Red Dead Redemption: Wayhaught

18:"Sometimes I tell myself that things happen for a reason."

a.n: I guess this is sort of a filler chapter, but it's important in the growth of Nicole and Waverly's relationship.

Initially I was going to skip over Nicole's recovery for the most part, but then I realised injuries like this are important and life altering, and I wanted to address the complications with this.

I know this is relatively uneventful compared to the previous chapters, but I hope it's realistic and interesting enough for you all lol.

p.s. MY ONE ON ONE WITH EM IS IN AN HOUR AND I'M FREAKING OUT! I'm nervous but also so excited ahh.

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in this chapter...

Waverly tries to balance work and caring for Nicole...
Nicole faces a complication in her recovery...
Is this goodbye to Toronto for Nicole?

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One week later...

With a huge smile and the soft melody of Ariana Grande floating from her lips, Waverly Earp glided round the corner into Nicole's room, coffee in both hands and a cream tote bag tossed over her left shoulder. Nicole was lying, as she always was, flat on her back propped up slightly, staring at the wall opposite. Each day Waverly had brought her different things to entertain herself with when she wasn't there - everything from books and magazines to movies and podcasts, but the truth was, Nicole was too distracted with worries to focus on anything else. Still, Waverly had made it her mission to spend every second being there for her; whether that was distracting her or simply holding her whilst she was shaking, she was going to be by her side through it all. Wynonna had flown back to Purgatory after a couple of days, once it seemed sure Nicole would make it and Waverly was okay to stay there on her own; Ash had to go back to work that week since she taught Chemistry at the local college, thus her hours weren't very flexible. That left Waverly, who was trying her darnedest to balance working from a distance and spending as much time with Nicole as the hospital hours would allow. She was exhausted, but happy, and she would take the lack of sleep any day if it meant she could be with Nicole, together, as a couple.

"Morning sexy." Waverly kissed Nicole's cheek, handing her one of the coffees and setting her bag down.

"Do you know the words to every Ariana song?" Nicole teased, watching her with a smile now gracing her face.

"Honestly, probably." Waverly shrugged with a goofy smile. "We used to dance to them at cheer practice."

"Which I'm still yet to witness." Nicole winked, getting a little blush and a laugh from Waverly.

"I'm not sure it's as sexy if we do it here, but when you're out, I promise..." She kissed her cheek. "I'll..." Then her forehead. "Dance..." Then her other cheek. "For you." Finally she kissed her lips, as Nicole smiled into the kiss, excited and giddy that Waverly was really her girlfriend. The momentary happiness was quickly lost, as she remembered all of the conversations she'd had with the doctors over the past week. Waverly had been there for them all, holding her hand and tracing circles with her thumb in comfort. She'd been there to hold her afterwards through tears or anger and to whisper reassurances, but it didn't take away from the reality of everything which was going on.

"You know I'm going to be in a wheelchair right?" She mumbled into her lap.

"Not forever love, only for a month or so, until your pelvis heals. And it's going to be okay, I told you, I'm going to be there to help and we'll do it together okay?" Waverly reassured with a furrowed brow and a tenderness in her tone.