And that was the promise that would make their lives complete. It had been a long journey, longer than any of them both expected from Carla being a prison in her mind, to being graced with Lilah's presence to Carla becoming pregnant and welcoming Finley Barlow into the world and more recently, moving into a three bedroom house they saved up from owning the bistro. This was their life and they couldn't wait to live it and almost a year on they were living it just right.
After they welcomed Finley into the home where they lived, Carla's confidence grew as a person and as a mother. She revelled in the sleepless nights, the nappy changes and feeding her son, she was in awe with him and as for Peter he couldn't be more happier for how their life turned out but nothing stayed simple for long did it?
"Morning" Carla smiles stretching her limbs out alongside Peter's as she wakes, Peter grunting in response as Finley's cries ring out through the monitor
"I'll go" Peter kisses Carla gently on the lips as he gets out of bed to see to Finley, bringing him back into the bedroom after changing him so Carla could have a cuddle
"Hey little man, how are you?" Carla grins poking him on the nose as Finley squeals, Carla sitting him in the crook of her arm so she could give him his morning feed before they got ready for the day
"You two are my world you know that?" Peter smiles stroking Finley's hair as he feeds, Carla smiling down at her son who was a perfect mixture of them both
"Hmm yeah, we know" Carla grins as Peter kisses Carla on the head
"What do you want for breakfast then?" Peter questions as Carla bites her lip glancing up at him
"Full English?" she questions as Peter laughs kissing her on the lips before leaving to make Carla her breakfast, Carla taking Finley into the kitchen shortly afterwards, placing him in the high chair and making him up a jar of baby food
"Do you want eggs Carla?" Peter questions as Carla nods slowly, Peter adding eggs into the pan, Carla sitting opposite Finley spooning baby food into his mouth watching him make a mess
"Ugh Finley!" Carla groans as Finley laughs excitably clapping his hands which were covered in the baby food, Carla going to get some baby wipes to wipe his face and hands
"Oh dear, we are a mess aren't we?" Peter grins tapping Finley's head handing Carla her full English as she smiles in response digging into it leaving Peter to continue feeding Finley
"We have that booking for 10 people today" Carla moans as Peter laughs knowing Carla hated large bookings at the bistro
"I can handle it with Ryan and Ali so you don't need to worry, why don't you go and chill with Alannah and Michelle for a bit, the kids can play together?"
"I might just do that you know, I just -"
"Hate large bookings at the bistro?"
"Yeah pretty much, it's just unnecessary stress and I really can't be bothered with it to be honest, I'd rather spend time with our little munchkin" Carla grins pulling funny faces at Finley as he laughs clapping his hands Carla cooing over her son, Peter's heart melting
"Yeah me and the boys can cope just fine so don't worry, I need to head off soon so I can get the place ready for later" Peter smiles as Carla pouts her lips wishing she could have Peter with her all the time but she knew he had to earn them a living
"You can go now if you want, I can get Fin ready"
"You sure?" Peter confirms grabbing his coat and keys
"More than, just go" Carla grins as Peter plants a kiss on her forehead, then one on Finley's before waving goodbye to both of them, leaving the flat to go to work
"So then Mr, shall we get you ready to see Aunty 'Chelle and Alannah?" Carla beams lifting him out of the high chair and up the stairs to go into the bedroom and changing him out of his now messy pyjama's ready for a play date with Alannah, that was until her phone went off, she placed Finley in the play pen but little did she know this call would change both her and Peter's life forever…
It was the sterile surroundings Carla hated, the stark white walls and the uncomfortable feelings associated around hospitals, this was definitely a bittersweet experience. Carla made her way to the ward she was told to go to from her phone call prior, signing in to the reception as one of the nurses lead her to a room and that was when she was greeted with a dishevelled Lilah, tied in handcuffs to a prison guard, hair stuck to her face due to the exertions her body was going through.
"You came!" Lilah cries as Carla nods slowly taking one of her hands and sitting beside her in the chair which was provided
"Of course I did…I wouldn't leave you not when you're in the position that you are in" Carla smiles as Lilah groans in response, Carla holding up the cup of water which was provided to Lilah's lips as she gulps the liquid down
"I'm guessing you want to know everything then?"
"Indeed I do, I mean I was in disbelief when the hospital phoned me to be honest with ya" Carla laughs slightly as Lilah sighs in response
"You know when you were in the Maldives, me and Nick we got together after I did away with Rob, that night we slept together and almost nine months later here I am giving birth to Nick Tilsley's baby"
"Oh Li…does he know about the baby?" Carla questions gently as Lilah shakes her head releasing a shaky breath, Carla holding her hand as Lilah winces in pain, groaning in response
"Keep breathing through it" Carla smiles as Lilah huffs in response glancing to the heart rate monitor "How far along are you?"
