Chapter Text
Placenta previa.
That’s what the doctor’s said was wrong with Waverly. They said she was in surgery and that they were going to do everything they could for her and the baby. All Nicole heard after that was the word bleeding and her eyes drifted over to look at Rosita. The brunette was covered in blood.
Waverly’s blood.
As they wait for more news on how the surgery is going, Nicole stares at the clock on the wall and wonders why it even exists in the first place. Everyone who has ever been in a hospital waiting room knows that time does not exist here. No one has said a word. Not even Wynonna, which is rare for her. Nicole’s hand has been clutched in hers since they arrived at the hospital, which is rare for them. The redhead cannot think of a time that she has ever held the brunette’s hand. However, the love of both of their lives is in surgery, and they both know that they are the only two who understand what the other is feeling right now.
Rosita and Chrissy are asleep on the chairs across from them and Dolls went to go get coffee a while ago. The hospital coffee just is not cutting it anymore and both Nicole and Wynonna want to stay awake until they get to see Waverly. Each time the door to the ER opens, they both stand up. Usually, the name that is announced is not the one they want to hear, but this time, it is.
“Waverly Earp.” When the name leaves the doctor’s lips, Nicole and Wynonna make their way over to the man in the white coat.
“Can I see her?” Nicole pleads before the doctor can even get a word out. She feels the hand in hers give a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
“They’re finishing up the surgery and then taking her to a room. Once she is in a room, you can see her. Waverly is stable. We were able to stop the bleeding, and I can have a nurse take you to see your daughter if you’d like.” The man allows a smile to grace his features.
Daughter.
They have a daughter.
Tears stream down Nicole’s face at the word. They were waiting to find out the gender. They wanted to be surprised during the birth. Everything was planned out, but sometimes life has a sick way of ruining plans. Nothing could have prepared Nicole for finding out the sex of their baby without Waverly.
“We don’t even have a name picked out. We were going to wait and do that together after she gave birth. I can’t hold her without Waverly. I can’t see her first. I can’t do-” Nicole’s rambling is halted when Wynonna spins her around and wraps her arms around her neck. Nicole relaxes momentarily.
“Can I go too?” Wynonna asks the doctor when she releases the redhead from the hug. “Waverly’s my sister. I’m the baby’s aunt.”
The doctor nods solemnly and opens the door behind him so they can walk in. When they make it to the NICU, Nicole stops in her tracks, causing Wynonna to stop too.
“I can’t lose her.”
“We won’t lose her. Waverly is the strongest person I know, and she will fight like hell to stay here with us. She made her way back to us once, and I know she’ll do it again.” Wynonna wraps an arm around the redhead’s shoulders and leads her through the door that the doctor is patiently holding open for them.
The sight of all the babies stops Nicole in her tracks again. “I can’t raise a baby alone. I don’t know the first thing about-”
“Haught!” Wynonna spins the redhead around to face her and places her hands on Nicole’s shoulders. “I need you to get it together. For you daughter. For your wife. For me. We all need you right now.” Wynonna places her hands on the pale cheeks in front of her and wipes the tears away with her thumbs.
Nicole just releases a shaky breath and nods, her eyes darting to look at all the babies. One of those is hers. One of those is hers and Waverly’s daughter. The thought makes her heart swell and her stomach drop at the same time. She’s pulled out of her thoughts when Wynonna wraps an arm around her shoulders and guides her to take a few steps so that they are standing by the doctor again. Wynonna offers the man a gentle smile, silently thanking him for being so patient with them.
“I will let the NICU nurses take it from here, but I will come and get you when your wife is in a room.” The man offers them a sympathetic smile and Nicole returns it before the man walks out the door they just entered through.
A smiling nurse approaches them as soon as the door closes. “I heard that we have a beautiful baby girl staying here with us that belongs to you.” The genuine smile on her face tells the two women that she loves her job.
Wynonna nudges Nicole’s shoulder. “She’s the mom. I’m the proud aunt.”
“Well, congratulations to you both. She’s beautiful.” The nurse smiles widely. “You ready to meet her?” As soon as the question is asked, tears well up in Nicole’s eyes. Too stunned to speak, she just nods her head. Wynonna loops and arm through hers and nods the nurse forward. They walk down a corridor and then come to a stop in front of a large room filled with tiny bassinets. Nicole’s eyes scan over each one, wondering which one is holding their baby.
“If you both want to have a seat in Room 2, I will bring her to you.” The nurse gestures to the room with the open door. “Just so you can have some privacy.”
Nicole and Wynonna nod and walk over to the empty room. Nicole paces the room until she hears a light tap on the door. When she turns around, she comes face to face with the nurse holding a tiny pink blanket in her arms. Nicole’s heart stops in her chest and her breath catches in her throat.
“Here she is.” The nurse smiles widely and tears immediately start spilling down the redhead’s cheeks. They meet halfway in the room and Nicole looks down at the tiny baby bundled up in the blanket. She wipes the sweat from her palms on her pants before holding out her arms and letting the nurse gently place the baby in them. Not trusting her arms to not give out on her, she walks over to the couch in the room and slowly takes a seat.
“Hi, my love.” Nicole coos as she gently reaches her hand up and traces the outline of the baby’s face with his pointer finger. “I’m your mom.” Nicole smiles as she takes in every single detail. She gently cradles her daughter’s tiny head in her hands and runs her thumb through short brown hair. Her heart clenches in her chest. She looks so much like Waverly. The baby lets out a small yawn and then flutters her eyes open. When brown eyes meet her own, the tears start coming down faster. She has Waverly’s hair color and Nicole’s eye color.
“Wynonna. She’s perfect.” Nicole looks up at his best friend and sees that she’s crying just as hard.
“Well she has Earp genes, so of course she is.” Wynonna clears her throat and wipes at the tears with the back of her hand.
“Wanna hold her?” Nicole smiles when Wynonna nods eagerly and takes a seat on the coach beside her. Nicole scoots over and places the tiny baby in Wynonna’s arms.
“Hi, baby girl jr.” Wynonna whispers as she starts rocking the baby in her arms slowly. “I’m your aunt.”
“She looks so much like Waverly.” Nicole chokes out and they both start crying harder. “She hasn’t even gotten to hold her, Wy.” Nicole caresses her tiny cheek with her fingertips.
“She will. She’s gonna be okay, Nicole.” Wynonna whispers, her voice cracking as she leans down and places a gentle kiss to the baby’s forehead. “She has to be.”