"Thanks, Roy." Carla smiled as the older man placed her breakfast on the table, same with Peters who was sat opposite her.

"Y-you are very welcome," Roy nodded, politely. "Forgive me if I'm being intrusive, but how are you?"

"I'm alright, ta." She replied, softly.

"I'm glad. Apologies for not seeing you sooner, I've been rather busy with the cafe."

"It's okay, Roy. We will need to have a proper catch up at some point. You know, when you're not working." She suggested.

"That would be marvellous." He smiled, before walking away and leaving the couple to eat their food.

"Are you alright?" Peter questioned, quietly.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"I mean, after last night." He bit his lip, awkwardly.

"After the rejection you mean?" She raised her eyebrows, but his face remained serious. So with that, she looked down and began playing with her food.

"It wasn't rejection, love. It was being respectful and you've got nothing to be embarrassed about." He reached out and held her hand.

"I just wish I wasn't like this, you didn't ask for such an unstable girlfriend." She shook her head.

"And you didn't ask for an alcoholic boyfriend, did you? I guess we're dysfunctional together." He joked.

"Yeah," A smile crept onto her lips. "This is why I love you, you always know the right things to say."

"That's because I'm the best man on earth, Mrs Connor." He laughed, playfully.

"Wouldn't go that far," She chuckled before going serious again. "I mean it though. Anyone else would've carried on last night, knowing I didn't feel right. But you didn't."

"I don't want you ever feeling pressured around me, love." He murmured.

"And also, I don't want you thinking I'm not attracted to you anymore. Because I can say for certain that I am-..."

"You don't need to reassure me." He sighed.

"But let me say this, I am still as attracted to you as I was the first time I saw you, Barlow." She whispered, placing a hand onto his cheek.

"As am I."

"Now if we carry on doing this then I'll be going back on last night." He added, getting a cackle from Carla in reply.

She giggled, "Things might start going our way for now on. We've got Tina off our back and we've stopped arguing."

"And we'll be moving into Victoria Court anytime soon." He grinned.

"Mmm-Hmm," Her eyes glinted. "And once I'm off the anti-psychotics, we can finally have some proper fun."

"Are you coming off them?" Peter narrowed his eyes. Although his paranoia regarding Carla's mental state had decreased massively recently, their was still a part of him that believed she still needed them to keep her sane.

"In the near future, yeah." She replied.

Later that day, Johnny was working behind the bar alone as the lunch time rush began.

As he looked up from his phone, he spotted Tina with a mysterious man. He knew about Tina and what she looked like, but he'd never spoken to her before and he doubted she knew who he was.

"Heya," Tina leaned over the bar. "Can I have a red wine and a pint for this one please."

"You're Tina?" Johnny's eyes looked between the pair.

"Yeah, what's it to you?" She frowned. "Not another one of Carla's lap dogs."

"Excuse me." He exclaimed, moving forwards. "Just making sure you're not causing trouble."

"We want a quiet drink in our local boozer if that's okay with you?" She raised her eyebrows. "Call it a date if you will."

"Fine," Johnny said. "Have a seat, I'll bring them over." So with that, the pair sat in a booth as they awaited for their drinks to arrive.

Soon enough, the factory lot came in during their lunch and the place began getting busier. Johnny looked stressed; it looked like he was desperately trying to phone someone, catching Tina's attention.

"Emma, why are you telling me this now? I understand you have covid symptoms but I need help here...Carla's supposed to be resting out the back...well, I guess I'm going to have to ask her for help. Okay then...I'll see if Carla can cover."

As Johnny hung up, he went out the back and Tina assumed it was to fetch Carla. She needed to be as subtle as possible, not to cause any suspicions upon anyone.

"Just nipping to the toilets." Tina grinned, flirtatiously, before swiftly moving towards the female toilets. But as she got there, she glanced around to see if anyone was watching and then scurried off into the smokers yard; her bag firmly in her hands.

She sighed in relief when no one was sat outside, and pulled out a camera from her handbag. If Peter wasn't going to believe Carla was mentally ill again, then she was going to go to new lengths to be sure of that. She needed her to look crazy.

So with that, she placed the camera on the wall so it was facing her directly and hoped her plan was going to work in her favour.

"How is Yasmeen doing?" Carla asked, leant up against the bar.

It was further into the evening now, and Carla was casually chatting to Cathy and Brian before closing time.

"She's the best she can be in that place," Cathy paused. "It's so unfair though, poor woman."

"But she has the delight of a visit from Cathy next week which shall lift her spirits." Brian piped up, his head held high.

"Ah, that'll be lovely." Carla replied, softly.

"Do you mind doing last orders, love?" Johnny walked over, placing a hand on his daughters shoulder.

"Of course, go on. I'll lock up this place."

"Thanks, darlin. Remember to collect the empty glasses from the smokers yard too, Jenny always forgets."

"Stop fussing, I'll remember." Carla shrugged him off, playfully.

"We'll leave you to it. Nice to see you looking well, Carla." Brian nodded, gathering his things as they left the Rovers.

As everyone left the building, Carla sighed as she walked into the smokers yard.

It was late at night, so her surroundings were completely blacked out. The chill in the air prickled the hairs on her arms, causing her to fold them across her chest. Although it was dark and gloomy, there was no mistaking the small glimmer of reflection that was in front of her.

She paused and wondered if she was imagining it, almost not believing her judgment and believing that her eyes were deceiving her.

But as she walked forwards and squinted, she was right. A camera was placed on the wall, pointed at her.

She wasn't sure how to react, she was extremely creeped out and quite unnerved, she tried to wrack her brains as to why someone would do this. Was it meant for her? Johnny? Jenny? Peter?

Without thinking straight, she wandered off with a shrug and went inside where the warmth instantly engulfed her. For now, she was going to rest.

As she walked into the bedroom she shared with Peter, she noticed he was already sleeping. She didn't want to disturb him so she quietly got into her pyjamas and got into bed.

The sudden dip beside him managed to awaken him, he grumbled in his sleep and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her towards him so she was laying against his bare chest.

"Mmm."

"Go back to sleep, baby." She whispered, the repetitive motion of her fingers stroking his chest sending him back into a deep sleep.

Sorry for the filler chapter!! Lots of drama-filled ones coming up :)