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“Hello?”
“Wavery?” The name sparked recognition deep within her but she couldn’t place why it felt so familiar, or why the voice brought with it a sense of safety.
“Waves, baby? Are you ok?” The other person asked. “Do you know who we are?” the red head asked, indicating to herself and the other woman.
“I…” The syllable wavered, fragile and unfamiliar, as though her throat had forgotten how to shape human words. “I don't remember”
“That’s okay,” the red head said softly. “You don’t have to remember right now. You’re safe. That’s all that matters”
“Yeah babygirl, your finally home”
“Babygirl?” she asked with a confused look on her face, the name once again stroked something within her but she couldn't place the feeling on any solid memory.
“Oh, it’s a nickname I gave you when you were a baby,” the other woman said with a gentle smile on her face as she rubbed the back of her neck with a little shrug of her shoulders.
“You knew me then?”
“Yeah, I mean I would hope so… I’m your sister. Wynonna” she said as she pointed to herself.
“Wynonna,” Waverly said, testing the name. It brought with it a sense of peace and safety. As the name left her lips, the woman with the name smiled bigger.
“Yup, that's me. Your awesome big sister”
“Okay, don't lie to her” the red head spoke up.
Wynonna huffed. “What do you mean lie? I am awesome”
“Sure, whatever you say”
Their banter was interrupted with. “Who are you?” Waverly asked the red headed woman.
“Oh, um…”
“This should be good,” Wynonna laughed as she watched the woman's face turn just as red as her hair.
The redhead opened and closed her mouth several times, strange sounds slipping out with each attempt. Her face deepened in color as frustration mounted, until at last she cleared her throat and managed to say, “I’m your girlfriend”
“My girlfriend?”
“Yes, my name is Haught. Nicole Haught” she awkwardly put her hand out. A small smile ghosted over her lips as the memory of their first meeting came to the front of her mind. Her hand hung in the air between them.
“Haught” Waverly mumbled, she was so confused. So many things brought her the feeling of safety, the two women, their smells, their voices, even the room she stood in but she couldn't for the life of her figure out why.
The wilderness raged inside her, clashing with the safety she felt. For the past 18 days every moment was a test: protecting herself from predators she was never meant to face, scavenging for food when hunger gnawed relentlessly at her, and navigating a world where danger lurked in every shadow. It’s all she knew and yet here she was, standing on two legs instead of four and being looked at by two humans that she felt extremely comfortable and close with.
Her eyes shifted between the two women, Wynonna’s broad grin and Nicole’s nervous half-smile. She took a tentative step forward, her gaze flicking from Wynonna to Nicole. “I… I don’t understand. Everything feels… wrong. And yet…”
Nicole’s smile softened, and she let her hand fall gently to her side, not the least bit hurt that Waverly hadn’t reached for it. “It’s okay” she said gently as she stood still, waiting watching to see what Waverly would do. Her actions were still to insure that Waverly felt comfortable with her. Beside her she could feel Wynonna doing the same thing. “We are here to help”
“I… I don’t even know what to do” she whispered.
“That's okay… how about we start with going into the house. You can get a shower, get into clean clothes and then we can go from there” Wynonna said softly.
After a slow nod from Waverly, Nicole and Wynonna sprang into action, tidying up quickly and then gently leading her toward the house.
The moment they crossed the threshold, Waverly froze. She felt so many things as she looked around the entry way.
Pain,
Love,
Freedom,
Family,
Part of her was overwhelmed with all the things she could feel, another part of her was wild and wanted to run, back to the forest, back to the only memories she had. And another part of her, she didn't know how big that part was but it felt at home. So trusting that part of herself, she stepped further into the house.
“Do you want to go see your room?” Wynonna asked from where she stood at the bottom of the stairs. “Or Nicole can help you take a shower, or a bath. Wash away all of that dirt” she suggested.
“A bath? Shower?”
“A shower makes it feel like it’s raining but in a small area of the bathroom and a bath is like laying in a small pond,” Nicole explained gently.
“I think I’d like the bath”
“Would you like my help?”
Waverly hesitated, glancing between them.
Needing help meant being vulnerable. Being still. Exposed. In the forest, stillness was death. Movement kept her alive.
But Nicole’s voice wasn’t a command. It was an offering.
So she nodded. Just once.
Nicole led her down the hallway to a small bathroom. Waverly stepped inside cautiously. There was a porcelain tub, white and gleaming. Shiny silver knobs. Soft towels stacked neatly on a shelf. Nicole knelt beside it. “I’m going to turn it on, okay? It’ll make a noise. But it won’t hurt you”
She twisted the knob.
