Fingers carding gently through her hair and a soft glow pressing against her eyelids pulled Waverly, reluctantly, from a pleasant dream. She stretched her arms out in front of her until she felt the pleasant pull in her muscles before cuddling back into her pillow with a satisfied hum. Though when her fingers didn't curl around the fluffy pillow she'd been expecting, confusion scrunched up her features as her hand explored what she was laying on. Soft cotton covering something firm and smooth…The confusion turned into surprise when her pillow suddenly jerked and a laugh came from somewhere above her. Blinking her eyes open Waverly was stunned by what looked like the world turned on its axis. Turning over she was now looking up at the ceiling and the sleepy, smiling face of Nicole. Instantly she relaxed, but couldn't help the heat in her cheeks when she realized she'd fallen asleep on the other woman.

"Hey," She said softly.

"Hey yourself."

"I'm sorry I fell asleep on you."

"I don't mind. I know the last few weeks have worn you out and you need your sleep." There was that dimpled smile again. Reaching up, Waverly brushed the back of her knuckles against the small cleft, feeling it deepen as her fingers drifted over the striking line of her jaw before cupping her cheek.

"Are you saying I look like crap?" She laughed. It was cut off when she felt the fingers that had been running through her hair moved to trace over her cheek and jaw.

"Never. I don't think that'd be possible, Miss Earp." The blush that cleared from earlier now came back and Waverly's eyes darted away though the corners of her lips pulled up in smile. Her eyes landed on the cat bed close to the bedroom door. Taking up most of the bed was the curled up form of Wonka and plopped right on top was Willy. She couldn't help but notice a similarity in her own position with Nicole. Her sleepy, traterious mind supplied an image of the two of them curled up in bed, Waverly tucked into Nicole's side, her face pressed against the column of her throat. Supplied not only with the numerous hugs they've shared, but also with the near kiss from earlier, Waverly knew the scent and feel of Nicole and it created a very visceral daydream. Her stomach trembled with the sudden urge for more.

"You okay, Wave?" Nicole asked, her voice pitching with worry as she noticed the deep red of her friend's face.

With a start Waverly snapped from her reverie and looked up at Nicole's face, before darting her eyes away again to. She contemplated running outside and jumping into a snowbank to cool off, but had a feeling that would raise too many questions. Besides pneumonia would kind of put a damper on her plan. If she had one. Which she didn't. Which only made her more nervous. She was a planner, she needed a plan, a thought out one. "Yeah just a little too warm I guess," She replied, kicking off the blanket and sitting up. The silence stretched between them and Waverly searched for something to say. Her eyes alighted on the clock on the wall and she blurted out, "Wow it's already two?"

"Yeah," Nicole said, sliding to the edge of the couch and turning off the TV. "We should probably head to bed soon."

The words automatically returned the images from earlier into Waverly's brain and she sucks in a deep breath, but was stopped by Nicole's next words. "I'll take the couch if you want the bed."

No that isn't what she wanted. She didn't care where she slept, so long as Nicole was there. "No," She said.

"Oh…well you want the couch then?" Nicole asked, confusion clear as she stood in front of Waverly, trying to figure out what was going on. Something had changed in her demeanor tonight, growing more noticeable as the night had progressed. She was growing worried, and hadn't wanted to press, but now she was wondering if she should.

Waverly looked up, "No I mean…yes I want the bed, but only if you sleep with me." Both of their eyes widened in surprise and Waverly verbally back tracked. "Not sleep with me…not like that-not what I wouldn't like to, but just…sleep next to you…in the same bed…oh my god," She groaned at her verbal diarrhea, dropping her head into her hands. The silence stretched between them again and Waverly began to rethink the whole 'running-and-jumping-into-a-snowbank' idea. Pnumonia seemed like a perfect way out of this.

The soft creak of the coffee table as Nicole sat down, pulled Waverly's attention up. "Breath Waverly. I get what you mean," Warm hands took Waverly's suddenly cold ones and equally warm lips ghosted over her forehead. There was no censure in Nicole's eyes, only affection and a glint of teasing. It helped settle the swooping in her stomach.

"You've caught onto Waverly babble a lot quicker than most people do."

"It's a little hard to catch onto at first, but I'm wading through it," Nicole said, feigning an air of noble suffering and earning a smack on her arm.

"Cute."

"I try." Waverly shook her head. Her knees spread slightly as Nicole moved from sitting position to kneel before her, bringing her closer. Long hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. Instantly Waverly dropped her forehead into the crook of Nicole's neck, breathing deep and humming as she felt fingers come up and comb through her hair. All she could focus on was the tactile and almost overwhelming sensation of having Nicole so close. The urge came over her to lift her head up just a fraction, to brush her nose and lips down the throat stretched before her. To kiss and nip until Nicole was as trembling and off-kilter as Waverly herself felt.

The image of this sent a swooping warmth between her thighs and she shifted, just about to make the dream a reality when she suddenly realized Nicole was talking.

Pulling back, she husked, "What?"

Apparently this amused Nicole to no end as she laughed then repeated herself. "I said…so you'd love to sleep with me, huh?"

