Maria returned to her house and manically paced up and down the lounge. Audrey came down the stairs after putting Erin down for the night and watched Maria concerndly. "Maria, where heve you been? Erin's been looking for you?" She asked as calmly as she could.
"I went to the pub I had to tell them all the truth"
"You mean about Liam being Carla's baby's dad" Audrey said going along with Maria's theory to keep her calm.
Maria didn't respond to the question she just continued to rant "Liam was there looking after Elliot, I suupose he wants to have a good relationship with his daughter's brother...well half brother....and Tony was there, poor guys been taken in by Carla's spell he really believes its his little girl" Maria said chuckling to herself.
"But Maria love, maybe it is his baby" Audrey reasoned.
"No Audrey everything adds up. When I had the abortion he went straight to her. He realised he no longer had a baby with me so he must of gone to ask her to let him be a part this babys life"
Audrey was shocked Maria couldn't see the madness in what she was saying.
Maria continued in her conspirisy, still pacing the lounge "but why would she say no? she clearly wants Liam....It must have been Tony's money....Ye she knows Liam is skint so she is keeping Tony sweet.....and thats why Liam's renting the flat in the same building so he can see his daughter when he wants"

Tony brushed his hand on the piece of paper that changed his life. He hadn't let himself spend time with Elliot until he had seen he was definately his father. Since then he cant imagine what his life would be like without Elliot, bu it was too late this time he had alredy fallen in love with Kalie. He could picture everything about her if he closed his eyes, surely life wasn't cruel enough to take that away from him. He was sure Carla wouldn't cheat, but now the seed of doubt had been planted it was growing unconrollably. He couldn't help his mind wandering to dark places. Is that why Carla gave Liam all that money to pay off the loan sharks, to silence him? Liam was so helpful to Carla in the final months of her pregnancy, Tony had asumed it was because he felt slightly guilty that Carla was struggling while he was recovering from his shooting. He tried to shake the thoughts out of his head, he so badly wanted to trust Carla but why would Maria say that?
Tony knew he was going to get little sleep that night. He walked through the apartment, checking in on Elliot and then moving on to the nursery. It was perfect the decorators had done an amazing job. It was painted creams and pinks and was filled with the most beautiful and expensive things Tony could find. Tony sighed, now it seemed taintedhe just couldn't gt the niggling doubt out of his head.

Tony was awoken the next morning by a liittle voice "wakey wakey daddy" Elliot said tapping his dad rather hard to wake him up, "Im Up Ell im up" Tony said grogilly, "daddy why you sleep on the sofa?" Elliot asked as Tony looked around realising that he must have fell asleep on the sofa perhaps after the several glasses of scotch he had had the night before as a 'nightcap'. "My bed felt lonely without mummy in it" Tony said as Elliot climbed on the sofa and sat next to his dad. "silly daddy" Elliot said as he passed Tony the tv remote to turn the tv on, "yeah silly daddy" Tony said more to himself than his little boy.

"what are you doing here?" Maria asked venomusly as she open the door to Liam. "i've came to pick Erin up" liam answered ignoring the fact that Maria was still in her pj's due to the fact it was still only 8 oclock. "this early she's only just woken up" maria said as liam shrugged "i pick her up every friday dont i", "well since you still havnt got a job..." Maria said knowing it was a sore subject to liam and likely to wind him up "im looking for one ent i, not that its none of your business anymore" liam said he hated being like this with maria he did love her it was just she was being irrational latley and they'd both said and done things to hurt each other. "dadda" Erin said as she stood up clapping her hands for her dad to pick her up, "yeah maybe daddy will take you to see you new sister" Maria said bitterly as liam laughed shaking his head "you really are pathetic ent yah, i swear on Erins life that baby has zero chance of being mine, but you cant seam to get your airhead around that can you" Liam said taking the bag from maria and storming out with his one and only daughter.

