I'm so sorry Carter fans...I needed storyline and I know I will never be forgiven for what I have done...I'll make it up with a chapter of Two Years Too Fast or Life tomorrow :/
A week later, Carla and Peter were finally back on track, they were rebuilding the bridges of their relationship after Lilah's manipulation of the Underworld shares, Carla being frosty towards Lilah but she knew that she was just trying to help Liam, she also knew that Peter wouldn't see it that way. It was the day of Carla's dress fitting and Kate, Michelle, Jenny and Johnny were going with her to a vintage boutique in town. Carla was excited about the day ahead she couldn't wait until she walked down the aisle to marry Peter and everyone was looking forward to seeing her dress on her.
"Right shall we get you into this dress then Carla?" the shop assistant smiles as Carla nods excitedly going into the changing room to change into the dress and stepping out onto the podium everyone gasping
"Wow…" Johnny smiles tearfully as Carla bites her lip loving the tan coloured top covered in navy blue netting and the intricate patterns on it as well as the dress itself accentuating her curves
"You look amazing Carla" Michelle smiles, Alannah sleeping in the sling
"You don't think it's too much?"
"I think it suits you so much" Kate grins as the shop assistant grabs a headpiece which went with the dress, putting Carla's hair up in a clip and placing the headpiece on her head…a natural arrangement of blue sapphires in clasps with copper branches, Carla immediately crying
"Oh wow…come here you" Johnny smiles bringing her in for a hug as she wipes her eyes, she finally felt like a bride
The party made their way home after going for a couple of drinks and some lunch in town, Carla arrived home to Liam on her doorstep, sighing she let him in noticing he had a bouquet of flowers, was she giving off the wrong message? She didn't know but she decided to hear him out anyway.
"Are those for someone I know?" she teases as Liam shakes his head at her comment giving her the flowers
"Stop looking so sheepish I ain't gonna bite" Carla laughs getting the vase out of the cupboard to put the flowers in
"Sorry…so how was today?"
"It was amazing not going to lie…I definitely chose the right dress" Carla replies in awe with her choice grabbing her phone out to show Liam a picture
"Wow you look amazing…the flowers by the way are an apology"
"Ah I thought so…well they look amazing thank you" Carla smiles bringing him in for a hug as Peter enters the flat
"Hi…Liam" he replies as calmly as he could Carla smiling at him
"Oh um Liam bought me some flowers he still feels guilty about the whole Lilah thing"
"Have you seen her dress?" Peter questions raising an eyebrow as Liam smirks towards Carla who bites her lip knowing that Peter may get angry if Liam revealed that he had seen it
"Yeah she looks amazing"
"Doe she?"
"She does…you're going to be blown away" Liam grins before waving goodbye and leaving the flat
"Well…want to explain yourself?" Peter questions as Carla sighs
"Nothing's going on with me and Liam…for once please believe me" Carla sighs closing her eyes in exasperation, maybe the past week of so called 'building bridges' didn't work
"I just don't like him snooping around, love…I worry just in case Lilah has something to do with it"
"Peter please I just need you to trust me…we're getting married I have the most amazing dress and we are going to get pregnant next year I can feel it…I want all that with you not Liam"
"I know I'm just being-"
"Paranoid"
"I guess to put it mildly"
Family Group Chat:
15:20 JOHNNY: Family drink at Rover's come as soon as possible
15:21 MICHELLE: Will be there…mind if I add Liam?
15:22 JOHNNY: No go ahead… the more the merrier
15:22 MICHELLE added LIAM CONNOR
15:23 LIAM: What's happening and thank you for the invite
15:24 JOHNNY: No problem son…read up for information
15:26 LIAM: Ah I'll be there, do I need to bring anything?
