Chapter Text
Waverly sat cross-legged on the lawn chair watching Nicole’s back as she bent under the truck’s hood. A small radio sitting on the ground beside her played low music into the sunny day. The sound of it occasionally distorted to her ears as she crunched on baby carrots from the bag held in her lap.
It had been a nice few days since they had their talk on the stairs. Things felt somehow simpler than they were before. Even if the bravery Nicole decided to feel that day had led to nothing more than a few quick kisses stolen away from Gus’ view, and Wynonna’s presence.
She focused on the way Nicole’s tank top stretched across her back. The sweat pasting the material to her skin, teasing the structure of the muscles below. She straightened with a sigh and removed her hat to swipe her arm across her forehead. Waverly smiled to herself and stood up. She laid a hand on her back when she approached, and Nicole turned her head. She grinned when she saw Waverly there, holding up a carrot towards her.
Nicole opened her mouth and accepted it with a crunch, speaking around the snack, “Thank you.”
They heard a small whine and looked down. Dozer sat watching them, pawing at the cone around his neck a few times as if to communicate what his complaint was.
Waverly chuckled and pulled out a carrot for him and squatted down. He sniffed it for a moment before deeming it safe and taking it. He chewed it up with sloppy chomps before settling back down in a huff. Accepting for the moment that the food was all he’d get from them and not the removal of the cone.
“Man, he hates that thing,” Nicole pointed out.
“Wouldn’t you?” Waverly asked with an amused smile and pet his head inside the cone, “But it’s good for you, ok? Just a few more days and you’re free.”
Nicole grinned down at the interaction, happy to have her there to give him attention while Nicole’s hands were messy. She turned back to the truck and picked her wrench back up.
“How’s it coming?”
Nicole glanced to Wynonna who was leaning against the side of the truck.
“Hey, where’ve you been?” Nicole asked, “You missed Dozer’s latest adventure.”
Wynonna looked over to where Waverly sat with the dog; she had lifted her head towards Nicole when she started talking and quickly realized who she must’ve been talking to.
“I know.”
Nicole’s forehead scrunched a bit in confusion, “Then why weren’t you here?”
Wynonna shrugged, “You didn’t need me.”
“What?” Nicole asked surprised, “That’s ridiculous.”
Wynonna just gave her a small smile and pushed off the truck. She walked around to stand beside her and looked at the engine.
“So…” she gestured towards it, “what’s the deal here?”
“Mostly done, actually. If I could get these damn rusted nuts to turn, I can replace the serpentine.”
“Well,” she grinned, “No one could ever accuse you of being good at handling nuts.”
“Shut up,” Nicole laughed, “Anyway, as soon as I replace the belt, in theory, we should be good.”
“In theory?”
“I mean, this is all based on what I can see from here,” she told her, “It’s not like I have a lift to let me get a good look underneath.”
Wynonna nodded in understanding and started slowly circling the truck, trailing her hand along its side.
“Oh, Eleanor,” she sighed, “We sure had some times, didn’t we?”
“Nicole?” Waverly asked quietly, “What’s she saying?”
“She’s talking to the truck.”
“She always did that,” Waverly smiled, “Can you tell me what she’s saying?”
Nicole nodded and watched Wynonna as she came back around the other side of the vehicle.
“She said Eleanor’s always been there; always taken her on great adventures, and – “she paused and looked at Waverly, “That she brought us here on this one.”
Waverly tilted her head and thought about the words, “She’s right.”
She stood back up and leaned on the front end of the car.
“It’s the reason you’re here,” she reminded her, “Fixing the fence, moving in, it all started because of this. A rusty old truck.”
Nicole smiled thoughtfully and pointed the wrench at Waverly, “All the more reason she deserves the best we got.”
“Exactly,” Waverly beamed, “So get to it, Haught.”
She tapped Nicole’s butt, causing her to jump a bit in surprise and let out a laugh. She put her hat back on with a wink.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She reached back in, sliding the wrench between the gaps to reach the nut, and using all her strength to finally get it to turn an inch. Emboldened by it, she made work of the rest, her arms burning from the effort it took.
