Chapter Text
Nicole glanced back in her rearview mirror then nudged Waverly with her elbow. Waverly turned toward Nicole, who pointed her thumb towards the backseat. Looking behind her, Waverly saw Harper asleep, curled up with her knees practically in her face, head propped up against the window with a sweatshirt as a pillow. One of her earbuds had fallen onto her chest and Waverly could hear the faint sound of a podcast narrator droning on.
“She never could stay awake in the back of the car,” Waverly chuckled as she turned back around and reached out for Nicole’s hand. She laced their fingers together and placed their hands in her lap. “I wonder how many miles we drove keeping her asleep when she was a baby.”
“Enough to go around the world,” Nicole smiled. “Twice.”
The car jolted as the paved road turned into the dirt driveway of the Earp Homestead. Harper groaned and sat up, trying to stretch her legs out across the seat. She pulled her earbud out and rubbed her eyes.
“Are we home yet?” Harper said through a yawn.
“Why yes we are, Dr. Haught-Earp,” Waverly said, looking back over her shoulder. Harper rolled her eyes at her mother, but smiled to herself when Waverly turned around.
Nicole pulled up in front of the house and Harper stepped out to a chorus of cheers. Harper had barely gotten out of the car when Bethany threw her arms around Harper’s neck and pulled her down into a kiss.
“Congratulations,” Bethany whispered. Then she pulled out a camera and waved it in front of Harper. “Come on, picture time. Go stand over there with your moms.”
Bethany pointed to a spot in front of the house. Harper glanced up at the house and saw a large homemade banner with nice clear block lettering that said “Congrats Harper!” with “Haught damn you did it!” in Wynonna’s handwriting underneath.
“Really, Wynonna?” Harper asked, pointing up at the sign. Wynonna turned away from her conversation with Alice and beamed at Harper, giving her two thumbs up. “Mama, does the sign have to be in the pictures?”
“Just a few,” Waverly said, positioning herself on one side of Harper while Nicole stood on the other. “I made a back up sign and hid it from her.”
They all smiled as Bethany snapped a few pictures. Nicole jogged over to her and took control of the camera, instructing Bethany to stand next to Harper. They got several with Harper, Bethany and Waverly, then Waverly took over picture duty. After the next set of pictures, Wynonna insisted on getting some goofy pictures of everybody. They tried to coax Alice off the porch for a Charlie’s Angels style picture, but Alice just rolled her eyes and headed back into the house.
“Alright, that’s all the time we have for pictures,” Waverly said, herding everyone towards the house. “We have pie!”
Waverly took Harper’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen which was covered in party decorations and pie. Harper didn’t think she’d ever seen so much pie. Every surface in the kitchen had pies on it. Waverly looked incredibly proud of herself.
“Mom,” Harper mumbled to Nicole. “What’s with all the pie?”
“She was going to make a blueberry pie but then thought you might want cherry, but I’m allergic, so she made both, then, well, this,” Nicole said, putting her hands up and gesturing around them.
“I call whatever this one is,” Alice said as she grabbed the pie nearest to her. She stabbed a fork directly into the center and began to eat as she walked off.
“I hope no one wanted peach,” Waverly said, frowning at her departing niece. She picked up the pie sitting in the center of the kitchen table and held it out to Harper. “You want cherry?”
“Do I have to eat the whole thing?” Harper asked. She received a sharp elbow from Nicole, then reached out and took the pie from Waverly. “Because I sure want to.”
Everyone took a pie and moved the party into the living room, except Harper, who caught Nicole’s arm and pulled her back into the kitchen.
“Can we talk for a minute?” Harper asked, setting her whole cherry pie down on top of the refrigerator.
“Is everything alright?” Nicole asked, looking worried.
“Yeah, yes, of course, I just wanted to…” Harper took a deep breath and leaned back on the counter, sticking her hand directly into a pie. “OK, seriously, what is with all the pies?”
“I think it was partially out of excitement and partially a distraction from the fact that you’re now a doctor and not our little baby girl any more,” Nicole said. She dug a towel out of a drawer and tossed it to Harper. “But what did you want to talk about?”
“Right,” Harper nodded. “I need your help with something, and want to tell mama too, but she has problems keeping excitement on the inside.”
Harper pointed at her pies and Nicole laughed in agreement.
“I need your help picking out a ring because I’m going to ask Bethany to marry me,” Harper said, fidgeting and smiling. Then she shook her head. “After we deal with Bulshar, obviously.”
Nicole’s mouth dropped open slightly, then she smiled. “Of course I will help.”
“You look surprised,” Harper said, panicking a little. “Is this a bad idea? Do you not think Wynonna will-”
“It’s good surprise. I’m beyond happy,” Nicole said as she pulled Harper into a tight hug. Harper squeezed her mom, then stepped back.
“That’s good,” Harper said. “I also wanted to ask about that contingency plan you mentioned. I can’t wait for this all to be over so I can move past all this and have a life with Bethany, so if any plan you have, I’m in. All the way.”
Nicole’s face fell and she swallowed hard. “We don’t need to talk about it now. Or maybe ever. Hopefully, Wynonna’s plan will go off without a hitch. So don’t worry about it. Focus on Bethany and getting that ring.”
“What are you two doing?” Waverly asked, poking her head around the doorframe. “You are missing your party, young lady.”
“Coming,” Harper said. She scooped her pie back up and headed to the living the room. Nicole stayed where she was, feeling her stomach sink to her shoes.
“Hey, baby, what’s up?” Waverly asked, walking over and putting her arms around her wife’s waist. “What were you two talking about?”
“I’ll let her tell you after the party,” Nicole said, forcing a smile onto her face. “Let’s go spend time with our family.”
