After a pleasant morning, the brunette pair took a slow stroll back to Carla's home. Peter was trying to decide whether to head back to Manchester immediately, later on in the evening or the next day. Carla recommended that evening, knowing that Sunday evening drives from the South West to the North West were more likely to go smoothly with less traffic on the roads compared to a Sunday afternoon or a Monday morning, so he took her advice.

Simon jumped at the chance to stay with Carla for an extra few days when presented with the options of going back with his dad or to stay in Devon until Wednesday and as it was the school holidays there wasn't any reason why he couldn't.

The content trio spent the rest of the sunny day in the garden, talking, laughing, playing silly games and enjoying each other's company just like they used to before everything went wrong.

As early evening came and the sun started to go down, they decided to head back inside. Simon was chatting to his mates on FaceTime in another room whilst Peter was sat at the breakfast bar watching Carla make some drinks for them all.

"What shall we have for the last supper tonight Barlow? Can't let you leave with an empty belly or you'll be a grump with road rage."

"Says the Queen of road rage herself!" He chuckled at her glare. "Si told me you successfully cooked pizzas for you both last night, not a bit of plastic in sight. I couldn't believe it!"

Carla lightly flicked the tea towel she was holding at Peter. "Excuse me, I can cook now thank you. I live alone don't I? I'd be overweight from takeaways or dead from starvation if I didn't."

"Alright, alright." He laughed, holding his hands up. "Make something tonight then, anything you want." He challenged, not quite believing that she could go from not being able to cook an omelette to being able to cook a full blown meal without something drastic happening.

"Fine, I will." She smirked because her speciality dish was one of his favourite meals or at least it used to be.

He got up from his seat and started slowly backing away, knowing his next comment might earn another swat of the tea towel but couldn't stop himself from saying it anyway. "Maybe it really will be my last supper." He stated seriously, making a cut throat motion to emphasise his point.

Just as predicted, Carla grabbed the tea towel. "Right, that's it." She went to whack him with it but he moved out of the way and started jogging around the kitchen and dining room. She chased after him and they ended up running around in circles like a couple of kids, neither of them wanting to give in first.

"Er, what is going on?" Simon asked walking into the kitchen, he could hear them from the lounge so had to come and see what they were up to.

"Carla is trying to attack me with a tea towel, help me out son." Peter replied, out of breath but still refusing to give up.

"Because you keep making comments about my cooking and how it's going to kill you!"

"Seriously?" Simon laughed at their childish antics. "Dad just say you didn't mean it or get hit by the tea towel, you look like you're going to pass out."

"I'd listen to him Peter." Carla said, glaring at him.

Peter pretended to think about his answer. "Nah." He smirked and continued the chase round the kitchen.

Simon and Carla gave each other a look and a nod, silently teaming up without Peter noticing. The youngster jumped in front of his dad to stop him in his tracks and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug.

"Si, what are you doing? Let go." Peter laughed, trying to get away but not being able to move in the grip his son had him in.

Carla caught up quickly, with a glint in her eye and the tea towel in her hand. "Last chance Barlow." She warned but he remained silent.

Just as she was about to release it, Peter let out a strained "Fine! Okay, you win!"

"And?" Carla said, wanting him to elaborate before she dropped her weapon of choice.

"I'm sure your cooking is delightful and I won't die from it, darling." He could have just got hit by the tea towel, it's not like it would have hurt but seeing the smile on her face was worth giving in.

"Better." She beamed. "You can release him now Si, thanks for the help." She pranced over to him and gave him a high five after he had released his dad.

"I think I preferred it when you two didn't get along ya know." Peter joked, still slightly out of breath from the unexpected exercise.

"No you didn't dad."

"Yeah, you're right." He grinned at his son and then glanced over to Carla, who looked deep in thought, biting the nail on her thumb.

It had just hit Carla how much she was enjoying having Peter and Simon around. She did want to be civil with Peter as grudges and hatred were pointless but she couldn't understand why it was so easy to slip back into the way things used to be after everything he had put her through. They felt like a normal family again which terrified her.

