A/N: People asked for more so here it is! A little different to the content I usually write so I hope it's ok! Thank you for all the lovely reviews as well, you're all so kind :)

Michelle

My eyes flicker open as the usual beam of sunshine dances across the room at precisely 8.17am, thirteen minutes before my alarm was due to go off. It takes me a moment to adjust to my surroundings. I roll over, expecting to see Robert lying in bed next to me, but the smell of lingering perfume and strawberry shampoo hits me first, as I see Carla's dark shiny hair draped across the pillow.

I lie on my side, running it through my fingers carefully, watching how she so contently slept, as if she didn't have the biggest fear in the world creeping up on her awakening. The shallow rise and fall of her chest was something I was so grateful for after last night's conversation, and I can't help moving closer to breathe in the scent of her hair, appreciating it, praying I wouldn't need to remember it.

"New shampoo." She murmurs, her eyes still closed and it nearly makes me jump, wondering whether she had said it in her sleep. A small smile invades her cheeks as she senses me next to her, exhaling slightly at the feel of my fingers in her hair. I melt at the slight croak to her voice, which sounded so tired but content. I had heard it so many times before, when we had shared hotels or stayed at each other's flats, right back to when we used to have sleepovers in our teens. But now I really appreciated it, now I really fell for it and I didn't know why.

"You're awake." I keep my voice soft, as her eyes remain closed, just releasing a small hum in response. "I didn't realise."

"Is that why you were kissing my hair?" She smiles a little more.

"I wasn't kissing it." I object, suddenly slightly embarrassed at the word.

"Smelling it then." Her eyes flicker open as she looks up at me, amused, the beauty of them making me sigh slightly.

"Sleep well?" I ask, winding a lock of her hair around my finger absentmindedly. "You didn't kick me like you usually do."

"Don't really have the energy for kicking." She inserts and I try to stop the words from hurting so much. "Thanks for letting me stay." She guides her hand along the hem of my pyjama top, as if soaking up the intricacy of the stitching. I suppose that was a talent that came with comparing garments at the factory all day.

"You know you're welcome." I hush my voice slightly. "Anytime."

"...I'm sorry for not telling you sooner." She whispers. "I should have, I just didn't want to hurt you and I knew it would."

"I'm going to the medical centre today." I tell her, meeting her gaze again. "To see where I stand with donating."

"And I can't stop you?" She looks concerned and I shake my head firmly. "You're risking your life for me."

"I've been doing that for you since we were kids." I laugh slightly and her eyes glisten with tears. "Don't cry." I whisper comfortingly, my heart breaking as she tries to force them back. "Listen." I dare to link my fingers with hers. "Like I said last night, if I can't, I'll find somebody else who can."

"But I don't want to tell anybody else." Her voice is suddenly weak. "Aidan's got enough on with the factory. Johnny's got his MS. Kate's got these issues with Rana."

"There's never going to be a good time, babe." I assure her, hesitating as I watch her expression. I hated seeing her cry, more than anything. I wished she could be happy. I wished I could make her happy. "Look why don't we just see how my appointment goes today and then we can talk through what to do next?"

"Ok." She agrees, swallowing back her fear as she watches my expression. We stare at each other for a moment, transfixed in a comfortable silence. "...What time is Robert back?"

"Two." I reluctantly reply, because for some reason I suddenly wanted him to extend his trip for a few more nights. "Um..." I begin, knowing this conversation needed to be talked about. But also worrying that Carla may have either forgotten about last night, or wished it never happened. "...What's happening?"

"What, right now?" She teases me and my fingers pause in her hair before I withdraw them. "...I don't know."

"Last night... Did you mean what you said?" I dare to ask. "About... Who you came back for and things."

"Yeah." I realise how happy the word makes me, my tummy flipping slightly. "But I never thought you'd react in that way."

"Well neither did I." I admit. "In fact I think I'm still in shock."

"...If you regret it, I understand." She murmurs and I find myself shaking my head. "No?"

