever I want!” Waverly protested as she locked the front door behind them. 

Instantly, Nicole came round the corner, the smell of vegan cheese and garlic floating behind her. She stopped quickly when she saw both the Earp’s instead of just her girlfriend. “Hey, uh everything good?” She asked innocently, knowing Wynonna well enough to not make a big deal out of the fact she’d obviously been crying.

“Yeah, Wynonna is staying for a movie night.” Waverly willed Nicole with her eyes to understand not to push and the redhead had good enough people skills and a good enough understanding of the Earp dynamic to catch on immediately

“Sure, I made vegan carbonara.” She leant down to kiss Waverly’s cheek, knowing it was what she would always do and didn’t want to make Wynonna feel different with whatever was going on. “Oh and I got a bottle of the new whiskey from Shorty’s!” Nicole winked at Waverly, having gotten it for their date night, but not told her girlfriend.

Wynonna’s eyes shot to Waverly in panic and Waverly immediately turned to Nicole, trying not to make a moment out of it. “I’m too tired to drink tonight, let’s just have hot chocolate.” She strolled into the kitchen, ignoring the way that Nicole’s eyes narrowed and widened in realisation.

“Wait- you’re not drinking? Are you… you’re not?” Nicole gaped at Wynonna who just nodded and then before the redhead could say anything else, shook her head, warning her not to push.

“Woah, o-okay sure hot chocolate it is.” Nicole nodded, and the pair of friends walked into the kitchen where Waverly was already serving up carbonara, smiling to herself and humming to Ariana Grande as she’d obviously changed the station which Nicole had been listening to.

Waverly looked up from where she had just dropped into a chair. “So want to watch From Dusk till Dawn?” She asked, knowing it was one of Wynonna’s favourite films from their teen days. Nicole tilted her head at her, knowing Waverly hated most Tarantino films, but sighed and relented anyway, because she’d never judge what her girlfriend wanted to watch.

“Yeah sure cutie.” She nodded, sitting opposite her and Wynonna to her right, all enjoying the freshly cooked meal.

“I’m feeling better about it I guess.” Wynonna shuffled a little. “Doc’s actually been surprisingly good with it all.” She let out a breathy laugh.

“You sound surprised.” Nicole grinned, sipping her beer.

“Well yeah, in case you forgot the man is so emotionally restrained he makes Kristen Stewart look like Waverly.”

Nicole snorted, a little beer coming out her nose and making her cough. After composing herself and entirely ignoring Wynonna roaring with laugher at her, she managed to reply. “Yeah but you know he loves you Wynonna and he will do anything for that kid right?” 

Wynonna nodded, hiding half her face behind the mug. “Oh yeah, for sure.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s a helicopter dad and the kid isn’t even here yet.”

Nicole laughed again, nodding. “I knew he would be. You’re gonna be great parents.” Her tone was entirely serious and Wynonna could tell she was being genuine just from the way she held herself and the way she lowered her beer as sign of it.

“Don’t think you’re getting out of babysitting by being a kiss ass Haught.” Wynonna teased, changing the subject.

“Excuse me have you met my girlfriend, it’s all she’s spoken about for the past month.” Nicole widened her eyes dramatically.

Wynonna flicked her eyes towards the clock. “Speaking of, what time are you collecting her?”

“Gotta be at Chrissy’s in 20 mins, when will Doc be back?” Nicole started to stand up.

“He’ll be home in 10 minutes anyway.” Wynonna held out her hand. “Oi! Pregnant woman here, help me up miss Sheriff.” She slapped Nicole’s thigh and the redhead winced, but bent down to pull her up anyway.

“You’re only one month pregnant, god knows how annoying you’re gonna be by 9 months.”

Wynonna squinted at her, but walked over to the door and pulled it open as Nicole made her way out into the night.

“Don’t forget your part of tomorrow.” Nicole pointed a finger, walking backwards towards the car and Wynonna faked a bow, mockingly.

“Yes ma’am.” She teased and Nicole flipped her off, jumping into the front seat and pulling out, excited for the next couple of days.

With a huff, Waverly rounded the corner from the kitchen, pulling on her cardigan and wrapping it around her body. “Fine, but you can’t be any longer than ten minutes, because Nicole is supposed to be here soon.” She held out her hand for the controller, wiggling her fingers until Wynonna dropped it in her hand. Since she played a lot more frequently with Nicole, she wasn’t as nervous to play online anymore because she was a lot better at the games. Still, she had never spoken to anyone online since the very first time - when she met Nicole - because she’d never wanted to speak to anyone else. With a scowl she took the controller and sat down, warning her sister with her eyes not to take too long.

