Peter's arms were clasped around her, protecting her, he was nervous about the future that was undeniably true, things had been difficult for a while and that was understandable he assumed. Being away sailing with her, both of them revelling in their news, their news of a new life together, her, him and their baby which was curled up peacefully inside of her, it's heart beating actively which they would both see next week for the first time, it was magical and he couldn't wait for everything to seem so much more real.

The moonlight danced over their bedroom as he watched her sleep peacefully for once she wasn't struggling with insomnia which had been a major symptom of her pregnancy. He could tell she was raring to get back to work so he made her promise that she would take it easy and not do anything too strenuous, she relented and agreed on the condition they could maybe spend lunch together that day.

"What's the time?" she yawns turning around in his arms and snuggling into his body, Peter holds her close

"Time to get up I'm afraid" he murmurs, she lifts her head up and glances out of the window seeing it was just about the turn to dawn

"Hmm, five more minutes?"

"Make it ten" he whispers kissing her on the top of her head, she pulls him in closer to her and kisses him, they continue to kiss, she begins to rock her hips against his, she moans "Carla"

"Sorry, I think it's the baby" she grunts in annoyance, he just laughs slightly as they continue to kiss, he runs his hand down her back to her arse which he gives a firm squeeze before dipping his fingers into her thong, she whimpers

"Um" he comments, she hits him on the chest before moaning at the feeling of him circling her right where she needed "Does pregnancy usually make you this-"

"Shut up!" she moans rocking herself against his hand, he just continues to kiss her "There! Oh my…Peter…"

"Baby" he murmurs pressing his head against hers, enjoying seeing her in this lust-filled state which was overtaking her body, her thighs begin to tremble and she cries out causing him to cover her mouth with his spare hand, the bedsheets dampen beneath her

"Gosh" she gasps, Peter raises an eyebrow at her "I needed that, so much"

"You're going to be late" he glances to the alarm clock, she sighs slightly biting her lip and glancing down under the covers to Peter's lower half

"Sarah can wait" she states pulling at his boxers, he chuckles slightly rolling on top of her, the both of them giggling before kissing each other, Carla knew she would definitely be late for work now…

Carla eventually got into work rather late which Sarah wasn't happy about, she just blagged her way through it and said that it was down to jetlag. She didn't really want to reveal what she was actually doing that morning, either way, the blush rose to her cheeks which didn't go unnoticed by Sarah who just smirked at her, Carla bit her lip to hold in a giggle but it didn't work, so Sarah sauntered over and parked herself down in the seat opposite ready to listen intently as to what would be said.

"Go on then how was your holiday, you look glowing" Sarah raises her eyebrows, Carla smirks slightly "That good eh?"

"Yep" she grins, Sarah rolls her eyes and folds her arms across her chest shaking her head "I shouldn't be telling you but it really was amazing, more than that"

"Well I'm glad you two are back on track, you're doing better than me and Adam I'll tell you that"

"I can get Peter to have a word-"

"No don't" Sarah frets before groaning "He's been lustfully looking at Alina-"

"Alina as in…Alina Alina?" Carla's eyes widen, Sarah nods sadly causing Carla to pout her lips "Oh Sarah, I'm sure its nothing, trying to make you jealous and you're rising to it"

"Yeah I know but I still love him"

"I know that feeling…me and Peter were having problems now we seem to be fine, I'm sure he'll come back to you"

"I can only hope"

A day or so passed and soon came and it was Carla's twelve-week scan, she was so nervous and Peter had started to get all distance ever since they found out Oliver's prognosis, he was spending all of his time with Simon which was understandable but she couldn't help but feel pushed out over the whole thing especially as she was carrying his child, she felt as if that was enough to warrant some attention from him but then of course she went and stuck her foot in it causing another argument, it was all their relationship seemed to be, sniping, arguing then tumbling into bed, it was almost draining especially now she was pregnant. She said some things which she regretted to Simon which then resulted in Peter getting annoyed her for being negative which yet again landed her into another argument which she really didn't need as she was starting to get rather stressed over the whole thing and that wasn't good for her condition.

"Are you ready for later?" Carla asks as she enters the back room with her dressing gown wrapped around her, Peter doesn't look up at her "Peter?"

"Hm?"

"Are you ready for later?" she prompts again, he nods slowly "You could at least seem a little more enthusiastic about seeing our baby for the first time"

"Sorry love, I'm just tired"

"You didn't come up to bed last night, no wonder you're tired" she states grimacing as she places a slice of bread into the toaster and flicks it on "Are you ok?"

"Can you stop pecking my head for one second?" he sighs, she just glares at him watching as he exits the room, she places the toast on the plate before gagging slightly, she immediately chucks it in the bin and shakes her head

"You're really taking it out on me, hey?" she whispers glancing down softly to her stomach which was slightly rounded, she runs her fingers gently over her skin "Hopefully daddy will pull it together eh?"

