Cliff Edge Part Two

"Mum?" Nick called as he left his Victoria Court flat and saw his Mum heading into Roys for the weekly bacon sandwich he knew his Mum always ordered. She'd done it since he was a kid and it made him laugh that his dear Mum still did it now. It was a bit like Gail and weddings really.

Gail turned and gave her son the proudest smile she had. "Hello love, everything alright?"

"Yeah good thanks. What are you lot doing tonight?" Nick asked. He was beginning to think asking Leanne in the Bistro, surrounded by family was a great idea and he knew that she would love it too.

"Wallowing in our own problems. Why do you ask? You wanna join us?"

"Er no," Nick laughed. "Fancy coming to the Bistro for the family get together?"

"Oh I don't know...it is short notice and the kids will have school tomorrow," Gail said.

"Well we could do it early. Say 5 ish? That would give Max plenty of time to get settled before school tomorrow."

"Okay then love, I'll speak to David and Kylie about it," Gail began, giving her eldest son those proud eyes she always had for Nick. She adored him so much and he was loyal to Gail too- always on he side. Well, expect for when Leanne was involved.

"Great, bye Mum," Nick smiled again before walking back to his flat.

Leanne poured Eva a tea as the busty blonde rested her head in her hands, sucking back those tears she wanted to release. The two sugars Leanne added swirled around the mug then dissolved amongst the cooling milk. The drink was placed down in front of Eva, who took a sip straight away; the burning sensation giving her both pleasure and pain. Like Jason. Damn it. Everything reminded her of him, even her sister's crappy cup of tea.

"I've been such a tool," Eva sighed as Leanne took a sip of her own tea. She'd been adding even more sugar to her tea lately- something she had found her body needed more and more.

"Nowt new there then," Leanne joked but Eva didn't see the funny side. "Sorry." Leanne began. "Only jokin."

"Jason's gonna hate me int he?" Eva cried. She wasn't certain but from the way Jason had spoken to her lately he probably already did hate her. At least that was how Eva was feeling anyway.

"For what?"

Eva took a deep breath. Part of her wanted to open up and admit what had happened to Leanne. She trusted her sister and vice-versa. But, another part of her didn't want to say a word. Just in case...just in case she ever fancied it again.

"Eva?" Leanne repeated. "Come on, I'm your sister. What I'm 'ere for."

"I...I snogged somebody last night," she admitted through the stinging feeling of tears in her eyes.

Leanne paused and nodded slowly, taking in what Eva had just admitted. It was a shock, really. After all of the tears and tantrums waiting for Jason to wake up, Eva had finally given in and cheated on him with someone else. Leanne didn't like to think of her sister doing that to a nice lad like Jason, but she had kissed another man and she needed her sister- not another mother.

"Was it just a kiss?"

Eva nodded. "Yeah, just a kiss. Nothin' else." She was almost disappointed about that part. That it was just a quick snog and that he wasn't going to spoil her rotten and give her everything her cripple of a boyfriend wasn't at the minute. She just wanted love, attention and a bit of fun.

"Well that's a relief eh?! What ya stressin' for ya daft cow?!"

"Er, I'm not. Honest," Eva lied. Even she could feel her nose doubling in size.

"Was it someone I know?"

She hesitated as Leanne stared at her expectantly. "No chick, honest. Just some bloke with a wad of cash and a cheeky smile."

"That it then? No name to go with this dashing man?"

Eva nodded. "Nope. He was charmin' and kept buying me drinks. We talked...well, flirted and then I kissed him. But that was it and I really regret it y'know."

"Well that's a good sign. At least you know it's a mistake and you won't be doing it again." Leanne said, giving her sister's arm a little nudge. "Am I right?"

"Yeah...course ya right." She agreed with Leanne but she knew that it wasn't really the case. In all honesty it made her feel glum again knowing she'd be stuck with Jason and Aidan could be off having fun anywhere with anyone.

"Good. Now then, I need to get to work. See ya later," Leanne smiled at her sister before heading into the bathroom.

Eva threw her head into her hands in defeat. "Oh flamin' hell," she whispered.

Carla's hire car was sluggish and slow as it crawled down the road, despite Carla's attempt to speed it up.

"Carla, listen, I'm thinkin' I really need to get back to Amy so could you just turn the car around, please?" Tracy asked, the panic beginning to double inside of her. They'd been driving for quite some time and soon people would start to wonder where they had gone off together. Something Tracy herself was worrying about. "Any chance you could turn around because Amy's gonna need pickin' up soon?"

"Tracy have you not seen Thelma and Louise?" Carla asked, foccusing on the road ahead, much to Tracy's relief.

"Weatherfield doesn't have a grand canyon." Tracy remarked as she watched Carla. It was hard to read Carla's expression but Tracy couldn't be sure if the determined look on her face was also a frightened expression. It was difficult to tell with Carla- especially when she was driving. It was obvious something was up with Carla and more so than normal. It didn't stop Tracy from provoking Carla though. Nothing would stop that. "What you thinkin'? Ship canal?"

