The Sun and Her Moon | CHONI |

Twenty Two

Toni groaned as she sat up 'I should get cleaned up, I have to get Tommy from school in a couple of hours'. 'I can draw us a bath if you'd like?' the redhead asked shyly. 'That sounds great Cher' Toni smiled as she placed a soft kiss on the redheads lips. Cheryl untangled herself from Toni wrapping herself in a blanket before heading to the bathroom. She smiled to herself as she thought about what had just happened, she wasn't expecting the date to turn out like it had but she was glad about it especially after all the drama of the day. The redhead turned on the taps and poured in the bubbles. Once the bath was ready Cheryl called Toni into the bathroom, she didn't even bother covering up, the redhead had just seen everything she had to offer so she didn't see the point. Cheryl was already sat in the bathtub as she held out a hand to Toni to guide her in. The shorter woman got comfortable between the redheads legs leaning back into her chest. Cheryl ran her fingers through Toni's hair as they relaxed into the water. 'I could literally fall asleep right now' Toni breathed out. 'Me too TT' Cheryl smiled as the bubbles surrounded them.

After they shared a bath Cheryl let Toni choose an outfit from her closet. Once they were both dressed, they cleaned up the clothes that they had scattered around the house throwing them all in the redheads washing machine as they shared shy smiles each time they looked at each other. 'Do you want to come pick Tommy up from school with me? I'm sure he'll be excited to see you, we can have dinner at my place if you'd like' Toni asked. 'That sounds great Toni' Cheryl smiled. 'So your parents huh?'. 'Are a nightmare'. 'Have they always been like that?'. 'Yes much worse as I was growing up, that little interaction was nothing but I'm not a child anymore Toni, they know they can't control me'. 'Well good for you' Toni smiled. 'What about your parents?'. 'Both dead, they died when I was young. My brothers and I lived with my grandfather until he died when we were teenagers'. 'I'm so sorry to hear that TT'. 'Don't be it was a long time ago, I miss them but I've dealt with it, Tommy's name is actually Thomas James Topaz in honour of my father and grandfather'. 'So Topaz is your birth name?'. 'Of course why would you ask that?' Toni laughed. 'I wasn't sure if... never mind Toni'. 'You wasn't sure if I was married to Tommy's father?'. 'I guess, I mean I assumed Tommy took his fathers name'. 'No, I'd never let that happen, I registered his birth alone. When Lukas found out though he gave me a few bruises but it was worth it' Toni shrugged. 'I'm so sorry Toni' Cheryl said as she took her hand in her own 'you didn't deserve that'. 'It's okay. We should go so we're not late for Tommy' Toni gave her a small smile.

When Cheryl parked in the schools parking lot she left the engine running while Toni got out of the car. 'What are you doing?' Toni bent down looking at the redhead. 'Waiting for you to go get Tommy?' Cheryl said as if it was obvious. 'Don't you want to come with me to get him?'. 'I mean, I can if you'd like'. 'Come on then' Toni smiled. They joined hands as they walked towards the school, they didn't miss the odd look from some parents but they ignored it. They stood and chatted as they waited for the teacher to release the class. As the bell rang children began to spill from the door. 'Mommy!' Tommy squealed as he ran to her and she picked him up, he hadn't noticed the woman stood by him until he turned to her. 'Cheryl! What are you doing here?' he said reaching his arms over to her. She took him from his mother and wrapped her arms around him 'well I missed you'. 'I missed you too' he smiled. 'Shall we get back to the car?' Toni asked. Cheryl nodded as she carried Tommy listening to him talk about his day. The redhead clipped him into his seat and drove back to Toni's apartment.

'So what have you guys done today?' Tommy asked as he ran to the couch. Cheryl and Toni shared a look before Toni answered. 'We just had some breakfast and went back to Cheryl's for a while'. 'Oh cool' Tommy nodded from the couch. 'So what do you want for dinner?' Toni asked the little boy sat on the couch. 'Nuggets' he said simply. 'Again?' Toni groaned. He just nodded happily as he turned on the cartoons. 'Nuggets?' Toni turned to the redhead. 'Sure' Cheryl smiled as she joined Tommy on the couch. Toni threw some chicken nuggets and fries in the oven and jumped over the couch to sit between the pair. Tommy giggled and Cheryl just looked at her in shock. 'What?' Toni smirked. 'I'm starting to think my girlfriend has the mentality of a child' Cheryl laughed. 'She does' Toni smiled as she placed a quick kiss on Cheryl's lips. Tommy just smiled at them before turning back to the tv. 

