"Have a fantastic Thanksgiving, everyone. I'll see you back here after the break."

The bell rang and everyone immediately stood up, rushing out of the classroom. Nicole and I remained seated, to avoid getting trampled. I looked over at her from across the room and smiled. She smiled back and we both stood up, ready to leave.

As we started to leave the room, the teacher stood up and cleared her throat.

"Waverly," she said.
I looked at her. "Yes...?" I asked, somewhat confused.
"Would you mind staying after? I have something I'd like to talk to you about," she told me.
I looked back at Nicole, who nodded. "It's okay. I'll wait outside," she whispered.
I smiled and winked at her. "I'll be out in a bit."

Nicole nodded and smiled, walking out of the room.

I turned back to look at the teacher. "What's up, Mrs. Williams?"
Mrs. Williams walked around her desk and closed the door to the classroom. She walked back over to me and leaned back against her desk. "Waverly, I've noticed that your behavior at school hasn't exactly been the best," she said.
I frowned. This is what she wanted to talk to me about? "You mean the fight I had with Tiffany?" I asked her.
"Well, yes and no. You've been skipping some of your classes, you've missed cheer practice, games. And not to mention the things I've been hearing from some of the other students..."
"What things?"
"Just- I wanna make sure you're doing okay."
"I'm fine." I just don't wanna talk about this.
"You're sure? There's... nothing going on with you?"
"Nothing at all. Now, my girl- um- Nicole is waiting for me. So if you don't mind, I'm gonna go..."
Mrs. Williams didn't seem shocked when I'd accidentally almost called Nicole my girlfriend. "You can talk to me, Waverly. If you ever need anyone to talk to. You can come to me," she told me.
"Thanks, Mrs. Williams. I appreciate it," I told her. I turned around and walked out of the room.

Nicole was in the hallway, waiting for me. She looked up and smiled.

"Hey, you."
"Hey," I smiled back.
"All done?" Nicole asked.I nodded. "Yep. Let's go," I responded.

We headed out to Nicole's car and got in. Nicole started driving after we'd buckled our seat belts. I took Nicole's hand and kissed the back of it as soon as we were away from the school. Nicole smiled and chuckled quietly. I kissed her hand again and giggled before holding it in both of my hands.

"Did you ask Gus and Curtis if they were okay with me coming over?" Nicole asked.
"Of course I did. Gus said it's okay," I answered. "What about you? Did you ask your grandma?"
Nicole sighed. "Crap, I knew I was forgetting something," she grumbled.
"It's okay, baby, you can call her when we get to my house."

We pulled up to Gus and Curtis' house and Nicole pulled out her cell phone. She dialed her home number and put the phone to her ear. She waited for a bit, before making a face. It seemed like the phone was ringing way too many times. Which didn't make sense because her grandmother always answered the phone. She was always home. Nicole looked at her phone and pressed "end call". She redialed the number and pressed the phone to her ear again.

"She's not answering?" I asked, watching as Nicole's expression went from confused to worried.
"No... She always answers," Nicole told me.

She ended the call again and then redialed... again. No answer.

"I have to go check on her." Nicole said, starting the car again.
"Yeah, of course," I told her.

She started driving, but a lot faster than I'd ever seen her drive.

"Wait, be careful! Nicole, the snow!" I exclaimed.
"Right, sorry," Nicole replied, slowing down a bit.

We got to her grandmother's house and Nicole immediately shut the car of before jumping out and rushing to the front door. Before she'd even made it, though, she slipped on ice and fell right on her ass.

"Nicole!" I shrieked as I rushed to help her up. "Oh, God, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Nicole told me.
I helped her up and she brushed herself off. "Ice is a thing, ya know."
Nicole scoffed. "Yeah, I know. I just- I forgot, okay?" She snapped at me.
"Okay... Geez..." Someone's a little moody...

Nicole gave me an apologetic look before heading up to the front door. She unlocked it and went inside.

"Gran? Are you here?" She called out.
I followed her inside as she went to her grandma's bedroom. I went into the living and gasped when I saw her grandmother, face down on the floor. "Oh, Nicole!" I cried. I rushed to Georgia's side and checked her pulse. Thank God, she still had one. I rolled her over as Nicole rushed into the room. "She's alive. I'll call an ambulance," I spoke as Nicole knelt down next to me.

