Nicoles POV

After Waverly leaves the tower, I just stand there trying to gather my thoughts. I fight the hurt coming up from Waverly's stinging words. If only I could make her understand why I needed to do this.

Instead, I bring up images of last night and this morning. Of how Waverly Earp had confessed that she loves me, her three words bringing me home. And it has been so long since I felt like I had a home, since I lost my father. Now I had someone who was just mine, who loved me especially. Which is why I had to go out there and put a stop to my mother's mess, to set my people free and ensure peace so that Waverly and I may have a future, despite how she might feel on the matter.

A loud bang rings out suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. I look out the window towards the road and see a sight that would paralyze the average person. Hordes and hordes of men crowd the other end of Purgatory's gates, armed and dangerous. But it is the one at their head which makes my blood run cold.

I make out the figure of my mother dressed in Monument's royal battle armour seated atop her prized Arabian warhorse. Next to her I spot another horse carrying my mother's mohawked pet, Bobo del Rey.

I watch as my mother's mouth moves, instructing her men to bang the wooden beam harder against the gate. Then she looks upwards, her eyes skimming Purgatory's defence towers. Her eyes finally land on me, but I see no signs of recognition. Her gaze only holds a hunger for destruction. I tighten my fists and spare her one last glance before heading out the tower.

At the foot of the steps I spot a determined looking Wynonna marching hurriedly in my direction. "Haught, they are here. I spoke to Waverly, she said you want to fight?"

Fully expecting Wynonna to also try and convince me to not join the battle, I steel my gaze and set my jaw. "Yes. I am doing this. Those men are from Monument. I am going to try and get through to my mother, and you cannot stop me."

To my surprise, Wynonna does not argue. Instead, she fixes me with a look mixed with respect and understanding. "All right then. I just have one condition."

"And what might that be?" I ask tentatively.

"You need to wear armour. None of my men are allowed to go into battle without it."

The way she says "my men" leaves a warm feeling in my heart, like I am part of Wynonna Earp's people. Like I was now part of her family. The softness in her blue eyes when she looks at me confirms these suspicions. I nod at her.

"All right, Captain Earp. I will go and get some armour. Meet you at the gates."

Wynonna nods back and then we part ways.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The chainmail feels heavy and unnatural on my body. As an archer, my agility and ability to move my limbs fluidly are essential. I briefly remember my days hunting with Jack in the woods, how free I had felt moving swiftly amongst the trees and underbrush with nothing but the tranquil sounds of bird song and animal paws hitting the ground as we chase our quarry.

I remember how one of these very trips had led me to encounter a feisty brunette who would change my life forever. And because of that girl, I needed to fight for peace now more than ever. The armour might protect me long enough to get to my mother. So I ignore my discomfort and raise my bow, aiming it towards the sea of men below me.

I draw back the string and start firing another succession of arrows. I manage to take down a couple of men with well-placed shots to the exposed sections of flesh on their necks and underarms. But it is a futile exercise, as they are just replaced by many more. It's like we are battling against a giant lizard, which just keeps regenerating the limbs we managed to remove.

I duck when another bout of enemy arrows rains down on the parapet. I make my body as small as possible as I press it against the wall to avoid the fatal spears flying non-stop from the air. Many of the men next to me are not as vigilant and fall with agonizing cries from the wall as the arrows hit home in their flesh. I tighten my jaw at being unable to do anything to help them. I chance a look down below where Wynonna and Nedley grit their teeth as they watch more of their men fall.

Another bang resounds across all of Purgatory. The wooden beam becomes visible through the gates as they break through the barrier leading into the town. There is a moment of quiet where nothing happens. I watch as Wynonna holds up her fist for her infantry. "Hold." She utters with a grim expression. Her men all standing ready behind her, vibrating with anticipation for the fight.

"Hold." Wynonna says again, watching the gates intently. Then suddenly everything happens at once. Waves of men start rushing in through the gates, shouting their terrifying battle cries.

The first man is about 15 feet from Wynonna when she drops her hand and shouts "Now!"

The Purgatorian warriors run forward, meeting their enemy with a battle cry of their own. Swords and axes clash as man takes on man.

