Carla sat back, refusing the steaming mug that Michelle had tried to press into her trembling hands, though it warmed them up instantly.

"I don't want to sober up." The whole idea of getting drunk was purely to forget everything that was happening with the factory- 'everything', being Frank.

"But drink isn't the answer." Michelle should have known better, it was pretty much impossible to reason with Carla when she was in a state.

"Why do you always have to be so sensible?"

A gentle hand brushes through her long, raven locks and she can't help leaning into the comforting touch.

"I'm doing it for purely selfish reasons. I don't want to be on the receiving end of you razor tongue, when you've got weatherfield's worst hangover with the personality to match." She spoke the words, but shuffled closer to Carla, clearly meaning no harm by them. The corner of Carla's lips twitched and she was smiling. It almost hurt, the thought of how long it had been since the last time her lips had curved in positive emotion.

"Alright." Carla gave in to the strong aroma that was emitting from the warm mug and raised it to her lips, taking a small, satisfying sip.

"You make a decent brew." She allowed herself to sit back against the younger woman, sighing as she felt small, deft fingers rung through her dark locks once more.

"Do you feel any better?" Her younger friend voiced her concerns for the fragile woman who was curled into her.

"I do when you're here." Carla whispered back, unafraid to show just how much Michelle's company calmed her, something she hadn't felt for quite sometime. She guessed it was her own fault, for falling for someone elses man. Only, he wasn't good for her anymore. He wasn't strong, he wasn't safe, he wasn't home. How could be he, when in her time of need he'd cracked and gone seeking his first addiction? Maybe she was being too hypocritical here. It was afterall exactly what she had done. But if only he'd have been there to stop her she knew she'd have found the strength from him to be able to. They each have their own problems and Carla needs to be completely selfish for now, she needs to seek solace from the someone who can focus purely on comforting her, and now she has. It sounded harsh but it was what she needed to be able to keep going, and once she's summoned enough strength back, maybe she'll find him and try to comfort him.

Maybe.

The softest, most delicate set of lips she has ever encountered pressed against the side of her head. So warm and comforting that for a brief second her eyes closed and she wonderes what they would feel like up against her own. Wait, where the hell had that thought come from? Obviously the booze, blame it on the booze. Clearly, her head is all over the place and she isn't thinking straight.

That must have been why she turned her head to face her, brought her own shaking hand up to touch the younger woman's face, to hold her cheek, to look into her eyes and see a thousand promises that wouldn't ever be broken. Because she had never failed her before. Carla didn't deserve her, bit here she is, here they are cocooned together on Carla's sofa. A contrast of a warm and a cold nose stroked past one another and neither seemed to know or care which was whose. Neither could turn back now. Carla had leant in slowly, giving her friend the chance to back out half hoping that she would because neither of them know what any of this means. The first touch of velvet lips against eachother makes them both gasp though that was tied in with the element of shock at what they were actually doing. The kiss was brief but the loving caress of their lips moulding around eachothers was one that couldn't be based on friendship alone. Carla felt strength from the kiss, strength that allowed her to feel secure and safe and cared for, because nothing could happen to her while Michelle was there with her.

Nothing each of them felt was unrequited, they each know the lengths that they'd go for one another. It has just been confirmed in that one kiss. It was the warmth of Michelle's breath against Carla's lips that indicated the kiss had ended though Carla remained unsure of who had ended it. Neither of them spoke, though maybe nothing now needs to be said. Carla allows herself to fall once more into the tight embrace of Michelle's arms. Their faces hovered as they were. Eyes closed, lips inches apart. Carla isn't the only one trembling anymore. For one terrifying second, Carla wonders if she'd made a mistake, but her friends arms tighten around her and they huddle close together, warm cheeks pressed against eachother.

Still nothing is spoken, but as before, nothing needs to be said. Carla allows her eyes to remain closed for they are now growing heavy and the gentle fingertips stroking patterns across the top of her arm are soothing enough to begin to aid her to sleep. She's exhausted now, but she musters enough strength to break the silence, because she has to, not because she wants to. She knows Michelle, but she knows the emptiness of waking up alone, and it's something she fears now that's she's back in her own flat.

"Don't leave me, tonight."