After weeks of being on a new medication routine, Carla was feeling a lot better and they had managed to minimise her pain. Her medication was working well with her pregnancy and that made her feel a bit brighter all in all. Today she was going home, Peter was worried in case she wasn't up to it but right now it felt right for her to be at home with him and Michelle who had spent the last few weeks getting to grips with Carla's care and what they would need to do with all of that. All of them knew it would be a challenge adapting to everything but they were willing to make this work for Carla more than everything.
"Hey" Peter beams bending down to kiss her softly on the lips, she grins up at him "Excited to be coming home?"
"V-Very" she confirms with a grin, she looks at Michelle who was packing all of her stuff up "I-I love y-you"
"Hey, i love you too" he whispers pecking her on the forehead, she yawns tiredly "We've got everything ready at home for you, the carers have come in and checked everything for us so we're ready to go when you get home"
"G-Good" she nods with a small smile, she moves her legs so they were hanging off the side of the bed
Peter bends down beside her and holds her hands, she moves one of his hands to her tummy and he brushes his thumb against it
"How's this little one then?"
"Mhm" she nods with a smile, Michelle sits beside her on the bed and takes Carla's hand
"Getting bigger eh?" Peter smirks, she nods with a small smile watching as her doctor enters the room
"Hello Carla, I see we're all ready to go home"
"Yes" she nods biting her lip and holding Peter and Michelle's hands
"Shall we get you moved to the wheelchair then?"
"Mhm" she nods allowing Peter to push it over for her and apply the breaks, she holds onto Peter's arm and moves into the wheelchair
"Here" Michelle smiles passing her a pillow which she had brought with them knowing it would help Carla's back; she puts it behind her back
"B-Be-Be...t-t...er" she nods with a smile, Peter kisses her on the top of the head
"Here are copies of the medication timetables when she needs to take what, you've sorted out the prescriptions haven't you?"
"Yeah we have a months supply at home" Michelle confirms as Peter focusses on making Carla more comfortable "The carers came around yesterday and installed all the grab rails, all the accessible items as well so yeah we're all set"
"Good" the doctor nods passing Carla the clipboard "If you could sign"
She signs the paper and grins up at Peter
"You're free to go, we're only on the other end of the phone if any of you have any problems"
"Thank you," Peter says helping Carla put her feet onto the footrests as she still struggled a bit with that "All ready to go, baby?"
"Y-Yes" she nods "G-Go"
"Alright then, I guess we're off"
"Hello" Toyah greets the social worker before gasping and bending down in front of the small boy who was with her "And you must be Sammy"
"Yes" the little boy looks up at her, his eyes wide
"Shall we go and play with some toys?" Toyah beams, Sammy nods allowing this woman who was a complete stranger to him, to lead him over to the toys which were in the corner of the room
"Is he going to be ok?" Imran questions the social worker who smiles
"He's doing just fine" the social worker smiles "Here's a list of allergies and medical information if you need it. He's a good kid, really easy going and settles easily so he shouldn't be a problem"
"We just want to help" Imran confirms with a small smile, the social worker nods "Is there anything else we need to know?"
"I don't think so, if I think of anything I will call you. Try not to worry"
"We'll try and thank you, for believing in us" Imran confirms as the social worker nods allowing Imran to show her out "Right then"
"Play" Sammy pouts his lips running over to Imran and thrusting one of the toys into his face as he bends down
"Go on then" Imran chuckles, Toyah smirks at him as they all sit down and begin to play with this child which was under their care
Carla was lounging out on the sofa watching the TV whilst Peter pottered around in the kitchen making her something to eat which would no doubt be better than hospital food. Michelle shoved another wedding magazine into her hands causing her to roll her eyes as she really didn't want to be thinking about weddings and she didn't have the heart to tell her friend to stop. She did get some entertainment from them though and that was about it especially as Peter wasn't giving her any right now. She huffed slightly and moved to her wheelchair checking the brakes were on and she made her way over to Peter who jumped at her presence.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" he gasps, she grins up at him causing him to bend down to her level "Did you want something love?"
"T-T" she points to the bathroom, he nods knowing she needed his help to open the door, he goes to open it for her and she wheels herself into it
"Remember to leave it unlocked in case you fall alright?"
