Cheryl traced her fingers over the edge of the doorframe.

"Think this will do?"

She turned, raising an eyebrow at Toni, "I could do without the sarcasm."

"You've just turned down three cottages or houses all over town. I didn't even know the Blossoms owned so many properties," Toni said, eyes wide, "Is this one juuuuust right?"

"Look, I know as a werewolf, you'd be happy sleeping in a ditch," Cheryl said, but she was teasing, "Witches need a bit more...je ne sai quoi. You have to have the proper space to do magic in."

"Well, aren't you dialed into the magic tree portal?" Toni asked, referring to the picture that both she and her cousin Betty shared.

"In a sense, yes, but you still should be able to do magic outside of it. It would be dreadful. Plus, I'm hoping to expand my powers. I need someone with the right…" She brought her fingers away from the wood, rubbing it together, smiling at the feel of residual magic hard and gritty between the pads of her fingers.

"So, it's a yes?"

Cheryl turned, chin raised, "Yes, it's a yes."

"Oh, finally. I'll call Sweets and tell him to drop off your stuff here." Toni stepped back, shielding her eyes to spy the street address of Cheryl's newest location.

"And your stuff too," Cheryl said. Toni, who was half-leaning on the wrought-iron fence, choked a bit.

"Huh?"

Cheryl very rarely felt awkward. And, if she ever did, she was always easily able to overcome it with a snappy, witty insult. You made her feel unsure, she left you wishing she'd just turn you into a newt and get it over with.

To be so open with Toni, who made her feel like she always had just downed a bottle of champagne, was quite unlike her. She had not decided if she enjoyed this turn or not. Right now? Most certainly not.

"I said…" Cheryl wondered for the first time if she'd misread their affections toward each other. She knew that Toni had heard, at least partially, so there were no take-backs now.

"Your things too," Cheryl spoke softly, resisting the urge to bite her lip. She might feel exposed right now, but she was not going to show it on her face.

"Mine?" Toni tilted her head, "Don't witches prefer to live alone?"

"In many cases, but we'd hardly procreate if that were always the reality," Cheryl said, then swallowed, "Not that we...do you want to or not?" She bit out at the end, frustrated.

"Cheryl, are you asking me to move in with you?" Toni asked, stepping two inches away from her girlfriend.

"I...well, I thought it was obvious," Cheryl said, going on the defense.

"Mhh, why?" Toni asked, tilting her head. She studied Cheryl. Though Cheryl knew that werewolf-y mind-melding only worked between packs and when they were phased, she felt as though Toni was searching deep in her mind.

"Well, your little trailer is abhorrent and you deserve better." Cheryl said matter-of-factly, thinking of the pathetically small space that her girlfriend lived in, "You accidentally phase and a werewolf would be coming out the sides."

"Tell the truth," Toni said.

"That is it."

Toni traced a finger down Cheryl's cheeks, "Somehow, I don't think so."

Cheryl swallowed hard, heart thudding frantically from her chest. She wasn't used to a relationship where they were on equal ground, where Cheryl wasn't always trying to get something from their match-up, whether it is power or sex. She wasn't used to someone who gave back everything she put out, someone who was not afraid to take on one of the most powerful witches on the Eastern Seaboard.

It made her feel very human, in a weird sense. Not even low-level-witch-human, but absolutely, undeniably human. It made her feel a strange juxtaposition, somewhere between easily killable to invincible. Toni brought up feelings that Cheryl hadn't believed existed. Feelings that when her brother spoke of Polly, Cheryl used to roll her eyes at and think that he didn't understand how love worked.

Now, she was less sure of her own convictions.

"If we can't be honest with each other…" Toni stepped back, withdrawing.

"Because I want you here," Cheryl breathed, all in one big rush, "Because I like having you around and with Jason gone, it's going to be so lonely. Because you do deserve something better, and this is just a start, but It's what you should have always had. Because I hate sometimes how much I need you-,"

Toni pulled Cheryl down to kiss her.

The kiss tasted like cherries and Cheryl realized that it was her own chapstick on Toni's tongue.

"You hate how you need me?" Toni questioned after pulling back.

"I've always been taught that relying on others is a weakness. Witches sometimes seek each other out, but in a coven, there's a leader and there are the followers. There is no equals. It's not like a Wolfpack…" Cheryl sighed, "Sometimes, I wish it was more like that."

"You could always join one. You don't need to be a wolf." Toni pointed out. Cheryl gave a quirk of a smile.

"I can fantasize about it, but I think I'd hate it in the end," She said in a low laugh, "I didn't mean to offend you…"

"It's overwhelming." Toni said softly, linking her fingers together, "And new; this relationship, this freedom about magic...yes, magic makes everything feel that much bigger, but part of me thinks I'd feel this way even if we were both humans."

"You...feel it as well?" Cheryl asked, a bit dizzy with joy and relief.

"Cheryl, great moons, I'm crazy about you," Toni said, "And yes, I'll very gladly move into this big empty house with its own library and, hopefully, a big bed for us."

She turned around, her finger about to call Sweet Pea when Cheryl flicked her fingers and her phone flew out of her hand, landing softly in the grass.

"Cheryl, none of our stuff will get delivered if we don't let Sweet Pea know."

"Oh, he can wait a bit. I'm sure he's sulking about Betty somewhere. Who am I to interrupt such an important part of his day?"

"Cheryl-," Toni warned.

"You know it's true. But I don't want us thinking about my cousin right now," Cheryl said, grasping Toni's wrist and pulling her through the door. Toni, from all she knew about witches, expected a barrier feeling, some sort of force pushing away. Her confusion must have been evident. Cheryl laughed, braiding one hand into Toni's light purple hair, kissing her chin. A sweet gesture, very outside of her usual wheelhouse.

"Well, I have to set up all those boundary spells," Cheryl said, "And usually it takes eons. Wanna know what makes them stronger, though?" Her fingers were already untying Toni's top. Toni laughed.

"I might have an idea…"