Talk It Out

"Chelle? What are you hiding from me?" Carla asked as Michelle placed another bottle of red wine down in front of her and Carla. This was like alarm bells chiming loudly to Carla and Michelle wasn't hiding whatever it was very well.

"I just figured you wanted a drink. On the 'ouse of course." She smiled, refusing to look Carla in the eye.

"Is it about Leanne?"

Michelle sat opposite Carla at the kitchen table in the back room of the pub. She didn't fancy making Carla's reaction a public one. There had been enough heartache on show for one afternoon.

Michelle nodded and put her hands to her mouth as if it would prevent the news from slipping out or being true.

"Well? Michelle?" Carla cocked her eyebrow and sipped her wine. She was already prepared for the worst but not a pregnancy.

"Leanne's pregnant," Michelle finally said. Carla practically choked on her wine. She could feel a lump forming in her throat, making her feel sick. Before she knew it, her eyes became glossy and the tears fell thick and fast.

"I am so sorry Car," Michelle whispered, hugging her best friend and letting her express her heartache.

"Its Nick's then, isn't it?" Carla managed to blub. It wasn't that she wanted Nick but it was a way of taking her mind off the sting that hearing about a baby caused for her. The wound from miscarrying her own baby was still very much exposed. Michelle nodded and Carla cried even harder.

"My little girl," she whimpered. "My precious little baby daughter. I didn't think it would hurt this much hearing about somebody else having a baby," Carla cried, her bottom lip trembled and Michelle knew more tears were to follow.

"I know darlin', I know," Michelle said, pulling her best friend closer and letting her cry until there was nothing left.

"She could lose her baby," Carla eventually said, lifting her head up and looking at her friend.

"I know; that's why she was rushed off to hospital."

"Oh god," Carla choked. "I have been so horrible to Leanne lately. If she loses her baby that means there will be three deaths on my conscience."

"Carla, you didn't cause the fire. It was an accident. The police said that it was just an awful accident."

Carla shook her head. "No it wasn't. There's no such thing as an accident."

Michelle clasped her hand to her mouth, unsure of what to say to comfort Carla. Standing up and knocking back the glass of wine Michelle had poured, Carla stumbled out of the pub in tears.

What she would have given to have a baby. Another shot at something she may have been dreadful at, or maybe incredible at. She figured she'd never find out now that Peter was hundreds of miles away and Nick was expecting a kid of his own with her former best friend.

Leaning back against the window of the Rovers, she stared over at Leanne's flat. The poor woman had gone through hell with the child she loved just as much as the one she was potentially losing in hospital. The guilt felt like the one she had experienced after the fire, once it had properly sunk in as she felt a shudder as Kal's body was pulled from the wreckage of her flat. As if one death and Leanne on her back wasn't enough, young Maddie was added to the casualty list within days. It knocked her sick thinking about it all.

Then, she remembered what she had done to Leanne a few weeks ago. Carla went down to that police station, her head held high, declaring that Leanne had assaulted her in an attack. She wasn't even that sure now why she had gone and done it. Power, maybe? To feel strong and powerful again and to know that despite what everyone was calling her behind her back; Carla was still very much a victim. A victim of what though? Life in general? Her own mistakes?

The world, or Weatherfield began to spin and Carla felt like she would hit the ground. Her eyes filling with those tears she hated to show in public so much. "Pull it together Carla," she whispered to herself, wrapping her own arms around her shoulders for comfort.

Her own misery was brought to a sudden halt. She could hear crying. Not like a baby crying or an adult crying for that matter. It was loud and sniffly, like a child was sobbing. Looking around from left to right she couldn't place which direction the whimpering was coming from.

Slowly turning the corner of the Rovers, heading towards the Ginnel, the sounds got louder as Carla's footsteps became quieter. Creeping past the back of the Rovers, she saw him.

The crying was coming from Simon. He sat with his legs pulled up close to his chest, rocking backwards and forwards, sobbing hysterically and muttering to himself.

Sucking in a deep breath, Carla opened her mouth, "Si?"

He jumped at the realisation he was no longer alone. His eyes were red, puffy and swollen but he didn't care.