"Mhm" she nods closing the door, he sighs slightly knowing this would be hard. Michelle enters the flat,
"Hey" Peter smiles, Michelle smiles at him "How was work?"
"The usual had Lucas in my face but I won't tell her that. He's like a dog with a bone"
"Hmm maybe don't mention that around her," he points to the bathroom, Michelle hums "I want this to be easy for her, no complications"
"I won't dont worry" Michelle whispers as Carla narrows her eyes from the door of the bathroom, she wheels herself in front of Michelle
"L-Lucas?" she questions with a frown, Michelle nods "H-He...ok?"
"He's being fine with me Carla" Michelle assures her, Carla narrows her eyes suspiciously "You don't need to worry"
"D-Do...w-w-worry"
"I'm fine" Michelle assures her by planting a kiss on top of her head "Right do you need anything? I could give your feet a nice massage"
"Out" she responds simply, Michelle glances at Peter who shrugs "Side...o-outside"
"We can go out if you want?" Michelle questions, Carla nods eagerly with a grin "Shall we get you into something a bit more practical?"
"W-Warm…" she nods, Michelle chuckles running her fingers through her hair before wheeling Carla into the bedroom
"Are you ok babe?" Kelly questions turning into Simon's body, his arms secured around her as they lay together
"Fine" he whispers "Just thinking"
"Is it about…?"
"Harvey, yes" he confirms "I don't know what to do"
"You should speak to someone" she whispers kissing him on the cheek "Or go to the police, one or the other"
"I can cope with it" he confirms before sighing "Do you want to go out anywhere?"
"Oh like where?"
"I don't know, how about we just go for a walk. I don't have any drop-offs I need to do"
"Sounds good" Kelly nods sliding out of bed and leaving the room to go into the bathroom, Simon sighs and rubs his forehead wondering why he chose to get into this mess...
"Si!" Peter calls as Simon instantly removes his hand from Kelly's grasp knowing he hasn't told his father about her
"Hey dad" Simon responds nervously, "I didn't realise you were out Carla"
"K-Keep u-up t...then" she smirks, he grins at her and she shakes her head, beckons him down to her level "T-treat h-her w-well"
"Don't tell-"
"W-Won't" she confirms with a smirk before tugging at Peter's arm "G-Go"
"Alright bossyboots" Peter chuckles with a small smile, she grins up at him "We'll leave you to it Si"
"See ya," Simon says as he walks off with Kelly
"So then do you want anything from the shops"
Carla just points to the chippy with a grin, Peter rolls his eyes
"As it's a special occasion I guess we can push the boat out ey?" he suggests, Michelle grins at her before clocking Lucas from across the street
"G-Good"
"I'll go and get that food then" he smiles pecking Carla on the top of the head before grinning "Be good"
"She will be" Michelle smirks watching Peter walk off to the chippy, Carla finally clocks Lucas who saunters over "Hello"
Carla rolls her eyes
"Hello Carla, nice to see you again" he smirks, she shakes her head glancing at Michelle
"She's limited on her speech because of the accident" Michelle informs him, Lucas nods before biting his lip
"Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight, a fancy restaurant in town-"
"I'll stop you right there" Michelle sighs, Carla looks up at her and frowns "I have to be in with this one tonight, sorry"
"G-Go," Carla says with a roll of her eyes
"I can't leave you on your own Carla, Peter has to do a night shift. Sorry Lucas"
"C-Come," Carla says looking at Lucas, Peter walks over with a bag full of fish and chips in his hand and frowns
"Food" he smiles before turning to Lucas "You must be Lucas"
"Nice to meet you…?"
"Peter," Michelle says with a tilt of the head "And no we can reschedule Carla"
"N-No" she shakes her head "C-Come"
"I can always swap my shift with Steve, it means you going home to eat this alone"
"It is booked," Lucas says, Michelle sighs biting her lip
"I'll do that, you two go home and eat this" Peter suggests passing Michelle the fish and chips "We can have a cosy night in, love. How about that?"
