It had been a week since Carla had returned. The week had had its challenges. Beth had continued to be hostile, though less so with words. Izzy hadn't been particularly welcoming either. Some people didn't know what to say which frustrated Carla as they would skirt around the subject or avoid her completely. But the people that did matter, Peter, Roy, Simon, Ken, Michelle, Johnny, Kate, Maria and Jenny had her back, and all made a big effort to make her feel welcomed back.
Flashback
Just as Peter was about to knock on the door to the back room of the rovers, Carla tugged at his arm, stopping him in the process.
'What is it love?' Peter said as Carla chewed her cheek anxiously.
'What if Kate.. what if she still hates me' Carla asked, as Peter pulled her in for a hug.
'No one hates you, certainly not Kate' Peter assured her.
'He's right love, Kate just misses her sister' Johnny said from behind as Carla sighed. She didn't entirely believe either of them but she knew they meant well and she'd had to face Kate at some point.
Taking a deep breath, Carla followed Peter into the room, holding his hand in an almost child like fashion.
'Hey Carla' Kate smiled, her eyes darting towards her Dad, cautiously, relieved to see her elder sister looking better than when she'd left. She looked rested, and had gained some much needed weight, her skin now healthy looking and fresh.
Despite that, Carla still seemed fragile, clutching Peter's hand for assurance.
'Hey..' Carla replied as they paused for a moment, before Kate tentatively approached her and put her arms around her.
'It's good to have you home' Kate admitted, the hatred and anger she'd felt towards her sister before, having mostly faded away. She still had questions, her heart still hurt at the thought of her sister knowing the roof wasn't safe, but having seen the drastic deterioration in the state of Carla's mental health, she knew no one would punish Carla more than Carla herself, and there was no way she'd done anything deliberate, if at all.
Carla simply smiled gently, allowing herself to relax in her sister's embrace, before pulling away a little and looking into Kate's eyes.
'I'm so sorry Kate' she said with absolute intent, Kate's eyes welled up, and fell to the ground, before meeting her's once more.
'It's fine' Kate said as Carla shook her head.
'No, it's not fine, it's not fine and I will never forgive myself for what I did' Carla said as Peter sighed and put his hand on the small of Carla's back.
'I forgive you' Kate said, mustering up the courage to say what her sister so desperate needed to hear.
Carla sipped her tea, closing her eyes as she did so. She wasn't feeling well at all today. Her nausea over the past week had been bearable, but today she felt exhausted, despite having had a restful sleep.
The past five weeks had brought a lot change for Carla. One of the biggest changes were her priorities in life. The factory, her other baby. She had worked herself to the ground, literally to keep that place afloat. She had spent money, time, love, all building it up and each time it came crashing down.
She couldn't do it anymore. Now that she was carrying own baby, she had to let it go. She wouldn't let the factory take up any more of her precious time.
Much to Peter's annoyance, Carla had decided to give away twenty five percent of her Underworld share to her workforce, though Peter had managed to dissuade her from giving any to Beth, Izzy and Paul. Begrudgingly, Carla agreed, given that neither Beth or Izzy had been anything other that downright rude to her, and Paul had only worked at the place five minutes.
The other seventy five percent, she'd sold to Sarah, she couldn't abide the idea of selling to Nick so Sarah had agreed to buy, and Carla was happy for her to pay in smaller amounts over time, whilst she built her life back up.
For the first time this week, she didn't need to go into the community centre. She was free. The factory wasn't her problem anymore. New beginnings were unfolding.
Carla pulled her hair up into a ponytail, popping on a little mascara and blush, before joining Peter in the pub. He'd ordered them both lunch and she was happy just to melt into his arms and rest, her pregnancy leaving her tired.
'Hey love' Peter said kissing her on the lips before slipping his arm over her shoulder and welcoming her into his embrace.
'I feel so relieved, now that I'm out of that place' she said as he smiled.
'If you're happy, I'm happy' Peter said as Carla grimaced at the smell of the hotpots he'd ordered.
'Do they really smell that bad?' he asked her as she nodded.
'So bad'.
'Aren't you even a little hungry?' Peter asked her as she shrugged.
'I actually am but everything smells rotten, nothing agrees with me' she sighed as a faint wave of cramps crept around her lower stomach.
'Well maybe just eat a little eh, gotta keep your energy up' Peter said, sipping on his drink as Carla leaned forward a little in a bid to quell the pain.
'Ergh, there she is, tight little cow' Beth said, making no effort to keep her voice down as she entered the pub and clapped eyes on Carla.
'After everything we've done for her, all that overtime, late nights' Izzy added as the rest of the factory staff followed.
'Oh you're just jealous, leave her alone' Sean said, throwing Carla a small smile.
'I'm not jealous, didn't want her sloppy second hand shares anyway, murderer' Beth said rolling her eyes as Peter stood up angrily.
'You know what Beth, you don't deserve to breathe the same air as Carla, so why don't you shut that big gob of yours and get out' he shouted, not noticing Carla who had zoned out of the chaos that was growing around her, and was rocking bath and forth.
'Excuse me, who do you think you are' Beth quipped back as Izzy glowered at Peter.
'Who do you think I am? I think you should be asking yourself that question, you're the one who started this' Peter growled back as Carla let out a wail.
Peter glanced at her before looking back at the workers, and then glancing at Carla again.
'Carla?' he asked her as she hung her head and moaned through gritted teeth.
'No, no no' she muttered as the pain she'd felt before grew stronger and more acute, a pain that felt so familiar.
'Carla, what's wrong?' Peter asked, growing panicked.
'Peter, help me' Carla said looking at him, her eyes pleading.
'Call an ambulance, someone call an ambulance' Peter shouted, his voice now full of alarm as Carla cried out, gripping his arms and falling into him.
'What's wrong with her' Beth said, her voice now showing an air of concern.
'Carla, it's okay baby, everything is going to be okay' Peter whispered, kissing her head and supporting her as she cried into his chest.
'Peter I'm loosing it, it's happening again' she mumbled as the workers looked at each other with confusion whilst Jenny furiously stabbed 999 into her phone.
'I've got you, love I've got you' Peter said, his own eyes pricking with tears as he watched Carla struggle and suffer.
'I can't loose my baby' Carla wailed as Sean's mouth dropped.
'Baby? Carla's pregnant?'.
