Chapter 3

Waverly Earp was one of the town's community leaders. After college she had teamed up with an organization called Futures that helped troubled youth. The organization would help them with addiction, school, and mental illness to name a few resources. Waverly loved her job. She had always imagined herself giving back to the community, especially helping out the younger kids before they became casualties of Purgatory's corrupt side. Her life was not what she had imagined it would be, but at least her job was exactly what she wanted. She currently found herself leaving the Futures' building with some co-workers. They all exchanged goodbyes as they walked off into different directions. Waverly walked to work today since her Jeep had a snapped belt.

She decided to make her way to the local coffee shop, she needed an afternoon pick me up. As she walked over she heard the mention of a red head back in town. Her mind automatically went to her redhead well her ex redhead. No way she thought shrugging off the thought. She continued her track to the coffee shop. Thinking about what she was going to make for dinner tonight. She made her way into the shop and ordered her usual iced coffee with soy milk waiting on the side for Rachel the barista to finish her drink. Rachel was one of the kids from the organization. Waverly had actually helped her get this job.

"So Ms. Waves, did you hear about the hot new Sheriff?" Rachel said over the counter as she made the woman's drink. Waverly had heard that Nedley was retiring, but she had no clue who would take over and she hadn't asked Wynonna.

"No and wouldn't he be too old for you to be checking him out?" Waverly laughed.

"First of all I just know how to admire beauty doesn't mean I want in people's pants." Rachel laughed. "Second it's a she." Rachel added handing over the drink to Waverly.

"Apparently she is some top dog agent too. That's not important though. What you should see is her beautiful long red hair." Rachel said. Waverly nearly choked on her drink.

"She probably dyes it no way that hair is natural man." Rachel rambled on as she wiped down the counter. Waverly was half paying attention panic on her mind as she began to connect the dots.

"If it is who I think it is, that hair is all natural Rachel." Waverly almost whispered as she made her way to the door.

"Later Ms. W," Rachel said to the woman.

As Waverly opened the door head down she crashed into a body almost spilling her drink onto the other person.

"Hey Waves, what's the rush?" Chrissy Needley said, helping balance the small woman.

"Oh hey Chrissy nothing. How are you?" Waverly asked politely.

"Good, helping my dad clear out the last of his belongings from the sheriff's department. Oh hey did you hear who's back? Nicole freakin Haught! She is taking over my dad's position." Chrissy stated eager to spill the news.

Waverly felt her knees buckle at the sound of her ex-lovers name. This was real and confirmed what seconds ago was just a thought.

"So I've heard rumors." Waverly answered, trying to keep her cool.

"Yeah she's back with her hot wife." Chrissy adds. Waverly felt like she was just run over with the news. Wife! She thought to herself.

"Wait not wife. Either way, hot girlfriend or whatever same thing." Chrissy remedied unaware of the heart attack she almost gave the other girl. "You'll probably see her before me so say hi for me will you? You two were inseparable back in the day. See you later Waves." Chrissy said making her way into the coffee shop.

"Will do. See you later Chrissy." Waverly muttered walking away from the shop.

With some small town gossip on one walk, my world was just flipped Waverly thought to herself. She continued her walk lost in her thoughts. This shouldn't affect me she thought to herself. I should be worried about getting home and the date I have with my fiance tonight, she thought. Yes her fiance, that she loves so dearly.

Waverly made her way into her apartment it was 5:30pm. Jon was supposed to come over at 7:00 to have dinner. Waverly was looking forward to the dinner, but now her mind was elsewhere. Waverly decided to take a shower maybe freshening up would clear her mind, but it didn't work.

She then began to make dinner opting for a simple baked pasta dish. Waverly was usually very focused on everything she did but tonight she was stuck thinking about her ex-girlfriend. She didn't expect Nicole to call her to announce her visit. She didn't even think she had the right to know, but somehow she was still hurt at the girls sudden appearance. If Nicole was here to be sheriff why hadn't Wynonna told her. She felt blind sided by the whole situation. Why did Wynonna hide this from her and why was this affecting her so much after so many years. Waverly was so distracted she grabbed a hot dish while in her trance. The heat burning her hand.

"Shit!" Waverly yelled. It almost felt like she screamed more about her thoughts than her physical pain. She was over tonight. She now kind of wished she had cancelled tonight, but maybe the distraction would help. The small girl wrapped her hand after putting burn ointment on it as she sat on the couch waiting for Jon to arrive. It was now 20 minutes after they planned to meet and the man was still not there. She was about to call Jon when she heard a knock on the door.

"Hey babe." Jon said once the door opened. He leaned in kissing Waverly.

"Why are you late?" Waverly asked, accepting the kiss.

"It was only 20 minutes and I got held back at work so it back tracked me." Jon answered making his way into the kitchen. Waverly followed behind him.

"I am starving, what did you make me?" Jon said as he checked the dishes on the counter.

"Pasta I'll start serving." Waverly answered plainly. The two sat at the table and began eating.

