I know some people may not be happy with the choices I made in this story but I wanted to do something different. Some of you may be confused about some of the unordinary behaviour which has just randomly happened in this chapter with Carla but if you read my story 'Concern' then you might understand if not then just accept it for what it is.
Trigger warning for Self-Harm and Sexual Abuse
A few weeks had passed and it was the date of Carla's twelve-week scan. Carla had been bedridden for the past few weeks unable to muster the energy to move, her pregnancy symptoms were heightened and it worried her that something was wrong with her or the baby. Carla was dressed in a large sweater and a pair of leggings, she was starting to get increasingly agitated about what would happen at the scan, whether she would flinch when the probe was on her stomach or if it would bring back memories; she was also nervous about meeting the baby for the first time in case she wouldn't fall in love with it, she assumed Peter felt the same.
"Are you ready?" Peter questions as they sit in the car in the hospital car park, Carla glancing to him with a small smile on her face
"I think so, I hope Evie's behaving with Michelle" Carla groans in response, Evie had become rather dependant on her again and would cry if she was away from Carla, even Peter was having issues
"I'm sure she'll be fine, let's just focus on you and the baby for now yeah?"
"Alright" Carla smiles getting out of the car and taking Peter's hand as they walk towards the maternity unit, ready to face whatever it was together, Carla sitting agitatedly on the chairs as Peter reassures her gently before they were called in for their scan
"Hello Carla, if you could lay down on the bed for me and roll your top up" the midwife smiles as Carla nods albeit a little hesitantly, gripping onto Peter's hand sure that she would injure him she did it so tightly
"This might be cold" the midwife smiles placing gel onto Carla's tummy as she begins the scan, the transducer gliding over Carla's abdomen as she closes her eyes; a picture of her baby appearing, Carla and Peter seeing the arms and legs as it moves around on the screen, the flicker of its heartbeat prominent
"Is everything ok?"
"Everything is perfect" the midwife informs them as Carla wipes her eyes where tears of happiness were forming
"Are you ok?" Peter questions chuckling slightly, his eyes mesmerised by the screen as Carla nods turning to face him, kissing him gently on the lips
"You can see the arms here-" the midwife points to the screen "-then you can see the body, and here is the heartbeat, then the legs here"
"Wow, it's amazing isn't it?" Carla questions as Peter nods taking in the image of the baby in front of him
"It's doing really well, all the measurements look perfect I'd say you're probably due around late February" the midwife smiles gliding the transducer over Carla's stomach "I'll take a couple of pictures and print them off quickly"
"How do you feel?" Peter questions noticing the smile on her face as she cleans her stomach off
"Happy, what about you, I know this is probably difficult" Carla smiles as Peter smiles back at her "I would understand if you didn't feel a connection-" Carla starts as Peter presses a finger to her lips
"I love this baby Carla, even if it isn't a part of me" Peter smiles as Carla beams wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the lips as the midwife appears handing them a card containing ultrasound pictures, both Carla and Peter saying goodbye to the midwife as they head home to collect Evie
"Hi 'Chelle" Carla smiles as Michelle gives Carla a hug who was taken aback by the affection "Ok, you're suffocating me"
"Show me" Michelle beams as Carla rolls her eyes handing her the pictures for her to look at "Wow"
"Mmm," Carla smiles hugging Peter, "I think we're happy aren't we?"
"Of course we are, Evie's getting a little brother or sister" Peter laughs as Carla beams excitedly as Evie's cries ring out from the spare room, Carla going in to see her
"Hey baby girl" Carla smiles lifting her up and onto her hip as Evie cries into her chest "Mummy's here"
"Hey princess" Peter smiles rubbing his hand over her hair as she reaches her arms out for Peter to take her "Hey it's ok"
"Do you want a brew Car?" Michelle offers as Carla nods sinking down into the comfort of the sofa as Peter bounces Evie up and down causing an eruption of giggles from her lips "Here you are, love"
"Ta 'Chelle" Carla smiles nursing the mug in her hand as it warms her hands "She wasn't too much of a pain was she?"
"No she's been fine, to be honest, how are you?"
