Hey guys, so sorry it has been so long! I have been reading the updates from others and it's made me want to write again so here is another chapter! Hope you like it!

Over the next few days, Rob had tried to get hold of Carla. All he wanted to do was talk to her to explain but she wasn't having none of it.

Peter had been keeping a close eye on Carla as he was worried that Rob might have set back her recovery on the street. Carla kept telling him she was fine but that she had to deal with this in her own way and that meant avoiding Rob.

Peter had been spending all his spare time with Simon whilst trying to balance him and Carla. She kept telling him she was fine and that Simon came first but Peter always made sure he was close by in case she needed him.

Ken and Deidre were still not Carla's biggest fan but they could see how well Peter was doing and they noticed the effort he was putting in with Simon.

Leanne was not happy with Peter and Carla being back together and actually being stronger than they ever have. She was full of jealousy but she had Nick to keep her warm.

Michelle was worried about her friend, she needed to make sure she was ok. She knew deep down that Carla was struggling with the betrayal Rob had caused. Carla hadn't actually been into the factory since she had it out with Rob. She was working from home.

"Right, I am calling an intervention" Michelle told her, sitting next to her friend on the sofa. Michelle took the laptop off of Carla's lap, shutting the lid.

"Hey" Carla scolded "I need to finish those emails"

"They will get finished another time, we need to go out" Michelle ordered "So go and put a drop dead gorgeous dress on and we will hit the town"

"Chelle"

"Don't Chelle me" Michelle told her "we are going and you cannot do anything to stop it"

"Where are we going?" Carla asked.

"Do you remember Kate Connor?" Michelle asked as Carla nodded in response "well she is having a party in the area and I thought we could go for old time's sake"

"Really?" Carla questioned "will she even remember me?"

"She loved you when she was little, she will know who you are" Michelle told her.

Carla was quiet for a minute.

"Oh come on Carla" Michelle encouraged "you need to get out of this flat and have a good time to get your mind off of you know who"

Carla thought about it. She did need to have a night out, apart from the time she spent with Peter she hadn't had any fun since she had been back on the street and maybe this was just what she needed.

"Ok, I guess we can go for a little bit" Carla told an excited Michelle.

"Ok good, I need to borrow a dress too as I don't have time to go home" Michelle said, getting up to find herself an outfit.

Carla rolled her eyes at her but smiled. The women both fussed around in the bedroom for what seemed like ages. They both found an outfit that made them look amazing. Carla was in a trademark little black dress and Michelle had found a white shirt and tucked it into a black pencil skirt.

Carla phoned Peter and told him of the plan to go to the party. He offered to go with her but Michelle told him that it was a girls only night. Peter understood and offered to give them a lift to the party.

Peter smiled as Michelle opened the front door "Thank you for giving us a lift Peter" Michelle said "She needs this"

"It is no problem" Peter replied, but was distracted as Carla emerged from her bedroom "Wow"

"Do I look alright?" Carla asked, standing there with a small smile on her face.

"Alright? If Michelle wasn't standing right there, I would whip that dress straight back off of you" Peter winked, making Carla blush.

"Ok, I have heard enough, come on you, let's go" Michelle laughed, taking her best friend by the arm.

"After you" Peter said, holding the door open for the two women.

Once Peter had dropped them off at the location of this party, he made his way back home and tried to distract himself from how good Carla looked.

"I am nervous" Carla admitted, standing outside the party door.

"Carla, these people are family, it'll be good for you to go in there and let your hair down" Michelle told her best friend "after all your last name is Connor too"

Carla knew she was right, she needed to get out of her head and stop thinking about Rob and this was a good place to start. She put a smile on her face, took Michelle's hand and entered the room.

"Michelle" Kate Connor shouted as she saw her cousin enter. Kate made her way over to her, pulling her in for a hug.

"Hello Kate, you remember Carla don't you?" Michelle asked, gesturing towards Carla.

"Of course, Paul's wife right?" Kate answered.

Carla smiled and nodded.

"Welcome, help yourself to a drink, it's an open bar, Dad's paying" Kate told them.

"That's Johnny Connor for you" Michelle chuckled.

Kate noticed more guests walk through the door "Sorry, I have to go, enjoy yourself and we will catch up at some point"

With that Kate was gone. Michelle looked at Carla "see that wasn't that bad was it?"

"No, Chelle" Carla answered "come on, I need a drink"

"Ok, that's more like it" Michelle made her way to the bar, with Carla following behind. She hadn't really drunk much since being back on the street but she could have a couple at a party without getting carried away.

"Carla and Michelle Connor" Carla heard from behind.

Michelle smiled at the incoming man, Carla took in a breath and then turned to see Aiden Connor standing in a full suit in front of her.

"Aiden" Michelle beamed.

"How are you both? It's been a long time" Aiden asked them both.

"We are both good, thank you for asking" Michelle answered for the both of them.

"What are you doing in these parts?" he asked them.

"Well we knew Kate was having a party and we don't live too far from here so we thought we would join and say hello to everyone" Michelle told her cousin.

"Well lucky us" Aiden smiled "you are hard at work at that factory of yours aren't you Carla?"

"Yes, it's doing well" Carla smiled at him. Finally something she felt comfortable to talk about.

"Paul always raved about that factory" Aiden said awkwardly.

Maybe not. Here it comes.

