"Oh my darlin' I am so glad to see you!" she told her daughter, knelt down in front of her, holding her tight in a hug. "Where have you been?" she asked, holding her out by her cheeks to check everything was how it should be.
"She was in the wreck, said she was playing hide and seek and got bored hiding" Frank informed his ex-fiancé, taking a step forward and smiling slightly.
Peter picked up on that step forward and did the same, a built in protective response when it came to Carla, especially when it came to Frank Foster!
"Okay, thanks for bringing her back now I think you should go" was all Peter said and took a further step towards Carla to be in between the two of them. Frank nodded and went to leave, but was stopped when Mrs Connor stood up and shook her head.
"No!" she reached out, too far away to be touching him otherwise she wouldn't have done it, but more an instinctive movement to make him stop. Frank turned back around to see what she would say, this made Peter breathe in deeply; hating that Carla was in the same room as her rapist. But it was after all her who stopped him from going, so he could do nothing. "Why did you bring her back?" she asked narrowing her eyes, now Peter understood; she was suspicious of him! And rightly so!
Frank looked hurt, why wouldn't he bring her back?!
"She was on her own, it was getting dark...I didn't want her to get hurt" he explained calmly, a tone she hadn't heard from him in a long time. She use to love him! She hated that she use to love him!
"What like you hurt me?!" she hissed, Peter winced as if something had burnt him and took Sapphires hand to come to him and away from what he thought would soon be an angered Carla. Frank looked at the floor, it didn't look like he was about to argue back. "Why would you bring her back to me when that was going to help me? After all everything you don is to hurt me! Why try and help me? Unless you have another motive?!" she growled, Peter swallowed and picked up a now slightly nervous 5 year old.
"I was worried about her Carla, she's 5 years old. She shouldn't be outside at night, not on her own..." he spoke rationally and his words were true, she knew that, but why?
"You don't worry about anyone but yourself!" Carla sniped and feigned a warm smile in her daughters direction, not wanting her to think she was angry at her.
"Carla, I was scared she could be in danger...I care about her, I wouldn't want that for my..." he stopped at seeing an enraged look on Peter's face. "I should be going, it's late, you two look tired" he said and went to leave once more.
"Don't you walk away Foster! The least you owe me is an explanation!" she insisted and watched as turned to face her again. "You wouldn't want that for your what?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "Your what?" she repeated, he didn't answer knowing whatever he said would turn into a huge row. "YOUR WHAT FRANK?!" she screamed, Sapphire covered her little ears and looked up at her mummy in confusion.
"Come on Frank, you gonna bottle it after all of this? Your what?" she allowed time for him to answer just in case he decided to. "Your daughter?" she laughed, then let out an amused grunt. Before her face went red with rage and she threw her hands in the air. "SHE AINT YOUR FLAMIN' DAUGHTER FRANK!" she screeched at the top of her lungs, Sapphire clung onto Peter, he did the same to her; deciding to let this ride out.
"She's mine" Peter finished what she was about to say, Frank sucked in his lips and nodded with his brows held high. There was long silence, neither knew what he would say after that, he wouldn't be happy that was for sure.
"Prove it"