My internet was playing up so I thought I would do another update, I don't know how you will feel about this one but...we'll see
As soon as Carla reached the thirty week mark she was starting to mentally prepare herself for the baby, they were finally starting to struggle with hiding their daughter and Carla knew it was starting to become an impossibility so she spoke to Debbie and agreed she would work from home from now on as it reduced the risk of bumping into anyone she knew. They had made a deal with each other and that was to make sure that if a family meal occurred with either of their families they would decline and not go because this pregnancy was not getting out. Carla even suggested going to Ireland for a bit, she was convinced that getting away again would be better than staying here and Peter sighed knowing she had been feeling really uncomfortable in her own home for some reason and that the pregnancy was giving her a sense of escapism all of a sudden. Maybe she thought that when the baby was here they wouldn't be doing anything so Peter fulfilled her wishes and planned a romantic weekend in Ireland for them both.
"I have a surprise for you"
"Is it pineapple?" she questions, her eyes pleading for the sweetness of the fruit, Peter pulls a face
"You do realise we have run out"
"What?" her eyes widen in complete shock of this news, he laughs slightly on the wind-up "Don't you dare joke about that!"
"Sorry baby, too hard to resist"
"What's my surprise then?" she groans as Peter passes her some tickets, she squeals excitedly and gasps "Seriously?"
"Of course I know you've been wanting to see Michelle in person-"
"Well its mainly in case she doesn't come back for Christmas I just want to see her with my own eyes and hug her-"
"Soppy mare"
"Shut it" she pouts her lips examining the tickets "A five-star hotel as well, I love you so much"
"Because you can't fly we'll have to catch the ferry so I'll need you to pack like pronto because we need to catch the one after lunch"
"Ok!" she beams jumping out of bed and humming at her wardrobe, Peter pulls her holdall down from the top of the wardrobe "Ok so I need a dress for romantic stuff"
"I'll leave you to it, Simon's going to stay here as it's only for the weekend" he nods, she giggles and grins and if he was honest it was good to see her in a good mood for once
"Ok!" she smiles and he pecks her on the lips as she continues packing for the both of them...
As soon as she finished packing Peter made her some food then they said goodbye to Simon before heading off to the ferry. Carla slept on the journey there and when they finally got booked in he had another surprise for her that he didnt tell her about but he was sure she would love it. When they got off the ferry they then travelled to the hotel and booked in for the night before he ordered her to get ready as they were going to go down to dinner soon but little did she know that Michelle would be joining them and Peter had concocted another plan which he was sure she would be happy about.
"How do I look?" she questions biting her lip, Peter smiles and immediately places his hands on her bump
"Beautiful" he smiles kissing her on the lips softly then her bump before laughing at the movements his daughter was making inside of her mother "I'm sure she'll settle down"
"Yeah let's hope" Carla drones grabbing her leather jacket "It's nice to be able to wear this consider I try and hide her all the time"
"I bet it is" he confirms, she giggles and grabs her clutch bag "Let's head down because I have another surprise for you"
"You're full of them today aren't you?" she questions rolling her eyes as they enter the elevator to go down to the restaurant and as soon as they enter the lobby, she squeals and rushes over to Michelle "Michelle!"
"Hey...look at you!" she gasps, Carla wipes her eyes "Hormones in full force I see"
"Oh my god I love you!" Carla exclaims hugging Peter who raises his eyebrows at her newfound energy, "Where's our table then?"
"This way" Michelle rolls her eyes and leads her over "I went for a private-ish one because I thought we could do with the privacy"
"Good choice" Carla sits down on the sofa, Peter sits beside her and holds her hand "It's good to see you 'Chelle"
"You too, you're glowing and much bigger than when I last saw you on video" she smirks, Carla laughs slightly placing a hand over her bump, Peter does the same causing him to laugh
"Ew" Peter pulls a face watching a limb protrude on Carla's bump, she winces
"Of course she decides to do this now" Carla grimaces, Peter rubs her back as she leans forward "Please you're hurting me..."
