The harder she tried to have an idealistic life with Tony meant that more and more the thoughts of Liam filled her head, she just wanted it to stop therefore she ordered that they went away for a weekend just to reconnect, Scotland being the preferred choice as Tony wouldn't allow her to go to Paris as she was up the stick. It was a great weekend but it didn't really help the way she felt, it was weird, she was still able to show Tony affection and connect with him on an intimate level but she knew she would never be satisfied to the core like when she was with Liam. Even if showing the love to Tony which ultimately caused her to feel like a fraud was much better than the truth which would unravel in front of all of them and the stress would not be the best for her or her unborn child. Overall the weekend was crap really, well it was great for their relationship but rubbish for Carla who was having to pretend but as soon as they got back they were in full-on business mode again and Carla was more than happy for that to happen.
"So that's it?" Liam says looking between them both, Carla turns to him and frowns "I'm not needed?"
"Kind of, doing part-time" she grins and Liam just rolls his eyes looking at Tony who had his hand protectively on Carla's hips
"I thought she was meant to be taking it easy?" Liam looks Carla up and down and she offers him a discreet glare
"That's why she's going part-time" Tony informs him and Liam sighs sitting on the office chair "I will need you to do the other part of her part-time, it may mean working together, are you two capable of that?"
"It's him who's the problem" Carla nods towards Liam who groans in annoyance "I'm sure we can manage to go a day without arguing can't we Liam?"
"I suppose" he muses looking at Carla who was flicking through some post "Well if you want me to stay on I'll be more than happy to, money's money isn't it?"
"Now that's the spirit" Tony states "I'll be at Gordon's all day, be good-"
"We're not children" Carla rolls her eyes and Tony just laughs kissing her on the side of the head "I'll miss you"
"I'll miss you too" he shakes his head before placing his hand over her stomach "And I'll miss this little one as well-"
"Tony just go" she shrugs him off and Tony smiles slightly knowing she didn't like to be touched "I'll see you later, you better cook something nice for dinner"
"Well I think anything is better than what you would rustle up" Liam mutters and Tony laughs slightly watching his wife glare at her former brother in law "We'll be as good as gold Tony"
"I want to hear good things" Tony nods and Carla smiles sitting down at her desk "I'll see you later"
"Bye" Carla waves him off and sighs slightly propping her feet up on the desk and closing her eyes
"He's all over you like a rash"
"Weren't you when you found out your wife was up the stick?" Carla raises an eyebrow and Liam bites his lip before turning back around to face the computer
"Fair point I suppose" he states and Carla sighs frowning slightly, her eyes still closed "Are you planning on doing any work?"
"I have a headache" she snaps and Liam groans in annoyance getting up and heading to the kitchenette, he pulls out a bottle of water before returning it to Carla "I never asked for water-"
"You're going to drink all of it, it'll help your headache" he states and Carla picks up the bottle and raises it to her lips "Now you've stopped whining we can get on and work"
"Are you sure Maria won't find out?" she asks randomly and Liam sighs in annoyance "About the paternity test?"
"She's going to Cyprus the week it's supposed to be posted to see her parents" Liam states and Carla nods slowly "She won't be there so there's no way it will fall into her hands not that I overly liked the idea of them being sent to me"
"Well what else was I supposed to do?" she chuckles "I could have asked Leanne I suppose but I don't think that would be the best idea just in case they fell into untrustworthy hands"
"They won't, I promise," Liam says and Carla smiles slightly at him "Has that helped your headache?"
"A bit"
"Good, you need to be looking after yourself in your condition-"
"I'm pregnant not dying Liam" she retorts and Liam raises his eyebrows at her attitude "I hate drinking so much, it makes me want to go to the bathroom every two seconds"
"Well that's what pregnancy does to you, weakens your pelvic floor or something, Maria was droning on about it as she read it in some baby magazine"
"I couldn't think of anything worse" Carla grimaces at the thought of baby magazines "It's all pink and fluffy and cute and...disgusting"
"You do realise you will have to buy all that stuff" Liam chuckles and Carla shrugs "I bet you'd rather be seen dead than walk around Mothercare"
"You'd be correct" Carla nods and turns to her screen, she bites her lip and chews her pen to hide her grin
"What's got you all smiley and happy?"
"Tony's sent me an email" she smirks and Liam rolls his eyes slightly "He's taking me out for dinner"
"How cute" Liam retorts sarcastically and Carla grins at him "So how are you two getting on?"
"Fine, don't know why you care to be honest"
"I'm just taking an interest you should try it" Liam responds with a raised eyebrow causing Carla to pull a face
"What do you want me to say? Oh Liam what bath bomb did you put in the lovely Maria's bath?" she mimics and Liam rolls his eyes "I don't really see how Tony could think this would work"
"What?"
