It was a month or so later and the middle of September. None of the Connor's apart from Carla had seen Liam in person as the only person he wanted to see was Carla. Peter and Carla's relationship was going from strength to strength and she was very much in love with Peter which she thought would change when she saw Liam again. Carla was curious as to why she didn't feel the same way as she did before but she put it down to them being slightly related. Michelle was nearing her due date and was excited that she would finally meet her little girl but it seemed Carla was more excited.
"So then what are the plans today?" Carla asks
"Sleep" Michelle says whilst yawning
"Lazy cow" Carla states
"Carla, don't be so rude" Peter says, hovering in the doorway of the bedroom
"Ok dad" Carla replies sarcastically
"Cheeky mare" Michelle taunts
"Yeah Car, stop being cheeky" Peter retorts
"You're always cheeky" she huffs
"Ok enough" Michelle states trying to keep the peace
"Sorry 'Chelle" Carla replies going to hug her like a little kid
"What are you, five?" Michelle laughs
"She's very needy" Peter says "Like a little kitten in need of attention"
"Shut up Peter" Carla huffs
"Aww Car you're so cute" Michelle says pinching Carla's cheeks
"Stop it" Carla giggles
"Ok let's stop bullying her now" Peter says
"Sorry Car" Michelle replies
"So what are we doing today?" Carla questions again
"We could invite the girls around again?" Michelle asks
"Or we could have a baby shower?" Carla suggests
"I couldn't think of anything worse" Michelle groans
"Right ladies, I'm heading off to work, I will see you at mid-day" Peter says to Carla before kissing her forehead "Be good"
"Aren't I always" she flashes him a cheeky grin
"No, but I will see you later" Peter says leaving the flat
"So no baby shower for you?" Carla turns to Michelle
"No, we can have a girly meet up though" Michelle suggests
"Ok fine, I'll put a notification in the group chat" Carla persists grabbing her phone from the kitchen counter
Family Group Chat
9:26 CARLA: Meetup at my flat at 10 'Chelle's here, girls only sorry lads
9:30 KATE: Working today I may drop by later though
9:32 MARIA: Sure I can pop by for a bit before I need to head into work, do I need to bring anything
9:32 MICHELLE: Food
9:33 MARIA: Specific, it's almost like you're being starved
9:34 MICHELLE: Shut it!
9:35 MARIA: Hormones
9:36 CARLA: Maria leave her alone, me and Peter have already told her off
9:38 MARIA: Maybe we could invite Lilah?
9:40 CARLA: If you want, I can invite her to the group if you want?
9:42 MARIA: More the merrier
Carla Connor added Lilah Sandringham
9:44 LILAH: What's this?
9:45 CARLA: Group chat for family members
9:46 LILAH: I'm not family…
9:47 CARLA: You're good as
9:48 LILAH: If you insist. What's the occasion?
9:49: CARLA: Meet up at my flat, girls only
9:50 LILAH: I would but I have to see Liam today, getting his discharge plan ready
9:52 CARLA: Oh right, you can visit after though?
9:53 MICHELLE: Please come Li, Carla wont shut up about Peter
9:54 LILAH: I can visit after if you want me to?
9:54 CARLA: Right…come whenever, we're staying in all day anyway
"Let me go and chuck some clothes on" Michelle says getting up because she winces in pain
"You alright?" Carla asks concerned
"Yeah probably false labour" she shrugs
"Good she's not meant to be coming out just yet" Carla says
"I have my appointment later anyway, so if something does happen the midwife will be able to tell me" Michelle explains
"Well she better stay in there" Carla persists pointing to Michelle
"She will" Michelle says before the buzzer rings
"That will be Maria" Carla states going to answer
"Hi Carla" Maria smiles "Bought some 'food' for Michelle"
"Good, good take a seat, what would you like to drink?" Carla asks going to the kitchen
"Coffee if there's one going" she smiles "So how's the wedding dress shopping going?" she asks
"Good, I've actually ordered one so that's something" Carla says clearly proud of herself
"Can I have a look?" Maria asks excitedly
"No, I don't want word getting out to Peter, so no" Carla says sternly
"Fine" Maria huffs before the buzzer rings
"Oh Hi Lilah, come on up" Carla says speaking into the buzzer
"Hiya" Lilah says while hugging Carla
"How are you?" Carla asks
"I'm alright, it's work, work, work at the moment but I'm great" she smiles
"Want a brew, kettles just boiled" Carla questions
"Sure why not" she shrugs "Ooo I like that skirt Maria"
"Do you? I'm not sure myself but I thought I'd try it" Maria says
"I do actually" Lilah smiles "So then where's 'Chelle?"