"Sickness is starting to ease off now so hopefully I can just get on with it, I kind of want to book a family holiday for the October half term, invite Simon along, that sort of thing"
"That would be nice, we could have a family holiday if you want? Robert and I could do with getting away" Michelle smiles as Carla hums in response
"I guess we could all get a villa or something a week or two? We might have to look into it, I can't be bothered to plan everything out" Carla moans as Michelle laughs grabbing her laptop and getting up package deals as Carla raises her eyebrows
"So you two are just planning a holiday then?" Peter laughs as Carla and Michelle looked up at him as if it was obvious
"Well yes, I want to chill before I have to birth this baby" Carla laughs shaking her head as Peter hold Evie in his arms as she reaches out to be held by Carla, who accepts "Hey baby girl"
"She's excited to be a big sister"
"Tell you that did she?" Carla chuckles as Evie looks up at them both before reaching her arms out to Michelle "I actually wanted to speak to you both about some stuff"
"Sounds ominous" Michelle narrows her eyes as Carla smiles
"I was thinking about going back to work," Carla says as Peter raises his eyebrows wondering if it was a good idea to let her do that, Michelle wondering whether she was ready as well "I know you're thinking I'm not ready but it's doing my head in staying indoors, I'm ready for the challenge"
"Ok, well we'll support you if that's what you want, I'm sure Sarah and Alya could do with the help again, as long as you come away when you feel stressed" Peter smiles as Carla nods bouncing Evie up and down on her lap as she starts to cry wanting to be with Michelle
"Come here poppet" Michelle sighs taking Evie on her lap "What are we going to do with you when Mummy goes to work then?"
"It'll only be for a couple of hours in the morning first so Peter could probably look after her" Carla smiles as Michelle nods returning to pull faces at Evie causing her to laugh uncontrollably
"You need to think about starting her on solids soon" Michelle beams as Carla nods slowly "It's going to be messy so be warned"
"Hmm I'm not looking forward to it but it'll be an interesting experience" Carla laughs before her eyes light up "Oooh we can go shopping for stuff"
"Do we have to?" Peter groans as Carla nods eagerly, Michelle nodding as well as leaving Peter no choice to agree
"Fine" he mutters "Have it your way"
"Yay thank you, baby. Evie's very grateful, look at her" Carla smiles as Evie looks up at them perplexed and confused about what was going on before returning to tug on Michelle's hair gently
"Ok, let's stop that" Michelle rolls her eyes prying her hair out of Evie's hands as she whimpers "Gosh she's such a drama queen"
"Hmm picking it up from her mum, let's hope the next one isn't the same" Peter laughs as Carla rolls her eyes nudging him in the side "We should get going now"
"Hmm yeah I guess, we need to think about how we're going to announce this pregnancy as well which will be fun" Carla sighs as Peter kisses her head gently, taking Evie off Michelle and placing her in the pram
"As long as I get to be a godparent then I don't care how you go about doing it" Michelle beams as Carla slaps her gently on the arm
"We'll see, as long as you're good" Carla smiles as Michelle nods in agreement handing her Evie's changing bag "Ta, right let's head home little Evie"
Carla and Peter decided to take a walk before heading home so they could give Evie some fresh air hoping it would settle her for the evening. Carla also wanted to get some exercise before she was stuck with Evie all evening having to entertain her as well as wanting to stretch her legs. At home Carla was settled in bed with Evie on her lap as she plays with some of her toys, Peter manning the bar. Carla picked her phone up and glanced to the date, September the 1st, she started to get rather agitated and scratch her wrists, like she did every now and then in the month of September as thoughts plague her mind causing the anxiety to set in.
"Come here sweetheart, Mummy's going to take a shower" Carla smiles taking Evie into her bedroom and placing her in the cot with a selection of her favourite toys; Carla crossing her arms over her chest as the pounding in her head became even more relevant, she grabbed some underwear and headed into the shower forgetting to set up Evie's baby monitor…
"Here's your fish and chips" Rob mutters placing the bag down on the crate which they were all using as a makeshift coffee table
"Ta, so…what did you want to discuss?" Carla questions taking a handful of chips, Michelle raising an eyebrow confused at why Carla was acting so normal or how she could do it so easily
"I don't know Carla, is there anything you want to tell me?" Rob questions, his anger bubbling under the surface as Carla glances to Michelle quickly who was biting her lip wondering where this was going to go
"No…" Carla chuckles "Should there be?"
"Don't lie to me, Carla!" Rob shouts, the bag of fish and chips going flying as he grips onto her wrist holding her up against the wall as Carla laughs hysterically
"Look at you, trying to be the big I am again, Rob. It doesn't suit you" Carla snarls before whimpering as Rob's grip on her arm tightens, his nails digging into the sensitive flesh around her wrist
"Don't push me, Carla, otherwise you'll live to regret it" Rob scolds sinisterly as Carla just laughs again
"Stop trying to act tough, you wouldn't hurt me, I'm your big sister the only piece of family you have left unless of course, you want to do away with me, leave your niece without a mother, so you can rule the roost"
"That's it!" Rob shouts causing Michelle to jump, Rob dragging Carla into a black room, a torch dancing around the walls providing a glimmer of light as someone comes up behind Carla covering her mouth to prevent her screaming, gagging her and tying her arms as they push her onto the mattress
"Do what you want to her lads, I have bigger things to deal with" Rob groans leaving the room; Carla being left with a series of men who she didn't know as they poise a bottle of water to her lips, Carla refusing to drink it
"Drink it" one snarls as Carla sighs, one of the men pointing a serrated knife to her chest as she gives in drinking the water, as she slipped in and out of what was a peaceful dreamland for her but for the men in the room? They used this state to take advantage, little did they know the implications of the situation on their victims future.