Water burst from the faucet with a sudden rush. Waverly jumped back, a hiss tearing from her throat before she could stop it.
Nicole spoke gently as she put her hand under the stream. “It’s only water, it won't hurt you. It’s okay”
Waverly’s wide eyes tracked the flow of it, the scent of clean, the soft hiss of the faucet. She took a hesitant step forward. “It… smells good”
Nicole smiled faintly. “That’s the soap,” she explained, lifting a small glass bottle and uncapping it. “Lavender. You used to love it.”
“I did?”
“You would throw a fit if it wasn't in the water. You love lavender”
Waverly took a sniff. “I can smell why I would love it. It smells better than anything I can remember”
Nicole's smile immediately dropped. The bottle of lavender soap trembled slightly in her hand before she set it carefully on the edge of the tub.
Waverly noticed instantly. “Did I say something wrong?”
Nicole shook her head quickly, “No,” she said. Her voice came out rough. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong,” she paused. For a moment, she didn’t think she deserved to look Waverly in the eyes. “It’s just…” Nicole exhaled, a trembling breath that carried more than she wanted to admit. “You shouldn’t be the one standing here trying to remember. It should’ve been me”
Waverly frowned. “What do you mean?”
Nicole let out a long, shaky breath, her shoulders sagging under the weight of words she’d been holding back for far too long. The sound of running water filled the silence.
“That day,” she began, her voice cracking, “you… stepped in front of me. The witch, the person who took your memories away. She was aiming for me” Nicole paused to gauge Waverly’s reaction but she just stood there listening, listening with a confused look on her face. “You didn’t even…” Nicole’s throat tightened, tears blurred her vision. “You didn’t even hesitate—” her voice cracked, a sob breaking free, “—you just jumped in front of me”
Her words collapsed into silence. She pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes, shoulders trembling as the weight of everything she’d held back finally broke loose. The pain of losing the love of her life in the worst way possible. Not to death or to another person. Losing her to the fact that she didn't remember her. The pain of failure, of not being able to protect the love of her life. A quiet sob tore through her chest. She folded forward, her head falling into her hands as the tears came faster now unstoppable, raw.
Then warmth.
A touch that was tentative at first, unsure — like it was testing the air between them, asking permission without words. Nicole froze. For a heartbeat, she couldn’t breathe. The world narrowed to the feeling of that warmth — the steady heartbeat against her shoulder, the faint smell of earth and lavender clinging to skin.
She lowered her hands, blinking through tears as her vision cleared.
It was Waverly.
Waverly was the one holding her.
Her face was close, eyes soft and uncertain, Nicole’s throat tightened again, but this time it wasn’t from pain. A trembling breath left her as her eyes fluttered closed. She leaned into the embrace, letting herself sink into it — into her.
Nicole’s arms instinctively wrapped around Waverly, holding her tightly as if afraid to let go. Her forehead rested against Waverly’s, breathing mingling, heartbeats aligning. The sobs that had wracked her moments before softened, fading into quiet, shaky exhales. And finally something within her settled. Found peace again. She let herself sink completely into the feeling, the safety of Waverly’s embrace, letting the chaos inside her dissolve for just this moment.
“I missed you,” Nicole whispered, her voice trembling. Her eyes were still closed, afraid that if she opened her eyes it would all be a dream.
“I wish I remembered you” Waverly replied in the same whispered volume. “This feels right,” she added.
“Please turn off the water before you flood the whole house!”
Nicole and Waverly froze, mid-embrace, as the sharp, exasperated voice cut through their fragile moment.
Nicole quickly turned off the nozzle when she felt her socks start to soak. “Oops,” she muttered, glancing down at the small puddle forming around her feet.
Before she could grab a towel, Wynonna barged in, hands on her hips. “Really, Haught? Are you trying to turn our house into an aquarium?” When in doubt Wynonna Earp returnes to her normal self. Sarcastic and snappy, and always ready to Interrupt a moment. Wynonna interruptus!!!!
Nicole straightened, flustered. “Um I was distracted”
“Dont blame Waverly for you trying to turn her into a fish. We Earps don't do well in large quantities of water”
“How would you know you have never touched an ounce of water in your life”
“Excuse you! I touch water! I touch water every time I take a shower” Wynonna glared.
“When do you do that? Cause you stink”
Wynonna let out a dramatic gasp and put her hand to her chest. “I do not!”
“Yes you do”
“No I dont”
“Yes you–”
“No I dont”
“Yes–”
“No”
“Yes”
“No”
Nicole and Wynonna froze mid-back-and-forth as a soft, bubbling laugh cut through the tension.
