Title: Heart to Stone
Category: Romance, Angst
Rating: R
Characters: Carla/Peter
Summary: The first step is admitting that you have a problem…
"You say my name like there could be an us."
- Adele
"Si, how many times do I need to say it?" Peter scolded his son for the second time that morning. "Don't go playing football in the street, you could get hurt!"
"I'm sorry, dad." Simon Barlow apologized, staring up at his father in remorse. "I just wanted to practice for me game tomorrow night, and it's loads more fun playing in the street than on the sidewalk."
"I know, son." Peter sighed as he playfully ran his hand through the little boy's chestnut brown curls. "But you can't carry on doing whatever you please just because it's fun and exciting." He explained, a wistful smile spreading across his face. "Life just doesn't work that way."
Unfortunately.
"Alright," Simon agreed, picking up his football and holding it close to his chest. "It won't happen again."
Peter knew he was lying. He'd been a dad long enough to know that the more you told kids not to do something, the more they wanted to do it. But then again, he could say the same thing about himself.
When Leanne had told him to stay clear of Carla, it only made Peter want to be near her even more.
It was all too easy for him to blame it on the rape and overdose. He was concerned for his friend, and who wouldn't be given the circumstances? She'd just been through an incredibly traumatic experience, what kind of mate would he be if he didn't worry about her?
He'd never seen Carla so vulnerable before. The confident, unflappable demeanour she presented to the rest of the world was just an act. He knew that now, had known it for a long time if he was being completely honest with himself.
From the moment she'd walked into that AA meeting, pretending to be lost – a bond had been formed between them. A bond he tried vehemently to deny. To Leanne. To himself. Heck, even Carla had tried to deny it at first. Tried to push him away like she did with everyone else.
That was one character trait Peter recognized all too well.
He and Carla were more alike than either one of them was willing to admit. Correction – more than he was willing to admit. Carla had been sure of their connection for months now. He was the one in denial, according to her at least. She had confessed her love for him on more than one occasion and all he could do was continue to deny that the feeling was mutual.
Even now, Peter refused to admit that what he felt for the dark haired beauty was anything more than friendship. A deep, unconditional friendship unlike anything he had ever known. It still amazed him sometimes. That someone as competent and strong as Carla could find comfort in the arms of a pathetic smuck like him.
Peter could still feel the comfortable weight of her body against his chest as he held her close, gently stroking her hair in an attempt to fend off the demons Frank had caused…
"I just want to sit here." Carla sighed, refusing his offer of food. She didn't want to eat. Not when Peter's arms were wrapped around her and he was running his fingers through her hair as she lay tucked protectively against the comforting warmth of his chest.
"I'm gonna have to make a move soon I'm afraid." Peter reminded her reluctantly, although leaving her side was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Yeah, I know. Just five more minutes, eh?" She whispered, and her simple request nearly broke his heart. At that moment, Peter wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life holding her in his arms…if only to make sure that no one would ever be able to hurt her again.
"How 'bout we make it ten." He offered, his reluctance to let her go evident in the wistful tone of his voice.
Then Leanne had turned up and he remembered that he was a married man who couldn't spend the rest of his days comforting another woman.
Even if that woman meant more to him than life itself.
"Hello, earth to dad." Simon's voice brought him back to the present. "I'm gonna be late for school!"
"Right, then." Peter cleared his throat, hoping his head and heart would follow suit. "We'd better get a move on."
And with that, he resumed the role of dutiful father and husband. But in the back of his mind, he knew it wouldn't be long before the urge to ring Carla became impossible to ignore.