It was an hour after Carla left home, Michelle returned to see a broken Peter who was obviously worried about Carla's whereabouts as it was getting late. Michelle was heartbroken at the fact that Carla felt like she needed to get away and was trying to reassure Peter that she would be ok.
"Where is she 'Chelle?" Peter says
"I don't know" she replies
"Do you know anywhere where she might go?" Peter questions
"Well, there's the quarry but she only goes there if it's something to do with the past" Michelle states
"I guess there's no harm in trying, you coming or should I ask Kate?" Peter asks
"I'll give it a miss, I'm shattered I would if circumstances were different" Michelle says "I hope you find her give me a ring if you need to know anything" she smiles before heading off to bed
Peter rings Kate to see if she would come with him, which she agrees. They make their way to the quarry and have a look around to see if Carla's in her usual spot but she isn't. Peter's running out of ideas fast and needs to get to Carla quick.
"Any ideas?" Peter asks Kate
"The estate where we all grew up?" Kate suggests
"Worth a try" Peter says starting the engine and heads to the estate
"This brings back memories" Kate says
"Right, stick with me don't go off alone" Peter persists stepping out of the car
A while later Peter and Kate return to the car after searching the whole estate unable to find Carla. They were running out of options so Peter took it upon himself to ring Michelle again to ask for information and more possible locations Carla could be. Michelle replied with Liam's grave but she said it was a longshot and an unlikely possibility. So Peter and Kate head to the graveyard.
"Right, I don't suppose you know where the grave is?" Peter asks
"Nope, I guess we'll just have to walk around aimlessly" Kate replies as they start walking around to see if they can find Carla
"This is so pointless" Peter sighs
"I think we should head back, it's almost midnight" Kate suggests
"You're right, let's go" Peter says
Carla was trying to hide in some bushes having seen Peter and Kate look around the graveyard. Carla wanted time on her own to reflect on the past hoping that it would make her feel more like her old self. Carla saw Peter and Kate leave the graveyard so she decided she would go and see Liam's grave. As she reached the grave she knelt down to admire the grey polished granite and trace over the gold letters which spelt his name.
"Hi Liam, it's Carla. God this is so stupid talking to a lump of stone" she laughs at the thought "I miss you so much, I see people have left you flowers, I wish I bought some but I left in a hurry to come and see you" she smiles "I wish you were here but don't worry Peter is looking after me and you will always look after me to even if you are not here because you are in my heart Liam, you always will be" she sobs lightly at her grief
Carla ponders over what to say next, she doesn't want to sound stupid but she really wanted to get her point across that she is stronger now and that everything that has happened, it was for a reason whether it was fate or choice. Carla looked at the flowers she recognised them from somewhere she just couldn't pin point where from, they were so familiar she could almost picture the setting in her head. She picked them up to see if there was a card attached to them, it took a while for her to find it but when she did she read it out loud just to ensure she was real.
"I'm sorry, love Li" Carla whispers to herself reading the card before getting out her phone and ringing Michelle
"Chelle?" Carla questions
"Carla are you ok? Where are you?" Michelle replies
"Please come to Liam's grave only you don't bring Peter" Carla begs
"Ok, whatever I'll sneak out but I need to let Peter know" Michelle persists
"Fine, whatever" Carla sighs before hanging up the phone
A while later Michelle arrives at Liam's grave. She sees Carla kneeling down staring at some flowers which were left. Michelle assumes that they are flowers that Carla bought to leave on Liam's grave and smiles at the sight before her thinking how kind it was for Carla to leave flowers as she usually isn't one for grand gestures.
"Those are nice" Michelle says pointing to the flowers
"Yeah" Carla says
"You have good taste" Michelle laughs slightly
"I didn't leave them, they were here already" Carla replies
"Oh, maybe Maria popped by, does it have a card?" Michelle inquires admiring the bouquet of neatly put together flowers
"Here" Carla says holding the card out for Michelle to take "Tell me what you think of it"
"What…I don't" Michelle struggles to comprehend the words on the card
"Neither do I" Carla sighs
"This isn't Lilah, surely she's in America" Michelle exclaims
"I don't know 'Chelle, I'm so confused" Carla says "How do we know she's in America?"
"Because she said" Michelle states
"No, because she sounded genuine" Carla says trying to remember her conversations with Lilah
"What are you saying?" Michelle questions
"I'm saying that Lilah likes to screw people over, yes she could've gone to America but all we know is that she could have returned sooner than expected" Carla replies
"But what about Esme, she wouldn't lie about Frank would she, surely she wouldn't?" Michelle asks
"Oh I don't know 'Chelle, who knows anything anymore" Carla sighs
"How does she even know Liam?" Michelle asks utterly confused at the concept
"Like I said I don't know do I?" Carla snaps "There is a chance I suppose but very minimal"
"A chance Carla, a flaming chance but this makes no sense why would she leave flowers on a grave come on even you can see this is weird" Michelle scoffs
"Yes it is weird" Carla ponders fiddling with the zip of her hoodie "Ok, I know what we're going to do, we are going to take these flowers with us and then see if more appear tomorrow, so we can see if this is an everyday thing or not, then this way we know if Lilah's in America or not" she suggests
"Ok good idea, shall we head off then" Michelle questions
"Come on let's go" Carla says
A while later Carla and Michelle return to the flat. Peter was sat on the sofa waiting for them to return. He immediately got up and hugged Carla and a sense of relief was washed over him knowing that she was safe and that Michelle managed to get her home in one piece.
