Chapter Text
The wheels of the plane screeched against the runway, the force of the landing jolting everyone slightly in their seats as sunlight flooded through the windows. Beyond the glass, Ibiza shimmered beneath a hazy golden sky; whitewashed buildings scattered across distant hills, palm trees swaying lazily in the heat.
Carla Connor-Swain turned towards the window, her brunette hair tumbling over one shoulder as a smile spread across her face. “We’re actually here,” she breathed.
Beside her, Detective Sergeant Lisa Connor-Swain let out a slow exhale she didn’t even realise she’d been holding. For the first time in weeks, there was no phone vibrating in her pocket, no CID briefing waiting for her, no files piled up on the marble island back at number 6.
There was just Carla, just sunshine, just them.
Lisa reached across the armrest and intertwined their fingers. “Feels weird.”
Carla looked at her fondly. “Good weird?”
Lisa nodded slowly. “The best kind.”
Passengers around them began standing too early, dragging cases out from overhead lockers while cabin crew politely asked everyone to remain seated.
Lisa rolled her eyes dramatically. “Honestly, why do people do that? We’re not getting off any quicker.”
Carla smirked faintly. “You should arrest them.”
“Oh no,” Lisa laughed. “Absolutely not. Detective mode is banned for two weeks.” She leaned her head briefly against Carla’s shoulder, closing her eyes for a second.
Their wedding had been perfect. Everything about it. The flowers, the laughter, the music spilling from the factory floor long into the evening, the way Carla had looked at Lisa as she walked towards her before walking down the isle together. Lisa still got butterflies thinking about it.
The murder had happened late that night, ripping Lisa straight back into work before they’d even had chance to properly breathe as newlyweds. What should have been their honeymoon became weeks of long hours, interviews and exhaustion while Lisa worked the case.
And now, finally, they were here.
Their delayed honeymoon.
No police station. No stress. No Weatherfield drama.
The seatbelt signs pinged off and Lisa stood, easily pulling down both their carry-on bags from the overhead locker.
“Still showing off?” Carla teased, admiring her.
Lisa raised an eyebrow. “You married me for my upper body strength.”
“One of many reasons.”
They moved slowly through the airport together, fingers brushing constantly as though neither wanted to lose contact for too long. Ibiza Airport buzzed with excited holidaymakers in sandals and sunglasses, warm air wrapping around them the second they stepped outside.
Lisa laughed properly , a real laugh Carla hadn’t heard enough over the last few weeks.
Their luggage arrived quickly, and within twenty minutes they were being escorted toward a sleek black Mercedes waiting outside for their private transfer.
Carla inhaled deeply. “God, even the air smells expensive.”
A driver in crisp white linen opened the door politely.
“Mrs Connor-Swain’s,” he greeted.
They both looked at each other instantly.
Carla grinned. “I’m never getting tired of hearing that.”
Inside, the car was blissfully cool against the Ibiza heat. Carla kicked off her trainers and curled one leg beneath herself as the vehicle pulled away from the airport.
Outside the windows, the island unfolded in flashes of turquoise sea, sun-bleached roads and bougainvillea spilling over white walls. Lisa rested her head back against the seat, sunglasses pushed up into her blonde hair.
“You alright?” Carla asked softly.
Lisa looked at her for a moment before answering honestly. “I think I forgot what relaxed felt like.”
Something in Carla’s expression softened immediately. She reached across the seat and stroked her thumb gently over Lisa’s wrist. “You’ve been carrying this case around on your shoulders for weeks.”
“I know.”
“You needed this... we needed this.’
Lisa nodded slowly.
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was peaceful. The kind of silence that only existed between two people who knew each other completely.
Carla studied her wife carefully. Even now, Lisa looked beautiful to her. Strong jawline softened by the sunlight through the windows. Blonde hair messy from the flight. Those sharp detective eyes finally beginning to lose some of their tension.
“I can’t wait to show off my wife for two weeks,” Carla said suddenly.
Lisa turned to her with amusement. “Show me off?”
“Oh absolutely.” Carla grinned. “Everyone’s going to be sick of us.”
“You’re assuming people won’t think you’re the attractive one.”
Carla scoffed dramatically. “Lisa Connor-Swain, have you seen yourself?”
Lisa leaned closer. “Have you seen you?”
Their noses brushed lightly. The driver politely pretended not to notice. Carla laughed under her breath before settling properly into Lisa’s side, resting her head against her shoulder as the sea came into perfect view for the first time.
Bright blue.
Endless.
“It already feels miles away from home,” Carla murmured.
Lisa kissed the top of her head gently.
“That’s because it is.”
By the time they reached Talamanca Bay, the sun had begun dipping lower in the sky, turning everything honey-gold, and then Carla saw it.
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay stood directly on the waterfront like something from a dream. Pale stone and warm wood blended effortlessly into the shoreline while elegant white terraces overlooked the sea. Palm trees swayed around chic outdoor lounges filled with cream cushions and flickering lanterns.
The whole place radiated effortless luxury.
“Oh my God,” Carla whispered.
