Back to normality?

Chapter 65

Authors note: sorry for the wait. This one took a while. I've also been planning the carchella fic as I've had ideas that won't go away. Enjoy this one.

The next afternoon, Carla was sat up to the table writing an email to Scott when there was a knock at the door; keen to get it before it woke Peter up, who had woken with a migraine, she opened it and grinned.

"You came?"

"I promised, didn't I? Where is everyone?" She asked as she entered the flat with Mia in the car seat, grizzling, whilst Tom took the bags back to their flat.

"Si and Tilly and still at Ken's and Peter has a migraine" she answered as Michelle carefully settled the car seat on the table and lifted her daughter into her arms.

"You took my advice then?"

"It helped" she nodded, allowing Mia to grasp her finger. "And we talked, about the day and how I was feeling and the future"

"You doing okay?" She asked as she gently placed Mia into her waiting arms.

"I am; I'm just sending Scott an email for my two year update. How are you feeling?"

"Exhausted...but happy"

"She really is beautiful" Carla said, allowing her finger to gently stroke the newborns cheek. "How was it last night?"

"Put it this way, I'd forgotten what a sleepless night felt like" she chuckled. "But in all honesty, she wasn't too bad"

"You should go and get some rest" she said, gently placing Mia back into the car seat and fastening the buckle.

"I can stay til Peter's awake?" She offered.

"Thank you but I'm fine; I'm gonna send this email then I might take a walk, pick up Tilly, maybe see Kate"

"You sure?"

"Go be with your family; I'll bring you food tonight"

"Thank you; you've got the key so let yourself in whenever"

After a quick hug, Michelle left as Carla sat back up to the table; the brief visit from Michelle and Mia had given her the boost she needed to truly admit to Scott how she was doing. So invested in what she was typing, it wasn't until she heard the bedroom door open and looked at the time had she realised how long she'd been at it for; saving it for the time been, she shut the laptop and smiled as Peter took her hand and stood her up.

"Hows the head?" She asked, her hands wrapped around his neck.

"Much better; Tilly still at my dads?"

"Yeah, I was gonna go once I finished the email to Scott but once I started, I couldn't stop"

"Has it helped? Writing it all down?"

"A little; maybe you could read it later before I send it?"

"Course I will; how about we go and get our little munchkin and grab some lunch?" He suggested.

"Read my mind" she smiled, grabbing her handbag, forgoing a jacket due to the heat.

"Did Michelle come yet?" He asked as he took her hand as they left the flat.

"Couple of hours ago; baby Mia is so adorable"

"Still thinking about what we discussed?"

"I am; as much as I want it, there's so much to think about. That's why the email to Scott is so long; airing all my concerns and worries. I know he'll give me his honest, medical opinion but I also know it's gonna be different this time. I'm in a better place, mentally but we don't know how i might react to the change in hormones" she said as they approached number 1.

"We'll take it one step at a time; let's get our munchkin" he said, letting himself into the house.

Hearing their daughters laugh, they headed into the dining room where she was sat in the highchair, happily playing with her toys; seeing her parents, she squealed and held her arms out.

"Hey sweetheart, mommy missed you" Carla smiled, lifting Matilda onto her hip. "Has she been okay?"

"Absolutely fine" Ken answered.

"Thank you so much for having her at such short notice; we really do appreciate it"

"Anytime spent with my granddaughter is no inconvenience"

"We're gonna grab some lunch; would you like to join us?" Carla asked.

"Thank you but I have some errands to do"

"Okay, say bye to Granddad" Carla said, helping her to wave.

"Ba"

"Yeah, clever girl; see you Ken"

"Bye dad" Peter said, picking up the now packed baby bag and following Carla to where the pushchair was in the hallway.

Settled in the pushchair, Matilda babbled happily as they headed over to the Bistro, waving at Simon as they passed the garage; entering the Bistro, they settled down at a table as Kate brought a highchair over and lifted her niece onto her hip.

"Hi guys, any news on Michelle?" She asked as Matilda's hands found her way into her long ponytail.

"They were discharged this morning, both mommy and Mia are doing good" Carla smiled. "Which reminds me, can you get a couple of meals together for about 6ish for me to take to them?"

"Sure; in the meantime, what can I get for you two?" She asked, reluctantly settling Matilda in the highchair.

"Two lemonades please"

"Any food?"

"Carbonara for me please" Carla said.

"Steak and chips for me, ta"

"Medium rare?" Kate asked, double checking.

"Please"

"Okay; anything for little Tilly?"

"Maybe a bowl of pureed carrots? If Gary doesn't mind"

"He'll do what I tell him; won't be long"

As Kate disappeared into the kitchen leaving Ben to grab the drinks, the adults smiled at their daughter before looking at each other; squeezing her hand, he brought it to his lips to place a gentle kiss.

"I'm proud of you, you know?"

"What for?"

"Not giving up, for taking it one day at a time and beating it, for been an amazing mom" he answered as Ben placed the drinks on the table and disappeared.

"Hardly"

"That's our little girl there" he said, as they both watched Matilda playing with her bear. "Two years ago, we wasn't sure if you'd come back from it all and look at you now; you finally feel like you're back in control of everything"

"I do" she agreed. "This place is doing good, we have our family, Michelle has her new baby...what more could we want?"

"We're pretty lucky, aren't we?" He asked.

"We're finally happy; after everything we've been through, we still made it. We found our way back to each other; even through the psychosis, I knew I was safe with you. There's still bits I don't remember and to be honest, I probably never will but...whereas it used to scare me, not knowing what happened during that time, I've accepted that whatever it was, wasn't my fault and I can't change it"

"I love you, so much, and I can't wait for us to make it official again"

"Me too" she smiled, leaning over to kiss him as Kate approached with their food.