Kind of speeding things along a bit more but I hope you enjoy this either way. Thank you for the reviews, this is my most popular fic and I love hearing your opinions.
A month had passed and there had been no more weird withdrawals from the Underworld account since Carla had words with Aidan and Johnny leaving her convinced it was either one of them but right now that didn't matter as there had been no more this meant she could finally get on with business and not have to worry about people stealing money even is she was still highly suspicious.
Today was extra special as Carla and Michelle took the day off to go shopping for dresses which Carla was really excited for, she was hoping that she would find the one and she could order it then and there. Michelle was also going to bring Kate along as well as Maria and they were all planning to make a day of it together. Carla took them all into town in her car, Hayley crammed in the back with them as Carla decided to take her with them as well to give Ken a break from babysitting duties.
"Sorry about cramming you all in the back" Carla sighs looking into the rear-view mirror "It's just that I think Ken could do with a break from babysitting duties for a day"
"It's fine Carla" Maria smiles as she coos over Hayley in the back seat who laughs happily at her "Has she started walking?"
"She can do a few steps now but most of the time she just crawls, we bought her one of those walker things but it's pretty rubbish on the carpet at home" Carla grins as Maria tickles Hayley under the chin causing her to squeal excitedly as Carla pulls the car into a space outside the bridal boutique "I actually can't wait to try some dresses on"
"I know you can't" Michelle chuckles helping her with the pram as Maria unstraps Hayley holding her close and placing her in the pram for Carla "Can I push her?"
"If you want…" Carla trails off as Michelle grins triumphantly as they all walk to the shop and wait in waiting area to be seen "Gosh why am I so nervous"
"You're going to be fine, with a figure like yours you have no problem" Kate chuckles as a shop assistant appears causing Carla to get up and follow her "Why is she so nervous this I like her fifth wedding?"
"I know but I think it's more the fact that it's Peter" Michelle chuckles as Carla glares at her causing her to shuck her hands up in defense.
"So what are you looking for Carla?" Maria questions as Carla glances at the racks to see if there were any dresses which she liked
"I want something small and simple…something that wasn't like it was last time…" Carla trails off picking up a dress which was an A-line champagne coloured dress which had layers of lace, it gave off a kind of sheer vibe and was quite sexy as well, the bodice covered in flowery details "I like this one?" Carla questions the assistant who picks it up and hangs it on the rack causing Carla to return to looking through the rack of dresses
"I love that one" Michelle gushes over the dress Carla just picked out as Carla laughs in response "Do you still have your hate against satin?"
"Ugh!" Carla groans "Don't get me started on satin" she moans rummaging through the rack and picking out a white dress this time, it was really simple just white silk in a straight down shape she wanted a bit more bling though but she handed it to the shop assistant who puts it on the rack "I like that one because you can accessorise it up a bit"
"You don't need to justify yourself Carla" Maria groans playing with Hayley "You'll look stunning in whatever you wear"
"Oh my god!" Carla screams "This is it!" she exaggerates as she pulls out another white dress which had decorative sleeves, it was sheer on the top and had a silk fitted skirt as well as a relatively small train "Can we try some of them on now?"
"Of course" the shop assistant smiles leading Carla into the booth so she could get dressed into her first dress as it fits her body in all the right places she steps out with tears in her eyes as everyone in the room gasps.
"Oh, Carla…" Michelle whispers "You look amazing"
"You do Carla" Maria gushes as Hayley starts to stir in the pram causing Maria to lift her up and hold her so she could look at her mum "What do you think Hayley?"
"I love this one I still feel it's a bit big though…" Carla trails off "It's not a pain to walk in"
"It looks really nice on you Carla" the shop assistant inputs as Carla smiles in response "Shall we try the other's on?"
"Yeah" Carla smiles as the assistant leads her back into the booth to try the second dress on, the simple on with no detail on it, it was quite figure hugging which was something that Carla liked, everyone turning their nose up at when she stepped out "Yeah I don't like this one"
"Me neither" Maria states as Carla chuckles in response.
"Yeah no, please don't wear that" Kate replies as Michelle nods in agreement "It's just not you"
"Ok, let's get it off" Carla chuckles as she heads back into the booth to get changed into her last dress which had the sheer top that she was ever so sceptical walking down the aisle in but as luck goes she fell in love with it as soon as she put it on, she stepped out wiping her eyes and sobbing causing Michelle to wrap her up in a hug "This is the one"
"Oh babe" Michelle chuckles wiping her tears for her "You look stunning"
"I love this one so much, this is the one"
"Peter's going to love it as well" Kate inputs as Maria nods in agreement "You look beautiful"
"Would you like to see it with a veil Carla?" the assistant offers as Carla nods allowing her to put a veil on her head, the delicate lace material falling behind her back as she cries even more "I'm guessing this is the one?"
