Work Text:
Carla ran her fingers over the knocker on the front door of number 6. Her keys were in her pocket, but she was unsure if using them was appropriate or intrusive. Realising she's been stood for some time, she knocks the door.
"Carla, you're home!" Betsy wraps herself around the brunette without hesitation.
"Hey darling."
Betsy keeps her face tucked into the crook of her neck, breathing in the familiar scent. If you were to ask the blonde, she'd tell you it smells like home.
"As lovely as your affection is, I'm freezing my nips off here." Carla tries for a short laugh. Betsy just pulls her in, clinging to the brunette as she closes the front door.
"Are you okay?" She settles on the sofa, at the opposite end to Carla through sudden fear that her affection is unwanted or too forward.
"Funny, I came here to ask you that question." Carla offers her a small smile, memories of a time where the blonde couldn't care less whether she was okay or not. Oh how far they had come.
"I asked first."
"Still feisty, I see. Personality intact." Carla notes. She takes a moment to really study the way the teenager is looking at her. She's been able to read her like a book since she first got to know her. "Come on sweetheart, come here." Betsy doesn't need telling twice. She melts into the embrace.
"I miss you."
"I miss you too, Bets."
"No, like really miss you."
"I can promise you I miss you more."
"When are you coming home?"
"I think at the moment it's more an if than a when." Her voice is soft, but thick with emotion.
"We want you home, with us. It's not right without you."
"Bets, I haven't been home for a while. I think you've both managed just fine without me."
"On the outside, maybe. Under the impression that you didn't want us, yeah. On the inside? Mum was like this weird shell of herself, nothing inside her."
"I can understand that."
"I wish we knew that you didn't leave us by choice."
"If wishing would have worked, I wouldn't have left you both in the first place."
"I know that... now."
"How's your mum?"
"Wouldn't know. She's been at work pretty much since you moved out."
"She's supposed to be resting and recovering." The concern lacing Carla's voice gives the teenager a shred of hope.
"Come off it Carla, when has mum ever done what she's supposed to do?" Instead of responding verbally, Carla nods, knowing that Betsy isn't wrong.
"Do you need anything here?"
"You." A stray tear rolls down Betsy's cheek and lands on the brunette's shoulder.
"How very drippy of you." A light giggle escapes the two as Carla imitates the blonde's usual line when they get a little too cheesy.
"Funny."
"I am. Really though, has your mum been food shopping or anything? Do you need any food? Toiletries?"
"There's food."
"Enough food though, Bets? Or mentally absent kind of food?" Last time Lisa was checked out, the fridge consisted of milk, butter and a few ready meals, the cupboards pretty bare with a few tinned foods.
"I'll ask her to take me later."
"I'll take you now."
"It's okay. I kind of just... want to exist with you for a bit."
"When have you ever not wanted to use my money for shopping instead of your own?" Carla teases.
"I'm not that bad!"
"Come on, we can exist together whilst we walk around Freshcos complaining about price inflation."
...
Carla had helped Betsy with a full food shop, ensuring there was enough for the Swains to have three substantial meals a day. She picked up some of Betsy's favourite treats for when she needed a 'pick me up' and even had it in her to get a few of Lisa's favourite indulgences.
"Thank you for today. It's been really nice spending time with you." Suddenly it's as if Betsy is the vulnerable 16 year old that waltzed her way into Carla's life a couple of years back.
"Always, Bets. I think I needed it just as much as you did."
"I love you." Betsy's voice is soft and sincere.
"I love you too, kiddo."
After a cuddle that promises all the unspoken things, Carla spots Lisa's car pulling up outside.
"Right, I'm going to get off now, darling."
"What? Why? I thought you could at least stay for dinner."
"What, so that you don't have to cook?" She's laughing but her heart is aching at Betsy's upset.
"I don't want you to go."
"I know, Bets. But I need to. Your mum and I need some space, we can't have that if I keep overstaying my welcome here."
"But Carla... Carla, this is your home. Our home."
"It's not mine right now, sweetheart. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Please do." Her eyes are wet and Carla is so close to caving in. She opts for the back door, unsure what she would say when walking past Lisa.
