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"I'll put the kettle on" Waverly says as she walks to the kitchen, she doesn't know what else to do and she doesn't want to be in the way of their yelling.
She wanted to stay out of the way of the shit storm she knew was about to rage on. In the car, during the entire ride home Willa kept looking and glaring at Dolls. She huffed when Dolls snatched peacemaker out of her hands at Shorty's.
"Shit! That felt good" Willa said when she walked in after Dolls and Wynonna. She spoke with a smile and excitement in her voice. Dolls had his face turned into a frown and he looked pissed.
"Yeah" he said as turned on her. "So does base jumping without a parachute"
"I'm sorry, maybe I'm unclear about this whole curse thing," Willa said with an eye roll and an Earp attitude.
Waverly stood at the sink as she filled the kettle, she tried not to listen to their conversation but it was hard not to when Willa was almost yelling.
There are reventants, there are Earps. The Earps –that's us by the way –"
"Willa" Wynonna tried to interrupt her but she was on a roll and didn't want to be stopped so she kept going.
"– make sure all of the revenants get a bullet to the brain from peacemaker, or die trying," she paused, her face taking on a thoughtful expression before turning to Wynonna. "Did I miss something?"
"Yeah. Civilians" Dolls spoke before Wynonna could. He looked livid. "And as far as human witnesses go, everyone just watched you shot unarmed people"
Willa just rolled her eyes and scuffed an amusement. "Yeah well in Purgatory that's old news"
“Yeah? Well, that’s the type of news that can get Purgatory on the wrong side of a nuke” he spoke with a tone of warning in his voice.
Wynonna tried to get in between the two of them as a mediator. “Ok, she didn't know. I made the same mistake”
“Wynonna!” Willa growled. “Why are you listening to this buzzkill in army boots?”
”Buzzkill?” Dolls yelled.
“Yeah”
“Buzzkill? I am a U.S. Marshall with black badge, you hear me?”
Waverly could tell by Dolls volume that he was getting agitated. She put the kettle on the heat and decided to take off her coat. She didn't want it getting in the way. She wanted to stay out of the rage of the shit storm that was raging in the living room. Waverly tuned back into the argument in time to hear Willa snap back at something Wynonna had said.
“You mean, your following his orders, and not your own instincts,”
“We’re a team!” Wynonna yells.
“I thought I was the brainwashed one”
The room falls into silence and Waverly knows that Willa hit a sore spot with Wynonna. Wynonna is hurt by Willas' statement and she shows it as she kicks over the end table and storms out the door. As the door slammed shut, Waverly was already grabbing her discarded coat but she paused though, hearing Willa stop Dolls.
“I’m her sister, I got it”
Waverly stood with her coat in her hand. She wanted to go after Wynonna but she was also pissed that Willa didn't even think about her, she should be helping her talk to Wynonna. But instead she left as the two of them went off and bonded as sisters. She remembered many times she was left to entertain herself when they were younger.
Waverly took her phone out of her coat and started to text Nicole, wanting to be close to her, wanting to feel the way Nicole always makes her feel. Seen, heard, cared for… loved.
Waverly:
Hey, when do you get off shift?
Nicole:
Hey beautiful! I am clocking out now. What's up?
Waverly:
Could you come get me from the homestead? I really don't want to be here tonight. I could really use some Nicole time.
Nicole:
Sure! We can spend the whole time laying on the couch watching funny movies. Get you making that adorable smile.
Waverly smiled as she read and reread Nicole’s text. Nicole alway knew what to say to make her feel better, to make her smile.
Waverly:
You're so sweet!
Nicole:
I’m almost there, I’ll see you in a few minutes. <3 <3 <3
Waverly put her phone down and followed Willa’s path outside to the barn. She wanted to check on her sisters. Waverly turned off the kettle and snuck outside. She didn't want to barge in on Willa and Wynonna, she tried to step through the snow as quietly as possible. Slipping through the barn door that Willa left open.
“Meltdown in front of your boss,” Waverly heard Wynonna say.
Waverly kept close to the wall, not wanting to interrupt their moment. She felt like an outsider.
“Gummy bears,” Willa breathed out.
Wynonna looked confused. “Fuzzy peaches.”
Willa had a faraway look on her face. “I remember we used to play in here with gummy bears. We would dance them across the beams and into our mouths.”
Willa and Wynonna shared a small sad laugh. Waverly felt a pang in her chest. She felt like that little 6-year-old; watching as her older sisters went off without her. She lost track of how many times her sisters told her to bug off, to go entertain herself. She found the wonder of books, losing herself in the words on the page. In the world the pages held.
“Then you turned 11 and you wanted to practice making out with the gummy bears.” Wynonna laughed.
Willa gave a short laugh, “and you promised to never tell anyone about that.”
“I never did” Wynonna swore as she held her hands up as a sigh of Innocence. She sounded happy as she smiled. As seconds passed the smile slowly fell from her face. “Then you went and died on me.”
“We were two peas, you and I.” Willa said. “ it’s always been you and I.”
Waverly felt that pang again. She felt it when Wynonna and Willa would leave her behind as kids, she felt the pang every time someone left her behind. She felt like she was being abandoned again, left behind in the dust to take care of herself.
“Yeah, I remember,” Wynonna said.
“It can be like it always was,” Willa told her. “And different too, in all the right ways. You’re not alone anymore.”
Wynonna looked at Willa with her eyes shining. They shared a sad smile, and Willa pulled her into a hug. Wynonna looked so vulnerable; in a way that she rarely shows anyone. Waverly watched Wynonna cling to Willa, her heart breaking. Watching her sister in pain was one thing, but watching her confide and choose another person after all they’ve been through, hurt her worse.
When she made it back to the house she turned the kettle back on. She needed something to do to distract herself from the loneliness and emptiness she was feeling. She felt a little selfish because she wanted to be the one who Wynonna confided in. she wanted to be the shoulder Wynonna cried on. She didn't want to be second best, she wanted to be first choice. She was pulled out of her thoughts when her phone dinged.
