Tony arrived at underworld just in time to see Liam open the doors and usher the girls inside. Watching him as he got out of the car Tony saw Liam check his watch before remerging in his pocket to retrieve his phone. Tony smiled at the circumstance. He didn't like Liam and Carla spending so much time together and although he didn't want to admit it the video that Rosie had shown him scared him. It made him angry and frightening.
'Liam' he called locking is car and crossing to road to the factory.
'tony' Liam groaned dropping his hand which held the mobile phone. 'where's Carla?' he asked as Tony joined him on the top step of the entrance to the factory.
'she had food poisoning Tony sighed in his deep Scottish accent. Liam nodded trying to hide the schlock and worry her was experiencing for the woman he loved.
'is she alright?' he asked innocently
'shell be fine' nodded Tony ' but she has strict instructions to stay in bed. So I'm afraid she won't be making your breakfast meeting'
'oh' Liam nodded listening
'lucky for you she's sent me instead!' Tony smiled
'what!' Liam demanded startled.
'oh don't would so happy!' Tony joked
'sorry mate' he lied 'just, Carla doesn't usually trust others with her meetings'
'ah well I'm woo to be joining the business so I need to start somewhere' tiny laughed pouching open the doors to the factory and striding inside. Holding back Liam reach for his phone and dialled carla's number. It rang off onto the answer-phone message.
'carla i hope your alright call me' he hung up the phone and taking a deep breath bravely followed Tony inside.

The morning dragged on slowly. Liam watched as the second hand of clock ticked, echoing throughout his mind.
'liam' Tony called trying to get his absentminded colegues attention. 'liam' he called again tapping him on the shoulder to which Liam jumped with a start as if being awoken from a dream.
'oh tony' he sighed
'yer' Tony nodded laughing 'I'm just popping out to meet someone about a business deal you'll be alright here?' he asked
'course' Liam nodded sitting up tall in his seat to prove his management credentials. Tony lauged again
'shouldn't be long, bout an our or so ones taking me for lunch'
'ah well behave yourself' Liam said sarcastically waving Tony off as he dissapeared out of the office and eventually the factory. Liam checked the clock again it was almost 11.00. Liam shrugged, it'll do he thought. He jumped up and ran out onto the factory floor.
'girls' he called grabbing the workers attention
'yes mr Connor Kelly called cheerily.
'who's up for a long lunch?' he asked. The girls excitedly looked around
'but mr Connor it's not even 11!' Sally pointed out.
'well work till 11, then' he paused 'take 2 hours.'
'are you sure' she asked
'well don't let me change my mind' Liam groaned 'now just don't mention this to Carla or mr Gordon!' he warned striding back to his office. The girls all modded excitedly. He grabbed his coat reappearing moments latter holding his car keys 'see you at 1 girls' he called waving as he left the building.

Liam rang the bell of carlas apartment for the third time holding it in slightly longer as his frustration grew. Why isn't she answering he thought to himself annoyed. Finally he heard the beep of the phone being picked up in her apartment.
'hello' came a weak and muffled voice, not in the slightest way similar to carlas.
'Carla it's liam' he whispered shocked. There was no reply but the simple beep of the door unlocking allowing him entrance to the block. He ran up the stairs to her apartment to find the door already at a jar. Cautiously opening it further it stepped inside scanning the room for Carla. She was standing close behind the door. Closing it with his foot Liam embraced her in a hug.
'are you alright' he asked squeezing her tight.
'fine' she nodded 'apart from the throwing up constantly.' she sighed
'baby' he whispered softly rocking her stroking her hair lovingly.
'really I'm alright. Shouldn't you be at the factory?' she asked finally being released from his grasp.
'I sent the girls on a long lunch' he told her softly
'Liam!' she shouted disapprovingly
'I wanted to see you' he smiled, she couldn't help but warm to his care.
'what about tony' she asked as he pulled her over to the sofas and falling onto the cousins pulled her to sit next to him leaning on his chest.
'it's fine he went out for some business lunch said he would be about an hour.' Carla nodded acceptingly.
'you should have called me you know I would have come round' Liam Cooed.
'it's just food poisoning' snapped carla harshly 'I'm not dying' she continued. Liam didn't respond but felt slightly hurt by her crude remarks. 'sorry' she said eventually looking into his sad puppy dog eyes and forlorn expression. 'I'm just tired' Liam nodded understandingly. Settling into his arms she quickly drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Liam left an hour later knowing Tony would probably already be at the factory waiting for him and the girls would soon be arriving back. He stroked carlas soft hair as her head lay hazily across his chest. She looked so peaceful he didn't want to wake her. Instead he lifted her body holding it carefully as he manoeuvred his way around placing pillows to vision her head. Finding a blanket he layer it over her giving her a quick kiss before grabbing his keys and jacket and leaving the apartment closing the door as quietly as he could. He fiddled around in his jacket pocket for his phone. Finding it he opened a text to Carla 'sweet dreams I will see you later xx' he wrote before sending it to her. He deliberated on leaving a proper note but decided against it just incase Tony got to see it before Carla.