Peter had noticed Carla suddenly go quiet and withdrawn so he asked Simon to put his phone on charge for him as he didn't bring a lead and needed it fully charged for when he left later that evening. Once Simon had disappeared, he turned back to Carla who had started wiping the surfaces as something to do.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked tentatively.

"Hmm? Oh I'm fine, why?" She stopped and turned to face him.

"Your lying skills haven't improved."

"You'd think I'd be an expert after all those years with you." She shot back. "Sorry, you know I'm a moody cow when I'm hungry." She made up an excuse for her sudden outburst.

"Don't apologise, it's fine. Just remember I know you, I know the difference between something being wrong and when you're… Hangry." He chuckled. "But I also know I lost the right to interfere too so I'll drop it."

She gazed at him, their eyes instantly locking and the atmosphere intensifying. "Thank you." She wanted to open up to him but thought it was for the best that she didn't. "Right, I'm going to pop to the shops and get a fews bits for tea."

He sighed, thinking she was about to tell him what was wrong but couldn't help the smile that appeared when she mentioned cooking again. "What are you going to make? Just so I can get prepared."

"Nice try. It's going to be a surprise."

"You can say that again."

"Oi." She pouted her plump lips. "You and Si can stay here, I won't be long." She said as she picked her handbag up and got ready to leave. She wanted some time on her own to gather her thoughts and be apart from Peter for a little while. "Feel free to snoop around whilst I'm not here, I know you're dying to." She said as she grabbed her coat.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Mmm, sure you don't. See ya in a bit." She said as she left her house without looking back.

Whilst Carla was at the shop Simon and Peter decided to do something nice for her. They tidied up the kitchen, unloaded the dishwasher and laid the table out perfectly so she wouldn't have to do it all when she got back.

Admiring their handiwork once they'd finished, Peter's eye was caught by a framed photo on the cabinet. It was of Carla, Michelle, Liam and Paul squashed together on a small sofa at what looked like a house party, all grinning at the camera. He never knew Paul and Liam that well but he knew how much they meant to Carla and how much losing them so close together affected her.

Following his dad's eyes and noticing he was staring at someone in particular, Simon smiled. "You still love her don't you?"

"What? Of course not." He replied to his son a little too quickly. "It's just a nice picture that's all."

"Yeah yeah, you're not very good at hiding it. I have noticed how much happier you are around Carla, I'm not a kid."

"You are, you're my kid. But yeah I guess I'd be lying if I said I haven't been enjoying myself."

"So, what are you gonna do about it?"

"Si, just because Carla makes me happy doesn't mean anything is going to happen, she won't ever take me back after what I did and I'm with Toyah remember?"

"Yeah but you're not happy with her it's obvious. Carla might take you back, she's happy around you too. She might not want to be but she is."

"When did you turn into a little relationship expert?" Peter joked.

"I was actually watching Friends yesterday and weirdly, it was the episode where they're all at the beach and Rachel said something like 'I broke up with you because I was mad at you not because I stopped loving you' to Ross because ya know, he hooked up with someone else..." He winced before continuing, "but they got back together eventually. If that isn't you and Carla I don't know what is." He finished.

Smiling sadly at his sons analogy of himself and Carla, he ruffled his hair. "So you want me and Carla to get back together?" He questioned.

"I just want you to be happy dad." He accepted the hug his dad was pulling him into.

Peter kissed Simon on top of the head and held onto him for a bit longer, enjoying the quality time they were getting together and feeling closer to him than ever. The sound of the front door closing caused them to pull apart, both realising that Carla was home.

"Only me!" Carla announced as she walked into the kitchen before seeing Peter and Simon standing by the table. "Oh, you're both in here." She placed two shopping bags on the side and turned to face the two Barlow boys.

"Nice shopping trip?" Peter asked.

"Not quite the same as buying shoes but it was okay I guess." She shrugged, finally realising why they were standing where they were. "Did you two do this?" She asked, gesturing to neatly laid out table.

