Hey everyone!
I hope you're all doing well, I'm suffering with writers block atm and it's pretty annoying. I'm gonna keep this short and sweet so I hope you enjoy & let me know what you think!
Happy reading!
Nat xx

Within thirty seconds of Abigail leaving Cheryl's bedroom there was a quiet knock at the door.

Cheryl didn't speak, she knew who it was.

'Hi,' Toni said quietly as she entered the room, 'Abigail said we'll be sharing your room for safety'.

'Yeah...' Cheryl said keeping her eyes on the ground.

'Can we talk?'

'What's to talk about Toni? Like I said we're back in Riverdale'.

'Does that change what happened between us?'

Cheryl didn't speak, she didn't know what to say.

Toni let out a quiet sigh, she hated seeing Cheryl so closed off.

She thought about what Thomasina said to her downstairs about Topaz's not giving up on the people they love so she approached the redhead slowly and knelt down in front of her taking one of her hands in her own.

'Cher, I know things are hard right now... but I really want to talk to you about what happened between us'.

'There really isn't much to say'.

'Why are you pushing me away? I'm not going to hurt you Cheryl, I just need to know how you feel'.

Toni waited a moment but Cheryl didn't speak, the brunette let out a quiet breath, 'get some rest, I'll keep a look out for Fenn'.

Cheryl stood up grabbing some pyjamas from her drawer and entered the en-suite to change.

When she emerged back into the bedroom she looked at Toni who was sitting at her vanity table.

'I left you some pyjamas in the bathroom'.

'Thank you. I've locked the door, we should be fine if we get any unwanted visitors'.

Cheryl gave her a nod and climbed into bed as Toni entered the bathroom to change.

When Toni came back into the bedroom after ten minutes the room was engulfed in darkness, she navigated her way back to the stool she was sitting on previously.

'Toni?' A quiet voice said.

'Yeah?' Toni kept her voice low too.

'There's plenty of room on the bed'.

'Are you sure? I don't want to make you uncomfortable'.

'Yes. You can't stay there all night'.

'Okay'.

Toni stood up and quietly made her way over to Cheryl's bed, her heart was pumping faster than she'd like to admit.

She carefully pulled back the comforter and slid into bed making sure to keep a safe distance between herself and the redhead.

'I'm sorry'.

'For what?' Toni asked.

'For the way I've treated you since we got back'.

Toni remembered Cheryl preferred to talk about things in the dark when they were teenagers, she guessed some things never change.

'Cheryl I understand. I just want to know what you're thinking. What you're feeling'.

'I'm... I'm scared Toni'.

'Of what?'

'Of what could happen. If I talk about the way I feel it'll only hurt more when you leave,' Cheryl said, her voice still low, 'you're still in a relationship'.

'I know,' Toni whispered, it wasn't a lie and she didn't want to make any promises she couldn't keep.

Silence settled between them, they were so close but so far away at the same time.

'What I said was true though Cheryl. No matter what happens I want you to know I was telling you the truth'.

'So was I,' Cheryl said quietly, Toni couldn't see but she knew the redhead was crying.

The pain in her chest was almost unbearable, she just wanted to wrap Cheryl in her arms and never let her go but she was scared too.

'You could stay with Tabitha you know? Technically Fenn doesn't know you're here,' Cheryl said.

'I'm not leaving you Cheryl. Tabitha will look after Anthony and he's safer away from me right now'.

'And what about Fangs?'

'I really hope we can save him because he doesn't deserve anything bad to happen to him'.

'Will you tell him what happened between us?' Cheryl asked, 'I'll respect your choice if you don't want to'.

Toni let out a breath before turning on her side, 'I don't know'.

'I understand Toni'.

'No it's not that. I've had my doubts about my relationship with Fangs from the moment we got together, I think I was confused. I was a new mother and I thought it was the right thing to do but I was wrong. The way I feel about him is completely different from the way I feel for you. I can't control it even after all these years. I should feel bad for kissing you while all this is happening... but I don't'.

Cheryl didn't say anything as Toni spoke, she had no idea where the brunette was going with this but she stayed quiet.

'I know things are difficult right now, but I really do love you Cheryl. I'm not saying any of this will be easy and there may be times we can't stand to be around each other but I want to try. I know a lot has changed, I have Anthony now and you have Britta but I want to be with you Cheryl, I really do. I'd do anything for you'.

Toni's heart was in her throat as she waited for a reply from the redhead.

'And what about the true love thing? Doesn't that scare you?' Cheryl asked.

'Yeah, it scares the hell out of me but I always knew you were the one for me Cheryl'.

'And what if it all goes wrong?'

