I swear Carla doesn't have an easy time of it does she, anyway I hope you enjoy x

She hadn't heard anything about Frank and in all honesty that suited her fine, she despised him, she was sure she couldn't hate anyone as much as him. She was going into hospital today to tell Peter everything which happened the day before then she was going to tempt Michelle out to go shopping with her for the baby as she was clueless on what to get apart from the obvious things so she hoped that this would give Michelle a bit of a boost if she was to go shopping with her.

"Hey, love" Carla smiles flopping down onto the seat, Peter raises an eyebrow "How are you?"

"Good yeah, might be coming out next week" Peter smiles, Carla nods slowly pulling out a wad of magazines "What are those?"

"Dont act so disgusted" Carla rolls her eyes "These are magazines"

"I established that"

"Are you going to let me finish?"

"I dont know if I want you to"

"Funny" she pins him a look, he just grins "So I'm going shopping with 'Chelle and I need to start buying stuff for this baby so I thought we would circle things we like together in these magazines that way its a joint effort"

"Sounds good to me" Peter rolls his eyes taking one of the magazines and a pen "Are you going for a colour theme?"

"Dunno really" she shrugs "I'm so tired all the time, I'll have to get Jason or someone to build all the furniture"

"Let's just stop this a minute" Peter sighs, Carla, frowns "I know what you're trying to do, the police have been in contact you know"

"Oh" she sighs closing her eyes "I really dont want to think about it, that's all"

"I know you dont, I know you want to settle down and prepare for this baby" he sighs slightly taking her hand "What happened last night then?"

"Well I was a nosey old cow and yeah I found those pictures, that's pretty much it"

"Are you sure?"

"No..." she trails off biting her lip "Sorry I just dont want to talk about it"

"I know but I really think we should eh?"

"Maybe, just not now please" she sighs slightly, Peter nods picking up the magazine "What cot do you like?"

"I'm guessing you want something that goes with the theme of the flat?"

"Yeah, something like that" she mumbles "Maybe mahogany wood?"

"That's going to be expensive" he smirks, she nudges him "I guess you do have expensive tastes-"

"Oi!" she exclaims hitting him with her magazine "I just dont want it all...pink and mainstream"

"I'm only teasing" he grins, she shakes her head in amusement "So mahogany furniture?"

"Sounds perfect to me" she smirks, "Michelle's going to help me with all the little bits"

"Are you going to feed her yourself?" Peter questions, Carla sighs "You dont have to if you dont want to, I'll support you either way"

"Yeah?" she questions, he nods "I'll just see what happens I think, I just want to see how I feel when shes placed in my arms"

"Alright then, fair enough"

"I dont know what colour to do the walls"

"What about a warm grey colour?" Peter suggests Carla sighs slightly "Or you could just leave it as it is?"

"Yeah I guess it looks fresh in the creamy white colours it's in now, yeah I'll just do that she won't care what colour it is"

"Is she sleeping straight in the cot or are you getting a cosleeper?"

"A what now?" she groans utterly confused, Peter takes her hand "This is all so confusing, I love her so much but seriously this is just utterly confusing"

"Oh love" he sighs "I wish I could be there to help you"

"I just want to see how I feel I guess, I dont know how I'm going to feel when she's placed in my arms" she shrugs, Peter nods slowly "But then there's another part of me who wants it fully planned"

"Stop stressing" Peter smiles kissing her on the forehead "Just relax and things will come naturally ok?"

"Yeah, ok" she mumbles slightly "So mahogany is ok with you?"

"It's fine Carla, why dont you just go out with Michelle and have a good time if you get tired go home ok?"

"Yeah ok, are you sure? I've barely spent any time with you..."

"Carla just shut up a minute" he chuckles, she pouts her lips "Just go and have a good time ok?"

"Ok, fine" she sighs nodding, she collects her bags "We'll speak later yeah?"

"Yes, now go!"

Carla headed home and then she went off to the factory to meet with Michelle. They drove into town and Michelle seemed excited to be out and away from the street with Carla. They were walking around the high street shops and Carla was taking Michelle's advice on what to buy for the baby, everything seemed so real and overwhelming but she was getting there and deep down she was excited about the arrival of her daughter. She picked out the furniture and Michelle was questioning as to why she was picking out specific types of wood for her baby's furniture causing Carla to defend herself to her friend who found it quite humourous.

They went to a cafe and had a drink, Carla asked Michelle how she was after everything to do with Frank but Michelle wasn't willing to express her feelings over the situation so Carla was worried for her friend knowing she shouldn't be bottling it all up. After they finished their drinks they headed off home and Carla dropped into the factory to get some paperwork to do things at home at the times when she felt like she couldn't be bothered to move due to the baby, she was interrupted by the sound of the door.

"Hello?" Carla questions looking up, she gasps "How?"

"Not enough evidence" Frank snarls, Carla stands up and grabs the phone "Put the phone down Carla"

"No" she shakes her head defiantly "Not unless you leave"

"You really think I'm going to do that?" Frank questions incredulously, Carla gulps stepping back as he steps forward "After everything you've done?"

"I haven't done anything, you brought it all on yourself" she hits back, Frank chuckles "Did you attack Peter then?"

"So what if I did?"

"Did you? You may as well tell me since they let you out"

"I did it for you"

"For me?" she scoffs "And why would I want that done eh? Why would I want my daughter to grow up without a father? Why would I not want the love of Peter in my life?"

"He's no good for you Carla"

"Just leave" she groans "Leave and never come back"

"No, not until you give me an explanation"

"An explanation?"

"As to why you love Peter"

"Why do you even care Frank?"

"I care about you, I love you"

"Love me?" she shrieks "Frank you're twisted to think that I would even lay eyes on you, just leave"

"Not until you come with me, we can live happily together bring the baby up together"

"You're deluded, no you're too far gone to be deluded, you are not my baby's father, Peter is and no one is taking that role from him"

"Then I'll make you" he snarls, Carla's eyes fill with tears, Frank takes her slender wrist into his hand and digs his nails into the sensitive flesh, he leans in to kiss her, she slaps him with her spare hand

"Get out" she seethes "How dare you!"

"You dont love, Peter, Carla"

"Other way round, I dont love you, you pigheaded sleazeball" she snipes, he places his hand on her bump, she knees him in the groin, it all happened so quick, he fell to the floor after hitting his head on the side of the desk, she glanced up and saw Leanne holding a reel of fine silk

"I..." Leanne trails off, Carla grabs the phone and calls the police

"It's ok" she reassures her as the phone call goes through "Police please...there was an attack...the Underworld factory off Coronation Street...ok thank you"

"Carla"

"It'll be ok, I have CCTV in here, it can show that he attacked me and you were defending me it'll be ok, I think" she whispers, Leanne nods slowly "Is he dead do you reckon?"

"I dont know" Leanne mumbles, the reel of silk still gripped in her hands "I just saw him and he confessed to hurting Peter then he was going to hurt you"

"Thank you" she whispers placing a hand on her bump "Thank you so much"

"Hello?"

"In here" Carla calls as officers walk into the room, she just hoped that things would change from now on...