The Sun and Her Moon | CHONI |

Sixty Two

Cheryl watched Tommy slowly come down the stairs. 'It's okay baby, there's a nice lady here who just wants to talk to you' she held her hand out to him and guided him to the lounge. He hid behind Cheryl's legs as Isabelle introduced herself to him, Cheryl knelt down to his level as she quietly spoke to the little boy. 'Listen to me, Mommy and I are only in the kitchen okay? Isabelle is really nice and she just needs to talk to you really quickly, then you can go back upstairs and play. When everything is done we can watch a movie together okay sweetheart?'. Cheryl didn't want to leave Tommy seeing how scared he was but she didn't have a choice, she placed a kiss on his cheek before guiding him to the couch. 'Don't forget we are right through here' she smiled at him again before watching Isabelle sit down and leaving the room.

'Are you okay?' Cheryl said taking Toni into her arms. 'I hate talking about him and what he did to me, it makes me realise how weak I was' Toni cried quietly against the redhead. Cheryl rubbed circles on Toni's back in an attempt to sooth her. 'You are not weak, you are the strongest person I know and you did what you had to to keep Tommy safe. What he did to you isn't a reflection of you okay? He is a monster and deserves everything that's coming to him' Cheryl tried to keep calm but thinking about what that man did to the two most important people in her life just triggered her. 'Plus you got yourself and Tommy out, you have your brothers, friends and you have me. I'll always be here for you Toni, no matter what' Cheryl said pulling back a little so she could look into Toni's eyes 'once this is all over you'll never have to think about your old life again okay?'. Toni nodded as Cheryl used the pad of her thumb to wipe away her tears before placing a soft kiss on her cheek. 'I love you' Toni breathed looking into the redheads dark orbs thankful she was here by her side. 'And I love you' Cheryl smiled placing another kiss on Toni's forehead.

Tommy looked at the strange lady anxiously as she placed a device on the coffee table. 'So Thomas, can you tell me how old you are?' she asked with a smile on her face. 'I'm six now, I just had a birthday' he answered. 'Wow, such a big boy' she grinned and Tommy nodded. 'So Thomas I just want to ask you a few questions, is that okay with you?' Isabelle asked, her voice soft. 'Yes' he nodded. 'So can you remember the last time you saw your father and can you tell me what happened?'. 'Mommy woke me up in the middle of the night, we had to go because Daddy hit me and it really hurt' Tommy said simply. 'Okay Thomas, good job. Can you tell me what it was like when Mommy and Daddy was together, was they happy or sad?'. 'Mommy was sad and Daddy was always really mad at Mommy and me'. 'Okay, do you know why Daddy would get mad?'. He shook his head 'nope, he just be angry and then he would punch my Mommy'. 'Did you see him do that?'. 'Yes' Tommy looked sad at the thought 'Mommy always used to tell me to go to my room when Daddy was mean'. 'How did that make you feel, can you remember?'. 'Really sad before Mommy used to cry all the time, after Mommy put me to bed I could hear her crying through the wall'. 'Okay Thomas you are doing really well, can you remember if Daddy ever put you and your Mommy in a room while he went out?'. 'Yes, when Mommy's face was bleeding he used to make us stay in Mommies bedroom, I had to hug Mommy to make her feel better'. 'Do you want to see your father again Thomas? Would you feel safe with him?'. Tommy's eyes filled with tears 'No, I'm scared of him, I want to stay here'. 'Okay it's okay and one more question darling and then we're all done. Are you happy now and if so can you tell me why?'. 'Yes, I'm happy and so is my mommy. Mommy and Mama are in love and they love me. They teach me things and read to me every night before I go to sleep. Mommy is always silly now and she makes me and Mama laugh all the time. I don't want to go back to my daddy, I don't want him to be my daddy anymore'. 'Okay Thomas you did great' Isabelle said reaching for the recording device.