"Yes, it's the one" Carla cries as the assistant chuckles "I love it so much"
"Do you want to know the cost?"
"Go on then" Carla bites her lip anxiously "It's a lot isn't it?"
"Five thousand" the assistant informs her as Carla sighs in relief considering she had a budget of ten thousand.
"Ok, phew I thought it was going to be over 10" Carla chuckles as Michelle grins at her "My weddings in just under two months, will it be ready by then?"
"It should be, maybe if we go down a size then we might not need to do any alterations" the assistant smiles as Carla nods in response biting her lip and turning to face everyone who admires her in her dress
"I'll take it" Carla grins as the assistant nods "We need to get going as Peter's taking Hayley to one of those parent and baby swim classes later"
Carla, Michelle, Maria and Kate stopped off at the street to collect their swimwear as Carla suggested they all spend the afternoon in her hot tub which they all agreed to whilst Peter took Hayley to her baby swim thing at the leisure centre. They arrived back at Carla's house around mid-afternoon and got dressed into their swimwear as Carla made cocktails for them all with the spirits she had stocked up on for special occasions which she felt inwardly guilty about due to Peter's alcoholism but he always assured her that she it was ok for her to keep it there but all thoughts aside she was excited to be a little bit immature about things today.
"These are for you" Carla grins as everyone takes a cocktail, everyone wincing at the amount of alcohol.
"What have you put in here? A bottle of Sambuca per glass?" Michelle laughs as she sips on her cocktail as Carla steps back into the hot tub.
"I dunno I kind of just chucked a bunch of things together and called it a cocktail" Carla shrugs taking a sip "It tastes nice so it's chill"
"So then do you reckon Peter will like your dress?" Kate questions as Carla hums in response.
"He'll probably be virtually undressing her at the altar" Michelle sniggers as Carla splashes her turning on the jets on the hot tub "I still can't believe he got you a hot tub" Michelle laughs as Carla rolls her eyes.
"Are you jealous Michelle?" Carla teases as Michelle pouts her lips sulkily in response "I think someone's jealous"
"So then Carla, how many people are going to this wedding then?" Kate questions as Carla hums in response knowing that they haven't really thought about it that much
"Well probably Peter's family so that would be Simon, Ken, Tracy and Deirdre if she can make it back, then my family so you three, Aidan, Johnny and Kate…I know you're not all my family but you're the people who I'm closest to"
"What time is Peter home with Hayley?" Michelle questions as Carla picks up her phone and looks at the time.
"I don't know so we can have another one of those cocktails if you want before I need to get back to doing mummy duties" Carla chuckles getting out of the hot tub and walking to the kitchen with a little stumble "Ok, you know what I think I'm just going to get back in the hot tub…"
"I'll get them!" Michelle slurs getting out of the hot tub to help Carla
"Then I'll help you 'Chelle..." Carla nods somewhat drunkenly as both of them walk into the kitchen to make the cocktails "So we put vodka in it" Carla nods pouring vodka into everyone's glass "Then we put…what do we put in it?"
"I don't know Car" Michelle slurs as Peter appears with his eyebrows raised as well as Hayley in his arms "Oh look hubbys home"
"Oi!" Carla scolds her "He's mine!"
"And how much have we had to drink?" Peter questions looking at all the spirits lined up and raising an eyebrow as Kate and Maria appear; Kate drooping an arm over Michelle's shoulders
"Only a glass," Michelle says flailing her arm around and downing neat vodka as Carla nods in agreement to her statement
"Hey!" Carla shouts "I haven't put sambuca in it yet! As well as this pom-pom-p-p I don't know red juice!" Carla smiles widely as Kate takes the carton off her.
"Pomegranate" Kate informs her as Carla closes her eyes nodding "Oh and orange" she slurs "Weird combination, only posh people have this"
"Shut it you!" Carla cackles "I'm not posh am I, baby?"
"Far from it, love" Peter chuckles as Carla takes the bottle of sambuca and sniffs it before pouring it into her glass with the pomegranate juice and orange juice "Ok, maybe you should all calm it down?"
"Peter" Carla smiles widely as she stumbles over to him "I love you"
"I love you too," Peter says gently kissing her on the forehead as she cuddles him "Carla" Peter nudges her "Baby?"
"Hmm I like cuddling" Carla whispers as Peter runs a hand through her hair before rolling his eyes
"Oi Carla!" Maria calls as Carla stumbles drunkenly over to her "Where's the Sambuca?"