Nicole:
Here.
Waverly grabs three mugs for the tea, when she fills them she carries two of them to the front door just in time to see Nicole walking into the house and taking off her Stenson. Nicole turns and gives Waverly knee weakening smile.
“Hey baby, is one of those mugs for me?” Nicole asks and Waverly just nods and she holds out a mug and Nicole graftfully takes it into her hands. A clearing throat pulls the two from looking at each other.
“Oh hey Dolls, your mug is in the Kitchen, I’ll go grab it” Waverly hurries back and grabs it. When she walks back into the room it’s quiet. Dolls has a far away look on his face as he stares at a blank wall.
“Your quiet” Waverly says as sets the mug down and takes a seat next to Nicole Immediately leaning into her and snuggling into the warmth Nicole always provides. She grabs up her own mug and feels Nicole wrap her hand that isn't holding her mug around her shoulders.
“Yeah, just thinking… There's a lot going on right now that just doesn't add up. Like if Cryderman is dirty, that means someone is feeding him some BBD intel”
“Someone we know or someone you work for?” Waverly questioned.
“I don't know” he paused and took a breath as he felt the weight of everything on his shoulders, he didn't know what to do or think. “Black Badge isn't just a job for me”
“Yeah no kidding” Waverly laughed, she always watched how much everything BBD related meant to Dolls and to have there be a possibility of someone giving away BBD Information has really hurt him. He would never say that though. She smiled at Dolls and he gave her a rare to see genuine smile in return.
“I get it. Feeling like you're losing something” Waverly said as she looked out the window towards the barn. Nicole went to say something to comfort her girlfriend but with a look from Dolls she closed her mouth. She figured they needed this bonding time so she just sat there with her arm around Waverly. Blending into the background but being there if her girlfriend needed her.
“It’s okay if you don't like her, you know”
Waverlt took a deep breath and glanced at her girlfriend before looking back at the window. “I’m happy she’s back, I really am. I just… I just never really knew her. Still dont” she didn't really know how or what to feel. Happy that her big sister was alive. sad that she was brainwashed. Angry that she came back and that it feels like she’s taking Wynonna away from her. Hurt. hurt that it feels like she’s turning Invisible and everybody is leaving her behind again.
“Yeah, we’ll get to the bottom of it, alright?” Dolls promised.
“Yeah, I’m sure you will” the team had two heirs now, what good was she compared to that. She wasn't an heir, she didn't know how to fight. She wasn't a baddass like Wynonna. All she was, was a bookworm who knew the family history of the Earps and a few dead languages. She wasn't of any use to the team.
“All of us. You’re good at what you do. Doesn't matter how many Willas come back. Doesn't. We’re still gonna need you” he smiled and made sure she was looking at him. “Earp” he watched as a 1000 watt smile took over Waverly’s face.
“You called me Earp,” Waverly smiled.
“Yeah I did,” Dolls smirked. “Don't let it go to your head, and there's only three of you right?”
Waverly smiled and snuggled into Nicole’s side. The three moved on to lighter subjects.
The peace didn't last long. A few seconds of silence later, the window in the living room smashed as something flew through it. Waverly let out a yelp as all three of them jumped up.
“Smoke bomb! Clear! Clear!” Nicole gently but firmly pushed Waverly back as Dolls took the table cloth and wrapped it around the bomb. Shots rang out and bullets started flying through the walls. “Go Waverly! Get down!” Dolls shouted as he and Nicole flipped the table on its side.
Waverly hit the ground, crawling towards the kitchen. Dolls and Nicole kept cover and returned fire, the bullets not stopping. Waverly made to the kitchen for once she was glad to be in a monster hunting family, guns were hidden everywhere. She knew that there was a shot gun under the sink.
“Go find the basement now!” Nicole shouted worriedly at Waverly. “Anywhere without windows! Go now!”
Waverly let out a yelp as the window above the sink blew out, covering her with glass. The mysterious gunman was now circling the house.
“Oh my god” Waverly crawled as quickly as she could. Trying to get a weapon to fight back.
Dolls and Nicole were firing back as fast as they could, unfortunately it sounded like the mysterious gunman outnumbered them in the bullets department. “Grenade!” Waverly heard one of them shout, she watched from the floor in front of the Kitchen sink as Dolls rolled out from behind the table. He hurled the grenade back at the mysterious gunman. They could all listened to the answering boom of the grenade, a scream from at least one of their enemies.
Waverly was finally able to open the cabinet and grabbed a gun. She clutched the gun to her chest as she sat on the floor. Bullets flew through the shattered window above her head, littering the walls with bullet holes.
“Waverly hide!” Waverly barely managed to hear Dolls yell over the sound of gunfire. Anger grew in her stomach, she knew he was just trying to keep her safe, just trying to keep her out of harm's way. Anger grew as she tightened her hands on the shotgun, she was tired of being seen as someone to protect. Seen as a damsel in distress.
“I wish people would stop saying that to me!” Waverly launched to her feet. “Ah! You want to get up all in my Kitchen?” she aimed the shotgun through the shattered window. “Eat shit! Shit eaters!” she yelled as she aimed at one of the gunmen behind the barn. she managed to get two buck shots off, the shots hit the barn but wood splintered off into the guys face. Before she could reload he shot a few bullets aimed for her.
“AH!” Waverly yelled as she fell to the ground holding her shoulder. A bullet caught her, she felt pain throughout her entire body. As she tried to function past the pain, more gunfire sounded from outside. Luckily for her no more bullets fly into the house. Seemed like Wynonna and Willa finally decided to join the party.
Waverly managed to climb to her feet, swaying as she held onto anything that would help her stay standing. Wynonna banged open the door.
“Waverly! Dolls!... Nicole?” Wynonna came to a stop when she noticed the redhead. She quickly snapped out of her shock and checked them both over.
