A/N: Ahh, I haven't updated this for a while! This is still set before christmas though aha :') I don't own any of the Characters and feel free to leave reviews, good or bad, and im sorry but your just going to have to block out any spelling mistakes :') Sorry, it's not my best! Really struggled with this chapter aha. Thanks for reading!

It had been a couple of Days since Peter and Carla had seen eachother, Carla had tried to avoid it as much as she could; She wanted to see Peter, That was an understatement; she wanted to be with him every second of every day, but she couldn't take the risks. This time though, she really had no choice but to take the chance of bumping into him. Hayley had finished making Simon's costume and Carla had to drop it round, she hoped Leanne would be there; even if it was awkward between them, it'd be even more awkward if Peter was there. She wasn't in luck though, as she heard Peter pick up the phone and buzz her up. She got prepared for the awkwardness she was about to face. Though, she soon realized that Leanne wasnt around as she entered the flat, it was only Peter around, and he didn't seem too happy either.

'Peter? Are you okay?'

'No' Was the answer she got as Peter sighed and buried his head in his hands.

'Okay, well you gunna tell me whats up then?' She asked as she placed the costume on the arm of the sofa and took a seat besides Peter.

'It's Simon, Leanne has had to go to London for a couple of days 'cause her sister Toyah was involved in an accident and Simon's Demanding that he wants her, he just isn't listening to a word i say'

'Ohh, That's one thing i can't help ya with; Kids' Carla replied with wide eyes and a cute smile that Peter just adored and couldn't help but chuckle at.

'Whats that?' he said, gesturing his head to the nativity costume.

'Ohh, Hayley finished Simons costume off, that might cheer him up ya'know, I could go and give it to him if ya liked?'

'Thanks' He replied with a gentle smile 'Me and him aren't exactly on great terms right now'

'Don't mention it' Carla said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze, before grabbing the costume and knocking on Simon's door.

'Go away!' Simon replied, chucking an object towards the door.

'Simon? It's me...Carla'

Simon raised his head from his pillow wiping away his tears as he walked over to the door, still not opening it though. 'The Pretty lady from the Factory?'

Carla couldn't help but chuckle 'Ohh, Im not sure about that, though I am the lady who hands out chocolate fingers..' Carla replied, remembering their encounter from a couple of weeks ago, 'and I've got something for you'

With that, Simon didn't need any more persuading, he removed the chair from the door and opened it slightly peering his head round.

'Heya little man, I've got a costume here, for a certain Shepard i believe?' Carla looked down towards Simon giving him a gentle smile.

Simon quickly flung the door open and wrapped his arms around Carla's waist, He didn't really know this woman, but he liked her. She smiled and ruffled his hair before taking his hand and pulling him gently over to his bed and sitting down.

'So how about you try this on and then you can come and tell me whats up' aye? sound like a deal?'

Simon pondered at the idea before taking the costume in his hands and nodding 'Deal' he smiled and ran off into the bathroom.

Peter smiled as he stood in the Kitchen realizing that Carla had cheered Simon up, he decided it best not to interupt them just yet though.

After a while Simon came out of the bathroom and entered his bedroom with a proud grin on his face. 'Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!' he exclaimed before running over to Carla and wrapping his arms around her neck.

'Wow! what an excellent Shepard you make' aye. Does it fit okay?'

Simon gave a gleeful nod before putting his head down and letting out a small mumble 'Is dad mad at me?'

'Ohh no sweetheart, of course not. He's just worried about you, that's all... So, you going to tell me what's upsetting you' aye? Is it Leanne?' She questioned sadly.

'I wanted to go with her and.. and she promised she would make brownies with me tonight for my school cake sale tommorow, but now she has left and i have no one to make brownies with' He replied, tears pooling in his eyes.

'Well i can't bring Leanne back, but i happen to know an excellent recipe for Brownies, used to make them with my nephew all the time' She smiled, remembering her times with Ryan 'About the only thing i can make actually, so your in luck' She squeezed her grip around him gently 'That's if, you want me to help you make them?'

