Part 2: A Mutual Understanding

The sun beamed down onto the dull skin of her body. Her heart still raced every now and then but somehow she was allowed to feel safe here, she did feel safe. Her sunglasses flipped over her head and she let out a content sigh and allowed her body to forget the storm that was her life back in Manchester. Usually, her body would be cold and numb but as they moved towards the equator she allowed the sun to warm her up more almost as if she was like some cold-blooded reptile. She stifled a love knowing she was more like a cold-blooded murderer as she made that seemingly realistic comparison inside of her head.

Gentle vibrations rippled through the decking and the towel which she was lying on, she peered up over her sunglasses and rolled her eyes before letting out a calming sigh, not a strained one for once. At this time in her life, it filled her with uncertainty and she felt weak for running but she allowed herself to feel happy right now as her presence wasn't only just her, there was Peter as well.

The whole thing was a disaster, they made their way down to Manchester and Carla was demanding that they ran. They hopped onto Peter's boat and they were off and that was that. She cried every night and he kept her as safe as he could either by loving her or talking to her and reassuring her. He was surprised it worked so well considering how flamin' stubborn she could be but he knew, deep down, that she was grateful for his support and that made his heart swell.

It had been weeks since Carla's life had fallen apart, no one had found them. They were going to the quietest parts of the earth to build up some supplies before making their way down south where they were convinced no one would find them. Convincing themselves was getting them through this, whether they were naive that someone would catch up to them in the future then so be it, it was fate at the end of the day and they understood that and shared a mutual understanding over the situation not that they spoke about it much.

Peter understood the consequences of helping her, she had made it clear to him that he could go down for her crimes as well as herself but he assured her that he was there every step of the way. The first night they were together they spoke about it and she made it clear, deadly clear and serious and she could tell it was frightening to him so she made him be sure saying that he could walk out of the door right now and she would do this alone because either way she was doing this. He didn't want to leave her and in a way it made her feel guilty for telling him to come here. Deep down in the depth of her soul, she knew she couldn't do this alone and she trusted Peter and of course he agreed with her and in a way it was helpful because he had the new boat from the insurance money from the fireball which was his last.

It was as simple as, leave the hotel, get down to Manchester without being stopped, get on the boat then say goodbye to England in the need for a new life and it worked and had been working. They stopped off in discreet locations to ensure they didn't arouse suspicions from the authorities, it was working. It really was working and that made Carla calmer because she was a wreck to put it lightly.

Some nights Peter would find her physically tearing her hair out over the lies and other nights he would find her up in the middle of the night either sitting on the edge of the bed with tears running down her face or on the top deck sitting in the freezing cold air and staring at the moonlight which illuminated the tears on her cheeks, therefore, alerting Peter that she had been crying when he found her causing him to wrap her up into a comforting hug and every time he whispered to her that it was going to be ok because he truly believed it was and his goal was to make her believe that as well.

"What are you thinking about?" she questions turning to face him

"Life" he comments with a small smile, she nods with a small smile "Just how far we've come"

"It's uncertain, the whole of it"

"It's not sweetheart, you just need to believe"

"Believing is one thing, reality is another" she points out sadly "In a way I'm happy"

"Good" he pauses, taking in her features "May I ask why?"

"Because no matter how stubborn I have been in the past, either way you look at it, whether we get found or if it's impending which it always will be now...I'm spending my last moments of freedom with you and that's the way I want it to be because I love you"

"I love you too" he whispers cupping her cheek and brushing his thumb gently over the soft skin of her face, he leans in to kiss her "You're not a bad person Carla. You're just misunderstood by friends and family"

"At least you understand me" she whispers resting her head on his chest "At least you get it. Maybe people don't understand me because I don't let them. There's something different about you though, I just feel free to share everything with you and that's what makes you so special to me"

"Before I felt lost" Peter admits, Carla hums "But right here, with you, I feel...happy, content almost"

"Peter"

"Yeah?"

"What happens if we get found?" she looks up at him with a sad smile, he pecks her on the lips

"Then we deal with the consequences, we deal with the comments about us being selfish and we just remember the good times, being here together"

"Everything feels so tainted" she admits with another sad smile "Sometimes I just want to feel something other than the pang of guilt in my heart every time I think about home"

"That's normal, so do I" he assures her, he kisses her softly on the forehead "We just need to look to the future no matter how limited that may be, a day at a time. Loving you is what's important not the consequences of loving you. I should've owned up to that before, I should have realised that loving someone is more important than the consequences of that love"

"That sounds like a line I'm supposed to say. Why were we so stubborn?"

"I don't know" he chuckles slightly with a grin "Only if one of us said the word eh?"

"Or had the chat, we were basically together just without the sex and the kisses. We had the love and understanding"

"We still haven't had the chat-"

"And we don't need to. I think you're pretty sure about where we stand right now. Out here we can just be us without the drama which comes with it. We can just live and love laying in each other's arms in this balmy heat"

"Sounds like a sound life to me, love"

"And you were the one who wanted a plan" she smirks, he chuckles slightly and rolls his eyes "Peter can I ask you a question?"

"You can ask me whatever you want"

"Do you regret being here with me?"

"No" he shakes his head, she knew he was definite on his answer "I don't. Do you have any regrets?"

"Apart from fixing the factory roof and my attempts to keep everything afloat and killing Rana, no" she winces at the sound of her sister's partner, he places his hand on her arm "I just want to live in the moment"

"And if that's what you want, that's what we will do. Especially as it makes you happy my love"

"Hmm" she hums gently "I love you, Peter Barlow"

"I love you Carla Connor" he smirks at her and she hums gently "At least we understand the love we have for each other"

"A mutual understanding? What could go wrong?" she teases, he smirks slightly and shakes his head laughing at her statement as well as internally praying that nothing went wrong and they could stay together forever...