'I bet she got this cold from that Ava at baby group.' Carla moans, 'I knew it was a bad idea to let her socialise with other babies, she's too little. Ava's mother, well, she sounds like she could be friends with Gemma bloody Winter. I should-'

'Carla, she's ten months.' Peter sighs, putting down the paper, 'she's going to get sick; she needs to get sick, strengthen her immune system.'

'She doesn't, she's my baby.' She whispers, kissing the grizzly baby on the head. 'It's okay darling, it's okay. I know you're feeling lousy, but it will go.' Peter smiles as the baby closes her eyes, he'd offered to take her, but she'd started screaming the moment she left Carla.

It didn't matter that, in the early days, she was a daddy's girl, but since she'd come down with the cold, she'd refused to leave her mums side.

'Dad's invited us to dinner on Thursday.'

'Are you sure you want put him at risk?'

'Car, she's got a cold, not Covid. Chances are, he's already immune to whatever cold she has. He wants to see us, he's old and lonely. Plus, it's Monday. She'll be better.'

'You don't know that' she mumbles, 'could have.'

'She has a cold. Look, dad knows. He's fine with it, I promise.'

'Are you sure?'

'Is this because you don't want to face my family?' He watches her downcast face, it suddenly all clicking. 'Hey, they understand.'

'Peter' she trails off, 'I'm sorry for not marrying you. And, you know, everything else. Every time I'm there I feel terrible, Peter.'

'Carla, it's forgotten, heat of the moment.'

'I didn't mean it.'

'I know.' He promises, 'I know, my love. Stop crucifying yourself over it.'

'It was unforgivable.'

'And heat of the moment, everything was on top of you. It's going to be okay. Right, no one else needs to know what was said, it's not important. We are a little family, you me, Si and Bea. Hey, look at me, don't cry.'

'I feel so bad.'

'Look, you need to stop this pity party.' He shrugs, she'd spent the time between the wedding and now apologising to her, which had begun to frustrate the man, 'and she'll be okay. She's going to be fine.'

'I don't like the way she's feeling. She's too quiet, sleeping more. She reminds me of when she was really little.'

'I promise you; she'll be okay. If she gets worse, take her to the doctors.' As if on cue, the baby starts to cough. 'I'd offer to take her, but she won't like that. Maybe try and feed her, that's supposed to be good for her, soothe her, or something.'

'Hmm, shall we try that. Why don't we go to the nursery, your new room, for when you're bigger? You like the chair.' He watches her disappear, going to make something for lunch. Although it feels more like dinner, he'd been up so long.

Carla had decided that she was going to sleep with her that night, so he'd been pushed right to the end of the bed, which hadn't made a very good night's sleep for him. Not that she got much better sleep, Peter knew she'd toss and turned for most of the night, but the dead giveaway was that he didn't hear her snore for most of the night.

-CS-

'I'm thinking of taking her to the walk-in clinic.'

'Why?' He watches as she paces up and down the living room, baby in tow.

'She's too quiet and she's got a slight temperature.'

'Right, is it within normal range? For a child who is sick, obviously.'

'Yes.' She whispers, nodding. 'It is.'

'Then you don't need too. Look, she's drinking fluid, she might not be eating but it's okay.'

'Peter. What if she's hungry and I'm starving her?'

'Do you trust me?' Now that was the question. She trusted him, she knows he'd do nothing to hurt the child, or her.

Not anymore.

'This is our daughters health.'

'And I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise that, you know that.'

'Sorry.' She whispers, 'I'm sorry, I'm new to this and it's hard.'

'Please just stop apologising.' He says, a little louder than he expected, making the baby jump.

'What?'

'You're constantly apologising, please stop.' Carla shakes her head, stopping herself from apologising. 'So, what are we doing for Halloween?'

'Halloween?'

'Next week is Halloween.'

'You think she'll be well enough.'

'The average cold lasts ten days, we're on day six.' He reminds her, 'look, give 'er to me, you look like tired.'

'I am.' She confesses, 'thank you.'

'C'mon my little bumble bee.'

'Aye' Carla smirks, 'if she's better, she'll be a bumble bee.'

-CS-

'What'd you think of this?' She shoves her phone at her partner, 'this is cute.'

'What is it?' He questions, squinting at the screen. 'Oh, that's funny. That's cute.'

'Shall I get it?'

'If you want.'

'Oh, c'mon. Can you think of a cuter Halloween costume?'

'So, we're going? I wasn't sure if you were up for it. We call her bumble bee; can you think of anything cuter?'

'You're right, now I've slept, you're right. It was inevitable she was going to get sick and she's going to get better.'

'See, that's good. Making progress.'

'Why are you with me? I've been awful.'

'We're moving on, right. You and I, we're good. We are so good. And that's all that matters.'

'You're a saint.'

'No, I just love you' she gives him a quick peck, running her hand through his hair. 'She's gonna be asleep for a while.' She whispers, kissing his neck. 'How about we go to bed too, but not sleep.' He just smirks

-CS-

The baby starts grabbing her hair, grabbing it to put it in her mouth. 'Bea, no.'

'You can put her on the floor, she will be fine.'

'I'm worried she'll trip you up.'

'I'll be fine.'

'She's started walking or rather, scaling the sofa.'

'She's doing well, hitting all her milestones. I didn't know I were pregnant, it's a miracle she's doing so well.'

'You need to stop punishing yourself, love, that's all that matters. She's healthy and happy. That's all that's important.'

