Sweet Child 'O Mine

[Doc Holliday]

Tag: Earp, Wynonna Earp

darlin'

I'M EVERYBODY'S TYPE

Doc was a mix of emotions right now and he was doing his very best to keep things under the surface. He went from, having a daughter to having to give her up to . . . neither of those things. Waverly had informed him that the baby could not be taken outside of the Ghost River Triangle which meant . . . the obvious. She was part Revenant. Which in turn, meant that the child was not his. He knew that this shouldn't change anything. And he knew he would still love the baby regardless . . . but he also knew that he was no different than anyone else. That Dolls may as well claim the child to be his.

Hell -- though Doc wouldn't admit it to him -- the Deputy Marshall would be a good dad; a better one. And, he could very well be. Or maybe neither of them would do. Doc hadn't the faintest idea. He just . . . knew he had no right to ask anything of Wynonna when it came to their her daughter. But what he did know, he would protect her just like he did with any other Earp. Currently, he was holding her as she slept, sitting in the living room of The Homestead. Nicole went to bring Wynonna home and Waverly had said something about getting supplies for the baby since they hadn't fully been prepared for this.

Doc had hoped that Waverly would be back before Wynonna got home so that he could leave them be . . . but when he heard Nicole's car pull into the drive way, he knew that would not be the case. Taking a slow breath, he stood up when he heard the door open and Wynonna enter the room. He presumed they had told her already. That the plan of sending her out was not an option. That the Revenant, was indeed her father. "She's sound asleep," he told her quietly, walking towards Wynonna to pass her the baby. Her baby. And even still, he could not help but feel an array of emotions as he held her. Emotions -- as he previously established -- that he had no right to feel.

[Earp, Wynonna Earp]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you tagged Doc Holliday

Fuck she was stupid. So stupid and stupider when she was drunk. Before she even knew who the father was she had named the baby. After their mothers. Getting out of the car she hurried up the steps, noticing that Nicole left without coming in. It had been a long day and they all needed some down time. Opening the door she found Doc sitting there with Alice. Cursed for being stupid and cursed for being an Earp---she hadn't ever really stood a chance had she?

He should have been the father. She wanted him to be the father. Now he was free from it. All in he said. She'd needed that. Then and now. Standing he walked closer to her, and Wynonna took a deep breath to keep from letting her emotions get the better of her. She somehow knew that if she took the baby from him that would be a sign. That she couldn't take Alice from him right away. Instead she looked down at Alice and reached up to touch her face. Without looking at him she said the hardest words she'd ever said to him. "I'm sorry," for being a stupid bitch. For drinking and doing this too him. To them. To Alice.

OWL

[Doc Holliday]

Tag: Earp, Wynonna Earp

darlin'

I'M EVERYBODY'S TYPE

Doc expected her to take the baby and . . . well he wasn't sure what he would do after that. But instead, she just touched her face and then apologized to him. He remained silent, his eyes still on the newborn. "You don't need to be," he finally said. No. She didn't owe him an apology because . . . there was nothing to apologize for. They had no agreement. No commitment to one another. Quite the opposite in fact; for she had told him that there was no 'us'. He had known that. Or well, he knew he had to accept that.

So what right did he have to be . . . disappointed? To have wanted to share this with her. To have wanted to be a good father for their baby. No. He had no right. While it didn't ease the sting in him that felt worse than when his lungs were on fire with a disease . . . right now, the last thing she needed was to feel any guilt for anything. "Waverly should be back soon," he told her, explaining the reasons behind why he was here. And it certainly wasn't to force this . . . confrontation. But seeing Wynonna right now, he wasn't sure he wanted to leave her alone after all she had been through.

[Earp, Wynonna Earp]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you tagged Doc Holliday

Nothing to be sorry for, and everything to be sorry for. She'd wanted him to be the father enough that she'd named the baby after his mother before she knew the truth. "I named her Alice." She told him, still not looking up at him. Not sure if he knew that yet or not. Not sure if he was aware that she had named the baby after his mother. Waverly would be back soon. He was ready to go.

