A/N: Sorry this is going to be a long author's note but here we go. I was thinking about doing a part three to Apologies Don't Fix Broken Hearts, I had this idea that will soon become apparent and I questioned whether it should be a new story altogether completely separate but the more I thought about it the more foundations were laid out for me to work with. Originally this was going to be added to Apologies Don't Fix Broken Hearts but I think it needs to be separate as the story description wouldn't make sense if I jumped into this one straight from that story.

To cut all of that short this is the sequel to Apologies Don't Fix Broken Hearts

25th December 2020

The cold crisp morning of Christmas day mixed with longing and regret. The past would always be a sticking point much like the future would always be contrary to belief. After all, he was still single, moping around as if he had nothing to live for even though he did without realising. Peter was longing for a future, one where he could be happy and content, have love and make him feel alive.

There was constant bickering mind you, it wouldn't be a Barlow family Christmas if there wasn't. The kids, no longer kids but teenagers had opened their presents all grateful for the technology they had received yet another reminder of how different life had become in a matter of years. Peter still felt as if there was something missing though.

After the Christmas dinner was eaten they decided to go to the pub for an afternoon drink and to chat to the locals. Peter struck up a conversation with Steve who was now with his sister and the more he thought about it the more he sunk in at how, really, everything had changed. Peter was engrossed in his conversation with Steve, both bickering about child arrangements that Leanne had just thrown at them too afraid to disagree until Steve's jaw dropped.

"What?" Peter frowns nudging him, Steve closes his mouth to open it again

"Oh as if it isnt Cruella DeVille" Tracy retorts boldly, Peter's head snaps around at the mention knowing exactly who it was

"Carla!" Roy pipes up from the table beside her, she smiles softly at him "What are you doing here?"

"Um here to see...people" she turns her head to look at Peter who looked shocked at her arrival "It's been a few years"

"I must get you a drink," Roy says, Carla shakes her head before sighing "An orange juice?"

She smiles knowingly,

"Yeah go on then," she says quietly watching as Roy waits at the bar, Peter walks over to her "Hi"

"Hi," he says taking in her presence, she smiles softly at him and he smiles back at her "How are you?"

"Yeah ok," she smiles "You?"

"Good yeah" he smiles back at her, she internally cringes at the small talk they were doing, Roy places her orange juice on the bar "We should catch up some time"

"Yeah, maybe," she says quietly sipping on her orange juice, Peter nods before going back to sit with Steve "You didnt tell me you were in here, thanks a bunch"

"We need to talk" Roy states, Carla sighs and nods slowly "How are you?"

"You know, same old," she says quietly dropping her gaze trying to control the tears "It's been so hard Roy"

"Understandable" he comments with a small smile "You've been through a lot-"

"Keep it down" she hisses, Roy nods stiffly before smiling at her "Let's just enjoy this the best we can then we can talk later, yeah?"

"Of course" Roy smiles, Carla breathes out looking at Peter longingly knowing that the reason she was back would break not just her but him and have the potential to ruin his entire life...

Carla and Roy finished their drinks then went back to his flat, she was exhausted from travelling back here the last few days and Roy could tell that she was just so tired. He made her a coffee and they both sat down on the sofa together, Carla didnt know where to start let alone the worry for the possible lecture she would have off her surrogate father who had actually become really close to her and was currently supporting her through one of the biggest challenges of her life. Roy was observing her, she was nervous and wanted to comfort her and support her through one of the darkest times of her life but right now she was so scared of admitting what was going on because then it would seem real.

"Carla you're allowed to be scared"

"Scared doesn't cover it" she says quietly, Roy places his hand over hers "You understand what it's like"

"I do" Roy confirms, Carla sighs "You also need to tell Peter-"

"How can I do that to him?" she questions in actual disbelief of her predicament "How can I even tell him everything thats happened, he will hate me so much, Roy"

"There's forgiveness and if there is a time for forgiveness it's now"

"I shouldn't have come here-"

"You dont have a choice, Carla"

"I know that!" she cries rubbing her forehead "I need this all to go away so I can live my life, so we can live our lives"

"You will have to tell him eventually if the inevitable happens-"

"Don't say that" she whispers quietly, Roy smiles at her "However hard I try I try my best not to think about the world without..."

"You need to speak to Peter"

"Roy, how do I do that?" she questions looking at him, he sighs in response "How do I tell him that when I left I found out I was up the stick with his child who is now three and a half years old living her life with a death sentence unless she can get help from her big brother who doesn't even know she exists. Tell me, Roy, how do I tell him that?"

"How is Elodie?" he questions, Carla shakes her head before sighing

"Ill, we had a break in treatment so we're back here to try again, back home" she responds quietly, Roy nods "She's so ill Roy, in pain and I'm here having to visit my demons so she can have a chance to live her life"

"Where is she?"

"With Michelle," she says quietly as her phone goes off "Speaking of Michelle...hiya Michelle...I know I'll be with her soon...we have an appointment tomorrow...yeah ok I'll be there as soon as I can just try and keep her comfortable...alright bye"

"You're doing the right thing Carla"

"Am I?"

"You are but you do need to speak to Peter and sooner rather than later" he responds with a nod of his head, Carla sighs knowing he was right, she needed to speak to Peter...

Carla spoke with Roy for a bit, difficult memories from the past coming back for the both of them; Carla with Elodie and Roy with Hayley and that was something that made her realise that she had to do this to make sure that her daughter got better, the daughter that she shared with Peter who didnt know she even existed. When Carla arrived back to the hotel room, she sighed at Michelle's disapproving face when she saw her lying beside her daughter who was crying in distress and that made Carla feel so guilty so she replaced her body with her and gently stroked her daughter's cheek and play with her hand until she was fast asleep beside her once more. Michelle and Carla then slipped into the bathroom to give her some peace.

"You owe me" Michelle states, Carla sighs and nods knowing she was right "I had to travel from Ireland back here for this-"

"Thank you" Carla brings her in for a hug "Did you give her-"

"Yes I followed your instructions" Michelle concerns, Carla breathes out and closes her eyes causing the tears to slip down her face "You look exhausted"

"I am, I'm so tired of having to be strong Michelle" she shakes her head in disbelief "I have to put her first, I have to make sure she's ok now and that she gets better and the only way to do this, the only effective way would be if Simon was a match to be a stem-cell donor"

"And you think Peter and Leanne would let him?"

"I dont know" she shakes her head "But I have to try, for her, for Elodie. She deserves this Michelle, she deserves to have a life like all the other kids her age, she deserves to go to the park and play on the swings, she deserves to go to nursery and experience the world for what it is, instead, she's got endless hospital trips, an illness eating away at her and me having to protect her. How is it fair?"

"You still have your baby" Michelle points out, Carla sighs knowing she was right "I don't have mine, at least you have her"

"Look I know you're bitter-"

"Bitter?" she scoffs with a glare, Carla closes her eyes "You'll still get memories"

"I know that!" Carla cries before letting more tears fall from her eyes, Michelle softens slightly "I'm just so lost right now"

"So save your daughters life you know what you have to do" Michelle points out, Carla looks at Elodie who was sleeping peacefully on the bed "At least you have a chance to save your daughters life"

"Yeah..." Carla trails off knowing she was right "I guess you're right"