Peter ignored the pointed glare that was sent his way as he went and eased Megan from Deirdre's arms. "Are you sure you don't want to come back to ours for a bit, have a cup of tea and things." Deirdre said as Peter shook his head slightly. "No I think we've all had a long day as it is. Thanks though." Peter said as Deirdre nodded her head and offered her stepson a soft smile. "You're doing a good job with everything and you know your father and I will support you through all of this." She said as Peter nodded.
"I know. Si, you going to say night to bye to everyone?" Peter said as Simon nodded and kissed his grandparents on the cheek whilst Tracey ruffled her nephew's curly hair gently. "Don't worry about hurrying back to work Peter, I'm okay running the bookies for you whilst you need it. I mean what with the custody battle and that." Tracey said as Peter smiled at his sister. Sure to many people Tracey Barlow was a cold, calculating schemer but to him she was just his little sister, annoying but would always remain fiercely loyal. "Thanks Trace. But I'll have to come back soon. Carla will be getting beyond annoyed with me just lying around her apartment." Peter said as Carla turned to him, having been gently putting Megan's little coat on. "Oh don't be daft, I told you it's not a problem having you and kids at mine." She said as Peter sighed. "I appreciate that but you can't keep us all, besides now the funeral's over I have to make a start at sorting things out. I mean if there's a legal battle coming up it won't come cheap will it." He said as he let his eyes momentarily fall on where Leanne's maternal relatives sat. Deep down he knew they were only doing it out of love for Megan but he felt bitter that they thought him capable of hurting or neglecting his daughter.

"Look at her acting like she's part of the family. Honestly makes me sick." Gloria muttered as she sipped her brandy whilst Stella smiled tearfully as she looked at a photo of Leanne when she was in a school nativity play dressed as an angel. "Oh gran leave it hey." Eva said as she was getting somewhat bored of her grandmother's biting comments. This was Leanne's funeral and she highly doubted her sister would have wanted her family at war with one another. She wandered if she should text Kylie after the earlier incident but figured that no doubt the manner in which David had stormed out of the Bistro dragging Kylie behind him then she was likely embroiled in a heated argument and she sensed that a well intended text message would not be received too well. She glanced over somewhat bemused at where Tina was sat in a booth with a ice-pack held against her cheek, Rita clucking over her like a mother-hen as Norris uttered something about people having no respect at funerals. Stella looked up slightly as Peter stood with Megan in his arms. "I er...thought you might want to say bye." He said as Stella nodded and held her arms out for the baby girl. He passed her the tiny baby and Stella gently ran her finger over Megan's button nose. "You be a good girl for your Daddy hmm." She said softly as Megan's long lashes fluttered. She kissed her softly and nestled her against the crook of her neck. Gloria merely rolled her eyes and ignored the look her granddaughter was shooting her willing her to stay quiet. "You know you can't stop us from seeing her, she's our family too." She spat as Stella sighed at her mother.
"Mam, not now hey."
"I'm just saying." Gloria said as she reached out to stroke her great-grandchild's rosy cheek. Megan let out a soft baby sigh and Eva smiled gently. "Can Auntie Eva have a cuddle?" She ventured as she peeked up at Peter who nodded stiffly, Carla's fingers gently touching the sleeve of his jacket, silently showing letting him know she was there. "Hello precious. Oh I'm going to spoil you Miss. I am. I've already got you some pretty clothes that your Mam would have rolled her eyes at all pink and sparkly." Eva gushed as Karl shook his head knowing that there was a mass of baby outfits stashed at the pub.
"Well I guess we need to get off, it's been a tiring day for all of us." Carla said softly as she looked at Simon who was rubbing his eyes slightly, stifling a yawn.

