"Carla!"
"Chelle? What are you doing here? What's up why are you crying?" she asks sympathetically
"It's a long story" she sniffs
"Come on let's get you back to ours" Carla says firmly as they walk towards Victoria Court with Peter helping with the suitcases. They enter the flat and Carla guides Michelle to the sofa as Peter places a tray of drinks down on the coffee table.
"What's happened?" Carla asks
"I've done something stupid" Michelle says
"I'm pretty sure I can top you on that" Peter says as Carla glares at him
"What do you mean something stupid?" Carla prompts
"So me and Kate were in Dubai and I met this guy, he was actually from the UK but he was out there on business and we got really close and I slept with him a few times" Michelle says tearfully
"I don't follow?" Carla says "So you met a guy, in Dubai and had sex and now you're back and upset. Oh no, you're not?" Carla says shocked "Does Kate know?" Carla asks
"She does, she suggested me coming back here so I didn't feel tied down I suppose" Michelle says
"What are you going to do?" Carla asks
"I don't know, that's why I decided to come back here to make my mind up" she says
"How many weeks?" Carla asks gently
"Four or five" Michelle says carefully
"Oh god Michelle, you idiot" Carla says
"I'm scared in case it all goes wrong again" Michelle says
"It might not" Carla says "I guess you don't know until you try"
"Is it ok if I unpack and use your washing machine?" Michelle asks
"Sure I'll give you a hand" Carla says grabbing the suitcase as Michelle glances to the ring on her hand
"What's that?" Michelle says
"What's what?" Carla asks confused
"That big rock on your ring finger, are you two engaged, how long, where did happen?" Michelle exclaims
"Woah calm down with the 20 questions" Carla laughs "If you must know yes we have been engaged for about 2 hours and in the bistro office, not the most romantic places but what you do for love aye" Carla says
"This is so exciting" Michelle says "Do the family know then?"
"No they don't we were on our way to tell them but you got out the cab" Carla smiles
"Right we're heading to the Rovers so you can tell Johnny and Jenny" Michelle states
After stuffing the remainder of clothes from Michelle's suitcase in to the washing machine, the trio headed off to the Rover's to tell their family positive news for a change.
"Hi Johnny, Jenny" Carla smiles
"Michelle!" Johnny exclaims running over to her to give her a hug
"Hello, its been a while" she says "Hey Jenny" she smiles
"Let's go through the back" Carla suggests
"Me and Peter have some news" Carla says excitedly
"You're not up the duff are you?" Jenny asks excited as Carla and Michelle give each other an awkward glance
"No, me and Peter are engaged" she says boldly holding out her hand so everyone can view the ring
"That's great news, love" Johnny exclaims "Have you set a date?"
"Johnny give us a chance we've only been engaged for a matter of hours" Peter says while laughing
"I'm going to get some drinks" Jenny says leaving to get a bottle of champagne and returning a short while later with a few glasses
"I can't drink" Michelle says
"Why?" Jenny asks being nosey
"I don't have to drink if I don't want to" Michelle states "You don't need a drink to have a good time"
"Exactly Michelle" Peter says supportively "And you shouldn't be drinking too much on your medication" he says pointing at Carla
"It's just the one" she says determined
"Then that's fine" he states
"Let's have a toast. New beginnings" Johnny says holding his glass up as everyone else in the room rolls their eyes at the prospect of a speech
After spending another hour with Johnny and Jenny Carla, Peter and Michelle headed back to Victoria Court. They made trivial conversation before Peter excused himself to go to bed as he didn't get much sleep the night before.
"He's going to bed early" Michelle says confused
"Yeah, he was up practically all night" Carla shrugs
"Are you ok?" Michelle asks carefully noticing Carla was being secretive
"I should be asking you that" Carla laughs trying to avoid the subject of her mental health
"I'm asking you though" Michelle persists
"It's just been getting progressively worse really. None of us really know why" she says down-beat
"Us?" Michelle says confused
"Yeah…It's a long story" she says
"I'm all ears" Michelle states wanting to help
"Do you remember when you worked at Underworld? And the Sandringham order?" Carla asks
"Vaguely but what does that have to do with you?" Michelle questions
"Do you remember the PA?" Carla says
"What that stuck up, arrogant woman who would pass off as a lap dancer?" Michelle asks
"Yes, her" Carla says firmly
"The one that screwed you over that time?" Michelle inquires
"Yes that one. She turned up strutting along the street and handed me her business card" Carla states
"Why? A bit random if you ask me" Michelle says raising her eyebrows
"Then she was with Sarah in the Bistro and we got talking and I noticed how different she was now to who she was all those years back" she says
"What do you mean different?" Michelle asks
"She wasn't trying to seduce clients with her skimpy clothes, she looked sophisticated and well mannered, it was weird" Carla says firmly
"Even I can agree with that" Michelle agrees
"Exactly, so we got talking and she said that she had involvement with Frank Foster and that he raped her" Carla says tearfully
"Oh, Carla did she not tell someone" Michelle says while holding Carla's hands
"There was no point, he was killed before she had an opportunity" Carla says "Then she fell pregnant"
"You're kidding. Did she keep it?" Michelle asks
"She did and then she got to the end of her pregnancy and her baby then passed away shortly after birth" Carla says while tears stream down her face "It was so sad, me and Peter looked through her memory box and everything that was in there it kind of filled a hole in my heart" Carla says reflectively
"That's so sad, after the most positive thing she went through to get her through the consequences of her attack she loses the one thing which kept her hopeful for the future" Michelle says tearfully
"Exactly it was horrible to think that someone so young could go through that" Carla says
"The age gap though, makes my skin crawl" Michelle states
"That's what Peter said" Carla says "So anyway the next day I go into work and then me and Peter had a conversation then I became paranoid, more so then I have been and he had to take me to the office to calm me down but nothing worked" Carla says carefully trying not to miss a detail
"You didn't do anything stupid did you?" Michelle asks concerned
"No, not thanks to Lilah anyway. She spoke to Daniel and heard that I was having a bad day so she made her way to the office to help Peter and she managed to get me home and secluded me into the bedroom where she went through some coping strategies and ensured that I was safe" Carla says
"Why didn't you call sooner if you were struggling, me and Kate would've been back here as fast as we could" Michelle says, worried
"I didn't want to ruin your trip" Carla shrugs
"So what now?" Michelle asks
"Now, I want to go to bed because I'm shattered" Carla laughs
"Me too to be honest" Michelle says
"I'll see you tomorrow" Carla says going to kiss Michelle on the cheek before heading into the bedroom to get ready for bed
An hour or so later everyone was asleep in bed. It was a few hours into the night and Carla woke up in a cold sweat thrashing around in the bed covers instantly waking Peter up while he holds her close to him to see if it calmed her.
