A/N: I was going to update 'A Casual Arrangement' first, but this story seems to be getting more traffic and reviews. I'll hopefully get an update of 'A Casual Arrangement' up in the next few days.

"Si," Peter gently shook his son awake, "Wakey, wakey,"

Simon groaned, raising his head and blinking his eyes repeatedly until his dad came into sharper focus, "What?" he asked groggily

"You wanted to make breakfast didn't you?" Peter asked, before standing upright quietly so as not to wake the woman still fast asleep on the sofa

Simon yawned, "oh, right," he mumbled, and rubbed his eye with his free hand. Ever so slowly he unwrapped his fingers from Carla's, causing her to moan softly and roll onto her back. The duvet that had been over her lay lazily across her hips, her pajama top having risen slightly and Simon stared at the small bump that now lay atop her normally flat stomach.

"Dad!" Simon whispered, drawing Peter's attention from the kitchen and beckoning him over with his hand.

Peter came to stand behind the settee, and mouthed a 'what is it?' to his son who was now grinning like a Cheshire cat and pointing to Carla's bump. Peter's eyes followed his son's outstretched finger, and couldn't stop the tears that formed in them at the sight. His eyes shifted quickly to Carla's face, and was slightly relieved to see she was still sleeping, her cheek pressing against her pillow towards the back of the sofa, before turning his gaze back to the bump.

He knelt down behind the sofa, resting his head on his arms on the leather cushions. He felt as though he was seeing something he shouldn't be instead of the midriff of the woman he was madly in love with. He sniffled slightly, raising a finger to wipe a tear that had traipsed down his cheek. He wanted so desperately to place his hands on his wife's warm skin, onto the small bump; wanted to lean down and press his cheek against it, to where their baby lie beneath, and whisper how much he or she was already loved. He wanted to lean down and kiss his slumbering wife's lips, telling her how much he loved her.

But he knew he couldn't do any of those things. He had lost that privilege the moment he kissed Tina on his wedding night. So instead, he reached down and carefully pulled the duvet up to just under Carla's neck. He couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips as she mumbled almost irritably in her sleep, before turning on her side so she was facing the back of the couch, her fingers grasping the duvet and snuggling under it further. Before he could stop himself, he placed his hand on her head, his fingers gently massaging her scalp, before placing a kiss on her hair, then motioning for Simon to follow him into the kitchen.

"I didn't mean to make you upset, dad," Simon said sadly, "I thought it would make you happy."

"Oh it did, Si," Peter whispered, drawing his son in for a hug, "it made me very happy. But I won't pretend I'm not upset either."

"Why though?"

"Because if I hadn't messed up and hurt Carla, then I would get to do all the dad stuff that I can't do now," Peter sighed painfully, "I would be making my wife breakfast in bed, instead of her sleeping uncomfortably on the settee because she can't stand to be near me. And knowing that I won't be able to be there every step of the way with the woman I love, just..." he kissed the top of Simon's head, "it breaks my heart, you know? But it's my own fault, and all I can do now is spend every day of the rest of my life not just promising but actually being a better dad to you and that little baby and, if she ever decides to give me another chance, a better man and husband to Carla. I love her so much, Simon," Peter sniffled quietly, "and I want nothing more than to take all her pain away and be the man she always believed I was, instead of the car crash I am."

"Maybe we can both make it up to her?" Simon whispered, "I was rubbish to her before, but she never stopped caring about me, even when I was horrible to her."

Peter smiled and pressed another kiss to the top of Simon's head, "maybe we should start on making her breakfast and go from there, yeah?"

"Yeah," Simon nodded happily as they both quietly began to work.

The smell of eggs frying and bacon crackling, wafted into Carla's nostrils...

"Hmm I could get used to this," she said in a low sultry voice, as she watched Peter frying their eggs and bacon in the kitchen, "lazy Saturday with my fiancee making me breakfast,"

"As opposed to the other days when I make you breakfast?" he teased, turning around and winking at her.

"Hmm, you got a point there," She chuckled. Her eyes stayed on him, watching as he placed slices of toast in the toaster, and she smiled. She was so deliriously happy, a feeling she hadn't felt since she first married Paul, and never thought she'd ever feel again.

Slowly she pushed herself up from her seat, her hands delicately playing with the front of her robe, "how did I get so lucky, eh?" she whispered, wrapping her arms around Peter from behind him and resting her cheek against his back

Peter turned in her embrace, wrapping his arms around her waist, his one hand sliding down between her bum cheeks, "I'm the lucky one, baby..." he smiled as he captured her lips with his. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer into her body as their kiss became more passionate

"Hey," Peter said breaking away from the kiss but continuing to pull her against him and his now apparent arousal, "if you keep distracting me, I'm gonna burn our breakfast,"

"mmm, let it burn, then..." she whispered huskily, pressing another kiss to his lips and slipping her tongue into his mouth, when they stopped suddenly upon hearing two sets of feet making their way up the stairs to the flat, "who's that?" she asked incredulously, turning in his arms and fixing her robe.

