The woman paces around the house, it's still relatively empty, but it was getting there. She's trying to get the seven-month-old to sleep, her midday nap so she can make some sort of start of the kitchen. Peter was at work and she needed a distraction.

'You know, Dee, you can fall asleep. You don't need to scream the entire time. No, you don't.' She whispers, putting on that voice. They'd had the house a few weeks, but with a baby, it was hard setting it up. They now had internet, and heating, so it was just fixing up everything.

She smiles at the noise the baby is making, snuffling into her shoulder. They wanted to get in the house before Christmas, but it's now mid-December and they aren't anywhere near finishing. They'd be staying in the little flat for another few weeks, much to her mother's dismay.

She rubs her cheek ever so gently, she's warm. She's also teething. Keeping her up most of night, she'd been offering to look after the baby, with her still being on maternity leave, she didn't have to get up in the morning. 'It's okay' she coos, 'it's okay.' She can feel the baby starting to slow her thrashing, a sign that she's falling asleep. Finally. 'Good girl.' She eventually gets out, prying her off her shoulder and setting her down in the travel cot that had been erected in the middle of the, soon to be, living room.

She decides to take a picture of her, sending it to her dad. It's a photo that, six years ago, she would have sent it to Michelle, but it just seemed insensitive. She doesn't put anything on the group chat, besides the announcement of her birth. It just seems wrong, Maria assured her that Michelle would be fine. But she wasn't so sure, after her first baby, it killed her to see other babies. She didn't want to subject her best friend to that, especially as she carried Ruairi to a much later stage in the pregnancy. Her dad tells her that she needs to bring her over because he's missing her, he's missing his "little princess." She wonders if the novelty of being a grandad will wear off, he is utterly obsessed. Maybe it's because he feels guilty, he wasn't there for her. Either way, it doesn't bother her.

She manages to sort out the plates and the cutlery, as well as being able to do one wash, before Delilah wakes up. More than she thought she'd be able to-do, she's usually a happy baby, but she's in pain and she can't begin to express how she feels to her parents, which makes it all the worse.

She manages to get her to eat some puree that Peter had made up last night, before sitting in the playpen that had also found its way into the house, a means of keeping her occupied. Whilst she's quite, she can get some more work done, it's stressful and she wishes Peter was there, he was doing a longer shift than normal, citing they needed the money. She wasn't sure she believed him; it was more plausible that he was going shopping.

She decides to watch the sunset, not that it's as beautiful as the one they saw in the Caribbean, but it's pretty, nonetheless. She bounces her daughter, trying to point out the different colours, not that she's interested, but it gave her mother a break from sorting out boxes.

'Carla?' A voice eventually asks, making the woman jump, the baby shifting on her chest. 'Carla?'

'In here.' She hisses, rubbing her back, 'shhh.'

'Oh, sorry, is she asleep?'

'Yeah, come and get her off me.'

'I've got something for you.' He tells her, gently picking up his daughter, 'c 'mere.' She groans, hoisting herself up.

'Where is it?'

'Carla?' A voice calls, stopping her in her tracks, looking back at her partner, 'how are you?' She bites her lip as the face appears at the doorway, one she hadn't seen, in real life, for over a year. One that she had missed, so desperately, but couldn't muster up the courage to ask her over.

'Chelle?'

'The one and only.' She pulls her into a hug, a warm, reassuring hug. 'Congratulations.'

'Thank you.' She whispers, pulling her closer. 'When did you get back?'

'Peter picked me up at the airport.' She tells her, pulling back a little.

'When was this decided?'

'A few weeks ago, love. Michelle was popping over to see Ryan and wanted to know if you're up for a visit.' She grins, kissing her cheek.

'How long are you back for?'

'A few days, then I'm going back to Ireland.'

'Ohh, the mysterious new boyfriend?' Her friend teases, naturally gravitating towards the kitchen. 'Brew?'

'Ta. It's nothing serious.' She tells her, biting her lip.

'You sure?' She pries, trying to remember where she put the t-bags.

'Yes. Nice house?'

'Oh thanks.'

'Are you going to give me a guided tour?' She nods, wishing she'd tidied up earlier. Not that Michelle wasn't aware of what she was like, but because she had baby stuff all over the house.

'Well' she grins, 'this is the kitchen.'

'Aye it's a nice kitchen. Loving the yellow.'

'Oh, shut up. You know we're going to repaint it.'

'Aye, it's nice.' Her friends shakes her head, 'this is the dining room, kind of. You have to use your imagination because it's not going to be finished anytime soon.' She doesn't add anything about how she's not managed to finish it because she's been preoccupied with Delilah and how she didn't want the baby to be living in a building site.

'Living room, Bathroom, Washing room.'

'Very fancy.' Carla doesn't offer what is behind the other door, she doesn't ask any questions. She doesn't tell her that it is going to become her daughter's playroom. She shouldn't be so worried, she's sure that she won't mind her mentioning it, but somethings stopping her.

'Do you live here then?'

'No.' She tells her, walking up the stairs, thankful that Peter hadn't put up the baby gate just yet. It had been an ongoing argument, Peter didn't think they needed it, considering she was confined to a travel cot or playpen when they came here. 'We've still got stuff back in the flat, we have the kitchen, almost, done, and some of the clothes.'

