Intrusive thoughts filled her head as she rested her body, Liam laying beside her as her eyes were wide awake having not managed to get any sleep as it was plagued with every thought associating with Tony as possible. She turned over and looked at Liam who was sleeping in the armchair insisting that she took the bed because her need was greater than his, and smiled before closing her eyes and turning back around. At that moment knowing that he was there she fell off into a light sleep before waking in a cold sweat at the vivid dream she experienced for what she felt like was an unsubstantial reason. Soon enough she found the panic overtaking her body and Liam immediately by her side comforting her and he looked at her and who she had become in what she thought was a judgemental way but she allowed herself to feel the comfort from his hand running up and down her back even if it did feel wrong.

"Sorry"

"Don't apologise..." Liam says and Carla gulps slightly before reaching out for the bottle of water before taking generous sips "How long have you been awake for?"

"Not long" she whispers and Liam nods slowly "I'm scared"

"What of?" he asks taking her hand, her gaze dropping to their linked hands

"Everything, the baby, Tony being controlling-"

"I bet you're wishing that baby was mine because you're tied to him now"

"How sensitive of you" she rolls her eyes, usually she would have snapped but if she did then she would have been left alone and that was something she didn't want

"The baby will be fine Carla-"

"And you're a doctor now?" she looks at him before sighing knowing he was just trying to keep her positive "I should sleep some more-"

"You should, you look tired," he says gently and Carla climbs back under the covers "Get some rest, I won't leave"

"Thanks" she mumbles before closing her eyes at the tears filling them, she just wished things were different and she wasn't going to be the spiteful cow and ruin Liam and Maria's marriage, she was too mature for that now and had bigger things to worry about like her unborn child...


Carla slept for a couple more hours before waking and doing the same routine of glancing over at where she thought Liam would be but he wasn't, she frowned slightly before getting out of bed and heading into the bathroom, she reappeared and then looked on the side seeing there was a note at Liam explaining that he had to go to work and that he would call her later, she panicked, no she more than panicked and she was scared that Tony could come for her at any point but it was weird, she wasn't scared of him, she really did have feelings for him but it's his behaviours that scared her entirely. It got to around midday, she managed to make herself some toast as she wasn't that hungry, deeming it as something light to eat. After forcing her food down there was a knock on the hotel room door, she went up to the door and opened it gingerly seeing Leanne standing there with a folder so Carla frowned and let her in.

"What's this?"

"It's from Liam, some stuff from Lad Rags for you to do, he said it might help keep your mind occupied" Leanne smiles and Carla nods taking the folder "Tony's going out of his mind"

"You don't think I'm being too harsh?"

"Carla, he's a controlling, needy man, give yourself a break"

"I suppose" she sighs placing the folder down on the table, she goes to get into bed

"Does Liam know about the baby?"

"No, I came close to telling him but I just couldn't do that to him and Maria" she shakes her head and Leanne smiles slightly "I appreciate all he's doing for me but if I told him then he'd want to leave Maria and I can't have that because then I'd know he would be in it for the baby and the baby only, anyway we've been through this Leanne and it's not going to change my outlook"

"I know and I'm sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were sure"

"I am" she whispers closing her eyes and leaning back against the headboard "What if he goes to the police?"

"Who?"

"Tony...and reports me missing?" she says quietly and Leanne sighs "What then?"

"Nothing's going to happen, Carla, you have me and Liam fighting your corner" she assures her friend who was obviously quite stressed underneath it all

"I hope so because I don't know if I could cope if it did"


The realisation of what Tony's behaviour had done to her was setting in, every time she would be constantly opening the hotel door room looking up and down the corridor to make sure he wasn't there lurking and hadn't followed either Leanne or Liam here. Her hands trembled as she picked up the phone to order room service but when it came to actually opening the door to take the food she jumped at the sound even if she did know who it was. After eating there was another knock at the door causing her to turn the TV off, she wasn't expecting anyone double-checking her phone as she could have received a text from either Liam or Leanna but nothing. Gingerly she walked to the door and opened it but no one was there except for a simple bouquet of flowers on the floor, she frowned and picked them up but there wasn't a card or anything leaving her confused. Somehow she recognised these flowers from somewhere and she just couldn't put her finger on it until it sunk in and of course, soon enough, she was dialling Liam's number ordering for him to get here.

