Work Text:
Waverly heard the tires on gravel from the window in the nursery. After years, she’d caught on to the sound of what Nicole's sheriff’s vehicle sounded like coming up the drive to the homestead. Hearing that sound wasn’t the odd part, but hearing it this early in the afternoon was.
Grabbing the baby monitor off the dresser she made her way down the stairs and outside to greet her wife.
Once outside, Waverly saw Nicole was still sitting in the car. She opened the driver's side door to greet her wife, “Hey, sweetie pie. You’re home early.”
“Hi, baby.” Nicole responded weakly.
Waverly quickly picked up on her different tone. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Nicole sighed. “Mrs. Potters’ cows got out, we were able to find and get them all inside the pasture again, but I strained my back in the process.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry my love. Let me help you.” Waverly moved so she could wrap her arm around Nicole in order to help lift her from the car and relieve some of the extra strain on her back from having to do it alone.
They slowly walked up the porch stairs and into their home with Nicole’s arm around Waverly’s shoulders leaning heavily onto her. “Where’s Auggie?”
“I had just laid him down for a nap when I heard you pull up.”
Once inside, Waverly gently helped Nicole settle onto the couch. “Is this spot okay? I can help you move to wherever is most comfortable.”
“This is great. I plan on making it my spot for the foreseeable future.”
Waverly slightly giggled. “I always forget how dramatic you are when you’re injured or not feeling well.”
“HEY.” Nicole pouted.
“But I love you, theatrics and all, and I'm always happy to take care of you since it’s usually you who always takes care of me.” Waverly gave her wife a kiss on top of her head. “Now try not to move and strain your back more, I’m going to get the heating pad from the bedroom, it should help some.”
Nicole tried to relax, while waiting on Waverly to return, she lifted her legs up onto the coffee table in front of her, even if the process caused more of a strain. She laid her head against the back of the couch to try to get as comfortable as possible, deciding to rest her eyes and body after an already long day.
-
A cry from the baby monitor left on the table in front of her startled her awake a little while later. The jerk caused a massive shot of pain in her back. “Ugh.” She yelled out.
Waverly yelled down the stairs a few moments later, “I got him, and that better not be the sound of you trying to get up.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Nicole yelled back.
Waverly returned back to the living room a little while later with the heating pad in one arm and their son in the other. “Sorry, it took me a while to find the heating pad, I haven't used it since being pregnant with this one.”
Nicole turned her head to face her wife and son and smiled. “There’s my sweet boy. Did you have a good nap?”
Waverly laughed, “A very short one.”
Auggie instantly started giggling and reaching for Nicole as soon as he spotted her.
Waverly placed Auggie on Nicole’s lap, “I’m not going to deprive him of his mama cuddles but don’t overdo it.”
With one arm free, Waverly went about adjusting the heating pad between Nicole’s back and the back of the couch, with guided help from Nicole on the appropriate painful location.”This good?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Do you want me to take him or get you anything else before I start dinner?” Waverly asked.
“No. We’re good. Maybe grab a few of his toys or a book I could read to him, so he stays occupied.”
“Books and toys it is then.” Waverly said, giving each of them a kiss on the head.
-
Somehow, Nicole managed to keep their 6 month old occupied long enough until dinner was finished.
Waverly placed Auggie’s portable high chair on the coffee table so Nicole wouldn’t have to move to the kitchen and they could all eat together. She took Auggie from Nicole and placed him in his chair. She brought both their plates to the living room, handing Nicole hers. Waverly sat down beside her wife on the couch while they ate their dinner and she fed Auggie some puréed carrots.
“You always make the best tacos, baby.” Nicole told her.
“I know they’re your favorite.” Waverly smiled.
After dinner Waverly took their empty plates back to the kitchen. She picked a messy Auggie up out of his chair, “I’m going to go ahead and give him a bath. Do you want to see if you can find a movie we can watch?”
“Sure.”
-
Waverly returned a little while later with their bathed and pajama clad son. “How’s your back, love?”
