You, Me & Love | Choni Story

Pt.5

"Mom, I finished packing my room, do you need help?" Dale asked Toni, coming down the stairs.

"Why don't you help mommy with the twins?" Toni said, trying to distract him.

"But I want to help you Mom," Dale insisted.

"Fine kid," Toni sighed, realizing that Dale's determination couldn't be ignored. She handed him a box containing some delicate vases and asked him to handle them with care.

Dale carefully wrapped each precious vase in bubble wrap, placing them gently into the box. Toni watched him, amazed at his focus and dedication.

"You're doing a great job, Dale," Toni praised her son, proud of his willingness to help. "I appreciate your help more than you know." Dale smiled, understanding the sincerity behind his mother's words.

[Later into the day]

After almost an entire morning of packing, they were finally nearing the end of there moving preparation. Exhausted but determined, Cheryl meticulously marked every box with the name of the room it was it was supposed to go in. Meanwhile, Toni and Dale, diligently stacked the boxes inside the moving truck.

Though Dale was just eleven years old, he was eager to help his parents. As he struggled with some bulky furniture, Toni and Cheryl made their way towards him. Sensing her fatigue, Toni kindly asked Dale to assist Cheryl instead. Despite his young age, Dale understood that his strength was still developing.

With a sense of responsibility, Dale repositioned himself and started assisting his Mother in loading the smaller boxes onto the truck. Cheryl smiled at the sight of Dale working so hard to help them.

While they moved the boxes into the truck, Cheryl multitasked like a pro. In the midst of the chaos, she managed to whip up a quick snack for her adored twins – a cucumber sandwich and apple juice with pretzels, their absolute favorite Snack. 

As she plated the snack, she called out to Dale, "Dale baby, do you want some?"

Dale, focused on completing the task at hand, replied without turning around, "No mom, I'll finish up with momma before I eat something." Determined to assist Toni, he hurried outside, carefully balancing the loaded box in his small arms.

[Even later]

It was eight o'clock in the evening, and Toni and Dale found themselves famished. They had been tirelessly packing up their belongings, but there were still a few bulky items that couldn't fit into boxes. Chairs, tables, even their beloved television.

Feeling the exhaustion creeping in, Toni looked at Dale with a tired smile and said, "I don't know about you, but I could really use a break and some food."

Dale nodded in agreement, his stomach grumbling loudly. "You're right momma. We should get something to eat before we finish up I'm starving."

"Same, I can't pack any more without some fuel. Lets go ask mommy"

They continued to discuss their empty stomachs. With grumbling tummies, Toni and Dale, finally got up to ask Cheryl for some food when they turned around to see Cheryl entering the house, pizza box held high. Dumbfounded, they couldn't believe their eyes. They froze in their tracks, their mouths agape, and their eyes wide with disbelief. It was as if the heavens had answered their prayers in the most unexpected way.

"Hey, I heard your tummy growling from across the hall. Thought you could use some sustenance. Little Caesars to the rescue!" Cheryl said.

They didn't even notice when she left, or the twins for that matter. 

"Thanks, babe," Toni said, kissing her and grabbing the pizza box out of her hand.

"Thanks, mommy," Dale said, looking at his mom, but running towards Toni. Toni smiled and ruffled his hair before starting to make plates for all the kids. They had gathered in the now-empty living room, eager to enjoy their last meal together in this house.

"I can't believe we're leaving," Cheryl said sadly, her eyes scanning the room where so many memories had been made. The kids were happily eating and laughing on the floor, oblivious to the bittersweet moment.

"Me either, this was supposed to be our family home," Toni sighed, handing Cheryl a warm piece of pizza.

"I know, the place we were never supposed to leave," Cheryl whispered wistfully, taking the plate from Toni.

Toni picked up a slice of pizza from the box and took a bite. "The memories will always stay with us, babe, and we'll create new ones in Riverdale," she reassured Cheryl, her love shining in her eyes. She took another bite. They both sat down, joining the children in their impromptu picnic.

[After all the packing is done.]

Dale looked at his mother, a bittersweet feeling washing over him. "I'm gonna miss this house, momma," Dale said with a smile. 

Toni, looked back at him with a nostalgic smile. "We're are to Nightdale," she replied, using the nickname for the last time in the house.

Dale's face lit up as he reminisced about some of their craziest moments. "Remember when Daen ran up the stairs and rubbed paint all over the walls and picture frames? And then Grace joined in?" he chuckled, unable to suppress his laughter.

Toni rolled her eyes playfully, recalling that hilarious but messy incident. "Oh, yes, I do! Mommy and I had to grab them, and they ended up rubbing paint all over our faces!" she said, mimicking the action, causing Dale to burst into giggles.

"Oh an, d-do you remember when Uncle Fangs and Jughead chased me around the house with skeleton masks?" Dale reminisced.

Dale continued animatedly, "I was innocently walking down the stairs when suddenly, they appeared, growling and hissing like spooky creatures, Instantly, adrenaline flooded through my veins, and I knew I had to defend myself." Dale smiled.

"Without missing a beat, you grabbed whatever you could find at the top of the stairs and started hurling them at Uncle Fangs and Jughead." Toni smiled.

"Just when I thought I was winning, they made their move," Dale exclaimed dramatically, pausing for effect. Toni smiled at the thought he had remembered this. 

"They cornered me in the living room. But then uncle Jason, came to my rescue, Shooting them with water guns. distracting them long enough for me to escape and run to you"

"Yeah, I do Kiddo" Toni said, rubbing her son's shoulder affectionately. "But you know what? We're going to create amazing memories in our new house too."

Dale mustered a small smile, reluctantly accepting this change. "Let's go, kid," Toni said, shutting the door behind them. While Toni acknowledged that Dale had a lot of cherished memories in this house, it was time to move on.

As they walked towards the car, Dale turned to his other mother, Cheryl, with hopeful eyes. 

"Mom, can I ride with momma?" he asked. Cheryl looked at Toni, who smiled and nodded. 

"Sure, kid, you can ride with your momma," Cheryl said, glad to accommodate Dale's request.

To make things easier and efficient, Toni had a brilliant idea. Knowing that they had both a regular car and a spacious moving truck at their disposal, they decided to connect the vehicles together. Toni expertly hooked their cars with a sturdy tow hitch, ensuring a safe and secure connection.

Cheryl hopped into the driver's seat of the regular car, while Toni took the wheel of the mighty moving truck. Cheryl steered the regular car smoothly, following Toni's lead as they navigated through the bustling streets. They drove into the sunset, driving to their new home, ready to create a story all their own amidst the backdrop of a beautiful sunset.