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The chilly morning breeze blew in through the open windows of the Homestead. Birds chirped their happy turns and the sun sat just above the horizon. It was wedding day in Purgatory, and everyone was feeling the nerves. The marriage of Nicole and Waverly was something everyone seemed to be anticipating since they first got together.
For Waverly, the day had been planned out in a series of five color coded binders since she was in grade eight. Gus had always reprimanded Waverly for it, claiming she needed to focus more on school and finding a career path for her future. Waverly always assumed her aunt’s distaste for her early wedding plans came solely from the fact that her sister ran off and had an affair with a majestic angel, leaving Ward behind with two children.
Waverly took a deep breath and stood before the bathroom mirror. She wiped a streak in the foggy mirror with the palm of her hand and stared at her distorted reflection before dropping her towel to the ground. She was sure to be racing the clock in just a few short hours, but Waverly wanted to take her time. This was the day she had always dreamed of, after all.
A loud crash from the kitchen knocked Waverly from her daze and panic instantly flooded her body. She threw on a pair of shorts and Nicole’s old police academy t-shirt, and ran downstairs. She found Doc in the kitchen, crouched over what appeared to be a broken bottle of…
“Is that my bubblegum sake?” Waverly asked as she approached the cowboy.
Doc jumped and looked up at Waverly. He took his hat off and placed it against his chest, clearing his throat before saying, “Well, it was.”
“How did this happen?” Waverly grabbed a towel and brought the trashcan over to the spill.
“Well, you see, I was searching for the bottle of banana liqueur your sister has requested be at the reception, and seeing as neither Shorty’s nor the Glory Hole had any, I figured the Earp Homestead was my next best option. I reached back for the fruity beverage and caught my reflection in this here victim of my fear.”
“So...you saw your reflection in a bottle, got scared, and knocked it over?” Waverly couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll let it slide this time since you’re still adapting to your mortality.”
“I do hope this alcohol did not cost you a pretty penny to procure.”
“It was imported from Japan, but it’s been sitting up there for years. We needed to get rid of it, but Wynonna never tossed it out and clearly neither did I. You did us a favor, honestly.”
Doc placed the remaining shards of glass in the trash and stood up. He offered Waverly a hand and pulled her to her feet. They stood in relative silence, staring at the wet spot on the floor. Doc glanced at Waverly and smiled.
“Nicole has been a whole mess of emotion since last night. Rachel claims she slept on the floor of the barn.”
Waverly chuckled and shook her head. “I believe it. I had a rough night myself.”
“May I offer you some advice?” Waverly nodded. “Back in my day, when partners found themselves tying the knot of matrimony, the presence of nerves were never a sign of ‘cold feet,’ as the people today say.”
“What was it then?”
“The overbearing feeling of anxiety was caused solely by the fact that you knew you were making the right decision. Weddings can be far from perfect, but those nerves you are very clearly feeling...it is your body’s way of telling you Nicole is your person.” Doc smiled and placed his hat back on his head. He slipped past Waverly and out the house.
Waverly bit her lip and looked out the kitchen window at the barn.
...
Waverly paced around her bedroom, looking at herself in the mirror from every angle possible. She was mumbling something about how the change in lighting in the mirror made her look worse or better, and couldn’t decide if she really did look good or if she had it all wrong.
“Waves,” Wynonna grabbed her sister by the shoulders, “you need to calm down. You look fine.”
“Fine?” Waverly’s eyes went wide and abruptly turned her head to face Wynonna. “I look fine ? Wynonna, I can’t look just fine! It’s my wedding day!”
Wynonna released Waverly’s shoulders and stood back to admire her dress. “Baby girl, you look amazing. Nicole is going to shit her velvet pants when she sees you walking down the aisle. Take my word for it.”
“The last time I took your word for something, you stole my vile of magic glitter and I ended up falling in love with Doc and Bunny Loblaw.” Waverly stated flatly.
