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The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet nothwisthanding go out to meet it.” - Thucydides
Nicole stared at the quote written in her father’s handwriting, a clear vision before her, but struggling to gather the courage to go meet it. She closed the notebook and set it back on her coffee table. A book of quotes he believed necessary for life, a relic of the past and a gift given to her at the start of her future - her high school graduation. Occasionally, when the world seemed to be too much and choices too hard, Nicole opened the book which always seemed to give her the advice she needed most. Often when reading the notebook, especially after learning about the supernatural, she wondered if her parents had dabbled in the witchier side of life.
Not that she would call them and ask of course.
That wasn’t their relationship and she couldn’t imagine if she were wrong.
Hey! Mark, Cherie, how’ve you been? You wouldn’t happen to also secretly be witches would you? No? Still disappointed that I’m a cop? Yes? Perfect. Talk again in five years!
Nicole groaned at the thought. She would have to call her parents if tonight went as planned. She could keep them out of a lot of life, but she couldn’t keep them out of this. Her heart already ached with the disappointment of them not caring. Of them not bothering to want to know more. But, at least she could live with a clear conscience knowing that she tried.
On that depressing note, Nicole got to her feet and slipped on her jacket. She wasn’t going to let her parents and their lack of parental care ruin her day.
*******************
“Can you believe this will be our third year picking out a tree rogether?” Waverly asked, bouncing giddily in her seat as Nedley’s borrowed truck bounced over the ruts leading down the road the Christmas tree farm.
“Would you believe me if I said yes?” Nicole said, reaching across the bench seat to take Waverly’s hand in her own.
Two years ago, Nicole had had a gut feeling that they’d be here, together, for many many years to come.
“Your hands are clammy, are you feeling okay?” Waverly asked, bringing Nicole’s hand to her lips and kissing Nicole’s knuckles.
“I’m fine,” Nicole responded, praying Waverly wouldn’t notice her desperate attempts to keep her voice normal.
Truthfully? She was terrified. Absolutely, one hundred percent terrified.
Nicole had a strong feeling that Waverly would say yes, given that Waverly had already proposed to her and Nicole had said yes, but the thought of laying out everything Nicole felt, getting down on one knee and asking Waverly to spend the rest of their lives together sent her heart racing and her palms sweating.
She could only imagine how it must have been for Waverly to propose first. Given that Waverly had had to decide to leave Earth and travel to the Garden of Eden with the literal fucking snake that helped curse humanity, asking Nicole to marry her probably wasn’t too high on list of terrifying things to do that day.
Maybe Waverly had had it easier.
Nicole smiled slightly at the thought.
“What?” Waverly asked, tilting her head and smiling at Nicole.
“Nothing, I’m just excited to be here. Can we get cocoa this time?”
“Of course, anything for my baby.”
**************
“Aren’t we going to get the tree first?” Waverly asked, pulling gently on Nicole’s hand.
“I think I need a little caffeine boost before we head out on a tree finding mission,” Nicole replied, leading them toward the drinks booth when Waverly conceded.
Nicole led them to one of the fires empty of other patrons.
“Keep our spot while I go get us drinks?” Nicole asked. She left Waverly at the fire and went to go get them two hot cocoas. She really didn’t need anything to get her heart going and her body warm, her own nerves were doing that well enough on their own. Thankfully, the line was short. She took her gloves off, partially to carry the mugs and partially to get ready to get the ring out of her pocket. She smiled at Waverly when she caught the woman staring at her and took a deep breath.
Go time.
Nicole handed Waverly her mug, thankful that Waverly had taken off her own mittens to be able to hold the hot cocoa.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Waverly asked again, narrowing her eyes in concern.
“Waverly,” Nicole started setting down her mug, heart pounding in her ears, “I…”
She stopped. Why hadn’t she prepared something? She could do this! Nicole slipped her hand into her pocket and gripped the ring. Instantly, calm washed over her.
Was this why Frodo had such a time getting rid of his own ring?
“Nicole?” Waverly asked, her eyes locked on Nicole’s.
Nicole swallowed hard and smiled, confidence building the longer her fingers clutched the ring, “Waverly Earp, I knew from the moment I met you that I would spend as much time with you as you would let me. You are the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing before I go to bed. When you were gone, I never thought I’d feel whole again. The possibility of a life without you didn’t seem like a life at all to me. I want to grow old with you. I want to build a family with you. I want to wrangle Wynonna with you for the rest of our lives and fall asleep in your arms every night for as long as I live. Will you marry me?”
Nicole pulled the ring out of her pocket and held it out to Waverly, her eyes never leaving Waverly’s.
Waverly’s hands flew to her mouth and she nodded vigorously, “Yes! Yes, of course!”
Nicole leaned forward and kissed Waverly hard. She pulled back and took Waverly’s left hand in her own. She slid the gold band on her Waverly’s hand and let Waverly’s hand slip from her own.
“Oh!” Waverly started, staring down at the ring. “It’s so warm.”
The ring glowed gold, engulfing Waverly’s hand in the glow.
Nicole’s own ring on her left hand pulled towards the ring on Waverly’s hand.
“Nicole!” Waverly exclaimed, eyes wide in panic.
But Nicole felt none of it. Her gut told this was right. That this was exactly what was supposed to happen.
“It’s okay, baby,” Nicole whispered, reaching out with her left hand and entwining her fingers with Waverly’s.
Both stared wide eyed as the ring on Nicole’s hand started to glow to match Waverly’s, morphing into a simple gold band inlaid with diamonds.
“It’s exactly like I imagined,” Waverly said softly, her smile spreading to take up her whole face.
Nicole cocked her head in Waverly’s direction, tearing her eyes from the magic currently happening with their rings.
“I told Julian exactly what I wanted for you. This is it,” Waverly said, turning their entwined hands over to get a better look at Nicole’s hands.
The bottom of the ring flashed and Waverly drew it closer.
“Paradise.”
Nicole smiled, “At least that stayed the same.”
Waverly’s ring flashed in response and lettering appeared on the bottom of hers.
“You’ve been brushing up on your Aramaic, haven’t you?” Nicole asked, staring at the symbols she had no ability to decipher.
“A little,” Waverly said, a blush coloring her cheeks. She leaned and squinted at the lettering, “I think it says…protector.”
She smiled up at Nicole, “Paradise and Protector.”
Nicole closed her eyes, reveling in the perfection of being in this place, with these rings, with her Waverly. At the thought of Waverly, Waverly’s ring flashed in her mind, glowing a deep, dark blue.
Nicole’s eyes flew open and she stared down at the ring.
What was that?
“I think these rings are going to be a lot different than normal rings,” Nicole said, mulling over an idea. She’d had mood rings when she was younger. Dark blue was happiness, bliss, and for some, lovestruck.
She had a theory she needed to test later.
They sat, sipping their hot cocoa and staring at their rings. Waverly leaned in and leaned her head on Nicole’s shoulder, watching the snow fall. Another perfect Christmas tree outing.
“I love this place,” Waverly whispered.
“It’s the hot cocoa. Nowhere in town does it better.”