Carla was still sat in the white box-like room while Lilah made the call to get a colleague to sit with Liam. Lilah was given the heads-up to say that someone was in the room with Liam, hopefully this didn't make him angry with her for ditching him all she had to do was come up with a justifiable reason which she could fob him off with until it was the right time to reveal that Carla had actually seen him for the first time since his 'death'.
"Ok, right my colleague's in there. Do you want me to open the screen now?" Lilah asks
"Ok, I'm ready" Carla says taking a deep breath while closing her eyes
"Here you are, he's there in person" Lilah states looking at Carla with her eyes closed
"I can do this" Carla mutters to herself
"Just open them, I'm here if you want to break down and cry afterwards, I am here to support you" Lilah reassures her
Carla opens her eyes and looks out the window. Her heart was racing beyond her control. She was shocked to the bone. Liam was there. In front of her. How did she not know he was alive for all this time? She grieved for the love of her life sitting in front of her and now it all just seemed so pointless as he was alive and kicking. In front of her, it shocked her more than anything in life before. She didn't know if she still loved him or if he still loved her but all she knew is that she needed answers.
"How?" Carla whispers
"It's a shock isn't it?" Lilah replies
"Can I see him?" Carla asks quietly "I need to touch him to make sure I am not dreaming"
"I don't know I can ask him if you want but there is no guarantee I would never enforce this on anyone" Lilah says
"I understand but please try" Carla smiles tearfully
"Right let me speak to him, this may take a while, help yourself to some water" Lilah smiles leaving the room
Lilah knocks on the door to the consultation room and she enters and Liams expression immediately lightens up at the sight of her. She grabs a seat and sits at the table.
"Hi Lilah, you finally finished?" Liam asks cheekily
"Um yeah I have a few questions to ask, if that's ok?" she phrases
"It's fine are they about Carla?" he asks hopeful
"They are indeed" Lilah smiles "I see you have some a long way in the last few days and what if I told you that Carla is here right now"
"Really? You're lying" he says shocked
"I'm not" Lilah states
"Has she seen me?" Liam asks
"Yes" Lilah says shortly
"This isn't a joke to get a reaction out of me?" he asks
"No I'm not lying" Lilah says
"Prove it" he replies bluntly
"I can if you want, but I don't want to set you back" Lilah says
"Please, it might help me you never know" he says optimistically which pleases Lilah
"I think it will, is it ok if she comes in this room?" she asks
"I think so, gosh why am I nervous" he laughs slightly
"I'm sure she is as well, even I am nervous" Lilah replies smiling
"You? Nervous? I don't believe you" he chuckles
"Hey even I can get nervous you know, I aint that heartless" Lilah raises an eyebrow "I will go and get her" she says exiting the room before entering the sideroom
"Carla? You ready he says it's ok and I believe him" Lilah says
"Gosh I've met him so many times before but I am nervous as hell" she chuckles
"Don't worry he's nervous as well" Lilah reassures her "Ok follow me"
Lilah knocks on the door to the room Liam was in, Carla behind her. They both enter. Carla was standing to the right of her staring ahead at Liam. Lilah knew she had to be careful with both of their mental health as they can reach levels of fragility instantly so she had to analyse the meeting intensely.
"Liam?" Carla whispers, tears filling her eyes "Is it really you?"
"Yep, you look well" Liam replies awkwardly not knowing what to say
"Well looks can be deceiving" she shrugs
"I've missed you" he says "I'm so sorry for everything"
"Don't regrets are pointless" Carla states "How are you even alive?" she questions
"Long story I don't really know how much I can reveal" he says glancing at Lilah
"I see, so this is where you've been staying the last 12 years then?" Carla questions
"Yep, it's taken me 12 years to come to terms with everything" he says
"I've missed you" she sniffs going over to Liam to hug him which he returns
"Me too" he sighs
"I've been through so much I wish you were there" she says mournfully
"I do too, Lilah's told me" he says kissing her head
"Good, you deserve to know" she says not annoyed with Lilah
"I'm glad you think I do" he smiles "I like your hair like this, suits you"
"Thought I'd change it up a bit, I was fed up with looking a bit goth like" she mumbles
"Black will always be part of your make-up" Liam states
"You're probably right" she shrugs
"What's that?" Liam says holding her hand out noticing a ring on it
"Engagement ring" she smiles
"Who's the lucky man eh?" he chuckles lightly
"Peter Barlow" Carla smiles
"Well he is one lucky guy" Liam says "How's Maria?"
"Um" Carla glances to Lilah asking for help
"It's ok you can tell him" Lilah smiles returning to her paperwork
"She's ok, still believes your dead" Carla says
"I bet she's got a keeper as well hasn't she as well as 10 kids by now, she always wanted kids?" he chuckles while reminiscing
"Um yeah she's with Ali, 'Chelle's kid and she's got a son" Carla says nervously
"Well he's very lucky then, a son with him?" he asks
"No, he's yours" Carla says
"Mine?" Liam states taken aback by the sudden revelation
"Yeah, yours he'll be starting secondary school soon, I have a picture if you want to see him?" Carla asks
"Please" he says as she gets her phone out to show a picture of Maria's son
"His names Liam, after you" Carla smiles
"Wow, he looks like me" he laughs "How's 'Chelle?"
