"I'm so sorry to have to tell you this Carla but your paralysis is more in-depth than we originally thought leading to it most likely being permanent"

"It can't be," Peter says in disbelief watching the tears spring to Carla's eyes "She had feeling in her feet the other day"

"Mr Barlow those were involuntary reflexes" the doctor counters glancing to Carla who was wiping her eyes "Right now we want to focus on building the strength in Carla's arms so she has some sort of mobility"

"How have you come to this conclusion?" Jenny demands knowing that this is what Johnny would want her to do

"The scans we carried out yesterday the routine CT scans on Carla's brain and the x-ray we did on Carla's spine show that she has damage to her spinal cord from the fourth vertebrae up. This would be easily fixable if she wasnt pregnant-"

"So you're asking her to choose between the baby and her ability to walk?"

"No," the doctor says, Peter groans in annoyance "Carla would need an operation to fix this issue with her spine and to realign her vertebrae, this is an impossibility to do this right now due to the pregnancy but there is every opportunity that after the baby is born we could carry out this operation for her"

Peter glances at Carla who was just wiping her eyes with the sleeves of the jacket she was wearing, he sits on the edge of the bed and kisses her on the head as she sniffles.

"We also need to talk about the baby Carla," the midwife says as Carla looks up at her "With this problem with your spine you may find it hard and painful to carry this baby to full term and the strain it will have on your body, your kidney, your mental wellbeing and these are all added complications"

"So you are telling her to choose then" Jenny snaps, Peter thrusts his hands forward to her to emphasise her pint

"No we're not, we would completely understand if you wanted to continue with the pregnancy Carla and we will support you all the way. This last week you have made so much progress with being able to finally move to the chair so much so that we could actually carry out a thorough examination of your spinal injury. We're just trying to give Carla all the facts here"

"And her speech?" Peter presses with a glare

"She's doing well, really well," the doctor says smiling at Carla who was just wiping her eyes continuously

"Pe-Pe-t-er" she says as he cradles her head in his hands "So-so-r-ry"

"No sweetheart, no" he shakes his head kissing her softly on the lips

"After the operation if she does have it after the baby is born what's the likelihood she will walk again?"

"Slim," the doctor says "But it's a higher chance than if we left it how it is currently"

"I-I...j-ju-st" she breathes out before grabbing her phone

"I just want to be able to walk again"

"Is it ok if we talk about it as a family?"

"We'll leave you to it," the doctor says glancing at Carla's midwife, they both leave the room causing Carla to break down into tears, Peter holds her close

"Hey we're going to sort this" Peter hooks his fingers under her chin so he could look into her eyes "You don't need to worry"

"Is there anything I can do Carla?" Jenny offers, Carla turns to her and takes her hand looking at her in the eyes

"Mmm-m-mi-ch-ch" she sighs before groaning "El-l-l-le"

"Michelle?" Jenny questions glancing to Peter who sighs now knowing Carla had reached the end of her tether and needed support from her friend

"Ss-s-ee-ee h-h...er" Carla says looking at Peter who nods slowly "S-see Mi-mi-mi-mmm...ch-elle"

"You want to see Michelle?" Jenny questions, Carla nods with a small smile "Well if it's what she wants?"

"Ok," Peter nods "Can you work on that Jenny?"

"Of course," Jenny says "I'll deal with it then you two can talk, yeah?"

"Sounds good" Peter smiles letting her leave the room, he glances at Carla who shifts her body over allowing him to sit beside her "So what do you want to do?"

She picks up her phone,

"I want the baby, have the operation after"

"Ok" Peter nods "We can do that if that's what you want?"

"Y...y-y...es"

"Are you sure you're going to be ok with it Carla, I just dont want to see you in pain sweetheart when you're carrying the baby"

"I've been through worse"

"Ok then, your decision. I'll support you either way" he smiles, she leans up and kisses him on the lips looking into his eyes, he looks into hers "We should get married"

She frowns closing her eyes and then looking up into his eyes with a small smile on her face

"M-M-ar...r-i-e...ed?" she questions, Peter nods biting his lip

"I want to marry you, Carla," he says "Always have always will"

"O..k-k" she confirms as Jenny gasps, Carla drops her gaze and bites her lip

"Seriously?" Jenny questions, Carla nods with a small smile "I never saw that coming, we'll have to tell your dad"

"Are you sure?" Peter asks, Carla takes his hand and pushes it to his chest, her other hand cupping his cheek

"S-Su-re" she confirms, he leans in to kiss her passionately as she rests her forehead against his "L-L...ov-v-v..e y-you"

"I love you too" he whispers pecking her on the lips "I'll have to go and get that ring won't I?"

"I've also got a surprise for you" Jenny smirks, Carla turns to face her with a small smile "Michelle's going to come and see you, she's flying over on Friday and she's going to spend the weekend here with you"

"There you go" Peter smirks, Carla smiles widely for what seemed like the first time in ages "Everything will be just fine I know it…"


"Hey" Sarah responds softly as Adam enters the office, Lucas looks up "Sorry Lucas this is my husband, Adam"

"Nice to meet you Adam" Lucas nods as Adam narrows his eyes fulls of suspicion until it clicked

"Uh Sarah I was wondering if you wanted to go out for lunch, I have a couple of things to finish up at the office but I'll meet you in the bistro in like 15 mins?"