"Breathe it through" he chuckles, she closes her eyes and hums causing Michelle to take her hand
"Ah!" she hisses "She's going to be grounded when she graces us with her appearance"
"Does she move a lot then?" Michelle asks, Carla shoots her a look "I'll take that as a yes"
"All the time it's non stop, I'm more worried when she doesn't move for a couple of hours" Carla sighs leaning back, Michelle places her hand on Carla's bump "Weird she stops when you put your hand on me, if it was me or Peter we would have ten front rolls by now"
"You seem to be adapting well" Michelle observes, Carla nods and grins
"We're just excited to meet her if I'm honest, its just a waiting game now and yeah...you know how it is" Carla shrugs, Peter smiles
"I say we order" Peter smiles as Carla picks up a menu and skims over it "Here we go I guarantee I can guess what she's going to have"
"Shut up" she silences him, Michelle laughs
"Gourmet kebab..." he trails off, she glares at him and clenches her jaw "Seriously, she's addicted"
"I had to get him to get me a kebab at gone one in the morning in town for me the other day, he was not happy" Carla tuts "Blame your child for that, I usually hate kebabs"
"Even I can vouch for her on that one" Michelle mutters, Peter chuckles "What drinks do you guys want, I'm paying for them so..."
"Uh maybe we could go all out and have some mocktails"
"And we all know why that is because there's a pineapple martini on there" he drones
"Do you actually want a slap Peter?" she questions, Michelle laughs slightly "You don't need to out my cravings to Michelle"
"I'm just saying!" he defends himself, she pouts her lips as the tears fill her eyes "For god's sakes don't cry"
"Sorry" she whispers wiping her eyes "It's just...she wants it so much"
"Right..." Michelle trails off before laughing "Is she usually this bad-"
"Shut up" Carla snaps, Peter just raises his eyebrows at her outburst, she pouts her lips
"In case you haven't realised Michelle she's highly hormonal" Peter tilts his head to the side, Carla just hits him on the arm "Ok, alright calm it down"
"How about we lounge out in the spa tomorrow Car?" Michelle suggests, Carla narrows her eyes and folds her arms across her chest "Maybe a massage will calm you down-"
"No" she shakes her head, Peter frowns "I want to be with Peter"
"And now we've reverted to being a child again and needy for attention" Peter rolls his eyes, Carla pouts her lips and huffs before beckoning a waiter over to order their food and drinks
"Right now that we've ordered lets talk" Michelle groans, Carla smirks at her "What now?"
"Who was that guy you shagged" she raises her eyebrows folding her arms across her chest defiantly, Michelle glares at her
"Baby the whole point of this trip was not to wind Michelle up..."
"Shut up Peter" she smiles sarcastically at him, she looks at Michelle again who looked rather sheepish "It's Ciaran then"
"What?" Peter exclaims in complete shock "You're shagging Ciaran again-"
"She always has that look about her when he's involved" Carla waves her finger around, Michelle frowns "So then when's the wedding-"
"Who says there is one?"
"Well its Ciaran isnt it?" Carla drones rolling her eyes before yelping "Oi! Bitch child-"
"Carla" Peter scolds, she glares at him and clenches her jaw "Don't call your child a bitch please"
"She was the one who just tried to make me pee myself Peter I can call her what I want, now excuse me I need to pee" she says getting out of the booth and heading to the toilets, Michelle and Peter share awkward looks
"Is she usually this bad?"
"Yep you get used to it..." Peter trails off, Michelle chuckles "Misty isnt here so she usually calms her down so the dog was definitely the best thing for her, we're currently training her to identify when she's feeling a bit uptight and emotional"
"Thats a good idea knowing she's very much a closed book" Michelle nods, Peter smiles "Well it's nice to see her either way"
"Yeah she is happy about being here even if she is snappy and highly hormonal"
"Back" Carla huffs sitting beside Peter and resting her head on his shoulder "Please give me a break child"
"Hopefully we can eat soon so we can go back to the room and you can rest" Peter runs his fingers through her hair, Carla just yawns and nods as the waiter comes over with their food and places it down on the table
"Oh thank you" she says licking her lips and digging into her food as soon as its placed on the table, Michelle chuckles slightly
"So are you ok going to the spa tomorrow then?"
