'Look, why don't you go into the pub? Michelle is working. You were saying how you haven't had time to see her.' Peter tries, sitting down behind the woman as she applies her makeup. 'With her settling in and you having your appointment and her being busy with moving in and seeing Ryan.

'I might see him.' She points out, shrugging 'I'll see Chelle later. She can come over tomorrow morning, let 'er settle and all that. Spend time with Ryan.' He can tell that she's not wanting to talk about it, but they've been dancing around the subject since it all blew up, but Michelle had told him she was worried about Carla.

Avoiding all the places she loved, because she might see him. He had to take her word for it, whilst he hadn't noticed, this was the sort of information she'd be partial to knowing, girl talk and all that. Peter knew that it wasn't right. Whatever she thought of him, she was Johnny's daughter.

And, before Beatrice, they were fine. He questioned why they couldn't go back to being like that?

The family was fractured enough, she didn't need to add to that. Michelle also knew Johnny missed Carla, he'd already lost one child, the other was travelling around the world. Carla was his only family around here and she refused to speak to him.

A kick in the teeth.

Whatever she thought, Johnny did love Carla.

Now.

'You're going to have to see him soon.'

'You wanna bet?' She glares at him through the mirror. 'Peter don't get involved. Has he sent you here?'

'Carla, we're just worried about you. He's always going to be there; you are going to have to become civil.'

'Telling tales, have we?'

'Carla, you know it's not like that. Weatherfield is small, you're going to have to go back to work and you will see him. She'll grow up on the street, she's going to see him. He does love you and I know he's spry.'

'What's this? The fight Johnny's corner club?'

'I know parental relationships are hard, but what if it was Bea?' He knows this is a low blow and the situation is different, but Michelle had made some very valid points about how Carla had wanted to be a family, having people who care. And, she was denying her child that.

At least she would on the Connor side.

'Don't pull that one on me.' She grits, 'you can't use that. I love my daughter; I've not denied her. I struggled, at first, but I am doing my best. You know nothing.'

'Sorry.'

'Just shut up.' She sneers, turning away from him. 'We're going out, you do whatever it is your small mind does to keep entertained.'

'Don't be like that.'

'Like what?'

'I'm trying to help.' She just sighs, shaking her head, as she looks at the baby eating her latest toy.

'I know.' She whispers, 'I know you were. I just can't help it, it hurts. It really hurts. I'm trying to protect her, and me, because it is painful. It is so painful. He'll leave her, break her heart.'

'It's hard because I don't understand it.' He admits, 'I know you love Johnny and I know having Bea has changed those feelings, but he is ye' dad. Just like Simon is my son, and I've done some pretty unforgivable things, but he has. It is what families do or try to-do. Maybe giving him a second chance wouldn't be a bad thing. I think you're scared of her getting hurt, but I don't think Johnny's the same man he was when you were born.'

'I don't understand it myself.' She confesses, shaking her head. 'I want to forgive him, speak to him even, but I can't. Something always stops me.' He watches her wipe the stray tear from her cheek, 'I do want too, I just don't know how to.'

-CS-

He smiles as he wanders through the house, it's not big, but it suits them, a nice house with a nice garden, near good schools. Something they could have had seven years ago. Their daughter would be in school, they'd have a swing and sandpit, maybe a dog. He hoped they'd still have Beatrice.

In another life.

He fucked it up, but this was his second chance. She was his second chance. He'd not do anything to fuck that up.

That's why he thought he should get involved with Carla and Johnny.

Because he'd had many a second chance.

The laughter gets louder as he makes his way to the garden, stopping in the kitchen to look outside, getting a glimpse of his partner and daughter, sitting on a blanket as Carla is playing with her. She's engrossed in the animated conversation she is having with the baby, who seems to be more interested in eating whatever toy she's got in her had. It's moments like this that make all the stress of the last eight months, worth it.

He grabs a glass of water for his fiancé and dares to join them, gaining a smile from his fiancé.

'Heya love.'

'Look whose home.' She grins to the baby, as Peter sits down with them. The baby is opposite Carla, sitting up on her own. 'Daddy's home.' The child makes a noise, making the pair laugh. 'How was work?'

'Fine, how was your day?'

'Well, we went in the paddling pool, didn't we my little bumble bee, hmm. Then we played with bubbles and had our nap.'

'Sounds like a great day. I'm jealous, I've got next Wednesday and Thursday off.'

'So, we still doing the BBQ?'

'Housewarming. Just friends and family, it will be nice.'

'Chelle is back.'

