'Hiya Si.' A voice calls, as the boy lets himself in. Carla wonders if she can call him a boy, he's going to be an adult in a few months, he's practically there now. Especially when you compare him to his baby sister. Although you can't because she's that much younger than him.

She could be his child.

'How are you this morning?' He questions, walking straight to the fridge. She smiles at how times have changed, not just the niceties but the fact she has edible food. 'Where is the baby?'

'The baby?' She raises her eyebrows as he laughs, knowing it would wind his stepmother up. Except she wasn't his stepmother, not anymore. He was his dad's partner, his sisters' mother. That was the only connection he had to her, except now he felt some sort of connection to her.

She wasn't the dragon he'd made her out to be as a kid.

She gotten older, not that it was noticeable, but she looked more vulnerable. She had done for a while, seeing her in the state of her psychosis, or rather when she was recovering. She'd never quite be the same person.

'Beatrice.' He smirks, 'where is she?'

'Over there, I'm not sure if she's awake. She's great because she's so chill. You know what she's started doing?'

'No?'

'Rolling over. And grabbing her toes.' He laughs as Carla makes a face. 'It's disgustingly cute.'

'She's awake. Yes, yes, you are.'

'You can put her on the floor, if you want. Keep watching her, mind. Did you want something to eat?'

'Are you making it?'

'Yes.'

No then, don't fancy a trip to the general.'

'Cheeky beggar.' She grins, as he goes to pick up the baby, the baby letting him pick up without putting up a fight.

'You know, she's going to be really confident when she's older. She's not fussed about strangers picking her up.'

'You're hardly a stranger, you're her big brother.'

'She's four months, she doesn't know anything.' He grins, kissing her head. 'Either way, I love you.'

'And she loves you.'

'Mummy is a bit silly, isn't she Bumble Bee.'

'You're calling her that too. I don't even know where it came from?'

'Dad does, anyway, where is the birthday boy?'

'At the grave, with Ken.'

'Oh.'

'Went out first thing, thought it best I'd leave them too it. I've wrapped his present on the side.'

'Mm, probably best. I never know what to say. I've got mine in the bag.'

'There isn't anything anyone can say, losing a sibling. It's so hard.' She pauses for a moment, before mentally kicking herself. 'Si, I didn't think.'

'It's okay, I know it's going to happen with Ollie and it's going to be sad, but he's not my brother. Not really.'

'Don't say that.' She whispers, flicking on the kettle. 'Whatever Leanne said, she's grieving, and you are her son. She knows that.'

'I'm not though, I have no ties with her. With Bea, she is actually my sister.'

'I think of Roy as a surrogate dad. He's annoyed me in the past, jealousy maybe, but he is still someone very close to me.'

'He didn't openly say you weren't his child.'

'No, but the comment still stung and that won't change. Sometimes the family you choose are better than your biological family, look at Johnny.'

'What happened with you two? I don't want to be rude but what, really, is the difference? '

'Oh, it's nothing. I guess I just resent him for not being there, always choosing me second. My dad let me grow up neglected, literally only telling the truth when he had to shell out money. Somethings are too much and that's one of them. Whatever you think, your mum loves you. Remember all the custody drama, when your dad and I got together, Leanne fought tooth and nail for you. Johnny didn't, that's the difference, Leanne, she loves you. With Johnny, there was never any love.'

'He loves you now?'

'He'll always chose me second to Kate, which is fine. Even when I was seriously ill, and I was struggling, he chose his other daughter. I'm not saying I deserved it, but none of them were nice to me. I felt so alone.' She admits, 'I'm guessing how that's you feel like Leanne?'

'A bit.'

'It will get better, you and Leanne. I know you're old enough to understand that Oliver won't get better and you have to come to terms with it, not just Leanne. Beatrice, she won't be a replacement for him, she'll be different. You'll have a different relationship.'

'You think?'

'I know. Anyway, whose going to be scaring off all her partners when she gets older, your dad and I won't be as scary as her big brother.' He laughs a little, smiling at the bundle looking up at him intently. 'If you put her on the floor, she'll roll over.'

'Is that okay?'

'It's a good thing, something to-do with all that tummy time sh- tummy time thing.'

'Did you nearly say a bad word.' He asks, as the pair find their way to the floor.

'Absolutely not. Mind her, let me just move that thing out the way. I have her jungle gym over there, she's fascinated.' She soon realises she's lost him as he starts, quietly, talking to the baby. He doesn't notice as she snaps a picture, sending it to her partner, knowing this will be the best present he can get, his two kids. His two kids together, as a family.

Of sorts.

-CS-

'See, I told you. She's fascinated by her feet.' Simon laughs, taking another picture. 'Before you know it, you'll have more pictures of her than me, and I have a lot. Mind you, not as many as ye' dad. That's all he seems to-do. And really unflattering ones.'

'I bet their fine.'

'Maybe.' She shrugs, taking another sip of the tea Simon just made.

'I never know what to call you.'

'Uh, Carla is fine.' He rolls his eyes, shaking his head a as smile plays on his lips.

'When I say something.'

'Say something?'

'You know, when I talk about you.'

'You talk about me?'

'Well I talk about her.'

'You could always call me Cruella.' She hits back, her voice laced with jest.