"Yeah thats fine, I brought a swimming costume so yeah" Carla shrugs eating her kebab, Peter chuckles at her "I was just upset that Peter wouldn't be there but then I realised that we can do something after the spa"
"Yeah sounds good" Peter smiles "I'll go and pick up something for Si because I think he deserves a medal for dealing with your moods"
"Hmm yeah I guess so" she shrugs picking up a sachet of dressing "Well its great to see ya 'Chelle and I hope you come back for Christmas"
"We'll see" Michelle smiles, Carla grins at her and takes hold of Peter's hand she smiles at him and he pecks her on the lips "Anyone could hazard a bet on what you two will be doing tonight-"
"Michelle" Carla kicks her under the table
"She's addicted to that as well" Peter drones, Carla hits him on the arm "What?"
"Yeah well even if it is...I'm pregnant"
"I say we finish this off before we're all put off our food..."
After they had finished their meals Carla and Peter made their way up to their hotel room as she was just so exhausted and practically dropping off against Peter's body so Michelle said for them to go before she fell asleep. Of course when they got into the hotel room Carla had a burst of energy causing him to groan in annoyance as he was pretty exhausted as well. She immediately pounced on him and they soon ended up in bed together making use of the quiet hotel room to do whatever they wanted. After they had finished he kissed her on the head as they caught their breath.
"Mmm" she mumbles against his chest, she looks up at him, her cheeks flushed "That was amazing baby"
"Yeah," he says quietly, one of his hands on the small of her back "You should get ready for bed"
"Hmm yeah" she yawns again cupping his face, she kisses him and he immediately reciprocates as he pulls her into his body, they just kiss and Carla's hands rake through his hair before resting her forehead against his
"Perfect" he whispers pecking her on the lips, she kisses him again, their tongues gliding around each other's "You're going to be amazing in these next couple of months"
"Maybe" she muses kissing him again, they just continue to kiss for a bit before he pulls away
"You will, perfect" he kisses her once more, she hums and pulls away
"You'll be pretty perfect as well" she smirks, he chuckles slightly and kisses her, she accepts again "I love you"
"I love you too" he whispers cupping her cheek "Both of you"
"Mhm" she kisses him once more enjoying this intimacy as it really didnt feel as if they did this enough, it was all just about sex but this was about both of them and them being honest with each other and being intimate without sex
"Here" he reaches over to the bedside cabinet, he pulls out a box for her and she frowns and opens it seeing an engagement ring
"Huh?" she frowns taking the ring out and letting it catch the moonlight, he smiles at her
"You needed an engagement ring" he smirks, she chuckles slightly and shakes her head "I also have another surprise for you when the baby's born to do with this ring but right now this is for you"
"You're full of surprises aren't you Mr Barlow" she smirks and he kisses her before sliding the ring onto her finger
"A good surprise though?" he confirms, she nods slowly biting her lip
"The perfect surprise" she confirms with a grin, he kisses her forehead and then her lips once more "This is why I love you"
"Well you'll be loved by me forevermore"
"Good, I wouldn't have it any other way"
The next day soon came and Carla got her bag ready for the spa, she was exhausted with the whole of last night so she was hoping to unwind with Peter later on after the massage wanting to do something with just him even though this trip was about her seeing Michelle just in case she didnt make it back for Christmas. Carla went into the bathroom and decided to have a bath, Peter sitting with her and holding her hand as she wasn't really feeling great for some reason and Peter put it down to last night but she assured him it wasn't that and that the baby was making her feel rather ill, he just hoped that this massage would help her later. Michelle met her in the hotel reception and if she was honest Carla just didnt look great so they actually didnt end up going to the massage after all and instead chilled in the hotel room.
