A/N: I'm just trying to get back into the swing of things after writing Carter, bear with me :)


The thing about Liam and his relationship with Carla was that he never lived up to his promises and she had never felt so alone, especially as he left her. With no one to help her and no one to guide her on this journey, she had to do it on her own and that was scary. She hadn't heard from Liam or Leanne and she was starting to worry knowing she needed to get out of here and fast so she swiftly packed her backs before rummaging around the hotel room double checking she had taken all of her belongings and they were packed leaving little to no evidence that she was here. She frowned as there was a knock on the door, the panic started to rise and she became a nervous wreck knowing that it wasn't even Leanne or Liam behind that door as they usually texted her before they came and she had nothing. Gingerly her hands reached for the handle and she opened it, the tears smarting her eyes as they began to fall.

"Mrs Gordon?"

"Why are you here?" she whispers, the fear evident in her body, her eyes looking the police officers that were there

"We just wanted to have a chat with you, its nothing bad"

"Ok," Carla says quietly, her hands still shaking as she lets the officers into her hotel room

"Are you going somewhere-"

"What's it to you?" Carla narrows her eyes as she sits on the bed, she fiddles with her rings "And why do you want to speak to me?"

"We've been wondering how you've been doing?"

"Why?" Carla persists, her eyes narrowing "Has Tony sent you?"

"Tony's your husband right?"

"Yeah" she nods slowly biting her lip "Why?"

"He's worried about you and said you weren't in a bad way Carla, we want to help both of you-"

"He has no right to do this!" she exclaims before pulling at her head "He's controlling, manipulative, I don't want to be anywhere near him hence the packed bags. He sent me these flowers and-"

"Could they have been an apology?"

"For being a controlling so and so, I don't think so" she states and sighs soon after "I don't understand what you want me to do or why you're here, I'm my own person and I don't want Tony anywhere near me"

"We understand Carla and we'll relay all this information back to your husband" the police officer confirms and Carla nods "Now I think we're done here"

"Don't tell him about me calling him a controlling so and so though, I don't want any more aggro"

"Of course Mrs Gordon" the officer's nod before leaving the hotel room enabling Carla to let out a hefty sigh before collecting her bags and putting them on by the door, she sends a text off to Liam telling him that she was leaving now as it needed to be done, she was on her own now and that was the way she liked it until there was a knock on the door that would change her life forever...


It was the false promises from both the men in her life, she was immensely stressed and when she opened the hotel room to fine Tony standing there with a huge bouquet of flowers, she was sure that if he could he would have put a water feature in them. She rolled her eyes but somehow couldn't keep the smile off her face as he held the flowers and his rather apologetic look, it was tugging on her heartstrings so she let him into her hotel room and sat on the bed stretching her back slightly as it ached, her eyes locked on Tony as he paced the room obviously wanting to get something off his chest but she got there first.

"Was the police really necessary-"

"Yes Carla, I was worried about you and I knew you wouldn't want to see me so I had to get them involved"

"That's right I didn't want to see you" she states before sighing slightly "So what now?"

"Do you still love me?"

"Of course I do, it was just overbearing Tony" she sighs slightly and Tony nods "How did you find me?"

"Liam told me" he states and Carla narrows her eyes, the anger filling her body rather quickly "He said that you needed me"

"When did he tell you?"

"Yesterday, he couldn't keep disappearing like that" Tony responds smartly and Carla wraps her hand around the duvet cover "Not when Maria ended up in the hospital last night"

"What! Is she ok?!" Carla asks and Tony just sighs sitting beside her on the bed, taking her hand "Tony"

"She went into premature labour"

"Is she ok Tony? Is the baby ok?" she persists and Tony hushes her gently, at least it made sense why Liam wasn't in touch

"She's fine, she went in for an emergency c-section and the baby is doing fine, obviously he's very early-"

"Is was a boy?" she smiles slightly and Tony nods "I feel awful now, their baby might not make it and I'm here..."

"You don't need to feel bad Carla, it's been quite hectic and in a way it's good you haven't been worried because of the baby"

"So what did Liam say to you exactly?"

"He said that he was helping you and explained that you needed space, I was angry at first but then I realised my behaviour was controlling when we were living together so I apologise"

"It's ok, I know you care about me and I care about you as well"

"I'd really like to start again if that's ok? I promise I won't be as controlling or even controlling at all, I want you to confide in me Carla, not just about you but about the baby as well" he whispers placing his hand across her tummy, she smiles down at his hand and then places hers on his

"Yeah alright" she smiles softly and Tony nods with a wide smile "I'd like that"

"Good...good" Tony breathes a sigh of relief at almost losing her "How about I take your bags down to the car and then we can go back to the flat, get you out of this hotel room?"

"Yeah sounds good, you go ahead, I'll just double-check the room over one more time" she confirms and Tony smiles kissing her on the head as she watches him collect her bags and leave the hotel room leaving her to sigh and pinch the bridge of her nose. Now she was alone with her controlling husband, Liam was preoccupied and Leanne was living her life, she knew deep down doing this on her own wasn't practical because of how scared she was with having a baby on her own so having Tony there would make it that bit better surely?


As soon as they got in Tony was fussing over her and Carla immediately got annoyed and told him to calm down, if she was honest she was just tired and feeling rather nauseous and just wanted to rest in her own bed, there was something comforting about it. She snorted quietly at how her plan, albeit a stupid plan, didn't work out. How could it? She knew the only thing to get it to work was to tell Tony about the baby not being his but she could no way do that now with Maria and her baby in such a bad condition as well as Liam who was probably going out of his mind. This led her to think about the factory so she suggested to Tony that she went back to work to prove that he wouldn't smother her or control her by forcing her to stay at home. With that Tony agreed, albeit reluctantly but Carla was happy that she got what she wanted so after her nap she headed into work.