"I don't regret it." I tell her, watching the sincerity of her expression, the feelings I had that I never uncovered before. "I just don't think it's sunk in yet."

"I understand." She replies. "I mean I had over a year and a half to think about these things. But I didn't think I'd end up telling you."

"I'm glad you did." I can't help smiling slightly, avoiding her gaze as I walk my fingers up her arm. I feel her finger under my chin, as she tilts it upwards to meet her gaze again, as if trying to work out if I was being serious. I stupidly feel nervous in the moment, knowing exactly what her next move was, even though I wanted it to happen. She leans in, placing a longing kiss on my lower lip, before pulling away and watching how I react. I study her beauty and her strength, everything she had been through and that I admired her for, that lay behind her eyes. I swallow, before moving back in and returning her kiss, being so gentle with her.

It was so soft and sweet, like nothing I had ever experienced before. I felt like it was more than a kiss; an emotional connection. A connection that we were taking to the next level after all these years. I let her go finally, wishing I didn't have to but not wanting to push things too much. She smiles back at me, as I brush a lock of hair behind her ear.

Suddenly the sound of my alarm invades the romantic silence, Carla jumping and clutching her chest at the noise and I place a hand on her arm apologetically.

"Oh sorry." I stroke her arm comfortingly as she calms. "Sorry."

"It's ok." She relaxes herself again, as I turn to hammer out a code on my phone without even looking, as the alarm continues to repeat over and over.

"Oh shut up." I groan, before finally managing to turn it off and Carla laughs at my grumpiness, which I am soon to give into. "Come here." I hold my arm out, allowing her to lay her head in my chest as I wrap my arms around her. I kiss the top of her head, unable to refrain from doing so. It felt so right, I didn't know how we had never realised it before. But holding her like this and protecting her, it seemed like it was always supposed to be this way. I never wanted to let go.

"So apparently he had a one night stand with that Nicola woman, behind Sarah's back." I call to Carla, as I hear the bathroom door click, staring down into my coffee cup. "He's only gone and got her pregnant. I mean, I only heard this from Maria when I was in the salon, but I'm pretty sure-" I stop as soon as I look up at where Carla was leant against the door frame, towel wrapped around her as she lets her hair fall around her shoulders.

"...Pretty sure?" She indicates for me to continue and I hate myself for completely losing track of anything except what was right in front of me. "What?"

"Nothing." I shake my head, trying to regain myself and she smiles as she slowly catches me out. "Nice shower?"

"Yeah." She bites her lip slightly, coming over to where I was sat cross legged on the sofa and sitting down on the arm. "Bit lonely though."

"Shut up." I hit her legs lightly with a cushion and she laughs, nudging me playfully. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?" I narrow my eyes. "I had absolutely no clue."

"Yeah well you do now." She smiles, leaning in to kiss me again before my phone goes off loudly and she pulls back, the moment being interrupted. "Two guesses who that's off."

"It's not important." I push it away and she raises her eyebrows at me.

"Go on." She tilts her head towards it and I resentfully pick it up.

Text Message:

From: Robert

Hi babe, just at station so will only be a couple of hours. Missed you, love you xxx

I chew my lip as I feel Carla's gaze on me, as if waiting for me to read it out. I sigh, putting my head in my hands and letting it fall into my lap.

"Michelle." She gently grabs my attention and I know exactly what she is going to say. "If you want things to go back to the way they were, I'll completely understand. We don't have to... Do anything from this point forwards... We can just pretend the last twenty four hours never happened."

"Yeah but... I don't want to." I look up at her and she exhales, forcing herself not to look pleased at my words.

"Do you love him?" She stupidly asks and I squeeze my eyes shut, nodding so I didn't have to see her reaction.

"Look at me." She releases a weak laugh, although I can tell it hurts to see me admit it. "Chelle... Look at me." She repeats and I open my eyes, meeting her gaze. "It's ok. You and him, you've got something amazing. You've got what I chucked away with Nick. That's something that doesn't come easily. That's something special."