'Peter's right' Ken tells her, watching as Carla places the child on the floor, 'as she's healthy, it doesn't matter. Oh, she is getting quick.' He laughs, as she grabs onto her mother's legs, looking up at her.'

'Aye, we're going to the pub for Halloween. She's going to be dressed as a little bee, she's our little bumble bee. Aye, Car, show him the picture.' He smiles at the way the two interact with one another, the ease they feel around one another.

He had had been worried about the pair, the beginning of the year brought lots of uncertainty, whilst it had turned out okay, he had been worried.

A baby was hard enough when it was expected.

But it being thrust upon them the way she was?

That must have been hard.

Then everything seemed better, a little brighter. The engagement, the way the pieces fell into the place, like a puzzle.

Then the wedding happened.

He thought that was the end, the way she ran out, down the aisle. He didn't know what was said, what happened between them, but he did wonder if that was the end.

He didn't get much sleep that night, Michelle had told him that Peter had come home, sober, but that didn't stop the worry. The worry was there, but they seemed to be okay. The cracks had seemingly disappeared, for how long, he wondered.

But they seemed okay, the way they interact with one another, Carla placing her head on Peters shoulders, the chaise kisses here and there, the love they show one another and their baby.

Anyone could see they were proud parents.

'Aye, do you have the contact details of Bertie's nursery?'

'I can get them. Why, are you thinking about going back to work?'

'Yeah.' She smiles, 'I love being home with her, but going back to work just seems right.' She tells him, smiling. 'I briefly spoke to Nick and I'm seeing him tomorrow.'

'Are you?' Peter looks, in surprise, he knew she was meeting him, but he didn't realise that it was this soon. She was right, though, she should go back to work.

'Yeah, I'm bringing her with her. Everyone wants to see her.'

'She is gorgeous.' Peter agrees, picking her up off the floor, having sat down. She'd perked up today, seemingly more herself. She wasn't quite there, but she seemed to be better.

'She's feeling better, you can tell.' Carla agrees, as the baby starts to bite on her hand. 'Where'd you put the teething ring, she'll hurt herself.'

'In the bag. Hmm, the ibuprofen thingy should be in there too.'

-CS-

'Oh, Mrs C, she's gotten so big.' Sean coos, 'look at 'er. I remember when my Dylan was that young. So cute.'

'She is, when she's not teething.'

'Ouch.' Sarah grins, 'I remember when my two were going through that, I got no sleep.'

'It comes in dribs and drabs.' She smiles, trying to mask how tired she actually is. 'She's been good, up until this.'

'She looks like an angel. The quads at that age, nightmare.' Paul starts, Carla biting her lip at the idea that her baby is being compared to Gemma's quads.

'Suppose one is easier than four.' She tries, as Sarah gets her out of the pram. She knew this was coming, that everyone wants a cuddle, but it doesn't stop her heart dropping, just in case one of them dropped her.

'Aye, is she dressing up for Halloween?'

'Halloween?' She plays coy.

'Aye, you are, aren't you?'

'Maybe.'

'You are, what are you dressing her up as? Are you doing a family one?' She pulls a horrified look, making the group laugh.

'Right, tea break is over.' A voice calls, making her jump. Sarah, on the other hand, keeps a steady hand, not letting the baby fall. 'Carla, do you want to come through? You can bring her.'

'Awh, Nick, let me have a cuddle.' Nick raises his eyebrows, as Carla shrugs.

'If you want.' She surrenders, following Nick to the office.

'So, you want to come back to work?'

'Well, I'd quite like too.' She suddenly feels nervous, 'I've missed this place. If not, I'll phone Jo La-'

'Don't worry, you can come back.' He smiles, 'same job as before.'

'Thank you.' She breathes, looking through the window to see Sarah cradling the baby. 'How's the little'un?'

'You know, it's hard.'

'I can't imagine what Leanne is going through, I know Simon is barely coping, but Leanne.'

'Is a mess. With you back, I can be there to support her. When do you want to start?' He questions, picking up a pen.

'8th November?' She suggests, 'I can come earlier, if you want.'

'The 8th sounds perfect.' He concedes, 'I'll see you then.'

-CS-

'Oh, Carla, she's adorable.' Michelle grins, as her friend props up the bar, 'but is she allowed to be here?'

'I'll take her out back, in a bit. It's empty' she points out, pulling a face at the baby. 'Yes, yes, it is, my little bumble bee. Peter wanted to put face paint on her, but that was a step too far.'

'It would have been cute.' He argues, 'an actual little bumble bee.'

'I think she's going to believe her name is bumble bee.' The baby just makes a noise in agreement.

'How is she getting so bed, she wants to talk, and she tries to walk.'

'Oh, don't. It feels like yesterday I was having stomach cramps, little did I know, it was this monster.'

'Carla, Peter?' A voice calls, coming into the bar. 'Beatrice.'

'Hiya, Johnny.'

'A bee?'

'A bumble bee, for Beatrice.' Peter grins, 'how 'ave you been?'

'Good, busy. This place has been really busy recently, makes for good business, but I'm bloody knackered.'

'You doing owt for fireworks night?' Carla asks, taking a sip of the orange juice that appeared.

'No, why?'

'We're going to the fireworks on the red rec, if you'd like to come.'

'I'd love to come.' He smiles, wondering if, finally,the dust was settling?

A/N thoughts? I finally found some inspiration to write this, so I hope you enjoyed it!

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