Chapter Text
Homestead Improvements
Nicole sat on the floor in her and Waverly's bedroom, tears streaming from her eyes as she took another long mouthful from the bottle beside her. It had been over a year since she had last seen Waverly. She missed everything about the woman who had stolen her heart the first time she saw her.
She had been walking with purpose towards the precinct when Bobby Robertson had stepped in front of her and started to complain about a few of his prize pumpkins having gone missing from his pumpkin patch. Nicole had restrained (barely) from rolling her eyes and had given the older man a professional smile and started to walk him inside to take a report but she had stopped dead at the sight of a young woman walking down the street. She had a bright smile on her face as she stopped to talk to old Mrs Frederick and gave her a quick hug before continuing on her way.
Bobby had stopped too and looked in the direction Nicole was looking, seeing the interaction between the women before looking back at the rookie cop. "THAT is Waverly Earp." He sighed, "The only one of those Earps that has a lick of sense. She's a smart cookie and probably the nicest girl in town but she's still an Earp. I'd steer clear of that one if I were you." He then continued his way into the precinct as Nicole watched Waverly Earp walk around the corner and out of sight before she followed Bobby into the precinct. She had to get to know that girl.
She didn't want to give up hope. She knew Wynonna (God, Wynonna her best friend, she missed her too) would get her back home and Doc would do anything for the Earp sisters but still ... it had been over a year. Eighteen months to be exact. To the day. She took another mouthful from the bottle. She had lost the love of her life, her best friend, her mentor and the rest of their friends. She had lost her job and some days it felt like she had also lost her sanity. She has also lost the last shreds of her dignity when she begged the Swap witch to ... no she wouldn't think about that. She couldn't. So today on the anniversary of the day she lost the most important part out of all that, she was going to drink herself into oblivion. Rachel knew better than to come up here tonight, she knew the anniversary days hit her hardest. She knew she would watch the traps for one night and as guilty as she felt leaving a teenager to be at the receiving end of all that she knew she would handle herself for a few hours.
The room started to excessively spin and she dropped to lie on her side, welcoming the oblivion that she would fall into next.
"I think we should expand." Waverly giggled as she snuggled into Nicole's front. Nicole was sat against the pillows and headboard, her arms wrapped around Waverly who sat side on between her legs, her right leg was bent up at a right angle that Waverly rested against. Nicole grinned as she pressed a kiss against her cheek.
"What do you mean, baby?"
"The Homestead? I think we should expand. There is so much room up here. We could build another house and then we could have our own place and Wynonna could have hers with Alice, I mean once the curse is finished she might want to find her and bring her home, maybe even she and Doc could figure things out."
Nicole had frozen at the words 'our place' and finally started speaking again. "You ... you want us to live together?"
This time it was Waverly who froze. "Well I mean, I know we haven't discussed it but I love you and we spend all our time here. And Calamity Jane is up here too and to have you here every night, with me and our family I just ... do you not want to live together?"
"Baby, I want nothing more than to be where ever you are." Nicole leaned forward and nuzzled into the side of Waverly's face causing her to giggle again and turn her face to meet Nicole in a fierce kiss.
"I have so many ideas!" Waverly said excitedly as they broke apart. "There was this episode of property brothers where ..."
Nicole had just smiled as she listened to Waverly's ideas. Some of which they both knew they couldn't pull off but most of which were amazing ideas and a fair few she knew she could do herself. She was already thinking about how Jimmy Ravenfield owed her a favour and as a contractor she hoped she could convince him to give her reasonable rates.
When Nicole woke up the next morning, her head was pounding and her body was protesting loudly at having spent the better part of the night on the cold floor. As her eyes focused on the picture of her and Waverly on the dresser she could feel the tears coming again but she angrily wiped at her eyes and stumbled to her feet. No! She knew Waverly, Wynonna and Doc would make it back, they had to. And in the meantime maybe it was time to speak to Jimmy and see if he was still willing to do her a favour ... even if she was the town weirdo these days.