Nodding, she reached out to take Alice from him, slowly. As she did, the emotions got the better of her and tears fell over her cheeks. She had a daughter she couldn't protect. That couldn't leave. A cruse that might never be broken because breaking it would mean killing her daughter? Or was Alice the one destined to break it because she was part of both worlds?

She couldn't do this! It was too much! How did she protect anything when all she'd ever done was kill things? Kill her Daddy, watch her Mama go crazy and people think she was just like her, leave her sister to be apart of some cult, and then kill her, too. How did she not get this little thing killed? Her hands shook from the emotion of knowing that no matter what she did, she was doomed.

OWL

[Doc Holliday]

Tag: Earp, Wynonna Earp

darlin'

I'M EVERYBODY'S TYPE

Alice. His heart swelled and he had to fight back the tears that threatened to form in his own eyes. She named him Alice. After his mother. It meant . . . more to him than he was capable of saying. Even now, knowing that the child was not his, she still named her Alice. His heart swelled and he did not think it was even possible to love her more than he already did. She took the baby from him, and while he was waiting for that . . . he felt the immediate deprivation of holding it. He felt the sudden urge to stay, rather than leave. The thought only further solidified when he saw the tears fall over cheeks.

The tremble in her hands. This, was not about who the father was. This was about who the mother was. And the . . . fear she must be feeling for her daughter. Truth was, Doc felt it to. So leaving, was suddenly the furthest thing from his mind. How could he leave her like this? The answer was: he couldn't. He moved his arm around her, gently pressing her close to him so that if she needed to, she could lean on him, lean into him from the side angle as she still held the baby. If nothing else, he hoped it helped ease the tremble of her body. "She is beautiful," he told her quietly, voice thick with sincerity. How could he tell her just how touched he was that she named her Alice? There were no words. So instead, he just leaned towards her, and lightly kissed her lips.

[Earp, Wynonna Earp]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you tagged Doc Holliday

Doc pulled her into him and kissed her, and the kiss both calmed her handing hands, and increased the guilt in her. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve this kindness and unwavering support from someone who could have taken this as his out. Doc had always had this blind loyalty that both made her feel safe and made her feel like running to the hills. Wynonna had never quite figured out which one she should do first, but right now she couldn't run. She needed him, and she was using him to get what she needed and she hated herself for it.

If Wyatt was even half of Doc, no wonder he had led them to this.

She leaned into his pillar of strength, and just held Alice. Letting him hold her. It wasn't fair of her to ask him to stay, but she wasn't sure she couldn't not ask him. "I don't know how to do this." She admitted, finding that asking him for help was harder then she imagined--because first she needed to ask him to forgive her. Something she'd never done often to anyone.

OWL

[Doc Holliday]

Tag: Earp, Wynonna Earp

darlin'

I'M EVERYBODY'S TYPE

Once they eased out of the kiss, he could feel her lean into him, glad that she was allowing herself to relax against his weight. She needed to sit down. She needed to rest. But neither of them seemed keen on disrupting this moment. At least at this very second. She admitted that she didn't know how to do this. He could hear it in her voice . . . knowing that this was all, unanticipated. Alice was meant to be far away from here but now, they would need to figure it out. "Then it is a good thing you aren't alone," he began to tell her in reassurance. "You have your sister. Officer Haught. Even Jeremy spoke to me about somethin' called a manny," he said with a slightly humorous tone in attempt to lighten the mood every so slightly.

"Dolls." Because he knew how much Dolls cared about her and the baby. And right now, she needed to hear about all those who were here for her; her friends, her family. Not whatever differences or jealousies him and the Deputy Marshall had. "And me," he added, looking at the baby and trying to be as nonchalant as he could. He knew it needed to be said to erase any uncertainty that he would be sticking around. "I meant what I said before," he continued, his eyes still fixed on Alice. Before, yes he had considered taking a step back for Wynonna's sake. But now . . . it felt impossible to do that. Turning to look at her, so she could see the sincerity in him, he continued. "I am all in."

