I just want to say a big big thank you to everyone who left a comment on that last chapter, I really appreciate them. I meant to post this chapter a few days ago but I haven't got around to doing it so I hope you're all still interested. I hope you enjoy this :-) please leave a comment if you have the time. :-)

Part Ten.

It was two weeks later and Carla had got up and showered before changing into a pair of black leggings with knee high boots and a loose cream colored shirt. She tied her hair into a plait that lay over her right shoulder and put her make-up on. She had just sprayed on some perfume when Peter walked through the door which caused her to smile. "hey you"
"hello gorgeous, are you ready to leave?"
Carla nodded and after picking up her bag she walked closer to take Peter's hand. "I can't wait to bring him home."
"You won't have to wait much longer..."
Carla smiled and gave Peter's had a gentle squeeze before they left the flat, locked it and then descended the stairs. After getting into the car, Peter drove them to the hospital where they had been told the day before that they could take Bailey home. In arriving at the hospital, Carla and Peter walked through the corridors that had become all too familiar over the past couple of weeks and on reaching the nurses room Carla popped her head around the door with a smile. "Hey... I've come to take Bailey."
The midwife who had taken care of her when she had been in labour beamed back at her and nodded in acknowledgement before speaking. "The doctor is just doing some last minute checks so you don't have to come back tomorrow." she offered a cake tin out to her "Julie brought these in freshly made today, do you want one while we wait?"
"Will they know we are here?"
"I think he'll come here and tell us when he is done."
Carla smiled and nodded, stepping into the room with Peter following her, both of them sitting down before taking a blueberry muffin from the tin. "Thank you. Where is everyone?"
"Oh we're rushed off our feet today love, once you have gone its back to business as usual for me."
"I bet you're always busy, are you?"
The young blonde midwife, Eden, nodded "yeah, one minute it can be really quiet and then the next minute all the rooms are full and we have to send people to other hospitals."
Carla gave a small smile and nodded, she guessed the work would be rewarding for whoever was doing it though she did not know where they got their patience from. She had never been known for being too good with patience, though she knew now that she had Bailey that would have to change. As she was thinking, Eden leaned forwards and spoke to Peter. "How does it feel being a daddy then Peter?"
"One of the best feelings in the world" he smiled and she did too.
When a low cry could be heard from one of the rooms, Carla cringed and Eden smiled. "Bring back memories does it?"
"Hm, you could say that..."
"Worth it though?"
Carla nodded "of course. Listen, can I ask you something?"
Eden nodded "of course you can."
"You know the stitches in my stomach, they're still sore, is that normal?"
She nodded "yeah, it is. As long as it's not too uncomfortable, if it gets too much for you go to your doctor and tell them about it."
Carla nodded "thank you"
Eden smiled "anytime.'

It was only moments after Carla and Peter had finished the cake they had been given and the conversation they had been having with Eden that the doctor walked through to the room. "Hello Mrs Connor, Mr Barlow" he nodded in acknowledgement "I've done the checks that I need to do on Bailey if you want to come and get him now?"
Carla smiled and nodded, standing up along with Peter "yeah, we've wanted to get him home for weeks."
"Well the time is here." he smiled "he's a little fighter."
Carla smiled and gave the midwife a hug, thanking her for everything that she had done and after Peter had done the same they left the nurses room and walked the direction of the unit that Bailey was on. In Peter's right had he had a car seat that at that moment in time was empty, but which would soon be carrying their baby.

-

Carla arrived back in the street with Peter around half an hour later and he parked outside Ken and Deidre's before Carla got out, carrying Bailey. She had intended to go over to Darren's for a coffee as she had promised she would but when Hayley had called her over with the door of the factory open, she guessed she would probably be a little longer. Her thoughts were confirmed when Hayley walked in her direction, followed by Sean, Beth, Fiz and Izzy a little behind her who had abandoned their work to greet her. Hayley walked over and stood beside Carla who smiled in response to her comment. She was already gushing over Bailey even though she had only been in her presence for seconds. "Oh Carla he's beautiful."
"Like his mum." Peter stated with a wide smile as he joined them.
Carla laughed and turned to Sean as he spoke, suddenly finding herself in the middle of the group that had gathered by Ken and Deidre's house. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm just glad to finally have him home."
"Any ideas of when you will be back at work?"
Carla laughed "missing me already Sean?"
"Naturally"
"I'm not sure, I want to have at least a couple of months off with him first."
"I bet you don't want to leave him when the time comes, he's adorable. If you ever need a babysitter Carla..."
Carla laughed a little and nodded at Marcus who had joined them "thanks, I'll erm, I'll bare it in mind..."
Carla had barely got her words out when Hayley spoke up once again "can I have a hold?"
Carla smiled and nodded, deciding that as Bailey wasn't asleep there was no need to worry about waking him up, which was a good job with the amount of people that were now around. "Yeah, here..." she carefully passed him over to Hayley who ran her finger over his cheek gently and began talking to him in a tone much higher than she usually used.