"Carla?"

"Oh it's you" she rolls her eyes letting Leanne into her office, she immediately shuts the blinds and the door "Why didn't you answer your texts?"

"That's what I'm here about! I lost my phone and then all that stuff happened with Maria, I felt awful because I couldn't contact you-"

"Why didn't you just get a new phone and then ask someone for my number or even come and see me?"

"I didn't have enough money, things are tight at the moment so I couldn't exactly splash out on a new phone and I didn't want to risk it unless we prearranged it just in case Tony followed me"

"I understand, it doesn't matter anyway because me and Tony, we've spoken-"

"Seriously?" Leanne raises an eyebrow as she sits in Liam's chair watching Carla smile down at her papers

"Yes seriously, we're giving things another go. I'm in control this time"

"I bet he's taking that well" Leanne smirks and Carla grins at her "No seriously, good on you for doing that and I'm sorry-"

"Leanne it's ok," she says quietly knowing she couldn't fall out with her as she knew about her and Liam's affair "Seriously"

"So how are you? Both of you..." she gestures to Carla's middle and she smiles slightly standing up and rolling her top up "You're starting to show and I only saw you a matter of days ago"

"Hmm I know, it's going to be hell getting my body back" she huffs in annoyance and Leanne smiles at her "Hopefully it will be worth it ey?"

"It will" Leanne nods and Carla hums slightly before stretching her arms "I really am sorry though"

"It's ok Leanne, seriously and I'll let you know if anything happens or if I need anything"


There was something different about her, somehow being back under Tony's eyes was comforting and she felt safer than being on her own and he obviously cared immensely about her and her baby even if it wasn't his. They had a lovely meal together with Tony telling her all about the factory and his business ventures and how he managed to get them out of the red this month which was one less stress for her and because things were going in the right direction she felt immediately lighter. The upsetting thing was that she could see how exciting Tony was about the baby and his motivation really did come from the child she was carrying and that made her feel ever so guilty and want to run away again. Somehow the fear of having to go through the birth and those first few weeks with her baby kept her routed, if she didn't have those fears she would have been out that door faster than lightning.

"Ugh!" she snaps and Tony raises his eyebrow watching her rummage through her bag "I've left my phone at the factory"

"Baby brain getting to you Carla?"

"You're so funny" she drones before grabbing her keys "I'm just going to nip and get it"

"Why don't I get it-"

"You've had a drink" she reminds him pointing to his wine glass "I'll go, it'll just be easier and I thought you weren't going to smother me or control what I do?"

"Sorry" he flashes her a smile and she rolls her eyes before letting out a sigh "I really am"

"I know it's just a force of habit with you, soon you'll snap out of it" she cups his cheek before kissing him softly "I'll be back soon ok?"

"I'll see you when I see you"


She went to the factory and when she got there she rummaged through the desk drawers trying to locate her phone before frowning softly at her inability to remember where she put it. Humming thoughtfully she internally laughed at her pregnancy probably making her forgetful. She narrowed her eyes slightly and frowned, the rest of the factory was dark and only the office light was on which illuminated the shop floor just enough for her to make out a figure, she squinted her eyes and sighed slightly heading out into the kitchenette flicking the kettle on.

"Here," she places the steaming hot coffee down on the table before sighing "Oh Liam..."

"Everything's a mess" he slurs, it was obvious that he was very drunk and probably felt alone with Maria being in hospital

"Is Maria ok?"

"Why do you care?!" he borderline snaps and she sighs pinching the bridge of her nose "Leave me alone"

"I don't think that would be a good idea plus arent you meant to be with Maria?"

"She didn't want to see me" he mumbles and Carla nods slowly "She's in bits"

"Is the baby ok?"

"Who told you?"

"Tony"

"I'm sorry" he apologises and Carla shakes her head "I should have been there for you considering everything"

"Don't apologise, your wife needed you, Maria needed you and your son needed you whereas me? I don't need you, Liam"

"But you did" he counters before groaning and resting his head on the table "You needed me"

"No, I don't...I have Tony now"

"You didn't want him a day ago" he responds with a smirk and Carla rolls her eyes "What's changed?"

"We've spoken about things...and yeah we're going to give it another go"

"I'm happy for you really" Liam confirms before groaning slightly causing Carla to roll her eyes and get him some water "I feel like I've drunk enough for both you and Maria"

"You're hilarious" she states with a huff "Trust me I'd kill for a gin and tonic"

"Mhm" he drinks his water "I don't know what to do"

"Go and see Maria, apologise or something, bring her the biggest flowers you can find and tell her how much she means to you"

"Is that what you would like if you were in her position?"

"Well that would be telling, plus I am not like any woman am I?" she teases nudging him with her elbow "Now I need to find my phone so are you going to continue here wallowing in self-pity or go and be with your wife?"

"Hmm I'll catch a cab, thanks" he smiles and Carla nods before smiling at him "I'll see you around-"

"I'll be in work from now on until maternity leave-"

"And Tony's ok with that?"

"Tony isn't going to control me anymore Liam" she states and Liam raises an eyebrow wondering how long her husband could last without controlling her "I'm in control"

"I'm glad," he says quietly as their conversation turns awkward "I'm just going to-"

"Yeah I'm going to go to once I've found my phone" she confirms and Liam smiles "Bye Liam"

"Yeah, um...bye" he nods before heading to the front door of the factory, he looks back at her to find she was looking at him, he dips his head and leaves wondering how long they can keep dancing around each other for...