'We can cross that bridge if we come to it. But you're worth the risk'.

Toni heard Cheryl let out a breath, 'I just don't think I can go through losing you again'.

'We can't let fear rule our lives but it's up to you Cher. I don't want you to feel like you have to do anything you don't want to. I'll wait for you if you need more time'.

Toni felt Cheryl shuffle onto her side, 'I just think we need to make sure we're sure before we go any further. Not because I don't want to but because I want to be sure that this is what you want. That I'm what you want'.

'You are what I want,' Toni said taking Cheryl's hand in her own, 'but take all the time you need'.

'What about Fangs?'

'I need to talk to him when this is all over. I hope we can remain friends but I don't how he'll take it. I just need you to trust that I'll do right by you'.

'Okay,' Cheryl whispered.

She wanted nothing more than to jump in with Toni head first but she wasn't a teenager anymore, she was more cautious, she had to keep her heart safe.

'Get some sleep,' Toni said giving Cheryl's hand a soft squeeze.

It wasn't much but it was progress and that was better than nothing.

—————

When Cheryl woke up the next morning she felt a familiar arm draped over her, she froze at the contact before slipping carefully out of bed.

Thankfully she didn't wake up Toni, she looked over the woman sleeping in her bed.

She was as perfect as ever and Cheryl couldn't help but stare.

That was until she saw Toni begin to stir so she quickly but quietly made her way into the bathroom.

The redhead looked at herself in the mirror, she looked exhausted, there was a dark mark around her neck which she assumed came from Fenn.

She used the bathroom and brushed her teeth before heading back into the bedroom where Toni was pulling up her jeans, the top half of her body only covered by her bra.

'Oh my god. I am so sorry,' Cheryl said quickly turning around.

'It's my fault I wasn't expecting you to be out so soon,' Toni said, 'it's fine Cher. Nothing you haven't seen before although these stretch marks from carrying Anthony are new'.

Cheryl turned around to look at the brunette, her face still slightly blushed but she tried to play it off.

'Do you think Fenn will show himself today?' Cheryl asked completely changing the conversation, she didn't want to tell Toni she thought her stretch marks made her even more beautiful.

'I mean I hope so,' Toni said looking at Cheryl who was still in her nightwear, 'the sooner this is over the better'.

'What do you think Abigail and Thomasina will do now they have their own bodies?'

'I'd imagine they'd stay and live out their lives together. God knows they deserve it'.

'They do,' Cheryl agreed, 'I should get ready. I can meet you downstairs'.

'Nope,' Toni said shaking her head, 'we don't split up remember'.

'Fine,' Cheryl said sitting at her vanity table as Toni sat back down on the bed.

She tried not to stare but she couldn't help it, she'd always been mesmerised by Cheryl's beauty.

'What?' Cheryl asked looking through the mirror at Toni who gave her a playful smile before shrugging her shoulders.

Once Cheryl was ready they headed downstairs together to find Abigail and Thomasina in the kitchen dancing without any music.

'Oh... sorry,' Cheryl said as she stopped at the door causing Toni to bump straight into her back.

'Not a problem,' Abigail smiled brightly, 'how was your night?'

'Fine,' Cheryl said giving her ancestor a pointed look.

'We prepared breakfast,' Thomasina smiled.

'Looks great,' Toni said taking a seat.

Cheryl could feel Abigail's eyes on her and she knew why, she wanted to know if she and Toni talked.

'No sign of Fenn last night,' Thomasina said, 'I have a feeling he is lurking in the maple trees'.

'Then this evening we will take a stroll around Thornhill's grounds,' Abigail said.

'And then what?' Toni said, 'we can't hurt him, he's in Fangs body'.

'We will try our best not to, but we need to cast Fenn out of the body before he hurts Abigail or anyone else again,' Thomasina said.

'Toni's right though, he's Anthony's father we can't allow any serious harm to come to him regardless of what his ancestor did,' Cheryl said and Toni gave her a grateful smile.

'As we said Cheryl harming him isn't our intention, we need to cast Fenn out,' Thomasina confirmed.

'Okay,' Cheryl nodded, 'I need to check in on Britta and don't worry I'll only be in the lounge'.

Toni looked at Abigail and Thomasina, 'I should call Tabitha to check in on Anthony too'.

The couple nodded before turning to each other once Cheryl and Toni left the kitchen.

'Do you think they talked?' Abigail asked.

'I think they need some time,' Thomasina said, 'they are stubborn, neither of them want to get hurt'.

'So they are just going to keep ignoring their feelings for each other?'

'I suppose that is the way people deal with their emotions now'.

'Strange world,' Abigail shrugged.

'Strange world indeed,' Thomasina nodded.