Carla looked to be deep in thought. "Hmm. You're givin' me ideas here Tracy. Thought I was the one with a death wish."

"Right, stop the car now!" Tracy shouted before pausing. Carla was pretty quiet and irrational. Something Tracy had only ever witnessed when Carla was bladdered. "Have you been drinking?" Carla's silence was the biggest yes to Tracy. "Hang on. What if we crash? Have you thought about Amy? Have you thought about that?"

Carla opened her mouth at last. "Tracy, too many questions. I'll give ya three, max."

Tracy was pretty riled now. "Have you been drinking?" She questioned, gritting her teeth as she became even more impatient.

"No." Carla replied.

"That's a lie isn't it?"

"Yeah," Carla said, almost smirking to herself. She thought Tracy would have figured it all out by now. Obviously she was just as thick as Carla had originally thought.

"Are you mad?" Tracy yelled. She really was beginning to panic, especially as Carla was drunk.

Carla chewed her lip slightly, debating on a suitable response for Tracy and her never-ending questions that were beginning to piss her off. "Probably."

"Where are we going?" Tracy repeated.

"Ooh," Carla began. "Sorry, three questions are up."

"What?"

"Are you drunk? Are you lying? Are you mad?"

"No. Yes. Probably."

Tracy rolled her eyes and grabbed Carla's bag, rummaging through it. She didn't need to look hard for alcohol because it was right there, the bottle of vodka was right at the top, meaning she'd been drinking before getting in the car. Tracy felt sick. She just wanted to run home and fast.

Tracy held up the bottle of vodka in Carla's direction. "Right, I wanna get out the car now!"

Carla glanced over at the passenger seat, taking her eyes off the road for just a second. "Chill out Tracy we're not goin' to crash." Tracy looked away, staring out the window as Carla spoke again. "I think I've killed enough people for a lifetime."

It was at that point Tracy knew she couldn't keep it up any longer. The hours she had spent crying because of her guilt, her regret and her shame for causing such heartache and devastation to those she hadn't intended on hurting. They had never been on Tracy's hit list but unfortunately for Kal and Maddie, they became part of the list of casualties anyway.

Carla turned a corner abruptly and Tracy still had no idea where they were. The street signs were giving her no clue as to where they were and what Carla was planning to do. Carla hit the brakes and snatched the bottle of vodka from Tracy's hands before she even had chance to fight her off.

"Carla, where are we?"

The raven-haired woman opened her car door and stepped out of her car just as Tracy did. "Fancied a drink."

Carla slammed the door of the car shut as Tracy attempted one more time at bringing Carla back to the street to safety. "Yer not havin' a drink then gettin back in the car."

"No." Carla blankly replied, hurling the car keys down in the tall grass that was growing. Crap. Now Tracy was stuck with the drunk who was pretty reckless. "Ah, that was thoughtless. You could of driven it 'ome." She grabbed the last amount of cash she had and shoved the £30 into the windscreen wipers for Tracy to take to get a ride home. "Here, take this and get a cab. There's Lenny's cabs behind them 'ouses somewhere," Carla pointed behind the estate as Tracy watched her, afraid of what her next move might be. "Get him to give ya a quote first though- he's shady."

Carla stormed off along the gravel pathway, knocking back huge gulps of the vodka. Tracy glanced between Carla and the grass that she had thrown her car keys in. She searched through the bushes cautiously, avoiding the used needles, empty fizzy drink bottles and the odd bag of dog crap. Finally, she found the keys and rushed off in the direction Carla had gone in just minutes earlier.

Nick was in the Bistro office when Leanne finally arrived for work at eleven. She was supposed to have been in at half ten but he figured he could left her off. She was carrying his kid and had been ill with morning sickness for quite some time. He'd even held her hair back for her the other night when she wouldn't stop throwing up. But Leanne carried on with her life, fighting like a trooper as per usual.

"Sorry I'm late!" Leanne said as she hung up her coat on the coat rack in the office.

Nick rose from his seat. "Don't worry darling, it's fine. Now, tonight, I've asked my Mum and the others if they fancy dinner in here. You know, celebrate the baby and everything?"

Leanne smirked. "Of course, it sounds great. Shall I ask Eva to come?"

"Yeah! It'll be great you know, us lot together as a family."

Leanne thought about Gail and her trying to look pleased about her and Nick having a child together. "Yeah, we'll see about that. Don't know how yer mother will react."

"Well she has me to answer to if she says or does anything."

"Ooh, I love feisty Nick. He's fit."

Nick chuckled and headed back into the bar as Leanne dialed Eva's number.

"Hiya!"

"Hi Leanne, what is it?"

"Fancy dinner tonight in the Bistro? Big family get together to celebrate the baby."

"Yeah, sounds fabby hun! Just keep me off anything alcoholic. Me head isn't quite ready for it. Not yet."

"Sure thing! See ya!"

