The next day Suzie and Kate had taken the kids out for the day to give Carla and Peter the day to talk things through. Their problems were going to take more than one day to sort out, of course, but both of them wanted to try which was at least a start.

"How did you sleep?" Peter asked Carla, who was sitting at the table on the patio. She may be sad and confused but she was going to enjoy the LA weather at all costs. She was dressed in a black tshirt dress that she had just thrown on. She had a coffee in a rather large american mug and her sunglasses over her natural face.

"Sleep?" Carla questioned "what is that?"

"I take it you didn't sleep then" Peter gave her a soft smile. He had noticed her attire, she looked amazing. He loved that fresh look she always sported in LA.

"No, Peter I did not sleep, I was to busy worrying about my alcoholic fiance being off of the wagon"

"So I am still your fiance" Peter replied with another small smile.

Carla gave him a stern look "Peter this is serious"

"I know it is, I want to make things better between us"

"Then we need to be completely honest with each other" Carla told him.

Peter nodded.

"I want to know why you began drinking in the first place"

"This is what I have been afraid of" Peter shrugged.

"Why is it that bad?" Carla asked, thoroughly concerned.

"I know this isn't going to be easy for us to get through because everything comes back to the last time we were married and what I did"

"Peter, I don't understand, you are going to have to clue me in" Carla said, leaning forward and placing both hands around her coffee mug.

"Rob" Peter said, shyly "I began drinking the night I found out about Rob"

"Rob?" Carla questioned.

"Yes, I know it's silly but when I found out you went to see him, all the feelings came flooding back from that time"

"What do you mean Peter?"

"Well, when I was charged with murder I was in the lowest point in my life" Peter sighed "I had just lost the love of my life and I was going to prison for the rest of my life for something I didn't do"

"I know that" Carla admitted.

"But you don't know Carla, you only know the story from your side"

Carla nodded and encouraged him to continue.

"I got so drunk in prison that I nearly died but I didn't care because I had nothing to live for anymore"

"The baby I was carrying Peter might have been something to live for"

"I know that but I was going to be in prison, I wouldn't have wanted you to bring her to see me every now and again, it's wouldn't of been fair to her"

"So you tried to drink yourself to death"

"Yes"

"Right" Carla shook her head.

"Carla, then I saw you in the hospital when my dad asked you to come"

"Yes, I went for Ken and for our daughter to make sure she had a dad" Carla told him honestly.

"I know that" Peter smiled "I know it was for her, that's why I got better, I had something to fight for"

"I know all this, Peter"

"But then when Rob was sent down for the murder and I was relised, I knew you couldn't handle it and you went to LA"

"I had to go, you were drinking and things were such a mess that I couldn't give birth to our child and bring her into that"

"I know that Carla and I do not for one second blame you for that"

"I had to go but then when I found out about you leaving and making a better life for yourself, I came back and lived on the street"

"I was working on myself in Portsmouth whilst you were back on the street getting along with Tisley"

"Yes" Carla sank her head.

"I also don't blame you for that, Nick is a good guy he was what you needed at that time"

"But I still don't see what all this has to do with your drinking now, we spoke about all this when we got back together"

"Yes, but I am trying to tell you that all this adds up, when I heard about Rob it put me right back at that place Carla, right back into that feeling of nothing and I hated myself for feeling like that"

"Then why didn't you talk to me about it?" Calra asked "Instead of having a drink"

"I wanted to but we were fighting about Rob and you had your own feelings to deal with so I had a drink"

"Peter" Carla sighed.

"Only one drink, I came home and nothing was different"

"So you fooled yourself into thinking that you can have one and no one will notice"

"Something like that"

"That is ridiculous Peter, you know you are an alcoholic which means you can not have a drink at all" Carla shouted.

"I know that Carla, I was just weak"

Carla shot up off of the chair "Oh here we go with the weak excuse again"

"Carla I was"

"You were weak when you had an affair, you were weak when you were drinking again, what's next Peter?"

"I am weak, you make me stronger Carla"

"Peter, I need someone that isn't going to feel weak all the time"

"What are you saying?"

"I am saying nothing Peter just that I need you to be strong for me and for us"

"I promise you I will not drink again"

"We have been here before"

"I know we have but I can only tell you that I will try"

"Is that why Toyah was so involved?" Carla asked, she took a seat on the patio furniture again.

Peter took a big breath in "yes, I guess"

"You guess?"

"She was there when I was going to drink, she made sure I didn't, she tried to help me"

Carla looked at him with sadness in her eyes. She was so upset, she should be the one to support him.

"Carla, what is wrong?"

"I want to know why you felt you couldn't come to me with your drinking"

Peter took her hand "I was ashamed that I had a drink, I didn't want to disappoint you"

"But now look what has happened" Carla shook her head "look where we are Peter, I can't believe I did this" Carla began to cry.

Peter tried to put his arm around her but she shot out of her chair and across into the house.

"Carla" Peter called after her.

"I can't believe I just took our children across the world because I was upset" she shook her head, pacing the room "what have I done"

"Carla, It's ok" Peter took her hand "I am here now and we are talking things through"

"Peter, how can you stand to see me, I took your kids"

"But we are together again" Peter took a deep breath in "I know that we are going to have to discuss this and work on trusting each other again"

"I am so sorry" Carla looked at him, she looked heartbroken.

"I am sorry Carla, my actions made you do this, if anyone is to blame it's me" Peter told her, trying to calm her down. He pulled her into him and she let him hug her.

"How are the kids?" Peter asked, trying to change onto a more happier subject.

