Thank you all for the 200 reviews left on this story, It's definitely my most popular yet. I really hope you're enjoying this story and there's a bit of a rift caused between Hayley and Emma in this chapter so I won't spoil too much.
A few weeks had passed and Carla was back in Underworld working alongside Aidan. They were getting on like a house on fire and bashing out orders right left and centre. Carla's recovery went really well and she spent most of the time curled up on the sofa watching films with Emma as well as doing her speech therapy which was something easy for her to do whilst not being able to walk. Carla and Peter were going to look at a nursery for Hayley leaving Aidan to take the reins at the factory.
"Right are you going to be ok here?" Carla asks as Aidan sighs in response rolling his arms and folding them across his chest
"Carla, I will be fine, it's just a meeting-"
"With one of our most valued clients, try not to mess this up please" Carla begs as Aidan chuckles in response
"I won't mess it up" Aidan smiles glancing out of the office window "Hubby's here anyway with your spawn"
"Hilarious" Carla scoffs storming out of the office as the machinists raise their eyebrows as she greets Peter and Hayley
"Please daddy can I go and see uncle Aidan" Hayley whines as Carla raises her eyebrows at her daughter's attitude "Please daddy"
"Can she?" Peter questions to Carla as she hums in response before lamenting,
"Go on then, be good," Carla says as Hayley beams running into the office to see her uncle "You're early"
"Yeah well Hayley wanted to see Uncle Aidan" Peter grins as Hayley comes running out of the office to see the machinists
"Aren't you a cutie" Sean grins as Hayley poses for him "You're going to be the future boss of this place you know"
"Ew I don't want to make knickers for a living" Hayley grins as Carla raises her eyebrows at her daughter interacting with her workforce "Mummy can I have a biscuit?"
"Just one I don't want you spoiling your lunch!" Carla calls as Hayley runs over to the biscuit tin "Be quick about it as well!"
"Where's Emma I thought you were collecting her from Gail's?" Carla questions as Gail enters the factory with Emma on her hip "Oh…hi" she smiles as Gail hands Emma over
"Sorry we're a bit late, we had a little bit of a meltdown but we're good now" Gail smiles as Hayley runs back over with a couple of biscuits handing one to Emma who accepts it
"We need to head off to the nursery now," Carla says as Peter nods taking Hayley's hand "Be good everyone, Aidan will tell me if any of you have been slacking!"
Carla and Peter headed to the nursery and had a look around the place. It was very nice and had a good reputation. Hayley was playing with the kids there whilst Carla and Peter got a feel for the place by talking with the staff. Something stuck Carla when in discussion with the nursery workers, there was a vigorous program for children with special needs which made her think that maybe sending Emma along with Hayley for a day would do her good as well as improve her verbal skills through interacting with other children. It was definitely something to think about.
Carla and Peter headed home and decided to have some lunch in the bistro as a family, they open the door and saw Robert down on one knee in front of Michelle which made Carla and Peter share a smirk between each other at the thought of another family wedding.
"Michelle Connor, will you marry me?" Robert questions as Hayley starts to laugh hysterically at the fact Robert was down on one knee
"Why is Robert on the floor?" Hayley giggles as Peter covers Hayley's mouth to shut her up causing her to shove his hand away
"So?" Robert questions to Michelle who glances to Carla who had her eyebrows raised
"Yes, I'll marry you" Michelle beams as Robert kisses her briefly before sliding the ring onto her finger "Perfect fit"
"Can I be a bridesmaid?" Hayley whines heading over to Michelle who lifts her onto her hip "Please"
"We'll have to see" Michelle grins kissing her on the forehead "How was the tour around your nursery?"
"Good, I liked it" Hayley grins as Michelle kisses her on the forehead again "Can I have a lemonade mummy?"
"As it's a special occasion" Carla shakes her head at her daughter watching as Michelle places her on the floor "Congratulations you two!" she beams bringing Michelle in for a hug "So you're not going to be a Connor anymore?"
"Oi! I'll always be a Connor, born a Connor always a Connor" Michelle chuckles handing Carla a champagne flute "To the future?"
"To the future" Carla nods clinking her glass with Michelle's "Anyway we were wondering if we could get some food as we have nothing in"
"Yeah of course" Michelle smiles leading them to a table "Do you need a highchair?"