"Bye!"

Out on the street, Eva was cleaning the windows of the Rovers, her hangover was beginning to get worse as she bent down to pick up the soapy sponge she dropped. Luckily, someone picked it up for her. That someone was Aidan.

"Cinderella eh? You shouldn't be cleanin' windows Eva, you should be lookin' in 'em for expensive handbags." Aidan said with a smile.

Eva snatched the sponge and moved away from him. "Bore off ya big flirt!"

"Don't be like that Eva. Last night, last night was going to happen at some point. Now we can deal with it."

"No Aidan, I have a boyfriend and one I love, okay? I don't love ya and I ain't gonna jump in't sack with ya cos you own half of some factory."

"Firstly I don't own half the factory and secondly I never asked you to sleep with me. It was just a kiss, remember?"

"And that's all it'll ever be pal. Go take yer lacy briefs elsewhere Aidan, this Cinderella ain't going to any ball with ya."

"Eva!" Aidan called after her but she stormed inside the Rovers instead.

Carla sat on the edge with her long legs dangling down, smacking against the limestone of the quarry she knew inside out. She took another huge swig of her vodka as Tracy edged behind her slowly, trying not to startle her and send her over the edge- literally.

"Keys," Tracy said softly, reaching her arm out to Carla to give her the car keys she had chucked in the bushes. "You know, I could drive if ya want to finish that bottle off."

Carla ignored Tracy and heaved her body nearer to the edge, watching the plants and the creatures on the ground far beneath her. She was only thinking about one thing at this point. The happy hours as a kid, playing on the death trap that was the quarry.

"Did a crash test dummy thing over the edge of this once," Carla admitted. "We had a supermarket trolley and stuck some of Rob's knackered, old action men in it."

The penny had finally dropped for Tracy. Carla had started here and she wanted to end here too.

"Ya lived round here?"

"Hmm, up the way," Carla said, looking down again. "Used to love playing down here though. Was a gang but me and Rob were the youngest of course. Mothers never used to care where their kids played." Carla continued telling Tracy her childhood memories even though Tracy just wanted to get off the quarry and away from the danger it brought. "Used to play chicken. Toss a coin and the loser would have to climb up there somewhere," Carla gestured behind Tracy to the highest point of the quarry. Now Tracy was panicking even more. She didn't fancy playing chicken, catching Carla and preventing her from going to the top. "We'd climb right to the edge, eyes shut, count to fifteen."

Tracy moved closer to Carla and said, "Kids ey? Don't think about the consequences."

Carla placed her hands on the earth on the sides and looked down again. "Reckon you'd survive a fall from 'ere though. Reckon there's a chance you know, if you're a gambler. Think it'd be scary with yer eyes closed but it's not."

Tracy got nearer now, ready to grab Carla if need be. "Right well, I'll take yer word for it."

Carla started rocking her chest and closing her eyes. "It's not scary when you feel the pull. Scariest feeling is that someone will come up behind ya and shove ya off. Why didn't ya leave me in that mini bus Tracy?" Carla asked before swigging another gulp of vodka.

Tracy sighed. "Well I couldn't of done, could I?" She paused, watching Carla to see what she'd do. "And you'd of done the same for me."

Carla shook her head in disagreement. "Maddie and Kal would still be alive if you had left me. I'd be dead, they'd be living. Two lives for the price of one eh?"

"Right, well ya could say that about anything. Couldn't ya? I mean, erm, nobody knows how things are gonna turn out..."

Carla handed the vodka bottle back in Tracy's direction. "Ya want some?"

"No! I wanna drive. Now look, thank you for showing me around, it's been interesting. But like I said, we need to get back 'cos me Dad'll be worryin'."

Carla finally came away from the edge and Tracy let out a breath of relief. Only now, Carla was heading in the direction of the tallest and highest point. Tracy had to follow her.

Carla was now stood at the top, sipping the vodka and considering the jump as Tracy stood close behind her.

"How old was Kal?" Carla asked.

"What? I don't know."

Carla stared at the rocks below and imagined her body, scattered over them all. "Maddie was eighteen. Eighteen. I turned forty in LA. Didn't tell anyone, only Suzy. She baked this cheesecake thing for me and put four candles on it. Said I had a wish for each decade."

"What did ya wish for?"

"I dunno. Summat stupid probably. Clothes or wine. Now my first wish would be to turn back the clocks but that big gust of wind would take everything out me hands."

"We can't turn back the clock," Tracy said. "We just have to live with it. You know, the hand we're dealt. We have to make the best."

"Yeah," Carla agreed. "Yeah, the hand we're dealt. The roll of the dice, the spin of the wheel. Red, black, red, black."

"Carla!" Tracy pleaded. "Look, this is crazy! Come away! How would it change anything?"

Carla took another step forward towards the edge.

"How would it change anything if ya fell? The fire would have still happened. Nobody knew it would turn out this way but it has. It's just fate."

