Peter had hardly spoken on the drive back to the street, seemingly lost in his thoughts; at least he no longer seemed angry with her. Carla wasn't sure if his silence made her feel better or worse. The last thing she needed was another lecture on what he thought was best for her, but the latest revelations had left her sick to the stomach. The small fragments of memory she did have offered no explanation, and she felt frightened that Peter had been right all along; that she was risking her health by refusing to let things drop. As the car pulled up outside Roy's she turned to tell him this but he cut in before her.

"I'm sorry love. I've thought more about it and I do understand why you have to do this. When I think back to when I was at my worst with my drinking, that feeling of not knowing what I'd said and done was horrible, and for me it was no more than a matter of hours, and there were others who could fill the blanks for me. Of course you're going to want to know, it's stupid of me to try and convince you otherwise."

He offered her a comforting smile, and she met his gaze, his beautiful brown eyes drawing her in, filled with reassurance and love. She wondered how she had got so lucky to have him on her side. She felt a sudden clarity, she knew what she had to do next.

"Peter I've decided I'm going to go and see Dominic one last time. I don't know if he'll even speak to me, but no matter whatever the outcome I promise I won't let it take over my life, I'll then concentrate on moving on from it. I have more important priorities now."

Peter nodded in understanding, catching Carla by surprise as he then reached across to stop her unbuckling her seatbelt.

"Well there's no time like the present is there, shall we see if he's home?"

She knew what he was doing, there was no chance of either of them being able to relax until this was over with, but was she ready to face him again so soon, with no time to prepare? Peter sensed her unease.

"I promise I will stay back, keep my fists under control; at least until he's had the chance to explain properly anyway."

Carla doubted Dominic would even open the door with Peter nearby, but at the same time there was no way she wanted to go back there alone. Maybe there was another way.

"I've had a better idea. How about we get him to come to us? Somewhere public, that way he won't be able to avoid meeting with me, and it might help you keep control of your temper."

Peter looked intrigued.

"And how do you propose we do that?"

"Oh I have my ways Peter, you should know that. Now what was his business called again?"

A few hours later Peter was sitting in a booth in the corner of a small restaurant watching apprehensively as Carla waited a few tables away for Dominic to arrive. She was trying to act as if in control of her emotions but the way she was nervously picking at her fingernails betrayed her. The plan had worked just as she had said it would. A call to his office offering a lot of business to his firm if he could meet with his new client today. Peter just hoped that he would stay and talk when he realised the set-up, he was acutely aware this was likely Carla's last chance to get the answers she craved. He felt a burst of adrenaline as he caught sight of the man he could quite happily have beaten into next week, so he concentrated on breathing deeply to try and calm his anger, being careful to stay out of sight. Carla was sitting with her back to the doorway so Dominic didn't realise it was her until he drew level with the table, and Peter watched as he spun away, Carla reaching to grip his arm, talking earnestly, obviously working on convincing him to stay. Peter couldn't hear what she was saying but it must have had the desired effect, as Dominic looked across and threw him a warning glance before taking the seat opposite Carla, his demeaner tense.

As much as he strained Peter couldn't pick up their noticeably intense conversation, and he cursed that he hadn't picked a closer table, although deep down he knew it was probably for the best; at least this way he wouldn't feel the need to intervene. Carla could handle herself, besides, she only had to signal and he would be there in seconds. From their body language he guessed that Dominic was being evasive, and Carla's frustration was obvious. He was starting to wonder if this would all prove fruitless when Dominic seemed to lean back in his chair in resignation, finally prepared to share his secrets, and Carla's shock was evident at what his disclosed. Clearly not willing to hang around any longer Dominic swiftly rose from the table, giving one last sombre glance to where Peter was sitting before he exited the restaurant. Almost instantly Peter was at Carla's side, desperate to make sure she was OK, and to find out what had been discussed. He couldn't read her emotions as she moved to leave, muttering that she didn't want to talk about anything right now, and that she just wanted to go home. He decided now was not the time to push her, so resolved not to ask anything more until they were back in the safety of the flat.

Carla slumped onto the sofa back at Roy's and watched as Peter went over to flip the switch on the kettle, locating two mugs while he waited for it to boil. He must have been desperate to know what had been said but to his credit he was letting her tell him in her own time; she wasn't sure she could have been as patient if the roles had been reversed. She didn't know what to say to him, she was still trying to process the information herself. She should have been happy, or at least relieved at what Dominic had told her, but her mind was still spinning, her thoughts felt jumbled up. She could see the concern in Peter's eyes and decided it was cruel to hold back any longer, taking her coffee gratefully as he sat down beside her, draping his arm gently around her shoulders as he waited for her to speak.

"It was Rob."

She watched Peter absorb her words, his confusion evident as he prompted her to carry on.

"What do you mean love? Rob's still in prison."

As if she could forget that.

"No, let me explain. Dominic told me he still knew some of the locals from when we were growing up, and he got talking to one of them after he had first seen me, and they were still in touch with Rob, I think they shared a cell for a while or something." She paused for breath, Peter was still listening intently, waiting for her to continue.

"Well apparently this bloke spoke to Rob and the next thing Dominic knew they had come to get me, taken me straight to that hotel where I was found I think. Rob must have had some favours he called in."

She felt Peter's arm tighten around her as he pulled her in for a hug, kissing her forehead gently before cupping her chin gently so she met his gaze.

"That's great news baby, isn't it? You were safe in that hotel room; Roy spoke to the staff there that day before you came back to the cafe. This means you can move on now with no more skeletons to worry about doesn't it?"

She smiled back at him, trying to convince herself.

"Yes, you're right, it's finally over."

He wasn't fooled, he knew her far better than that.

"Then what's wrong? Is there something else?"

Carla considered the question. She had told him everything Dominic had said, but he was right as usual, she was holding back.

"It's just that I can't understand if Rob knew the state I was in, why he didn't reach out to Johnny, or Roy or anybody who he must have known would be worrying about me and could help? It doesn't make sense. Why did he tell Dominic that I mustn't find out it was him?" If he hates me so much then why did he get involved at all?

Peter's expression softened.

"Don't you see love, he helped because you're his sister, and of course he loves you, however much he may want to pretend otherwise. I don't think either of us will ever understand how his mind works, but the important thing is that he helped keep you safe, which no matter what I think of him, I will forever be grateful for. Maybe cut him a bit of slack? And no that's not something I'd ever thought I'd say!"

Carla couldn't help but laugh at Peter defending the man she knew he despised more than pretty much any other.

"You're right. It really is over isn't it?" She felt weeks of worry melt away, that terrible chapter of her life could finally be closed, and ironically it was the little brother who had caused so much grief in the past that helped to set her free. She snuggled in towards Peter, her hand drifting to her stomach where she knew in a few weeks she would be able to feel the first signs of the baby growing inside her. Her future, their future.

"So are you going to get in touch with him?"

Carla pondered this, as she felt Peters hand cover hers, his thoughts on what was to come no doubt echoing her own. She smiled up at him, before kissing him tenderly.

"No, I think I'll let Rob keep his secrets, I'm ready for a new beginning. It's time to leave the past behind. I tell you what I do feel like doing though, fancy a trip to the Rovers? I reckon we've got some new to share with the family and I don't know about you, but I could murder an orange juice."

A/N: Sorry this has taken so long to update. I lost inspiration but thought it deserved some sort of conclusion. I hope it's not too much of an anti-climax!