I started writing this as a follow on to a series I am yet to complete, but I decided it should be a new thing all on it's own - just because I like writing new fics and not completing the old ones first. This is probably just a one shot. Set in no particular moment in time, I'll leave that up to you. I PROMISE an update on AC at some point this week.
I thought we all needed something light and fluffy after that MESS tonight. Chris and Ali are TOO GOOD. When I tell you all I'm a wreck… Anyway, I'll stop waffling. Enjoy guys! x

"If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the woods today, you better go in disguise. For every bear, if ever there was…" Peter soon trailed off, as he could sense his wife's presence behind him. The bundle of joy was still safely tucked in her blanket, being held by her father. Carla had been certain from the second that she was born that she was destined to be a daddy's girl. Not that she'd mind one bit. She was here. She was safe. That's all that mattered.
"Carry on." Carla smiled, leaning the doorway. "I was enjoying that." She added, her voice low and calm. Carla loved how doting the new dad was. It filled her with so much pride, she felt as it her heart could burst.
"Love, you're supposed to be resting." He reminded her in a whisper, not wanting to unsettle his daughter.
"I've done plenty of that." She brushed off, going into the room. It was warm and cosy. A cot placed in the middle of the room; a perfect representation of what had fast become the centre of their universe – their tiny baby. The dim light coming from a lamp in the corner of the room, creating the perfect mood to match how the couple were feeling.
"How's she doing?" Carla asked him, moving the blanket slightly to make sure the baby was comfortable and smiling contently.
"She's fine." Peter beamed. He was the proudest father on the planet. "She just had her bottle…" He added, nodding towards the almost empty bottle that was sat on top of the changing table. "Didn't you sweetheart?" He asked his daughter rhetorically, the infant looking up at her father. Her brown eyes sleepy but entranced by her dad's voice.
"And you winded her?" She checked, breaking the gaze she had on her daughter and looking towards Peter instead.
"Yes." He answered, with a slight chuckle at her ever-present worry.
"Properly?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Carla…" He warned, knowing that she needed to relax a little.
"I know, I'm sorry." She apologised, before looking down at her baby once more. She would probably never stop being this protective over her little girl. After all, it was a struggle to get to this point.

Between Peter's relapse and all the issues that Carla had faced during her pregnancy, both parents were just more than happy that their little girl was here and safe. It had been a rough time, and at points, neither were sure that they would actually make it. But now they were here, with their daughter, there was no feeling like it. That sense of achievement, the pride. It was all worth it - she was worth it. They didn't always know that she was what they needed, but now she was here, she had completely completed them.
Waking up every two hours at night? The feeds and nappy changes? The chaos that such a tiny baby had brought into their lives? They didn't mind one bit. The couple were thriving. They were at their best.

From the moment that the baby had been placed on her mother's chest she became the most loved little girl in the world. Peter and Carla were fast proving themselves to be better parents than anyone could have ever imagined. Everyone was delighted for the couple. Least of all Michelle, who had always had complete faith in Carla's parenting abilities, even if she didn't believe it herself.

Carla wrapped her arm around Peter's middle, before cuddling into him and leaning into him gently.
"Do you want to take her? He offered, internally knowing that the new mum wouldn't refuse. She stood up straight, before Peter transferred his daughter over to her mother, as if she was the most fragile thing in the world.

"I think you were right; you know." She mused, staring down at her new-born, as the baby battled to keep her eyes open.
"About what, love?" Peter asked her in response, his mind still firmly on the child, now in her mother's arms.
"About her name." She reflected.
"Really?" He asked, half expecting that to be a joke. He thought he'd never win her round. Peter had been consistent the whole way through the pregnancy. Even before they knew they were expecting a girl, he had her name. Convincing Carla it was the right name had been the only difficult part.
"Yeah." She confirmed, deep in thought. "It suits her." She added.
If Carla had been looking up towards her husband, she would have seen the pure elation on his face. He was so happy, he could have cried, but he'd done enough of that over the past few days.
"Did you hear that, baby girl?" Peter whispered. "You have a name!" He cheered quietly, as Carla beamed at her partners joyful demeanour. After such a difficult year, it really was beautiful to see.

"Come on then, daddy." Carla began, looking up at Peter, her eyes so filled with love, even though exhaustion was slowly overtaking her. "I think it's time we went to bed." She yawned.
"Shall we take her in with us?" He asked, not wanting to waste a second of time soaking up his daughter.
"I'm sure she wouldn't mind a quick cuddle." Carla replied, not needing any persuasion to keep her baby close to her.

