A/N – Thank you so much for the great response to the first chapter! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourite and followed! I'm really excited about this story and I hope you guys are joining me for this crazy ride.
Chapter 2 – The Perfect Day
It turns out that you can't study when you have an unopened little silver box sitting on your coffee table staring at you the whole time. Waverly has been trying to study for her test all morning but the little box keeps stealing her attention, along with a long list of questions about said box.
Did Nicole run out during the dinner rush to buy her an engagement present? No, that's just ridiculous and unpractical. Was it something she keeps at restaurant in case one of her friends spontaneously gets engaged there? Okay not even Waverly is that prepared, that's coming from someone who carries around bear spray. Maybe it's something Nicole found in the kitchen… like an apple? Yes, that's what it is! It's just an apple, maybe it's some weird chef engagement gift who is she to judge?
"What are you doing baby girl?"
Waverly jumps at the sound of her sister's voice making her drop her pencil she has been tapping mindlessly against her textbook. Wynonna drops unceremoniously onto the opposite side of the couch before she can respond Wynonna spots the little box.
"What's this?" She grabs the box off the table.
"Hey careful!" Waverly drops her textbook on the floor next to her so can move closer to her sister.
"What's inside?" Wynonna looks between Waverly and the box.
"I don't know. Nicole gave it to me last night when we were leaving the restaurant." Wynonna moves the box from one hand to the other examining it.
"Why didn't you open it?"
"I don't know." Waverly answers honestly.
"Geez Waves, it's not a demented Jack-In-The-Box just open it." Wynonna pulls off the lid before Waverly can stop her. "Sweet Willy Wonka's balls its chocolate truffles." She grabs one and pops it in her mouth letting out a long moan.
"Wynonna! Nicole gave them to me!" Waverly quickly grabs the box from her sister before she can take another one.
"Holy shit that's orgasmic." Wynonna drops her head onto the back of the couch in bliss.
Waverly looks at the beautiful little truffles in the box, they are almost too beautiful to eat. They are clearly handmade, she has a pretty good idea by who's hands that is. Carefully taking one out so she can examine the glittering orb closer, gold dust, of course why would she expect anything less. She places it her mouth letting it melt on her tongue.
"Oh wow." She says covering mouth as the flavours explode on her mouth.
"Told ya. I'm totally kicking Doll's sorry ass for hiding her from us for so long." Wynonna complains thinking about all the amazing food she has missed out on.
"He didn't hide her from us, she wasn't even in the country."
"Still, her food is art and art must be shared."
Waverly just rolls her eyes at her sister as she pulls out her phone sending a quick text to the chef.
Thank you for the chocolate truffles they are amazing! – Waverly
After hitting send she looks up to see Wynonna typing away on her iPad that was on the coffee table just a second ago.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Googling one chef Haught." Wynonna says distracted she is browsing through the search results.
"What?! You can't do that!" She tries to grab the iPad but Wynonna just keeps it out of reach.
"Come on you can't tell me you're not just a little bit curious?" Wynonna asks with a raised eyebrow.
"No." Waverly says crossing her arms in defiance, no matter how hard her body is fighting to grab the iPad and look for herself.
"Sure, whatever you say." She turns back to the iPad as Waverly glares at her. "Wow, she is everywhere on the internet. She is like a really big deal, like Michelin star big deal."
"Really?"
Waverly can't take it anymore and grabs the iPad from her annoying sister, but since it's already done Waverly can't help but read the article about the up and coming young chef. She smiles at the photo of the redhead in her black chef's jacket intensely concentrating on the dessert master piece she is plating. It's clear that she has worked up quite the reputation in the food community working under some big names and even winning an award or two. Then it mentions how a few months ago she moved back to her home of Atlanta to work as the head chef at the world renowned chef Randy Nedley's new restaurant Polo and critics are already singing the young chef's praises.
"You know I never understood how a tire company can be restaurant critics." Wynonna says peering over her sister's shoulder. "Oh look her Instagram page."
Wynonna taps the link making Waverly slap her hand away.
"I have to hand it to you baby girl you sure picked one hot chef to be your new BFF." Wynonna lets out a low whistle as Waverly scrolls through the photos.