She quickly showered and took some pain meds for the headache that was of her own doing before she found all the plans that Waverly had been drawing up. She ran her fingers over Waverly's writing where she had left herself and Nicole little notes about her ideas and smiled sadly. She would do anything for Waverly and that included using the inheritance she had vowed never to touch. Sighing she pulled out her mobile and found the contact she was looking for.
As she listened to the ringing of the call trying to connect she briefly wondered if Jimmy would even pick up but on the fifth ring the call finally connected.
"Sheriff Haught?" came Jimmy's surprised voice. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We both know it's just Nicole these days Jimmy." Nicole replied.
"Not to me. I voted for you. You were the best damn Sheriff we ever had and if the town ever rights itself you will be again."
"Don't waste any votes on me Jimmy, put your vote for someone that actually stands a chance but I appreciate the gesture." She sighed again. "Listen Jimmy, I have a project I want to start up here at the Homestead ... a big project and there's a lot of the work I can do myself but I need a contractor for the bigger jobs. I was wondering if you could come and have a look?"
"I can be there in an hour if that works for you?"
"Jimmy, that ... that would be great." Nicole replied, a little shocked that he had given a time so quickly for him to come up to the Homestead. "I really appreciate this."
"Sure thing, make sure the coffee is on."
"I don't have any milk or sugar Jimmy, is ..." Nicole hesitatingly advised before being interrupted.
"I've become accustomed to black coffee, however my lovely sister-in-law has the dairy farm and as much as she's makin' a killin' these days she still makes sure we have milk, I can bring you some over if you're out, on me of course."
Nicole missed her cappuccinos. Coffee itself was a luxury since the supply trucks kept getting looted but Sheriff Holt 'what's-in-it-for-me' Clayborn refused to actually do his job and that magistrate ... Let's just say she too had become accustomed to black coffee. "If you can spare a pint we would really appreciate it. Rachel refuses to drink black coffee and I miss having milk in mine. Any we can get hold of goes on cereal."
"I hear you." Jimmy laughed, "My boys love their cereal too, well I'll be there shortly."
"Bye Jimmy."
Nicole hung up and couldn't help the small smile that touched her lips. Jimmy had become a good friend to her after she had helped find the person (read revenant) that had been looting his supplies not long after she had arrived in town and then she had tutored his eldest in English. He was a good man.
She finally made her way down stairs and found Rachel sat on her bed with a book open in front of her. She looked up as she heard Nicole walking down the stairs.
"How's the hangover?" she asked with minimal teenage snark. She actually looked a bit sympathetic.
"It'll pass, I'm sorry I left you alone last night."
"No big, it was quiet for once, the only thing that actually strayed into the traps was a racoon."
Nicole chuckled. "So not another skunk to milk then?"
Rachel shrugged and stood up to walk into the kitchen with her. "You sure you're good?"
Nicole sighed as she filled the water tank on the coffee machine and set it to brew. "I won't be good until Waverly is back here where she belongs. Then I'll be good." She turned to face Rachel and smiled affectionately at her. "I got you kid."
That had become their thing. When Nicole had spiralled, Rachel had somehow realised what was going on. She had originally decided to stay near her mum, or where she had died, but hearing how Nicole was missing her friends and her girlfriend, she had decided to move to Purgatory to live with her. Jeremy had still been answering her calls at the time so he had got her in. It was days after that she had lost the election. 'I got you' had become their standing 'I'm not really ok but I'm ok enough' saying as it dealt with the other person not themselves.
"Listen, I have a contractor friend coming to the Homestead soon. I've asked him to come and look at possibilities for big renovations and possibly building another house on the land that Waverly wants. When she comes back I want her to see that I ..." She stopped talking and cleared her throat. "Well anyway we'll see what Jimmy says when he gets here."