Carla stayed at home the next day knowing that Peter was keen to find a solicitor who could represent him if Stella was adamant that she was filing for temporary custody at the very least. "I still don't think that she can persue custody unless social services are involved." Carla said as she idly let her mind wander to the time when she had been interrogated by some social worker back when she was almost 13 and one of her teachers had taken it upon themselves to raise concern at the fact she was so often absent and turned up haphazardly dressed. "And you don't think Gloria is on the phone at this very minute telling them how disastrous I am as a father." Peter said as he let his brown eyes focus on his precious daughter who was squirming on her play mat. "Yeah well she'd be wrong wouldn't she. You are a good father Peter, please don't let Gloria's opinion make you think that you're not." She said as she passed him a cup of coffee smiling as Megan let out a babble from where she was batting some toys on the baby gym. "Yeah well as kind as your words are there's plenty in the past I can't be proud of. I mean I almost killed me and Si a few years back." Peter said regretfully.
"And you think Gloria hasn't got some skeleton's back there. I mean Stella's hardly Mum of the Year is she! She left Leanne when she was a toddler, no goodbyes or birthday presents and cards through the years." Carla said in defence of Peter who smiled weakly at her.
"God I don't know what I'd do without you." Peter said as Carla felt a slight blush fall to her cheeks. She sipped her own coffee and bit her lip slightly. "You sure you'll be okay with me going back to work tomorrow?"
"Carla, you've done more than enough for me and the kids. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you for the support you've shown over the past few weeks. Simon adores you and well Megan's going to be glad in a few years that you were around to ensure she had coordinating outfits." Peter said with a wink as Carla giggled slightly. "Well I suppose she will be grateful for that. Anyway it's a godmother's responsibility to ensure her goddaughter is dressed in cute outfits." Carla said as she put her mug down and went to where Megan lay crouching down besides her. "You look pretty in your little dress don't you." She cooed as Megan replied in a baby squeal which made Carla giggle. "You reckon Si's getting on alright at school?" She asked as Peter shrugged. "God knows but I think it'll do him good been with his friends again. I mean he's only 6 and for the past few weeks all he's been subjected to is adults crying or arguing. Besides which it can't be good for him to miss too much school." Peter said as Carla nodded in agreement.
"He was so chatty on the way to Bessie Street this morning, you didn't mind that he asked for me to drop him off did you?" Carla said as Peter shook his head, it had hurt a little but he understood that Simon missed Leanne immensely and well having Carla drop him off was perhaps an easier way of him coping than having to try and be strong for Peter. "He adores you." Peter said as Carla smiled softly.
"Well the feelings mutual. He's a credit to you Peter." She said as Peter smiled at her words.
"I can't dispute that. After everything that he's been through well he's so well adjusted. I just hope that this custody thing doesn't cause him too much distress. For all his claims that he wanted a brother, he absolutely loves Megan." Peter said as he let his hands fall on his precious daughter. Carla frowned as her phone beeped and she glanced at the text on the screen. "Everything okay?" Peter asked.
"Err no, I'm really sorry but I think I'll have to head into the factory, blooming supplier turned up unannounced. If it were Hayley I could happily leave her in charge but she had a dentist appointment and well I can't subject any poor sod to Sally wittering on." She said running a hand through her dark hair as she rang the factory number. "Michelle not in?" Peter asked as Carla remained silent and he sensed not to press further.

Gail wrinkled her nose slightly as Kylie stirred a teaspoon in her mug of tea, clanging the spoon against the side of the porcelain loudly. Audrey had said it wouldn't do business any good having a manicurist sporting a fat lip and besides which she had Tina booked in for a cut and blow dry later that day. Subsequently much to Gail's chagrin the TV was blaring out an episode of Jeremy Kyle. "Do we have to have this rubbish on Kylie?" Gail moaned.
"Nowt else on is there. Besides I'd have thought you'd enjoy watching this. Make's your life seem somewhat less screwed up don't you think." Kylie retorted as Gail pursed her lips in annoyance. "That's a bit rich don't you think love. I mean your life has hardly been what you can call normal has it." She replied her annoyance been heightened by Kylie's words. "You know I always thought Leanne Battersby was the worst girl either of my boys could bring home as a partner. Seems like I was wrong, that poor girl was a saint compared to you."
"Oh really!" Kylie snorted having been told by David following the funeral why he had been so secretive recently. "Funny kind of saint though. I mean a prozzie and screwing her ex behind her hubby's back!" Kylie spat as Gail's eyes widened at her daughter-in-law's words.

"I'll pick Si up from school if you want. Saves you having to drag Megan out." Carla said as she picked up her designer handbag from the side of the couch. "Thanks. I best get on with getting in touch with my solicitor. Somehow I reckon Stella's already lining up some expert in family law." Peter said ruefully as he picked up Megan and clasped her adoringly against his chest as she burrowed her tiny head into the crook of his neck. "Look if you need any money towards this well you know you only have to..." Carla started but was cut off by Peter who shook his head. "No I have money and well Dad and Deirdre already said they'd help out. Hopefully it won't come to that. Maybe we could look at mediation or something." Peter said as Carla nodded lightly. "I hope so. Anyway I'll pick us up some dinner, madam needs some more nappies doesn't she. Anything else?"
"Erm some baby wipes as well. I'll get you some money." Peter said as Carla shook her head.
"Don't be daft. Besides I use Megan's baby wipes to take off my make up so I probably owe you a pack at least." Carla said as Peter smiled softly.

