A/N: Hey sorry I haven't updated I've been ill all week and at college and work. I'm gonna try and get the next update out soon however I have decided to go in a different direction with this so it may take a little longer. Thank you for the reviews, it means so much and are so helpful.
L xx
Lia woke up to the sound of the wind and rain pummelling the windows, with a groan. She stretched before moving the sheets off of her and putting her slippers on, unlocking the door she walked out into the living room to see Carla sitting on the sofa, her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee.
"Hey baby," Carla smiled opening her arm for her daughter to sit next to her.
"Did you sleep?" Lia asked cuddled into her mother.
"Yeah sweetie, a bit," Carla nodded, "Did you?"
"Yeah, I was exhausted," Lia chuckled slightly.
"I'm not surprised," Carla answered, "Listen darling, how'd you feel about going to school today?"
"I was gonna mention that," Lia started, "I think I wanna go, you know get away from the street for a bit, even if that is to go to school."
"Wow you must really wanna escape," Carla laughed as Lia joined in, "I think I'm gonna go to the factory today as well."
"Mum, don't you think your going back a bit quick?" Lia asked.
"No, I'll be fine, honestly, I'll only go in for the morning and then I'll come home, I just wanna make sure everything's okay and take my mind off of life," Carla replied.
"I mean I can't argue with that," Lia nodded getting up and kissing her mum on the cheek.
"Go get ready and I'll drop you off babe," Carla smiled, "I won't make you get the bus in this weather."
"I know, how depressing, I thought May was meant to be summer," Lia complained.
"Well let's be honest it matches our luck right now,doesn't it," Carla smirked as her daughter laughed and walked off into their separate rooms.
"Carla!" Peter shouted running towards the factory as the women got out of her car, "Carla!"
"Morning Mrs Barlow," Sally greeted stepping out from the herd of umbrellas surrounding the factory doors.
"Carla!" Peter continued to shout running across the cobbled road.
"Right everyone, in, in, in there's work to be done," Carla chanted pushing the door open and holding it for everyone to walk in before walking in herself and attempting to shut the door.
"Wait!" Peter shouted putting his foot in the door, "Carla can we just talk please."
"Peter-"
"Carla please I never meant for any of this," Peter begged.
"Drop dead," Carla muttered before pushing him away, slamming the door and locking it.
She snapped her body to face her work force and strutted over so she was presented in-front of them, "Right we're a day behind on the McKnee's order so fingers to the bone today people. We're working with the door locked today so if anyone wants letting in that door today make sure you know who it is first I could do without any surprise visitors today, okay?"
"Yes Mrs Barlow," The workforce chimed as she nodded and walked into the office before reappearing.
"And from now on its Mrs Connor, clear?" Carla instructed as they nodded eagerly and began to work their machines.
Carla dropped down into her office chair and let out a deep breathe her head falling into her hand. She sighed before reaching forward and grabbing her phone then flopping back into her chair. She dialled a number on the phone before pulling it up to her ear.
"Rob, will you do me a favour"
"Yeah of course, are you alright"
"Yeah yeah I'm fine, I just need you to ask Tracy to get Peter's Key off him"
"Has he been hassling you again!"
"Rob chill it's just same old same old, I'd just feel better if I knew he didn't have a key"
"Right well I'll go get it from him"
"No Rob, not you, you and him don't need to see each other if at all possible. Ask Tracy, please?"
"Right fine okay, I'll come give it to you when she takes it from him"
"Awe thank you!"
"Don't worry about it, you ring me if you need anything"
"I will, thank you Rob"
"I'm here, remember that, yeah?"
"Yeah, I'll see you later"
"Bye sis"
It didn't talk long for Carla to get back into the swing of things at factory, there were many emails for her to reply to, meetings to book and contractors to contact. The factory girls continued to gossip about the current situation with her and Peter but she tried her best to just ignore there idle whispers and just carry on.
"Hey," Michelle smiled pushing the door open and leaning around the door.
"Hiya darling," Carla gave her a quick smile before continuing to type.
"Why was the door locked?" Michelle asked taking a seat in the chair opposite, "Beth had to let me in."
"Oh just keeping out the nonsense," Carla huffed pushing back on her desk chair.
"Peter, again?" Michelle sighed sympathetically
"He gives up in the end," Carla murmured playing with a pen.
"Do you want me to have a word?" Michelle asked as Carla began shaking her head.
"No don't bother," Carla half smiled, "I've asked Rob to ask Trace to get the key off Peter and apart from that I'll just carry on ignoring him."
"What's on your mind babe?" Michelle asked.
"Do you know how Tina is?" Carla questioned, "As much as I don't like her right now, the sooner she wakes up the sooner we can move past this whole thing."
"I don't darling, I'm sorry," Michelle sighed.
"It's alright," Carla nodded going to grab her phone that began to ring.
"Mum, we're you at?"
