Coronation Street Fan Fiction
Stephen and Carla
Disclaimer: I do not own Coronation Street.
Summary
On 20th March 2023 while confined to a psychiatric facility, Carla awakens to find herself on Coronation Street in 1977. Realising her past self is a toddler she registers herself as Carla Connor instead of Carla Donovan and poses as an adopted woman whose biological family passed away in a car accident. Carla meets and falls in love with a younger Stephen Reid, unaware that his future self drugged her and made her think she was insane. She marries him and moves with him to Canada. How will this change things?
Fanfiction
Carla walked into the factory. It seemed almost surreal. In the old timeline she had been married to Paul and then there was the scandal with him kidnaping Leanne and later dying in a car crash. Now that Carla was married to Stephen she wondered who owned the factory.
"Excuse me Miss."
Carla jumped and turned to see Tony Gordon, the man she was married to in the previous timeline.
"Are you okay Miss?" Tony asked politely. Carla pulled herself together and offered her hand to Tony.
"Carla Reid. I came here with my husband Stephen. He's with my in laws at the moment. We live in Canada but his family live on this street."
Tony shook Carla's hand.
"Nice to meet you Carla. My name is Tony Gordon. I'm the manager of this factory."
"Who owns the factory?" Carla asked.
"Paul Connor."
Carla wasn't surprised.
Just then Peter Barlow came storming into the factory.
"Where is he? Where is that son of a….?"
"Excuse me Peter you can't go in there."
Tony groaned as Peter barged into the office.
"I'm sorry Carla. Peter Barlow must have found out about his wife's affair with Paul."
"It's okay, I've lived on this street before." Carla smiled at Tony. She couldn't be angry at him. With her out of the equation Tony clearly hadn't become a murderer.
"Maria what's wrong?"
Carla's friend was sobbing her heart out.
"It's Tony. He's in hospital."
"What happened?" asked Carla. She wondered if Tony had had a heart attack. After all back in the previous timeline Roy had found him outside the factory and taken him to hospital which was where he had confessed to killing Liam.
"Someone tried to kill him in a hit and run. It's all my fault."
"Maria how could it be your fault?"
Maria looked uncomfortable.
"I wasn't happy married to Liam so I ended up having an affair with Tony. I was going to leave Liam for him."
In a flash Carla realised what had happened. She said nothing however. She couldn't accuse Liam without evidence. Besides it might have been an accident.
"At least Tony is alive" Carla said bracingly. "That's something to be thankful for."
Maria nodded fervently. Carla stepped aside for a few minutes to phone Stephen.
"Stephen love, is it okay if I take Maria to the hospital? Tony was injured in a hit and run."
There was a pause.
"Of course you can my love, provided of course that you don't have an affair with him."
Carla laughed.
"We are both different people now you know that. Besides even if I wanted to he would say no, you know that."
"Okay then."
"Paul, what are you doing" snapped Michelle.
"Drowning my sorrows in the pub" grumbled a drunk Paul.
"Paul that's hardly the answer. I didn't believe Maria at first either but Liam confessed."
"I hate Maria. She framed my brother."
"Don't be stupid Paul. Liam tried to kill him."
"He did no such thing. It was an accident. Maria will pay for messing with me."
"Paul don't…."
Michelle groaned as Paul stormed out.
Stephen and Carla were awoken by someone hammering on their door. Stephen rushed to the door to see a dishevelled Tony.
"Tony what's wrong?"
"It's Maria. She's been kidnapped."
"But Liam's still in prison as far as I know…"
"Not Liam," Carla whispered in Stephen's ear. "Paul. Remember what I told you about the previous timeline."
Stephen turned pale but braced himself.
"Okay let's go and find her." Stephen pulled on his coat, put his feet into his shoes and accompanied Tony.
Tony sat by Maria's bedside holding her hand.
"Thank God you're okay sweetheart."
"You were both lucky. " Stephen put a hand on Tony's shoulder. "You survived a hit and run and Maria survived a kidnap."
"Poor Michelle" Carla remarked. "Both her brothers are nutters."
"Has Paul been arrested?" asked Maria raising herself in the bed.
"No he died" replied Carla.
