'It is going to be a hard 3 weeks then' Peter said sadly not wanting to contemplate leaving his children
'Will we be able to hold them anytime soon?' Peter asked
'Yes, later on today, we need to take a blood test, to check their health, and also in Carla's notes there is a request for a DNA test' the nurse said
'Ah yes, how long will it take for the results to come though' Peter asked
'A few hours, I will take the test now, why don't you go and be with Carla' the nurse said
'Alright, we will be back soon' Peter said

"Sir I need to take a quick swab from you for the DNA test." The nurse said as Peter nodded.
"Yeah curse, erm listen would you do me a favour and if the results aren't what we want let me open the envelope. I know it sounds odd but she needs to know it doesn't matter to me." Peter said not wanting to go into the full details. The nurse nodded as she handed him a cotton swab.

Peter gently opened the door to the room Carla was in and smiled slightly seeing her lay in the bed. "Hey you, I told you to be with the babies." Carla said as Peter smiled.
"I know but they're alright. I wanted to come sit with the most amazing woman in the world." Peter said as he gently took Carla's hand. "You must have got lost then." Carla said as Peter chuckled. "The nurses took some pictures for you." He said as he handed her the photos.
"Oh look at them." Carla said as she gazed at the snaps.

'I can't wait to hold them Peter' Carla said looking at the photos
'The nurse said we may be able to hold them later on today' Peter said
'That would be amazing. I want to feed them' Carla said her maternal instincts already strong
'You wont be able to do that for a while I am afraid' Clair said
'I know, how long will it be' Carla said
'It really depends on their progress, once they reach around 4 and half pounds then they will be able to digest your milk properly' Clair said

"We would advise you to express for them thoughso we can feed it to them in small quantities down the feeding tubes. It's just with them been early they probably won't be able to digest it so easily." The midwife explained as Carla nodded.
"Well do they need some now. It's just..."
"They hurt, that's because all the milk has come through, if you wait I'll go and get something so you can express the milk for your little ones." Claire said as she headed out of the room.
"Have you rang Leanne so Simon knows?" Carla asked as Peter shook his head.
"It's only 5am love. I'll ring in a couple of hours but Chelle did ring Darren. Though I don't know what she said."
"Is she still here?"
"Yeah. Do you want to see her?" Peter asked as Carla nodded.

"hey well done you" Michelle said hugginqng Carla.
"could you hear me all through the hospital?" Carla said with a yawn.
"I was only outside but Peter told me you done amazingly. How are you now?" Michelle said taking a seat next to Carla.
"sore..and tired but it was all worth it when I saw them"
"ye right little beauties they are, I saw themom their way to the scbu" michelle said as Peter nodded in agreement.
"the midwife wants me to get a few hours sleep before I can see them again"
"I think she's right love your body needs rest and I promise they are both in good hands just getting settled on up there" Peter said.

"Peter's right, then when you go to see them you'll be alert and will be able to stay longer." Michelle said as she sensed Carla hated that she was apart from her twins. "I just feel like I'm failing them, not been with them right now." Carla said as Peter shook his head.
"The doctors and nurses know what they're doing and those two are fine. You get some sleep, because you deserve it after all that hard work." Peter said as he gently leaned over to kiss Carla.

"Right I'll sit with her for a bit, why don't you ring Simon. I can imagine he's busy pestering poor Leanne." Michelle said as she and Peter sat in the small room, Carla having reluctantly fallen asleep an hour or so ago. "Thanks Chelle. I'm just going to find out whether they'll let Simon into the SCBU to see the twins." Peter said as he got up and left the room.

"Hey you two, your mummy is having a well deserved sleep but she will be up in a little while to see you" Peter said not being able to resist going to see his babies when he came to the SCBU.
He smiled seeing his son was asleep but his daughter awake and looking up at him.
"hello princess" he said to the tiny baby. He looked around seeing other fretful parents and was thankfull that so far his children were doing well, he knew a lot of the babies would be seriously ill.
Hi Mr Barlow, they are both doing well" one of the nurses said.
"Is Esmee warming up? just I see she is still in that blanket" Peter said.
"I am just going to take that off of her now since her temperature is stable" the nurse said reassuring Peter.
"I came up to ask- I have an eight year old son, will he be allowed in here with Carla and I?"
"Oh yes, we try and limit it to two per bed but if its to let a sibling in we will make an exception. Hows your partner doing?" the nurse said as she carefully entered Esmee's incubator.
"She is desperate to get up here but thankfully she has agreed to a few hours rest. Oh and she is keen to express her own milk for the two of them so when shehas we will get it up for them"

"Oh poor love, she must be worn out" Claire said in a whisper to Michelle as she came in to Carla's room to fine her asleep.
"Hopefully she will sleep for a couple of hours, it would have done her no good seeing them as tired as she was" Michelle said as Claire left things for Carla to express milk for her babies.

