Because the Wynonna Earp season 2 finale fucking ripped my heart out. And the Instagram post of "In another world, Wynonna gets to keep her baby and lives happily ever after" and then my brain went into overdrive at work and now we're here. Lemme know what you think? I just wanted a little bit of joy in our arduous wait for season 3.
Hope your week has been stellar!
M
"No. No way. In fact, hell no, Waves."
"Language!" Waverly gasped, placing her hands over the sleeping baby's ears in Wynonna's arms.
"Oh come on, she's a week old, she has no idea what we're saying." Wynonna hoisted Alice a little higher in her arms and turning away from Waverly.
"It's so environmentally conscious though! And you'd save so much money in the long run," Waverly wedeled, swinging around the banister to climb a couple of stairs to stand just a little taller than her sister, "And we can just wash them in the sink-"
"No, nope, we're not washing any kind of sh-" Wynonna stopped herself at the look from Waverly and rolled her eyes, "poop, down the sink in the kitchen where we eat food. We're getting disposable diapers, that's it, Waves."
Waverly pouted and flounced down the stairs to crash into Nicole's chest, still glaring at Wynonna. Nicole huffed out a breath but smiled and wrapped her arms around Waverly.
"Thanks for the help, Haught-stuff," Wynonna griped, bouncing Alice a little in her arms.
Nicole held up one hand in defense before replacing it to comb through Waverly's hair, "Hey, I'm not getting in the middle of this. You're just lucky she hasn't gone off about all the breast feeding techniques she found on Youtube. Not one of our more pleasant night." The last bit was directed down at Waverly who was currently trying to burrow herself as far under Nicole's chin as humanly possible.
"I just wanted to be prepared!" She exclaimed, stepping back from her girlfriend and then rounding on Wynonna again, "But really, you should use a C shaped hand to help push-"
"Nope! La la la la la!" Wynonna shouted, startling Alice awake. The baby jerked a little in Wynonna's arms and then her little lip curled up and she started to cry.
"Shit," Wynonna muttered, pulling the baby up closer to her face, "I'm sorry, baby, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Alice. Shhhh. You're okay, baby girl. I'm sorry" She nuzzled the baby's cheek and pressed kisses against her silky dark hair and soon enough Alice quieted. Once she was resting easy again, waving her tiny fists in the air, Wynonna turned back to Waverly.
"We are so not talking about my boobs right now."
"But-"
"Nope!" Wynonna groaned then, "I have to pee again! I thought this would stop after this little nugget came out but apparently not."
She passed Alice off to Nicole, despite Waverly's clear expectance to hold her, "Sorry Waves, you lost baby privileges when you started talking about how to hold my boob to feed her."
Nicole smiled down at the tiniest Earp, the bitty, bright blue eyes, still slightly crossed but almost seeming to focus on her face. She wandered away from where the other two were shouting at each other from either side of the bathroom door and made her way to the couch in the living room. Since Wynonna's 'nesting', the room looked much brighter, and the decorative pillows made the old sofa feel almost luxurious. Nicole leaned against the arm of the couch and put her feet up on the cushions enough to sit Alice up against her knees. The baby gurgled, waving her fists again, and pushing her way almost out of the blue blanket she'd been wrapped in. Her "Superhero in training" onesie (Doc had giggled for a solid minute after finding it in the store the other day and Wynonna had rolled her eyes at the sight of it, but smiled when she thought no one else was looking) had a tiny stain of spit up on the shoulder.
"Hey there, little bit," Nicole whispered, leaning close that she might be clear for the still nearsighted baby to see, "Hey bug." She rubbed noses with Alice and started making funny faces.
"You're pretty much never gonna get hurt, you know that. You've got aunties and uncles and your momma could… well I mean she has faced down the devil. I mean. Basically. And your dad. Well. I'm still not totally solid on what's going on with him but he loves you more than anything. Even that stupid hat."