"Oh shush." But she can't help but smile because Wynonna isn't wrong.
Waverly stops at a photo of Nicole sitting on a large couch with Xavier sitting on her right side. On her left is a tall tanned man that kind of looks familiar to her but she can't place why, he has short black hair and is very well build. In front of them on the floor is a teenage boy with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes smiling showing of this braces. Waverly figures they must be Nicole's brothers she told her about. But the thing that keeps pulling her attention is the little boy sitting in Nicole's lap, his brown hair styled to perfection, but his big brown eyes leaves no doubt he is in fact Nicole's son.
"Crap she has a kid." Clearly she isn't the only one that draws that conclusion. "He's pretty damn cute though."
"He is adorable." Waverly says smiling at his cute little face.
Waverly jumps when her phone starts to ring, she quickly fishes the devise out of her pocket handing the iPad back to Wynonna.
"It's Champ." She says getting up to take the call.
"Say hi to the hubby for me." Wynonna calls after her.
-x-x-
The next week finds Waverly and Nicole texting each other regularly. Most of the times its just little random things about their day or something they found funny. With Waverly up late most nights studying and Nicole working until the early morning hours at the restaurant they found a strange kinship knowing they are not alone being awake in the midnight hours.
All too soon it is time to start planning the Hardy-Earp wedding. That's how Waverly found herself Saturday morning eating brunch with Champ and his mother. Mary had pulled out her leather day planner starting to write down everything that needs to be arranged. Waverly thought that they would have a discussion about what she and Champ would like, but so far it's mostly just Mary telling them what they will be happening.
"I have been talking to the country club and they said we that next year March is their earliest available date for the wedding." Mary says scribbling something down in her elegant handwriting.
"The country club, I thought we would get married in like a church?" Waverly asks, frankly she was hoping to have the wedding at the church her parents was married in.
"Oh no, the club is larger and will give the right ambiance for this kind of wedding. Besides Dale already put down the deposit, plus with 250 guests attending we will need the space." Mary says matter of factly.
250 guests. Waverly takes a drink from her glass suddenly feeling a lump in her throat. This is not how she imagined planning her wedding would turn out.
-x-x-
After a painfully long brunch Champ is chasing down an angry Waverly storming across the park.
"Waverly, come on. The country club isn't that bad."
"It's not about the country club Champ, it's about the fact that your mother is completely taking over planning our wedding. And you just let her! I don't know about you but I'm only planning on getting married once and I would at least like a say in planning it." Waverly abruptly stops and spins around to face him making her fiancé almost crash into her.
"She's my mom Waverly, you know how she can be. She has this image she has to keep up with her high society friends who expect this to be the wedding of the year."
"Well I don't want her using our wedding as an exhibition to display her wealth to her stupid uptight friends."
"Waves-"
They hear a loud squeal and look over to see a little boy running unsteadily towards them as fast as his little legs can wobbly carry him crying out in delight as he goes. Waverly looks behind him to see Nicole giving chase, a lot slower of course, just before he reached them Nicole snatched him up making him squeal even louder as she tosses him in the air and catches him only to start tickling him.
"Gotcha!"
"Mama." He says between giggles
Their previous argument completely forgotten, Waverly knows she is smiling like an idiot but she can't help it at the adorable pair. Nicole finally has mercy on the little boy stopping her attack and settling him on her hip. When she looks up she locks eyes with Waverly and the surprise is clearly written across her face.
"Waverly, hey."
"Hi." Waverly greets back, her eyes drifting back to the little boy who is now pulling on the collar of his mother's blue plaid shirt she has on over her dark grey tank.
"Hey you're that chef from the restaurant." Champ says reminding the two women of his presence.
"You're the fiancé." Nicole answers with fake enthusiasm.
"Yeah, Champ Hardy. This your kid or are you planning on cooking him tonight?"
"Champ!" Waverly looks at him appalled, he just shrugs as he laughs. "I'm sorry-" She starts to apologise but Nicole stops her.
"Now its fine, but yes this is my son." She answers but her eyes are on Waverly watching her reaction. "This is Luca. Luca can you say hi to mommy's friend?" She asks her son but he just shyly lays his down on his mother's shoulder, giving Waverly a little wave when she waves at him with a big smile.
