Hopefully, I can update more frequently now that I am off college due to the Coronavirus. I still have to attend lessons but using online video calls/ voice calls but I will most likely be writing more often which means realistically I could get an update out every other day with this story. I'm currently 3 chapters ahead, in writing this one so I will inform you that there is plenty more drama to come.

I might even post an upload schedule at some point as well, depends if you want that or just prefer me to update every Monday and Friday which I am trying to do now (Yes, I know it's Wednesday but I just wanted to put this information out there now instead of on Friday)

I also know I'm lacking on the smut, I promise you that there is some coming up from Chapter 8 onwards, I'm just taking time to tell the story.

Thank you for all the reviews and my thoughts and wishes are with anyone who is currently ill with this virus and showing symptoms :)


A week had passed and the environment was definitely like a war zone. Kate hated Carla more than ever and this made Carla feel rather down and the only thing that was keeping her going was the fact she had Evie to care for and Peter of course. Michelle was yet again stuck in the middle and didn't know what to do for the best so she decided that helping Carla out would be the way forward, so she decided she would have Evie for a couple of hours so Carla and Peter could talk things through with each other.

"I'm sorry about what I did the other week" Peter sighs as Carla smiles slightly taking his hand into the soft palms of hers

"I'm sorry for storming off, I guess I was just feeling the pressure with Evie being attached to me all the time and hormones as well as tiredness," Carla says tearfully as Peter sighs cupping her cheek with his hand Carla's eyes glancing downwards embarrassed to admit her true feelings

"I understand. I was only trying to do my best for my wife and daughter, I promise you I didn't mean it maliciously"

"I know you didn't, I just blew it out of proportion" Carla smiles slightly picking away at the popcorn she had in a bowl "Shall we watch a movie and block out the world for a bit before little Miss Evie gets back from our 'Chelle's?"

"Hmm I would love that, what are we watching then?"

"How about Fifty Shades Darker?" Carla smirks digging around in the CD box for it, pulling it out triumphantly sauntering over to the TV and popping the disk into it

"I guess I don't have much of a choice"

"You don't"

"We could watch porn?" Peter questions eagerly as Carla groans in response knowing what it would lead to, she couldn't deny she wanted it but she physically couldn't

"Baby…you know we can't have sex-"

"I wasn't suggesting sex…"

"Oh great, so I get to pleasure you and I get nothing in return?" Carla questions incredulously rolling her eyes in response, Peter pouting his lips sulkily

"Don't look at me like that" Carla smirks wrapping her arms around his neck leaning in to kiss him gently on the lips, her tongue seeking entry into his mouth, Peter moving his had to her hair as their kiss deepens, Carla moaning slightly, Peter moving his hand to the waistband of her leggings before Carla pushes his hands away knowing she couldn't have sex yet

"I want to fuck you so bad" Carla groans as Peter chuckles slightly pecking her on the forehead allowing her to settle back down on his chest as she clicks the movie on, a knock at the back door of the Rover's Carla raising an eyebrow getting up and going to answer it seeing an upset Michelle carrying Evie in the sling

"Chelle? What's happened?" Carla questions concerned as Michelle bursts into uncontrollable tears, Carla scooping Evie out of the sling putting an arm around Michelle's shoulders and leading her into the backroom

"Can you just take Evie upstairs and put her in the co-sleeper, Peter?" Carla questions as Peter nods taking Evie upstairs leaving Carla and Michelle to have some space, Carla grabbing a wine glass from the cupboard and a bottle of wine and pouring a glass for her

"What's happened 'Chelle?" Carla questions letting her sob into her chest Carla stroking her hair offering her the glass of wine, Michelle downing it in whole then grabbing the bottle and filling the glass and downing another Carla sighing in the process

"It's R-Robert…we're over" Michelle cries downing another glass as Carla raises her eyebrows in response letting out a breath still stroking Michelle's hair as Peter comes into the room with an unhappy Evie

"I think she's hungry…" Peter trails off as Carla nods taking Evie off Peter, still sitting next to Michelle, Carla adjusting Evie so she could feed, Carla humming like she always did when Evie was breastfeeding, Michelle playing with one of Evie's feet

"You can go out the front if you want, I'll just settle her in the Moses basket when she's done" Carla smiles as Peter nods going to man the bar, leaving Carla to settle Evie as well as Michelle