"Yeah and you want to know something else special?" I pipe up. "You. This. Whatever this is."

"Look, ok? I'm going back to Roy's tonight anyway." She tells me. "So, why don't you just see how it goes and see how you feel? You don't need to rush anything. Take some time to work it out, understand it all, because you've had a lot less time than me."

"What matters more than anything right now is making sure you get better." I reply, trying to ignore the flicker of pain in her eyes, from the words she is releasing. "That's my top priority."

"Ok." She nods, standing up and squeezing my hand gently, before turning around and heading back to the bathroom. I watch her go, the soft closure of the door. The door I knew she would be leant up against right now, trying to prevent herself from crying over something which hadn't even started yet. Crying over the death sentence that was upon her if I didn't pull my act together and do anything to save her. That's what was important to me right now. That was all that mattered.

Carla

"Try that." Michelle hands me a glass as I play with the coaster on the bar, raising my head to the pink liquid in front of me.

"No alcohol?" I check and gives me a knowing look, shaking her head. "What even is it?"

"I'm trying to make new non-alcoholic cocktails." She says proudly and my tummy flutters slightly at her excitement. "Drink it."

"Is this for my benefit?" I smile, sipping from the straw and realising how good it tasted.

"No, I need to extend the menu anyway. Not everything's about you." She teases me. "What do you think?"

"That's really nice." I approve, as she claps her hands victoriously. "Can I have the rest of it?"

"Yeah that's four sixty five." She holds her hand out and I narrow my eyes as she prods my hand playfully. Her attention is soon diverted to the doorway, as I hear the sound of the door swinging open and turn my head to see Robert in the entrance. I realise that I've never been keen on his appearance, with the exception maybe of when he turned up at the casino on New Year's Day. But now, was quite possibly the most distaste I'd ever felt towards seeing him, and this time he hadn't even done anything wrong. It was me. Again.

"Hi gorgeous." He slips himself around the bar, Michelle giving me a sidewards glance before reluctantly pecking him on the lips. "Is that all I get?"

"Did you have a good time?" She forces a smile, wrapping her arms around his neck and I can't help the pang of jealousy that I absolutely loathe.

"It was alright." He kisses her again and I look back down at my drink, sipping on the straw before realising I was actually very harshly chewing on it. "I'd have preferred you to be with me though." He continues, before releasing her and turning to me. "Hi Carla."

"Hi." I almost splutter, trying my best to act as if I hadn't been kissing his girlfriend all night. Then again, I highly doubted that would be one of his assumptions. I was weirdly grateful for the awkwardness and dislike that had descended following me offering to pay his debts, as it now gave me an excuse as to why I was so involuntarily shifty.

"So have you had a good night?" He goes back to Michelle and she refrains from looking at me before responding.

"Uh, yeah." She replies bluntly. "Just quiet really. Carla stayed over."

"Did I?" I cough, almost spitting my drink out, not realising she was going to tell him that minor detail. "Yes... I did."

"How much alcohol is in that?" Robert points to my drink. "What even is it?"

"Uh, I'm trialling some different cocktails." Michelle tells him, staring at my drink.

"Sex on the beach?" He eyes it up, trying to guess and I swallow back laughter.

"Yeah." Michelle replies, finally meeting my gaze momentarily and biting her lip so she doesn't smile. "Listen, I've got to pop to the medical centre at three."

"Why? Aren't you feeling well?" He raises a hand to her forehead, a look of concern shadowing his face.

"I've just been getting these headaches, that's all." She lies, causing me to feel guilty. "Just thought I'd go and get it checked out."

"Well I'll come with you." He offers and she shakes her head firmly.

"No it's ok." She covers up. "Now you're back you ought to do some work anyway."

"Uh, I've been working thank you!" He slaps her playfully on the arm and she laughs before he kisses her. I stab my straw into the bottom of my glass multiple times in an effort to distract myself, before Daniel appears from the kitchen, noticing me straight away.