“Hi!” She squeaked down the headset, then cleared her throat, realising how high pitched her voice was. The past two years she’d learned a lot and realised when her nerves would become apparent in her voice. She was a lot better at maintaining composure in public now. “I’m Wynonna’s sister, she’ll be back in ten minutes, but we can play in the meantime.” Waverly smiled and leant back. “Oh I’m Waverly by the way.” She let out a soft laugh and rubbed her hand on her neck gently, nervously.

Finally there was a sound on the other end of the mic; a soft, deep rough laugh echoed and Waverly felt her heart flutter instantly, her entire skin tingling as she sat upright on the couch. “Nicole?” She instantly asked, her voice rising in pitch again.

The girl laughed again and sighed. “I didn’t even get to say anything yet.”

Waverly bit her lip, biting back a smile at the fact her sister and girlfriend must have set this up. “You didn’t have to.” She giggled a little. “I thought you got called into work?” The clock on the wall said 3pm. Even though it was Saturday, Nicole was supposed to be working until at least 6pm and that was if she didn't have to stay late like usual.

“I did, I left early.” Nicole lulled back and Waverly shook her head, her smile so wide now it was actually hurting her cheeks.

Waverly opened and closed her mouth, trying to find the right thing to ask next, but so in awe of everything going on and so in love with her adorable girlfriend, that she couldn’t figure out what to say. She didn’t have to though as Nicole started speaking again.

“So anyway, I know we just met but you seem nice and you have the most adorable giggle and I heard that there’s this bar nearby that is having an open mic night and I was wondering if maybe you wanted to meet up and-“ she was cut off when Waverly couldn’t hold in her giggle any longer.

“Nicole are you asking me on a date?” She blushed, even through a screen Nicole could give her goosebumps and that nervous excitement.

“Yes I am.” Nicole lulled, lowering her voice a little bit. "Waverly Earp will go on a date with me to Shorty’s?”

Waverly grinned and fiddled with the buttons on her controller excitedly, unable to sit still in her excitement. “Yes of course I will!” She swallowed and tried to contain her giddiness. “As long as you play me at this game first.” She teased, her cheeks on fire from blushing and smiling so much.

“You mean beat you at this game?” Nicole teased back, already part of the way through the loading screen.

“Oh in your dreams!” Waverly giggled, shaking her head.

“So competitive!" Nicole teased and Waverly bit her lip.

“So cocky.” She lulled back and started to run as the characters loaded into the screen.

“One game.” As she ducked behind a barn, Nicole started to explain the plan. “One game then get dressed and meet me at Shorty’s at 5?”

Sticking her head out from the barn opposite, Waverly aimed at where she knew Nicole was hiding. “Sure, what will you be wearing so I know how to find you?” She teased, remembering their discussion before the convention.

“Nope, nice try Waverly Earp.” Nicole shot back, meaning both the question and her aiming; before Waverly had been able to fire the shot, Nicole had darted out and shot her quickly, taking half her HP.

“Damn.” Waverly growled, running inside the barn and up the stairs, trying to get a better view, but not realising Nicole had followed her up there.

“Well what should I wear then?” She muttered, looking out the window, tongue poking her cheek as she focused, not even noticing Nicole behind her.

“Surprise me.” The redhead lulled as she shot her girlfriend from behind and Waverly let out a little squeal in surprise. “See you in a couple of hours cutie.” She added on and Waverly instantly didn’t care about losing the game anymore, the excitement of their date flooding back through her veins and warming her entire body.

“Love you!” Waverly half yelled before the call ended and heard a breathy laugh back from her girlfriend.

“Love you too.” Nicole muttered before ending the call and jumping up to get ready.

Waverly turned her head toward her sister in the drivers seat of the old, battered Earp truck. Something was off about Wynonna tonight, but she couldn’t put her finger on it so she just put it down to hormones.

