Chapter Text
A few months had passed and things had settled down again for Cheryl, she still thought about Toni but she could do day to day activities again without breaking down.
When her friends came back from New York the redhead had taken Fangs, Sweet Pea and Tabitha out for a meal to apologise for going home early and all of the drama she had caused on their trip and they obviously made sure they let her know that it wasn't her fault.
Cheryl had tried being more honest to her friends about how she felt about everything with Toni and they of course supported her but more than anything they made her feel valid, something that didn't happen too often.
Through Cheryl's heartbreak surfacing again she'd managed to find a healthy way of expressing her emotions and that was in her art, every canvas portraying her feelings at the time.
She had also accepted that no matter what Toni was doing with her life she'd be grateful that she had been able to spend a small part of her life with the brunette even if their last couple of encounters were chaotic.
Cheryl finally felt okay, nothing in her life would ever be perfect because Toni wasn't in it but she was okay, she didn't feel like she needed her to live a happy life.
There had been a lot of nights since New York where she'd lay in bed and think about their last interaction, the way Toni kissed her made her feel like she was the only person in the world but to Toni it was probably just goodbye.
Cheryl thought about reaching out to the brunette a couple of times but reconsidered, she didn't want to burden Toni and she didn't really want the drama.
Her ex was in a relationship too she reminded herself and she would never overstep that line even if her partner is an asshole.
***
Cheryl had a lunch date arranged with Tabitha at Pops just to catch up, she enjoyed spending time with her friends.
As she walked into the diner she gave her friend a small wave before sitting across from her in the booth.
'How are you?' Cheryl smiled.
'I'm good, business is booming right now, how about you?' Tabitha asked.
'I'm really good, I've just closed sales on two of my paintings' Cheryl smiled.
'That's really great Cheryl, you're an amazing artist'.
A waitress came over, politely interrupting them and taking their orders before leaving them to chat.
Cheryl listened as Tabitha chatted about a guy she’s dating chiming in every now and again, her friend actually seemed settled with this man and Cheryl was happy for her.
Just as the redhead was about to speak the bell above the entrance rang and got her attention, Cheryl glanced up but froze upon seeing the person.
'Earth to Cheryl' Tabitha tried before turning to see what had gotten her attention.
Even she was shocked to see Toni making her way over to their table.
'Toni... what are you doing here?' Cheryl asked in shock.
'I'm really sorry to just show up, can we talk?'.
Cheryl looked at Tabitha, she was completely confused and she felt like she had forgotten how to speak for a minute.
'We can reschedule' Tabitha said sliding out of the booth 'it was really nice to see you Toni'.
Toni gave her a small smile as she walked away before looking back at the redhead.
'You're freaked out, I'm sorry I should have called, I don't know what I was thinking...' Toni started rambling.
'What are you doing here Toni?' Cheryl finally spoke.
'I wanted to see you, clear things up and tell you how I feel' Toni said, feeling like her impulsive decision to fly to Riverdale might have been a bad idea.
'Okay' Cheryl nodded as she started to get her head around what was happening, she motioned to the seat and watched as Toni sat down.
'Do Fangs and Sweet Pea know you're here?' Cheryl asked, although she was shocked she was much more stable and level headed than the last time she saw Toni.
'They don't, I don't know what came over me I just jumped on a plane and ended up here' Toni said as she fiddled with her fingers.
'What made you do that Toni?' Cheryl wasn't trying to be blunt but she didn't want to get her hopes up to get hurt again.
'You did' Toni said looking Cheryl directly in her eyes.
Toni reached over and gently took Cheryl's hand in her own 'I'm in love with you Cheryl Blossom, always have been and always will be. I'm so sorry to just spring this on you but I had to tell you, I understand after everything if it's not what you want anymore, I just needed you to know how I feel'.
Cheryl tried to keep her tears at bay, she needed to be rational but her heart was beating so fast she thought it might beat out of her chest.
'What about your... boyfriend?' Cheryl said in almost a whisper.
'Ancient history, I ended things a few days after you left because I couldn't stop thinking about you. I've spent the last two months debating coming here and facing you, I talked myself out of it many times but in the end I'd never know if didn't try' Toni said as she looked at Cheryl.
The redhead hesitated, she wanted to jump head first into a relationship with Toni but she knew that wouldn't work, they had both changed, they needed to talk about this, whatever this is.