“We’re okay, we’re okay” He said, he took hurried breaths.
Willa stood Impatiently at the door, she wanted to chase down the man. “Good to go?”
Wynonna still wanted no need to know that her baby sister was okay. “Wait” she could see Waverly holding her shoulder as she slowly made her way towards them. Something was very wrong.
Willa let out an annoyed huff. “For what? They just tried to kill us in our own home again!”
“Uh guys” Waverly painted, the world started to spin. “I think I got a little bit shot” her hand slipped off the wall she was using to hold herself up, she fell.
“Waverly!” Wynonna and NIcole shouted, they both rushed to her side.
“They’re getting away!” Willa shouted, not showing the least bit of concern for Waverly being shot.
Wynonna tuned out Willa’s voice as she tried to calm Waverly down. “It’s okay, you're gonna be okay” Nicole was beside Wynonna, her hands hovered over Waverly’s body, her police training failing her at this moment. Dolls kneeled on the other side of Waverly, checking her side.
“WYNONNA!” Willa shouted.
“Just a minute,” Wynonna shouted back. Too worried about Waverly to be concerned with the runner.
Waverly moved her blood covered hand away from the wound. She was bleeding so much that her shirt was soaked thoroughly with her blood.
“Luckily it’s just a graze” Dolls said as he gently prodded and poked at the wound.
“Just” Waverly whined, there was too much pain for just a graze or so she thought. She felt Nicole take her hand, she grabbed onto it squeezing with all her might.
“That’s it baby just squeeze my hand, there you go”
The sound of the screen door being pushed open pulled all of their attention to where Willa was standing.
“Shit! Willa!” Wynonna shouted. She looked between her sister that was bleeding on the floor and where the other one went. She wanted to stay and take care of Waverly but she also wanted to go after Willa.
“Go, we can't lose her again” Waverly breathed through the pain in her side. She could see the battle waging in her big sister's eyes. “Go” Waverly said again as she gently pushed Wynonna towards the door.
“Take care of her” Wynonna looked at both Dolls and Nicole, not leaving until they both nodded. She stood and with one last look at Waverly she rushed off after Willa. Waverly let out a whine and grunt as Dolls put pressure on the wound.
“Nicole, go unlock my truck, I’ll carry her. We have to get her to the Hospital” Dolls urged. Quickly the two moved into action. Nicole rushed out to the truck and Dolls lifted Waverly as gently as possible into his arms.
About halfway to the truck there was more gun fire. Dolls gruntd in pain as he was shot in the shoulder, dropping Waverly to the ground.
“Waverly! Dolls!” Nicole shouted as she kneeled behind the truck, gun in hand as she fired back at whoever was shooting at them. “Waverly! Dolls!” Nicole repeated.
“I’m good,” Dolls answered, as he crawled his way behind the truck. He dragged an unconscious Waverly behind the truck.
“What happened?” NIcole shouted as she took Waverly into her arms. Dolls took over returning fire. “Baby wake up, come on baby you have to wake up. Dolls what happened!?”
“She must have hit her head when I dropped her, I didn't mean to. NIcole we have to get her out of here” Dolls said in between shots. “Good thing my truck's bulletproof” Dolls tried to joke but he fell on deaf ears as Nicole worked on trying to get Waverly into the back seat.
“Dolls let’s go!” Dolls jumped into the front seat and sent a few more bullets flying as he sped over the Earp’s front gate. Dolls sped through town, Nicole sat in the back seat with Waverly’s in her lap, she brushed the hair out of her face and when they would fall she brushed her tears off of Waverly’s face.
“Baby, you have to wake up, come back to me” Nicole said. She cried as she pulled Waverly into a hug and rocked them both back and forth.
“We’re here!” Dolls yelled, the truck slammed to a stop in front of the ER doors. The back door opened, Dolls stood to the side and waited for Nicole to work her way out with Waverly in her arms.
The two ran inside. “Help! We need help! Now!” Dolls yelled trying to get anyone's attention.
“What happened?” a doctor yelled when he noticed them just standing around.
“Bullet wound”
“Well I can see that” the doctor said as he looked at Dolls walking towards him.
“Not me, the unconscious one” Dolls said with irritation, he knew he would be fine, he knew he just had a shoulder wound. “Waverly Earp, bullet wound to the side, maybe a concussion” Dolls explained.
“Alright, put her here,” the doctor said pointing to a gurney. Nicole reluctantly put her down on the gurney. “You two need to go, we’ll take good care of her. Now go please” the doctor said as he gently but firmly pushed the two towards the ER waiting room.
The two basically fell down into their chairs. Both holding their breath waiting for someone to come out and tell them that Waverly was gonna be okay. Dolls looked over at Nicole, he got up and went to one of the nurses.
"Excuse me, would you happen to have two changes of clothes?" He asked. The nurse looked at him and looked at Nicole, a look of shock.
"Of course" the nurse left, returning quickly with the requested item.
Nicole took the clothes and went to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror, she gasped as she looked down at herself. Covered in her girlfriend's blood, her clothes stained with proof that her loving, caring girlfriend was hurt. she was not expecting any of this to happen when she woke up. She wanted to have a calm day with her girlfriend, lay on the couch watching movies, maybe a little bit of kissing. Nicole took a deep unsteady breath as she pulled on the extra clothes.
"Where the hell is my sister!" Nicole let out a chuckle as she heard Wynonna shout but quickly sobered up and walked back to the waiting room.
"The doctors are with her now," Dolls explained.
"Wynonna there was a straggler. They shot at us when we came out of the house. Dolls got hit in the shoulder" Nicole added. Nicole noticed that Wynonna looked worried while It looked like Willa couldn't care less what was going on with her little sister.
"Okay, okay what do we do now?"
"We wait"
They all took a seat next to each other. Some were more worried than others, some seemed to be careless. After a few minutes spent in silence Wynonna turned to Nicole.
