Toni looked up to them, her breaths shakey.

"I'm done..." Toni spoke physically and mentally exhausted. She stepped up to their door and practically fell into their arms, holding them tightly, not wanting to let go of them. Their arms slipped around Toni and held onto the smaller girl.

"what happened to you Toni?" they pulled back to look at the purple marks on her face and some that peeked out from under her shirt.

Toni just shook her head and wiped her eyes.

"can I come inside?" she asked, not wanting to intrude on them.

"of course Toni, come in please" Toni stepped inside and they closed the door behind her, slipping an arm around her waist and leading her to their living room couch.

Both of them sat on the couch, the other just waiting for Toni to talk.

"I can't keep this up, she's lost it. This isn't healthy anymore for either of us" Toni wiped some of her tears away and looked over to her company, who's eyes still darted over the bruises.

"did she do that to you?" they asked, anger hinting in her voice.

"yeah but it's alright, it's done now" Toni promised but they jumped up from their seat already storming towards the door.

"wait Veronica!" Toni grabbed her hand gently and turned her around to face Toni.

"don't, she needs help.. Not to be attacked" Toni pulled Veronica back up closer but Veronica didn't look so sure, eyes watering a little a finger trailing over a small purple spot on Tonis jaw.

"but she hurt you" Toni turned her head and pressed a light kiss to her palm.

"and I hurt her for too long, I want her to be OK in the end, I need to help her" Toni explained, pulling Veronica gently back with her to the couch where they sat.

"so what are you gonna do?" she asked, nerves in her voice "you can't keep going on like this" Veronica insisted. Toni knew she was right.

"I know, me and Cheryl, I love her.. I so but its not the same as before, there's no spark. The passionate love is gone, and the fighting its not fair on us or the kids" Toni knew what she had to do but she wasn't sure if she could do it. Even though she knew irts what they needed to, she would still struggle to make that move. And do what she needed to make sure they were both happy in the end. Toni knew where her happiness was and she knew now it wasn't at Cheryl's bedside anymore.

"I know you will do what you have to do" Veronica slipped her hands over Tonis and held them softly.

"ever since Cheryl left I think it's never been the same, it broke my heart and I don't think it ever was healed by her, and she wasn't happy in our situation. She just dealt with it. It's not fair on her, trying to fight for something that we both know isnt there anymore. The other night, when we were together on our last day of tour... It was like life was poured back into me. Like that spark inside me was ignited again. You brought those long lost emotions back to me. You made me so happy, you made me feel loved and I know that's what I want to be feeling every day. And I want that for Cheryl too but I can't offer that to her anymore. "

Veronicas eyes searched Toni's face, looking for a hint of a lie but there was none. She brought her fingers under Toni's chin and raised it

"I make you feel that?" She questioned, still not sure if Toni was just spurring out random thoughts.

"you do, it was like you started up my heart again. I think I knew ever since that night that... Me and Cheryl weren't the right path anymore. It's the one I wanted for the kids. But it's not what me or Cheryl really want"

Toni watched as the girl infornt of her moved in, pressing her lips to Toni's, only passion and love showing with the kiss. It's what Toni had been missing, what she had been searching for. Toni's eyes closed and she kissed back lightly before eventually pulling away.

"I want this, I do. But I can't right now. I need to stabilise the family issues first, help the kids adjust to what's coming and make sure Cheryl is safe and getting what she needs" Toni hoped she hadn't sent mixed signals and thrown the woman off.

"Toni you take all the time you need. This isn't an easy thing, it's not like it's gonna just all fix at the click of your fingers. You take all the time you need, you do what you have to. And I will be here waiting for you when you're ready, however long it takes" Veronica had no spite or hate in her voice, she meant it, she wanted to take it easy on Toni and wanted to make sure the kids and Cheryl were OK before making any kind of next step.

"thank you for understanding"

"of course, but come on let's get you rested up" Veronica took Tonis hand lightly and lead her through her house to the bedroom. Toni pulled off her jacket and boots, placing them to the side.

"do you have anything spare I can wear?" she asked, pulling off her shirt but flinching as she did the pain on her back restricting her movements.

"yeah of course" Veronica went and found Toni a loose top and pj shorts, handing them over but eyeing the faint bruises forming on her skin.

