On Sunday morning, CJ woke up and panicked when she didn't recognise her surroundings straight off, but Toby's lips on her neck shook her out of the sleepiness and she relaxed.
"Good morning." He muttered.
"Good morning," she replied lazily, "What time is it?"
"7:30." He told her.
"I better see if Hannah's up, she's an early riser."
"No need." He nudged her to roll over to face the door, where Hannah stood in her pyjamas.
"Morning!" she said happily and CJ laughed into Toby's shoulder.
"Morning baby, did you sleep well?" CJ asked her, sitting up.
"I'm hungry." She simply replied and this time Toby laughed.
"Do you want some oatmeal?" he wondered, remembering what CJ had said about her eating habits.
Hannah nodded enthusiastically.
"Come on, Ceej. Oatmeal time," He got up, pulling on his robe over his pyjamas and guided Hannah to the kitchen with CJ close behind.
They sat around the breakfast table, CJ and Toby sipping coffee while Hannah ate her oatmeal with chopped bananas.
"The twins are coming at 10." Toby told the pair while he read the newspaper.
"You excited to meet Huck and Molly?" CJ questioned her daughter.
"Yep!" Hannah grinned and CJ relaxed into a smile.
"Good."
"I didn't tell them, CJ. Don't worry." Toby stated and she chuckled knowingly. "I also thought since we have a good couple of hours yet, we could all go for a walk, show you the neighbourhood."
"Yeah, good idea." CJ beamed and stood up. "Hannah, you need your bath so we'll do that first, come on."
Hannah scrambled across the kitchen behind her mother while Toby went to get dressed.
"Mommy, are Huck and Molly nice?" Hannah asked while she was being dressed.
"Yes, you'll love them." CJ told her daughter.
"Will they like me?" she wondered innocently.
"Oh honey," CJ began chuckling, "of course they're going to like you."
45 minutes later:
"You ready?" Toby called as he walked into the bedroom where CJ was dressing. "Hannah's dying to go."
"Just about, I couldn't find my boots." She explained, sitting on the bed to pull them on.
"How did you lose those?" he wondered, watching her, "They're at least a mile long."
"Shut it, you." CJ warned with a smirk. "Is she ready?"
"All wrapped up waiting." He told her.
"Okay," she began as she stood up from the bed, "I'm ready."
Toby admired her attire: tight black jeans and riding boots with a warm red coat wrapping her up.
CJ noticed his staring and smiled. "What?"
"You look hot."
"It's cold, Toby. I need to be wrapped up." she said plainly.
He smirked, rubbing his beard. "Don't be coy."
A smile appeared on her lips. "Come on, no time for flirting. We have an impatient toddler waiting for us."
"Sure. I'm going to have to learn to control myself around you." He retorted as they walked out of the bedroom.
"You've basically been doing it for years, you'll live." She teased back.
After their walk and a chance for Hannah to acquaint herself with the local play park, the trio were back and ready to welcome the twins.
"I'm in a hurry, sorry I can't stay." Andi breathed out as Toby opened the door to her and the twins.
"Okay," he hugged Molly and Huck simultaneously, "Hey, get in guys."
They waved off Andi as she rushed down the steps and he led them into the empty living room.
"Sit down, you two," Toby said almost sternly and they obeyed, facing him as he stood.
"What's up, Dad?" Huck asked, wondering why his father was acting weirdly.
"I've got something to tell you, which I hope you're going to be happy about," he began, moving his fingers in their usual nervous twitch and momentarily glancing towards the doorway.
CJ was hovering in his eye-line, but not so that the twins would notice her.
"I'm not going to be living here alone anymore," he announced.
"What?" Molly asked curiously.
"You see," he smiled, "CJ is moving, well has moved, here to New York with Hannah, her daughter. We're together now."
"Are you serious?" she asked him calmly.
"Yeah he is, Mol." CJ spoke up from the door and the pair instantly ran towards her and wrapped their arms around her in a hug.
"Oh my god you're here," Huck beamed, "I've missed you CJ."
"Aw kid I've missed you too, you as well sweetie," she planted kisses on their heads.
"You two want to meet Hannah?" Toby wondered.
"Yeah!" they nodded enthusiastically.
"Hannah baby?" CJ called and Hannah came wandering into the room towards her mother, "Say hi to Huck and Molly, Toby's twins."
"Hi," she said shyly.
"Hi Hannah!" Molly grinned, "You do know your mom's the coolest, right?"
"Yeah," Hannah giggled and CJ blushed slightly.
Huck walked over to her and shook her hand, "Nice to meet you, Hannah."
CJ looked over to Toby with a smile because it seemed their children were going to get along incredibly well.
It was eventually decided that they would all spend the day watching movies because apparently the kids found no better way to bond than over animated Disney characters.
CJ lay on the couch, sideways to face the screen, with her legs across his lap.
"CJ?" Toby murmured, watching how engrossed she was in the screen; much like the twins and Hannah who were lying on the rug, mesmerised by the movie.
"What?" she asked, not turning away.
He stroked her leg affectionately, willing her to face him.
