So there they were.

Carla and Peter.

Sat in his car on their way to… her house.

She doesn't quite know why she is choosing to get him to park there instead of one of those standard car parks that were in town, she doesn't know why she stares at him the entire time he drives through the quiet country lane and she doesn't know why her heart was still thumping loudly behind her black shirt.

All she knows… is that she can't say goodbye to Peter just yet.

Counting each blessing he had, Peter stayed silent as he followed Carla's first set of directions. He didn't want to say too much because he could tell that she was obviously lost in thought but eventually he had to be reminded of where he was going and asked,

"You said straight ahead right?"

"Yep." Carla nodded, knowing there is no going back now as her house was literally at the very road that Peter was driving down, in fact she could see it from where they were right now. "It's... the white house at the very end of the street."

"Oh… okay." Peter said, diverting his gaze a little further ahead to the house on the very end of the street. As he stared, Peter saw a two-story house, which had been painted a bright white colour.

Carla's house was located on a street that had many different colour houses, there were light blue houses, pink houses, even yellow houses and as Peter got closer he saw that Carla's clean white house had been made complete with a grey cobblestone roof.

It also had a little garden in front of it and next to that garden was a pebbled driveway, which was where Carla gestured for Peter to park his car.

As Peter turned the ignition off and parked his car next to what could only be Carla's Car, he found it ridiculously hard to believe what was currently happening.

He had expected Carla to be directing him to a car park or somewhere with a few free parking bays… the last thing he had been expecting was to end up at her house.

He stayed put for a moment and couldn't help but stare up at the building ahead of him as Carla climbed out of the passengers seat and closed the door behind her.

"Carla has a house. A real… proper, grown up house of her own…" Thought Peter, gazing through the windscreen window at the building that was in front of him.

Peter wondered if this house he was currently sat in front of was the very house that Carla was supposed to be moving into with... Him and as he wondered, Peter suddenly felt something inside of him seize up at the very thought of Carla living with that awful man.

The man he had hated for years. The man who had caused him so much pain and so much grief.

"You getting out then?" He then heard Carla call, she was tapping on his window and pulling a slightly comical face, which made Peter laugh silently as he got hastily got out of the car.

"Sorry…" He said, slamming his door shut and smiling at Carla. "I was in a day dream for a minute there…"

"Yeah, never would ave guessed." Carla nodded slowly with an eyebrow raised, she was standing a few feet away from her front door as Peter grinned and asked,

"So… where's this coffee shop then?" But Carla didn't answer Peter, she was distracted, bending her head slightly as if she was listening to something, something coming from her house.

At first Peter thought she had maybe changed her mind about all of this but then she moved closer to her door, still looking as if she was trying hard to hear something coming from inside her home.

"Car…"

"Hold on…" Carla said distantly, going into her pocket and pulling out a pair of keys. Peter nodded at Carla slowly and watched, slightly perplexed as she walked up to her front door and opened it.

As she disappeared inside, Peter stood awkwardly in front of his car not knowing exactly what he should do next.

Even though he knew that he and Carla were only supposed to get a coffee and even though he knew he didn't really deserve it, Peter couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that Carla wasn't going to invite him in.

She hadn't exactly shut him out, she hadn't closed the door behind her and had actually left it wide open but Peter wasn't rude enough to just prance right in… and if he was honest with himself, he really didn't have the guts.

He didn't want to do anything that would annoy or anger Carla in the slightest because he knew that this time he currently had with her was going to be extremely precious.

Whilst he waited for her, wondering what on earth she could be doing, Peter took another long look at Carla's pretty stunning house.

It wasn't humongous by any means but it seemed like it would have been just the right size for her... and Nick.

The right size for a newly married couple… the right size for two people who were maybe going to start a family.

It pained Peter tremendously to think of Carla and Nick, especially to imagine that they could have maybe had a family one day but he knew that was his punishment for what he did to her and he knew that even though it hurt him tremendously so, he knew he'd rather her be happy... even if it was with Nick.

At the image of Carla living in married bliss with his old rival, Peter delved into his pocket and pulled out a trusty box of cigarettes whilst he continued to wait for Carla.

It was once he'd lit his cigarette and put his fag packet back into his jean pocket that Peter saw Carla appear once again.

She came outside of her house but this time… she wasn't alone.

At her feet stood a simply adorable and very excited little puppy on a bright blue lead.

The puppy's fluffy fur was mostly white but the fur on his ears was a light golden brown colour and as Carla walked towards him she saw Peter's lips break in to an incredibly wide smile.

"Hey…" He said in awe, bending down as the puppy ran towards him, "Who's this little guy?" he asked, almost amazed to see Carla armed with a dog, even if it was a tiny one.