"Yeah, thought we should do something whilst you weren't here as you're making us tea."

"We unloaded the dishwasher too." Simon jumped in proudly.

"Well aren't I the luckiest woman in Devon ay? Thank you both, you didn't have to." She went to empty the shopping bags but stopped herself as she still wanted the meal to be a surprise. "Can you scram now though because I can't cook if you're both staring at me, I'll get stage fright or summit."

"Nah, I'm good." Peter smirked.

Happy he wouldn't have to join in with any cooking Simon grinned. "Fine with me, there's something I wanna watch on TV anyway." He scurried off through to the lounge, leaving the adults on their own.

Carla looked over at Peter. "If only you did what you're asked like your son."

"Where's the fun in that? Besides, I'm waiting to see what you've bought so I can work out what you're cooking." He walked towards her and went to take a peek in one of the bags.

Just before he got there, Carla stepped in front of them so he couldn't see inside. "Not gonna happen, I've already told ya it's a surprise so shoo!" When he didn't appear to be going anywhere, she took hold of his forearms, turned him around and started walking him towards the lounge. He let her without making it difficult, thoroughly enjoying the physical contact. "Si, don't let your dad leave this room okay?" She said once they'd reached the room Simon was in.

"Okay." The youngster replied, not taking his eyes off of the TV.

"Enjoy whatever this is." She said to Peter, gesturing towards the screen Simon was fixated on.

"Enjoy cooking, don't burn the place down." He smiled cheekily.

Carla poked her tongue out at him and turned around, going straight back to the kitchen. She took out all the ingredients from the bags, turned on some music and moved swiftly around the room to get out everything she would need.

After washing her hands, she browned off the mince, added the sauce and a few extra vegetables, herbs and spices before finally boiling the spaghetti. She couldn't believe how well everything was going. Evidently, it was only Spaghetti Bolognese but she was waiting for something bad to happen because she wasn't used to cooking for more than one person.

Serving up the food after making sure it was done and tasted okay, she smiled proudly. She called out to Peter and Simon telling them it was ready whilst placing the bowls of food on the table.

"Wow something smells good." Simon announced as he walked in.

"You don't have to sound too shocked you know, kid." Carla laughed.

"Oh my god!" Peter shrieked.

"What?!"

"Nothing, I'm just shocked there isn't a fire in here." He smirked.

"You idiot." She playfully whacked him on the chest before continuing. "I really thought I'd forgot to turn something off or hurt myself without noticing." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sorry, couldn't help meself. You do have something right here though." He wiped her cheek gently, the sauce that was on it now on his thumb and going straight into his mouth. "Mmm bolognese, my favourite." He licked his lips.

She smiled almost shyly. "Thanks. Now sit down and eat will ya or it'll go cold." She strutted back to the oven to retrieve the garlic bread.

Simon, already sat at the table tucking into his dinner rolled his eyes at the two adults and their obvious flirting. Peter joined his son whilst Carla brought over the freshly cooked and cut garlic bread, the delicious aroma filling the air instantly.

"I take back everything I've said, that was honestly delicious." Peter announced, putting his fork and spoon together in the now empty bowl and pushing it away from him.

"I'm glad to hear it. Although that is the only meal I've perfected, I'm not going to pretend I'm Nigella Lawson."

"Well I think you've finally found your inner Nigella." He winked at her, both of them instantly thinking about that night when she'd ordered a takeaway for it only to get left in the oven whilst they enjoyed each other instead.

She blushed slightly before turning to Simon who was looking between them both confused. "So was it up to your standards too mister?"

"Absolutely. So much better than auntie Toyah's vile vegan version, I'm sure dad will agree."

Mid taking a sip of water, Peter choked at his sons comment having caught him off guard, causing him to have a mini coughing fit. "Sorry, went down the wrong hole." He winced.

