Here's the next chapter hope you enjoy and thank you for the reviews, please let me know if you're getting bored if not I will continue with it...
It was boxing day. Carla and Peter were waking up next to each other clinging onto each other's body's as they shiver at the crisp cold air. Peter was running his hand up and down Carla's back gently as she rests her head on his chest before groaning slightly into wakefulness. It wasn't long before Hayley woke and ran into her parent's room and climbed onto their bed and snuggled with them both until Emma decided to wake and on queue she woke causing Peter to collect her and bring her into their bedroom.
"Morning, Em" Carla whispers running her fingers through her hair as she giggles falling onto Carla's tummy "Oh dear"
"So then girls what do you want to do today?" Peter questions as Hayley looks up at her father biting her lip as Emma continues to cuddle Carla who just yawns
"Park?" Hayley questions as Carla bites her lip knowing she really didn't have the energy to be wandering around a park "Only if mummy comes though"
"What if Aunty 'Chelle went?" Carla asks as Peter smiles slightly at her "I kind of just want to sleep"
"Mummy you're so boring" Hayley complains as Carla rolls her eyes not really bothered to argue with her daughter "Why do you never do anything with us anymore" she whines as Peter bites his lip
"I know but mummy's just not been feeling very well lately" Carla murmurs as Hayley sighs in response a hint of annoyance in her tone as there was a knock at the bedroom door
"Hi," Michelle says "Simon let me in" she whispers sitting on the edge of the bed as Hayley's eyes light up causing her to shuffle over to Michelle "You look rough Carla"
"Cheers," she scoffs as Peter runs a hand through her hair "I don't suppose you could help Peter taking the girls to the park?"
"Yeah?" Michelle questions as Hayley's eyes light up
"Please come too Aunty 'Chelle" Hayley replies fluttering her eyelashes as Carla glares at her daughter "I'll be really well behaved"
"Well I think it's a given then," Michelle says as Carla smiles running her hand up and down Emma's back as she lays on Carla "Shall I make you breakfast then Hayles?"
"Yes please" Hayley smiles sliding off the bed and taking Michelle's hand
"Do you want me to feed Emma as well?" Michelle offers as Carla glances to Peter who nods knowing they could do with spending some time together "Alright then, come here Em" she says lifting Emma onto her hip as she takes them downstairs leaving both Carla and Peter to talk
"How are you feeling today then?" Peter whispers as Carla sighs in response, she felt tired, nauseous and like she couldn't keep anything down
"Sick, tired and sicker than I did yesterday" Carla nods as Peter rolls his eyes "If I were to go to the park with the girls I'd be falling asleep after ten steps"
"Fair enough," Peter says gently "Why don't you try and go downstairs and then you can cuddle up on the sofa with a blanket?"
"Yeah ok" Carla smiles standing up before groaning "My ankles are so swollen"
"You know what you need to do," Peter says very matter-of-factly as Carla shoots him a look "I'm not doing this to annoy you but you really do need to speak to Aidan and Kate"
"I know" she snaps before softening noticing Peter's expression "I know, baby, I'm just scared I don't want to die"
"Oh, love" Peter whispers bringing her in for a hug and holding her close "Come on, why don't you go and see them today? For me?"
"Will you come?" Carla questions timidly as Peter smiles wiping her tears away "Please"
"Of course, I'm sure Michelle can mind the girls for us," Peter says gently as Carla smiles holding him close as he runs a hand through her hair "Let's go downstairs"
"Ok," she whispers allowing Peter to lead her downstairs her face lighting up at Emma eating a bowl of porridge, Michelle helping her "Is she eating ok?"
"She's being a star, Hayley's playing with her toys in the living room and annoying Simon as we speak" Michelle smiles cooing over Emma who laughs at her "She's very happy isn't she?"
