Another time jump, I wanted to get things moving a bit more, I hope you enjoy and thank you for the reviews!
I'm going to try and get another chapter of The Chatroom out, this one takes longer due to all the formatting you see...
Two months later…
Carla's life in LA had been a breeze her emotions felt much more stable and she was enjoying life living under the sun. She would ring Peter every day to update him on Hayley's progress and he was very pleased to hear about his daughter as well as Carla. She had yet to look at the box Peter had given her at the start of her journey, she was too scared that it would mess with her head so she decided she would look at it when she was ready already having an indication as to what it could be. Carla was waking up after a long night with a teething Hayley as well as not feeling too good herself, she ended up just sleeping with her on her chest as it was the only way they would've both gotten some sort of rest. Carla went to pick up the post knowing Suzie had gone to work early that morning and rummaged through the endless amounts of junk mail until she saw a handwritten letter addressed to her which made her very curious. She headed back indoors checking on Hayley briefly now that she was deciding she wanted to sleep, then back to the living room to open the letter. It was Michelle and Steve's wedding invite as well as a handwritten letter.
After reading the letter which contained numerous ways on how Carla could get back to Weatherfield in time for the wedding she sighed in response as she didn't feel ready to go back and face everyone yet but she really wanted to be there for Michelle and the fact that Hayley was opted to be one of the flower girls it made Carla's heartache at the thought of missing the opportunity. She glanced at the time and saw that it was almost ten o clock in LA and doing some quick maths she decided it was viable to call Michelle.
"Michelle?" Carla questions down the phone "I got your letter"
"Really?" Michelle questions excitedly "Are you coming?"
"No I'm not, love" Carla sighs in response she really didn't know what to do she just wished she would stop making mistakes and live a simple life "I'm so sorry"
"Why can't you come, we need Hayley we've already ordered her dress" Michelle replies annoyed as Carla sighs in response knowing she was just not ready to go back yet.
"I'm just not ready to return yet," Carla says quietly as Michelle scoffs in response "I'm sorry"
"Right" Michelle replies sarcastically "So I'm not going to have my niece or my best friend at my wedding then?"
"Michelle please don't guilt trip me" Carla sighs as Michelle laughs dryly through the phone "Give me one good reason why you can't come back then?"
"Well, I'm not ready to face both Nick and Peter in one go and I'm just not feeling great neither is Hayley"
"Please Carla, otherwise I will push the wedding back" Michelle replies smartly causing Carla to groan in response but then she had a farfetched brain wave which may actually solve a lot of her problems.
"Actually Michelle, I've had an idea can I call you back in say an hour?" Carla replies as Michelle groans through the phone.
"Alright, fine…speak in an hour or so," Michelle says hanging up the call leaving Carla to check on Hayley one last time before ringing Peter as well as getting her some medication knowing she just wasn't feeling well.
"Peter?" Carla questions.
"Hey, love," Peter says as Carla smiles at the sounds of his voice, butterflies radiating throughout her body, she was still as giddy over Peter as ever before.
"I need a favour, you're not going to ask but I am truly desperate" Carla begs as Peter chuckles in response at her desperation
"Ok, well what is it?" Peter questions as Carla sighs audibly in response she was obviously nervous about telling him knowing it seemed really farfetched.
"I need you to take Hayley back to England for Michelle's wedding" Carla blurts out causing Peter to laugh in response "I'm being serious Peter"
"Why can't you do it?" Peter questions incredulously as Carla sighs in response she really didn't want to have to reveal to him that she was not ready to go back to England as no doubt they would end up having an emotional conversation about everything that happened back there
"I just don't feel too good and I'm not ready to be back there-"
"Even for your best mates wedding?" Peter inputs as Carla groans knowing it sounded like she was making excuses "I think you're deluded actually"
"Well thanks a bunch, Peter" Carla exclaims "Look, I would take her myself but I just don't feel good and she's coming down with something as well, either that or she's teething. I just want Michelle to have the wedding of her dreams"
"Well she won't be having the wedding of her dreams will she if her best mate isn't there"
"Do you have an answer for everything!" Carla shrieks as Peter chuckles in response in a way he could see that she was starting to run out of excuses and that there was no viable reason as to why she couldn't fly out to England.
