Chapter Seven.

DISCLAIMER -I don't own Coronation Street or any of the characters.

The Rovers

August 3rd 2009

That evening as Carla made her way to the Rovers, she couldn't get Maddie out of her head, she still felt so guilty for what the poor girl had been through.

Sally had played the game better than anyone she knew, Carla would give her that. Carla prided herself on being able to read people. But in this instance, she was wrong, so very wrong.

"Hey, what are you having?" Leanne called out as Carla entered the pub.

"Eh, a red wine please," Carla called back over the hustle and bustle of the thriving pub.

Carla followed her line of sight to the table Leanne had gotten for them in the corner, away from prying eyes or rather prying ears.

"So, how was Rome? Soucy details and all." Leanne laughed, handing Carla her drink.

"I'll make you blush." Carla laughed in return.

"No, seriously though I'm dead chuffed for you. You seem to have finally found someone who is going to make you happy." Leanne told her friends, giving her a hug.

"Do you know something, I think I just might have," Carla replied.

Love sometimes casts you unawares, illuminating the dark corners of your mind and filling them with radiance. Once in a while, you are faced with a beauty and a joy that takes your soul, all unprepared, by assault.

As the two friends chatted away suddenly the pub fell into a deadly silence.

"You've not welcome here," Sean told the person. Turning away from them.

Carla turned her head to see that it was Sally who had come in.

"I think it's best you leave," Liz told her.

"I've said I'm sorry," Sally whispered.

"It's going to take more than a sorry, Sally," Hailey told her.

Realizing that she had well and truly burnt her bridges, Sally left.

"What was that about?" Leanne asked.

"You haven't heard?" Carla asked in amazement.

Leanne shook her head, so Carla filled her in.

"That was Sally?" Leanne asked, shocked.

"I know, I feel so guilty," Carla confesses.

"Eh, what have you got to feel guilty about?" Leanne asked her friend for a look.

"She was under my employment, it happened in my factory, take your pick," Carla replied, sighing.

"Carla, you didn't make her do what she did, that was all her. You have nothing to feel guilty about." Leanne told her friend.

"I suppose," Carla replied.

"So, in Rome? Spill and don't you dare leave anything out, missus." Leanne playfully ordered.

Carla laughed and went on to tell her best friend all about her trip to Rome.

"I've said it once and I'll say it again. You lucky cow." Leanne laughed.

"He wants me to meet his parents," Carla told her.

"Hey up, how long have you been together?" Leanne asked, almost choking on her drink.

"7 months," Carla told her.

"Close enough I suppose," Leanne smirked.

"You're not helping here, you know!" Carla playfully exclaimed.

"Ok, alright. 5 things you love about him." Leanne asked her.

"Kind, caring, considerate, smart and loaded, no, no I'm only joking. He takes me for flaws and all." Carla replied with a smile.

"There you go, you have a keeper. Mark my words, I'll be at your wedding a year from now." Leanne told her, seriously.

"Give over you. What are you like?" Carla laughed, playfully nudging her.

The girl's continued to chat the night away before they knew it, it was chucking out time.

"Have we really been nattering that long?" Leanne asked.

"Time flies when you're having fun." Carla laughed.

The two women chatted and laughed as they made their way down coronation street, parting ways as they got Audrey's salon.

Carla had just gotten past Roy's cafe when her phone began to ring.

"Guess who?" The person asked.

"Oh would it happen to be my devilish handsome boyfriend, would it?" Carla giggled.

"Busted, turn around," Frank told her.

Carla spun around on the spot.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she began to walk towards him, still on the phone.

"My meeting ended early as did my parent's dinner party," Frank told her.

Carla hung up the phone.

"Hi." She smiled at him.

"Hi back," Frank replied, pulling her into a passionate kiss in the middle of the cobbles.

"You staying?" Carla asked.

"I'm staying," Frank confirmed.

The next day.

"I have to go back to mine to get changed and whatnot", Frank told Carla over breakfast.

"What if you didn't have to commute every time you stay over?" Carla asked, with raised eyebrows.

"Come again?" Frank asked, confused.

"What would you say about moving in?" Carla smiled, remembering Leanne's words from last night.

"Are you serious?" Frank asked double-checking he'd heard her right.

"Yes, I'm serious, if you don't want to," Carla smirked.

"Get a set of keys cut, woman," Frank replied, smiling at her.

Home is not simply a mark upon a map any more than a river's just water. It is the place at the centre of the compass from which every arrow radiates and where the heart is fixed. It is a force that forever draws us back or lures us on, For where the home is, there lies hope. And a future waits. And everything and anything is possible.

"And another thing, I've been thinking. I'd love to meet your parents." Carla told him.

"Really? You would?" Frank asked, surprised.

"Yeah, how about this Friday? Is your diary clear?" Carla asked.

"Sod the diary, I'm cleaning it," Frank replied.

The whole week, Carla was a nervous wreck, meeting Frank's parents was a big thing, hehe made a good impression and they liked her.