“Have fun on your sexy date.” Wynonna teased, before leaning over and pressing a kiss to her sisters forehead. Waverly smiled excitedly and nodded when Wynonna pulled away, hand already on the door handle. She felt 14 again; the gates of her new high school waiting for her as Wynonna egged her on with a hug and a sarcastic but secretly heartwarming speech. Except this time she didn’t wish it was her mama there to drop her off instead and she wasn’t scared to get out of the car, panicking in her head about how she would be able to stomach Stephanie Jones’ digging. This time she wouldn’t want it to be anyone other than her older sister dropping her off and inside she wouldn’t have to pretend to be anyone other than herself with the person she loved.

“Oh I will.” Waverly wiggled her eyebrows and pushed open the door and stepped out. Her white bohemian dress floated around her shins, pulled in at the waist by a faux leather belt. She shifted her fedora style hat on her head and stuck her tongue out at her sister who made a gagging noise at her, before shutting the door and walking quickly towards the entrance of her favourite bar. 

Waverly pushed through the doors, letting them swing behind her and instantly finding her girlfriend. Nicole was sat at the bar, facing away from her and leaning forward, resting her exposed forearms on the wood of the bar top. She had on the same baseball t-shirt from the time they’d first met, but instead of her converse she had on redwing boots and a leather jacket. Instantly Waverly’s excitement took over and she started to practically run towards Nicole, catching herself and not wanting to shock the redhead. “Nicole?” She breathed out softly as Nicole stood up and turned to face her instantly, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her in close. Waverly instinctively leant into the hug; it might have only been this morning she’d seen her girlfriend, but the excitement of the spontaneous date had made the last two hours feel like a lifetime.

“I got you something.” Nicole grinned down at Waverly, reaching behind her to slide a paper bag off the bar and handing it to the brunette.

Squinting at the smirk on Nicole’s face for a second, Waverly looked down into the bag and felt her smile widen. “Is this?”

“The exact same brand.” Nicole winked as Waverly pulled out the donut and took a bite.

“You remembered I’m vegan?” She teased and Nicole bent down, kissing her and licking a little of the sugar off Waverly’s lip.

“Yeah, but mostly I just remembered how cute you look with powdered sugar on your nose.”

Waverly shook her head, blushing and kissed Nicole again quickly, linking her hands at the small of Nicole’s back.

“Shorty saved us a table, look, come with me.” The sheriff took Waverly’s hand and led her to a table at the back of the room, away from the door, pool table and bar. Fairy lights were draped over the back of the booth and there was a candle flickering in the middle of the table and a few flower petals scattered around it.

As she looked at Nicole, Waverly noticed how her eyes sparkled in the dim light of the corner of the room and her dimples popped as she smiled at her. Waverly slid past her girlfriend and into the booth as Nicole slid down opposite her, handing her two menus.

The hour flew by, filled with giggles and loving stares whilst the jukebox rolled through the few tracks which Shorty kept loaded up. Waverly sipped her glass of white wine and pushed her now empty plate aside, leaning forward and smiling with a gentle blush at her girlfriend. The flush in her cheeks and the soft giggles escaping a tipsy Waverly’s lips, brought Nicole back to Toronto. The first night when she’d bought Waverly dinner, when she’d heard her sing for the first time and experienced what it was to forget everything except one person. The same feeling caught Nicole off guard at the most spontaneous moments: when she walked in the front door to find Waverly with her sweatpants on, hair in a messy bun, chewing on a pen in mid thought; finding Waverly dancing around the kitchen feeding their pets attempting to sing along to songs she knew none of the words too; hearing Waverly's perfect voice drifting from the shower or the way the small girl’s hand instinctively twisted around the hair at the nape of her neck when they cuddled on the couch or kissed in the morning. Everyday, even after two years Nicole found a moment where Waverly took her breath away or she forgot everything else in the room.

Right now was one of those moments.

“I’m not singing this time.” Waverly’s voice brought her back to the present.

“Huh?” She asked, sipping her beer.

Waverly grinned, knowing exactly where Nicole had gone, because she felt the same way whenever she was with Nicole. “I said I’m not drunk enough to sing in front of all these people this time.” She giggled and Nicole shrugged.

“That’s okay, you can sing for just me when we get home.” Nicole winked and as if on cue the man who had just sung the final song stepped down and the jukebox started on an Ariana Grande song.

With wide eyes, Waverly turned back to look at the track list, noticing all of the same ones, except number 29 which had been changed to Moonlight. “Did you change it?”

Nicole nodded and rolled her lips. “Did you see the number?”