[Earp, Wynonna Earp]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you tagged Doc Holliday

He listed off everyone who was there for her, and she knew that in a way he was right. Waverly was her ride or die. She'd always be there for her. The others--yeah. They would be here until they were. She liked them, and she'd fight for them, and be upset if they went away--but it wouldn't kill her.

Tilting her face up she watched Doc as he stare at the baby. He added himself tot he list. Looking at her, he told her he was all in. That was when her heart broke. That was when everything that had been inside of her broke down. She had to hold Alice tighter for fear that her unsteady hands out drop her. She looked away and closed her eyes, trying to control the tsunami of emotions that hit her RIGHT when she was already emotionally fragile from the birth.

Looking back up at him, she blinked away the few tears that were there. "It's not fair of me to ask that of you." She admitted, wanting him to know that she knew what she was doing was unfair to him in every way. "But I'm a selfish bitch and I want you to stay." NEEDED him to stay.

Reaching for his hand she took it in her own and put a death grip on it. Held it for a while as she took deep breaths to calm herself. "I named her Alice before I knew for sure who the father was. Because that was who she belonged too in my mind." In her heart.

OWL

[Doc Holliday]

Tag: Earp, Wynonna Earp

darlin'

I'M EVERYBODY'S TYPE

He saw once again how much she was . . . hurting, if that was even the right word. The emotions her usually guarded face held. But in these moments, when they were alone -- mostly -- it was a time they allowed themselves to be vulnerable. Most of the time anyway. Where they could open up and not fear judgement. Harsh tellings of reality and feelings, but never enough to drive the other person away for good. "As I recall, you have not asked of me anything," he gently reminded her. No. "I so freely and willingly offer." His loyalty to her unwavering. His devotion to the Earps without compare. He was here, for her. For them.

But hearing her say that she wanted him to stay, brought ease to his mind. That she would not push him away because she felt she could not ask him to stay. It would save them that argument because as he had told her, he wasn't planning on going anywhere. He gently squeezed her hand in return, still holding her close and continuing to provide whatever reassurance he could. She spoke of the name: Alice. Hearing it made his heart swell once more, or perhaps it never really stopped. He felt honoured. Touched. The sentiment of it meaning so much to him. He swallowed, knowing that he was not the best choice for a father. That she could find someone so much better for this little girl. Someone, who was perhaps already in their lives.

She may have thought that this was an out for him, but it most certainly was an out for her. "I know I can not ask to claim her as such. And I know that there are others far better suited for the role." Saying the words pained him, but the universe was clearly telling him that he was not meant to be a father. And perhaps, it was indeed for the best. "But I will be in her life, however you will allow me to." Whatever that role was, he was fully willing to fulfil it.

[Earp, Wynonna Earp]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you tagged Doc Holliday

He was such an asshole. Why did he have to be such an asshole. Doc told her that he knew he couldn't claim Alice as his, and she wondered why he would even want too. This was his chance to not have to deal with any of this. He could use it as a way to put distance between them, and save his heart from the damage she was already doing to him and everyone around him.

But there three major reasons to not send him away. The first, and most important one, and maybe event he hardest to admit allowed--she needed him. She needed his calm demeaner, and quick wit. She needed him to help her do this because she wasn't sure she could. While she knew Dolls and others would always be there--Waverly and Doc were the ones she needed to stay right now. Second was the need to protect Alice. People were after her, and maybe always would be. Doc was loyal to the ones he loved, and she knew that with him around they were a little safer.

Which brought her to three--a newer idea and one she hated herself for asking of him. The first two were just who Doc was. The third one was her asking more of him then she had a right too. She wasn't ignoring what he was saying just before, because this was related in it's own way. If he was offering, she'd take it. "They can't know." She said softly, looking at Alice then at him. "They can't know she'd one of them." Which means if he wanted too, she could claim her as such.

OWL

[Doc Holliday]

Tag: Earp, Wynonna Earp

darlin'

I'M EVERYBODY'S TYPE

He had spoke too soon. She had not asked him of anything, yet in the words that followed her silence, there was an unspoken question in them. But Doc would not assume nor risk misinterpreting. Though she had not said anything, he could see the wheels turning. He could see her pensive state, clearly contemplating how to cope with all this.

