Living is always better with you by my side | Choni

Everlasting love

The sun was just peeking above the horizon when Cheryl woke.

She wasn't typically an early riser since her high school years, but she got cold without Toni's unobtrusive warmth.

Glancing around their bedroom, she saw that it was very early. The sun not yet roused.

She huffed a laugh and pulled on her slippers and robe, knowing better than to try to go back to sleep.

Padding into the kitchen, she saw that there was a fresh pot of tea on the stove.

She sighed softly and let the steamy tendrils curl around her face as she sipped her tea. Toni is so good to her.

The brunette was an early riser, and she always made sure to have her favorite peppermint tea ready when she woke.

Tea collected, she walked out onto the porch, where Toni was with her camera, taking photos of the sunrise over the Vosges mountains.

The redhead kissed her good morning, and sat down next to her. As she set her teacup on the table next to them, her eyes, as they so often did, were drawn to her ring.

A thin silver band with a half ruby and half a topaz gem set into it, it meant more to her than anything else she owned, and though it was new, she couldn't imagine not having it on her finger.

It was a tangible reminder of Toni's vow to her and they both only took their rings off to sleep. God, she loves Toni so much.

"Good morning, beautiful." Toni said, setting aside her camera.

"Morning, my love." Cheryl responded.

"How did you sleep, my dear wife?" A teasing note entered the brunettes voice as she spoke.

"Your absence woke me up, wife."

"I'm sorry, baby. I wanted to use my camera and capture the sunrise."

"I'm wounded, TT . You wanted to photography the sunrise more than you wanted to spend time with me?"

Toni grinned at her mock affronted tone, and reminded her, "I distinctly recall promising to spend the rest of my life with you not too long ago."

"I remember. It feels so long ago, yet, logically, I know it's only been a week since we started our honeymoon. Surely, you're not having doubts already?"

"You are my sun, moon, and stars, and I swear to stand by your side in everlasting love. That was our wedding vow, and it means just as much now as it did the first time we said them."

"I know, Mon amour ."

They might have been on their honeymoon, but they'd already faced challenges, already weathered the road. They would always be each other's heaven and earth, sunrise and sunset.

On the brightest days and darkest nights, at nightfall and daybreak, they would be together.

Cheryl studied her wife and clasped her hand with her own so that their rings clinked together.

Gazing into the brunettes captivating brown eyes, she saw her thoughts reflected in her wife's.

Sun, moon, and stars.

Together always.

In everlasting love.

And the newly affirmed wife and wife sat together in lovingly serene contemplation as they watched the sunrise.