"Officer Haught, I am appalled at your allegations!" Doc had just walked in the front door, a bag of take out in one hand. Dolls followed close behind with another bag and Jeremy brought up the rear with a case of beer (and juice for Wynonna which she would whine about but drink. For Alice.), "My hat is not stupid. Though you are correct. I do love this pretty little peach more than just about anything." Doc leaned over the back of the couch and tenderly kissed Alice's forehead. Alice's fists waved at the sudden facial hair but she made a sweet cooing sound that even Dolls smiled at as they marched to the kitchen.
"Hey Pod," Jeremy bounced up, "Look what I got." He shifted the drinks and reached into his pocket to produce a small, smiling, stuffed pea.
Nicole laughed as he placed it in front of the baby before hurrying off to answer whatever Doc had yelled from the kitchen.
"See," Nicole whispered, "We're crazy, but we're our crazy. Nothing's ever gonna happen to you."
A defeated Waverly appeared at her side and flopped down on the floor next to them, "She is so stubborn."
"Oh gee, I wonder where you get it from," Nicole laughed and Waverly glared a little bit.
"You're not gonna be like that, are you, baby girl?" Waverly clambered to her knees and leaned her head against Nicole's stomach to talk to Alice, stroking her tiny feet, "You're going to be calm and rational and listen to what people say, right?"
There was a snort from the doorway. Wynonna, a cup of juice in hand wandered in and plopped down next to her sister, "I'm sorry, have you met either of her parents?"
Alice's head turned toward her mother's voice and she waved her fists again.
Nicole felt funny, keeping the baby in her lap with Wynonna there but she seemed perfectly content to lean against the sofa next to Waverly and talk to the baby from there.
"Yes and I'm hoping their bad habits cancel each other out," Waverly shot back, grinning at Wynonna. She swatted Waverly's arm but then pulled her into a hug.
"I know you're just trying to help. But for the love of my tenuous sanity, please no more talk about my boobs and their milk," She shuddered a little, "Or ask how my uterus is doing. That's why we have a doctor."
"We do?" Waverly seemed surprised.
"Well. Sort of. I'm supposed to go see her tomorrow so."
"Wynonna!"
"What! I'm going aren't I?"
"In what car? I'm pretty sure you can't put the car seat in your truck."
"Which is why I was gonna ask to borrow your Jeep?" Wynonna smiled at Waverly, keeping her pulled in close, "Please! It's for your niece."
Waverly huffed, "You so don't get to use that all the time."
"Oh, I think I'm gonna," Wynonna laughed and Waverly wiggled her way out of their hug, sticking out her tongue and laying her head back on Nicole's stomach.
"Asshole." She muttered.
"Language!" chorused Wynonna and Nicole, falling out into fits of laughter when Waverly gave them the dirtiest look she could muster and the scooped Alice up from Nicole's lap.
"Come on, baby girl, let's go see what the boys are doing. Et tu, Nicole?" she grumped, causing the other two to redouble their laughter. But Waverly smiled to herself and the baby as she turned away. She'd take all the teasing in the world to see those two smiling.
After a dinner of take-out, alcohol and lounging around in the living room together, Alice drifted off in Wynonna's arms. No one commented on how the heir still teared up sometimes when she looked at the baby and Wynonna hurried off shortly after to lay Alice down in the bassinet that Gus had sent in her room. Doc, Dolls, Jeremy and Waverly were playing poker for pennies around the coffee table, Waverly perched on Nicole's lap. Everyone was warm and content and a little bit tipsy. After folding her hand, Waverly turned and started pressing kisses to Nicole's cheeks, giggling and edging ever closer to being properly drunk. They were all still in shock over what happened a week ago. The baby, the fight for the town, the fact that they'd all survived somehow. This calm atmosphere was almost scary it was so foreign but they were all trying their best to enjoy it while it lasted.