Liam stumbled cautiously into the factory. The girls where all on there machine chatting away lively as usually.
'afternoon mr Connor' a couple called as he walked through on his way to the office. he smiled holding a hand up as a wave. Sliding the door open he revealed Tony leaning on the desk.
'but I ordered it over a week ago' he heard tony yell. He was speaking to someone on the phone. Liam smiled sliding the door back across. Tony who had been leaning on the front of the desk now walked around and sat in Carla's chair. 'well tomorrow isn't good enough...' he continued 'it's already delayed!' Liam sat at his desk struck back by the awkwardness of the situation. 'okay it will be expected' he heard an angry Tony yell before slamming the phone back on the dock.
'alright mate?' Liam asked unenthusiastically. He didn't really want to know or care but it was part of his face persona to act as normal and friendly as possibly towards Tony, as part of the deal Carla was civil to maria. Somehow Liam felt he came worse off in that deal.
'I would be if any bloddy system worked'
'oh' Liam nodded
'it was supposed to be a surprise' he continued. Liam had an overwhelming feeling that Tony was about to share some secret with him which he didn't want to know. He got up and walked over to liams desk, getting closer as if to whisper. He perched on liam's desk. 'Ive booked a trip to Paris for Carla. Just the weekend. I thought she could take Michelle I've got some dress samples coming then a meeting with the designers for when she gets to Paris.' Liam looked on in surprise.
'so what's the problem' Liam said coughing out his words.
'the bloody samples haven't arrived from Paris. I wanted to give Carla the tickets but she needs the samples first' he groaned
'oh' Liam paused nodding 'so when they going on this trip?' asked Liam nonchalantly.
'it's booked for this weekend' Tony said
'it's Wednesday now' Liam gasped. All he could think about was his own trip with Carla they had planned. It had been ruined.
'exactly this is why I'm so angry about the samples'
'it dosnt give the girls long. You don't even know that Michelle will be able to go' Liam pointed out.
'oh no she already knows, I told her last week before I booked' Tony assured him standing and walking back to carlas desk. Liam nodded angrily. Partly because Tony was whisking carla away and also the Michelle hadn't told him about it.
'so there just going for the weekend' Liam confirmed
'that's the best bit. After Paris I'll appear as a sup prise and I'm taking Carla to Venice for the rest of the week.' Tony smiled obviously pleased with himself. Liam couldn't help his mouth drop open. His reaction wasn't missed by Tony. 'I know the honeymoon is supposed to be after the wedding, but she wants to go somewhere hot so I thought I'd get the sightseeing bit done before the day!' he laughed. Liam forced a fake smile onto his face. he thought how he could get Carla out of it but Tony had organised it well. He knew there was nothing to keep Carla here! Liam sighed his plans broken.
'well I'm sure shell appreciate all this effort' he managed to say. Tony smiled 'I'm just going to do the stock check' Liam continued picking a clipboard off his desk and leaving the office. As he slid the office door shut. The fake smile was wiped from his face and he settled into a expression of anger and jealousy. It wasn't even as if he could say Carla count go due to the work load cause Tony was one of there biggest costumers and had been working in the office all day. Liam couldn't count on one hand how many times he had mentioned how quiet it was. Maybe that was all part of his plan so Liam couldn't stop the holiday. He shivered angrily.

The rest of the day passed slowly and by the time 6 arrived Liam was beside himself. He sat on the edge of his seat waiting to get home. He said goodbye to Tony waving his off as he locked up the factory. He had a good mind to go straight to Michelle and ask her whats going on but decided against it at around 4.30 when he realised how suspicious his anger would look. Especially how he himself had been moaning to everyone how quiet work was, now he wished he had just shut his mouth!

Instead he closed the factory and walked drearily home. The street was silent and still, which was rare. Apart from the occasional bird or rustle of leaves there was no sound at all. Not even a car seemed to pass by. Reaching home he paused taking a deep breath before stepping inside. Closing the door behind him he leaned on the oak panel. He only brightened up when Ozzy came bounding round the corner to meet him. Jumping up Liam stroked the animals soft fur talking t his softly
'hello boy' he whispered
'liam' came a louder higher voice. Liam looked up to see maria. He smiled not staying silent. 'day alright?' she asked. Picking p on his icy cold posterior.
'yer fine' he shrugged
'carla giving you hip?' she assumed which annoyed Liam eke sly. The two women had never liked each other but however hard he tried not to Liam couldn't help but be protective over Carla which didn't go unnoticed y Maria. He could see it hurt her which he hated more than anything, she was so sweet, but his passion and protection for Carla overwhelmed any feelings or emotions he had towards Maria.

He spent the evening in a civil yet distant manner. They ate dinner and watched tv and however much Liam could see the worry and fear in Maria eyes he could bring himself to assure Maria everything was alright, because it wasn't. He hadn't been for a long time. Liam had tried to patch up his marriage for the sake of Maria, the baby but now that was gone and finally he could see clearly what he wanted, what he needed and it want her. And with everyday that passed he believe Maria knew it.