'You knew about that?' Simons eyes suddenly as wide as saucers.

'I have eyes at the back of my head.' She warns, 'Kirk called me a lady wolf a few months ago. I'm not sure what's worse.'

'That.'

'You're just saying that cause you got caught. It's fine, it annoyed me at the time, but I think it's funny now.'

'Do you?'

'As long as she doesn't call me it, it doesn't really matter. Or Carla, she better not call me that. I'm her mum, or mummy.'

'Anyway, I was saying, I don't know how to describe you. It feels really weird saying my sisters mum or my dad's girlfriend because you aren't my step mum, but you are part of the family.'

'I should hope so, I birthed your sister.'

'Well I'm not calling you that. The woman that birthed my sister.'

'Calling her what?'

'Oh, Si brought up what he should call me.'

'Carla?'

'No, I mean like what is she? She's not my step mum, but she is part of the family and dad's girlfriend just doesn't sit right.'

'I said he could call me Cruella. He thought I didn't know.' Peter shakes his head, smiling down. 'We still going to your dads for dinner?'

'If you're okay with that?'

'Always happy not to cook.'

'As if you ever cook.'

'I'll have you know I nearly brought a restaurant.'

'Sorry?' Simon looks in shock horror as the woman grins to herself. 'What?'

'You 'eard.'

'Why?'

'Fancied it. It was when I was with our Paul.' She pauses, looking at a confused Simon. 'My first husband, Michelle's oldest brother.'

'You were going to run a restaurant?'

'Yes. Not on my own, mind.'

'With who?'

'If I told you, I don't think you'd believe me.'

'Well who?'

'Your mum.'

'What, you two 'ate each other?'

'We haven't always, we were gonna become restaurateurs. I obviously wasn't going to become the chef. We used to be really good friends.' A flash of pain passes through her face, only there for a few seconds, but Peter caught it. He knew it still hurt and that it was beyond repair, thanks to him.

'Didn't' fancy the lawsuit then?'

'No.' She grins, not going into detail as to why her and Leanne never managed to open their restaurant. It wasn't fair on Simon to tell him the grubby details, she knew Leanne regretted what she did. 'Anyway, presents.' Carla grins, pushing herself up from the sofa. 'You left before I saw you this morning, thought I'd let you 'ave a lie in.'

-CS-

'I 'ad a very interesting conversation today.' Tracy smirks, as the family enter into the house. 'You'll never believe who called me.'

'Santa clause?'

'Better.'

'The Easter bunny?' Carla tries, not sure where this was going.

'A friend of yours.'

'Michelle?'

'Better.'

'I honestly don't know.'

'Well they came asking questions and I think you'd prefer this to stay between us.' She hisses, as Carla looks on confused.

'What?'

'Someone from your past phoned me. I must say, it was out of the blue. Asking questions about you.'

'Oh.' She whispers, suddenly it dawns on her. She doesn't know how to respond to Tracy, not wanting to have this conversation, yet she looks like she's the cat that got the cream, having something she can laud over her. Or so she thinks.

'Yes, oh.'

'What's it worth me not telling Peter. Ruining his birthday.' She just shrugs, picking up the baby who'd fallen asleep.

'I don't know.' She tells her, walking straight into the kitchen, soon to be joined by Tracy. 'What did you tell him?'

'He asked if you were pregnant. Apparently, you paid him a little visit.'

'Oh, I did.'

'Then he asked if you had a child.' Her heart drops for a moment, 'I confirmed this.'

'What did you do that for, you stupid cow.' Her heart drops, now he knows about her. Everything she didn't want.

'What's happening?' Peter asks, at the sudden commotion in the kitchen.

'Nothing.' Tracy smirks.

'Tracy's telling me how Rob phoned her this week, about me visiting him.'

'Wait, you knew?'

'I told him myself. I wasn't going to lie about it. He wasn't too pleased, but still we got over it.'

'He seemed very surprised that you had a baby. Didn't have Peter down as daddy dearest.'

'Why did you tell him that?'

'Are you stupid?'

-CS-

'I could have killed her.' Peter groans, watching his partner do her thing, as she places the baby in the cot on her side of the bed. 'Why did she 'ave to tell him?'

'Because she's Tracy. It was stupid me even going. If I hadn't gone in the first place, it would never have happened.'

'Well, it clearly helped you, so it wasn't. Tracy just thought she had something, and she tried to use it to her advantage.'

'No, it was. I should have known.' She sighs, picking up a wrapped package, her wrapping skills far superior than her parents, as shown at her Mother's Day present. 'No point crying over spilt milk. Look he can't hurt us from in there and Tracy has some power complex, or whatever. We need to look into the future, he's in the past. All of that is in the past. Anyway, open ye' present.'

'What's that?'

'Open it?' She whispers, as she gets closer to him, as his heart starts beating, gently opening the wrapping paper, his breath hitching as he can feel her breath. 'I wasn't going to give that to you in front of your son.'

'Is this-' She nods, gently nibbling on his neck. 'I thought you said-'

'And you've been great waiting, but even I have to take the plunge.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.' She whispers, 'yes, I am. But you have to wear that. I'm not taking any risks' she tells him, continuing to kiss his neck, as he lets out a guttural moan, both knowing exactly where this is heading.

A/N thoughts?