Sounds like bit of a strange one, but hopefully quite a cute instalment! I hope you're all keeping safe and well. Enjoy x

It was a decision that had to be made. Carla's back pain was getting worse and it was becoming harder to walk properly in stilettos, especially over the cobbled streets of Weatherfield.

Last week, she had finally made the plunge and bought a pair of comfy flat shoes to wear. But, she had been putting off wearing them. Although the shoes themselves were designer, and looked nice enough, Carla was worried about her image and what people would say. All her life she had put up a front and as she was scared to let it go.

"Nobody is going to look at you any differently. It's normal to wear comfy shoes when you're six and a half months pregnant. They aren't going to say anything, they won't care." Peter told Carla, smiling softly as he noticed she was looking into the mirror and was paying particular interest to her new shoes.

"I care." She snapped, her face straight and her tone deadly serious.

Knowing that his wife was stressed and worried about the day ahead, Peter made a mental note in his head, to make sure that this conversation didn't turn into an argument, despite the tone she had taken with him unnecessarily. A row was something that wasn't needed, and was the last thing that either of them wanted. Besides, although she was having more than most at the moment, his wife was allowed her off days. He thought as she was having his child, the least he could do is put up with her seemingly pointless stress and upset.

"I know you do." Peter replied, his voice softer as he finished putting his tie on, trying to keep the mood casual in an attempt to move the topic on.

"It sounds so stupid..." She began, as she sat down on the end of the couples bed. "But, I'm giving up my life, my body; my clothes are the only thing that I get to keep." She sighed, stopping herself from saying anymore. She didn't want to sound ungrateful, or like she didn't want the baby. She did. Even if the idea took some getting used to, Carla wanted to have a family with Peter more than anything in the world, but sometimes she felt as if she wasn't herself. She was used to her lifestyle the way it was. It had been something that she had to build from scratch and she was proud of her persona, even if it felt false at times. There was a time and a place for weakness, and she felt as if through the entire pregnancy she was becoming more and more vulnerable and she felt as if the real Carla was being exposed for all to see. It didn't matter too much if Peter saw her softer side. He was her husband, that was a privilege that over time, he had earned - through trust and by sticking by her. But, for everyone else, Peter's family, her workforce, her friends and neighbours, it was different.

Peter sighed silently. Days like this were becoming more frequent. Carla felt more insecure as the pregnancy was changing her body in ways she wouldn't have even thought of. Although he was trying his best to reassure his wife when she was feeling like this, most of the time, he felt as if he was getting nowhere.

"It doesn't sound stupid, love." He told her softly, as he sat down next to Carla on the end of the bed.

"Saying that just makes me feel like such a bad mum." She revealed, heartbroken at the thought of letting her unborn child down.

"You're not a bad mum, far from it." Peter reassured her, taking her hand in his.

"But I'm being selfish, Peter." She told him, looking up to face him. Peter's heart melted, as he saw the sorrow in her eyes. He pulled her into a hug.

"You aren't being selfish." He replied, planting a soft kiss in her hair. "You are the most selfless person I know." He added, as she sat up, pulling away from Peter slowly.

"I love this baby so much." Carla smiled, placing her hand on her bump. "I can't imagine what life would be like if we didn't have this little one on the way." She continued, with Peter snaking his arm around her waist, his hand coming to rest on top of hers. "I don't mean to sound like I don't want the baby." She told him, as Peter nodded, and looked at his partner nothing but love and warmth. "The clothes, the money, the job, the figure... I know none of it really matters, but everything is changing. I am changing so much. I just don't want to lose who I am." She concluded.

It was at moments like this that he wished that she could see herself through his eyes. To him, it didn't matter what she was wearing, or how she looked. She was beautiful regardless. But, he knew that her image mattered. Sometimes it was the only thing that kept her from breaking down.

He also knew that he was lucky. He was one of the only people that saw the real Carla. Behind closed doors, he saw the kind, gentle and loving mother-to-be, not the harsh, sharp-tongued, workaholic.

"You really don't have to worry about that, love." He reassured her. His voice filled with so much love and compassion. "I mean, sure, Baby is going to change the both of us, but I don't think that'll be a such bad thing." He mused.

"You don't?" Carla questioned, as Peter smiled softly shaking his head.

"Of course not." He chuckled slightly. "We're still going to be the same people on the inside. The only difference is that we'll have someone else to love and look after." He explained.

"I'm sorry." She apologised, looking down at the floor. "I'm just not thinking." She added, with Peter removing his hand from it's former resting place, and carefully pressed it onto her lower back. His other hand coming to move her head, allowing her to look up so that she was facing him. With this, the couple we able to make some much needed eye contact. She could see the sincerity in his eyes when he told her what she needed to hear, and what he felt. "You don't need to be sorry." He told her. Peter's voice was soft and low, bringing Carla comfort and calming her down.

"I know how much you're giving up to have this baby and I'm so grateful." He revealed. She began to tear up; yet another sign of ever present hormones. "I promise, I'm going to be there every step of the way." He added, catching her lips in a soft and meaningful kiss.

"Even if I'm only wearing flat shoes?" She dared to joke, laughing slightly as he chuckled with her. Peter wiped a stray tear from her cheek, still gazing into her eyes.

"You could be wearing clogs, wellies or you could go barefoot. It doesn't matter. I'll still be right by your side."

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