Ok, so, I've actually had this chapter ready for a while and I've been genuinely anxious to publish it as I know some people are going to be like 'this isn't possible' but i can assure you it's possible.
Also another quick question, I'm currently planning the sequel to Never Go Back, and I was wondering if you would want it to be smutty or not, I kind of want to add some M content but if no one wants it then i wont add it, but it's completely up to you.
Thank you for the reviews and I hope I don't get slated for this one...
Carla's birthday arrived and everyone was far from in the mood to celebrate. Carla was miserable and in a lot more pain than she was before which really worried Peter when they woke that morning. Michelle kipped on the sofa downstairs so she could be there to help with Hayley so Carla had Peter's undivided attention all day as she barely got any sleep the night before. Peter pieced together a bowl of fruit and a glass of orange juice for her as well as a couple of presents which were crammed in his suitcase from when they left Glasgow yesterday.
"Happy birthday" Peter whispers entering the room as tears stream down Carla's face "Oh baby"
"I'm fine it's just everything hurts," Carla says as Peter sits on the edge of the bed taking her hand "This isn't normal Peter"
"I know, we're going to get you to the doctor tomorrow, I rang them this morning so all you need to do is put up with it for another day"
"Ok" Carla nods as Peter smiles prodding some fruit onto the fork and offering it to her lips "It's like I'm Hayley's age"
"You should be thankful you don't have to move your back," Peter says as Carla smiles at him as he offers a forkful of fruit to her mouth which she accepts "You look a bit brighter, love"
"I feel it as well," Carla says gently as she groans curling into a ball "Ow"
"I hate seeing you in pain, baby," Peter says running a hand through her hair as she cries silently to herself "Can you describe to me what it feels like?" Peter questions as Carla pulls the duvet over her body and head Michelle hovering in the door with Hayley.
"Hey Car," Michelle says gently sitting on the edge of the bed as Carla grunts in response clutching her tummy "Babe I think we should get you to a hospital"
"I'm fine" Carla moans wishing people would stop fussing over her as she gets up out of bed and holding onto the wall bending over in pain "I need the loo"
"Ok, come on," Peter says taking her into the bathroom as she goes to the toilet yelping in pain, "I think we need to go to hospital Carla, I know you don't want to"
"Peter, I'm bleeding" Carla panics before Michelle hovers at the door narrowing her eyes in suspicion "I can't be losing it, I need the toilet so bad but…"
"Peter take Hayley a minute," Michelle says bending down in front of Carla and taking her hands watching as her face grimaces in pain, her knuckles white from digging into her skin "What does it feel like Carla?"
"I need to go to the toilet" Carla screams digging her nails into Michelle's hand as pain rips through her body "I can't …I'm dying Michelle"
"Ok, look at me" Michelle tilts her head up leaving her to wonder if Carla was actually in labour, there was only one way to check and at times like this she wished Carla could remember Hayley's birth "I need to move you onto the floor, do you know how far along you are Carla?"
"Like five weeks I don't know I can't be further, I can't…I-I don't know" Carla panics as Peter quickly places Hayley in her cot quickly with some toys to entertain her "I recognise this pain I don't know where from though"
"Peter can you move her onto the floor," Michelle says as Carla cries out in pain again and draping a towel over Carla's legs "Oh, god…Peter ring an ambulance"
"This hurt so bad!" Carla says as her nails dig into the floor, Peter returning with the phone hating seeing Carla in a state where she was in so much pain "What's going on!"
"Carla look at me, ok?" Michelle says trying to divert her attention as she cries in pain, the tears streaming down her face as she looks at Michelle in the eyes "I need you to push down as if you're going to the toilet ok?"
"Tell me what's happening!" Carla screams in agony as she pushes "Please" she whimpers.
"Carla I'm not saying anything because I don't want you to freak out ok?" Michelle says with the phone pressed to her ear before getting up and rushing to the airing cupboard to get a few clean towels as well as speaking to the paramedics before returning to Carla crying in pain, Peter holding her hand as she hands the phone to him.
"What do I say, Michelle?" Peter says glancing to where Michelle was coaching Carla.
"Nothing to Carla" Michelle replies as Peter nods glancing down to where Michelle was on the floor with Carla with her sleeves rolled up.
"I want Peter, please Peter I'm scared" Carla begs hoarsely from all her screams as Michelle takes the phone off Peter and heads into the hallway to speak to the paramedics again "What's happening to me?" she whimpers tiredly "It hurts"
"Push darlin'" Peter encourages her as Carla starts to cry in response from all the pain "I know you're scared, but you're ok. I can promise you you're not dying ok?"
"Ok" Carla breaths out as Michelle appears again with the phone pressed to her ear to check on Carla "What's happening?"
"You're doing really well babe," Michelle says as another wave of pain engulfs Carla's body as she cries out in pain with tears streaming down her face as a release from her body is prominent as Carla breathes a sigh of relief as well as tilting her head back "Alright you're ok," Michelle says placing the lifeless body down on Carla's tummy
"A baby" Carla whispers as Peter helps Michelle clean the blood-covered baby as it lets out a little cry "Is it…?"
