Ok guys, thanks so much for all the reviews!
But though, I need to say that there will be times you's have to wait a while between chapters. I work full time so I have limited free time to write, and plus if I have writers block then it'll also be a bit longer. I'm not going to update a chapter if its crappy.
Anyway, thanks again, and enjoy!
Robert's eyes opened blearily as he felt Michelle climb back into the bed beside him. He turned over and ran his thumb over her cheek wiping away the tear that was slowly rolling down.
Robert: "Is she back to sleep?" he asked softly and the woman nodded in response.
Michelle: "I held her till she cried herself back to sleep. Nightmares again and she just wanted her Mum. I think I'll talk to Carla about her staying back at Roys or Carla coming here because the poor girl isn't coping and she needs her Mum" she sighed.
Robert: "I think that's a good idea"
It had been just over a week since Aidens suicide and Chelsea wasn't coping. Her weight had dropped as she refused meals and her eyes were dark, lack of sleep because of the nightmares that tormented her.
It was just after 10am and Carla, Robert and Michelle were sat in the flat, each holding a mug of coffee in their hands as they spoke about the girl.
Carla: "I'll take her back to Roys, she needs to be with me just now. I think maybe I should see if I can get her back to see the counsellor again, that helped her last time and maybe talking about it to someone would help release it a bit. I still wish I could rewind the clock and stop her from going, if I had gone instead or..." she stopped as sobs threatened to take over and Michelle grabbed her best friends hand giving it a tight squeeze.
Michelle: "I know it's hard but we can't change the past, we need to just help her as much as we can now" she answered.
The opened of a door cause all three sets of eyes to dart into the direction of it and Chelsea stood with an oversized hoody draping over her small frame, her hair in a mess from sleep. She said nothing as she took a seat next to Carla and flopped her body against her Mothers, letting out a small sigh of content when she felt Carlas arm wrap around her.
Carla: "Sweetheart, what do you think about coming back to Roys and staying with me again?" she asked gently and the girl looked up and nodded.
Carla: "Good girl. I think as well, maybe we should see about you seeing the counsellor?"
Chelsea: "Only if its Jess" she murmured as she absentmindedly played with the bracelet that was sat on her Mums wrist.
Carla: "Well we'll wait and see eh. Why don't you go and get yourself dressed and get stuff packed, I'll phone the doctors and see about getting you on the waiting list"
It only took a week for Chelsea to get an appointment. When Jess seen it was her who wanted an appointment, and read into why, she was quick to manouvere things around to give the girl an appointment. The girl had done her usual tricks trying to get out of going, just like she did last time, but Carla wouldn't let down, and before the girl knew it she was walking back out of the doctors surgery after her hours session.
She was taking a slow walk to clear her head after the session when she heard a voice call her name. She turned and her face turned up seeing it was none other than her Dads sister.
Chelsea: "What do you want?" she grumbled.
Tracy: "Oh don't be like that Chelsea, I'm still your Aunt after all" she reasoned.
Chelsea: "Not really cause I'm adopted, so does that even count?" she answered back.
Tracy: "Of course it does. Anyway, I know your Mum and I have our issues, and we'll never get on, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you"
Chelsea shrugged and said nothing, looking at her feet which she was shuffling uncomfortably.
Tracy: "Was that you at your counselling appointment? I thought your Mum would have met you after" she noted.
Chelsea looked at her in confusion but before she could ask Tracy cut in.
Tracy: "You're Dad told me, we've all been worried about you, adopted or not" she pointed out, she really did care about the teen.
Chelsea nodded: "Yeah I was. I told Mum I wanted time alone after it, she took me to it though"
Tracy: "How did it go? You don't have to tell me about it, I know that defeats the purpose"
Chelsea: "Yeah it was OK I guess. It still doesn't change anything, he's still dead" she answered bluntly.
Tracy: "C'mon, come inside and have a cuppa with me, we're quiet anyway. I'm not taking no for an answer" she said as she ushered the girl inside the florist.
They were sat opposite each other, each cradling a cup of tea in their hands. Chelsea was silent as she stared into the cup.
Tracy: "Are you angry with him?" she asked.
Chelsea looked at her in confusion again: "Why do you ask me these things? No one else does?"
Tracy shrugged: "I'm just more to the point than other people, you're young I get that, but you still need to understand your grief"
Chelsea nodded and looked back down to her mug.
Tracy: "You know whatever you say to me won't go anywhere. And I know you've just seen the counsellor but..."
Chelsea: "We didn't really speak about that...we spoke more about me finding him...and my nightmares"
Tracy: "Ahhh ok"
Chelsea: "But yeah I think I am angry. I just don't understand" she said shaking her head.