I stood up and pulled out my phone, dialing 911.

The next few moments were kind of a blur. I barely remember what I'd told the operator, or Georgia waking up. All I know is that she did wake up sometime before the paramedics got there, and then the paramedics came and took her. Nicole and I are now sitting in the waiting room, waiting to hear something from the doctors.

I looked around the shockingly sterile room, seeing a few other people in here. I knew that hospitals were clean, but I didn't know they were this clean. I sighed, moving my hand to rub Nicole's back. I rested my head on her shoulder, rubbing her back in an attempt to make her feel better.

"Hey... It's okay," I told her.
Nicole leaned against me, sighing. "I hope so."
I lifted my head a bit and kissed her cheek. "I bet she's perfectly fine, baby. Don't worry," I told her.
Nicole looked at me and smiled. "Thanks, Waves. You're sweet," she told me.

The doctor walked over and Nicole and I immediately stood up, looking at him.

"What's going on? Is she okay?" Nicole asked.
The doctor sighed. "Your grandmother is very sick," he said.
"Sick? W-what do you mean sick?"
"It seems your grandmother has a very advanced and inoperable brain tumor."
"What? And why is it just being found now?" Nicole snapped.
"Nicole..." I muttered, putting a hand on her shoulder. She sighed.
"Well, Miss Haught, these types of tumors are usually undetectable until it's too late. I'm very sorry."

Nicole took a deep breath as her eyes began to water. I frowned.

"Are there any treatment options?" I asked the doctor as Nicole closed her eyes, trying to keep herself from breaking down.
The doctor shrugged. "There is radiation treatments, chemo. But by this point, we're not sure any treatments would really help. We did offer to try anyways, but she refused. She just wants to see her granddaughter."
I looked at Nicole, who sniffed and opened her eyes. "Baby, he said that she wants to see you," I told her.
"Can Waverly come?" Nicole asked the doctor.
"Is she family?"
"Yes," Nicole answered without hesitation.
"I guess there's no problem. As long as she doesn't get worked up."
"Of course," I said.

The doctor led us to Georgia's room and allowed us inside whenever we got there. I stood by the door while Nicole walked over to the bed and sat down in the chair next to it. I watched as Nicole grabbed her grandmother's hand and held it as they spoke to each other. I looked at the doctor.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked him.

He gave a nod and we walked out of the room. Right outside the door, I sighed as I glanced into the room. Nicole was crying and Georgia was telling her something.

I swallowed, fighting back tears of my own. I looked up at the doctor. "Um. How long does she have?" I asked quietly.
"It's hard to tell, but not very long."
I couldn't tell if this was hard for him or just business as usual. "You don't have a number? Days, weeks, months? Years?"
"Without treatment, it could be a few months, give or take."
"Did she say why she refused treatment?"

He shook his head. I opened my mouth to speak, but I was interrupted by the sound of Nicole saying my name. I turned and saw her looking in our direction.

"One second. I'll be right there, baby," I told her. I turned back to the doctor. "Thanksgiving is coming up. How are they supposed to celebrate?"
The doctor shrugged. "I'm very sorry, miss. I just don't know."
I sighed. "Okay... Thank you."
He gave a nod. "Of course."

He turned and walked away and I turned to walk back into Georgia's room. I offered a smile as I walked over to Nicole. I put my hands on her shoulders and leaned down, kissing her cheek. She reached over and took hold of one of my hands. Georgia smiled warmly at us, still full of life, even though she seemed to be so close to death.

"You girls are beautiful together," Georgia told us.
Nicole smiled. "Thank you, Gran," she replied quietly.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
Georgia shrugged. "I've felt better. I'm just glad I get to see you two."
"Gran, I'm sure everything is fine. You're gonna be okay... You just have to do what the doctors say... You know, the treatments," Nicole said.
Georgia reached over and put her hand on Nicole's. "Sweetie... You know they won't work."
Nicole shook her head. "No, Gran. Don't say that. They will, they have to."
"Nicole. You're a smart girl. You know it's time."
"Oh, Gran, please-"
"Baby, it's okay..." I muttered, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
Nicole looked over at me, shaking her head. "I- I can't..." She stood up and walked out of the room.
"Nicole-"
"Let her go, dear. She needs time."