"Oh, hello." He greets, putting a plate down in front of me and I stare at it for a moment, confused. "It was a mistake, want it?"

"Ok." I shrug, trying to brighten my mood and he leans on the counter in front of me, after handing me a knife and fork.

"Uh, so how many 'mistakes' has Zeedan made whilst I've been away?" Robert turns his attention to him, giving Michelle the opportunity to flash me an apologetic look. I stir the pasta around the bowl disinterestedly, never feeling less hungry.

"Listen, I'm gonna go." I sigh, standing up as Robert pulls Daniel over into the corner. "I need to see Roy."

"Please don't." She lowers her tone, as I pick my bag up, pulling my leopard print coat on. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise." I laugh, pushing the stool under the bar. "You've got nothing to apologise for anyway."

"I have..." She quickly looks back at Robert to check he's distracted. "Look, Rovers later? Oh... Wait actually we're barred. Here, after close?"

"...I'm not doing this Chelle." I decide to tell her now.

"Not doing what?" She frowns.

"This." I wave my finger between us. "It's not happening."

"I meant, so I could talk about how it went at the medical centre." She replies and I feel a pang of guilt, forcing back tears.

"...Yeah ok." I brush her off, forcing a smile before leaving the Bistro, falling back against the wall as soon as I was outside and staring off up the street. What a complete mess I had made. As if my life wasn't messy enough already.

"Do you realise how worried I've been?" Roy's voice is sharp as I enter the flat, dumping my bag on the sofa, as he stares at me from the armchair.

"Sorry..." I wince, sitting down opposite him. "See, this is why you should invest in a mobile phone."

"Technology is no companion to this situation, Carla." He persists and I frown at his words, trying to work out what he meant, as usual. "You could have easily contacted the café phone."

"I know, I'm sorry." I apologise, as he watches me, waiting for some further explanation. "I stayed somewhere else for the night."

"That was my second assumption, following the rumours that have arisen in the café this morning." He recites and I narrow my eyes, indicating that I didn't understand what he was talking about. "Quite a few residents have been talking about your scene in the Rovers yesterday."

"Not like you to listen to the local gossip, Roy." I fold my arms, leaning back and I notice he still doesn't look amused.

"You threw a drink at the landlady." He states bluntly. "How very mature of you."

"Oh don't lecture me." I sigh, knowing it was the last thing I needed today.

"I'm merely pointing out that whilst you're out acting as if nothing is happening, your body is shutting down." He replies and the words hit me hard, tears springing to my eyes.

"Thanks." I respond bluntly, standing up and storming out of the room, slamming my bedroom door shut like a stroppy teenager.

"Carla?" I hear a soft knock on the door, as I hug one of Hayley's homemade pillows against my chest. Roy had put it on my bed when I first moved in, as a source of comfort. It was now, however, very tear stained. I hoped she wouldn't have minded. "I've made a pie."

"I'm not hungry." I reply quietly and for a moment I wonder whether he's heard it.

"I want to apologise for perhaps being hasty with my words earlier." He muffles and I reluctantly sit up, dragging myself off the bed and opening the door, my weak and broken expression becoming apparent as his eyes search mine. "...Will you have some pie?"

"I'm not a pie kind of girl, Roy." I sigh, leaning my head on the door frame. "Besides, after living in Devon, you get sick of the sight of them, and pasties. And scones."

"I didn't intend to cause you upset by what I said." He avoids my attempts to divert the subject. "I would never want you to think you couldn't talk to me about something."

"Really?" I sigh and he nods. "Have you ever had feelings for someone that... I don't know, you never expected to have feelings for? And it all seems so wrong but so right at the same time?"

"Peter, no doubt?" He assumes and I shake my head, which clearly surprises him.

"Somebody else." I just respond, knowing he wouldn't pry.