She eventually went upstairs and told Peter she was going to work as she really couldn't be bothered with his brooding, she just needed space. Of course, she bumped into Adam and immediately had words with him over Sarah and he called her jealous which made her question her motives but she ended up having a slanging match in the street with him before going into work. She felt bad and she knew if it got back to Peter then she would be screwed for fighting with his nephew so she went to see Adam to apologise.

"Hi" she smiles slightly, he raises his eyebrows "I come unarmed, don't worry"

"I was rather worried I must admit, I'm surprised you want to see me" he states knowing there was quite a bit of bad blood between the both of them

"I wanted to apologise" Carla smiles, Adam raises his eyebrows looking surprised "Don't act too surprised"

"I never would've thought in a million years you would've apologised, and the time before-"

"Was your mistake" she smirks glancing to him "And what does a girl have to do to get a brew around here?"

"Sit down then"

"Ta" she smiles watching as Adam leaves the room to make her a brew, she sighs and grabs her phone thinking how odd it was that she hadn't heard from Peter considering they were meant to be leaving in an hour; Adam places the mug in front of her "Oh, ta"

"No problem" he smiles, Carla bites her lip "So how was your holiday?"

"Yeah it was good, we stopped off to see Michelle for a bit after, Peter didn't really say much then we come back to the whole Oliver thing, I think it's really knocked him sideways an all that"

"He hasn't-"

"God no, he has so much more to live for now, one drink would kill him, he wouldn't go there but then I have to question y'know whether he really is ok, we argued about the whole Oliver thing, I was just expressing my opinion and I felt as if he was keeping Simon's hopes up"

"It must be hard for you" Adam smiles sitting on the desk beside her, she looks up and nods "I know Peter finds it hard to communicate but you two are so good together, you just need to speak to him force him to open up"

"I tried, I've actually booked us a hotel room in a couple of days just for a tiny bit of escapism as I have a conference, don't tell him 'owt though, we're meant to be meeting up later"

"My lips are sealed" Adam grins, Carla nods slowly "Look I'm sorry about everything-"

"Yeah, me too, I should really keep my nose out of yours and Sarah's businesses, it's difficult I suppose, maybe I'm insecure about my relationship with Peter, maybe there are more problems then I care to admit to myself, especially what is about to come in the future I'm worried it'll break him"

"What do you mean?" Adam frowns, Carla sighs knowing she practically let slip

"Well-" she pauses trying to think of a suitable cover story "We never have it easy do we, something is always bound to throw us off track"

"You're good together though, you should hold on to that, Peter's a lucky man" Adam smiles, Carla sighs and nods slowly but shrugs

"Doesn't feel like it sometimes" she smiles as her phone goes off notifying her of the time "Look I need to get back-"

"Yeah and I should probably get on and do some work as well"

"Bye Adam" she picks up her bag and slings it onto her shoulder, turning back and smiling at him she leaves the room

She went back to the factory and sat down for a bit as the nerves started to mount about her scan. She didn't know if the baby would be ok, she was older now and she felt as if that was a limiting factor on her health let alone one kidney and the drugs she pumps into herself to keep her sane; she didn't know what to think. The time came to when Peter was meant to arrive but he didn't which left her rather anxious so she pottered around the office doing mundane tasks but it soon reached the point where Peter just wasn't appearing causing her to get anxious. The odd thing was he seemed to love caring for her up until Oliver's prognosis was revealed, he seemed to be ever so distant, more so than he was on their holiday.

"Gosh, you scared me!" Carla presses a hand to her chest "You may be murdered if you step inside of here"

"I was looking for Sarah, she deserves an apology" Adam shrugs, Carla nods slowly raising her eyebrows as she sits down at the desk "I don't suppose you know where she is?"

"Not at all, sorry, she didn't leave me a note" Carla smirks, Adam rolls his eyes "You're welcome to wait for her if you're burning to tell her how sorry you are-"

"You'd love that wouldn't you" he grins, Carla rolls her eyes playfully "Where is Peter anyway? I thought you were meant to be meeting him?"

"I don't know actually, he best hurry up because I am panicking about going to this thing on my own-"

"What the hotel-"

"No...urm" she stutters chewing her lip, Adam looks up expectantly at her "It doesn't matter"

"Hey" he replies softly "It's obviously something important, I can give you a lift if you want in my fancy car-"

"It needs to be something that me and Peter do together" Carla comments, she looked rather flustered, Adam raises an eyebrow glancing to the time "Come on Peter, we're really cutting it fine here"

"What's so important anyway and why do you need Peter?"

"You're just not going to give up are you?" she sighs grabbing her phone and twiddling it in her hands turning the screen on every now and then to see if she had a message "I knew it would freak him out, I should have just kept it to myself"

"Kept what to yourself?"