I sighed. I ran a hand through my hair before sitting down in the seat Nicole had been sitting in.

"She's going to need you, Waverly. You're going to have to comfort her when I go." Georgia told me, reaching out.
I took her hand in both of mine and frowned. "I will. I promise."
"Did the doctor tell you how long I have?"
I nodded. I didn't speak. I was afraid that if I did, no words would come out. Just... sobs. I didn't want to break down. Not yet.
"I tried to tell Nicole. She didn't want to listen. Will you tell her?"
"Georgia, I don't-"
"Please. You might be the only one she'll listen to."
I sighed. "Okay. I'll tell her."
"And make sure she doesn't stay here all the time. Get her out of the hospital every once in a while. Don't let her spend all of her time here. And don't let her sleep here."
I nodded. "Okay."

After a while, the nurse came in to tell me that Georgia needed to rest, so I had to leave. I stood up and said goodbye before leaving. I walked around, looking for Nicole. I didn't find her until I went outside. She was sitting down on one of the benches outside the hospital, crying. I walked over and sat down next to her. I put my arms around her and hugged her. She buried her face in my shoulder and sobbed. I fought back tears of my own. Nicole needed someone strong right now. I couldn't be sad.

"Hey... It's okay, baby. It's okay..." I whispered.
Nicole pulled away and looked at me. "It's not okay! She's going to let herself die."
I wiped her tears away with my thumbs and looked at her. It took everything I had to stop myself from breaking down. "I know... But you have to understand that the treatments would've been useless. Nicole, the doctor said it himself."
Nicole pushed my hands away. "How can you say that?"
"The doctor said that she doesn't much longer to live. Maybe a couple of months..."
"What?"
"Nicole-"
"No, stop. Why are you telling me this?"
I sighed. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw the hurt on Nicole's face. "I promised her. She needs you to understand. Baby, she's okay."
"If by "okay", you mean "dying", then yes, she is. Waverly, she's going to die."
"I know."
"So then how can you sit here and say that it's okay for her to refuse to let them help her?"
"Because they wouldn't be helping her. Nicole, she's going to die anyways. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but you know the treatments won't help." The tears fell down my cheeks. I didn't like saying these words to her, but it's what Nicole needed to hear.

Nicole sighed, turning away. New tears made their way from her eyes. She looked down, seeming deep in thought.

"You're right..." Nicole spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry," I told her.
She looked up at me. "Don't be... It just- It hurts."
"I know it does. But I'm here for you."
"Thank you."

A few days later, Nicole has been in and out of the hospital, visiting Georgia. I did what I promised and made sure she got out of there enough to where she wasn't spending 24/7 next to her grandmother's hospital bed. But I couldn't bring myself to make her leave on Thanksgiving Day. Gus and Curtis invited Nicole over for dinner, but we weren't sure if she would come. She wanted to spend the day with her gran, and I couldn't argue with that, so I let her.

While Gus was cooking our entire Thanksgiving dinner, with the very surprising help of Wynonna, I spent a few hours with Nicole and Georgia. When the time came for me to get home, Georgia made Nicole come with me.

"Nicole, you better go and enjoy your Thanksgiving somewhere that is not in this damn hospital." Georgia said sternly, giving Nicole a hard look.
"But Gran-"
"But nothing! You will not spend your holiday here."
"I can't just leave you..."
"You can, and you will. I'll be fine, Nicole. I've been tired all day anyways. Don't worry about me."
"Alright. Get some rest."
"I will, dear."

Nicole gave Georgia a kiss goodbye before we left the hospital. When we got to my house, we walked in the front door and I froze immediately. Willa and Daddy were sitting on the couch. Daddy turned and looked at us.

"Who the hell are you?" He demanded, looking right at Nicole.

Guess it's an Earp Thanksgiving after all...