The Sun and Her Moon | CHONI |

Fifty Eight

'Okay children let's have the grown ups open their box up one by one, what do you think?'. The children cheered loudly. 'Okay, what is your name?' the man asked. 'Toni, what's yours?' Toni answered smugly. 'Steve' he nodded 'okay Toni open your box when you're ready, all you have to do is hold the creature in your hand for ten seconds'. 'Does he really have to say creature' Veronica whispered to Cheryl. Toni braced herself, she was sure as long as it wasn't a butterfly or a moth she'd be fine. She carefully pulled off the lid, all the children watching in silence and anticipation. 'Easy' Toni smirked as she pulled out a long snake causing the children to cheer and Cheryl and Veronica to look at each other with shock. Toni lifted the snake so everyone could see before allowing it to slither around her arm. 'Well done Toni' the man praised as she put the snake in the box and handed it back to him. She sent a quick wink to Tommy who tried to do it back but he actually just blinked at her causing her to chuckle a little.

'Okay, next we have...'. 'Cheryl' the redhead nodded. 'Cheryl' Steve repeated 'okay Cheryl ten seconds to hold whatever critter is in the box. The redhead took a breath while all eyes were on her as she removed the lid. 'Oh my god' she physically jumped in her seat as she slammed the lid back on the box, if she could run she would have done. 'What is it?' Toni asked. 'It's a tarantula' Cheryl said her voice trembling with fear. 'It's okay mama, you don't have to do it if it's too scary' Tommy smiled from his spot on the grass. She looked at him, she at least had to try to be brave for him. She took the lid off again looking at the giant spider. 'Honestly babe, it's okay if you don't want to do it' Toni whispered from her side but Cheryl ignored her words trying to think of anything but what was happening right now. She held her breath as she quickly scooped the spider in her hands and held it as far away from her as she could. She cringed as she felt its legs move against her hands as she squeezed her eyes shut. The children counted down but it felt like forever for the redhead. 'Okay Cheryl your ten seconds is up' Steve announced causing the children to clap and cheer loudly. Cheryl quickly put the tarantula away and passed over the box as she shook her body and tried to catch her breath. 'I'm proud of you babe' Toni smiled squeezing her hand 'I know that wasn't easy for you'. Cheryl just nodded as she tried not to look too freaked out, still feeling the spider crawling on her even though it wasn't there. 'I cannot believe you just did that' Veronica said. 'Me either' Cheryl answered.

'Okay last but not least we have...'. 'Veronica' the brunette answered. 'Veronica let's see if you can hold your critter for ten seconds' Steve smiled 'remove the lid when you're ready'. Veronica took a breath, apart from butterflies she really wasn't a insect person at all, she carefully removed the lid peering inside. 'What the hell is that!' she yelled jumping up and putting the box on the chair as she moved away causing the children to erupt in laughs. 'V! Language!' Cheryl scolded. 'That Veronica, is a giant centipede, can you hold him for ten seconds or do you forfeit?' Steve asked. She jumped on the spot as she let out a squeal, even the adults joining in with laughing. 'I'll do it' she said as she got a grip of herself taking her seat again. The children cheered her on especially Tommy. She pulled the lid from the box again and quickly grabbed the insect as she continued to squeal in disgust. The children laughed at her reaction as Steve counted down. 'Okay Veronica well done' Steve clapped as everyone else joined in. The brunette wasted no time getting the centipede back into the box.  'Looks like the grown ups passed the test, everyone gets a free badge' Steve smiled as he handed them out to the delighted children. 'A badge?' Veronica whispered to Toni and Cheryl 'we did all that for a badge'. Toni couldn't help but laugh. 'Look at their little faces though' Cheryl smiled. 'Not worth it' Veronica cringed as she shook herself off 'does this party have alcohol?'. 'V, it's a child's birthday party' Cheryl raised an eyebrow but Veronica didn't answer just looked at her expectantly 'it's in the kitchen cabinet, don't let any of the children near it'. Veronica nodded as she walked away continuing to shake off her body.

