The sunlight coming through the old, net curtain woke the recently reunited couple from their slumber the following morning, their limbs were tangled together and their moods were automatically positive without a word needing to be spoken. Shifting round onto his side so he could see her properly, Peter leant over Carla and gazed at her in awe. Her dark hair was splayed across the pillow, her lips were slightly pouted and her cheekbones seemed more defined than ever.
"Am I still dreaming? Somebody pinch me please." Peter joked to himself as he looked down at his girlfriend who looked like some kind of goddess despite just having woken up, "Ow!"
Carla's eyes fluttered open, "What? You asked to be pinched." She let out her trade mark dirty giggle.
"It's an expression." He pouted and rubbed the part of his arm that she had pinched, "That actually hurt."
"Aw baby, I'm sorry." She continued to giggle showing she was anything but.
"Apology not accepted. You're gonna have to kiss it better." He smirked and held out his arm, "I'm serious."
She leant forward slightly and placed three kisses on the exact spot he wanted, "There, now get your arm out of my face."
After ten minutes of cuddling, Peter gave Carla a peck on the lips and got up to make them both a coffee, he ordered her to stay where she was whilst he did so and she couldn't help but comply despite usually hating being told what to do. When he returned, she was sat up resting against the headboard with a content smile on her face, ready to take the warm cup of her favourite beverage out of his hands.
It wasn't until the loud sound of a door closing that Carla remembered they were at Roy's flat and the man himself would be making an appearance. Neither Carla or Peter had looked at the time since they woke up as the two of them were more interested in each other than anything else going on around them.
"What are we gonna do? Do you want me to try and sneak out without him seeing me?" Peter spoke quietly so Roy wouldn't hear him.
Carla giggled at Peter's panic, "Who are ya James Bond?" She also spoke quietly and calmly, "It's fine, I'll just tell him you're here."
"I thought we weren't going to tell anyone because it's less pressure that way?"
"Roy isn't just anyone. Besides, he saw us cuddled up on the sofa last night didn't he? He probably already assumes something's going on, especially after the note he left me as well."
Peter raised an eyebrow out of curiosity, "What did the note say?"
"I can't remember exactly but something along the lines of 'not wanting to wake me up because I appeared content' that's a dig in Roy language."
Peter chuckled softly, "Okay well only tell him if you're sure." He tucked a stray strand of her soft, brunette hair behind her ear.
"I am." She smiled lovingly at him, "Anyway, our Roy is good at keeping secrets, he's not one for gossip."
"I suppose we do need somewhere to be together for now, when you're in Weatherfield that is. Hotels all the time would end up costing a fortune."
"Hmm, yeah." She hummed in agreement, "Let me up then baby." She tapped his thigh lightly.
Peter kissed Carla's cheek and retracted his tanned arm from behind her shoulders, freeing her from his warm and comfortable embrace. She pulled back the cosy duvet and stood up, still in Peter's t-shirt that she had stolen the night before. It had bunched up slightly on one side so he reached over and pulled it back down, playfully pinching her behind in the process.
"Oi you, keep your hands to yourself." Carla playfully batted his hand away.
"What?" He feigned innocence, "I just didn't want you scarring Roy walking out there looking like that."
"Mmm, whatever you say." She leant down and pecked his lips.
Carla made sure she looked presentable in the mirror before picking up the finished coffee mugs from the bedside table. Her and Peter had agreed that he would stay in the bedroom whilst she spoke to Roy as they didn't want to make the cafe owner uncomfortable. She could hear Roy clattering about in the kitchen so decided it was now or never, after a sweet good luck from Peter she made a swift exit.
"Morning Roy." Carla said chirpily, taking the cups straight over to the sink where Roy happened to be standing.
At Carla's voice, Roy glanced round from the washing up, "Ah, good morning Carla."
"Good bat watching session last night?" She asked politely as he took the cups out of her hand, "Thanks."
"Yes, it was extraordinary. We managed to identify six different species, a couple of them quite rare."
"Wow check you out! I'm gonna have to start calling you Batman, Bruce Wayne ain't got nothing on you."
Brushing off her joke like he always did, Roy continued washing up. "How was your evening? You and Peter looked rather… Intimate when I left."
Carla sat down on the arm of the sofa and sighed, "Yeah... Sorry if that made you uncomfortable by the way. We had a good talk and we… We might give things another go, well not might, we are going to but we don't want anyone to know yet because it's less pressure that way, ya know?" She rambled uncharacteristically.
"May I ask why you have informed me then?"
"Well, I trust you not to gossip with your mates and you saw us last night-"
"-And because Peter is in the other room?" Roy interrupted matter of factly.
Her eyes widened slightly, "How did you? I was just about to tell you."
"After last night it seemed to be inevitable. Also the two mugs and your er... Sleeping attire." He gestured to the baggy t-shirt Carla was wearing and she blushed slightly.