Carla gently dressed Kalie in her outfit ready to go home, she was overjoyed to have a little girl, she adored Elliot but it was lovely to have tiny dresses to put her newborn in. Tony had packed several tiny little outfits for Carla to choose from and she'd finally settled on a white babygro under a pink and white check pinafore dress. Kalie gurgled happily as Carla looked a her watch puzzled as to where Tony was, she'd thought he'd be through those doors as soon as visiting times opened in order for her to go home. Still perhaps Elliot was playing up for him she supposed as she wandered if Elliot was going to be less jealous of his new sister today.

Liam wandered into the foyer of the apartment complex with Erin in her buggy almost walking straight into Tony who was holding Elliot's hand tight in his. "Alright you off to pick Carla up?" Liam asked as Tony nodded but made no verbal response. "I bet you'll be glad to have your girls home. She's gorgeous that little girl of yours." Liam said continuing to chat not noting the annoyed look on Tony's face. "Look Liam, we should get going, Carla will be wandering where we are. Elliot we going to pick up your mummy and sister?" Tony said as Elliot nodded. Tony headed off to his car holding securely onto his son's hand wandering how on earth to even approach the subject with Carla.

"mummy" Elliot said running up to his mum as soon as tony opened the room door. "Hello darling, mummy missed you", "i miss you too" Elliot said continuing "and daddy did". "did you?" Carla asked laughing failing to note Tony did not answer or smile or anything of the sort really. "aww Tony dont she look cute?" Carla said as Tony picked up Carla's bag an indication that he wanted to go. "yeah" Tony said not really looking "whats up with you" Carla asked noticing how off he was being. "nothing" Tony said before returning his attention to Elliot "come on mate hold daddys hand", "i wanna hold mummys hand" Elliot said smiling adorably at his mother, "take your daughter then Tony" Carla said as Tony took the baby from Carla's arms 'surely she cant be Liams' Tony thought trying to shake the thought from his mind, 'no this was his baby, carla wouldnt cheat, he knew that didnt he?'. "what daddy doing" Elliot asked as it seamed Tony had just stood there transfixed for a minute or so "I think his looking at how beautifull his baby sister is, just like you are"

"Erin tell nana love you" Liam said plaing the phone next to his daughters mouth "say it erin" Liam encouraged "woo woo" Erin said as Liam held the phone to his ear once again "see i told you she say's love you...I know little genious im raising...Did michelle tell you Carla had the baby...yeah wont be planning on doing that anytime soon again...still have the cuts on me hand...erm dont know stuck in traffic or something...yeah Kalie...yeah...oh mum got to go someones at the door, yeah love you too, see you soon bye" Liam said putting the phone down and going to open the door.

Liam opened the door with Erin in his arms to find Michelle standing there.
"I've got the day off so I thought I'd see what my adorable neice is upto" she said breezing past Liam making faces at Erin. "Well I don't know, she a very busy baby today" Liam said attempting a joke.
"Very funny, you not got any plans then" Michelle said taking a seat.
"Nothing special, Carla's home today so we might take a trip upstairs and vist" Liam said.
"Well I'll tag along if you do, you think its going to be akward, I mean will you really be able to look at Carla in the face again after watching her give birth?" Michelle said chuckling to herself.
"I hadn't really thought about it but now you have I will be. Thanks Michelle!" Liam said sitting down on the floor with Erin and handing her some stuffed animals to play with.
"Don't worry, ill be there to make it as uncomfortable as possible" Michelle said now sencing her dull day may not be so dull.
"I think it will be awkward enough just with Tony? he seemed a bit off when I bumped into him today, I really hope he isn't paying attention to any of the madness Maria was spouting last night" Liam said analyising their meeting earlier.

