15th May 2023
"Do we have to go?" Carla pleads as Peter sighs, strapping the twins up in the pram
"Yes"
"But…"
"No buts they need to meet their family don't they…" Peter trails off as if it was obvious
"I'm shattered though Peter can't we do it some other time?" Carla questions as Peter sighs knowing that if she put it off they would never get around to doing it
"No" Peter pokes her on the nose as Carla groans "We're bringing Aidan back home today as well"
"Ok fine" Carla mutters throwing blankets over the babies so they were warm enough "Let's head off then, where we going first?"
"To my dad's, then to Johnny, then to Michelle to pick up Aidan" Peter smiles as Carla groans knowing this would be exhausting
"Hi dad!" Peter grins pushing the pushchair into the house, Carla's heart racing a million miles
"Carla! Peter! How are you?" Ken greets them as Carla smiles civilly
"Good thanks dad, so then, let's get this little meet and greet over and done with" Peter grips unstrapping Florence first holding her close to his chest as she starts to cry
"Peter…I don't think this is a good idea…" Carla starts very nervously biting her lip
"She'll be fine Car, you don't need to worry" Peter grins handing Florence to Ken as he holds her
"Who's this one?" Ken asks truly mesmerised with his grandchild
"Florence" Peter grins as Carla taps her nails against the mug in a nervous demeanour as Florence starts to whimper
"She wants a feed" Carla states as Peter frowns glancing to her, confused
"She's fine Car, she's just trying to get comfortable" Peter kisses her forehead as Carla sighs, still tapping her nails on the mug as Isobel starts to cry
"She needs a change" Carla smiles, unstrapping Isobel and taking the changing bag, rushing upstairs to the bathroom ready to change her
"Hey beautiful girl, mummy loves you so much" Carla coos, changing Isobel as her little legs kick "You look like Eloise's double"
"Mummy wants to keep you safe little one, Eloise sent you for a reason didn't she eh?" Carla smiles packing away the items in the changing bag and handing Isobel her dummy which she gratefully accepts
"Come on then sweetheart, let's go and meet your family" Carla smiles holding Isobel to her chest, Isobel's hand in Carla's hair, the changing bag on Carla's shoulder as she walks downstairs to the expectant faces of Peter's family
"Is she alright, love?" Peter questions as Carla nods letting out an anxious riddled deep breath
"Where's Flo?" Carla panics slightly as Peter points to Tracey who was holding her
"Oh, she likes you" Carla says as Florence starts to cry
"Come here sweetheart" Carla hushes Florence as she starts to whimper, rocking her gently against her chest
"We need to head to Johnny's" Carla states as Peter frowns confused
"We still have an hour to go yet, he's not expecting us until eleven"
"He texted, asking to do it earlier" she lies as Peter nods taking Florence and placing her in the pram with her sister
"I guess we better head off then, we'll see you soon yeah?" Peter questions as Carla smiles waving goodbye to everyone
"Are we going round the back or through the pub?" Peter questions as Carla bites her lip getting out her phone pretending to look at a message that Johnny sent, knowing he wouldn't care if they were early
"He said to go round the back" Carla smiles as Isobel starts to cry, Carla groaning hoping it didn't set off Florence
"She's just hungry, I'll feed her when I'm in there, don't cry sweetheart" Carla replies as Peter kisses her head, knocking on the back door of the pub, as Carla rubs Isobel's tummy
"Come in, oh someone is not happy are they?" Kate beckons them in as Carla smiles gratefully, Peter pushing the pram through the door
"Right, lets shut her up" Carla smiles taking Isobel out of the pram, going into the back room and sitting on the sofa, preparing to feed Isobel as she latches on
"Oh, hi Carla" Johnny smiles as Carla continues to gaze down at Isobel drinking in her little face as she feeds off her
"Carla?" Johnny questions as Carla's head shoots up in shock, Isobel stopping to feed at the tension, instantly starting to cry
"Now look what you've done" Carla hisses clearly agitated trying to get Isobel to latch back on to soften her cries
"Sorry-"
"Is everything alright in here?" Peter questions poking his head around the door after speaking to Kate, hearing the commotion
"We're fine Peter, does Flo want a feed?" Carla questions as Peter shrugs not knowing, taking Florence out of the pram and handing her to Carla to see if she wanted a feed which she doesn't, Peter taking her back
"Like, I'm surprised to be honest, she usually likes to pig out on my boob" Carla groans as Isobel stops feeding, opening her eyes so Carla could look into them, the green orbs staring back at her truly mesmerising, Carla grabbing a burping rag from the changing bag ready to burp her
"There we are, we alright now?" Carla questions as Isobel gurgles, Carla moving her so she was in the crook of her arm
"Let's have a cuddle then" Johnny grins as Carla glances down at Isobel, what excuses could she make this time?
"Ok" Carla replies quietly handing Isobel to Johnny as she settles down in his arms
"I remember Aidan, he hated other people holding him" Johnny grins stroking Isobel's cheek, Carla taking his hand away from her face as Kate narrows her eyes, everyone oblivious, even Peter
"Yeah, he hated it, Isobel loves being held" Carla mutters as Peter prepares Florence to be held
"I love that name" Kate grins in awe with it as Carla laughs, her smile fading soon after watching Isobel squirm in Johnny's arms
"Shall we swap you out with Florence?" Peter questions as if Isobel could speak, Carla taking Isobel off Johnny and holding her against her chest, and Peter placing Florence in Johnny's arms, Kate sitting herself down next to Carla
"Hey, you alright?" Kate whispers after witnessing Carla's smile fade earlier
"Yeah why you ask?" Carla narrows her eyes looking for ulterior motives as Kate smiles, reaching her hand out to touch Isobel's, Isobel grasping her hand around one of her fingers
"I was just wondering, you've been through a lot this last week" Kate smiles as Carla grins glancing down to Isobel who had her hand wrapped around one of Kate's fingers
"Thanks for your concern, but really I'm fine" Carla reassures her as Kate smiles going to stroke Isobel's face, Carla swatting her hand away somewhat protectively over her daughter
"Let Kate have a hold, love" Peter prompts Carla as Carla glances down to Isobel biting her lip handing Isobel to Kate
"She's tiny, smaller than Aidan" Kate gushes gasping as Isobel shifts around in her arms letting out little grunting noises
"She might need changing again" Carla smiles using this as an opportunity to have Isobel back, Kate handing Isobel back, Carla holding her against her chest, grabbing the changing bag and going upstairs
"Peter, can I have a word?" Kate questions Peter nods, Kate leading him out into the hallway
"What's up?"