Lisa smiled at her reaction.
The car rolled beneath the entrance canopy where staff greeted them instantly with chilled towels and glasses of lemon-infused water.
The reception area opened directly toward the beach beyond - airy, elegant and flooded with natural light. Everything smelled faintly of sea salt, jasmine and expensive sun cream.
Carla leaned closer to Lisa while they checked in.
“If this is the lobby, I may never emotionally recover from the room.”
Lisa chuckled. “Wait till you see the bill.”
“You’re ruining the honeymoon vibe.”
“I’m a detective. Suspicion is my language.”
Minutes later they were being escorted upstairs to their suite. The moment the door opened, both women stopped dead. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors revealed uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean. The suite itself was breathtaking- soft neutral tones, crisp white bedding, pale oak furnishings and sheer curtains dancing gently in the breeze from the open balcony doors. The sea beyond sparkled endlessly beneath the setting sun.
“Oh wow,” Carla breathed.
Lisa dropped their bags near the door, equally speechless.
The room felt peaceful. Weightless. Like another world entirely.
Carla walked slowly toward the balcony before turning back toward Lisa. Her wife was standing in the centre of the suite looking almost dazed.
And suddenly Carla saw it clearly.
The exhaustion.
The emotional crash after weeks of carrying the weight of the investigation. Carla crossed the room without hesitation and cupped Lisa’s face gently.
“You don’t have to think about anything now,” she said softly. “No work. No statements. No suspects. Nothing.”
Lisa’s eyes searched hers. “Just you?”
Carla smiled warmly. “Just me. Just us."
Lisa kissed her then.
Slowly at first.
Tenderly.
But it deepened quickly, weeks of stress and distance dissolving between them all at once. Carla’s hands slid into Lisa’s blonde hair while Lisa wrapped her arms tightly around her waist, pulling her flush against her body.
Their wedding rings caught the fading sunlight.
Wife...the word still made Carla’s chest ache in the best possible way.
They stumbled gently toward the bathroom, laughing breathlessly between kisses. The shower was enormous, all pale stone and rainfall fittings overlooking a frosted section of sea-view glass. Lisa switched the water on while Carla pulled her top over her head letting it drop abruptly to the floor.
Lisa’s gaze darkened instantly.
“Christ…”
Carla smirked softly. “What?”
“You’re unreal.”
“So are you.”
Steam built around them quickly as they stepped beneath the warm water together. Everything about the moment felt intimate rather than rushed. Lisa kissed every inch of Carla like she’d missed her, like she was finally allowing herself to breathe again after weeks spent buried beneath work and responsibility. Carla’s fingertips traced slowly along the muscles of Lisa’s shoulders and down her back while water cascaded over their skin.
“You’re finally relaxing,” Carla whispered against her lips.
Lisa rested her forehead gently against hers. “That’s because you’re here.”
They moved together slowly, lovingly, the kind of closeness that came from feeling like they had years of knowing each other completely. Every touch held familiarity and desire all at once. Carla’s hand dropped sliding her finger between Lisa’s folds. Lisa’s breath hitched as parted her legs wider. Carla began making slow circular motions on Lisa’s hard clit. Lisa buried her face into Carla’s chest. “ ohhhh babe...don’t stop....”
The world outside ceased to exist.
No Coronation Street...no police station.
Only steam, warm skin and the woman each of them loved most.
Later, wrapped in white dressing gowns, they sat together on the balcony with damp hair and glasses of chilled rosé delivered from room service.
The sky had turned shades of orange and pink over the Mediterranean. Below them, waves rolled softly onto the shore while music drifted faintly from the beach bar downstairs. Carla sat tucked into Lisa’s side, one hand resting across her wife’s stomach while Lisa held her close beneath the warm evening breeze.
For a while neither of them spoke.
They watched the sunset together.
Lisa kissed Carla’s temple gently. “Thank you.”
Carla tilted her head. “For what?”
“For sticking by me these last few weeks.”
Carla frowned softly. “There was nowhere else I’d be.”
“You barely saw me.”
“You were doing your job, Lisa.”
“I still hate that our honeymoon got delayed.”
Carla shifted so she could look at her properly.“It was worth waiting for... I'd wait an eternity for you."
Lisa’s eyes met hers. "I love you so much."
And for a moment neither needed to say anything else.
Carla smiled softly before leaning in to kiss her again.
“And now,” she murmured against Lisa’s lips, “ I love you too baby. I get my wife all to myself for two whole weeks.”
Lisa smirked. “Possessive.”
“Very.”
The sun lowered further, turning the sea molten gold. Somewhere below, laughter drifted softly across the beach. Lisa tightened her arm around Carla and rested her chin gently atop her brunette hair. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she felt calm.
No tension sat in her chest. No dread waited for tomorrow morning. Just the woman she loved warm against her side and an endless stretch of honeymoon days waiting ahead of them.
Ibiza glowed around them as darkness slowly began to fall.
And together, wrapped in sea air and sunset light, Carla and Lisa Connor-Swain sat quietly on their balcony dreaming about everything their honeymoon might become.