"Alright I'll do a deal with you" Peter starts as Carla listens on eagerly "I'll come and get Hayley, then I will tell you the rest of the deal when I get there, also you might want to look at what was in that box I gave you before you left as I know you've been putting it off as I will be asking you questions it's also part of the deal as well"
"Fine" Carla groans "You can come to LA but I am not making any promises on my behalf"
"Good, I just want you to have an open mind" Peter smiles triumphantly on the other side of the phone "I'll see you soon"
"Alright, bye Peter," Carla says hanging up the phone not wanting to get into emotional mushy stuff before ringing Michelle again as Hayley starts to stir; Carla pressing her phone to her ear supported by her shoulder giving her a chance to lift Hayley out of the travel cot "Michelle?"
"That was quick" Michelle replies as Carla sighs in response "So then have you made a decision?"
"I have, Peter's coming to LA to take Hayley back to Weatherfield for you" Carla bites her lips as she hears Michelle laughs dryly through the phone "Look I know you're not happy"
"No, I'm not, all I wanted was my wedding day to be special and have my best mate there as well as my niece" Michelle replies bitterly as Carla groans in response
"I know you did, look I need to get back to Hayley she has a fever again," Carla says as Michelle softens a bit on the other side of the phone.
"Is she ok?" Michelle questions as Carla bites her lip.
"Yeah both of us have been feeling kind of rough these last few days, maybe I caught something off her or vice versa. We'll be fine though" Carla smiles as Hayley as she starts to cry unhappily "Look I must go"
"Alright" Michelle sighs "I still won't give up though until it's too late"
"I wouldn't ask of anything else from you Michelle" Carla chuckles as Michelle laughs as well "Right, I'll speak soon, bye love" Carla sighs ending the call as Hayley continues to cry "I know poppet we'll give you a nice bath to cool you down" Carla whispers planting a kiss on her head and taking her into the bathroom to run her a bath "I might have one as well sweetheart as mummy's not feeling too good either"
Carla and Hayley both had baths both of them feeling a lot better after. Carla was cuddled up on Suzie's sofa with her fluffy dressing gown on and a blanket whilst she watched some TV as well as Hayley who was cuddling with her under the blanket as well, both of them not really having the energy to do anything. Carla then remembered that Peter told her to look in the box that he placed so she carefully manoeuvred Hayley and took her into the bedroom and placed her in the cot allowing her to grab another couple of hours sleep whilst Carla rummaged through the bedside table and pulled out the box and opened it gingerly greeted with an envelope.
"What the…?" Carla questions as there was a knock at the door "I didn't realise you were home" Carla smiles glancing to the door where Suzie was standing with her arms crossed before taking a seat on the bed with Carla
"Is that the box he gave you?"
"Yeah" Carla smiles looking at the rectangular letter which was in the box "He's actually scaring me and he's all the way in England"
"Or you love him" Suzie grins nudging Carla gently as she shoves her back "Oi!"
"Shh" Carla hisses pointing to Hayley who was trying to sleep "Let's do this in the living room," Carla says knowing that Hayley needed all the sleep she got if she was feeling under the weather both of them getting up and heading into the living room and taking a seat under the blanket.
"Right open it then" Suzie grins excitedly as Carla raises an eyebrow still nervous about what was in the envelope "Just open it"
"Alright!" Carla nudges her as she shoves her back Carla shakily opening the envelope and tipping the contents out; two simple rings, the ring Peter gave her when they decided to re-marry as well as her wedding ring.
"Well, looks like it's obvious what Peter wants" Suzie chuckles as Carla groans in response handing her the rings "Carla, I don't mean to be rude but I don't want to marry Peter, love"
"Oh you're hilarious you know that" Carla snaps as Suzie raises an eyebrow "Just hold onto them so I don't lose them please"
"Yes, your honour" Suzie rolls her eyes fiddling with the rings as Carla pulls out a piece of card "What does it say?"
"I can't read that" Carla shakes her head taking the rings off Suzie and placing them back in the envelope as Suzie takes the card and reads it
"You're invited to the wedding of Carla Connor and Peter Barlow on 25th December 2015 at 3 pm…" Suzie trails off as Carla shakes her head in response not knowing what to say.