I rally the remaining archers and get them to pelt down arrows onto the enemy, in an attempt to even the playing field. But another man simply replaces the fallen one each time.

I watch as Bobo enters the gates, cleaving men easily with his sword from his height on the horse. How poetic, an animal riding another animal. The one majestic, the other diseased. From behind him, I watch as my mother makes her entrance, her eyes mad with bloodlust and her mouth set in hunger for power as she hones in on Duke Nedley. I place my bow on my back and unsheathe the rapier from my hip.

It is finally time for me to make use of those fencing lessons father always made me go to.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Wynonna's POV.

I launch Peacemaker with ease at the man in front of me, the weapon feeling light and powerful at the same time. He blocks my blow with the handle of his mace, but he does not consider the sheer power of Damascus steel. Peacemaker slices through the handle with ease, like a hot knife through butter.

The enemy soldier looks at me in shock for a moment before gripping the head of his weapon and throwing it at me in a last desperate attempt to cause me harm before the inevitable. I manage to dodge it neatly, but realize it was only a distraction when the coward runs back in the direction of the gate. I decide to leave him, the energy was not worth it when there were many more left to defeat.

I spot one of my own men struggling against an enemy. I notice his stance is all wrong and it looks like he has never held a weapon before. I frown deeply and hurry towards him as I see the enemy soldier going in for a killing blow on one of the Purgatorian fighter's many openings.

I make it just in the nick of time to block the blow with my sword, surprising the enemy warrior. I hurriedly parry his attack before he can take another swing and drive my blade into his ribs. I take a moment to wipe his blood from my face after he falls. Then I turn to face the unknow soldier who I had saved.

"Never in my life have seen such bad form. Who the hell are you? You cannot possibly be one of my men." The man raises his face and I make out the unmistakable moustache through the opening of his helmet. I let out a gasp of surprise, my hands trembling. "Doc?! Is that you?"

The man gives me a sheepish smile. "Wynonna, fancy meeting you here." That was the wrong thing to say. I grip him by his arm, pulling him up from his kneeled position. "What the hell are you doing here? This is no damn place for a dentist! You could get yourself killed, you idiot."

Doc breaks free from my grip. "I came to help in the fight. I don't need to explain myself to you, but I thought that perhaps if I could see what all the fuss was about, then maybe I could finally understand why you left me for this life."

His words strike deeper than any sword ever could. The heartbreak in his voice sounding much louder than the cacophony of the battle raging on around us. Any ire in my heart dissipates to nothing, replaced by guilt as I look at the only man who almost convinced me to stay. The only man I had ever truly loved. The only man I still loved, if I were being really honest.

I reach forward in an attempt to connect with him. "Doc, it's not like that..." He moves away from me and raises his borrowed gladius, making me fear the worst. But instead of my flesh, the blade knocks a stray arrow from its course straight towards my head. Doc looks as surprised as I was at his deflection. Then he turns to face me again.

"Wynonna, all I ask is that you give me a chance to talk. If after that you still want nothing to do with me… then I will let you go." He asks softly, pleadingly. My heart hammers in my chest as I observe this idiotic man who has never held anything sharper than a dental needle, yet who was here was willing to go into battle just so he could get my attention.

I am about to respond when, to my horror, I watch as an enemy axe makes its way into Doc's leather covered shoulder, causing him to fall to his knees with a grunt of pain. I release a shout of anger and remove a dagger from my side. With one fell swoop I drive the dagger into the man's neck, severing his aorta. I watch as the life drains from his eyes with every drop of his blood spilled.

I hurriedly return to Doc, relieved to see he is still fully conscious. His face wears a grimace from the clear pain of his injury. "Doc! Are you okay?" I ask rhetorically as I hurriedly inspect his shoulder, which seems to be bleeding profusely.

"I think I'll live, darling. No thanks to the leather jerkin I borrowed from your armoury." He says, still able to speak normally despite his pain.

I nod and gently pull him to his feet, dragging him into an alleyway in betwixt a few houses out of the line of fire. After setting the dentist down, I hurriedly head back to the battlefield, my eyes searching frantically for one of my men who was a trained healer.