“Hold these for me?” she asked, holding out the nuts to drop into Waverly’s hand.
“Are they greasy?” she asked with a grimace, not yet taking them.
“I mean, they came from the car, so…”
Wynonna chuckled, sitting on the roof of the truck, and watching them.
“I think little sister is afraid to get messy,” she pointed out. With a smile she went on, “Maybe you should help her conquer that.”
“What’s going on?” Waverly asked after a moment, seeing the way Nicole was looking quietly at the truck, “Did she say something?”
“Nothing,” she grinned, a mischievous spark in her eye, “I’ll just put them in the toolbox.”
She placed them together inside and smirked to herself before spinning around and grabbing Waverly’s arms with her greasy hands. Waverly yelped in surprise and tried to pull away.
“No!” she squeaked, “Nicole!”
“Oh, you have something on your face,” Nicole joked, “Here, let met.”
She tried to swipe a hand over her cheek as Waverly turned her face away.
“Don’t!” she laughed, moving backwards.
She bumped the chair awkwardly and knocked it over; her legs becoming tangled in it, and she stumbled. Nicole’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to keep her upright. She laughed and pulled them back a few steps.
“Saved your life,” she said playfully.
Waverly set her hands against Nicole’s chest.
“It doesn’t count if you caused it in the first place,” she joked back. She looked down at herself and pouted, “Now I’m all dirty.”
Nicole held up her hands and wiggled her fingers, “We match.”
“Mm,” she hummed, “It’s a look.”
“I’ve been told mechanic looks good on me.”
“Well then I’ll make sure not to repeat it,” she lifted an eyebrow, “Wouldn’t want you getting an ego.”
“God forbid,” Nicole laughed, “I’m almost done with this. I’ll finish here, you go clean up. You’re filthy.”
“Ass,” she said with a smack to her arm and walked to the house.
Dozer sat up and his coned head turned in exaggerated fashion to look between the two of them. Nicole watched him and shook her head with a grin.
“Go on,” she waved towards the house, “You know you want to.”
As if he’d been waiting for her permission, Dozer barked once and followed after Waverly. Nicole watched Waverly wait for him at the open door and sighed to herself as the two disappeared inside. She turned back around.
“He likes her, huh?”
Nicole looked at Wynonna with a shrug.
“More than me sometimes,” she chuckled, grabbing the new belt, and returning to the hood, “Almost feels like I’m getting…”
She stopped suddenly, her smile dropping when she realized what she was about to say and who it was to. Wynonna gave her a small smile and nodded.
“Replaced?” she finished for her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean- “
“Punk,” Wynonna stopped her, “Don’t apologize. That’s not what this is.”
She slid off the roof and walked over to her.
“I know you think somehow you’ve wronged me by having feelings. Which is ten kinds of ridiculous because you can’t control feelings, dummy,” she tapped Nicole’s forehead, “But I’ve told you before, all I want is you to be happy. I swear to…well, you know, Capital G upstairs. As long as you’re happy, I am one hundred percent for it. You took a big step towards it recently.”
She laid a palm over Nicole’s heart.
“You’re so close, Nicole,” she told her, “So close. There’s just one thing left for you to do.”
“Wha-What is it?”
“You’re gonna fix this car, and then the three of us are gonna go for a ride.”
X
Waverly came back downstairs, showered and free of any sweat and stains from her time outside. She smiled at the sight of Gus sitting on the floor, despite her age, and murmuring quietly to Dozer.
She’d noticed in the couple days since he’d been home, her aunt had been much more open in her affections for the dog. No longer dismissing or trying to cover it in the moments she was caught doting. The health scare had left the woman no choice.
“Sure your knees can take that?” Waverly teased as she entered the living room.
“Hush,” Gus answered, “Poor fella is miserable in this ridiculous thing.”
“He has to have it until the bite heals more.”
“Girlie, I’ve cared for more animals than you’ve even seen. I know he needs it, doesn’t mean we gotta like it,” she told her, “And whichever of you is closing my door every day, knock it off. He likes it in there.”
