Every glance in the street was something that Carla hated. Their news was out now and the speculation was running wild but Carla didn't care, every time she saw Liam across the street she sighed and closed her eyes at this impending bombshell that could occur at any minute. Tony was ever so protective around her, well he was before but now it was definitely enhanced because she was pregnant. Today was actually going to be the first day she was going to be left alone and she was looking forward to escaping her husband's clutches for a few hours but she knew it would be filled with endless questions. Somehow her guardian angel in the form of Leanne was coming to take her shopping insisting that she needed to get out even if she didn't really feel up to it.
"Are you ready yet?" Leanne groans sitting up on the kitchen counter, Carla just rolls her eyes as she applies more makeup "The shops are going to be shut at this rate"
"Alright, alright, I'm done" Carla mutters and Leanne sighs in relief before rummaging through her bag and groaning in annoyance "You almost sound like me"
"I've left my purse at home!" Leanne grumbles and Carla rolls her eyes picking up her keys "We'll just have to stop off on the way"
"Well come on then let's get a wiggle on"
"You still look rather peaky" Leanne observes and Carla just sighs slightly "Everything ok?"
"Yes, I'm just tired, Tony's looking after me-"
"Should it be him looking after you though, or Liam?" Leanne raises an eyebrow and Carla glares at her "I think you're crazy"
"Well that's just me, you better get used to it" Carla retorts before sighing slightly feeling as if she was being a bit harsh, after all, Leanne was just trying to help her "Look I'm sorry, it's just that it's so complicated and I want an easy life, especially now"
"But you love Liam"
"And he loves Maria"
"Come off it" Leanne scoffs and Carla sighs "You two need your heads knocking together, you're both as stubborn as each other"
"Can we just go shopping?" Carla asks and Leanne nods with a small smile "I just want to get this over and done with then get into bed"
"So you're not feeling right?" Leanne checks with her and Carla sighs in annoyance "How about we order in, anything you like, we can just sit and talk?"
"How about we go for an hour then come back?" Leanne puts to her noticing she was torn
"Ok, I can do that" she confirms and Leanne nods before smiling at her "What?"
"I just can't believe you're going to be a mum"
"You know what, it's had a couple of weeks to sink in and I still can't believe it myself" she whispers and Leanne smiles slightly at her "I guess we'll just have to see what happens"
"Yeah, I suppose we will"
Carla and Leanne went shopping but Carla felt as if it was rather pointless, likely after she pushed this baby out she wouldn't be able to fit into any clothes that she bought, she really couldn't justify buying a one hundred-pound frock only to fit into for probably a short amount of time. In a way, she was envious as she watched Leanne pick out dresses and try them on with ease and then it hit her there and then that she would probably be buying maternity clothes from here onwards. After deciding that Carla wasn't into it internally Leanne suggested that they headed back home and Carla couldn't stop herself agreeing if she tried but not wanting to seem weak she suggested that they went for a drink in the Rover's so she could at least show her face to Michelle as she hadn't seen her since Christmas day.
"Carla!" Michelle beams wrapping her up in a hug, she smiles slightly and raises her eyebrows at Steve
"She's drunk" Steve mouths and Carla nods frowning at Michelle who was clinging onto her like a lost child "Taking Christmas boozing to the next level"
"I can still pull a pint" Michelle giggles and Steve shakes his head "How are you!"
"Yeah I'm good" Carla smiles and Michelle nods examining her body "What are you doing?"
"Seeing if you have a bump-"
"Michelle" Carla scolds and she grins at her before hugging her again, Steve comes up behind her and removes her from the situation "Thanks Steve"
"Love you, Carla!" Michelle calls as Steve pushes her into the back room just as Liam entered the pub "Liam!"
