Set June 2012.
The sun had just risen, the beads of light landing on their faces from the blinds and the sound of birds chirping as the day began. She was wrapped under his arm, content as she lay on his chest and heard the ongoing beat his heart was relaying.
He was still asleep, but Carla couldn't fight off the sickening feeling of nausea that felt as if it was bubbling in her stomach and making its way up her oesophagus. It was debilitating to say the least; she struggled getting back to sleep. Mentally cursing herself as she knew her alarm would ring in the next hour. Added on with the extra exhaustion, her eyelids hurt and her body ached.
As she began to feel worse, she thought moving positions could help. She glanced at Peter, still in a deep sleep, and turned around. But the movement caused extra nausea and now she couldn't hold it in anymore.
Throwing back the duvet, she pounced out of bed and ran to the bathroom, a hand to her mouth.
This instantly awoke Peter, feeling little to no comfort now that the dip in the bed had gone. He looked around in confusion, mumbling incoherently.
The sound of retching and spluttering was enough to wake him up properly, he frowned and called for her, "Car?"
In the bathroom, she couldn't respond. Bile kept rising and she was struggling to breathe due to the consistent dry heaving. One hand was holding her hair in a makeshift poney-tail and the other gripped the toilet seat.
Soon enough, she felt eyes on her as Peters silhouette was stood in the doorway. Quickly, he knelt down and rubbed her back.
"Baby, what's wrong?"
Panting, she responded, "I don't know, I came over all funny during the night."
"Sounds like you're definitely coming down with something, love. Can I get you anything?" He kissed her shoulder as she continued to splutter snd dryly cough into the toilet.
"What's happening?" A young voice alerted them, both turning around in shock.
"Son, why are you up? It's only 6:15am." Peter sighed.
"How am I meant to sleep when you two are being this loud?" Simon moaned, rudely.
"I'm sorry-…" Carla began.
"Carla's unwell. We tried to be as quiet as possible." Peter cut her off, not liking his nine year old sons attitude.
"Mum said there's a type of woman like her. She can't go too long without wanting attention." Simon said.
"What?" Peters eyes grew angrier, he went to stand to his sons level when Carla gestured for him to remain seated on the bathroom floor. She knew it was just spiral otherwise.
"You 'eard." He crossed his arms around his chest, walking away.
"I'm so sorry about him, baby. He'll get used to you eventually. He just doesn't like change."
"It's fine," She smiled, lob-sidedly. "It isn't the first time I've heard bad things said about me. And it certainty won't be the last."
"I guess," He replied. "How do you feel?"
"I don't feel like I'm going to be sick anymore which is a plus."
"Small miracles." He smiled, placing a strand of hair behind her ear and leaning forwards to kiss her.
"No," She grimaced, placing a hand in his chest to guide him away. "I've been sick, Peter. Let me brush my teeth first."
"Oh, right." He chuckled, watching as she stood up slowly.
"I don't think it's a good idea that you work today." He added.
"People depend on me, Peter." She replied after she brushed her teeth.
"Anyone can see you're ill, love. You're as pale as anything, you've had your head down the bog all morning."
"Is this your way of saying I look rank?" She joked.
"It's my way of saying that you need to prioritise your health." He raised his eyebrows, knowing its a very rare thing when she puts herself first.
"I feel fine, baby. And if I don't, I'll go home. Michelle is there to help out." She told him, as they walk out the bathroom.
"Ey…" She paused, holding him by his wrist before he escapes into the lounge.
"What?"
She grabbed his chin, pulling him into her and gave him a long and loving kiss.
"Get a room." Simon grimaced, sat on the sofa as he watched cartoons.
"Sorry about that, Si." Carla smiled, awkwardly.
"Yeah right."
"I understand it's early and you're tired but if this attitude continues all day then we're going to find ourselves having an issue, alright?" Peter snapped.
"Let me live with Leanne then!" Simon shouted, running into his room.
"It's just one thing after another." Peter placed a hand on his head, annoyed.
"Look, there's no point going back to sleep now. So why don't we snuggle on the sofa and watch something, Hmm?"
"You really didn't have to walk me to work, darlin. You're making this is a way bigger problem than it is." Carla groaned, hating the fuss.
"You refused to eat breakfast and don't think I didn't notice you feeling unwell again as we were watching tv. You went all quiet and was shifting uncomfortably." He said, standing on the steps to Underworld.
"I'm probably getting a virus of something, Peter. But this is just annoying me, okay? I'm fine." She shrugged off his concern.
"Okay. But message me if you need me. I'll come see you at lunch." He kissed her, noticing that she was still very pale, and wandered away.
As Carla turned around, she jumped in fright, "Oh! How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to know that you shouldn't be in." Michelle raised her eyebrows.