“29.” Waverly nodded back. “The day we met.” She added as Nicole grinned at her, leaning forward with her elbows on the table.

“I love you.” She muttered and Waverly leant forward to press their lips together in a chaste kiss, beaming from ear to ear.

“How did you convince Shorty to change a song, I spent my entire teenage years asking to play ABBA on that thing.” Waverly giggled and Nicole rolled her eyes.

“It’s only for today and it’s only one song.” She paused, rubbing her hands over her thighs. “Besides, Shorty would do anything if it was for you.” She laughed lightly and Waverly leant back in her chair, a warming comfort washing over her. “Are you ready to go?”

Waverly tilted her head to the side, slightly confused in her happy daze. “Go where?”

Nicole stood up and held out her hand, pulling Waverly up from the chair and handing her a coat. “It’s a surprise.” She replied, her breath warm and tickling against Waverly’s ear as she kissed her cheek and led her outside, holding her hand.

Half an hour later, Nicole parked outside Mattie’s brewery and Waverly turned to face her. The brunette’s skin was a gorgeous tanned tone in the soft glow of golden hour, and her eyes sparkled, the green glimmer entwining with the forest around them.

“Nicole, have you brought me back to the place we came before you broke up with me?” She asked with a raised brow and Nicole rolled her eyes, squinting at her.

Nicole ignored her question and moved round to Waverly’s door, opening it and helping her out the car. “So chivalrous.” She teased, wrapping her arms around the taller girl’s waist.

“I brought you here because this is where I first knew I wanted to spend my life with you. Yeah I made some stupid decisions after realising that, but I want to make new memories with you. I want anywhere we have bad experiences to be reinvented and to only think of the my favourite memories and all of those include you.” Nicole explained and Waverly blushed, looking down for a second, before back up and catching Nicole’s eye, leaning up and pulling her into a passionate kiss.

“Glad you’re still not planning to kill me.” She whispered, kissing Nicole again and getting a small groan from the older girl.

“You’re never going to let that go are you?” Nicole replied, pulling out a little backpack from the back seat and slinging it over her shoulder, taking Waverly’s hand in hers and leading them up the hill towards the forest trail.

“Of course I’m not going to let it go. It’s our thing!” Waverly replied, squeezing her hand gently.

“It’s so unromantic.” Nicole complained. “I want a new thing.” She pouted, looking down at Waverly and her girlfriend smirked.

“That’s not how it works. You’re stuck with it.” She shrugged.

“This is what I get for trying to be romantic.” Nicole pouted again and Waverly almost tripped over a stray tree root, not paying attention to anything other than Nicole. The redhead laughed loudly, her deep, rough voice echoing with birdsong thought the trees lit by an early evening glow. “I guess there are worse things to be stuck with.” She winked and Waverly bit her lip gently, rubbing her thumb across Nicole’s hand.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while longer through the trees, Nicole having to lift Waverly up a few areas so the girl didn’t ruin her new boots and Waverly refusing to let go of Nicole’s hand even when it meant having to squeeze through small gaps together. Finally they reached the clearing in the trees, hands clasped together between their bodies, swinging idly as they stood looking over the view of the forest below them. Nicole swung the backpack off her shoulder, dropping to her knee to unclasp it and pull out a blanket and some beer. She pulled Waverly down with her and leant against a tree trunk as Waverly curled up in her lap, both still looking out over the view below.

“Here.” She mumbled, cracking the can and passing it to Waverly who sat up a little to drink it, eyes scanning the label.

“Is this from Mattie’s?”

“Yeah, I think it was your favourite one, right?” Nicole questioned, running her hand slowly through Waverly’s slightly windswept, wavy hair. 

“Yeah - I love this one!” She replied, pausing and turning to look up at Nicole instead of the forest. “Why did you do all of this?” She wasn’t asking because she didn’t like it, or because it was unlike Nicole to be spontaneously romantic. But this was more than usual, and she couldn’t think of any anniversary or event coming up. If it had just been Shorty’s, or the hike she wouldn’t have even thought anything of it, but the number on the jukebox, the beer and the combination of everything all together was a lot to plan.

Nicole shrugged, casually. “We haven’t been on a proper date for a few months and I missed it, and you. You deserve it.” She smiled, pushing some of Waverly’s hair out of her face and brushing her thumb against her lips. Instinctively, Waverly kissed her thumb, smiling at the sentiment. 

