A Wicked Good Time

Chapter 9

    Waverly still wasn't getting used to seeing herself in a magazine. It was fucking weird. She didn't understand how she went from this tiny, hick town girl to some extravagant celebrity, seemingly overnight.
     Since the night of the concert and the press incident, she'd noticed people following them around town and snapping photos of them. It didn't matter if they were going for a run, eating ice cream, going to Shorty's. There seemed to be cameras everywhere.
       "Are you okay baby?" Nicole asked her one day, noticing Waverly staring at a magazine while they were checking out at the local grocery. Waverly turned the cover to face Nicole. Her girlfriend and herself were on the front page holding hands with the caption Meet Nicole Haught's latest fling. Does Waverly Earp have what it takes to ground the wild child rockstar or will it end in flames?
      "Shit Waves," Nicole said, taking the magazine and giving it a once over before placing it back on the shelf. "You can't believe any of that stuff. People will do anything to sell a product." She frowned at the smaller girl. "And for the record, I've never been the 'wild child' the media makes me out to be. Most of the girls you've seen me with in the news are just friends of mine. The fans just take it and run with it. I'm sorry you have to be a part of that now."
     Nicole felt terrible. She almost wished that the press had never found out about her relationship. Now she was terrified that they were going to ruin it.
     Waverly gave her a knowing smile as they made it to the cashier. "It's not your fault Cole. I'm not upset with you at all, and I fully trust and believe you." She briefly stopped to make chit chat with the register person and thanked her as they grabbed their groceries before turning back to her girlfriend. "It does worry me though that somehow they've found out we live in Purgatory. Like how did that happen? Who would have told them?"  Nicole shrugged. She honestly didn't know. "Maybe someone from school?" She offered as a response. "Waverly thought about it for a minute. "You know what? You're probably right. Just because I didn't know who you were at first doesn't mean that other people didn't." Waverly said, putting the food in the back of the truck. Nicole smirked, also putting bags in the truck bed before walking to the drivers side and unlocking the door for them to get in. "I think that's why I'm so into you. Not to be presumptuous, but I'm pretty sure you liked me before you knew I was famous." Waverly laughed as she climbed up into the cab of the truck and felt a tiny smack on her butt. "You Haught to Know."

————————————————————————

    They pulled into the gravel driveway of the homestead and saw Wynonna sitting on the porch, whiskey in hand.
     "Nonna!" Waverly yelled, noticing her sister was already half lit. "It's 9 am! Get your drunken ass over here and help us bring the food inside."
      Nicole just laughed. She honestly wasn't surprised to see the older Earp like this. Not even this early. She'd come to realize that both Earps were special. Each in their own way, and this was just part of who Wynonna was. "Yeah Earp! If you want donuts, you better come grab a couple bags!" Nicole yelled.  Wynonna jumped up so fast. "You guys brought me donuts?!" Wynonna asked and both of them just shook their heads and handed her the bags. "Of course we did," Waverly said, being sure NOT to hand her the one with the sugary treats in it just yet, lest she would immediately drop the bags and run inside. " We wanted to make sure you eat too. You need to consume something other than whiskey sometimes, sis. Probably wouldn't hurt for you to eat real food either." Wynonna rolled her eyes eyes as she followed the other two inside to put things on the table.
      "I eat at Shorty's all the time, I'll have you know!" Wynonna retorted, serious look on her face and all. Nicole gave her a serious look all her own. "Pork rinds and peanuts don't really count as a meal Wynonna. You're eating today. Waverly and I have something special planned for dinner, and your ass will be sitting at that table with us. Clear?" She stated more than asked and Wynonna rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I will join your date night tonight since both of you so desperately want me to watch you eye fucking all night." The older Earp grabbed her bottle and went into the living room, leaving the other two to finish putting things away.
     "What's up with her today?" Nicole asked, putting away the oat milk in the fridge. "She seems a little on edge, even for her." Waverly frowned. "It's the anniversary of Gus' passing today. It's a hard day for both of us, but I think it's harder on Wynonna. She wasn't the most well behaved kid at times and well, as much as they loved each other in their own way, they didn't always get along too well. Which is ironic in a sense. They are just alike."
     Nicole reached out and pulled the smaller brunette into a hug, holding her tight. "I'm sorry baby. I didn't know. I wish I could help you. I wish I could help both of you." Waverly felt herself beginning to fight back tears.  "You are helping. You're here. You're here for me and you're here for Wynonna. I've never seen her make friends with anyone before she met you." Nicole ran her fingers through her girlfriend's hair soothingly, causing the other girl to melt into her. "I'm glad I can be here. I'm glad you want me here on this incredibly sad day. I'm glad you both trust me enough to let me in, and I'm glad I get to be the one to hold you through it." Nicole kissed the top of her head. "I love you Waverly Earp. And you don't have to say it back if you aren't ready. That's fine, it really is. I know it's all happening so fast, but I just wanted you to know that."
Waverly looked up at the beautiful woman in front of her as she spoke. "Thank fucking God, because I love you too Nicole Haught."