"Oh god" Carla mutters and Leanne bites her lip looking at Liam who was very confused at Michelle trying to break free from Steve's grip "She's drunk"
"I figured that" Liam states and Carla raises her eyebrows before picking up her lemonade, Leanne bites her lip at how awkward this situation was
"I'm just going to go and speak to Janice" Leanne states and Carla glares at her warning her not to go "See ya"
"Bye Leanne" Liam mutters before looking over at Michelle and Steve who was trying to calm her down, "Can I buy you a drink-"
"I have one"
"Right" Liam shuffles awkwardly and Carla sneaks a glance at him and their eyes meet "Are you ok?"
"Perfectly fine, thanks" Carla responds shortly and Liam nods slowly "Are you ok?"
"Yep" Liam nods slowly and Carla flashes him a smile "Maria felt the baby move for the first time"
"And you're telling me this because...?" she trails off, if she was honest with herself she didn't know why she was being so short with him as it probably looked more obvious that something was going on
"I don't know" he shrugs and Carla rolls her eyes at this tedious conversation "Where's Tony then?"
"Doing some business in town"
"And he let you be out alone?" Liam raises an eyebrow, there was a rumour that Carla was barely seen nowadays
"I'm still not feeling great," she says and Liam nods slowly "I have a doctor's appointment next week to check on everything as I just can't shift this feeling I have"
"What sort of feeling is it?"
"You're not my shrink" she raises an eyebrow and Liam nods, she knew just speaking to him would help her but she couldn't put herself in a position to do that "Tony's paying a top doctor anyway to take a look at me"
"I'm glad, really" Liam nods and Carla offers him the smallest of smiles before gripping onto the bar "Carla?"
"I'm just going to get some air" she whispers before heading out to the beer garden, Liam follows her immediately concerned for her wellbeing and it was confirmed to him that something was going on as she was gripping onto the wall
"Carla" Liam says placing his hands on her hips, she grips onto his shoulders "What's happening?"
"I feel really faint," she says "Dizzy..."
"Ok I'm taking you to the hospital, no arguments," Liam says and Carla nods slowly allowing him to guide her out of the beer garden and to his car that was parked "Have you had any pains or anything?"
"Soft cramping, it doesn't really hurt and stomach ache but I don't know..." she trails off gripping onto his hand, he links his fingers around hers before driving off...
The wait was awful and Carla had to deal with Liam being demanding, in a way she thought that he was trying to be the equivalent of Tony and replicate his power. He got Carla some water from the vending machine telling her that she needed to take care of herself and stay hydrated but she just didn't feel right and that was proven by her fainting and Liam catching her in the waiting room. Soon enough she was whisked away into a side room with Liam holding her hand, any other time she would have snapped at him and told him not to touch her or be anywhere near her but in times but she needed someone and he was just there. He just let him hold her hand and comfort her scared that something was seriously wrong with her health. With Liam being there she was surprised at how natural and deep-rooted this whole thing was making her feel, his fingers were stroking her arm as she lied in the bed whilst they gave her a scan and took her blood.
"I'm scared"
"I know you are darlin'" Liam soothes her and she just tries to control her tears, he cups her cheek gently and she pushes her head into the palm of his hand "What's happening?"
"I can't see anything untoward" the doctor explains and Liam nods slowly causing Carla to sigh in relief "Your cramping is likely just stretching"
"Why does it hurt then?"
"Your body is making room for the baby as it gets bigger" the doctor responds and Carla nods slowly looking at Liam "When was the last time you ate?"
