Cheryl's POV
"Hey baby," I say as Toni kisses my cheek
"Hi love,"
She's been good the past couple days, a little anxious and trying to readjust- but good.
"Mommy!" CeeJay says grabbing my leg
"You're happy today," I laugh picking her up
"Mommy today I go to school?"
"No sweetheart, today you're hanging with me and Toni. School doesn't start for a couple weeks baby,"
She starts crying and I bounce her
"I WANNA GO TO SCHOOL MOMMY,"
"I know baby," I coo bouncing her
"Mommy pwease," She says calming down
"Baby, maybe Mama and I can play outside with you? Would that make you feel better?"
She nods and rubs her eyes
I've been slowly encouraging her to call Toni mama, but she's not ready yet.
"Toni can we go swimming?" She asks
"Sure girlie," Toni says ruffling her hair
"Are you actually going to come in this time?" I ask her
"Uh ya I will," she says
"Good,"
I change CeeJay and then get changed myself
"I'll be out in a second baby," Toni says
"Okay T,"
I go outside with Cee and put her lifejacket on
I wade in the water and Toni comes out
Holy shit she got ripped in the army
Absolutely jacked
It's hot
"Like what you see blossom?"
"Very much so
She turns around and I see scars all down her back and then I notice them on her legs too.
"Baby What happened to your back?" I ask
"Oh the guys t-o-r-t-u-r-e-d me for I-n-f-o-r-m-a-t-I-o-n," she sighs "I didn't have any to give them,"
"What was it?" I ask
"Like a belt with razors on them,"
"Oh baby," I say as she walks in to the pool
"I'm okay Cher, I promise,"
I kiss her and nod
"Toni, do you wike swimming?" CeeJay asks
"I love swimming," Toni says picking her up from the water and bouncing her
"Me too,"
Toni kisses her cheek and smiles
"Did you end up making her middle name Samantha?" Tones asks
"Nope, CeeJay Antoinette Topaz," i say
"You still gave her my last name?" She asks
"No matter what, she is your daughter Tones,"
"Uncle Archie and Uncle Jughead caw me CAT," CeeJay says splashing the water
Toni laughs and kisses the top of her head
"Toni let me go, I show you my swim," CeeJay says
She looks at me and I nod.
CeeJay swims around and Toni smiles.
"Mommy! Mommy!" CeeJay panics
"I'm here baby it's okay, we're watching," I say going over to her and picking her up "I love you CeeJay,"
"I love you too mommy,"
"Baby remember we talked that Toni is your mommy too,"
"Mommy that confuses me?" She sighs "I dunno,"
"Remember sweetheart, Toni and I decided to have a baby but she was called to the army and got lost so I got to spend time with you until she found her way home,"
"Oh right," she says playing with the duck
I give Toni a sad smile.
"It's okay," she mouthes
"Mommy it confuses me,"
"I know baby," I say kissing her head
We go inside and dry off.
"Toni," CeeJay says
"CeeJay," Toni teases
"Can I call you Mama?"
"Do you want to?" Toni asks
She nods and shrugs
"Of course you can baby," Toni smiles
CeeJay smiles up and me
"Baby, I'm going to make dinner wanna go play in the play room for a bit?"
She nods and goes to play.
I watch the chicken cook and Toni grabs my hips from behind
"I love you Cher,"
"I love you too Baby," I smile "sorry, it's taking so long for Cee to figure everything out- I didn't talk about you a lot,"
"She's young Cher, it'll take her time,"
I nod and she kisses the back of my head
We hear and crash and we jump
"I'll go check on her baby," she laughs
I nod and she goes to the playroom.
She comes back in with CeeJay on her shoulders
"Hey babe," I say
"This goofball hurt her leg," Tones says putting her on a chair "we thought ice would make it better,"
"Is that right?" I laugh
"Mommy I'm sorry," she says sadly
"Why sweetie?"
"She broke a picture frame, but I can fix it and it'll be okay,"
"It's alright sweetheart,"
"You got nicer when mama came home,"
Toni laughs and I roll my eyes
"I was always nice," I laugh
"Not this nice mommy,"
"See Cher even CeeCee knows your a bitch," Toni jokes
"Antoinette, no swearing," I laugh
She rolls her eyes and kisses me
"I love you Cher,"
"I love you too baby,"
"Mommy is dinner ready?"
"Almost sweetie,"
Toni gets a call and answers it
"Topaz,"
"Respectfully not happening sir. I need to deal with what happened in my last mission,"
"No sir, respectfully I am not stable enough to carry firearms. I don't want to be a danger to myself or people around me,"
"Sir I was promised at least a year after this tour and then serve domestically. I have disabilities and limited ROM from the last tour,"
"Sir, I will not be doing that, thank you,"
She hangs up and puts her head on the table
"What's wrong Tones?"
"They're trying to send me to Iraq," she sniffs "I can't leave again Cher,"
"Baby they can't force you to go,"
"They can though," she says "they own me until I'm 27 Cher,"
"Babe, you just told them you weren't stable enough to carry arms- they aren't going to make you go over?"
She nods and shrugs
"I don't like it Cher,"
"I thought you did?"
She shakes her head and starts crying.
"CeeJay, wanna go wash your hands?" I ask before bending down
She nods and walks away
"Tones What happened?"
"Babe I'm the army there is so much discrimination. I mean I'm coloured, have a girlfriend, and I'm a girl. The men there were disgusting. I don't wanna go back,"
I hug her and she cries into my shoulder
"All my friends died. The others were brought back a day before the raid," she whispers "all the good ones died,"
"I'm so sorry Tones,"
"Mama?" CeeJay asks putting her hand on Toni's leg "are you okay?"
"I'm alright baby," Toni says with a sad smile
"Why are you cwying?"
"I miss my friends," she says "the ones from the army,"
"Oh," she says "I'll be your friend,"
"Your my best friend," Toni says kissing her head
Hopefully Tones will be okay
Hopefully she'll be able to heal
And raise her daughter like she always wanted to
