Maria and Liam's baby
The background:
In spite of everything, or should that be spite of Carla Connor, Maria and Liam made it down the aisle. And although Liam professed his love for Maria, it seems that Maria still has her doubts.
Plagued by insecurity she's struggled to shake the feeling that Liam had only married her because she was pregnant; that he only proposed after he nearly died falling off a cliff; and that the person he really wanted to be with was Carla. After-all it was Carla that he was calling for in the hospital; Carla that he works with everyday; and Carla who seems to be there every time they have a fight.
For the full background click here
The story:
Since Carla became engaged to Tony Gordon tensions have eased somewhat, but they flared again when Carla and Tony had Liam and Maria over for dinner.
After complaining about feeling fat and frumpy in front of the sleek and stylish Carla, Liam bought Maria a new dress for the evening. He even asked for a mineral water to support his pregnant wife, but Maria tells Carla to get him a beer.
Feeling tired Maria calls it a night, but tells Liam to stay longer if he wants. Liam opts to stay and drink, planning to get a ride home with Tony when he leaves to catch a flight for a business trip. Tony's car is late so instead Carla calls the drunken Liam a cab. But when Lloyd turns up Liam has fallen asleep and Carla cancels the cab, throws a blanket over Liam and leaves him sleeping on the couch.
Liam's in the dog house the next day, in spite of his assurances that he slept on the couch. Maria's even more annoyed when she learns from Claire that Carla turned the cab away. Liam too accuses Carla of stirring trouble, but she's in no mood to be put in the middle of the squabbling couple.
As Maria cuts Marcus' hair she mentions that she's been sleeping better lately with the baby not kicking so much. Marcus becomes worried and convinces Maria to come to the hospital for a scan. Sadly the scan reveals no heartbeat and Maria learns that her baby has died. She's sent home and told to return the next day.
Maria goes to find Liam at the factory but instead runs into Carla who mocks her for being a nagging wife. Eventually she finds Liam in the Rovers, where he's been telling Lloyd about his excitement about being a father. When Maria arrives he tells her how much the baby means to him and Maria can't bring herself to tell him the news. When Maria sleeps on the couch he assumes he's still angry with him and brings up the incident with Carla again, and Maria goes to the hospital alone.
Seeing her head off alone, Marcus follows Maria to the hospital and stays with her as she delivers her dead son.
Returning home she hears a message from Liam, telling her he loves her. Unable to face him she heads to Audrey's. Audrey takes her in assuming that they've had a fight, Audrey secretly calls Liam and lets him know where Maria is, but refuses to let him see her. Liam returns home and declines Carla's offer of dinner, saying it would only make things worse if Maria came home and found her there.
Audrey discovers papers from the hospital in Maria's bag and learns the truth. When she asks why Liam isn't here Maria admits that he doesn't know, and that she fears that things are over between her and Liam.
Meanwhile at home Liam receives a visit from the midwife and learning that his baby is dead rushes round to Audrey's. He's horrified when he realises how long Maria has kept this from him. Maria tells him her fears that he only married her because of the baby and refuses to go home with him.
Instead Liam tells Carla the news, she offers Liam her support and goes with him to the mortuary to see his dead son.
The day of the funeral Carla comforts Liam, meanwhile Maria can't bring herself to attend. Pursuade, she arrives at the last minute and sits next to Liam during the service. Afterwards the two remain at the graveside and share their hopes for their baby son, Paul. Leaving the church yard Maria tells Liam she wants to come home.
The split
The next day however tensions between them resurface as they both struggle with their grief. Maria attempts to explain, and they soon end up talking about Carla again. Liam admits that he did have feelings for Carla, something which he had always denied. Maria is convinced that Liam only married her because she was pregnant, and decides that their marriage is over. She packs her backs and goes to Fiz's.
That night, angry at Carla, Liam goes to confront her. He blames her for his marriage break up and she says that maybe losing the baby was a blessing. Liam storms out. Out in the rain Liam's cell phone rings - it's Maria - he's torn between Carla's doorstep and answering Maria's call.
Returning to Carla's they both break down, apologising for the hurtful things they said to each other. As the embrace they talk about old times, when they first met and the attraction between them. Carla asks Liam to stay, and he tells her that that's why he's there.
After a second night together Liam and Carla leave her flat together, and share a kiss on the doorstep. But their private moment hasn't gone unnoticed. Rosie spys them and records the action on her cellphone. Carla's suspicious that Rosie may know something and tries to keep her onside, promising a bright future and work and buying her a new handbag.
The reunion
Maria pursuades Liam to give their marriage another go and Liam suggests that they need to get away on a honeymoon together. He tells Maria to pack their bags while he goes out to get supplies for Ozzy the dog.
Instead he arranges to meet Carla at her flat and breaks things off with her. Carla tells him that if he leaves now, that's it.
Liam and Maria head off on holiday, but while they put their past behind them, Carla's not likely to be so forgiving.