Stella tapped her ails against the table in the solicitors office as Gloria leafed through a list of charges. "Blooming heck, £50 to send a letter, you're in the wrong line of business pet." She said as Stella looked at her, willing her to be quieter. The legal secretary glanced over at them from her desk and coughed slightly.
"Mr Anderson will see you now." She said as Stella nodded with a grateful smile and stood up, Gloria following in close pursuit as they headed to the wooden door with a metal plate on it declaring the inhabitant to be Richard Anderson specialist in Family Law. The room was large with rows of law books stored in bookcases and the lawyer sat behind a modern desk. He stood up and offered his hand to the two women. "Mrs Price?"
"Ms Price. Stella please, this is my mother Gloria." Stella said as she shook the man's hand and took a seat which he indicated to.
"So how can I help you both?" The solicitor asked as Stella sighed slightly.
"Well my daughter Leanne, passed away three weeks ago from complications with the birth of her daughter."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Thank you, my son-in-law, he...he's not got the most stable background regarding his parenting capabilities." Stella said as Gloria snorted.
"He almost set him and his son alight." She interjected as her daughter shot a glare at her.
"He's a good man deep down and he does love his son and my granddaughter but my mother's right. He has a history of alcohol abuse and well when he's incapacitated he does make rash and dangerous decisions. His son Simon is old enough to at least get out of the way or ring his grandparents but Megan's just a baby and I'm concerned that the he will struggle with the responsibility of having two children, one a newborn." Stella explained as the lawyer tapped away at his notepad and made some brief notes on what she was saying. "How recently do you know Mr Barlow had a episode of heavy drinking?" The lawyer asked as Stella thought back. "I know that he had a bad episode two days after Leanne passed away."
"The drinking's not the only problem though. He has anger issues, was arrested for punching his stepsister's fella once." Gloria said having been told several tales of Peter Barlow's escapades by a more than willing Norris. "It may only be for a temporary basis until Peter's able to cope but right now he's unstable and knowing his past leaves me very concerned over Megan's welfare." Stella said as Mr Anderson nodded.
"Understandable. Is Mr Barlow aware of your intentions?"
"Yes." Gloria said as she looked intently at one of the law degrees which was placed on the wall of the office.
"Can I get you both a drink of coffee or tea whilst I go through the options we have?" He asked as he buzzed his PA to come through to the office.
"That'd be lovely thank you." Stella said as she wrung her hands together.

Carla's heels tapped on the vinyl flooring of the factory as she turned on her beaming smile for Mr Neilson. "Sally, could you be a dear and ask James what he would like from the cafe cakewise." She said in an upbeat manner as Sally looked a little annoyed at the fact she was having to play assistant.
"I could have coped you know!" She said as Carla didn't respond but simply raised an eyebrow at her before greeting her supplier with a firm handshake.
"Hi James, sorry about the wait. I didn't realise you were scheduled for a meeting today. I don't know if anyone filled you in but I've been helping a friend who lost his wife recently." Carla said as James smiled slightly.
"Who'd have guessed behind your icy exterior there is a heart!" James chuckled as he enjoyed a flirty exchange with Carla. "Oh shush you!" Carla said playfully as she put the expensive coffee machine to use. "So anyway apologies for the unannounced arrival but I have some new lines come in and I thought I'd offer you first refusal."
"And you'd do that for me why James?" Carla said as she stirred the coffee with a small smirk on her face, her slender frame sporting a fitted dark grey dress.
"Well you know me, can't refuse a pretty face can I." James said as Carla rolled her eyes.
"Well come on then, lets see these new lines." Carla said as James opened a book with some fabric samples inside.
"I heard something on the grapevine regards you Miss." James said as Carla ran a finger over the silk fabric.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, someone mentioned that Frank Foster said he was going out on a date with you? Given all that stuff with Tony Gordon I'd have thought you'd have been staying clear of mixing business and pleasure." James said as Carla shrugged.
"It's dinner, hardly like we're moving in with one another or anything. Anyway where'd you hear that?"
"I was speaking to Rachel Edwards who said she'd seen Frank on Monday and he mentioned it. Have to say he's a lucky bloke."
"And like I said it's just dinner." Carla reaffirmed as she was interrupted by Sally knocking on the door to the office, cake box in hand.
"Oh Mrs Connor, these came for you earlier, I forgot to say." She nodded towards a large bouquet of flowers that she had put into a vase.
"No guesses as to who sent those. You know you best be careful. I heard once old Frankie falls, he falls hard. He'll have you married and pushing a buggy before you know it." James quipped as Carla swallowed. She could quite willingly allow herself to indulge in a fantasy of pushing a baby buggy about or heading down the aisle in a wedding dress but in her mind the man waiting for her at the foot of the aisle wasn't Frank Foster.