"What?" he questions and she drags him in into the hotel room double-checking the hallway as she usually did

"You" she jabs a finger into his chest and he was immediately taken aback by his attitude "You...sending me these flowers-"

"Woah hold on-"

"How could you do that Liam, mess with my head like that? Is this all some sort of sick joke to you?"

"They weren't from me, could they have been from a client or something, is there a card-"

"No!" she cries exasperatedly and Liam frowns "They were from you, only you'd know about these flowers Liam and how significant this bouquet is!"

"Why is it so significant that I would know-"

"These flowers, Liam, are made of flowers from my wedding bouquet to Paul and only you know where I am and you were coincidentally at the wedding-"

"Carla, I'm telling you I did not send these, why would I do that to you?"

"I actually thought we were getting somewhere" she states unable to see past his words as she was just so hurt "That we could be civil, that we could help each other out every now and then but I was wrong wasn't I-"

"Carla, I swear I did not send you those flowers!"

"Then who did?" she looks at him and Liam shrugs "Michelle doesn't know where I am, Leanne wouldn't know the exact bouquet and only you would have any knowledge of that and also know I'm here-"

"I promise you-"

"I don't want to hear it" she whispers knowing everything was getting to her "Just go Liam, take your excuses elsewhere"

"I promise you Carla I didn't send you those and when you've had time to think I reckon you'll realise that" he states "Take care, I'm going to leave before we argue even further"

"Whatever Liam" she mutters as he leaves the hotel room, slamming the door behind him as she holds the flowers which she later lobs into the bin in her hotel room...


The nights were always lonely, the way she wanted someone there to guide her to sleep but this time she was alone. Every now and then her eyes would cast to the flowers that were sitting in the bin and as she was unable to sleep she got up and then picked them up before sighing. She rummaged through them but nothing and the sad thing was that a maid or anyone didn't even bring them up to her, they were just left outside propped up against the hotel room door. Following she closed her eyes and sat on the bed, the flowers still placed in her hands as she admired them knowing how she was so excited to get married to Paul when the bouquet was placed in her hands that day and she went on to marry into his family only to realise the deep dark desire she had for his brother and the endless revolving door of Paul's prostitutes, how she wished she chased after Liam instead and at that moment she realised that he didn't send her those flowers, he wouldn't mess with her head like that when she was vulnerable so she found herself picking up her phone and sending him an apology, putting a sad face after it using a colon and a bracket to enforce her emotions. A while later there was a knock at the door and she went to answer it seeing Liam there, he immediately brought her in for a hug and she wrapped her arms around him, more like throwing them as she felt so comforted at that moment.

"It was Tony" she whispers and Liam frowns pulling away "He's messing with my head-"

"How would he know-"

"My old photo albums," she says quietly "There was a picture of me and Paul in there, both of us standing, you know the one where Helen was fussing over my hair wanting it to be perfect for her son and thrusting those flowers into my hand"

"Even then you stuck out like a sore thumb-"

"Don't remind me, painting on a smile as per" she chuckles and Liam hums slightly running his fingers through her hair "I need to get out of here"

"I know you do," he says into her head, kissing her softly and she frowns and pulls away to look at him "I'm going to help you"

"Where will I go?"

"Me and Leanne will figure it out"

"Paul would be spinning in his grave" she chuckles and Liam rolls his eyes at her "I need to leave tonight"

"At least get some rest-"

"I'm not staying here if he knows where I am, we need to be more careful now" Carla states and Liam looks at the tears pouring from her eyes "I'm scared Liam"

"You don't need to be scared, I'll be here every step of the way"