She watched as the flat door opened, and Tina stepped in, shooting Carla a wicked smile.

"Tina?" Carla asked in shock, "how did you get in 'ere?"

"Peter let me in..." Tina responded, gesturing to the man who stepped into the flat beside her.

Carla's eyes widened in confusion and fear as Peter stepped into the flat, smiling at her as he pulled Tina in close to him, "Wha- what?" Carla choked out, her eyes glancing down to the arms that remained firmly wrapped around her own waist and she froze.

The arms around her did not belong to Peter...

She slowly turned her head, glancing up and over her shoulder to where Frank's face grinned back at her

"No!" she screamed, trying to pull away but Frank's grip on her tightened, "no, let me go!" she screamed again, her eyes locking now on Peter's, "Peter, please...help me!"

"Sorry love," Peter whispered, " It's been exhausting 'saving' you from him, over and over. I told you it were your fault for my drinking; putting so much pressure on me to constantly be your hero and the perfect husband. Tina's saved me. She's the one I love now..."

"No," Carla sobbed, watching as Peter turned Tina towards him, cupping her face like he had done with her so many times before, and kissing her passionately. She couldn't contain the sobs that overtook her, as she collapsed in Frank's embrace, watching as a smug Tina pulled Peter towards the bedroom, ripping her jacket off and pulling her top over her head as they continued to kiss hungrily, Peter's hands roaming her almost naked skin, as they entered the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind them. Their giggles and moans burned into Carla's ears, and she raised her hands to cover them as if to block out the sound.

Her hands were brought away from her ears and she was spun to face Frank, who smiled at her, "now, where were we?" he asked as he tried to press another kiss to her lips, but she managed to pull out of his embrace and back herself up into the storage cabinet.

"No, you're dead!" She whispered shakily

"You're recovering well sweetheart," Frank whispered to her, crossing his arms over his chest smugly, "and practically glowing with that baby inside you, even if it is his..."

She closed her eyes and shook her head, 'no, you're not real…you're not real…' she thought frantically.

"Of course I'm real darling," he said soothingly, "I'm here for you; just like I was when I was alive, and just as I've always been since my death."

She re-opened her now tear-filled eyes and shook her head more forcefully, "no" her voice cracked, "no, I want you to go…"

"Now we both now I won't be leaving, Carla," Frank chuckled, "I didn't leave the last time you asked me either, remember?"

"Why are you here Frank?" her voice was quiet and pleading, and she couldn't help but notice what looked like a flicker of guilt that crossed his features as he gazed upon her.

"Because I'm trying to make things right Carla," he stated almost genuinely, "I'm trying to make you see what life would have been like for us, had we not had that little…scuffle… the night before the wedding."

"Scuffle?" she choked out disbelievingly. Her eyes were blazing and her face contorted in rage as she attempted to distance herself further from him, "You dare call what you did to me a scuffle?" she ground out, her jaw clenched together.

"Carla?" Frank stated calmly, slowly circling the kitchen counter as she backed away from him, "Let's not get riled up, eh? Not while our guests are trying to enjoy their passionate time with one another in your bed..."

"Car?" a voice called gently to her, echoing throughout the flat, "Carla, what's wrong?"

"You –" she breathed out shakily, trying to control her rage. "You-" she grunted in frustration and attempted to run from the flat, but Frank was right on her heels.

He grabbed her arm and turned her forcefully towards him, pulling her closer to his body while she tried to wriggle free. He flashed her a smile as he grabbed both her arms, spinning her from the front door and pushing her roughly against the kitchen counter.

She let out a cry of pain as her back collided with the counter behind her, but she continued to fight against him, trying to wrench herself out of his grip.

"When are you going to learn eh?" Frank stated smugly as he continued to restrain her futile attempts to escape, "When are you going to learn that you can't fight me Carla?" As she gave an almighty push against him, he used her momentum to lift her up, and slam her onto the countertop. Her body landed painfully and she struggled to catch her breath as he pinned her down and leaned over her. Her legs were dangling over the side, and he kicked them apart to stand between them. He grabbed both her wrists in one hand and forced them over her head, pinning them painfully above her as she coughed, trying desperately to draw air into her lungs. He leaned his face in close to hers and brought his free hand up to caress her cheek. She wriggled beneath him, moving her face away from his touch. He quickly gripped a fistful of her hair and gave it a sharp tug, forcing her eyes to lock onto his.

...Somewhere in the background, she could hear Peter calling for her...

