'Negative.' She says making her way over to Nick who is sitting on the edge of her desk.
'Are you disappointed?' He asks as she glances round the empty factory.
'A little bit. I know I said I was content with letting nature take it's course but...' She begins and he smiles.
'But you want another baby?' He asks.
'I just, I really thought I was pregnant. I'm late, like two maybe even three weeks late.' She replies as he wraps his arms around her waist.
'We'll test again in a few days, okay? Until then try not to concentrate on it. Let's just drop Arlo off at my mum's and go have fun.' He says and she leans her forehead against his.
'I love you.' She whispers.
'I love you too.' He replies smiling.
'Only us...' Carla shouts as she makes her way into the Platter household with Nick following closely behind her carrying everything they need.
'Hi, love... Where's my handsome little Arlo?' Gail asks smiling as she makes her way towards her daughter-in-law.
'Say here I am Grandma.' Carla replies smiling as she passes the eight month old little boy to Gail.
'I've been looking forward to having you tonight.' Gail says kissing Arlo's forehead.
'There's a couple of bottles in the bag which need to go in the fridge. He's in his jamas so you don't need to change him but I have put a spare in the bag just in case. And there's teething gel if he gets a bit grumpy and porridge for his breakfast.' Carla says listing off practically everything in the bag.
'Carla, he'll be fine. Go have fun.' Gail replies placing her hand on her shoulder.
'Let's go or Chelle will kill us for being late.' Nick says sensing Carla is a little bit anxious about leaving Arlo overnight for the first time.
'Okay... Bye baby. Mummy will see you in the morning.' She mumbles leaning forward and kissing his forehead.
'Bye, Arlo.' Nick says smiling. He places the bags on the floor and practically drags Carla out the door.
'He'll be fine.' He says wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close to him.
'I know... It's just hard.' She replies quietly.
'Hey guys... Take a seat. I'll bring you a drink over in a minute, what are you having?' Michelle asks.
'I'll have an orange juice please, Chelle.' Carla replies smiling.
'I'll have the same. You not drinking?' Nick asks as Michelle goes off to get the drinks.
'No... Not until we've tested again.' She replies quietly.
'One won't hurt.' He says.
'I'm good with orange juice.' She replies smiling. They make their way over to the table where Kate, Aiden and Eva are all sitting.
'Hi, you look beautiful!' Kate says immediately standing up and hugging Carla.
'Thanks. You look great yourself. How are you?' Carla asks.
'I'm getting there. Some days are harder than others.' Kate replies.
'I'm always here if you need to talk.' Carla says smiling.
'Thank you.' Kate replies smiling. Michelle comes over with their drinks and they all sit down at Sean takes over on the bar.
'So how are you finding being back at work? You've been back how long now?' Michelle asks.
'Five weeks. It's getting easier as time goes on.' Carla replies.
'She's always late!' Aiden adds.
'You trying getting out the house with an eight month old.' Carla says smiling as she sips orange juice.
'Hey, I wondered where you've wandered off to.' Aiden says as he makes his way towards Carla who is leaning against the smoking shelter.
'Needed some air...' She replies quietly.
'How are you doing?' He asks and she sighs.
'Pass.' She mumbles twisting her wedding ring on her finger.
'Have you and Nick had an argument?' He asks leaning beside her.
'No.' She replies.
'Bad day then?' He asks.
'Could say that. It's my mum's birthday tomorrow.' She replies.
'Oh...' He says and she sighs.
'It's also the day my stepfather forced me to abort his baby.' She whispers.
'W-What? You're gonna need to explain that one cause I don't understand.' He says.
'He raped me... Every night from the age of 11. I told my mum, she didn't believe me. Why would she? I was just her bratty daughter. He was the love of her life.' She mumbles staring down at the floor.
'And he got you pregnant?' Aiden asks.
'Mmhmmm... I had just turned 13. He told my mum I'd been sleeping with this lad at school, essentially told me if I didn't get rid of it he'd beat me until I lost it... He would've as well.' She replies reaching her hand up to wipe a tear from her cheek.
'Oh Carla.' He says instantly pulling her into his arms.
'How long did that go on for?' He asks and she tilts her head back.
'Until I moved in with Paul.' She replies.
'And that's why you've always said he saved you.' Aiden says and she nods her head.
'He did. He worked his arse off to get me out of that house, Aiden.' She admits.
'I'm so sorry you went through all that. I'm so sorry my dad let you go through all that.' He says as she rests her head on his shoulder.
'As much as I hate your dad for what he done, I can't blame him for what I went through. He made a mistake, Aiden.' She replies.
'A fucking big mistake.' He says causing her to smile.
'Maybe. But it was still a mistake. Now I am not saying for a second that I want him in my life and we can play happy families because I don't. But you can't hold what I just told you against your dad. That was my mum's fault, not his.' She replies and he squeezes her a little tighter.
'Fuck you're a stronger person than I am Carla... You've been through so much and you're still standing. How do you do it?' He asks.
'Honestly? I don't. I usually hit the self destruct button because that is what I'm good at.' She replies as tears stream down her cheeks
'What are you two talking about?' Nick asks making his way out of the pub.
'I think your wife needs a cuddle.' Aiden says smiling as Carla sighs. She turns around and instantly buries her head in Nick's chest as he wraps his arms around her tightly.
'Hey... What's going on?' He whispers placing a kiss on the top of her head.
'She told me about her stepdad... I'll leave you two alone for a bit.' Aiden says gently squeezing Carla's shoulder before making his way back inside.
'I'm just being emotional.' Carla says.
'I know tomorrow's going to be a hard day so I was thinking we could go to the seaside? Take Arlo and just get away for the night. We'll find a little b&b or something and just spend some time as a family.' Nick suggests feeling Carla brush the tip of her nose against his chest.
'That sounds amazing... What would I do without you?' She mumbles as she tilts her head to look at him.
'Do you want to go home?' He asks reaching one hand up to wipe away her tears.
'No. I'll be fine... Just stay here with me for a minute.' She replies.
'As long as you need.' He says kissing her forehead.
'What have you two been up to, ey?' Michelle asks as Carla and Nick make their way over to the table hand in hand.
'In fact I don't think we want to know.' She adds as they sit down.
'So Carla, what is your favourite movie?' Aiden asks changing the subject.
'Umm... I don't know. We don't really watch movies, do we babe?' Carla asks glancing at Nick who smiles.
'This one likes the Lion King... She says its for Arlo but let's face it he doesn't understand.' Nick says gesturing to his wife. She smiles and rests her head against his shoulder.
'Kate likes the Little Mermaid, in fact she was pretty convinced that being a Mermaid was a job she do when she grew up.' Aiden says smiling at his younger sister.
'Yeah okay, spiderman.' She replies.
'I think I need to get help or something, Nick.' Carla admits as she lies in bed staring at the celling.
'What do you mean? What kind of help?' He asks climbing into bed beside her.
'I don't know... Counselling or something. All my life I've tried to push everything that's ever happened out of my mind but I can't do it anymore. It's exhausting.' She admits.
'Okay. Counselling sounds good.' He replies pulling her closer to him. She rolls onto her side and curls her body against his as her head rests on his chest.
'Get some sleep... I love you.' He says quietly.
'I love you too.' She replies.