"Sure, I was about to head into town to see if they have any of the stuff we need. I'll see you later?"
"Thanks Rachel."
Just over thirty minutes later the crunch of the gravel from tyres of Jimmy's pick up drew Nicole's attention and she headed for the front door with Waverly's plans clutched to her chest.
"Nicole!" he called as he climbed out of his truck.
"Hey Jimmy."
Greetings were exchanged and Nicole invited him into the kitchen where the coffee was ready.
"So tell me about this big plan of yours." Jimmy said as he took a sip of his coffee. Nicole did just that. She walked him through the improvements and extensions to the original Homestead and barn and then the plans for the new home that they wanted to build.
"Look, between you and me, I have some ... inheritance that I will use to fund this," she showed him half the amount she had. "So what do you think? Is it doable? Is there enough funds?"
Jimmy raised his eyebrows as he saw the amount. "You could fund this project ten times over ... ok well maybe three times over with the hard time we're having getting supplies but I just have to check. Is this what the Earp sisters want?"
"These are Waverly's plans, this is what she wants which means I would do anything to give it to her. And Wynonna? Well we all know that she would do anything for her sister."
Jimmy had agreed to start the process for getting the supplies and approvals for the site but then a few weeks later, Waverly, Wynonna and Doc arrived back which set off a chain reaction of events.
The next she heard from Jimmy was the day before the wedding. Waverly and Wynonna were chatting away in the barn, she had been asked to not come in because Waverly's dress was in there so she was in the kitchen, washing the pots from dinner when her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Sheriff Haught!" Jimmy called, his amusement evident in his tone.
"Hi Jimmy." Nicole grinned. "How's the business now the supplies are back to being regular?"
"I told you that you were the best Sheriff we ever had." He laughed, "And because of you business is booming but I have a wedding gift for you."
"No!? It came through?" Nicole stopped what she was doing to pay full attention to Jimmy.
"Yes! Today, I can start whenever you want. I have a crew lined up to start the foundations and can order the supplies for building whenever you want."
"Wow, Waverly will be so excited." Nicole grinned, "Listen I'll tell her tomorrow after the wedding and if it's still what she wants then the crew can start Monday. I mean I'm nearly positive that she will want to go ahead but I ... I mean she's back now so I have to check and well ... you know?" Nicole drifted off to Jimmy's chuckles.
"I get it, happy wife, happy life right Sheriff?"
Nicole chuckled back, "Right. I'll call you tomorrow?"
"Oh heck no!" Jimmy replied, "Text me if you must but don't be calling anyone on your wedding night."
Nicole blushed but couldn't help the slow smile that spread over her face at the thought of 'wedding night'. "Ok you got it. Hopefully I'll see you on Monday."
"Goodbye Sheriff and congratulations."
When Nicole hung up she looked out of the kitchen window to see Waverly and Wynonna walking arm in arm from the barn to the Homestead, Waverly giggling away and Wynonna rolling her eyes but looking at her sister with affection when she wasn't looking.
"Yo Haught Stuff!" Wynonna yelled as they walked into the kitchen. "You promised me shots!"
"I promised you'd get a shot at the ..."
"See! Shots! Gimme!" Wynonna made grabby hands and Nicole sighed as she reached into the cupboard for the whiskey Doc had put there and gave it to Wynonna who squealed in delight and proceeded to take a long drag before pulling our three glasses and filling them.
Nicole rolled her eyes and looked at Waverly who just smiled at her. Nicole couldn't help but smile back as Wynonna made every Haught joke she could, laughing hysterically as they all sat at the table, Waverly sitting on Nicole's lap, nuzzling into the spot below her ear and whispered, "It'll be my name too soon, I'll be Haught as well."
"You already are baby." Nicole grinned and turned her face into Waverly's kiss.
"Gross! If this turns into another porno, I'm out!" Wynonna faked gagged as she looked on in fondness at the two before her.