"So then why are you and Robert over?" Carla questions as Michelle just cries again glancing to Evie

"He wants a baby," Michelle says "Having Evie, she made him want it more"

"Oh…I'm so sorry 'Chelle-"

"Don't…I'm going out" Michelle huffs as Carla grabs her wrist, Michelle wrangling her arm free and storming out of the pub, Carla unable to follow due to Evie which caused a groan in response. She scooped Evie up and headed upstairs and settled down into bed with Evie huddled into her chest wondering if Michelle would be safe considering the mood she was in…


Michelle headed into town via a tram, she didn't want the risk of bumping into anyone she may know. So there she was sitting in a bar in town with a series of shots lined up in front of her as well as men coming up to try their luck as usual but she batted them away. Her memories flitted back to the times when she was a child, her and Carla as well as Rob chucking back bottles of whiskey as well as vodka and the usual WKD but at this time she couldn't be bothered whether she went home or slept with a series of men no matter how bad is sounded, then there was one man in particular which caught her attention and with a concoction of spirits, wine and alcopop she was definitely out of it.

"Michelle?"

"Oh god" she groans rubbing her forehead in response, nursing a glass of wine in her hands

"Don't act so surprised, I'm surprised you're not at the Rover's?"

"Yeah I didn't fancy the likes of Carla and Peter telling me to sober up, it's the last thing they need with a new baby" Michelle slurs followed by a seductive cackle, pushing her body up against him as he smirks in return

"Oh I see, Carla has been a busy bee hasn't she?"

"She has indeed. Now can I get you a drink?" Michelle offers stumbling back onto her barstool running her heeled boot along his inner calf then thigh

"I think you can do much better than a drink don't you?"

"Hmm, just this once though, mind you" Michelle cackles grabbing his arm and pulling him out of the bar now knowing how this night would go or what it would entail for the future…


"Come on Evie" Carla groans in response trying to settle her upset daughter who just continued to cry in her arms, Peter appearing having heard Evie's strained screams from the stairs

"Give her" Peter gestures to Carla who shakes her head bouncing Evie up and down gently causing Peter to sigh, tears streaming down Carla's face

"Carla sweetheart, please just give her" Peter pleads as Carla gives in handing Evie to Peter where her cries immediately soften, tears spilling freely down Carla's face at the fact she couldn't settle Evie

"I'm such a bad mum…"

"You're not Carla, she was just picking up on the stress, were you worrying about Michelle?" Peter questions gently getting into bed beside Carla and letting Evie rest on his chest

"I'm worried about her…she hasn't been like this since her split with Steve, even then she wasn't that bad…"

"Oh sweetheart" Peter sighs running a hand through her hair as Evie continues to whimper, Peter rubbing her back tenderly as she lets out a cry

"I've tried feeding her, she doesn't need changing" Carla pulls at her hair fed up with her daughter's cries, Peter getting up and pacing the room with Evie hoping to settle her but all attempts proved fruitless

"Ok, come here," Peter says beckoning Carla over and sitting her down on the armchair, grabbing the nursing pillow and putting the newborn sound machine on which they bought recently knowing Evie liked to be fussy when going to bed

"Right I need you to relax ok?" Peter says kneading her shoulders, Peter helping position Evie's head towards Carla's breast as she latches on gently, Peter humming gently to his wife and daughter as Evie finally feeds off Carla who was now much calmer

"Thank you, baby, what would I do without you eh?" Carla whispers as Evie pulls away to sneeze before continuing to feed, Peter sitting on the arm of the armchair planting kisses in Carla's hair

"Why don't we snuggle up and cuddle little Miss Evie for the remainder of the night, we can talk about Michelle if you want? Or we can just drink in Evie's appearance, watch a film?"