Everyone had (unofficially) moved onto the homestead. Doc still preferred his old bed out in the barn and Dolls took Waverly's old room. Waverly and Nicole stayed in Willa's old room that Waverly took over and Wynonna and Alice slept in her room. Jeremy even spent most nights in their parents' old room downstairs. No one seemed to like the idea of being separated at the moment so they just kind of circled wherever Alice was.
Dolls folded his hand too and stood up stretching, "Bathroom. Anyone want anything?"
"Beer."
"Whisky."
"Beer."
"Tequila!" Waverly chirped. Nicole laughed and shrugged when Dolls looked to her. He smiled and traipsed off, wandering to the upstairs bathroom. Wynonna had been gone for a while and his protective streak (even in the homestead with everyone around) was flaring up.
Her bedroom door was cracked open and he could hear Wynonna singing, softly, a little bit gravely but pretty nonetheless. Dolls knocked gently as he pushed the door open. Wynonna didn't look up from the bassinet but patted the bed beside her with her free hand.
Dolls sank down next to her and watched Alice's face as she dreamed. Wynonna finished her song and then sat back, still stroking the baby's cheeks and forehead.
"I… She's here and I still can't believe it," she whispered, leaning her head on Dolls shoulder.
"Pretty incredible," He hummed, watching the tiny blue blanket across her chest rise and fall.
They were silent for a time, both watching the littlest Earp in the soft light from the bedside lamp. And then-
"Dolls what if I fuck this up?" He barely heard her, "I mean. What if I should have sent her away. There are still tons of revenants and the curse and. She's just tiny and perfect and squishy and defenseless. She deserves so much better than me and this place and-"
"Hey," Dolls wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed, "Shh no, that's not gonna happen. The homestead is safe again, the revenant activity has died down since the guys trapped Clootie again. We can keep her safe. We just have to stay calm."
Wynonna laughed wetly, "Yeah, that's what daddy said and look what happened there."
"Well, you two have something he didn't." Dolls said.
"What?" Wynonna bit out, wiping her cheeks but keeping her eyes on Alice.
Dolls coaxed her face around to look at him, fingers under her chin, "Me." He caught a tear as it escaped and brushed it away gently, "And Doc. And Waverly and Nicole. Hell, Jeremy has already started building a panic room to put her in if shit hits the fan. We all love you both. Not a soul in this house wouldn't give their lives to protect hers."
"That's what I'm afraid of too." Wynonna whispered.
"Did Wynonna Earp just admit to being afraid?" Dolls gasped, looking down at her. But he had the intended effect. Wynonna chuckled and wiped her face again.
"Yeah, well. Too bad I already said it. Can't record it now."
Dolls laughed too and stood as Wynonna did. She took the baby monitor off the bed side table and leaned down to kiss Alice, "Sweet dreams baby girl."
She headed to the door and Dolls hung back long enough to run a thumb over her cheek, "Nothing's gonna happen to you, little asskicker."
Penny poker had somehow devolved to Waverly drunkenly recreating a scene from a James Bond movie, using Nicole as her femme fatale and Doc as her arch nemesis. Dolls and Wynonna returned to her jumping from the couch to the easy chair with the other three crying with laughter.
"And then he has this adrenaline gun in his car because he got poisoned and so. He takes it and," She made a sound effect like some kind of injection and stuck the imaginary needle in her neck, "So he passes out and- Wynonna!" Waverly leapt off the chair and grabbed her sister's hands, "Hi, do you remember what happens next?"
"Okay, which of you numbskulls gave Waves tequila?" Wynonna laughed.
"Me!" Waverly shouted, jumping up and down and thrusting a hand in the air, "I gave Waverly tequila!"
"I should have known," Wynonna muttered, "Alright, double O seven. Let's see what you've got against the Earp Heir." Wynonna handed Nicole the baby monitor and then threw Waverly over her shoulder. Waverly screamed with laughter as Wynonna tickled her sides, carrying her out the front door and into the front yard. The warm week had ended suddenly and the cold snap had brought with it an extra couple feet of snow.