"Please don't shout at me," he pleaded, standing up infront of his former step-mother.

"I wasn't," she said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Simon stopped. She wasn't going to tell him off? Even though he had done something horrific to Leanne?

Carla's expression changed as she realised just what she had suggest to the lad. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell him off or give him a good rollicking. Well, it was not her place to do it anymore. It was up to Ken, Nick, Eva, Tracy and ahem...Peter.

"I don't mean that what you did is alright though," Carla said, looking down at Simon. He frowned and then started to cry again.

"Ey! Ey!" Carla began as she could feel her black cashmere jumper turn wet from Simon's tears. "Stob blubbin' Simon. Come on, only wimps cry."

Simon lifted his head off of Carla's shoulder and looked at her. "Who says I'm a wimp?"

"Ah you see! You're not a wimp, are ya?"

"No, I'm not a wimp. But I'm a bully and I might be a murderer too," Simon cried.

"Murderer?" Carla asked, confused. Had he really shoved Leanne that hard he had killed her?

"Yeah, her and Nick are havin' a baby and I might have made her lose it," he explained as Carla nodded, listening to his worries.

"I am sure Leanne and her baby will be fine Simon."

"But..." Simon started but stopped himself straight away.

Carla raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to speak again.

"Yours and me Dad's baby wasn't okay." He looked down at the wet cobbles below him and Carla. His uniform was a mess after sitting on the floor. The crisp white shirt Leanne had ironed on Saturday night was practically grey; the grey trousers he wore were ripped and stained with blood around the knee.

Those tears she had bitten back before felt as though they were resurfacing again. Using all her strength, or what was left of it, Carla turned to Simon.

"Come on, you can't sit out 'ere any longer."

"Why not? Nobody would care anyway."

"Maybe not. But my boots are getting ruined," Carla joked, making Simon smile.

"Can we go somewhere warm?" Simon asked.

"What, like Barbados?"

"No! I mean like, like you're flat or the café or something."

"Mm, alright then," Carla agreed, wrapping her arm around Simon's shoulder as he placed his gangly arm around her waist. They walked out of the ginnel, past the Rovers and towards her flat.

Back at the hospital; David, Gail, Audrey, Eva and Sarah had all arrived to sit with Nick. Minutes had turned into hours sat in that eerily familiar waiting room. The screams of newborn babies echoed through the clinically clean corridors. Ambulance sirens were wailing loudly from outside and Gail was not-so subtly trying to make small talk.

"I erm, bought some new clogs yesterday," Gail began as David stared at his mother. Sarah raised her hands jn the air as if to ask, 'What the hell are you on about?' Audrey just watched Nick, who paced up and down.

"Sweetheart, why don't you come and sit down, mm?" Audrey suggested, patting the seat next to her.

"I'm fine," Nick lied.

"No you're not," Gail said.

"I am! Leanne could be in there right now losing my child and you lot are worried about me instead!"

"Nick, she's going to be alright," David finally spoke. "They would have told us by now if she wasn't."

Sarah nodded in her seat as Eva stood up. "I can't bear sittin' here and wonderin' what's goin' on. I'm gonna go for a walk. Does anyone want to come?"

Everyone shook their heads, answering Eva. All but Sarah-Lou. "I'll come with ya Eva," she smiled.

"Thanks," Eva replied, her crying had reduced slightly. The two headed off together as the others turned to Nick.

"Why don't we go and get you a drink?" Gail asked, looking over at her son from the row of seats opposite him.

"No, I'm staying here." Nick answered back.

Gail flicked her eyes over at her Mum for help. Audrey shook her head and said, "Right, Gail. Let's go and get a drink and leave David with Nick. Hmm?"

"If Nick isn't coming then I'm not," Gail objected, not moving from her seat as Audrey got up.

"Er, Gail. You might be a grown woman but I can still tell you off."

"Alright mam," Gail stood up and followed her mother in the direction of the canteen. Before spinning around the corner, she looked back at Nick, who stared at the wall.

"You alright?" David asked his brother.