Finally after what felt like an eternity. Friday rolled around.

Carl's nerves were getting the better of her.

"Darling you'll be fine because they will love you." Frank tried to reassure her for the millionth time.

"God, I hope you're right," Carla whispered to herself.

As the words came out of her mouth, the doorbell rang.

"Hi mum, hi dad. Come in." Frank told his parents, taking their coats.

"This must be the lovely Carla I've heard so much about." Ann smiled, opening her arms to give Carla a hug.

As Ann pulls back, she gives Carla a sort of wondering look.

"Everything okay, mum?" Frank asked.

"Yes, yes. Everything is fine. What have you cooked? It smells delicious." Ann complimented.

"Hi, you must be Sam?" Carla asked, giving the gentleman behind Ann a hug and kiss.

"The one and only and whatever my son has told you about me, it isn't true." Sam laughed.

"I'm sure it isn't." Carla laughed in return, feeling at ease.

The four sat around the dinner table and chatted away.

"So, Carla, tell us a bit about yourself," Sam asked.

So that's what Carla did, not everything. Just bits and pieces.

All the while, Ann had continued to study Carla from afar.

"I had nowhere to go and this lady, God bless her, she took…" Ann gently cut her off.

"You went to a cafe and brought your breakfast, is that you? You're that Carla? I knew it was you as soon as I saw the eyes. But I wasn't sure, dear God, it's you. I never thought I'd see you again, I'd always wondered what had happened to you. I thought I'd never see you again. Can I give you a hug?" Ann asked tearfully.

"You have that Ann? Oh god. Yes, you can." Carla replied just as tearfully.

Sometimes only when bonds are tested do we understand their strength. There are ties that endure for a lifetime no matter how frayed by fate. We can walk away and pretend that we forget them. The pain passes in the end. Or we can step into the future… blessed and strong, er than before because, when faced with change, our love held fast and did not break. Our lives were not severed but woven anew… and our joy not halved but doubled. I know,w, one day, I would encounter something like this.

"Wow, what are the odds of mum being that Ann?" Frank asked in amazement.

"Astounding I'd say. Frank, you're marrying this girl, do you hear me, son. Carla, welcome to the family." Sam smiled, raising his glass to Carla.

"What your father said, oh god I still believe it's you," Anna whispered in disbelief.

"I still can't believe it's you either. I always wanted to find you to say thank you, you changed the course of my life that day." Carla told her.

"I didn't do anything," Anna replied, softly.

"You did more than you'll ever know," Carla whispered.

"I still can't believe it, I'd never put the two together," Frank said, still trying to take it in.

"She's never told anyone your story, just that she met the inspirational teenager who was going to go far and she wasn't wrong," Sam told Carla.

"Thank you," Carla whispered, not letting go of Ann's hand.

The rest of the night flew by and before they knew it, it was close to midnight.

"As much as I hate to cut things short, it's nearly midnight and we all have work in the morning," Sam told the group.

"Yes, but you and I are definitely doing a girly day soon, no arguments." Ann smiled at Carla.

"Oh definitely, it's a date." Carla smiled back.

"Tonight went brilliantly, they loved you," Frank told Carla as they cleaned up.

"I don't know what I was worried about now, I still can't believe that woman all those years ago was your mum. What are the odds?" Carla asked in amazement.

"I know, she told me about you once, not your story. But she never forgot you. I just never in my wildest dreams thought I'd ever meet you, let alone fall in love with you." Frank told her honestly.

"It's Leanne, Peter has fallen off the wagon, again, I'm sorry love, do you mind?" Carla asks, apologetically.

"No, we finished here, you go. Your best friend needs you." Frank replied as he came out of the bathroom.

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" Carla asked, giving him a kiss goodbye.

"You just go and support your friend, I'll be here when you get back," Frank told her.

"I won't be long, I promise," Carla replied, heading out the door.

It didn't take Carla long to get to Leanne's flat, finding the door, Carla rushed in. Not thinking twice.

Leann's Flat

"Lee, you there? It's Carla, love. The door was open." Carla called out as she ran up the stairs.

The flat was pitch black, as Carla turned the light on, she got a shock.

"SURPRISE!" Came the cheer from all her girlfriends.

"What the?" Carla mumbled in shock.

"You honestly thought we'd let this opportunity pass us by? did you? And anyway it was all Frank's idea." Michelle laughed, giving her best friend/sister a hug.

"Was it? I have a good'un, don't I?" Carla replied, laughing.

"I've loved this, us all getting together. we thought we'd do it now while we had the chance." Leanne told her.

"I suppose." Carla smiled in return.

Carla and the girls partied for the next two hours without a care in the world.

"It's 2 AM, I have to go and you lot have kids to get up to." Carla laughed, giving each one of her friends a hug.

"Party pooper, I suppose you're right, God I'll be paying for this morning." Leanne groaned.

"Hmm, you're not the only one," Michelle told her.

"Night Mrs Connor and thanks again for inviting me, Michelle.." Sinead told her, as she left for the night.