"Well to answer your question, yes; Hayley." He replies and I swallow, listening to him. "In fact, when I was informed of her... Past, I tried, with great difficulty, to abstain from admitting what I felt for her. But the fact will always remain; we can't choose who we fall in love with. But I suppose, you know that from experience."

"Yeah." I just mutter, staring down at the fraying carpet. "...Have you got any toast?"

"I can make some for you, if that's what you desire?" He offers and I smile appreciatively, heading past him to sit down at the kitchen table. "Forgive me if it's not my place of knowledge, but, where did you go last night?"

"Michelle's." I reply, picking at one of the placemats on the table, my eyes moving over the fading colourful trains that decorate it. "I told her about my... Problems."

"And how did she react?" He actually sounds pleased to hear that he was no longer the only person in on the secret, and that I had reached out for further support.

"She wants to donate a kidney." I nod casually. "Which is what I expected... She cried. I cried. It was hard."

"Well maybe that would be a suitable option?" He suggests, placing a plate of toast in front of me and sitting down. "She is, after all, a relative of yours-"

"She's not a relative." I suddenly splutter and he looks shocked, a sickening feeling churning in my stomach. "A very, very distant one maybe. Hardly any relation. At all." I blurt out and he looks shocked for a moment, weighing up my outburst.

"...And did you tell Michelle about your feelings for somebody?" He continues and I eye him up, wondering whether he suspected anything and then realising how stupid the thought even sounded in my own head, never mind his.

"Yes." I reply, decapitating the slice of toast to refrain from eating it. The thoughts playing through my head over and over. She was at the medical centre right now. Perhaps her appointment had finished. She was there, vying to save my life. Laying her own health and happiness down to help me. Yet I was being selfish, as usual.

"And what was her advice on the matter?" He asks and I look up, staring at him and sighing. The kind of sigh which can usually indicate everything to someone.

"...She responded in a way which surprised me." Is all I can reply with and he stares at me intently, trying to understand what I was getting at.

"Does she know the person?" He questions, as if it was turning into a game of Guess Who.

"Very well." I manage a small smile.

"It's not Robert?" He guesses and my eyes widen.

"Robert?" I laugh slightly, as if that was an unrealistic option. "No. No, no, no."

"Or Steve?" He continues and I almost spit my drink out with laughter.

"You're very inquisitive." I force myself to swallow. "Might have to start calling you Norris."

"I do hope you realise it's only because I have your best interests at heart." He suddenly looks bad for pestering me.

"I know." I smile, leaning forwards on the table slightly. "It's not Steve, no."

"Well then I think I may retire from my guessing." He stands up, taking my plate of crumbled toast and turning to empty it into the bin.

"It's Michelle." I stupidly blurt out and he freezes for a moment, trying to process what I have said as he slowly turns around again.

"Michelle?" He repeats, confusion written into his expression and I nod slowly, knowing, or praying, that he wouldn't judge me.

"But... You don't... You're not..." He stammers, trying to come to terms with it.

"I know I'm not." I laugh, which just seems to puzzle him more. "I guess that's why it's so flamin' confusing."

"...Michelle?" He sits back down, discarding the plate on the side. "...You said you stayed there last night."

"Oh nothing happened." I shake him off, before realising that was far from what he meant, a look of awkwardness clouding his expression. "...Sorry... This is slightly... Did you want some of that pie?"

"And how does Michelle feel in response to this?" He pulls himself together slightly and I go back to the topic at hand.

"She... Was very shocked." I shrug and he nods understandingly. "But somehow... She seems to maybe... Relate... It was so nice. I haven't felt like that in a long time... She really cared for me, made me dinner, let me sleep..."

"But she is in a relationship with Robert?" He checks and I wince, nodding as I put my head in my hands.

"Yeah, I know." I sigh. "It's all a mess. I've made a mess."

"Well there is a vast amount of crumbs." He glances back at the toast plate as I look back up at him.