Waverly was standing next to the overflowing bathtub, covering her mouth with both hands, trying—and failing—to hold it in. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she shook slightly, the sound of her laughter echoing in the small bathroom.
Nicole blinked at her. “Your laugh, it’s… like Christmas” she smiled.
“Way to NOT creep her out” Wynonna commented. “What does that even mean?”
Nicole shot Wynonna a sharp look, half-amused, half-exasperated. “It means it’s light and bubbly and I love it”
“Ok, you love everything about my sister but… what does ‘your laugh is like Christmas’ even mean?”
“It means shut up and stop focusing on what I say”
“No”
“Yes”
“No”
“Yes”
“No”
“Yes– oh for the love of my sanity you win Earp… are you happy?”
“Ecstatic,” Wynonna said smugly, stepping aside so Waverly could breathe between giggles. “But seriously, somebody get a mop before the floor stages a revolt”
The three of them dissolved into more laughter, warm and chaotic, the earlier tension and soggy socks forgotten in the comfort of shared humor—and each other.
The three of them finally settled into the living room, the floor clean and dry, the tension of the earlier chaos softened into something warm and familiar. Waverly, wrapped in a soft towel, sat curled on the couch, still smiling, her hair damp and smelling faintly of lavender. Nicole sat beside her, a blanket draped over both of them, and Wynonna sprawled on the other side, her arm slung casually over the back of the couch like she owned the place.
For a moment, none of them spoke. The quiet was comfortable, filled with the soft hum of the house and the occasional creak of settling floorboards. Waverly’s fingers traced the edge of the blanket, still processing, still absorbing the sensation of safety that seemed to radiate from both women.
Nicole broke the silence first, her voice low and gentle. “How… how are you feeling?”
Waverly shrugged, a small, uncertain smile tugging at her lips. “Confused. Safe. Weirdly… happy?” Her eyes flicked to Nicole, then Wynonna. “It’s strange… All I know is wilderness but here. Now with both of you I know there are things about me that I don't remember.. But I want to. I want to remember”
“Well we want you to remember too. We just have to find the witch that cast the spell and get her to undo it” Wynonna explained. “Speaking of, Doc called while you were helping Waverly in the bathroom. He said he caught her scent out by the old mines”
“Ok, what are we waiting for then, lets go” Nicole said exactly as she went to stand up but paused as she noticed the look on Wynonna’s face. “What?”
“I would love nothing more than to jump on your bandwagon of burning that witch alive but… Dolls jumped on the call, he sounded a little weak when he said that we should all meet at the office to come up with a plan”
Nicole’s jaw tightened. “I thought you didn't like him”
“Well normally I don't and I am still pissed at him for forcing me to turn him but you didn't hear him on that call. It sounded like he was about to pass out”
“So?”
“Well for the last week Lucado has been pressuring me into giving her my blood. Werewolf blood. I think when we walked out yesterday she turned him into her guinea pig”
“Well he deserves a little pain for forcing you to change him”
“And I would totally agree but Lucado doesn't know when to stop. I think she would go too far, take too much and now that he is a werewolf. Me being High Alpha means he is under my protection”
“Well don't you sound noble,” Nicole smirked.
“I know right” Wynonna pretended to throw up in her mouth and did a full body shiver. “I don't like it”
“Alright lets go” Nicole stood but once again paused as she was about to put her shoes on, a thought hit her like a bullet train. “Wait, what about Waverly?”
“What about her?”
“Well we can't leave her here and I don't feel comfortable taking her into the lions den so to speck”
“What do you mean, you work with lions?” Waverly asked.
Nicole smiled. “No, it’s a figure out speech. It’s like saying we will be walking into the thickness of a problem” she kindly explained.
“I want to stay with the two of you,” Waverly said.
“You heard the girl,” Wynonna said. “I don't like it either but look at this way, if she is with us then we can protect her better” she reasoned.
“I don't like it when you make sense”
“Alright let’s blow this joint!” Wynonna said as she walked out of the house.
“Wynonna! You forgot your keys!” Nicole shouted.
“No I didn't because I’m not driving” she smirked.
“You do know that if we take my cruiser that Waverly gets shotgun, which means you are in the back” Nicole let the end of her sentence hang in the air and Wynonna looked at her. After a moment she shrugged and walked the rest of the way to the cruiser.
“Wouldnt be the first time I was in the back of one on these”
“I am not surprised,” Nicole muttered.