'Moving is always stressful.' She agrees, opening a door. 'Your bedroom?'

'What made you think that?' She grins, 'is it the closet.' Her friend grins, opening another door as Carla's heart stops.

'Delilah's bedroom?' It's the first time that her best friend has mentioned the baby's name since she'd been here. 'Oh, that is so cute.' She goes over to the white rocking chair with painted pink rabbits on the top of it. The nursery was the only room that was, somewhat, nearly ready. The only thing it was missing was the cot, which was being delivered later in the week.

'Thank you.' Michelle pauses, looking around the room.

'You know it's okay.'

'What is?'

'Delilah, all of this. I'm not going to breakdown.' She promises, moving to the window. 'You are allowed to have her; I want a cuddle with her. Carla, if I wasn't okay, I wouldn't be 'ere.'

'Do you?' She whispers.

'Carla, I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. Yes, it is hard, but I'm okay.'

'Are you?' She nods,

'I'm so happy for you. I bet you're a brilliant mum.' She just rolls her eyes, 'no. I bet you are. Just look at all of this. It's beautiful.'

'It's stuff.' Having stuff, it isn't a measure of how much she loves her, Carla has to remind herself of that. Stuff is great, but what it really boils down too is how much she loves her. And she loves her more than the world, which is made obvious in every moment of the day.

Michelle can tell she's changed. It's not just the bags under her eyes, but the house as a whole. The potted plants and pretty pictures are being replaced with family pictures, framed photos of Delilah and Simon. She knew that, before long, it would also be filled with certificates and school pictures.

She's also lost her tough girl exterior. At least, a little bit. There was something, seeing her with her daughter, that just made her heart warm.

'I saw you with her.' She tells her, 'Ryan sent me a few pictures.'

'Did he?' Surprise evident in her voice, she hadn't even thought that her nephew would be taking pictures, let alone sending them to Michelle. She can't help but feel a pang of jealousy, wondering why her best friend didn't ask her for the pictures.

'Yeah, did you bring her to the pub?'

'Johnny was on grandad duties.' She laughs, letting her friend clasp her hand, smiling at her. Reassuring her friend that it was okay. That she was okay. 'You should see 'im with her. And Jenny, they're both crazy about her. Suzie too.'

'I want an auntie cuddle.' She grins, 'I promise you, I'm fine. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here.'

'It's just, I remember how hard it was. With my miscarriage. It was hard for ages. I didn't want to upset you, maybe I was too careful, but I just didn't want to hurt you, Chelle. I love you too much.'

'I'm not going to lie to you, it is hard. It's taken me seven months to see her, but I'm getting there. I'm taking this in my own time, and I'm fine. It does still hurt, though.' She tells her, 'but that doesn't stop me being thrilled for you. Just because of what happened to Ruairi, it doesn't mean that I resent you having Delilah. I was more worried I'd hurt your feelings, Ryan sending me all these pictures and not you.'

'I didn't want to upset you. I thought it might be too raw.'

'With a face like that?' She grins, 'I could stare at her all day.'

'Do you want a cuddle?' The pair can here Peter talking to the baby, trying to get her to talk back to him. 'I don't think he realises that she's too young to talk.'

'He sounds like a good dad?'

'Oh, he is. He adores her. It's just hard, with Simon. Peter doesn't really see him very much, at the moment, with everything with Oliver, so he focuses on her.'

'That must be so hard.' Michelle whispers, 'Oliver being so ill.'

'It's terminal, he's not going to get better.'

'Poor Steve and Leanne. My heart really goes out to the pair of them.' The pair make their way downstairs, finding Peter in the kitchen with mushed up carrot on his face.

'Do I want to know?' He shakes his head, 'give her here, you need to wash your face.' She grabs the baby, who she swears is grinning at her. 'Chelle?' She asks, her voice wavering, as her friend takes her over.

'Oh, aren't you lovely.' She coos, aware that her friend is watching her. 'I am fine, Carla.' The baby has, seemingly, calmed down. 'She really is gorgeous.'

'You think?'

'I know.' They spend a few hours catching up, a lot has happened in eighteen months, the baby spending the majority of the time observing Michelle, which makes her laugh.

'Well, it looks like it's someone's bedtime, I'm going to shoot off.'

'You don't have to go, Peter can do it, we could get a drink.' She shakes her head.

'I'm tired, I've been up since five.' Carla winces at the thought, receiving a laugh.

'At least let me give you a lift back, I need to see Johnny anyway. Peter is, more than, capable of putting her to bed.' She tells her, gathering her keys before she can say anything.

The journey is filled with small talk, mostly catching up on family gossip, with Carla filling in what's been happening on the street, the bits Ryan missed out.

'Carla?'

'Mm.'

'I'm really pleased for you.' She tells her, as she turns to get out. 'I really am, she's adorable. I'm expecting another cuddle tomorrow.' She grins, turning around. 'Night Carla, I'll see you tomorrow.'

'Love you Chelle.' She whispers into the darkness, 'see you tomorrow.'

A/N thoughts? This was suggested by CarlafromCorrie- I hope it didn't disappoint!