"Fate?" Carla said. "Yeah. It's red or black, heads or tails. It's just the way things fall. It's just the way things fall."

The wind howled around Carla's legs as she teetered on the edge, rocking back and forth as the wind made her feel free and invincible. That maybe if she did jump maybe, just maybe she would fly. Fly off into the sky and all her demons would be gone. But the memories of her would still be there and her past- the good and bad- would haunt people forever. That was something death couldn't guarantee her. A refund on all the bad things. They were there and they were never going away. But she could go away. One jump and that would be it. No guilt, hatred and regret. Just one jump.

Opening her eyes slowly and realising she was firmly on the ground, Carla pulled a coin out of her pocket, aware Tracy was watching her. Staring at her. Fearing she was going to run off the edge of the quarry below and be nothing but a shell of herself. That was something Carla had already become though. Thanks to Tracy.

"Heads I stand, tails I fall," Carla said as she held the coin in her hand and flipped it.

"Tails I fall," Carla whispered, walking to the very edge and swinging her body.

Tracy couldn't let her do it. Not anymore. "Carla!" She screamed, making her jump and pull back. "It wasn't you, you didn't leave the candle burning and Amy didn't get up in the middle of the night and light it. It was me- I did it!"

Carla controlled her breathing and turned around. "What you saying? You weren't even there."

"I was," Tracy admitted. "I don't know what I was thinking. I just wanted to..."

"You wanted to burn yer own daughter to death?"

"No! No! She was supposed to be stayin' with Liz!"

"So me then? You were supposed to burn me?"

"No the fire was an accident but it's you Carla. You're like a magnet. You walk in a room and heads turn. Money sticks to ya and people. Decent people y'know? Not just family but Roy, Hayley, even Maddie. "

"What are ya even saying? This is crazy! You don't try and kill someone 'cos their popular!"

Tracy shook her head. "You 'ad everythin'. Everything and all I wanted was that pub."

"The Rovers?"

"Yes, the Rovers! Yes! Me and Tony were made for it!"

"You lied and let two people die 'cos you wanted a share in a backstreet pub?!"

"You know it just wasn't enough that you took Rob."

"Rob took himself!" Carla shouted back. "He took Tina!"

"Well I'd had enough! I wanted to make you pay."

"You know you are good. Scarily good 'cos you nearly 'ad me there," Carla laughed, moving back to jump off the edge.

"Carla! Wait! Their was a picture, a picture of Rob. A big stupid grin and a floppy fringe."

Well that had got Carla's attention. She swung her head round, her eyes wide and alert.

Carla's stomach dropped and the guilt did too. "Tracy! I thought I was going mad! I was right all along! So, what is this, all of a sudden you're full of remorse?"

Tracy nodded. "As a matter of fact, yeah! Seeing the state of you. Yes. Do I regret how things turned out? Yes! Not just for you, for everybody!"

"Everyone but you!"

"No. Do you think that I sleep at night?"

"Yes! Like a little baby! You sleep like a big, spoiled rotten baby!"

"Tracy that's two lives gone, just like that!"

Carla grabbed Tracy and pulled her to the edge with her. "Why don't ya do the decent thing and jump Tracy?! Come on, I'm a killer already- what's one more corpse?"

"Yeah? Well if I go I'm takin you with me!"

Carla laughed at Tracy.

"Who they gonna believe? The cheating lush or the doting mother?!" Tracy shouted back.

"We'll be too dead to care darlin'!" Carla yelled just as Tracy shoved her off and Carla landed on the floor, not the bottom of the quarry. Tracy legged it off but Carla smiled when she saw she had the car keys and Tracy didn't.

Nick and Leanne pulled up in his car outside of Simon's school. It had been days since Leanne had seen her little boy and even when she had seen him all those days ago he had pushed her down the stairs. But like Leanne had always said when Nick had mood swings because of his brain damage, it wasn't him, it was the illness. She knew deep down her lad was a good 'un and that he'd never harm her. But she once said the same about Nick never harming her and he did. The only difference was Nick had brain damage; Simon was just being abusive.

The younger kids at Weatherfield High flocked out of the school gates as the pair watched on, waiting for Simon.

Nick leaned against the steering wheel and patted Leanne who was very uneasy beside him.

"You okay?" He asked as she spun her head around quickly, faking a smile for him.

"Course I am," she lied, her voice shaky as

she spoke. It was really hard for her to face him again- especially after last time. When it nearly was the last time.

"You're not, I can tell Lea. I can read you like a book."

Finally, Leanne moved in her seat to look properly at Nick. "Oh...okay...I'm not okay." He patted her hands and rubbed his fingers over her knuckles in soothing motions as she stared out the window, watching the spotty youths go by. "He scares me Nick. I'm scared of a little boy. How is that normal?"

"It's not," Nick said. "But we're going to fix it. It won't be like this forever. I promise."

"Y'know he used to sit on me knee with his little after school snack and watch Shaun The Sheep. He'd love it, laugh is head off at it all and munch 'is way through a packet of raisins."