————————————————————————

Since Waverly was trying the whole vegan thing, Nicole agreed to try it with her. Wynonna on the other hand delivered her typical gesture when asked if she wanted to try it with them, which was a middle finger to the face. Which left Waverly making dinner for herself and her Nicole, while her girlfriend stood on the other side of the stove cooking for Wynonna.
"It smells good in here!" Wynonna said, plopping down at the table while the other two maintained their current places making dinner. "You would decide to be social when the food is almost done," Nicole said, chunking a baby carrot at the seated Earp. Wynonna just dodged it and opened the wine that was on the table in front of her, pouring herself a glass. "I can't help that you two are all domesticated already!" Wynonna retorted, taking a sip of her drink. "Seriously though, what kinda nasty shit are y'all drinking?" She walked over and handed the glass to her baby sister. "You drink this. I'm getting a beer."
"It's high grade stuff Wy," Waverly said, taking the glass and taking a drink before passing it to Nicole to try it. "It's my favorite!" She looked at the taller girl next to her, who surprisingly seemed to be making the same face her sister just made. "What? You don't like it either?" Nicole really tried to hide the ick face, but apparently it had showed. Wynonna just laughed and handed Nicole a beer as well. "Apparently Haught Pants has better taste."
"I can't even deal with you two right now." Waverly said with a giggle. "Whatever! More for me!" She said taking another sip. "Nonna, will you set the table for me? Mine and Nicole's is already done and I think your steak is almost done too." Nicole nodded in agreement as she turned the burner off. "It's done. All that's left is to toss the salad." Wynonna just stood there for a moment with her mouth open. "Can you not toss my sister's salad when I'm sitting right here?" Waverly shot her a look that could kill. "Dude! For the love of all that is unholy. Can you please shut the fuck up and set the damn table?" Wynonna threw her hands up in surrender and did as she was told. Waverly was adorable, but that girl could throw a punch.

After dinner they were sitting in the living room, watching XFiles again. Nicole ended up being sucked in as well, all with the help of the two Earps not really giving her much choice in what to watch. She was fine as long as she got to cuddle up with Waverly on the couch, even if that did mean she had to cover up with like fifteen extra blankets.
"I think Gus would have liked this show." Wynonna said as the episode ended. "She was always really into this kind of shit." Waverly looked at her sister and saw her sad eyes. She got up from Nicole's arms and crawled to the other side of the couch and leaned into her big sister. "She really would have. I really miss her." Wynonna kissed the smaller girls head. "Me too Baby Girl. Me too."
Nicole sat quietly and watched two of her favorite people in the world. Other than Nathan, she didn't really have any family that she associated with. This was her family now too, and it put an ache in her heart to watch them grieve. It also made her feel good to know that they felt comfortable enough to be this way in front of her. The love was definitely there. Even when they were bickering like 5 year olds, you could tell it was mostly playing.
She and Nathan were the same way. Always giving each other a hard time, but when it came down to it, they'd always go to bat for the other. That's just how it is with family. You're bound to have fights and disagreements, but in a real family, you're always gonna come back from it. Nicole got up to get another beer and leaned over to kiss Waverly's head. She gave Wynonna's shoulder a soft squeeze as well. "I'm gonna grab another," she said gesturing to her empty bottle. "You guys want anything?" Wynonna nodded and said she'd have another beer while Waverly just picked up her bottle to show she already had hers. "Dorks." She said as she left the room. Very faintly she heard the bigger Earp say "but we're your dorks and you love us." Nicole smiled at that. I certainly do.