"She's alright we're the best of friends. She's been through a lot" Carla states putting her phone away
"Really?" he questions
"Yeah, um she married Steve, got pregnant lost her baby, they named him Ruairi" Carla says
"That's sad, I wish I was there to support her" he sighs
"She then broke up with Steve then had a relationship with a guy called Robert who then cheated on her she went away for a bit then came back now she's pregnant again, a little girl" Carla replies
"Wow so I have a niece aye? When is she due?" Liam asks
"October she reckons its going to come early. I have an ultrasound picture if you want to see it?" she asks
"Wow that's amazing, about time she had a girl" Liam chuckles
"That's what she said" Carla says
"I heard about your new found family" Liam says "Johnny Connor? Really?"
"Yeah, you can imagine how annoyed I was when I found out" she sighs
"Especially considering your history" he says
"Sorry to break this up but someone else needs to use this room" Lilah says
"Oh right, I should probably get back to my room considering I need to fill in my journal" Liam says
"Right, I should probably get going as well" Carla says "I'll miss you, get better ok then I will invite you to my wedding" she says getting up to hug him
"Alright, be good you" he says pointing at her with a cheeky grin
"I will, I always am. I will see you when I see you" she smiles
"Bye then" he says walking off in the direction of his room
"Right let's sign out and I will give you a lift back" Lilah says as they walk towards the reception
"Um can we go back to yours?" Carla asks
"Sure, if you want" Lilah shrugs
Lilah and Carla sign out of the safe house and head to Lilah's place. Lilah makes them both a drink as Carla sat on one of the bar stools which was situated around he kitchen counter on the middle of the room.
"How is he alive?" Carla asks
"It's a very long story, you sure you're ready for it to be told?" Lilah questions
"Yes, I am I need to know. Actually could you maybe tell Peter and 'Chelle?" Carla asks
"Yes I mean, I could tell the whole family if you want, you can invite them around if you want" Lilah suggests
"Ok, sure" Carla smiles getting the group chat up on her phone#
Family Group Chat
14:04 CARLA: Guys I don't suppose you could come to Lilah's house I have some news
14:06 MICHELLE: So that's where you escaped to earlier, need me to bring Peter?
14:07 CARLA: Yes please, bring Kate as well, oh and Maria and your sons. Basically everyone
14:10 MICHELLE: What if they're working?
14:11 CARLA: I don't care they need to be here, you know the address so you can give it to them
14:12 MICHELLE: Sure whatever
About an hour later most of the Connor clan arrived to be greeted by Carla opening the door. Michelle managed to get most of the people together apart from Ali and Johnny who needed to work.
"Why have we been summoned then?" Maria asks
"Right everyone take a seat, we have some news" Carla says glancing at Lilah
"What's the about Carla, you're not ill again are you?" Michelle says
"No, I'm not" Carla says "I don't really know how to say it but"
"Go slowly, love" Peter says gently
"Liam's alive" Carla states
"What? Of course he is he's starting secondary school soon" Maria says confused
"His dad is alive Maria" Carla states
"Carla I don't meant to take offense but are you sure you're not ill" Peter asks concerned
"I'm sure I've seen him with my own eyes, I've touched him with my own hands, I'm not ill" Carla persists
"She's not lying" Lilah says backing her up
"And you know Liam how then, this better not be some sick joke" Maria says angrily
"It's not, I promise you" Carla says
"Prove it then" Maria persists "Prove it then I will stop accusing you of being deluded"
"Lilah, you explain" Carla asks
"Alright" Lilah says "Well what do you want to know?"
"For one how is he alive?" Maria says
"I lied about dropping out of Uni, I work as a psychiatrist for people who have been victim to crime. I worked alongside police and emergency services. I was given inside information about a guy named Tony Gordon who seemed fishy at the time. I stalked him in a way gained information to produce a case study, I noticed he was hiring a hitman, so I offered his hitman a chance to work for me for a price if he told me who he was meant to kill, he obviously said Liam so, I put a plan into place" Lilah says carefully
"So you were like an informant?" Peter asks
"Kind of I guess, but not really, it's hard to explain" Lilah says
"Ok then what?" Michelle asks
"Well, I put this plan together, it cost a lot, to keep Liam safe this meant that I could control Tony's plan as I had the hitman on side, this allowed me to pretend to kill Liam and keep him in a safehouse where I could help him come to terms with everything that happened" Lilah explains
"But we saw the body?" Maria says shocked
"Yes, you did, but he wasn't dead, he was knocked unconscious but not dead, I paid the paramedics to tell you that so Tony got his way, it was all part of a manipulation game to get him to confess" Lilah explains
"Oh ok but he's ok right? What does he know about us?" Maria asks
"I only tell him what he wants to know so I don't bombard him with information which he may not be able to deal with" Lilah replies
"What does he know then?" Michelle cuts in
"Um, he knows a lot about me, he knows about little Liam, he knows that 'Chelle is pregnant and he knows that Maria is with Ali" Carla explains
"Oh right" Maria states
"When will he be allowed to be released from there" Michelle asks
"Soon, it's looking like it will be before the end of the year, it's amazing how much progress he had made this last month really" Lilah states
"What will happen when he is released then?" Michelle questions
"Um, well he will need to be mentored by me as he returns to the outside world" Lilah explains
"Right, can we see him?" Michelle asks
"Only if he wants to see you, I can ask him but it's likely that he may not want to see all of you only people who he trusts" Lilah explains gently
"You'll ask though" Maria asks hopeful
"Of course I will" Lilah says