The Pirate & The Porcelain Doll (WAYHAUGHT)

Chapter 7

Nicole tiptoed into the bedroom, hoping not to wake Waverly. "I'm still awake," she said, sitting up, watching Nicole extract a nightgown and hairbrush from her case.

"You should be asleep, young lady. It's way past your bedtime."

"Can I sleep with you? And, Ellie too."

"That's rather a lot in one bed. Perhaps Ellie can look after one bed tonight," Nicole suggested, seeing Waverly's bottom lip stick out. "Fine, everyone in. But, Ellie stays on your side."

Waverly jumped out, rushing over to Nicole's bed, Nicole laughing. "Wiggle, you could have stayed in your bed. I would have got in there. It's warmer. No matter. Let me get changed and I'll join you."

Nicole looked around for somewhere to undress in private. "Wiggle close your eyes for a moment while I put my nightgown on."

"Why? I saw you at the lake."

"Pond. That was different. Quick, close them, or I won't be able to get into bed with you. Keep them closed, promise."

"Promise. Did you like the jelly? I asked cook to make it just for you."

"I did. It was scrummy. Best jelly I ever had. Keep them closed. No peeking. You can open them now."

Nicole sat in front of the mirror brushing her hair. Long red tresses falling onto her shoulders. "Can I brush your hair?" Waverly asked, Nicole nodding, handing her the brush. "I like your hair. I will have red hair when I'm older."

"You don't want red hair like mine. Yours is perfect, as you are Wiggle. We best hurry in case your mother finds us out of bed and sends me home."

They snuggled up together, Ellie wedged between them, much to Nicole's frustration. "Ellie is our baby," Waverly said, trying to stifle a yawn. "We are her mama and papa and we live in a castle with a telescope."

"A big castle, with tall towers. And, we eat jelly for supper every day."

"I love you Red."

"I love you too, Wiggle. Now go to sleep, for me."

Nicole woke first, Ellie's arm wedged under her body, her hand digging into her ribcage. She was sorely tempted to fling the doll across the room, but thought it best not to inflict damage on what had supposedly become her child in Waverly's mind. She adored the attention received, adored that she was adored by someone who saw her as doing no wrong, utterly trusting to the point of going with her into a dark and scary place, where they both so nearly drowned.

That day continued to weigh heavily on Nicole's mind. Her eldest brother was furious when he heard, reminding her over and over how thoughtless she had been to have brought a younger child into Merlin's cave and put their lives at risk. She fled in tears to her room, ashamed of what she had done, ashamed at being brought to tears for her selfish actions. He apologised later, explained to her his outburst was due to his own feelings of guilt at not having been there to guide and protect her. She accepted his apology, without further discussion, despite wanting to tell him she did not need protecting. His guidance perhaps, at correctly judging the tide as he had on previous excursions, never his protection. She could look after herself.

That single day, that single event, taught Nicole many valuable lessons. That she had survived something truly terrifying through her own actions, that she had put the life of another at risk through those same actions, that she would never again do anything to upset, or scare Waverly. Even if that meant playing dolls, or as Waverly called it their happy family, for hours, and hours, and hours.

Wynonna rescued her from yet another tea party Waverly had organised in her bedroom with all her other dolls, the relieved look on Nicole's face a picture as Wynonna dragged her downstairs to play chess. "Thank you," she mouthed silently, knowing Waverly was right behind her on the stairs, protesting loudly Wynonna had stolen Red from her.