Carla stared at her reflection in the mirror just behind her she could see the reflection of her best friend Leanne. Both women stayed silent, Leanne partly in shock and speechless about Carla's declaration and Carla shocked at herself for revealing her biggest secret. She had desperately needed to confide in someone about the 'affair' with Liam, after all she was due to marry Tony.

That morning when Carla had been preparing for her small gathering of a hen night with her best friend and sisters-in-law she had not expected to want to talk this through. Carla took a deep breath and promised herself she would push Liam out of her mind, just pretend to love Tony and eventually all feelings and thoughts of him would fade.

Moments ago the four of them, Carla, Leanne, Michelle and Maria had been sat around a table at the swankiest restaurant in Manchester having a laugh and then it had all kicked off because of Carla and her stupid feelings for Liam. She had to admit she was kidding herself if she thought she could actually hide this but for Maria and Michelle's sake she had too.

The silence had lasted too long, so long in fact it had become uncomfortable. Carla pulled her make up from her bag and began to touch up her foundation and re-apply eyeliner where she had had to wipe away the remains of that she had smudged. Carla pouted and took a deep breath as she slipped the mascara back into her purse and turned to face Leanne. She had been trying her best with short sharp answers to respond truthfully to Leanne's questions regarding Liam but she wanted to lie, tell her it was nothing. But looking at Leanne's sympathetic expression she knew she needed her friend's advice now more than ever.

Talking things through really helped and Leanne was right, yes if she married Tony she would want for nothing but if she ran away with Liam she would be happy and that was all that mattered. Taking another deep breath Carla smiled back at a supportive Leanne and then turned to collect her purse from the side. She took one last glance at herself in the mirror to make sure she looked perfect; it was time to go and get the man she loved. Turning again she looked at her best friend and smiled.

"Showtime"

Both lady's left the toilets to fetch Carla a cab, telling the waiter it was urgent they watched as he rushed away to aid his customers. Together the friends stood and watched as Michelle and Maria chatted away over the table filled with empty champagne glasses and looked so happy. Guilt hit Carla like a big red bus, could she really be so selfish as to hurt Maria? Luckily Leanne was there to be her rock, to support her and convince her she was doing the right thing and that Liam was her destiny.

Carla disappeared asking Leanne to cover for her whilst she waited outside for her cab. She couldn't bare to be in there with Maria, the more she looked at her and Michelle the more the guilt started to slip back. Having clasped hands with Leanne to thank her and say goodbye she slipped just outside the front door into the cold October night air.

Michelle and Maria made their way back to the table laughing, giggling and happy where a worried looking Leanne sat alone. Before Michelle had chance to quiz Leanne, Carla came storming back in from outside stating to the waiter that someone had just taken her cab.

"Carla Connor, you're not asking the waiter for his number on yer hen night?" said Maria comically.

"Is she sexually harassing you Joseph!" Michelle joked before turning to Maria and with out thinking blurted "Joseph, that's a lovely name" Her face dropped instantly when she realised what she had done. Maria hadn't wanted to announce this just yet and there Michelle had dropped her right in it. Leanne just looked confused, Carla however was shocked and trying desperately to process what she had just heard. A Baby, it was a disaster!

Carla didn't need to hear that, Leanne had just spent the best part of half an hour convincing her she was doing the right thing and although she wasn't one hundred percent sure herself she knew what she wanted and that was Liam. But know he was to be a father, it wouldn't just be Maria they'd hurt and leave behind and then what if Liam wanted to stay, a baby can really change things!

Carla now found herself in doubt, but Maria's happy news had only upset her. Maybe she should just stay, enjoy her hen night, tell Liam it's over and marry Tony after all. Leanne looked at Carla and knew that she was unravelling, letting the doubt play on her mind. Quickly taking her friend by the arm she lead her to the bar and looked her square in the eye.

"This is not going to change a thing" Leanne explained simply, knowing it was what her friend needed to hear and convince herself of.

"Yeah you're right, just a sticking plaster, baby, in'it, won't put the marriage right, Liam will say it himself" Carla replied blankly

"Right come on" ordered Leanne before leaving her seat with Carla following as she headed over to where Michelle and Maria stood getting champagne at the bar. Carla walked as quickly as she could passed them whilst Leanne provided cover and a distraction. Reaching the bottom of the stairs to the exit she didn't even turn and look back, she kept her focus on the task at hand, finding and running away with Liam.

Jumping in the back of the cab she sniffled and re-applied her make up as way of distraction so her thoughts wouldn't wander back to Maria and the baby. As the cab made its approach to the restaurant housing Tony's stag do Carla pulled her phone from her bag and quickly typed a message to Liam letting him know she was only seconds away. She was nervous, she wanted to do this but had begun having second thoughts, they needed to talk about this decide together if their plan was for the best.

Taking a deep breath Carla made herself scarce and grabbed the handle on the door to the restaurant. Before she could heave it open she found herself greeted by a member of staff and asked if they could be of assistance. She politely shook her head and stepped inside as they held the door open for her to enter.

Glancing around quickly she tried to spot Liam before someone else spotted her but there was no sign of him. She stepped further into the bar area and waited for him to appear. Carla felt nervous and just hoped Maria hadn't called him earlier after Michelle's discovery to tell him the happy news. Moments later he appeared a worried expression on his face and hurrying over to her he took her in his arms and held her tight. Closing her eyes she hugged him back, not wanting to ever let go.

"I knew you'd come" Liam whispered in Carla's ear.

She pulled away instantly realising he had obviously not heard from Maria. Now she had a decision to make, did she tell him and see if he still felt the same or did she keep the secret and hope he never found out? Carla took Liam's hand and led him over to the seating area in a dark corner. He took a seat opposite her and reached out for her hands whilst giving her a loving smile. She pulled away from him again and his brow furrowed her actions were confusing, was something wrong?

"Liam, we need to talk"