Lilah was on her way to the safehouse to see Liam after his call. She was nervous about what state she would find Liam in considering he had been doing so well. Lilah hoped that Liam hadn't had depressing thoughts or make her call him Dylan otherwise his discharge may be further away than first thought. Lilah signed in and handed her ID over like she does every time, she makes her way to Liam's room where he was sitting at a basic wooden desk scribbling words down rapidly in his journal so he can visibly see his thoughts. Lilah hovered in the doorway for a bit observing his movements so she could try and pinpoint feelings so she had the right information to help him.
"Liam?" Lilah questions
"Oh, hi, I'm a bit busy now can we talk later?" Liam asks
"I would prefer to talk now, if that's ok with you?" Lilah asks
"Ugh fine, I have nothing to say, it was a mistake that I phoned you I'm sorry" he rambles on trying to think of excuses so he didn't have to talk about his emotions
"Liam, you know if you ever have a problem you can speak to me right?" Lilah says gently
"Just stop ok, I don't want to speak" Liam persist raising his voice slightly
"Ok, well what have you done today then?" Lilah asks changing the subject to see if she can pinpoint where his emotional state is from
"I played chess in the common room along with cards, poker you know how I like poker" Liam says
"Carla likes poker as well, you all seem to" Lilah smiles to see if this information would change his mood
"Yeah…We always used to play a drinking version when we younger, we had to down shots if we won" he laughs slightly at this
"Must've been fun, how old were you all?" Lilah asks intrigued
"I was 20 can't really remember, Paul was well into his twenties and Carla was 19 or something" Liam explains "Oh and 'Chelle was 18"
"So you were all quite young then?" Lilah asks
"I guess so, we used Paul's flat at the time, so we didn't get caught, sneaky I know" Liam sighs
"I feel like there's more you should be telling me?" Lilah asks gently trying not to anger him
"It's just that Paul was all over Carla at the time and I guess I was jealous" he shrugs
"I understand, that must've been hard for you to deal with" Lilah sympathises
"It was I guess I was annoyed at myself for not acting on my feelings, I guess I was falling for her then and I always was but Paul got first pick because he was older but I cherished her friendship which was more to say with her relationship with Paul" Liam explains
"So you knew her better then Paul, is that what you're saying?" Lilah questions slightly confused by what Liam was saying
"She was always the one, we had a friendship which was pure, not toxic, we understood each others struggles and feelings I just didn't know how to convince myself that she was the one and that it would be ok if she were with me instead of Paul" he sighs
"So what's the story with the flowers then? You can tell me to stop if I am being nosy" Lilah asks
"The bouquet I asked to put on my grave?" Liam asks ensuring that he understood the question correctly
"Yes those flowers, she was utterly shocked when I placed them on there" Lilah recalls
"It wouldn't surprise me. It was the morning of her wedding and I were with Paul, he wanted to get a glimpse of her so he sent me to give her the bridal bouquet which accidently arrived at our room in the hotel, she looked stunning her fitted dress and I think that's when I realised how wrong it was but I still wouldn't admit it outside my mind" Liam replies tearfully
"What happened next?" Lilah asks
"Well I gave her the flowers and I talked about how Jasmine flowers represent a symbol of the love she always would have. Obviously she looked at me completely confused and thought it was cheesy but she loved it deep down I could tell. We sat down on the ottoman at the end of the bed and she poured me a whiskey and we talked for a while and we shared a kiss, she regretted it straight after and I said I did as well but I didn't, to be truthful it felt so right, so natural but I just accepted from then it was never meant to be, she went ahead married my brother and that was that" Liam explains
"I'm sorry that must have been hard for you to deal with, is that why you called me so you could talk?" Lilah asks
"Yes, it was just embarrassing at the time" he shrugs
"You should never be embarrassed especially if it means I can help you come to terms with it" Lilah says gently
"I know" he smiles
"I need to talk to you about something actually, is that ok?" Lilah asks
"Depends what it is" he says hopeful
"Well how would you like day release?" Lilah asks
"Really? This isn't a joke?" Liam asks dumbfounded
"Nope, not a joke, I'm serious" Lilah laughs
"Then yes obviously, I can't believe it I can finally get out of here for a while" Liam replies hopeful
"Ok then that's settled, what do you want to do on your day out then?" Lilah asks trying to lift his mood
"Visit my family, everyone who means so much to me and see where I lived before I got 'killed'" he laughs
"Ok that's sorted then, I will inform them on what you want to do and that you want to see all of them" Lilah suggests
"Thank you" Liam smiles
"What for?" Lilah questions
"For helping me, being patient, getting me better" Liam lists
"You know it was no problem at all" Lilah says "Right I will head off then, if you need me what do you need to do?"
"Call you" he replies with a cheeky grin
"Good, now I will see you later" she smiles leaving the room
Lilah takes a trip to Coronation Street to see Carla, she turned onto Rosamund Street and then Victoria Street she saw an ambulance parked outside Victoria Court, with Ali and Ryan leaning against the wall. Lilah approaches them.
