It was 8am and Nick had woken up early to get everything ready for Carla's birthday, it was her first birthday she'd had since they had got together and he wanted to make it extra special and give her everything she never had when she was a child. He decorated the flat with red and black balloons and covered the walls with happy birthday banners.
Nick then piled all of her presents in a neat pile on the coffee table and placed her card on top, everything looked perfect. Michelle was going to bring the cake round later and Aiden, Kate and Roy were all going to come round and go for a meal at the Bistro afterwards.
After Nick had set everything up he went back into the bedroom to find Carla still asleep, she looked so beautiful and peaceful. He got back into the bed beside her and started to play with her hair knowing it would wake her up. As she began to stir he started placing kisses on her hair and down to her forehead.
Carla looked up at him and smiled, "Morning baby." she groaned as he leaned in for a kiss, "Happy birthday beautiful." He said as he got underneath the covers and pulled her on top of chest. "I could stay like this forever," Carla said wrapping her arms around Nicks neck and placing her forehead on his. "Well that's too bad isn't it" Nick said grinning and grabbing Carla by the waist and picking her up whilst throwing her over his shoulder, "Nick." Carla said laughing "Put me down."
Nick carried Carla into the living room and threw her down onto the sofa, "Happy birthday." He said whilst passing her, her card and moving so she could she the pile of presents. Carla gasped and covered her mouth with her hands, "Nick." She said as a tear falls down her cheek, "You didn't have to do this." She said standing up and kissing him.
"I wanted to, you've had such a bad year Car, you deserve it." Nick said sitting down besides her and passing her, her first present. "Just promise me one thing." Nick sighed and looked at Carla, "Promise me Johnny or Roberts not going to ruin this." Nick placed his palm on her cheek and pulled her forward, "I won't let that happen." He said whilst placing a kiss on her lips.
"So did you like your presents then?" Nick said as he walked over to Carla with their coffee's "I loved them Nick, thank you." She said as he sat down next to her and passed her, her drink. "So what's the plan today?" Carla said as she placed her mug down on the table and cuddled into Nick's side, "How do you know were even doing anything aye?" Nick said tickling Carla's side making her giggle.
"Well, I wouldn't mind staying in all day with you." She whispered into Nick's ear seductively "Well I've made plans, go get ready" Nick said whilst smacking Carla's thigh causing her to jump up and run into the bedroom, leaving the door open. "I'm not coming in there Car, just get ready" Nick shouted making Carla sigh and close the door.
As soon as Carla closed the bedroom door Nick walked towards the front door and let Michelle in, "I've been stood out there waiting for you for half an hour." Michelle jokingly said, "Sorry, she wouldn't get ready." Nick laughed as Michelle placed the cake and Carla's present on the table.
Suddenly Carla walked out of the bedroom, "Oh, I thought I heard voices." She said whilst approaching Michelle, "Happy Birthday." Michelle said running over to Carla and hugging her so Nick could move the cake. "Let's go get you ready, come on" Michelle said looking at Nick in panic. Carla wasn't stupid she knew they were up to something.
As Michelle and Carla entered the bedroom Carla sat on the bed and began to well up, "Hey, what's up?" Michelle said running over to Carla and wrapping her arms around her. "I'm late." Carla said placing her head in her hands, Michelle was taken back, she didn't understand why this was such a big problem. Carla had spoken to her about her and Nick having a family one day anyway. "I've been messaging you all day." Carla says as Michelle looks down at her phone.
"What's the problem if you're pregnant, I mean Nick would love a baby." Michelle said whilst trying to sooth Carla, Carla looked up at Michelle with panic in her eyes, "The problem Michelle is what if it's Roberts, I mean it's not impossible the dates match." She pauses, "And then what do I tell Nick." Michelle pulls Carla into her grasp and begins to rock her back and forth. "Nick will stand by you." She says kissing her head. Carla releases from Michelle's grasp and wipes away her tears. "I can't let him raise a baby that might not be his. I won't."
A few hours later Nick, Carla, Michelle, Roy, Aiden and Kate are all sat in the Bistro, Nick had closed it especially for Carla's birthday to make it extra special and because it reminded him of the first time she told him she loved him. Nick walked out with a cake in his hands and placed it down in front of Carla.
Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to Carla, Happy birthday to you. "Make a wish." Michelle shouted from the other end of the table as Carla blew out the candles. "Thank you everyone." Carla said smiling, "Especially you." She said looking at Nick and standing up to kiss him.
"Right I'm just going to pop to the ladies, one minute." Carla said looking at Michelle indicating to follow her, which she automatically did. "Right I need to take the test now." Carla said pulling a pregnancy test out of her bag. "Now, can't you wait till you get home. Talk to Nick." Michelle pleaded she knew if Carla took the test and it came back positive it would ruin everything that made today so special. "I can't, it's eating away at me." Carla cried whilst slamming the toilet door.
"Right we've got to wait 2 minutes." Carla said whilst sitting on the sink. "What are you going to do if you are pregnant Carla? You need to tell Nick, I'll go get him now." Michelle said heading for the door. "No Michelle, you can't." Carla said grabbing hold of her arm, "Times almost done anyway." She said looking down at the stopwatch she had set up on her phone.
Meanwhile Nick and Aiden, were stood outside the Bistro getting some air and had left Roy and Kate to make small talk, which they found quite funny. Suddenly Nick ran forward, it was Johnny. "What are you doing here?" Nick said "I need to see Carla, I don't want to miss out any more." Nick laughed. "Your not going in there Johnny, your 42 years late." Johnny looked down at the floor and then looked at Aiden, "Aiden, please." "Save it, like Nick said your too late. We're not going to let you ruin Carla's day." Johnny sighed and walked back off into the dark night.
"Right what's the verdict?" Carla asked Michelle as she paced up and down the small square room, "What, it's your pregnancy test you look." Michelle said, "I told you not to do it today and you didn't listen" Carla looked down at the floor, "Michelle just... Please." Carla begged as another tear strolled down her cheek.
Michelle sighed and picked up the test, "It's positive Carla..."