'And I just want to apologise again for the way Jacob spoke to you, I should have defended you. I was just so busy trying to push down my feelings for you. I apologise for everything that happened that night, I couldn't control my jealousy and I was a shitty person but that's not who I am. I just wanted to be the one with you rather than your date that night' Toni said sincerely.
'How is this even going to work? You live in New York and I live here. I don't want to rush into anything' Cheryl said, she wanted all of the cards on the table.
'If you give me a chance I'm happy to take it at your pace Cher, I can visit on my weekends off and if you'd like you can visit me' Toni looked at her hopefully.
Cheryl let out a breath 'Toni, I've finally found happiness in my life, I've found strength in myself. I'm not saying I don't want to try this because I do but I don't want to get hurt again'.
'Then let me try and add to the happiness in your life, you're an incredibly strong and independent woman Cheryl and I'm so glad you've realised that' Toni smiled genuinely.
Cheryl bit the inside of her cheek as she thought about the situation.
'Okay but I have some conditions, I can't let myself get lost in you Toni, I want to take things slow'.
'That's no issue for me Cher, like I said I want to go at your pace. What are your conditions?' Toni asked.
'We date slowly. I want us to take our time, I know that will probably be hard for us but it's necessary that way if it doesn't work we can be honest with each other and hopefully remain friends'.
'Makes sense' Toni smiled, she was just grateful Cheryl was considering giving her a chance 'anything else?'.
'Just that we are completely honest with each other, we're not teenagers anymore and things have changed, I want us both to just be one hundred percent truthful and remain our own person like I said'.
'I can do that' Toni smiled.
'So where do we start?' Cheryl smiled slightly, now she had gotten her worries out in the open she was so happy Toni had come back to Riverdale to see her.
'Could I take you out tonight maybe?' Toni asked and Cheryl could tell she was still a little nervous.
'I would love that Toni' Cheryl smiled.
'Okay great' Toni was over the moon, she promised herself that she would make everything up to the redhead no matter how long it took, today was the first day of the rest of their lives.
***
* Three Months Later*
Cheryl and Toni had been seeing each other every other weekend as well as phone calls and texts in between.
They talked more about what happened in New York along with their relationship as teenagers and where they went wrong.
The redhead hadn't allowed herself to become completely emerged into dating yet, she was still a little apprehensive about getting hurt but Toni had been completely understanding.
It also surprised Cheryl just how well they got on too, especially after all the arguments and awkwardness that was between them.
It was a Friday night and Cheryl was waiting for Toni to arrive at her house, they had decided on just staying at the redheads place and ordering a take out tonight.
When the doorbell rang Cheryl stood and moved to the door, butterflies in her stomach because she wanted to show Toni something today.
The redhead answered the door with a smile on her face as she looked at Toni stood in front of her with a bouquet of flowers.
'Hi' Cheryl smiled.
'Hi' Toni said leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss on the redheads plump lips 'these are for you'.
Cheryl took the flowers from Toni as she stepped to the side to let her in 'they're beautiful Toni, thank you'.
After taking Toni's bags to the lounge the pair sat on the couch and talked about how their past couple of weeks had been.
'Are you okay?' Toni asked squeezing Cheryl's hand noticing she seemed nervous.
'Could I show you something?' Cheryl asked.
'Of course' Toni smiled.
***
'Where are we going?' Toni asked as she followed the redhead through the hallway and up the stairs.
Cheryl stood outside of the door before opening it, standing to the side to allow Toni to step inside.
'Wow Cheryl did you do all of this?' Toni asked in awe as she looked around at the paintings.
'I did' Cheryl said stepping into the room 'I've been painting for years but after seeing you again I used it as a way to escape from the way I felt. I poured my love and everything I felt for you in my paintings. You're my muse Toni' Cheryl smiled softly 'I thought once I got back from New York I'd lost you for good, at least before that I had hope that if we ever saw each other again we could maybe rekindle what we had as teenagers but after that trip I'd lost all hope. I wanted to reach out but I didn't want to burden your life and I didn't want to come between your relationship with... Jacob. Painting didn't take the pain away but it eased it slightly, I never dreamed I'd get to see you again let alone date'.
Toni had tears threatening to fall from her eyes 'the paintings are beautiful Cheryl but I mean it when I say I want to be with you, I know it won't always be easy but you're worth it, you truly are'.