Harper walked through the empty halls of the high school. A banner announcing prom hung askew from the ceiling, crepe paper torn down by rowdy students littered the floor. The din of shouts and brass instruments echoed off the walls from the gym where families gathered for graduation.
Alice was graduating high school and Harper was late. She imagined Nicole checking her watch, assuring Waverly that everything was fine. She could almost hear Wynonna threatening bodily harm to anyone daring to ruin Alice’s big day. Harper would never dream of it, but she still struggled to make her way through the halls and into the gym where everyone was waiting.
These kind of days, days when her past hit her like a freight train were few and far between. She was so completely content, there were long stretches of time when she didn’t even think of the circumstances which brought her here. But every once in a while something - a sound or smell would bowl her over. Today Alice; happy, loving Alice with a full life and caring family, was graduating high school with the entire world about to open before her. This was everything Harper had ever wanted for her cousin, but she couldn’t help but think of the other Alice. The one she left behind. The one whose life she always wondered about. Or at least, had wondered about.
Harper pulled her wallet out of her back pocket and slid out a folded photo that was tucked behind a picture of her, Sarah, and Rachel. She held it up, the corners worn and creased. It was an old photograph of Harper and Alice standing together in front of the Homestead. The house looked brighter than it had ever been, thanks to some roof repairs courtesy of Nicole and Dolls. Waverly, with the assistance of Doc, had planted a garden around the front porch. Both projects Waverly had insisted on after the demise of Bulshar. She wanted everyone to have a fresh start and sprucing up the Homestead was part of that.
Alice was mostly as Harper remembered, a little older, a few more scars. She still had a sharp tongue and was guarded, but loved her family dearly. After Harper left them things got worse with Bulshar, the revenants, everything. But Alice said they never stopped fighting. It filled Harper with pride knowing that even in the face of the end of the world, her family hadn’t given up.
“Hey mom!” A voice cut through the quiet.
“Yes, Rachel?” Harper turned toward the sound of her daughter approaching.
“I want to go to the movies tonight, but mama said I had to ask you first.”
“Did she now,” Harper sighed. “I don’t know, kiddo. It’s Alice’s day, I don’t think she’d appreciate you skipping out.”
“But mom,” Rachel whined, dragging the word out a long moment. “It’s Captain Marvel: Civil War II. I’ve been waiting FOREVER to see it.”
“We’ll see,” Harper said, placing her hand gently on the back of Rachel’s shoulder, trying to lead her down the hall. “We should be getting back to the gym now. Wouldn’t want to miss any of the ceremony.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Rachel swiveled out of Harper’s grasp. “Aunt Wynonna wanted me to tell you that if you’re late she’s not going to be responsible for what she does.”
“It’s a good thing I’m not afraid of Aunt Wynonna.” Harper crossed her arms.
“Didn’t she beat you in a wrestling match over the last piece of pie after dinner yesterday?” Rachel mimicked Harper, crossing her own arms, but narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her mother. “She had you in a headlock and called you a punk ass bit-”
“Rachel Grace, watch your language,” Harper said sternly, cutting off her daughter’s curse.
“Sorry mom.” She let her arms drop and shoulders slump, looking thoroughly chastised.
“You can at least try and act like you weren’t raised in a barn,” Harper said.
“But you did raise me in a barn,” Rachel said a matter of factly.
“That is not the point.” Harper sighed exasperatedly. Trying to keep up with her daughter was a challenge most days. She was too smart for her own good, thanks to Waverly’s tutoring. “Anyway, your Aunt Wynonna didn’t beat me, I gracefully withdrew from competition.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow sharply, locking a skeptical gaze on her mother.
“Ugh, don’t look at me like that,” Harper groaned. “That’s the look your mama gives me when I’m about to be in trouble.”
“I’m gonna tell mama you said that,” Rachel laughed, skipping away.
“Not if you want to go see that movie tonight,”
Rachel stopped in her tracks, “Seriously?”
“After Alice’s party,” Harper said, catching up with Rachel.
“Thank you mom!” Rachel threw her arms around Harper’s waist, hugging her tightly.
“Let’s go find our seats.”
Harper and Rachel made their way back to the gym, finding their family easily. Wynonna was standing up, mid argument with the couple in front of her while Nicole was doing her best to diffuse the situation.
“There you two are,” Sarah said as Harper went to take her seat.
“Harper Valley PTA,” Wynonna shouted at Harper, grabbing her arm and dragging her across the seated Sarah and Waverly. “Come sit next to me for a second.”
“What is it, Wynonna?” Harper asked, wedging herself into the chair Wynonna was already sitting in.
“Listen, I need to tell you something.” Wynonna kept her eyes on the stage where the principal was adjusting a microphone stand. She cleared her throat, struggling to find the words. “All of this, is because of you.”
“What do you mean?” Harper shifted in the seat she was sharing with Wynonna.
“We’re here, at my daughter’s graduation because you came back. I have a relationship with her because you sacrificed your family. And I’m not sure, even after all these years, if I ever thanked you for that.”
“Hey, you know this wasn’t all me. I couldn’t have done anything without you.” Harper saw a tear slip down Wynonna’s cheek and she watched Wynonna attempt to surreptitiously brush it away. Harper wrapped her arms around Wynonna and pulled her into a tight hug. “And I’d do it again in a heartbeat because this is how it was always meant to be.”
“Thank you,” Wynonna whispered.
Harper released Wynonna and made her way back to her seat next to Sarah.
“Everything OK?” Sarah asked.
Harper leaned over, kissing Sarah softly on the cheek. “Everything’s perfect.”
“Everyone shut up!” Wynonna reached over Sarah, punching Harper in the thigh. “It’s starting.”