"Bye bye you two, be good for the nurses." Peter said as he smiled at the pair glad they weren't struggling as much as he worried they might. "You let me know when your partner wants to come up and we'll get a wheelchair organised." The nurse said as she checked Harry's stats.
"Thanks. I can't imagine it'll be too long." Peter said knowing once Carla awoke they'd be up o the SCBU as soon as she was allowed.

Peter got his phone out and dialled Leanne's mobile hoping she wouldn't mind if he woke her but it was more sociable hours now. "Hi Leanne............Yeah erm they're in the SCBU.......They're perfect Lea, so tiny but god I love them so much...............She was brilliant, in so much pain but she did as she was asked........She's asleep now, yeah will you bring Simon up around 10ish, they said he's okay to go in and see them...........Yeah I've got to ring Dad yet." Peter said as he smiled as he imagined how lovely it would be to see Simon with the twins.

Nick looked oddly as Leanne seemed to be almost dancing round simon who was asleep on the sofa.
"What are you doing?!" Nick asked.
"The babies are here- I want him to wake up so I can tell him"
"Are the babies ok?" Nick asked.
"Ye, they are tiny but healthy Peter says"
"And how is Carla?"
"Oh she was sleeping when he called but Peter said she did amazingly" Leanne said.
"You want a coffee?....Why don't you just wake him up?" Nick asked.
"Oh no thanks I already had one. If he's not up in half an hour I will wake him, its just he was up most of the night so he could use the sleep"

"Dad, hi it's me. Are you sitting down?.....The babies have been born....this morning about half three and four....oh don't worry they are tiny but they are doing well. I am going to get back to Carla so I will let you tell Dierdre....ok I will see you later, bye" Peter said before haging up the phone.

Ken sat down a little shell-shocked that his grandson and granddaughter had arrived so prematurely. He was glad that Peter said they were doing well but he knew it could still be a struggle for the little ones. "You okay love." Deirdre said coming downstairs in her dressing gown. "Th..that was Peter. Carla had the twins earlier this morning." Ken said as Deirdre furrowed her brow. "That's early, oh Ken they're okay aren't they." Deirdre said feeling a dull ache at the pit of her stomach. "Yeah just very tiny."

Peter walked back into Carla's hospital room to find Carla propped up against the pillows and expressing some milk into labelled bottles for the nurses to store. "These can be stored for about three days and it's going to be of a huge help to them getting stronger." Claire said as Carla nodded.

"Look Peter, I've nearly done two bottle full" Carla said proudly as Peter took a seat next to her.
"You are just amazing you know that....Does it hurt?" Peter asked curiously.
"A little bit but its nothing compared to the pain of earlier, I don't think I will ever complain of pain after that....You are coming nowhere near me for a very long time!" Carla said making Peter chuckle.
"Did you get Simon?" Carla asked.
"I spoke to Leanne but he was asleep so she is going to bring him in a bit later" Peter said as Carla smiled.
"And are the little ones still ok?" she asked.
"Yes they are fine and being well looked after by the nurses up there so don't you worry" Peter said.
"I can't wait to see them again, the photos just arent the same" Carla said.
"You think you can express another bottle full Carla before you go up and see them?" Claire asked.
"Ye I suppose with the two of them they will need all milk I can give them"

"Lea." Nick said as he looked to the couch where Simon looked to be stirring a little. Leanne put down her toast and turned in her seat. "Morning sweetheart. Do you want some breakfast?" She asked as Simon nodded rubbing his eyes tiredly. "What would you like sweetie? Nick can make you some toast or you can have some cereal." Leanne said as she got out of her seat at the table. "Simon love, your Dad called earlier to say the babies were here." She said gently as Simon's lip trembled. "They'll be too little." He said as Leanne gently wrapped her arms round him. "Oh love, they're okay. Your Dad said they are getting some help to breath and get their milk but otherwise they're okay. So after breakfast I can take you up to the hospital so you can see your brother and sister."

"Can I go see them both now please?" Carla asked as Claire labelled the last bottle of breastmilk and put it on the side to take to the fridges in the Special Care Nursery. "Yeah, I'll get a porter to come and bring you a wheelchair." Claire said as Carla rolled her eyes as she felt daft going in a wheelhair but she was still aching after the birth.

"I can wheel her up thanks mate" Peter said to the porter after heping Carla into the wheel chair. He knew she would be hating being pushed around and he hoped she would find it a little easier if he was pushing.
"Peter, come on I want to get to them" Carla said pleadingly.


