After a couple of weeks in LA with Peter, Carla was doing much better. She still had her struggles but the change in lifestyle was good for her and kept her mind clear.

Peter of course was there to help her and they got stronger and stronger as a couple, working on themselves individually and as a couple.

Today was the last day in LA, as a couple they had decided it was time to go back to Weatherfield to begin their lives together.

Carla didn't want to leave Michelle and Rob in charge of underworld for much longer and if she was honest with herself she missed the day to day running of things.

"Are you ready?" Peter asked. The couple were laying on the sunbeds around Suzie's pool whilst she was at work. Peter in his black swimming shorts and Carla in a matching black bikini.

"Well I am not ready for your family and the street to be judging us again but I am ready to see Rob and Chelle and I want to get back to work" Carla told him.

"I am glad you want to get back to work, you know we can deal with my family and the others"

"I know but I worry about going back into that frame of mind I had before I came here" Carla told him honestly.

"You know I will be right by your side" Peter took her hand into his.

"I know" Carla smiled at him, turning her head to the side.

"Simon will come around, like I said he is much more settled now" Peter told her, knowing that he is a big worry of Carla's.

"I hope so" she answered "but I want to take things slowly this time Peter"

Peter smirked at her with his puppy dog eyes.

"I mean it, we will live separately to start with and make time for each other" she told him.

"Whatever you are comfortable with Carla, I want to make you happy" he smiled at her.

"You do" Carla told him, raising from her sunbed. She placed her leg over Peter so she sat straddling him. She placed both her hands onto his chest, leaning on them.

Peter glanced at her, looking her body up and down "You look beautiful in the sunlight though, it's a shame we have to go back to murky Weatherfield" he said, taking in the view before him.

Carla leant down to his face and placed a kiss onto his lips she pulled away to say "we will have to make the most of today then won't we" Carla winked at him.

After a lovely last day in the sunshine together Carla and Peter were suddenly at the airport.

"Carla" Peter said, noticing she was quiet "are you okay?"

Carla smiled at him "I am with you by my side" she said to hide the fact she was scared.

"Cheesy" Peter laughed.

"You love it"

"No I love you" Peter said, placing a kiss onto her lips.

Carla pulled away to the sound of their flight being called "This is it" she said with a blank expression.

"You can change your mind, you know"

"No" Carla stood, holding out her hand for him to take "I need to get on with my life Peter, my life with you and without the shame of what happened to me"

"There is never anything to feel ashamed about" Peter told her, cupping her cheek with his free hand.

Carla smiled at him "come on then, let's get this over with"

Throughout the flight Carla was quiet. Peter would often ask her if she was ok but she would only ever answer him with yes, which of course Peter would know was not the case.

He hated this. He hated the fact that Simon and his family were a factor to her pain. He knew it was going to be difficult to add Carla into his life when he left Leanne for her but he thought people would come around.

Then you had her family. Rob was less than happy with Peter as Carla's partner. Rob loved Carla and wanted the best for her and in his mind Peter was not the best.

Peter did a lot of thinking whilst on that flight home. He was going to really try and make Carla's life good. He wanted to support her demons as well as focus on keeping his own at bay.

Soon enough, after a long plane journey Carla and Peter were standing outside his flat.

"Carla" Michelle called from down the road. The woman rushed to her best friend's side to pull her in for a hug "When did you get back?"

"Right now, actually" Carla hugged her friend back "did the suitcase not give it away?"

Michelle smiled at her friend "I missed you"

"I missed you too" Carla told her, coming out of their embrace.

"We all missed her" Peter smiled "that's why I had to go and get her"

"Well she shouldn't have had to go in the first place" Michelle said, raising her eyebrow at him.

"Shall we have a catch up later?" Carla asked her, changing the subject.

"Yes, please" Michelle agreed "are you going to be staying here?"

"No, I have bought a flat in victoria court" Carla told them, catching Peter's glare.

"You have a flat there" Michelle stated.

"I know but I can't stay there anymore" Carla lowered her head "It's not good for me"

"True, good for you" Michelle patted her arm "see you later?"

Carla nodded and watched as Michelle walked away. She waited around two seconds before a moody Peter asked "when did you get a new flat?"

"When I agreed to come back with you, I got straight on the phone to the developer and asked for another flat"

"Right"

"I needed somewhere to live Peter"

Peter nodded.

"Don't look at me like that" Carla said to him, noticing his expression.

"I'm not"

"I told you I wasn't going to live with you when we returned and I meant it" Carla told him, picking up her suitcase handle and walking towards Victoria court.

"I know that Carla but"

She pressed a finger to his lips "But nothing, I want to take this slowly Peter"

"Ok then" Peter said, taking her suitcase from her "let's go see your new place"

Over in the new flat Carla and Peter walking around.

"It's lovely Carla, but there is no furniture" Peter pointed out after walking around "what are you going to sleep on?"

"I have some furniture on order coming this evening"

"You are organised aren't you"

Carla threw him a glare "you know I am"

"So there is no chance of you staying with me tonight?" Peter asked, pulling her into an embrace.

"No, I need to settle in here and I think you need to go and see Si and tell him what's going on" Carla smiled at him "I know he's missed you"

"You are amazing, do you know that?" Peter asked, placing a kiss onto her forehead.

Carla nodded "I do, now go"

Carla watched as Peter left her new flat. She knew he needed to see Simon and his family to let them know that Carla was home but it was hard letting him walk away from her as she had him every night for a few weeks.

A little later on Michelle was standing in Carla's front room. They had agreed on a catch up but Carla was now too tired to go out.

"I know you must be jet lagged but I need to know everything" Michelle told her.

Carla laughed at her nosey best friend.

"Have you told Rob you are home?" Michelle asked.

"I text him earlier but told him I was too tired to see him so I said I would see him tomorrow" Carla told her.

"He won't like that"

"Well he will have to survive" Carla told her "did you see what happened with the price for the factory?" Carla asked.

"I did, yeah" Michelle said, coyly.

Carla looked her up and down. She knew her best friend, she knew when she wasn't being truthful.

"How did you and Peter get on then?" Michelle asked, changing the subject.

Carla filled her in on the weeks she had spent with Peter in LA. The recovery she had done to herself and as a couple.

Carla was yawning after an hour of conversation.

"I will let you get some sleep" Michelle said, noticing her yawns "It's not fair to you"

"Ok" Carla agreed.

Michelle pulled her best friend in for a hug. She knew she should tell her but she knew Carla would fly off of the handle and that was not what she needed right now.

"I love you" Michelle told her.

"I love you too"

Once Michelle had gone Carla got herself ready for bed. She laid in her newly built furniture thinking of the future. She was happy she was with Peter but she was apprehensive about what the residents of Coronation street would think of her or say to her.

More importantly how Peter's family would react to her being back.