"Is she alright?" Kate questions gesturing to Carla
"Yeah…she's pretty tired, once Isobel wakes up Flo wakes up and vice versa" Peter smiles as Kate narrows her eyes
"Yeah I guess, don't you think she's being a little bit too over protective?" Kate interrogates raising an eyebrow not entirely convinced
"In what way?"
"Her reluctance to let people hold the twins, her reluctance to let people touch them, it just seems a little weird"
"She's being a mum, she's protecting her cubs, I do the same" Peter laughs slightly as Kate relaxes walking back into the living room
"For what it's worth…I think they're beautiful" Kate grins as Peter nods
"Well I'll tell you something I'm the luckiest man on earth" Peter beams, collecting Florence from the pram and handing her to Kate
Standing at the top of the stairs Carla was cradling Isobel, having heard Kate doubt her, fuelled her mind with all sorts of questions, a voice interrupted her train of thoughts, painting on a smile she goes downstairs, finding Peter strap Florence into the pram, she placed Isobel in, and that was it they were off to Michelle's
"Hi guy's come in" Michelle grins stepping aside to allow Carla and Peter into the flat
"Mummy!" Aidan grins launching himself at Carla, running from where his toys were
"Hey darlin' how are you?" Carla questions as Aidan grins up at her
"Good, park, movie" Aidan lists enthusiastically as Carla gasps
"Wow, I'm glad you had fun-" she starts as Florence starts to cry
"Great Florence probably wants feeding" Carla mutters taking her out of the pram and holding her close, going to sit on the armchair to feed her, Michelle grabbing Isobel out of the pram
"Did I say you could hold her?" Carla snaps as Michelle is taken aback by Carla's attitude
"No, but…I just assumed, I'm sorry" Michelle raises an eyebrow, confused, why was Carla being so over-protective?
"Peter take Florence" Carla glares at him as Peter frowns
"Love, she hasn't finished yet…" Peter trails off as Carla hands Florence to Peter, taking Isobel off him and holding her close whispering to her as Florence wails loudly
"Your safe no one will hurt you darling" Carla mumbles into Isobel's head as Florence continues to cry
"Carla she needs feeding" Peter states as if it was obvious, Carla knowing it was obvious
"Don't you think I know that?" Carla snaps again rocking Isobel against her chest as Florence cries ring out around the room
"I have some formula" Michelle states as Peter sighs shaking his head
"Ok hand her to me" Carla says placing Isobel back in the pram, taking Florence off Peter and preparing to feed her
"There we are sweetheart" Carla smiles glancing down at the tiny baby in her arms, it was weird, she felt so much for Isobel but barely anything for Florence, maybe she just didn't have enough time to bond with her
"There we are, all done" Carla smiles, getting ready to burp this baby which seemed so foreign to her, yet she was sitting here feeding it
"Is she alright?" Michelle hisses quietly as Peter sighs, he was very confused, he just thought it was normal, Kate picked up on it, why did he do this every time? Sweep everything under the carpet
"I don't know" he whispers "Kate said something odd"
"Like what?" Michelle prompts him as they continue to watch Carla burp Florence
"She asked if I thought Carla was being a bit too over protecting of them both, I just thought it was normal considering everything with Eloise, a mother protecting her children"
"Give her time, it's hard being a mum, she has to double up on everything, feeding them, changing them, bathing them" Michelle lists as Peter sighs knowing she was probably right, of course she was, she was a mum herself, why should he take Kate's advice?
"I will, maybe she just needs to have some one on one bonding time with them both, without family interfering, I think that will be the plan tomorrow" Peter smiles as Isobel starts to cry Carla's ears pricking up, handing Florence to Michelle, which just confused Peter more
"Hey baby girl, what's the matter eh?" Carla smiles widely, more so than she does with Florence, as Isobel settles on her chest, going to sit back down on the sofa
"It's weird" Peter states as Michelle turns to face him, confused still holding Florence
"What is?"
"She lets people hold Flo but not Isobel, or she's very reluctant to"
"Maybe she just feels like Isobel needs more protecting than Florence?" Michelle suggests as Florence grabs onto a piece of her hair
"I don't see how though, they were both inside her, born at the same time, none of it makes sense" Peter frowns as Florence's eyes open looking directly at him, as he goes to tickle her chin
"Speak to her about it, see how she's feeling, go home with Aidan and be a family, it might give her a better outlook" Michelle suggests as Peter smiles bringing her into a hug
"Thank you for everything" he thanks her "Come on Aidy, we're going home"
"You ready, love?"
"Yeah, thanks 'Chelle for having him" Carla smiles planting a kiss on her cheek as Michelle bends down to give Isobel a kiss, Carla instantly moving her away
"Ok, well I'll see you soon yeah?" Michelle questions as Carla nods kissing Isobel's forehead before placing her in the pram and strapping her in
"Come on Aidy, hold on to the side of the pram" Peter smiles as Aidan does what he's told
"Right, let the madness begin"