Nick sat at his laptop sorting through emails like he had been doing the last week and a half when Carla comes downstairs with her hair in a towel having just washed it: "what you doing"? She asks as she sits opposite him on the table: "checking emails". He replies: "Still"? She asks surprised, she'd forgotten how many emails she'd had to sort through when she worked at the factory: "Oh yeah, there's a whole back catalogue here". He replies: "Oh right, it's like you knew this was coming". She sighs: "You bored"? Nick asks still typing away, they weren't used to being stuck in the house all day and the monotony was beginning to set in: "Is it that obvious"? Nick looked up at her and smiled: "Well er why don't you come up with a new recipe or something"? Carla rolled her eyes: "I'm a waitress Nick not a chef, you know I'm no good at cooking, gosh that's weird "in't it"? "Me a waitress". She ponders: "Trust me no one's more surprised than me" "Oi"! Carla replies playfully slapping his arm: "You'd be a lot less bored if you came back to the factory". Carla sighs again: "Nick don't, besides, we're a nightmare when we work together, I wouldn't wanna ruin what we've got" she pauses in contemplation: "Again". She mumbles looking down: "We were great that night at the bistro". He points out, promoting her to look back up at him with a smile: "We were weren't we"? "Eh maybe you should come back to the bistro, I reckon Ray could do with being knocked down a peg or two". "Er no way I've got enough on as it is, not that I don't miss it sometimes, but I'm happy where I am". She sighs: "Fine, any other great ideas"? She asks sarcastically:"Er I am trying you know". He replies: "Yeah I know sorry". "Er you called your family"? "Yeah, oh Johnny says hi by the way". She informs him: "oh yeah"? "How is he"? He asks curiously: "yeah, yeah good". She nods: "him and Jenny not killed each other yet then"? He jokes: "not yet luckily". She laughs: "Offered to do a shop for Roy but he insisted it wasn't necessary". "Well he does live in a café and besides he's got Nina there". Nick points out: "Yeah but it's be nice to pop in I've not seen him in days".: "unfortunately lockdown means lockdown". She rolls her eyes, she was sick of hearing that: "I'm sure I can pop over the road for 5 minutes to check on a mate and you'll wanna check on your mum won't you"? He thinks about it for a few moments, she had a point if they didn't get outside for at least two seconds it's so their heads in: "No your right, besides, they did say you could help your elderly relatives if they needed it". Carla laughs raising her eyebrows: "Elderly relatives"? "Don't let her here you say that". Nick rolls his eyes at her: "Right give me 5 minutes and we'll go ok"? Carla smiles.
"Only us". Nick says as he opens the door: "Oh hi Nick love, what are you doing here"? Gail greets in her usual cheery demeanour when it came to her sons, her tone droppes significantly when it comes to greeting Carla: "Hi Carla". "Hi" she greeted back smiling awkwardly. Gail had given up on trying to figure out Nick and Carla's relationship, they'd been back and forth so many times she couldn't keep up anymore, so she just decided to stop trying and they both agreed to be civil: "We came to check in on you". Nick said handing her the shopping he and Carla had bought: "Oh that's very thoughtful of you both thank you". "Where is everyone"? Nick asks: "Upstairs entertaining the kids". "They must be climbing the walls". Nick ponders: "Something like that yeah". A few seconds later David comes from upstairs: "Oh hi". He greets: "Alright"? Nick replies: "I see you've done a shop, the lack of bog roll is ridiculous". David comments: "Well you know I bought my fair share earlier on". Gail remarks: "Oh here we go". David says rolling his eyes: "You can never be too carful David, this could be the end of the world you know".
A few moments later they arrive at Roy's:"You needn't have gone to this much trouble". Roy says as Carla passes him the things they bought: "Honestly Roy it's not a problem". "She's been desperate for something to do all day, I even found her hovering this morning". Nick adds in a surprised tone earning an eye roll from Carla: "Well as long as you remain safe that's all that matters". Roy states: "How are you finding it"? Carla asks: "I hope you're not too bored stuck in here". "My documentaries keep me very occupied thank you". He informs her: "And Nina how is she"? Nick asks: "Yes yes she's satisfied, we found this fascinating documentary on bats and their sleeping habits the other day". He tells them intrigued: "Oh sounds interesting". Carla smiles fondly glad that Roy was keeping himself entertained: "Anyway you mustn't stay out here to long". He adds: "Mm, suppose not". Carla says disappointedly: "I'll ring you later Roy, check in". "that would be much appreciated Carla thank you, thank you for the shopping as well". "No problem, take care". Carla replies. "Take care Roy". Nick adds. As they turn to leave Roy speaks again: "You have enough medication for the foreseeable I trust". "Yes, stocked up days ago, this one kept reminding me". Carla informs smiling at the care of her loved ones: "Well you two do look very content with one another". Roy observes. He'd worried that since the split with Peter Carla would find things difficult but she seemed to be doing well and that was all that mattered to him: "We are thanks Roy". Carla smiles putting her arm around Nick.