Their wedding day was one to remember and as the day was finished and she and Waverly were sat on the steps leading to Homestead talking about Wynonna and Doc coming back, Nicole found the perfect opportunity to speak to Waverly.
"Hey Waves, remember when we were talking about the Homestead and extending and renovating?" she asked tightening her hold on Waverly's waist and pulling her closer than she was.
"Of course I do." Waverly said as she kissed Nicole's shoulder. "Why? Do you want to start the renovations to the Homestead? Nicole I have had so many more ideas." She started excitedly.
"Well Waverly Earp Haught." Nicole started grinning at Waverly's new full name. They had talked about it and Waverly wanted to be known as Waverly Haught. She didn't want to double barrel but she still wanted to honour her relationship with her sister so she decided that when she was changing her name to Waverly Haught she was also going to add a middle name. She'd never had one before so she's decided on Waverly Earp Haught. Wynonna had very nearly cried when Waverly had told her this after dark angel Waverly had gone. "I have a wedding gift for you." She took a deep breath. "You know how I told you about my hippy parents that I don't talk to?"
"Yes?" Waverly replied, a little confused.
"I never told you this, not because I didn't want to tell you or I wanted it to be a secret, it's just something that I never think about because my parents aren't part of my life but when you ... were gone I decided to do something I always said I wouldn't." Nicole took both Waverly's hand in her own. "I have a small inheritance, well it was more a way of my parents feeling less guilty about me not having to be in their lives anymore, and it's grown over the years. I said I'd never use it but I would do anything for you. Even become the Angels Shield." She gave Waverly a crooked grin. "As everything I have is now yours, that money is now yours too. So when you were gone I spoke to Jimmy Ravenfield. He's been getting everything together and we can do everything that you wanted. The new bigger house and all the conversions to the Homestead and the barn. It's my gift to you."
"Nicole." Waverly gasped. "I can't ask you to do something that you ..."
"You don't understand. I vowed never to do it because I was more angry at my parents than I was about using the money because they didn't believe me about the fire, but now I realise that they would never have taken the word of a scared kid over the official line, why would they? I might even contact them, you were brave enough to do it." She brushed her nose against Waverly's. "But regardless of that what I know now is that I love you more than anything. I would rob a bank if it meant giving you everything you ever wanted. I would do worse."
"Where you go, I go." Waverly smiled as she dropped her head against Nicole's. "We need to have a conversation about this 'inheritance'" Waverly smirked, "But if you're sure you really want to ..."
"I do." Nicole quickly assured her.
"I've heard that today somewhere else." Waverly gave her a crooked smile and leaned into Nicole to give her a soft kiss.
"So I can give Jimmy the go ahead right?"
"Definitely."
Nicole pulled out her phone and sent a quick 'See you on Monday' text to Jimmy before turning back to her wife. Wow, her wife. Waverly was her wife. She was Waverly's wife. She couldn't wait for the rest of her days to play out with her wife.
When she had married Shae and the morning had dawned, she knew it had been a mistake right away. She had known that as attracted as she was to her, the only thing she wanted was the physical side. It fizzled out so quickly because they wanted very different things in life. She had wanted a home with her wife. She wanted a life where she would wake up to the woman she loved every day. She wanted a family. Shae had wanted to live the life of a high flyer with nights out and vacations around the world, whether that was with her wife or spending some time apart. Shae had held on much longer than she had. She had wanted a divorce a few weeks after their marriage. It took a few years apart, Nicole moving to Purgatory and talking about how she really wanted the divorce now because she was in love with someone else for Shae to start to realise that she was serious. Finally the trip to Purgatory when Nicole was hurt made her see sense and sign the papers that she had been looking at for over six months.
"I love you Waverly Earp Haught." Nicole smiled as she stood and reached out for Waverly to take her hands.
"I love you Nicole Haught." Waverly smiled back as Nicole walked backwards into the Homestead leading Waverly by her hands.
Where you go, I go.