"Hey what happened to your hand?" Jon said with a mouth full of pasta.

"I burned myself. Accidentally grabbed the hot dish." Waverly responded.

"You gotta be careful." Jon said as he continued to eat. "Hey have you seen the new sheriff? It's the big news of the week. Everyone is talking about the new girl in town." Jon added.

Waverly felt her eyes roll at the mention of Nicole. It seems like everyone is obsessed with her nowadays.

"She's not new to town." Is all Waverly answered.

"I haven't seen the sheriff, but I did meet her girlfriend. She is pretty. Also she is a doctor over at memorial so she must be smart." Jon said.

A doctor? Nicole always did like smart women, but a doctor wow. I guess Nicole knew how to pick a good one. Waverly thought to herself. She felt a pang of jealousy, but she knew Nicole deserved the best. That's why she ended it because she didn't feel like enough she felt like more of a burden than a support system.

"You do know who she is right?" Waverly asked her fiance.

"Who the sheriff? I just told you i haven't seen her." Jon answered.

"It's Nicole Haught." Waverly stated simply.

"What? What is she doing back?" The accountant said, paying full attention to Waverly for the first time.

"Yea. I have yet to see her, but I ran into Chrissy Nedley she told me." Waverly said.

"Well I don't know if I like that she's back." Jon said a deep frown etched on his face.

Jon had lived in Purgatory his whole life. Of course he had known about the power couple people called Wayhaught. He would never ever admit it to anyone, but he knew Nicole still had a place in his fiance's heart. Waverly was honest in telling him how much the redhead had meant to her growing up and even now. Hell he had even noticed an old Purgatory High basketball team hoodie in the back of his finance's closet with Haught embroidered on the back. One of the reasons he proposed was to make himself feel above Nicole since the redhead was never Waverly's fiance. It seemed to be the only first he got to share with the small woman. He had heard stories about how the ex couple would be the ones to help turn Purgatory around even after he and Waverly were an item. It enraged him because no one ever praised him for anything.

"Well there is nothing you can do it's not like you own Purgatory. Plus Nicole is just here to protect the community, she has every right to do so." Wavelry stated.

"Yea well as long as she stays away from you. I know all about you being the so-called perfect couple. Maybe you can finally return that ugly hoodie in your closet." Jon practically spat out.

Jon's statement which was supposed to be harsh, just brought memories to Waverly. The hoodie that she never had the heart to tuck away in the attic with all the other reminders of her young love. That was the hoodie Nicole would wear before and after games in high school. Waverly somehow always managed to take it from the other girl.

Flashback

"What a game babe. I am so proud of you and the team." Waverly said as she walked hand in hand down the mostly empty high school parking lot with Nicole.

"It kind of helped to have such a beautiful cheerleader cheering me on the whole game." Nicole winked at the small girl who still had her cheer uniform on.

"You'll always be my favorite player." Waverly said as she grabbed Nicole's arm moving it so it was over her shoulders. Nicole smiled and tightened her hold on the girl slowly rubbing her hand up and down her back.

Something about the post game adrenaline always made them both extra handsy. By the time they made it to Waverly's Jeep the small girl had pinned the redhead against the door, her hands roaming her body as she began to nip at the taller girl's neck. Nicole released a small moan in pleasure fueling Waverly's want. The shorter girl grabbed the hem of Nicole's hoodie pulling it off of her, tossing it on the floor next to them wanting to feel more of her girlfriend. Just as Nicole flipped them over now pinning the small girl against the Jeep they were taken out of their bliss by bright headlights turning into the parking lot. They quickly separated not wanting to give someone a free show. They both laughed as they fumbled into the Jeep Waverly quickly grabbed the hoodie from the ground before getting in. She sat in the passenger seat and put the hoodie on.

"Hey! Was this all your plan to steal my hoodie again?" Nicole laughed.

"Maybe. You know my powers of seduction are my evil weapon." Waverly laughed with her girlfriend.

"Whatever, it looks better on you anyway. Plus I like seeing my last name on you." Nicole said leaning over the center console to give her girlfriend a passionate kiss.

"Waverly are you even listening to me?" Jon asked frustration in his voice.

"Yea I heard you and that is my hoodie it was a gift." Waverly stated. Not intending on returning the hoodie.

Waverly was still lost in her thoughts and quite frankly a little aroused by the memory. She never allowed herself to think about memories so vividly anymore for the same reason of bringing up old feelings. It has been a long time since she has allowed herself to think about Nicole in that way. On top of that she shouldn't be thinking that way of someone else when she had a fiance. Her fiance who she should be paying attention to. She thought as she stood up making her way to the man's lap.

"Jon don't worry alright. Nicole is here to work and I am here with you. Remember I broke up with her." Waverly added the last part to ease the man's jealousy although she hated the reminder.

"Of course you want me and I want you." Jon said standing up leading the women to her room.

Waverly knew what he meant by want. Maybe this is what she needed to be intimate with her partner in order to get away from all thoughts that had to do with Nicole. After all it was Jon who she loved.