As soon as Michelle stepped off of the train Steve noticed her and hurried to meet her. She looked more upset than she had sounded on the phone and Steve had been scratching his head the whole time he'd been waiting trying to think what all of this could possibly be about. Michelle almost walked straight into him as she hurried along the platform with her head down. She jumped out of her skin when his hands gently came to rest on the tops of her arms and gasped loudly as she looked up through her teary eyes. At first her expression was blank and she couldn't even muster a smile but when she finally came to terms that she was back in Manchester and that he had come as she had asked. It was in that split second when he pulled her in close to his chest that Michelle found herself once again in floods of tears. Leaning against Steve and using him for support as he silently held her tight and let her get all her emotions out.

The platform had cleared of almost all the passengers by the time Steve felt brave enough to try and get Michelle to move to the cab so he could rush her back to the street. The poor thing he thought as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and escorted her outside, she was completely cut up. He opened the cab door for her in true gentlemanly style before hopping in the driver street. Michelle wiped her tears away from her eyes and her dampened cheeks with the back of her sleeve. Even she couldn't believe she was in this state over that cow of an ex sister in law but she just couldn't help it.

"So love, what's happened?" asked Steve gingerly hoping it wouldn't set her off again now she seemed calmer.

"Carla…she's not well" choked out Michelle as the sobs came hard and heavy again. Steve said nothing more on the matter scared of upsetting her further and Michelle's tears continued all the way back to the street.

The cab pulled up and no sooner had Steve turned off the ignition did he reach across and embrace Michelle best he could. Bless her, all this crying and stress must have exhausted her. She sat for a while crying away until she finally pulled herself away. She knew she didn't have time like this to waste, she needed to get changed and get to the hospital, tell Liam what was going on and get back to London.

"Will you take me to the hospital? I need to see Liam but first I just need to nip home and get changed" asked Michelle as she looked at Steve once again wiping her eyes.

"Urrr Liam's not at the hospital" said Steve awkwardly. "I dropped him home last night, dead late mind"

"What? So where is he?" asked Michelle.

Steve just shrugged his shoulders, he had no idea himself where Liam was and the next thing he knew he turned and Michelle was gone. It was as if she hadn't even been in the car and when he looked out he saw her dashing down Coronation Street. She headed straight for Number 7 maybe Maria had seen him. Marching up to the door she banged on it with a closed fist harder than intended because she was now wound up. There was no answer at first and so she knocked again, surely Maria was home after her last few days. All of them had been in the hospital bar herself and Peter, seriously what were the odds.

She knew it was early but surely with all the racket Maria would wake up and answer the door. She banged upon it again loudly and with force. Upstairs the latest offering from Michelle suddenly disturbed Maria and she woke rubbing her eyes and feeling absolutely exhausted. She blinked at the alarm clock and wondered who could possibly be at her door at this time in the morning. Then she realised she wasn't alone, draped over her and the duvet was a man's arm. Sleepily she turned to see Liam, sleeping as peacefully as their unborn baby by her side and suddenly all of last night came flooding back to her. Zoning out for a few seconds she couldn't hear the knocking on her front door and just admired the gorgeous specimen beside her. All too soon she was dragged back to reality when from outside she could suddenly hear Michelle's voice shouting her name.

Maria was supposed to be taking it easy but at the sound of Michelle's voice she darted out of bed, disturbing Liam as she did so. Quickly she wrapped her robe around her naked body and as quietly as she could she hurried down the stairs and launched herself at the front door. Fumbling with the chain and lock she opened up the door. Michelle looked frustrated and Maria thought it best not to leave her waiting on the path and invited her inside. She was like a whirlwind as she entered and stood tall in the living room, she hadn't really looked at Maria as she had opened the door but now that she examined her a little more closely she saw just how flustered she looked.

"Have you seen Liam?" she blurted out without any pleasantries.

Maria went red, yes she had but she wasn't about to admit to Michelle he was upstairs in her bed. She suspected this had something to do with Carla and she wasn't going to let that get between them after they had seemed to reconcile their relationship last night. She smiled and shrugged shaking her head as she headed to the kitchen to put on the kettle as way of distraction.

"How's Carla?" She asked nervously from the kitchen as she prayed Liam wouldn't wake and come downstairs.

Michelle answered truthfully of course as she clocked Maria's every movement. Something seemed strange but she couldn't put her finger on what exactly. It was obvious from Maria's behaviour and flustered state that she knew something, even if she hadn't seen Michelle's brother. Maria busied herself in the kitchen beginning to feel uncomfortable with the silence that had fallen between her and Michelle. Her hands shook as she made the tea and carried them through to where Michelle was waiting she needed to keep her cool, if she blew this Michelle wouldn't trust her again. Michelle however was suspicious and so tried again to see if she could catch Maria off guard.

"So you've not heard from Liam at all?" she asked

Maria shook her head sure she was convincing Michelle as the two of them sipped away at their brews. Michelle was grateful for the tea, it was amazingly refreshing and made her feel instantly better but now she was sure Maria was lying. She seemed to be sweating very lightly, her hands still shaking as she lifted the cup to her lips and she was flushed. Settling back into the sofa Michelle started chatting away as if they were just having a gossip but Maria couldn't help but feel intimidated and now even she could hear the cracks in her voice as she feigned interest in what Michelle was telling her about Carla's deteriorating condition.

Liam having woken upstairs instantly sat up in shock at his only too familiar surroundings and then heard downstairs Maria talking to a voice that sounded familiarly like his sisters. She couldn't catch him here, she'd kick off unless he was here to tell her that him and Maria were getting back together, which they definitely were not. What ever had happened last night was a mistake. There was no other way out though, he'd have to creep about and try to escape when the coast was clear. As quietly as he could he collected up his clothes and got dressed, then he headed across the landing just praying he wouldn't be heard. Hovering at the top of the stairs he tried to determine what they were chatting about and when he heard the topic of conversation he didn't care anymore. Michelle had just mentioned Carla's name; she knew something. Bustling down the stairs he made so much noise that Maria cringed and Michelle's head flew round to see who was there. He emerged looking a mess with his crumpled clothes and ruffled hair. Michelle frowned.

"Liam!" she exclaimed before throwing an unimpressed glare at Maria who had just lied to her.