"You haven't seen Peter recently, have you?" Carla asked as Jenny walked into the back room.

Carla sat at the table, looking in a trace, as she cupped her mug of decaf coffee. It had been a week since she'd seen Peter or Adam and since then, she'd been keeping her head down. She was far too exhausted to argue anymore and she needed to focus on herself and what she was going to do with her current situation.

"Not for a while. Why?" She frowned.

"It's not like him to just disappear. I hope he's okay." She exhaled.

"He isn't your problem anymore, love." Jenny placed a hand on her shoulder, sensing her distress.

"He will always be my problem. I still love him, remember?"

"Well, don't you think it's time you start showing your face? Getting back to work and getting out that bedroom because it isn't healthy to be cooped up. And chances are, you might see him."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Eat some breakfast and have a shower. You'll feel fresher afterwards."

"I can't stomach a breakfast, Jenny." She grimaced, the thought of eating even made her want to hurl.

"Oh, come on-..."

"I will eat something later but not now." Carla stood up, ready to make her escape so she didn't have to endure anymore of Jenny's persistence.

Taking a deep breath, Carla opened the doors of the pub and stepped out into the streets. The bitter December air instantly hit her, causing her to wrap her coat tightly around herself, before making the short walk to the factory...

"Oi!"

Carla spun around, frowning as Daniel jogged over to her.

"Oh, good morning Carla." She said, sarcastically.

"Don't be like that," He hissed. "Not after what you've done."

"Look, I'm not in the mood for this," Carla's face dropped, sighing. "I've already had all of this from Peter."

"You're talking as if it isn't deserved."

"I know what I did was unforgivable, Daniel. No one hates me more than me right now."

"I dunno, Peter loathes you a lot right now." He shrugged.

"How is he?" Her interest peaked.

"Not great," Daniel bit his lip. "He didn't come home last night."

"What?!" Carla exclaimed. "Is anybody out actually looking for him?"

"I've got to pick up Bertie from Beths."

"And what about the others?"

"They don't seem too interested. I think they've reached the end of their tether."

"That is ridiculous. They should know by now that this is an illness that Peter can't control. And now is the worst time to just drop him," Carla snapped. "I'm going to look for him."

"I know you care but are you sure this is a good idea?" He winced.

"What else do you expect me to do-..."

"I want a word with you!" A voice interrupted her.

"Talk about public enemy number one..." Carla muttered before turning round and being face-to-face with Sarah.

"How could you?" Sarah shouted.

"I'm sorry, okay? But I need to find Peter," Carla began to walk off before Sarah grabbed her arm. "Excuse me?"

"I've been there for you Carla and you betrayed me. After all those conversations we had about how I wanted Adam back. And you, only you, were the one getting angry about him having one night stands. You're a hypocrite!" She ranted.

"I'll leave you to it." Daniel walked away.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, Sarah. I have a lot of respect for you-..."

"Clearly!"

"Are you going to let me explain or not?" Carla sighed.

"Nothing you will say can make this any better, Carla."

"I know that and I'm so sorry. I hope in time you can forgive me. I really value our friendship."

"Then why did you do it?" Sarah asked.

"I wasn't thinking. I was really upset and it just kind of happened. I regretted it straight after." Carla explained.

"Look, I know more than anyone how these things can just happen. But why him? Why Adam when you knew how much I loved him?"

"He was just there," Carla looked down before sighing. "Look, Peter has gone awol and I really need to find him. I'm sorry but I've got to go."

Carla took her chance and scurried off in search for Peter, the only man she cared about. She called old friends of his, searched through pubs and asked neighbours but no one heard a thing.

She sat on the bench outside of Audreys Salon and placed her head in her hands, grabbing hold of her hair in defeat. She tried thinking of places he could be but nothing came to mind. At this point, she knew he would be drunk. And that's what worried her most.

She blamed herself for all of this; if she hadn't cheated on him, then he wouldn't of got into this state. It all came back to her and that made her feel physically sick.