"Groovy," Nick replied flatly, continuing to watch the people go past him. Some had even arrived after Nick had with Leanne and they had left before he had even seen her.

"Look, she's going to be alright Nick. Don't be too worried, she's in the best hands."

"Would you be saying that if it were Kylie in the hospital bed?"

David sighed deeply. "She was, if you remember."

"Oh, yeah," Nick said.

"That was awful, that day. I was away in London on the hairdressing course Gran suggested I did. Didn't really fancy it though; straight man surrounded by loads of women."

"Hmm, it is a nightmare when that happens."

"Still, off I went to that London. I was in the middle of a cut and blow when Mum rang, telling me that Kylie had been rushed to hospital 'cos she was drunk and fell off a table. It was like the world had stopped spinning. I thought that I was gonna lose her forever and the baby. It made my stomach churn. I was supposed to look after Kylie, make her feel as though she was loved and when I leave her for a few days she is rushed into surgery. I felt like my world had ended."

"You aren't the only one that's ever felt that way."

David raised his eyebrows at his brother. "How d'ya mean?"

"After Lily's christening. I was the weakest I had ever been in my life. Brain damaged and estranged from my wife when I needed her the most. She knew the truth about me and Kylie on Christmas night," Nick stopped as he looked at David. He hadn't moved since Nick had said those very words. 'Christmas Night'. It still stung to hear those two simple words that David loved to hear as a child. It reminded him of his birthday which also happened to be December 25th; the parties the family would have, the laughter, joy and presents.

"Why? I have always wanted to know. Why Kylie? You could have had any bird you wanted but you chose to have it off with my...my wife." David asked.

Nick found himself staring blankly at David. "I don't know. I guess it was because she came back to the venue and we had drinks together. You said some awful things to her and I had split up from Lea. One drink led to another and then..."

"You ended up in bed together." David finished Nick's sentence, the words felt wrong as he said them; his own wife and brother, in bed on his birthday. It was disgusting but true.

"We never meant to hurt you David. Unlike you when you found out."

"What did you expect Nick? You went and slept with my wife on Christmas day and for all I knew you were Lily's Dad."

"I expected you to fly off on a rage, attacking me infront of people and broadcasting it to everyone. I didn't imagine you plotting to wreck my marriage and trying to kill me."

"I didn't want to lose Kylie and Max and the baby, if Lily had turned out to be mine. She was mine so I partially had what I wanted. But I still knew about you two and it still made me feel sick."

"I'm sorry David."

"For what? Sleeping with my wife? Look, I'm a grown up Nick, I have moved on and put it all to bed. None of it matters anymore; what matters is Leanne and that baby of yours. They need you Nick, not your apologies to me."

Nick nodded.

"I'm sorry too," David finally said. "For wrecking your life, and your marriage."

Nick sighed and bit on his lip. He and David hadn't actually voiced their feelings about what they had done to each other. It was overwhelming but Nick composed himself and responded to his brother.

"Me too. I'm sorry."

They sat in silence the rest of the time but neither felt awkward or alone. It felt like a door had closed on the haunting memories of the past and that a new door had finally opened. The future for the Platt's. A new beginning.


Back at her flat, Carla flicked the hob on and pulled two of the black and white checkered mugs out of the cupboard. The bottle of vodka she had bought last night was also hidden in there, practically calling out her name. Just one sip of the poison would satisfy her urge. After all, she used to rely on to get her through a day after Frank had attacked her. Stroking her hands across the bottle and considering drinking it; she soon remembered who she had as company.

"Carla? Can I have marshmallows in mine?" Simon asked, sitting on the couch with a furry throw that almost smothered him. He looked like a marsh mallow himself.

"Yeah, why not eh?" Carla said, turning around and looking at Simon who was sat on the couch.

"Thanks," he smiled.

The milk on the hob began to bubble and Carla rushed over, switching the heat down quickly. If only it was as simple to turn the drama in her life down. After adding the chocolate powder and stirring the creamy comfort; Carla smiled. As a kid, she used to love watching her mother make hot chocolate for her and Rob on the rare occasion she made an effort.

