There they sat, on his sofa after having finished their dinner, the faint sounds of the end of the movie Ratatouille echoing through the flat, with Simon asleep and cuddled into his side, and Carla curled up on the opposite side of him: her back pressing into the armrest, her knees drawn up in front of her, and cuddling a pillow to her chest while the side of her body and head rested on the back of the sofa.

He couldn't help but smirk when Simon had pulled her by the hand away from where she was helping clean up in the kitchen, to the sofa, telling her how much she was gonna LOVE this movie. She chuckled as she had slipped off her boots, and tucked into the sofa, Simon plunking down next to her. Peter handed her a steaming mug of coffee, and handed his son a mug of hot chocolate. Carla looked playfully at Simon's mug, commenting on how many marshmallows he had, and he picked one out and tossed it into her mug.

"Hey!" she teased as she playfully poked him with her foot, "that is sacrilege, mister! marshmallows and coffee do not mix," she joked as she picked up the marshmallow and placed in into her mouth.

Simon scrunched up his nose, "Glad I'm not an adult!" he stated, "I wouldn't want to have a hot drink that I couldn't have marshmallows in." Carla and Peter had both snickered at his response before settling in to watch the movie.

Around the thirty-five minute mark, when Linguini opened his shirt to find his chest covered in bites from the rat Remy, and letting out screams of frustration, Carla began laughing unabashedly, genuine tears pricking the corners of her eyes. Simon looked up at her giggling before turning back to the TV. Carla put a hand over her mouth as she tried to suppress the laughing fit, almost embarrassed that she let her 'ice queen' exterior melt in front of them and yet unable to stop smiling. She had glanced at Peter, who was smirking, his eyebrows raised at her, and she finally spoke between chuckles, "Sorry," she breathed out, her hand still covering her mouth, "oh, it just reminds me of my Paul," she started laughing again, "whenever he'd get really frustrated like, he'd do that sort of shocked kind of scream, then this one really frustrated one." She laughed again, bringing her fingers up to dab at the corners of her eyes.

Peter shook his head as she drew her legs up in front of her, and he couldn't quite take in just how relaxed she was, and how natural it felt. Smiling to himself, he too continued watching the movie, laughing at Carla's snide remark about how even a rat could cook better than she could and how the movie really seemed to be intentionally rubbing it in.

An hour later, and Peter was now just staring at her sleeping face. She looked so content and peaceful, and he simply watched as her chest rose and collapsed softly with each breath.

He still couldn't quite believe she was in his flat.

Carla: the woman who had enchanted him since October the year before; the woman he had rejected on two distinct occasions prior to the tram crash; the woman who had quite literally backed off of him following that horrific accident, and had been nothing more than a supportive friend and confidante when he fell quite spectacularly off the wagon.

But that hadn't stopped him from publicly feeding her to the proverbial wolves that day in February…

"…but I won that fight, I would have been faithful, isn't that right Carla?" he shuddered visibly as that day flashed through his mind again. He could still hear himself call to her in the church, taking everyone by surprise, except for himself…

…and her.

He had seen it in her body language; the way she had sat hunched over almost hugging herself as he exposed the affair. She knew it was only a matter of time before he would turn on her as well, and she had been right. He had already called out Leanne and Nick's infidelity and the fact that Ken and Dierdre had both known about it and had attempted to keep it hidden from him, preferring that he live in ignorant bliss for the sake of his son.

But it was Carla's betrayal that had cut the deepest. Despite only knowing each other for a short time, they had shared a deep bond in recent months; an understanding that he didn't have with his family, his friends, not even Leanne. He was attracted to her, he even admitted as much to her the night she confessed her feelings for him following the Joinery's opening night. He continued to be there for her, helping her through with her drinking problems, and being there supportively when her license was suspended for driving under the influence.