"Yes please" Carla smiles shuffling into the booth, Hayley beside her "What do you want for lunch then Hayley?" she asks as Hayley contemplates the question
"Pasta" Hayley replies as Carla nods watching Peter sit with Emma until she starts to cry "Why does she always cry!" she whines
"Hayley" Carla scolds as Peter hands Emma to Carla "Come on darling" she whispers holding Emma close to her which immediately settles her
"Here's your highchair and here are your menus" Michelle grins placing them down on the table as Hayley takes one of them causing Carla to raise an eyebrow knowing she couldn't read
"Can I have the menu, Hayley?" Carla questions as Hayley rolls her eyes handing her mother the menu "Thank you darling"
"Whatever" she replies moodily still annoyed with the attention Emma was receiving "Can I have the macaroni cheese?"
"Yeah that's fine" Michelle smiles writing it down on her notepad as Carla rolls her eyes before mulling through the menu "I'll have the carbonara"
"Ok, and Peter?" Michelle questions as Peter hums glancing through the menu
"Steak and chips"
"Classy" Carla mutters causing Peter to kick her under the table "Oi!"
"Ok don't play footsie with the children present. Save it for the bedroom" Michelle groans before sauntering off to process the order causing a smirk to be shared between Carla and Peter
The whole family ate their food and then headed home. Carla and Peter were chilling on the sofa with Hayley and Emma as they watch a film together as a family knowing that it hadn't really happened since Carla started back at Underworld, their bodies were pressed together cuddling contently on the sofa, Emma sitting on Carla's lap as she sleeps contently whilst Hayley cuddled with Peter.
"We need to do her therapy" Carla murmurs as Peter hums in response not wanting to disturb her "I don't want to disturb her though"
"Just do double tomorrow then" Peter whispers as Carla nods before yawning "Why don't you have a nap as well?"
"I might just do that" Carla whispers as Peter smiles at her as she holds Emma close to her chest moving gently so she didn't deserve her allowing her to lie across the sofa with her feet resting on Peter's lap
"Daddy" Hayley whispers into his ear as Carla gets comfortable and drifts off to sleep "Tickle"
"Hayley" Peter gasps as Hayley glints cheekily at him, Tilly, the dog, jumping up beside Hayley on the sofa, the rule of no dogs on the furniture going out of the window rather quickly
"We have to wait though" Hayley whispers into Peter's ear who chuckles at his daughter's idea knowing it would really wind Carla up if she was disturbed from her sleep "Promise you will wait?"
"I promise baby," Peter says pressing a finger to his lips and Hayley doing the same to hers as they return their attention back to the TV until Carla starting snoring rather cutely Hayley smirking to Peter
"You do it" she hisses as Peter raises his eyebrows causing Hayley to roll her eyes and tickle Carla's feet causing her to groan in response
"Hayley" Carla murmurs as Emma wakes up pulling on Carla's hair "Go to sleep Em" she whispers as Emma bursts into tears again causing Carla to sigh in response and wake up to cuddle her "I'm sorry baby"
"Oh dear," Peter pouts his lips as Carla sighs in response knowing when Emma was told to do something she didn't or if she didn't understand what she was being asked to do she would get frustrated and annoyed "Why don't we chill in the hot tub?"
"Yeah ok," Carla smiles lifting Emma onto her hip as she grips onto more of Carla's hair pulling at it causing Carla to shriek in pain "Emma! That hurt!" she exclaims as Emma screams more, causing Peter to take her off Carla
"Let go of mummy's hair," Peter says as Emma's lip trembles causing Peter to pry Carla's hair out of Emma's hand which just caused more cries "Come on, quieten down" he whispers holding Emma close to him, her face hot and sticky from all the tears which just kept flowing "Let's get you your toy," he says bouncing her up and down gently as Hayley appears
"Can you tell her to be quiet!" Hayley shouts storming up the stairs to get some peace and slamming the door to her room like she was some sort of teenager
"Hayley Michelle Barlow, what have I said about slamming doors!" Carla calls chasing after her daughter leaving Peter with Emma who was still very unhappy "Why are you being like this?" she glares entering Hayley's room as Hayley just shrugs her shoulders moodily in return
"No comment" she sasses causing Carla to scoff in response at her smart attitude
"Hayley, what has gotten into you today? You were moody at the bistro and now you're going around acting ten years older than you are" Carla laments sitting on the bed with Hayley wondering if there was something else which was going on behind the scenes
"You're always spending time with Emma! We never get to do anything just us anymore as Emma's always needing you!" she exclaims before bursting into tears causing Carla to sigh in response bringing her daughter in for a hug as she cries, Carla never really saw Hayley cry as she was pretty much the spit of her father refusing to show her true emotions as well as being like her with putting on a front
"I'm sorry baby" Carla whispers feeling quite upset that Hayley thought the way that she did but she also knew this whole situation with Emma wouldn't be easy on everyone and that within time something like this would happen leaving her confused at what to do next "Why don't we do something? Just me and you?"