“I heard that”
Waverly clambered into the passenger seat, hands neatly folded in her lap. “So getting shotgun means getting the front seat?” she asked.
Nicole gave her a warm, reassuring smile. “Exactly. You get the front. It also means that Wynonna can't get out unless I let her out”
“Do you like locking women up? If so I might have concerns for you dating my sister” Wynonna commented with a smirk from the back seat.
Nicole's face darkened in embarrassment. “Alright, to the station we go” she said hurriedly as she urged the cruiser into gear. It took a while of silence other than Wynonna’s evil little giggle for her face to lose its redness.
When they arrived at the station, Wynonna and Nicole were immediately on edge. The yelling coming from the BBD offices was not making them feel better. Doc's voice carried through the entire station.
“Stay behind us, okay?” Nicole said quietly to Waverly, who nodded and gripped the hem of Nicole’s jacket as they moved deeper into the building.
The yelling grew louder as they neared the BBD offices.
“What do you mean you don’t care?!”
“Waverly Earp is unimportant to the mission,” Lucado said flatly. Her voice was cold, detached, like she was reading off a line from a report.
Doc was about to respond until a voice rose up. A deep voice, an unexpected voice.
It was Dolls
“Waverly Earp is far from unimportant. She has multiple degrees via correspondence, she can speak and translate multiple languages, she is the foremost expert in dealing with the revenants, and though you may see it as a lack of skill because she cant fight it is because she doesnt have to. Most people listen when she speaks. She is kind and sweet, even to someone like me, or even worse, Bobo” Dolls paused to take a deep breath, he cast his eyes over towards the subject of his speech, Waverly. Normally she would look at him with a kindness he didn't think he deserved. What with the way he’d treated them but she still smiled, now though she looked at him with confusion. He vowed right then that he would do whatever it took to get her to smile at him again. He would do whatever it took to get her memories back.
He continued. “She is the heart of this team, she is the light of Wynonna and Nicole’s life. She may not be high Alpha but she sure as shit has just as much say as one. Wynonna would do whatever her baby sister asked of her. She has more power and strength than all of us combined… Waverly Earp is not unimportant”
“Thank you” Waverly said kindly, though she was highly confused, which seemed like it was going to be her natural state of being until she got her memories back.
“Danm dude, that was deep. Dolls — real Hallmark Channel energy. Who knew you actually had a heart”
“Wynonna!”
“Earp!”
The tension in the room cracked, and then.
“Agent Dolls,” Lucado said flatly with a glare. “I don’t recall asking for your personal assessment of Miss Earp’s character”
“You didn’t,” Dolls said calmly, though his voice carried steel. “But you sure as hell needed to hear it”
The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.
Jeremy burst through the office doors like a caffeine-fueled hurricane, nearly tripping over his own feet as a flurry of papers scattered from the overflowing folder in his hands. Unaware of the minefield he just stepped into.
“I GOT HER!” he shouted, loud enough that Waverly flinched and Dolls instinctively reached for his weapon.
“Jesus, Jeremy, ever heard of knocking?” Wynonna snapped, clutching her chest. “You almost made me shoot you—and that’s a lot less fun when it’s an accident”
Jeremy blinked at her, out of breath but grinning like a man who’d just cracked the Da Vinci Code. “You can shoot me later! I found a way to weaken the witch, as in like she wont be able to use her magic”
“Well I’ll be damned," Doc laughed. “We can finally bring back Miss Waverly’s memories”
“Ok great, Jeremy found a way to weaken her and Doc actually found her, let's hit the road” Wynonna shouted with excitement, although as she headed for the door with the others right behind her a voice called out.
“No”
Wynonna turned to look at the lone person standing alone in the center of the room with her arms crossed. She stared at Lucado for a moment before she started laughing. “I don't remember asking for your permission” she said as she wiped a tear from her face, she'd lagged so hard it made her cry.
“you all work for me, your are all officers under my command”
“Wrong!” Wynonna shouted. “Everyone in this room other than you and Jermey are werewolves, aka they work for me. I am High Alpha and I am in charge!”
Lucado’s heels clicked sharply against the tile as she stepped forward, jaw tight. “Excuse me?”
Wynonna smirked. “You heard me, Colonel Control Freak. You can file all the paperwork you want, but out there—” she jabbed a thumb toward the door “—you don’t give the orders. I do”
Lucado’s lips thinned. “This operation is under BBD jurisdiction.”