“It was really sweet, thank you. You really are amazing.” She replied, reaching up to hold Nicole’s hand and shifting her body so they were both looking out at the forest as the sun began to set in the sky. Nicole felt her hands begin to get a little clammy with the weight of the evening and what was still to come. She tried to focus on the amber and yellows mixing together like lava in the glowing sky, or the rustling of the trees around them, but all she could see was the little creases by Waverly’s crescent moon eyes as she smiled out at the scene and all she could hear was the soft, content breathing from her girlfriend.

An hour and a half later they were back in the car, headed for what Waverly expected to be their house, but Nicole had other plans. She had been almost silent the entire drive, overthinking and second guessing everything in her head. It wasn’t that she thought Waverly would say no, she was sure that her girlfriend wanted to marry her, but it was more that she was scared the moment wouldn’t be perfect. She had planned everything out so intricately, every detail, every stop, every timing, every person involved, but she hadn’t planned what she was going to say. She had convinced herself it would come easier in the moment, but suddenly she was beginning to regret that. When she was around Waverly sometimes she entirely forgot words and now all she could think was what if she forgot everything and messed this all up. Waverly would want to marry her no matter what, but more than anything, her girl deserved this moment, they both deserved this moment and it was down to her to get it right.

“What’s wrong?” Waverly asked, turning down the radio, her eyes locked on Nicole’s silhouetted side profile.

Tapping her thumb mindlessly on the wheel of the squad car, Nicole smiled a little. “Nothing, I’m just thinking.” She assured.

“Care to share?” Waverly twisted so she didn’t have to strain her neck to look at Nicole, never taking her eyes off her once.

Nicole’s smile grew as she was pulled out of her own head for the first time since getting into the car. “About how lucky I am.”

Waverly blushed at the sentiment, running her hands along the cup holder, tracing it with her fingers. “I really think I’m the luckiest.” She muttered back.

Nicole stopped at the crossroads, held up by a red light and instead of carrying on straight, towards town, where their house was, she indicated right, heading towards the homestead.

“This isn’t the way home.” Waverly squinted out the windshield, surprised by the sudden turn. Nicole felt her heart flutter a little at the word, home. She was filled with a little more confidence for everything that was about to unfold, holding onto the fact that it was just Waverly, that they were in this together and that she could do this.

“I know, I’ve got one more surprise.” She spun the wheel effortlessly, pulling into the driveway of the homestead and Waverly sat back in her seat, not bothering to hide her grin.

“You know one day you’re gonna run out of surprises baby.” She teased, her eyes flickering in the dim car light.

“Not a chance.” Nicole smirked, leaning across to kiss her before pulling herself out of the car and round to Waverly’s door.

Instantly, she connected their hands and walked with the girl towards the wooden archway which marked the start of Earp land. She was impressed to see Wynonna had actually managed to cover the wood in fairy lights and the odd flower, even if they had been rather precariously shoved in amongst the wire form the lights. Her lips twitched a little at the effort Wynonna would go to for her younger sister.

Her heart hammered recklessly against her chest, but her eyes sparkled as she recalled the first time she had tried to ask Waverly to be her girlfriend and how Waverly had been so freaked out she’d had to blurt it out. They’d come so far to now she thought, even though she was a million times more nervous, she was also a million times more comfortable, something which she never even thought possible, but which made this moment all the more intimate and special.

“Nicole what are you doing?” Waverly asked looking at the fairy lights. “Did you do this? When?”

Nicole shook her head. “No, Wynonna. I asked her to.” She reached out and took Waverly’s hand, trying to bring the focus back to them and this moment.

Before Waverly could open her mouth to reply, Nicole inhaled sharply and wiped her free hand down her jeans. She took both of Waverly’s hands into her own and rubbed her thumb over them mindlessly, trying to ignore the confusion on her girlfriends face and steadying her breathing.

“Waverly, everywhere I go I think of you.” Nicole tried, trying to figure out how to start this speech which she had hoped would flow naturally. “You remind me of the sunset in the forest, the way the light filters through the trees, making you glow like an angel. You remind me of hidden bars and old pianos, of small-town karaoke and night time city lights. No matter where I go Waverly Earp, you’re there with me because I am so so in love with you.” She sucked in a huge breath; she hadn’t even realised she’d stopped breathing at the beginning of that speech.