"I bet this wasn't what you had in mind this weekend" Carla moans pressing a hand to her head, Michelle rubs her back and smiles slightly at her dishevelled state
"Well not exactly but the baby comes first" Michelle chuckles, Carla groans and rushes into the bathroom, she leans over the toilet and throws up "Lovely"
"Shut it" she raises a hand up to Michelle's face, she holds her friends hair back for her
"Do you want me to ring Peter-"
"No" she sighs "This is meant to be our day and she's just ruining it for me because she knows I want this its the sort of thing she does"
"Or maybe she just wants her mother to relax?" Michelle questions, Carla sighs and nods standing up and grabbing the mouthwash "Maybe get some sleep Carla"
"Yeah" she rubs her eyes tiredly "I'm sorry-"
"You don't need to apologise" she chuckles guiding her over to the bed, Carla gets in and Michelle pulls the duvet over her until the door went "Hey"
"Oh aren't you meant to be at the spa?" Peter frowns placing the bag he had down on the table, Carla sighs tearfully
"She's feeling rough" Michelle informs him, "We thought it was best that she rested"
"Oh love" he whispers kissing her on the back of the head, she grabs onto his hand and places it on her tummy
"When she moves she's just making me feel worse" she complains, Michelle pouts her lips and kneels down beside the bed "I am not doing this again in a rush"
"You'll probably hit the menopause before you do" Michelle chuckles, Carla glares at her before sighing and allowing Peter to rub her tummy "Is there anything I can get for you in town?"
"No it's ok, we'll just ride it through here" Carla confirms, Michelle nods "You don't have to stay either"
"Hey I want to" she says quietly, "This is our day together"
"Oh no" Carla jumps out of bed and rushing to the bathroom, Peter follows her and pulls her hair back "Why now!"
"Calm down" Peter whispers as she just sobs against his chest, Michelle offers a sympathetic smile "It'll stop she's just letting you know she's ok"
"What if its not ok though!" Carla exclaims tearfully, Peter sighs and rolls his eyes knowing her emotions were getting to her
"This has happened before baby, you just have to ride it through" Peter says gently, she sighs and nods knowing he was right "Come on get back into bed, maybe we could all go out later or something for a walk?"
"Yeah ok" Carla nods getting back into bed, "Could 'Chelle lay with me?"
"Sure if that makes you feel better" Michelle smiles lying beside Carla on top of the covers, she takes her hand and places it on her bump "Flippin' heck"
"Now you know what I have to deal with when this baby is on form with her movements"
"You should tranquilise this child for your wife Peter"
"I can't tell if thats an innuendo or not" he mutters watching the TV, Carla looks up at her husband
"Shut up before you get me in the mood again" she mutters, Michelle giggles causing Peter to groan and return to watching the TV "Right thats it!"
"What now?" Michelle sighs watching Carla pick up her coat and shove it on "Carla where are you going?"
"Out because sometimes walking settles her" she snaps back, Michelle looks at Peter "Alone, please don't follow me"
"What's got you all het up?" Peter sighs as Carla glares at him before storming out of the hotel room
"I'll go, see if I can get it out of her," Michelle says, Peter nods slowly
"Well good luck" Peter breathes out watching Michelle leave the room as well, she clocks Carla waiting at the lift
"If you're going I'm coming with you" she states, Carla rolls her eyes dramatically as they get in the elevator, they don't say a word and Michelle knew this would be one of the most awkward walks yet...
The hotel was near the harbour and somehow the salt air was helping settle Carla's stomach but the tediousness of the silence they were walking in was really unsettling for Michelle who needed to keep an eye on Peter. Eventually Carla slowed as they got to the beach, she walked down the pier and sat on one of the benches at the end of it, Michelle sat with her and they didnt say anything. Michelle didnt really want to start the conversation as it needed to be on Carla's terms, she didnt know how her friend was feeling and that worried her a bit.
"I'm sorry for snapping" she says, Michelle takes her hand and squeezes it "My emotions have been all over the place since I've been up the stick"
"And thats natural" Michelle informs her, Carla scoffs "What's this really about because I'm guessing its not about the baby"
"No it's not, you're right"
"So what's it about then?"
"The future I suppose" she shrugs looking at her friend "I'm just scared, the closer I get to meeting her then the more the reality of the situation kicks in"
"The reality of what? Meeting her and having someone to look after? Or something else...I hate to say it to you babe but I'm not a mind reader"
"Abut the future when she's here" Carla says vaguely, Michelle nods slowly "You do realise I could get ill again and I guess thats been playing on my mind"
"What like...psychosis?"