"I think we're good," Michelle says placing a towel over the baby to keep it warm as Carla looks at Peter utterly confused "I was only 5 weeks…I…"
"It's a shock I know" Peter reassures her as the doorbell goes off "I'll let the paramedics in"
"What happened, I don't understand?" Carla questions as she runs her fingers over the baby's clammy head as the paramedics appear ready to assist with the baby
"Tell us what happened," the paramedics say taking the baby off Carla and checking it over as the other paramedic checks Carla over
"I had this back pain and then it just got worse, I didn't even know I was that far along, I thought I was only five weeks then this happened…I'm so confused"
"Ok, we need to get baby to the hospital to be checked over as it's very small ok?" the paramedic says as a midwife appears taking the baby and rushing down to the ambulance to help it "Ok, Carla I need to move you onto this chair ok?"
"Yeah that's fine," Carla says as Peter and the paramedics help Carla onto the chair with a blanket "Is the baby ok?"
"We need to get you both to the hospital as you've lost quite a lot of blood as well," the paramedic says as they take Carla downstairs "Are you coming?"
"Yes" Peter was definite as Michelle smiles at them both "Thank you so much 'Chelle, just watch Hayley for us"
"I will, good luck, let me know what happens"
The ambulance drive to the hospital was very weird both Carla and Peter didn't know what to say to each other but both of their eyes were transfixed on the baby which was swaddled up in a towel with breathing apparatus attached to it causing a pit of dread to fill in everyone's stomach. As soon as they arrived Carla was taken into theatre to be stitched up whilst Peter waited in the waiting room and he was soon reunited with Carla.
"Hey baby," Peter says gently as she smiles at him gently still in shock "How are you feeling?"
"Numb" Carla says as Peter nods in agreement as he felt the same "I can't believe I didn't know…I was drinking and everything I'm such a bad mother"
"Carla, you didn't even know baby, you had no symptoms don't call yourself a bad mother" Peter reassures her, his heart breaking for his wife as Carla bursts into tears "It's ok, I'm here"
"Carla?" a doctor enters the room as Carla looks up hopefully seeing he had a baby swaddled in his arms "Your baby's absolutely fine, it was just a bit shocked when it was born"
"Really?" Carla questions as the doctor hands her the baby which she cradles in her arms "What is it?"
"A girl" the doctor informs her as Peter looks down at the union in front of him; mother and daughter, that was something he would cherish forever "I want to ask you a few questions as well as giving you an opportunity to ask any"
"Ok," Carla says holding her baby as the doctor smiles flicking through the papers
"Did you know you were pregnant Carla?"
"No, well…I took a test all the way back in June because I had symptoms well I guess they were kind of pregnancy symptoms but nothing showed up on the test, it was one of those fancy digital ones as well but nothing showed up, I just went about my life after that really. My cycles had been irregular since having my daughter, she's one you see, so I just assumed that it was because of that"
"That's understandable. The paramedics said you took a test which came out positive?"
"Yeah it was out wedding on Christmas Day, I did a test the night before, it was just cheap one but it showed two lines and I felt pregnant as well like I felt a bit nauseous and just off. Can you provide me with any answers on how this happened?"
"It's actually quite common, the reason your first pregnancy test probably didn't show up a result was that your pregnancy hormone was most likely quite low so it wasn't enough to produce an accurate result, it increases over time throughout the pregnancy you see so that's probably why the one you took recently showed up relatively well as you were full term. Were you bleeding every month then?"
"I guess looking back at it now it was lighter than before…this whole thing's crazy…the baby's ok though?"
"She's very small which isn't really surprising in these circumstances but she's fully developed" the doctor smiles as Carla glances down to where the baby was resting in her arms.
"How much did she weigh?"
"5lbs exactly"
"It's weird because thinking about it I felt flutters but no kicking, I just thought it was indigestion," Carla says as the doctor nods
"You may not have felt her as she was small and probably lying very far back, but she's perfectly healthy"
"I was drinking throughout my pregnancy, I went on numerous nights out with my friends and actually had a lot of alcohol intake…she won't be affected by that will she?" Carla questions tearfully as the doctor sighs in response
"There's a chance she could develop foetal alcohol syndrome but right now she's ok, we'll be sure to add your concerns to your notes so your doctor can be brought up to date" the doctor nods Carla glances down to the baby sleeping peacefully in her arms "Do you have any more questions for me, Carla?"
"No" Carla replies quietly "That's all"
"If you do have any more questions don't be afraid to ask one of my colleagues," the doctor says before leaving the room allowing Carla and Peter to take in what the doctor just said.
"Whatever happens, we'll face it together ok?" Peter whispers kissing Carla on the head as Carla sniffles wiping her eyes "Oh, love"
"I can't believe I didn't know she was in me," Carla says "How could I not know?"