As they approched the car, Carla was really starting to notice somthing was up with Tony. He hadn't said a word since they left the ward and she notice him looking distant and sad instead of the happy new dad she expected. "Mama, where does baby sit" Elliot said tugging on Carla's hand and pointing to the car.
"Kaile's got her own seat, did you not see it?" Carla asked expecting Tony to have fitted the new car seat. "Tony where's the new car seat?" Carla said looking in the car to see only Elliots seat. "Oh its in the boot I forgot about that" Tony said absent mindidly. "I don't believe you, I carry your child for nine months and then give birth to her and you cant even fit a car seat for us leaving hospital" Carla raged. "I'll do it now it wont take 10 mins" Tony said handing Carla a slumbering Kalie. "Kalie's not even two days old and we are going to have to stand in the cold" Carla said pulling Kalie's pink blanket further up to cover more of her. "Im cold" Elliot winged. Carla sighed she was worried about Tony's behaviour, perhaps he wasn't as happy to be a dad again as she first thought.

"It's okay sweetheart, daddy just needs to fix Kalie's seat for her. Then we'll go home hmm." Carla said as she gazed down at her son who was kicking a pebble on the floor. Carla sighed as Tony silently installed the babyseat into the car. She wasn't sure what to think about his mood and the last thing she wanted right now was to get into an argument in the middle of the hospital carpark. "I'll sit in the back with these two." Carla said as Tony gave the babyseat a decent tug to check it waqs secure. "Do you want to put her in?" Carla asked doftly as Tony shook his head.

"Nah I'll put Elliot in." Tony said as Carla frowned not sure what to say. He'd seemed so happy when Kalie was born, like an excited eager dad with a new daughter but now he seemed distant, detached from them. She shook her head and instead concentrated on lowering Kalie into the carseat fighting back at the tears that were threatening to fall at the way Tony was been with her, with Kalie.

"So Maria still insists that you and Carla have been with each other again?" Michelle said as Liam nodded, bouncing Erin on his knee slightly. "Yeah, she's deranged I swear. Yeah me and Carla had something once but we both have kids now, we're both married. Why would we mess that up?" Liam said as Michelle sighed. "I know you wouldn't but maybe Maria's still got insecurities about what happened. I mean you and Carla do tend to rely on each other a lot."

"She's my best friend Chelle. She knows me better than I know myself sometimes and yeah I did think at one point we could've made a go of things but now we both know we're best just been friends. Maria's got nothing to worry about on that front." Liam stated as Michelle shrugged not knowing what else to say.

"Mummy, why you crying?" Elliot asked as Carla shook her head "oh just ignore me baby" Carla said as Tony could tell in her voice that she was fighting back tears. "whats the matter" He asked as carla rolled her eyes "nothing" Carla snapped. "sounds like nothing"Tony said sarcasticly as, "what is wrong with you?" Carla asked as Tony remained silent.

"Im sick of him, if it wasnt for Erin id get up and leave just to get him out of our life" Maria said as audrey nodded listening to her "Lovely it wasnt to long ago you were infatuated with the man". "But he hurt me and he, he cant understand why i did what i did and her,  god i cant even explain it" Maria said starting to think she sounded a little irrational although it seamed logical in her head.

carla walked into the flat again her holding Kalie and Tony carrying Elliot. "Elliot go play in your room" Tony said, as Elliot went to sit on the sofa to watch Tv, "but Daddy..." Elliot began as Tony shook his head "go on, you can have thomas on in a minute. "what" Carla stated as she stood in the open plan kitchen and lounge holding Kalie. "I need to ask you something" Tony said as he looked at carla to see her reaction to the question, "what!" Carla said annoyed that Tony had ruined the day she bought her baby home, "Is Kalie mine Carla?". "what the hell Tony, OH course she's  yours how can you ask that!, dont you trust me" Carla said outraged at what he had asked. "no of course i do, i love you more than anything in the world, you are my world, you and Elliot but Maria she" Tony said as carla shook her head "what the hell has maria got to do with this"

Tony sighed knowing that Carla was liable to get even more angry when she heard what Maria had stated. If he was honest he knew he shouldn't have taken her words to heart but it was true Carla and Liam were close. Carla placed Kalie down into the moses basket that had been placed in the living area and turned to face Tony. "Okay are you going to tell me what that silly airhead has been saying about me, that made you think our daughter isn't yours?" Carla said her hand poise on her waist.