Simon looked up at her, his eyes lit up. 'Yeah please!' he jumped at the offer 'And dad can help too' He jumped up off the bed and pulled Carla by her hand into the living room, running up to his dad on the sofa and sitting on his lap. 'I'm really sorry Dad, i didn't mean to make you upset but look what Carla made me!' He said,
glad that he now knew the Pretty lady who kept giving him things' name.

'Wow, that looks excellent son' Peter replied ruffling Simon's hair and looking up at Carla 'Thanks' he gave her a grateful smile.

'Ohh don't thank me, it's Hayley who done all'work' She replied sitting on the arm of the sofa.

'Yeah, but not just for that, for cheering Simon up too'

'Like i said, don't mention it. He's a cutie, reminds me alot of our Ryan ya'know' She smiled, crossing her arms.

'Carla said she'd help me make brownies for the cake sale tommorow because Leanne isn't here, will you help us too Dad' Simon questioned with a huge grin planted upon his face.

'Of course, but only if i can be taste tester' He chuckled at the thought of Carla being able to make brownies 'Though, you sure you want to be taking burnt brownies into school mate? You haven't seen how bad Carla is at cooking ya know' He gave Simon a little wink as Simon chuckled.

'Hey you' Carla playfully hit him on the arm 'Brownies are my one speciality actually' She said in a matter of a fact tone.

'Right well, why don't you prove that then' Peter replied getting up off the sofa and walking into the kitchen 'Simon, why don't you go change out of your costume and hang it up and then we can let the expert do her magic aye?'

'Okay dad' Simon giggled and ran off into the bathroom to get changed into more appropriate clothes for such a messy activity as making Brownies.

Peter wandered off into his bedroom for a moment before returning 'Here' he said chucking Carla his plain black T-shirt.

'Whats this?' She asked, holding it up infront of her.

'Well, being the 'expert' I thought you would've known, making brownies is a very mucky process and we don't have the ownership of an apron..and we wouldn't want you ruining your designer top now would we?' He replied in a sarcastic manner.

'Oh Ha-ha' Carla rolled her eyes 'Guess your right though' She smiled walking off to change into the top.

Simon ran into the living room full of joy, his face dropping when he couldn't see Carla around, though his worries were soon gone when Carla re-appeared wearing Peters T-shirt; It hung loosely on her, covering her hole top frame, right down past her bum. 'Why you wearing Dad's T-shirt for' Simon giggled, not really understanding.

'Cause we wouldn't want Carla ruining any of her designer clothes now, would we' aye?' Peter answered giving Simon a gentle nudge.

'Ohh, You look like you could get lost in that though, that wouldn't be good' Simon joked, seeing how large the T-shirt was compared to Carla.

Carla let out a laugh 'Oh, im sure i'll be alright, thanks for worrying 'bout me though Simon' Carla smiled walking over to join the pair.

'He was just worried that he'd have no one to make brownies with, i wouldn't be too flattered by it' Peter chuckled as Carla just shot him a playful glare.

'Right then, Let the expert work her magic' Carla waded in, snatching the recipe book out of Peter's hands and reading out the ingredients they needed as Simon ran around getting them all. A while later, and they were half way into the brownie making process, every single one of them covered in chocolate powder and various other ingredients. Carla was stirring the big bowl, feeling proud at how they were turning out so far 'So then.. who's going to taste the mix?'She said looking towards the pair.

'Me, Me, Me!' Simon replied, taking a tiny bit on the end of his spoon and poking his tongue out so he could taste it.

'Well, he isn't dead just yet, that's a good sign' Peter commented, he'd made various playful comments throughout and Carla decided she'd give him something to really laugh about.

'Why don't you taste some aye?' She replied pulling the spatula out of the mixing bowl and smearing in over Peter's mouth, Letting out a laugh as she looked at the result of what she had just done, Simon giggling away too.

'Right, so that's how you want to play it, is it?' Peter questioned, going to grab the mixing bowl out of Carla's hands.

'No, Peter Im sorry, Im sorry' Carla screeched playfully, trying to prevent herself from too, getting smothered in the mixture.

'No, no, no, too late for that' Peter replied , enjoying taunting Carla. With that Carla ran out of the kitchen with the mixing bowl held firmly in her hands, Peter of course wasn't going to let her get away with it, he began chasing Carla round the sofa, both laughing histerically as doing so. Finally Peter managed to grab carla from behind, wrapping his hands around her waist so she couldn't get away. Carla held the mixing bowl out towards Simon.