“Lady,” Wynonna said, grinning wolfishly, “the only reason I let BBD into my town is because Dolls said he could help me lift this curse over my family. He said he could help me protect my people. So I have a little trust in him, other than the fact that he made me change him he’s okay… you on the other hand can go fuck yourself”
Lucado folded her arms. “You think I’m afraid of a few dogs?”
The air shifted.
Wynonna’s smile didn’t just fade—it died.
“You should be,” she said softly. “Because dogs bark” Her eyes burned gold in the dim light. “And wolves hunt”
For a long moment, no one moved. The tension hung thick as smoke.
Then Wynonna turned, snapping her fingers once. “Pack—let’s move”
Nicole was the first to follow, she gently grabbed a hold of Waverly and urged her to follow Wynonna out the door. Doc tipped his hat with that dangerous, easy smile of his and followed. Jeremy, clutching his gadgets, trailed after them.
Dolls hesitated by the door, watching Wynonna and the others stride out into the sunlight. His instincts screamed to stay—to keep order, to report, to follow procedure.
But something else beat inside him. A heart that he thought long ago died, a heart that he thought he’d caged up and locked away but being in the Earp sisters orbit had set it aflame.
He took one last look at Lucado, who was still frozen. “If you’re smart,” he said quietly, “you’ll be gone before we get back”
Lucado turned sharply. “Agent Dolls, you are not authorized to leave—”
He was already moving.
The door slammed behind him, echoing through the office like a gunshot.
— — — — —
“Somone could have said something about have to walk miles in order to get to the mines” Wynonna whined.
“Wynonna, dear we have only been walking for five minutes” Doc commented with a warm smile that was only ever aimed at Wynonna.
“Well it’s been the longest five minutes of my life”
Jeremy adjusted his backpack nervously, nearly tripping over a root. “Technically, if we’re talking about the average human stride and terrain incline, we’re only about three hundred yards from the outer mine shafts. So… not exactly miles”
“Jeremy,” Wynonna sighed, dragging a hand down her face, “if you start talking about strides again, I swear I’m gonna use you as a walking stick.”
Doc chuckled softly beside her, the sound low and rich, but Waverly wasn’t listening anymore. The world around her seemed to blur — Wynonna’s voice fading into the background hum of crickets and the rustle of leaves underfoot.
Her mind was still somewhere else — caught between flashes of things she wanted to remember, and the feelings that she liked better than the 18 days of feeling lost and alone.
Then her foot caught on a root.
She stumbled with a small gasp, a surprised squeal escaping her as she fell. Her eyes shut tight, expecting the unforgiving ground to meet her — instead, she felt warmth, strength. When she opened them, Nicole was there, holding her close, their faces only inches apart.
“Are you alright?” Nicole asked, with a worried tone in her voice.
“I— I think so,” Waverly whispered, voice trembling slightly. “I just… tripped.”
Nicole smiled softly, relief flickering across her face. “Yeah, I noticed.” She helped Waverly straighten up but didn’t move away just yet. For a heartbeat, neither of them did. The air between them felt charged, humming with something that didn’t need words.
“Thank you,” Waverly whispered.
“No problem," Nicole said at the same volume.
“Am I usually a damsel when it comes to hiking?” The low volume continued.
Nicole laughed lowly. “Well no but it’s understandable why you are not focused right now. You just don't remember how much of a badass you are”
Waverly tilted her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “A badass, huh?”
“Yup”
“How much of a badass?”
“Well for one you stepped in front of me when that witch sent that spell at me even though you didn't know what it would do to you” Nicole paused. “You are very protective of the people you love”
“And I love you?”
Nicole’s breath caught. For a second, she couldn’t bring herself to look at Waverly — afraid of what she might see in her eyes. Pity? Confusion? Nothing at all?
When she finally met her gaze, Waverly’s expression wasn’t blank. It was open, searching, fragile.
Nicole’s voice came out as barely more than a whisper. “Yeah… you do. You did” She gave a small, almost shy smile. “You loved me a lot, actually”
Waverly’s brow furrowed, as though trying to reach for something just out of sight. “And you… you loved me too?”
“I still do,” Nicole admitted, the words trembling but honest. “That hasn’t changed. Not once”
“What else have I done to be labeled a badass?” Waverly said, changing the topic. Not that she didn't want to be talking about the two of them but it was a bit weird for her when she didn't remember.
“You hunted down two people who hurt here when you first started dating” Doc's voice drifted from a few feet behind them.
Waverly took a step away from Nicole to look over her shoulder. “I… did what?”
“Two people had beat the crap out of her and so you carried her back to the station and then hunted them down” Doc explained. He caught up with them and urged them to continue forward as they talked, Jeremy and Wynonna still bickering behind them. Dolls was ahead of them scouting for danger.