"Nicole there are things that happen in this town that are not normal" Wynonna began.
"Wynonna," Dolls warned.
"She's dating an Earp, she's a cop. She deserves to know what the hell goes on in this town… so Nicole I would give the long version but I'll just give you the cliff notes version. There are revenants, there are Earp's, that's us by the way. The Earp kills the revenants, sending them all to hell before the next Earp heir turns 27" Wynonna finishes.
"Finally!" Nicole shouted as she stood up. "I knew there was something strange going on in this town"
"Yeah you're a good old Sherlock Holmes" Willa muttered but nobody paid her any attention.
"So how exactly does this Earp/revenant thing work?"
"Well peacemaker, my gun is the only weapon that can kill a revenant. There are 77 of them and they come back from hell when the next Earp heir turns 27 if the previous Earp didn't put them all down in time" Wynonna said.
Before Nicole could ask any more questions the doctor came out. "Waverly Earp's family?" Wynonna and Dolls sprung to their feet, they stood beside Nicole.
"How's she doing?" Wynonna asked. The doctor looked between Dolls and Nicole.
"I'm sorry but I can only share"
"Oh for fucks sucks we are all her family, now how the fuck is my sister doing?"
"Um right, well she's stable. The wound to her side was luckily just a graze. We will monitor her for a couple of days but for right now she just has to wake up" the doctor explains.
"Can we see her?"
"Of course, right this way" they all followed the doctor as he led them through the hospital towards Waverly's room. While they were walking Wynonna looked at Nicole.
"So Nicole I guess now is as a good time as any to give you the shovel talk"
"The shovel talk?" Nicole asked.
"Yeah, you hurt my sister in any way and I beat you to death with a shovel" Wynonna smiled as she heard Nicole take an audible gulp. Nicole nodded promising herself that she would never do anything to Waverly that would promote Wynonna to bring out the shovel.
"Well here we are," the doctor said as he came to a stop at an open door. They all rushed inside to see Waverly still unconscious, laying in the hospital bed.
Nicole made her way to Waverlys side. Grasping her hand in her own. She couldn't help but think that Waverly looked even smaller in the bed, covered in wires and the blanket.
"When will she wake up?" Wynonna asked not taking her eyes off of her sister.
“In the next few hours” the doctor checked Waverly’s vitals and then left, leaving Wynonna, Dolls, Willa and Nicole in the room in silence.
"Where did you run off to earlier?" Dolls asked Willa when the silence became unbearable.
"I chased down the people that were shooting at us… I don't have to explain myself to you" Willa huffed, she rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair not really wanting to be there.
"Well did you get all of them?"
Wynonna glared at Willa before she answered. "Yes, all the humans anyway. Bobo was there, I had him but Willa pushed me out of the way"
"I said I was sorry"
"Waves, baby you have to wake up now, please, come back to me" the room fell silent with Nicole's whisper, pleading for Waverly.
A day
An entire day spent sitting in the uncomfortable hospital chairs.
An entire day spent wishing, praying, hoping for Waverly to wake up.
An entire day with the Earp family and friends crowded around Waverly's bed.
Around midnight the doctor came in. "How is she doing, doc?" Wynonna asked from her place on the right of the bed.
"Well mrs. Earp suffered a concussion and a bullet wound to the side. Now with the bullet wound, it was just a graze. Should be fine as long it's cleaned and taken care of. With her concussion, there is concern for brain damage. We won't know for sure if suffered any until she wakes up" the doctor explains. “For right now it’s a waiting game”
"Did somebody order room service?" Doc's voice sounded from the door. His hands were full up with coffee, food and a change of clothes for everyone.
"Thanks Doc much appreciated" Wynonna said without taking her eyes off her little sister.
"No problem… So how's she doing?" Doc asked, coming to a stop at the foot of Waverly's bed.
"The doctor says she might have brain damage, won't know till…"
"Ugh" everyone turned to look at Waverly.
"I'll go get the doctor" no attention was paid to the girl who left the room.
"Baby?" Nicole asked in a whisper as she gently brushed Waverly's hair out her face and behind her ear.
"W-what happened?" Waverly asked as she tried to sit up. She still immediately when the world started to spin. Before anyone could answer her the doctor came in.
"Good evening Mrs. Earp, how are you feeling?"
"Well um my head hurts a little bit" Waverly tried repositioning, a gasp falling from her lips as pain exploded in her side. "And there's a pain in my side"
"As I told your family, you have a concussion and a bullet grazed your side. We will be keeping you for the night for observation. We will be changing your bandages in a minute" the doctor explained as he looked at her chart. "What can you remember about the incident?"
"My family and I were at home when suddenly bullets started coming through the house. I ran to the kitchen and then I felt pain in my side. I'm guessing that's when I was shot, then Dolls carried me outside, then nothing" waverly said completely missing the worried looks that was on everyone's faces. "Where are Dolls and Willa?"
"Really baby girl that's all you remember?" Wynonna asked. Waverly nodded. "We'll talk about that later but right now we need to go outside to talk to the doctor, we'll be right back" the doctor, Wynonna and Nicole walked out of the room.
Outside in the hallway Wynonna turned to glare at the doctor, angry at her sister's lack of memories. "What the hell doc!?"
"Wynonna calm down, he can't answer our questions if you strangle him" Nicole spoke with a slight shake in her voice. "Answer the question doc, what the hell?" Nicole continued.
"She seems to have suffered memory loss. The brain scan we did when she first came in that I just got the results for, shows that it won't be permanent. Her memories could come back all at once or in bits and pieces"
"How in the fuck are we supposed to get her memories back?" Wynonna asked.
"Do things that are familiar to her, things she feels comfortable doing" the doctor finishes before walking away.
Nicole turned to look at Wynonna with tears in her eyes. "Wynonna what are we gonna do? She doesn't remember the last four years. She doesn't remember Dolls death or Willas. She doesn't remember that we defeated the revenants…S-she doesn't remember being my wife" Wynonna gathered her in her arms as they both started silently crying.
