Work Text:
Christmas in Purgatory, what a sight. Nicole thought as she shoved her hands into her pocket, appreciating the haphazardly strung lights on every other light post. The Purgatory beautification committee had been threadbare since the evacuation and lack of return. Bunny Loblaw would die if she still lived here. Nicole chuckled at the thought, thankful that that particular Purgatorian hadn’t returned.
God she loved it here.
What a beautifully, horrid place to be trapped forever.
“Officer Firecrotch, get in loser we’re going shopping,” Wynonna called from the cab of her two-toned truck parked on the far side of the cruiser.
Nicole groaned, she did not have time for Wynonna’s shenanigans tonight. She’d already planned a nice, cozy evening curled up in front of her fireplace with a bottle of expensive red wine and Waverly on her lap.
“Come on, Haughtpants, I don’t have all day! Shops are closing as we speak,” Wynonna called again, leaning over to open the passenger door.
“I have plans, Wynonna,” Nicole said, unlocking the cruiser, her hands still buried in the warm embrace of her dark blue down jacket.
“Not according to Waverly,” Wynonna shot back, “Secrets don’t keep girlfriends. I’ll call her!”
Nicole rolled her eyes, locking the cruiser and turning to climb into the empty passenger seat of Wynonna’s truck instead.
“It was going to be a surprise,” Nicole grumbled, pulling her tan beanie off of her head and shoving it into her coat pocket.
“Surprise. Secret. Same same,” Wynonna shrugged, backing the truck out of the parking spot and heading in the direction of The Big City. “I need your help picking a present for Waverly. She’s being very squirrelly this year. I’ve got to get it right.”
”Fine. I have a few ideas,” Nicole sighed. Waverly rarely talked about her past Christmases, but Nicole had gathered enough about the rest of Waverly’s childhood to assume that Wynonna needed all the help she could get to atone for the past. If Wynonna was actually going to try, this would be a better surprise for Waverly than a night alone at Nicole’s house. It wouldn't be for Nicole, but sometimes you had to make sacrifices for the woman you loved.
Nicole settled into the passenger seat, bracing herself for a shopping trip with Wynonna Earp.
***********
”Do you have eyes?” Wynonna asked, grimacing at the necklace Nicole picked up from the jewelry tray.
“Do you want my help or not?” Nicole shot back, setting the necklace back onto the jewelry tray.
“Not sure if I do, honestly, you’re currently shopping for a dead grandma,” Wynonna said, wrinkling her nose as she glanced around the antiques and commodities shop.
”I’m shopping for the love of my life,” Nicole countered, “Who I know a lot better than you do.”
“Gross, ginger, keep it in your pants,” Wynonna said, gagging.
Nicole smacked her arm, glaring at her. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“Sure you didn’t, don’t worry, I won’t tell Waverly about your geriatric kink,” Wynonna said, winking at Nicole before walking off to wander the store.
Nicole shook her head and looked back at the jewelry tray. The eclectic mix of peoples’ lives, all trapped in the tray, waiting for someone to give them a new beginning.
She meandered along the rows of jewelry, pausing at a tray full of rings.
The thought of proposing to Waverly, properly, had been Nicole’s constant companion. She wanted to do it right, to show Waverly that this wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to the end of the world. That even when there was peace and relative stability, Nicole was choosing her. That Nicole would always choose her.
Her hand hovered over the rings, drawn towards the back of the tray. It stopped suddenly as if hitting a wall. A magnetic pull forced her hand towards the very last ring in the tray. Threat! The accompanying jolt of adrenaline surged through her body. Magic rings never led to anything good. Yet, as quickly as it shot through her, the adrenaline subsided. Comforting warmth took its place. Like a hug from an old, dear friend. Her gut calmed, embracing the feeling rather than screaming of its danger.
The pull came next.
Nicole let herself give into the magnetism, let her hand be drawn to the aura of the ring.
The ring in question was nothing fancy. Nothing pretentious. A simple, thick gold band and a princess cut diamond.
Her hand touched the ring and she started. Familiarity hit her like a tidal wave. She knew this ring. Nicole’s heart pounded in her ears. A rightness flooded her body. This was it. This was the one. She closed her eyes, falling into the overpowering feelings of safety and love, images of her life with Waverly playing in her mind.
“Woah, buddy! Jackpot!” Wynonna’s whooping excitement yanked Nicole out of her peaceful cocoon.
She snatched the ring out of the tray, shoving it into her pocket. She gave an apologetic wave to the shop owner with a soft, “Sorry!”
Where had Wynonna run off to? Nicole hurried through the store, following the loud pop music which she was sure would lead her to her future sister-in-law.
Nicole turned the corner of an aisle and stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth agape.
“Isn’t it perfect, hotshot?” Wynonna exclaimed, her arm slung over the shoulder of a life-sized dancing Pink Pikachu singing Write My Story by Olly Anna.
Nicole’s stomach dropped as dread seeped through her body. Waverly would be thrilled with this under the tree. She was already picturing waking up to Giant Pikachu, its marble cold black eyes piercing into her soul the very first thing in the morning.
“Fuck” Nicole muttere softly in disbelief, “…it is isn’t it?”