Chapter 16 - The End Of The Beginning
"Happy Birthday, baby" Peter smiles wrapping his arms around her whilst she curls into his body the best she could with the baby in the way
"Mmm, thank you" she whispers as she stretches out beside him, Peter placing a hand on her bump, the baby reacting to the brief affection
"Doesn't want to come out does it?" Peter questions as Carla groans in response, she was feeling very fed up to say the least, she was three days over her due date and her was very grumpy
"Nope but right now I need to get ready to go to court" Carla smiles heading over to her wardrobe running through the abundance of maternity clothes which no longer fit her as she was so big now
"None of my clothes fit Peter" Carla complains as Peter sighs wondering if it was a good idea to let her go to Ray's sentencing still
"Maybe it's a sign you shouldn't go?" Peter inputs as Carla glares at him, they had this conversation many times before Carla was still insistent on going either way and there was no way Peter was going to stop her. She wanted the closure and so did Peter to an extent but sometimes Peter was left to question whether it was a good idea
"Peter I'm going"
"Ok, I won't say anything else on the matter" he smiles kissing her forehead gently as she smiles slightly "Do you want any brekkie?"
"I'm not really that hungry to be honest" Carla shrugs as Peter sighs running a hand through her hair to comfort her a bit
"We need to head off soon, it's not too late to-" Peter starts for only Carla to glare at him shaking her head knowing exactly what he was about to say
"No, Peter. Get this into your thick skull. I. Am. Going."
"Alright, come on then" Peter says putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her to the car as they make the journey to court
"How many years do you reckon he'll get?" Carla questions Peter who just shrugs, he was hoping life but that was very unlikely, but he was hoping it would be substantial enough for Carla to gain closure from it
"Not sure love. We best head in" Peter smiles slightly as Carla nods linking arms with Peter and signing in with the receptionist at the court both of them waiting in the room beside the gallery
"What are you doing here?" Carla questions folding her arms pointing to Bethany, Alya returning with a coffee for them both
"I could ask you the same question, let me guess you're here for Michelle-"
"Sorry I was late, wait what…?" Michelle questions glancing to Peter then Carla who shakes her head unamused, Bethany biting her lip
"I thought you were in London" Carla points to Bethany who just shrugs "And I thought you were in Ireland" Carla points to Michelle
"I was, now I'm here ready to see this scum bag be sent down for what he did" Bethany grins as Alya nods in agreement to her statement, Carla turning to face Michelle who was biting her lip guiltily
"What are you doing here?" Carla questions Michelle who shifts her weight from one foot to the other, her arms crossed over her chest
"I could ask you the same question" Michelle says tilting her head to the side as Carla groans in response shaking her head annoyed with the whole situation
"The same reason" Carla points to Bethany, being vague on purpose knowing that she would get sympathy overload for what Ray did to her
"Oh my god! It was-"
"You may enter the gallery now" a member of staff steps out from a side room allowing everyone to head in to the stand, Carla sitting next to Peter holding his hand, the other placed on her bump rubbing gently trying to ease her cramping muscles, Carla glancing to the judge
She didn't know what to think at this point in time, she was scared for the future and that was something she had no control over. Her thoughts were running wildly though her brain ,she didn't know what to do for the best. She glanced to Bethany who was smiling widely holding Alya's hand both of them affected by Ray's behaviour then to Michelle who was clutching onto her hand, it was like her brain was unable to process the moment in all the glory it should be. Everyone engrossed in what the judge was saying apart from herself which caused her to feel lost within her treacherous mind.