As the party entertainer moved the children to get their faces painted Toni quickly wanted to check in with Cheryl before she pushed her back to the patio area with the other adults. 'You okay babe? I can't believe you did that, you faced your fear of spiders' Toni grinned. 'TT it was awful but I had to do it for Tommy, I didn't want to let him down, did you she his face' Cheryl breathed. 'You could never let him down baby but I'm sure he's proud of you' she said squeezing the redheads hand. 'Well then it was all worth it' Cheryl smiled 'you surprised me with the snake'. 'Well snakes were sort of our thing, ya know when we was in a gang. One of our initiations was to retrieve a knife from a rattlesnakes cage showing no fear and hoping not to get bit' Toni nodded to her girlfriend low enough so no one could hear their conversation. 'Really?' Cheryl raised her eyebrow. 'Yep' she nodded proudly 'come on let's get you back to everyone else'.

The party planners had turned on some music and Toni and Cheryl could relax now as they took over the party completely. They now had the chance to introduce Betty and Jughead to everyone and they fitted in really well. The redhead included her parents in the conversation too, even after everything she wanted them to feel comfortable since they had made the effort for Tommy's birthday. Cheryl was interrupted mid sentence by a small boy tugging on her skirt, she looked down causing the group of adults to do the same. 'Tommy said he has two mommies, does he?' the blonde haired boy asked her. 'He does' Toni interrupted 'Cheryl and I are his moms'. 'Oh' the little boy nodded running back towards the other children. 'See I told you I wasn't lying' Tommy called chasing after him. 'Kids' Toni laughed shaking her head. 'He's so proud of having two moms' Veronica smiled. 'Yeah it's pretty adorable' Sweet Pea added. 'Well he deserves two parents who care about him' Toni kissed Cheryl's cheek causing her to blush. 'So when's the wedding' Fangs laughed causing Toni to narrow her eyes at him. 'Ignore him babe, he's just jealous' Toni smiled at the redhead. 'You two are so cute together' Betty chimed in now. 'Okay guys chill' Cheryl laughed 'let's change the subject'. The redheads smile didn't leave her face though.

The party was in full swing now, the music was loud, there was sandwiches and party food everywhere and every single child was on the bounce house. 'Hey T, what do you say when the kids have gone we get in that thing' Sweet Pea said eyeing the bounce house. 'You're on!' Toni smirked. 'Oh boys, do you mind helping me one day next week getting Tommy's jungle gym set up, it's rather large' Toni asked as she bit into a sandwich. They all nodded and told her to let them know a day. Toni had gotten up every so often to take photos on her phone of Tommy and his friends enjoying themselves, she also got the adults together for some group photos, some of them more enthusiastic than the others. 'Okay children, how about a game of musical statues' the party entertainer yelled as they jumped off the bounce house surrounding her 'can we get some adults to join in too?'. 'Come on bro' Fangs laughed slapping Sweet Peas shoulder 'lets crush these kids'. Toni, Archie, Jughead and even Clifford joined after the boys convinced him. Cheryl, Veronica, Betty and Penelope laughed as the adults danced. 'They're taking it so seriously' Betty giggled as they froze when the music stopped. 'I know right' Veronica agreed. Cheryl had pulled out her phone to video the game, she was still in shock her father agreed to it, she'd never seen him like that, ever.

Eventually everyone was out of the game except Toni and Fangs, one of them had to be out soon otherwise they'd be here all day. Of course Toni won calling her brother a loser as she ran towards the bounce house chased by all the men except for Clifford who joined the ladies back at the table. The children was right behind them all piling on the bounce house with the adults. 'I'm sure Toni only wanted to order that thing for her own benefit' the redhead laughed. 'I think they've all been dying to do it all day' Veronica laughed. 'It's nice that they're making the children happy' Penelope looked at Cheryl 'Tommy's very lucky to have you and Toni'. That might have been the kindest thing Penelope had ever said to her and even Veronica was shocked. 'Thank you mother but I'm very lucky to have them' the redhead smiled turning her attention to Toni and Tommy jumping together as they laughed. 'So Veronica do you have kids?' Betty turned to ask the brunette. 'No definitely not' she shook her head. 'Do you want to V?' Cheryl joined in. 'I mean maybe in a few years but not yet' she shrugged. 'What about you Cheryl, are you and Toni going to have anymore?' Betty asked. That caught Cheryl off guard she hadn't really thought about it, she felt all eyes on her especially her parents. 'Toni and I haven't spoke about anymore children' she said simply. 'But for once you're not denying the idea' Veronica raised an eyebrow after the many conversations in the past about her never wanting children. 'Well a lots changed, being a mother to Tommy's gave me a different meaning in life but I'm happy with us just having him' Cheryl said as Veronica and the rest of the group nodded.