As the weeks passed though, the calls from her became rather frustrating; not because he found her annoying, but because he couldn't deny his growing attraction for her. The more time he spent with her, the harder he continued to fall for her. She didn't see him the way others did. She saw him as her confidante…her hero. She needed him. And to him that was a refreshing and reassuring feeling…to be needed; especially by a woman who appeared to need no one, who came off so strong and independent. But he had seen her vulnerability first hand. He had heard how much she suffered through the years and how difficult it was to continue to wear her façade to the world: 'the tough cookie. The loud mouth with a dirty giggle.' And try as he might, he couldn't help but be pulled towards her. He wanted to protect her, to care for her…

…But he had loved Leanne, of that he had convinced himself.

But as he mulled things over late at night in his flat in the days that followed his wedding blessing, he started to question why it was the discovery that Carla had known about Leanne's infidelity from the get go that wounded him the deepest. If she had really meant nothing more than a friend to him, he wouldn't have felt the urge to disgrace her in public; to make her feel as embarrassed and humiliated as he did. But her betrayal had cut him straight to his heart, and he couldn't resist lashing out at her…

"Yeah, Leanne's best mate there…crackin' lookin' bird, I think you'll all agree! But a lot like my best man as it transpires." He could see her struggling to contain her emotions, staring at a spot on the back of the pew ahead of her as she tried her best to conceal the tears that lined her hauntingly beautiful green eyes; and yet her meekness egged him on, further propelling his anger and rage,

"You see while me and this tart were planning our wedding, Carla was doing her damndest to get me into bed. Told me she loved me no less, loved me!" He nearly stopped as their eyes connected, the quizzical look in her eyes as he revealed that he had in fact heard her heartfelt confession at his bedside in the hospital; but his anger at them all, at Leanne, Nick, his father, his step-mother, and at her, urged him onwards, "in fact she 'loved' me so much that when she found out about these two she kept quiet an' all! Secretly hoping I'd tweak it meself and come running to her. Well as you can see Carla, I'm not running anywhere…"

He watched with a mixture of satisfaction and regret as she hurriedly stood up and strode out of the church, trying to keep up her façade in place to those in the church, but her stifled sniffles had given away her true emotions. He'd be lying if he said he didn't feel guilty about it, but he was too proud and stubborn to admit it.

But now here they both were: her, single and him, separated. Both seated comfortably on the sofa in his flat, both starting to feel more at ease with each other since his wedding blessing. Simon hadseemed to take to her well, having nudged her a few times during the movie when she tried to suppress a giggle, and she instinctively reached out and rubbed his hair affectionately.

Carla mumbled in her sleep, her arms hugging the pillow to her more as she relaxed further into the sofa. Peter quietly stood up, swooping down and picking up his slumbering son. As silently as he could, he carried Simon into his bedroom, pulling back the comforter and setting him down, before pulling them back up and tucking him in. With a kiss to his forehead he turned off the small nightlight beside his bed, and pulled the door closed.

Walking back into the main room, he stopped and leaned against the doorframe, simply watching as Carla continued to doze on the sofa. He didn't have the heart to wake her, not even for them to finally have a talk, but he knew she would do her back in sleeping like that. He walked around the sofa, bending and leaning on his elbows on the back, while his hand gently stroked her hair, "Carla?" he whispered and she moaned in her sleep, an arousing sound, that had him licking his lips enticingly. He tried again, "Carla, love?"

"Mm Peter..." she moaned softly.

His lips tugged into a smile, and without hesitating he leaned forward, his lips gently capturing hers. Within seconds her eyes fluttered open and she pulled back briefly. His eyes were filled with lust as they gazed into hers, no longer able to contain the attraction he had felt for her over the past months.

She bit her lower lip, and he could see she was trying to determine if she was awake or still dreaming, before leaning up and kissing him again. The softness of her kiss becoming more passionate, more desperate.