Peter was walking into the back room, hearing Evie's hoarse screams form the staircase wondering what was going on upstairs, he walked up the stairs as they got louder; Peter rushed into her bedroom seeing Evie's face red from all the screaming and tears, he scooped her up and held her close to comfort her wondering where the hell Carla was, the bar could wait.
"It's ok" Peter reassures Evie as she continues to cry "Let's change you quick then find Mummy"
"All nice and clean now, is that better sweetheart?" Peter questions as Evie continues to whimper whilst having her nappy changed, distraught from being left alone, Peter picking her up and holding her on his hip
"Carla?!" Peter calls going into the bedroom but not seeing her there "Where's Mummy then?" Peter questions heading to the bathroom but the door being locked, he tries the handle but no luck "Carla open the door"
"It's ok, Mummy's just playing hide and seek. Shall we go and give you to Auntie Kate she's downstairs" Peter smiles as Evie gurgles, resting her head against Peter's shoulder as she yawns tiredly from all the screaming
"Peter are you ok?"
"Take Evie, something's happened to Carla" Peter states as Kate nods taking Evie and heading into the back with Peter "I need to break the door down," Peter says as they both go up the stairs, Peter kicking the door down and seeing Carla's body curled up in the shower, the scorching temperature causing steam to radiate from the shower cubicle, Peter turning it off and glancing to her wrists which were dripping with blood
"Ok, you're ok" Peter reassures Carla grabbing a towel and draping it over her shaking body "Carla look at me, why now sweetheart?"
"S-September-r"
"Ok, I'm here" Peter whispers planting kisses into her hair before taking his phone out and ringing Sandra but the call going to voicemail "It's ok"
"We need to clean your wrists up darlin', can I grab some pyjama's for you then the medical box from the kitchen?"
"Stay" Carla murmurs as Peter nods bringing her into his body before she grips onto him tightly
"Let me just grab the other towel" Peter smiles grabbing the other towel which was on the rail and applying pressure to her wrists before glancing around the shower cubicle and seeing the pumice stone "Are you feeling better?"
"Evie" Carla gasps grabbing the towel and trying to get up off the floor as Peter stops her "Oh my god I left Evie"
"She's fine she's with Kate" Peter reassures her as she shakes her head pushing past Peter, her wrists still bleeding as she stops in the doorway of Evie's bedroom seeing Kate cuddling her on the rocking chair Peter gesturing for Kate not to say anything
"I'm so sorry, Peter"
"Carla it's ok" Peter reassures her as she shakes her head "Why don't you get changed into some pyjamas?"
"Ok" she replies quietly heading into the bedroom as Peter's mouths a thank you to Kate as he follows Carla into the bedroom as she grabs some pyjamas, chucking them on so she was warm before going to hug Peter
"I'm here I won't leave" Peter smiles as Carla nods into his chest "What happened then?"
"I picked my phone up then saw the date, my mind went into overdrive then I needed to clean"
"It's ok, you're safe here" Peter reassures her as Carla nods into his chest again "Why don't you get into bed then I'll get the first aid box and we can clean your wrists up?"
"Ok," Carla says as she climbs into bed leaving Peter to go downstairs and grab the first aid box before returning as quickly as he could, placing it on the bed
"Right, I'll be really gentle ok?" Peter smiles taking one of her wrists and wrapping a bandage around it making sure it wasn't too tight then doing the same with the other one causing Carla to flinch in response, Peter stopping briefly
"Sorry"
"It's ok" Peter smiles finishing off wrapping the bandage around her wrist before kissing the material "There we go"
"Thank you" Carla whispers as Peter climbs into bed with her to hold her close, placing a hand on her stomach which was starting to become more rounded, rubbing it gently feeling the shape of where the baby was nestled up inside of her
"That's nice" Carla murmurs as she snuggles into Peter's body "I'm going to get a few hours' sleep I think, could you stay?"
"I'll stay if that's what you want" Peter smiles as Carla hums in response, Kate appearing with a grumpy Evie in her arms
"She's not happy, I think she's hungry" Kate smiles as Peter nods taking Evie into his arms
"Just watch her for me, I'll be as quick as I can, don't say anything though" Peter whispers quietly ensuring Carla didn't hear them as Kate nods standing by the door and watching Carla as Peter grabs Evie's bottle and heads back upstairs "Here, could you?"
"Of course, do you want me to call Michelle?"
"Yeah if you wouldn't mind?" Peter confirms as Kate nods heading into the nursery with a more than eager Evie ready to drink her bottle, Peter sliding back into bed beside Carla to hold her wondering where things went so wrong again…