"Aww, it's no problem, love," Michelle replied.

"Thank you, Sinead. For coming." Carla tells her.

Carla quickly made her way downstairs to the front door with Michelle.

The Rovers

The two chatted happily as they made their way to the Rovers

"Give me two minutes and I'll walk you home," Steve told her.

"You don't have to, I only live around the corner," Carla replied.

"I'm not having you walking these parts at 2 in the morning on your own," Steve told her.

"Thanks, Steve, but I'll be fine. Honestly." Carla replied.

"As long as you're sure, I'll watch you, just to be sure," Steve told her.

A few minutes later, Carla was making her way down coronation street, the street was like a ghost town without a soul in sight.

Carla felt that little bit safer knowing Steve was watching her get home safely. She wasn't on her own.

Carla didn't even see it coming, as soon as she turned the corner, she felt a hand cover her mouth.

"Scream and I'll kill you." The stranger hissed in her ear.

The next half an hour would change Carla's life as she knew it.

The first thing to attack Carla's senses was the light drizzle of the 3 AM rain, the type of rain, light yet leaves you ice-cold making you shiver.

The next thing she noticed was the gash to her forehead and the blood coming from her nose.

Carla sat up, carefully yet with the utmost caution.

Every fibre of her being hurt, she'd never felt pain like it.

Carla gave herself a once over, her heart sank into her stomach at the realization that had just happened to her.

Caleb also realised her bag was missing, slowly and shakenly she got to her feet.

Her flat was less than 100 yards away, stumbling, she eventually made it to the entrance of her apartment complex.

Lonely, scared and hurt, Carla repeatedly pressed her flat buzzer.

"Did you forget your keys again?" Frank laughed humorously.

"Help me!" Carla sobbed into the intercom.

Frank dropped the phone and ran downstairs as fast as his legs would carry him.

"Carla? Carla, God, what's happened, darling? Who's done this to you?" Frank asked, frantically, as he fell to his knees to catch Carla before she hit the ground.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't..it wasn't...I should have." Carla cried, unable to finish her sentence.

"I've got you, I'm not going anywhere, love. I'm never leaving you, ever again. I promise." Frank whispered softly,

"I need to get you some help," Frank told her, as he gently swept some hair out of her face.

"No! no please, please don't leave me, please, you promised." Carla pleaded, clinging to his neck.

"You need medical attention, love. You can't stay. I'm just going to Roy's. I'll never leave your sight." Frank promised.

He gently set Carla down on the pavement and jogged to the cafe, yards away.

Frank banged on the door as if his life depended on it.

"Roy! Roy! Open up! Roy!" Frank yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Have you any idea what time it is? I must stress…" Frank cut him off.

"Roy, call an ambulance, now!" Frank told him.

"Oh my god, what's happened?" Roy asked, hurrying to the phone in the cafe.

Hayley followed Roy downstairs and went outside.

"Oh my god, Mrs Connor?!" Hayley whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Hayley, have you got a blanket? Anything to put round her." Frank asked.

"There's One in the cafe," Hayley replied, running to grab it.

Coming back outside, Hayley carefully put the blanket around Carla.

"I don't understand, I only left her half an hour, 45 minutes ago at most," Hayley whispered in disbelief.

"I don't know, Hayley. I really don't know." Frank sighed.

"The paramedics are on their way," Roy informed them.

Hayley had never seen her boss/friend in such a state, she was always so put together, strong.

Less than 2 minutes later the paramedics arrived.

"Can you tell me what happened?" The female paramedic asked.

"We don't know, she arrived home in this state, I think she's been attacked," Hayley told her.

"Can you tell me her name?" She asked Frank.

"Her name is Carla, I think she's in shock. I'm her partner, Frank." Frank told her.

"I'm Sasha and I promise you, I'm going to take good care of Carla, Frank," Sasha told him.

It didn't take the paramedics long to load Carla into the ambulance.

Weatherfield General Hospital

Hailey and Roy had followed the ambulance to the hospital.

"I'm sorry, sir. You have to wait here." A doctor told Frank.

"I'm not leaving her!" Frank shouted.

"It's medical personnel only past this point. I'm sorry sir." The doctor replied.

Hailey and Roy joined Frank 10 minutes later.

A/N I hope you have enjoyed reading this. Keeping reviewing!

Shoutouts

CarlaConnor Lover

I'm glad that Sally has finally been caught out for what she has been doing to Maddie and that she's got the sack and I can't wait to see what happens next xxx

Absolutely! Can't stand bullies! I hope you like the twist! Enjoy! Xxx

Amymikk

About time sally got fired the heartless cow. I'm glad Carla dealt with it and frank and Carla are so cute. I'm glad they had a great time in Rome but poor maddie. I have a feeling people will disown sally but she got what was coming to her. X

Too right! I wasn't going to let Maddie down! Carla style! You think so?

They did, didn't they? I know, right? I feel bad! You'll have to wait and see! Enjoy xx