Another rainy day. So much for summer! Michelle awoke that morning again at another horribly early hour. Severe case of insomnia she put it down too. Her stress levels were at a sky high recently, the planning of her former brother-in-laws wedding to the dreaded Tracy Barlow, the pub, her dad's recent heart attack scare but not surprisingly most of all Steve. Last night they screamed out the latest in their series arguments, across the dinner table. That's all they ever seemed to do now and over the most stupid stuff too. Hearing her tummy rumble deep from under the covers she sighed and got up. How can she be hungry again? All she seemed to do lately was eat despite her determination to lose weight. Not thinking any more of it she softly padded out of the bedroom wrapping up in a fluffy white gown.

Feeling her leave Steve hesitantly opened his stinging eyes to catch her leaving. What was going on with her lately? He knew her dad's heart attack had effected her badly but surely that didn't explain all the snipes and digs aimed primarily at him. It was horrible but no doubt he had done something wrong, just what? Maybe it was the camper-van, maybe she was embarrassed by it surely she would of made her feelings clear if that was the case though. Rolling over he buried his face in the pillow, not wanting her to ruin one more nights sleep for him.

Walking into the living room with a cup full of coffee Michelle sat down on the sofa bringing her knees up to her chest. Losing herself in her thoughts she didn't realise the cup of hot coffee tipping sideways nor the appearance of her step-mum in the doorway.

"Gonna need to watch that, might burn yourself" Liz said making her presence known as Michelle broke from her chain of thought back to reality. "So what you doing up this early then? Steve snoring?" She said walking over to take a seat beside the young woman. Smiling at that last comment Michelle glumly shock her head, taking a sip from her now not so hot coffee.

"Just couldn't sleep.. Again!" Michelle answered sitting back in the comfy cushions of the settee.

"You poor thing! It was Jim who done it for me, snoring his Irish head off. I shouldn't be so negative of him though.. I mean last night he done he cutest thing..." Liz rambled on as Michelle's mind wondered off again onto more pressing matters such as her crumbling relationship with Steve.

"Honestly Liz... I couldn't care what jims done" Michelle said. It was true though she didn't!

Guessing there was more to this than simple not being able to sleep Liz placed a reassuring hand on her daughter-in-law as she let a few tears trickle down her cheek.

"Hey what's wrong?" The older Woman of the two asked patiently as Michelle shock her head, trying to hide her emotions from the world. Sighing at the lack of answers Liz gently pulled her in for a hug.

"You can tell me you know! I'm not all evil!" Smiling slightly Michelle reached into the deep fluffy pocket and pulled out a thin white plastic stick and held it up allowing Liz to gasp at the sight before her.

"Oh my.."

"It wouldn't be good news" Michelle said placing it back in the pocket. A baby wouldn't be good. For once in her life she felt in control, could see where the future was taking her and a baby definitely wasn't in the picture.

"Oh.. Wouldn't it?" A child Liz thought, is exactly what this young couple needed and the thought of another beautiful grandchild was overwhelming with her wedding to Jim McDonald coming up too there never seemed a better time.

"No it definitely wouldn't! And you cannot mention any of this to Steve.. Infact just forget I told you!" Michelle said huffing as she sat back up. "It would be disastrous"