'Brilliant. So, who are we inviting?'

'Your lot, Roy, Michelle, Maria, Liam, Ryan and Alya.'

'What about Johnny?' She shakes his head, as the baby grabs at the blanket next to her, bringing it closer to her face. 'Is that the new thing?'

'I think it is.' She muses, 'we'll see. Spoke to the health visitor and it's normal. Something to-do with forming attachments.'

'To a blanket?'

'It's like a teddy bear.'

'You didn't answer my question.'

'Peter, I don't want too.'

'You know he cares.'

'Yeah, now. Forty-one years too late. He didn't care whilst I was growing up.' He watches as she pulls the baby into her lap, both looking at complete ease with one another. They look so natural.

Two peas in a pod.

'But he is still your dad. You guys were doing so well, until Bea. Nothing should change.'

'But it has, Peter. I have changed.'

'But he's still her grandad, surely her having her family around her is important. People that love her. He is her family, he's your family. He's your dad, just like I'm Simons dad and Ken is my dad.'

'I've got Chelle, Ryan and Kate.' She argues.

'But Carla, he's your dad.'

'And in the depths of the psychosis he chose Kate over me.'

'Is that what it's about?' He suddenly asks, wondering if this is where it is coming from.

'No, maybe?'

'Not quite like that. He has tried to put it right.'

'Peter, it was.' He doesn't know what to say, a blanket of silence falling over them as they both become fixated on the baby gumming the ball, having abandoned the blanket.

'If Simon hadn't forgiven me, I don't know where I'd be.' He points out, 'I've had to forgive my dad for things.'

'You didn't abandon him.'

'With Simon, I more or less did. My dad abandoned me and Susan after our mum died. We were vulnerable and we went up to Scotland.'

'Peter.' She whispers, unsure of what to say.

'He didn't live with me for the first few years, if Lucy hadn't died, I probably wouldn't know him. I did far worse, I nearly killed him, I chose the sauce over him. I've been lucky that we've been able to move past these thing, and we have been through the ringer. These things, they're always going to be there.' She ponders that for a moment, not making eye contact. 'He might even say no.'

'Okay.' She whispers, 'we'll ask him.'

-CS-

'Peter, watch her, she'd going too near that BBQ.' Carla yells from the window, getting a roll of the eyes from her partner.

'She's fine, it's not even on, yet.' He laughs, still picking her up, "flying" her around, just a little too quickly for Carla's liking. She can't do anything because she is in the bedroom getting ready and Peter is getting everything ready for when everyone's set to arrive.

A big gathering, the biggest one they'd held. She was nervous.

It was just close friends and family, but still. It was pretty nerve wracking. She'd tried to shake those thoughts as she makes her way down to the garden, going to sit on the blanket they'd laid out for the baby.

'Nina's bringing her own food.' Carla tells him, as she watches the baby start to get away. They'd made sure that there was nothing that could hurt her as she cruised around the garden, knowing that when people started to arrive, she'd have to stay in one place. 'Probably easiest.'

'What time did you say?'

'From about 6, give time for people to come back from work. I know your dad, Daniel and Bertie are coming earlier.'

'Why?'

'Apparently, Bertie's been asking about Bea. I think it's more boredom on his part, I have told him the pair can come around anytime and play with her.' Peter just nods, 'it's going to get busy. It's going to be okay.'

'It will be nice, celebrate the house, the engagement and the baby.' The news on the engagement had been well received, this wasn't an engagement party, per se, but it was a gathering. Celebrating everything that had happened.

'She was born eight months ago.'

'Still a long time ago.' She shrugs, as her phone starts to buzz. 'What's up Chelle?' Peter watches as her face contorts into a smile. 'Use the gate, it's open, it's a push, not pull.' She tells her, as she hangs up the phone. 'Michelle's here.'

'I gathered that.'

-CS-

'Look, she's holding herself up.' Michelle gushes, as the pair sit on the floor, 'on the bench.'

'She's been doing that for a few days, it's like she wants to walk. I spoke to the health visitor and apparently it's normal.' She watches as her friend sips her drink.

'You sure you're not drinking?'

'I've got my eight-month crawling around. I need my wits about me. And before you ask, I'm not pregnant and we don't want another one.'

'I wasn't going to say anything.' She just shakes her head, lying her head on her friends' shoulder. 'I'm so glad you came back.'

'You have Johnny to thank for that. Aye, I heard he's coming. I'm so proud of you that you invited him.'

