14th May 2014: Two Red Lines

She was petrified of something which she didn't want to become a reality and the fact that it was becoming one very quickly made her feel sick. It had been a hectic few months so no wonder she made a mistake, even if it was a simple one, she stressed to Michelle that she didn't make mistakes when it came to contraception but her friend assured her that she was only human and that she should take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side because after all she could be worrying for nothing but she was convinced that she was pregnant or she was convinced that she was convincing herself that she was, either way, she knew she needed to find out for sure.

Michelle stressed to her that she should tell Peter and that he would be supportive after all he was a dad to Simon and that he would understand entirely the predicament the both of them faced. Carla didn't want to tell Peter but deep down she knew her friend was right and that she should be taking this test with her husband, the father of her possible unborn baby. She had some news about George dying and in a way, she was thankful that she could worry about the possible pregnancy under the disguise of her step-father's death because under the surface she was so scared of what the future may hold for her.

She excused herself from the flat to go out for a walk, the thought of the pregnancy and the thought of death too much for her, she didn't take her handbag only her and keys, after all, it was just going to be a quick walk down the street to clear her head, she thought she might even pop into the factory if it was cold. That's what she did she sat in her office and stared at the four walls in front of her, the memories playing out in her mind of Paul, Liam, Tony even Frank which caused an involuntary shiver, she decided soon after that there was enough reminiscing and she would head home back to the life of domesticity seemed more appealing than reminiscing.

"Sorry I took so long" she hangs her coat up on the peg making sure it was in a position where it wouldn't crease

"Your phone was going off like crazy, anything could have happened to you when you were out"

"Sorry I forgot it" she whispers, she remembered all the comments pregnant women made about baby brain, surely this wasn't another confirmation of her predicament?

"I went to answer your phone"

"Oh right?" she frowns not really bothered about it, after all, she trusted him "And?"

"I think you have some explaining to do" he smiles sitting down beside her hand pulling the pregnancy test which was hidden behind his back, she gulps, she looked very scared all of a sudden, the tears started to fall "Hey, why are you crying?"

"Because I don't want a baby" she cries, he nods slowly "I don't want to be a Mum, Peter"

"Oh, love" he whispers cupping her cheek "Have you taken it, you could be worrying for nothing?"

"That's what Michelle said" she murmurs slightly he brings her into a hug, he lifts her up so she was sat on his lap "I'm so scared Peter, this has been eating me up"

"All the more reason to take it, then we can deal with it, together as a team, yeah?" he nudges her nose with his, she smiles

"I don't need to go to the toilet" she mumbles causing Peter to chuckle slightly "I don't want to take it"

"By not taking it, the result won't change love, no matter how hard you think it will" he mumbles slightly causing her to bite her lip "Right I'm going to get you a glass of water and you're going to drink it all"

"Seriously, you're actually going to try and make me pee?" she smiles slightly as Peter nods lifting her off his lap and placing her down on the sofa beside him whilst he achieves the glass of water

"Drink it" he thrusts it towards her she drinks some of it

"I'm not thirsty though" she bites her lip causing him to dramatically roll his eyes and open the pregnancy test box and look at the instructions

"Look all you need to do it pee on the stick" he hands her the test which was in the wrapper "The sooner we know the sooner we can come up with a plan"

"Ok fine" she sighs taking it shakily, her hands were shaking so much she dropped the test on the floor "Gosh my nerves are shot"

"Do you want me to come in the bathroom with you?" he asks trying to be supportive, she pulls a face thinking it would be borderline creepy if he watched her pee

"Um, no thanks, that's a bit weird" she comments before walking into the bathroom to take the test leaving Peter to sigh gently, it was weird, he was happy but he was also thinking about how the timing could have been better, this was just another thing to add to the pressure he was receiving

"Done" she murmurs stepping out of the bathroom, the test wrapped in tissue paper, she places it down on the coffee table and he brings her in for a hug "We need to wait a bit"

"Ok" he smiles gently trying to reassure her without committing too much to the conversation "Whatever happens, I'll be there ok? Through it all"

"A Mum though Peter? I wasn't expecting this at all, I can't believe I was so stupid to mess up my contraception"

"We all make mistakes"

"Have you been getting your lines from Michelle?" she studies him he just chuckles "You two I swear you're part of some secret club"

"We wouldn't do that behind your back" he kisses her on the forehead, all that mattered right now was them at this moment in time when it was just them he could focus on the positives

"What if I am?"

"As I said, whatever you want, this is your body, Carla, you would be carrying this baby if you decided you wanted to keep it but if you don't want to keep it, either way, I will support your decision because like I said this is your body"

"Thank you" she smiles, she felt a bit more relaxed and actually felt that she had a choice of termination as she didn't exactly want to be a Mum

"You need to look at that test though" he tickles her sides causing her to giggle slightly "There's that smile"

"Hmm ok" she nods picking the test up and unwrapping the tissue paper from it; two prominent red lines

"Your choice, whatever you want, I'll be there" he whispers kissing the side of her head

"Thank you" she nods wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him "Thank you so much, baby"

"That's what I'm here for"