"Yeah" Carla smiles kissing Emma on the head "Are you sure you're ok with going to the park with Peter, I would go but I'm just so tired"
"Yeah of course" Michelle smiles "I also have something that I wanted to ask you"
"Hmm" Carla narrows her eyes into little slits her expression full of suspicion "Shoot"
"Well I was thinking would you like to go to the Rover's and have a drink, non-alcoholic of course, just us two?" Michelle questions as Carla hums in response glancing to Peter who gestures for her to go
"You should go, it'll take your mind off everything" Peter suggests as Michelle smiles at her "Go on, go"
"Ok, fine I'm not promising though" Carla laments "It just seems rather pointless as I can't drink-drink if that makes sense" Carla chuckles putting a couple of slices of toast in the toaster
"Good girl" Michelle grins grabbing a baby wipe and wiping Emma's face before lifting her onto her hip "So you want me to change her?"
"Yes please" Carla smiles slightly as Michelle walks over to kiss her on the forehead "All her clothes are in Hayley's wardrobe because she hasn't got her own room yet"
"Right" Michelle smiles leaving the room and walking upstairs
"We can tell Aidan and Kate tomorrow," Peter says as Carla nods yawning in the process causing his heart to crumble into a million pieces at how tired she looked "Why don't you eat those slices of toast and head upstairs to bed?"
"Yeah that's the plan" Carla smiles buttering the toast and eating it scrunching her face up in displeasure before forcing her food down her throat "I can't eat that"
"Carla" Peter whispers cupping her cheek as she grabs some water and swallows it down before running to the bathroom to be sick "Oh, love"
"Just go out with 'Chelle, I'll be fine," Carla says as Peter sighs nodding leaving her to it knowing she was in a really defensive mood, he just hoped that this latest challenge wouldn't jeopardise their future…
Peter and Michelle took the girls out to the park, Peter pushing Emma on the swings whilst Michelle entertained Hayley, basically filling in Carla's role as mum for the day. Peter was very distracted and continuously worried about Carla throughout the time, Michelle, of course, could tell. She decided to let Hayley play on her own for a bit and took Peter aside to have a chat with him.
"I can tell you're worried about Carla," Michelle says as Peter sighs wondering if it was that obvious that his mind was elsewhere
"I am" Peter smiles bouncing Emma up and down on his lap "I want her to live"
"I wasn't going to tell her because I wanted it to be a surprise but I have an appointment at the medical centre tomorrow about testing to see if I can donate"
"W-What?" Peter questions as Michelle nods "Why would you…?"
"I know we're only slightly related but it's worth a try," Michelle says gently as Peter smiles at her in response "Whatever you say you're not going to stop me"
"I know I'm not," Peter says gently as Emma reaches her arms out to be held by Michelle which she accepts "I just can't believe we're here again, it's like the car crash when we thought she wouldn't make it"
"Well, at least she can speak to us on how she's feeling eh?" Michelle smiles slightly as Peter nods knowing she was right "She'll get through this as she gets through everything that's thrown at her, it's just a bump in the road"
"I guess you're right" Peter nods as Michelle smiles lifting Emma onto her hip as she takes her to the swings again to play with her leaving Peter to contemplate her words before joining in with Hayley…
Carla was bored at home and she decided she would go into Underworld out of sheer curiosity as well as to say goodbye to the place knowing her body was deteriorating, she wanted to relive some good memories. She pulled the car up and got out of it as she stared at the building that meant so much to her. Liam, Paul, Tony and Frank, Peter as well, the memories, some good and some bad, she still wondered why her heart belonged here sometimes she questioned whether she would be able to do anything else. She entered the building and was greeted by Aidan who was smirking at her.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to keep away for long" Aidan grins as they walk into the office "On boxing day as well"
"Shut it" Carla snipes as Aidan raises his eyebrows "Sorry, it's just…memories"
"I understand" Aidan smiles sympathetically pulling out a bottle of whiskey and pouring her a glass causing her to raise her eyebrows
"I'm driving" Carla mutters as Aidan rolls his eyes downing the whiskey himself "Why do you still work here?"
"Well…it's about family isn't it really? Our family?" Aidan questions as Carla smiles slightly in response "What do you think about when you come here then?"
"Well, I think about all the mistakes I made, Paul, Liam, Tony and Frank all the people who hurt me? And I guess I think of our family as well and all the positives as well such as running the factory all by myself which was impressed, me and 'Chelle running it together at one point and then running it with the family I never knew I had, you and Kate and Johnny to an extent"
"Sentimental aren't you?" Aidan nudges her as she smirks in response "Where's hubby and my nieces then?"
