Okay, this is my first ever Corrie fic! I honestly don't even watch it that much, I've watched Carla Connor scenes thanks to TheCorrieClub on YT, you are a fucking babe.

I've only ever written Bensidy (law and order: svu) so writing this feels odd.
I fucking LOVE Narla and yes, I'm utterly bitter that it ended.

This is/was gonna be a two-part fic so please let me know if you want me to continue.

Reviews/Comments are much appreciated.


I'm scared to death
Pick up your phone
Outside I hear the bells ringing
Bringing ruin to all that we have ever known

/

"Should we take this upstairs?"

Her focus shifted from the bag of newly won cash in her lap, to the champagne bottle in his and then to his face. The face of the man who she barely knew, the face of the man who worked for her fiancé, her wonderful, thoughtful, kind-hearted fiancé.

Rather than leap into her throat with joy like it would've it if was the right person asking that question, Carla felt her heart plummet to her abdomen, a heavy weight consisting of instant regret and nausea kept her pinned to the couch as her companion smirked before taking another swig of the celebratory liquid in his glass. Her heart screamed 'don't you fucking dare go upstairs, you stupid cow. Don't even think about it; go home. Go back to Nick.'

She watched Robert's smirk turn to a smile as he practically leapt from the couch towards the front desk. Her body felt numb, her heart kept telling her no but it couldn't be heard from the sound of her brain screaming 'leave me alone!'

/

She was exhausted, physically and emotionally exhausted. It had barely been two days since her world had had a giant Johnny Connor shaped hole punched through it. Johnny was her father, her dad, the person that as a little girl she should've thought the world of yet in reality scarcely knew. She barely knew what to think never mind how to cope with the situation. She needed space, the two things she knew she needed were wine and alone time, two things she couldn't find in her flat because of Nick.

She hadn't really said much to him that day at all and completely ignored him that night; she had left the Rovers for Roy only to be followed by Johnny which lead to yet another shouting match resulting in Carla doing what she did best which was running. She left the older men standing as she fled towards the safety of her flat to find it empty, the complete opposite of her whirlwind mind.

The morning after the pang of the hangover had kicked in from the two bottles of red she had consumed that night as she replayed the events of the previous evening to her fiancé who was clearly worried sick, nine calls had been tried and failed when she'd thrown her phone to the other side of the room in a fit of rage.

She knew he was worried, with her history she understood why he had called her multiple times, he loved her, he needed to make sure she was okay. His job as her fiancé is to protect her and she still finds it hard to let him.

/

Carla watched the doors by the entrance, waiting with dread for Robert to come back through and flash the key card to the room like she imagined he would. She always found him to be a smug git. Her drunken mind couldn't care less; the wine mixed with the champagne was telling her that this was exactly what she needed. A quick fuck with anyone to get the rage out of her system, to help her forget the recent revelations, her brand new daddy and her complete ineptness as a fiancée, she would never forgive herself for being so caught up in her own drama that she would forget Nick's birthday.

He cared about her more than anything in the world and she knew that because he'd told her countless times, he was always making sure she knew she was loved by him and that this thing that they had was forever, no matter how many times she freaked out or convinced herself she didn't deserve it. He'd kiss her awake in the morning when she'd bury herself under the covers to avoid the sound of the alarm, he'd make her coffee just the way she liked it and made sure she ate something before they left the flat for a hard days work. The little texts they'd give and receive, checking in with each other throughout their busy days, the sneaky coffee visits with cake on the side or a cheeky glass of red in the middle of the day, the goodbye kisses that lasted longer than they should have and were always making them late, all of the little things he did, that no one had ever done for her before made her fall harder and deeper in love than she'd ever been with anyone.

She knew he deserved better and she knew everyone else thought it too, Leanne had told her as much yesterday. He deserved so much better than a messed up drunk, a girl who was dragged up by a drunk and her abusive boyfriend on a broken estate, a woman who had cheated and lied and schemed her way around, a woman who cared about nothing or nobody as long as she got what she wanted.

Carla brushed her thoughts aside and flipped her hair over her shoulder as she downed the glass of expensive bubbles that sat on the table. Her empty hand grabbed her handbag only to spill half the contents onto the floor. She fumbled around picking up her lipstick and pens that had fallen from the clutch of the leather and noticed her phone light up for what she imagined was not the first time since she'd arrived at the casino. She dragged a hand over her face as she watched Robert make his way over to her out of the corner of her eye; she took a quick glance at the screen and her heart stopped

'Don't do anything stupid…please.'

The name above the message was that of her best friend, she knew Michelle and Nick were now a double team; they always were when she was in turmoil. The words kept playing over and over in her mind as she re-read them for the fifth time.

'Don't…'

'Stupid'

'Stupid…'

Did this count as something stupid? Storming off from the factory in a fit of rage and barging into the one place that she had sworn to steer clear of, the one place that had lost her everything the first time around.

"Carla?" Robert held the key card up towards his chest "You coming?"

"I…" With her heart thudding louder than she ever thought possible Carla stood from the couch and walked towards the dark haired chef, clutching his open held hand.

She needed this. She needed a release, a way to get rid of the frustration at Johnny, at Nick and Michelle, at herself and this seemed like the perfect way.

"We should get another drink" Carla stopped as they walked past the bar, Robert turned as her hand fell from his and before he could protest, the already drunk brunette was standing at the bar.

Robert approached and watched the barman place a tumbler in front of her and fill it with a two shot of whiskey. He brushed her hair from her shoulder and watches in fascination as Carla downs the amber liquid in one without flinching.

Half an hour and another three shots of whiskey later the pair stumble towards the lift. Carla glances around at the people filtering in and out of the casino, people with their head in their hands having lost more money than intended and others like Robert, with a grin as wide as the sea having won a jackpot. The lift doors opened in front of them and her heart dropped as Robert stepped forward into the mirrored box before turning and holding out his hand for her.

She can't think, her body is heavy, her limbs are numb and her brain is on fire. She can't focus on anything other than the feel of her hand in his, the way his skin feels against hers as their fingers lace together. He dips his head slightly and she can feel his breath on her cheek. Carla lifts her free hand to his neck as his lips touch her face, the nauseous feeling she had before is now back as the lift floor shudders beneath their feet before coming to a complete stop on their floor.

He stepped out in front of her and she couldn't move. Carla's eyes widened as the realisation of what was about to happen flooded her mind, the man in front of her was not who he should be. She shouldn't be standing here with her enemy's boyfriend, her fiancés chef; if she should be here at all it should be with the one man who meant the world to her. Even at the times she was most angry, most frustrated with his attempts to help her, even when she felt smothered she still loved him more than anything.

"I can't…" Carla slammed her hand against the numbers by the door, begging for the lift to close before he can attempt to change her alcohol-fuelled mind.

"Carla…" Robert tried to step forward, his left foot got inside the lift before she shoved her hands against his chest.

"No!" She yelled, her black leather bag slapping against his stomach as she pushed him out "I can't…This shouldn't happen" She whispered as she turned from him, the doors closing, leaving him standing on the hotel floor alone.


Lyrics: End of Time - The Band Perry

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