Thank you all for the reviews, they are all appreciated.
I was wondering if you would like me to do the roof collapse, I kind of like Carla being in Underworld right now and forevermore so now Peter has his own business. I actually thought of another story which could replace it involving, Michelle, Carla, Robert and Peter instead of doing Carla's mental health/psychosis and the roof collapse. So let me know if you want me to do the story I thought of or the roof collapse.
A month later and everything was going smoothly. Carla gave Aidan more control over the factory and the management of it which please him, this gave her more time to spend with Hayley. Emma's progress seemed to have halted slightly which Carla was concerned about but her occupational therapist, Jill, said that sometimes it will especially if she had been having a series of bad days so she decided that she would up the sessions to four times a week instead of three which just added more pressure on Carla as the only day she could do was a Friday and she promised Hayley that it would be their day when they spent time together just the both of them, but Peter found a way to help Carla out so he ended up taking Emma to therapy on Friday's instead on working at the bookies.
As they entered the month of March, Carla knew Peter's birthday was fast approaching and she wanted to do something special for it, she had few plans which may upset certain individuals but she was going to speak to said individuals before she went ahead and did it.
Carla was on her way to Gail's with Emma in her arms, today was special as Michelle was going to be trying on some wedding dresses for her wedding in May but before they headed into town Carla really needed to speak to Gail.
"Carla!" Gail greets her as Carla smiles "And how is little Emma today?"
"She's very hyper surprisingly" Carla frowns as Emma laughs at her "She's started saying Mumma as well"
"Oh, that's good!" Gail beams as Emma reaches her arms out to be held by Gail "Come here then sweetheart"
"There was something I wanted to ask you, you don't have to agree with what I'm about to say but I thought I'd may as well ask I guess…you know what it doesn't matter" Carla rambles on as Gail sighs taking her hand
"Sit down, I'll make you a brew" Gail smiles as Carla nods slowly taking a seat on the sofa as Gail places Emma on the floor causing her to crawl over to Carla and use the sofa to help her into a standing position before attempting to climb onto the sofa
"It's a bit high for you Em" Carla giggles helping her daughter up onto the sofa as Gail returns with a couple of coffees
"So, what did you want to ask me?"
"You're not going to like it" Carla sighs in response as Gail takes one of her hands "It's Peter's birthday next month and I was wondering if he could adopt Emma?"
"Oh" Gail replies dismissively as Carla bites her lip in response "Your reasons for this?"
"Well, I just feel like he deserves some sort of legal responsibility for her, I know he sees her as a daughter but I feel like having it on paper will reinforce her more. He would never take Nick's place, I want to assure you of that, she won't even call Peter daddy if she is adopted by him-"
"Carla" Gail smiles taking her hands "Do it"
"W-What?" Carla stammers as Gail smiles "Are you serious?"
"Yeah" Gail rolls her eyes "He's really proven himself and when I went with him to her therapy that time he really does love her and treats her like she's his own"
"Are you sure?" Carla brings a hand up to her mouth as Gail brings her in for a hug "Thank you so much"
"Carla, I know you will always let me see her and I would rather her have a dad which was around instead of fantasising over one which is dead, I know that sounds really crass but…you get what I mean. I want her to live a normal childhood with two loving parents"
"You're definitely sure? You're not saying this out of courtesy?" Carla questions as Gail smiles shaking her head
"Carla, just do it" Gail nods as Carla smiles in response nodding "Go on, go out and I will spend time with this little munchkin" she grins tickling Emma who squeals excitably
"Thank you so much, Gail," Carla says getting up and leaving the house relieved that she could be able to do this for Peter as well as her family…
Carla met Michelle, Maria and Kate in town at a wedding dress boutique. This brought back loads of reminders in remembrance of her own wedding when she was trying on dresses, she laughed at the fact she got married whilst nine months pregnant with Emma and not even known about it but those memories didn't matter right now as Carla witnessed Michelle step out in her first choice of dress; an A-line gown with lace and a delicate white material falling around her feet.
"Oh 'Chelle" Carla whispers as Michelle's tearstained face comes into view "You look amazing"
"It does look truly amazing" Kate nods as the shop assistant grabs a veil and puts in her hair "That's the one!"
"Yeah I think so too" Michelle smiles as well as wiping her eyes "I can't wait to marry the man of my dreams"
"And you deserve it babe" Carla reminds her as Michelle twirls around in her dress "Are you picking out bridesmaid dresses as well?"
"Hmm yeah I guess we could have a look, is grey good for everyone?"
"Yeah it's fine" Maria smiles as Michelle grins excitably at the fact this was actually happening "It's your wedding after all"
"Yeah I can boss you all around" Michelle sniggers as Carla shoots her a look "You love it really"
"Hmm we'll see on the day" Carla replies rolling her eyes "Look do you mind if I get off I need to see someone in town, it's a surprise for Peter's birthday"
"Oooh, what are you getting hubbykins?" Kate glints as Carla raises her eyebrows in response at her interrogation
"None of you're business"
"Something naughty then" Michelle snickers as Kate bursts out laughing "It's lingerie"
"No actually it's a piece of paper requiring a signature, so I will love you and leave you all" Carla says grabbing her bag and slinging it onto her shoulder as well as causing a confused look from everyone "Goodbye"
Carla headed to her solicitor in a bid to get this whole situation with the adoption sorted. The meeting went well and Carla managed to get the process started by the solicitor informing the local council about the request for Peter to adopt Emma. Carla then headed back home and collected Hayley from nursery on the way then she headed to Gail's to collect Emma as well as quietly notifying Gail that she started the process of adoption which she agreed she would help with at any cost. Carla then went home and was greeted by Peter and Simon watching football on the telly so she decided she would just play with the girls in the garden until they had finished.