"My due date was yesterday and labour-wise, about a seven I think" Lilah smiles slightly as Carla smiles back not really knowing what to say
"What are you going to do when it's born? Surely you can't bring up a baby in prison?" Carla questions as Lilah sighs in response, she really didn't want to annoy Carla or fall out with her as she really needed the support right now
"I can't for obvious reasons. I want you and Peter to look after the baby"
"You what?"
"You heard me, please Carla, I would never ask but I don't have anyone and I don't want to ask Nick not if he's with Leanne I don't want to ruin that for him"
"But why me and Peter?" Carla questions incredulously as Lilah sighs tilting her head to side
"Who else am I meant to ask Carla? Liam? Nick? I want this baby to have a stable household and from what I've heard you're doing well, you have a house a reputable business-"
"Hang on a minute, who's been visiting you? I thought you were declining visitors?" Carla frowns wondering who the person was that was visiting Lilah knowing that she tried many times to visit her but she always declined
"I can't say, but right now I need you to bring this baby up for me, please I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate" Lilah cries as another wave of pain travels through her body, Carla squeezing her hand gesturing for her to squeeze hers if it helped to get her through the pain
"You do realise if I arrive home with a baby, Peter will have a fit don't you? I'm sure we could make it work?"
"Get him here, after I pushed it out, show him the baby and see what he thinks" Lilah begs as another contraction travels through her body, Lilah tilting her head back in sheer exasperation
"Ok, fine, keep breathing Lilah" Carla smirks as Lilah squeezes her hand
"Mmm, this isn't exactly the best experience I've had in a while I must admit" Lilah sighs as Carla rolls her eyes remember the small session of contractions she experienced when she gave birth to Finley
"I remember when I had them with Finley, they were pretty painful"
"How is Finley he must be almost a year old now?"
"He's ok, learning to walk but they said it may take some time because he was so premature, on solids loves to make a mess, the usual baby stuff really, I have a photo" Carla glances to the officer who was sat in the corner of the room who nods slowly allowing Carla to show Lilah a photo of Finley from the summer, ice cream smothered all over his face along with a cheeky grin
"He looks like Peter doesn't he?"
"He does I guess, he's very cheeky I've told him stories about you" Carla smiles as Lilah closes her eyes, the feeling of another contraction occurring imminently Carla grabbing hold of Lilah's hand so that she could squeeze it
"I can't wait until I can push this thing out" Lilah groans as Carla laughs slightly pressing a cool cloth to her forehead "Why did you tell stories about me then?"
"I just want him to know that you kept him safe for those months we were in the Maldives really and that one day he would meet you to be honest I think he was bored of me wittering on" Carla chuckles lightly as Lilah smiles slightly a midwife entering the room
"How are we doing then Lilah?" the midwife questions as Lilah sighs
"It hurts, it's not the best experience I have had and I don't really want to do it again, although I did say that last time but here we are"
"Can I check you?"
"Be my guest" Lilah mutters as Carla laughs at her humour, still pressing the cool cloth to her head as the midwife does what she needs to do
"I think we can start pushing on the next contraction" the midwife states as Lilah sighs in relief
"About time, I've been here for like ten hours" Lilah mutters as Carla rolls her eyes, Lilah closing her eyes and squeezing Carla's hand
"Right give a push for me" then midwife smiles as Carla strokes Lilah's hair out of her face as she pushes down into her chest, taking a breath shortly after
"Yeah…never again" Lilah confirms as Carla laughs watching her scrunch her nose up shaking her head as another contraction occurs, Lilah groaning in response and giving a push
"Do you want a drink?" Carla questions as Lilah glares at her
"I don't think this is the time to be offering me coffee Carla" Lilah smirks as Carla laughs hysterically, Lilah grabbing onto Carla's hand to push on her next contraction
"Good, next push we'll have a baby" the midwife smiles as Lilah rolls her eyes just wanting it to be over and done with as another contraction occurs, Lilah giving a push which births the baby which cries immediately, the midwife placing the baby on Lilah's chest
"Hey baby" Lilah smiles as Carla bites her lip at the union of a baby which won't be brought up by its mother
"What is it?" Carla smiles as Lilah glances down
"A girl" Lilah grins as Carla smiles slightly "Esme's little sister"
"She looks like you" Carla observes as Lilah smiles nodding slowly, the midwife taking the baby to weigh it
"6lb 6oz" the midwife says as Lilah smiles tearfully at her daughter, stroking her wet tufts of hair, Carla placing her finger in the palm of the baby's hand as it clasps onto it
"Do you want me to ring Peter now?" Carla smiles as Lilah nods kissing her daughter's forehead drinking in her appearance, the blue eyes and the dark hair
"I love you little one"
Carla rang Peter asking him to get to the hospital as soon as possible knowing that her and Lilah would have to explain the situation which was about to possibly change their lives forever. Peter was obviously confused and asked plenty of questions but he did eventually come after a mass of persuading from Carla. She met him at the reception leading him up to the maternity unit.
