Love Means Healing

(26) Lunatics

Narrator POV

"Baby?" A sleepy Cheryl called through her and Toni's apartment.

"Good morning babe. Are you feeling better?" Toni asked, referring to last night when Cheryl was 'not feeling so well'

It was all a part of her plan. She told Toni she had a stomach ache so she'd care for her. The plan worked out well for the redhead as she received many cuddles, kisses and belly rubs. Half way through the night, Toni realized Cheryl was joking about her stomach ache which resulted in a tickle fight, ending in more cuddling until the couple fell asleep.

"Much better." Cheryl mumbled as she wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's body. She took in the warmth and comfort she felt in Toni's arms, squeezing her gently.

"That's too bad, I booked you another appointment with the cuddle doctor today" Toni said after gently kissing the top of Cheryl's head.

"The cuddle doctor? Really?" Cheryl cringed

"Hey, I'm your girlfriend now. You can't make fun of me." Toni pouted, taking her arms away from the redhead's back.

"Nooo" she whined in response, grabbing Toni's arms and wrapping them back around her.

As Cheryl rested her head against Toni's chest she was comfortable. She was finally with someone who made her happy, someone she could be 100% honest with without fearing they'd think she's crazy. Someone who finally makes her feel safe. She's beyond grateful that someone is her girlfriend, who she can hold without seeming weird, the woman she can kiss, show huge amounts of affection to and occasionally, be intimate with.

"I still wanna cuddle" The redhead protested, finally looking up at the curly haired woman.

"We can do whatever you want, Cherry." Toni said, looking into Cheryl's beautiful brown eyes.

"Why do you still call me that?"

"Because it's special. No one else calls you Cherry and every time I say it, it reminds me of our first date- well our first time eating out together."

"I'll never forget the day you saved me, TT" Cheryl whispered, pushing Toni back against the kitchen counter. She gently placed her manicured hands on her girlfriend's bare chest as she leaned in to kiss her soft lips.

"Morning breath" Toni fake scrunched up her nose as she pulled away from Cheryl.

"You're fake" Cheryl sucked her teeth and walked toward the hallway bathroom, not before Toni could playfully slap her ass. Cheryl winked at her as she kept walking, making Toni's stomach burn from the level of confidence her girlfriend possessed. Even at 9 in the morning when her hair hasn't even been tamed.

As Toni finished eating breakfast she got a phone call from Celia.

"Hey C, what up?" She asked as she swallowed her last mouthful of banana.

"Toni. Something happened. I just woke up and I went to check on Alana, I accidentally slept in because I didn't hear her crying to wake me up like I usually did but-" She said all in one breath

"Hey hey hey, calm down. I can't understand you, what's happening?"

"Alana is gone." Celia cried, Toni could hear the devastation in her voice.

"Wh-what do you mean she's gone?" Toni asked, confused.

"I woke up this morning, came to check on her and she wasn't here. My dad doesn't know where she is, I- Toni she's gone." Toni could tell Celia was stressed about their daughter, she knew she would never joke about this which made it all the more confusing.