"She...she said that Li..Liam's Kalie's dad." Tony mumbled as Carla arched her eyebrow slightly. "What? I...I know I should've just ignored her but Car, once you and Liam did have something."

"Yeah years ago. I cqan't believe you listened to her. Just 'cause her marriages has gone wrong doesn't mean she should try making everyone else's not work. Tony, Liam and I haven't even looked at one another like that in years." Carla said slightly annoyed that her husband could think her capable of such behaviour.

Audrey frowned not wanting Maria to get angry or upset but certain that she was wrong in her accusation. "Love why would Carla and Liam go back with one another again?" She reasoned as Maria shrugged.

"Because they both are arrogant, ego-centric and I don't know Liam wants more kids, she's willing to give him them." Maria snapped as Audrey frowned not knowing what to do or say to make Maria see she was been irrational. "But lovely maybe you're just seeing something that's not there."

"Not there! Audrey he was there when she gave birth, why else would he be there other than the fact that he's the dad."

"Well from what I heard in his defence Carla was on her own, Tony was stuck in traffic. She probably was just glad to have a friend about."

"Or she wanted him there to see their daughter been born." Maria argued as Audrey sighed not knowing how to make Maria see sense.

"can i watch Thomas now" Elliot asked walking out of his bedroom as Tony nodded flicking the tv on and changing the chanel. "so do you forgive me" Tony asked carla knowing that now she was highly likely to go in a strop with him, "maybe" Carla said as Tony laughed "how about if i cook you lunch", "you was cooking lunch anyway darling" Carla answered with a smirk, she would have usualy been more annoyed at Tony for his complete lack of faith in her but since there daughter was only 2 days old she thought better than to start a fight with him.

"Hey should we go visit your aunty Carla and the new baby" Liam asked Erin as she babbled away still trying to grasp walking as she took a few steps before falling to her bottom. "are we going then" Michelle asked as liam nodded "i dont know why your so eager its only upstairs plus you've already seen her", "i Know but she's so tiny, she gorgeous ent she aww" Michelle cooed as Liam laughed slightly at his siters broodyness.

"Mummy me want cuddles" Elliot said instantly as his new sister began to cry, "oh babes go give daddy a Cuddle" Carla said as she picked Kalie up, "i think this one wants feeding" Carla stated as Tony Picked Elliot up much to the little boys annoyance, "no i want mummy cuddles!" Elliot stated stubornly, "Tony do you just want to heat up a bottle for Kalie if i take this little monkey" carla said passing Kalie to Tony as she picked Elliot up to please the small boy she guessed it was difficult for a 2 year old to understand all what was going on.

Elliot snuggled against his mother glad to have her undivided attention, he wasn't sure he liked the new baby, she seemed to want lots of mummy's attention. "I'll do jacket potatoes with beans and cheese." Tony said as he rubbed Kalie's tiny back as he held her against his shoulder. "Hey shush sweetheart, daddy'll get you a bottle." He cooed as he wandered how he could have even contemplated the idea that this beautiful little girl wasn't his. How had he let Maria poison his mind.

"You want a sandwich or anything Chelle?" Liam asked as he sat Erin in her highchair and fed her a jar of chicken and vegetable babyfood. "Erm if you're making one yeah I guess. Hey has Carla asked you to be godfather or anything?" Michelle asked as Liam shook his head.

"Nah and well I am Elliot's godfather, she might want someone else to be Kalie's godfather, hey you never know they might ask Ryan." Liam said as Michelle nodded, her dark hair bouncing slightly as she moved her head. "I guess that's possible. I wonder if I might be godmother. They asked Tony's sister-in-law last time so I think I should be asked." Michelle said as Liam chuckled at his sibling.

"I wonder how Elliot's taking to her, he wasn't too impressed yesterday was he." Michelle said as Liam chuckled recalling his nephew's attitude yesterday. "Aww I'm sure he'll be okay, he just needs to get used to sharing Tony and Carla's attention. He's so used to be number one especially after Tony got shot." Liam said as he wiped Erin's messy chin with the edge of her bib. "You okay seeing the new baby I mean after everything in the past few months with Maria and the ab..abo..."