"You're lying!" Hayley exclaims tearfully causing Carla to sigh knowing her promises must feel rather empty at times
"Hayley, I'm trying to fix this and you're not letting me" she groans in annoyance "Why don't we go to that new ice cream shop in town? Just me and you. We can have some girly time?"
"Promise?" Hayley questions tearfully as Carla smiles at her daughter's hesitation
"I promise" Carla whispers wiping her tears away as Peter appears with Emma who was still screaming her head off in the midst of a prolonged meltdown "Can you just take her into our room?"
"Ok but I'm going to get a burst eardrum in a minute" Peter moans as Carla smiles slightly watching as he takes Emma into their room
"The thing is Hayley" Carla smiles running a hand through her daughter's hair "Emma has a lot of special requirements as you know which make her need help to do the things that you can do"
"Like what?" she scoffs
"Like walking and talking" Carla explains "When you were Emma's age you could walk and talk whereas she can't do those things because of something that happened to her when she was in mummy's tummy"
"What happened?" Hayley questions innocently as Carla smiles slightly at her daughter's inquisitive nature
"I can't tell you until you're a bit older" she whispers as Hayley rolls her eyes moodily "You wouldn't understand baby, I'm not doing this to annoy you"
"Ok" Hayley sighs clinging onto her mother "Is that why she sees Jill?"
"Yeah, it's to help us help her as well as Jill helping her as well, it's why we have to spend time with her doing her speaking and her walking" Carla explains as Hayley nods at her mother "Why don't you get your swimsuit on then we can get in the hot tub? We can talk some more before bed if you want to ask me anything else?"
"Ok mummy, thank you" Hayley replies sweetly kissing her mother on the cheek as Carla smiles at the innocent gesture before getting up and walking to her and Peter's room where he finally managed to settle Emma
"I'm so sorry, baby" Carla sighs in response as Peter presses her finger to his lips knowing that Emma needed some quiet time to contemplate everything "Ah quiet time"
"Do you want to go to mummy Em?" Peter questions as Emma looks up at him before smiling "I'll take that a yes" he whispers handing Emma over to Carla who holds her daughter close giving her time to contemplate everything "I'll go and get her swimsuit"
"Alright" Carla whispers running her hand up and down Emma's back to comfort her as well as humming to her gently watching as Peter reappears with her swimsuit "Come on then poppet, let's get you changed"
The whole family including Simon and Tilly, the puppy, sitting beside the hot tub. The girls played in the tub with some toys that Peter brought down from the bath, Emma trying to join in the best she could even though she wasn't as fast as Hayley so instead she spent most of her time clinging onto Carla or Peter. Once they had finished in the hot tub, Carla gave Hayley and Emma a bath and then did the bedtime ritual before falling into bed with Peter.
"So then what's up with our Hayley?" he questions as Carla sighs resting her head on his chest before rubbing her eyes
"She's just upset about how my life revolves around Emma, I tried to explain to her its not like that" Carla groans as Peter smiles knowing it must be difficult for her, "I said that we would go out on Saturday for some girly time with just me and her"
"That's fine, I'm meant to be taking Si to football then doing a shift at the bookies"
"I'll have to ask Gail then," Carla says as Peter smiles "Yeah I'll ask her it'll give us both a break, I'm sure she would be willing to help"
"Yeah? Ok then that's settled, don't forget to ring her though" Peter says poking her on the nose as she grins before cries interrupt them from the baby monitor causing Carla to rush into the room in fear of waking Hayley knowing it was Emma who was most likely unsettled "It's ok" she whispers soothingly to her daughter before leaving the room allowing Hayley to sleep before bumping into Peter in the hallway "Come on baby, you can sleep with us"
"She's been really unhappy today" Peter pouts his lips running a hand over Emma's head as Carla sighs in response both of them climbing back into bed, Emma snuggled in between the both of them whimpering to herself
"Jill said that she would have good days and bad, this is just one of those days where she needs more attention from us than usual, hopefully, tomorrow will be better"
"So another sleepless night then?" Peter questions as Carla nods letting Emma rest her head on her chest
"Yeah, put the TV on" Carla hums running her fingers through Emma's blonde hair as her eyes dart around the room "Looks like I will probably have to take the day off work as well"
"She might be fine by the morning, let's just try and settle her then we can see cant we?"
"Yeah I guess you're right