Six weeks later.
'Can you believe we get to take her home today?' Carla asks as she watches Nick carefully place Esme in her carseat.
'It's crazy... She's still so little.' He replied smiling at her as he straps Esme in.
'But she's so much bigger than she was when she was born.' She says passing him a pale pink blanket.
'I guess... Do you know what I'm looking forward to? Sitting on the sofa, watching some random TV programme and just cuddle her.' He replies and she nods her head.
'Yeah. The night feeds for me... I can't wait to sit on that rocking chair at 3am just rocking her back to sleep.' She admits causing him to smile.
'Are we all ready to go then?' He asks and she nods her head.
'I think so.' She replies quietly. He picks Esme's carseat up and rests it in the crook of his elbow.
'Let's go home, baby girl.' He whispers smiling.
'Welcome home, Esme...' Carla says smiling as they make their way into her flat.
'What do we do now?' Nick asks placing the carseat on the floor in front of the sofa.
'We parent, I suppose.' She replies quietly.
'Do you want a cuppa?' He asks and she nods her head.
'Please.' She replies smiling. She leans down and lifts Esme into her arms.
'Shall we go see your room, darling?' She asks keeping Esme curled up against her chest. She makes the short walk to the nursery that Aiden had decorated while Esme was still in hospital.
'Isn't this pretty... Uncle Aiden done this all for you. Aren't you a lucky little girl?' She says quietly glancing around the room. The walls are pale pink and the furniture a nice bright white. Framed pictures of Carla and Nick fill the walls although with the few scan photos they had.
'Mummy's been looking forward to this.' She says smiling as she sits down on the rocking chair.
'We're going to be just fine, Esme...' She whispers placing a loving kiss on her baby girl's head.
'I hear congratulations are in order.' A voice says and Carla turns.
'Stay away from me Robert.' She replies, her hands tightly gripping the handle of the pram. It's been a little over a week since Esme got released from hospital and this is their first trip outside.
'I'm not going to hurt you...' He says holding his hands up.
'I just want to apologise.' He adds and she shakes her head.
'Well I don't want to hear it.' She replies turning away from him. She begins the walk towards the factory, not even stopping to glance back at the man she had a one night stand with.
'Mummy didn't think this through, did she?' Carla mumbles as she reaches the bottom of the steps at Underworld.
'Need a hand?' A voice asks and she turns around coming face to face with Leanne.
'Ummm... Sure.' Carla replies quietly. She smiles slightly as Leanne helps her lift the pram up the steps.
'I'm sorry I've been such a bitch to you in the past. I was jealous.' Leanne admits and Carla raises her eyebrows at the blonde.
'Jealous? Of me? Why? My life is a train wreck, Leanne. You've got nothing to be jealous of.' Carla says causing Leanne to sigh.
'Because you've always as everything I've ever wanted. Peter picked you over me, time and time again. You had Nick and you both seemed so happy, he seemed so much happier than I ever made him.' Leanne replies.
'Well I fucked that one up didn't I?' Carla says and Leanne shakes her head.
'He loves you, Carla... I've seen the way he looks at you, you are his world.' Leanne replies placing her hand on Carla's shoulder.
'Don't give up on your relationship just yet.' Leanne adds, gently squeezing Carla's shoulder before walking off.
'Only me...' Carla shouts as she makes her way into the factory pushing the pram.
'Mrs Connor!' Sean squeals instantly jumping up out his chair.
'Did you bring the baby?' Beth asks.
'Nope, I just like to push around an empty pram.' Carla replies smiling.
'Can I?' Sean asks gesturing to the pram.
'Course.' Carla replies smiling. She pushes the canopy of the pram down giving him a better view and smiles as he instantly covers his mouth with his hand.
'She's so little.' He mumbles and Carla nods her head.
'She's a lot bigger than she was a couple of weeks ago.' Carla admits.
'Have you picked a name for her?' Sinead asks as the majority of the staff crowd round the pram.
'Esme... Esme Rose Tilsley.' Carla replies.
'Is she a good baby?' Fiz asks.
'Pretty much... I means she wakes every two to three hours during the night but I don't mind. Just glad to have her home.' Carla admits.
It's a little after 3:30am and she's rocking back and forth in the rocking chair. Esme is fast asleep curled up against her chest, a large purple blanket covering the both of them as she gently touches her baby girl's cheek.
So many times she was told to prepare herself for the worst. So many times she was told they didn't have that much hope that Esme would pull through. So many times she wasn't sure she could do this without Nick. So many times so wanted to get back with him just so Esme didn't come from a broken home... But here they are, Esme is home and doing perfectly and Carla is coping on her own. Nick is around, they see him all the time but Carla is the primary carer for Esme, their little miracle baby.
Such a big miracle in such a little girl.