Waverly’s eyes widened and Nicole felt her squeeze her hand slightly, her own heart pounding now so much she felt like she was going to faint.

“A beautiful song once said ‘the maps of our faces tell us tales, show us where to go and sometimes you read one, you already seem to know. That’s the road you want to travel and that’s the face you want to see when you turn out the lights and when you drift off to sleep.' You are that person Waves.’” Nicole continued, her eyes sparkling a little in the flickering fairy lights and her cheeks as flushed as Waverly’s now with every word she spoke. “When I met you I forgot everything else, nothing before you mattered anymore. Whenever anything exciting or terrifying happens, the only one I want to tell is you. I feel like the universe gave me a gift when I met you, the one person I trust with everything and who makes me a better person. I want to spend forever showing you how incredible you are if you’ll let me."

She dropped onto one knee, her breath heavy as she let go of Waverly’s shaking hand. 

A soft, “oh my god,” fell from the brunette’s lips as she clasped one hand over her mouth, the other hanging between Nicole and herself. Nicole pulled out the box from her back pocket which she had slipped in when exiting the car and brought it in front of her, opening it. The tiny sapphire sparkled in the soft, amber light and Nicole lifted her gaze from the ring to Waverly whose eyes were sparkling with the same mesmerising glimmer as the gemstone.

“Waverly when I’m with you I don’t even want to sleep because for the first time in my life, being awake is better than anything in my dreams. So…” Nicole smiled, comforting Waverly in her gentle eyes and crooked smile. “Waverly Earp, will you marry me?” 

Waverly’s eyes widened and her brow moved in shock as a look of pure love flooded her eyes, a small tear dropping. “Oh my god I can't believe this is real, this is actually happening, we’re doing this.” She rambled and Nicole let out a soft laugh.

“Is that a yes? Because my hip still isn’t 100% Waves.” She teased and Waverly nodded excitedly, her giggling flooding through Nicole like a drug, causing her entire body to relax as she stood up and wrapped her arms around Waverly tightly.

“Yes, it’s a yes, of course it’s a yes. One hundred percent yes!” Waverly exclaimed happily, her arms pulling Nicole as tight as possible, their heavy breathing and ecstatic laughter warming the air around them.

“Okay, here.” Nicole pulled back, reaching for Waverly’s hand and holding out the ring to show her, before sliding it onto her finger.

“It’s a Sapphire.” Waverly beamed, looking up at Nicole. “It’s so beautiful.” She twisted her hand, catching the ring in the soft light, knowing she would spend weeks to come staring at it.

“It’s uh…” Nicole cleared her throat, getting emotional after everything that had unfolded this evening and how the moment somehow felt even more perfect than she’d expected. She shook her head a little, blinking away the water building up in her eyes. “I got it made, it’s half my grandad’s wedding band and it’s half one of Wynonna’s old rings.”

As Nicole explained the creation and idea behind the ring, Waverly flicked her eyes between the ring and her new fiancés face, letting the story soak in, standing in silence.

“I wanted Wynonna to be involved in this. She will always be your sister and I know she means everything to you. I promise you I will never come between that. This way, you’re wearing my ring, but there’s a part of your sister there too.” Nicole reached up and stroked Waverly’s jaw, thumb brushing away tears gently as the small girl reached up and held her hand, guiding it around to the back of her neck slowly.

“I love you so much. It’s perfect.” Waverly moved her hand back around to look at the ring, before reaching up and wrapping her hand around Nicole’s neck, twirling tiny red strands of baby hair around her fingers.

“I love you too, you make me so happy Waverly I can't even explain it.”

“I think you did a pretty good job.” Waverly grinned, her lips brushing against Nicole’s as she spoke, their hands around each others necks and their bodies so close they were sharing body heat.

“Yeah? All that matters is that you said yes.” Nicole breathed out, kissing Waverly softly at the end of her sentence.

The sound of Waverly’s giggle echoed around her as the brunette dropped from her toes and back down to flat ground. “Of course I said yes. All I’ve wanted from the second I met you was to spend forever with you. Every second of every day.” Waverly promised, rubbing her hands up and down Nicole’s arms mindlessly. “What song was that?” She tilted her head, eyes scanning Nicole’s face as though she couldn’t tear he eyes away.

“One that always reminds me of you, I’ll play it for you later I promise.” She took Waverly’s hands. “Let’s go inside, it’s cold out here.”

