This chapter includes some ignorant views towards mental health. None of which are my own but could be hurtful so I'm giving a warning.

"Thank you for coming out with me, love." Peter smiled as he breathed in the summers air at the red rec.

"You don't need to thank me, I'm your flamin' girlfriend." She scoffed, playfully as she crossed her arms over her chest.

She agreed to go for a walk with him, to communicate and try to make amends after the situation they found themselves in. Carla was determined to be distant at first, after feeling a lot of hurt from the last few days. But Peter's charm and his puppy dog eyes made it almost impossible and she found herself warming to him no matter what.

"Even so, it's nice to get out with you. One to one time." He gently nudged her arm, their hands finding each other, intertwining them.

"Yeah, it's quite nice actually." She raised her eyebrows, looking around as she enjoyed teasing him.

"Quite nice?"

"Peter, it's the red rec. I'm being careful not to walk in dog muck here." She said, causing him to laugh.

"I love when we're like this," He smiled. "Being playful. Not a care in the world."

"It makes a change to the last few days, that's for sure."

"And that was entirely my fault. I should've spoken to you beforehand and not got anyone involved until I heard your side of things." He explained, causing her to grin.

"Yeah, you're right," She said. "It wasn't fair on me, Peter. You were so quick to say I was crazy again and wouldn't listen to me. I was so frustrated but it made it worse."

"I only did that because I didn't want to make the same mistake as last time. To leave it so late that you were beyond my help, and would need to be sectioned again. I wanted you to have support as early as possible."

"I can see where you're coming from, Peter. But my psychosis, that's in the past. And I'm trying to move on with my life. To get my independence back and to be the Carla Connor everyone knew as confident and sassy."

"And you are both of those things, love. And more. You're beautiful and so strong." He smiled.

"Is that right? Keep the compliments coming." Her eyes glinted.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven?" He asked.

"Run around after me for a few more days and we might have a deal." She smirked.

"You just want me to keep doing things for you!"

"Correct." She laughed.

"If that's what it takes." He stopped walking, putting a strand of hair behind her ear and planting a soft kiss onto her lips.

He pulled back, to try and gage what she was thinking. But as she leaned in and closed her eyes once more, it confirmed it for him.

"We've got so much to look forward to, Peter. So I think it's important to look to the future, instead of the past. And that means no Tina, no psychosis talk. It's just us now, right?" She whispered, leaning her forehead against him.

"Yeah," he murmured, lovingly. "And we'll be moving into Victoria Court soon."

"See? We can focus on that...to having a place of our own together. An empty flat where we can get up to anything." She said, seductively.

"I do like the sound of that." He chuckled, before whispering in her ear. As she cackled and playfully slapped him, she knew in that moment that they'd be able to combat all the things that had been going on recently.

"Oh, Peter Barlow, you cheeky beggar!"

"I think we needed this." Carla hummed, resting her head on his shoulder, arms linked together as they arrived back on the street.

"Me too, love." He smiled, contently. For a moment, he worried that he'd pushed Carla too far this time. That she was going to leave him and find someone who could trust her. But now that she realised he only ever had good intentions, he was happy they were able to move on and look forward to getting their new flat together.

"What's that?" Carla narrowed her eyes, craning her neck to look around. "D'ya hear that?"

"Hear what?" Peter frowned, his eyes suddenly widening when he realised loud shouts were coming from his son.

"I know what you're like! And I don't want you anywhere near me." Simon growled, pointing at Tina.

"Si, I never meant-..."

"What's going on here? Si, are you alright?" Carla asked, the pair immediately rushing towards them.

"This doesn't concern you, Carla." Tina hissed, before turning to Simon and softening. "Come on, we used to get along so well, you and me."

"That was before you screwed Carla over and ruined our lives. You used me to get to my dad!" Simon yelled.

"Right, let's all just calm down-..." Peter raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah, your dads right." Tina said.

"Stop acting like you're in this together!" Simon shouted. "I know what you're like now, and I see right through it."

"What do you mean?" Tina frowned.

"You're making Carla's life hell! What did she ever do to you?"

"Was this your little plan, Carla? To turn Simon against me when I've only ever cared for him." Tina snapped, storming over to Carla.

"Oh, listen to yourself! The only person making all that happen is you. So why don't you do yourself a favour and move on." Carla scoffed.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"You need to get off this street and away from us forever!" Simon yelled.

"Si, calm down. Come on, let's go to the Rovers." Carla guided Simon away, watching as Peter glared at the younger woman.

"Don't go with the crazy woman, Si! I wouldn't trust her." Tina taunted.

"What has happened to you?" Peter shook his head, full of disappointment. "You used to be so much better than this. You are a waste of space, Tina."

He looked at her in disgust, before following his girlfriend and son to the Rovers.

"What was that all about, ey?" Carla asked, full of concern as they entered the back room.

"She was winding me up." Simon muttered, looking down.

"But what would shouting do? That'll just make the situation escalate, son." Peter sighed.

"What would you know? You would've done the same thing if you heard what she was saying."

"What was she saying?" Peter asked, frowning.

The two adults sat opposite him at the table, and watched as the teenager shuffled uncomfortably.

"Si?" Carla prompted.

"I don't want it to affect things here," Simon exhaled. "It was just things about Carla but it's pointless. Look, I have stuff to do."

"No, you can stay sat down and tell us exactly what she said." Carla said.

"Just things about last year, how ill you were and that."

"Like I haven't heard that old chestnut before," Carla rolled her eyes. "What exactly did she say?"

"She was just so spiteful with it. Saying how you will always be crazy and to stay away from you incase..."

"Incase what, son?" Peter questioned.

"She was implying that you would hurt me. That you were so unpredictable and we should all leave you to rot," Simon shook his head, anger bubbling inside him once again. "I didn't want to tell you this, Carla."

"No," Carla bit her lip, breaking eye contact and looking withdrawn. "I'm glad you did. It's okay."

"Are you sure, love? Because you know that none of us believe what she's saying." Peter gently nudged her.

"It's just funny, innit? How I can have a breakdown over a year ago and it's still all anyone ever thinks of me. I'm just known as the woman who went crazy." She shrugged.

"It isn't like that at all," Peter reassured her. "Tina is just picking at bits of your vulnerability to make herself feel better, that's all."

"How dare she tell all this to Simon? To bring a seventeen year old into this mess?" Carla snapped, standing up and pushing her chair back loudly.

"Hey," Peter stood up too, standing in front of her. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to rip into her, Peter. I have had enough of this, she has crossed the line now." She hissed.

"But what good will that do-..."

"It'll make me feel better." She cut him off.

"You were just telling me I shouldn't have had ago at Tina and now look!" Simon called out, watching as Carla ignored him and continued to strut out of the pub.

"Leave her," Peter sighed. "She'll calm down soon enough."

"Tina!" Carla banged on Rita's door, the place she was staying right now. "I know you're in there!"

She continued to knock and shout, not caring about the bystanders that were watching and the fact it was the house of a pensioner, who was luckily in the kabin anyway.

"Tina! I need a word!" She shouted, but came to an abrupt stop when the door opened.

But she wasn't met with Tina McIntyre, it was a greying middle aged man.

His pristine white shirt was undone, his grey hair ruffled and he looked quite flushed.

"What do you want?" His thick Irish accent confirmed it for Carla, it was him.

"Lucas? Is that you?" Carla's eyes widened.

"Carla?" Panic etched on his face, as he tried to hide behind the door to cover up his bare chest that was already exposed.

"Lucas, who is it?" Tina called out from indoors, appearing in nothing but a dressing gown.

But she was ignored; Carla and Lucas just continued to star at each other in shock.