"Make her remember, you heard the doctor. From what I can tell from Waverly's recall she thinks it's four years ago when those mercenaries attacked the homestead. You guys had already started dating or at the very least you two were getting to know each other. Start from the beginning, the good thing about all of this is that you get to have her fall in love with you all over again. you just have to help her remember the last four years" Wynonna explained.
After a few minutes of gathering themselves they walked back into the room. Wynonna retook her place by her sister's side. Nicole on the other hand didn't know what to do, didn't know what Waverly would be comfortable with since In her mind they had just started dating.
"Where are Dolls and Willa?" Waverly repeated her earlier question.
"About that… there's something we gotta tell you baby girl. The attack on the homestead happened four years ago"
"W-what that can't be true. T-that just can't be true" Waverly stuttered.
"I know it sounds crazy, it may even sound insane but it's true. You seem to have lost four years of memories" Wynonna spoke softly.
Waverly pulled her eyes away from her sister, just now noticing the other occupants in the room. Nicole, Doc and Wynonna. Waverly couldn't help but look for Dolls.
"That's the other thing, Willa died a few days after the attack on the homestead… Dolls passed a few years later" sadness laced Wynonna's voice.
"His d-dead?"
"He died protecting us," Wynonna explained. "There's a lot we have to tell you but we'll get into that later. Right now though you just need to worry about getting better, we will however answer any questions you might have" she adds.
Waverly sat in confusion, she couldn't understand that when she woke up this morning everything was okay. Everyone was alive, and now Dolls was dead, Willa was dead and it was apparently four years later. She could clearly remember what happened at the homestead. She could remember it but somehow that's not why she was in the hospital.
"When can we get out of here?" She asked, she was starting to feel suffocated. She wanted to go home.
"I'll go ask the doctor," Nicole said gently as she left the room. Once the door was closed Waverly turned to look at her sister.
"I'm guessing that if she's here then we are together or just really good friends"
"Well actually… you two are married, have been for almost a year"
"M-married, we're married?" Waverly asked.
"Waves look down at your hand"
A gasp fell from Waverly's lips as she noticed the wedding band on her left ring finger. A small golden band that was engraved with the words 'where you go, I go'. Waverly ran her finger over the engraving as a memory passed through her mind.
'Waves this room, it's really you, but different' Nicole said with a smile on her face as she looked around the room.
'Yeah well I feel different. Are you still mad at me?'
'girlfriends fight it's… it's okay… it's'
'it's kind of the worst'
'Totally the worst' gentle laughter filled Waverly's mind.
'what's this?' Waverly heard herself ask as she looked down at something in Nicole's hands.
'application forms'
'application forms? For what?'
'Birth certificate, medical records, school documents.'
'anything to prove I'm an Earp… or not'
'hey I know going down this road is really important to you and…and as long as you want me I will be by your side. Where you go, I go'
Waverly was floored when the next few minutes were spent watching through her own eyes, herself having sex with Nicole. The memory faded, Waverly blinked rapidly.
"I-I just remembered something"
"What?" Wynonna said excitedly that Waverly's memories were already starting to return.
"Um well… an intimate moment between me and Nicole and" Waverly trailed off. She heard what she said about the possibility of not being an Earp.
"I would reckon you will be having a lot of those memories" Wynonna bellowed out a laugh. Before any more words could be shared the door opened.
"The doctor said that we could take you home either in the morning or tomorrow night" Nicole said. She froze when she noticed the shit eating grin on Wynonna's face and the blush on Waverly's. Doc was in the back of the room not saying anything. "What happened?"
"Oh just Waverly remembering one your bed activities together"
"Oh" a blush covered Nicole's face. Not because she was shy or ashamed of their time together but to Waverly they had just started dating, in her mind they hadn't done anything like that together yet. Their sex life was very active and Nicole was a bit nervous about what Waverly would think about it.
"You two are just adorable," Wynonna smiled.
"So um what happened to Willa? Would you guys mind filling me in on what's happened in the last four years?" Waverly asked as she shifted her gaze between Wynonna and Nicole.
"If y'all do not need me I am going to go to Shorty's, Nedley asked for my help with something. Waverly I hope you get better soon, I will return if y'all need me" with that Doc put his hat on his head and with a small smile towards Wynonna walked out of the room.
"Waverly I think it would be best if we broke everything up. I mean there's a lot of shit to go over for four years worth of memories" Wynonna explained.
"I guess that makes sense"
The three of them spent the rest of the day talking about the events after the homestead. Willa going a bit nuts, The poker spectacular, Willa shooting Nicole, Mictian, the widows, and finally the fact that Wynonna had a baby. Baby Alice was three years old. The conversion slowly came to a stop as Waverly drifted off to sleep.
Waverly woke up to the sound of voices. She kept her eyes closed as she listened to the conversion. “You can take her home whenever she wakes up, I'll go get the discharge papers” the sound of a door being closed sounded and Wynonna let out a big breath as she sat down in her chair.
“Thank fuck, I hate being in this place” Wynonna’s voice sounded relieved, tired and hopeful all in one.
“I just want to go home” Nicole’s voice sounded right next to Wavely's ear. She could feel her breath on her skin, it sent goosebumps down her arms and she couldn't stop the shiver that ran down her spine. If Nicole or Wynonna noticed her shiver or the goosebumps they didn't say anything to her, they just continued to talk.
“What should we do first to try and get Waverly’s memories back?”
“Well first things first we need to get her home, then when she’s all healed up then we can worry about her memories” Nicole says.
“Good plan, Haught Doc”
“What can I say, I married a planner” laughter filled the room.
The two stopped talking so Waverly figured that it was time to ‘wake up’
“Mmm” Waverly mumbled as she tried to roll over but a hand to her hip stopped her.
