A/N: A shorter update than what I'm used to posting, but I will hopefully have another chapter up later tonight if all goes well.
Thank you to those who left reviews. It is greatly appreciated. :)
"I-I hope you don't think I'm being intrusive, Carla," Roy began, watching as she packed a small bag with a change of clothes, "but are you quite certain that this is a good idea?"
"My sentiments exactly," Rob mumbled, his eyes unmoving from his sister as he sat perched on the arm of the sofa in the cafe owner's flat.
"No," Carla responded in frustration, "it probably isn't, but the decision has been made and I'm going anyway."
"Well, this will be a disaster waiting to 'appen!" Rob stated, "You know, I knew that while you were in the hospital we should have got them doctors to have your head testin' and all,"
Carla rolled her eyes at her brother, as she folded her robe.
"I mean why you ever agreed to stay at that flat tonight is beyond me. I should have never left you alone in that room with him, I would have been able to knock some sense into you..."
Carla threw her slippers in the bag, "Rob, I told you: I'm doing this for Simon, not Peter."
"How convenient..."
"Simon practically begged me over the phone, Rob. I mean what were I supposed to do?"
"Say no!" her brother retorted, "I mean, your priority right now is supposed to be you and the baby, not the brat of that cheating, lying, alchy! I thought that scare today would have made that obvious."
"My priority is the baby, alright? And Simon is its half-brother. Come on Rob, he's a kid and he's worried. He just wants to help." Her eyes looked up in time to catch Rob and Roy exchange worried glances. "Will the two of you just calm down? It's just for one night!" she raised her voice in agitation, "Flamin' Nora. You're both actin' like I'm moving back in and planning a vow renewal or sommit..."
"It's not you I'm worried about, it's your flippin' husband," Rob mumbled, "I wouldn't put anything past that man,"
"Rob, would you please just drop it..." Carla sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers
"I mean he probably put his kid up to this in the first place! Playing on your insecurities and knowing you have a soft spot for that kid," he lowered his voice to a mumble, "and for him and all..."
"What?" Carla asked, her hands coming to rest on her hips
"Oh don't try to deny it, sis," Rob scoffed at her, "I saw you two all cosy in that hospital room,"
Carla took a step back, shaking her head, "we thought something was wrong with the baby, Rob. Our baby."
"Yeah and didn't he just enjoy being your 'white knight' again, eh?" he sneered
Carla felt as though she were punched in the stomach, "that was a low blow, Rob..." she whispered
"Come on, Carla! He always swoops in when you're at your most vulnerable; he thrives on it! And you fall for it every time he shoots you those puppy dog looks like he was giving you tonight-"
"Hey," Carla rounded on him, pointing her finger at him incredulously, "don't you paint me out to be some kind of pathetic female!"
"Well, aren't you?" Rob shot back
She chuckled humourlessly, "I beg your pardon?" Upon his lack of response, she glared at him warningly, "you know, I am capable of thinking by myself, you know; when I get the chance, Rob!"
"Oh, well and what is that supposed to mean?" he asked
"Well you're always banging on about what he did. I don't even get space to think anymore!" She walked past him, bringing her hand up to scratch her head
"Well, there's nothing to think about because he did it!"
She spun to face him, "You see, there you go again! It's like you've got some-some personal vendetta against him! Rob, I-I know you don't like the guy, but he is the father of my baby and I'm not going to have you push him over the edge!"
"I'm not trying to push him over the edge! He's doing that all by himself!" Rob nearly shouted back
"He's trying to be better," She stated, folding her arms across her chest, "for Simon and for this baby-"
"Oh and it has nothing to do with trying to get back into your bed, does it?" Rob scoffed, "I told you, he's messing with your head, and it looks like he's succeeding..."
"I don't think this arguing is good for you, Carla, or the baby," Roy interjected calmly, "I will agree that I do share your brother's concerns regarding Peter Barlow's possible intentions,"
"Thank you, Roy" Rob stated, hoping he would be able to convince Carla to back out of this decision of hers,
"That being said," Roy interjected and Rob felt himself deflate, "I also saw how much Simon cares for you during the time Peter was away at the rehab centre. So, if you feel that by staying there tonight, and letting him take care of you, will put his mind, and yours, at rest, then I will support your decision."
Carla smiled at him, "thank you, Roy."
