25th December 2010

It was Christmas Day in Weatherfield. Carla had made plans to go over to Michelle's flat and spend Christmas with her since Ryan was staying in Ibiza and Ciaran was still working away. It had only been a few days since Carla had found out she was pregnant and she was still as scared as ever.

Carla spent the majority of the morning in her flat by herself before she got herself dressed up in a figure hugging red dress and black heels. It was Christmas Day after all so she at least wanted to make so effort. Then after dinner, there would be a Christmas party in the Rover's so Michelle and Carla said they would pop by.

Michelle and Carla were currently sitting in a booth at the Rover's. "I'll get us some drinks." Carla said as she made her way up to the bar and was served by Liz.

"What can I get you?" Liz smiled.

"A red wine and an orange juice please." Carla said as she pulled out a 10 note.

"So will you and Michelle be participating in the quiz later?" Liz asked as she was trying to get numbers on roughly how many people would do this quiz.

"Yeah, i'm sure we will." Carla nodded as Liz handed her the drinks and took the money off her before going over to the till and bringing back Carla's change.

While Carla was standing at the bar, in came Leanne and Peter. Peter had to use a stick to walk because he wasn't completely sturdy walking and was still recovering.

Everyone then began to ask Peter how he was and that they were glad he was up and about. Carla took the drinks she'd just bought and sat back down at the table not really taking her eyes of Leanne and Peter. "You can sit with us." Michelle said as she could see that they were looking for somewhere to sit but it was rather busy considering it was Christmas Day.

"Oh thanks." Leanne smiled as herself and Peter sat opposite Michelle and Carla. Leanne then popped up to the bar to get herself and Peter a drink. The made some small talk before Leanne quickly returned to the table.

"So have you had a good Christmas?" Michelle asked both Leanne and Peter.

"Yeah, it's been truly special." Leanne beamed as she held onto Peter's arms.

"What've you ladies been up to today then?" Peter asked looking between Carla and Michelle to act as normal as possible.

"We just had a quiet one." Michelle said and Carla nodded. "Our Ryan's in Ibiza and Ciaran is still working abroad." Michelle mused making conversation. Carla and Peter couldn't help but look at eachother. Peter thought she looked absolutely gorgeous in her red dress he knew it was wrong feeling like this considering he was now married to Leanne but he could never get Carla out of his mind.

"Si's had a lovely day hasn't he?" Leanne said knocking Peter out of his lustful thoughts about Carla. "There's nothing better than seeing kid being excited for Christmas, especially because Peter was home too… It's been great." Carla shifted uncomfortably in her seat as Leanne spoke.

"Yeah, he was like a bottle of pop, he's crashed and burned on my dad's sofa now." Peter said.

"It's just been so nice to be a proper little family." Leanne added.

"I actually think i'm going to have an early night." Carla said as she couldn't bear to sit there any longer listening to Peter and Leanne playing happy families. She felt sick to her stomach and couldn't tell if it was from feeling guilty or from being pregnant.

"They haven't even started the quiz." Michelle said, surprised that she was leaving so early.

"Yeah, I'm just not in the mood really." She said as she quickly got up. "Merry Christmas, both." She said to both Peter and Leanne before hurrying out of the pub. The cold December air hit Carla's face as she tried to control her racing thoughts about the predicament she was currently in.

Carla had been home a mere 10 minutes when there was a buzz up to her flat. All Carla could do was sit on her sofa and let her thoughts take control of her. She groaned out loud knowing full well it would be Michelle. "Hello?" She said as she answered the phone.

"It's Michelle, can I come up?" She asked.

"I suppose so." Carla sighed as she let Michelle in and unlocking the door.

"What's gotten into you lately?" Michelle asked. "You're not yourself and I know that you're still getting to grips with your drinking but there's got to be more to it." She said knowing Carla all too well. Carla sighed.

"Honeslty, 'Chelle, it's nothing." Carla said as she she herself back down on her sofa.

"I'm worried about you." Michelle said as she followed Carla and sat next to her.

"We'll you needn't be." Carla said not so convincingly. It was at this point Carla had no control of the tears which were pouring down her face.

"Oh Carla, what's happened?" Michelle said as she moved herself closer and out her arm around Carla. Carla looked at Michelle and sniffed back her tears.

"If I tell you, you have to swear you won't breath a word of this… to anyone." Carla said still not sure she should spill to Michelle.

"Of course." Michelle said urging for Carla to tell her what the matter was. Carla faltered slightly before letting out a breath of air she wasn't aware she'd been holding.

"I'm pregnant." Carla said out loud for the first time. Michelle looked like a rabbit in headlights.

"What?" Michelle asked thinking maybe she'd misheard.

"You heard me the first time." Carla huffed.

"Who's the Dad? I wasn't aware you'd even been seeing anyone." Michelle asked.

"Oh it just gets better." Carla said biting her lip. "It's Peter, it's his baby." If Michelle wasn't stunned before then she certainly was now.

"What? So you and Peter-?" Michelle said trying to make sense of what Carla had just told her.

"We had a brief… thing." Carla said. "The truth is I fell for him, he was there for me when I fell off the wagon… I told him this and he said he felt the same." Carla explained to Michelle.

"But he married Leanne." Michelle said extremely confused.

"He kept telling me that he would tell Leanne but it was hard because of her relationship with Simon… I knew he'd never be able to leave her so I finished with him, next thing I know he's fighting for his life and married Leanne." Carla said. "Then I find out I'm carrying his baby."

"Carla this is huge." Michelle said still trying to comprehend the situation.

"Yeah, you're telling me." Carla said.

"So he doesn't know that you're pregnant?" Michelle asked and Carla shook her head.

"I don't plan on him ever finding out either." Carla said to which Michelle frowned.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Let's be realistic I can't have Peter's baby and quite frankly I don't want it… You saw that I was dragged up, who's to say I won't be the same as my own useless mother?" Carla questions looking at Michelle.

"But you can't not tell him." Michelle said to Carla who shook her head.

"If I tell him it'll open up a whole can of worms." Carla said as she bit her lip.

"Peter deserves to know about this, it's his responsibility just as much as it's yours, you don't have to do this alone." Michelle said.

"What's the point in ruining Leanne's life? You can see how happy she is-" Carla started before being interrupted by Michelle.

"Her whole life is a lie… Peter cheated on her yet went along and married her, if anyone is the bad guy it's him." Michelle said. Carla shook her head.

"I'm just as bad though, I knew full well he was taken yet I did my best to sink my claws into him." Carla said as she began to sob.

"Do you still have feelings for him?" Michelle asked.

"Yes! and I hate myself for it." Carla said. Michelle leaned over to the coffee table and handed Carla tissue for her tears.

"This isn't as bad as it seems, I'm sure there's countless women that have been in this situation… There's no way you're the first to get pregnant by someone else's man and you certainly wouldn't be the last." Michelle said trying to keep Carla calm.

"'Chelle, I can't go through with this pregnancy." Carla said as she took a deep breath.

Please read and review and again thank you so much for the reviews so far, everyone has been so positive :)