I finally spot him, luckily still very much alive. He is on the eastern side of town, crouched over another very dead looking soldier. "Jacob!" I shout, hoping that he would hear me over the din of bloodshed. He does and I quickly beckon him over. He nods and starts making his way across the battlefield as swiftly as he can, dodging arrows and clashing men all the way.

I turn back to the dentist, who had now removed his helmet. He looks up to me with light in his blue eyes, despite the weary look on the rest of his features.

"Doc, I need you to listen to me. I have called someone to fix your shoulder. Then I am going to ask him to take you to the bunker. I need you to please go with him without argument. Okay?" I ask him, pleadingly. He nods slowly. "Alright. But only if you promise you will stay alive and that we will talk after this." He says stubbornly, voice leaving no room for argument despite him having nor proverbial legs to stand on.

I release an exasperated sigh. "Yes, okay. I promise. I will do my best to be safe. And we will talk after this. I want to talk too." I say, my voice vulnerable and my eyes full of honesty. I watch as the light in his eyes grows with hope.

"Yes?" He asks with a happy smile. In that moment, looking at this idiotic, brave man who would risk it all for a chance with me, smiling at me despite his bleeding shoulder, I could no longer deny my feelings. He really was it for me.

I rush forward and kiss him. At first, he sits very still, taken by surprise. But then I feel the hairs on his moustache twitch up into a smile before he returns the kiss.

"I still love you." I confess against his lips when we finally separate. "And we are going to talk, I promise. But first I need you to get to safety."

The dentist's smile grows even wider. "Sure thing darlin', can't wait." He responds in that southern drawl I find extremely sexy. Not the time, Wynonna! I shake away my thoughts.

Our moment is interrupted by Jacob's arrival. He kneels down in front of Doc with his bag of bandages and salves and makes quick work of his shoulder. I instruct him to get Doc to safety and watch as the duo walk between the houses and up the hill, away from danger.

I watch them go for a few more seconds before making my way back to the battlefield. To my dismay, I see that the enemy has gained the upper hand and the battle has shifted ever closer to the castle.

I grip my sword tightly and am about to enter the fray once more, when my eyes catch sight of a familiar figure near the castle drawbridge. My sister.

I watch as Waverly hands over a boy to Jeremy and allow myself a small smile from the pride I feel. My sister was a hero in her own right.

I feel my smile turn into a frown when Waverly starts swaying unsteadily on her feet. She looks utterly exhausted.

She starts turning around to look in my direction. My heart sinks to my stomach when I spot the warhorse making its way straight for her. I shout her name in a desperate attempt to warn her. "WAVERLY!"

I urge my feet to move as fast as humanly possible in a futile attempt to get to her in time. A strangled scream leaves my throat as I watch the rider raise his sword and strike my unarmed, innocent sister.

The rider turns to face me and my eyes meet the sadistic gaze of a triumphant looking mohawked monster standing over my sister's unmoving body. A rage overtakes every cell in my body and I storm towards the man who has haunted my dreams ever since I left Monument. I raise my sword and release an anguished battle cry as I attack Bobo del Rey.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Nicole's POV

I make my way through men fighting men, blood and shouts of anguish ringing in my ears. I have but one destination, to reach the crowned woman on the warhorse. My mother is currently in the process of impaling another of Wynonna's men. I grit my teeth at her sadistic cackle and dodge another soldier's weapon swing as I get closer to her.

I can spot an opening to my mother and immediately go for it, only to be blocked by a man twice my size.

He laughs manically, mocking my much smaller frame as he swings his axe. But he makes the mistake of underestimating my speed. I neatly side step his swing and watch as he grunts with the momentum of his weapon pulling him forward. He almost loses his balance.

I also narrowly dodge three arrows flying in my direction, but am unable to stop a fourth. I release a cry of pain as the arrow imbeds itself in my arm. I curse myself for not putting on full armour. The heavy chainmail over my chest does nothing to protect my exposed skin. I release another grunt of pain as I remove the arrow.

In front of me, the brute goes to swing again. I spot a piece of his belly exposed when he lifts his axe. I make a dash for it, ignoring my pain, and impale the bulging flesh with one quick strike from by rapier.

