Work Text:
Something's happening, happening to me
My friends say I'm acting peculiarly
Waverly had experienced her fair share of crushes. There was Champ, brawny and brave, who'd often stop to engage in some light banter while helping her father out around the Homestead. Or Perry, who was quiet, reserved, but also brilliant. A frequent study companion who would keep her company within the library late into the night.
But Nicole?
Frankly, there was no comparison.
To Waverly’s credit, she really thought she'd liked the other guys. They’d make her blush, or giggle like she was still in high school...
But Nicole took butterflies to a whole ‘nother level.
Waverly’s dull, predictable little world, confined to the three-cornered palisade of the Ghost River Triangle, came crumbling down like a house of cards that random Wednesday afternoon, no more than ten minutes into her shift at Shorty’s Saloon. A stranger with captivating crimson locks and mocha eyes as deep as the ocean, sporting a pair of hip-hugging khaki’s and a navy button-down with a patch proudly displaying “Purgatory Police Dept” stitched into its starched fabric had strolled right on into her life, completely unannounced. Flashing a blinding smile with dimples like sunshine, she introduced herself to the petite brunette floundering behind the counter with a firm handshake.
Her name was Nicole Haught.
“Of course,” Waverly had thought, snickering inwardly at the congruity of her last name, juxtaposed with the wavy inferno cascading down her shoulders and the sheer reality that the girl was hot. Very, very hot.
Waverly had only managed to say about four or five words to her that day, but she brazenly gave the officer her number. And most definitely answered when she called.
Waverly found herself slowly drifting into uncharted waters, catching herself staring longingly at the officer across the bar whenever she and Sheriff Nedley would drop in for happy hour at Shorty’s, or finding the tiniest, most absurdly miniscule reasons to visit her sister at work, considering she worked just down the hall from the police department. And soon enough, she was daydreaming of silky-smooth crimson tresses, and holding the hand she could still feel tingles from since their handshake, imagining how soft her lips would feel pressed against hers.
She had it bad. And even though she’d barely known the girl, somewhere deep within her soul, she felt immediately drawn to be near her.
Waverly's actions were out of character. She wasn't the type of girl to long and pine after someone from afar. She was a planner, after all. She was used to being in control and not only knowing what she wanted, but how to get it. She proudly wore her heart on her sleeve; but for some reason, whenever Nicole smiled and showed off those adorable dimples, everything around her seemed to freeze. Her breathing would shallow, palms would sweat, and the silliest nonsense would tumble from her mouth. If she could even get the words out in the first place. She couldn't help it. Nicole was kind, loyal, enticing, and so damn pretty in every way she'd never imagined herself to end up wanting. It wasn't long before she found herself easily opening up with the redhead, sharing things with her that even her closest friends, Chrissy and Sam, hadn't known. For some reason, in her heart, it felt right, and she wasn’t afraid to let her guard down. As crazy as it seemed, deep in her gut, she had a feeling that Nicole might have been the one. But that scared her to death, because for once, she wasn’t in control, and wasn't sure how to get what she wanted without royally screwing things up.
Come on, baby, we better make a start
You better make it soon before you break my heart
So, for the time being, she would table her feelings and simply ask the girl out for coffee after work. Happy for any excuse to see Nicole's friendly face. While hoping that maybe, someday, she’d muster up enough courage to actually share her true feelings.
Oh, I, I want to be with you everywhere
————
Can you hear me calling out your name?
You know that I'm falling and I don't know what to say
It was a crisp, late-winter afternoon with a nippy bite in the air. Waverly had dropped by the station towards the tail-end of Nicole’s shift, bundled completely from head-to-toe in a ridiculously puffy jacket. She first popped in to say hello to her sister down the hall for a few minutes before she scooped up the officer to venture down to the local coffee shop on the corner. Nicole wasn't too fond of coffee, possibly due to the nasty, murky drip coffee they had at work. But who was she to deny the petite brunette holding two cappuccinos in her hands? Gazing into hazel eyes as she savored her first sip, she could have sworn it was the best thing she’d ever tasted.
As the girls roamed the sidewalks of Downtown, nursing their drinks while chattering about anything and everything, a light drizzle began to fall. Waverly giggled, watching Nicole tug at the beanie on her head to cover her ears while she miraculously fetched an umbrella out from her bag.
“Come here, Nicole.”
Nicole found herself giggling along with the brunette’s infectious laugh while a gentle hand brushed across her back to her hip, pulling her underneath the umbrella with her.
“Here, let me,” Nicole smirked, reaching for the handle as she ducked her head underneath its awning to hold it up higher.