'Simon, take it!' Carla shouted between laughs, Simon quickly ran and grabbed it from Carla, giggling as he did so, he then decided to carry on with the brownies, whilst dad and Carla were being silly.

'Peter! let go off me' Carla laughed, trying to pull Peter's arms from around her, before turning her body round to try and get him off her a different way. Peter and Carla had now just came into an embrace, rather than a playful grappling, their eyes met and just for that moment, they forgot they weren't alone, it was too much tension to bare, Peter's arms were still firmly wrapped around Carla's waist and her hands were resting on his chest, They'd stopped play fighting now and had become too distracted by eachother. Their breaths were mingling with one anouthers and their eyes were still looking deeply into eachothers, Their lips moving closer together; so close they were now grazing against eachother.

'You two stop messing about now! i think the Brownies are ready to be put in the oven' Simon interupted as he'd poured the mix into the tray, missing the moment between his dad and Carla. Peter and Carla jumped at the sudden interuption, releasing eachother and Smiling towards Simon, glad that it seemed he hadn't seen anything.

'Ohh great, good boy' Carla smiled, walking over to the oven and placing the brownies in for Simon 'now we just have to wait' She smiled towards Simon, setting the timer on the oven.

'Okay, Lets see what's on TV' Simon ran over to the sofa, turning on the Tv.

'I'll just tidy up here quick, you two watch telly' Carla replied, turning her attention to the messy kitchen.

'I think I'll just give Carla a hand mate' Peter said, ruffling Simons hair and giving Carla a smile.

'Hmph, come here ya' daft thing' Carla laughed, pulling Peter towards her, wetting a tea towel and gently wiping away the mix she had smeared on Peter's face.

Peter let out a small laugh, not loosing eye contact with Carla 'Thanks' he said gently, holding on to Carla's hand as she finished wiping his face clean, their eyes still not loosing contact. They both stayed silent for a moment just looking adoringly at one anouther, before Peter raised his hand stroking the side of Carla's face.

'I don't know what i'd do without you, ya'know'

'So, you admit it then , im an expert brownie maker' Carla replied, playfully gloating.

'You're alright, i guess' He laughed a little 'Come ere' Come ere' He said pulling her into him, his head resting against hers, as they just stood their holding eachother.'God, I miss you so much Carla, I miss this; Holding you, joking with you, I can't wait to be able to do this every day ya'know' He whispered into her ear gently 'I love you, so, so much'

She sighed gently, her lips forming into a small smile, 'I love you too and i can't wait either' she whispered back, giving his neck a gentle kiss, resting her head on his shoulder, they held eachother a while longer, taking in eachothers warmth and eachothers scents, before letting go and clearing up the kitchen.

A while later and Carla entered the living room again, after changing back into her original top 'Thanks' she said handing Peter his T-shirt back , 'Came in useful' they both exchanged a little smile. Just then the Timer on the oven went off and Simon jumped up.

'They're done! they're done!' He said running over to the oven, full of joy. Peter reached in and pulled out the brownie tray as Simons face lit up 'See dad, Carla is good at making them, she is an expert after all' He said in a matter of a fact tone, causing Carla and Peter to laugh.

'Right, well this 'expert' best go work her magic someplace else' Carla smiled, pulling her coat on, satisfied with the result of the brownies.

'Ohh, okay' Simon replied, his face falling slightly 'Will you come to my cake sale tommorow?' He asked getting excited at the idea of Carla being there; He liked her,
She made him happy and his dad too.

'Well you do seem to have a thing for Cakes..' Peter playfully reasoned, awaiting Carla to reply.

Carla rolled her eyes playfully 'Go on then' Simon and Peter's faces both lit up as soon as she had agreed.

'Great, well I'll collect you from the factory at 2:45 tommorow' Peter smiled towards Carla

'Great, I'll see you then' Carla replied, walking up to Simon and giving him a hug, before kissing Peter on the cheek and leaving.

'I really like Carla dad, do you?'

'Yeah son..Yeah i do..'