"Hi there, you must be Esmee and Harry's mum" the nurse at the SCBU said as Peter wheeled Carla into the special ward.
"Is it ok I gave them those names? I just wanted them to have proper names and we were pretty much decided on them" Peter asked.
"Yes they are perfect for them" Carla said looking around for her babies.
"They are just over here" Peter said pushing Carla towards the two incubators.

"Hi there, I'm looking for Carla Connor or Peter Barlow" Darren said arriving on the maternity wing if the hospital with two balloons, 'Its a boy' and 'Its a girl'. He had phoned into his work and persuaded them to give him the day off since he didn't think he could cope all day without seeing his niece and nephew.

"And who are you please?" The receptionist asked wearingly as Darren tapped his feet anxiously. "My sister Carla, she gave birth early to twins." He said as he heard someone call his name. "Hi Darren, you remember me surely." A dark haired woman said.
"Yeah it's Chelle isn't it." Darren said recollecting the woman from Carla's wedding to Paul over a decade ago. "Yeah, the twins are in the Special Care Baby Unit. They're absolute belters the pair of them."

"Oh look at him. Hello sweetheart, are you been a good boy for the nurses." Carla said as Harry wriggled a little in his incubator. "They're both been little stars." The nurse said as Carla smiled gently stroking her son's tiny arm. "You can have a hold if you want. You just have to mind the tubes and wires but they'll both like been close to you and their dad." The nurse said as Carla nodded. "I'll help you to hold your little girl too in a minute." The nurse said as she she lowered the flap on the incubator so she ould gently lift the baby boy up.

"Hello there Harry" Carla said as the tiny baby was put into her arms, she felt an overwelming amount of love for the tiny boy who she was just seeing for the second time.
"I can't believe this time yesterday he was inside me, he is just amazing, they both are" Carla said running her thumb over Harry's cheek.
"He obviously recognises your smell, he is just so content with you" the nurse observed as Carla sat absorbed in her son.

"and hows Car doing? Darren asked.
"She is tired but doing well. She was great at the birth but obviously she was really upset about them being so early" Michelle explained.

"Yeah obviously, did they have to do a ceaserian or what?"
"No she had them naturally, she was amazing. I've seen them and they are absolutely beautiful, just very tiny." Michelle said as Darren smiled.
"Course they would be related to me aren't they." He said as Michelle led him towards the Special Care Baby Ward.

"And here we go, she does need to be kept wrapped up warmly as she does seem to be struggling to maintain her tempreture properly." The nurse said as she gently handed Esme to Peter who looked down adoringly at his baby daughter. "You know she's the spit of you love, look at those wide eyes." He said as Carla looked over.
"She's got you absolutely ensnared around her little finger already." She said as Peter nodded.
"I think you might be right. Hey little guy what's that noise for?" He said as Harry let out a little grunt.

"Maybe he is hungry....I expressed milk for you and your sister, hopefully that will keep you going for a while little one" Carla said to her lttle boy who wriggled sleepily in her arms.
"Simon is just going to love these two" Peter said glancing between his son and his daughter.
"He will, I can't wait to see his face when he meets them for the first time...maybe we can put a few little toys in theor incubators like some of the other babies have" Carla said as Peter nodded.

"Hi we are looking for Peter and Carla" Michelle said as the door to the SCBU was answered by a nurse.
"They are holding the little ones at the moment, you want me to get one of them for you?" the nurse asked.
"Oh no I don't want to interrupt that, just tell Carla that her brother Darren is here with Michelle but we are happy to wait until she is ready" Darren said.

"Carla I have a message for you, your brother Darren is outside with a Michelle.They said they are more than happy to wait out there but just to let you know they are here."
"Erm I know you said it's really only two visitors to each cot but well with twins is it possible for extra?" Carla asked as she really wanted Darren to meet the twins as she knew it was partly them that was keeping him out of prison. "Well since it isn't busy in here, only four cots been used then I suppose it won't be too crowded." The nurse said as Peter sat marvelling at Esme who had gripped his finger tightly with her miniscule hand.

"If you want to just wash your hands for me and before we go in none of you have had any illnesses in the past fortnight."
"No. Can we come in?" Michelle asked as the nurse nodded.

"so is this them" Sarren asked as he neared Carla and Peter with a twin each still in their arms.
"no Daz, these are just babies we borrowed!" Carla said cheekily.
"oh Carla they are amazing, I can't believe my baby sister is a mum"Darren said as he crouched next to where Harry was nestled in his mummy's arms.
"I can't quite believe it either" Carla said as Darren kissed her cheek.
"and how are they....you know health wise?" he asked.
"the tubes look scarier than they are, the doctors said they got to a good wait for the gustation and seem to be doing well"
" thats good and do they have names?" Michelle asked.
"yes this is Harry Liam Barlow and Peter has Esmee Grace Barlow"

"Oh they're gorgeous names." Michelle said as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue. "Hello sweetheart, aren't you going to be a little heartbreaker." She said as she looked down at Harry who was quite content lying in the safety of his mother's arms. "And look at this little princess. Car she looks just like you did when you were a baby." Darren said as he looked at his niece. "You were only like seven when I was born as if you remember what I looked like!" Carla said pointedly as Darren chuckled. "Actually she's far sweeter than you were. You were horrible chewed on my favourite toys and that."

