The next couple of days were exactly how you would imagine. Rob was the most talked about topic on the street. Everyone wanted to know all the details. The second was Carla and how she could not only bare to have him living with her but how he could be in her life again. The third thing was Carla and Peter, although people had known about them for a few weeks now Rob was back it had stirred up the past and the reasons for killing Tina which obviously leads back to Carla and Peter.

"I hate this" Carla said to Peter as she walked to the factory on a cold Monday morning.

"I know you do but we just have to get over it" Peter said "It's not like we haven't been hot topic of conversation in the past" he smiled as he remembered that his and Carla's relationship has been played out throughout the homes of coronation street for years, even before they got together.

"Peter it's not funny" She gave him a glance.

"Carla they have nothing better to do then to chat about us and Rob, in a minute something else will happen and everyone will just get over it"

"I suppose you are right"

"Of course I am" Peter pulled her in for a hug and kissed her on the head. They were outside of the factory so this is where they would go their separate ways. They hadn't spent any quality time together since Rob had been back; it was starting to get to them both.

"I will see you after work for the family dinner" Carla reminded Peter. Over the weekend Johnny had requested a family dinner, Carla really didn't want to go but she knew about Johnny's health scare so she reconsidered. Johnny even told Carla to bring Rob as he was Carla's brother and they all had to find a way to get along. "If you are good, ill give you a treat" she said winking at him before walking away.

Peter went weak at the knees and couldn't wait for this day to be over with.

She wasn't too sure about bringing Rob to the dinner but once she had bought up the subject to Kate and even Rob himself she was persuaded to let him come.

Carla entered the office to find Aiden pacing back and forwards. "What are you doing?" Carla asked him as she placed her bag down on the desk.

"I am waiting for a phone call" Aiden told her.

"The phone will still ring if you are sat down Aiden" Carla sat on her chair encouraging him to do the same.

"I know, sorry Carla I'm just waiting to hear back from the new client I met last week" he sat on his chair. "They could mean big business for us but they were waiting to hear from another factory before they gave us out answer"

"That's great Aiden well done, I knew you were busy but I didn't think you meant this" Carla said "although I have been distracted with Rob being back"

"It's ok, I know it's been hard on you keeping Rob in check but also having a life for yourself" Aiden said smiling at her.

"Thanks, Peter has been really understanding with the whole situation" Carla told him. "He knows just how hard this is for me but he's been trying really hard to get along with Rob"

"I know it's hard for you Carla but if worse comes to worse you do have other family" Aiden told her honestly.

"I know that Aiden, I do" She said reaching across the desk for his hand "thank you, this isn't about having no family if he isn't here, it's always been my job to look after him, with the useless mum we had, so when I look at him I don't see the murderer I see that scared little boy that used to sneak into my bedroom when he couldn't sleep because she was drunk and shouting at her latest man"

"And that Carla Connor is why we all love you and your soft side" Aiden gave her a wink causing her to smile.

Suddenly the phone rung causing Aiden to jump he quickly reached for the phone and took the call. It was the new contact and they wanted to do business with the factory.

"Tonight can also be a celebration" Carla said getting up and giving him a hug "Congratulations"

"Thanks Carla" Aiden said happily "I best go and tell that lot that they will be working overtime soon"

Aiden ran out of the office to let them all know, Carla stood back and watched him be full with excitement. She felt full of love and joy for Aiden in that moment that she suddenly realized she had another brother to focus on. Rob wasn't the only one that needed her. He has just been used to being the only one, maybe tonight he would understand she has more than him to focus on.

"I'm not coming" Rob told her from the sofa when she walked in from work that evening.

"What do you mean?" Carla asked a little angrily.

"That's not my family, so why should I go to a family dinner" Rob stated.

"Because they are my family and you are also my family" Carla slumped down on the sofa "And forgive me for thinking you could do something for me for a change"

"Carla don't be like that"

"How do you want me to be Rob, I have done everything for you since you've got out, I ask you to do one thing and you can't even do that, nothing changes does it" she got up and stormed into her bedroom slamming the door.

Rob sat still on the sofa thinking to himself about how he had just made Carla feel. He loved Carla, which he did know. If he was honest with himself he was jealous she had a dad and more siblings. He had only ever had Carla so for him it would take some getting used to.

Carla was sat in her room putting on her makeup when she heard a faint knock on the door. She rolled her eyes "Come in" she said hastily.

"Carla I'm sorry" Rob said as he entered slowly "I know they mean a lot to you and I guess I was just jealous, but I will come tonight, I will try to make it work with them"

"Thank you" she said looking at him through the mirror.

"I also wanted to tell you I have applied for some jobs, I want to stay around here and be close to you"

"Is that the best idea Rob" Carla asked turning around so she was facing him.

"Probably not but people will get over it, I have been proved innocent in the court of law so I just need to persuade them that I am too"

"Are you crazy" Carla said shocked "we all know you done it"

"Yes but they don't know for sure and I can tell them that it was a mistake and I've been let go"

"I don't think they will believe you to be honest Rob" Carla told him truthfully.

"Well I don't care, if I want to stay here no one is going to chase me away, you live here and so does Tracy"

"Tracy is with Robert, she's happy"

"I know that but you gave Peter a second chance so I think there is a possibility that she could give me one"

"If you want to stay here that is fine but you will need to get a job and find somewhere to live, you will also have to deal with the people that live here but if you can stand the whispering and talk then that's up to you" she turned back to face the mirror to finish off her face.

"I think I can I just need to get back into life, you'll see" Rob said as he happily walked out of her bedroom.

Ten minutes later the buzzer went off. Carla ran to the buzzer to answer it knowing it was Peter.

"Hey beautiful" he said walking through the door placing a kiss on Carla's lips. The kiss turned more passionate the longer it went on.

Carla finally pulled back before they got too carried away.

Peter smiled at her "you ready to go?"

"Yes" she placed a kiss on his cheek. She had been so busy with Rob and the factory she hadn't seen him properly in a few days.

Peter still had his hands wrapped around her waist when Rob entered the room from his bedroom "do you have to"

"Are you ready?" Carla asked as she smirked at Rob. In the past he was used to them having hands all over each other but since he's been back and he knew what Peter had done to Carla with Tina he wasn't so keen.

"Yes anything to get away from all the touching" Rob said grabbing his jacket and making his way out of the door.

Carla and peter just looked at each other and laughed "Come on then, let's go have a fun family dinner" Carla said pulling Peter by his hand.