"The factory"
"What! I thought you were only going this morning"
"I know baby but I got carried away with myself, but Chelle's here now so I'll be an hour tops"
"Alright, well I was only ringing to say I'm going to Roy's with Rob, he said he'd buy me a milkshake and who can pass on that offer"
"Haha, alright darling, meet me in the Rovers after"
"Okay, love you"
"Love you too sweetie"
"So kiddo, what's with the long face then?" Rob asked putting his arm around his niece as they walked across the cobbles towards Roy's.
"Oh just school," Lia huffed.
"It can't be that bad," Rob commented.
"No its not just the usual," Lia explained pushing the door open to the café, "Its this whole thing with mum, Peter and Tina, everyone knows about it. And not only that but they want to know every detail, like they know but they don't know the details, so half of the school want to know the details and the other half is just ripping me apart for it."
"Have you said anything?" Rob asked reaching the counter.
"Yeah, a few choice words to Abbie, but that's it," Lia huffed.
"Afternoon Rob, Lia," Roy greeted.
"Hiya Roy," Lia smiled.
"What flavour d'you want?" Rob asked his niece.
"Strawberry please," Lia smiled.
"Can I get a strawberry milkshake and a coffee please Roy," Rob asked smiling.
"Er yes of course, on the house," Roy nodded.
"Awe thanks Roy," Lia smiled as Rob did the same.
"What about if your mam told a teacher or something?" Rob suggested.
"The teachers are just as bad, that cow of an English teacher'll jump at any chance to look down her nose at me," Lia huffed.
"I know its hard kid, but it won't be for long," Rob reasoned, "They'll get over it by next week."
"Yeah most will, but Abbie and her little gang won't, she'll just go on and on and on," Lia rolled her eyes before muttering, "I wanna rip that ponytail out of her head."
"Oh well that's positive," Rob smirked as she smirked back and rolled her eyes.
"One strawberry milkshake and a coffee," Roy introduced placing the glasses down on the table.
"Thanks Roy," Rob thanked as Lia smiled.
"Anyway, why is mum still at the factory, she doesn't need the stress," Lia asked.
"No one can drag her away, and if we try and interfere she just tells us to stop bothering about her and then walks off," Rob explained.
"Shock horror," Lia rolled her eyes.
They sat in there for a bit, they talked about when Tracy and Rob were going to have their wedding and where, Rob just wanted to try his best to distract Lia from school and everything else that was happening around her. They finished their drinks and started heading out of the café.
"Rob!" They heard a shout and turned around to see who it was, "Where have you been?"
Tracy came round the corner and walked over to them, "I just took Lia to Roy's for a milkshake, why?"
"Well I've been trying to find you, mam's doing her nut about Peter and I can't hear about it anymore. I mean I feel for him and all that but its all he talks about," Tracy explained.
"I'm glad you feel bad for him," Lia spat, "No one else does."
"Well actually not everyone thinks your mum is the angel she makes out to be and hates Peter as much as you two, I mean you couldn't turn on him quick enough, could you," Tracy replied.
"You're kidding aren't you," Lia scoffed.
"Right Trace can we talk about this later, I'm gonna walk Lia back to the Rovers," Rob sighed.
"Right fine, I'll see you back at mam's then," Tracy huffed before storming off.
"Bye auntie Tracy," Lia shouted waving to her as the woman turned around, a small smirk appeared on Lia's face as Rob laughed slightly.
"You're such a wind up," Rob laughed shaking his head.
They began to walk over to the rovers as a car pulled up behind them, just at the same time Peter walked along the street holding a bag of chips.
"Lia!" Peter shouted running over to them.
"Go away Peter," Lia huffed continuing to walk.
"Lia can I just talk to you!" Peter begged.
"Mr Donovan?" An officer asked stepping out of the car.
"Peter just back off will you!" Rob shouted stepping forward as Peter dropped his chips.
"What's it got to do with you!" Peter shouted back stepping closer to them.
"Oh is this you playing big man now," Rob scoffed pushing Peter back slightly.
"Mr Donovan!" The detective shouted over the two men, "We need to talk."
"I knew it was you!" Peter shouted pointing at him, "You did this to Tina!"
"Trying to cover up for yourself are you," Rob spat.
"Fine," The detective huffed, "Rob Donovan, I'm arresting you for the assault on Tina Mcintyre, you do not have to say anything-"
"Lia go get your mum," Rob muttered to her as the girl nodded and began to run up towards the factory.
She raced up the cobbles before bumping into Michelle and Carla midway.
"Lia what's wrong-"
"Rob's been arrested!" Lia exclaimed as the two women looked to each other and hurried around the corner.
"Rob!" Carla shouted getting his attention as the officer placed a set of handcuffs on him.
"Don't worry about me, tell Tracy where I am," Rob shouted as he was put in the back of the car.
"Great," Carla huffed as Michelle sighed sympathetically hugging Carla and Lia on each side, the car speeding off down the street.