It was the day of the ultrasound, I was waiting on Peter to join me outside, he was still inside the factory, probably flirting with Alya like I had put up with all week. They had googly eyes for each other when they thought I wasn't looking but it was too constant for me not to notice. I had heard enough to know that in my absence they had clearly gotten closer, I was happy that Peter seemed to be happy, but I was still allowed to find it annoying being stuck in the office with them both all day. How far their relationship had gone was still a mystery to me, but I didn't find it appropriate to ask if they had gone on a date yet or met each other's family. Alya is a smart girl, so I know she knows what she's doing, I still wanted to look out for her though.

Just as I considered going back into the factory to drag Peter out by his hair, if necessary as if we didn't leave now, we would be late, he came walking out of the door with a big smile.

"Sorry, Lafoe rang, and I couldn't get her off the phone."

"Sure…"

I wasn't buying it, but I wasn't looking to start an argument or appear jealous, so I just got in the car and waited for him to get in the driver's seat. As soon as we set off, I started fiddling with the radio, not actually knowing what I was searching for but refusing to give in. I could feel his eyes on me, probably annoyed at my fidgeting but I couldn't help it, I needed to do something to take my mind off of where we were going. I was nervous, that was the truth. Admitting that to myself, I sighed and fell back into my seat, dejected. I had left it on some random station with an annoying radio host that probably called himself a DJ as he shouted about calling in to win a cash prize. Just as the question for the money was about to be asked, Peter reached over and turned it all the way down so the car was now in silence.

"I'm nervous, are you nervous?"

It was a stupid question, anyone who had seen me all day from this morning would be able to tell that I was beyond nervous, I was terrified that something was going to go wrong. I never got to this stage before, I only got told my baby's gender last time because she had passed away. This time I would see them moving, I would have a picture and get to start planning on how to decorate and thinking of a thousand names that I will hate when they are born. I was way beyond nervous.

"Maybe just a little…"

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught his small smile at my response, knowing that it was a lie, he knew me, and he knew exactly what I was feeling because he was probably feeling it too. We drove in silence the rest of the way, both of us in our heads and going through our own thoughts and worries. We both had so much to consider right now, we had a lot to worry about and I guess we just needed time to get through that. We pulled up in the hospital parking lot, I waited in the car as Peter paid for a ticket, just people watching, trying to guess why they were there.

As I got out of the car on shaky legs, I definitely felt the worry and nervousness that was once just in my head now take physical control of me. It was like when you stand up too quickly and all the blood rushes from your head making you feel faint, I stood with my hand on the car, waiting to feel ok again. Peter came round, placing his hand on my shoulder and the other on my hip to try and ensure that I didn't fall, he was worried about me.

"Hey, you, ok?"

"Yeah, just felt a bit lightheaded, I'm ok now."

I tried to take a step, but he moved with me, not giving me any room, still thinking that I was going to fall.

"Peter, I said that I'm ok now, stop before we become late."

The look on his face showed me that he was debating with himself, weighing up both options to think what would be the best one. Finally, he made the right decision and threw his hands up in surrender, stepping back and allowing me to walk ahead of him into the hospital. It was a maze just like all hospitals were, but we made it through, looking at the signs and being pointed in the right direction by staff, even though Peter was convinced we didn't need to ask them. We were able to make it to the maternity ward and sign in without too much more confusion, now it was the worst time, waiting. It was too quiet to talk without drawing attention to ourselves, too much time being in my own head as the scan was approaching quickly. My leg was moving without my control, tapping the floor to display my anxiety and it was starting to speed up. The contact of a hand on my thigh stopped the movement and I looked over at Peter as he met my gaze, he looked concerned but understanding.

"It will be ok Car, we will – "

"Carla Connor."

We were called in and his hand dropped, he looked terrified now, it was time for me to step up, so I put on my metaphorical big girl pants and walked towards the nurse, following her into the room. Peter moved like a zombie-like he wasn't in control of his legs, and just followed without thinking, putting himself in the chair next to the bed. Now it was my turn, I made myself comfortable on the bed and pulled up my top, ready for the cold jelly that was about to be placed there. The nurse had one of those overexposed and happy smiles that were supposed to calm you and she had the squeeze bottle in her hand.