“Ok,” Waverly chuckled and moved to sit on the couch. As soon as she settled, however, Nicole burst through the front door.
“Jesus H, girl,” Gus said, “Who set your shoes on fire?”
She hurried to the sink and started washing her hands furiously, “I…I finished. It’s ready.”
“You did? And it works?”
“I don’t know,” Nicole answered, rubbing her hands on the towel, and turning back to them, “but it’s ready to try.”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Gus asked, “Let’s give it a go.”
Gus groaned as she started pulling herself off the floor. Waverly stepped over, taking her hand, and helping her to her feet.
“Not a word,” Gus warned her niece once she was standing, and Waverly mimed a zipper across her lips.
Nicole got in the driver’s seat while Gus and Waverly stood beside the truck.
“Ok,” Nicole said to herself and looked at the keys in her hand.
Wynonna put a hand on her shoulder and gave her an encouraging smile. Nicole nodded and took a breath. She kissed the key for good luck and slid it into the ignition.
“Come on, Eleanor,” she whispered and closed her eyes, “You can do it.”
She held her breath and turned the key.
The sound of the engine coming to life without a hiccup was easily one of the most beautiful sounds she’d ever heard. Gus and Waverly cheered outside the truck and Nicole’s breath left her chest in a laugh.
“It works!” Nicole announced happily, close to tears of joy as she looked at Wynonna.
She smiled brightly, “You ready to go for that drive?”
Nicole smiled back before leaning out the window.
“Waverly Earp, would you care to join me for a ride?”
Wynonna scooted over on the bench seat as Waverly came around.
“So where are we heading?” Nicole asked Wynonna.
“You’ll know when we get there,” she answered vaguely.
Having the truck out on the road was amazing. Air rushed by the open windows and the engine roared through Purgatory, taking them towards their unknown destination. Once Waverly learned Wynonna was with them as the navigator, she declared it a mini-road trip. She took to the radio, asking Nicole for Wynonna’s opinion on each song as she skimmed through the channels.
“Wait,” Wynonna said, holding up a hand as a song started coming through mid-play.
“This one,” Nicole instructed, recognizing the song immediately.
Waverly nodded and sat back, listening to the music she looked at Nicole, “I don’t know this one.”
Nicole’s smile turned soft, and she met Wynonna’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
“I do.”
She felt Wynonna’s hand rest on her thigh and cleared her throat quietly before starting to sing along.
“Oh, to be a dancer on the edge
I’d rip the filter from my mouth and all my cigarettes
But I know I won’t
I guess I was born an old soul”
The memory flashed through her mind. Muddy ground and summer rain with Wynonna in her arms.
“Old soul,” her voice fell off and Wynonna’s hand squeezed.
Chancing a look at her, she saw Wynonna with her eyes closed and a serene smile on her face. The song continued to play as the drove through the woods.
“Here,” Wynonna said without opening her eyes.
Nicole pulled onto the shoulder at her instruction. Waverly looked around at the trees. A spark of recognition coming to her.
“Wait, isn’t this the road- “
“Wynonna,” Nicole breathed anxiously, “What are we doing here?”
“Come on,” she instructed, standing outside Nicole’s door.
“I don’t want to be here,” Nicole said desperately, hands tightening on the steering wheel, “Please.”
Wynonna reached through the open window, cupping Nicole’s face and turning it to face her.
“Trust me,” she requested gently.
Nicole took a shaking breath and nodded. She turned off the truck and looked at Waverly.
“She-She wants us to follow her,” she said, “Out there.”
“Ok,” Waverly nodded nervously and laid her hand on Nicole’s arm, “Together. It-It’ll be ok.”
Nicole nodded tightly, and they exited the car at the same time. She knew didn’t need Wynonna to lead her, she knew exactly how many steps from the road they were going. Nicole stopped when she reached a tree with a crude X carved into the bark. A remembrance she’d put there on a drunk, miserable night. Nicole’s eyes moved from the tree to the ground, plant growth among the dirt evidence of time passing.