"You heard the doctor sweetheart, he said it's normal in some pregnancies" Peter reassures her as she nods in response leaning back into the bed "She's so small"
"Yeah" Carla hums glancing down to the baby in her arms "I wonder when she was conceived"
"Well just count back nine months," Peter says as Carla nods "We're in January now aren't we so nine months ago would've been April…"
"Peter…" Carla glances up at him as he closes his eyes in realisation knowing Carla and Nick slept together in April "I know what you're thinking and I'm thinking the same but let's not panic"
"Carla that could be Nick's baby" Peter whispers as Carla shakes her head tearfully glancing down to her daughter who was squirming around contently in her arms "This better be a dream"
"We'll have to DNA test her," Carla says as Peter shakes his head pleading for her to not go there "Peter, we can't pretend that this isn't happening, Nick's not stupid he can do a simple sum and be like 'oh Carla gave birth to a baby nine months after we had sex, there's a possibility that baby could be mine' and I think you and me both know that it's possible. We need to do this Peter"
"I know, I just" Peter starts before Carla places the baby in the plastic bassinet and takes Peter's hands in hers "I don't know what to do Carla"
"Neither do I but I need to face up to the responsibility of the situation," Carla says as Peter nods bringing her into a hug "There's a chance she could be yours, hold onto that for me until we know for sure"
"I will," Peter says running a hand through her hair as she smiles at him gently glancing to the baby in the bassinet "We'll need to go shopping"
"You think?" Carla chuckles "I'm sorry the past has come back to bite us, if I would've known then we could've dealt with it"
"Carla, don't think about the past, there's no point, you can't change what happened can you?"
"No but…I don't know Peter I'm so confused"
"Me too but we'll get through this together, at least you got a nice birthday present" Peter smirks as Carla nudges him playfully "Oi!"
"Well I mean, I guess you're kind of right…it was also very mean of you and Michelle not telling me what was happening" Carla glares at him ad Peter bites his lip knowing it was probably wrong for them to do that, "I thought I was dying"
"Yes well if we told you that you were popping out a baby you wouldn't have cooperated" Peter laughs as Carla nods knowing he was probably right "We were just trying to get you through the moment"
"Well thank you for that, I really appreciate it," Carla says glancing to her daughter who was starting to stir in the plastic crib as she leans over to pick her up "Hello beautiful girl"
"She has her mummy's eyes" Peter observes as the baby opens her eyes to look around the room "Are you going to feed her yourself?"
"I don't know…" Carla trails off as Peter smiles at her "I did with Hayley didn't I?"
"Yeah you did," Peter says "Why don't I get a midwife and you can try?"
"Ok" Carla nods as Peter smiles leaving the room and taking a moment to recompose his emotions before fulfilling his request and returning with a midwife a while later "Hello"
"Hello, Carla. I hear this little one was a bit of a surprise"
"You could say that" Carla chuckles as the midwife sits on the edge of the bed "I want to try and feed her if that's ok?"
"Yeah that's fine" the midwife smiles "If you could just pull your gown down then if you let me help position her" she prompts helping Carla position the baby correctly as she latches on "It might feel a little weird"
"I kind of…hmm," Carla hums in confusion as Peter runs a hand through her hair wondering what she was thinking.
"I'll leave you to it," the midwife says noticing Carla and Peter needed some time together "Let me know if you need anything"
"We will," Peter says as Carla shuffles over on the bed allowing Peter to shuffle onto the bed as well "Are you ok?"
"I kind of remember doing this with Hayley" Carla whispers as Peter narrows his eyes, was Carla finally remembering things?
"Really?" Peter questions gently knowing not to push it as there had been many arguments about Carla's memory.
"Yeah I remember being on the sofa in our flat, you know the bookies, Hayley was feeding," Carla says quietly as Peter smiles in response now knowing she was remembering things correctly "We need to speak to Nick I think"
"Yeah, I agree," Peter says not really wanting Nick to be involved in this but he knew Carla was right and that it was only fair, "I think you should ring him because let's be honest he's not going to appreciate me phoning him is he?"
"I guess" Carla shrugs as Peter smiles "I could really do with having some clothes I hate this gown"
"I can nip home if you want and get you some things as well as the iPad then you can pick some furniture out" Peter suggests as Carla shakes her head "No?"
"We have Hayley's co-sleeper, we'll just use that as she barely got any use out of it," Carla says as Peter nods thinking it was a good idea "This little lady's going to need some clothes though"
"How about I take Michelle with me, as well as Hayley, out shopping to get some bits for her?"
"That would be perfect, I'm just going to sleep for a bit and recuperate from being sewn together like a patchwork doll" Carla smirks as Peter rolls his eyes at her joke allowing her to snuggle down into the bed as she places the baby in the plastic crib.
"I'll see you later"
The reason I thought of doing a 'cryptic pregnancy' was that I thought it fitted in with Carla's memory loss in the sense she wouldn't know what her body was going through as she couldn't remember Hayley's birth. This also gave me a way to have a trigger for her to start remembering snippets of what she couldn't before...
I hope this is ok and no one think it's too farfetched or annoyed with my decision