A/N: I used to have an account on here (You'reMyRightArm) but have lost access to it. This fanfic is linked to the going ons in the show. Carla is in hospital after collapsing.

'Knock knock' Carla looked up from the magazine she'd already read 100 times over to see Peter stood at the door of her hospital room. 'Can I come in?'

'Yeah sure, so long as your pint throwing girlfriend isn't in tow' she joked, chucking the magazine down on the bed tray. Though she truly did hope Toyah wasn't going to walk in behind him. The last thing she needed right now was another row with a Battersby

'No' Peter chuckled slightly 'she's back at the rovers pulling pints as opposed to chucking them. I'm really sorry about all that Carla, it's the last thing you needed what with all this going on' he gestured to the machines carla was hooked up to.

'Ahh it's water under the bridge. Can't blame the girl for being paranoid, she is dating you after all' she teased, knowing Peter was aware of her witty humour by now

He tutted in jest and shook his head slightly before sitting down into the seat beside Carla's bed, his heart breaking slightly at the sight of her. Her usual olive skin looked pale and her eyes looked tired. Despite it all though, she still looked just as beautiful as she always had done

Carla could feel Peter's gaze was on her 'You'll have to excuse the state of me.. for reasons beyond me, the nurses don't see make up as a priority' she joked, running her hands through her hair in an attempt to make herself look half decent

'Don't be silly. You look bea..' Peter suddenly discontinued his compliment, realising that calling her 'beautiful' may not come across well given their history. 'You look fine' he corrected, awkwardly looking towards the floor as he shuffled his feet apart

A soft smile formed across Carla's face, knowing what he'd originally gone to say. 'So then Barlow, what brings you here?'

Peter wasn't 100% sure whether visiting Carla would be a good idea. Something inside him broke when he'd found out what was wrong with her though. Knowing the woman he was once so in love with was now facing the idea of losing her life. He needed to see her, see how she was doing. 'Well this seems to be one of our favourite places.. couldn't not add another hospital room chat to our collection' he joked, thinking back to all the times either him or Carla had been in a hospital bed with the other stood at their side

'Well it'd have been rude not to' Carla smiled, also remembering back to their many hospital visits in the past

'So, this may be a stupid question but.. how're you doing?' Peter asked, adjusting himself in the chair and turning his body so he was facing Carla completely

'I'm okay. It's a weird feeling' Carla sighed, looking around the room as she spoke. 'Your body just giving up on you and there being nothing you can do about it. You know how much I hate relying on people as it is, let alone when you're relying on them to give you one of their flamin' organs'

Peter's gaze was fixed on Carla. He hated seeing her look so hopeless. 'Yeah but people care about you Carla. So many people have relied on you in the past. It's about time you let someone help you out. Ya know, if I wasn't a raging alcoholic, I'd give you one of mine in a heart beat. It'd be the least I owed you'

Carla rolled her eyes 'You owe me nothing Peter. The past has been and gone. If there is one thing this illness has taught me, it's that life's too short. Too short to sit dwelling on the bad times and regretting the past'

Peter looked down awkwardly, fiddling with his hands 'Well I'll never stop being sorry, I hope you know that' Peter reached down for the white carrier bag he'd taken in with him. 'I erm, I brought you something'

Carla's brows furrowed as she pulled herself more upright in her bed 'you ain't got someone's kidney in that bag have ya?' She quipped, making Peter chuckle

'No, no. I wish I did though. I was going to bring some flowers but my dad told me they'd stopped letting people do that. Then I erm.. I remembered this' Peter pulled out a white teddy bear from the bag, turning it to face Carla as he nervously awaited her reaction

Carla couldn't control the tears that had arisen in her eyes. She swallowed the lump that had cushioned itself in her throat and reached out for the teddy. A smile forming on her face. 'I thought I'd lost this' Carla couldn't hide the happiness in her voice as she stroked the fluff on the bear's head, brining it up to her face and breathing in it's scent. It was the bear she'd got when she found out her and Peter were having a baby. It was the first thing she'd brought for their little girl; sadly, it turned out to be the only thing she'd been able to buy her

'I found it in a box of my things from the flat a while back. I wasn't sure if you'd appreciate it but I thought it could be like a good luck charm y'know. I thought it might bring comfort knowing in some ways, our little girl was with you, watching over you' Peter spoke with sadness, talking about the daughter they could've shared together

Carla couldn't help but well up at the thoughtfulness of Peter. That's one of the things she'd always loved most about him. 'Thank you. So much' Carla spoke, still stroking the bears head 'do you ever imagine what she'd be like now?' She asked cautiously, her gaze still on the bear she was holding