"No no no! Wynonna nooo! I'm not wearing a jacket! I've got a crop to on!" But that didn't stop her big sister from chucking her into a snow drift. Waverly scrambled to her feet shrieking from the cold and brushing snow off her stomach.
"Well that's what you get for wearing a crop top in March!" Wynonna laughed.
Waverly was about to respond when a perfectly aimed snowball hit the back of Wynonna's head. Both of the girls turned to find the other four on the porch, decidedly not looking at them or one another, poorly smothered grins on their faces.
Wynonna cocked an eyebrow and surveyed all of them, "Dolls. Why are your hands behind your back?"
He shrugged, "Habit I guess." But there was a glint in his eyes. Before Wynonna could say more, Waverly had launched a snowball from behind her, aimed for Dolls but hitting Jeremy.
"Hey! I'm not a part of this!" He squealed, shaking snow off his face.
"You are now," Dolls laughed, picking Jeremy up like a human shield and taking off toward the barn just as Nicole gathered a handful of snow and smashed it in Doc's face. He spluttered, moustache quivering as Nicole cackled, reaching Wynonna and Waverly in three strides of her long legs and heading to the collapsed shed.
"Come on, we need cover!" She called as Jeremy and Doc started hurling snowballs from behind bales of hay and the corner of the barn. Doc was still looking affronted but slowly made his way to join them.
Wynonna and Waverly laughed and ran to catch up with Nicole. She'd already stock piled a small stack of ammo and Wynonna grabbed one, aiming for Dolls. It hit him square in the chest and he laughed loudly when Jeremy it her shoulder a moment later.
Doc got a snowball to the hat from Waverly which made his moustache tremble almost more than when it hit his face and Nicole landed a hit much too close to Jeremy's crotch for his liking and he yelped, diving behind Dolls.
Nicole giggled and then shrieked when Waverly snuck up behind her and stuck her freezing hands full of snow up the back of Nicole's shirt, wrapped her arms around to the front and held tight. Wynonna sank to her knees, laughing harder than she had in years, watching Nicole spinning in circles trying to get Waverly off her. On the other side of the yard, Jeremy had jumped on Dolls back and they were chasing Doc around, trying to place his snow filled hat back on his head after Jeremy had stolen it. Wynonna just wanted to stay in this happy moment forever; sleeping baby, drunk, happy family, no impending doom, safe and loved Waverly. It was all just too perfect.
A screech rent the night air, echoing from the baby monitor Nicole had set on the porch near them. Wynonna's heart stopped as she leapt to her feet. I knew it. I knew it was too good to be true. If they touch her…
"Alice!" She was sprinting into the house before she knew it, Waverly at her side, tears of fear already blooming in her eyes. Doc was right on her heels, and Jeremy too. Dolls and Nicole had both drawn their guns, backing toward the house, checking all the corners and horizons.
"No visible enemies." Nicole muttered as they reached the front door.
"Upstairs. Go." Dolls slammed the front door shut and they took off toward the stairs.
Wynonna threw herself into the room, Peacemaker in one hand the other balled into a fist, "Alright shitbricks, if anyone touches my-" but the room was empty. Alice was squalling from her bassinet and both the Earp sisters hurried to her side, Wynonna slipping the gun back into her boot and then scooping up her baby. She checked every finger, every toe, her cheeks, her neck.
Jeremy, Doc, Nicole and Dolls had all crashed through the door seconds after them and were waiting with bated breath as Waverly looked under the bed and in the closet. Alice had stopped crying and was now looking up at Wynonna curiously.
"Well?" Doc asked gruffly, shuffling forward.
"She's fine. She's okay." And then a smile, her first smile, bloomed over Alice's face.