"Hi Luca, I'm Waverly. I really like your shoes." She says tapping his little red Chucks and he kicks it out to point at it and lets out a gurgled attempt at saying shoe. "Yeah, I wish my shoes were that cool." He smiles at her before burying his face in his mother's shoulder.
"Listen Waverly-" Champ starts but is cut off by his phone ringing, he looks down at it with a sigh. "I have to go or I'll miss my flight. But I'll call you tonight then we can talk." She just gives them a stiff nod and he gives her quick kiss on the cheek before running off.
Waverly looks at Nicole who pretends to be focusing on Luca who is looking at the kids playing on the swings as he chews on his little fist.
"Sorry about that."
"Trouble in paradise?"
"Get married they said, planning it would be fun they said." Waverly says annoyed.
"Ah." Nicole says realising what's bothering the other woman. "Well if you are looking for some real unadulterated fun we were about to hit the swings if you want to join us?"
Waverly looks at those big brown eyes looking at her expectantly feeling all of her frustrations fading away.
"I would love too." The biggest smile breaks out on the redhead's face, making Waverly's stomach flutter.
"To the swings!" Nicole says excitedly jumping Luca up and down on her hip.
-x-x-
Nicole is softly pushing Luca on the baby swing, he is content at just watching everything around him as he swings slowly back and forth. Waverly is on the swing next to him just moving the swing slightly not really lifting her feet of the ground, she finds she is rather fascinated at watching this 'mommy' side of Nicole. The chef catches her staring and blushes.
"Do you guys come her often?" Nicole raises an amused eyebrow at the youngest Earp. Waverly rolls her eyes when she realises what that sounded like. "What I meant was, if you two like to spend your Saturday mornings in the park."
"Yes, Saturday's are what we call family days. I don't have to be at the restaurant until later in the afternoon, so I usually find something for the two of us to do together in the mornings and then we have to go to my parents' house for lunch with the rest of the family." Nicole explains.
Luca starts to babble in his adorable baby way at absolutely nothing making them both chuckle. When the swing reaches Nicole again she places a kiss on his head as he continues to babble away.
"He really is the most adorable little thing." Waverly comments.
"Yeah he is pretty cute." Nicole says with a loving smile at her boy.
"You're not at all what I expected." Waverly says making the chef look at her frowning.
"Is that a good or a bad thing?"
"It's good don't worry."
"If you say so." Nicole says unconvinced.
"I Googled you." Waverly blurts out.
"What?" Nicole grabs onto the swing holding it in place as she looked at Waverly surprised.
"No shoot." Waverly splatters nervously. "I didn't… I…"
"You didn't Google me?" Nicole asks with a raised eyebrow enjoying seeing the other woman so flustered.
"Well, technically Wynonna Googled you." Waverly finally gets out, she can feel her face flush all the way to the tip of her ears to Nicole's amusement.
"Find anything interesting?" Nicole lets a chuckle as she starts to push the swing again.
"You mean besides the fact that you were named the best young chef of the year?" Waverly watches as its Nicole's turn to blush. "But the thing that surprised me the most is the fact that there is no mention of special someone. I mean I saw at the club how much the ladies love you."
"First of there were no ladies at the club." Nicole says defensively making Waverly smirk at her.
"Sure and secondly?"
"Secondly… relationships can be a really scary concept. I mean the idea of giving someone that much power to hurt you." Nicole trails off keeping her eyes on the swing moving back and forth.
Waverly doesn't say anything she just studies the chef closely, clearly there is a story behind the comment but she knows whatever it is Nicole doesn't want to talk about it. When Nicole finally looks over at the other woman Waverly just gives her a reassuring smile that Nicole gratefully returns.
"Hey, we knew we would find you here."A sudden voice calls out to Nicole making both women jump.
Waverly looks up to see the two new arrivals standing in front of them and immediately Waverly recognises them from Nicole's photo on Instagram.
"Hey guys what are you doing here?" Nicole says as her hands start to sign as she talks to them making the younger Earp frown.
"I took this little nerd to the comic book store across the street." The older of the two says and signs earning him a jab in the side from the teenager. "So we took a chance that we would find you here."