“You can roll over but not on that side, your wound is on that side and I don't want you to agitate it” Nicole spoke softly, her voice filled with concern. Waverly felt a fire spread through her body stating where Nicole’s hand lay upon her skin. The heat wasn't uncombable, it was the complete opposite actually. It was the kind of warmth that you get from your loved one.
“Thank you” Waverly mumbled but instead of rolling over she just stared at Nicole. She knew that for her they had just started dating but for NIcole they had had a lifetime of memories together.
“Good you're awake” the doctor said as they came in, ruining the moment. “Once your sister signs these papers you are free to go”
Waverly let out a breath as Wynonns pushed her down the hallway towards the car. She couldn't place it but for some reason she was angry as she was wheeled down hallway after hallway. Angry for how much time she’d spent in this place, angry for how many times she had to sit in the waiting room, for Champ, for Chrissy, for Wynonna, for Gus. she would sit in the waiting room until her people were okay again but when she needed anyone, no one could be bothered. Or no one could be bothered before but now she seemed to have someone in her corner and she didn't even remember them becoming friends. Waverly turned her anger on herself because there was this beautiful, crazy beautiful woman who seemed to look at her like she hung the stars and she couldn't remember the life they’ve had together.
“Here we are home sweet home” Wynonna’s voice pulled her out of her head. She turned to look at the homestead, it looked different then it had when Wynonna brought her out here to ask if she wanted to move back. It looked alive, It had a new paint job and the driveway was stoned over, the barn was a bright color of red. The ghosts of the past were gone. It didn't look haunted anymore.
“Nicole gave it a new paint job” Wynonna supplied. Nicole blushed as Waverly’s gaze turned on her.
“You can paint?”
“Well not really but you had something about it needing it and I wanted to do something nice for you” Nicole answered with a gentle smile.
“Something nice for me…” Waverly trailed off as she stared at Nicole. Nobody had ever done anything for her. Tears blurred her vision as she continued to stare at her.
“We should get you inside” Nicole said as she blushed harder. She didn't mind her staring, she liked the staring. Nicole blushed because she felt like a teenager in Waverly’s presents, even more so now with Waverly’s memory loss.
“I think it would be easier if you carried her Haught, she looks dead on her feet… sorry terrible choice of words” Wynonna apologized as her words brought with them a pain that she could have lost her sister.
“Oh um I think I can make it on my own” Waverly tried but only managed a few steps before dizziness took over and she stumbled. She closed her eyes waiting for the collision of the hard ground but it never came. Arms wrapped around her waist, the scent of vanilla dipped donuts Invaded her senses.
“I’ve got you” Nicole said softly as she gently held Waverly. Nicole was secretly enjoying having her arms wrapped around her wife.
“You seem to have a knack for saving me from painful situations,” Waverly smiled.
“She has a knack for saving her angel,” Wynonna snickered in the background.
“Angel?” confusion evident on Waverly’s face.
“We’ll talk about it later, right now though we should get you inside. You are starting to shiver” even though she Indicated that they should head inside, she didn't move her arms from around Waverly.
The two just stared at each other, lost in the eyes of the other. Waverly saw kindness, love, devotion, tenderness, kindness. Eyes that held a look of such love and Adoration that Waverly knew somehow the look was just for her.
“You actually have to let her go in order for us to go inside, Officer Heat” Wynonna laughed all the way into the house.
“Sorry” Nicole mumbled as she pulled her arms away a bit reluctantly.
“N-no it’s okay, I like the feeling of your arms around me… this kind of reminds me of our first kiss” laughter filled her ears.
“Well miss Earp I will have to have my arms around you more often. I very much enjoyed our first kiss” Nicole smiled, the sound of teeth chattering ruined the moment. “We should really get you inside” the two walked slowly hand in hand into the homestead.
“Oh you guys are back cool” a voice sounded from the kitchen.
“W-who?”
“Oh Waverly this is Rachel, she lives here with us”
“Us?”
“Good luck explaining that one Haught”
“Shut it Wynonna, we all live here” the simple answer was enough for Waverly. They both know that they had a lot to talk about but they both wanted Waverly to get better before they dived into that pool of explanations.
“Okay… well Rachel it’s nice to meet you again”
“Yeah you too” Rachel said, feeling a bit weird introducing herself again. The four women fell into small conversion, as the day passed Waverly’s eyes began to slowly drop.
“I think you should carry her up to her room,” Wynonna said.
“What is your obsession with getting her to carry me?” Waverly asked, her eyes were basically closed. Her body was draped over the kitchen table.
“What you like when she carries you”
“Well I don't remember liking it,'' Waverly mumbled.
“That’s okay,” Nicole said gently. “You seem to be really tired though. Do you mind if I carry you upstairs?”
“Please?” Waverly asked. Nicole nodded and gently pulled Waverly into her arms. NIcole slowly ascended the stairs, when she made it into their room she discovered Waverly was already asleep. She slowly started to change Waverly’s clothes, putting her in her comfiest pair. When Waverly was changed and under the covers she went to leave when a hand reached out and grabbed her, stopping her in her tracks.
“Stay?” Waverly’s voice was small, soft.
“Waverly” Nicole said she wanted to stay but she didn't want to push herself onto Waverly. She didn't want to crowd her.
“Please? Please I feel safe in your arms, I feel protected. Nicole I want you to stay” Waverly said with her eyes still closed, her grip strong on Nicole’s arm.
“Okay, if you're sure” Nicole pulled back the blanket and slowly wrapped her arms around her wife.
“bonus blanket” Waverly mumbled in the thralls of sleep as she snuggled into Nicole's warmth.
“Yeah I’ll be your bonus blanket” Nicole whispered, she tightened her arms and kissed Waverly’s forehead. After a few minutes of staring at her angel she followed Waverly into the dreamland.
— — — — —
Light fluttered through the curtains, filling the room with a beautiful orange glow. Waverly grumbled as she tried to hide her face from the light behind her eyes. Laughter met her ears, Waverly slowly opened her eyes. Once she had rubbed the sleep out of them she looked up and saw Nicole leaning against the headboard with a book in one hand and her hand placed on the small of her back.