"Yeah that sounds good," Sarah says collecting her bag and coat "WIll you be ok here Lucas?"

"Absolutely fine" Lucas states, Sarah nods pecking Adam on the lips

"I'll see you soon," Sarah says before leaving the office, Adam closes the door and Lucas narrows his eyes

"This isn't some 'steal your wife' vendetta is it?" Lucas chuckles, Adam shakes his head perching himself on the edge of the desk

"Carla Connor" Adam states simply with a chuckle "You slept with her at that conference didnt you?"

"I don't know what you mean, I don't know a Carla Connor?"

"You were at that conference though" Adam confirms "I saw you, I was trying to steer Carla away from the bar-"

"You're barking up the wrong tree, I don't know a Carla Connor" Lucas states utterly convinced "I don't know what else you want me to say"

"Whatever your game is, stay away from Carla," Adam says seeing the smirk flicker across Lucas' face "I'll leave you to it"

"Whatever" Lucas mutters watching him leave, he rolls his eyes and shakes his head in disbelief before returning to his work…


Peter was returning home from the hospital with a smug grin on his face, he walked into number one after catching a lift with Jenny. He was ecstatic that even though the future was bleak and Carla may never walk again he had her hand in marriage and that was something he loved entirely, to call her his again. Peter didn't know what to expect when he told his family, he knew his dad would probably have words but he didnt care, he wasn't going to let anyone spoil this for him at least or Carla for that fact. Ken clocked on immediately that something was going on with his son to the extent he was overly chirpy in a situation that was deemed to be full of depression and unhappiness so his intrigue was heightened.

"Right something's obviously happened," Tracy says noticing the soppy grin her brother was sporting "Has Morticia finally graced the earth and taken her first steps or something?"

"Tracy" Ken scolds, she just rolls her eyes "What's happened, Peter?"

"Me and Carla, we're engaged and before you start we're happy so please don't spoil this"

"Bit random isn't it?" Tracy questions narrowing her eyes and leaning forward in her seat "Nah something must have happened. She's up the stick isn't she?"

"What? No-"

"Nah he's lying, is it yours? I know what the likes of her are like-"

"And you're a saint are you?" Peter snipes, Tracy grins triumphantly

"So she is up the stick, this just gets better. Poor child, alcoholic father on the lash every two minutes, a mother who's mentally insane, can't speak and can't walk-"

"Carla will walk and speak again Tracy. Amy coped fine with a murdering mother"

"And the doctors have said that have they?" she questions, Peter avoids her gaze "You should take a tabloid out, that kid'll be hurled straight into care"

"Peter" Ken sighs sitting down in the armchair

"She will walk, I know she will!" Peter exclaims as the tears prick his eyes "And I don't have to listen to this"

"You're in denial"

"That should be his mantra" Tracy mutters causing her father to glare at her "I'm just saying what everyone is thinking"

"You know what I'm not dealing with this" Peter states grabbing his jacket and leaving the house

"Well done Tracy"

"Don't blame it on me, I know you're thinking the same. Just afraid to admit it"


"Do you want a coffee?"

"Yeah go on then, black one sugar," he says "Where's Si?"

"Out god knows where can't keep him indoors at the moment. He loves that job at the chippy though"

"That's good he's earning his way"

"It's a lucrative thing," Leanne says, placing the coffee down on the table, she sits in the armchair "Why are you here then?"

"I was looking for Si, wondering if he wanted to go to Speed Dahl for a meal? If he's busy I'll just finish this is up then head off"

"How's Carla?"

"There have been some complications," Peter says quietly "In the form of she may never walk again, she needs this operation on her spine and then she has to learn to walk again after that"

"Sounds exhausting"

"We got engaged" Peter smiles tearfully "Seems tainted now but...we want this to work and either way I will love her nonetheless whether she can walk or is she cant, whether she can speak or whether she cant. She's still my world, just like Si is"

"She's determined to get better though?" Leanne questions, Peter nods "Well that's a good thing"

"She can sit on a chair now, she'd been working hard all week to do it and she finally did it yesterday even if it did come with the exhaustion"

"That's good progress though?" Leanne questions, Peter nods "You just have to keep hanging on in there"

"I don't know how long I can-"

"Hey, dad!" Simon enters the room with a smile "What are you doing here?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go for a meal at Speed Dahl?"

"Oh right, yeah sure" Simon confirms glancing to Leanne who nods "Let me just put all this away"

"Alright then" Peter smiles watching him leave the room, he finishes off his coffee just as Simon reappears "Shall we go then?"

"Yeah, see you later mum" Simon smiles as they leave the flat, Leanne smiles slightly before sighing and glancing at the picture of Simon holding Oliver, she wished things were different, oh so different…


"So how is Carla?"

"Well, we got engaged" Peter responds hesitantly before Simon launches himself at his father "Um?"

"About time!" Simon drones, Peter pulls a face "I'm surprised you didn't do it in the first six months of you getting back together"

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Well put it like this dad, you're rubbish at relationships and to be honest I thought you would want to sign this one off as it is Carla"

"So you don't mind?"

"Well, I do have one thing which I don't like-"

"And that is?" Peter smirks knowing it was probably going to be witty

"Well, please no fancy food on the wedding buffet! Last time you would need fifths to even feel full and the choices were so random and posh and that is not you or Carla-"

"Alright you've made your point" Peter chuckles, Simon grins "Now choose something to eat"