A/N: This is a short chapter, but it's going to be another week or two before I can post again, so I wanted to get something up for you all. I hope you enjoy, and I'll have a longer one for you next time!
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Early morning light filtered in through the sheer blinds of the bedroom window. In phases, Waverly woke from a deep sleep, aware of the warmth of the sun and the coolness and softness of the bedding around her. Her eyes fluttered open, immediately noticing the glimmer of copper hair inches from her face. She slowly, subtly lifted her head, looking around to take in her surroundings.
Waverly and Nicole were sharing her bed, having passed out after a long night of drinking and talking and laughing and flirting. She looks down and sees her left leg, hooked over Nicole's, and her left arm draped across Nicole's stomach. Waverly's breath catches in her throat as she realizes how intimate they look. Waverly had always been a cuddler, and this is not the first time she'd woken up in a compromising position with someone who was not her significant other. Wynonna had been on the receiving end of Waverly's sleepy snuggles for decades.
But this was perhaps the first time that Waverly had awoken like that, and stayed. Waverly took in every inch of Nicole that she could from such proximity. Nicole peacefully stayed sleeping, oblivious to the audience she had gained. Waverly let her eyes cast over Nicole's face, eyes still closed, and porcelain skin flawlessly at ease, dimples faintly noticeable. Waverly smiled as she noticed Nicole's twitching eye lids and slight pull in the edge of her smile.
Nicole was dreaming.
Before Waverly knew it, she sighed to herself, content and glowing and in awe of the woman she was still holding in her arms. She knew—with no remaining doubts or hesitation or uncertainty—that her feelings for Nicole were anything but platonic, despite that their night together had been nothing but. She ran her eyes down Nicole's form, realizing that her shirt had risen up in the night, and Waverly's thumb rested on the soft skin of Nicole's hip. Instinctively, she brushed the pad of her fingers over the skin. Waverly continued scanning the length of Nicole's body, blushing when she saw her two, strong, long legs, tangled in the sheets. Having not planned to spend the night, Nicole hadn't had pajamas, and drunkenly, as the two girls fell into the bed in the wee hours of the morning, Waverly had just casually suggested she just take her jeans off.
"Those would be so uncomfortable to sleep in," she had said.
As Waverly replayed the scene of Nicole shrugging and then peeling her jeans down her legs, she also relived the heat and blush that ran down her spine and made her fumble out of the room to "get a cup of water."
Unconsciously, Waverly closed her eyes and hummed softly to herself, trying to plan her next move—a not awkward way out of the precarious position they were then in. But whatever plans Waverly was beginning to make were out the window when she felt warm fingers wrap around her hand on Nicole's hip.
Waverly's eyes shot open in panic, as she looked down and was met with Nicole's bright eyes staring back at her, an uncertain half-smile on her face.
"Good morning, Wave," she said softly.
"Uh… hey… good, good morning, Nicole."
They stared at one another past the point of awkwardness, until Waverly broke their gaze, and started climbing back from the entanglement of limbs and sheets.
"I'm sorry, I get really clingy at night, I… I didn't mean… I'm really sorry, Nicole, I should have slept on the couch and not… I…"
"Hey… Waves…" Nicole reached out with the hand Waverly had just withdrawn from, grabbing her hand again to keep her close. "It's okay," she laughed, softly. "I like to cuddle, too. I don't mind."
She paused.
"I… I… it was a nice way to wake up," she finished.
Waverly's head dipped, blushing again. "Yeah, it was."
They locked eyes and both slowly allowed their smiles to grow, saying to the other the rest of the conversation they weren't saying aloud.
Waverly softly lay back down, next to Nicole, withdrawing her hand once again. Nicole shifted to her side, facing Waverly. They laid there, without touching, silently staring at one another, drinking in the moment and one another.
Waverly felt the steady ground shift underneath the life she had built for herself thus far. Lying there, not simply just looking at Nicole, but seeing and feeling the way Nicole looked back at her, she knew things had to change. This moment was unlike any she had ever felt, and she wanted—needed to keep feeling it.
She tried to read Nicole's eyes; tried to figure out if they were in this heavy moment together, or if Waverly was proscribing meaning to things that weren't there.
As if she could read Waverly's mind, Nicole reached out, placing four fingers gingerly on Waverly's forearm.
"I don't think I've had as much fun, or been as happy, as I was last night in a very long time. Thank you, Waverly."
The rosy tint in Waverly's cheeks deepened, and an involuntary giggle escaped her lips. Her absolute euphoria couldn't be contained.
"Me too, Nicole. Me too," she paused, "So, did you sleep okay?"
"I really did. I don't think I moved an inch after I fell asleep."
Nicole started looking around the bed, with a joking look on her face, pulling up the side of the fitted sheet, "What kind of mattress is this? I'm gonna have to get me one."
Waverly laughed, "I have no idea! I guess you'll just have to start staying here with me to make sure you get good sleep."
The words fell from her tongue before she could process them. Nicole's head whipped back up, and Waverly saw the same glimmer of hope she had seen in her eyes the night before, so she didn't regret it. Instead, she reached a hand forward, running her index finger along Nicole's cheek, from her nose back to her ear to her chin, without saying a word. Nicole's eyes bulged, and she held her breath, completely unsure of what was happening.