"Love you, Bets. Text me. Or call me. Any time. If you need anything. Okay?"
"Love you too. I will. And you will too, won't you?"
"Yeah." She thinks she would, but she doesn't think it's fair to pit Betsy between her and Lisa, to expect Betsy not to share these things with Lisa.
Betsy watches Carla close the garden gate behind herself as she hears Lisa close the front door.
"Why didn't you go to college?"
"Hi mum, lovely to see you too." Betsy scowls, moving towards the kitchen area to get a drink.
"Hi Betsy. Still doesn't answer my question though."
"College hasn't even started back up yet. If you must know, it was work that I was supposed to have today."
"Why didn't you go in?"
"Because unlike you, some of us aren't able to throw ourselves straight back into life after traumatic events."
"The bills don't pay themselves, Betsy. Besides, Carla is the one who pays your wages. Please don't start messing her around just because she's not living here at the moment." At the moment. Another shred of hope for Betsy to cling onto.
"I'm not messing her around. She asked me to take some time off. Paid. Told me that she wants me to look after myself and sort my head out before I go back."
"Serious business, knicker stitching. It's probably safer with a clear head."
"Yeah, so is throwing yourself out on the frontlines but what does that matter to you, aye?"
"Don't start with me Betsy."
"I wouldn't need to if you weren't doing exactly that, you shut everything and everyone off! Carla threw herself in front of a bus for us and she is currently living in a hotel! She should be here! At home, with us!" Betsy can't help but keep raising her voice. She's torn. Stuck between not wanting to leave Lisa's side so that she can soak up the fact that she's still here, still alive, and wanting to kick off until Lisa hears her. Really listens to her. Lisa has always been bad at working through her feelings and experiences, at communicating them. Betsy knows this now. She never used to get it and that's exactly why their bond was so fragile after Becky died. Carla taught Betsy a lot of the things she knows about her own mum. How she works. What she needs depending on the situation. How much time or space to give her. But right now it's hard for Betsy to think about what Lisa needs rather than what she herself needs. And if you were to ask her right now? She'd say she needs her mum.
Evidently, Lisa isn't in a position to give Betsy what she needs right now. So Betsy stomps her way up to her bedroom, deciding there's only one other way to fulfil that need.
She pulls her baby blue cabin case down from on top of her wardrobe and immediately stuffs the necessities inside. Her phone charger and Flopsy are the last things to go in, being the most important items. She tugs one of Carla's old hoodies over her head. Old being the key word here, because it's not Carla's anymore. Not since Betsy stole it very shortly after moving into Carla's flat. She initially claimed it was because her own hoodie was on it's last legs. What she never said was that it was really for extra comfort whilst Carla was in hospital with her kidney failing. Carla's scent often helped to ground her and helped to soothe her when she had a lot going on.
Hearing the shower running, Betsy decides to take the opportunity to get out without Lisa giving her a grilling.
"Ryan, what room is Carla in?" The blonde's breathing is ragged as she parks the small case beside her.
"Betsy, what are you doing here?"
"Came to see Carla."
"Does your mum know that you're here?"
"Don't know, don't care. What's the room number, Ry?"
"I believe it's Uncle Ry Ry to you."
"What's the room number, Uncle Ry Ry?"
"Does Carla know you're on your way?" He asks, handing Betsy a small card with the room number written down.
"Not exactly, I didn't have time to text."
"She'll be pleased to see you."
"I hope so. Thanks Ry."
Betsy heads straight for the lift, nerves taking over at the realisation that Carla might not actually want her here.
After a moment to gear herself up, Betsy knocks the door. She's grateful that Carla is actually in and doesn't leave her waiting.
"Hey kiddo, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted my mum."
"Is she still not home from work?" Carla's eyes travel down to the case beside the blonde.
"Not that one. I wanted you." It takes a second to land, but when it does it knocks the air out of Carla's lungs. The realisation that Betsy was referring to her when she said about wanting her mum.
"Betsy..." She immediately throws her arms around the teenager, tugging her further into the room along with the suitcase.
