I'm so sorry that it's been so long since I posted a new chapter. My life has been ridiculously crazy and I've had the flu. I started losing focus with the story but found my muse again. I've actually written half of the next chapter too, so hoping to post it within the next couple of days.

It took Nick a moment after waking up to remember why he wasn't supposed to be alone bed, abed which wasn't his. Something was missing; someone was missing.

Carla

The events of the previous day came rushing back into Nicks mind, he had to face the facts, his girlfriend was losing control. The drinking he could cope with, the gambling he could just about grasp, but now she was gambling with more than just money, she was putting her life in danger.

It was quiet, disturbingly quiet. The thought of what that might mean forced Nick out of bed. He found Carla on the sofa, coffee in hand, legs drawn up to her chest, it took him a while before he managed to connect this sight in front of him with the images from yesterday. It was hard, no, it was impossible for him to see it, even now when he knew. Rather than ease his guilt, the insight added to his concern.

"Carla" he whispered, taking care not to make her jump, before placing a hand on her shoulder. She placed her hand over his and looked up at him, her eyes meeting his as she smiled.

"Couldn't sleep" she sighed, holding up her now empty mug

"Talk?" Nick asks as he takes her mug, making a fresh coffee for them both

"Don't you have to go home, get ready for work? Carla asks, shifting position so she's now sitting up straight

"Uh, I thought I'd take the day off, you know, after yesterday... " He trails off, trying to catch her eye

"I told you, I'm fine" Carla snaps, standing up

"I'm not going to pretend that yesterday didn't happen." Nick sighs

"I'm not asking you to do that."

"Yes, you are," Nick pauses and takes a deep breath to calm down; nothing was to be gained by getting angry. Nothing whatsoever. Not like all that much would be gained by reasoning either, Carla was beyond reasoning with

"Stop being so dramatic Nicolas" Carla huffed

"You want me to act like nothing is wrong after what you told me? Because that's pretending it didn't happen. You decided to tell me because something has changed and you're scared" Nick moves from the kitchen and towards Carla

"If anything happened to you, I don't know what I would do" He whispers

"stop staring at me," Carla muttered, "I'm not going to wither away in front of your eyes."

Nick raises an eyebrow, the conversation about Carla's eating habits could wait, for now. He held his arms open and let Carla fall into his arms as he always did when she couldn't talk anymore.

"I'm not really okay," Carla whispers, "I don't think I'm even close."

"I know; I can see that." I rest my cheek on top of her head. Holding her closer

And he really could. When Carla let guard down it was obvious; the exhaustion from the sleepless nights, the fear and the insecurity, even the shame. The shame was the worst part to see, but Nick was so grateful that Carla let him in behind the façade. He hoped, he really hoped, that Carla wouldn't regret that she allowed him to see this part, she just looked so vulnerable, she had allowed someone else be strong for her for a moment. Nick promised himself to always be strong when Carla didn't have the strength to be.

"Remember, you're not alone in this"

Nick let Carla go to be able to look into her eyes. The vulnerability was still there, but the mask of control and distance slowly came back on her face again. Nick allowed it to happen and let his hands rest on Carla's waist until she moved away

"Promise me, if you ever get those thoughts again, you'll talk to me" Nick grabs Carla's hand softly kissing her knuckles.

"I'll try" She whispers. And she means it. She needed to find some focus in her life, and not the gambling or the drinking

"Dinner? Tonight. I'll bring something home from work" Nick pulls Carla from her thoughts.

"I thought you wanted to babysit me " Carla smirked, making Nick laugh

"As much as the thought of babysitting you entertains me, you're right. I need to go in today. There's a huge order coming in and Leanne will have my neck if I leave her to do it alone again" he sighs.

"Its fine, anyway, I should probably show my face in work. Make sure the girls aren't giving Aiden a hard time" she laughs at the thought.

"Work is good, it's progress " Nick smiles.

"Progress " Carla replies, returning the smile. She reaches up to kiss him "Now go home. Some of us have a job to get to" she teases

"Alright, alright " Nick laughs, holding up his hands up, "promise me you'll have breakfast before you go in though" he adds seriously, making Carla roll her eyes

"Yes, sir" she laughs after him as he heads back towards her bedroom, returning a few moments later wearing last night's clothes

"I mean it" he says as he pulls her towards himself, leaning down and kissing her softly "You're gotten awfully thin" he whispers, a hint of sadness to his voice.

"Go to work Nicolas" She sighs, kissing him back before closing the door behind him.

Progress. He was right. She needed to make progress. She walked towards her bedroom and pulled out her running shoes, maybe she could join a gym again, she needed the focus and she used to enjoy working out.

What harm could it do