"Wha… what are you doing, Wave?" Nicole asked, almost imperceptivity.
Waverly smiled, "Just tracing the pillow creases on your face. You really did sleep well!"
Nicole almost snorted, playfully swatting at Waverly's hand.
"Well that's one way to make sure I don't come back… making fun of me…" Nicole grumbled, obviously joking.
They both laughed, again settling in on their sides, facing one another.
After a few moments, Nicole asked, "What time is it? I have to go home to shower and get in my uniform before my shift."
"Ummmm," Waverly turned her head around, eyes squinting looking for her clock, "Seven… Eighteen. What time do you work?"
"I have to be there at ten…"
Waverly nodded, "Good, good. You can stay for breakfast," she said, matter-of-factly.
"Breakfast sounds good," Nicole replied.
But neither moved for several moments, neither wanting to be the first to break the bubble they had enjoyed thus far that morning.
Finally, Waverly spoke.
"Okay, I'm really going to have to drag myself out of this bed to make coffee… my head is killing me!" She laughed. "How are you feeling?"
Nicole thought for a moment, looking back at Waverly who looked at her, so genuinely interested in her response.
"Honestly?" A beat passed. "I don't think I've ever felt better."
Waverly's heart soared, still locked onto the glint in Nicole's eyes. She forced herself to look away. She abruptly got up, needing some space. Not space between her and Nicole, but space to process her feelings and emotions.
"So, does that mean you don't need any coffee?" she asked, a flirty tone returning as she found her voice, tossing the question over her shoulder as she started into the kitchen.
"Oh, Ms. Earp. I thought you knew me a little better than that by now," she chuckled.
As Waverly walked into the kitchen, she could hear Nicole stirring and starting to get out of the bed. She exhaled thoroughly, and realized for the first time that morning that her hands were shaking. She gripped the edge of the counter and steadied her breathing. After a beat, she opened the drawer and grabbed a filter, the coffee, and a spoon and started brewing a pot. She opened the fridge, searching for something, anything, to eat that would quiet her stomach.
"Waverly! What the fuck?!"
Waverly's heart sank through the floor at the sound of Champ's voice and the front door clicking shut behind him.
She spun around, slamming the refrigerator, harder than necessary. "Champ! Hey!" She exclaimed, nervously.
"Whose fucking truck is that out there?! I swear, Waverly… if you…" Champ stopped mid-sentence, catching movement out of the corner of his eye.
Nicole got to the doorway of the living room, quickly interjecting, "Oh, Champ, I'm so sorry. Was that in your way this morning? That's mine… I should have been more careful about where I parked it." She chanced a glance at Waverly, noticing the corners of her lips turning upward.
Waverly silently thanked Nicole-both for putting her pants back on, and for coming in through the living room.
"Oh… ummm… no, no, that's fine. It wasn't in my way… I just…" Champ started laughing as he turned towards Waverly. "Jesus, Waves, I thought you had some guy in here… I was about to…"
"About to what, Champ?" Waverly snapped.
"Oh, nothing, nothing," he said, shaking his head and chuckling to himself. He took a few strides towards Waverly, wrapping his arms around her, locking her arms straight down against her sides, as he planted several heavy kisses on her head. "Oh, good," he said. "You made me some coffee."
He grabbed a mug and poured himself a coffee, silence otherwise falling around the room.
"This is great," he said, taking a sip. "Just like you always make it!" He winked at her and then moved to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Nicole and Waverly's eyes snapped back to each other immediately after Champ left the room, each searching the other's for something specific.
Nicole was looking to make sure Waverly was okay; make sure she hadn't lost whatever had passed between them earlier.
Waverly was looking for the same things, and she was looking to see if there was any indication that Nicole was going to run. She really wanted her to stay a bit longer, despite Champ's unwelcome presence.
What they each saw was their own eyes, reflected back to them. They both immediately knew that their thoughts mirrored each other's, still in passion for the other, and disdain and annoyance at Champ's arrival.
"So…" Nicole said, barely above a whisper. "You gonna pour me a coffee, or do I have to help myself?" She grinned.
Waverly smiled back, moving towards her coffee pot, and grabbing a mug.
"How do you take it? Cream? Sugar?"
"Well…" Nicole thought to herself, and smiled, "I usually take it black, but I'm kind of craving some sugar right now, so I'd love a little bit."
Nicole saw the grin crawl onto Waverly's face, and she knew the innuendo wasn't lost on the younger girl.
Waverly slowly filled a coffee mug, and then sauntered over to Nicole, taking her time. Waverly took a huge breath inward, recognizing that she was approaching a changing conversation, and that she had control of the situation. She stood there for a moment with Nicole's mug in her hand, unsure of the steps she should take.
"Well, Officer HOT, I'm all out of sugar… for now."
Waverly saw the signs of disappointment on Nicole's face. As she and Nicole's hands brushed together, and the mug of coffee changed hands, Waverly got Nicole's attention.
"Just…" Waverly's voice dropped to a complete whisper, "Please…" they locked eyes, "Wait for me. Please." Waverly begged.