Thread by @bootsncatz

In honor of having 1969 followers as of today, here is a little "Wishin' and Hopin'" Twitter fic:

Nicole had always loved movies and television. Her brother would make her watch "Rocky Jones Space Ranger" or "Twilight Zone" and she always hated it until she didn't.

They would make space helmets out of their mother's mixing bowls and her hair dryer would become a terrifying laser gun, poised and ready to save the universe from whatever alien they decided their dog was that day.

Nicole carried that love into her teen and adult years.

She would go to movies whenever she could. Her and Chris would go together every weekend and after he was deployed, she still took herself. For a moment, it made her feel less lonely. Less worried about her brother fighting overseas.

After she found out Chris died, it was the first place she went. Anything to forget about the feeling weighing heavy on her chest. That deep, carnal ache that felt like it was seeping into every bone in her body. For an hour, she did forget.

After she came back from Vietnam, it was clear she couldn't enjoy movies the way she had. The sound of gunfire in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" had her in a shaking ball in her seat. Waverly had to pry her out of the theater and sit with her on the curb until she calmed.

Her heart was hammering so hard in her chest that Nicole was sure she was about to die. Holding her head in her hands, she tried to focus on her breathing but could only think of rows of men - boys - being gunned down in front of her. The copper smell of blood flooded her senses.

After that, she found herself cautious to go to the movies. It broke her heart, but she couldn't risk another flashback. Not like that. Instead she stayed home and read reviews of movies she'd never see, silently mourning her one escape in life.

She could have asked for help.

But she didn't.

It was too hard to ask for help...too hard to admit all the things that were wrong with her.

Nicole felt like enough of a pity case without being the one that couldn't even go to the movies anymore.

So she didn't tell anyone. Nicole did what she did best which was suffer in silence, convinced that her worries were nothing but another pathetic side effect of being broken.

Nicole just would't go to the movies anymore. She'd watch the television that was easy to turn off.

Waverly always saw when Nicole was struggling. She understood why Nicole sounded sad when a radio commercial for a movie would come on.

"That could be fun," Waverly suggested as a commercial for "Fists of Fury" ended.

Nicole just hummed, a hint of pain in her voice.

So of course, Waverly came up with a plan. A plan that Nicole could never know about. Luckily Wynonna, Nedley, Chrissy and Gus were all happily in on it. They decided to split up who would see what movie and try to delicately inform Nicole what was safe to see.

One day, Waverly was cleaning glasses at Shorty's when Wynonna and Nedley were pouring over the day's newspaper.

"Alright, what about this," Wynonna said, munching loudly on fries. "I'll go see 'Fists of Fury' if you go see 'Last House on the Left'. I'm tired of horror."

Nedley grumbled for a moment, mustache twitching as he took another long sip of beer. Setting the glass back on the table, he sighed. "Fine. But we all know she ain't gonna be able to see it."

"You never know," Wynonna argued, stuffing more fries in her mouth.

The next day, Nicole was sitting in the bar nursing a beer and a burger when Wynonna came in with a cup of popcorn. She plopped down on the stool next to Nicole and offered her some.

"Didja go to the movies?" Nicole asked, politely declining the popcorn.

Wynonna nodded as she ate, some of the kernels falling out as she talked.

"Yeah. Saw 'Fists of Fury'. Wasn't really my jam though. No guns. No explosions. Fucking lame as hell Kung fu the entire time."

"Oh," Nicole said, seemingly disinterested.

Wynonna threw a wink at Waverly and Waverly held back her smile, winking back as she turned to clean the other side of the bar.

That night Nicole asked to go see 'Fists of Fury'. Though Waverly spent most of the film with her head on Nicole's shoulder, enjoying her reactions.

This went on for years and if Nicole knew what was happening, she never let on.

Waverly was just happy that they found a way for Nicole to enjoy something she loved again.

There was only one movie that Nicole insisted they go see before anyone else had screened it. 'Star Wars'

"I read about it in a magazine," Nicole explained, hands busy rolling up the sleeves of her green army jacket and eyes shining. "It's supposed to be like nothing we've ever seen."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"When is it playing?"

Nicole looked away nervously, licking her lips before putting on what Waverly recognized as her most charming and convincing smile. She would probably do anything for that smile.

"That's the thing...we would have to go to Los Angeles."

"Los Angeles?" Waverly practically choked. "It's only there?"

Nicole nodded. "Yeah. But I promise it'll be worth it."

Waverly wrapped her arms around Nicole's neck and kissed her softly. Nicole's hands, strong and arm, held her hips. Waverly was a sucker. "Let's go then."

The drive in Nicole's car that got more and more unreliable every day (but she refused to get rid of it) and the wait in the long line to even get in the theater were all worth it as soon as the opening music started.

Nicole gasped and Waverly looked over to make sure she was okay, only to see her completely mesmerized with a smile on her face. Waverly laced their fingers together.

She worried when there were people running down a hall shooting guns towards camera, but Nicole didn't flinch.

Afterwards, Nicole was practically vibrating in excitement, eyes bright and cheeks flushed as she talked about the film.

"The guns...explosions...they didn't bother you?" Waverly implored, arm through Nicole's.

Nicole tilted her head. "You know, I didn't really think about it. I think the whole thing was just so...unbelievable that it didn't register as...real in that way. You know?"

"That's good," Waverly said, kissing Nicole's shoulder as she pulled her arm to her chest.

They went to see the movie another two times before they left Los Angeles again. Nicole seemed even more excited with each viewing and Waverly wished she could bottle that enthusiasm up for Nicole's rainy days.

Of all the movies that would speak to Nicole, Waverly never expected it to be a silly space western. But she was so thankful for it and made sure Wynonna never made fun of Nicole when she was wearing her 'Star Wars' shirt. Certain things had to remain sacred.

Fin.