Feeling like she had the upper hand, Carla couldn't help but fuel the fire. "Yeah well, I'm probably better at a lot of things than her to be honest, especially when it comes to satisfying your dads… Tastebuds." She smirked when she saw Peter's eyes go wide.

"Gross." The teenager grimaced. "I know I'm team Carter and everything but don't make me listen to anymore of this, can I leave the table please?"

"Team what now?" Carla questioned with a perfectly raised eyebrow.

"Carter, car from Carla, ter from Peter." Simon explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"You're excused from the table, go on get gone." Peter jumped in, giving Simon's arm a little tap and chuckling when he ran off. "Ignore him, he's just loving being here." He shrugs off his son's matchmaking attempts.

"Hmm, if you say so… Anyway, ready to go back home then?"

"Ugh, did you have to remind me?" He groaned.

"I'll take that as a no then."

"Correct. Are you sure I can't just stay here with you and Si?" He gave her his best puppy dog eyes.

"Don't look at me like that and no, you need to go home and be honest for once in your life, remember?"

"Was worth a try. Yes I know, doesn't make it any easier though." He sulked with a pout on his lips and his arms crossed.

"You'll be fine, you always are." She gazed at him and smiled, her heart warming when he smiled back with so much love in his eyes she thought she might burst.

Telling Carla to stay put whilst he cleared everything up, Peter happily made the room spotless again like it was when he had first arrived. She watched him closely as he looked so natural floating around her kitchen, not even needing to ask where things went because he just knew.

Going out alone earlier gave her time to reflect on their current situation. She wasn't going to act on the feelings she had, especially not whilst he was still with Toyah, she would wait and see what happened with them before even thinking about letting Peter Barlow back in her life.

The time came to wave Peter goodbye as he was heading back to Weatherfield and he couldn't help but feel a bit sad. "Don't worry about coming to the door to say goodbye son, I can see you are engrossed in whatever it is you're doing." He spoke to Simon who was on his phone with his earphones in.

"Bye dad, see you Wednesday!" He got up from the sofa and gave his dad a warm and loving hug.

Making sure he had his phone and keys, Peter walked towards the front door to put his coat and shoes on. Carla came and met him, giving him a carrier bag of goodies including his favourite chocolate, crisps and little bottle of fresh orange juice.

"Just in case you get peckish or thirsty on the way back, I know what you're like during long car journeys."

"You're an angel you are, thanks." He smiled gratefully.

"Ha, if you say so. Good luck with you know what, I'm sure I'll see ya when I bring Si back."

"Can I have a good luck/goodbye hug or is that pushing it?" He asked cheekily.

"Might be pushing it." She teased, not missing the flicker of disappointment on his face. "Just kidding, come here you div." She chuckled and opened her arms. He stepped into them instantly, his arms wrapping around her waist whilst hers reached up and around his neck. They both breathed in each others scents, appreciating the comfort they got from one another.

After a minute or so, Carla let go of Peter and stepped back. "Guess I should hit the road then ay? Thanks for the past couple of days and for keeping Si a bit longer." He stepped out of the door, carrier bag in hand and stood on the driveway.

"No worries. He's a good kid Peter, he'll be alright." She stood in the doorway, leaning against it. "Text him when you're home so we know you got there okay. I would say text me but you probably don't have my number anymore." She said looking sheepish, remembering how she deleted his to help stop her from making any drunken calls when they separated.

"I do still have it. Number passcode to my heart that." He winked before walking towards his car. "Bye love." He opened the door and climbed in.

Still chuckling at his comment, she gave him a little wave. "Bye, drive safe!" He shut the door once she said goodbye.

He began backing off the driveway but she stayed where she was until he was out of sight. "What is it people say… Out of sight, out of mind? What a crock of shit." She mumbled to herself, closing the door and walking back into her now Peter Barlow free home. She could still smell him though. Oh God, pull yourself together woman. The amount of power that man still had over her was unlike anything she'd ever known.

a/n: next chapter peter is back in weatherfield... will he go through with what he's saying he's going to do?

thank you for the reviews :)