Thank you for the reviews, I'm going to start moving the story on a bit more in the coming chapters so you will just have to put up with some more waffle for the next few. Can't believe I'm going to be at 50 chapters next upload. Here's to the next 50!
Going to try and get some schoolwork done today so this will probably only be this update today...
A few days passed and Carla was getting worse by the day, more so that she passed out again and Peter had to take her to the hospital where they said that they needed to start her on a possible course of dialysis and that forced Carla to speak to Aidan and Kate when she was discharged, which put a shockwave through their whole family, but unbeknownst to her still, Michelle was being tested as they spoke which she later revealed to Peter that she was a match causing Peter to concoct a plan for Carla's birthday with the help of her specialist of course.
The plan was that Michelle would donate Carla a kidney which Aidan and Kate gave permission for her to do causing Michelle and Peter to have a word with her specialist about keeping it anonymous as a surprise for Carla's birthday a week after which her specialist later agreed to.
It was the day of Carla's birthday and Emma's for that matter. Peter went and got Emma before Carla woke up so that he had both of his girls together for their birthday. The plan for the day consisted of the family coming around as well as Gail and the Platt's to celebrate Emma's birthday.
"And how are my birthday girls today?" Peter questions as Carla runs a hand over her face in embarrassment Emma clapping her hands which she learnt to do at one of her therapy sessions the other day
"Feeling a year older" Carla chuckles as Peter smirks "And sick, and tired, and even more tired"
"The usual then" Peter tilts his head to the side as Carla smirks at him as Emma crawls over to Peter "And how are you on this fine day Em?"
"Mummy" Hayley screams storming into the room, Simon behind her as he shoves her "Simon!" she shouts shoving him back as Simon shoves her on the floor "Leave me alone!"
"And our moment's peace is over" Peter nods as Carla chuckles "What's going on?" he questions to Simon and Hayley exasperatedly
"Simon, Hayley can we please just have a moment's peace?" Peter asks as Simon moodily rolls his arms folding his arms across his chest, Hayley doing the same and mimicking his expression
"Happy birthday mummy" Hayley smiles climbing onto the bed "Happy birthday Emma" she smiles giving her sister a hug as Peter chuckles in response
"Happy birthday Carla" Simon smiles "Your present's downstairs, I have to go to football so I need to get ready but I hope you like it"
"Thank you, Si" Carla pouts her lips as he smiles leaving the room as Hayley grins at Carla "Shall we head downstairs then and get everything ready for when everyone arrives at ten?"
"Sounds good to me" Peter smiles as Carla smirks sliding out of bed as Hayley runs downstairs leaving Peter to carry Emma as they all make their way down the stairs "Right, you go and sit with Emma and Hayley in the living room and I will get breakfast underway"
Peter fed his family breakfast and of course, Carla didn't eat much of it as she started to feel sick causing him to sigh. He then got everything ready for the party with the food set out along the kitchen counter as well as turning the firepit on in the garden so people could sit outside if they wanted. Michelle, Aidan and Kate arrived first armed with presents for Carla and Emma as they all sat in the garden being warmed by the firepit with Emma and Hayley playing in the garden together with Kate's help as well for Emma as she wasn't as fast as Hayley was.
"So then, what has Peter gotten you?" Michelle says as she glances to Peter knowing she knew exactly what Carla was getting
"No he won't tell me, he says it's worth the wait" Carla rolls her eyes as the doorbell goes off "That'll be grandma Gail, Em," Carla says going to lift her up before stumbling a bit causing Peter to step in and help
"Come on," Peter says as Carla sighs in response as they head to the front door as Carla opens it
"Sorry we're a bit early" Gail apologises as David smiles at Carla, "I thought we'd bring Lily, to give Hayley something to do"
"Oh, yeah that's fine, she's playing in the garden" Carla smiles as Lily smiles up at her "Please come through, there's snacks out on the kitchen counter and stuff"
"Isn't it your birthday as well?" Gail chirps as Carla smiles nodding as well "Happy birthday then"
"Aw thank you Gail," Carla says as she leads everyone to the garden "You can take a seat around the fire pit if you want, Peter and I will get you some drinks"
"Thank you Carla" Sarah smiles as Carla nods
"Can I have wine or something?" Bethany asks fluttering her eyelashes as Sarah scoffs in response
"One glass," Sarah says glancing to Carla who chuckles going to help Peter get a tray of drinks for everyone
"The cake's in the fridge," Peter says as Carla nods taking it out of the fridge and placing it on the side "I don't think we have enough candles for you and Em though…"
"Oi!" Carla shrieks as Gail enters the room "Don't call me old!"
"Sorry," Peter says as Carla laughs slightly "Oh, hi Gail we didn't see you there"
"Hi, I just wanted to ask you about something" Gail replies nervously "I wondered if I could come to one of Emma's reviews with her specialist?"
"Yeah, I guess you could" Carla smiles as Gail nods "Actually you could go with Peter as I have my op next week for my kidney, it's on the day she usually goes so…"
"Yeah?" Gail questions as Carla nods "I'd love that"
"That's settled then" Carla smiles as Gail grins helping her out with the drinks "I was also wondering if you would like to have Emma weekends?"
"Like Nick used to?" Gail questions as Carla nods slowly glancing to Peter who winks at her
"Yeah, the same set up obviously," Carla says as Gail smiles widely at her
"Are you sure?"
"More than" Carla smiles as Gail grins "I'll take that as a yes then?"
"Yes, I'd love to, thank you so much, Carla"
"You don't need to thank me" Carla brushes it off "She'll love to spend time with you and more time with her father's family"
"It'll give you time to spend with Hayley as well, just you and Peter as I imagine Emma's care takes up quite a bit of time as well"
"Yeah it does, she's very dependant but we muddle through. I'm glad we can be civil"
"Me too" Gail smiles "Do you want me to take the cake for you?"