"It's just as well. Now he can't hurt anyone anymore."
"Are you okay love?" Carla put a hand on Stephen's arm.
"Yes. It seems almost surreal. You said that in the previous timeline I never knew Tony Gordon yet yesterday I was the best man at Tony and Maria's wedding."
"And I was the bridesmaid yet I prefer this timeline over the old one. In the old timeline Tony's actions caused so much tension between Michelle, Maria and me. I hated that he was in a relationship with Maria after killing her husband but at the very end – well I had to acknowledge that he did love Maria. He held me hostage but he never harmed Maria."
"So by travelling back in time and marrying me you prevented a man ruining his life and the lives of others by becoming a murderer."
"Yes, we both did." Carla drew Stephen into a kiss.
"Oh I got a letter from Michelle today." Carla cuddled up to Stephen on the sofa.
"What did it say?" Stephen asked calmly.
"Michelle is in a difficult situation. The factory is struggling. It seems one of their clients, a Frank Foster tried to….well Tony's wife Maria he…."
Stephen held up a hand. "I understand. So, what happened?"
"Tony gave Frank a beating and got arrested for ABH. Maria's really struggling being a hairdresser and a single parent to Liam as well. Michelle doesn't know what to do. Frank has offered to invest in the factory to save it but Michelle doesn't want him to because of what he tried to do to Maria but if he doesn't then the business will collapse and all the workers will lose their jobs."
Stephen thought for a minute.
"I have an idea. What if you and I bought the factory from Michelle? Then the workers will all be safe. I don't want to fire any of them. You and I can handle the factory while Tony is in prison and I'll hire him back as soon as he has served his prison sentence. As for that monster, I will terminate his contract immediately. I'm not doing business with a man who is capable of that. Michelle can then help Maria."
"You would really do that for me?"
"Yes, because I love you. Besides it will give me a chance to live near mom and Gail again, see Sarah, Nick and David."
"Oh Stephen, you're such a wonderful man."
"I am what you made me my love."
Carla was working late in the factory when she heard the sound of glass breaking.
"Hello?" There was no reply. "Is anyone here? Hello?"
Frank Foster opened the door of the office and barged in.
"What the…?"
"Stephen" Frank snarled pacing up and down. "He forgives Tony Gordon for battering me and gives him his job back yet I am out on my ear. Saint Stephen of Canada, Charismatic, loveable family man, everyone's friend, with the gorgeous wife and the loving family….why should he have this perfect life with no hardship?"
"I want you to go." Carla stood up from her desk but Frank pinned her against the wall, covering her mouth.
"I will ruin Stephen's perfect life. I should be in complete charge of the factory. Me. I'm just as good a businessman as him. What does he have that I don't?"
"Morals" Carla snapped. "Integrity."
Frank looked Carla up and down.
"You are an attractive woman."
"And you are an evil man."
"Carla Carla you don't know me well enough to say that. We are practically strangers after all."
Carla bit her lip. Only Stephen knew about the time travel and it would stay that way.
"I'm not cheating on Stephen…"
"Maria what's wrong?" asked Tony anxiously.
"It's Carla, Frank Foster broke into the factory and attacked her. "
"Bloody hell. Does Stephen know?"
"I don't know. You go and find Stephen and I'll go straight to Carla."
"You should phone Michelle, ask her to go with you to help Carla."
"That's a good idea."
"Do you find the defendant Frank John Foster guilty or not guilty of the rape of Carla Reid?"
"Guilty."
Carla heaved a sigh of relief, collapsing into Stephen's strong arms.
"Thank God." sighed Stephen. "Thanks for preventing me from killing him mate" Stephen added turning to Tony.
"You're welcome mate. I didn't want you in prison."
"Oh Carla," said Rita, pouring herself a drink. "Did you hear that Peter and Leanne split up?"
"How come?" Carla asked casually.
"Leanne hired Tina Macintyre to babysit Simon and Peter had an affair with her."
Carla rolled her eyes. "Typical."
Gary hammered on Stephen's office door.
"What is it Gary?"
"It's Carla. She's not well. She hasn't been since the roof collapsed and Rana was killed. She thinks that she can see Rana and that she is alive."