And her words; stating that they can't no. No. They couldn't. The among of chaos that would erupt among the Revenants. The risk it would pose on Alice. They may be able to speculate but Doc would damn well make sure they could not prove it. That they would never get their hands on her. "What exactly are you saying, Wynonna?" Saying. Or asking. He needed it to be clear, though deep, deep down, perhaps he already knew.

[Earp, Wynonna Earp]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you tagged Doc Holliday

He was going to make her say it. That was fair. If she was going to ask it of him, knowing that he would never tell her no in anything she asked of him, then she had to at least be brave enough to say it out loud. She was such a chicken shit, and had hoped he'd understand with out her needing to explain it. She hated herself for asking this of him, knowing she was using his feelings for her to her advantage, but this was Alice. If she didn't then Alice would never be safe.

Still, her request was not just for Alice. She wanted Doc apart of this. She wanted him to be there a part of this family. She wanted Alice to know two parents like she had . . . when . . . she . . . was . . . little. Daddy. Waverly. The drinking.

Could she ask this of him the way Mama had asked this of Daddy when it came to Waverly? Wynonna pulled away from Doc and walked over to the couch to lay the baby down, making sure there was a pillow near by to keep her from rolling. They rolled right? They rolled and crawled around.

Turning back to Doc she slowly walked forward to him. "If you want to--you could say she was yours." Wynonna said, looking at him, but hating herself. "I hate myself for asking this of you." But for her daughter, she'd do anything. "You have every right to tell me no and storm out of here." But she hoped he wouldn't. "Part of me even hopes you do." It was fair to him. The only way to be fair to him. "The other part of me, needs you. Needs you stay and . . . needs your name." Alice Michelle Holliday. Protected.

OWL

[Doc Holliday]

Tag: Earp, Wynonna Earp

darlin'

I'M EVERYBODY'S TYPE

He watched her put down Alice, ensuring she was secure before speaking to his question. Giving further clarity and making this explicit so that there was no . . . misunderstanding. But with that she said, he did not misunderstand. What he had thought she was going to ask deep down, was now brought to the surface and voiced. She wanted him to claim the baby. He understood why, and it made sense. As he had said, he intended to be in the baby's life however she would allow him to.

But, she was choosing him to be the father. Perhaps because it was the most believable? Considering most everyone already seemed to know about them. But with her latter words, of needing him . . . and needing his name . . . yes. This was deeper than that. Truth was, he would do anything she asked of him. Even when she asked for his ring, his initial reaction was to practically plead with her to ask him for anything else. But in the end, he had given it to her. He doubted there was anything he would not give to her. He looked at Alice, sleeping so soundly. An innocent life, caught in the middle of all this. Just like any heir born. "Alice Holliday," he stated out loud. "It does have a nice ring to it." And that was his way of saying, yes.

[Earp, Wynonna Earp]

if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you tagged Doc Holliday

This was why she didn't deserve him. This was why he was too good for her. Wynonna stepped forward and hugged him tightly, so grateful in this moment that he was here. Her face buried into his shirt, and she inhaled the smell of him. Her emotions were already on the surface, and she was unable to hide just how much this meant to her.

Pulling back from the hug, Wynonna looked up at him, lifting her hands to wipe her cheeks. "I don't deserve you in my life, but I am not willing to give you up. Thank you." For her and for Alice. For everything!

She had wanted Doc to be the father anyway, and had told him as much a few moments ago. Now he was. In a way. However, after just thinking on Daddy and Waverly, she wanted to make sure she was doing better then her Mama and being clear in what she expected. "It ate at Daddy, I think. Knowing Waverly wasn't his." She looked up at Doc, lifting her hand to touch his cheek. "Don't let it do that too you. She should have been yours anyway." And that she meant with her whole heart. Daddy drank for many reasons, but one of them was because Mama hadn't picked him first. "I still want it to be you."

OWL