"Right there you numpty!" Carla cackles handing her the bottle as she unscrews the lid and downs it "Oi! I wanted some!"
"Yeah well, it's mine now!" Maria cackles as her and Kate share the bottle between them both "I need to think about getting back anyway"
"I'll walk with you" Kate mumbles as Michelle shakes her head taking her phone out and ringing Steve for a cab.
"No!" Michelle calls "My hubby will get us a cab!"
"Good idea Michelle" Carla mumbles returning to cling onto Peter who was trying to hold Hayley as well "Peter I love you so much never leave me"
"Never this is for keeps sweetheart," Peter says gently as Carla nods before releasing herself from Peter's grip and pressing a hand to her mouth as well as walking to the bathroom to throw up "Let's put you in your playpen sweetheart as I think mummy's had a bit too much to drink" Peter kisses Hayley on the forehead as well as placing her in her playpen with some toys as Peter goes to join Carla in the bathroom "Are you ok?"
"Mmm" Carla mumbles resting her head on the toilet seat "Tired"
"I know-" Peter starts as the doorbell rings "That'll be Steve, you just stay here and try not to move" Peter laughs slightly at her drunken state as he lets Steve in "Hi, mate, they're in the kitchen"
"Right, how much have they had exactly?" Steve chuckles as Peter groans in response not even knowing himself.
"Not a clue, I arrived and Carla was drinking pure vodka and sambuca" Peter informs him as he laughs glancing in the bathroom and seeing Carla fast asleep with her head rested on the wall "Yeah I think she's come off the worse"
"Alright, I'll get the rest of them in my cab for you whilst you nurse Carla up to full health-" Steve starts as Simon enters the house and glances into the bathroom raising an eyebrow.
"What's up with her?" Simon bites his lip trying to suppress his laughter "Actually I don't want to ask, do you need my help?"
"If you could watch Hayley for me?" Peter questions as Simon nods going into the living room to entertain Hayley for his dad as Peter watches Steve load Maria, Kate and Michelle into his cab "All done mate?"
"Yeah, all their stuffs in the boot so we're ready to go. I'll leave you to it" Steve chuckles as Peter nods watching him leave the house so he could tend to Carla.
"Right" Peter starts as Carla opens her eyes briefly "I'm going to get you a coffee you just stay here ok?"
"Mm whatever" Carla replies rather cutely as Peter laughs at her drunken state kissing her on the forehead "M'sorry you have to clear it all up, I'll repay you"
"Carla stop apologising sweetheart," Peter says before she breaks into uncontrollable tears "Ok, come here" Peter brings her into a hug "It's ok, I'm here"
"I love you so much don't leave me, I'll never drink again" she panics as Peter hushes her gently "M'sorry"
"It's ok Carla, you don't need to cry" Peter laughs slightly wondering what was going on in that beautiful head of hers "I'm going to clear everything up then we're going to get you in the shower then into bed I think"
"Ok, I'll just wait here…comfortable" Carla mumbles leaning her head back against the wall as Peter rolls his eyes knowing she'll get cold.
"I'm going to get you a blanket so you don't get cold, you wait here ok?"
"Ok…love you"
"I love you too"
Peter cleaned up the kitchen from the cocktail making disaster as well as cleaning up the hot tub before returning his attention to Carla. He carried her upstairs and placed her in the shower and cleaned her up as she had been sick a couple of times in the downstairs bathroom. He helped her with washing all the sick out of her hair as well as washing all the sick off her body before leaving her sat in the cubicle with a towel wrapped around her whilst he put towels out all over the bed and pillow so she didn't throw up over the sheets. He also got her a bucket so hopefully, he could limit the damage to the bedroom if she was sick again. Peter returned for Carla and got her dressed in some old pyjamas before placing her in bed with a duvet as well as shoving a coffee in her face in an attempt to sober her up.
"Come on, drink up" Peter states holding the coffee to her lips as she drinks some "Good girl"
"Mmm sorry" Carla whispers snuggling into the mattress "Love you"
"I love you too," Peter says stroking her damp hair away from her face as she looks deliriously around the room "Do you want anything else?"
"Cuddles and sleep" Carla mumbles as Peter rolls his eyes climbing into bed beside her and holding her close "I love cuddles"
"You must've said that at least twenty times this evening" Peter chuckles "I love cuddling you as well"
"Good" Carla mumbles as her eyes flutter shut "Sleep now"
"Ok then, you go to sleep don't worry about anything ok, I have everything under control" Peter whispers as he massages her scalp until she drifts off into as peaceful booze-filled slumber "Night beautiful"