"Satisfied"? Nick asks as they re enter the house: "For now". Carla replies smiling, Nick sighs: "So, now what"? "Ohhh no more emails"? "I'm tired of emails". Nick admits: "Movie"? "Ugh, all the movies have been watched to death". Nick gives a sly smile: "Well not all of them"... Carla's face drops, she knew exactly what movie Nick was talking about, he'd been trying to get her to watch it with him ever since lockdown began, apparently it was "the perfect quarantine film". She wholeheartedly disagreed: "No, no way I am not watching that"! "Come on it's a classic"! Nick insists: "It's a kids film"! "You are never, ever, ever to old for a Disney film". "I'm not that bored Nick". She says stubbornly: "Yes you are come on". He insists dragging her to the sofa as she groans in protest. A few moments later they are sat in front of the TV with a bowl of popcorn in between them: "From the day we arrive on the planet and blinking, step into the sun, there's more to be seen than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done". Nick sings while gesturing dramatically Witt his arms. Carla giggles: "You're a really bad singer". "Oh yeah"? "Go on lets see if you can do better". He sasses and it shuts her up: "Ohhh scared you'll sound worse than me"? "As if". She scoffs playfully: "Go on then". He takes the popcorn out of her reach: "Or I'm having this lot all to myself". "Oi give that back"! She says trying to grab it but he holds it away from her, pushing her back with his other hand: "Ah ah ah sing first". In a last ditch attempt she lunges forward causing Nick to spill some of the popcorn onto the floor, he laughs: "Oh now look what you've done, you're gonna have to clean that up later". She sighs, folding her arms in a playful strop: "I hate you". He smiles leaning over to kiss her cheek:"No you don't, now sing". She sighs again, giving in: "On the path unwinding, yeah, In the circle, the circle of life". Nick smiles: "Beautiful". He says handing her the rest of the popcorn. She puts one in her mouth and throws another at Nick: "Ohhh someone really wants to clean popcorn today don't they"? He teases: "I can't believe you blackmailed me with popcorn". She says in mock outrage: "Aw, well it got you singing and that's what counts". She rolls her eyes at him, throwing another bit of popcorn at him: "Two can play at this game". He says, but before he can do anything she jumps off the sofa running into the kitchen with the popcorn. She runs fed to dodge his attempts to catch her until she nears the counter: "Had enough"? He asks her teasingly to which she gives a mischievous smirk. They continue to dodge one another from opposite sides around the counter: "Right, no more games Carla". Nick says before running at her and tickling her: "Nick stop"! She laughs before dropping the rest of the popcorn all over the floor: "Nicholas"! "Now look what you've done"! She playfully scolds, he raises an eyebrow: "Me"? "You started it"! "And we're missing the film". "Oh how will we ever cope"? She replies sarcastically.
"Ok, er am I blonde"? Nick asks: "No". Carla replies: "Am I a woman"? Nick guess: "Nope". "Erm, am I an actor"? "Yes". Carla smiles: "How bad are my movies"? "Erm... not that bad". Carla decides: "ohhh high praise from the film critique, I feel honoured". Nick sasses earning a playful shove from Carla, he laughs: "I'm guessing I haven't been in any Disney films then". "You have actually". She corrects: "Have I"? "Wow erm, Zack Ethron"? Nick guesses: "Wow impressive". Carla nods approvingly as Nick looks at the card: "Your turn". Nick prompts. Carla picks up a card turning it towards Nick so she can't see it: "Right, am I a singer"? She asks: "Surprisingly yes". Nick quips, to which Carla gives a playful eye roll: "Am I female"? "Yeah". Nick affirms: "British"? "Yep". He nods: "How good are my songs"? She asks: "Classics". He answers smiling: "ohhh, erm Amy Winehouse"? "Well done, very impressive". He says as she looks at the card smiling.
A few moments later after deciding to put a frozen pie in the oven they sit on the sofa:
"Slowest day yet". Carla observes: "Tell me about it". Nick agrees:"Eh I know something we haven't done". Carla says mischievously: "What"? Nick asks confused. Carla raises an eyebrow and suddenly he gets it: "Ohhh, what happened to the whole two metres apart rule"? "Yeah only people you don't live with, besides, you've had your hands all over me today". She points out as Nick smirks: "Suppose I have yeah". Carla shuffles closer to him, taking his hand somewhat nervously: "i er, saw something funny online, said there'd be a lot of babies born come January next year". She laughs slightly, Nick chuckles: "Why"? "Coz no one knows what to do with themselves so they just"- He stops short, looking Carla in the eye: "wait, are you saying"?... "Wow, didn't think you were that bored". Nick jokes: "No Nick not out of Borden i just, well we did talk about it didn't we"? "Before, you know, everything went all, pair shaped". She says carefully, not wanting either of them to relive too much in their minds. Nick swallows hard: "I er, I got it into my head that you just said that out of guilt, you know"? "Like I thought the proposal was out of guilt". He admits looking down, something he thought he'd buried deep down inside had been brought to the forefront again at the most unexpected of times. Carla lifts his chin, turning his face back toward her: "Hey, none of it was about guilt Nick, I really wanted a future with you, still do, and look I know I've been all over the place lately, but I know what I want now, it's right in front of me". Nick smiles softly, allowing himself to trust she meant those words: "Yeah"? "Yeah". She affirms: "Besides, you know, neither of us are getting any younger, might as well take the opportunity". She adds in an attempt to lighten the mood: "Yeah, might as well". Nick agrees. He leans forward to kiss her, the kiss grows deeper and more urgent with every passing second, in the midst of uncertain times, it felt great to be able to prepare for a certain future.