"You're a smart man Roy Cropper." She chuckled, "So… How do you feel about it?" She carefully watched his expression as he dried his hands with a tea towel.
"Well not that it's any of my business… It does appear that Peter is a changed man and I would like to think he wouldn't repeat past mistakes."
Carla got up from the sofa and slowly walked towards him, "Does that mean you're okay with it?"
"As long as you're happy that's all that matters, Carla." He said sincerely.
Carla wrapped her arms around Roy's neck and hugged him tightly, she knew he wasn't a fan of physical affection but couldn't help herself. He awkwardly placed his arms around her for a few seconds before letting go again so she kissed his cheek and stepped back out of his personal space. Roy then quickly excused himself as he wanted to go for a lie down after a long night.
Before updating Peter, Carla decided to make them both breakfast as her stomach was rumbling loudly. She laid the table out as nicely as she could, made some toast with butter and even managed to successfully fry some bacon and a couple of eggs. After placing a jug of fresh orange juice down, she stepped back and looked proudly at her handiwork.
"Blimey, you took your time." Peter pouted his lips and pretended to be annoyed when Carla finally opened the bedroom door.
She flashed him a cute smile, "Missing me were ya?"
"No, I enjoyed the peace and quiet actually." He joked.
"I see how it is. I'll just find someone else to have my breakfast date with then shall I?"
"Ey? Breakfast date?" He got up off of the bed and walked towards her inquisitively.
"Yeah, I've been slaving away out here but if you're enjoying the peace and quiet maybe I'll just ask someone else to join me…" She went to turn around but Peter gently grabbed her hand and pulled her into him, instantly wrapping his arms around her waist.
"That won't be necessary, you know I'm only joking." He placed a finger under her chin, tipped her head up slightly and pressed his lips against hers.
Carla reluctantly pulled away after a couple of minutes, "Mmm okay, come on then before it turns inedible." She took his hand in hers, laced their fingers together and led him through the flat.
"It's probably already inedible." He joked and just as predicted, Carla turned around and gave him her famous death glare, "Just kidding, baby."
"You're gonna be wearing that egg in a minute if you don't give it a rest." She stated stated sternly whilst pointing to his breakfast.
As they sat down at the table Peter looked at Carla with a glint in his eye and a smirk on his lips, as they could read each other like a book, she instantly knew why. The two of them had already slipped straight back into the same dynamic they had when they were together first time round and it felt so right.
After saying goodbye to Peter who was going to the cinema with Simon, Carla grabbed her leather jacket and made her way downstairs to meet Michelle as they had a shopping trip planned. They'd chosen to meet at the cafe rather than the Rovers because Carla couldn't be bothered with the possibility of an argument between herself, Leanne and/or Toyah, she'd managed to avoid it so far and was hoping it would stay that way.
As Carla strolled into the cafe she noticed Michelle sitting on a stool by the front window, her eyes were glued to her phone so she quietly made her way over to her best friend and spoke softly in her ear, "You're not watching that cat video again are ya?"
Michelle jumped at the sound of Carla's voice and nearly dropped her phone, "Flipping 'eck Carla, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Sorry babe, couldn't resist." She pecked Michelle on the cheek, "Do you want to have a quick drink here first or shall we get going?"
"Let's just go. I don't know when we're gonna be able to do this again, I need to take full advantage of you being here." Michelle grinned as she got up from the stool and placed her bag on her shoulder.
"Oh, so I'm only wanted and useful when it comes to shopping am I? Noted." Carla winked.
Michelle jokingly rolled her eyes and walked out of the cafe with Carla in tow chuckling to herself. Arms linked, they walked across the cobbles in the direction of Carla's car, they both agreed having a car with them was better than getting the tram because it didn't limit the amount of shopping bags they could carry.
Whilst going from shop to shop, Carla realised how much she had missed the little things since she'd moved away, like watching Michelle try on a dress and eagerly asking for her opinion of it or breaking into a fit of giggles when one of them would childishly recommend an unflattering item of clothing to the other with a serious face.
Hours later and after spending what felt like a fortune on new clothes and cosmetics, Carla and Michelle decided to go for a late lunch in one of the Italian restaurants as it was a mutual favourite of theirs and had been for years. Once they sat down in a cosy, modern style booth in the corner of the room, they ordered a glass of merlot each along with their food choices and chatted away animatedly until it arrived.
"God, I am stuffed." Michelle announced once she had finished her plate.
"Me too, it was delicious though as always. I'm glad it hasn't changed whilst I've been in Devon."
Michelle glanced down at her watch and sighed, "I can't believe the time, today has flown by."
"Well, ya know what they say… Time flies when you're having fun." Carla grinned happily.
"Yeah, I've really missed spending time with you like this."