Dinner soon came and Peter cooked for everyone, as usual. They had a stir fry which everyone enjoyed as well as the daily tease of imagining if Carla cooked it. Simon then banished himself to his room and that left Carla, Peter and Emma to watch TV together as well as Carla doing Emma's speech therapy, Hayley asleep upstairs.
"Can you say ahhh?" Carla questions making the motion with her mouth as Emma looks up at her opening her mouth "Ahh?"
"Ma" Emma repeats as Carla beams in response tickling her which causes plenty of giggles using it as a reward
"Well done!" Carla emphasises knowing it was better to reward her for very minor effort instead of looming on what she pronounced incorrectly "Can you say eeeee?"
"Eee" Emma repeats as Carla gasps in response as well as Peter knowing Emma always struggled with that sound
"Good girl!" Carla exclaims tickling her again causing more giggles from her before she holds up a list of letters "Point" Carla says as she points to a letter as Emma frowns in confusion "Like this?" she says taking Emma's hand and putting it on a letter as Emma giggles
"Ma!" Emma exclaims tapping on the letter 'k'
"That's kicking k," Carla says as Emma looks up at her with a smile on her face "Can you say 'k' Emma?" she questions as Emma just stares straight ahead refusing to engage "Why don't you pick another one?" she prompts holding the page of letters in front of Emma before she bursts into tears in frustration "It's ok, we'll stop"
"Does she want her squeezy thing with the lights?" Peter questions as Carla nods trying to hush Emma who was crying into her chest "Here Em" he says handing her the sensory toy as she squeezes it "All calm now"
"Hmm good idea" Carla nods as Peter smirks at her "How about we read a book sweetheart?" she suggests as Emma just cuddles into her "Ok we'll just cuddle and play with your toy"
"Mummy!" Hayley calls having entered the room "I can't sleep!"
"Why?" Carla questions pressing a finger to her daughter's lips so she didn't disturb Emma's quiet time
"Simon's playing his music!" Hayley shouts as Emma's lip trembles, Carla watching as she begins to cry again
"Come on, I'll go and have a word," Peter says taking Hayley's hand and leads her upstairs to give Emma the calming down time she needed
"Em?" Carla questions tilting her face up to meet hers "Hi beautiful"
"Mama!" Emma exclaims as well as clapping causing Carla's heart to melt as Peter re-enters the room
"Are we all nice and calm?" Peter questions as Carla hums in response "I was thinking actually, why don't we ask Simon to move into the attic? That way he can play his music as loud as he wants, I was also thinking about maybe adding a conservatory?"
"Hmm that's actually a good idea" Carla smiles "It would be good to let Emma have her own space instead of her sharing with Hayley"
"We can make it all nice as well, give her the sensory stimulation she may need as well as making it all comfy for her?" Peter suggests as Carla nods eagerly watching as Emma reaches her arms out to be held by Peter "Come on then"
"See if you can get her to do some" Carla says as Peter nods taking the list of letters off Carla and attempting to get Emma to recite some of them "Jill said to start her on her phonics as well"
"She's going to get so frustrated though" Peter sighs as Carla nods "Maybe we need to take a cruel to be kind approach?"
"Maybe…she's not sleeping well at the moment so she requires so much attention" Carla hums in response sitting next to Peter on the sofa "Maybe we should get her some more toys for her cot? When we do eventually move her room?"
"What's this?" Simon questions having come downstairs to grab some water as well as spend time with Carla and Peter
"We wanted to ask you, how would you feel about moving into the study?" Peter questions as Simon hums in response "We're just thinking about Emma really, she's going to need her own space"
"Ok then" Simon shrugs not really having an opinion on it "It'll stop me from annoying Hayley as well when she's trying to sleep"
"So you'd be up for it?" Carla questions as Simon nods in response "Good, we'll have to go out and look for furniture and stuff"
"Anything for you to be able to go shopping" Peter mutters as Carla shoots him a look "Love you"
"Yeah, I love you too" Carla rolls her eyes before snuggling into Peter's body, Emma patting her head "Why don't you ask some builders for some quotes tomorrow?"
"I'll do some research" Peter smiles kissing Carla on the forehead as Emma starts to cry again "What's up Em?"
"Come here" Carla whispers taking Emma into her arms and sitting down on the rocking chair, letting her rest her head in the crook of her arm "Go to sleep, how about we get you a bottle?"
"I'll do it" Peter says as Carla sways back and forth gently on the chair trying to keep quiet so Emma could have some time to contemplate things "Here"
"Em?" Carla questions giving her the bottle as well as pointing to her mouth "Mouth" she prompts as Emma smiles putting the bottle in her mouth as Carla smiles watching Emma drink her milk
"Did Michelle pick out a dress?" Peter whispers as Carla hums in response
"She did, she looked amazing" Carla beams as Emma's eyelids flutter shut as she enjoys her bottle "Finished?" she says as Emma drops her bottle having drifted off to sleep "We might actually get a good night sleep for once"
"Hmm chance would be a fine thing" Peter mutters as Carla stands up with Emma in her arms to take her upstairs and put her in her cot before returning and settling down with Peter "You can go to bed you know"
"Hmm yeah, you should too, we were up all night last night," Carla says as Peter nods slowly turning the TV off and taking Carla's hand as well as leading her upstairs and into bed, both of them hoping that Emma wont wake them as well as Hayley…