"Raisins? Most kids want chocolate when they get home."

"Well it was when we went to Ken's. Deirdre 'ad been baking something with raisins and I caught Si chompin' on 'em." Leanne replied. "But most of the time it was the only edible thing in the 'ouse."

Nick laughed. "Oh, god. I don't wanna know."

"You do. I flamin' did. There was an ice cream sauce that had been in her fridge since 1995." Leanne chuckled. "We didn't even know each-other back then- that's how old it is!"

"Well, we'll have to make sure Simon doesn't get his hands on any dried fruit in the kitchen in the Bistro."

"Or knives given his track record and the Bistro. I thought necking Vodka with 'is mates and smashing bottles at me face was bad enough."

"Yeah, it was pretty bad."

The silence hit the car just at the crucial moment.

Finally, the crowds of hormonal teenagers passed by and there he was. His curly brown hair blowing in the wind and his mates laughing and joking with him. He was smiling, happy and looking like the child everyone knew. It was Simon. Her Simon. The real boy beneath the vile anger.

Leanne's voice turned to a squeak and her words came out as a shriek. But Nick stayed calm, reaching over to her and putting his hand over hers. It was like a steel wall had gone up over her and he would shield her from anything Simon would throw her way.

Simon walked closer and closer to the car and his mates passed with waves and laughed as they walked off. Nick got out of the car and took his stuff, placing his camouflage backpack in the boot without even saying a word.

"Hi Simon," Nick said, trying to sound both calm and strong as a guardian of Simon.

He'd been holding his head down but finally glanced up to meet the stare Nick was giving him. "Hiya. Are you okay Nick?"

"Fine," Nick replied blankly, walking round to his side of the car. "Let's go."

He nodded back at Nick and settled in the back seat, awaiting Leanne to talk to him during the ten minute car journey. She didn't say a word for the car ride, even though Nick got caught in traffic twice- both times adding an extra ten minutes to the journey. But Nick didn't speak either and Simon didn't dare utter a word or even move.

When they finally pulled up at the building, Nick opened the door and walked round to let Leanne out of her side.

"Thanks," She smiled. "Brace yerself."

"I know. It was quiet on the way here."

"Just a bit."

Simon eased out of his seat and the car, standing beside his Mum.

A voice called after them from over in the distance. One that Simon knew straight away but he couldn't quite believe they had actually gone and asked him to join them at the counselling session.

"Dad?" Simon shouted back.

Peter hurried over as quickly as he could, pulling out his mobile phone every few minutes to check if Carla had sent him anything. Anything at all. He was beginning to feel that desperate that even a call from the police telling him she'd been arrested would be better than the radio silence.

"Son," Peter smiled at Simon, although he knew the next hour of counselling would be pretty graphic and vivid. "Let's go in then."

"How come yer here?" Simon asked.

"Cos your me son and I need to take responsibility for ya. I've been a terrible father and you need a proper father to sort out the mess you're in."

Simon nodded as Nick watched them talk. Leanne stood awkwardly on the side, trying to listen but also seeming fair. She didn't want Simon to hate her anymore than he already did.

"Well, shall we get this thing started then?" Peter said to Nick, Leanne and Simon.

"Thing?" Leanne questioned. "It's not a flamin' house party."

"Oh," Peter frowned. "Best not keep the hostess waiting then."

Leanne rolled her eyes and the four went in and sat down in front of Kathy.

"You must be Peter," Kathy said. "Simon's father."

Peter nodded. "Guilty as charged."

Nick and Leanne rolled their eyes at the same time at Peter's flirty approach to the whole thing.

"So, hello again everyone. Wants happened since we last saw each-other?"

"I hurt me Mum," Simon said. "And I really regret it."

"Oh, okay. Thank you Simon." Kathy smiled. "What happened then Leanne?"

"Well, I'm expecting a baby and..."

"Oh congratulations!"

"Thanks," Leanne started again. "Simon and I got into an argument and then he shoved me down the stairs."

"Oh, now why did you do that Simon?"

"Because I was angry and upset. I didn't know she were havin' a baby or that I would end up hurting her."

"He's learnt his lesson since then," Peter added, defending his son.

"Well that's a miracle," Nick muttered.

"Let's not be negative Nick," Kathy said. "Simon needs positivity and I think your new baby will bring exactly that."

The session passed rather quickly and all of the grown ups were very impressed by Simon. So much so, Peter agreed to take him out for tea. But before he went off towards Peter's car, Simon went over to Leanne to say his own words.

"Mum?" Simon asked, touching Leanne's hand gently.

"Yeah?"

"I love you Mum and I am very sorry. Really, for all of this. And...I want you to have this. I made it for yer baby in school," Simon said, handing Leanne a stuffed rabbit that wasn't quite perfect but it was perfect to Leanne. Just like her boy.

"Thank you sweetheart, it's fantastic." Leanne hugged him tightly then let him go off with Peter.