They looked at each other, really looked at each other for the first time since they were teenagers, they had sneaked glances at each other but this was different.
Cheryl stepped forward gently holding Toni's face in her hands, her thumbs grazing her cheek, she just wanted to look at her, she wanted to make sure she didn't see any doubt in the brunettes eyes because if she let herself do this she knew it would seal the deal between them.
After around a minute she leaned in, slowly kissing Toni, they had kissed since they had starting dating but not like this.
Toni kissed the redhead back just as slow and just as carefully, she wanted to make sure Cheryl was comfortable with everything that was happening.
After a few minutes the redhead dared to move her hands from Toni's face and lightly brush them over her body resting them on Toni's hips pulling her a little closer to her own body.
Toni finally decided to do some exploring of her own, she reached up to Cheryl's shoulders pushing her jacket off before pulling away slightly to check the redhead was alright.
When she saw that Cheryl was comfortable she leaned back in connecting their lips again.
The kiss deepening but the rhythm staying slow and steady.
Toni reached down to the hem of Cheryl's dress, her fingers moving down another inch until she felt the redheads pale skin.
The brunette took a step towards Cheryl causing her step back, the back of her legs now pushed against her desk.
Toni placed both hands around the back of Cheryl's thighs and lifted her to sit on the desk, the redhead parting her legs enough for Toni to fit between.
Cheryl moved her hands to Toni's jacket pushing it off leaving her in her jeans and T-shirt.
The redhead tried not to think too much about the way Toni's hands were moving up her thighs as the knot in her stomach tightened.
Cheryl reached for the hem of Toni T-shirt playing with it between her fingers.
'May I?' Cheryl whispered the voice in her head telling her she's about to be rejected.
'Yes' Toni said into a kiss.
Cheryl slowly pulled the T-shirt over Toni's head, leaning back a little before running her fingers lightly over the brunettes caramel skin watching as the goosebumps rose underneath her fingertips.
Toni watched as Cheryl looked over her body leaning back into a kiss when the redhead looked up and into her eyes.
The redhead tipped her head to the side as Toni kissed her neck before nipping lightly and sucking.
Cheryl tried to hold in the moan that was so close to slipping past her lips.
Toni moved one hand to the zipper on the back of Cheryl's dress holding it between her fingers.
'Take it off' Cheryl breathed as Toni was marking her neck '...if you want'.
Toni slowly pulled the zipper down before using both of her hands to slip the straps off of Cheryl's shoulders.
She stepped back pulling Cheryl to stand and watched as the dress pooled at her feet, mesmerised by the redheads body.
She lifted her back onto the desk, her hands roaming Cheryl's skin for the first time in years.
They slowly kissed as Cheryl allowed Toni some time explore her body before she reached for the button on Toni's jeans, her fingers expertly undoing them.
Toni helped Cheryl remove her jeans, both of them now only in their underwear, the redhead couldn't help but let her eyes roam over Toni's body as she reached around her and pulled her closer.
Cheryl placed kisses on Toni's neck and chest causing the brunette to let out a muffled moan.
'I need you' Cheryl whispered into Toni's ear, her breath hot on her skin.
Toni didn't hesitate, she removed Cheryl's bra before reaching for her underwear and tugging them off.
Cheryl eagerly removed the last of Toni's clothes as well, letting out a moan as she took in the brunettes naked body.
As soon as Toni's fingers touched Cheryl's centre she couldn’t stop the moan slipping past her lips, a moan that made Toni shiver before she felt the redhead reach down and touch her exactly where she needed.
The world around them seemingly disappearing as they began to make love, each of their attention completely on the other as minutes turned into hours.
***
Somewhere through their time together they had moved to Cheryl's bedroom, both of them completely naked under the blankets, their bodies entwined with each other's.
Cheryl laid against Toni's chest listening to her heart beating in her ear while the brunette ran her fingers through Cheryl hair.
The sound of the wind was getting louder outside as the rain tapped against the window.
'TT?' Cheryl whispered
'Yeah?'.
'I'm in love with you, I always have been and always will be'.
Toni smiled as she placed a kiss on Cheryl's head 'I'm so in love with you Cher, forever'.
After all of the drama they were glad they found their way back to each other, they still had a long way to go but they were heading in the right direction and that’s all that mattered.