Peter climbed over the back of the couch, his body shimmying down to lie between her and the cushions of the settee, his hands cupping her face as he deepened their kiss, his tongue plunging into her mouth and smiling against her lips as she groaned pleasurably against him. His hand slid down to her lower back pulling her flush against him so she felt his arousal. She broke free of their kiss and gasped, his arousal rubbing pleasurably against the seam of her jeans between her legs. He smirked at her reaction, using her shock to use his free hand to pull her hair back, his lips littering kisses along her now exposed neck.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders, her pelvis grinding against his, until she unleashed a sexy growl, her hands grasping his face and pulling it up from where his tongue was swirling the base of her collarbone, and crashing her lips against his again.

He pulled away suddenly, rising to his feet and pulling her with him; he had to continue this in the bedroom, not wanting to risk his son coming out and catching them in an uncompromising position. She paused for a moment as he tugged her towards his bedroom, unsure if this was the right decision.

He felt her hesitate and stepped in front of her, his arm circling her waist, while the other cupped her cheek. "If you want to stop, we'll stop," he whispered, he rubbed his nose along hers, "I've wanted to be inside you since that night in your flat after the Joinery's grand opening," he said truthfully, "but we both had too much baggage then." His fingers ran through her hair gently before coming back to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing along her lower lip, "But we're both free of that now, and I so desperately want to fuck you senseless Carla Connor..." he captured her bottom lip and suckled on it briefly before pulling back, "but only when you feel ready. I've waited since then, I can wait as long as it tak-"

She launched forward, her arms wrapping around his neck as she devoured his lips. He spun her around, walking her backwards until they reached his bedroom, him closing the door with his foot and twisting the padlock. Pulling away from her briefly he turned on the iPod that was docked in a player, allowing some music to fill the room, "Don't want Simon hearing anything." He whispered as he stepped in front of her again,

Her face fell as her hands pressed hesitantly against his chest, "Oh Peter, maybe this isn't such a good idea..."

"Shhh," he brought a finger up to her plump lips, "trust me, he is out to the world," he whispered as his fingers trailed down and slide between her legs, "you just may have to suppress your urge to scream, Carla." his hand rubbed the seam of her jeans against her, and she pressed her forehead into his, letting a moan of pleasure slip out between her lips, "can you do that, love?" he asked quietly, "can you contain your screams for me?"

Her lips pressed against his hungrily. She couldn't resist him anymore if she tried. She had been waiting, dreaming of this moment since October. That niggling little voice in her mind warned her that she would get hurt in the end; that he was just rebounding from Leanne and that she would end up being cast aside. But her body was responding of its own accord; responding to his hands as they slid up and under her shirt. If she was going to be his rebound than she was going to ensure that it was the best sex they ever had in their lives.

She would worry about her emotions afterwards...

He felt her skin break into goosebumps beneath his fingertips as they reached the mounds of her breasts. He smiled against her lips, hearing her moan in pleasure as he teased the flesh.

He pushed her back towards the bed, until she sat down on the mattress. He unzipped her jeans and pulled them off her, dropping them to the ground below. Smiling coyly at him, she reached her fingers into the hem of his pants and pulled him towards her so he stood as close to her as possible. Without removing her eyes from his she began to unbutton and unzip his jeans, her hands deftly pushing the denim down his body before tracing her delicate fingers back up his thighs, as his hands stroked her hair. She eyed his boxers, focusing on the bulge that pressed against the material anxiously. Raising an eyebrow, her fingers continued to trail up his body and slipped under his cotton t-shirt; she pushed it upwards, rising to her feet as it neared his shoulders and pushing it up and over his head in one swift movement before throwing it dismissively onto the floor.

Wasting no time, he tugged at her shirt, pulling it up and over her and unclipping her bra and flinging it across the room before pulling her head towards his, pressing an almost bruising kiss to her lips, deepening it as he felt her encircle her arms about his neck. Releasing a groan he lowered his hands down her back, over the curve of her bum and grasped her thighs. With a tug he had lifted her off the ground and onto her back on the mattress, her legs wrapping themselves about his hips tightly as he moved one arm up to encircle her back while the other tangled itself amongst her hair at the back of her head, pushing her head ever closer to his.