"It doesn't matter, Adam"

"You're making no sense, how about I come with you?" he suggests, she raises her eyebrows at him "Or not..."

"No it needs to be Peter, I'm going to have to go I'm already running late because of your flamin' Uncle" she states grabbing her handbag and jacket as well as the letter on the side which she clumsily drops on the floor, Adam picks it up

"You're pregnant?" Adam questions, Carla sighs and nods chewing her lip anxiously "I..."

"Don't" she shakes her head before glancing to the time "Look I really need to go-"

"Let me give you a lift, come on, Peter would want me to do this" he smiles, Carla sighs and nods slightly annoyed at his persistence

"Fine" she mutters waltzing out of the factory, Adam follows as they head towards the solicitors "Don't say anything about this though, not even Johnny and Jenny know, only me and Peter"

"I won't, I promise" he comments, Carla nods as they swiftly get into Adam's car "So Weathy General then?"

"Yep, just put your foot down, he might actually be there" Carla whispers knowing this had probably thrown him off that edge and that he was out drinking, this was the last thing she wanted but right now it was time to put her baby first just like she did the last time...

Adam drove her to the hospital and parked the car up, he offered to come in with her which she accepted knowing she was so scared of going through this alone, she knew Peter would be mad if he found out but right now it was her mental stability which was more important and if she had someone to talk to then it would be better she thought, it would keep her thoughts distracted. She waited in the waiting room and she was petrified, there were other people in there as well, people who were younger than her which made her feel rather inadequate and question why she didn't have a termination but there was also something so raw about this situation and that was the love she would most likely forever have for Peter let alone the love which was developing rapidly by the second for her baby.

"Do you want some water?" Adam questions, Carla sighs and nods watching him go to the water dispenser to grab her a cup "Here"

"Thanks" she replies shakily, he takes her hand "Sorry it's just I've been in this position before, my nerves are shot and then there's Peter doing a disappearing act-"

"Just focus on this moment" Adam smiles, Carla nods slowly glancing to the clock

"They're running late so Peter might get here" Carla bites her lip knowing it was worth hoping for but the reality was that it wasn't going to happen and she was right,

"Carla Connor?"

"Yeah?" she turns to face the midwife before glancing back to Adam who smiles at her "You may think I have a nerve but could you maybe come in with me?"

"Um, yeah ok" he nods getting up as well as they head into the ultrasound room as well, Carla sits up on the bed and Adam sits on the chair which was available

"Hello Carla, how are you?"

"Yeah I'm good" she responds apprehensively rolling her top up allowing the midwife to have access to her stomach

"I've read your notes and I see you had a miscarriage quite a while ago?"

"Yeah I did, I just want everything to be ok with this one, I'll do anything" Carla smiles slightly not looking at Adam in the eye as she didn't want to get into the past

"And are you the father?"

"Me?" Adam questions, Carla just closes her eyes "No, god no...I'm her nephew stepping in for her partner..."

"It was just a question Adam" Carla sighs in exasperation, she flinches as the gel is placed on her stomach, her hands play with the paper which was on the examination bench in a mean on distraction as well as to help aid her sweaty palms

"Let's have a little look, try not to worry"

"Easier said than done" she mutters quietly allowing the midwife to glide the transducer over her stomach, it seems like ages, the dread was building up in her body and she was starting to panic, her heart rate increasing

"Here"

"Is that it?" Carla questions, the midwife nods, Carla scans the screen taking in the appearance of her baby "It's ok?"

"Perfect, I want to do some more tests, blood pressure as well as bloods if that's ok?"

"Yeah that's fine" Carla nods glancing at the screen "There's your cousin Adam" she chuckles slightly wiping her eyes, he smiles at her

"I'll take a couple of photos"

"Thank you" she whispers glancing to Adam who raises his eyebrows watching as the midwife leaves the room "Sorry for being a blubbering mess on you"

"It's fine" he reassures her, she smiles slightly wiping her stomach down "And sorry you had to come in here with me, I just needed a distraction"

"Peter never told me about..."

"Don't" she shakes her head sitting up as the midwife comes into the room with the pictures "Just not now"

Carla had her blood pressure taken as well as her blood before she was allowed to leave. She was so wrapped up in looking at her scan she couldn't even comprehend going home especially if Peter was there, she wasn't ready to have it out with him just yet. She was sitting in Adams car whilst he went to get her a nice warm cup of tea as well as a chocolate muffin from the cantine which she ordered him to get. There was a tap at the window causing her to jump, she smiled slightly at the fact he was holding up a paper bag containing her chocolate muffin for her, he got in the car and she swiped it off her.

"Cheers for this" she grins before biting her lip "You don't mind if I eat it right? I wouldn't want to ruin your car..."