He grunts in surprise, looking with unbelieving eyes down at his bleeding guts. I remove my weapon and turn once more to my real target. I manage to parry two more attempts at my life with agile swings and well time blocks, every inch brining me closer to my mother. My arm bleeds profusely but I ignore it, getting to my mother the only priority.

I am just about to reach her when I hear a horrifyingly familiar voice scream the name of the woman who has embedded herself in every part of my heart. I turn swiftly in the direction of the voice, spotting the brunette running in the direction of the only other warhorse in the battle. My heart plummets as I spot Waverly standing right in the line of fire of Bobo Del Rey.

I am unable to stop the desperate call of her name from leaving my lips. "WAVERLY!" I completely abandon my previous task, the safety of the woman I loved more than anything my only priority. My feet move on their own volition over the bloodied cobblestone path, dodging bodies and weapons as I practically fly in the same direction as Wynonna. Just a little farther, then I'll be at her side. I encourage myself with the mantra and run impossibly faster, almost tripping over my own feet from my distressed mental state.

But then the worst possible thing happens. I watch as a manic Bobo del Rey swings his sword at Waverly. The hilt of his sword hits her hardly against the skull, drawing an anguished scream from my breathless lungs. Time seems to slow down as I watch Waverly fall to the floor, her body limp and lifeless. My will to live dissipates to nothing as the thought that the love of my life may have been slain in front of my very eyes.

I strain through the numbness flowing through every part of my body. I have to get to her. I have to hold her. That's all that matters.

I briefly register Wynonna running in a blinding rage towards Bobo with her sword raised, impaling his chin from the bottom and effectively ending his life. No part of me has any joy when his lifeless body finally falls to the ground. I focus only on the body of the woman who was my only home.

Finally reaching her, I fall to my knees at the side of her still body. I gently shift her into my arms and cradle her head against my chest. Her body feels so tiny and cold in my arms. Tears stream endlessly down my cheeks as I start rocking us back and forth. "Waves, please wake up. Please, baby. I cannot lose you." I whisper against her hair, my stream of salty droplets wetting them.

Wynonna drops to her knees next to us, reaching out for Waverly with a trembling hand. "Baby girl?" She asks through a sob, encouraging the angelic woman in my arms to speak. But there is no sound.

I almost don't notice how the sound of clanging metal and deathly screams slowly start to halt. I barely notice as the soldiers stop their fighting and all start looking at us.

An enemy soldier approaches us and I don't even attempt to stop him, no longer wishing to be alive anyway. But Wynonna raises her sword towards him menacingly. "Get the fuck away from us." She warns him through her teeth.

To our surprise he drops his weapon at his feet and looks at me. "Nicole Haught? Is that you?" He asks. Then he falls to his knees in a bow of respect. Soon enough the rest of my mother's men start doing the same, to my mother's outrage. "What the hell are you doing! Get up this instant. I did not say you could stop. Why are you bowing to this nobody…" In that moment I hand Waverly over to Wynonna as I get up slowly.

"Hello mother." I say defiantly through my tears. It takes a few seconds but then she finally recognizes me.

I notice the grey starting to form in her red hair and that her skin has become significantly wrinkled since the last time I had seen her. Her eyes widen in shock as she takes me in fully. "Nicole? You…you are alive?"

"Yes. I am alive. I have been ever since you tried everything in your power to take my will to live from me. Nothing you did ever made me want to give up. You know why? Because, mother, my father William Haught taught me to fight for what is right. To love fully and love anyone I wish. You have ruined everything he had ever built. Have you not done enough? You have taken the last thing that mattered to me." I turn back to look at Waverly's body. "You have caused the woman I love most, the woman with the kindest heart I had ever seen, to die."

My mother does not say anything, just keeps looking at me without emotion, the initial shock of seeing me having finally disappeared. "She was merely collateral damage. And you chose to abandon the Earldom. You are a deserter and a disgrace." She says in an attempt to hurt me, but I don't feel anything now that my heart was removed. I watch as her men start looking at me with slight frown, probably starting to believe their Countess, that I had deserted them.

My mother takes this as an opportunity to ream her men back in. "Men of Monument, listen to me. We cannot let this deserter swindle us. She does not fight for us, she fights for the enemy! So raise your weapons, let us take what is rightfully ours!" Some of the men seem unsure whilst others start getting back up. I fall to my knees, no longer wishing to speak or to argue. All I want is to hold the hand of the woman I loved until there is nothing left.

