Sorry, I made a mistake when I started this fic again, Simon is not 17 'cos I forgot that he's at Uni! So he's 19, but he's home from Uni because of everything that's happened with his Dad, soon to return!

A week later and things weren't much better.

Carla was sat-in the cafe with Michelle, she was trying-to have a little-break from home for a little while.

"You look shattered Love." Michelle told her best-friend, worriedly.

"I am…Peter didn't sleep at all last-night…" Carla said, sadly.

"So you didn't either hey?!" Michelle asked.

"No I didn't…I mean, I know I need-to start trusting-him again 'Chelle but I just couldn't help but think that he was going-to sneak-off drinking again…And to be honest…I wouldn't blame-him if he did…Cassia has been foul-to him just recently…" Carla admitted.

"He wouldn't though would he?!" Michelle asked.

"No I don't think he will…He knows that if he does then he'll have lost Cassia for good…And that would devastate-him…" Carla explained.

"And where is he now?!" Michelle questioned.

"He's gone to a meeting and then he's meeting with his counsellor…Bless-Him…He really is trying 'Chelle…" Carla replied.

"And what about Jakey & Freddie, how are they holding-up?!" Michelle asked.

"Dya know what 'Chelle…Those 2 boys are amazing…They're being brilliant about-it all…If it wasn't for those 2 I'm not sure Peter would have made-it through-this…" Carla trailed-off, rather-tearfully.

"Really?! That bad?!" Michelle said, shocked.

"Yeah, that bad. I've never seen him this low…It breaks my heart-to see him like this…" Carla said, a tear trickling-down her cheek as she did-so.

"Awh Darlin'…You'll come through this even stronger, I promise-ya…You always-do." Michelle re-assured-her, giving Carla's hand a gentle-squeeze as she did-so.

Over-at the school, it was break-time and Cassia and Leah were sat-on a bench in the courtyard at school.

"What's wrong Cass?! You're in such a weird mood today." Leah said, worried about her friend.

"It's Nothing…" Cassia trailed-off.

"Well whatever it is, you're not acting like it's nothing." Leah replied.

"Just go away Leah!" Cassia said, frustratedly.

"Just tell-me what's wrong?! I can help!" Leah insisted.

Cassia sighed. "I'm sorry…I just wanna-be on my own for a bit…"

"Okay, but I'll meet you here at lunchtime alright?!" Leah told-her softly.

"Yeah okay…Thanks Leah…" Cassia replied.

As soon as Leah had her back-turned, Cassia pulled-out her phone and began-to ring someone…

Meanwhile, Simon was sat-at the dining-room table at Jessica's, and Jessica was sat next-to him, looking concerned-for her poor-boyfriend. John was also pottering-around, but Caroline was at-work.

"Come-On Si, you're going-back-to Uni tomorrow and I want-to know that you're gonna be okay." Jessica told-him sadly.

"I'll be fine as long as my Dad stays sober…" Simon replied.

"Awh I'm sure he will Sweetheart." Jess tried-to re-assure her boyfriend.

"Does Lucy know everything that's happened?!" Si asked-his girlfriend.

"No, she's completely oblivious luckily." Jess replied.

"Well that's one good-thing I suppose…" Simon trailed-off.

"Come-On Kid, cheer-up." John said, entering the conversation.

"Sorry…I just don't really want-to go back-to Uni whilst my Dad is still so vulnerable…" Simon admitted.

John paused for a moment-as he sat-down at the table, opposite Simon.

"Jessica, would-you mind popping-down-to the shop for me please…We've run out-of bread and milk…" John said, making an excuse-to be alone with Simon for 5 Minutes or so as he handed-her a £10 Note…

"Yeah Okay…Look-after-him for me won't ya?!" Jessica said, dropping a soft-kiss onto Simon's Head as she left the room then headed-out-to the shop.

"Listen Simon…I've got Jessica to go to the shops because she doesn't need-to hear-this…But my Dad was an alcoholic…Just like yours is…" John told the poor-kid.

"Really?!" Simon said, surprised-to hear-that because-of now normal and successful John was as a business-man, Husband and Father. "So how come Jessica can't know that?!" He asked, confused.

"Because my Dad…Jessica's Grandad…Died when she was just 5…She loved-him to bits…When he was sober…We never let her see him when he was drunk…So she still doesn't know about his problems-to this very-day…" John explained.

"What was his name?!" Simon asked.

"Albert." John replied.

"And if you don't mind-me asking…How did he die?!" Simon questioned, softly.

"Severe Alcohol Poisoning…" John said, know that Simon wasn't going-to take this well.

"I knew it!" Simon exclaimed, angrily, bashing the table with his fist.

"But that's not the point Si…The point-is…Is that I know how it feels…To have a Dad that's an alcoholic…To have a Dad that has been on and off the wagon your whole entire life…" John said.

"How old were you when your Dad died?!" Simon asked the man.

"27…Why?!" John questioned.

"That gives me 8 Years with my Dad then…" Simon said, pretty-much convinced-of this fact.

"No Si, your Dad has been sober for a good month now…And before that he was doing really-well…This is just a blip Si…A pretty-big-one I admit…But he'll sort this, I promise." John told-him, kindly.

"What was your Dad like?!" Simon asked.