"P-P...er...f-fect," she nods with a grin pointing to her lips, he pecks them with his "Bye"
"Can't wait to get rid of me" he tuts "See you later"
Carla was sitting with Michelle on the sofa, her head resting on her lap as Michelle helped to stretch Carla's legs for her using a Theraband knowing they needed to keep up with her physio at home. Carla had her eyes on the TV as they watched some reruns of some teleshopping programme as they drooled over some shoes. They then switched over to a movie and then, of course, Carla fell asleep on the sofa but soon woke when Peter entered the flat and he swapped positions with Michelle who went to get ready.
"What do you think?" she twirls around, Carla turns her nose up "No?"
"I-I know" she grins shifting herself over onto the wheelchair and then wheeling herself into Michelle's bedroom and opening the wardrobe, she pulls out a deep red evening dress with a provocative slit on one side "T-This"
"Oh" Michelle smirks, "Something tells me you know where the night is going to go"
Carla smirks grabbing her phone to give her mind a rest and her voice
"As long as we dont hear anything"
"If I'm not home then I'm with him at his flat alright?"
"O-Ok" Carla grins "Th-Th...at o-one"
"Thank you babe, I knew I could count on you" Michelle smirks kissing her on the top of the head, Carla reaches out to grab the bag of nail polishes and placing them on her lap before wheeling herself out of the room and placing the bag on the table
"Ok how about this now?" Michelle questions, Carla nods eagerly pointing to the armchair and then grabbing the red nail polish "You don't have to do this"
Carla rolls her eyes with a smirk, she shakes her head coyly and begins to touch up Michelle's nail polish
"Will you be ok here alone with Peter?"
"Y-Y-Yes" she nods with a small smile letting out a yawn as she continues "P-P...er...f-f..ect"
"Thank you" Michelle kisses her on the forehead "What would I do without you eh?"
"S-Sur...survive" she smirks, Michelle rolls her eyes picking up her clutch bag as her phone goes off, she bites her lip "F-Fun"
"I will have fun, be good," she says before leaving the flat, Carla wheels herself to Peter and moves onto the sofa, he puts his arm around her
"Are you ok?" he asks, she nods with a smile "Any pain?"
"A-Ache" she smiles, he nods slowly
"We'll give you some more painkillers after you've eaten your dinner" he smiles, she nods curling into his side, she takes her jacket off and then smirks slightly "Hey, look at that"
"Hm" she laughs slightly allowing him to place his hand on her tummy "F-Fat"
"No" he shakes his head "Perfect"
"Hmm i-if y-y...ou s-s-say so" she grins, he pecks her on the lips as she rests her head on his lap, his hand on her bump causing her to hum content with the situation…
"Here" Lucas smiles pouring Michelle another glass of wine, she smirks
"It's almost like you're trying to get me drunk" she responds suggestively as he laughs slightly pouring himself some more wine
"I think we've had the same amount here" he laughs tilting his head to the side "How are you?"
"You literally saw me like three days ago, not much has changed"
"I like to keep up with the way my girlfriend is feeling-"
"Girlfriend?" she questions with her eyebrows raised, Lucas bites his lip feeling ultimately embarrassed
"Sorry...god sorry, that's so embarrassing...slip of the tongue, an assumption-"
"Lucas"
"Gosh what must you think of me"
"Lucas!" she says a bit louder tilting her head to the side "I like it"
"W-What?"
"I like it, you calling me your girlfriend" she confirms with a playful smirk, he sighs in relief that he hadn't blown it "And if you're ok with me calling you my boyfriend then...I'd like to do that if thats ok-"
"More than" he confirms as she nods eagerly "I say we skip dessert and head back to mine?"
"Let me send a text off to Carla and Peter to tell them"
"You do that whilst I pay the bill"
Michelle takes her phone out and then sends a quick text to Carla and Peter before Lucas returns offering her his arm which she accepts the both of them walking outside to wait for their taxi
"Look, Michelle, I really like you"
"I like you too"
"And whatever happened in the past I think we should agree that it-"
"Stays in the past" she nods with a small smile "I'm fine with that, people change don't they?"
"Yeah," he says as he helps her into the taxi "And I just wanted to know that with everything that's going on with Carla, I'll be supportive and understanding unlike-"
"The old Lucas?"
"Yeah, I've changed, for the better"
"I should hope so too" she smirks playfully, he nudges her and rolls his eyes, "I think we'll be just fine"
"Me too, Michelle, me too"