Before Waverly could ask why they were going to the homestead instead of back to their house, Nicole opened the door and the room erupted into cheer. For what felt like the hundredth time that night, Waverly’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she scanned the room.

Bunting hung from the wooden beams across the ceiling and fairy lights - which Waverly was convinced Nicole must have spent hundreds of dollars on - scattered across tables, chairs, cabinets and couches. Cheesy pop music echoed from Doc’s old stereo and western style balloons floated around the apartment. What caught her the most off guard though was the fact that everyone had dressed up, not too extravagantly, but there was a western tint to everyone's outfit, whether it was a neck scarf, suspenders, waist coats or even stetsons. All of her friends had been a part of this moment and yet somehow Nicole had managed to create the private intimate moment they’d shared outside at the same time.

“You did all of this?” Waverly breathed out, unsure whether to look at the room or Nicole, shaking her head in disbelief.

“It was the only way to do it.” Nicole smiled down at her, their hands entwined together at her hip, a blush creeping onto her cheek.

“WAVES!” Chrissy hurried over to her, guiding Rosita as she went.

“Let’s see the ring, I wanna see!” Rosita grabbed out with her arm which wasn’t in a sling, to pull Waverly’s hand towards her. There was a collective inhale between the two friends as Jeremy and Robin came up next to them. Behind Waverly she was slightly aware of her sister, Doc and Mikey congratulating Nicole for - in Wynonna’s words - “not being such a limp wet wipe and finally getting her shit together.”

Never in her life had Waverly felt this level of happiness. Everyone she loved in one room, her friends gushing over her ring; her fiancé sipping a beer, the familiar deep, musical laugh sending a rush of heat through her body; her sister and Doc, the longest family she had left, teasing and flirting in front of Nicole. For the first time in months everything felt perfect, today had been perfect. 

“Baby dance with me?!” Waverly giggled half an hour later; excitedly she pulled Nicole away from Robin and their intense basketball conversation.

She dragged Nicole past her sister and Rosita and through the small crowd of Nicole’s friends from the station and turned up the stereo a little. 'You’re the one that I want.’ Had just started and Waverly grinned as she wrapped her hands around Nicole’s hips as though she was going to slow dance, but bouncing a little too quickly for it to be considered one. She grinned, not even feeling embarrassed at all as she belted out the lyrics loudly and slightly less in tune than usual due to the pure happiness flooding her body.

“I got chills they’re multiplying.” She ran her hands over Nicole’s arms, her entire face lit up in a smile. “And I’m loosing control!” She tipped her head back and sang louder, the adorableness of the performance against the sexiness of the song drove Nicole wild, only Waverly could somehow pull off both at once. Waverly made a point of changing ‘a man’ to ’someone’ very loudly, causing Nicole to laugh at her dramatic efforts. The redhead finally joined in for the chorus line. “And my heart is set on you.” She mumbled, a lot softer than Waverly, never once taking her eyes off the flushed cheeks of her fiancé, ignoring everyone else in the room, some of whom were also on the dance floor (or the middle of the Earp homestead) dancing along.

Less than an hour later, everyone had slowly filtered out and Nicole and Waverly were curled up on the homestead couch, Doc and Wynonna opposite them on the other one.

“Do you think I need to prepare another shovel talk? Maybe this time I can use props!” Wynonna gestured over her shoulder to where her revolver was hanging from her gun belt at the door.

Waverly giggled, twisting Nicole’s shirt into her hand. “Please do, I’d love to see that.” Her eyes sparkled with happiness (and due to the vast amount of fairy lights still lighting up the room) and her back felt like it was burning under the gentle stroking of Nicole’s gentle hands.

“Um excuse me, you’re supposed to be on my side - you just agreed to marry me!” Nicole complained, pouting in pretend offence.

“Sorry fiancé, but you said it yourself, she’s always gonna be my sister.” Waverly teased, shrugging her shoulders softly.

“Where’s your ring Haught?” Wynonna squinted at the redhead’s hand wrapped around Waverly’s abs.

The small girl twisted to face her more easily. “You have a ring too?” She said excitedly, her voice squeezing as she thought of them having matching rings.

“Yeah, when we spoke about it a while ago you said you wanted us both to have them.” Nicole replied, running her hands through Waverly’s hair softly.

“Where is it?” Waverly mumbled sleepily, the excitement of the day catching up with her a little.