For once, the the future with Simon didn't seem so dark and gloomy. It seemed to be getting better and stronger, thanks to her baby.

Carla drove down a dingy back-street and saw Tracy, walking like she was lost, which she was. Carla knew the area pretty well, but she didn't like to admit she often drove round these parts, thinking about her childhood and the fun she had.

"Tracy!" Carla yelled out the car window.

"Go home Carla. Please," Tracy pleaded.

"We need to talk," Carla said, braking the car but Tracy carried on walking. She wasn't all that fast though. "I suggest ya get in the car now."

"No, no chance."

"Ah! Well I might make a little pit-stop to the police station on my way 'ome, maybe fill everyone in on what you did." Carla replied to Tracy, hitting the accelerator on the car as Tracy began chasing after it.

"No! No, wait!"

Carla braked and looked at Tracy.

"How did you even get in me flat?" Carla asked.

Tracy paused and finally revealed it. "I er...nicked the keys from Michelle's handbag and shoved 'em back in once I'd broken in."

Carla's jaw practically hit the floor. She threw herself out the car and in Tracy's face. "Ya did what?! Ya broke into me flat!"

"I know, I know!"

"Why? I don't get why ya did it. You 'ated me long before the fire so why did it only take you until then to do something?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Oh, I think it does Tracy. Tell me why!"

"You'll be on yer own 'til the day they stick ya in the ground." Tracy said.

Carla hesitated. "What?!"

"See, the poison spills from ya so much ya don't even remember. The toilets in the Rovers at Steve and Michelle's wedding."

"Oh my god! I gave you some home truths and you decide to torch my flat? That's not payback, that's physcotic!"

"I hated you for it and I wanted you to suffer. Not as much as you did though."

"Did you try and kill me?"

Carla waited for an answer but Tracy didn't respond. "Did ya try to kill me?!"

"Yes!" Tracy shouted in Carla's face. "Yes, I did! I went to do it but I couldn't, then I heard the toilet flush; I left the candle burning under the lamp and..."

"The rest is history." Carla said. "I'm going home. My home, the one you broke into."

"Carla, are you gonna tell anyone?" Tracy asked, following her to the car. Carla ignored her and wound the window up. "Carla?!" She sped off home to Weatherfield and all Tracy could do was find a ride home with some lads on bikes.

The Bistro was alive with sparkling lights, sparkling proseco and happiness as Nick and Leanne's families came. Leanne looked beautiful in a deep blue dress and matching heels, her hair was curled and her make-up highlighted the new pregnancy glow she'd got. She looked happy, felt it, and so did everyone else.

Eva went over to Kylie and saw just how rough her best mate looked after the night before. "Eva, you look awful."

"Thanks Ky. Just what I needed to hear."

"What happened last night, after I left?"

Eva looked down awkwardly and Kylie guessed it right away. "You slept with him!"

"No, no, ssh!" Eva said, hushing Kylie. "I...we snogged instead."

"Ah, flamin' 'eck Eva. What ya gonna do?"

"Nothin' it were a mistake."

Nick called everyone to the dinner table, saving Eva from Kylie's intense questioning. "Dinner is ready everyone!"

"Eva... it better be nothing." Kylie grabbed Eva's arm and spoke with a serious tone.

"It was, take a chill pill Kylie. Or would you prefer some speed? That's more your bag innit?"

Kylie walked to her seat and stared at Eva, furiously.

Nick stood up from the dinner table and chimed his glass of lemonade with his fork. All sets of eyes turned in his direction and the ones he was desperate to get through to were on him.

"Right, well I never thought I'd be standing here guys. Certainly not with you Lea," Nick gestured over to Leanne to come and stand beside him. She walked slowly over to him and beamed.

"Me neither," Leanne said. "But like they say, lightning does strike twice."

"Or Nick does," David chuckled with Kylie. "But maybe lightnin' is more pleasurable."

"Anyway," Nick carried on, rolling his eyes at his brother. "I want to thank you Lea, you've made me the happiest man alive and I feel ready...I want to make it official."

"You gonna get it in writin or summat?" Kylie laughed.

"No... but I would like you to know Leanne that I love you. So, so much. I always have and I always will. So... will you give me another go then?" He asked, holding both of her hands.

"Course I will," Leanne said, giving him a kiss. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear.

"Now you can be a proper little family, can't ya?" Audrey smiled.

"Great, can't wait to babysit," Bethany rolled her eyes as Sarah slapped her daughter's arm. "Ow Mum!"

Leanne turned back to Nick who had put his hand on her tummy. "Proper little fam...," Leanne began, just as Carla burst in.

"Leanne, Nick, I wanted to say congrats on yer baby. But Leanne, I need to talk to ya. Can we talk?" Carla asked, her words slurred slightly as the shock of Tracy's bombshell kicked in and the vodka wore off.

"What?! No, get out!" Leanne shouted back.

"Please, I need to explain something about the fire. It's really important."

