December 1996

Carol wasn't feeling very well. She had felt sick all day and Alan wasn't sure what was wrong. Though they were back together it was clear there were still cracks in the marriage. The fact that Carol had confessed to a affair with David Wicks had been like a dagger through the heart for Alan and though he had forgiven Carol, the pain was still with him and wouldn't go away no matter how hard he tried. Carol headed of the laundrette and Pat, who was worried about her, came in,

"You alright, Carol love?" She asked wondering if David had been in touch, two weeks earlier he had headed off to Milan in floods of tears after everyone had turned against him.

"I'm fine Pat. Heard from David?" Carol asked just as eager to know if he was alright.

"I heard you've not been feeling well lately. Is everything ok?" She asked rubbing carols back as another wave of nausea over came her. "Carol, I know it's none of my business but do you think there might be a possibility that your pregnant?"

Carol looked at pat for a few moments then knew she couldn't rule out the possibility. She had to be, it would explain the reason why she was ill all the time in the mornings. An hour later and Pat returned with a pregnancy test and she gave it to Carol who just looked it at it.

"What if it comes back positive pat?" Carol said nervously, Pat put an arm around her and said,

"This could be my grandchild your carrying. We need to know one way or another."

Carol pottered off to the toilets and Pat waited, she already knew what the answer was going to be. Typical David, running away again.

"Pat, can you come here please?" Carol called from the cubicle and Pat went in and saw Carol crying clutching a positive pregnancy test. She was pregnant and it was David's.

"Pregnant?! But how?!" Alan was furious. His wife who had only just confessed to an affair was now carrying the love child as he put it. He knew that the baby wasn't his because they are no slept together for months.

"I'm sorry Alan but it's true. I'm having David's baby. I found out this morning and I'm so sorry." Carol said tearfully. Just then April come in and seeing the commotion ran to her sisters aid.

"What's going on?" She shouted as she cradled her sister in her arms. Alan turned away,

"She's having david wicks baby!" Alan shouted and Carol sobbed into her sister.

"Alan, you cheated first! She retaliated, she didn't mean to get pregnant!" April shouted back.

"Well she's getting rid of it first thing in the morning because I'm not bringing up someone else's baby!" Alan yelled and he stormed off upstairs. Carol cried in her sisters arms. April herself didn't have any children as she was unable to do so so she envied the fact that her sister was more than capable of producing. She also knew that Carol wouldn't have an abortion because it was David's child was carrying.

"Oh April I don't wanna get rid of David's baby. This baby is my only reminder of what we had. But I don't want my marriage to break away, I just don't know what to do." Carol cried as April cuddled her close. Then she came up with a solution.

"Let me raise it."

Carol looked up, and stared at her sister long and hard.

"What put the baby for adoption?"

April nodded, "it looks like it's your only option. You don't want to get rid of the baby but you don't want your marriage to end. Plus it will be good for me. I can't have kids and this could be my only chance."

April made it sound so easy but Carol knew that when the time came it would be difficult. Carol knew the chances of having David's baby and raising it was very low. She was married and the baby wasn't his. April was the only chance she had of saving her marriage and the only chance April had of being being a mother.

"You know Carol You will still be able to see the child when it's born. I wouldn't take the baby away from you completely." April said reassuringly but Carol didn't seem convinced though she smiled all the same. The only good thing about it was the fact that she would be carrying David's baby for nine months.

"Alright April. I'll do it. I'll allow you to raise the baby." Carol said finally and April smiled, knowing her dreams of being a mother were about to come true.

Over the next few months Carol took care of her body and tried her best to conceal her pregnancy. Pat was aware of the plan and though she felt sad that she wouldn't be able to have a relationship with her unborn grandchild, she knew it was for the best. When it was discovered that Carol was expecting a boy, April decorated a spare bedroom in her house and got Nickos to buy baby supplies. This was a dream come true for April and no one had suspected a thing.

"Come on Mrs Jackson push!" The midwife yelled as Carol lay writhering in agony on the bed, Carol screamed as she pushed, keeping a tight grip on April's hand as the midwife checked on her.

"One last push Miss Jackson!" She shouted over the screaming and Carol screamed as she gave a final push. Then the cries of a newborn baby echoed across the room as the midwife cleaned him up. April cried as the baby was handed over to Carol. He had dark fifty hair and big blue eyes.

"Harley. If you don't mind April I'd like to call him Harley." Carol said as she cradled her newborn son in her arms. April nodded and looked at the baby who was now sleeping. This was her son and she couldn't wait to take him home. She left for a while and Carol was asleep.

After a while the door opened and in walked David who had been notified of the birth by Pat earlier that day. He walked over to Carol and kissed her forehead before walking over to where the baby lay. He teared up as he picked the baby up and held him close.

"Oh God your so beautiful. Just like your mummy." David whispered as he held him. The baby gurgled as he looked up at David.

"I wish I could be a father to you. I really do but I can't. I can't handle being a parent. It's better this way." David cried as he cuddled his newborn son.

He put the baby back in the bassinet and gave a look of love to him and Carol who was still asleep. He slowly walked out, crying his heart out.

Six months passed and April and Nikcos were watching Frankie crawling on the floor. They had moved back to Greece which had broken Carols heart as she hadn't expected that to happen. Carol sent stuff occasionally but April kept them hidden knowing that Carol was having second thoughts about the adoption. Suddenly a loud knocking interrupted the happy moment and April

passed Harley to Nikcos who took him upstairs. April opened the door and was shocked to see David standing on the doorstep, his face like thunder.

"Where's my son?!" He shouted barging past April and walking around the house.

"Get out David! What on earth are you doing here?!" She shouted trying to drag him towards the door.

"My mum has told me what you did! You promised Carol You wouldn't do that!" David yelled and Harley began crying upstairs and David ran upstairs and saw Nikcos trying to calm Harley down. "Put my son down, you Greek bastard!" David yelled as he tried to get hold of Harley. April ran upstairs and pulled him downstairs.

"I'm taking my son. Your not keeping away from me!" David yelled as April opens the door.

"He isn't your son. Not anymore. So stay away from us all. He thinks were his mummy and daddy now anywhere. It's better if he never knows you or Carol! Now just get out and nerve come back!" April shrieked as she threw him out.

David stood there shocked by what had just happened. He felt the tears coming and walked away quickly before anyone saw.

For a while it seemed that everything had gone April and Nikcos way but little did they know 17 years later, it would all come to a head.