"Are you going to introduce as?" The blonde signs as he looks between Nicole and Waverly.
"Yes of course." Nicole says quickly. "Guys this is my friend Waverly Earp, Waverly this is my brothers the handsome blonde one is Zadin and the Neanderthal is Keogan."
Zadin smiles while Keogan just scoffs, Zadin smiles at her before signing something.
"He says it's nice to meet you." Nicole translates for Waverly.
"Oh, it's nice to meet you two too." Waverly replies with a smile as well.
"Keogan promised me ice cream, do you want to join us?" Zadin asks his sister.
"Hey, I did no such thing!"
"Your my big brother it's an unwritten law."
Keogan just looks at his little brother smiling smugly up at him before letting out a huff in defeat.
"So apparently I'm buying ice cream, what can I get you guys?"
"Can you get a small vanilla one for Luca and I'll take a cookies and cream one please. Waves?" Nicole asks lifting Luca out of the swing. Waverly can't help the little flip her stomach makes at hearing Nicole call her that.
"Um, I'll take a strawberry thank you."
He nods before he grabs Zadin in a head lock and dragging him away. Nicole just shakes her head as she leads Waverly over to the park bench where Luca's bag is.
"So those were your brothers." Waverly asks amused sitting down.
"Yeah that was them." Nicole chuckles as she sits down on the bench. "You're probably curious but too polite to ask but yes Zadin is completely deaf, but he can read lips." Waverly gives her a shy smile thankful for the explanation.
"Hey, you said your other brother is in a band right?" Waverly asks trying to figure out why the older one looked so familiar.
"Oh yeah Keogan, he is in this band called Peacemaker."
Waverly's jaw drops, Peacemaker is one of the biggest up and coming bands after their cover songs went viral on YouTube.
"Peacemaker, I love them! There are totes amazing!"
"Ugh please don't tell him that, his head is already big enough that it's starting to have its own gravitational pull." They both laugh until Luca start to wiggle around on Nicole's lap trying to get free of her hold and starting to whine. "What's wrong buddy?"
Luca leans forward holding out his arms towards Waverly to take him. Both woman look at each other surprised.
"You don't have to."
"No its fine I'll take him if it's okay with you." Nicole nods and moves Luca over until he is safely in Waverly's lap. His looks up at her with his big brown eyes before he starts bubbling away again, completely content sitting on her lap. He soon spots her long hair and grabs a hold of it making Waverly let out a yelp.
"Hey easy there." Nicole tries to loosen his grip but he still keeps a hold on it.
"It's okay it's not his fault I have hair for days." Waverly says sweetly. "Now I understand why you keep yours short."
Zadin comes back with their ice creams handing them each one. Nicole helps Luca get a grip on his cone with a barely there scoop of ice cream on it before starting to eat her own. She can't help but shake her head when she sees Keogan walking over to them with his phone out taking a selfie.
"Seriously Keo, can you be any more vain?" She asks her brother when he finally stops in front of them.
"It's what the fans want." He just shrugs typing away on his phone.
"The fans what to see you eat ice cream at the park?"
"Of course, why else would it have so many likes already?" He asks holding the phone in front of her to see for herself.
"Those are sympathy likes."
"You post photos of your food all the time Nicky." He shoots back at his sister.
"Because I'm a chef, that's why people follow me they want to see the food I make." Nicole explains like she is talking to a small child.
"I thought it's because they think you're hot."
Nicole punches him hard on the arm making him laugh as he rubs his arm as he steps away out of arms reach.
"Hey I get it, why do you think I have so many followers they all want a piece of this." He flexes his muscles showing off his well defined arms, Nicole doesn't miss how a few people turn to stare at her brother including Waverly. Keogan see how his sister looks at the other woman.
"It just a shame I don't have your sexy booty though." He turns around lifting his shirt so they can see him shaking his behind. "What do you think Waverly who would you rather walk behind on a flight of stairs?" He asks watching the girl turn bright red and look away.
"Okay thank you Magic Mike please stop twerking in front of my son, his poor innocent eyes doesn't need to see that." Nicole covers the baby's eyes with her free hand.