“Who would want to hurt her?” Waverly asked, her gaze turned back to the redhead.
“Two people who wanted you and so they thought it was a good idea to beat her up to get her out of the way. You didn't like that very much”
“They hurt you because of me?” Waverly stared at Nicole.
Nicole shifted her weight, hands sliding into her jacket pockets. “Yeah. But it wasn’t your fault.”
“Of course it was,” Waverly said quietly, her voice barely above the wind. “If it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t have—”
“Waverly” Nicole’s tone was soft, but it cut through her guilt before it could take root. “You didn’t tell them to do anything. They made their own choice. And they paid for it”
A small silence settled between them — warm, not heavy. Then, from ahead of them, Dolls’ voice cut through the quiet.
“Eyes up!” he called, lifting one hand in signal.
The group instantly tensed, instincts sharpening. They closed the gap between them until they were standing together, a loose circle.
“Alright,” Dolls started. “From what I can see the witch has two goons posted at the entrance of the mines”
“She’s still inside,” Jeremy said as he looked at his tablet.
“Whats the plan?” Nicole said, her eyes immediately cast over to Wynonna. Waverly stood next to Nicole, highly confused but she followed her view and turned to her sister.
“I think…”
“She was not asking you,” Doc snapped at Dolls. A hurt look crossed his face for a brief second before the military mask slipped into place.
“As much as I appreciate the hope that I have a plan, I don't. I think we should follow Dolls lead on this” Wynonna said.
“Really? You want him to lead? After what he did? Forced you to change him. Chose to be an asshole for 18 days while the rest of us looked for Miss Waverly. You want him to lead?”
“Yes, Doc, I want him to lead,” Wynonna said firmly. “Because even though I’m the High Alpha, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing right now. This isn’t a bar fight or a revenant with a grudge—it’s bigger than that”
She exhaled sharply, jaw tight. “I need someone who thinks three steps ahead if we’re going to get that witch.”
Her gaze shifted to Dolls. “You care about Waverly. That means you’ll be smart, careful, and relentless”
A beat.
“So use those brains of yours… and don’t screw this up.”
Dolls nodded, his posture shifting as the soldier took over—shoulders squared, expression hard, all emotion locked down behind discipline. His eyes swept to the mine’s main entrance, already mapping angles, exits, and blind spots.
“Alright,” he said, voice steady and authoritative. “Here’s how we play this.”
Everyone leaned in.
“We divide and conquer. Wynonna, you’re with Doc—left side. One of you stays in wolf form at all times. Same setup for Waverly and Nicole on the right”
He turned to Jeremy. “You monitor from here”
“Oh great leader, what will you be doing?” Doc growled.
“Doc Wynonna is rubbing off on you” Nicole commented.
“Thank you” Wynonna smirked.
“That was not a compliment”
“Anyway…” Dolls said, bringing the conversion back. “I will take center, draw their fire, allowing the rest of you to slip in undetected. Jeremy back at the office you said you had something that could weaken her, what is it?”
Jeremy lit up like someone had plugged him into an electrical outlet. “Oh! Yes! Yes I do!” He practically vibrated as he dug into his overstuffed backpack. He yanked something out triumphantly.
Everyone stared.
It was… a mason jar.
“What is it?” Nicole asked as she stared at the jar with unease.
Jeremy held the mason jar aloft like it was Excalibur. “Salt!”
“Thats it?” Wynonna said.
“Witches hate salt!”
“So what exactly are we supposed to do with the salt?” Doc asked.
“If we surround her with salt she'll be cut off from her magic,” Jeremy explained.
Everyone blinked at him. Once.. Twice… and then.
“How in the hell do you suggest we ‘surround her in salt’? She’s not standing still waiting for us to draw a circle around her” Wynonna said.
Jeremy deflated. “Okay, so logistically, it’s… tricky”
Wynonna threw her hands up. “Jeremy, ‘tricky’ is when your bra strap snaps in public. This is impossible!”
“Bring the volume down, unless you want to alert the witch that she has guests,” Dolls warned.
Jeremy hugged the mason jar to his chest defensively. “It’s not impossible”
Before anyone could respond, laughter sounded from the entrance of the Mine. The witch stood with her two goons and she was staring at them.
“Have you come here hoping I’ll restore her memories?” the witch’s laugh rang out, sharp and mocking. “Oh, how cute. But I hate to break it to you… there’s nothing, nothing that I or anyone else can do to bring her memories back. Not a spell, not a prayer, not a damn thing”
“You're lying!” Wynonna shouted.