"He did" Carla smiled uncomfortably.

"Anyway, enough of that talk, what can I get you to drink?" Aiden asked, causing Carla to release the breath she was holding onto.

"It's a free bar" Michelle reminded him.

"I know" Aiden winked, gaining a small shove off of Michelle.

"Carla" Aiden prompted.

"I'll have a red wine, please" she replied.

Aiden nodded and after a few minutes returned to them with their drinks. Carla was scanning the room whilst Aidne handed her the drink. She thanked him but continued scanning.

"Looking for someone in particular?" Aiden asked, picking up on her gazes.

"No, not really, just having a look for any familiar faces that's all" Carla replied, taking a mouthful of wine.

"Anyway Aiden, where's Johnny?" Michelle asked "I want to say hello, it's been a while"

"He's round here somewhere, probably making sure everything runs smoothly for his little princess"

"I heard that"

The group turned to see Kate and Johnny Connor stood behind them.

"There you are" Michelle said, to which a shell shocked Johnny smiled coyly. She pulled him in for a hug. When she pulled away, she noticed his facial expressions and where his eyes were leading him.

After the pleasantries the party got started, everyone had a good time and Carla had a smile on her face the whole time. Once the party had finished Peter was outside waiting for the two women.

Carla smiled a daft smile when she saw Peter leant up against his car, waiting for her with his arms crossed. She practically pounced over to him and placed a passionate kiss onto his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Did you have a nice time?" Peter asked Carla when she eventually pulled away.

"I guess so but I would have rather spent the evening with you" Carla told him with that same daft smile.

"I don't think Michelle would be happy to hear that" Peter said, nodding towards Michelle who was on her way to his car but being held up by Aiden.

"Are you her ride home?" Aiden asked as he reached the car.

"I am indeed" Peter smiled.

Aiden held out his free hand "Aiden Connor, drunk women's cousin"

Peter chuckled "Peter Barlow, this one's partner" he pointed to Carla who still had her arm draped around his shoulder.

"So you are the chosen one" Aiden smiled.

"Or the stupid one" Peter joked, earning a slap around the back of the head from Carla.

"He is joking really, he loves me" Carla told Aiden.

"I do indeed" Peter said, smiling at Carla.

"Listen, I would love to stand here and talk about how much you love me but we need to get madam here home" Carla replied.

Aiden nodded and carefully placed Michelle in the car.

"Where am I going?" Michelle said, popping her head out of the window.

The group laughed at her.

"We are going home" Carla told her.

"Look, I will let you go but how about we catch up soon and you show me that factory of yours" Aiden suggested, watching Peter put Michelle in the car.

Carla smiled a small smile, "Of course, you are welcome anytime"

Peter drove both the women back to the street, he left Carla in the passenger seat as he helped Michelle home.

Carla was staring out of the window when Peter returned. She didn't move when he got in the car.

"Carla" he called, noticing her strange mood "Carla" he tapped her shoulder.

"Sorry baby, just thinking"

"Anything you want to share with me?" he probed, but knew she would talk when she was ready.

"Nothing really, let's get home" she smiled at him.

"Ok" Peter winked. The drive home was a quiet one. Carla was busy thinking again and Peter was concentrating on the road.

Once at home Peter pulled Carla in for a hug. She breathed in his comforting scent and smiled. She instantly felt comforted and at home with him.

She placed a passionate kiss onto his lips, to which he responded, happily.

She pulled away first, took his hand and led him to the bedroom "I think it's time you see this dress crumpled up on the floor"

Peter nodded, speechless as she was having a great affect on his body right now. She pushed Peter's shoulders down so he was sitting on the edge of the bed.

She then took a step back and undone the zip on her dress. She wiggled a little so it came loose, dropping to the floor, along with Peter's jaw.

Carla smiled, she knew she put this choice of underwear on for a reason.

She slowly took a step towards him.

"Carla" Peter managed to get out. He looked her up and down in amazement. How he let her get on a plane to leave he will never know.

"Shhh" She told him as she mounted him.

He tucked her hair behind her ear, "you are so beautiful" he almost whispered.

Carla smiled, tilting her head to the side. She pulled Peter into her and placed a passionate kiss onto his lips.

After a night of love making, Carla woke up to find an empty bed. She lifted her head and smelt breakfast cooking, she smiled to herself. She must admit that being back in Weatherfield so far hasn't been all bad.

"What's all this for?" Carla asked, emerging from the bedroom whilst tying her silky dressing gown up.

"Can't a man just treat his girlfriend to a nice breakfast?" Peter smiled, placing a kiss onto her lips as she approached him.

"Of course, I should go out more often" Carla told him, walking towards the fridge.

Peter grabbed her and pulled her back into him, grabbing her arse as he did "No, you should wear that dress more often or at least another underwear set, you know how I like them"

"It's a good thing I work in the underwear business then isn't it" Carla giggled, placing a kiss onto his lips.

Peter picked her up and placed her onto the kitchen counter, passionately kissing her lips whilst undoing her gown.

"Peter" Carla said, in between kisses "breakfast will burn"

Peter used one hand to turn off the oven "I wasn't that hungry anyway" Peter picked a giggling Carla up and carried her through to the bedroom.

Carla was happy right at this moment. Yes she had Rob to deal with and Peter's family, but she knew she had Peter's support with all of it and for the first time in a while she was content.