Peter smiled as he thought about it, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket 'Of course I do, every day. Every time I pass a little girl in the street or walk past the children's clothes section in a shop I think of her. Imagine what kind of things she have liked wearing and what kind of personality she'd have had. She'd be 4 this year and I bet she'd be a right little madam already'

Carla chuckled, imagining her little girl would have been a smaller version of her. She looked over at Peter to see him lost in thought, looking down into his wallet 'what you got there?' She questioned, leaning towards him

Peter turned his wallet to face Carla, revealing the scan picture of their baby placed in the clear pocket of his wallet. The only picture they had of their daughter. 'I used to have a picture of Simon there but then I figured, I see him everyday. We didn't even get to meet our little girl' Peter's voice was full of sadness as he spoke and Carla was completely drawn in, fully understanding his pain. 'I just wanted to have something there with me at all times so that In some way or another, she was with me everyday. Even if it's not in the way we'd have hoped'

A single tear rolled down Carla's face as she leaned over and grabbed her purse from the bed tray, undoing it to reveal the exact same picture placed inside the pocket of her purse too. 'I guess she'll always be with the both of us' she spoke, hugging the bear close to her chest and nestling her face into it whilst intensely staring at the picture in her wallet, stroking it with the thumb of the hand she was holding her purse in. This was the first time her and Peter had properly spoken about their baby without there being any hatred towards him. No blame. Just a mutual love and grief for their little girl. Carla's thoughts were interrupted by Peter handing her a tissue

'Here. Don't want you drowning poor bear there' he joked, momentarily stroking her hand with his thumb as she took the tissue from him. Although he already knew Carla had sobbed into the bear many a times when they had lost the baby

Carla wiped her face with the tissue before looking towards Peter 'hey.. I really hope yours and Toyah's baby will bring you happiness. You've been given another chance in life. Make sure you make the most of it'

Peter felt saddened at the tone of Carla's voice 'And you're going to get another chance too. A new kidney. A chance to continue living. You're already speaking like it's over Carla. Like you've given up'

Carla lightly shook her head 'I've not given up.. it's just, I think you need to prepare yourself for the worst in situations like this. The amount of times I've got my hopes up in the past about things and every time, I've been let down. I hope with every fibre of my being that this time will be different'

'It will be. You will be..' Peter was interrupted as Carla began violently coughing, unable to catch her breath. He shot up, grabbing the plastic cup of water that was beside him and pressing it up to Carla's lips. Holding it there as she sipped it slowly, trying to regain her composure. His mind shot back to when the positions were different. When he was lying in a hospital bed, thinking it was the end and Carla was there, assisting him in drinking his cup of water. 'You okay?' He asked as Carla gently guided his hand away with her own

'Yes..thank you. It's just my breathing. It's a right bitch' Carla let out a small yawn, placing her hand over her mouth to try and cover it 'Sorry. You're not boring me, I promise. I just get exhausted so easily. Even breathing seems such an effort nowadays' she sighed, tilting her head back in annoyance as it hit the pillow propped behind her

'Hey it's alright. I'll leave you to get your rest. You're going to need it for when you're back on top form, strutting down that street in your 5 inch heels' He joked as Carla smiled at the comment 'Listen Carla, it's really good having you back' he shuffled awkwardly in his seat, playing with his hands 'I know it's not down to the best circumstances but all I ever hoped for when I was in Portsmouth was that I'd see you on the street again one day and we'd be able to be mutual'

Carla smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear 'I hoped I'd see you again too. It's nice to see you happy and settled. Just you stay away from them babysitters' she joked as he laughed back, shaking his head at her humour

'Right well, I best shoot off then. Let you get your beauty sleep' Peter stood up from the chair, beginning to walk off before Carla spoke

'Thank you for coming, Peter. And for bringing this' she raised the bear in the air slightly 'I think it's just what I needed' Peter's lips tugged upwards into a smile as he walked back over to Carla's bed, placing his hand over the back of her head and pulling it towards his lips, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Months ago, Carla would've rejected this move. Told him to back off. Today though, she allowed it to happen. Closing her eyes and letting out a small sigh of contentment that she'd finally made peace with the man she'd both loved and hated for so long

'Take care of yourself Carla. Don't you go giving them nurses any hassle' he teased as his eyes met hers and they gently smiled at one another, their gaze not breaking

'Oh don't worry.. it's the fit doctors who have to watch out' she smirked as Peter let out a small laugh, walking towards the door

'Bye Carla' he spoke one last time, turning to face her before he slipped out the door and walked off into the corridor

'Bye Peter' Carla sighed, looking down at the teddy and placing a kiss on it's head, just like peter had done to her seconds ago