In a slow, leisurely stroll, they gravitated towards a covered bench outside a vacant storefront and took a seat. Waverly hummed, feeling her heart palpitate slightly as she smiled up at the redhead, instantly losing herself in those sparkling orbs adoringly gazing back down at her. Within seconds, the nerves within Waverly's body seemed to disperse in tandem with the clouds in the sky, graciously opening up to allow the sun's rays to shine down on them.
Waverly swallowed hard, attempting to rid the lump that'd formed in her throat as she internally screamed at herself to just be honest with Nicole.
“Nicole,” she murmured. “I have something to tell you.”
“Okay,” Nicole nodded carefully, looking at the brunette with a cautious smile. “What’s up, Waves?”
Waverly smiled, feeling the tension in her face soften as she studied the worry wrinkle above Nicole's brows, wanting nothing more than to kiss it away.
“I-I like you, Nicole.”
Nicole dropped her drink.
"Oh, crap," she quavered, looking down at the mess she'd made by their feet before she jerked her head back up at Waverly who'd been bashfully watching her. “I, uh," Nicole stuttered, racking her brain for words. Any words. Any kind of logical response. Before she faltered, "W-what?"
Waverly blushed, biting her lip as she chuckled breathily and looked down at her cup. "I've been wanting to get that off my chest for a while,” she quietly confessed. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way, but I-"
Nicole adamantly shook her head.
"Waverly, I-" she started to speak before the words caught in her throat. She paused, taking a deep breath to collect herself.
Waverly wrinkled her eyebrows nervously as she leaned in a little closer. “Yeah?”
I'll speak a little louder, I'll even shout
You know that I'm proud and I can't get the words out
Nicole sighed in frustration, pissed with her inability to function like a normal adult and convey a coherent thought. So, instead, she leaned in, pausing with her lips hovering just barely over Waverly's. She shivered, feeling Waverly's soft breaths on her lips before she surged forward, closing the remaining gap to capture the brunette's lips in a delicate kiss. Waverly froze in shock for barely a second before she fully registered what was happening and fervently kissed her back, reaching to cup the redhead’s face as warm, coy hands latched onto her waist. Nicole pulled her in closer, eliciting a soft moan as she swept her tongue along her lower lip. Kissing Nicole was everything she could have imagined it to be and more.
Oh, I, I want to be with you everywhere
With every brush of Waverly's lips against hers, Nicole could feel herself practically melting into a puddle on the pavement. They kissed for seconds, minutes, possibly hours, until they eventually pulled away to catch their breath. They gazed back at each other with hooded eyes, flushed cheeks, and kiss-swollen lips as their chests rose and fell in an erratic rhythm, eventually returning to a steady state.
"Wow,” Nicole breathed, resting her forehead against Waverly’s.
Waverly smiled, nodding her head in agreement. “So, um,” she stammered. “You and me, does this mean…”
Nicole chuckled softly in amusement at the flustered brunette beside her. The girl who always seemed to be so confident and sure, currently at a loss for words. She grabbed Waverly’s hands and guided her up to her feet.
"Waverly," she paused with a wide, dimpled grin. "Be my girlfriend?"
Waverly arched her eyebrows in shock before she squealed, clutching the unbuttoned lapel of Nicole’s shirt to yank her into another kiss.
Nicole chuckled softly against her lips, gladly reciprocating the kiss before she pulled away and murmured, “You’re so cute.”
Waverly blushed. Her arms wrapped around Nicole's neck as Nicole's hands settled on her waist, pulling her into a hug.
"Is that a yes?" Nicole whispered softly, planting a kiss to the crown of her head.
“Of course, you ding-dong,” Waverly giggled, pulling back slightly to gaze up into mocha eyes with nothing but love.
"Good,” Nicole grinned, dimples popping on full display. "Because I could really get used to this,” she husked, tightening her arms around the brunette’s waist.
Waverly sighed blissfully as Nicole captured her lips in a slow, lingering kiss. The world around them seemed to freeze as their lips parted, and their tongues unhurriedly brushed together in a languid dance.
Oh, I, I want to be with you everywhere.
————
Waverly never thought it'd be possible to love someone more and more each day, but without fail, Nicole Haught had undoubtedly continued to prove her wrong.
Lugging heavy boxes through the front door of their new apartment.
Smiling back at her underneath the arbor of woven branches and flowers as she walked down the aisle on their wedding day.
And especially now, holding their daughter for the first time.
"Nic? Baby, what should we name her?" Waverly asked softly, tearing the redhead away from her thoughts.
Nicole smiled, gazing down at her girls who’d been looking up at her with big, beautiful, hazel eyes.
"Wynter," she hummed.
Waverly beamed, nodding in agreement. "Wynter," she echoed in a whisper, kissing her little head.
Oh, I, I want to be with you everywhere
Wanna be with you everywhere