"Carly? Is that you?" Nico whispered. Carly nodded and Nico laughed in disbelieve. "I don't believe it! You look fantastic, what are you doing here?"

He reached out touch her but Carly took a step back that reared Mickey into action, he leaped over the bar and stepped between the pair of them.

"Is there a problem?" he asked glaring at Nico.

Carly blushed a faint pink, never in her life had she had someone immediately jump in to protect her like that especially when she didn't need protecting, after all this was Nico and he couldn't even hurt a fly if he tried to. It was rather embarrassing as well as flattering that this stranger wanted to protect her.

"No" Nico said rudely. "I was just speaking to my wife and you are?"

"ex-wife" Carly corrected.

"Mickey Smith" Mickey said glaring at Nico. "Carly's co-worker, if you want to talk to her then do so over there and if you so much as say one wrong word to her I'll bar you from here"

Mickey then went back to the bar, tossing a filthy look every so often at Nico, he did not want any man to treat Rose's daughter with anything but respect. Carly let out a little groan of embarrassment before she led Nico to the table Mickey had pointed out, the pair settled down in their seats.

"Sorry about that, I have no idea what got into him, I only just met him today an-"

"It's ok, it's all right" Nico stared at her face, taking in every detail. "I just can't believe I bumped into you at here of all places"

"You can't believe it? I can't believe it!" Carly half-yelled. "I avoided going to Cyprus on my world cruise thing so I wouldn't have a chance bumping into you, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I'm on holiday" Nico explained patiently. "Why were you on such a cruise, where's your father I thought you were staying with him"

Such a grieved and heartbroken look formed in Carly's eyes, her face seemed to have aged years and Nico swore he could almost see tears build up in the girl's eyes despite the fact it was such a rare thing for him to see.

"Dad...he...Dad died...last December, car accident" Carly spat out after a bit of stumbling.

Nico reached out and cupped her face. "I'm sorry" he said sincerely.

Carly jerked away. "Don't. Just...don't" she growled. "I've had a very rough few years, first you mucking about, picking your family over me. Then a load of crap with Deano and Dad, then problems with a lover, a feud between a local girl, problems with my boss and then my mother had the nerve to turn up, I find out my Dad is not my biological father, he runs away, he comes back marries one of the nicest woman I have ever met only she comes with this bitchy daughter which got Deano sentenced to prison and then...and then..."

She was crying outright in front of him, Nico handed her napkins and gestured to the full blown glaring Mickey to stay away. To Nico's surprise the man nodded and went to turn the radio on to give them some space and a sense of cover.

"I'm sorry, it's just that-"

And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her skies

Carly felt her mind beginning to burn as the song's lyrics caught her attention, she frowned as she listened to the song, she was sure she had heard this song before but it was sang by someone better in her own opinion, someone with an American drawl.

"Carly? Carly are you ok?" Nico asked concerned.

I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

She was being laid down on the soft bed by strong arms. She was rigid with fear of being snatched away in the night, with the fear of never seeing her family ever again. The American drawl sang softly to her as the strong scent of man filled her senses and she felt her blankets being pulled to cover her.

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
we'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
and so it is
the colder water
the blower's daughter
the pupil in denial

Her eyes were drifting to a close as she felt not only soothed and relaxed but comforted and sleepy. Someone was stroking her hair as they sang her this lullaby, it had become routine whenever he was over and she loved it, it made her feel loved, made her feel wanted. Made her feel like she had a father. She felt a pair of lips being pressed onto her forehead.

I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes of-

"TURN IT OFF! TURN THAT BLOODY THING OFF!"

Carly was blocking her ears with her hands, her face screwed up in agony as she hunched down on the floor. Nico had an arm round her trying to calm her down as Mickey quickly switched the radio off.

"Carly, Carly sweetheart, what's wrong? What happened?"

"My head...is killing me" she whispered brokenly.

Mickey kneeled beside her. "Hey, take her home and make sure she rests" he said checking her temperature, she was slightly feverish but nothing to be overly concerned about. "I'll cover for her"

Nico nodded. "Thank you" he murmured as he guided Carly out of the bar and into the slightly cooler night air, Carly pulled away and leaned back on the brick wall, taking deep breaths. "Carly, what on earth was that all about? What happened?"

Carly looked across the street, her reflection in the shop window, for one brief moment was not her own. Instead it was of a seven year old girl with long brown hair dressed in night clothes, Carly muffled her gasp and furiously shook her head.

"Carly just tell me!"

"I think...i think I'm going insane!"