"Right here" Michelle says "I've tried on at least 20 different outfits"
"How many weeks are you now?" Lilah enquires
"34, but I feel very full term" Michelle states
"You look it as well, reckon it will come before your due date" Lilah predicts
"Well she better stay in there for a couple more weeks at least" Michelle states
"Bet you're uncomfortable" Lilah laughs
"Very. It's like sleeping with a watermelon attached to me" Michelle groans
"Well a very beautiful watermelon it shall be" Maria giggles
"What are you two? Five?" Lilah asks
"No that's Carla" Michelle retorts
"Oi!" Carla argues
"We need Kate to spice things up" Michelle says
"She's dropping by later" Carla replies
"So then Michelle, have you thought of any names?" Lilah asks
"I have actually" Michelle replies
"Inform us" Lilah asks
"No, inform me" Carla says
"You're so broody" Lilah giggles
"No I am not!" Carla shouts
"So then Carla, how's trying for a baby going for you?" Michelle butts in
"Wait Carla, you and Peter are trying for a baby?" Maria questions
"Thanks 'Chelle" Carla mutters
"No problem babe" Michelle smiles sarcastically
"Oh so you took my advice then?" Lilah prompts
"Yes" Carla sighs
"God if Kate was here she would be asking at least 50 questions by now" Michelle giggles
"Right, I've got to head off, Ali wants to see me says it's important" Maria says looking at her phone
"He's probably forgotten how to work the toaster I wouldn't worry" Michelle states
"He's not Ryan, 'Chelle" Maria replies sarcastically "Right I will see you later" she says leaving the flat
"Right what's the matter" Lilah asks
"Me?" Carla questions
"Yes you" Lilah
"Oh it's nothing" Carla bushes her off
"Come off it, there is definitely something" Lilah persists
"Ok fine" Carla says getting up to go to the bathroom. She returns with a pregnancy test box in her hands and places it on the table
"Ok?" Michelle questions confused
"You think you might be?" Lilah asks
"I don't know, I am one day late but it's not really justifiable to take for just being one day late" Carla explains
"Are you scared?" Lilah asks
"I don't want to tempt fate and if I take it and it is positive, it's real" Carla sighs
"You could be worrying for nothing" Michelle suggests
"I guess" Carla says "Ok, I will take it and we'll see" she says getting up to go to the bathroom returning five minutes later
"Right I will set the timer" Lilah says getting out her phone
"Time for the longest wait of my life" Carla sighs
"Right I'm going to get changed into some pyjamas if we aint going anywhere" Michelle says getting up to go to her bedroom
Carla and Lilah sat at the kitchen counter for a while longer, they were soon joined by Michelle. Carla was about to flip the pregnancy test over but was interrupted by Peter entering the flat.
"Hi, love. Oh what's that?" Peter asks kissing her forehead
"Oh it's nothing" Carla brushes him off
"God you are so bad at lying" Lilah laughs
"What's going on?" Peter asks
"Umm, it's mine!" Michelle exclaims trying to cover
"Gosh, you Connor's are really bad at lying" Lilah exclaims
"Ok please don't fob me off, who's is it?" Peter sighs
"Mine" Carla says quietly
"What? Why didn't you say you might be?" Peter asks gently knowing it's a sensitive subject
"I just wanted to be sure before I told you, I'm sorry" Carla replies apologetically
"Well have you looked at it?" Peter prompts
"No…I don't know if I want to" she sighs
"Why?" Peter questions
"Oh, I don't know, it just means it's real" Carla explains
"You know, you always have me and 'Chelle to support you" Lilah says
"We're here for you Carla" Michelle states
"Do you want me to look at it?" Lilah asks
"Yes please" Carla says as Lilah goes to pick up the pregnancy test
"Negative" Lilah says carefully
"Told you it was hardly justifiable" Carla sighs, her eyes tearful
"Don't cry, there will be other opportunities, now just wasn't your time" Lilah says taking Carla's hand in hers
"I know, I'm getting worked up about something that was never meant to be" Carla huffs angrily
"Never say never, it will be your turn one day" Peter suggests
"I really wanted this" Carla sighs
"I know you did" Lilah smiles "It will happen and don't forget if it doesn't there are other options"
"I want to sleep for a bit, I'm a little tired" Carla says getting up and heading to the bedroom
"Don't go after her" Lilah says "Let her deal with it her way, if you talk with her now you will probably just argue and fall out"
"She's right" Michelle states
"Ok, it's just that I didn't know she wanted this so bad, I mean I had an idea it was playing on her mind but to this extent" Peter rambles on
"Well it's up to you to make sure that there is no extra pressure as stress isn't good in this situation, take it from someone who knows" Lilah replies
"You mean Esme?" Michelle asks knowing it's a delicate subject
"No, I had a scare after my little session with Nick and I stressed myself out so much beforehand in case things went wrong again if I was, you know" Lilah says
"Ah, I understand" Michelle states
"She's been ok otherwise though?" Lilah asks
"Up and down, now come to think about it I think it's becoming a situation of needing a baby rather than wanting a baby" Peter explains
"You can tell me to mind my business but are you scheduling?" Lilah asks
"No, she didn't want to as it would cause her too much pressure" Peter states
"Ok, but she's ok anxiety-wise after I left for America?" Lilah asks
"Well we had some brief incidents where she needed control, she was being spiteful towards Nick, trying to manipulate him" Peter explains
"Oh right, that's very odd I've never seen that before" Lilah shrugs before Carla enters the room
"Hey, love" Peter says holding his arms out to bring her into a hug "Have you been crying?"
"Mhm" she mumbles against him
"Come here" he says lifting her onto his lap
"I just wanted a baby" she sighs
"I know you did, and you will have one" Peter says
"I guess it's like recovery really isn't it?" she says
"I don't follow" he smiles kissing her head
"Well the doctors said it's a process and that something good may come out of it, I guess this is a process as well, we keep trying and then maybe one day we get the baby we want" Carla explains
"I don't think you could've summed that up better than you just have, I love you" Peter smiles
"I love you too" Carla says as Lilah's phone goes off
Lilah: Hello may I ask who's speaking?
Liam: It's me, can you come please I need to see you, I can't cope any longer
Lilah: Liam calm down, what's happened
Liam: I need to talk to you please come
Lilah: Right, write in your journal then we can talk about it ok, I'm on my way
"Is everything alright?" Michelle asks
"No, not really I have to go before Liam kicks off, right take care all of you" Lilah says before leaving the building
"Ok well, are we ordering in as I'm starving" Michelle says grabbing the menu which was discarded on the coffee table
"Fat cow" Carla giggles
"Well, you are very funny, you should be a comedian" Michelle smiles sarcastically ticking everything off on the menu she wanted