Her stomach rumbled, alerting her to the fact she should eat. Especially for the foetus in her stomach. But her appetite had completely gone and she didn't have time to care for herself when Peter could be half dead somewhere. It made her think how she was already a terrible mum, putting everyone else before herself. If she was like that right now, what would she be like in the future. To stop her thoughts from dwelling, she stood up again and began to look for him once more.

"Hey, love. Where have you been?" Johnny widened his eyes in surprise as he leant against the kitchen counter, watching a clearly exhausted Carla walk into the back room.

"I've been looking for Peter all morning."

"What's happened?"

"I bumped into Daniel earlier and he explained how Peter didn't return home last night."

"Oh god." Johnny said.

"Yeah," She nodded. "I'm going back out later but it's freezing so I'm stopping by for coffee and a hot water bottle."

"Your wish is my demand. I'll turn the kettle on," He turned around before saying. "Oh, you wouldn't mind taking this out, would you?"

Carla grimaced as she saw the bin bag full of rubbish, waiting to be put out into the bin outside. She was about to tell him where to stick it before deciding against it considering he was making her a drink.

"Alright." She grabbed it, holding it at arms length before retreating to the smoking area.

She rubbed her hands against her trousers as she chucked the bag in but as she started walking inside, she heard a loud groan coming from the Ginnel.

She instantly recognised the voice.

"Peter!" She gasped, running out and crying as she saw him in a drunken heap on a pile of bin bags. "What's happened to you? Are you drunk?"

He groaned again, curling into a ball.

"Oh, Peter!" She looked around frantically for help and mentally cursed as she remembered she left her phone inside.

"Wait there, baby. I'm going to get you help."

"It seems Peter is suffering from a mild case of hypothermia from staying outdoors all night." Dr Gaddas explained, smiling at an anxious looking Carla.

"It's okay. He is going to be fine but he needs a lot of rest. Any sudden decline in his state then take him straight to hospital." She added, noticing Carla's panicked state.

"Okay, thank you." Johnny replied, seeing her out.

Carla remained rooted to the spot, a tear cascading down her face.

"Hey, he's alright." Johnny reassured her as he re-entered the room.

"He's got hypothermia, Johnny! He is not alright and it's all my fault." She cried.

"It isn't your fault, love. This is what he does."

"I drove him to it."

"Don't blame yourself," He sighed. "Why don't you go upstairs and comfort him."

Carla weakly nodded before rushing upstairs. She insisted Peter stayed in the Rovers to rest, even if that meant moving out herself. She wanted him somewhere safe where she could keep an eye on him.

"Hey." Carla croaked.

"Hi." He whispered, his eyes fluttering open.

"I'm so sorry."

"I know you are. But I'm only in this state because of me, it no one else's fault." He shook his head, lightly.

"I drove you to it."

"I was drinking before you slept with Adam remember." He reassured her, although his voice still held bitterness and hatred as he said it.

"Yeah." She looked down, biting her lip as an awkward silence clouded over the pair.

"So how are you?" He asked.

"Me? I should be asking you that." She frowned.

"Just answer my question."

"I'm alright."

"How's the baby?"

"Shh," Carla looked around, even though the bedroom door was closed and no one other than them were upstairs. "No one else knows yet."

"Except Adam." He said, bluntly.

"Well yeah." She fiddled with the rings on her fingers.

"So?"

"So what?"

"How is it?"

"It's fine. Apart from the awful morning sickness."

"Hmm," He chuckled. "I hope you're still eating enough."

"How can I when everything makes me want to throw up?"

"You don't want to get ill."

"Stop worrying about me, Peter. It should be the other way round, you're the one who nearly died."

"Ah, it's not that bad."

"I beg to differ. When I saw you laying there..." She shook her head, as tears filled her eyes.

"Hey," He comforted her. "It's alright."

"You need to get help. You can't keep drinking."

"I'm fine, Carla. Just leave it." He sighed.

"You are not fine. And it's worrying me that you're not bothered. You have a son, you know?"

"And another baby on the way, don't forget that," He paused. "Well, actually..."

Carla tutted.

"Have you decided on what you're going to do yet?"

"I can't do this, Peter. And I can't put even more pressure on you when you're struggling this much. I've decided, I-I'm having a termination."

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