“Okay, yes, but we got our asses struck by spitballs and you still love me. You had some consensually fun dancing in Shorty’s AND you and Nicole are still getting married, so in a way,” Wynonna shrugged, “you should be thanking me.”
“You’re insufferable sometimes, you know that right?” Waverly rolled her eyes but smiled.
“You know I’m right.” Wynonna grinned and pulled a flask out of her dress pocket, but stopped and tossed it on the bed with a shake of her head.
“Shut up.” Waverly shoved her sister playfully. Her eyes follow the flask and recognize it as Doc’s.
“It’s still weird, you know.” Wynonna said, also staring at the flask.
“What is?” Waverly brought her eyes back to Wynonna’s. “That you’re learning healthier ways to cope?”
“Doc being human again.” Wynonna huffs out a low chuckle. “I never thought he’d come back. After Kate said there was no way to turn him back I...figured he’d end up alone. Again.”
“It’s exciting though, isn’t it?” Waverly asked, her eyes lighting up. “The abilities I seem to posses? Being able to bring someone back from the dead...make those unable to die mortal again? Healing the hurt?”
“You were a giant sexy dark angel with wings that would give Maleficent a run for her money.”
“But I’m not anymore, thanks to Nicole.”
“It came at the cost of her being tied to the Triangle, though.”
“I don’t plan on leaving this place, so I don’t think she minds. You know Nicole. Though I feel her gaining the title of “Angel Shield” has made her a tiny bit anxious. I think it’s why she threw herself into finalizing the wedding plans. It’s been an eye-opening experience to see her like this.”
“Why, because you two fought over what kind of cake you wanted? Or that Haught prefers the lighter shade of blue napkins out of all the other shades which look like the same shade of blue?” Wynonna snorted, recalling the quarrels the couple had over the process of planning their big day.
“ No ,” Waverly rolled her eyes. “It’s brought us closer together, and made me realize that this is really what I want. That marrying Nicole is the right choice. That proposing was the best choice I ever made.”
“I’d like to think you finally leaving Champ the Boy-Man Hardy takes the vegan cake for the best decision Waverly Earp has ever made.” Wynonna pointed out. “But what you said is a close second. She’s always loved you.”
“You’re right.” Waverly took a deep breath and nodded. “I’d be a fool not to marry her, right?” She added after a moment of silence.
“Nicole loves you with every fiber of her being, baby girl, and I wouldn’t want you to spend the rest of your days with anyone else.”
“If this is all so right, and if it’s really what I want to do, then why the fudge am I so nervous?” Waverly looks to her sister for support.
“This is a huge commitment. I’m unsure about a lot of things, but I know for a fact that all the fears, all of the nerves you feel right now, will vanish as soon as you walk down the aisle and see your girl standing at the altar, waiting to call you her wife.”
“You’re oddly calm about all of this.” Waverly raised an eyebrow. “Before, you were all over Nicole. Constantly giving her a hard time.”
“Yeah, well, that was before she saved my life and the entire Ghost River Triangle.” Wynonna said, her voice soft. “And you.”
“Thank you.” Waverly turned back to Wynonna and pulled her into a hug.
“For what?” Wynonna asks, her arms wrapping tightly around her sister’s body.
“For coming back to Purgatory and staying. For having faith in me and not holding it against me that I was mad about you being the heir.”
“How could I possibly hold that against you?”
Waverly shrugged and stepped back. “I nearly cost you your life with August Hamilton. If he’d succeeded...we wouldn’t be standing here today.”
Wynonna laughed and slapped a hand on Waverly’s shoulder. “Waves, please. That shit was years ago. You’ve got to let it go. We survived! You got with a sexy redhead and I got my cowboy back! You’re getting married! Live it up, girl.”
Waverly smiled and looked toward her bedroom door as it swung open. Chrissy and Jeremy walked in, dressed in their appropriate wedding attire. They stopped at the door, not knowing Wynonna was in the room.