"What is he playing at?" Carla exclaims stressfully as Suzie hushes her gently knowing she was going to work herself up over this.
"Carla, look at me" Suzie smiles "Knowing Peter he's probably just testing the waters ok? To see if you still love him"
"Yeah…maybe you're right" Carla whispers nodding rapidly "Yeah you must be right"
"Exactly so try not to worry" Suzie replies gently as Carla nods in response.
"Worry…oh god Suzie, he's coming to LA" Carla exclaims frantically as Suzie frowns in response wondering if Carla had lost the plot or something
"W-What?" Suzie stammers as Carla looks at her with her eyes wide "What do you mean?"
"I called him earlier asking him to take Hayley back for Michelle's wedding he told me to look in the box because he was going to ask questions about it" Carla panics as Suzie sighs in response wondering how Carla always managed to get into these messes.
"Ok, don't worry I'll be here to support you" Suzie replies gently as Carla bites her nails anxiously "He can't come here, I'll go back"
"Oh no, you're not doing that not whilst you're in this state as well as other things" Suzie retorts as Carla sighs in response
"He can't come here, I need to ring him at least in Weatherfield I can avoid him if he's here I can't do that!" Carla exclaims as Suzie groans in response watching Carla grab her phone.
"You know why you can't go back there, don't do it, Carla, not until you're sure!"
"Suzie, please!" Carla cries in response as Suzie wraps her up in a hug and pries the phone out of her hands.
"Carla, you need to speak to Nick"
"No I don't" Carla replies firmly as Suzie sighs in response "I love Peter"
"Ok, look at me" Suzie replies angrily in response "I know you love Peter and that you probably always will but it's not fair if you accept this and then Nick finds out is it?"
"I guess not no" Carla smiles slightly as Suzie grins knowing she was right.
"This is what we're going to do, we're going to wait for Peter to arrive and you're going to tell him exactly how you feel, I mean it Carla no lying because that's not fair, it's time you start facing up to the reality of your situation. Then based on that decision you're going to go with Peter back to Weatherfield and tell Nick what you're going to do, you're going to tell him that, depending on your answer of course that he was a mistake and shouldn't have happened and then tell him that you were sorry for messing him around"
"Yes mum" Carla replies sarcastically causing Suzie to glare at her.
"I mean it, Carla, you've played one too many games and it's time you face up to your actions"
"Ok fine" Carla sighs as Suzie nods triumphantly "Ugh great now you're going to be all smug"
"That's what I'm here for" Suzie beams as Carla shoves her again causing her to shove her back "Right we are going to enjoy whatever time we have left until Peter arrives"
So that's what they did, they enjoyed the last ten or so hours they had together by playing with Hayley, taking her to a local park as well as to the beach to play in the sea then they came home and bathed her as well as putting her to bed. Suzie and Carla chilled on the sofa with a massive bucket of popcorn and binge-watched movies all evening knowing Peter would be arriving some time through the night. Then the doorbell went at around 12am that night causing Suzie to answer knowing that Carla was a bundle of nerves it might help with easing how anxious she was. When Peter appeared it was like all of Carla's nerves dissipated into thin air.
"Hi" Peter smiles as Carla looks up at him before standing up and kissing him passionately on the lips causing Suzie to smirk in response as the kiss comes to a natural end "Ok…?"
"Sorry" Carla whispers running her fingers over his stubble "Oh god sorry…"
"Carla it's fine, just relax" Peter reassures her as they sit on the sofa together "So you read what was in the box then?"
"Yeah…? But why, I don't understand?" Carla questions as Peter sighs in response pulling out a folder from his carry-on bag and handing it to Carla who frowns as well as opening it gingerly seeing a series of plastic wallets containing wedding ideas as well as bills "Peter…I…"
"Look at me" Peter whispers tilting her head up so her eyes met his "I've planned it all"
"What? How…when?" Carla questions confused as Peter hands her a set of keys causing her to frown "Explain please"
"Ok so, when you left I wanted to prove to you I could be a good dad to Hayley, I bought the shop off Tracy and made it back into a bookies and the success has skyrocketed and I've been saving for a while ok since you were in hospital and when you were in LA with Hayley and I bought you this-" Peter pauses taking a piece of the card out of the folder and handing it to Carla "It's a new build around the corner to Coronation Street on that posh new estate"
"Peter" Carla whispers as tears line her eyes causing Peter to smile and wipe them away as they fall "Why did you do all this for me I don't deserve it?"