"We here by sentence you on the rape of Carla Connor which you will serve 10 years due to the psychological state that the victim was in, sexual offences committed on Michelle Sinead Connor and Alya Nazir which you will serve a total of 5 years for, you will serve a total of 15 years, you will be not available to apply for parole and will remain in custody until your sentence has come to an end. If you may leave with the officers"
"Peter…" Carla says as Peter wraps her up in a hug, Carla gulping at the fact that Ray was sent down for raping her. It took her ages to come to terms with the whole situation and after the whole issue with the contracts she was able to get closure before pressing a hand to her abdomen as a wave of pain sears through it
"You got justice Car" Peter whispers kissing the side of her head
"Peter!" Carla groans as her water's break, typical she thought in a public place as well but she didn't have time to be embarrassed
"Oh god"
"My waters, we need to go to the hospital" Carla says as Peter nods helping her, with Michelle up the stairs and out of the court heading towards the car
"I'll follow don't worry" Michelle smiles as Carla winces in pain in the passenger seat groaning in pain, Michelle kisses Carla's head briefly as Peter pulls he seatbelt across her body to strap her in, starting the car and heading towards the hospital
"Peter it hurts" Carla complains as Peter sighs not really in the mood to give her a lecture, rubbing her thigh comfortingly
"I know it does sweetheart, we're almost there" Peter smiles as Carla cries out in pain Peter putting his foot down on the accelerator trying to get to the hospital before Carla ended up giving birth in the car, Peter helping her out of the car and buying a ticket quickly and getting her a wheelchair, Michelle pulling up beside them having followed
"Let's get you in this then Carla" Michelle says helping Carla into the wheelchair Peter handing Michelle the bag so he could wheel Carla up to the maternity unit, leaving Carla with Michelle so he could book Carla in
"Why did you say you were in England?" Carla groans as Michelle laughs at her persistence running a hand through her hair before they were interrupted by the midwife
"Hi Carla, my names Jane and I'll be your midwife, let's get you to a room eh?" Jane says as Carla nods allowing Peter to push her into the delivery room, Jane handing her a gown to dress into, Michelle and Peter both helping her
"Do you want any pain relief Carla?" Jane questions glancing over her birth plan smiling slightly as Peter rubbing her back
"No I want to do it without" Carla persists as Peter admires her strength still rubbing her back to relieve any pain she was in
"Can I examine you?"
"Fine" Carla groans lying down on the bed allowing Jane to examine her, Michelle holding the gas and air for her so she could get some relief, Peter pressing his lips to her forehead
"You're about a five-"
"Great way to spend my birthday this, didn't even have a chance to open me pressies" Carla moans as Peter laughs Jane raising her eyebrows
"Well it looks like you may be having someone else's birthday to celebrate as well" Jane grins as Carla groans in response, wondering if Jane was right, squeezing Michelle's hand
"Pass us the makeup bag" Carla says pointing to her makeup bag, Peter handing it to her as she does her makeup, both Michelle and Peter raising an eyebrow
"So you're just going to do your make up?" Peter questions as Michelle laughs slightly holding the makeup brushes for Carla
"Yep, I want to look good when greeting our child, is that a problem?"
"No, not at all" Peter covers as Carla closes her eyes trying to get through another contraction, squeezing Peter's hand rolling her eyes as it fizzles out
"Ugh we need to tell Johnny, gimme my phone" Carla points to her bag as Peter hands her the phone, Carla typing out the message and putting it in the group chat an abundance of replies coming through, Carla groaning at the responses
"Gosh this is so boring" Carla complains as Michelle laughs, Carla squeezing her hand
It was getting towards the evening and Carla was in the last stages of labour, she had no pain relief and she was doing well which made Peter's heart swell with joy as well as excited for the future. Both him and Michelle had been there through the boredom of watching Carla labour but it was soon time for them to be greeted with their child and he was very excited and so was Michelle.