"Leanne can we go yet?" Simon said impatiently bouncing up and down. "In a minute Si, I'm just going to pop into Rita's to get a stamp for a letter and then we'll go get your grandparents and head up to the hospital. You can have some sweets if you want." Leanne said steering the excitable Simon into the Kabin.

Carla looked down at her beautiful son, gazing into his little eyes which blinked in a bewildered manner
'He looks like you Peter' Carla said smiling
'They are the most beautiful babies, Simon is going to be so proud' Peter said
'Is he coming to visit them?' Michelle asked
'Yeah he will be here soon I hope' Carla said
'So do I, I can't wait to see all three of my beautiful children together' Peter said emotionally
'You don't think I could have a little hold?' Michelle said shyly
'Course!' Peter said
'Be gentle' Carla said nervously looking as Peter handed their daughter to Michelle
'Give over Car, I know how to hold a baby!' Michelle said smiling down at her beautiful little niece
Peter saw a nurse and decided to pop over to ask when the results of their blood tests were due

"Erm I don't mean to pester but we're awaiting some blood tests on my twins and a erm DNA test. I don't suppose you'd happen to know when we might expect the results." Peter said as the nurse shook her head. "It should be later today but can't say when." She said as Peter nodded. He didn't really want to know in case the results came back and it turned out the twins were Franks. Not that he would love them less but he knew Carla would panic about Anne and Frank trying to get custody or simply take the children away from them.

"Darren do you want to hold him?" Carla asked as she watched her elder brother captivated by his nephew. "Are you sure, he looks so tiny, what if I break him?"
"You won't, sit down and I'll pass him to you." Carla said as she smiled listening to Michelle coo over Esme.

"I just can't get over how tiny they are" Darren said as he sat down ready to hold his nephew for the first time.
"Thet certainly didn't feel tiny when I was pushing them out in the early hours" Carla said as she very carefully passed Harry and his tubes to Darren.
"Too much information Car....Am I holding him ok?"
"Ye your doing great" Carla said smiling proudly at her son.
"Hey little man, I'm your Uncle Darren. Oh me and you are going to have so much fun together when you are older" Darren coo-ed. Carla knew Darren would stay on the straight and narrow for his niece and nephew, she could see he didn't want to miss a moment of them growing up.
"Peter, Peter can you bring the camera and get a picture of Darren and Chelle with the twins" Carla said as Peter came back towards them after speaking with the nurse.

Peter took the snaps on the digital camera he had remembered to bring with him, Carla smiled watching Darren and Michelle gush over the twins and found herself excited to see how Simon would react to his baby brother and sister. "Oh look at her, you sleepy sweetheart?" Michelle said as Esme yawned slightly. "Well it's been a hard day for the pair of them." Peter said with a smile as he kissed the top of Carla's dark hair adoringly.

"Hello love what can I get you?" Rita said as Leanne came to the counter.
"Er a first clas stamp and then whatever this little guy wants." Leanne said as Rita smiled at Simon. "Hello pet, you spending the day with Leanne?"
"No Mum had the babies this morning and Dad is at the hospital with the babies and Mum." Simon said as he looked at the array of sweets on offer.

"Oh, and are the babies ok?" Rita asked looking at Leanne.
"Yes thet are very small but doing very well with the treatment they are bing given" Leanne said making Rita beam.
"Oh that is great news, let me pick out a card for the babies from me" Rita said leaving the counter breifly to pick a card.

"And what would the big brother like as his special present?" Rita asked once she had picked her card.
"Um can I have some cola- bottles?" Simon asked.
"I can do better than that, but you have to promise not to eat them all at once" Rita said filling a large paper bag with an assortmant of sweets.
"And you can pick a comic aswell" Rita added.
"Thanks Rita" Simon said going off to look at the comics.
"Thanks so much for this Rita he has been so worried about the babies" Leanne said as Rita wrote her card.

"Do you mind if we put the babies back in the incubator for a little while just so I can get them fed on the milk you have expressed Carla" A nurse said.
"Of course, this little princess is fast asleep anyway" Michelle said kisseing Esme lovingly.
"You ready for some milk little fella" Darren said as Harry wriggled slightly.