“Am I?” the witch continued to laugh. “You come all this way to find out there is nothing you can do to bring back her memories. I find that painfully hilarious don't you?” she asked as she turned to look at Waverly.
“Dont you dare address her” Nicole snarled as she stepped forward blocking the witches view.
“Oh how cute, you couldn't protect her the first time so now here you are, her knight in shining armor" the witch smirked and brought her hand up palm out and it started to glow. “Good luck protecting her from fire when you couldn't protect her from my memory spell” the witch said and in the next breath a ball of fire was flying through the air straight for the couple.
Without thinking Nicole turned around and wrapped her arms around Waverly, prepared to use her body as a shield. She gritted her teeth, bracing against the as the fireball slammed into Nicole’s back, burning right through her jacket and scorching her skin.
“Nicole!” Waverly screamed, as the impact pushed Nicole further into her. She fought against Nicole’s hold, she could smell the burning fabric and… and skin. “Why would you do that?” she cried.
Nicole smiled even though her vision was starting to blur from the pain. “It was my turn” she whispered and with her last bit of strength she kissed the top of Waverly’s head and collapsed.
Waverly dropped with her, turning in time to stop her head from banging off the ground. She slowly and as gently as possible moved Nicole’s head into her lap.
Wynonna growled from behind the grounded couple. “First you take my sister's memories, now you hurt my friend!" her growl rose in volume. “Now you're gonna pay bitch!” she shouted and then she charged. Changing mid stride, clothes falling from her form in tatters. She charged straight for the witch but one of her goons intercepted her. Right as her fangs were within biting range the goon grabbed around her waist and threw her back in the direction she had come from.
Wynonna hit the ground hard, rolling once before skidding to a stop in the dirt. She snarled as the goon started towards her. She smirked as she had one of the goons' attention.
Doc shifted and lunged for the witch, claws slashing—but just like Wynonna before him, the second goon intercepted, knocking him off course before he could reach her. The goon charged and Doc easily dodged his swinging fist.
Magic crackled through the air as the witch threw up a shield spell, the translucent barrier flaring to life just as Dolls charged, claws out and teeth bared. He slammed into it again and again, each impact shuddering the shield and forcing her focus entirely onto him.
Both goons were fully engaged—one with Wynonna, the other with Doc. Dolls had the witch’s undivided attention.
Which meant none of them noticed him.
None of them noticed the quiet figure moving along the edge of the tree line.
None of them noticed the thin white trail he left behind.
Jeremy moved in a wide, silent curve, boots barely disturbing the dirt. The jar trembled in his hands. Every grain of salt hitting the ground rang in his ears like a gunshot.
Wynonna tackled her goon again, claws flashing as they crashed through brush and stone.
The salt was slowly being poured in a wide circle around the fighting, around the witch.
Doc drove his attacker back with a vicious swipe.
Jeremy was almost there. Half the circle was done.
The witch shrieked as Dolls slammed into her shield again.
The jar grew lighter in Jeremy’s hands.
The wolves stayed locked in their fights, feral and relentless—buying him time.
Just a few more steps.
Just a little more salt.
The effect was instantaneous.
The witches shield didn’t waver, it just vanished. Like it wasn't even there to begin with. Surprise flickered across her face, sharp and fleeting, before it curdled into anger. Her eyes darted to the circle of salt at her feet, and the anger froze, twisting into fear. Her magic, her power was gone. She was exposed, vulnerable, defenseless.
Both goons broke off from their battles, darting toward the witch as her fear became obvious. Wynonna and Doc moved in without hesitation, taking advantage of the openings to neutralize them in seconds.
The witches' fear grew as she watched her last line of defense crumble. Now she was all alone.
Wynonna marched right up to the witch, changing forms as she went.
“Carefull Wynonna,” Dolls warned.
“Dont worry, as long as the line is Intact, she can't use her magic” Jeremy explained as he rejoined the group. A different kind of fear entered the witch upon seeing the murderous look on the high Alpha's face.
“Not laughing now are you?” Wynonna growled.
The witch’s shoulders squared, and she lifted her chin as if the fear in her eyes could be erased by posture alone. A slow, mirthless smile crept across her face, sharp and calculated.
“Oh, High Alpha,” she said, voice dripping with mock amusement. “Do you think this changes anything? That a little circle of salt makes me powerless? That me not having magic will somehow bring her memories back? Cute” the tone of her voice told everyone what they needed to know, the witch was terrified.