"Possibly, postnatal depression...its just...crazy to think about how something positive in the form of my baby could affect me negatively when it should be positive. I just don't know how to tell Peter about the way I feel, he's been great he really has before you start, he's been grounding me when I panic, when I get those thoughts about becoming ill but the closer it gets...its just horrible to think about it but for some reason I'm so sensitive, no doubt down to hormones and all that but its just hard to think that the future could start of negatively"
"Wow" Michelle breathes out and widens her eyes "This is probably the first time you've been that honest with me to this extent"
"Yeah it probably is" she chuckles slightly in realisation "I guess it means I miss ya"
"Hmm I miss you too" Michelle confirms as they look out to sea "Maybe you could write it down for him?"
"I've tried but when I pick up the pen I stop myself"
"I know" Michelle smirks pulling out a notepad from her bag, Carla frowns "I'm a waitress...I'm going to have spares..."
"Whatever" she rolls her eyes watching her find a pen and passing it to Carla who sighs and shakes her head
"Right I'll write down what you said to me then" Michelle rolls her eyes and begins to write, Carla just looks out to sea until Michelle had finished "Here"
"Thanks," Carla says quietly opening the paper that Michelle folded, she reads through it and smiles "Perfect"
"Good now lets get you back to Peter it's freezing out here" she shivers, Carla chuckles and links her arm through her friends "It'll be ok baby, you'll be amazing. You just need to believe in yourself"
"Yeah I know" she nods as they begin the walk back "My main priority is making sure my little girl's ok, it'll be fine I'm sure of it but sometimes I can't help but have doubts"
"And do you want to know something?"
"What?"
"Thats what being a mum is about. If you have a mindset like that then I have no concern for you. I'll tell you something Car, you will have so much support behind you babe"
"Yeah I guess"
They got home and Michelle said her goodbyes as they were leaving early tomorrow, she also wanted to give Carla an opportunity to speak to Peter about how she felt so she made her excuses to leave. Carla led Peter over to the bed and sat crossed legged in front of him, she didnt really know how to start so she just fiddled with the paper in her hands. Peter didnt want to push her so he just held her hand until she was ready, until she figured out what she wanted to say to him as there was definitely something playing on her mind. He had an inkling he knew what it was but he wasn't going to put words in her mouth.
"How was your walk with Michelle?" he asks, she sighs and fidgets slightly
"Yeah I spoke to her about the way I felt and stuff"
"Ok" he nods smiling at her softly not wanting to pressurise her "Are you ok?"
"She wrote down what I said to her on this bit of paper" she passes it to him, he nods slowly "I don't want you to try and fix what's on that paper, I just wanted to give it to you so you can understand what's going on in my head as you're not a mind reader even if you do know me so well"
"I understand" he breathes out reading the paper, she chews her lip "So you don't want me to suggest a fix or reassure you?"
"Yeah" she nods biting her lip "I just want you to know how I feel because you've reassured me all you can"
"Well thank you sweetheart for getting Michelle to do this for me" he kisses her on the forehead as she settles down beside him, he kisses her on the head as she looks at the paper he was reading again "Let me know when you want reassurance ok? I'm here if you just want to cry and let it all out without saying anything. Your personal punchbag if you like"
"I feel bad though" she admits
"Why?"
"Using you like that" she comments, he nods slowly kissing her on the forehead
"I get you but if it helps you eliminate these feelings then do it because now I know you're not being a moody cow you see?"
"Yeah I guess you're right" she looks up at him "I kind of want to have a nap, could we maybe have cuddles, skin to skin?"
"Go on then go and get changed" he smiles, she gets up and heads into the bathroom before returning and getting into bed with Peter allowing him to hold her
"Here" she puts on the TV finding a movie to watch "Let's just relax, enjoy each other's company"
"Sounds perfect" he kisses her on the forehead, he places the piece of paper on the side and sighs internally at the way she was feeling, he just hoped these feelings would soon vanish because the last thing he wanted her was to get ill again. Granted they had the counselling sessions coming up but he just wished that she had a lot more faith in herself...