'Ketchup?' Toni asked Cheryl as she put a fair amount on hers and Tommy's plate. 'No thank you' the redhead smiled causing the mother and son to look at each other pulling a confused face. 'What?' Cheryl laughed. 'Chicken nuggets without ketchup is weird' Tommy laughed. 'Well I've never had them before so I wouldn't know'. 'Cheryl Blossom, I'm shocked' Toni said her mouth wide as she passed the pair their dinner before sitting down between them with her own. 'Here' Toni held a nugget with ketchup on it to the redheads mouth. 'Try it' Tommy encouraged. Cheryl took a bite of the food she was offered. 'Good right?' Toni said before popping the rest of it into her own mouth. 'Not bad' Cheryl shrugged with a smirk. Toni ignored the way the redhead used the ketchup on her plate to dip her nuggets in it before popping them into her mouth. 'Mommy can we watch the little mermaid after dinner?'. 'Sure baby' Toni smiled. Cheryl helped Toni clean up after they had eaten even though she insisted she could do it herself.

'Okay lets get cosy' Tommy giggled as he grabbed his teddy. Toni had just started the movie so they all rushed to the sofa. Cheryl lent on the arm of the couch with Toni's body pressed against her side and Tommy sat on Cheryl's lap eager to explain the movie to the redhead as they watched it. 'See Ariel looks like you!' he pointed to the movie playing on the screen. 'I guess we do have the same hair' Cheryl nodded. As the movie played Toni had told Tommy to be quiet and let Cheryl enjoy the movie. The redhead could relate to the mermaid, she knew how it felt to be trapped somewhere she didn't want to be, that's how she felt the whole time she was growing up. Somewhere half way between the movie they had shifted places, Toni now laid in between the redheads legs, her back against Cheryl's chest while Tommy cuddled on top of his mother. Cheryl pulled her attention from the movie to enjoy the moment, never did she think this would be her life. She ran her hand threw Toni's hair, she knew everything was happening quickly but she didn't want to stop it, if all her days ended watching a Disney movie and eating junk food with these two people she would be happy. She placed her hand on Tommy's back and moved her eyes back to the movie.

'Okay bedtime for you little man' Toni grumbled as she sat up from Cheryl when the movie ended. 'Can Cheryl read me a bedtime story tonight?' Tommy asked his mom. 'If she wants to' she said looking at the redhead. 'Sure, I'd love to'. 'Okay let's get you washed up and then Cheryl can read you a story' Toni said following the little boy to the bathroom. 'Okay come on' Tommy said when he came out of the bathroom grabbing the redheads hand and pulling her up. Toni sat on the couch changing the channel on the tv. 'Aren't you coming?' Cheryl asked. 'No I think you've got this' she smiled at her. Tommy picked up a book from the floor and handed it to Cheryl before climbing in his bed. The redhead sat at the bottom of the bed and opened the book. 'No silly Cheryl you have to sit here so I can see the pictures' he moved over making space for her. 'Oh right' she said sitting next to him. He lent his head on her arm bringing the blanket up to his face waiting for her to start and Cheryl's heart melted with just how cute he was. Cheryl opened the book and started to read. 'Wait' Tommy interrupted 'you have to change your voice to match the characters, that's what Mommy always does'. She nodded as she started again changing her voice to the narrative, she felt ridiculous but the smile on the little boys face made it worth it. It didn't take long for Cheryl to hear the light snores coming from the now sleeping boy. She put the book on the floor and gently moved out of the bed supporting Tommy's head with her hand as she laid it on the pillow and tucked him in. It was a unfamiliar feeling for her to care for a child but she knew she'd do anything she had to to make sure he was happy.

'All good?' Toni asked as Cheryl joined her on the couch. 'All good' she nodded. 'Great, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to stay the night? My bed is no where near as comfortable as yours but I'm a great big spoon'. 'Sounds good to me' Cheryl smiled as she moved to lay on Toni's lap. Toni ran her fingers through red hair as they watched tv. 'Hey Cher?'. 'Yes TT?'. 'About that Madison person is she going to be an issue for us?'. Cheryl looked up at Toni 'no, I hope you believe me when I say I'm not interested in her'. 'I do believe you but she seems a little... crazy?'. 'I won't let her come between us and if she does continue to harass me I'll report her to the authorities. Really TT don't let her worry you, I'm sure she'll get over it'. 'Okay Cher, I don't want to get arrested for assault if she bothers us again is all'. 'Antoinette Topaz, you are not a fighter'. 'Maybe I am, what if I told you I was in a gang before I had Tommy' Toni smirked. 'What?' Cheryl said sitting up 'a gang?'. 'Maybe, would that bother you? I take it you saw the tattoo'. 'I did and no it wouldn't bother me, in fact I think you'd make a very sexy gang member'. 'Really?' Toni laughed. 'Uh huh' Cheryl nodded leaning in for a kiss. They made out on the couch until they were out of breath. 'You'll be the death of me Toni Topaz' Cheryl smiled 'but you're worth it'.