A/N So I had this going round my head and I really wanted to write it, however I wanted to at least start it before Rob graces our screens, because chances are he's not going to be anything like this, so I took a bit of time to just throw together a little chapter to start it off. It's really rushed so sorry for any mistakes there might be but as you all know if you are reading my other stories (which I will try and update when I can!) I'm kind of surprised I even managed to find the time to write this. I'm not sure how much Rob is supposed to know about Carla's life since she was a child, so I've taken the liberty of using a bit of artistic licence ;) All reviews welcome as always, I'd love to hear whether any of you are interested in this. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Stepping out of the taxi and onto the uneven cobbles, Rob looked down the street as he tried to take in every little detail. So this was where his sister had ended up. When they had been little they had dreamed of living somewhere like this, and somehow she had done it. Whatever else could be said about his sister, she worked hard to get what she wanted in life. Realising he hadn't a clue where to actually find her, he disappeared into the pub which he had been dropped off outside in the hope that he could find out a little more than he already knew.

'Oh hiya love,' greeted Stella, who was surprised to see a new face. The Rovers had always been a private, local pub, and it wasn't often that somebody new appeared. She wasn't complaining either, he was quite good looking. As he stepped up to the bar he looked around, scanning for any signs of the woman he'd come to see. 'Can I help you?'

'Actually yeah, I'm looking for Carla Donavon?'

Stella stared back blankly, shaking her head slightly. 'Sorry, I don't know anyone of that name.' His heart sank slightly, before remembering how she'd had another of her partners in tow when she'd come over to sort out their mother's things and realising that she may have had a name change since then.

'Oh, she might have married that bloke from last year! I think his name was Frank?' Rob was pleased when a look of recognition fluttered across the barmaid's features, but he wasn't too keen on the expression with which she settled. Stella still wasn't keen on Carla after all the heartbreak she had caused her daughter, and the mention of that man's name bought back memories she'd rather forget.

'Oh, Carla Connor!'

'Connor?' His voice had an edge to it as he said that name which Stella couldn't quite put her finger on, but it was evident that the surname had stirred up some sort of emotion within the stranger. 'Why's she still using that name? I'd have thought after Paul had died she would have gone back to Donavon.'

'I take it that's her maiden name then?' she asked casually as she started to wipe down the bar.

'What? She's never even mentioned it?'

'Nope.' Stella could sense the annoyance building within Rob, so she added quickly, 'I haven't been here all that long though, and we don't really see eye to eye if you know what I mean.' She wasn't particularly sure why she was sticking up for Carla, but there was something about the man which made her reluctant to upset him. She was relieved when he gave a little laugh at her comment about not getting along with her; that was the Carla he remembered from his childhood.

'Oh, I can imagine!' he chuckled. 'So, where can I find her?'

'She owns the factory down the bottom of the street. It's called Underworld.' Rob remembered seeing the sign before he'd entered the pub, and was quite impressed at how she owned such a big business such as that. As children she'd always said that she would make something of herself one day, and it gave him no end of happiness that she'd managed to achieve exactly that.

'Oh, I saw that when I arrived,' he said. 'Do you reckon she'll be there now?'

'Should think so.' Stella was well aware that that factory was practically Carla's second home. Sometimes she would see her locking up the building at some unearthly hour in the morning and it always staggered her how she could bare to work such long hours. But then that place was such a big part of her life, as Stella had discovered the weeks after Frank's attack when she had clung to the business for support. Stella supposed Carla had gone through so much during her time on the street, and the only constant had been Underworld. It was no surprise that that factory meant the world to her.

'Right, well I think it's time I showed my face then!' Nerves started forming in his stomach at the prospect of seeing his sister once again, conscious that the last time they had met had been somewhat disastrous. They had both been grieving, and with so many lost years and pent up emotions it had been pretty explosive. That had always been the case for Carla and Rob though; they loved each other to bits beep down, but on the surface they were both fighters. He gave a rather odd looking smile, which was full of charm, before turning to leave.

'Nice to meet you.' Stella called out to him. 'Will I be seeing you around again?'

Rob smiled as he speculated on the barmaid's thoughts. She seemed like a woman up for a bit of gossip to him. 'Oh, I should think so' he replied, with a wink, before swinging open the door and exiting the pub. Truth was, he really did hope that he could at least stick around for a while. He stepped into the middle of the cobbled road and, taking in a large breath, he stared down at the building at the end of the street. It was time.