“Hey, maybe you should go check on Nicole, yeah?” Waverly suggested and lightly pushed Wynonna toward the door. “She might already be in her angry-anxious mode.”
“Good call, baby girl,” Wynonna nodded and patted Waverly’s shoulder. “Anxious Haught isn’t a fun one. Much prefer drunk Haught. I’ll see you out there.” She smiled before turning toward the door. “Dork-terStrange, Nedley Jr.” She tipped an imaginary hat and swiftly left the room.
“I’m surprised she’s not drunk right now,” Jeremy joked. “Doc said she was rambling on and on last night about how nervous she was.”
“ She’s nervous?” Waverly raised an eyebrow. “Miss whiskey soaked and reckless, screams in the face of danger, and rides with motorcycle gangs, is nervous about my wedding?”
“I don’t blame her,” Chrissy shrugged and shut the door. “You’re her little sister, Waves. You’re marrying her best friend.”
“And all of this garden stuff has really gotten to her.” Jeremy added.
“It’s gotten to all of us, Jer. But you’re right. Wynonna’s been to hell and back and I think Nicole and I have finally started getting through to her.”
“She’s letting you help?” Chrissy asked, hopeful.
“It’s her business to discuss, and she trusted us with all of this, so I don’t want to say anything out of line. All I’ll say is that she’s listening.”
“Not to change the subject, but today is your day, Waverly. We’re talking about how everyone else is feeling, but how are you feeling?” Jeremy placed a hand on Waverly’s shoulder.
“Nervous? Scared? But also exhilarated? I don’t think I’ve ever felt this excited about something since Dolls gave me access to all of those BBD artifacts.”
Dolls.
The name hit the group like a freight train. Waverly and Nicole made certain to not let their fallen friend be excluded from their wedding plans. It was crucial to Nicole to include him somehow in her wedding party, so each member of their parties were to wear a small dragon pendant.
Waverly handmade and painted each pendant, taking extra time to speak to Dolls in spirit. Wynonna helped attach the pin to the back of each, squeezing Waverly’s hand after each was complete.
Doc suggested they set a chair out for him, adorned with a bouquet of orange, yellow, and red flowers and a plaque with his name on it.
“Front row, on the end of the aisle. Right where he belongs.”
“He would’ve been Nicole’s first choice, no?” Jeremy asked.
Waverly looked at her friends from the mirror, a sad look hiding behind her smile. No words were needed for them to understand.
“He understood her better than anyone. I wish he could be here.”
Chrissy wiped her eyes free of tears and smiled. “I didn’t know Xavier like all of you did, but I know he’s here. He wouldn’t miss this day for the world.”
...
“Haught?” Wynonna pushed the barn door open and stepped inside.
Wynonna shut the door and looked around, but didn’t see Nicole anywhere. She saw some discarded shirts and blazers, but nowhere in sight was their owner. She figured Nicole was questioning her outfit and was trying to fix it...again. Walking further into the barn, Wynonna spotted Rachel leaning against one of the wooden posts.
“You clean up nice.” Rachel commented on Wynonna’s dress.
“Right back at you, Smalldez. A cute flower girl do you make.”
Rachel groaned and rolled her eyes. “Listen, I’m only doing this for them. No one else.”
Wynonna held her hands up in surrender and pointed to the bed sheet hanging in the corner. “She hiding back there?” Wynonna asked. Rachel looked back to the corner and nodded.
“She started having a panic attack. I tried to calm her down but she said she wanted to be alone.”
“Do you know what caused it? I mean,” Wynonna waved her hand around, “other than the obvious.”
“Well she was looking at herself in the mirror, mumbling something about the wrong shade of red and that her shirt wasn’t white enough. I think she was getting to herself.” Rachel shrugged. “Not seeing Waverly for nearly two days has made her go crazy.”
“I don’t blame her.” Wynonna sighed. “Haught Pocket likes to pretend she’s all big and strong, but she’s really not sometimes. Especially when it comes to Waverly.”