"We just have to get him to grow out of those saggy diapers then I can teach him my killer moves."
"Keogan cant you go bother Xavier at work instead of me?"
"But bothering you is just so much more fun." He winks at her.
Zadin taps him on the shoulder to get his attention before he starts signing. He nods and signs something back to him before turning to the two women.
"There is a basketball game happening down on court we are going to go check it out." And with that the two Haught brothers are gone again.
"I'm so sorry you had to see that." Nicole apologises.
"I think your brothers are great."
"Then you should try living with them."
"Trust me Wynonna was no picnic either."
Nicole looks over to her son sitting happily in Waverly's lap eating his ice cream with his whole face, there is even some in his hair. She can't help but chuckle at the sight of her happy boy.
"Luca Jacob Haught look at your face!" She says making him look up at her smiling as the melted ice cream drips down his chin. "I can't take you anywhere can I?" She asks tickling his tummy making him squeal and accidently pushing his ice cream into Waverly's cheek
"Oh he got some on you." Nicole smiles at the sight of the two covered in ice cream. "You two look just adorable I have to get a photo of this." She pulls out her phone to do just that.
"Hey!" Waverly warns but with her one arm securely around Luca and the other holding onto her ice cream there isn't really much that she can do to stop Nicole from taking the picture. So she does the next best thing by tapping her ice cream against Nicole's nose. "There now you have to be in the photo too."
Nicole looks at her in shock the phone still in the air ready to take the photo and her nose now covered in the cold treat. Waverly lets out an adorable giggle at the frozen chef and Luca soon follows. A large smile breaks out on the redhead's face before shaking her head and scooting closer to the other woman.
"You play dirty Earp." She says holding out the phone in front of them. "Smile you goofballs."
When she puts her phone back in her pocket and drops the remainder of their melted dessert in the trash she takes some wipes out of Luca's bag. Handing one of them to Waverly who thanks her and starts to clean herself up.
"Come here you sticky little monster." Nicole takes the boy placing him in her lap as she starts to try and get him as clean as she can. When she is done she places him on the ground letting him hold onto the bench between her and Waverly and immediately he starts slapping the wooden planks.
"Are you working tonight?" Waverly asks once she is ice cream free again.
"Yes. The joys of being the head chef. How about you do you have any fun plans for tonight?" Nicole asks.
"If you can call pulling an all nighter fun. I have a term paper due Monday so I will probably be up all night working on that, because I promised Gus and Curtis I would help them do stocktaking at Shorty's tomorrow."
"Sounds like you have a busy weekend ahead of you."
"Yeah, and I should probably get started on that paper if I want to get any sleep this weekend." Waverly says reluctantly getting up from the bench.
"Oh okay." Nicole can't help the disappointment in her voice.
"I had a really fun time, thanks for letting me crash your family day." She says playfully ruffling Luca's hair.
"Thanks for joining us."
Waverly nods before she starts to back away.
"Good bye chef Haught."
"Bye Waverly Earp."
When she walks into her apartment Waverly is still smiling. Her phone beeps and she looks down to see Nicole send her the photo of the three of them covered in ice cream all smiling brightly. And suddenly her heart feels a lot fuller.
-x-x-
Later that afternoon all the Haught children are at their parents' house for lunch. Nicole is busy working in the kitchen getting the food ready. Even at home she is still the designated food provider. Mixing the last ingredients into the salad she feels someone watching her and she looks to find Zadin watching her with a smirk.
"What?" She asks confused.
"Who was the hottie from the park?" He signs making Nicole groan, she should have know this was going to happen
"One of Xavier's friends we met the other night." She says her hands moving effortlessly in front of her as she explains.
"You like her." It's not a question but a simple statement.
"Yes, of course I like her she is my friend." He just looks at her with a raised eyebrow clearly not impressed by her answer. "Okay you know what your 14 I'm not going to discus my love life with you."
"Clearly there is nothing to talk about."
"And this discussion is officially over." She says bumping him with her hip as she moves past him to get the last dish out of the oven.
"What discussion is over?"
Nicole almost hits her head against the cupboard at her mother's voice, but instead she just places the dish safely onto the counter with an annoyed groan.