"Would you mind? I'm trying to watch the movie," she whispered, sitting up and turning to him, sitting Indian Style.
"You're such a child," he leaned in to cup her face and kiss her gently.
"Tobus, The Lion King is brilliant." She said in a low voice.
"You wouldn't rather be interrupted?" he sighed, his fingers tracing her thighs.
CJ gestured to the floor, "Have you forgotten about our children?"
"No," he told her, "But they are pretty fascinated by this thing."
"I can't believe I have to tell you to keep your hands to yourself," she said through gritted teeth, leaning against the back of the couch so Toby could wrap his arm around her.
"Because you want it so bad?"
"You're unbelievable." She muttered, a small laugh escaping her lips.
"Mom?" Hannah turned up to face the pair and CJ was thankful Toby no longer had his hands in her jeans.
"Yeah, baby?"
"Is it time for lunch yet?" she quizzed.
Molly turned at these words, "Yeah, Dad I'm hungry."
"Me too!" Huck piped up.
"Okay, okay. How about mac and cheese?" Toby suggested and the trio nodded enthusiastically before returning to the TV.
"You make mac and cheese for them?" CJ queried.
"You don't make it for Hannah?"
"I do but I figured you were against all the processed stuff, you know minus your ridiculous snacking obsession."
"I get this organic one, it tastes the same." Toby shrugged, earning a smile as they wandered off into the kitchen.
They ate once The Lion King was over, CJ and Toby even eating mac and cheese. A viewing of Toy Story later, they took the kids down to the play park – mostly because Toby wasn't sure if he could endure something else animated.
Hannah had napped her way through Toy Story, which was played out with an adorable display of affection by Molly who moved onto the armchair with her in her lap, Huck sitting beneath them on the floor. With this being the case, CJ also felt that fresh air would do her some good.
Andi called to say she could come by early, so at around 5pm she arrived back at the house.
"CJ!" she had exclaimed as CJ opened the door, dragging her into a hug similar to the scene of her children that morning.
"Hey, Andi," CJ smiled back.
"You're here, wow." Andi chuckled.
"Yeah, a bit surreal if I'm honest," she sighed, running a hand through her hair, "but Toby's been so great about everything."
"He really wants this to work," Andi told her.
"So do I. God, Andi, I can't remember feeling like this before, you know?"
She smirked at CJ, "Seriously, you two really ought to have done this sooner."
"Hi Mom!" Huck sang as he noticed his mother in the doorway.
"Had a good day honey?" she asked.
"Yeah, CJ's living here now isn't that awesome?"
"It is, sweetie. Did you have fun with Hannah?"
"I did!" Huck smiled and ran upstairs to find his rucksack.
"Hey Mom, this is Hannah!" Molly announced as Andi walked into the living room where the two girls were sat on the couch, Toby having being forced into the armchair.
"Hi Hannah, nice to meet you sweetheart," Andi smiled, earning a wave, "I'm Andi, the twins' mom."
"Hello Andi," Hannah said softly.
"Molly, we're going now are you ready?" she asked her daughter.
"Yeah," she said sadly but hugged Hannah tightly, "Bye lovely Hannah!"
"Bye, bye Molly!" Hannah echoed.
Huck came in to hug Hannah too, and Andi soon left with the twins.
Hannah sat on the phone to Danny for a while before Toby and CJ put her to bed; she recalled the fun she'd had with the twins, seemingly her new best friends, and how cool she thought it was living with Toby.
"Hey Danny," CJ said after Hannah was asked to hand the phone over to her.
"How is it?" he asked, clearly not enthusiastic.
"I love it here," she sighed back happily.
"I'm glad you're happy, and Hannah seems to be too."
"She is." CJ confirmed.
Once off the phone, Toby found her sitting on the stairs looking pensive.
"Hi," he said, sitting down beside her.
"Hi," CJ replied.
"Danny's okay with Hannah being here now that she's talked to him?"
"Seems to be," she commented.
"Deserves a drink, don't you think?"
"Yeah."
He brought a bottle of wine up to bed because they figured 'why not?' and sat wrapped up while drinking.
"You have work tomorrow, don't get hungover." CJ warned mockingly.
"Just because you don't doesn't mean you can get shitfaced," he said, a light smile.
"Oh my god, I need a job," she realised, panicking, "Toby why haven't I thought about getting a job yet? I've never not had a job in my life."
"I'm going to let the double negative slide because you've been drinking," he said playfully, "but don't worry. You have contacts, right? Are you looking for something in particular?"
"I don't know. Should I approach Emily's List again after all these years? Do I go into the public or private sector? What about teaching? I could take a leaf out of your book."
Toby gazed at the way she rambled slightly, "You don't have to decide right away, okay? You're here, with me and with Hannah, and you've been here a day. Just settle in first and then we'll find you something."
"God, Toby this is too weird," CJ stated, "I'm telling you, we aren't built for domestic bliss."
"No, probably not," he agreed, "but I want to try anyway."
She pressed her lips to his softly, a sweet taste of wine lingering there.