"Not that." I groan. "Everything was perfect for her twenty four hours ago. I mean, I know they've got a few money difficulties but she was in love, he was in love, they still are in love. They've got a business, a home, no damaged kidneys to worry about. And then bam, along I come and everything's changed. It's what I do, isn't it? I ruin people's happiness."

"Or perhaps you've just assisted Michelle in finding her happiness?" He suggests and I dwell on his words, trying to see the positive side. "Both of your happiness."

"Hi." I murmur as I enter the Bistro, a feeling of nostalgia washing over me as I see it so quiet. I hadn't been in after closing since Nick used to close early in order to set out a table with candles or let us share a bottle of wine late into the night.

"Hi." She smiles, not moving from where she was behind bar and I scan the surroundings.

"Robert not here?" I check.

"No I said I was staying late to do some stock taking." She tells me and I go over, sitting down on a bar stool and watching her intently.

"I can't do this." It breaks me to say the words but it was the truth. "The guilt. The sneaking around. I'm not doing it again. I'm sorry."

"First things first." She passes me a glass of orange juice, before leaning forward on the counter and my eyes momentarily dart down to her chest, which I immediately regret doing because I think she subtly notices. "I've got tests next week."

"Oh God, Chelle I'm sorry." I put my head in my hands, knowing I was doing it again. "You've made an appointment to save my life today and yet here I am banging on at you."

"Listen." She takes my hand in hers. "I'm going to do everything possible, to make sure you're alright. That's a promise."

"I know you are." I smile. "I don't deserve you."

"Yes you do." She replies firmly. "You do. You deserve the world."

"This is the part where you tell me that you're marrying Robert or something." I try not to let my voice crack but she picks up on it.

"This is the part..." She squeezes my hand comfortingly, tilting my head to face her and I can see how meaningfully she is looking at me. "This is the part where I tell you that I'm breaking it off with Robert."

"...What?" The word comes out as some kind of shaky croak, as I try to process her words, as she watches me, as if wondering whether to say something else.

"This is the part where I tell you I love you." She almost whispers and I stare at her in shock, my heart stopping for a moment as I narrow my eyes, debating whether I was dreaming. "...I think maybe I always have, a little bit..."

"...Um." I swallow, her words playing over and over in my head. "You can't... I'm so broken right now... Please, please don't say that if you don't mean it. I can't."

"I know, I know." She moves closer, the bar in between annoyingly separating us and she smiles slightly, before letting go of my hand and coming around to sit next to me. "I do mean it. I wouldn't do that to you. You know I wouldn't."

"I just... I..." I trail off, searching her, wanting her, craving her. "I don't want to get hurt again, now of all times. I don't think I could handle it, Michelle. I'm weak enough as it is. And I don't admit that to many people."

"I know." She repeats and I believe her. She tilts her forehead against mine, moving a piece of hair behind my ear and grazing a finger along my cheekbone. "I love you."

"...I love you." I admit and it doesn't seem to shock her. Instead, she looks at me warmly for a moment. "Michelle... What does this even mean?"

"What, love?" She laughs slightly and I shake my head, still feeling the heat of her skin against mine.

"Us." I swallow at the word. "If you'd have told me this time yesterday that this would be happening, I'd have probably thrown a pint over you."

"Well yeah, likewise." She replies, amused at my comment. "...You tell me. You're my number one priority now, ok?"

"You're serious about ending things with Robert?" I breathe the words, almost worried she'll retract the idea at hearing me say them, but she moves away, nodding confidently.

"I'll go over there and do it now." She assures me. "If that's what it takes. If that's what you want?"

"And tell him what?" I smile, linking our fingers. "That you fell in love with your best friend?"

"Well isn't that a line?" She whispers, taking me in momentarily before moving her head forwards, kissing me gently, the warmth of her lips against mine so inviting. I was completely in disbelief, a state of sheer shock at what had happened. But at the same time I felt so safe, so content, so happy. And that was something I couldn't throw away. Not again and especially not now. Especially not with Michelle Connor.