“This is it,” she mumbled.
Waverly took a breath, “You mean this is the…the spot where- “
“Yep,” the voice made Waverly jump as a pair of boots stepped onto the very spot they were focused on. Waverly swallowed and her eyes travelled upwards until they settled on a sight she thought she’d never see again. Wynonna, backlit by the sun with her hands on her hips, “This is where I died.”
She took large, shuddering breaths, tears instantly springing to her eyes. She covered her mouth with her hand for a moment before daring to speak.
“Wynonna?” she said breathlessly.
Wynonna smiled, eyes wet and voice soft.
“Hi, BabyGirl.”
Waverly moved forward, arms ready to hug her sister, but hesitated.
“Am I able to- “
“Get in here,” Wynonna interrupted and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Waverly.
Nicole watched them embrace tightly. She didn’t know how it was happening, but she felt her heart swell for the two of them regardless.
Waverly pulled back a bit, tears flowing freely while Wynonna ran her hands over her face.
“Oh, Waverly,” she said, “I’ve missed you.”
“I miss you, too,” she said, voice thick with emotion, “So much. Every day.”
“I know you do,” she told her, “And I’m sorry I couldn’t do this before.”
“But why?” Waverly begged her, “Why-Why couldn’t you? Why not me? Did I not love you enough? Did you not- “
“No,” Wynonna said right away, pressing a hard kiss to her forehead, “No, never. Never doubt how much I love you, Waverly. I love you more than anything and I’ve always known you love me. You’re the absolute best of us.”
“Then why?”
Wynonna brushed Waverly’s hair back.
“Because you didn’t need me, BabyGirl,” she whispered.
“Yes, I did. I do.”
Wynonna gave her a small smile.
“It wasn’t the same,” she explained gently, “Messy, inconvenient, life on hold kind of need. You’re so strong, BabyGirl. You always have been. Stronger than any of us.”
“I-I don’t understand,” she stuttered, “Then why now? Why can I see you now?”
Wynonna looked at her for a moment before her eyes moved to Nicole. In the silence of that look, Nicole felt her heart skip.
“Wynonna,” she started nervously, “Why did you bring us here?”
Wynonna pulled her lips into a sad sort of smile, “You know why, Punk.”
Nicole shook her head and stepped forward.
“No, no. Not yet,” she said quickly, “No, it’s not…you can’t.”
“Nicole,” she said, moving to her and grabbing her hands, “It’s time.”
“But I-I’m not ready.”
“Yes, you are,” she assured, laying a hand on Nicole’s heart just as she’d done at the homestead, “What was the first thing you thought about when you woke up today?”
Nicole licked her lips and her eyes briefly flicked towards Waverly. That seemed to be the answer Wynonna was waiting for. She lifted Nicole’s hand to her lips. Pressing a kiss on the knuckles before laying them against her cheek.
“You’re ready, Nicole,” she repeated, “And so am I. I told you, you took a step, it’s time for both of us to take another.”
Nicole blinked a tear out of her eyes. Wynonna laid her hands on either side of Nicole’s face and looked in her eyes.
“There’s happiness for you here. I’ve seen it,” she looked towards Waverly who stood with her arms wrapped around herself, “It’s time to grab it with both hands.”
Nicole sniffed her lips quivering, “Where will you go? Wha-What does this mean for you?”
Wynonna touched her forehead to Nicole’s.
“The same thing it means for you,” she grinned, “A new adventure.”
“Will we ever see you again?”
“Of course, you will,” she promised, “Someday. Many, many years from now. When you’re both old and grey and I’m still a hot piece of ass.”
Nicole gave a watery laugh.
“Top shelf, Earp.”
Wynonna looked behind her at the lowering sun moved to hug Waverly once again. She kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear.
“Take care of her, Waverly,” she requested, “Let her take care of you.”
“I promise,” Waverly’s voice cracked, and she hugged her tighter, “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” she told her, “You’re my whole heart, BabyGirl.”
“About Nicole,” Waverly whispered quickly, “I never would have when you…”
“I know. Don’t worry,” she said and kissed her cheek again before stepping back and winked “We’ll talk custody when we see each other again.”