Pouring the silky chocolate drink into the mug and topping with marshmallows. Looking at the tray in front of her, Carla wondered what else a kid would want with a hot chocolate. Biscuits. Her and Rob loved dunking all kinds of biscuits into their drinks; Carla would often distract Rob and nick his biscuits. Hours of fun as a child, winding up her little brother, teasing him over his first crush. He never heard the end of fancying the pants off of Michelle!

Carla sighed, coming back to reality and frantically rummaging through the cupboards to find some form of biscuit for Simon.

Elbowing cans of baked beans and tomato soup that Roy had bought her out of the way, finally she found what she was looking for. Well, sort of. Peter wasn't sat at the back of the cupboard but a pack of unopened hob-nobs were.

"Finally!" Carla exclaimed, grabbing the biscuits and the tray and walking over to Simon.

"Thank you Carla," he said, taking his mug from her.

"Fancy a biscuit?"

"These are me favourite, thanks!"

"It's alright. Now, do you think we should talk about Leanne?" Carla sipped her drink, wishing it was something more alcoholic to take the edge off of the conversation she was about to have.

Simon traced his fingers around the edge of the mug; his hands become sickly sticky from all the sugar in the drink.

"Simon," Carla prodded his shoulder; awaiting his explanations.

He frowned, refusing to look at Carla.

"I never meant to hurt her you know," Simon began.

"Nobody ever does mean to hurt anyone. They always get hurt in the end though."

Simon nodded, he knew exactly what pain Carla was on about. Disappointment, anger, betrayal and lies was something they had both experienced in the last few years.

"I hit her when Kal died." He admitted.

Carla stopped. Maybe she should have got that vodka bottle out after all.

"Why Simon?"

He shoved a biscuit in his mouth, chewing slowly as Carla stared at him. She had never felt fearful of a child and yet here she was, actually beginning to fear the child that her ex fought with Leanne over.

"I was angry...Upset. I missed Kal and my Dad was away. My Mum and Nick weren't even that close at the time. He was talking to you and Erica more than anybody else. I just felt that every person I ever become close to his ripped from me. My Mum, my real Mum I mean. I don't really remember her, I don't even remember the last time I saw her. I only know where she's buried. That's all I really have left of her."

Carla actually understood. There were very few happy memories she had from her childhood of her and her mother. There were more fights, booze binges and social services visits than anything else. Despite not remembering his Mum Lucy, at least Simon was loved. That was something Carla was certain she had never been by anyone.

"But you shouldn't let your anger result in Leanne getting attacked."

Simon sipped his drink again as Carla chewed on a biscuit. The taste was familiar and then she suddenly remembered. When she was pregnant, she often craved the biscuits; stealing them from the staff biscuit tin when no-one was looking. Carla didn't fancy eating anymore and placed it down on the table.

"I know," Simon sighed. "I feel really bad. Maybe I should run away. I could go and live in Amy's wardrobe, couldn't I?"

Carla shook her head, "Seriously Simon? How will that help Leanne? All that will do is take your problems on a holiday to your cousin's flamin' wardrobe!"

Simon laughed slightly. "I guess you're right. So, what should I do?"

"Well..." Carla began.


In the waiting room, David and Nick were still sat, waiting. Sarah had to go home to sort out Bethany but Gail, Eva and Audrey stayed. Nick glanced at the clock. The time was 9:38. He had been waiting in that very same room and space for exactly five hours when Leanne first came in. Holding his head in his hands, Nick took a deep breath. Eva rested her head on Audrey's shoulder, almost dozing off. David flicked through pictures on his phone of his wife and children; smiling at how happy they all looked together.

Finally, a doctor emerged from around the corner. Gail noticed immediately and notified Nick.

"Nick," Gail pointed at the doctor.

"Are you all here with Mrs Tilsley?"

Nick's heart was in his mouth. Was he ready for what the doctor could possibly tell him?


Thanks so much for the review! I hope everyone is still enjoying this fanfiction! Sorry I didn't update sooner but I couldn't access my login like everyone else! Please keep up the reviews!

I'll update soon and again it will pick up from where this left off! More Simon/Carla, Nick/David and we will find out if Leanne is okay!