An early update for you as it's half term and I had some spare time; the next update won't be till Monday as I'm going to Manchester this weekend so won't have time to upload.

Superheros


Carla awoke to an empty space beside her; she stretched then turned to look at the clock. It read 6:45am and Carla was puzzled as to why the space next to her wasn't occupied by Nick. She slowly stood up and wrapped her grey dressing gown tightly around her frame and exited the bedroom, the floor cold on her bare feet.

Nick was laying awkwardly on the sofa, the blanket Carla kept in the living room draped across him even though most of it was on the floor. Carla watched him sleep for a moment before she began to wonder why he'd slept on her sofa. She remembered going to bed with Nick but he was restless, he kept tossing and turning; Carla was so tired that despite this she'd fallen asleep anyway.

Nick began to stir and sat himself up slowly, he let out a short yawn as he realised where he was. "Morning," Carla said softly before going and sitting beside him, he didn't reply he just gave her a weak smile. "What's wrong Nick?" Carla asked concerned for her boyfriend.

"I just couldn't settle last night, I was just thinking about stuff," Nick said, his voice sounded tired.

"Yeah, what stuff?" Carla said taking one of Nick's hands in hers.

"I didn't wake you did I?" Nick asked trying to avoid talking to Carla about his feelings.

"Nope, I were so tired but you could've woken me if something was wrong, y'know I'm here for you," Carla said softly.

"I'm fine," Nick said slightly bluntly.

"I want you to talk to me, Nick you look exhausted darling, let me help you."

"I don't need your help!" Nick snapped pulling his hand away from Carla's.

The pair sat in silence for a moment both of them looking to the floor; Carla moved first she stood and went to move towards the kitchen. The feeling of Nick's hand clasp around her wrist stopped her from moving and forced her to retake her place next to Nick on the sofa.

"Sorry," He whispered, Carla just shrugged unsure of what to make of the situation.

"Carla, look at me," Nick lifted Carla's chin so their eyes locked, "I shouldn't speak to you like that, I'm sorry sweetheart."

"I just want you to talk to me about how you're feeling I want to be able to help you," Carla said removing his hand from her face and holding it tightly.

"I was just over thinking everything," Nick said unconvincingly.

"Over thinking what? You can tell me," Carla reassured.

"I was thinking about David and Kylie; about how they're so young yet they have to deal with their son potentially being taken away. They have to be strong for both their kids and try to juggle everything else. I was thinking about how I can't even help because there's nothing I can do."

"You can be there for them, support them. Nick, everything you're doing for ya family is amazing; you're a credit to 'em," Carla said moving herself closer to Nick so she could comfort him.

"I'm worried about you too," Nick admitted.

"Me? I'm a tough cookie me," Carla said with a slight laugh as she attempted to lighten the mood.

"You're not as tough as you make out though on the inside you just want to be loved," Nick said softly making Carla slightly emotional, "I'm scared that Callum is going to hurt you, I'm scared he's going to get under your skin and it kills me that I can't stop him. I can make sure you're safe and never alone but I can't stop him taking over your mind. The other day when he came to the factory you were broken and I hate seeing you like that."

Carla had tears in her eyes by the time Nick had finished, he immediately pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly. Occasionally he'd place kisses in her hair and he gently rocked her; both of them were emotional, both of them feeling the same fear and heartache towards Callum's tormenting.

"I'll help at the trial," Carla suddenly said as she sat up slightly.

"What?" Nick said trying to process what had just been said.

"I'll give evidence or whatever at the court case; I want to help your family keep Max."


"Kylie it's not going to ring because you're looking at it," David glancing at Kylie who'd been continuously checking her phone all morning.

"I just think Carla could really help us," Kylie said reluctantly placing her phone on the coffee table.

"Yeah, she might be able to help but it's her choice. Just remember she's been through a lot," David said.

"I know, I know," Kylie sighed sitting on the sofa her head in her hands. David noticed his wife was close to tears and went to sit beside her; he ran his hand up and down her back as an aid of comfort.

"I just want all of this to go away," Kylie said quietly, a few stray tears falling from her eyes.

"We are gonna do everything we can to keep Max; he belongs here with us."


"Mum why isn't there any cereal?" Simon said grumpily as he rummaged through the cupboards.

"Because I haven't been shopping yet, there's some bread, do yourself some toast," Leanne said rushing round the flat trying to find her other shoe.

"It's a Satuday, can we go to Roys?" Simon asked as he gave up looking in the practically bare cupboards.

"No Si, I've got a massive lunch party at The Bistro today and I need to get going," Leanne rambled, "Have you seen my shoe?"

"We never do anything anymore, you're always at work. It's Nick's restaurant why can't he sort it?"

"Because it's his day off, I've got the whole weekend off next week. We could do something then yeah. Can you just quit complaining and be grateful that I'm trying," Leanne stressed, she was finding it increasingly difficult to deal with Simon's mood swings.

"I've found your shoe," Simon said holding the black heeled shoe in the air.

"You're a life saver thank-" Leanne didn't finish her sentence due to the shoe being flung across the room and towards her face. She ducked out the way but the end of the heel caught the top of her forehead before it slammed against the wall. Leanne looked at her hand which was blood stained from where she'd touched her head then to Simon who was stood with tears brimming in his eyes. Both of them were in disbelief at what had just unfolded.


"Carla are you sure?" Nick asked as he came back over to the sofa with two mugs of coffee, Carla gratefully excepted it with a smile.

"Yeah, I want to do this for your family," Carla said sipping her hot drink.

"They'd understand though, if you said no."

"Are you tryna talk me out of it?" Carla asked her eyebrows raised.

"No, no not at all," Nick said quickly placing his drink on the side, "I just don't want you to put yourself under too much stress."

"Nick, it's fine. I'll just tell them he's an ass and shouldn't be allowed to look after a gold fish let alone a child," Carla said making Nick chuckle slightly, "Okay so I won't say exactly that but you get the idea," Carla said before placing her drink alongside Nick's and cuddling into his side.

"Do you promise that you're doing this because you want to and not because I'm stressed?"

"I do."

"Do you promise you'll tell me if you change your mind?"

"I do."

"We're not saying our vows," Nick laughed.

"I do know that," Carla said with a slight chuckle.

"Could've fooled me," Nick said with a smile, "Carla I'm so happy you're going to do this but I want you to be sure."

"I do know that I'm sure I want to do this," Carla said sitting up so she was facing Nick, "And I do know that I love you."

"I love you too but stop saying I do," Nick said kissing her gently.

"I do," Carla said smiling.

"You do what?" Nick said raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know but it was annoying you so I thought I'd say it," Carla said with a laugh before standing up and going to get dressed.


Kylie jumped off the sofa at the sound of the doorbell and ran to answer it.

"Hi, come in," Kylie ushered Nick and Carla into the house before following them into the living room.

"I've made a decision," Carla said, she was playing with her bracelet as she still felt slight nerves around her boyfriend's family.

"I completely understand it was stupid of me to ask you've been through so much," Kylie began to ramble but then stopped when she noticed the smiles on Carla and Nick's faces.

"I'll do it, I'll tell the court about Callum," Carla said surprisingly confidently. Kylie couldn't find words instead she jumped forward and hugged Carla tightly.

"Thank you so much," Kylie said as she held Carla tears falling down her face.

"It's okay, I want to help you. Max should be here, with his Mum," Carla said with a smile as the embrace between the two ladies ended.

"You're an angel," Nick whispered into Carla's ear making her smile softly.


Thank you for reading, please make sure you review so I know if you're still enjoying the story. Feel free to leave suggestions as to what you'd like to happen.

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