"Right then mom and dad, it says here that it is your second scan, and you are far enough that if we are lucky and you want to, we can also find out the gender of the baby."

"Yeah, ok, that's great thank you."

Was I making sense? Whatever I had just said had her beaming smile grow even more as she walked over to me.

"Right Carla, this is going to be cold, to begin with."

Then the gel was on my stomach, and she picked up the probe thing and started moving the gel to cover the bottom portion of my belly to start to get a picture of the baby. Then just like that, there it was, my baby, moving on the screen, more like dancing with how much energy and movement it was actually doing. When I heard a sniffle, I thought I was crying, and I was embarrassed but then one look at Peter confirmed that he had welled up and was releasing the tears. His reaction almost had me crying but I held it in, I was able to stay strong for both of us as the nurse smiled at Peter in sympathy.

"Don't worry dad, we get all kinds of reactions in here."

I couldn't imagine what she must have to deal with every day, I get tired if I'm caring for more than thirty minutes at a time to people, I don't know. The nurse didn't look tired though or put out, she looked right, right for this job like smiling and being kind to strangers was nothing. Good on her for finding the right career path for her and her creepy smile.

"Right, do we want to know the gender of the baby."

"Yes – well I mean, if that's ok with you Peter?"

I didn't even think to ask whether or not Peter wanted to know if we were having a girl or a boy, I just assumed that he would want the same thing that I did. Hopefully, Peter would agree because I desperately wanted to know the gender, I wanted to stop calling the baby an it. I guess, if he didn't want to know and I did, I could kick him out, maybe not but I could get her to write it down on a bit of paper to read later, they did that for the reveal parties.

"Yeah – no, I want to know as well."

"Ok then, it's settled, if you look at the screen now, where I am pointing you can something that makes your baby a little boy."

A boy.

A baby boy.

My baby boy.

"Congratulation's mom and dad, I will get a couple of these printed off and I'll get you ready to go. Here is some paper towel, take your time, I'll leave the screen playing whilst I'm gone."

She left the room, and I couldn't even remember taking the paper towels off her until I realised that I was wiping the gunk off my stomach. I was too enticed off watching the screen, staring at my little boy as the video played from when he was moving minutes ago. He looked amazing, so active, and healthy, well as much as I could tell from the black and white fuzzy image. I was so convinced that he was going to be beautiful that I was tempted to pay that large price to have one of those privatise 4d scans just to be proved right. My strong little boy that was holding on, being strong enough for both of us and I couldn't believe how lucky I was.

"That's our baby boy".

I had completely forgotten that Peter was here, and I wasn't alone, that he was still here and probably thinking the same things I was, this was amazing, our baby was amazing. Peter was different to me though, instead of staying mute, he continued to talk out his thoughts as I pulled my top down and sat up on the edge of the bed.

"He is so amazing, look how much he was moving, he is going to be our little superstar."

I just smiled at his words, smiled at his thoughts in agreement, we were going to have the best baby boy that there ever was, even if I was a little biased. It wasn't long before Nurse smiley came back in with two copies of the sonogram and handed both of them to me and smiled at me again as her dismissal. Like a zombie, I stood up and walked out, knowing that Peter was following me, I carried on walking until I was out of the maternity ward and stopped to lean on the wall. This in my hands was a picture of my little boy and it was as though it had hypnotised me, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. It didn't make sense, but it felt like I was keeping him safe by keeping an eye on him on this picture.

"It feels more real now somehow."

Peter was right in front of me.

"It does, our little boy is ok and right here in my hands – well a picture of him is."

"Talking off pictures, can I have mine or are you planning on keeping both."

It was a tempting idea, but I had to believe that soon enough I would have him in my arms and I wouldn't need these pictures to see him, I would have him. I needed to believe that and try my hardest to be the optimist that I have never been.

"Here… try not to lose this one though, don't want more drama."

"Haha."

