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“Really? You’re going to let her go?” Nicole whispered to Waverly in the kitchen while their son, Winston, pulled at her ear.
“She wants to go,” Waverly replied with a shrug. She smiled at the little one in Nicole’s arms when he caught a tuft of Nicole’s red hair. Hair the exact same shade as his own.
“Of course she does. She’s seven and doesn’t know any better.”
“Know better for what?” Waverly asked.
Winston squirmed for her and Nicole handed over the kid. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “It’s a completely patriarchal, heteronormative, and frankly I think weird tradition that he probably won’t even show up for.”
Waverly looked at her then with eyes that matched not only the little one now playing with her necklace, but also the little girl in question. All of whom had Nicole entangled around all their fingers and helpless but to give them anything they wanted.
“Fine,” Nicole scowled. She took Winston's hands as he tried to stand, wobbling next to a dining room chair, “But if he even thinks about being a minute late or disappointing her, I will end him.”
Waverly stepped in close, picked Winston back up, and with the other arm looped it around her wife. Nicole’s anger diffused at the nearness, and when Waverly reached up on her tiptoes to kiss her, she was lost in the moment.
“Mommy! Momma!” Raleigh Earp yelled just before barging into the room. She skidded to a halt in front of them. “Why did Tigger stick his head in the toilet?”
Nicole resisted rolling her eyes and expectantly looked up just as Wynonna walked into the kitchen behind her. “Why, bug?”
“To look for Pooh!”
“Wynonna!” Waverly yelled.
Nicole however could not hold back a grin from bubbling up to her mouth. Raleigh giggled and soon they were all laughing, even as Waverly shot Wynonna a stern look. They got a shrug in response.
***
“Ready, crazy kid?” Nicole asked as she unbuckled the car seat Raleigh sat anxiously in. She was so close to being out of one, but her small stature was made up for in personality and wit. Just like her mother. Sometimes it was almost intimidating. She nodded though, and latched onto Nicole with a quick hug just before she sat her on the ground in the parking lot outside of Purgatory Elementary.
Nicole took her little hand and walked them toward the gymnasium door, adjusting the too-tight tie around her neck and wondering why she even got so dressed up for something she was profoundly against.
“I thought daddy was meeting me at home,” she looked up at Nicole.
“Daddy got caught up with work and asked us to meet him here,” Nicole replied.
Champ had in fact called at the very last minute to let her and Waverly know that he wasn’t going to be able to make it there on time and wanted to meet them at the school. After years of the cycle, Nicole refused to trust that he’d be able to show up in any reasonable amount of time, and therefore, once again, stepped in.
Which meant the unbearable suit and tie, and against every feminist moral standard she wanted to hold, meant her current status of taking her daughter to a father/daughter dance. But for the little girl she was looking down at? She didn’t think twice, even after both Waverly and Wynonna insisted they could take her instead.
Raleigh had insisted on her favorite purple dress, light-up green sneakers, and make-up she designed completely (with some touch-ups from Wynonna) on her own. As they entered the gym, Nicole couldn’t help but grin at nearly every other little girl in Raleigh's class having likewise unique fashion choices, and a lot of familiar faces of the dads that accompanied them. Most of whom were equally uncomfortable in suits and ties, and the occasional guy in a polo shirt and some jeans, not giving fully into the tradition.
The small dance floor was less crowded than the snack table, which was full to the brim of girls and dads alike. They went all out and there was even a DJ in the corner. All in all, Nicole had to admit it was pretty cute.
When Nicole looked back to the little hand holding hers though, she knew Raleigh was looking around for someone and wanting to dance. It was her favorite activity, dance classes and all, and Nicole was going to make the evening the best one she could. She’d deal with Champ being an asshole later, and hopefully not have to explain his absence to Raleigh.
“Hey bug, what do you say we get out on that dance floor and–”
“Hey hey little lady!” Champ appeared from behind them and swooped Raleigh up, setting off a fit of giggles and a huge smile on her face. “How's the prettiest little lady in the whole world tonight?”
“I’m strong!” Raleigh yelled, flexing her muscles and giggling. Nicole gave a mental high five to that. Champ flexed back, showing off his still obnoxious biceps. His shirt was a little tight around the gut though, Nicole noticed. Dad bod coming in soon.
Not to be distracted, she couldn’t believe it though. The guy managed to show up. Surprised didn’t encapsulate it, and she was angry at herself when the familiar surge of jealousy sprang up within her when Champ was involved.
He gave her a knowing nod which Nicole recognized as a thank you. She was well versed in Champ’s ability to weasel his way out of being a total screw-up of a dad and riding the edge of caring for his daughter and being an airhead. It made hating the guy extremely difficult.
The pair danced their way to the center, wobbling along with Raleigh’s feet atop Champ’s to an old swing song, Raleigh raging with her friends, hands in the air. It even made Nicole mad at how good the guy was with her and definitely the most enthusiastic adult out there.
But as well trained as Nicole had made herself at honing in her jealousy, she felt it flair up and wanted to take her leave. She had long since stopped letting herself dwell on the times he’d swooped in, claiming memories. He was her dad, and Nicole was confident in her place in Raleigh's life. It didn’t totally make it easier though… But, she’d done her duty, dropped off the little girl, and she trusted Champ to be the parent he’d proved himself to be. (Even if it didn’t come up to her standards). Didn’t mean she had to watch it though.
Nicole caught Champ’s eye and waved to let him know she was taking off. She turned to leave, and just before making it to the door a little hand grabbed her fingers.
“You gotta dance with me too, Momma!” Big hazel eyes stared up at her.
She crouched down. “It’s a daddy-daughter dance, bug. You gotta have a good time with your dad tonight.”
“Give that little girl what she wants, Nicole,” Champ appeared again. Nicole looked up at him, genuinely surprised. He’d never been one for high levels of maturity, often leaving that to her.
She stood and looked him in the eye.
“She calls me dad, but we all know you have some pretty great dad skills in the mix,” he said, no sarcasm to be found. “Who cares what the dance is called. Family has a lot of forms.”
Nicole swallowed hard. Who was this guy and where was Champ Hardy? All she could do was nod, a silent thank you to the guy.
And as Raleigh pulled her by the arm amongst all the kids and their dads, she was grateful for every love of her life, and for the people in their orbit keeping them together.