It's been 8 months since the roof collapse and Carla and Peter are starting to struggle as Peter attempts to help Daniel battle his drinking and Carla becomes a mother figure to Bertie...
Carla walks downstairs, baby monitor in hand "He's finally settled"
"Ah okay, good" replies Peter, clearly not happy as Carla has to deal with Bertie by herself as he can't leave Daniel
"Is he okay?" She butts in whilst looking at Daniel who is passed out on the sofa with an empty bottle in hand
"No but he will be once he takes those headaches tablets, you forget I have a phd in hangovers" Peter replies following with a chuckle
"You and me both" Carla replies looking serious as she puts the baby monitor on the table
"You alright love?" Peter replies growing concerned
"Yeah, just worried about Bertie because he's hardly getting any time with dad because he won't stop drinking" Carla answers as she thinks back to her own mother and childhood
"He will get better, it just takes time and he needs to learn to man up a bit" Peter replies, seeing the frown on Carla's face he rubs her arm to comfort her
"It just reminds me of a time I don't want to be reminded of, that's why I want to be there for Bertie so he doesn't feel alone like me and Rob did, I mean we had each other but even then it's not the same, you move on" Carla replies as pools of tears start to fill her eyes
"Oh come here" Peter replies as he puts his arms out gesturing to give her a hug
Carla wipes her eyes and puts on a little smile as Bertie cries through the baby monitor "No, I'm fine, sounds like somebody's awake, that didn't last long"
Peter gives a little smile back and chuckles "as long as your sure, do you want me to go?"
"No it's okay, thank you tho" Carla replies as she walks upstairs to calm an upset Bertie
Hours later and Carla is back home (Roy's) with Bertie as Daniel is clearly still worse for wear whereas Peter is cleaning up his room where Daniel is staying and he picks up a bottle of whisky and just stands there looking at it knowing that he shouldn't drink it but everything lately is so stressful he wants to, he goes to open it but Carla walks in...
"They really do say you get slower as you get older" she laughs trying to get his attention
"Hm" replies a dissapointed Peter
"You okay?" Carla questions noticing Peter didn't enjoy her sarcasm when he usually does
"Yeah fine, just give me a minute love and i'll be there" he answers as he turns to look at Carla with a smile
"Okay..." she replies hesitantly as she notices the bottle of whisky in his hand
Peter looks at the bottle then puts it in the bin "Right come on, let's go" he replies as he walks out of the door dodging Carla
"Okay" she replies followed with a deep sigh as she puts her hands in her pockets and follows Peter as he walks downstairs
"Where's Bertie?" Peter asks as he picks up and puts on his navy green jacket
"Sleeping at Roy's, you should see Roy with him it is the sweetest thing ever" replies Carla as a huge smile brightens up her face
"He's not holding our baby" Peter snaps as he leaves the house clearly in a mood
A huge smile on Carla's face immediately turns into a frown as Peter says that and she follows him as he walks to Roy's feeling guilty for snapping at Carla
They both walk in the house to see Roy holding Bertie and Bertie is slowly sent off to sleep, Carla watches over and gives off a little smile wheras Peter walks straight into the bedroom
"Ah, I was just..." an uneasy Roy says as he looks at Carla
"You don't need to explain I know you're a soft touch" she replies with a smile on her face
"He just seemed unsettled" replies Roy as he starts to calm a bit
"Yeah... he needs Daniel really, do you mind having him for a bit longer I just need to talk to Peter, you can put him in the moses basket if you prefer" she replies as the smile fades away
"No of course not, whatever you need" he replies showing he would do anything for her
She smiles "Thanks Roy"
He nods as she walks into the bedroom...
"What is your problem!?" Carla immediately shouts at Peter after she shuts the door, blocking the sound from Bertie
"Using our baby to get out your anger, that's low Peter even for you"
"I'm sorry, it just came out" he replies slightly upset
She looks at him noticing he is upset fighting back the tears herself "Peter, just tell me what's wrong"
He sits on the bed "Everythings just a mess... Daniel's drinking, Bertie's constantly under our care" Peter replies leaving out any of his thoughts to drink
"You could've talked to me, rather than putting on the big man act" she replies calmly
"You've got your own problems" he replies "I didn't want to worry you..."
"Worry me?" Carla replies as her face is stunned with shock and she sits on the bed next to him "Peter I love you, anything that you're worried about I'm worried about too, that's just how it is, you can't change that" she holds his hand
Peter looks at their hands and smiles "Okay, I'm sorry"
"It's okay" she replies as she rests her head on his shoulder and they just hold hands