"If you wouldn't mind" Carla smiles as Gail nods lifting the tray and heading out to the garden where Emma was sitting on Michelle's lap clapping her hands as Gail appears with the cake
"Look at that Em!" Michelle beams as Emma smiles at her widely causing her to tickle her under the chin
"Let's see if she can help blow the candles out," Carla says lifting Emma onto her hip, Peter holding her waist in case she gets unsteady, Gail holding the cake in front of Emma "Blow?" she whisper to Emma making movements with her mouth "Hayley, come and help your sister!"
"Ok, mummy!" Hayley calls as Gail places the cake down on the table "Like this Em!" she beams blowing the candles out as Emma bursts into a fit of tears
"And we're having a meltdown," Carla says as Gail pouts her lips taking Emma off Carla to give her a breather "Oh sweetheart"
"Why are you crying poppet?" Gail questions as Emma cries frustratedly reaching her arms out to Carla who was bent over in exhaustion
"Here Car" Aidan smiles standing up and letting her sit down "Do you want me to grab you a glass of water?"
"Yeah please" Carla whispers rubbing her forehead "I need to be sick"
"Alright," Peter says lifting her up into his arms as he takes her into the house and rushes her into the bathroom watching her be sick into the toilet "I'll get that glass of water"
"Ta" Carla whispers leaning her head on the wall, her whole body sweating in sheer exhaustion as Peter reappears with her water "I'm so hot"
"I know you are," Peter says as Carla sighs in response "Why don't we let Gail have Emma for the rest of the day?"
"Yeah I guess it would give me a break" Carla mumbles as Peter nods kissing her on the forehead as Michelle appears "Hi 'Chelle"
"Hey you" Michelle smiles sitting on the floor beside her
"I'll go and speak to Gail," Peter says as Carla nods resting her head on her knees as Michelle grabs the flannel and putting cold water on it to dab on her forehead
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been hit by a truck but I just have to persist with it until my op" Carla replies as Michelle smiles slightly as Gail appears with Emma "Hi Gail"
"I'll continue the party at mine for you," Gail says as Carla nods "Does she have any special requirements?"
"You can just take her, we'll just do her physio before bed as well as her speech therapy"
"Ok then, Peter's just getting her changing bag then we'll head off, we'll take the walk won't we Emma?"
"Hmm she'll like that" Carla mumbles as Michelle continues to dab the cool cloth on Carla's clammy skin
"Here, everything's in there including her blanket if she wants a nap," Peter says handing Gail the changing bag as she smiles
"Take care, Carla, we're only on the other end of the phone," Gail says as she leaves the house with her family allowing Carla to have some peace
"Let's get you on the sofa with a bucket, love" Peter replies gently as Carla nods allowing him to lift her up and take her into the living room and placing her on the sofa as Aidan and Kate walk in with Michelle
"Hey, didn't exactly turn out the way we expected did it?" Carla chuckles as Aidan smiles at her "Hopefully I'll stop chucking up randomly when I have that kidney put in me"
"Here's your bucket," Peter says entering the room and here are your presents," Peter says handing a small rectangular box to her and a card "Open the box first"
"Ok" Carla raises her eyebrows as she opens the box before gasping at the necklace "Peter this must've cost a bomb!"
"And no, I'm not telling you how much it cost" Peter chuckles as Carla rolls her eyes in response taking it out and holding it in her hands; the delicate silver crystals twinkling in her hands
"What's the card about?" Carla questions as Peter hands it to her as he glances to Michelle who watches Carla tear open the envelope and opens the card and reads it, Michelle sitting herself down next to Carla
"It's from Michelle, she wanted me to give it to you," Peter says as Carla nods opening it and reading it
"Am I free on the 10th of January?" Carla questions as she glances to Michelle who smiles slightly "Well no, I have my op…"
"Read the rest"
"I'll be there" Carla frowns in response as Michelle rolls her eyes waiting for her to click
"Now the next page," Peter tells her to continue as Carla sighs in annoyance flicking the other page over
"To save your life…?" Carla frowns in confusion as Michelle gestures with her hands waiting for her to click as Carla finally gasps "Wait…no…my specialist said that my donor wanted to remain anonymous…" Carla trails off as Michelle rolls her eyes handing her an envelope as she opens it seeing Michelle's hospital letter "Oh my god!"
"Surprise, happy birthday!" Michelle beams as Carla cries into her chest "I know you'll make a tonne of excuses but I'm doing this no matter what"
"Michelle!" Carla cries pulling away as Michelle wipes her cheeks from all her tears "Were you all in on it!?" she exclaims as everyone nods in response "How did I not guess!"
"We just did well at keeping it a secret" Peter chuckles as Carla re-reads the card and Michelle's hospital letter "How did you all keep it a secret?"
"Well, when my dad had Hayley, I took Emma to Michelle's flat and then Aidan and Kate met me there as well. We talked about how they were matches as well but Michelle wanted to donate so I came up with the plan for your birthday"
"Oh my god!" Carla shrieks as Hayley comes running in from playing in the garden "Thank you so much, I will never be mad at you again, I love you so much!" she exclaims bringing Michelle in for a hug
"You're like a sister to me, babe. I want you to live" Michelle whispers as Carla cries more in response "Let's just chill for the rest of the day and not talk about the op"
"Ok, yeah" Carla nods as Peter kisses her on the head "I can't believe it, I'm shaking!"
"It's a good present though?" Michelle questions as Carla scoffs
"The best, I'm actually going to live..."