Time seemed to slow down the moment Willa raised the revolver and pull the trigger. Waverly didn't hear the bang of the gun but the thud of her girlfriend's body hitting the floor seemed to shake the ground beneath her feet. This was not supposed to happen this way. She had just figured out who she really was. She had just admitted what she truly wanted and she was about to watch it get ripped away from her. Nicole was going to bleed out on the cold police station floor. She was going to die in Waverly's arms.

But there was no blood and as the buttons went flying, as Nicole's uniform shirt was ripped open, Waverly felt her world begin to spin again. A bullet proof vest. She swore if she could kiss the inventor of Kevlar. Instead she happily kissed her super smart girlfriend. She was alive and more or less okay. Waverly had had some happy moments in her life but this was easily the happiest.

She was torn between staying with her wounded girlfriend and going after Willa. Nicole may have said she was 'just a little bruised' but she had still been shot at close range. Waverly was no expert in ballistics but she was sure that at that close of range there could be injuries. She didn't want to leave but with each passing second Willa got further away. So though she didn't want to she followed Wynonna, leaving Nicole on the floor of the police station.

She wasn't there when it happened. She wasn't there when Wynonna killed their sister. Though Willa wasn't really her sister, Wynonna either. She was still trying to wrap her head around the information Bobo had dropped on her before he and Willa left for the Ghost River boarder. Things were falling into place. The fights her parents had before her mother left. The way her father acted like she didn't exist. The way Willa tormented her. They acted like she was a stain on their name, because she was. She wasn't an Earp.

Waverly's entire world crumbled in an instant. She questioned everything in her life. Everything but one thing. The only thing that still made sense was lying in a hospital bed. Nicole was the only person that seemed to be able to look at her and really see her. Her name didn't matter. The curse didn't matter. When she was with her Waverly was free.

Four broken ribs, a bruised sternum, and a concussion. Waverly was right in her assumption that even with the vest Nicole faced some painful injuries. While her girlfriend put on a strong face she could tell the older woman was in pain. The doctors were making her stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. The ribs and sternum would heal with rest and time but the concussion she received when the gun shot flung her back into the door frame. Nicole's admission into the hospital meant one thing. Someone needed to go to her apartment to feed her cat and grab her something more comfortable than a hospital gown to wear.

This is how Waverly found herself digging through her girlfriend's closet. She flipped through each hanging garment one by one trying in search of the most comfortable shirts and something for her to wear when they did eventually discharged her. When she pulled a blouse from the hanger Waverly couldn't help but notice a box tucked up in top of the closet the name Natalie written in all capital letters across the front. 'Who was Natalie?' the youngest Earp wondered as she reached up just barely able to reach the box with the tip of her fingers. Nicole wasn't exactly an open book when it can to her life before Purgatory. In fact the rookie officer didn't talk about anything from before she joined the Purgatory Police Department.

"Shit!" Waverly let out a curse as the box tumbled out of the closet spilling papers all over the floor. Waverly picked one of the papers up inspecting it. Letters. They were all letters. Why would have an entire box of unsent letters hidden away in her closet. She hadn't meant to start reading and knew it was wrong but something about these letters drew her in. Maybe they would tell her something about her girlfriend and why she was so tight lipped about her past.

'Hey little sis,

I want to start with an big I'm sorry. I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to write, and I know you're probably pissed at me. I wanted to write sooner I really did, but it was hard. Every time I would sit down I couldn't find the words to say. I know I let you down and I being away from you is hard. It's so hard Nat. But I'm writing you now. I'm writing you to let you know I'm keeping my promise to you.

I started my new job today. You're looking at Purgatory's newest law enforcement officer. You'd love this place Nat. It's a small town, I know a huge change from Chicago, but I'm glad I picked this place. It seems quiet and the sheriff said the most action I'd see would be the occasional rowdy drunk. I don't know how true that is. I have a feeling that there's more going on here but we'll see I guess.

I got to ride along with Nedley, the sheriff, today. He wanted to give me 'grand tour'. It's weird being in a place with no skyscrapers and nothing but mom and pop places. Remember how you used to talk about wanting to move to a town where everything is locally owned and everyone knows each other? Well this is the place. I swear this place was made for you. Plus guess what?! You know how you are like obsessed with everything Western? Wyatt Earp totally lived here. The bar he drank at is even still up and running. I'll tell you all about it when I get a chance to check it out.

I know when we talked about moving to a place like this we said we'd buy a house on a big piece of land, and I still plan to, but it turns out even in a small town it takes a lot of money. I found an apartment for now. It's small, even smaller than ours, but it will work for now. I mean it's just me and Janey, the cat mom and dad got me. You would love her too.

When Nedley dropped me off today she had him backed into a corner. I swear I'm the only person this cat likes. But I know she'd love you. You've always had a way with animals. Like the yorkie that lived down the hall from us. That thing bit everyone, I swear it was possessed or something, but not you. It would run up to you, tail a waggin, ready to play. But that's you. Everyone and everything gets drawn to you. I miss you so much.

Now don't go making fun of me, cuz I know you will, but when I was at the store picking up dinner for me and Janey I saw this girl and Nat I swear she was the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. She was shopping, obviously, and I don't know I was just completely awestruck. She has this smile that would warm even the coldest Chicago winters. It made my heart skip a beat. I mean it. I literally felt my heart skip a beat. I've never experienced anything like this, and I know you'll tell me not to get a head of myself. I mean I don't even know her name, but it's a small so I'm sure I will run into her again...maybe I'll even be able to work up the nerve to introduce myself.

Well it's like three in the morning and I have an early shift tomorrow, can't be late on my first real day of work. I miss you Nat. Everyday I miss you more and more. I'll make you proud little sis I promise.

Nicky'