"Don't make it a big deal." The blonde lifts her pinky up as they pull back slightly. A laugh escapes Carla as she links the pinky with her own.
"Reputation, got it." The two get comfy on the double bed.
"I was uh, kind of hoping I could stay here with you?"
"Does your mum know you're here, darling?"
"Not you as well... I didn't tell her. I don't know if she's figured it out or anything but she wouldn't care anyway."
"Hey, you know that's not true."
"Isn't it? She wasn't bothered about my where abouts while she was working was she?"
"That's different Bets, and you know it. Work is her coping mechanism, burying everything going on up there. Of course she cares about you and what you're up to."
"Maybe. What's the bathroom like? Mum was showering when I left so I didn't get to pee... I'm busting." Another giggle. Carla realises than Betsy is actually the right level of sunshine she needed in this storm.
"It's fancy. Interesting decor, you've met Debbie." Betsy nods with a laugh, trudging over to the bathroom.
Carla feels unsure, but does what she knows she needs to.
'I've got Bets with me. She's safe. I'll bring her home tomorrow.'
"Why is mum calling me already?" Comes the teen's voice as she returns.
"I texted her."
"Whyyy?" She drags the word out.
"Betsy, I am not having her up worrying that you've not contacted or gone home all night. I told her you were with me and safe."
"What did she reply?"
"Nothing. I'm guessing she wanted to ring you first for details." As if on cue...
'Thank you. She's not answering my calls. Please tell her I love her.'
'She's in need of some tlc. I've got her. Of course I will.'
'Thank you. Having her eyebrow stroked helps her fall asleep, if she struggles.'
'I remember. Have a hot chocolate before bed, it helps you sleep. You need sleep too.'
"Does that look to you like she doesn't care?"
"I know she does. I do, it's just... she doesn't get that by drowning herself in work she's leaving me to drown alone."
"Your mum is built different, you know that Bets."
"You can say that again."
"You're going to keep me company here tonight, and then we'll take you home tomorrow."
"But I-"
"No buts, missy. Just because you've got me too, doesn't mean I'm only ever going to be good cop, got it?"
"Got it." Betsy's eyeroll is playful. "Anyway, I was thinking we could have pizza for dinner?"
"Of course you were..."
"Well you can hardly cook me anything in here, can you?"
"You mean I've spent ages in captivity and you're not going to cook it for me?" Carla is teasing, but it stings Betsy a little.
"When did you last have a proper meal?"
"Before I left, if we're not counting the inedible concoctions your mum was trying to feed me. Haven't been able to stomach anything since I saw the light again."
"She's literally been the one who cooks most of our dinners since we first moved in with you."
"Right, sorry, I meant Becky."
"Oh, yeah, can we not call her that anymore please?"
"It's your call, sweetheart."
"Thanks. So, if you haven't eaten since before she took you... should we maybe have dinner with mum? At home?"
"There's no need for that, Betsy. She probably wants the space as much as I need it."
"She doesn't." Betsy didn't even hesitate.
"I don't know..."
"She doesn't. She's miserable. I think it's pretty cool that you went through all that and didn't die. How many times have you nearly died now? I mean it's been like four times since you and mum got together." She adds an after thought... "I know one of them was my fault, so if we could maybe skip that part."
Carla lets out a low chuckle. She'd forgiven Betsy back when it first happened. If only the Betsy back then knew the Becky she was fighting to keep alive within their family.
"Quite dramatic really, aren't I?" Is the response Carla gives. "Come on then."
"I'm not going home yet, you said I can stay tonight." The blonde pouts, fluttering her eyelashes for extra measure.
"No? Well I am. We're going to grab pizzas and make sure your mum eats something. She'll need it after throwing herself into work." And that's exactly what they did. They turned up at number 6, minus Betsy's case which she had insisted on leaving at the hotel to prove she was going back with Carla, pizza boxes in hand.
Lisa had of course insisted she didn't need to eat, but she found it hard to resist as her girls were sat on the sofa and refusing to tuck in until she joined them. For those thirty minutes, things shifted, feeling like the couple got engaged only yesterday.