"I'm fine Chelle. I'm happy for Carla, I never really saw her as a mum but she's been great with El and I know she's going to be as great with Kalie." Liam said as Michelle smiled.

Tony walked back into the lounge area with Kalie supported in one arm and a warm bottle in the other. He went to take a seat opposit Carla and Elliot but Carla shook her head. "Sit next to me, let Elliot watch Kalie have her bottle" Carla suggested, wanting Elliot to get used to Kalie. Tony nodded and sat down next to Carla who had Elliot on her lap. Carla sighed as Elliot barely acnologed the baby, he was quite content resting his head on her chest and sucking his thumb. "Have you checked the temperatures alrite" Carla asked slightly paniced that Tony would burn Kalie. "Yes, its not been that long since Elliot was this age" Tony said chuckling slightly at his wifes over protectivness. Tony looked down as his daughter let out a tiny cry. "Here you go gorgeous" He said slipping the bottle into Kalie's mouth. Carla watched proudly at how Tony was relishing feeding Kalie. Carla and Tony both looked at each other nervously as Elliot leaned over to take a look at Kalie but they both sighed disapointedly as Elliot leaned back on Carla turning his head so he could no longer see Kalie.

I wander when they will let us babysit Michelle asked excitedly as Liam passed her a sandwhich. "Oh I think I can wait, a newborn and a two year old sounds like a lot of hard work, I think i'll leave them to it" Liam said jokingly.
"You know you would love it" Michelle said not really thinking about how close Liam had become to being in a similar situation as Carla and Tony.
"Ye I would" Liam said sadly.
"Sorry I wasnt thinking"
"No dont be daft, Im really pleased for them, really. I even looked out some of Erin's old clothes to give them" Liam said pointing to a bag full of baby girl clothes.
"Carla, dressing her princess in cast offs. Are we thinking of the same Carla?" Michelle asked.
"Well there not exactly the designer stuff shes bought but some of them are cute" Liam argued.

Tony gently rubbed Kalie's back to wind her as he cast his eyes towards Elliot who seemed happy to simply cling to Carla's top. "Elliot, what's up?" He asked not knowing why Elliot was so reluctant to accept Kalie as his new sister. Both Carla and he had included Elliot in everything, shown him books that had been suggested to help toddler accept a new sibling. Elliot didn't respond just nestled further into his mother's chest. "Look why don't you put Kalie in our room in her cot?" Carla suggested sensing that Elliot needed both her and Tony's reassurance that Kalie wasn't here to take away their affection from Elliot.

"Come on Lee." Michelle said as Liam laughed at her eagerness to go and see her new neice.

"Calm down she's hardly going to go anywhere is she. She's two days old. Let me at least change this one's nappy, don't want her getting grouchy up there and setting Kalie off screaming too." Liam said as he undid the nappy bag, which turned into a changing mat. "Oh yeah, do that first."

"she's asleep at for the minute" Tony told Carla as he walked back in from placing Kalie in her cot, "ok" Carla said as she stroked Elliots hair down. "whats the matter Elliot" Carla asked as he shook his head "want mummy cuddles" He stated once again as he clinged onto his mother. "you've had lots of cuddles today Ell havnt you" Tony asked as the little boy nodded his head turning his head away from him mother and towards the TV a little more now that he realised the baby was out of the room.

"his not getting it is he" Tony said as Ellior sat on Carla's lap engrossed in the eppisode of thomas the tank he was watching. "he will i guess he just feels threatened at the moment" Carla said as Tony shrugged his sholders. "I'll get that", Tony stated as someone knocked the door. "Hello" Michelle said keeping her  voice down incase the baby was asleep, "hiya, come in" Tony said as he allowed Michelle, Liam and Erin to enter, "so wheres the baby then" Liam stated as Tony explained that she was asleep in her moses basket in their room. "Hello Elliot, hows your baby sister?" MIchelle asked. "I no like baby" Elliot stated stubornly as Michelle looked at carla who shrugged "his been like it all morning".