The rush of blood in her ears became the slam of her heart against her ribs. Her face flushed and lips open and closed with no sound escaping except a small squeak.

"Whoa, Wave. Relax and breathe. I don't need to explain to Wynonna why you had a stroke while we hung out."

Waverly dragged a breath through her mouth so quickly she coughed. "When I said sleeping I meant like just sharing the same bed because you had a really big bed that's comfy and and…" She stopped when she realized she was babbling again.

It was a running joke, her babbling. Waverly-speak, as Wynonna started calling it. It was true, when she was excited or worked up about something everything would come out in a tumble of syllables and hand gestures. Almost as if she was afraid if she didn't get out what she needed to say people would lose interest. In what she was saying...in her...

But here was someone who did have a genuine interest in her. One that didn't revolve around just the physical. And as much as she may question why someone like Nicole would like someone like her, she didn't want to spoil it. 'Take a chance, Waverly.' Her uncle's voice echoed in her head again.

Taking a steadying breath she lifted her head to meet Nicole's gaze once more. Almost without thought their hands entwined. Waverly wanted to stay close, needing this tactile grounding to get out what she was going to say. Nicole looked curious and confused, but stayed quiet, something Waverly was grateful for. "I would like to sleep with you tonight Nicole." She watched dark brown eyes widen in surprise. "Just sleep. Be-because you make me feel safe and comfortable and cared for and…I need that right now. With everything going on," She stopped and licked her dry lips, willing herself to keep going. She wasn't used to speaking the truth like this, but she had to. "Can we do that? Just sleep and tomorrow…tomorrow see what happens?" The words lapsed into silence, uncertainty filling Waverly's belly until she felt sick. She wasn't afraid of rejection, not really. But all her books and correspondence courses and past 'experience' didn't prepare her for this. Didn't prepare her for the uncertainty of what would come, no matter the answer Nicole would give. 'What ifs' and 'when woulds' filled her mind.

What if they didn't work out? Purgatory was a small town; neither could really avoid the other. She'd learned that from Champ. When would Nicole finally say enough was enough? Waverly hadn't been good enough in the past, she'd learened that with her father's indifference, her sisters leaving, Champ's constant infidelity.

When would,

Her quickly spiraling thoughts were stopped when she was suddenly pulled up and into strong arm. Automatically Waverly's own arms came to wrap around Nicole's shoulders.

"However long you need. I know you've been through a lot and you've been…amazing with how you've been handling everything. But you don't have to be strong with me. I'll hold you as long as you need me to." Each word had helped to sooth the gaping wound that was her confidence. It wasn't healed, no that would take time. But this felt like a step in the right direction. Her eyes pricked with tears at the offer, but it was smile that was playing over her mouth as she looked into Nicole's eyes. Within the dark umber gaze, so full of affection and promise, and circle of strong arms her insecurities began to shrivel up.

Tentatively she leaned forward, brushing her lips against Nicole's in a kiss so light neither woman was sure contact was made. Air hung between lips and tongue and touch until Waverly felt dizzy with it. Dragging in a deep breath into her lungs she pressed forward again, pressing harder to convey what she may not be able to say quite yet. Her heart beat hard within her chest, kissing her ribs as deeply as she kissed the woman before her. Fingers carded through the thick red hair and tangled in the small hairs at the nape of the long, straining neck. Fingers curled into hips. Teeth nipped at lips. Limbs trembled, but pressed this close Waverly didn't know who was trembling nor who moaned first. Only that it was captured between them, shared and tasted and cherished.

"Waverly," Nicole breathed when they separated once more. It sent a thrill down her back to know she'd caused that sound.

"Oh my god," Waverly breathed, dropping her face into the crook of Nicole's neck.

"I think that's my line," Nicole laughed, pulling back so she could cup Waverly's cheek.

"You're trembling."

"I have a beautiful woman in my arms that just kissed me silly," Nicole said with a short laugh. "Yeah, leaves a girl a little weak kneed." Waverly's kiss swollen lips softened into a bashful smile and her eyes darted away, but they were drawn back to Nicole with a warm hand cupped her cheek. "You're adorable do you know that?"

"I have my moments."

"Yes you have many of them." The two shared another soft laugh and kiss, this one conveying a joy that they could. Waverly dropped her head into Nicole's neck once more, a place she was coming to love to be, before yawning widely. "Come on sleepy head. You don't hog the covers do you?"

"Nope," Waverly replied as they set about shutting off the lights and making their way into the bedroom. "Why are you?"

"Yep," Nicole said, lips popping at the end playfully.

Waverly laughed and wrapped her arms around Nicole's waist, "Then I guess I'll just have to snuggle close to keep warm." She received a broad grin in reply before they climbed into bed. Like magnets drawn together, arms wrapped around waists and legs tangled together. They were barely able to make out one another in the soft light coming from the window. Waverly smiled and closed her eyes, feeling the same peaceful lassitude from earlier return.

"Sweet dreams, baby." The whispered words followed Waverly down into dreamland.