“So I’ve gathered.” Rachel gave a small smile. “Waverly appears to have a strong grip on people. It’s amazing Nicole has lasted this long without seeing her.”
“Well, she spent eighteen months without her–”
“Which was like living in hell.”
“Well, I’m here to relieve you of your duty. Go check on Nedley and see if he needs any help.”
“I’ll see you out there.” Rachel smiled and gave Wynonna a quick hug before leaving the barn.
Wynonna sighed and slowly approached the curtain. She bit her tongue, trying to conjure up some sort of pep-talk to give her best friend, but it was hard. She had nearly exhausted all of her words of encouragement from her talk with Waverly, and she didn’t want to regurgitate the same advice. Nicole was her best friend, and she deserved a kick in the right direction more than anyone.
She approaches the curtain and sees that it isn’t pulled all the way back. Nicole stood before a small mirror nailed to the barn wall with her hands on her hips and her shirt untucked, unbuttoned, and hanging open. A deep blue tie hung untied around her neck and she was mumbling something. Wynonna opens her mouth to say something, but Nicole beat her to it.
“What if she changes her mind?” Nicole asked. “What if this isn’t what she wants?”
“We’re doing this again?” Wynonna nodded and stepped up behind Nicole. “Waverly loves you. Okay? She wants this, wants to be with you.”
“How do you know that for sure, though?” Nicole stared at herself in the mirror, her gaze empty.
“Is this about what happened at the stairs?” Wynonna met Nicole’s eyes in the mirror and the redhead nodded. “Nicole, I know my sister better than anyone. She wants to marry you. Jeremy said she was so nervous last night, that she didn’t shut up about you.”
“Really?”
“I know I fuck with you a lot, but I’m being serious for once. Today is important to you and to her, so take my word for it. I am her champion and you are her shield. She went into the garden for you . She risked her life for you . She broke free from that dark angel shit because of you .”
“You’re right.” Nicole sighed and turned around to face her best friend. “I know you’re right. We’ve talked about it. About what all went down here while you guys were gone. She knows why I panicked. She understands.”
“See? You’ve got absolutely nothing to worry about.”
“I guess I’m just nervous. I mean, I never thought I’d be marrying her. I always thought Shae was it for me, that I’d be married and have kids with her by now.”
“Well, you’re not married to Shae anymore, and you’re marrying my sister in less than ten minutes.” Wynonna nodded and fixed Nicole with a stern look. “You know what your problem is?”
“What?” Nicole raised an eyebrow.
“You dwell too much on the past. The present is a gift, Haught. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. And today, of all days, that metaphor is true, because once you put that ring on Waverly’s finger you’ll be with her forever.”
“When the fuck did you get so insightful?”
“Love wins, Nicole. I’m celebrating a day I never thought I’d be present for. My family is safe, my vampire baby daddy is no longer a vampire, we’re raising a child to keep her out of the system.”
Nicole pondered on the thought. “You’re right. I’m just…jittery because I miss her. I haven’t seen her in two days. We haven’t spoken much since...you know.” She reached back and felt the scar on the back of her neck.
“Yeah, she’s out of her mind right now, too. Worrying that the lighting in her room is ruining her look or something.” Wynonna waved a dismissive hand. “You gays are always so concerned with how you look. You’re going to shit your pants when you see her, regardless, so I’m not worried.” She patted Nicole on the chest and walked out from behind the curtain. “Come on, Red. Finish getting ready. You have five minutes.”
“What about my tie? What color?”
“No tie.” Wynonna stuck her head back behind the curtain and looked Nicole up and down. “Leave the top three buttons undone, according to Waverly, she loves that. Also French tuck your shirt, you look really good like that,” she paused. “Also according to Waverly.” Wynonna nodded one last time and disappeared again.
“Okay.” Nicole took a deep breath and buttoned her shirt. “I guess it’s time for a wedding.”