She had never shown much of an interest in animals before, She'd always seemed indifferent to his family's Dog Eccles and yet, here she was, stood before him with a puppy stood at her black boots.

"Bailey... He were avin a nap earlier but he's awake now… I though I could hear him running about the place… He's gonna come with us and get some fresh air." Carla said as Peter actually threw his almost un-smoked cigarette onto the ground and reached over to stroke a very friendly Bailey.

"Bailey…" Peter repeated, still smiling and bending to take a closer look at the delightful puppy that was clearing enjoying being stroked so gently.

"Yeah… Bailey… he's named after two of me favourite things..." Carla said, smirking and then trailing off because she wondered if what she was about to say would really be appropriate.

Just by looking at Peter in those first few awkward moments when they had met earlier, Carla could tell he truly hadn't had a drink in years but still, even the mere mention of the word alcohol might have an adverse effect on Peter.

However… Carla needn't of worried, Peter chuckled and nodded as Bailey jumped up to try and reach his face.

"Coffee and Alcohol?" Peter replied, referring to the name Bailey and knowing that's what Carla had meant when she had said two of her favourite things.

"Yeah…" Carla said slightly sheepishly, she had hold of Bailey's lead tightly and pulled it back towards her a little to give Peter some space, not that he wanted space of course. He adored Dogs and was still stroking Bailey fondly as he asked,

"What breed is he?"

"He's a Labradoodle… A cross between a Lab and a Poodle..." Carla nodded as Peter eventually stood up straight. He looked genuinely delighted as he gazed into Carla's eyes and for a moment... She let him stare right at her in silence.

She let herself stare back into his brown eyes before eventually, shaking her head quickly and clearing her throat.

"Right... let's get this coffee shall we?" She said, retracting Bailey's lead so he would leave Peter alone and so they could start walking. Peter nodded slowly knowing that Carla was starting to feel just as nervous as he was whenever things got silent between them and deciding he'd try and keep the conversation flowing.

"Where did ya get him then?" Peter asked.

"Well... when I first got ere I kept seeing this old lady in the local café, anyways we got to talking during that first week and I mentioned that I was living alone ere n eventually she dragged out of me that I was feeling a little…" Carla stopped talking for a moment as she and Peter began walking out of her drive together.

She had paused because she had always found it hard to admit her true feelings with people... But with Peter, well with Peter it was different.

It had always been different.

Carla had always been able to admit her deepest and darkest feelings to Peter and know that he'd never ever judge her for them.

Even after all this time, She knew she could still do this with Peter and she had only paused because it had been so long since she could be so honest to someone.

"I were feeling a little lonely n Win, she's the old lady, She said that her son is a dog breeder and that he had a load of puppies that he wanted to give a good home to. She said she thought I should take one since I were so lonely n all… I were reluctant at first, I mean I really didn't think a dog would help me in the slightest…" Carla admitted, "But… after a few days n a lot of thinking... I went with Win to her son's place to see these puppies n then… I dunno… Bailey just walked over to me n that was it… I had to have him." Peter smiled at Carla again as she looked down at her little puppy and smiled lovingly, showing that she really did care about the animal at her feet.

Peter was extremely glad to see Carla's lips form into a small version of that smile he had missed and although he would have preferred to see that small smile properly and to have had her smiling at him, he still couldn't help but watch Carla fondly as she continued to speak.

"I've never had a pet before… always wanted one as a kid… but y'know what the situation was like there..." She said half reminiscently and half bitter sweetly, "I had to do a lot of research… Josh helped me with all that though… He's Win's son, He helped me with what to buy n stuff and he helped me get used to looking after Bailey... He actually came over to my place a few times and helped me sort everything out."

"That were nice of him." Peter said, trying not to sound as if he wanted to hear more about this Josh.

He knew he was being foolish, He knew he had absolutely no right but he couldn't help but suddenly feel jealous of this Josh.

Whoever this Josh was, he'd been around Carla's place a few times and Peter couldn't help but think that any man who spent even the shortest amount of time with Carla, would obviously fall in love with her… after all... How could they not?

"Yeah it were…" Carla said, pointing in the direction they needed to go next as Peter lit another cigarette.

She couldn't help but smirk as they walked up the street together, knowing exactly what Peter was thinking about Josh. She decided not to pay any more mind to it because she did feel like it served Peter right to be just a little bit jealous.

"It were great though..." Carla began, talking about her pet once again. "Cause I've had so much free time on me hands since being down ere, I was able to stay at home with Bailey for most of the time and help him get used to everything."

"How old is Bailey then?" Peter asked, putting his cigarette into his mouth as he spoke, not feeling so much jealously as Carla didn't really show much more enthusiasm about this guy called Josh.