"Why do you insist on fighting me at every turn?" Frank spat at her, "You are mine, and mine alone. I don't want to hurt you Carla, but you just don't get it do you? You keep bringing this on yourself." Her eyes were wide as he leaned down and laid a bruising kiss on her lips, before leaning in close to her ear and whispering, "This is your dream sweetheart. Deep down you knew he never loved you, Carla! That's why he's in there fucking the babysitter, and I'm out here...even if I am dead. I'm here, in your mind. Always in your mind. You know I was the only one to love you, that he was bound to do this to you eventually. He doesn't deserve you, he never deserved you! I would have never slept with the barmaid if I had you. I would have worshipped you and our baby every day...but you ruined us, Carla. You broke my heart and so I broke you, and it looks like he built you back up just to break you down too..." He smiled smugly at her, his hand reaching down and slipping under her robe, "may as well make the most of my being here now, eh?..."

She gasped as her body jolted and she sprung upright, still half-asleep, right into Peter's embrace, "It's okay love," he whispered, his hands wrapping around her comfortingly, and running soothingly down her hair, "it's okay, you were just having a nightmare."

"He was here, he was here, he was here," she whispered repeatedly, her body shaking in his embrace, "is Frank gone? Is he gone?"

"He's gone, love," Peter assured her, planting a kiss on her temple, "Look, it's just me and Simon," he encouraged her

Her body continued to shake profusely, her skin covered in sweat and she began to hyperventilate. Her breathing erratic and shallow as she now became fully awake.

"Can't...breathe..." she gritted out trying to push herself out of Peter's embrace, feeling suddenly painfully constricted

"What's wrong with her?" Simon asked tearfully from behind his father

"She's just had a nightmare, Si. It's okay Car," Peter tried to soother her, "just breathe slowly love," But she wasn't relaxing, her legs climbing onto the sofa and pushing herself back into the armrest as she tried to put a safe space between herself and the other two people in the flat. She felt like she was suffocating, her body brought back to the state of shock she endured after Frank's attack just under three years prior.

"...need...meds..." she breathed out, her tearful eyes locking on Peter's, "...please...?"

"Okay," Peter jumped to his feet, "at Roy's, yeah?" he asked, grabbing his jacket off the hook,

She nodded, "...up...stairs..." she coughed out

"Okay, Simon's here with you love, I'll be back as fast as I can," Peter's eyes were lined with tears as he watched her nod while curling up into a fetal position on the sofa, his son gingerly going to sit next to her, and he dashed out of the flat.

"It'll be okay, Carla," Simon said with a sniffle, as he curled up next to her, feeling her body shaking beneath the duvet, "Dad won't let anything happen to you..."

Peter raced across the Rosamund Street towards Roy's Rolls, his heart pounding against his ribcage.

Carla had been prone to nightmares and anxiety attacks following Frank's assault on her. They only got worse when he was acquitted and began mentally torturing her in the factory. They started to lessen slightly once she and Peter decided to leave Weatherfield and hit the open seas. Once away, the episodes were so few and far between that Peter had foolishly believed she was back to normal. He was naive, of course: the horror and trauma of something like that never truly leaves a victim; a reality that hit him like a slap in the face upon their return to Weatherfield after their sailing adventure and stint in LA in 2012. She couldn't take the memories that overwhelmed her and had tried to drown them in alcohol. She had tried leaving to live in LA on her own without Peter, but once she realized she couldn't, she came back, putting her love for him above her own suffering. She knew she needed a way to cope being back in Weatherfield for good, and so went to the doctor, where she was prescribed anti-anxiety pills to take whenever she had an episode. They had seemed to do the trick, with her needing them less and less as she threw herself back into stride at the factory...

It had been a while since Carla had endured one of her nightmares; and Peter had always been able to calm her down just by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in close to him. But this time was different. She couldn't relax in his embrace; and with the scare they had with the baby the night prior, he was terrified her anxiety attack would turn into a full blown panic attack, potentially putting her health and the health of their baby in danger.

"Peter!" a voice called to him, stepping into his path and causing him to skid to a stop.

He angrily rolled his eyes, "Leave me alone, Tina!" he stated as he stepped around her and pushed his way into the cafe, Tina right on his heels

"Peter, I haven't seen you in a while, I just wanted to-" she tried to placate him

Peter spun to face her, "I said, leave it, Tina!" he shouted before making a beeline for the counter

"Peter?" Roy asked, concern filling his voice, "what's the matter?"

"Carla," Peter breathed out, "I need to get something for her," he gestured to the flat door, not wanting to mention out loud what he needed,

"yes, yes," Roy nodded understandingly, his eyes shifting quizzically to Tina who stood with her eyes blazing into Peter, "of-of course, come with me," he beckoned, nodding to Anna to take over.

As Peter went to follow Roy, Tina angrily grabbed his arm and spun him towards her, "you and Carla?" she huffed, "don't tell me you've taken her back?"

Peter wrenched his arm free from her, and leaned in angrily towards her, "What I do with my wife has nowt to do with you. Now, I won't ask you again: back off, Tina!" he snarled in her face, spinning and hastily following Roy up the stairs to the flat.

Tina stood staring at the door, jealousy overtaking her as tears filling her now murderous eyes, "we'll see about that..."