"Toni, am I really a Serpent now?" Cheryl asked her girlfriend unsurely. The two of them were currently lying in Cheryl's (and now also Toni's) bed, trying to fall asleep after the eventful day they had. It was Toni's first night sleeping at Thistlehouse (as an official resident and as Cheryl's girlfriend) and she couldn't have felt more comfortable as she came to the realization that Cheryl was her new favorite pillow. Toni's head was rested on Cheryl's chest and tucked underneath her chin. Both of their left arms were wrapped around each other's waists while both of their right arms lay atop of one another between their nearly conjoined bodies. Their legs were completely intertwined; it was hard to tell where one body ended and the other one began.

Toni twisted her head to look up at her. "What do you mean, babe? You have the jacket..." Toni's voice trailed off, confused as to what Cheryl was asking.

Cheryl looked down to face Toni. "I know that, TT. By the way, thank you for going out of your way to get me a custom made Serpent jacket, that was really sweet," Cheryl added with a smile. Toni smiled back as if to say "you're welcome"; she didn't want to interrupt her girlfriend. "What I mean is that the Serpents are a gang; isn't there some kind of initiation that you have to go through in order to become a member? I mean they can't just let anybody join, can they?"

"Well..." Toni started, ..."As tradition goes, there are four stages; First, every new member must take care of the Serpents' dog, 'The Beast' otherwise known as Hot Dog. Secondly, they must memorize and recite the Serpent laws in the order provided; these are rules that we Serpents live by. Thirdly, they must retrieve a knife from the Serpents' rattlesnake cage. Finally, the last stage, known as 'The Gauntlet', involves a physical demonstration of loyalty and strength, specifically, being jumped into the gang by its members, which essentially requires the initiate to endure multiple punches to all areas of the body only to rise and stand firm. Completing the final task, the initiate is congratulated by shaking the other members hands, a sign of 'good sportsmanship', and granted the Serpent jacket, now accepted as one of our own. This last stage demonstrates a sign of respect within the Serpents, as we must be willing to die for one another," Toni explained slowly.

Cheryl audibly gulped. "Did you have to do all of that, TT?" Cheryl asked worriedly. She couldn't imagine anyone having to go through all of that, nevermind her sweet little Toni.

"No. I didn't," she answered hesistantly. "Female Serpents have an alternative initiation ceremony. If women want to join the Serpents, they have to do the 'Serpent dance'."

Cheryl arched her eyebrow. "'The Serpent dance'? Is that like one of our Vixens routines?" she asked optimistically.

"No. It's a sexist Serpent tradition that I have attempted to have outlawed... though misogyny prevailed," she added in annoyance (not towards Cheryl). "It's basically a pole dance," she deadpanned.

"Really? And that's what you had to do in order to join the Serpents?" Cheryl asked nervously.

"Yeah."

"How old were you, TT?"

"Thirteen... I was the youngest to do it," she answered sadly.

Cheryl nearly puked at the thought of a pre-teen Toni doing the Serpent dance. Her girl was probably alone, scared and desperate for a family as she walked into a bar filled with old men and undressed in front of them. Cheryl really wanted to know what happened to her girlfriend that made her want to join the Serpents and go through with doing something as degrading as the Serpent dance. The redhead figured something must've happened to Toni's parents since the girl never talked about them and they didn't seem to be around. All Cheryl knew about Toni's family was that she had lived with her uncle (when he didn't lock her out) and that her grandfather was still around and was one of the founding members of the Serpents. But there was so much that Cheryl didn't know about her girlfriend. She wanted to know everything there was to know about Toni but she didn't feel like now was the right time to ask her so she didn't; instead she just nodded in understanding. "But I already have my Serpent jacket. Do I still have to do the Serpent dance?" she asked the pink-haired girl.

"God I hope not," Toni answered apprehensively. "My Serpent dance was mortifying; all these grown ass men ogling me like I was a piece of meat... and I was only thirteen at the time! I was barely pubescent. I couldn't even look at Sweet Pea or Fangs for a week after I did my dance because I was so embarrassed," she said sheepishly. "But seriously Cheryl, like you said, you already have your Serpent jacket, a goddamn custom one, might I add," Toni said with a chuckle. "I'm like 99.99% sure that you're in the clear. Maybe with Jughead as the new Serpent King, the Serpent dance has been finally outlawed? Or maybe you don't have to do it because you've already proven yourself to be a Serpent? I mean you stood by the Serpents on Pickens Day (even before we were dating), you could've only brought me food today at the Wyrm but you brought enough for everybody, plus you warned us about what your mom and Hiram Lodge were up to. You really saved our asses, Cheryl. But if Jughead makes you do the Serpent dance even after all of that, I'll kill him myself," Toni said, sounding almost serious.

"If I do have to do the Serpent dance, maybe it can be a private one... just for you," Cheryl said huskily into Toni's ear.

"Hmm, I like that idea, Blossom," Toni hummed.