Carla pulled away from him and gave him a small smile "Haisley is loving life, she was made for LA and Theodore is doing fine"

"Carla, I do not blame you for running"

"But you should"

"I don't, I can't imagine what was going through your head, I know what I put you through all those years ago"

"Peter, I was out of my mind"

"I am so sorry, the thought of you being like that upsets me so much"

"I just don't understand why you had to lie" Carla said to him.

"Like I said, it was just the fact that Rob bought back all these memories and I knew if I told you we would have to talk it all through again and then that made me more anxious and made me want a drink even more"

"Thank you for following us this time"

"Carla, you are my life I would follow you anywhere" Peter told her "I didn't last time because I knew I wasn't what you needed"

"I think we just need some time and some space" Carla told him honestly "I think you need to see someone about your drinking and get back on the wagon"

"I agree, I haven't had a drink since the one I had the first night but I know I need to see someone"

So Carla and Peter agreed that they needed some time to build up their trust in each other and Peter needed to sort out his head.

If she was being honest Carla needed to sort out her head, she needed to deal with the death of her brother and the fact she felt like running to LA when things got hard with Peter.

As a couple they decided to stay in LA for the time being. Peter knew some good counsellors in LA from the last time they were here and Carla wanted some time away from the street and to enjoy her time with the kids in the sun.

Suzie was only too overjoyed to have her friend staying, she loved spending time with the kids and Carla was good company for her.

A little while later Kate and Suzie came back with the children. Carla was laid on a sunbed and Peter was sitting around the pool, dipping his legs in as it was a particularly hot day in LA.

"Daddy" Haisley ran through the gate and straight towards her father "I didn't know you were here"

Peter hugged his daughter tight, this time yesterday he was unsure of when he would see her again "I jumped on a plane to surprise you"

"Mummy said you had to work"

Peter looked at Carla with a sad face.

"But you are here now so you can watch me swim" Haisley told him.

Peter walked towards the two women and the buggy.

"Hello Suzie" he said to the women.

"Hello stranger, I hear you got yourself into some trouble" she said as she pulled him in for a hug.

"Don't I always?" Peter smiled at her. Suzie smiled back whilst Kate rolled her eyes. Peter was glad Suzie was good with him, she always had a soft spot for Peter even though he has done some terrible things.

"You are not clever Peter, you may not have had an affair but you still hurt her" Kate told him.

"I am sorry Kate but we are going to work it out" Peter replied.

"For your sake, I hope so" Kate told him, nudging him in the shoulder as she passed him.

"She has character, that one" Suzie said to Peter.

"Much like her older sister" Peter smiled looking at Carla as she greeted her daughter.

It was late afternoon, Peter and Carla haven't really spoken since their deep conversation this morning.

"I have an idea" Kate shouted out, making all the adults look at her. She was sick of looking at the sad faces and the awkward silences.

Suzie laughed at the outburst "what is that Kate?"

"I think us women should head to the spa tomorrow and leave him to look after the kids" Kate suggested.

"I think that is a great idea" Suzie backed her up.

"I don't know" Carla sighed.

"Come on, it'll be good for you" Kate grabbed her sisters arm, pulling it up and down "I want a day with you"

"Ok" Carla answered.

"Peter you don't mind watching the kids tomorrow, whilst we go to the spa do you?" Kate shouted to him with a straight face.

Peter looked at Kate, he didn't really get a choice "Of course I will"

"There, it's settled" Kate nodded and relaxed back on her chair.

After an awkward night Carla hoped the next day would be better. Peter had kept his distance but was always near so Carla didn't feel pressured and Carla liked it because she could keep an eye on him and make sure he isn't drinking.

"Right mummy will be back later" Carla told Haisley.

"Ok mummy have fun"

"Have fun with daddy" Carla smiled at Haisley and then at Peter, who was holding Theodore. "Bye little man" she said, kissing Theo on the head.

Peter smiled as it was the closest she had been to him in a few days. He breathed in the familiar scent of her shampoo as her hair passed his nose.

Once at the spa and lazing in the pool, all three women were having a chat.

"So how have you left things with Peter?" Suzie asked.

"We talked which was something" Carla told them "we have decided that we both want to work on things but we don't know how too at the moment"

"You are staying here though?" Kate asked sadly.

"We are going to stay here for an extra week or so" Carla told them "Peter is going to work on getting back on the wagon and I am going to work on why I felt the need to run"

"Carla, that has always been how you deal with things, no one can blame you" Suzie reminded her.

"Well this time I was wrong to run and take the children with me" Carla lowered her head in shame.

"Peter was in the wrong, everybody knows why you left" Kate reminded her.

"Actually, I spoke to Peter last night, he has told everyone back home that you planned this holiday" Suzie told them "they all think that you are here together"

"Great" Kate rolled her eyes.

"All I know is that I love Peter, flaws and all" Carla told them "we have got through bigger things than this"

"Yes Carla but those things caused this thing" Kate told her.

"I know and that is why we are going to stay here and work it out"

Back at the house, Peter was enjoying his day with the kids. He loved that Haisley was so happy here and Theodore was the perfect baby.

"Watch me daddy" Haisley said, jumping into the pool.

"Well done princess" Peter smiled at her. Peter watched as his children were happily getting along in LA.

He was glad that Carla still wanted to work it out with him and he wondered how many chances he would get with this amazing woman. He loved her so much but couldn't help but be annoyed with her taking his children. This was something he had to work through with her, they both had to trust each other and that was what they were going to work on building together.