"Why didn't you tell 'Chelle where you were going, you just left Finley with her, are you ok?" Peter questions, Carla sighing in response not wanting to reveal anything yet in case an argument happened
"I'm fine, it's not me actually, but I want you to have an open mind ok?"
"Carla you're scaring me" Peter states as Carla signs them into the maternity unit, Carla leading Peter to Lilah's room where she was holding her baby, Peter gasping in response
"Hi Peter" Lilah smiles tearfully as Carla sighs taking a seat on the chair again
"Lilah? What, is it yours?"
"No I stole it…of course it's mine" Lilah smiles cooing at her daughter, Peter sitting on the arm of the chair Carla was sitting on
"I didn't know you were-"
"Pregnant? No only one other person knows, and no I'm not telling you who they are" Lilah smiles sarcastically as Peter raises his eyebrows glancing to Carla
"But surely you can't bring up a baby in prison?" Peter questions as Carla sighs wondering how he was going to take what Lilah was about to reveal
"Nope, that's why I want you and Carla to have her"
"Are you kidding?" Peter questions as Carla bites her lip Lilah shaking her head in response, handing the baby over to Carla so she could hold her
"Look Peter, I don't have many people in this world which I can trust and after everything you both been through you're the strongest bets as parents for her, please I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate"
"Ok, we'll do it" Peter replies confidently as Carla raises an eyebrow stroking the baby's cheek
"I understand this is a big resposibility but I really want you two to have her over her father"
"Who's is she?"
"Nick's. I love Nick and I don't want to ruin his chance of happiness with Leanne, he doesn't deserve that not after he tried to cover for me with the whole Rob thing" Lilah explains smiling at Carla who was cooing over the baby before turnign back to look at Peter
"I'm guessing you don't want him knowing either?"
"I don't"
"Ok then, so what do we put on the birth certificate then?" Peter questions as Lilah sighs, sheknew these awkward questions would have to be asked but luckily being in prison gave her time to think of viable answers
"I want you to adopt her"
"That would mean putting our names on her birth certificate though are you sure?" Peter asks as Lilah smiles tearfully
"I'm sure, please don't think I'm taking this decision lightly because I'm not ok? I've had more than enough time to think about this" Lilah smiles slightly as Carla smiles up at Peter who glances down to Carla holding the baby rocking her gently
"We'll do it Lilah, it's the least we can do after everything you've done for us both, are we naming her?"
"Yes but I have one request, well my only request really. I want her middle name to be Esme after her sister" Lilah smiles as Carla nods slowly glancing to Peter who nods as well
"Any more requests?"
"I want you to take her today, before I get too attached"
"I mean we could convert Finley's car seat into the new born one do that shouldn't be a problem, we have some of his old stuff as well still so it shouldn't be a problem" Carla smiles as Lilah nods gesturing for Carla to give her the baby
"I'll go and get the car seat and a bag for her as well as some of Finley's old outfits just so she has something to go home in" Peter kisses Carla's forehead, before leaving the room
"Bye baby girl, you look after your new Mummy and Daddy for me, you will always be in my heart I'll miss you" Lilah smiles kissing her daughters forehead handing her over to Carla
"You don't have to do this you know"
"I do Carla, I just need you to promise you'll look after her, that's all I want, treat her as your own" Lilah replies shakily as Carla bites her lip in a bid to control her emotions
"I promise"
"Good, I will thank you eternally for this you know"
"I know you will, we'll look after her for you don't worry, now spend some time with your daughter before it's too late, I'm just going to get a coffee or something I will be right back ok?"
"Alright"
Carla stepped out of the room to take a breather, she was amazed at how her life could change in a day how she would be welcoming a new addition to their family but there was something special about this moment and she couldn't lie, she was looking forward to the future, a future with her, Peter, Finley and Lilah's daughter who would grow up to see her as her mum. Then she remembered, New Year's Eve where they toasted 'to our future' and that was something she never thought she would get but she did and she couldn't be more grateful…
This is the last chapter of this story, it had been going on for way too long and I just wanted to finish it, I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for all the lovely reviews I really appreciate them when you leave them, it makes me want to write more.