The Sun and Her Moon | CHONI |

Twenty Four

'Tommy we are going for a drive with Cheryl today, do you want to take some of your toys to play with in the car?' Toni asked as she put some drinks and snacks into a bag just in case they needed them. 'We are?' Tommy said excitedly running into his room to get Rory and a few other small toys. 'Yes she's going to bed here in a moment so hurry'. Toni had woken Tommy up this morning to get him ready, she barely slept last night worrying about how the day would turn out. She hoped it would all go well but she couldn't help but think negatively. Her phone pinged letting her know that Cheryl was outside in the parking lot. She picked up the bags and grabbed Tommy's hand to lead him downstairs. Cheryl got out of the car when she saw Toni, giving her a quick kiss on the lips as she ruffled Tommy hair. 'Are you okay?' she whispered taking the bags from Toni and opening the door so Tommy could climb in. 'Just a little nervous' she whispered back. Cheryl just nodded placing the bags in the car and moving around to her seat in preparation to set off.

The ride was pretty quiet, of course Tommy chatted away in the back seat until he fell asleep likely from boredom. Cheryl glanced over to Toni a few times noticing that she was biting her nails as she looked out of the window. 'We can turn around if you want, you don't have to do this' the redhead said as she faced the road again. 'No I need to, I've missed them both, I know I keep saying it but I can't stop worrying about Tommy's father showing up'. 'He won't but if he did we'd deal with it, I won't allow anything to happen to either of you' Cheryl said placing her hand on Toni's thigh. 'Could you do something for me?' Toni asked. 'Anything' Cheryl answered immediately without hesitation. 'Would you wait in the car with Tommy? Just until I call you and I know it's safe to bring him out?'. 'Of course Toni'. 'And if I call and tell you to leave I want you to take Tommy and get out of here, do you promise me that?'. 'What and leave you? No way'. 'Please Cher, I have to know Tommy will be safe if it goes wrong and I'll call the police and get back to you as soon as I can. Do you promise to keep my son safe?'. 'Okay Toni I promise I'll do as you ask'. 'Thank you' Toni breathed out slightly more relieved.

Cheryl found a parking spot at the park which wasn't too close to the gate. Toni had spotted her brothers motorcycles so that was a relief, she had a quick glance around to see if she could see any sign of danger. 'Okay remember the plan, I'll call you regardless of the situation'. 'I know Toni good luck' Cheryl leaned forward giving Toni a kiss before sitting back and nervously watching her enter the park. She looked through her rear view mirror at the small boy who was blissfully unaware of what was happening around him. Even if everything went as planned Cheryl was still nervous, she was about to meet Toni's brothers and she hoped they'd like her. She held her phone in her hand constantly looking at it for any messages from Toni, nothing had come through yet but it hadn't been long since Toni had left the car.

Toni walked through the gates of the park to see her brothers sat alone on a bench waiting for her. It was Fangs who noticed her first slapping Sweet Peas arm as he got up to run towards her. When they reached her they both picked her up one after the other and Toni actually allowed herself a moment of weakness where she had let the tears fall freely. 'I've missed you guys' she cried lightly as they let her go. 'We've missed you too T' her brothers said at the same time. 'Where's Tommy?' Sweet Pea asked. 'Listen, were you guys followed or does anyone know you're here?' Toni asked seriously. 'Nope no one has any idea we even left Southside' Fangs said. 'Okay good, can we sit I need to talk to you both first' Toni said as she walked towards the table. Sweet Pea and Fangs looked at each other in concern as they followed their sister to the table. 'Look I need to give you a quick update on my life and I need you to respect my choices regardless of what you think okay?' Toni said looking between them as they nodded. 'Okay so I have a new partner, she was nice enough to drive me here today so she'll be spending the day with us'. 'Wait' Fangs said holding up his hand 'did you say she? Are you back into the girls' he smirked. 'Fangs now is not the time and yes she is a female her name is Cheryl and she means a lot to me can you both respect that before I call her to bring Tommy out?'. 'Of course T, as long as you are finally happy we're happy' Sweet Pea said as he reached across the bench squeezing his sisters shoulder. 'So is she hot?' Fangs added on and Toni allowed it. 'Very' Toni nodded. 'So I'll call her now alright?'. She pulled out her phone and called the redhead 'hey Cher... everything's fine, if you just come through the gate you'll see us at the bench's... okay see you in a minute'.

