"Hey darling, are you okay? Feeling any better?" Nick asks as I walk back into the rovers, sitting next to him.
"Yeah I'm fine thanks sweetheart. Like I said, I'm just feeling a bit under the weather." I tell him as I see Peter walk back into the Rovers, eyeing me suspiciously. "Is the offer still there to go? It's just I think I need a lie down, you know?" I ask him, anxiously.
"Yeah sure, don't worry it's fine. We'll just go get Hol from Si and Leanne's. Night then everyone" Nick says to Johnny, Aidan, Kate and Michelle who were all absorbed in their own conversation.
"Aww are you guys going already?" Michelle asks.
"Yeah I'm just not feeling too good, a bit tired. We'll see you tomorrow, okay?" I say to all of them.
"Night, love you" seems to echo from them as we exit the pub.
As soon as we get out the door, I put my hands either side of Nick's face, pulling him towards me as I kiss him, passionately.
"What was that for?" He says, slightly shocked but smiling.
"I love you, you know that, right?" I ask him.
"Yeah I do and I love you too." He replies as I smile back at him.
We start to walk across the road and it's like, just for a moment, I feel invincible. Like nothing can stop me, stop us from being happy.
But the feelings short lived as I hear my name being called from behind me.
"Carla? Hey, sorry. I need to talk to you." Peter says, starting to catch up with us as I stand, unable to say anything, petrified at what he might say.
"Oh hey Peter, what's up?" Nick answers for me as I look, blankly forward.
"I was just wondering if I could have a quick word with Carla here." Peter tells Nick as he nods.
"Why don't I go get our little Holster and I'll see you back at home," he tells me, kissing me on the cheek, before walking towards Leanne's flat.
"Peter, what do you want?" I eventually speak as the awkward atmosphere increases.
"Let's go sit down for a minute instead of just standing in the middle of the street," Peter gestures to the bench down the road, outside of Audrey's salon before walking off towards it, not even giving me a chance to reply.
We both sit down next to each other with a small gap in between us as I wait for him to speak, but he doesn't. Instead, I decide to before it gets even more awkward,
"Peter, what is it you want?" I ask him, desperately.
"The truth." He answers me, bluntly.
"How much did you hear?" I ask him, wondering what it is he suspects.
"Enough." He answers, bluntly again.
"Well I don't know what it is you're thinking but you're wrong." I tell him, not willing for him to ruin everything, fearful that if Nick was to find out the truth that it would be he end of us, the end of our happiness.
"Alright then, you tell me. What have you kept quiet about for a year and half Carla?" He asks me, expectantly as I desperately try to think of something, anything to replace the truth.
Before I even get a chance to answer, he's interrupted me.
"Carla, listen to me. You need to tell the truth. Whatever it is, it's better out in the open." He says as I just sit in silence. "You've got people here for you, Nick, Chelle, Kate, Johnny, Roy, Aidan... me."
"Sorry Peter, I don't know what you're talking about." I tell him, refusing to back down.
"Carla, I know what I heard. That scumbag was threatening you. And let me tell you, I'm gonna find out why." He says before walking off as I let out a breath of relief.
"Hey sweetheart," I say, walking into the flat that we now share again. Even though we aren't quite back to the way we were before as we're still not engaged, we're just as happy, if not happier. Or at least that's what I tell myself. "Hey darling," I tickle Holly's chin as I walk over to the sofa where her and Nick are sitting and join them.
"What was that about then?" Nick asks, slightly abruptly as I look up.
"Oh, he was just wondering about how Simons been whilst he was gone, that's all." I tell him calmly, smiling at Holly's little giggle as I tickle her feet.
"Why hasn't he asked it before now, he's been back for quite a bit, hasn't he?" Nick asks as I look at him in the eye, realising his usual look of concern is more one of jealousy, if only he knew.
"Umm I don't know. I guess he just had a lot of other stuff on his mind before. Anyway, I think we should put little one to bed in a minute, she seems tired." I try to change the subject, hoping he'd just drop it.
"Well why did he need to ask you. Surely Leanne would be more likely to know?" He asks as I take a deep breath, not willing to get into an argument after how happy we have been lately.
"I don't know, okay Nick? I'm putting her to bed." I tell him, picking up Holly as I take her through to her cot in our room as I watch her slowly drift off to sleep.
Despite everything, just the sight of her so peaceful brought a smile to my face.
As I stand for a moment, watching her, I nearly jump as I feel arms go around my stomach from behind me before I realise I'm in the safety of Nicks arms.
We continue to stare down at her for a second, our daughter.
"I'm sorry." He whispers, placing a kiss on my cheek.
"I know." I tell him, turning to face him as he pulls me close to him, wrapping me in a hug.
As I stand there, next to my sleeping, safe daughter, in the arms of the love of my life, I can't help but feel lucky.
Despite everything, I've managed to come out the other side better and now, here I am, happy as ever, our perfect little family.
I'm really sorry about how long I've left this. I've been so busy but exams will be over in a few weeks so hopefully I'll be able to update it more regularly by then. Please leave a review if you like it and have the time as they always mean the world. And thank you for all the support on this fic! I hope this was okay.