"Where were you, I've been so worried" Peter persists
"Liam's grave, I'm sorry I walked out on you" she says clinging onto him like a lost child
"It's ok as long as you're safe" he says kissing her head
"Me and Kate went to the graveyard but you weren't there" Peter says
"I was I saw you I just hid, I wasn't ready for a confrontation" Carla explains
"I understand, what's with the flowers?" he says changing the subject
"Read the card" Carla says holding it out for him to take
"I don't understand" Peter says "Did Lilah write this?"
"We don't know, we suspect so. We picked the flowers up to see if more will be placed tomorrow that way we can tell if, it is Lilah, whether she is in America" Michelle explains taking over from Carla
"Good idea but why don't you just phone her?" Peter suggests
"No, if she is attempting to screw us over she wont admit it, we just have to catch her out" Carla persists
"Ok fine, do it your way" Peter says "I'm heading off to bed now you two should as well"
"I agree, I'm shattered, night you two" Michelle says heading to the spare bedroom
The next day Peter, Michelle and Carla get ready for the day ahead. They knew that today would hold a lot of answers for them all and they needed to make sure their plan was concrete that would sustain throughout the day.
"Ugh!" Michelle groans loudly from the spare bedroom
"What's the matter with you!" Carla exclaims
"No clothes fit me anymore it's doing my head in" Michelle complains
"Tragic, wear a dress?" Carla suggests
"Fine, oh my god stop moving" Michelle moans
"I'm staying still, thank you very much" Carla giggles
"Not you, this baby" Michelle sighs
"What does it feel like?" Carla asks
"Being kicked in the ribs, literally" Michelle groans
"Can I feel?" Carla asks excitedly
"Sure" Michelle smiles at the fact Carla's so interested
"Ew it's like ripples under the skin, that's weird" Carla says while scrunching up her face
"You need to get ready if we're doing this" Michelle says
"I know, don't know what to wear though" Carla sighs
"Are you kidding me? Seriously Car at least you don't have to carry around a human and can fit into your clothes" Michelle laughs
"Alright mardy chops" Carla says rolling her eyes before heading to the bedroom to get dressed her phone goes off on the bedside cabinet
Family Group chat
KATE: Anyone want to do something today? I took the day off but can't remember what for LOL
"Chelle! Check the group chat" Carla shouts from the bedroom
Family Group Chat
MICHELLE: I can saves me having to watch the lovebirds but busy later on x
CARLA: Wow we're not that bad, what do you have in mind?
KATE: We could have a girly catchup no boys allowed?
MICHELLE: Good rule Kate, stops Carla from going on about her fiancé
"Bloody cheek!" Carla taunts Michelle
"I'm kidding babe" Michelle giggles
Family group chat
KATE: Where we doing this meet up then?
CARLA: My flat? Or Rovers?
KATE: Your flat, get Peter out the way first, do I need to bring anything
MICHELLE: Food please
KATE: Well you need to be a bit more specific x
MICHELLE: Cake, mints and those nacho things along with strawberry ice cream
KATE: Odd combination. Carla you want anything?
CARLA: We need milk so you can get that
KATE: Alright I will see you soon.
A while later Kate arrives at Carla's flat with the snacks Michelle asked for, she also bought a small bottle of wine for herself.
"So then where did you get off to yesterday?" Kate questions
"Liam's grave" Carla states
"But me and Peter went there and you weren't there" Kate says confused
"I was I just hid from you I just wanted some time to reflect on the past" she shrugs
"Right you ok though?" Kate asks
"I'm fine. So what brings you here?" Carla says
"I'm just bored I guess I don't know thought I'd come hand out with you and 'Chelle. Anyway where is 'Chelle" Kate says glancing around the room
"Probably moaning about how she can't fit into any clothes or how she's being kicked in the ribs" Carla suggests rolling her eyes
"I bet she's a laugh a minute" Kate giggles sarcastically
"Are my ears burning?" Michelle questions entering the room
"Aww 'Chelle you managed to find some clothes" Carla teases
"Haha funny I will demote you from birthing partner in a minute" Michelle replies sternly
"I take it back, wouldn't want to miss my nieces birth" Carla says
"Um what's all this and what have you done with my sister?" Kate asks
"What!" Carla exclaims
"Are you getting broody?" Kate teases
"No…" Carla trails off
"You so are!" Kate persists
"Nope" Carla says trying to contain her laugh
"You always giggle when you lie" Kate says taking a sip of her drink "So are you and Peter trying then?"
"Kate! When have you been interested in my sex life" Carla laughs
"You so have!" Kate replies shocked
"No we haven't" Carla persists
"Liar! You're so are trying!" Kate replies
"Kate!" Carla exclaims
"So how long have you been trying?" Kate asks determined not to divert the subject
"We haven't not exactly" Carla says
"Ha! I knew it you were trying" Kate retorts
"Hang on what do you mean not exactly?" Michelle chimes in
"We're not scheduling sex" Carla replies
"Letting nature take it's cause, probably for the best more fun that way" Kate suggests
"Kate! Seriously stop interfering in my sex life" Carla giggles
"This is so exciting two new babies in the family!" Kate gasps in excitement
"I'm not even pregnant yet!" Carla exclaims
"You don't know that!" Kate says
"Well no, but I still have a week to go before we find out so please, don't tell Peter" Carla says
"My lips are sealed, this is so exciting!" Kate says "Although I feel sorry for 'Chelle"
"Why's that then?" Michelle inquires
"You have to hear them at it!" Kate exclaims
"Kate! Seriously!" Carla exclaims
"I'll stop now, only having fun" Kate says backing down
Things are about to get a little weird and very AU but I hope you understand my reasons for it as it has enabled me to develop more relationships between the characters