"Alright sis?"
Carla smiled and turned around as she heard the voice come from behind her. As Darren reached them he said hello to Peter and turned to speak to Carla once again, but before he could get the words out, Beth spoke. "Sis? You've kept him quiet Carla."
Carla raised her eyebrow a little "is it any wonder..." As she made her way over, Carla pushed her hair back gently with her hand before speaking up once more. "Shouldn't you be working?"
"No, I've told them they can have an early lunch." When Carla head the voice she felt her blood run cold and she wanted to take Bailey home and lock the rest of the world out. She swallowed hard and forced herself to turn around, putting up a front once again, and one that she had mastered perfectly a long long time ago. "I need a word."
"I'm busy."
"It's alright; I'll wait here for you..." Peter smiled and Carla felt her stomach churn in dread.
"What is then?" she questioned, putting a small frown on her expression to show her confusion, it wasn't that she wanted to know but she thought that was what her expression should be like, so she made sure that it was.
"I need to go over a couple of files with you..." Frank turned and walked back into Underworld and Carla swallowed hard. She wished she could just run away and not have to deal with what she knew was inevitable. As she made her way to Underworld using careful steps, she tried to prolong the journey for as long as she could but she knew it was impossible to put off completely, and it was that thought that was driving her mad. Carla willed herself to be strong as she stepped through the main doors of Underworld and made her way through to the office.
"You brought him home then?"
"I'm not doing this. If you don't want to talk about files, I've got nothing to say." Carla turned to walk back through the door she had entered through but before she could leave, Frank moved forward and slammed the door closed. "You don't have a choice, Carla."
"I think you'll find I do, Frank."
"He's gorgeous. He must get it from his father." Frank smirked and Carla could hear the smugness in his tone which made her want to rip him apart, limb by limb.
"Yeah, Deidre showed me the pictures. Peter was a gorgeous baby."
"You said he was mine."
"Yeah well, I lied."
"I don't think you did."
She shook her head in disbelief "you were threatening to rape me, I'd have said anything."
"Do you remember what else I said?"
"I'm sure you're going to tell me anyway..."
Carla jumped when Frank grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back against the filing cabinet, the pain that shot through her stomach as he did quite literally took her breath away. She moved her hand to place over where the pain was, hoping that it would ease it somewhat. "Don't try and take me on Carla, we both know what happened last time you did and don't think I'm not capable of doing it again."
Carla managed to bite back a cry at her situation, and swallowed hard. She was about to speak up and ask him to let go of her, not being in any fit state to fight with him at that moment in time, and the thought terrified her. However, before she did, Hayley's voice could be heard, and Frank immediately released her. "Carla..." she was a little unsure of what was going on and if she was truthful she didn't like what she thought she had witnessed though she decided to keep it to herself. "Peter was just wondering how much longer you would be..."
Carla shook her head a little "I'm coming now."
"Oh... Right, I think he wants to go in for a coffee with Ken."
Carla gave a small smile and nodded; adjusting her bag on her shoulder before she left the office with Hayley, not even so much as acknowledging Frank as she did. She was silently wondering if Hayley knew anything, but knew she could not ask her without causing suspicion, and at that moment in time it was the last thing that she needed.