But then a miracle happens. The hand in mine starts to stir. I almost don't want to believe it, that just maybe there is hope. But then it twitches again. I watch as Waverly's eyes open and I am met with those beautiful hazel orbs that I adore. She grunts against Wynonna and starts sitting up.

"Waves?!"

"Sweetheart?!"

Wynonna and I say at the same time, both moving in to hug her, tears of relief now replacing the previous mournful tracks on my cheeks. She allows us a brief hug before getting up, shocking all the onlookers. Wynonna and I both stand with her, each placing a hand on one of her shoulders to steady her.

She faces my mother. "You dare call Nicole a deserter of her people? That's rich, when you have done nothing but oppress them. Sending Bobo del Rey after them to make them pay taxes that no normal person could ever afford. You don't provide them with medical aid, or give a shit about their qualms or their safety."

Every person on the battle field is entranced by Waverly, listening carefully to every word she speaks. I watch as some of my mother's men wear grim expressions, clearly realizing the truth to Waverly's words. Then she moves to take my hand. "You tortured the friends of your own daughter, to hurt her. You are the very reason she fled from Monument castle. And then she put her life on the line to start saving her people from Bobo every single day as the Sparrow."

A collective gasp can be heard as the Monuments soldiers recognize the name of the vigilante.

"Nicole Haught never abandoned Monument. She only ever tried to save it, tried to help her people like her father did. And you are a power-hungry bitch, who never deserved that throne!" The force of Waverly words warm my heart and I allow myself a tiny bit of satisfaction at watching my mother swallow nervously. Her men turn towards her with questioning frowns.

Then Wynonna pipes up, addressing the soldiers. "Do you remember the Valdez fire?" They all look at her confused.

"Well, it was no accident. I was there that night; I saw Bobo del Rey and his men carrying the torches. And they were only under instruction from one person. Your own Countess." Murmurs of surprise resound through the town walls as the men of Monument take in this new information.

"What? That is insane. You have no proof that I was ever involved!" She shouts confidently, causing her men to give us more doubtful looks. But then a whistle from behind us draws our attention.

There on the drawbridge stands Jeremy, Mercedes, Kate and Beth, all surrounding Rachel. The young girl lifts her chin defiantly as she locks eyes with the Countess, who rolls her eyes. "What is this now?" She hisses in annoyance.

"Hi there, parent murderer. Nice to finally meet you. You can call me Rachel Valdez." Rachel Turns her head and lifts her hair as she reveals her birthmark. A collective gasp of surprise and disbelief resounds through the town walls.

"It's really her!"

"Little butterfly?"

"She is alive!"

"I can't believe it!"

My mother's face turns so pale, it could almost be compared to a white sheet, when her men start turning towards her with anger in their eyes.

One raises his sword. "You had that kind woman and her husband killed? Why?"

"Yes, explain yourself! They never did anything wrong." Another shouts.

"William Haught would be disgraced." A third says, before turning towards me and kneeling with his sword raised. "I no longer serve Eleanor Haught. I pledge allegiance to the true heir to the throne of Monument, Nicole Haught!"

A collective shout of "Long live Nicole Haught!" can be heard as the rest of the men also drop to their knees, raising their weapons to me.

"You dare defy me?! This is an outrage! I will have you all hanged at the gallows if you do not repledge your allegiance to me right now!" My enraged mother shouts, but none of the men acknowledge her, their fear for her now fully gone.

"Can it, you old hag." Nedley says, coming up behind her. "I hereby place you under arrest for treason." He nods towards Wynonna, who points her weapon menacingly at my mother.

"Get down now or we will give your own men the right to impale you, as per the law." My mother finally realizes that she had lost and she could do nothing to free herself. With a growl she gets down from her horse. Wynonna wrestles her to the ground and cuffs her hands in shackles. The action is met by deafening applause.

I am unable to stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks, was this real? Was it finally over?

I feel a warm hand clasp mine, giving it a squeeze. "It's finally over. Your people are free! Your father would be so proud of you, Nicole." Finally hearing those words mean more to me than I ever imagined. I release a sob from the overwhelming relief and joy I feel.