"Not you as well. I thought I got away from the fuss by going here."
"What's going on then? Sickness bug?" Michelle asked as they strolled inside.
"Peter's being dramatic over nothing. I was just sick this morning is all."
"I won't wrap you in cotton wool then, Car. But how about I take the meetings today? Could do with the experience anyway."
"Yeah, go for it." Carla smiled, trying to ignore the bad feeling in her stomach.
"I tell you what, I hate men. At this point, I think I'm done with them. Especially the smarmy middle-aged ones." Michelle ranted as she strode into the office later that day, chucking her bag on the seat.
"Why? What's happened?" Carla mumbled.
"The new client, Mr Morris, the only thing he's experienced in is being a total perverted scumbag. Not only did he feel the need to go on all about his qualifications and how powerful he apparently is. But he even thought he could try it on with me! Ha!" She explained.
"I hope you told him where to stick it." Carla replied, but it was as if her mind was elsewhere.
"Of course. He thought I was in my twenties. I told him I had a grown up son and he almost choked on his espresso. Even had the cheek to comment on my body, saying that it looks too good to look as if I'd once carried a child. Safe to say we won't be doing business with him again."
"Sorry, Chelle…" Carla held a hand to her mouth, sprinting to the toilet.
"Carla? Michelle called out, following her.
As Michelle entered the woman's toilets, she heard Carla violently being sick and it struck a lot of concern.
"Carla? Are you okay?" She knocked on the cubicle.
"Yeah…" She muttered back, before another wave of coughing begun.
"Do you want me to call Peter?" She asked.
"No! No, just leave me alone. I'm fine." Carla replied, abruptly.
Once Michelle left, Carla leaned against the wall of the cubicle and breathed out, a hand on her stomach.
Tears filled her eyes as the realisation set in, she felt overwhelmed with too many emotions.
She needed to get a test. Immediately. But knowing the answer would bring a million more fears that she couldn't deal with right now. A tear fell down the cheek as she imagined every scenario of what could be happening.
Memories of her childhood set in, the traumatic memories of how horrible her mother had been to Carla and Rob.
She heard the door open again, and hissed with anger, "Michelle, I said will you leave me alone!"
"Mrs Connor?"
Shit. It was Hayley.
"Sorry, Hayley. I thought you were Michelle." Carla replied quietly, her voice croaky and shaky.
"Tell me if I'm being intrusive but are you okay? Only, you sound very distressed." Hayley asked, full of warmth and concern.
A silent sob left Carla, wiping her eyes and holding a hand to her mouth so she didn't make a sound.
"Yeah." She whispered, uncertainly.
"I'm always here, Carla. We've been through far too much not too be." Hayley weakly smiled, she knew exactly what Carla was like. Just how closed off she could be and how high the defence walls were.
With no reply, Hayley carried on with the reason she came in. As she was washing her hands, she heard Carla's quiet voice…
"It's all such a mess, Hayley." She sniffed.
Hayley paused; leaning against Carla's cubicle door.
"What's happened, love?"
"I think I might be pregnant." She announced, startling Hayley.
"Have you taken a test?" She asked.
"No, I'm too scared. I can't do this."
"What's so scary, love? A baby could be the making of-…"
"No, this was a mistake. I'm not maternal, Hayley. Not in the slightest. And after the mother I had. It's in the genes, no. I couldn't put a child through that. I don't even like kids!" Carla interrupted.
"You like Simon."
Carla's sarcastic cackle echoed through the room, "Oh yeah. And he loves me doesn't he? I'm a proper mother figure in his life."
"You might have your issues. But in different circumstances, he'd be devoted to you. You're amazing with him, h-he's just dealing with a lot at the moment. And he's taking it out on you."
"Is this your way of trying to help, Hayley? Because it isn't working," Carla snapped. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry but I just…I don't understand kids. I'm not doing this."
She stood up, unlocking the cubicle door and being met with Hayley's concerned look.
"Don't look at me like that, Hayley. This never happened alright?" She looked in the mirror and shuddered at herself. "I look a mess. I'm going home early. And I mean it, don't mention this to anyone."
"Of course I won't, Carla. How about you go back to mine and we take a test, hmm? You might be worrying over nothing."
"You're working." Carla replied, bluntly.
"Carla, come on. You can't do this alone. If it isn't me, then tell Michelle or even Peter?"
"Peter isn't going to know."
"He'll have to eventually."
"Fine. Let's go back to yours. Can you get my bag for me? I don't want to have questionable looks at me."
Time for a new story! It's been far too long. The lack of carter has got to us all I think, annoys me so much that they've been moved to the background nowadays. So the next best thing, FanFiction :)