"Nicole met-" Nicole grabs onto Zadin's hands before he can sign any further giving him a glare.
"No one I met no one." She says quickly.
"What's going on?" Keogan asks walking into the kitchen.
"Apparently Nicole met someone she doesn't want us to know about."Allison Haught says looking at her daughter suspiciously.
"You mean the hot girl from the park?"
"Keogan!" Nicole exclaims dropping Zadin's hands and he immediately raises one for a high five from his older brother that he happily gives.
"You were at the park with a hot girl?" Allison asks intrigued.
"No, not really. I kind of ran into her there while me and Luca were there this morning." Nicole explains busying herself with getting the silver wear so she doesn't have to look her mother in the eye.
Allison studies her daughter's slumped shoulders as she avoids her gaze.
"Boys, go get your father and Xavier tell them the food is ready." Allison effectively dismissive the two who quickly leave the kitchen.
Nicole turns around to face her mother knowing she can't escape this discussion now.
"So?"
Nicole lets out a sigh as she leans heavily on the counter behind her.
"Her name is Waverly Earp, she is Xavier's partner's little sister. Xavier introduced us at Wynonna's birthday party."
"Oh."
"Mom please don't turn this into something it's not." Nicole pleads.
"I'm not, it's just there hasn't been a girl in a very long time that's all."
"There is no girl. Waverly is just my friend." Allison walks over to her, taking her face lovingly into her hands.
"Honey, I know you have been burned in the past but don't let that keep you from finding your happy ending."
"She's engaged mom." Nicole confesses in a small voice.
"Ah, now it makes sense why you're tiptoeing around this girl."
"Mom are you trying to tell me to be a home wrecker? I'm not going to be the other woman…" The rest of her sentence not needing to be said.
"That's not what I want either. What I'm telling you is to fight. If this girl is the one, and you will know if she is then you have to fight for her. Show her what she is missing, that she has a choice. It's not over until she says 'I do'."
Nicole gives her a small nod and Allison leans forward leaving a kiss on her forehead before stepping back.
"Now let's get that food on the table before we have a riot on our hands."
Nicole and Allison takes the food out into the dining room just as Xavier walks in with their dad behind him carrying Luca. One thing is for sure her son will have no shortage of people loving him in his life. Jason places Luca in his high chair next to his seat. Xavier makes his way over to Nicole.
"Hey are you okay?" He asks concerned and she gives him a smile.
"Yeah, mom just grilled me about Waverly in the kitchen."
"Oh, mom wants all the details of the new love of your life?" Nicole lets out a snort.
"I wouldn't be surprised if she already started picking out china patterns." They both chuckle.
"Xavier, Nicole if you want any food I'd suggest you get to it before your brothers eat it all." Jason calls them.
Xavier quickly sits down next to Keogan grabbing the bread roll out of his plate and placing it in his own.
"Hey! Hands off my food man!" Keogan yells protecting his plate with his knife.
"I'm older then you, you should respect your elders." Xavier says around a mouthful of bread.
-x-x-
Waverly rubs her eyes trying to get them to focus on her laptop screen. It's just after one in the morning and she has been working on her paper all night and she still has a way to go. She takes a few pieces of dry cereal from the bowl next to her laptop and pop them in her mouth. Waverly frowns when she hears a soft knock on her door thinking she might have imagined it. But curiosity getting the better of she gets up to see who could possibly be at her door at this time. Checking to see who it is first before opening the door she frowns in confusion but opens the door to reveal a sheepish looking Nicole.
"Nicole? What are you doing here?"
"Hey, sorry I didn't want to knock to loud in case you were already asleep. But I remember you said earlier that you would probably be up all night working on your paper so… I thought I would bring you a midnight snack." She pulls out a takeout bag from behind her back with a big smile.
Waverly looks at the woman amazed, she moves to open the door but stops.
"Wait, did you make it or did you buy it?" She asks seriously.
"Um I made it at the restaurant before I left." Nicole says cautiously not really sure why she asked.
"Good then you may enter." Waverly lets out a big smile opening the door wider for the chuckling chef to enter.