"What's going on guys?" Lilah asks gesturing to the ambulance
"All we know is that it's something to do with Carla and her flat" Ryan replies
"We're not even allowed up so, I wouldn't bother trying, I even tried with my NHS key card" Ali retorts
"Well I have a special ID so I reckon I can do what I want" Lilah smiles heading over to the ambulance crew and handing over her ID which they immediately respond to, letting her into the building
"What's happening?" Lilah asks the paramedics
"How did you get up here?" one of the paramedics asks
"This" Lilah says handing over her ID
"Oh well come on through then" the paramedic smiles letting Lilah into the flat
"What's happened?" Lilah asks the paramedic who has a smile on his face
"Take a look for yourself he says gesturing to the bathroom" he says as Lilah glances to the door heading to the bathroom
"What the…" Lilah asks
"Hi Li" Carla smiles at her
"Hi…" Lilah trails off
"Meet my niece" Carla laughs
"Wow, ok I didn't mean for her to come this early when I suggested it" Lilah giggles kneeling down to Michelle and Carla's level
"Well it was really sudden" Michelle exclaims
"She's beautiful, have you got a name?" Lilah asks
"Stuck on two but I'll let you know when I decide" Michelle smiles at her daughter in awe
"Right Michelle, we need to get you to the hospital, do you reckon you can stand to sit in this chair?" the paramedic says as Michelle nods handing her daughter to Carla
"She's a stunner" Carla exclaims stroking the baby's cheek
"She is indeed" Lilah says
"Right can I have my daughter back now" Michelle says as Carla hands her back before Michelle is wheeled to the ambulance
"What's happened I saw an ambulance outside I was worried" Peter exclaims noticing Carla
"Michelle had her baby, it all happened so quick" Carla says
"Wait mums had the baby?" Ali asks
"Yeah sorry for worrying you lads, look I better go" Carla says getting into the ambulance
"Right want a lift to the hospital?" Lilah asks Ryan, Ali and Peter
"Sure that'll be great Li" Peter says as Ryan and Ali nod in agreement
A while later they arrived at the hospital and tracked down the maternity unit. They entered Michelle's room where she and the baby were being monitored considering it was born a little earlier than preferred.
"Hey, you" Lilah says entering the room "I've bought reinforcements"
"Hi mum" Ryan says cheerily "Lets have a look at my little sister then"
"Don't wake her" Michelle hushes them
"Oh she looks like an old man" Ryan suggests
"Ryan! She's beautiful" Lilah exclaims with a chuckle
"Excuse me a minute" Carla says stepping out the room
"Hey, you alright?" Peter asks
"Leave it will you" she snaps
"Woah ok calm down" he says holding his hands up in defence
"Sorry, I'm sorry" she says going to hug him
"Hey, what's bothering you" Peter asks
"Just an emotional day, that's all" Carla lies
"You know I know you and I know you're lying but if you don't want to talk right now then I wont pushed you" Peter says
"Is it that obvious?" she huffs
"Mhm" he mumbles
"Fine, I might just be a little jealous of 'Chelle" she admits
"What? Why?" Peter replies confused
"I want a baby" Carla persists
"What have you done to Carla Connor?" Peter laughs
"She's still there, I think but I think she's finally found herself" she replies confidently
"Your time will come, I promise you" Peter says kissing her forehead
"I hope so I really do" Carla smiles
"If not, you have me don't you and we will be just fine" Peter says rubbing his thumb against her cheek
"I know I think seeing 'Chelle's baby has just put into perspective how much I want this" Carla explains
"You don't need to explain" Peter smiles at her
"Right, I've had my moment time to go and see my niece" she says walking back to the room
"Hey Car you alright?" Michelle asks
"Yeah I'm fine Peter just wanted a word that's all" she lies
"Right…do you want to hold her?" Michelle questions
"Of course" Carla says taking the baby from Michelle and rocking her gently
"Wow, she's a natural" Peter says
"She is I wish she wouldn't doubt herself though" Michelle says giving Carla a poke in the arm
"I just worry that's all" Carla smiles down at the baby in her arms
"So then 'Chelle does she have a name?" Peter asks
"Alannah Connor, not sure about a middle name though" Michelle announces
"Very pretty" Carla replies still stroking Alannah's cheek before she starts crying "Shush little one, go back to sleep aye?" Carla says rocking the baby in her arms as Peter watches her in awe
"Wow very impressive" Michelle states noticing Alannah calming down
"I'll put her back in the cot" Carla says standing up and going over to the plastic cot to put her in
"Where did Ryan, Ali and Lilah go?" Peter asks
"Oh Lilah gave them a lift back as she needed to head off, she wants to stop by tomorrow she says she needs to talk to us apparently" Michelle says
"I wonder what that's about" Peter ponders
"Who knows should you two be getting off now considering I have to stay an extras night" Michelle says
"Yeah I guess" Carla shrugs "We will see you tomorrow alright"