A/N: An alternative to the episode that aired on April 21st 2014. Peter is in rehab.
"Well you took your time, didn't ya?" Steve sniped as Tina walked into the Rovers with Carla.
"Oh, Simon needed her," Carla pleaded with Steve, placing her purse upon the bar, "so did I, so..."
"You know you're an absolute natural with that little lad," Rita told Tina proudly
"Yes, she is!" Carla agreed
"Well, he's lucky to have you whilst Peter's," Audrey paused, her eyes drifting to Carla, "uhh incapacitated..."
Steve watched as Carla's hurt-filled gaze dropped to the bar surface, and could feel his blood boiling beneath the surface as his barmaid continued to accept the praise she was being given,
"Well he's got Leanne," Tina said before remembering herself, "and Carla, so..." She smiled at the woman next to her, and Steve couldn't contain himself further,
"Well it's a shame you're not as good a barmaid as you are a 'nanny'," he sniped, his hands still on his hips, glaring as Tina rolled her eyes at him
"Sorry," Tina responded, as Carla looked on at Steve in total confusion as to his lack of empathy, "What you havin'?" she asked Carla before moving around the bar,
"No," Carla cut her off, "no I'll get you one!"
"Uhh no you won't," Steve said, "uhh because she's working!" he lied
"So?" Carla asked
"Uhh, lighten up Steve," his mother sighed as Tony watched on amusedly
"Yeah, lighten up Steve," Tina echoed, hitting Steve playfully on the chest, "I'll uhh have a voddy and coke, please" she told Carla, clearly oblivious to the anger barreling off of her boss as he brushed the spot on his chest where she had hit him
"Right you are," Carla said, reaching into her purse for her wallet, "you know what? Could I just have a water for now, I'm dead thirsty..." she half-lied, still hiding her pregnancy from those around her
Tina gave Steve a smug look before trodding to the back of the bar,
"Hey Steve," Tony called to him, swallowing his mouthful of beer, and drawing Steve's attention from Tina to him, "you been plastering, mate?" he asked pointing to the white stains on Steve's shirt
Steve looked down embarrassingly at his shirt, "uhh no, baking," at Tony's and Liz's inquiring looks he continued, "it's very trendy now, baking cakes..." he said nonchalantly, "it's the new, ummm, football..."
"That right?" Tony asked, as Liz tried to contain her laughter, then crinkled his nose, "you smell something?"
As if on cue, Michelle came out to the front of the pub, "Steve, darling" she said, "there's something burning in the kitchen!"
Tony and Liz began to laugh, as Steve quickly made his way to the back room, leaving a confused Michelle standing there.
Carla continued to fill Michelle in on her day with Simon, and how Tina had helped not only to calm him down, but somehow managed to get him to see how much Carla was hurting as well. She told her how when she went to comfort Simon, he threw his arms around her, giving her the tightest hug he ever has.
"He left telling me that he knew it weren't my fault that Peter started drinking," Carla sniffed, "and I just broke down into tears," she shook her head before nodding towards Tina, "Poor Tina must think I'm a right wimp now,"
"As if," Tina scoffed, "you're the strongest woman I know Carla-"
"Happy Birthday to you..." Steve's voice interrupted them, and they all turned to see him making his way from the backroom with a burnt and messily decorated cake.
Carla dropped her head in her hands, mouthing an 'I'm sorry' to Michelle as she had completely forgotten the day and feeling horribly guilty about it
"Don't forget to make a wish," Steve prodded his girlfriend
"Okay," she said, gazing slightly at Carla, before blowing out the candles to the reactions of those in the pub
"Aww," Tina said, hugging a tray to her, "Well it was the thought that counts, Steve, eh?" she said jokingly
Steve's face suddenly became hard, "yeah, it is actually, but you wouldn't know about that, would ya?" he snapped at her, "because you don't think of anyone else do ya? You just think about yourself!" he turned to put the cake down on the bar,
"What?" Tina asked, thoroughly confused,
"Steve," Michelle admonished him,
"She's just been looking after Si today," Carla defended Tina and Steve, "I've been crying on her shoulder,"
Steve looked upon Carla guiltily, hating the fact that she had no idea what was going on under her nose, and truly believing the woman she was defending was a mate. He turned his attention to Tina, "my heart bleeds," he sneered, before heading to the backroom,
"What the hell was that about?" Liz asked,
Before Michelle could answer, Steve had pivoted back behind the bar, his guilt consuming him and he made a beeline to Carla
"You know, you need to find someone else to offload too," he wagged his finger at her, "because I'm telling you now, she's no friend to you!"
Carla narrowed her eyes at him, before glancing over to Tina, who no longer looked confused, but edgy.
"What's she done?" Michelle questioned him, "and it's obviously more than insult your impression of Mary Berry"
"Paul Hollywood, actually," Steve mumbled,
"Steve!" Michelle sniped, her eyes, darting from Tina back to her boyfriend,
As all eyes of the pub were upon him, Steve suddenly felt less brave than he had several minutes prior; he locked eyes with Tina, then to Rita who just came to stand behind her supportively, and finally on Carla
"Well?" Michelle questioned again
"She," Steve began before sighing, "She's lazy!" he deflected, "She's makes any excuse to leave the bar, she's late, she's sloppy, she's moody..."
"Oi!" Tina interjected, but Michelle cut her off
"She's been helping Carla and Peter with Simon," Michelle defended her, and Steve rolled his eyes in disgust
"What is the matter with you?" Michelle nearly screeched at him
"Look, I just don't like people taking the mick," Steve responded vaguely, "and Tina's taking the mick,"
"Is there something else going on with you?" Michelle angrily asked him, "because you've been weird all week!"
"Yeah, I don't appreciate you taking your bad attitude out on me, Steve." Tina snapped at him
"Oh, don't you even start!" Steve gritted out
"Steve, lay off her," Liz piped in
"Why should I?"
"Because she hasn't done anything wrong!" Carla tried reason with him
"Ha! That's what you think," Steve muttered
"What?" Michelle yelled, crossing her arms over her chest, "What did she do that was so wrong?"
"She's been having it off with Peter!" Steve yelled in frustration, "they've been at it for months! There! You 'appy now?"
The pub went deathly silent, as Carla felt her knees go weak, her glass slipping from her hand and shattering on the bar.
"What- what did you say?" she whispered, as she felt Maria suddenly next to her, her arms circling around her supportively
Steve finally looked back to Carla, her eyes wide and glassy, and he felt his stomach turn.
"Steve?" she pleaded tearfully
"I'm sorry, Carla..." he responded, "but you need to know the truth..."