Stephen sighed. "Thanks for telling me Gary. Tony you're in charge of the factory for the time being."
Stephen rang Audrey and Gail and the three of them went looking for Carla. Stephen eventually spotted her on the roof.
"Carla love, please come down."
Audrey and Gail stood below, looking anxious.
"The roof collapse was an accident my love. It wasn't your fault." Stephen pulled Carla into his arms, stroking her long black hair and consoling her.
"Is Carla okay?" Kate asked.
"No" Stephen sighed. "She needs to see a doctor."
Stephen and Carla decided to show their new designer round the factory.
"Michael, this is our factory manager, Tony Gordon, and my niece Sarah who is head of creative design. You will be reporting to them most of the time."
Michael shook hands. "Nice to meet you both."
Michael was enjoying his new job as the factory designer. Stephen was calm, confident, laid back and charismatic, and balanced out Carla who could often become stressed. He was good friends with Sarah Platt and had a great respect for his immediate boss, Tony Gordon.
"Hey, how long does a tea break last?" asked Stephen jokingly.
"Sorry boss. Did you hear about the body?"
"What body?" asked Stephen in surprise.
"My Uncle Ronnie found a woman's body on the building site. We think it might be Tina Macintyre."
"I thought she went away with Gary?"
"That's what we all thought. I wonder who killed her."
Carla pursed her lips. She knew but she couldn't tell anyone. Anyway she couldn't acknowledge Rob as her brother in this timeline.
Maria hammered on Carla's door.
"Maria, what's wrong?"
"It's Tony. He's been arrested. They think he killed Tina and a man called Rufus Donahue."
"What?"
"Yes, Tony insists that he didn't kill anyone but his car was used to run Rufus over, and there is no sign of the car suddenly braking. Apparently it was stationary and then accelerated. Rufus was found dead in some road."
"Someone could have stolen Tony's car" Stephen pointed out.
"That's what Tony says."
"Does Tony have a lawyer?" asked Carla.
"Yes, Adam's agreed to defend him. Oh this is all such a mess."
"But why would the police think that Tony killed Rufus?"
"They think Rufus was blackmailing him because Rufus knew he killed Tina, but he didn't. Tony would never kill anyone."
Not in this timeline thought Carla, but she drew Maria into a hug all the same.
"Stephen I've got to do something. Tony may have had Liam killed in the previous timeline but he hasn't done anything wrong in this timeline."
Stephen looked troubled. "I don't want my friend to go to prison but you're my wife and I love you. How are you going to prove that Rob killed Tina and Rufus without revealing that you are a time traveller from the future? You can't acknowledge Rob as your brother in this timeline anyway."
"That's a blessing."
"Wait, I might have an idea."
An angry Carla faced Rob.
"I saw you on the factory CCTV. You swiped Tony's car keys and used his car to run Rufus over and kill him. I also suspect that you killed Tina Macintyre."
"You're insane."
"No I'm not. I know what I saw. I showed Stephen the CCTV and I'll show it to the police."
Rob pulled off his tie.
"You think you are so clever don't you Carla Reid?" He twisted the tie in his hands. "Tina was an accident. We argued on the balcony, just one shove and she fell to her death. Rufus followed me that night because I owed him money. He's been extorting money from me for years and I couldn't afford to pay him any more so I got rid of him. It was quick and painless. Better than he deserved actually."
Rob walked round behind Carla and slipped the tie round her neck.
"I'll have to get rid of you too now. Hmm Stephen has a perfectly good car roof box. I'll steal that and then sink you to the bottom of the canal and nobody will ever find you."
Just then the door burst open and DS Swain came in followed by more police officers.
"Rob Donovan I am arresting you for the murders of Tina and Rufus and the attempted murder of Carla Reid. You do not need to say anything but it will harm your defence if you fail to mention anything which you will rely on in court. Anything you do say may be used in evidence."
After the police left, Stephen came out of the bedroom where he was hiding watching the confrontation and drew Carla into his arms and kissed her.
"That was so brave my love. At least we prevented an innocent man from going to prison and had a dangerous serial killer rightly imprisoned."
Carla sighed, and melted into Stephen's embrace. "Oh Stephen I love you too."
The End.