"Us two in here, we don't get any work done" Carla tuts typing away on her computer before grinning at the screen and smirking "Tony's being really graphic about dessert-"
"Ok, I don't want to know" Liam grimaces and Carla giggles slightly typing out an email to him "Anyway I have a meeting in town so if you don't mind I will leave you to it"
"Bye Liam, I won't miss ya" Carla smirks and Liam rolls his eyes before leaving the office, she closes her eyes and hums slightly at the fact that she and Liam were falling into their old ways, there was something comforting about it...
Tony came back from one of his endless meetings to whisk Carla away for dinner, she smiled widely at being treated like a queen making some offhand comment that Liam should try harder with Maria to wind him right up only for Liam to retort that a kebab on the sofa was much more intimate than going out and fawning over your partner. Somehow that odd sentence left Carla craving for that but not with Tony. As soon as they got back in after their night out Tony noticed Carla seem kind of off, he gently brought her into his body but she removed herself from his grasp saying that she wanted a bath before bed as her body was aching, all she wanted to do was wrap herself up in her duvet and go to sleep.
"Here," Tony says and Carla frowns slightly "A chamomile tea, known for its relaxing properties and health benefits"
"Thanks" she whispers and Tony climbs into bed with her, she hums slightly and closes her eyes "Today got me thinking"
"Really?"
"Yeah" Carla turns to look at him "We need to clear out the spare room for the baby, not now but soon"
"That's true" Tony nods and Carla smile at him, she curls into his side and he puts his arm around her "You seem kind of distant"
"I'm just tired" she whispers and Tony nods "Growing a kid is exhausting not that it looks like I'm growing one"
"Why don't you take the day off tomorrow? Get some well-needed rest"
"That does sound lovely actually" she admits and Tony smiles down at her before kissing her on the top of the head "As long as you can handle Liam tomorrow?"
"I think I can manage" Tony nods and Carla laughs slightly before drinking her tea "Is there anything you need?"
"Such as?"
"Baby stuff? Maternity stuff?"
"I dont know" Carla shrugs feeling rather clueless about all of this as she never really had an interest in kids or wanted them "My clothes still fit so its not an issue right now"
"Ok" Tony smiles knowing not to push her "You get some sleep, I won't wake you up tomorrow"
"Hmm thanks"
The morning soon came and Tony left for work which heightened Liam's interest, he was confused as to why Carla wasn't in considering she was alright yesterday and his mind was whirring at the tales Tony was telling him about how she wasn't feeling entirely right, somehow it sparked worry in him and he wished that things were different. The seed was planted in his mind and he couldn't bury his thoughts at the fact that this baby could be his, that he could have another kid out there and that he could have nothing to do with them, instead, he would have to watch the man who practically scammed him out of the family business raise his kid as his own, that stung. Every day he questioned why he was working at that blasted factory, granted Tony was paying him a hefty sum whilst he flounced around Manchester getting new business deals to add to his portfolio and if Liam was honest it all came down to Carla, he was doing this for her because of that ever so addictive pull they had going on.
"Who is it?... What are you doing here?... I suppose you best come up then" Carla huffs letting Liam up, she didn't know why he was here nor did she really care "I would offer you wine but-"
"I'm driving anyway" Liam states and Carla nods slowly going to the kettle and flicking it on "We need to talk"
"About?"
"The baby" he states and Carla raises an eyebrow at him "And us"
"Liam-"
"I have tried so hard Carla, so hard to just bury the feelings I have for you and I can't do it no matter how hard I try"
"I don't feel the same for you Liam" she shakes her head ignoring that sharp pain in her heart at the words coming out of her mouth "Not anymore"
"It would change though, if that baby's mine-"
"And if it's not?" Carla puts to him and he just closes his eyes before opening them and walking over to her "Please just leave me alone Liam"
"If the results tell us that I am that baby's father-"
"Nothing would change"
"So you'd let Tony bring up this kid?"
"I don't know," she says feeling so torn that it was hurting her emotionally "I'm scared Liam, so scared of the decisions I will have to make and when I think about it, it hurts"
"Let me help you" he places his hands on either side of her arms, rubbing her skin gently "I'm here Carla, let me in"
"It's not that easy" she whispers looking up at him, he looks down at her before brushing his lips against hers "This...it scares me"
"Why?" he asks gently and Carla shakes her head before wiping her eyes
"It scares me because when I'm with you, I don't know how I feel I can't understand it whereas with Tony I can be in control of how I feel"
"I love you-"
"And you love Maria" Carla whispers, her heartbreaking once more "You need to let me go Liam for both our sakes and for the sakes of other's"
"And if that baby's mine?"
"Then we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it" Carla shakes her head, her fingers linking through his so they were holding hands "You need to go now though"
"I can't leave you-"
"Liam, please" she pleads and he looks at how obviously distraught she was "You need to let us go, both of us"
"I will always love you and all you need to do is say the word and I will be right there ok?" Liam says watching Carla turn her head as if she was blocking out the words he was saying "Never forget that Carla, ever..."
