I Loved You | CHONI |

Twenty Two

'How much furniture have you bought?' Toni asked as she lifted the boxes into the correct bedrooms.

'I admit I did get a little carried away' Cheryl shrugged 'but they're worth it'.

'They are, how many presents have you bought Cheryl?' Toni asked with a raised eyebrow.

Cheryl looked at Toni as she tried to hide her smile 'we should hurry, we need to get this done'.

'Cheryl?' Toni said again.

'Fine' Cheryl huffed dramatically 'maybe I've gone a tiny bit over the top but it's been a hard year'.

Toni looked at Cheryl before giving in 'you're right, I'll have to load their gifts into my car tonight while they're in bed so they don't see'.

'Toni?'.

'Yes babe?'.

'Have you gone overboard with gifts too?'.

'Maybe' Toni held back a laugh and started opening the boxes of furniture causing the redhead to shake her head with a smile.

***

'Wow they're going to love their rooms' Toni said as she wrapped her arms around the redhead.

'Do you think so?' all Cheryl ever wanted to do was make her family happy.

'Of course babe' Toni smiled.

'Toni do you ever just wish time would stop? They're growing up so fast, I'm scared about the day I wake up and they're going to be out living their life in the big bad world'.

'I do think about it but we'll continue to raise them to be ready for that, our kids are like you Cher, they're resilient and strong and we'll still be here to guide them or shower them with love even when their grown with their own lives' Toni placed a kiss on Cheryl's shoulder 'but for now they're still young so let's concentrate on that okay?'.

'Okay' Cheryl nodded placing a kiss on Toni's lips.

'Now go get your stuff so we can get going' Toni grinned.

Cheryl smiled turning to leave the room but stopping at the door 'and Toni?'.

'Yeah?'.

'You're strong and resilient too'.

***

They took Toni's car leaving Cheryl's at her house, they thought it would be nice to walk to collect the twins from school stopping in at Pops on the way back.

They walked to collect their children hand in hand as they chatted about how the twins were doing at school and how much their moods have lifted since their parents have been spending more time together.

They wasn't waiting outside the classroom long before their children ran over to them together.

'You both came to get us' Phoenix squealed happily.

'We did, did you have a good day?' Cheryl asked.

'It's been okay, a little boring though'.

'Why?' Toni asked.

'Because I knew all of the answers to my teachers questions, they were too easy' Aaliyah said.

'That's my girl' Toni smiled putting her arm around her daughter.

'I didn't think it was easy' Phoenix pouted.

'That's okay baby, we'll work on it okay?' Cheryl said gently running her fingers through his hair.

'Thanks Mom' Phoenix smiled.

'Hey it's still Mommy for a little longer' Cheryl pouted herself a little this time.