I look to my left and smile at Waverly. Then I move to pick her up and twirl her around, causing her to release a surprised shriek followed by happy giggles. When I stop spinning and lower her back to the ground, she gives me the warmest smile. I reach up and run my hand gently over the wound at her head where Bobo's blade had struck. My fingers tremble as I remember the horrible moment.

"I thought he killed you." I say, my voice quivering with emotion.

Waverly places her hand gently on mine. "It will take a lot more than a blow to the head to end my stubborn ass." She says with a smile, causing me to release a teary laugh. Then her eyes turn downwards as a frown replaces her smile, to my dismay.

"What is it, darling?" I ask gently.

"Nicole, what I said in the tower…I was wrong and selfish." She says sounding small.

I place my hand gently beneath her jaw, lifting her chin. "Waves, it is okay. I can understand…" I start but she cuts me off.

"No, Nicole. It was because I didn't fully understand. But…Wynonna helped me see the truth again. You are a hero, you feel driven to save others. It's what makes you who you are, and I actually love you for that. So I am sorry and I…"

This time it is my run to cut her off, with my lips. I kiss her deeply, clasping the sides of her face gently with my hands. The kiss saying every word in my heart, expressing my overwhelming love and devotion for her. When I end the kiss, I watch in delight as Waverly looks completely dazed.

I rub my thumb across her cheek gently. "No more sorries, okay? From now on we talk openly about everything, even when it hurts. We resolve things, we fight for each other. Because Waverly Earp, I almost lost you today and I never want to have to imagine my life without you in it."

I watch as tears form in my love's eyes. She looks at me as if I were some unreal ethereal being that she could not imagine was hers. "Ditto. I love you, Nicole Haught."

"I love you too." I echo and it's the truest words I'll ever speak.

Then Waverly Earp kisses me again and her lips sooth every ache in my body and soul.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Waverly and I find ourselves sat on the steps of the Great Hall after partaking in the celebratory feast inside. She sits on the step below me, trapped in between my legs as I hug her tightly from behind. Jack lies to the left of Waverly, dozing happily.

"So, what will you do now, Countess Nicole Haught?" She asks playfully.

"Well, first I will take all the taxes my mother collected and give them back to my people. Then I will have a statue erected in honour of the Valdez family. I will also start making contact with Physicia and the other towns to find ways in which we can aid our farmers, to get them on their feet and help them produce healthy crops once more.

"Oh? That's sounds marvellous. And what is next for us?"

Before I can answer, Doc and Wynonna come practically skipping down the steps behind us. They are holding hands and both smile like two people deeply in love. They are so in tune with each other that they do not even notice Waverly and I, sauntering off to go make love or do some other romantic thing.

"Well for one, I am going to be your date to their wedding." I say comically, making Waverly giggle.

"I can't wait. But Nicole, are you sure you want to be the countess? Are you ready for something like that? I mean I know how much you love the woods." Waverly's understanding of my heart brings a warmth to my bones.

"I do love the woods." I say, nuzzling her ear. "But my people need me and it will bring me great joy to be able to make Monument prosperous once again."

"You are going to be a wonderful leader." I blush at her praise; she really was everything I could ever need.

Waverly shifts so she faces me. "You know, there is another project that you should consider placing on your task list." She says with a smile.

I raise my eyebrows, intrigued. "Oh? And what exactly might that be?"

"You have to rebuild your house in the clearing. That way, we could go there on days when you just need to escape from everything. You could build more things, maybe actually finish that greenhouse you always wanted…" Waverly rambles on and my heart feels light and full at the same time. I stop her rambles with a kiss. She releases an adorable grunt of surprise, but kisses me back within seconds.

"I will thank that hare for the rest of my life for bringing you to me, Waverly Earp. And one day when we die, I'd like our hearts to be buried together at that very spot, so we can meet over and over again and I get to fall in love with you for all eternity."

Waverly's eyes sparkle with tears as she kissed me again. I sigh in contentment as she settles backwards into my embrace. Together we watch the sun set, its rays a reflection of the renewed hope flowing in my veins.

The End.