Waverly laughed despite what was happening and stepped aside to let her go back to Nicole.
“Oh, Punk,” she started, “There’s still so much to say, isn’t there?”
“I don’t know how to say goodbye,” Nicole said, wrapping her fingers around Wynonna’s, “Don’t ask me to.”
“I won’t,” she said, “Instead of that, just promise me a couple things.”
“Anything.”
“First, be happy, Nicole,” she told her, “Let yourself be happy and loved and all the good things I know are waiting for you. Ok?”
“Ok,” she nodded with a sniffle, “What else?”
“Promise to,” she shrugged one shoulder and her face tightened up as she tried to keep her composure, “To think about me from time to time. When the whiskey’s good and the rain’s falling.”
“I promise,” she said firmly.
Wynonna nodded and wiped her own tear away.
“And maybe you guys could name your first kid after me,” she said, “Think about it.”
Nicole chuckled and wiped her face,
“A little early to talk kids,” Nicole said, “You know this whole thing could still crash and burn.”
Wynonna just grinned, “Right.”
She looked back at the sun again before turning back to them and Nicole realized it really was time now.
“How does this work?” Nicole asked, “Will it hurt you? Will it be like-like dying again?”
“It’s like this,” she said softly.
Wynonna leaned forward and pressed her lips to Nicole’s, wrapping a hand around to cradle her head as they kissed. When she pulled away, just an inch, her breath danced over Nicole’s lips as she whispered.
“Keep your eyes closed,” Nicole did as she was asked, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt Wynonna’s hand dance over her face and heard her soft words, “You’re the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Never forget your worth, Nicole Haught.”
Nicole’s breath hitched as she felt Wynonna begin to pull away. She clamped her lips together tightly to keep herself from calling out for her to stop.
“Keep them closed,” Wynonna said again as she stepped backwards.
Nicole felt her arm extend, still holding Wynonna’s hand as the space grew between them. She swallowed a whimper when the last of her fingers slipped away from her touch. Breathing heavily, she slowly opened her eyes and was met with only woods in the fading sunlight.
Wynonna stood watching Nicole in front of her. Seeing the way her eyes scanned the space.
“She’s…She’s gone,” Nicole said, turning to Waverly, “She’s really gone.”
Wynonna sighed, a small part of her had hoped it wouldn’t work. But she knew it was better that it did now.
Waverly walked to Nicole and laid a hand on her arm.
“Did you see what happened?” Nicole asked, “Did you see what it looked like when she-when she left? Did she look like it hurt or was she ok?”
“It didn’t look like it hurt,” she told her, “It was like…like the sun came through the trees, like it just passed over and then she was gone.”
“Good,” Nicole nodded and cleared her throat, “I’m glad you got to see her before she had to go. I’m sorry it took so long.”
“It’s ok,” she told her honestly, “She came as soon as she was able. It was like a gift before leaving. It was beautiful.”
“It was.”
Waverly took a slow breath and asked, “Are you going to be all right?”
Nicole took a deep breath and looked back where Wynonna had last been. Looking at her without even knowing it. She felt a small pull at her lips and took Waverly’s hand.
“I will be.”
Wynonna smiled and watched them walk away hand in hand.
“You have no idea how right you are,” she said to herself.
Blowing out a breath, she crossed one leg over the other and spun around on the spot.
“All right,” she said clapping her hands together, “Let’s do this. Show me that light.”
Wynonna looked around and her eyes stopped when she felt a warmth across her skin that had nothing to do with the sun. She felt it’s glow on her face and smiled, tears forming at what she saw.
“Wow,” she said breathlessly.
Taking a single step forward, she felt it wash over and disappeared.
X
SIX YEARS LATER
X
Nicole scraped her boots on the mat before walking through the front door. Dozer came to greet her as always when she came home, though his approach was just a bit slower these days. An almost identical young dog followed him with an excited wiggling tail.
“Hey guys,” she said, crouching down to give them a few pets, “Zif, did you take it easy on your big brother today?”