"My Dad?! He spent more time in his life drunk than sober…He had a couple-of weeks at a time when he'd try and convince-us that he'd turned-his life-around…But then either-me or my brother would get-on his nerves and then bam…Back-off the wagon…" John explained.

"He makes my Dad sound like the perfect Dad…" Simon admitted.

"Exactly Si…Your Dad is nothing like Albert…Your Dad is kind and loving and he is genuinely trying-to get better…My Dad wasn't any-of those things…So count-yourself lucky-Si…" John told-him softly.

"Now how do I get-all of that to sink-in with Cassia?!" Simon asked.

"Goodness Knows Son…But if you ever need a bit-of support, then you know where to come right?!" John asked-him.

"Yeah I Do…Thanks John." Simon said, and John pulled-him-into a hug just as Jessica arrived-back-home from the shop.

As she entered the dining-room, she just smiled-at the sight she witnessed, glad that her Dad and her boyfriend were so-close.

That afternoon, Peter was now back-from counselling and Jakey and Freddie were playing happily together upstairs. Cassia always got home a bit later than her brothers because she was at secondary-school.

As Carla walked-through the door, she was happy-to find Peter watching TV with a cup-of coffee.

"Hey Baby…" Carla said as she joined-him on the sofa and planted a kiss onto his cheek.

"Hiya Love." Peter replied.

"How was your meeting?!" Carla asked-him as she stroked his cheek comfortingly.

"…Tough…But Good…If ya know what I mean…" Peter told his Wife truthfully.

"Well as long as they help-you stay-sober, then I don't mind if they're tough." Carla replied.

"Yeah I agree…" Peter said.

"Good…And what about counselling?!" Carla asked.

"I told her about everything that's happened with Cassia…" Peter revealed.

"And?!" Carla questioned.

"And she said that-it was only natural for Cassia to be kicking-off a bit after the way I've been carrying-on…But she told-me to never give-up on her…No matter how hard she pushes…Because it's important for both-of us that she knows that I still love-her…And she said to remind-myself everyday that Cassia still loves-me-too…" Peter told-his Wife truthfully.

"And she does Baby…She's just hurting right-now, that's all." Carla told-her Husband as Cassia walked through the front-door. "Owh…Speak-of the devil…" Carla trailed-off.

"Hiya Love." Peter said, making the effort with his Daughter, but Cassia just blanked-him.

"Hiya Cass…" Carla also-said.

"Hi…" Cassia replied, moodily.

"Remember your grounded, so no computer or TV this evening…You can wash-up and dry-up after dinner so that you're not bored…" Carla told-her calmly.

"So I can still go on my phone then?!" Cassia asked.

"Only if you speak-to your Dad for me…" Carla told-her.

"Hi Dad…" Cassia said, with an obviously fake enthusiasm before turning her attention-back-to her Mother. "There, is that good enough for you?!" She said.

"Don't be so sarcastic, it doesn't suit you." Carla replied-to her Daughter, firmly.

"Well being drunk doesn't suit Dad but he still drinks anyway. Like Father, Like Daughter!" Cassia replied.

"That's completely different and you know-it Cassia!" Carla told-her angrily.

"I'm trying my best Cass…I've been sober for a month now…" Peter explained-to her.

"Ooo a whole month…So Impressive!" Cassia said, being sarcastic once-again.

"Uh, young lady what have I told you about that sarcasm?!" Carla warned-her.

"Have you ever thought that I don't care Mum?!" Cassia said, rudely.

"Right, give me your phone." Carla said, standing-up and taking Cassia's phone out-of her hands.

"But Mum I need that!" Cassia complained.

"Not anymore you don't!" Carla replied.

"I rang Social Services today!" Cassia blurted-out.

"You what?!" Carla said.

"I rang social services and I told them that I wanted-to live with my REAL Dad again!" Cassia said, before running upstairs in floods-of tears.

"Cass!" Peter called, before standing-up and following his Daughter upstairs, knocking-on her bedroom-door. "Cass, please let-me-in, we need-to talk about this." He said, desperately, close-to tears now.

"Just leave-her Baby." Carla said as she got-to the top-of the stairs.

"I'm gonna lose my Daughter…My precious Daughter." Peter cried.

"Awh, no you're not Sweetheart, she's just lashing-out, Social Services will know that." Carla re-assured-him.

"No Carla, they have every right to take her away…I mean, what kind-of Father am I to that girl?! And our boys too…And I know that you might-be a Good Mother to them, but as long as you're with me they're not gonna be able to live-here are they?! So you might aswell just leave-me before they are taken into care." Peter said, speaking-through floods-of tears.

"Peter I will never leave-ya…And those kids of ours are not going-anywhere, and that's a promise." Carla told him.

"Really?! 'Cos I wouldn't blame-you if ya did?!" Peter cried.

"Baby I love-you…" Carla said, close-to tears herself now. "I couldn't live without-you…And if I thought for one-minute that you were putting our kids at risk then I'd be out-of here like a shot, but you're not Baby…You're the best Husband…And the best Father I could ever ask-for. And yes you've messed-up a few-times…But what parent hasn't hey?!" Carla said, now crying-herself as she hugged Peter tightly.

Please-Review!

Coming-Up…

Social Services Visit The Barlow's…

Simon reluctantly heads-back-to Uni…