Nicole knows she shouldn't, she should leave and go home to her son and let Waverly finish her paper alone in her apartment, the apartment she shares with her fiancé. But her feet have a mind of their own as she finds herself standing just inside the apartment.
Waverly takes the bag from her and goes into the kitchen as Nicole follows behind her.
"Where is Champ?" Nicole asks remembering him saying something about flight earlier at the park before he left.
"New York." Waverly says with a shrug opening the bag to pull out the food not realising how hungry she actually was until she was hit with the delicious aroma from inside.
"Looks like I made it just in time."
"What?" Waverly asks confused lifting her focus from where she is trying to open the food container to see Nicole pointing at the bowl with dry cereal.
"Yes, my saviour." Waverly says with a shy smile.
-x-x-
Waverly lets out a grunt as she places the large box onto one of the tables. Opening it up she starts taking out the contents as she lets out a long yawn.
"I know stocktaking is not the most exciting thing but I didn't think it would be that bad."
"Ugh sorry Gus, it's not that I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I had to work on my paper and then Nicole showed up with her amazing food and we got talking for a while."
"Nicole, wait is she the chef from that fancy place Champ took us to? The one Wynonna was acting like an overexcited kid about?" Gus asks placing a box next to Waverly's.
"Yes, that's her. But I think she can handle Wynonna since she has a kid of her own at home."
"She has a kid?" Gus asks surprised.
"Yes Luca and he is just the most adorable little guy ever! Here let me show you." Waverly shows her the photo Nicole send her of the three of them covered in ice cream.
"My he is an adorable little thing." Gus says handing her back the phone she watches as Waverly smile down at the phone before finally putting it away and continue taking the bottles out of the boxes.
"And he is really sweet too, clearly he takes after his mother." Gus listens as Waverly continue to gush over Luca and inadvertently Nicole as well. Telling her all about their day at the park, meeting Keogan and Zadin and how Nicole surprised her with what she calls a plate of the world's most delicious food ever created. Gus has a strange feeling settling inside her but doesn't mention it, not yet at least.
-x-x-
Xavier bursts into Nicole's apartment, almost pulling the door off of its hinges. After getting a text from his sister saying she needed him all the worst possible scenarios playing through his head had him out of the door in a flash
"What's wrong?" He asks concerned seeing Nicole on the couch her knees pulled up to her chest and looking about 2 seconds away from crying.
"Nicole?" He asks gentler.
"You where right I'm an idiot." She looks up at him her bottom lip starting to tremble. "I'm the idiot who fell for the girl I can never have."
"Oh Nicky." He sits down next to her pulling her into his side as she starts to cry.
After the tears finally stopped Xavier grabbed them some comfort food and turned on some crappy reality show.
"So, this fiancé is he really that great?"
"Well his name is Champ Hardy. His father is the CEO of a large company and Champ is in line to take over from him when he retires. So, he is always travelling somewhere on business. He is an only child so he always gets what he wants. He's basically your average golden boy." Xavier says as he chews on the popcorn.
"He sounds like a real prick." Xavier nudges her with his toe. "I know it just… she is getting married to him."
"This isn't breaking news, you already knew that."
"It doesn't mean it sucks any less." She says annoyed throwing a piece of candy at the TV.
"I know." He says rubbing her back soothingly. She suddenly sits up making him jump and pull his hand back. "What?"
"I'm going to fight for her."
"Nicole no."
"I have to do something!" She jumps off of the couch starting to pace in front of him.
"Nicky listen to me," He says grabbing her by her arms to stop her pacing. "You're my little sister and Waverly is my friend. I don't want this to hurt either of you."
She sits down on the table in front of him.
"I like her Xavier, so much. I'm always thinking about her. When I close my eyes I see that adorable smile of her. When I'm with her… I just have to try. I know she loves Champ and is going to marry him. But if I don't at least try I will regret it."
Xavier studies his sister for a long moment before letting out a sigh.
"She's the one isn't she?" Nicole nods. "You don't do anything the easy way do you?"
She just gives him a guilty smile.
"What will be the fun in that?"
Xavier lets out a chuckle as he pulls her back to sit next to him.
"Okay then, what are you going to do now?"
Nicole looks up at him determination in her eyes.
"I'm going to fight like hell."