"Yeah…can you take her quickly and swaddle her I need to pee" Carla smiles pecking Peter's cheek handing Evie to him and heading into the bathroom leaving Peter to swaddle Evie, Carla returning seeing the cutest scene in front of her, Evie settled on Peter's bare chest with a blanket draped over her slumbering body

"Look at you two" Carla whispers getting back into bed pecking Evie on the head then Peter, offering one of her fingers for Evie to grip on to which she does

"Do you want to talk without her interrupting now?" Peter offers as Carla bites her lip wondering if it would be a good idea, it's not like she could go out looking for Michelle or even help her right now

"I just worry about her, when Michelle's off on a bender than the aftermath will be crazy"

"I'm sure it won't, love. She'll be glad to have your support though and plenty of cuddles with Evie…I'm sure she'll be fine after all of that"

"I just hope she hasn't done anything stupid…"


It was the next morning and Michelle was waking up with a sore head, she glances around the grotty hotel she was in rubbing her tired eyes, no one was there with her though, she didn't remember a single thing last night and in a way she thanked herself for getting completely smashed. Then the guilt started to build at the fact that she left Carla worrying about her so she rushed around frantically grabbing her phone turning it on to find it had no battery, she sighed in response. She glanced down to her naked frame before the tears welled in her eyes, she got dressed grabbing all the items of her clothing from where they were tossed around the room, she then headed home to face the music…

"Who the hell is that at this time of the morning?" Carla groans in response grabbing her robe and heading downstairs to answer the door seeing a dishevelled Michelle in yesterday's clothes

"Oh 'Chelle" Carla replies sympathetically as Michelle bursts into tears, Carla wrapping her arms around her frame as she sobs, Peter appearing with a grumpy Evie in his arms wanting attention from her mum

"I can go…" Michelle trails off glancing to Peter who was holding Evie, Carla shaking her head "I didn't know where else to go"

"'Chelle stay as long as you need" Carla smiles gesturing for her to go through to the back before taking Evie off Peter for her morning feed

"Come on then, where did you get to last night?" Carla questions beginning to feed Evie who was grateful for the attention, Michelle stroking one of her feet

"I went to a bar in town then crashed out at a hotel"

"Now the truth" Carla sighs shifting Evie's position so she was more comfortable, stroking her cheek tenderly

"Fine" Michelle huffs "I went to a bar in town, then had sex at a hotel, you happy now?"

"Oh 'Chelle, I'm so sorry-"

"Carla this is not your fault, mine and mine only please stop beating yourself up about it and focus on Evie" Michelle groans in response as Carla nods sitting Evie upright in her arms to burp her, Peter entering the room and heading to grab a coffee

"Do you want me to pop and see Robert and get you a spare pair of clothes?" Carla questions as Michelle sighs nodding handing her the flat keys with a small smile

"Yeah just pick up some trackies, I'll head back later when my head isn't feeling as tender" Michelle rubs her forehead, Peter appearing with two aspirin and a glass of water as well as a mug of coffee "Ta Peter"

"Alright, why don't you have a cuddle with Evie whilst I go and do this eh?" Carla offers the baby to Michelle who accepts grabbing one on the blankets and draping it over Evie who was now snuggling into her chest

"Actually Carla I'll go" Michelle smiles slightly as Carla raises an eyebrow handing the keys back to her

"Ok…as long as you're sure" Carla smiles kissing Michelle's cheek tenderly as Michelle hands Evie to Carla and leaves the pub

"Right here's some brekkie" Peter smiles placing a plate down on the table containing toast and lashings of butter. Carla places Evie in the Moses basket so she could eat in peace without having to hold her daughter

"Hmm thanks, it is ok if 'Chelle stays here right? I don't want you to feel railroaded into the situation as I felt like…well you know" Carla mutters taking a bite of her toast as Peter smiles taking her free hand and kissing it gently

"It's fine Carla you don't need to ask, she needs your support, I wouldn't want to take that opportunity away from you"

"Thank you, baby. Can we do something today? Like go for a walk as a family, maybe Simon could join us?" Carla questions glancing to Evie then back to Peter with a soft smile on her face

"We could I guess, it'll do Evie the world of good to have some fresh air" Peter smiles as Carla beams excitedly for their first family outing even if it was to the Red Rec

"Hi guys, I got a bag so…" Michelle smiles gesturing to her duffle bag she had in her arms, Carla smiling slightly

"Do you want any toast?" Carla offers as Michelle groans shaking her head

"No ta, my stomachs still a bit delicate, is it alright if I use your shower?" Michelle questions as Carla nods gesturing for her to go upstairs

"You can put your bag in the spare room if you want as well, assuming you're staying of course…"