"Oh my god she's smiling at me! Waverly, look she's smiling!" Everyone crowded around to see and Wynonna cooed, "Oh you've got the gummiest, weirdest, most perfect little smile I've ever seen. Did you hear all the fun outside and feel left out?" Alice gurgled in response.
"Decided to scream to get all of our attention," Nicole chuckled, pressing a hand over her heart.
"Well, she is an Earp," Dolls muttered, grinning as Alice smiled again and hooked her little fingers in Wynonna's lip.
"We'll have to teach her less horrifying ways to communicate," Doc hummed, taking Alice from Wynonna and tickling her tummy.
"You two?" Waverly scoffed, "Please, leave that to Auntie Nicole and Auntie Waverly!"
Nicole blushed but wrapped her arms around Waverly's waist, passing her chilly hands over the part of Waverly's stomach exposed under her crop top.
"Cold!" Waverly jumped but Nicole held on and nuzzled her freezing nose into Waverly's neck.
"Payback's a bitch, huh Waves?"
"Gross, get a room," Wynonna teased, sticking her tongue out at them.
"We will. Good thing it shares a wall with yours." Waverly took Nicole's hand and flounced out of the room, dragging Nicole behind her. Wynonna groaned but smiled as her little sister laughed her way down the hall. This was why youtube and headphones were created.
"Doc, you still on for more cards? I'm trying to master my poker face." Jeremy struck a serious expression that wouldn't have fooled a baboon.
"I'll be right down," Doc murmured, still only with eyes for Alice.
"Come on," Dolls threw an arm around Jeremy's shoulder, "I'll teach you Doc's tell."
"I do not have a tell." He grumped but they were already gone, on their way down stairs.
Wynonna and Doc stood together, staring down at their baby, Wynonna's head leaned against his shoulder.
"We made something pretty cool, huh?" she hummed, stroking Alice's cheek.
"Very cool, indeed," Doc whispered back as Alice's eyes began to droop.
"We got pretty damn lucky. With her. With Clootie. With everyone on our side." She couldn't look up at him.
"That we did. That we did. But I swear by every power in me I will not bank on anymore good luck where this angel is involved."
"Absolutely not."
They were quiet for a moment until Alice's eyes drifted completely shut. Then Doc turned to speak into the top of Wynonna's head.
"I heard there was a plan B. If all went to hell in a handbasket. I would very much like to know-"
"Gus." Wynonna cut him off, "Gus was plan B. I was going to send her to Gus."
"How?" Doc asked, cradling Alice a little bit tighter.
"Nicole. And a helicopter. And a couple other people. Good people that I can trust."
They were quiet again.
"I was going to make sure you got to see her though. They wouldn't have left until-"
"I know, I know."
Silence once more. Alice sighed in her sleep and pressed her nose to Doc's chest. Doc pressed a kiss to Wynonna's forehead and then took a deep breath.
"Why didn't you then? Send her to Gus?"
"I… I don't know. I think I wanted her to know. About this, about all of us, her family. About how to protect herself if we couldn't. The more I thought about it, the more I realized she's safer here, with us. As crazy as that sounds."
"Not crazy at all." Doc murmured, "Wynonna Earp, you are one of the bravest people I have met in my life. And I've met my share. And I am very happy that this child will have you as a mother."
Wynonna laughed, a tear splashing down on his shoulder, "Say that in a couple years when I can drink again."
Doc chuckled but said nothing. Gently, he replaced Alice in the bassinet and headed for the door, "Would you like to assist me in showing Jeremy just how terrible his poker face is?"
"Ah, tempting. But I'm sure she'll be up soon to eat and I'm dying for a nap before that."
"As well you should have one." Doc smiled and kissed Wynonna's forehead again before sauntering toward the door. When he got there, he paused, looked back and tipped his hat, "Ladies."
He closed the door quietly behind him and Wynonna flopped back on the bed.
"We all got pretty lucky, kid."
She was asleep before Doc made it downstairs.