I can't seem to stop writing! I have so many ideas buzzing around my head that they just keep coming haha. Out of interest, is anybody still interested in the Carla and Liam pairing? Thinking of starting a story around them. Thanks as always, you have no idea how much your reviews make my day!

We're so close to reaching that famous happy ending. Almost believing this ones not pretend and now you're beside me and look how far we've come up. So far, we are so close.

Carla was sure she could feel the walls closing in on her, closing her in, trapping her. Every time her eyes blink she feels as though the doctor's room encases her further, getting smaller with every heart beat. She could hardly breathe. It was as though she were underwater, the doctors voice was muffled as if he were far away and she couldn't quite reach him, couldn't come up for air.

She didn't want to hear him. She knew what he was going to say.

She should have always known, luck simply escapes her. Why would this time be any different? Suddenly she's back on the street, collapsed on the floor in a heap of unimaginable pain. Not physically, although that hurt too. She knew in that moment her baby was gone. The first child she had ever carried, she assumed her last. She's in hospital and someone's speaking but she is not listening. "We're very sorry Mrs Barlow, we just couldn't save her."

Her. She had been carrying a baby girl. Her heart had never been the same since Paul and especially not since Liam and then Peter came along and ruined her even further. How is it possible for something that is already broken to shatter to smithereens?

Carla is brought back to reality. The Doctor's words spin around the room that is suddenly hot and sticky, clinging to her skin. She still can't breathe. Had someone closed a window in there? Why was there no damned aircon? She needed out. She grabs her coat and bag, fumbling as she hurries to stand, rushing away from the truth. She hadn't even realised the tears tumbling down her face. The first face she sees as she leaves the building is Rob's and feels like she could kill him with her bare hands for putting her through this. She wonders how he would feel if he knew.

Wiping her face in a hurry, she wraps her coat around her further and heads in the opposite direction. Straight into Peter.

Shuffling her feet nervously she looks up at him, pulling her bag back onto her shoulder. "Carla? I went to the flat love, thought you were ignoring me." He isn't tall but without her heels he is taller than her just, and she looks so small and delicate he feels as though he towers above her.

"Sorry, I mean, sorry for last night. Couldn't rest so I went for a walk." He knows she is lying. She knows it too.

"I saw you leaving the medical centre.. Everything okay?" Peter's words don't say as much as his tone. He's worried for her, terrified even. He just wants her to let him in. He doesn't deserve it, but god he needs it.

Carla nods, tapping her foot against the pavement. "Just thought I'd get checked out y'know, after everything." She doesn't look at him but he doesn't look away from her. He simply nods, not wanting to push any further.

"Everything's okay, Peter." She says it with slightly more conviction this time. Who is she trying to kid? Peter, or herself?

It is? Would anything ever be okay again?

"Do you mind if I come back to yours?" He's almost whispering now, his finger under her chin to make her look him in the eyes finally and she nods. No words are spoken but a mutual understanding is left between them. She needs something, and he wants to be that person again.

Peter handed her a steaming hot coffee a small while later as Carla sits on her sofa, staring into space. "Finally worked that coffee machine of yours out. Fancy cow." He half chuckles and she looks up at him as though she only just noticed he was there. He's seen her in many a bad place before but something doesn't fit right with him this time. Something is out of place.

"Peter.. I'm so sorry.." He shakes his head and sits beside her, pulling her against his chest. "You don't have to apologise for last night love, it's forgotten." He has no idea what she is really apologising for. No idea what's tormenting her.

And she doesn't tell him. She just lets him hold her. Because what else can she do?

Eventually Peter ends up laying across her sofa as she rests on top of him, not asleep but not really concious either. They've barely spoken but he has so much to ask. He doesn't even know if she would have the answers. He wants to know what Rob's impossible release means for them. How had be managed to make evidence disappear as Tracy suggested he had. Had he hurt her, was he going to stay around? Nothing made sense any more. And yet Carla wouldn't speak. Other than to beg him to stay and hold her and he felt as though he was back to the time before they were together, giving her his time whenever he could spare it. He wished she'd open up but then again, Peter wished for a lot of things. Most of them because of how he had messed up things of his own accord. He didn't realise it was possible to feel such self loathe.

From the table Carla's phone buzzes and Peter kisses her head softly, "Want me to look at that for ya?" She nods, slightly and he reaches across, still holding her against him. He tries to convince himself he is holding her so tightly for own comfort but truth is, he's petrified to lose her again.

"It's Rob.." Peter whispers, a lump of anger in his throat before he has even read the text.

"Rob? What the hell does he want?"

Peter clicks on the text, looking at Carla before back down at the phone.

"He says.." Peter's heart stops.

"He says he's sorry you lost the baby."