"What tell me that you started it? I already know that Carla- I got trapped in it." Leanne leaned closer to Nick, who wrapped his arm around her shoulders- supporting her and holding her back at the same time. "Get out before I chuck ya out!"

"Just let me explain things to ya about the fire. Then I'll go. I promise," Carla started, scanning the room and realising that all of Nick and Leanne's close family were also present. "It's about the fire. I really need to tell something to you, because..."

"Get out Carla," Nick said. "We're trying to celebrate here and then you barge in and think it is an appropriate time to bring up the fire?"

Peter soon came rushing through the door and the eye rolling from the Platt's deepened. As did Leanne and Nick's anger.

"Oh great! Let's bring the other alchy out as well eh! Seems like one loony ain't enough- let's have a second!" Leanne huffed, folding her arms and tapping her feet.

"Come on Car, let's leave 'em to it," Peter urged her to go with him, reaching out his hand and attempting to lead her out of the Bistro.

She shook her head and folded her arms as well. God she was stubborn.

"I'm not goin' anywhere," Carla said, standing her ground, finally. She knew she was innocent and had to tell Leanne, Sophie and the Nazirs before she decided to break the news to Peter or even Chelle. "Leanne, if I could just explain."

"What?" Leanne barked. "You killed Kal and Maddie! The explanation is that there dead and you're not!"

"Carla, I think you should go," Sarah said politely.

"Yeah, before things get out of hand," Audrey added in as her granddaughter nodded beside her. "Now isn't the time for this lovey."

Carla began shaking her head again in disagreement. Her eyes began to go glossy and she could feel tears coming on.

"Alright...alright, I'm sorry. I'll go," Carla caved in, hanging her head down as she let Peter lead her out the Bistro.

Leanne had a mouth held open as Carla and Peter left the bar and Peter was having to sprint to keep up with his ex.

"Carla," he called, panting as she quickened her pace. "Carla!"

She turned on her heels immediately, her eyes wide and alert for the first time since he had been back on the street.

"What? Beginning to hate the sound of me own name." Carla remarked as Peter caught his breath back.

"T...today. What happened to you- I saw you with Tracy. I was scared y'know. I thought you were going to do something stupid Car. I tried chasin' after yer car but I wasn't quick enough."

Carla folded her arms across her chest as she stared at Peter. "You? Running? I'd of paid good money to see that."

Peter half-laughed at her. She seemed to have her sense of humor back and the gloomy Carla had gone with it. "I should be an advert for one of them 'Quit smokin'' thingys, shouldn't I?"

Carla nodded and chuckled. But it soon hit her who she was talking to. "I need to get home."

He grabbed her arm as she tried to pull away from him. "Tell me Carla, what happened today?"

"Nothing Peter. Now go home, okay?"

"But I know summat isn't ."

"Well why don't you ask yer beloved sister what 'appened then? She seems to be makin' plans for people and wreckin' their lives. Ask her for me- see what she says."

"Tracy? Why? What's she done?" Peter repeated as Carla strutted off down the street and round the corner.

Peter walked back to No.1 and pondered what it could have been that Tracy had done. Something so huge and monumental that it had completely changed her mood. Just hours ago he had chased after Carla, begging her not to do something stupid or end it all. Now she was back to normal, or as normal as he had known Carla anyway. His mind was racing as he sat at the kitchen table, wondering.

Carla fiddled with the keys of her flat as she approached Victoria Court. It was dark and the light had gone down at five. Carla covered herself with her jacket as the breeze whistled around her, just as Tracy emerged.

"Carla," Tracy called. Carla spun around right away, the sound of her name being called by that cow was enough to stop anybody in their tracks.

"Shut up and go away Tracy. While ya still can."

"I won't go anywhere 'til you promise me you won't say anything about the fire. Amy's spent most of her life without me already and I don't want her missing anymore years with me."

"Yeah?" Carla screamed. "You should of thought of that when you torched my flat. Ya know when ya broke in? Tried to kill me and then let me sink to the deepest low ever? I 'ope they chuck the book at ya."

Tracy put her hands up to Carla. "Please, I'm begging ya Carla, I can't go back to prison."

"Leave me alone Tracy, I've 'ad enough of you for one day in fact, one lifetime!"

"Carla," Tracy pleaded. "Please, I'm desperate."

"Like I was ya mean?" Carla said, her confidence increasing. She had the power over Tracy now and she had no reason to be scared anymore or to feel guilty. Carla was free, free from the pain and the horror the feeling she had caused the fire had brought her for months. "I was low Tracy. Desperate. So desperate I stole the wages from my staff so I could gamble, destroy my life even more. I was so desperate I dragged meself to the top of that quarry and was about to chuck myself off!"

"I know, I know, I'm sorry!"

"You will never be sorry Tracy! You had plenty of chances to tell me what you'd done and you never did. You let me carry on, sinking lower and lower every time!"

Tracy held her head down. "I'm sorry," She repeated.