"Carla you're ok, you're safe" he says planting kisses in her hair while she shakes frantically. There was a knock at the door and Michelle appeared
"Is this normal, she's shaking so much" Michelle says concerned
"Pretty much every night now, could you get my phone its on the kitchen counter" he says breathlessly while trying to hold Carla close to stop her frantic movements. Michelle then leaves the room to get Peter's phone and returns a short while later
"Can you find Lilah in the contacts" Peter says while trying to restrain Carla
"Here, do you want me to call?" She asks
"No, call the number and hold the phone to my ear" Peter suggests waiting for Lilah to pick up
"Lilah I can't cope with this" Peter says exhaustedly
"Tell me what's going on" Lilah says calmly
"I'm having to restrain her in case she does something stupid, she's thrashing around everywhere" Peter says
"Ok, I'm coming, give me an hour or so, try and keep her in the bed" Lilah says firmly
While waiting for Lilah to arrive, Michelle sat on the floor beside the bed to be there in case things got out of hand gently holding Carla's hand hoping to add some comfort. It was horrible for Michelle to see her best friend like this and how much she kept hidden about her panic attacks and nightmares she was having. There was a knock on the door and Michelle got up and let Lilah in.
"Who are you?" Lilah asks making her way to the bedroom as if she was on auto-pilot
"Michelle" she states
"Oh I remember vaguely" Lilah shrugs turning her attention to a dishevelled Carla thrashing around on the bed
"Peter can you let her go for me, I want to see where she goes" Lilah says as Peter lets go of Carla
Carla makes her way to the living room and sits in the corner of it with her legs tucked up to her chest while she sobs into her hands as Peter, Michelle and Lilah just stare at her.
"Aren't you going to do anything?!" Michelle says getting angry with the situation
"No, not yet, I want to see if she uses the tactics I gave her to calm her down and I'm also curious as to why she's tucked herself away in the corner of a room." Lilah shrugs
"Chelle, let Lilah do what she needs to" Peter says
"But look at her, she's traumatised" Michelle says with her heart breaking for her friend
"Lilah?" Carla says quietly
"Yes, hun?" Lilah replies
"Can I have a hot water bottle and my blanket?" she asks
"Sure I'll make one up for you" she smiles going to fill the kettle up and bringing the hot water bottle over to her
"Want to talk?" she asks
"I…I don't know" Carla says hesitantly
"We don't have to, want me to read to you, like before?" Lilah asks
"Yes please" Carla accepts gratefully
"Come on then, let's get to bed" Lilah says guiding Carla to the bedroom while Michelle and Peter follow
Carla settles back into bed beside Peter as Lilah begins to read the book she previously started the night before with Carla while Peter strokes her hair gently to make her feel safe. A while later she drifts off to sleep, as Lilah closes the book she beckons Peter and Michelle out of the bedroom.
"Well you did it again" Peter says impressed
"Didn't last that long this time did it?" Lilah says
"No, thank god it's horrible seeing her like that, but we just have to accept it I guess" Peter states
"You ok, Michelle?" Lilah asks
"Yeah, I just didn't think it would be like this that's all" she shrugs "Do you have experience in counselling or something?" Michelle asks
"Kind of, I did a couple years of psychology at Uni then pursued my dad's business after I inherited it" she says
"Impressive" Michelle says
"Carla told me about you and your baby" Michelle says gently
"Ah right, why exactly?" Lilah asks
"She tells me a lot she doesn't like to keep secrets" Michelle states
"Understandable I guess, I don't mind who knows my business, I'm not really a private person" she shrugs "Anyway I best be getting off, got to get some sleep for my meetings. It was nice meeting you Michelle"
"Bye Lilah" Peter smiles
"Yeah see ya Lilah" Michelle says as Lilah leaves the flat
"Why didn't you ring me if she was this bad, I would've been back in an instance" Michelle says sternly
"I guess when you live with her like that on a daily basis it becomes normal so we didn't think anything of it" he shrugs "You should probably get some sleep, especially in your condition"
"Yeah you're probably right, good night" she smiles heading off to the spare room
After a long night Peter was wondering whether this is fair for Carla to go through all this without increasing her professional help. He was worried that she would get progressively worse that she would end up being sectioned again which he didn't want for her. He wanted to look to the future, but it was so bleak due to Carla's panic attacks becoming more frequent. There was also the matter of the anniversary of the roof collapse where the possibility of her regressing was very prominent in his mind he just hoped that he could offer the support that she needed and that she would accept it