"Out at the park, I couldn't really be bothered" Carla mutters as Aidan raises an eyebrow knowing it wasn't exactly like Carla to refuse a family outing with her children
"Let me guess Peter doesn't know you're here?"
"No, he doesn't" Carla smiles as Aidan nods "Actually now you're here I was wondering if we could meet up tomorrow? My place, you can bring Kate as well, just you two though" Carla mumbles as Aidan hums in response "Please?"
"Fine, I'll give Kate a bell and see if she's free" Aidan smiles as Carla nods grabbing her coat "You are ok though, we're not completely stupid y'know"
"No I'm not," Carla says confidently "But we'll speak about it tomorrow yeah? When everyone's in the same room, it'll just be easier"
"Ok" Aidan smiles slightly taking a seat on his desk" You're welcome to stay but I need to get on with some stuff"
"I'm going to head back before Peter lectures me" Carla replies as Aidan nods "Bye Aidan"
"Bye Car"
Carla got in her car and drove home, she entered the house to Peter who was sitting on the rocking chair with Emma in his arms as she sleeps peacefully for her afternoon nap knowing she gets tired easily. She smiles simply at the sight of her husband and her daughter as well as Hayley placing with her toys. Carla jumped when Michelle put her hand on her shoulder and hugged her.
"Were they good?" Carla says making her presence known to Peter who raises an eyebrow
"They were really good, Hayley was being a little madam but we soon sorted that out," Michelle says as Carla chuckles taking a seat on the sofa as Peter smiles at her "Do you want a coffee?"
"If there's one going?"
"I'll make you one" Michelle smiles as Carla nods before glancing to Peter
"I know you're probably mad at me for going out" Carla states nervously as Peter shakes his head "I'm sorry"
"No, it's fine. I could tell you needed some time on your own, you seemed down this morning"
"I was but I feel better now having gone out and…reminisced?" Carla says as Peter smiles placing Emma down on the rocking chair and draping her blanket over her
"Where did you go?" Peter asks gently sitting with Carla as she snuggles into his body "You don't have to tell me…"
"Underworld, I just needed time to just think about everything that's gone on in my life, me and Aidan had a heart to heart, he's going to come around tomorrow so we can talk about my impending death"
"Carla" Peter scolds as she grins slightly "You shouldn't joke about it, it's serious"
"I know I just want to forget for a bit that's all, it just sometimes makes me feel better if I can make light of the situation" she replies as Peter shakes his head unamused watching as Michelle places the coffee down on the table
"Ta, Chelle" Carla smiles lifting her coffee to her lips "Shouldn't you be getting off to that boyfriend of yours?"
"He's working and I'm doing the evening shift," Michelle says as Carla raises her eyebrows nodding watching Hayley play with her toys
"We could chill in the hot tub?" Carla suggests as Michelle raises her eyebrows
"Yeah?" Peter questions as Carla smiles in response "If that's what you want?"
"Please, I just want to talk about anything other than kidney's foetal alcohol syndrome and my future" Carla smiles as Michelle chuckles "You can borrow a swimming costume or something 'Chelle?"
"It's fine, I should probably get back, I think you guys could do with having some time together" Michelle grins as Carla smiles at her "Take care yeah, if you need anything please don't hesitate to phone" she whispers kissing Carla on the forehead "Right I shall be off, bye Hayley"
"Bye Aunty 'Chelle!" Hayley calls as Michelle smiles leaving the house "Are we going in the hot tub?"
"If you want?" Peter questions as Hayley nods eagerly running upstairs to changing into her swimming costume causing Carla to roll her eyes and stand up before falling back down onto the sofa "Dizzy?"
"Very, the room's spinning" Carla moans as Peter runs into the kitchen and grabs a glass of water to give to her "Thanks"
"I'll take Hayley and Emma into the hot tub whilst you sleep," Peter says as Carla nods lying flat on her back with her eyes clamped shut "Get some sleep"
"Ok," she whispers as Peter scoops Emma into his arms and heads upstairs to change her into her swimsuit as well as help Hayley with hers hoping and praying that Aidan, Kate or Michelle were a match…