Over the next few weeks Carla switched between work and looking after Peter, he was getting so much stronger and moving more every day, sometimes for a walk round the town or to the shops he was adamant to Carla he wouldn't stay home.

She just had to let him do as he said because this was definitely a battle she couldn't win.

Sat at her desk, a constant check to the phone as Sarah walked in, dropping down a bunch of files making Carla groan before rubbing her eyes.

"Why does one client hold so much pieces of paperwork" she pulled them over and slowly opened them, Sarah took a long deep breath.

"I mean.. I can do it if you'd like but you always seem to know what's best" Sarah answered, Carla unsure wether to take it as somewhat sarcasm or not so letting it slide.

"No.. it's fine I can do it" Carla smiled, Sarah marching out as she picked it all up, grabbing her bag and walking out of the factory.

"Oh hi Mrs C-" Sean said as he passed her walking out he had returned as a machinist again, her mind wondering to her entire own world as she phased away to block his voices out, he scoffed and began to sashay off.

She walked into Roy's, ordering a strong coffee and sitting down at one of the tables, dropping her book as she gently bit at her lips.

"One strong coffee.." Roy said in his low, calming voice placing the white mug that was brim with coffee next to her folder that was stacked with a client's paperwork.

"Oh I see.. stressful day?" He asked.

"Yeah.. I think I've let the nerves get to me, this is a big order not to mention that I feel sick to my stomach" she shifted, picking up the mug and taking a nice swig of the darkness of the coffee.

"Perhaps you should try eating" he suggested, pointing out what was on offer for today.

"Yeah maybe.. I'll just have a bit of toast" she smiled, reluctantly agreeing as she could never win if not, Roy's nod before walking off to make the toast making Carla's eyes scan to the side, straight to the wall.

Peter walked in, spotting a lil glimpse of his missus he sat himself down opposite on the chair.

"Oh hey" she smiled, looking to him.

"Hey, can I get you something to eat?" He asked, looking over at Roy then her.

"No I'm okay, Roy's doing me some toast cause I'm fretting myself and I feel slightly sick" she grumbled, flipping the pages of the work.

"Why don't you take the rest of the day off, go home I'm sure Sarah can cope" he suggested.

"Yeah ok.. maybe you're actually right for a change" she smirked, getting up and taking the toast to go before leaving.

Peter watched as his wife walked out of the cafe, slightly nervous as to how she agreed so fast.. something had changed.

...

"Hey.. Carla, love" Peter's voice softly heard by Carla who had been woken up to the sound of his arrival, she was lying across the sofa, a blanket draping halfway on, half way off with her phone in hand.

"I must've nodded off.." she rubbed her eyes and laid straight back.

"Did you eat anything today?" he asked, slowly walking into the kitchen, his surgical wound beginning to ache but pushing the mention of any pain away he plastered on a small smile to block Carla away from the worries.

"I had Roy's toast.." she mumbled, sitting up and looking over at him.

"Is that it!?" The rise is his voice confirmed Carla's worries that he would have been annoyed.

"Peter.." she said softly, the interruption assuring her she would not win.

"Carla, you need to be eating" he butted in.

"I just.. need to get some sleep, I feel sick I can hardly be in a mood to eat" she stood up, beginning to walk to bed.

"At least have a drink.." he pleaded.

"Just let me be by myself for 5 minutes" she slid under the duvet and cocooned herself, her head nestling into the pillows.

"Fine!" He snapped, his eyes to the side rolling quick.

"Fine!" She snapped back, pulling up the duvet and drifting to sleep.

...

(TV: Emetophobia)

A rush out of the bedroom, straight for the bathroom opposite, a sound of retching, a few groans followed by a flush

"Babe..?" Peter called out, sat on the sofa with the newspaper in hand, a pen sat doing crosswords as he looked over at the door.

"Yeah..?" She called out, walking out.

Tears slowly began to run down Carla's cheeks, her forehead pale, Peter had never seen Carla so ill.. his eyebrow just slightly raised.

"I think.." she rushed back to the toilet, a lift of the lid as she vomited a couple times.

Silently beginning to sob.. she didn't understand why she felt so rough, she was perfectly fine this morning but now.

Once the vomiting had settled itself down she made her way over to Peter, he dropped the newspaper down and put an arm out, she dropped to the sofa and snuggled up tight next to him - her arms wrapping round as she snuggled down into the abs of his chest.

He ran his hand along the fair strands of her hair before running each finger up and down her back and spine.. very slowly he had drifted her off to sleep he could feel the rise and decrease of her chest, breathing, the beats of her heart and the grip of her hands to his pj top.

He was determined to know what was wrong.. why was she so ill, she had had stomach bugs before yeah but nothing like this, this was something strange.

To see Carla cry like that.. must've taken something pretty rough to cause.

Looking down to the stunning woman in his arms, the way her eyelids were closed but he knew just how pretty her eyes were.. the way her lips were slightly parted and the realisation a single movement would startle and wake her.

Looks like it's sleeping on this uncomfortable sofa for Peter Barlow tonight.. but anything to keep her happy.