-

Carla had been for a coffee with Ken and Deidre who were smitten with Bailey and while she was there she had gotten a phone call from Michelle who had asked her to stop off for a coffee. Peter had been due to meet Darren at the Bookies to let him know what he needed him to do so that he could be left to it and with the knowledge that Frank was at work; Carla decided to take advantage of that. After saying bye to Peter she had got a taxi to Michelle's and was stood outside waiting for her to answer the door. As she waited she adjusted the blanket that was around Bailey and smiled as Michelle opened the door. "You took your time, we're freezing out here."
"Oh here he is, my new baby nephew." she smiled, stepping to one side to allow Carla into the huge house she shared with Frank. As soon as Carla stepped through the door she felt uncomfortable, not due to being in Michelle's presence, but due to being in his house. "Yeah, he's finally home."
Michelle smiled "well give him here then, I've been after a cuddle for weeks."
Carla smiled and passed Bailey over to Michelle who kissed him on the forehead gently. "Oh Carla, he's beautiful."
"I know he's perfect."
Michelle moved over to sit down on the couch with Bailey before speaking to Carla again "you know where the kettle is, Car."
"So, I come to your house and I have to make my own cuppa? You need to work on your people skills 'Chelle." Carla teased before she walked through into the kitchen.
"Let's just hope you don't grow up with your mummy's cheek hey?" Michelle smiled; speaking to Bailey in a sing song voice, though making sure it was loud enough for Carla to hear.
Carla smiled to herself before going on to make two coffees', the one person that she liked to share things with was Michelle, they were so close and she was without doubt her closest female friend. Carla did still think of her as a sister but she hated feeling like she couldn't talk to her properly and she knew the single reason for that was due to the partner she had. Though she didn't mean to, Carla had picked up on a few comments that Frank had made and guessed Michelle must have just made an offhand comment for him to know. It was stupid to think how she did and she knew it, with him being related to Peter he was going to find out things, though as far as she was concerned, the less he knew about her life, the better. She sighed quietly and shook her head, knowing that at that moment in time wasn't the best time to choose to think about what she was. She plastered a smile back over her expression and walked back through into the living area of the house, putting Michelle's coffee down on the table that was to the side of the couch before she sat down herself.
"How are you feeling then?" Michelle questioned, moving her finger gently that Bailey had hold of.
"It's still all a bit surreal. I'm just really glad that we've got him home and that we can have him in his nursery and stuff."
Michelle smiled "Frank was talking to me about kids."
Carla just about disguised almost choking on her coffee, hesitating for a second before she answered. "Oh..." she started, running her tongue over her top set of teeth as she tried desperately to think of what to say. "Has he?"
Michelle nodded "we've just talked about it, it's nothing definite yet. We want to get married first."
"Do you want more kids?"
"Well I wasn't sure, I hadn't really thought about it. I just had Ryan and that was that but thinking about it and holding this little one here. I think I do yeah..."
Carla bit down on her bottom lip and raised her hand to push her hair back gently, she knew that she had to at least try and talk her friend out of what she was doing, knowing she would never forgive herself if she didn't.
"Michelle, there was something I needed to talk to you about..."
"Oh yeah, what was it?" she smiled, turning her attention from Bailey, to Carla.
Carla had another sip of the coffee though it was slightly too hot to drink, it was something that distracted her from the dread that seemed to be filling every part of her, even if it was for just a few seconds. "About Frank..."
"Oh, what about him?" she frowned a little which indicated her confusion, but before Carla could answer, Frank stepped into the doorway. "Yeah, what about me?"
Carla's heart thumped faster against her chest and she was sure it was making an imprint on the inside. She tried to think of what to say to get herself out of the situation that she was in, though she was struggling. After some hesitation, she just about managed to string a sentence together. "I erm, I was just going to say to make sure you set the date for the wedding for something not too soon so I have chance to get some of this baby weight off."
"Oh as if you need to. I don't think we're setting it for another month are we?"
Frank shook his head "whenever you want to darling."
Before any of them could reply, the phone rang and Frank walked out into the hall to answer it, though returned moments later "Michelle, it's your mum." Michelle smiled and Carla put her coffee on the table before taking Bailey from her. "Listen 'Chelle I'm going to get off, we both know how long your mum can talk for."
Michelle laughed and gave Carla hug before saying bye to Bailey, she then walked through to the hall to take the call from here mum. Carla adjusted her bag on her shoulder before walking to the hall to follow Michelle out, but she was stopped by Frank's hand holding her arm tightly. "Let go of me or I will scream this place down."
"Don't you ever, ever even think about saying anything to her, or try to get one over on me. You will do a DNA test on that kid and you'll do it when I tell you to, so you better start picking up the phone when it's me calling." He snapped, though his tone was quiet to make sure that there was no chance of Michelle over-hearing. He then leaned in even closer to kiss Carla on the cheek before standing back with a smirk.
Carla pulled her arm away before heading out of the house, her skin crawling at having to be anywhere near him. Carla held Bailey a little closer to her as she walked out of the house and down the path to get a taxi, silently terrified of what the next few days would bring.