"You deserve the world, Carla, yes you've made some mistakes on the way, one of them being messing around with that poncey Nick Tilsley but this is our opportunity for a new start, you'll be close to Underworld, Simon and Hayley will have their own rooms and there's a study for you and there's even an option for an extension if you do want another baby"
"You've really thought this through haven't you?"
"I have" Peter smiles as Carla leans back against the sofa before letting out a cough.
"Sorry I've got a bit of a cold coming on"
"It's ok" Peter smiles running a hand through her hair "So what do you say?"
"Can I think about it?" Carla questions as Peter smiles in response as Suzie plonks herself down next to Carla giving her a shove "Can you please stop doing that!"
"Oi! You promised me you wouldn't faff around with answers!"
"I'm not faffing!"
"Are too"
"Alright, it's like you've regressed in age!" Peter exclaims as Carla grins rather cutely at him allowing him to realise how much he would die for this woman, he loved her so much
"Ok" Carla nods in agreement causing raised eyebrows from both Suzie and Peter "Let's do it"
"Really? For keeps this time, no going off with anyone, always the truth?"
"Yes, but there's something I need to tell you first, well two things before we go back to Weatherfield" Carla states as Peters nods slowly, the anxiety creeping in not knowing what she was going to say.
"Ok, that's fine" Peter smiles slightly taking one of her hands as Carla grins slightly
"I need to speak to Nick" Carla states as Peter narrow his eyes not really knowing why she needed to speak to him "I know you don't think I should but I think he deserves an explanation"
"Fair enough and the second thing?" Peter questions hoping it would be something nicer than what she just said
"I lied to you before I left for LA I didn't spend hours looking around the shops, I slept with Nick again" Carla bites her lips guiltily as Peter nods slowly in response knowing they weren't really together at that point anyway so he couldn't really judge as such even if it did anger him "I promise I won't do it again, I want to work on rebuilding us?"
"Me too" Peter nods "Let's just go on from this day forward yeah? Forget about all that happened before this point?"
"I agree" Carla nods wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his lips, Hayley's cries ringing out through the baby monitor "Ah, she's probably due for some more drugs"
"You make her sound like she's addicted" Peter scoffs as Carla grins in response taking his hand and leading him into her bedroom seeing Hayley gripping onto the side of the travel cot and standing "Oh my god, you have gotten so big!" Peter beams as he lifts Hayley into his arms causing her cries to soften "I've missed you so much, baby"
"She's missed her daddy as well" Carla smiles pecking her on the back of her head before grabbing her medication from the bedside table and syringing the correct dose ready to give it to her "Come on poppet open up" Carla whispers as Hayley continues to cry into Peter's shoulder "Hayley" Carla scolds grabbing her head and shoving the syringe in her mouth watching her wince in annoyance.
"That wasn't very nice was it!" Peter scolds Carla as she shrugs her shoulders "It's ok poppet daddy's going to save you from mummy's medication giving method"
"Oi!" Carla exclaims "You make me sound like I'm abusing her"
"I'm joking baby" Peter whispers as Carla's heart flutters at the use of her pet name "She's really under the weather isn't she?"
"Hmm she'll be ok" Carla whispers taking Hayley off Peter and going to sit on the bed with her as Peter follows kicking off his shoes "Come on sweetheart let's go back to sleep" Carla whispers rocking her gently as well as offering her a dummy which she accepts gratefully as her eyes flutter heavily as she falls asleep again causing Carla to place her in the travel cot again before returning her attention to Peter.
"You're so good with her Car"
"If you say so" Carla whisper as Peter tilts her head up to kiss her on the lips as Carla kisses him passionately as well as straddling him "So here we are again then?"
"Here we are and I'll tell you something, I can't wait for the future"
"Me neither baby, me neither"