When Toni saw Cheryl carrying her son her heart swelled. 'Wow Toni you wasn't wrong she is hot' Sweet Pea smirked causing her to glare at him. 'Behave yourself, I mean it' Toni warned. Toni could see Tommy looking around and when he laid his eyes on his uncles his face lit up. Cheryl bent down so she could put him on the ground. He ran as fast as he could to his uncles who were now kneeling on the ground waiting for him. He wrapped both his arms around their necks as he cried about how much he had missed them. When Cheryl reached the group she stood awkwardly feeling slightly out of place. Toni moved around the boys on the floor to take the redheads hand in hers giving it a light squeeze. When the boys stood up moving their attention to the woman who's hand was in their sisters. 'Guys this is Cheryl my girlfriend and Cheryl this is Sweet Pea and Fangs my brothers'. 'Nice to meet you Red' Fangs said shaking Cheryl's hand as Sweet Pea stepped forward doing the same. 'It's a pleasure to meet you both' Cheryl smiled nervously. 'So Toni's really bagged herself a hottie if you ever want to try out the older, better looking sibling let me know' Sweet Pea said as he sent a playful wink to his sister. 'Sorry, you're not my type, strictly women only' Cheryl smiled joining in the banter. 'Ah that's a shame' Sweet Pea laughed. 'Ignore this idiot Cher, he's always like this' Toni smiled shaking her head. 'Uncle Pea?' Tommy said looking up. 'Yeah kiddo?'. 'Are you trying to steal my Mommy's Cheryl?' he said with a frown. 'Well I was but she said no' he bent down 'she likes your mommy more for some reason'. 'It's because they are in love' Tommy smiled 'they kiss when we are watching tv'. 'Really?' Sweet Pea said standing up. Cheryl could feel her cheeks reddening. 'Okay boys that's enough' Toni laughed ruffling Tommy's hair.

'So what's with the bags?' Toni said looking under the bench while they were all sat down. 'Actually T we wanted to talk to you about something?' Fangs said as he shifted in his seat. 'What?' Toni suddenly said getting nervous as she looked between her brothers. 'After your call Sweets and I decided that we missed you both so much that we wanted to come stay with you if you'd have us? We'd find a place close to you and we'd be able to be a family again'. 'Only if you're happy and comfortable with that?' Sweet Pea added. With all eyes on her Toni gave herself a moment to think before she looked at Cheryl, her son and then her brothers. 'I mean if it's something you're serious about, Tommy and I have both missed you so we'd love to have you around. Our apartment is small though so we'd have to make it work' Toni smiled. 'We've been in tighter spots T and it will only be until we find our own place' Fangs smiled. 'You'll have to follow us back we live a while from here' Toni added. 'That's no problem sis' Sweet Pea smiled.

'So Toni what are you doing for a living now?' Fangs asked. 'I actually work at a diner, it's a cute little place and actually where I met Cheryl' Toni smiled at her girlfriend. 'Really?' Fangs smiled 'and how did that happen?'. 'I had to work on a Saturday and obviously I had no one to watch Tommy so I had to take him with me. He was the one that basically got us talking when he kept going to Cheryl's table. She said she'd keep an eye on him for me, Tommy invited her to the park and the rest is history' Toni squeezed the redheads hand. 'He's a great little wingman' Sweet Pea said as he fist bumped his nephew. 'What about you Cheryl? What do you do for a living?' Sweet Pea asked. 'I own the Blossom Maple Syrup franchise' she shrugged like it was no big deal. 'For real, you must be rich rich!' Fangs said with wide eyes. 'Fangs!' Toni scolded sometimes she wondered how they were all related. He held his hands up in surrender. 'Actually boys if you are both serious about moving to the city I could definitely set you both up with jobs in the maple factory if that's something you'd be interested in' Cheryl said. 'Really? That would be amazing, thanks Red' Sweet Pea smiled. 'Yeah Red that sounds great' Fangs smiled. 'No problem, just let Toni know when you're ready to start and I'll sort that out for you'. 'You really have got yourself a keeper' Fangs smiled at his sister.