“Oh I know it wont but how about we keep you here? Would you like that? Not being able to go anywhere, not being able to use your magic? I say a few weeks out in the Wilderness might just change your mind about not being able to bring back her memories”
“You… you can't leave me here!” the witch sputtered, panic creeping into her voice despite the remnants of bravado. A smirk slid its way onto Wynonna’s face.
“Watch me” with that she turned on her heel and walked towards her sister and best friend, the others followed with the sound of the witches wails as the walk away music.
“How is she doing baby girl?” Wynonna asked as she came to a stop and kneeled next to the fallen couple.
“I’m fine Wynonna thanks for asking” Nicole laughs, then grunts in pain due to the jarring of her burned skin.
Waverly reached out, hesitantly placing a hand on Nicole’s cheek, gaining her attention. “You can't do that again”
“It was my turn,” Nicole smiled.
“Your turn to be a badass?”
“damn straight” they laughed, which for Nicole quickly turned to groans of pain.
Waverly’s hand stayed on Nicole’s cheek, thumb brushing gently over her skin. “Well, next time… we do it together,” she said softly, a small, teasing smile tugging at her lips.
Nicole’s grin faltered into something warmer, more tender. “Together,” she agreed, leaning in closer.
Without another word, Waverly closed the distance, pressing her lips to Nicole’s in a slow, gentle kiss.
In Waverly’s mind, memories erupted like fireworks, bursting through the darkness with a dazzling, unstoppable force.
Their first kiss, soft, hesitant, electric.
Their first date, laughter filled the room.
Their Introduction, nervous smiles, a spark neither could deny.
Their first time, perfect.
Late night cuddles under a mountain of blankets.
Early morning giggles as a new couple.
Stolen kisses in the chaos of their lives.
Her name spoke with awe from the lips of her lover.
That time she caught her boyfriend cheating on her with… Wynonna.
Doc’s wayward view of a world years past his expiration date.
Dolls' static face as he ordered her around.
Jeremy muttering to himself as he worked on a project.
Late-night whispers of “I love you” in the dark.
Waverly pulled back as the last memory settled into place. She blinked back tears as she stared into the eyes of Nicole Haught. She couldn't stop the smile from growing on her face, even if she wanted to. “Hey you” she whispered.
Nicole’s lips curved into a tired but genuine smile. “Hey,” she murmured back, her hand reaching up to brush a strand of hair from Waverly’s face.
“I remember”
A look of pure happiness crossed over Nicole's face.
“Really?”
Waverly nods. Before any more words can be shared between the couple a shout breaks them apart.
“Hot damn! Haught your lips are like magic” Wynonna says excitedly.
“Hey Wynonna,” Waverly laughs.
“Hey babygirl,” she smiles.
“You know her lips aren't magic, It’s been theorized that a kiss shared between soulmates can generate a force that cancels out all other types of magic” Jeremy mused.
“Jeremy!” the others chastised.
“Dude it is not the time for science talk” Wynonna stated as she crouched beside Nicole, offering a steadying hand. “C’mon, let’s get you back on your feet”
Nicole winced as she lifted her hand towards the outstretched one. It hurt to move. Waverly immediately slid an arm around her waist, helping her to her fight as Wynonna pulled.
“Easy, easy,” Wynonna murmured, keeping her voice calm. “One step at a time”
Nicole gritted her teeth, leaning slightly on both sisters for support. “Easy for you to say, your skin isn't burnt to a crisp” She expected Wynonna to roll her eyes or toss out a sarcastic quip, but the words that followed almost knocked her off her feet in shock.
“Fair point”
“Wynonna dear, are you feeling alright?” Doc asked as he walked behind the three ready to offer help if they needed it.
Wynonna shrugged, a lopsided grin tugging at her lips. “I can be nice once a while you know”
As they neared the toward the waiting cars, Waverly spoke up. “You know if I’m remembering this correctly I believe I heard Wynonna call you her… best friend”
“Her… best friend?” she repeated, her voice full of amusement as she glanced at Wynonna.
“No, I think you're misremembering baby girl” Wynonna tried to dismiss the topic but Doc chimed in.
“I do believe Miss Waverly is correct. I heard it to”
“Wynonna? You do know what this means now right?” Nicole asked.
Wynonna rolled her eyes “What? What could it possibly mean?”
“It means you're stuck with me” Nicole smirked as she watched a look of playful terror cross over Wynonna’s face.
“Oh my god, what have I done!” Wynonna yelled dramatically as she fell to her knees.
Nicole laughed, the sound bright and teasing if not laced with a tiny bit of pain. “Yep. You’re officially stuck with me. No take backs”