“Morning,” Nicole smiled down at her.
“Mor…” Waverly froze as a memory flashed in her mind.
‘Morning Waves… morning bonus blankets, sleep okay?’
‘Yeah though I had the weirdest dream that you were married’
‘Really cus I had a really weird dream that you were making out with a hot revenant in a hot tub’
"That sounds like a nightmare” they both smile. ‘It really was a nightmare. Fighting with you’
‘Yeah but the making up part, that’s pretty good’ as the memory trailed off Waverly felt her lips tingle. She brushed her fingers over them, smiling up at Nicole.
“What?” Nicole asked as she noticed the eye crinkling smile on Waverly's face.
“I remember our first conversion, I remember you slyly working me out of my shirt, I remember me plowing into the station and confessing to you that you scare me, in a good way. I remember our first fight, our first time, our first date. I remember the shouting at the homestead. I can remember all of that but I can't seem to remember marrying this beautiful person in front of me and that angers me. I want to remember you, all of you and I can't!” Waverly was shouting as she looked up at the ceiling. She had moved off of Nicole and was sitting at the end of the bed.
“Baby…baby it’s okay” Nicole spoke gently. She could tell by the signs Waverly’s body was throwing that touching wouldn't be welcomed. Waverly had some moments like this where she just needed to get everything off her cheat. She needed someone to listen to her.
“It’s not because we have had a life together, a life that I don't remember”
“Waves, it's only been a few days… look at it this way, your memories are already starting to come back” Nicole reasoned.
“I know but there are four years worth of our life together in my head that I want to know about. I want to remember falling in love with you, remember all of your quirks. I want to remember marrying you” Waverly finished as she turned her gaze to Nicole.
Nicole smiled, her dimples popping. She stood up, walked in front of Waverly and grasped her hands in her own. NIcole gently pulled Waverly to her feet.
“You know the good thing about losing your memories?” Nicole asked as she gently started to rock them both back and forth. Nicole encircled Waverly with her arms, she smiled when she felt Waverly place her head on her chest.
“What? What could possibly be good about losing my memories?” Waverly asked.
“I get to make you fall in love with me all over again”
“Nicole!” Waverly laughed as she looked up into her eyes. “That is so not funny” she said and in a few seconds the room was filled with laughter.
“Knock, knock, knock… coming in ready or not love birds” Wynonna shouted as she barged into the room.
“Wynonna interrupting us, what a surprise” Nicole huffed.
“I'm guessing she does this a lot judging by your reaction” Waverly guessed as she looked between Nicole and Wynonna.
“She doesn't ever not interrupt us,” Nicole answered. “It’s like her super power, she just always seems to know when we are having a moment”
“That sounds like a treble superpower,” Waverly said with a smile.
“Hey if I can always interrupt you two going at it then I say that is a cool power” Wynonna answered with a shrug. “Anyway I came up here to tell you that the kid made breakfast” Wynonna left the room.
The two slowly made their way down stairs hand in hand. Waverly half expected the house to be covered in bullet holes. She looked around the house, or at least what she could see of it as she sat in the kitchen. There seemed to be a new kind of life breathed into the house. It seemed different then what she remembered, it seemed lived in, loved.
“Blueberry, Chocolate, leman?” Nicole asked Waverly, snapping her out of her thoughts.
“Yes”
“Okay, yes to all three,” Nicole laughed.
“So what are everyone's plans for today?” Wynonna asked once the four girls were sitting around the table eating.
“Well unfortunately I have to go into the station, I have to train the new Deputy” Nicole answered.
“Okay what about you smalldez?”
“Well I was gonna hang out with Billy” Rachel answers simply.
"Baby girl? Do want to go with me to work or Nicole or you can stay here. Personally I think you shouldn't be alone but it's totally up to you" Wynonna said. Waverly looked between her sister and Nicole, on one hand she wanted to go with Wynonna but on the other she also wanted to spend more time with Nicole.
"I-I think I want to go with Nicole. I mean it kind of doesn't matter we'll all be in the same building"
"Alright with that decision made we should all get dressed" Nicole spoke with a soft voice that was filled with soft authority. Not demanding, almost suggestive.
"Yeah and once you come down I can change your bandage, Waves" Wynonna said as she stood at the sink. Waverly was kind of surprised to see her big sister doing the dishes. A lot of things have changed in the last four years she thought as Nicole pulled her back to the bedroom.
"Do you want my help with changing your shirt?" Nicole asked once they were back upstairs.
"I would appreciate the help if you would. I don't think I am able to raise my arms that high even if I were to try. I think it would only hurt" Waverly explained.
"Of course"
Slowly Nicole gently worked Waverly's shirt over her head. Waverly couldn't stop the giggle that bubbled in her chest.
"What?"
"At least this shirt isn't covered in beer"
"Yeah, this one is much easier to take off," Nicole flirted. "Here let's make it even," Nicole said as removed her own shirt. She smiled when Waverly zeroed in on her chest, more accurately her boobs.
"Like what you see?"
"Y-yeah, v-very much" Waverly strutted without taking her eyes off of her chest. After a few seconds Waverly decided to be brazen, attaching their lips together in a kiss that had fireworks exploding behind her closed eye leds.
"Wow" Waverly said when the need for air made them pull away.
"Yeah"
"Your lips must be magic" said Waverly as her fingers begin to play with the hair at the base of Nicole's head. Nicole smiled, even without her memory Waverly still found a way to get hands in her hair.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I remember more things now, hence your lips are magic"
"You remember?" A took over Nicole's face, the smile made Waverly's heart flutter.
"Not everything, not even close to everything but from what I do remember I can't wait for the rest to come back" Waverly smiled, she glued her lips back to Nicole's.