Nicole smiled, forgetting Wynonna and Doc were also in the living room. “It’s in the car, I didn’t get it out when I got yours.” She replied and Waverly pushed up a little brushing her hair back and pulling it up into a messy bun.

“Can you go and get it?” She asked sweetly, and Nicole nodded, shifting out from underneath her.

Wynonna gave her little sister a huge smile, lying in Doc’s lap with the man gently, absentmindedly rubbing her stomach which was still at this stage almost entirely flat. “How are you feeling about everything?” Wynonna asked softly, knowing Doc wasn’t paying attention to either of them and was lost in his own world.

With a genuine smile, Waverly let herself sink back into the couch, her fingers instinctively playing with the ring. “Actually, I feel really really happy.” She blushed a little, but Wynonna’s eyes fluttered for a second like it was the only thing she had ever wanted to hear.

“Good.” Wynonna nodded, everything needing to be said, told in the glimmer in her eye. “You deserve to be Waverly.” She added just before Nicole came back in from the cold, kicking off her boots. Waverly pushed up off the couch and padded over to her, leaning up to kiss her cheek and guiding her towards the stairs.

“I love you Wynonna.” She mumbled, smiling at her sister and Wynonna gave a gentle smile back.

“Goodnight babygirl, I love you too.” Her voice trailed off at the end, but Waverly caught it and knew if there was no one else here, her sister wouldn’t have hesitated to say it.

“Grab your earmuffs.” Nicole winked, heading towards the stairs, jumping a little when Waverly slapped her ass, pushing her faster up the stairs and shaking her head back at her sister squinting at them from the couch.

Upstairs, Nicole immediately pulled off her jeans, flopping down into the bed wearing her baseball shirt and underwear and Waverly dropped down next to her, still in her flowing white dress.

“I can't believe we’re engaged.” Waverly muttered, leaning up on her elbows and hovering over Nicole, brushing their noses together.

“I can.” The redhead replied, flexing her hands against Waverly’s waist and pulling her down on top of her as the small girl giggled at the unexpected act. Nicole pushed her head up, searching for Waverly’s lips which she found with ease as Waverly leant into the touch.

“Wait hang on, where’s your ring?” Waverly pressed her hand into Nicole’s chest looking down with wide eyes and Nicole laughed softly. 

“It’s there.” She nodded to the dresser beside her and Waverly leant across, pressing into Nicole hard as she grabbed the little box and sat back on her heels. For a moment they just stared at each other before Waverly reached out and pulled Nicole up to sitting, so she was straddling her legs. Carefully, Waverly popped open the box and took a second to admire the ring. It contained the same gemstones as her ring, but a slightly wider band with the stones pressed into it.

“Wow.” She breathed out, pulling it out and setting the box down on the sheets next to her.

“You like it?” Nicole asked, leaning back on her hands and Waverly nodded, biting her lip a little and smiling.

“I love it.” Waverly beamed. “I prefer mine though.” She winked and held her free hand, not holding the ring, out for Nicole. Without hesitation the redhead took her hand and Waverly smiled as she moved the ring toward Nicole’s hand.

“Nicole Haught.” She started, not sure where she was going with this, but knowing she could spend her entire life talking about everything she loved about her fiancé. “Before I met you I never thought any of this was possible. I thought I would never be able to let someone in after everything and if I did it would take years, but I didn’t even have to meet you to let down those walls. Every moment with you feels so natural and I have never, never, trusted anyone the way I trust you Nicole. You make my happiest moments even better and my lowest moments a little easier. I’ve known since you turned around in that convention centre that you were the one Nicole. Today has been so beyond what I expected and I can’t wait to call you my wife.” She lifted her shoulder slightly to wipe at her cheek and Nicole let out a little wet laugh, pulling Waverly in for a kiss before the brunette broke away and slid the ring on her finger.

“I really really love you Nicole Haught.” She added on, leaning into Nicole’s arms and kissing her passionately.

“And I really really love you Waverly Earp.” Nicole replied, sliding her hands up Waverly’s thighs and pushing at the dress. Waverly grinned against Nicole’s lips and gasped a little at the feeling of her cold hands against bare skin.

“We’re engaged.” She muttered breathlessly.

“We’re engaged.” Nicole echoed, pushing the dress over Waverly’s shoulders and pulling her against her, both of them breathlessly grinning against each other’s lips, entirely lost in each other and the moment.