"Carla, I'm not trying to stress you out, alright? All I'm trying to do is protect you," Rob sighed exasperatedly, "You know damn well that he's bound to relapse to the drink again when the stress gets too much, or he'll give in to Tina again, while you're either still carrying his baby, or after you give birth, and it will destroy you worse than it did this time around! But no, I'll just stand by and let that happen, shall I?" He sat down, flicking his tie in frustration
"Rob," Carla breathed out, "look at me," she said, crouching down next to the sofa and turning his chin with her fingers, "I am really scared and all, but I can't do this on me own. We know what it were like to grow up without our dad. I'm already scared I'm going to be rubbish just like our mum. But Peter, for all his faults, is a good dad to Simon. He's made mistakes, but he would do anything for that little lad. And I know he would do anything for our baby an' all." She placed a hand on her abdomen, "this baby is the most important thing in me life right now, and I will do whatever it takes to protect them and give them everything we could have only wished for growing up: most importantly, two parents who love it unconditionally, even if they aren't together." Her eyes became glassy with tears and Rob felt himself soften, "but I need you, Rob. I need my brother to support me, not fight me on every decision I make. I need my brother to help me and not add to the stress I already have on my shoulders by picking a fight with the father of my unborn child." Her eyes pleaded with him, "Look, I don't know what is going to happen in the future. I can say that as of right now, I have no intentions of getting back with Peter, but I do want him in this baby's life. Please, Rob? You and Peter have fought for long enough, I could handle it before, but I can't anymore. I need a truce, please?" Rob sighed, and Carla bit back her tears, "Come on, you're my brother. I've got no one else to turn to. Well, you and Roy..." she smiled at the cafe owner who awkwardly stood in the kitchen watching them,
"Come 'ere, you," Rob pulled Carla up gently to the sofa, tugging her into a half hug and he rubbed her back supportively, "Have I ever let you down?"
Carla's face furrowed, "Well, yeah. Frequently..."
Rob chuckled, as she pulled herself back up to face him, "Well not this time," he promised sincerely, "not if it's what you want."
Carla nodded, "it is," her voice cracked, "I'm sorry..."
"What are you sorry for?"
"For putting this on you," she looked away briefly, "I'm not very good at asking for help am I?"
"Well you don't need to, do ya?" He told her gently, "look I'm here for you. You need anything, you come to me."
Carla nodded, her eyes unmoving from her brother as she felt smiled timidly, "I'm scared..." she whispered, the tears in her eyes beginning to fall down her cheeks.
Rob pulled her head towards him, planting a kiss supportively on her forehead, before letting her lean into his hug. He hated how much she was hurting. Peter may be the main reason for her suffering but he knew his feud with him was only adding fuel to the fire. As much as it would pain him, he had to try to back off, and trust her to make her own decisions. After all, he'd be there for her, no matter what.
Peter walked around where Carla sat on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, and her head resting on her hand. She had arrived fifteen minutes earlier, with an overnight bag, and her brother Rob in tow. He noted that Rob was surprisingly quiet, simply carrying her bag and placing it on the floor next to the chair he then sat in. Simon sat next to Carla on the sofa, playing his handheld video game, but carefully watching his step-mom for any signs of pain she might be in. Peter couldn't contain his happiness that she was back in the flat; he wanted nothing more than to make up for everything he put her through the past few months. He took a chance and caressed her hair as he moved to crouch next to her, "You okay, Car?" he asked gently, "can I get you anything?"
"No," Carla responded quietly
"Are you hungry?" Simon piped up from next to her
"Yeah, love, I can get you something to eat or drink-" Peter offered
"Stop fussing, the pair of you," she sighed in frustration
"We just want to make sure you're okay," Peter smiled at her,
"Yeah, you look really tired, Carla" Simon pointed out,
Carla reached over and ruffled his hair playfully, "Well, it's you two, you're both tiring me out!"
"Hey, how about you go run a bath and have an early night?" Peter offered, "We can get all your stuff set up."
She closed her eyes, exhaling and nodding, "actually that doesn't sound like a bad idea, I think I will do that, yeah." She slowly pushed herself to a standing position
"I'm gonna go call mum, that way we can watch the movie, after your bath, without having to stop it!" Simon said as he headed into his room
"Do you know what, I'll umm I'll leave you three to it," Rob said as he rose from his seat, turning to face his sister, "you know where I am if you need me, yeah?"
"Yeah," Carla responded with a smile, wrapping her arms around her brother and pulling him in for a hug, "thanks for tonight," she pulled back, placing a kiss on his cheek, before heading off to the bathroom.
Peter waited until the bathroom door closed behind Carla before he approached Rob, "thanks mate, I know we haven't seen eye to eye on alot of things, but I appreciate your help today."
"I didn't do it for you," Rob gritted out
"I know, I know that," Peter agreed, "but we have something in common Rob: your sister. And with her having this scare with the baby, I don't want us at each other's throats all the time and putting more stress on her than I have already done. I'm going to do whatever it takes to-"
"Oh save your breath," Rob rolled his eyes, "I could give a toss what you want to do. This isn't a game Peter. You know, unlike you I care about her, about that baby, and as much as I want to prove to her what a weak, useless, drunken waste of space you are, the fact is you'll do a good enough job of proving that to her all on your own. And I'm not going to be the one to bring so much stress on her that something happens to her or that little baby. So if she wants to give you the time of day, I won't stop her."
"So, what?" Peter began apprehensively, "you're not going to try to step in? Make your little digs?"
"No, Peter, I'm not," Rob responded calmly, "but I swear," he took a menacing step closer to his brother-in-law, jabbing his finger towards him, "if I see you with Tina, if I hear that you've had another drink, or you-you hurt my sister in any other way, I swear Peter, I'll kill ya." With one final warning look to him, Rob turned and left the flat.