She walked through to the living room and dropped her keys on the table before sitting on the couch to remove her boots. Waverly’s voice came from behind her.
“Put them on the hook,” she told her with a knowing grin, “You know you’ll forget where they are if you don’t.”
She turned around, laying an arm on the back of the couch as she did to get a look at her wife. With a smile, she stood back up, grabbing her keys and boots, carrying them both to the door. Dropping the shoes on the floor, she held up her key ring and gave it a little shake to show Waverly before hanging it on the hook by the door.
“Yes ma’am.”
At the sound of jingling keys, the baby in Waverly’s arms started to wriggle. Her chubby little arms reach out up to grab at her mother’s chin.
“Tsk,” Waverly said, looking down at the infant, “I just got her to sleep.”
“Aww,” Nicole said crossing the room, “I’m sorry, baby. Here let me.”
She carefully took their daughter from Waverly and cradled her in her arms, bouncing her a few times as she spoke.
“She just wanted to see her mama before bedtime. That’s all,” she said, looking down at the beautiful face, “Didn’t you, Winnie? You missed me extra today, didn’t you? I sure missed you. I missed both my girls.”
She leaned over and shared a kiss with Waverly.
“How was your day?”
“It was good. Jeremy came by for a while catch me up on how things are going at the school. Making sure I knew the sub hasn’t burned my room down,” she recalled, “And Xavier called, he’ll be in town next week. Will you be able to take an extra day or two off?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” she answered, looking down when she felt Winnie take hold of her finger, “The guys can handle the work at Nedley’s place without me for a bit.”
Nicole moved the baby up to her shoulder and started rubbing her back as she kissed the soft hairs on her head. Waverly ran her hand over Winnie’s leg, still awed by the fact they had a daughter.
“Hey,” Nicole said, “Come here.”
Waverly’s smiled and stepped closer, indulging in a deeper kiss. She felt Nicole hum against her lips.
“I love you; you know that?”
“I had an inkling,” Waverly teased back.
The two looking at their baby when Winnie suddenly stretched her hand out over Nicole’s shoulder and started babbling at nothing.
“Well, what’s got you so talkative there, missy?” Nicole asked in amusement and put on a silly voice, “Someone sneaking up on me? Do I gotta fight’em?”
She kept a sturdy hand on her daughter as she dramatically spun around.
Waverly laughed, “You know they say babies see things we can’t.”
“Oh, do they?” Nicole asked, “What sort of things?”
“Angels.”
“Angels?” Nicole repeated a touch of skepticism to her voice, “Our baby is talking to angels?”
“Who knows?” she shrugged and raised an eyebrow, “Are you one to judge?”
Nicole chuckled and glanced to one of the many pictures adorning their home. Next to the wedding photo, a picture of Waverly with Wynonna, “Definitely not.”
“All right Mama, you woke her, see if you can get her to sleep while I shower?”
“Yes ma’am.”
After another quick kiss, Waverly went off to shower while Nicole carried Winnie to the nursery. She settled in the rocking chair. Cradling her daughter in her arms, she started rocking them back and forth, watching her daughter reach up towards her before becoming distracted by empty air once more. Nicole smiled down at her.
“Whatcha seeing baby?” she asked quietly as she gave her a pacifier.
Winnie suckled on it, starting quickly before it started becoming slower, her reaching arms settling down against her round belly. Her eyes blinked heavily, opening less and less each time. Nicole watched her slow process of drifting to sleep, a sight she never tired of, along with everything she saw her daughter do.
“I used to see something, you know,” she continued talking softly as sleep crept up on the infant, “Someone. Your aunt, actually. It sounds crazy now, but I swear it was real. It was a long time ago, almost feels like a dream now. But it was real, and it sure was special.”
Winnie blinked again; her bright eyes barely open as she listened to her mother’s voice.
“What about you?” she asked as if she would get an answer, “Are you seeing something special? Do you see angels?”
Wynonna looked down at her niece, smiling as she ran a hand over her head.
“Wouldn’t she like to know?”
X
X
X
END