Tracy: "Well remember when you were depressed, can't you remember how it felt?" she spoke softy.
Chelsea: "I know that but it's just...it's just not the same!"
Tracy: "But it is sweetheart, he was struggling just like you were except you got better. Listen to me right now" she said and bent forward lifting the girls chin so there eyes met.
Tracy: "You'll never know exactly what drove him to do it, but you do know how he felt. And you know he wouldn't want you to feel that way again. You need to be strong and live on, not just for you, or your Mum, or the rest of your family, but for Aiden too. He'll look down on you so proud that you are living, when he couldnt"
Chelsea sighed: "You're right, I know"
Tracy: "Of course I am, I'm always right. Now get going, your Mum will be wondering where you are" she said as she took the empty mug from Chelsea and placed it into the sink before walking to the front of the shop.
Chelsea turned around and wrapped her arms around the woman tightly, Tracy looked shocked at first but a smile appeared on her face and she returned the teens warm hug.
Chelsea: "Thank you"
Tracy: "Anytime, my doors always open" she smiled and the girl nodded before heading off.
Chelsea walked into her Aunt Michelles were her Mum, Aunt and Robert were sat. Carla bounced off the couch and made a beeline wrapping one arm round the girl and pulling her in tight whilst the other cupped the back of her head. She placed a kiss to her head and let a sigh of relief.
Chelsea: "I'm sorry my phone ran out of battery" came her muffled voice.
Carla: "It's Ok I'm just glad you're ok. How are you feeling?" she asked as she parted from her and held her face in her hands.
Chelsea: "I'm OK actually" she answered and a small smile appeared on her face, one her Mother didn't think she'd see again.
Carla: "After one session with Jess? She really is good" she chuckled as she took a seat back down.
Chelsea walked over to the kitchen and grabbed an apple before throwing herself down onto the single seat.
Chelsea: "It was Tracy actually" she smirked, waiting for her Mothers reaction but it was Michelle who spoke first.
Michelle: "Tracy? As in Tracy Barlow?"
Chelsea: "Yeah believe it or not. She helped. And it reminded me that Uncle Aiden wouldn't want me to go down the same road as him"
Carla: "That's a good way to look at it sweetheart" she smiled.
Chelsea: "It's funny, I didn't think anything of it at the time. But a couple of days before he...before you know...he took me paintballing, and when he dropped me off he told me he loved me. He'd never said it before. But now I think it was his way of saying goodbye. And it makes me feel a bit better"
Carla: "He thought the world of you Chelsea, to the point he clearly lied through his teeth when he told me you's had been to the cinema that day cause he knew I'd have gone crazy" she chuckled, feeling no anger at her brother, only love.
The days went on and soon it was the day of the funeral. The connors stood out on the cobbles, facing the funeral car with the coffin inside. Chelsea felt the wall hit her back before realising she'd been stepping back. She shook her head as tears poured, not ready to face this, not ready to say goodbye.
Carla turned around when she felt the missing presence of her daughter and when she noticed the girl sobbing silently against the wall her own eyes filled with tears. She stepped forward and enveloped the girl tightly into her arms.
Chelsea: "Mum I don't think I can do this" she cried against her mothers chest as her body shook.
Carla: "Hey, you listen to me alright?" she said softly and cupped the girls cheek with her hand, leaning down so there eyes were centimetres from each other.
Carla: "You are strong. And you are brave. And I know you can do this, and if you don't, I know you'll regret it. Come on, I'm right here the whole time darling ok? We'll all get through it, with each other"
Chelsea nodded: "Ok"
She gripped Carlas hand tightly as they walked back forward, wathcing as Kate and Johnny gripped tightly onto each other as they looked to the coffin that held him.
Jenny: "I don't believe it" she said quietly as she looked over to see Alya walking towards them.
Carla: "I'll handle it. You stay with Jenny just now sweetheart" she said as she kissed the girls head and walked away.
Chelsea watched the interaction between the two before getting fed up and storming over coming up to her Mothers side, glaring at Alya with fiery eyes.
Chelsea: "What part of it's family only don't you get? They're burying their brother, my Uncle! My Grandad is burying his son! So do us all a favour and go away so we can say goodbye" she spat and Alya stood for a moment before turning on her heels and walking away.
Carla: "Calm down darling" she soothed as she saw the tears filling the girls eyes once again.
The funeral was a blur, all she remember is sitting with her head buried into her mothers side as she sobbed. The family went to the wake but Chelsea was exhausted and just wanted her Dad so she headed to the rovers.
She was sat on the couch leaning into peter as he held an arm around her, and in her arms was baby susie, looking up at the girl with big beautiful eyes.