"Wait, Waverly Wait" Nicole breathed as she pulled away. "I hate to say this but it doesn't feel right to kiss you when you're not all there… that sounded way worse than I intended it to" Nicole blushed. Looking at Waverly she expected to see a look of hurt or anger or anything else in-between but she's shocked when she sees a smile on Waverly's face.
"I totally understand… you'll just have to make it up to me when I do become 'all there’ wont you” Waverly giggled.
"I will happily make it up to you Mrs. Earp"
The two spent the next few minutes getting dressed while sending the other flirtatious looks. When they came back down stairs Waverly could see the smiles Wynonna and Rachel were sending their way.
"You two can go. I'll bring Waverly in once I change her bandages" Nicole says.
Waverly smiles as Nicole’s gentle fingers work on her bandages.
‘What have I told you that stuff is like poison’ Willa’s angry voice rang in Waverly’s head.
‘I’ve been dressing it for the past week’
‘Yeah and I’ve been redressing it’ Nicole’s gaze flashed to Waverly, a look of hurt in her eyes.
‘Hey, why don't you pop out and I’ll catch up with you later’ Wavely heard herself say, she couldn't help but flinch at Nicole’s reaction to her words.
‘Yeah I’ll just pop out’
“Waverly?” Nicole’s voice made the memory fade back away from Waverly’s eyes.
“I-I’m so sorry”
“For what baby?” Nicole asked concerned.
“For how I treated you when we just started dating. With Willa, she made me feel like a little kid again. That is no excuse, but I will say that another reason I didn't say anything is because I liked how you took care of me” Waverly stopped talking, noticing the look on Nicole’s face. “let me guess I’ve already given you this speech”
“Yeah, yeah you did,” Nicole smiled. “But you were so serious looking that I didn’t want to interrupt” NIcole looked at her watch. “We should probably get going or I’ll be late”
Waverly sat in silence as she watched NIcole drive. There was just something the way Nicole drove. The way her hands firmly gripped the steering wheel. The subtle shift in her muscles, the shift in her forearms, in her calves, in her jaw. Her whole body was focused on doing her task.
“Well I see not much has changed about this town” Waverly said as she looked around as the car rolled down main street.
“Yup”
“Finally I thought you two would never ever show up” Wynonna whined.
“We were just a few minutes behind you Wynona” said Nicole as they got out of the car.
“Yeah well you two are slow” Wynonna added as she began to walk inside, the others right behind her. Waverly followed Nicole into the Sheriff's department, she noticed that the plaque beside the Sheriff’s office had Nicole’s name on it.
“Your Sheriff?” Waverly asked, surprise all over her face.
“Yeah we’re all so proud of Sheriff Tater-Haught”
“Go away Wynonna” Wavrly said nicely but firmly.
“Alright, alright”
“So not much has changed about this room either, the couch is still here so you get to be comfortable” Nicole gestured as the two walked into her office.
As Waverly sat watching as Nicole worked her side started to hurt.
“Time for you pain meds” Nicole said as she stood up walking towards Waverly with a water bottle in one hand and her meds in the other.
“I don't wanna, they make me sleepy” Waverly whined, she didn't want to sleep, she wanted to get to know Nicole better.
“I know baby, I know. You're in pain… please I don't like seeing you in pain” Nicole said as she looked at her hands, tears at the corners of her eyes. Wordlessly Waverly drank down her medicine. Nicole helped her lay down and put the comforter from the back of the couch, pulling it over her and kissing her on the forehead.
“Sleep tight, sweet dreams,” Nicole said gently.
The next time Waverly opened her eyes it was to the sound of shouting. Looking around NIcole was no longer at her desk. Looking out towards the bullpen she let out a gasp. There standing in the center of the bullpen was Champ with a gun.
A gun pointed at Nicole. Nicole stood with her hands in the air. Wynonna and Doc were also in the room; they each had their guns pointed at Champ.
“Wow dude you’ve finally lost it!” Wynonna shouted as she gripped peacemaker.
“Shut it Wynonna! I just want what I came here for. Waverly” Champed said as he turned and looked straight at Waverly.
“You're not going anywhere near her. It’s been four years and you still can't seem to let her go”
“She was mine! We were happy then you had to come in and ruin it!” Champ said as his hand shook. Waverly’s heart squeezed as she saw the gun pointed at the love of her life. She spent little mind on the fact that she could now remember everything, instead she focused on running out of the office and jumped in between Nicole and Champ.
“Don't you dare point that gun at her”
“Baby girl!” Wynonna, NIcole and Doc shouted all at once.
“Waverly get out of the way,” Champ shouted.
“No,” Waverly said simply.
“Get out of the way!”
“No,” Waverly repeated.
“Don't make me shoot you”
“You won't, you won't shoot me because you love me. Some part of your mess up brain still loves me so no I will not move because you won't shoot”
“I may love you but I hate her,'' Champ said as she aimed the gun at Nicole.
Two shots rang out into the small space of the Sheriff's department. The sound defining, Two things happen at once. Nicole fell to the ground holding her side in pain. No one paid attention as the second body dropped to the ground.
“NIcole!” Waverly rushed to her side. Nicole was clutching her side, her side that was covered in blood.
“Let me see, baby girl let me look,” Wynonna said as she came to Waverly’s side. “I gotta say you have a flair for the dramatics, Naughty Haughty. You’ll be just fine, it’s just a graze. Now you two can have matching scars” Wynonna said.
“Good, Nicole I remember, I remember everything so you can't scare me like that again” Waverly smashed her lips to Nicoles. It was over right after it started due to Wynonna pulling her back.
“You remember!?” Wynonna basically shouted. She sobered up and quickly pulled out her phone. “I’ll call an Ambulance, for Haught-shot over here,” Wynonna said. She left the room to make the call.
“That's what I said isn't it” Waverly laughed.
“You really remember?” Nicole asked.
“Yeah so you can't leave. I seem to recall someone promising me forever together”
“I did promise you forever didn't I… where you go, I go”