“A little better. I found a movie.”
“Rest always helps.” She placed Auggie back in Nicole’s lap. “Let me just start the dishwasher and grab him a bottle then we’ll watch.”
“Sounds good.” Nicole smiled up at her wife.
After loading the dishwasher, Waverly returned to the couch with Auggie’s bottle. Once he noticed it, he started whining for her to take him, she settled down with him in her arms, and he immediately took it and started sucking. “He’s going to be asleep within a few minutes.
Nicole pressed play on the movie she picked. “He usually always is.” She gently picked her arm up wrapping it around her wife’s shoulders.
Even though Auggie fell asleep immediately, Waverly and Nicole still stayed there to watch the whole movie. “I’m going to go put him in his crib and run you a bath, I really think a good relaxed soak would also really help you.”
“You’re too good to me.” Nicole lovingly smiled at her wife.
“In sickness and in health.” Waverly gently stood up to carry Auggie upstairs but stopped long enough for Nicole to give him a kiss goodnight, without having to move too much.
-
“Your bath is waiting, my love. But I should warn you, if you thought the porch stairs were rough the stairs going upstairs are going to be brutal.” Waverly said when she got back downstairs.
Nicole took a deep breath. “Okay, I'm ready.”
Waverly wrapped her arm around Nicole to help her stand and gently held her up as they slowly made their way up the stairs into the bathroom.
Waverly proceeded to help Nicole out of her uniform and the rest of her clothes. She gently helped Nicole slid into the warm bath water.
Nicole breathed hard through every extra strain she felt.
“I’m sorry. I know that was rough. You okay, sweetie?” Waverly asked.
Nicole finally breathed out a normal breath after feeling slightly settled. “Yes. Although if you joined me I would feel a lot better.”
Waverly smiled cheekily at her wife. “Well, as long as it will make you feel better, but are you sure I don’t wanna hurt you more.”
“You won’t. I won't even move just get in here with me.”
“Okay.” Waverly said, as she removed her own clothes to join her wife in the tub.
She laid back against Nicole. Locking their fingers together. “I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve had a free moment to just take a bath together.”
“Yeah. I’ve definitely missed this. I guess me getting hurt has really been a blessing in disguise.” Nicole told her wife.
They laid together for a little while longer before Waverly started to notice Nicole’s fingers, “We’re starting to prune, we should probably get out.”
Waverly got up and out of the tub first, she slid on her own robe then went to gently help Nicole up and out of the water. She helped Nicole dry off and helped her slide on some pajamas.
They carefully walked to the bedroom where she helped Nicole slid under the covers into their bed.
After Nicole was settled, Waverly put on her own pajamas and slid into bed beside her wife. “Does this hurt?” Waverly asked as she laid her head on Nicole’s shoulder with her arm wrapped around her waist.
“Not a bit. I think this is the most comfortable I’ve been all day.” Nicole said, giving Waverly a kiss on top of her head.
Waverly in turn leaned up and gave Nicole a kiss on the lips. “Good night, Sweetheart. I love you”
“Good night, baby. I love you too.”
They both immediately fell asleep.
-
Nicole woke up early the following morning and moved the blanket off of her, which caused a small whine to come from next to her, she looked beside her to find Auggie in the same place Waverly was just hours ago. She moved the blanket back to cover him back up. “Sorry buddy, always so cold just like your mommy, huh?” she said, giving him a kiss on his little nose.
“HEY. I heard that” Waverly said from the other side of Auggie.
Nicole smiled. “You’re my blanket hogs though and I love you two more than anything.”
“Nice save. How’s your back?”
“A lot better. I had the best people in the world to help mend me.” Nicole replied with that signature dimple.
“Does that mean you’re going back to work already?” Waverly asked.
Nicole thought about it for a moment. “Nah, not yet. I think I’ll take some extra days to rest some more and spend time with my family.”
“That sounds perfect.” Waverly said as they both lent across their sleeping son for a good morning and I love you kiss.