"Go home Tracy. Try not to break into anyone's home on your way back tonight and burn it to ashes."

Carla burst in through the door of Victoria Court and let it fall shut on Tracy who was watching outside. Inwardly she was wishing she'd said nothing and had let Carla jump after all because Carla had the upper hand now and Carla had the power to run down to the police station to tell them the real truth about the fire. She could open the front door in her dressing gown to find the police there, ready to take her away and chuck the key to her cell so far it would never be found. She walked back home when she saw the light in Carla's flat come on and the brunette peer through the beige blinds down at Tracy on the street below.

The Platt's were now saying their goodbyes to Leanne and Nick in the Bistro. The awkward interruption had encouraged David and Kylie to make the first move, claiming Max needed to get to bed before school tomorrow. Leanne and Nick agreed it was fine and when those four made their exit, the others did too.

"Bye lovey and congrats again!" Audrey squealed at Leanne, hugging her a little too tightly after a few too many glasses of red for Nick's gran. "Your baby is so lucky to have such wonderful people as parents, really deary. You'll make a super mum."

Leanne nodded, her and Nick were the only sober ones at the party and it made her chuckle as usually she was the first to get a drink, an alcoholic drink that is.

"Thanks Audrey, that's dead nice of ya," Leanne smiled, moving to thank Gail for coming and faking the same smile she had for her mother-in-law. "Gail."

"Leanne." Gail said with such a lack of emotion. "I'm very happy for you both, really I am. I'm pleased you've come through all the problems you had in the past."

Leanne wasn't sure if Gail was being serious or not. She was never that nice to Leanne and it was unbelievable for Audrey, Sarah, Bethany and Nick too.

Nick nudged Leanne to make her close her mouth as she was showing her surprise and not covering it up well. At all. "Th...thanks Gail."

"I mean it. Now I was thinking you could come round to ours and I could show you the cot blankets I was going to make for you. How does that sound eh?"

"Er...lovely Gail, thank you."

Nick managed to speak too, despite being just as shocked as the others. "Yeah, thanks Mum, Gran. Night then."

"Night," they chorused as they headed out of the Bistro together.

"Did that really happen?" Sarah laughed to her brother and Leanne.

"I think I'm dreaming," Leanne said. "I'll wake up and Gail will hate me again!"

Bethany continued to text on her phone, ignoring the grown ups around her as per usual. "Mum, can we go now?"

Sarah shook her head at her daughter. "Honestly Bethany. Put that thing down and say congratulations to your Uncle Nick."

Bethany folded her arms in the same way Sarah used to which made Nick smirk.

"Congrats Uncle Nick, Leanne. At least yer kid will have adults as parents. I wouldn't know."

The three adults found their jaws dropping for the third time that evening. The first being when Carla barged in, second was Gail and her kindness and now Bethany.

Nick stepped in to defend his little sister. "Apologise to your Mum now Bethany."

Bethany tilted her head at her Uncle. "Erm, let me think- no!" She chuckled as she strutted out of her Uncle's restaurant.

"I could knock her out," Sarah said. "She's been a pain lately."

"Shall I have a word?" Nick asked with deep concern for his sister and his niece. After all, it was Nick that was kissed by Todd when he was stringing Sarah along. He didn't want his baby sister getting hurt again.

"Yeah, I could help an' all."

Sarah shook her head. "Thanks guys but I've dealt with worse than 'er. She's the least of me worries. Anyway, thanks for a lovely evening and congratulations on the baby."

She hugged Leanne and her brother before rushing outside to Bethany leaving Nick and Leanne all alone.

Leane trailed trailed her fingers along the wire chairs. "Well, that was interesting."

"It was. Wasn't it?"

She half laughed. "Thank you," she smiled, looping her arms around Nick's neck as he placed his hands on her waist.

"What for? Dragging you into this mess."

"No, y'know what I mean."

He raised aided his eyebrow at her, telling her to carry on talking as he didn't.

"Tonight, today and everything else we've gone through together. I couldn't imagine doing any of it without you."

"Where else would I be hey?"

She threw her arms around him and fell into his chest, hugging him tightly. It was different when they were all alone and it was easier to admit her feelings to just Nick.

"I love you an' all," she smiled as they pulled apart. "I didn't get chance to say it before but I do. I love ya."

So, thanks for reading again!

I was really upset last time to find nobody had reviewed but I feel it is because this story has become a little repetitive. I have changed the plans I originally had for the story and things will soon turn darker, especially with Callum. Although there is more to enjoy(hopefully) with Carla, Peter, Tracy, Nick, Leanne, Simon, Eva, Jason and Aidan.

Please, please, please keep reviewing though- it's nice to hear from you all and know what I do is worth it. :)

Just a few hints as to what is coming up:

Whose happiness meets a horrible end and what will happen to them?

Someone gives in to temptation, but will there be heartbreak?

Which character faces a terrifying ordeal and who is to blame?

Things begin looking up for a certain female character. Will it stay that way?