'Oh it feels strange to be back here.' Nick says as Carla leads him into the flat with Ottilie balanced on her hip.
'I know; I felt so uncomfortable when I came back here.' Carla admits watching Nick place his suitcase down on the floor by the kitchen counter.
'And how do you feel now?' He asks causing her to shrug her shoulders. Bending down she places Ottilie on the rug before turning back to face Nick.
'It's all I've got here, Nick. I want Ottie to have her family around her for the time being and this place is the only place I have to live, I deal with it because I have no other choice.' She replies.
'Why don't you look for somewhere else?' He asks.
'Because I don't know if I'm going to be around here long enough for it to matter. I don't want to rush into anything.' She replies.
'What are you thinking, Carla? What's going on in that head of yours?' He asks making his way towards her.
'I'm just tired; it's been a long day, you know?' She replies and he nods his head.
'Why don't you go for a lie down and I'll watch Ottie?' He suggests.
'A-Are you sure?' She asks and he nods his head.
'I know I'm not always around to help out when you've had a rough night or an early morning but I'm here now and I want to help out, Carla. Go get some rest and we'll see you when you wake up.' He replies.
'Thank you.' She says softly. She glances down at Ottilie before making her way into the bedroom and getting ready to have a lie down.
'Hey, sweetpea... Daddy's been looking forward to spending some time with you.' Nick says lifting Ottilie into his arms as the little girl giggles.
'I'm sorry I'm not around all the time, Ottie. I wish I could be and maybe one day I will be but I know your mummy is absolutely amazing; your mummy is one of the strongest, bravest people I know and I know that if you're anything like her you're going to be just fine in this world.' He adds.
Carla groans slightly as she feels the bed dip slightly and someone brushes their hand down her arm. Her eyes flicker open and she glances up to find Nick sitting by his side with Ottilie in his arms.
'I'm sorry; I really didn't want to wake you but she's hungry and I didn't know if you had any expressed milk because I couldn't see any in the fridge.' He says softly as she runs her hand over her face.
'It's okay. I would never have slept tonight if I slept any longer.' She replies reaching her arms out for the little girl. He places their daughter in her arms and she instantly adjusts her top allowing the little girl to latch on.
'You don't have to stare at the wall, you know. It's not like you haven't seen it all before plus you can hardly see anything.' She says and he laughs slightly.
'I didn't want to make you uncomfortable.' He replies causing her to shake her head.
'You could never make me feel uncomfortable, Nick. Come sit beside me if you want? We can talk about your fabulous like in Canada.' She says patting the space beside her on the bed. He moves up so he's sitting beside her and let's his head rest back against the headboard.
'I wouldn't call my life in Canada fabulous.' He replies.
'Why Canada? Out of everywhere in the world why did you pick Canada?' She asks and he shrugs his shoulders.
'It's somewhere I knew and was comfortable with although I am debating moving on to somewhere else.' He replies.
'Do you know what I would've loved to do when I was younger? Before I had Ottie? Travel. Just go everywhere and anywhere.' She says.
'You could still do that. We could do that together? Me, you and Ottie; pack a few backs and hit the road.' He says causing her to smile slightly.
'You think? Don't you think that would be too difficult with a baby?' She asks and he shakes his head.
'No; I think we'd be fine. Is it something you'd consider?' He asks and she nods her head.
'Definitely.' She replies smiling slightly.
'We can maybe think more about it while I'm over here.' He says and she nods her head.
'That would be good.' She replies smiling.
'So tell me, have you met anyone in Canada?' She asks.
'Do you really want to talk about this?' He asks and she nods her head.
'I-There was someone for like a month but it didn't work out.' He replies.
'Aw; I'm sorry.' She says.
'Don't be; she was a stuck up cow.' He replies causing her to laugh.
'So what are the plans for Christmas?' Nick asks glancing away from the tv which is playing Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas.
'We're going to my family for dinner if that's okay with you?' But I was thinking we could just spend the morning here, just the three of us watching Christmas movies and helping Ottie open her presents.' Carla replies glancing at the little girl sitting between them.
'Sounds perfect to me… Are your family okay with me though? After everything I done?' He asks.
'They're fine with you, Nick. You didn't do anything wrong.' She replies.
'I said some awful things to you Carla.' He says and she shakes her head.
'You were hurt; I would've reacted exactly the same way if it was the other way around.' She replies.
'If you can forgive me for everything I said to you that day why can't you forgive yourself for what happened between you and Robert?' He asks.
'Because that's completely different. I cheated on you and then tried to get you to give up everything and move away with me.' She replies.
'We both wanted to go to Devon, Carla. All I've ever needed to forgive you for was sleeping with Robert and I done that a long time ago.' He says.
'I just can't okay.' She replies quietly.
'What's your plans for tomorrow?' He asks in an attempt to change the subject.
'I was thinking we could take Ottie to see Santa if you don't have any plans.' She replies.
'I don't have any plans. I thought you were taking her last week.' He says and she nods her head.
'I had planned to but I wanted you to be there, Nick. You are her dad and I want you to experience all these little moments with her.' She replies smiling as Ottilie pops her thumb into her mouth and leans back against Nick.
'Thank you… I'd love to come see Santa with you both and then maybe I could treat you to lunch?' He suggests.
'You treated us to breakfast this morning, Nick.' She replies and he nods his head.
'And now I want to treat you to lunch tomorrow… I wish I had been around more during your pregnancy and when she was younger but I wasn't; let me treat you both?' He says.
'Okay.' She replies smiling slightly.