I know that when she jumps out of bed in the morning without rolling over and smiling at me, that she's off to throw up. I know that I should always follow her, to hold her hair out of her face and rub her back as she leans over the basin. I know that I respect her in every way possible for carrying our baby and that I would do anything to rid her of her discomfort.

"You better love me for this." She groans, after flushing the toilet and moving to brush her teeth.

"You know I do." I laugh and wrap my arms around her once she's finished freshening up. "But it'll be worth it, remember?"

"Mmm." She nods. "I suppose I can put up with this for a while longer if I get to be the stubborn one."

"Well it's lasted five years so far then." I grin and she shoots me a look, which I manage to reconcile by kissing her on the tip of her nose.

"Listen." She whines slightly, slipping back into childish mode and playing with the ties on the hoodie I had slipped on when getting out of bed. "I was thinking... Maybe we could start telling people. Like just close friends and family?"

"Really?" I am surprised, I thought I would have to be the one to convince her to start telling people.

"Yeah." She nods. "Perhaps just Chelle and Steve and then your family."

"Ok, when?" I ask, slightly excited about not having to hold it in any longer.

"Well it's Sunday..." She prompts. "I'm not in work, are you?"

"This is more important." I smile and she lets out her cute little giggle, which always makes my heart melt.

"We're really doing this?" She beams.

"You know what?" I raise my eyebrows before pulling her back into me. "I think we are."

3:48pm

I knock on the door confidently before entering the house which has had more memories than the street has cobbles.

"Hi, it's only us." I call, letting myself in and leading Carla by the hand. We are greeted by the busy scene of the Platt's; Gail dancing around with Lily on her hip. David slouched on the sofa with his arm around Kylie. Audrey was brewing up whilst Max was noisily pushing a toy truck along the floor and Bethany and Sarah were bickering in the kitchen. "Full house, excellent."

"Hello Nick, it's a surprise to see you." Gail greets, cheerily, as if the commotion in the house was something she nowadays just accepted, which it probably was. "And Carla!" She kisses her on the cheek which takes her aback slightly. She wasn't used to in-laws liking her, not that they technically were yet.

"Welcome to the mad house." David drones, not moving his eyes from the cartoons on the television. I could swear Kylie and him were just five year olds on the inside; five year olds with a shit load of baggage.

"Sarah will you be quiet lovie?" Audrey frets, trying to break up the feud between the mother and daughter. I was hoping maybe our future family wouldn't be quite as boisterous as this, but however it turned out, I would love it.

"I told her she wasn't to use my lipstick." Sarah retorts, turning on Audrey instead.

"I said I'll buy you a new one!" Bethany argues.

"Oh for heavens sake, I'll buy you a new one." Audrey stresses, trying anything to calm them down.

"Neowwwww!" Max yells as he directs the truck straight into Kylie's leg.

"Ow!" She yelps. "Max I told you to play with that nicely!"

"...Shall we just leave this for another day?" Carla whispers, I could tell she was anxious now, this was not something she was used to.

"Nope." I tell her and then raise my voice. "Uh, hi, sorry! We have actually come round for a reason rather than have free tickets to the theatre."

"'A Day In The Life Of The Platts'." Kylie ponders. "We could make money off that."

"It'd be the longest film ever." David rolls his eyes.

"Thank you." I interrupt again. "We have some news, that I will let Carla announce."

"You're getting married!" Gail exclaims and I exchange looks with my girlfriend. "I knew it! I've seen this dress in a magazine which I think I could wear. Sarah, what did you think of that dress I-"

"We're not getting married!" I cut her off and receive a disappointed glance from my mother.

"I um..." Carla stammers, her confidence has been knocked by the palaver that was taking place I front of us. "Well we're expecting a baby... I'm pregnant."

Luckily Gail's excited screech cuts through the confused stares that faced us as she runs up to Carla and hugs her suddenly.

"I knew it! I knew it!" She puts Lily down on the floor, as if she was done with the latest grandchild and was moving on to the next one.

"Evidently." I nod, sarcastically and manage to save my girlfriend from being salvaged by my mother.

"Congrats mate, seriously." David finally pipes up, rising from the sofa to shake my hand.

"It's very soon after what's her name." Bethany stupidly adds and then regrets it. "...But you know, congratulations and all that."

I put my arm around Carla and she folds into my side, relieved that we had finally broken the news.

"Ooh, we must have a toast!" Audrey announces. "Bethany, lovie, get me some glasses will you?"

"No, no, it's fine." I stop her. "We've got to go and tell Steve and Michelle over at the pub anyway."

Carla is pounced on one final time by Gail before we manage to withdraw ourselves from the household. The fresh air was a relief when it hit us and Carla lets out a long sigh of alleviation as she links her hand with mine.

"At least that's done." She rolls her eyes and I laugh at her withered expression. "That's the hard part, forget labour and early morning feeds."

"I don't think you'll be saying that in the delivery room sweetheart." I smile and she groans.

"I know I've endured enough pain in my life that it should be a walk in the park but..." She exhales. "Ugh... I never wanted to give birth. Sweat, tears, stretching, ew..."

"Think of the end result." I kiss her on the forehead as we reach the pub. "It'll be worth it."

"Hi!" Michelle beams as we approach the bar, looking delighted to see her best friend.

"I'll have an orange juice please." She hints at her and Michelle frowns.

"That's unlike you." She laughs. "You pay for our stock of red wine to be delivered."

"Yeah well, have a guess." Carla winks at her.

"Umm, you're upstaging me yet again by not drinking for a month?" Michelle shrugs and Carla shakes her head, a slight smile on her face which I found adorable. "Wait... You're not... Oh my God Car!" She squeals and runs round to our side of the bar to hug my girlfriend excitedly.

"Shh!" Carla raises a finger to her lips. "No one knows yet apart from you and the Platt's."

"I don't believe it!" She whispers, ecstatically. "When?"

"We've known for a few weeks." She grins at me, tilting her head back so it rests in my chest. "Didn't want to tempt fate though..."

"Of course." Michelle nods, understandingly. "Hey can I tell Steve?"

"Yeah go for it." Carla smiles. "We better be going anyway. I promised this one a night in front of the telly."

"Oh well have fun." Michelle giggles, hugging Carla one last time before running off to tell her boyfriend the news.

"You see, it's my family vs. yours, isn't it?" I laugh as we emerge from the pub and head back towards Victoria Court.

"Only similarity being that they both have more baggage than Manchester airport." She says.

"Well who on this street doesn't." I shrug and she agrees with me as I place my hand on her stomach. "Don't you think it seems even more real now?"

"Mmm." She nods. "And I love it."