15:27 JENNY: Only yourself, love
15:28 PETER: Me and Car will be there, may be a bit late though
15:29 MICHELLE: Too much info Peter
15:30 CARLA: Dirty cow :)
15:31 MICHELLE: You wouldn't have it any other way
"Peter do we have to? Can't you just say that I'm ill or something" she groans as Peter shakes his head holding her an arm's length
"No…come on it'll be a right laugh, I can't wait to hear the embarrassing stories about you from 'Chelle and Liam to be honest with ya"
"Funny…you should be a comedian" she retorts with a glare grabbing her medication and downing it with a glass of water before heading to get changed, returning in a slim black dress
"Wow…" Peter gasps as Carla saunters over to him adding extra sway to her hips
"Mmm like it? It's been a while since I wanted to pull of this number off so I thought why not" she shrugs as Peter wraps his arms around her waist taking in the scent of her freshly washed hair from yesterday
"Come on we need to get going" Peter smiles letting her free from his embrace for her to slide her shoes on, heading to the Rover's Michelle already there with Alannah in the sling
"Wow you look amazing" Michelle grins as Carla takes a seat next to her, Peter going to get her a drink, Carla reaching over to stroke Alannah's cheek
"Mmm thanks, could I have a glass of red…please Peter" Carla pouts as Peter gives in handing her a small red as she grins in triumph, Michelle shaking her head, Kate arriving and plonking herself down next to Liam
"You look like you've had the day from hell" Liam observes looking at Kate who just grunts in response
"I have actually…flamin' customers, who'd 'ave 'em 'ey?" Kate grins as Liam nods in agreement
"I have to agree with that one" Liam replies nodding
"I'll second that" Carla grins holding her glass up in the air before taking a sip
"You'll second what love?" Peter returns with a glass of red for Kate and a lemonade for himself
"Customers, who'd have them?" Liam smirks towards Carla which doesn't go unnoticed by Michelle who narrows her eyes
"Yeah definitely agree…" Peter laughs trailing off trying to fit in with the Connor clan
"Anyway how are you feeling being back as owner of Underworld" Michelle questions to Liam patting Alannah's back as she stretches, Carla holding one of her hands
"It's alright I guess, I really enjoy being back where we started progressing as a family…I remember the days where me and Paul would argue non-stop about this one 'ere" Liam smirks giving Carla a kick under the table as she kicks him back, Peter starting to feel like a third wheel
"Oh Liam remember that time when we all played that game of poker in Paul's flat…'Chelle passed out on her fifth shot" Carla smirks as Michelle raises her eyebrows giving Carla a playful slap
"I did not!" she shrieks "I weren't as bad as Paul at least, he were on his 3rd and he already had his head down the loo"
"That's true he was such a lightweight…how did you cope with 'im Car…you'd drink him under a bus" Liam laughs as Peter puts an arm around her shoulders
"Hey! I have you know people can change!" Carla exclaims before Peter excuses himself to have a ciggy, Michelle going to the toilet and with Kate at the bar, it was left for Liam and Carla to make awkward small talk
"Sorry if I was out of line…going down memory lane an' all that" Liam bites his lip as Carla shakes her head
"No it was nice I guess" she replies glancing down to her phone seeing a message from Peter
MESSAGES: Peter
18:01 PETER: Come outside I need to speak to you
18:02 CARLA: Alright let me make my excuses…
"I'm just need to pop home quick, I'll be back in like 15 minutes, tell 'Chelle for me yeah?" Carla says getting up and grabbing her stuff going out the front then walking back to the alleyway to see Peter
"What?" she hisses as Peter stubs out his cigarette
"You and Liam-"
"Really we're doing this again? There's nothing-"
"-going on between you and Liam, I know, like you said" he replies bitterly as Carla glares at him rolling her eyes
"When will you learn to trust me?" Carla questions tearfully as Peter lights up another cigarette determine to chain smoke his way out of this situation but he just shrugs nonchalantly
"You know what Peter, why do I bother" she huffs storming back out of the alleyway and taking a breather, Liam approaching her gently
"Hey…you alright?" Liam questions concerned as Carla sighs trying to hold it together, Liam bringing her in for a hug
"Just Peter…being Peter" she explains with a chuckle, Liam looking into her eyes gently
"I'm guessing you don't want to go back home?" Liam questions as Carla shakes her head wiping her eyes "You could come back to mine?"
"You sure?" Carla questions as Liam smiles
"Of course, I'll even let you have me bed" he grins as she wraps her arms around his waist, as Liam walks her to the car and drives her to the bedsit he was staying at, letting her up
"So tell Leebug's what's up" Liam teases pinching her cheeks gently as Carla sighs
"Peter thinks there's something going on between us both" Carla rolls her eyes as Liam smiles, letting her head rest on his lap
"Well he's very trusting isnt he?" Liam replies sarcastically as Carla groans
"I think he's just worried in case because apparently I'm vulnerable" she retorts getting up to rummage through Liam's fridge pulling out two cans of lager handing one to Liam who raises an eyebrow
"Should you be having that?"
"Peter can't control me now" Carla mutters downing the can in self-pity not thinking about the consequences of the effects of her medication, and the fact that the alcohol was getting to her a lot more quicker than usual
"Maybe you should slow down?" Liam suggests trying to pry the can away from her hand as she swipes it away with a cackle leaning towards him, looking straight into his eyes
"What if I don't want to slow down? Peter's not here to stop me?" she smirks leaning in to press her lips against his, Liam pulling back, he couldn't lie and say that he didn't want that to happen but he didn't want to force her after everything she went through
"Are you sure?"
"No but…you only live once" she grins leaning in to kiss him again, her tongue sweeping along his lips, Liam lifting her up and leading her to the bedroom…
"Carla" Liam whispers nudging her to try and get her to wake up
"Mmm what" she mumbles reaching out to play with, what she assumed was Peter's beard, before gasping glancing at a naked Liam beside her running a hand through her hair
"No…what have I done?" she panics, scrambling around to dress herself
"Hey…I'm sorry" Liam panics as well before grabbing her by the shoulders to stop her frantic movements
"I need to go…look this was a mistake ok? I'm with Peter…oh god Peter"
"Carla calm down…at least get a coffee in you so you're sober ey?" Liam suggests as Carla nods slowly going into the living room with Liam so he could get her a coffee which she gratefully accepts
"Ta for this, look that was a mistake I mean it Liam"
"I know ok? I understand as long as you didn't feel forced-"
"I didn't but it can't happen again, it should never have happened, I love Peter" she confirms grabbing her bag and putting her shoes on before running home at four in the morning, leaving Liam perplexed…