"I've missed it too, Chelle. I promise I'm going to make more of an effort to visit from now on." She reached out stroked the brunettes hand lovingly.
It was true. Carla had decided she was going to start visiting more often until she knew what she wanted to do permanently and it was to see Michelle, Roy, Simon and the rest of the Connors. There was just one other person it was for and she hated keeping Michelle in the dark. They told each other everything and always had done since they were kids but Carla knew that right now it was for the best.
"Well, I'll drink to that."
On the short walk back to the car, Carla and Michelle were in depth conversation so didn't notice the two male Barlow's also walking across the large car park.
"Carla!"
Carla's head whipped around and instantly saw the curly haired teenager and his dad walking towards them, "Oh hey you two."
"Alright?" Peter casually asked the two Connor women.
"Yeah thanks." Carla answered with a polite smile and Michelle just nodded, "How was the film Si?"
"It was amazing! I wanna see it again so I'm gonna make my friend come with me next weekend." Simon replied excitedly.
"What are ya like." Carla chuckled, she could feel Peter's eyes on her but stopped herself from looking into them.
Michelle turned to face her best friend with narrowed eyes, "How did you know where they'd been?"
"I told her yesterday when I picked her up from that work meeting in me cab. Can't believe she didn't tell ya all about it, I thought it was the best part of her day." Peter jumped in casually with a smile tugging at his lips before Carla had a chance to respond.
Carla put on her best pokerface, "In your dreams, Barlow."
"Yeah, you're so important she didn't even tell me she'd seen you." Sarcasm dripped off of Michelle's words and Carla wanted nothing more than the ground to swallow her up.
"Do you two want a lift or did you drive here?" Carla offered politely needing to change the subject.
"I drove. Thanks though." Peter flashed Carla a perfect smile and Michelle grimaced, "Right come on then you, let's get you back to your mum before she goes off on one." Peter directed at Simon.
"Are you staying with her tonight Si?" Carla asked mainly out of selfishness, wondering if that meant Peter was free for the evening so they could they spend the night together properly.
"Yeah. She's acting like I've been neglecting her lately so I thought I should probably spend some time with her."
"Aw, ain't you sweet." Carla ruffled Simon's hair and he gently batted her hand away, "Better let you both go then."
"Yeah. See ya Carla, Michelle."
"Bye."
"Yeah bye!"
Each duo headed off towards their cars silently, Carla was more than ready for the grilling she was going to get from Michelle. Whether it was straightaway or once they got back to the street it was inevitable and Carla knew it.
They'd only been in the car two minutes until she was proven right and Michelle's curiosity got the better of her.
"So, why didn't you tell me Peter picked you up yesterday?" Michelle asked curiously.
"Didn't think it was important really." Carla shrugged casually, "Steve set it up, bet he loved that."
"Of course he did." Michelle chuckled humourlessly, "I'm guessing you had one too many wines and couldn't drive then?"
"You know me so well, Chelle."
"Well I'm proud you didn't attempt to drive home, there was a time where you would have." Michelle patted Carla's thigh.
"Like I said to Peter when he said the same thing... Been there, done that, got my license taken away to prove it."
"Good. Just be careful around Peter yeah? I know the power he has over you and he's clearly still into you babe."
Carla raised her eyebrow at Michelle's accuracy, "Ey? What makes you say that?"
"Please, he's never properly gotten over you and you know it. The way he looks at you is a dead giveaway n'all." The younger woman rolled her eyes at her best friends 'obliviousness'.
"Whatever you say." Carla bit her bottom lip anxiously.
Once they got back to the street Carla and Michelle said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Carla was in the middle of sorting out her shopping in the little bedroom at Roy's when her phone buzzed from inside her handbag. As soon as she saw the name on the screen her eyes lit up.
From Peter:
Are you free tonight? X
Knowing that Peter was thinking along the same lines as her to spend the night together made her heart race.
To Peter:
I might be… X
She was about to put her phone down and continue tidying up but he replied instantly.
From Peter:
Meet me by the ginnel in an hour and bring an overnight bag x
To Peter:
Hmm, what's in it for me? X
From Peter:
You'll just have to wait and see love x
After a quick glance at the expensive watch on her left wrist to check the time and to see when she needed to leave, Carla stood in front of the mirror and gave herself a once over. Not happy with the casual outfit she had on from shopping with Michelle, she swiftly rummaged through the pile of new clothes and picked out a dress.
She had no idea what Peter had planned for them both but she couldn't wait to find out.
a/n: sorry it's not the best chapter, i'm still struggling with motivation as we still don't have carter onscreen but i wanted to get an update out as it's been ages!
on a more positive note carter are back next week so hopefully we'll start getting some consistency and i'll get my motivation back!
as always, thank you for the lovely reviews :)
