'Morning, Auntie Car... What you doing up so early?' Ryan asks as he makes his way into the lounge.
'I have a baby, Ry... I'm lucky if I sleep past 6am these days.' Carla admits as she gently bounces Freya in her arms.
'I saw you speaking to Nick last night. Any chance of you two getting back together?' Ryan asks sitting down on the sofa.
'I don't think so. I do love him Ryan but I another man got me pregnant while we were in a relationship. I don't think there is any going back from that.' Carla admits.
'But you were going through a rough time with Johnny, surely he understands that.' He says as she sits down beside him.
'That's no excuse for cheating Ry. Nick was nothing but good to me and I cheated on him when something went wrong, maybe I'm just not meant for relationships.' She replies lifting Freya up to her shoulder.
'He clearly still loves you.' He says as Michelle walks into the room.
'Love means nothing without trust, Ryan... As much as I love him and he might still love me, he will never trust me again.' Carla replies.
'Hey, what're you two talking about?' Michelle asks as Carla stands up.
'Nothing... I'm not feeling well, Chelle. I'm going to give dinner a miss, thanks for the offer though and letting us stay.' Carla replies placing Freya in her pram.
'Carla? What's happened?' Michelle asks.
'Nothing. I'll bring you're jamas back tomorrow.' Carla replies kissing her best friend's cheek before making her way out of the pub.
'What did you say to her Ryan?' Michelle asks and Ryan holds his hands up in front of him.
'We were just talking about Nick. I didn't think I'd upset her, should I go see if she's okay?' He asks.
'No, she'll be fine Ryan. The thing with your Auntie Carla is she puts on a front, she likes to make you think that she's okay and that she's coping when really she's not. She loves Nick, I've never seen her as happy as she was with Nick.' She replies.
'Do you think he would ever forgive her?' He asks.
'He already has. A couple of days before she left he begged her to stay, told her regardless of who the baby's dad was he would stand by her... Auntie Carla can't forgive herself though and that's where her problem lies. I think if it was up to Nick they would've been back together months ago.' She replies.
'Carla? Carla? Wait up...' Nick shouts as he spots his ex rushing towards her car wearing some pink checkered pyjama pockets and an oversized hoodie.
'Hi...' She almost whispers turning round to face him.
'Hey... Happy new year.' He says smiling at her.
'Happy new year, Nick.' She replies.
'Can we talk?' He asks and she sighs.
'Nick, I can't... She's had me up most of the night, I'm exhausted.' She replies glancing down at Freya fast asleep in her pram.
'Okay, but at some point? I've missed you.' He admits causing her to nod her head.
'Okay. Maybe some point during the week.' She says.
'Okay. Did you have a nice Christmas?' He asks as she opens the car and begins to get Freya settled in her carseat.
'I'd hardly call it nice. I wasn't well, Freya had been up all night and well a microwave meal for one isn't really that appealing.' She replies strapping Freya in.
'Oh...' He mumbles.
'I better be going, Nick. It was nice seeing you.' She replies quickly folding the pram down and placing it in boot of the car.
'Oh, yeah of course! Hopefully see you during the week.' He says smiling. He watches as she climbs in the car and drives off.
'What's mumma going to do, ey?' Carla whispers as she paces the living room with a slight fussy Freya in her arms.
'I know you're tired, if you just go to sleep you'll feel loads better.' She says attempting to pop a dummy into the little girl's mouth.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
'Who could that be?' Carla asks making her way towards the front door as Freya continues to fuss. She slowly opens the door coming face to face with the person she least expected.
'Nick...' She almost whispers.
'I got your address from Michelle, I hope you don't mind. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, you looked upset earlier.' He says causing her to sigh.
'I just need to sleep. If I sleep I'll be fine but she won't sleep so I can't sleep. She's been fed and changed, I just don't know what to do.' She replies, tears filling her eyes as she glances from her ex to her daughter.
'Carla, look at me... Just breathe.' He says reaching out to gently touch her shoulder.
'Let me see her?' He says and she slowly passes Freya to him. Holding the little girl against his chest he gently rubs her back until she settles down.
'There we go...' He whispers looking up and noticing a tear slip down Carla's cheek.
'What's the matter?' He asks stepping towards her.
'I can't do this... What hope does she have if I can't even get her to stop crying but you can. You're a total stranger to her.' She replies as he places the baby back into her arms.
'You're doing great, Carla... I seen you in the pub with her last night and you were fantastic, you're just tired.' He says gently pushing some hair behind her ear.
'Can you go?' She asks.
'I don't want to leave you like this.' He says.
'I'm not your problem anymore, Nick. Just go.' She replies quietly.
'Okay, but you still have my number. If you need me, I'm always here.' He says smiling slightly at her before turning and leaving the house.
'I'll always need you.' She whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks as she watches him get in his car and drive off.