'Peter persuaded me.' She relents, 'he pointed out she needs family. Whatever I think, Johnny is her grandad and I'd always wanted a family. In some weird way, I felt as if I was denying her that.'

'He's right, having a big family, it will be nice. It might be irritating sometimes, but at least they care. And he does care, he really does.'

'I suppose so. Peter, mind, she's coming near you.' She sighs, jumping up and grabbing the baby. 'Right, we're going to have to get this plaything out, keep her in one place.' She sighs, walking inside with her friend. 'It's not huge, but it will keep her in one place. It will fit her and Bertie in.'

'Has she eaten?'

'She's eaten, so she should be fine. We've got a bottle prepared before bed, expressing milk is the bane of my life. We're hoping she'll just play and tire herself out. We've got one of those baby monitors, just to check she is okay. It's got an app on my phone and everything.'

'Very fancy, far higher tech than with Ryan. Is she still in your room?'

'Yeah, apparently she should be until she's a year. I think I'll miss her when she stays in her own room.' She confesses, as she passes the baby to her fried, getting the box next to the sofa. 'We brought this a couple of days ago and she loves it. Found it online and it's safe for her.'

'I'm not doubting it.' She promises, kissing the girl's cheek. 'She is lovely. Aye, do you remember Ryan at this age? He was far more demanding. Always been a little sod.'

'She is when she's teething.' Carla reassures her, 'she's in a good mood. I think it's because she's had a good day, hmm. We played with bubbles and had a bubble bath, she loves bubbles.' She just looks at her friend, smiling sadly. If things were different, she'd have a baby a few years older than her daughter, she'd be happy, and it wouldn't be tainted with sadness.

In another life, she'd have not been cheated on, she'd have her eldest girl too. She wouldn't have killed someone, and she wouldn't have had a breakdown.

But this wasn't another life. This is her life. The life she shares with Peter, Beatrice and Simon.

'What are you looking at?'

'Nothing.'

'You are.' She protests, 'spit it out.'

'I was just thinking what a wonderful woman you are.'

'Why?'

'Just everything, but particularly with Ruari. How you can be there with her and everything. After my miscarriage, it was hard. I don't know how you do it.'

'I'm not saying it's not easy' she tries, 'but she is a great kid. She really is and I am okay, or I will be. I can't avoid babies all my life. You're my best mate and I am so happy for you.' She promises, as they go back into the garden where some more guests have appeared. 'I'll take her, so that you can set that thingy up.'

'Thank you.' She whispers, 'I love you Chelle.'

-CS-

'Am I allowed a cuddle?' Johnny asks nervously, looking at his daughter. 'It's al-'

'Yeah, mind her though, she's teething and she's likely to drool on you.' She warns, as he beams with joy, the grandchild he's seen a mere handful of times. It's these little moments that make her feel bad, a guilt that seems to be increasingly more present.

Google diagnosed her with parental guilt.

He smiles as he watches her pick up the baby, looking like a natural mother, before passing her to the man.

'Hello, little Beatrice.' She makes a noise, making them laugh.

'She's started making these noises, it's really cute.' She tells him excitedly. He has to bite his tongue when it comes to making a comment about Kate and Aidan, when they were little, because he knows that's the problem.

He wasn't there.

'When you're done, you need to put her in the playpen, she's started to cruise around, and I don't want to get her stamped on. Plus, it will be bedtime soon.'

'She looks like you.'

'That's what everyone says, lets home she's not as high maintenance.'

'That'll be the day' he grins, 'the Connors are high maintenance.'

'Well I'm not planning on being a Connor much longer.' She shrugs, 'we want to get married soon.'

'Any idea when?'

'We've applied for a marriage license and we'll get married then. A small ceremony, I've done that 100's of times. Small and simple is what we're going for.' It had been a bone of contention for the pair, mainly about who they wanted at the wedding, but they'd decided it would be a very minimal fiasco, with nothing too fancy.

Vastly different to last time.

She'd already asked Roy to walk her down the aisle, which he'd agreed too, after a bit of persuasion. This time, the marriage was going to last, and he was the most special person she knew. She wanted him, or she told him, she'd walk alone.

Michelle was going to be her maid of honour. Not that it was going to be a big affair, she'd happily have had just the five of them and Peters family, he'd disagreed. 'We're doing it some point in September, we think. Last time we got married in December, but that's her birthday month. Don't want to ruin that for her.'

'That's lovely.' She smiles at him, before, kissing the top of the baby's head. She meets his eyes as she steps back from the baby.

'You'll get your invite in the post.'

A/N thoughts?

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