"Is it too late for pain relief?" Carla complains as Jane gets everything ready for when the baby was born, various midwifes and doctors in the room
"You're at an eight Carla we need to think about pushing soon, let me know when you want to ok?" Jane asks as Carla just groans in response, Michelle going over to the tap and running the cold water over the cloth returning to press it to Carla's head
"Mmm" Carla moans chewing on the gas and air tube, Peter raising an eyebrow before Carla starts to groan again
"I want to push" Carla complains as Jane slides on come surgical gloves ready to help with the birth
"Alright, next contraction give a push" Jane says as Carla nods slightly urging her body to fight the pain and birth her baby, Carla giving a long push, Peter whispering lovingly into her ear encouraging her, which she was grateful for
"Good job Carla" Jane congratulates her grabbing a towel and placing it on Carla's chest ready for when the baby was born
"Is that another one Carla, if so give a push" Jane encourages her as Carla does what she was told, dipping her head to her chest and giving a push feeling the baby move down within her, Michelle taking a look to see if she could see the head
"Get back here!" Carla shouts grabbing Michelle's arm dragging her away causing Peter to laugh grabbing the cloth and placing it across Carla's head
"I'd say a couple more pushes and we'll have a baby" Jane predicts as Peter kisses Carla's forehead, a smile on Carla's face the excitement setting in for the need to see her child
"Mmm can I push again?" Carla asks as Jane nods, Carla pushing down groaning in discomfort, her knuckles white as she grips onto the railings of the hospital bed
"I can see baby's head Carla, you're so close now" Jane says as Carla nods Peter glancing down and seeing the dark tufts of his baby's hair
"Alright Carla give another push" Jane says as Carla nods dipping her head and pushing down, the release of her baby evident from her body causing her to feel some sort of emptiness which was filled as it was placed on the towel which was rested on her chest
"Hey baby" Carla mumbles as the various members of midwifes and doctors clean the baby up, it's little face scrunching up and letting out a hoarse cry, one of the doctor's pipetting the products of her labour out of its mouth to help it cry
"What do we have then?" Peter questions wiping his eyes as Carla has a look
"A girl, we have a daughter Peter" Carla beams as Peter kisses her forehead, holding onto one of his daughter's hands as her natural reflexes take hold, gripping onto one of his fingers
"Do you want to cut the cord Peter?" Jane offers him the scissors, directing him where to cut which he does, a smile on his face
"Can we weigh her?" Jane questions as Carla nods, Jane taking the baby over to the scales and placing it on there to take its weight and measurements and bringing it back
"That was a big baby Car" Michelle raises her eyebrows as Carla chuckles slightly resting her head on Peter's arm
"She's 8lbs exactly" Jane says placing the baby back down onto Carla's chest as it's cries soften, the deep brown eyes of its father looking back up at Carla
"She has your eyes" Carla rolls her eyes as Peter laughs
"She needs a name" Peter says as Michelle nods stroking the baby's cheek as Carla sighs not really knowing what to call her daughter
"Hmm I've always liked Jessica" Carla smiles as Peter nods tilting his head to the side stroking his baby's hand
"That's a good name" Peter contemplates "Jessica Barlow or Connor?"
"Barlow, definitely Barlow" Carla nods as Peter laughs the baby starting to cry, Jane coming over to see what all the fuss was about
"She's probably hungry, would you like to feed her?" Jane questions as Carla bites her lip glancing to Peter then Michelle to gage their reactions
"You can if you want, love. Entirely up to you" Peter says as Carla still looked apprehensive before nodding
"It's ok to be unsure, if you don't like it you don't have to continue feeding her" Jane says as Carla nods, sitting up in bed, the baby cradled in her arms as Jane helps Carla feed the baby who immediately latches on
"Oh wow" Carla muses as Peter laughs slightly giving her kiss on the forehead watching his daughter feed off her mother, Carla drinking in her appearance
"Oh I almost forgot" Michelle laughs going into her bag and pulling out a box of perfume wrapped in wrapping paper "Happy birthday"
"Oh" Carla chuckles "Thank you 'Chelle"
"No problem" Michelle grins as Peter strokes Carla's hair, holding one of his daughter's feet
"You'll have two birthday's to celebrate now, we want spoiling" Carla points to Peter who just laughs in response
"And I can wait for every single one of them"
Thank you for reading this, I know I've probably strung this out for so long most of you have lost interest but I have finally reached the end. Thank you all for the lovely reviews, they mean the world to me.