It was sarcastic but I knew we were both in too much of a good mood to risk a fight or to mean any offense, we were overjoyed at just seeing our boy and knowing that he was ok. Our emotions were high, way too high and that is what I'll say if anyone ever found out that we were hugging. Tears were close to falling but I kept them in as my head lay on his shoulder just breathing him in, feeling everything. My baby was going to be ok.

We did come apart in the end and made our way slowly back to the car, he did pay for an hour after all and he deserved to get his money's worth, all two pounds of it. The ride back started in silence, but we had both taken inspiration from the nurse and we were smiling like complete lunatics, staring at the road in front of us. About halfway back Peter finally spoke up, ranting about how he couldn't wait to have another son and all the things he was going to do.

"Football, Si and I will teach him how to play and who knows, he might be so good we get him to grow pro, and then of course he can spoil his mom. As much as I want him to be a daddy's boy, he will definitely be a mommy's boy, he will probably join you on your shopping trips. He is going to be spoilt rotten, I'll even buy him one of those racing car beds if he wants, I always wanted one when I was little…"

To say Peter was excited was an overstatement, he was already planning the little boy's career path and he hadn't even been born. How do I tell Peter that my little boy can do whatever he wants to do, but I will probably groom him to take over the factory, it is a family business? Everything Peter said though, I could picture it, I could see everything he described like it was already happening, a little boy that was the perfect mix of us both.

"Can you drop me off at the Rovers, it's pretty much closing time at the factory and I haven't got anything too important to do."

"Desperate to tell Michelle?"

"Can you blame me? He's perfect."

All I got in response was a smile before I got out and walked into the rovers and up to the bar, Chelle wasn't there but I knew I was still smiling as Steve stared at me in confusion and slight fear.

"Hiya Steve, is Chelle in?"

Instead of replying, he looked down at the bar where I had placed my picture and decided to start a question, completely ignoring what I had said previously.

"Is that your baby then? What is it?"

"Steve, Chelle?"

"The baby, boy or girl, I was thinking that you will probably have a girl because – "

"Steve, if you don't go and get Chelle, I will storm back there and get her myself."

"Alright! Geez, I will go and get her."

Thank God. I didn't want to chat to him or make idle conversation and if Michelle found out that I told Steve about it being a boy before her, she would kill me and him and make me clean up the mess. My hand was covering the photo to hide it from any nosey pairs of eyes as now that the nurse pointed out his extra appendage, I couldn't help but see it now. Surely anyone that looked over could tell that he was a little boy. I was too wrapped up thinking about my little boy that I didn't even hear my best friend approach.

"Car, come on, tell me, what is it?"

"What's what?"

She scowled at my bad joke and waited for me to tell her, I could see the impatience in her eyes, and she was getting annoyed, so I gave in.

"We are going to have another little Mr. Connor."

"Oh my God, Car."

She came around to hug me but then quickly pulled away to take my sonogram and stare at it, tilting her head trying to make sure she was seeing everything and understanding it. I decided to help and pointed on the picture.

"If you look there, that's how you can tell he is a boy."

"Oh wow, well you definitely have a show-er there Mrs. Connor."

She had a point. Soon enough, we were having drinks and laughing, chatting to each other about my baby, and finally felt like I had the right to be excited. I was having a baby and he was ok.

Chelle's eyes moved away from me, and she nodded to the entrance, it was Peter and Alya laughing together as they approached the bar and ordered drinks from Steve. Michelle stared at me waiting for me to reply but I just shrugged, it was his life, he could do what he wants, I had no say. I carried on the light conversation with Michelle about what to do when changing boy's nappies and how often she used to get peed on by Ryan. My eyes flickered to Peter and Alya only once when her laugh was a little too loud to be real, he seemed happy if not it being a little weird. It was weird right?

It was weird and maybe I didn't like it.

It was still not my place to say anything.

It was still weird.

Thank you for your patience, it is a boy, I am looking forward to writing some more happy pregnancy chapters. In nearly all the stories I read, Carla has a girl so I wanted to switch it up. Let me know what you think.