Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1 :
The Jeep bounced down the road, caught in icy ruts. Wynonna sat in the passenger’s seat, trying to get a bottle of Pepsi to her lips without spilling down her front. She shot a sidelong look at the driver as the plastic bottle slammed into her bottom lip.
“Ouch! Watch where you’re going. I’m getting beat up over here.”
She slowly brought the bottle back to her lips and sucked down a quick swallow before she was thrown forward again. Putting the cap back on her pop, she addressed Nicole.
“You’d think an officer of the law would know how to drive on snow . . .”
She looked down at the Pepsi bottle and closed her eyes. “Maybe if I wish real hard my pop will magically turn into a beer,” Wynonna muttered to herself. She opened her eyes and looked down again, “Nope, still just a pop.”
Nicole couldn’t believe Waverly had talked her into this. This was not how she had planned to spend her day off, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say no to Waverly. Not when she had asked so nicely. Nicole sighed. It wasn’t that bad. A few hours alone with Wynonna wouldn’t kill her. At least she didn’t think it would kill her but, with Wynonna, who knew.
--
This little adventure had started when Waverly ordered a new duvet cover for her bed. She had ordered it on-line, saying that she didn’t mind the shipping cost if it saved a trip to the City. The duvet she picked out was light purple with little pink flowers all over it. Nicole thought it looked like it belonged in a 13-year-old’s bedroom, but it made Waverly smile, so she just went with it. It was Waverly’s duvet, after all.
When the large package had arrived yesterday, Waverly had opened it with glee. “This is gonna go so great with the new paint job and curtains in my room.”
Waverly pulled out an old pair of scissors, opened them as wide as they could go and slit the tape using one edge. She flung open the flaps on the box and pulled out the duvet cover in its clear plastic wrapping. Her face fell. Instead of the flowery, pastel explosion she was expecting, she was shocked to find a black duvet with little red rattlesnakes all over it.
“What the hell is this? Who would order this?” Waverly was holding up the package by the edge of the plastic, as if it were a dirty rag from the barn.
Nicole had to suppress a laugh, “What’re you talking about? I think it’s great.”
Waverly stared at Nicole with a look of shock and confusion. “Great!? You think this looks great? What’s the matter with you?”
Nicole couldn’t hold it in any more. She started laughing out loud and looking at Waverly’s face only made it worse. Soon she was doubled over on the sofa, clutching her stomach, hoping she wouldn’t pee.
Waverly rolled her eyes and pushed the duvet back into the box.
“I’m getting to the bottom of this right now!”
Nicole heard feet stomping out of the room. She had gained a little control back and was able to sit up. That felt good. She hadn’t laughed that hard in a while and her stomach muscles hurt a little.
--
After much finagling with the bedding company, and several loud phone conversations, Waverly decided it would be easier to return the duvet cover to the store in the City. Turned out they had the exact duvet she wanted in stock and ready to sell. An in-person exchange would be much quicker and she didn’t want to risk sending it back only to have another abomination delivered.
Nicole and Waverly were standing in the living area of the Homestead, discussing options.
“You have tomorrow off . . . could you please take it?” Hazel eyes looked up, pleadingly, at Nicole.
“Fine. But only if I can take the Jeep. It handles better on the snow than my car.”
“Yay! Thanks so much. You’re the best girlfriend in the whole, wide world!”
Strong arms encircled Nicole and squeezed her ribs. Waverly pressed her cheek into Nicole’s chest, closing her eyes.
“I just want my room to look nice, you know, for when you stay over. I want it to feel homey.”
“Waverly, the only thing I need to give me that homey feeling is you.”
Nicole could feel Waverly smile against her chest. She allowed herself her own small smile and returned the strong hug.
They stood like that for a minute, oblivious to the outside world. That is, until the outside world came clomping into the room.
“It’s colder than a witch’s tits out there . . . Oh, what happened? Is someone hurt . . . dead . . . undead?” Wynonna shook herself out of her heavy, winter coat. She was staring at Nicole and Waverly with growing concern.
“No, it’s nothing like that. The bedding company just sent the wrong duvet cover. Nicole said she’d return it in the City tomorrow. I was just thanking her.”
“I’ll bet you were thanking her . . .” Wynonna waggled her eyebrows suggestively, but suddenly stopped when she realized she was talking about her baby sister. She shook herself, “Eww.”
Nicole let out a little snort. She couldn’t help it; Wynonna looked so uncomfortable.
“Hey, I’ll go with you tomorrow. I gotta get some new boots. These are starting to come apart on the side. And there’s a hole starting on this one.” Wynonna picked up her left foot and pointed to the toe area, while hopping around on her right. “See, gonna blow out any day now.”
Nicole looked in horror at hopping Wynonna. Alone . . . in a car . . . with Wynonna . . . no thank you. She quickly racked her brain for some excuse, any excuse, for why she had to go alone. Then she made a fatal mistake. She looked down toward Waverly. Hopeful eyes met hers. Crap!
“Fine, you can go. But we’re leaving at eight a.m. sharp. If you’re not ready at eight then I’m just gonna leave without you. Got it?”
“Yeah, yeah Red. I got it. Nine a.m. sharp.”
Nicole huffed and rolled her eyes at the smirk on Wynonna’s face. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
–
Miraculously, Wynonna had been ready on time this morning. She was dressed, sober and in a relatively good mood, for Wynonna, at ten ‘til eight when Nicole arrived at the homestead to switch cars. She figured Waverly must have put the fear of God into her sister the night before.
Waverly handed Nicole the keys to the Jeep and pecked her on the cheek as she dashed toward Nicole’s still warm vehicle. She pulled the car around and lowered the window.
“Thanks so much, baby. I put the duvet in the back of the Jeep last night, so you’re good to go on that account. I’m going to get tons of paperwork done without Wynonna distracting me. You guys will have so much fun together. Don’t let her drink too much while you’re in the City or the drive back will be Hell for you. Okay, bye. Have fun!”
Just like that, Waverly was pulling away and Nicole was alone with Wynonna.
“Let’s get this show on the road.” Wynonna brushed past Nicole and got into the Jeep’s passenger seat. Nicole rolled her eyes and pulled the Homestead’s front door closed. She was already exasperated and the day had only just begun.