"Knock yourself out" Adam rolls his eyes watching her animatedly dig into her chocolate muffin "You know earlier?"

"Hm depends what you mean" she smirks eating her muffin and groaning in satisfaction "If this about what the midwife said...all you need to know when me and Peter split last time I was pregnant, I lost my daughter due to stress unsurprisingly but...now I have a second chance and I want to grab it with both hands. You should too, with Sarah"

"Maybe" he muses glancing to her, they hold their gaze for a bit "What are you going to do about Peter?"

"I don't know, I don't want to get too stressed especially in my condition, that wouldn't be good, I want to avoid stress all round but seeing Peter it's just going to stress me out because I know he would have been out drinking, I just get that gut feeling you know"

"You never know he might not, think positively" Adam suggests, Carla rolls her eyes watching him put the keys into the ignition

"You sound like my therapist" she smirks, Adam rolls his eyes "Let's just go home-"

"We don't have to if you don't want to, if you're worried about Peter you can avoid stress just like that"

"Maybe" she shrugs scrunching her paper bag into a ball, she sighs slightly picking up her ultrasound scan "I just worry for the future, as you do"

"Why don't I come back to the pub with you, argue for you?" he suggests she sighs not really knowing what he was playing at, she chews her lip and nods "Well that's that sorted then"

"I guess it is"

Adam drove back home and Carla had fallen asleep in the passenger seat gripping onto the ultrasound picture in her hands. He pulled the car up outside of the solicitors not having the heart to wake her but when the car stopped she woke up anyway which left them to talk about things a bit more. He spoke about Sarah whilst Carla spoke about Peter and the worry she had about returning home. They entered the pub and Carla asked Johnny if Peter had been in but he said no which made Carla rather anxious, she went into the backroom with Adam and made him a drink whilst she sat with a pillow on her lap staring at her ultrasound picture and taking in her baby's features. It was starting to get late and Carla was starting to get rather worried as Peter hadn't contacted her even via a text or phone call to say where he was but with Johnny and Jenny upstairs after shutting the bar she decided to make something to eat even though it wasn't that appetising.

"Do you want me to go yet?" Adam asks, Carla steps out of the kitchen with a slice of toast which she turned her nose up at

"No, please stay, it's just..." she trails off chewing her lip as Peter stumbles into the room "Peter?!"

"What's happened to you?" Adam exclaims helping him sit down glancing to Carla who had a hand raised to her mouth

"I had my cab stolen" he winces, Carla gasps slightly placing her slice of toast on the table and sitting next to him "I'm so sorry"

"No, no don't apologise, baby, what happened?" Carla questions, Adam sits on one of the chairs at the table "Let me get some cotton wool quickly"

"Someone jumped me asking for a free lift then beat me then stole my cab, did I miss the scan?" he questions, Carla sighs slightly "Wait sorry...no you weren't meant to know, I'm so sorry baby"

"It's fine Peter, he knows, he knows...he took me there he saw I was worried and I was running late and he took me there, don't worry" Carla reassures him placing a bowl of hot water on the table and dabbing a bit of the cotton wool in it "This might sting"

"Can I see?"

"Adam" Carla states gesturing to the picture, he passes it to Peter, "They said everything's fine baby, the baby is fine I'm more worried about you. I thought you went off on some bender not getting jumped by some thug, I feel terrible now"

"Did you tell the police?" Adam asks, Peter nods slowly

"They dropped me back here, I just need to phone the insurance tomorrow, I'm so sorry Carla for missing it I should have just...I'm sorry"

"Don't apologise baby" she reassures him she goes to hug him but he winces "Sorry"

"Right I'm going to go?" Adam questions, Carla nods standing up and biting her lip "Take care yeah? Both of you"

"Thank you so much for today Adam, I couldn't have done it without you, thank you so much" Carla replies gratefully seeing him out of the backroom, she sits down on the sofa "Are you in pain?"

"Yeah I am" he coughs slightly, Carla sighs biting her lip as he examines the ultrasound picture "Is it ok?"

"It's fine, the midwife said it was perfect" she whispers taking his hand and placing it on her stomach "I'm sorry about this morning, I should have been more supportive"

"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have said the things I did especially about...our daughter...I'm sorry" he murmurs tearfully, Carla sighs

"I know you are, let's just push it to the side and get you in a nice warm bath ey? See if we can get you feeling any better"

"Yeah thanks love" he smiles gratefully "Why don't you go up and run it, I'll be up in a bit I just want to grab a glass of water and a couple of painkillers"

"Alright well don't be too long" she smiles, he nods slowly watching her leave the room, he slides some mints out of his pocket in a bid to disguise the smell of whiskey on his breath as well as trying to reduce the cravings in his system, he hated himself for taking a drink especially when Carla needed him to be ok for the baby but right now staying in control was what mattered...