"This morning" Carla mumbles "Everything seems so distasteful, when I put stuff in my mouth it takes so much effort to push it down"
"I would assume that your fainting spells are to do with your blood sugar levels"
"So she needs to eat more?" Liam checks with the doctor who nods, he looks at Carla who was rather uncharacteristically distraught with this whole situation
"Ideally" the doctor smiles "I'll chase up the bloods then that will confirm it, but yes you will need to eat more Mrs Gordon"
"I'll make her something when she gets in" Liam confirms and the doctor smiles at him
"You have a keeper here" the doctor nods but before Carla could protest the doctor left leaving her to sigh and turn to Liam
"You need to look after yourself, you're not just caring for you now you need to think about the baby" Liam states and Carla sighs and nods, she knew he was right "I'm taking you back to the flat then I'm making whatever you like just to get something down you"
"Fine, whatever. As if I have a choice"
"You don't"
Treating her like an invalid was annoying but his concern was cute not that she would breathe a word of that to him. Her eyes were heavy as she was just so tired but she fought it knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep that night if she had a nap now. Liam was constantly pecking her head over what she wanted to eat and eventually he settled on simple pasta and cheese with a few stems of broccoli thrown in just to get something down her. The doctor was right though, she wasn't exactly taking care of herself when Tony wasn't here and if Liam was honest she needed a swift kick up the backside and Carla just knew it. Liam was sitting on the armchair flicking through the TV trying to find something up to Carla's standards but she kept dismissing every program.
"You don't have to watch over me"
"Have you told Tony you were taken ill?"
"He knows" Carla bites back and Liam rolls his eyes at her mood "He just can't get away from work that's all, he also knows I'm being well looked after"
"This isn't easy for me you know"
"And I should care what you think because?" Carla puts to him even though she knew what the answer would be, he just rolls his eyes at her looking for a rise out of him
"Because I could be that baby's father, not Tony"
"And is that what you want Liam?" she leans back against the sofa causing a brief sigh from Liam "Do you want to father my child? Is this what this is all about?"
"No, I'm just saying we made a mistake-"
"A mistake?" she raises her eyebrows and Liam groans in annoyance "You were the one confessing your love to me on my hen do, on my husband's stag do"
"I know the timing wasn't exactly great-"
"Yeah it definitely wasn't" she spits and Liam pinches the bridge of his nose "Were you out to permanently ruin my chances with Tony? I knew you never liked the man but seriously Liam-"
"I could say the same thing about my wedding" Liam snaps and Carla just chuckles slightly before shaking her head and ruffling her hair
"So it was payback, for what exactly?"
"I know what you were doing"
"What was I doing?"
"Trying to get me to change my mind, now why would you do that?" he says and she drops her gaze before feeling him move beside him, she just couldn't bring her eyes to meet his "Especially after everything you said..."
"That doesn't matter now" she eventually looks up at him and Liam just gulps "It really doesn't matter Liam"
"You looked beautiful that day" he whispers and she chuckles slightly as the tears sprung to her eyes "A dream"
"It doesn't matter, not now Liam" she persists shaking her head knowing too much had happened "It's just... it's not ok for you to say these things, rake up the past when life is the way it is now"
"I love you, Carla, I always have," he says and she looks at him, her heart telling her to give in and just kiss him and after today she so damn wanted to but the thoughts of Tony entered her head and she couldn't, she just couldn't do this
"I don't love you, not anymore" she whispers before getting up, he looks at her knowing she was definitely holding back knowing he could read her like a book "You'll need to go, Tony will be back soon"
"Why do you always push me away?" Liam grabs his jacket and then walks over to her, gentle he places his hands on her hips as she stands by the sink, he nuzzles into her neck and plants the softest of kisses on her skin "Just give in to it"
"No, Liam" she slides out from under him and he looks at her, the tears lining her eyes "I have bigger things and responsibilities now"
"And Tony's taking such great care of you that you would be happy just going along with this fake marriage"
"It's not fake Liam" she responds bitterly and Liam sighs "It's very much real and the sooner you realise that the better"
"Stop doing this Carla!" Liam raises his voice, he just wanted her so bad and Carla shakes her head before laughing "Stop pushing me away!"
"Stop harassing me Liam, I am not in love with you, get it into your thick skull, even better...get over me!"
"If you weren't in love with me there would be no way you would let me touch you, kiss you, like I just did!"
"Go to hell Liam, see yourself out" she shouts before storming into the bedroom slamming the door as loud as she could in a bid for him to get the message and leave her alone, with that Liam finally left her alone as she heard the front door shut and eventually she succumbed to the painstaking tears of loving someone that was forbidden...