"Are you sure it's ok?" Michelle glances between Carla and Peter, Peter smiling and nodding

"Of course it is 'Chelle" Carla beams as Evie's cries interrupt them all, Michelle sniggering at the timing before leaving the situation and going to have a shower, Carla scooping Evie into her arms to see if she was lonely from being left in the Moses basket

"Oh baby girl, what's the matter?" Carla coos gently as Evie's cries continue to ring out, Carla seeing if she needed changing "I might give her a bath"

"Do you need a hand?" Peter offers as Carla bites her lip rather cutely nodding wanting Peter to be involved, Peter putting an arm around her shoulder bumping into Michelle in the hallway

"I'm done if you need the bathroom" Michelle smiles as Carla nods bouncing Evie gently to try and soften her cries, Michelle pecking her on the head leaving Carla to get on with bathing Evie

"Come on sweetheart" Carla whispers undoing Evie's sleepsuit, Peter appearing with a fresh nappy and Evie's bath products

"I'll do the water for you, love" Peter smiles turning the tap on and placing the thermometer in the water to check the temperature in the baby bath

"She's really not happy is she?" Peter smirks as Carla groans in response lifting Evie up into her arms and holding her so she could rock her gently

"Right we're all good" Peter smiles as Carla takes Evie's soiled nappy off and placing it into a bag, putting Evie into the bath and grabbing a sponge, Peter offering a finger so Evie could have a bit of comfort as it was clear she didn't like to be bathed, Michelle sniggering from the doorway

"Oh dear someone does not like being washed do they?" Michelle grins kneeling down beside Carla tickling Evie's feet as Evie stops crying staring directly at Michelle

"This child is weird" Peter mutters as Carla splashes water at him along with a glare

"She's just particular-"

"Like her mum then" Michelle cackles as Peter laughs Carla now splashing Michelle with the water

"Come on then sweetheart let's get you out, shall we? Daddy and Auntie 'Chelle are just being rude" Carla questions rolling her sleeves up and taking Evie out of the bath and placing her on the changing mat wrapping her in a towel, grabbing the baby oil and massaging it into her skin

"She'll fall asleep like that" Michelle inputs as Peter glances over Carla's shoulder seeing Evie's eyes become heavy with sleep, planting a kiss on the side of Carla's head

"Sorry Evie love but I need to put you in a nappy" Carla grins lifting Evie's lets up which immediately made her cry, Michelle cackling in response as Carla makes short work of putting Evie's nappy on, then putting a fresh sleepsuit on

"All clean, you can have a cuddle with your dad" Carla smiles allowing Peter to take Evie and hold her to his chest, Evie providing a tired yawn from all her crying

"I don't suppose there's two paracetamol in here?" Carla questions rummaging through the bathroom cabinet pulling out two paracetamol

"You feeling sore, love?" Peter questions as Carla nods walking into the bedroom and downing the oval pills which were in her mouth with the remnants of her water from the night before

"Right you get into bed, I can take Evie for a bit if you want a break?" Peter offers as Carla nods snuggling down under the covers thanking Peter in her head for letting her catch up on her sleep for a bit so she was ready to take Evie out for a walk later


It was just before dinner time and both Carla and Peter were out walking Evie around the park to give her some fresh air, both of them arguing who wanted to push her which melted Carla's heart so, in the end, Carla let Peter push her knowing that she fed and held Evie most of the time. Memories flooded Carla's mind of when they first got together, it was the same park they went to on their first day of admitting feelings together and here they were some years later pushing their daughter around the path that circled the lake.

"She likes walks doesn't she?" Peter questions as Carla leans her head on Peter's shoulder gripping onto his arm as they walk together, Carla glancing to Evie every now and then to check to see if she was alright

"Hmm, it'd be a good way to settle her" Carla muses as Peter laughs slightly kissing her on the top of her head

"What do you reckon her personality will be? Her hair colour?" Peter questions as Carla glances into the pram before humming in response trying to picture Evie when she was older

"I reckon she'll be very confident, mischievous, she'll obviously have dark hair as both of our hair is dark" Carla grins as Peter smiles slightly

"Are you looking forward to the future?"

"Very. What about you?"

"I reckon the future couldn't be brighter"

Only if things were that simple…