Toni finished changing and slipped into the bed, Veronica climbing in beside her.

Toni was exhausted and was quick to fall asleep. Veronica not wanting to rest until she knew the pink hiared girl was safe, she stayed up for an hour longer before letting herself pass out in the bed beside her.

--

To say Toni was scared was an understatement. She didn't know how this was gonna go. No she didn't expect Cheryl to come at her brandishing a knife like a crazy person but she still was scared about her reaction. Toni took her last heavy breath before stepping inside the house.

"hello?" she called out and head deeper into the place she once called a home. Quickened footsteps came out of their bedroom and Cheryl was the one who made them.

"Toni!" she ran towards Toni and a sudden panic flooded her only to be calmed as arms swung around her and held her tightly.

"you came back, I thought you would never return" she whispered, arms kept around the smaller girls body.

"I came back to talk, I'm gonna get the kids" Toni pulled back from the hug

"Daniel! Amelia! Thomas!" she called out. A door opened and all three of the children came out, instantly running to Toni once they saw her "hey guys, look go stuff a rucksack of some clothes and stuff then go on outside. Aunt V is waiting in her car for you" Toni informed them and they did as she asked.

"come on let's go sit down" Toni took Cheryl's hand and lead her to the living room where they sat on the velvet couch together.

"Toni I'm so sorry, I should have never hurt you, especially in front of the kids I'm sorry I did it, I hope you can forgive me" Cheryl didn't take her eyes off of Toni.

"I forgive you, I don't condone it, I think it was so wrong. But I forgive you. And I'm sorry, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me, I'm sorry I haven't been the wife you needed me to be. I should have done better. I promise I'm going to change that though, I'm gonna be here for you, I'm gonna look after you and give you the help you need" Toni promised, she knew she hadn't done right either. Both had made mistakes, she needed to own it.

"so you're coming home?" Cheryl smiled but that smile faded as Toni didn't share it.

"I'm gonna be here for you, but I can't be here for you as your wife" Toni looked at her hand and slowly slid the ring off, placing it to the coffee table beside them.

"what.. But we are always meant to be together Toni" Cheryl looked at the ring on the table confused.

"Cheryl... We haven't really been together since you went away. We may have got back together but that love has been a dying spark ever since, our lives going on different paths" Toni tried to explain in the kindest, softest way she could.

"is this about you and Kylie?" Cheryl asked but Toni shook her head "Veronica?"

"Cheryl this is about us, me and you. We can't keep this up, we are always in limbo, always watching out step. This life isn't fair on us or the kids" she took both of Cheryl's hands.

"I want to help you, I want to help you find the right person for you" Toni brought her hands up to her lips and kissed them lightly.

"I called josie and Kevin, told them the situation. Josie is gonna come stay with you for a bit until you get yourself back on your feet. But I also.. I wanna maybe book you in for some therapy sessions if you will accept it. I didn't wanna do it without asking but I think there's a lot of anger and hurt built up in you and you need some help to releive it"

Cheryl was quiet for a moment, processing the information. Eventually she nodded in agreement.

"thank you, I will set it up for you. But also just for now I'm gonna look after the kids OK? I just think it's safer for them to stay with me at Ronnie's house. But you can text me to meet them when you feel ready and we can work this out together. As friends"

Toni's eyes met Cheryl's and it tore her heart a little. But she knew she had to do all this.

"I understand" Cheryl's hands shook as she slowly removed the rings and placed them with Toni's. "let me just have..." she cupped Toni's cheek and leant in slowly, a gentle kiss placing onto Toni's lips. And with that the flame between them went out. Toni pulled back from the kiss and stood up from the couch.

"josue will be here in about an hour, I've gotta leave but text if you need me" she walked away to the front door "bye Cheryl" she spoke trying to keep her voice strong. Not let herself break down. She knew she would have to explain everything to the kids which would be the hardest bit.

Toni went to Veronica's car and sat in the front seat, wiping under her eyes.

She felt a hand rest on hers, she lightly held Veronica's hand to try and keep herself strong. She couldn't cry in front of the kids.

"how does a nerf war sound?" Veronica asked the kids and they all cheered in agreement. "it's a plan then" as they were pulling out Toni saw a recognisable face get out a car just down from them. It was Josie. She had come early. Toni gave her a sad smile as they drove past.