Chelsea: "I don't think I'll ever get over how perfect she is Dad, I love that she's my baby sister"
Peter: "And she loves that you're her big sister. She's a lucky little girl. Her big sister looks exhausted though, your Mum text a little while ago to say she was heading back to the flat. Why don't we pop this one into the pram and we can walk over, you should get some rest"
Chelsea nodded and let her Dad take Susie from her arms. She happily pushed the pram along and until they were outside Roys and she said goodbye. Once in the flat, she asked her Mother to lie with her, and the teen fell asleep wrapped in Carlas arms.
Time went by once more and she threw herself into helping her Aunt with the wedding plans. It didn't take long for the big day to arrive though, and everything felt so perfect till Phelan turned up with a bloodied Nicola from a gunshot wound, and was asking for a hostage.
"I'll do it" Carla said as she went to step forward.
Chelsea's cries could be heard from the back as she shouted to her Mother but Jenny kept her arms tightly round her keeping her as far back and as safe as she possibly could.
They didn't have a choice though. He wanted Michelle and only her. Pulling his arm around her chest roughly keeping her tight against him he hauled her through to the kitchen as everyone watched on in horror. Chelsea broke free from Jenny's embrace and ran to her Mother as she pulled her arms around her tightly, every inch of her body shaking.
A gunshot rang through the building causing everyone to jump, and Carla bent down to Chelsea holding her head in her hands.
Carla: "Stay back there with Jenny ok, please" she spoke seriously and the girl nodded, feeling Carla press a kiss to her forehead.
Robert, Ali, Carla and Ryan all went through to the kitchen and Chelsea's body trembled even more as she heard her mothers scream. She went to move forward again but Jenny pulled her back.
Jenny: "We need to get out of here sweetheart, we need to keep you safe"
Chelsea: "But..."
Jenny: "No arguments" she interjected and Chelsea nodded.
Ryan, Daniel, Jenny and Chelsea all made way for the door, all three adults surrounding Chelsea to protect her whilst they still didn't know what was happening.
As soon as she was out onto the street and seen her Grandfather she ran into his arms and she sobbed loudly. Everyone piled out and eventually Ryan came over to let them know that Michelle had been shot, but she'd be ok.
Chelsea couldn't settle though till her Mother came out and she made a beeline for her.
Carla: "It's alright sweetheart, we're fine, your Aunt Michelle is going to be just fine"
The weeks went by and Michelle healed, and Chelsea felt herself feeling better mentally, not only that, her family were noticing it too. Her world was about to be turned upside down again though.
Peter and Carla were sat in the living room of Kens house, both with worried expressions on their faces. The two of them jumped to their feet when they heard the door open and close, and Chelsea appeared.
Chelsea: "Mum why are you here?" she asked in confusion as she looked between the two.
Peter: "Sit down sweetheart" he spoke softly and she nodded as she took a seat at the table, the two of them sitting at either side of her.
Chelsea: "You's are scaring me, what's going on?" she spoke worriedly again looking between the two of them trying to find some explanation.
Carla: "It's about Susie..."
Chelsea: "Oh my god has something happened? Is she ok?" she panicked as tears started to form in her eyes.
Peter: "She's fine Chelsea don't worry. But, we found out that she's not my child" he said slowly, trying to keep his own emotions bubbling to the surface.
Chelsea: "I don't understand?"
Peter: "Toyah lied to me all along. The surrogate lost the baby"
Chelsea: "But Susie?"
Peter: "Is Evas baby"
Carla: "Eva, and Aidens"
Chelsea: "What? I can't process this..."
Carla: "She's not your sister, she's your cousin, I'm sorry sweetheart" she took the girls hand in hers and squeezed it tightly.
Chelsea: "But Uncle Aiden? If he'd known about her? He wouldn't have killed himself! And Dad, I'm so sorry" she sobbed as she tried to process all this information.
She bounced to her feet as she headed out the house, Carla and Peter hot on her heels. Carla sped up and grabbed the girls arm as she was about to open the green door in front of her.
Carla: "Come on darling, leave it. There's no point" she reasoned but the teen shook her head angrily and freed her arm before storming into the rovers.
Upon seeing Leanne in the bar she headed through the back, swinging the door open and finding Eva cradling baby Susie in her arms, and Toyah sat at the table.
Toyah: "Chelsea I'm..." she started but Chelsea cut in.
Chelsea: "How could you! How could you do that to my Dad!" she fumed at Toyah before turning on Eva with her finger pointed at her.
Chelsea: "And you! My Uncle could still be alive if he knew about this. His blood is on your hands" she cried.
Carla: "Come on darling, they're not worth it" she soothed as she put an arm around her leading her out.
Chelsea: "I hope you both rot in hell for what you's have done"
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CharmedSuperGirl
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