As her groin pressed against his bare abdomen, he gave another groan as he felt the extent of her desire through the heat and dampness that had soaked her satin knickers. He ground against her, feeling her dig her nails into his neck and shoulder as she continued to kiss him feverishly. He unwrapped her legs and slid down her body, his fingers looping around the hem of her knickers and pulling them down her smooth legs with him. He glanced up at her as she lay sprawled on the bed, her eyes were wild and wet with desire and he trailed one hand back up her leg and held her hip firmly in place. She leaned her head back against the mattress, her eyes fluttering closed in anticipation and her body jolting in delight as she felt his lips lay a multitude of gentle kisses up her thigh, hovering dangerously close to her centre. He smiled at the reaction and moans he was emitting from her, and nudged her legs open a little further as he ran his tongue over her clit, flicking and circling it and enhancing her pleasure.

"Oh God…" she moaned breathlessly, one hand gripping the sheets above her as the other grasped the back of his head. She pushed her hips out towards him, encouraging him to continue to pleasure her. She couldn't believe this was happening, her eyes pricking with tears, as she edged closer to an orgasm. She quietly moaned his name.

He was wanting to tip her over the edge with his tongue but upon hearing her murmur his name breathlessly, he could no longer contain himself. Rising to his feet, he pushed his boxers down and stepped out of them, before crawling on the bed over her.

"I've been waiting for this," he whispered into her ear, as his one hand trailed the underside of her thigh, encouraging her to wrap it around his hip while he held her hand above her head, "too long Carla," With a swift move of his hips, he pushed slowly into her, not wanting to go too fast for fear of bursting too quickly. She gasped out loud, and rested her forehead against his, eyes squeezed shut, her mouth agape in pleasure and the fingers of her one hand digging into his neck. With a smile he pushed into her further and further until he filled her entirely and let out a groan himself. He began thrusting into her in a slow steady rhythm, pressing kisses upon her neck and suckling at the flesh there. She matched his pace as she grinded down against his thrusts, her hips circling and further applying pressure upon her bud. They maintained this slow burn for minutes on end before she began to feel her reach her peak; her breaths becoming more erratic and shallow.

"You feel amazing, Carla" he moaned into her neck as he felt her tighten around him.

She moaned quietly, her thighs tightening around him before pushing him off her as she felt her climax coming on. Peter looked at her in surprise, before feeling her nudge him into a seated position and climbing onto his lap. "Yes," he growled as she started to build a pace again. Up and down, back and forth, she rode him like a woman posessed. She took his arm, directing him to wrap it around her backside as she placed both her hands on his shoulders, leaning slightly away from him, her clit now rubbing against his pelvic bone and she began to shudder. She moved against him, back and forth, faster and faster, her eyes squeezing shut tightly, her lips crashing into his. He could feel the sheen of sweat building on her velvety smooth skin, and could feel her thighs start to tremble as she tightened around him. He pulled his lips away from hers, holding the back of her neck and her backside with his arms.

He whispered lovingly into her ear, encouraging her to cum and with a silent cry she let herself go as he continued to plunge into her steadily. Before she came down from her orgasm, he repositioned his hold on her and flipped her on her back again on the bed. His fingers trailing down her body and he increased his speed; lowering himself and wrapping his arms under her shoulders so that they were as close as possible as he thrust into her repeatedly, feeling his own climax approaching.

"Oh fuck…" he groaned, as she trailed her fingernails down his neck sending shock waves through his skin and tipping him over the edge. He pushed into her forcefully one last time as he came, whispering her name between moans. He held himself steady in her before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her lips. He gently pulled out of her, and rolled to the side of her, grasping her body and pulling it against his.

'That' he thought as he pressed a kiss to her forehead, 'is just the beginning of what I have in store for you, Carla.'