The couple made their way into their bedroom and got into bed, with the little girl finding a place settled on her mother's chest. Carla smoothed her hand over the baby's back, gently sending the infant completely to sleep.
"Do you know how much I love you?" Peter asked, brushing Carla's hair behind her ear, and shifting slightly closer to her. She smiled lightly and blushed. Even after all the time they had spent together, he still managed to make her feel so special.

The couple went silent for a minute, enjoying the peace and quiet, and basking in the time they were spending together, just the three of them.
"Can we tell everyone now?" He asked cheekily, cutting into the serenity. Carla smiled widely. She knew this was coming, he was predictable. The seemingly calm attitude he had displayed for the last few minutes was masking the excitement that he had at the prospect of revealing his daughter's name to their families.
"Go on then." She whispered, with Peter kissing her lightly on the cheek before he rolled over to pick up his phone, which had been waiting on his bedside table.
"Put it on that group chat." Carla instructed. "I don't want there to be arguments over who we told first." She explained, not that she needed to. He had already opened the app and began typing a new message to send to the group.

The story of why the chat between the families had even existed was not a happy tale. Carla had been taken into hospital, again, and Peter had been sick of everyone asking the same questions and messaging him every five minutes, when all he wanted to focus on was his wife and unborn child. So, the solution was simple – to Simon. His son had set the chat up and filled it with all the people that needed and wanted to be kept in the loop, with every member promising to keep Roy and Ken updated too.
Eventually, the group had been used on happier occasions, to send the Barlow's and Connor's the 4d image they had acquired, updates of the latest midwife appointments and most recently, the news of their daughter arrival, just three days earlier.

"Should I put her middle name too?" He asked, as Carla hummed positively in response. She planted a soft kiss on her baby's head.
"Before you send it, let me read it." She ordered quietly, being extra careful not to wake her sleeping child.
"Why?" Peter asked, still typing away.
"Because I want to check." She responded. "And add that picture." Carla added, biting her lip nervously at the prospect of revealing her daughter's name to the world.
"Which one?" He asked, scrolling through his camera roll. It was amazing how many photos of his daughter he had managed to acquire in just a few days. In the back of his mind was always the thought of how he messed up being a part of Simon's early years - a mistake he was determined not to make again. He was going to be there for her, and the photographs he took were a sign that he was present for every moment that he could be. It was collection of memories he had built with her already, of time that he cherished and appreciated even more than most.
"The one you took earlier." She replied, stroking the tot's hair, distracting herself slightly from the impending announcement.
"Of her, in her little sleepsuit?" Peter asked, looking through today's collection of snapshots.
"Yeah. The one with the little grey bunnies on." She elaborated, smiling at the not so distant memory of the outfit her daughter had on earlier that day. As Peter selected the photo, attaching it to the message, as Carla got more anxious about the big reveal. She seemed more nervous now than when she told everyone she was expecting.

"Are we sure about her name?" She double checked, just as Peter was about to hit the send button.
"Love, if you're having second thoughts, I really don't mind." He promised, looking at Carla in the eyes, needing to know how she really felt. This was a massive decision, and she'd not been keen on the name at first. "I love her so much, regardless." Peter reassured his wife.
"No, I adore her name. You chose it for her." She smiled softly, before going back to a state of mild panic. "It's just, what if they don't like it." The new mum fretted.
"They'll love it." He assured her, trying to brush off her worry, without making her concerns see totally irrelevant.
"What if they don't?" Carla asked apprehensively.
"They will!" He exclaimed softly, smiling at her nerves. It was a testament to how much she cared, and the fact that she wanted to get everything right for her little girl.
"Ok." She sighed, letting go of a small amount of the fear she had and turning her full attention back to the baby. "Press send now, otherwise it'll never be sent." She warned. Peter didn't need telling twice.

'Baby girl now has a name!
After much thought and deliberation, we want to introduce you all to Mia Michelle Barlow.
[PICTURE]'

"It's sent." Peter smiled; his voice overwhelmed with pride. He placed the phone back down on the table, as he turned his full attention back to his family.
"Hello, Mia." Carla softly greeted the sleeping tot. It felt strange to say her child's name out loud for the first time, but it was a nice strange. A feeling that she wouldn't swap for the world.
"Simon and Mia." Peter sighed contently. "You know, I don't think I've ever been this happy in my life." He revealed, as he made eye contact with his partner.
"Me too." She confirmed. "I don't know what I would have done without you." She thought out loud, keeping the gaze they had with one other.
"You're never going to have to find out." He promised.
"I love you." Carla reminded him.
"I love you too." He replied softly, placing a delicate kiss on her lips.

It was that moment that confirmed it for both of them. No matter what they had been through, both together and apart, this is what it was all for. They had found happiness. They were a family. They had each other and that's all that mattered.

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