Isabelle called Toni and Cheryl back into the room. Tommy's face morphing into concern as he noticed her mother had been crying. 'Okay I have everything I need, if you could just email me the details of the refuge, I'll put your case together. Don't worry Toni, you have a strong case, I'll do my best to get the outcome you deserve. Just mentally prepare yourself and your family for the next few weeks, it can be emotionally draining. Thomas did great as well, he's a real credit to you' she smiled at the little boy 'I'll be in touch soon with all of the details'. 'Thank you' Toni nodded as she showed Isabelle out, she said goodbye before shutting the door and letting out a breath before turning back into the lounge to her family. 'Are you okay Mommy?' Tommy asked. 'I am baby, are you?' Toni said sitting down next to him and Cheryl decided to give them a moment alone. She disappeared into the kitchen on autopilot, making them all some sandwiches to keep herself busy. She couldn't stop Toni's words whizzing around her head about what she had gone through, but this wasn't about her and Cheryl tried to keep her anger at bay. If she was going to come face to face with this person she was going to have to keep her cool for the sake of Toni and Tommy.

Cheryl carefully carried the plates back into the lounge, her leg aching from overusing it but she wanted to be there for Toni and Tommy. 'Cher sit down, I'll do that you shouldn't be walking around so much' Toni said standing and taking the plates from her girlfriend. 'No you've had an exhausting day' Cheryl said still standing. 'Babe please just sit down' Toni moved passed her towards the kitchen bringing out the last plate. 'Do I have to see Daddy again?' Tommy asked as Toni sat him down with his food. 'Maybe but don't worry Mommy and Mama will be right there with you' Toni confirmed. 'Are you going to look after us Mama, he's a bad man' Tommy said with wide eyes. 'Don't worry sweetheart, I won't let anyone hurt you or your mommy' Cheryl gave him a small smile and he seemed happy with her answer. After another few minutes of silence Tommy spoke again 'I don't want a daddy anymore' he said looking at the couple. 'What do you mean?' Toni asked. 'I have two mommies that make me happy, I don't want a daddy that makes me sad' Tommy said sadly. 'We're trying to sort it kid' Toni nodded full of sympathy for her son being stuck in the middle of it all.

Tommy cried the whole time as Toni and Cheryl tried to put him to bed. They even tried leaving him in the room to calm himself down but it didn't last long before Cheryl cracked 'TT maybe we should just let him stay with us tonight, it's been a hard day'. 'Are you sure?' Toni asked. 'Yeah we can't leave him like this' Cheryl nodded. 'You right' Toni said opening the door to her crying son, it broke her heart to see him so unsettled because of his father again, even though he isn't in their life's he was still finding ways to hurt them. 'Come on Tommy, grab Rory' Toni said holding her hand out to him. 'Where are we going?' Tommy asked. 'You're sleeping with us tonight, we know it's been a hard day baby' Toni answered. Tommy slipped out his bed and took his moms hand while she led him to their bedroom. Cheryl pulled the duvet back and got in, she watched Toni lift Tommy up on to the bed before she got in herself. Cheryl switched on the television, just for the background noise, she had no intention to watch it. Tommy snuggled down into the pillows as Toni stroked his head, keeping his eyes open was somehow much harder now for him than it was ten minutes ago. He felt safe in between the two woman, sleep suddenly taking over his small body, the hiccups from his cries settling into light snores as he drifted off.

'I feel so bad for doing this to him, am I even doing the right thing?' Toni whispered to the redhead careful not to wake Tommy. 'I know it's hard Toni but hopefully after all this is done you can move forward, Tommy too, you both deserve peace'. 'About what I said earlier, you know about what Lukas did to me, it doesn't make you feel any differently towards me does it?' Toni asked nervously. 'Antoinette Topaz, nothing in this world could make me feel any differently about you, I know who you are, you an amazing mother and an amazing partner. You are so much more than he made you believe and you deserve someone who treats you like the queen you are and loves you fully, I really want to be that person for you' Cheryl gave Toni a small smile as she reached over and took Toni's hand. 'You are that person babe and I ask myself everyday how I got so lucky' Toni smiled a little. Cheryl shook her head 'No Toni, I am the lucky one'. The redhead carefully lent over the little boy and placed a soft kiss on Toni's lips 'I love you'. 'I love you' Toni breathed as she laid down snuggling into Tommy and Cheryl, feeling some of the stress leave her body because she knew she wasn't alone.