Cheryl smiled seductively. "Where's your tattoo, Toni? Don't all Serpents have one?" she asked suddenly. She changed the subject because she knew if they kept talking like that, Cheryl was going to risk it all with Toni. Despite all the rumors about her, Cheryl was a virgin. She was saving her first time for someone special and that someone, she knew now, was the pink-haired Serpent snuggling with her. The redhead had wanted Toni for so long... she craved her. Even after what happened with Nick St. Clair, Cheryl still wanted to be initimate with Toni. She knew, unlike Nick, Toni wouldn't have sex with her unless Cheryl was 100% sure that she was ready for it and she would stop if Cheryl told her to. Her girl would take care of her, just like she always does. But as much as Cheryl wanted to lose her virginity to Toni, tonight wasn't the night.

Toni rolled out of Cheryl's grip and Cheryl sighed at the loss of contact.

Toni wasn't wearing a bra so even though Cheryl was her girlfriend, Toni still wanted to be modest. As she lifted her sleep shirt (one she borrowed from Cheryl) with her right hand, she covered her bare breasts with her left arm.

Cheryl could feel herself growing wet at the sight of her nearly topless girlfriend. She was hoping Toni didn't notice how easy it was for her to get Cheryl aroused. If she did notice, she didn't say anything.

Toni's Serpent tattoo was located on her ribs, just next to her right breast and below her armpit. Cheryl lightly traced it with her fingernail as goosebumps errupted all over Toni's skin. Cheryl then leaned down to press a gentle kiss to the tattoo, leaving her signature red lips on Toni's tanned skin. She wanted to leave her signature red lips all over Toni's body but Cheryl immediately shook that thought from her head; she didn't want to ruin the sweet moment the two of them just shared.

"So, when do I get my tattoo, TT?" Cheryl asked, breaking the comfortable silence of the last minute.

"Whenever you want, babe. I could even give it to you, if you'd like?" Toni asked as she pulled her shirt back down and resumed her previous position on Cheryl's chest.

"No, TT. I'd rather you not give me my Serpent tattoo," Cheryl giggled at Toni's adorable pout. "I'd much rather have you by my side and holding my hand," she finished.

"Oh okay. I'd think that would be for the better. I don't want to be the person responsible for putting you in pain anyway," Toni replied softly.

Cheryl's heart nearly melted into a puddle. "Did it hurt getting yours, TT?"

"Yeah... and I don't like needles. But Sweet Pea's the one who did mine so I could at least punch him when he was done. Plus the amount of pain differs depending on the size and the location of the tattoo. Where do you want yours, babe?"

"Same as you, TT. We can be matching girlfriends," Cheryl answered softly.

"If that's what you want, babe," Toni paused. "Cheryl, before you get your tattoo, just please let me know one thing; you joined the Serpents for you, right? I don't want you to feel like I pressured you into joining when I said 'let's make it official'. I just don't want you to regret joining the Serpents if you only did so because of me," she said sincerely. The thought of Cheryl ever regretting joining the Serpents had been weighing heavily on her mind since her girlfriend put on that red jacket. The Southside Serpents weren't some after school club; they were a gang. Toni just wanted to make sure that her girlfriend knew (and didn't later on regret) what she signed up for.

"I don't regret becoming a Serpent, Toni. I did join them for you but I joined them for me too. You've basically been homeless your entire life and my home has always been an unsafe place for me. But you are my home, Toni. You make me feel safe for once in my life and wherever you are is where I want to be. If the Serpents are your family, then they're my family too," Cheryl said wholeheartedly.

Toni blushed. "My first day at Riverdale High, I thought I was going to have to beat that pretty little face in when you started disrespecting me and my boys," she laughed at the glare Cheryl was giving her. "Let me finish, babe. But when I overheard your phone conversation with Jughead that fateful day in the bathroom, I could just tell that whole 'HBIC' act was just that, an act. Acting like a bitch was your defense mechanism. You were hurting because you believed you lost the one person who loved you for you, Jason. By being so mean, you pushed everyone away so therefore no one could get close enough to love you and eventually leave you like he did. I could see a lot of myself in you, Cheryl and I wanted to be there for you because I didn't have anyone to be there for me... that is until Sweet Pea and Fangs came along, but that's a story for another day. Anyway, my point is is that even though you barely knew me (in fact you hated me like three hours earlier) you trusted me enough to open up to me and on top of all of that, you're letting me live here. Southside High closing was the best thing that has ever happened to me. If it weren't for that, I would've never gotten to know the beautiful girl who stole my thunder that day at the drag race and I am forever grateful. So thank you, Cheryl," Toni finished with a smile.

Cheryl nearly cried at Toni's words. The redhead knew right then and there that the tiny gang member in her arms was her soulmate. No one since Jason understood and cared for her as much as Toni did. Cheryl didn't know what else to say, Toni said it all, so instead she leaned down to place a soft, gentle kiss on her girl's lips. "And with that, I think it's time for bed, Antoinette," Cheryl said once she detached her lips from Toni's.

"What did you just call me?" Toni asked in feigned annoyance.

"Did you think I didn't hear Nana Rose call you that when you came in earlier?" Cheryl asked playfully.

"Only she's allowed to call me that, Bombshell," Toni said through a yawn as she snuggled closer to Cheryl and finally fell asleep.

"Whatever you say, Antoinette," Cheryl whispered as she ran her fingers through Toni's pink and caramel locks. Cheryl had never thought she'd be here; so content and at peace in the arms of not only a girl but a Southside Serpent, nontheless. She used to be cautious because of her homophobic mother but now all of her emotions are all because of Toni and she wouldn't have it any other way. She no longer felt deviant, she felt sensational.