"Four months." Carla said smiling down at her beloved dog once again before Peter blew smoke out of his mouth and said,

"Ahh…" He kept smiling at Carla in a way that she had to fight incredibly hard not to blush at and as he took another drag of his cigarette he glanced around him and said, "So… How's Devon then?"

"Boring." Carla said but she was grinning as she said it which made Peter a little confused.

"Boring?" Peter repeated as Carla laughed silently and nodded.

"Yeah… Boring… But in a good way." She said with a soft smile, still not the one Peter was waiting for but still, he was glad that she at least seemed happy... On the surface that was.

He still wasn't sure he had totally worked out how Carla was truly coping given today being the anniversary of one of the worst days of her life.

"I mean I've asked around..." Carla continued, "There's been no local murders recently, no fires burning down buildings and guess what else?" Carla asked as Bailey stopped at a tree and gave it a sniff. Peter shrugged and grinned before Carla said, "The people round ere don't know everyones business... It's a flamin miracle."

"Ahhh I see…" Peter said with an amused nod, "So that's what you meant by boring, none of that wacky Weatherfield drama eh?"

"Pretty much… I mean so far anyway." Carla nodded back at him happily. As Peter walked and followed her directions, he still watched Carla and from what he could see, she really did enjoy living in Devon at least.

He had to admit when he had first read her address he couldn't have imagined her living in such a place.

He thought that Carla would get bored and that she would hate it there but as they walked towards the town centre, it really did seem that Carla liked where she was currently living.

Slowly but surely, the conversation between Carla and Peter became slightly reminiscent of their old ways. Of course, there was a million of things that they didn't say to each other... things that they desperately wanted to but Carla and Peter were able to chat as if they were two old friends who had just ran into each other by coincidence.

After a few more moments of companionable conversation, Carla and Peter finally reached a parade of shops and restaurants, they passed a bread shop, a sweet shop, an Italian restaurant and more and as they continued to walk, Bailey ran along happily beside them.

"Ere we are..." Carla said, stopping outside a cafe that had been painted a bright blue. It had a bright yellow door and had a sign above that saying, Ben's Bites "It's not Roy's Rolls... but it'll do." Carla said and now she was looking slightly downtrodden as she spoke about Roy's Rolls.

Peter tried to finish his cigarette quickly as he had thought Carla was going to head inside but instead she chose to sit down on one of the empty tables that had been placed outside the café.

"Can't take Bailey in there… Old Ben really doesn't like dogs..." Carla said as she sat down on one of the bright yellow wicker chairs that were on offer. Peter was surprised to see that Bailey sat down immediately at Carla's feet and it was soon very clear to Peter that Bailey was more than used to sitting down at this café, especially when a red headed, middle aged waitress came outside with a pad and a pen and said,

"Hi Carla, how are you today love?" Carla smiled politely at the waitress who then looked at Peter raised an eyebrow.

Peter felt slightly self conscious for a moment, wondering what on earth this red headed woman was thinking as she looked at him in such a way but then she smirked wickedly at Carla and said,

"Who's your handsome friend then?" Peter grinned smugly at this comment whilst Carla pretended to scoff and say,

"Oh don't... Peter really doesn't need a bigger ego than the one he's already got thank you very much Jen." She pointed at Peter with half a smirk of her own and said, "Peter this is Jenny, She's Ben's wife, Jenny… this Is Peter... he's…" She paused, wondering what the best way was to introduce Peter.

She didn't want to say that he was her ex because she thought things might then become very awkward but as she and Peter were very very slowly starting to get a bit of their old banter back she also didn't want to leave it as just Peter… after all, he was definitely more than just Peter.

He was her friend... right?

"He's an old friend." Carla eventually said, albeit slightly awkwardly, hoping Peter wouldn't take offence to the way she had introduced him.

"Hi Jenny, It's nice to meet you.." Peter smiled ever so smoothly, causing Jenny the waitress to get slightly flustered and say,

"You n all." Carla rolled her eyes and diverted her gaze to a very settled Bailey as Jenny asked, "What can I get ya today then?"

"Well I'll ave a strong coffee and one of your delicious brownies please Jenny n Peter will ave…" Carla said, looking back up at Peter who was gazing through the large glass window as if he was trying to see the Menu that was above the till.

"Erm…" he said slowly, "I'll ave a coffee too and..." he squinted as he tried to read the large menu on the wall and after a few seconds Carla laughed and said,

"Just get him a brownie too, he'll love it." Peter smiled and nodded as Jenny the waitress wrote it all down on her pad.

"Okay, won't be long." She said smiling politely at Carla and Peter before walking back inside of the café and leaving them alone once again.

Peter gazed around him for a moment as Carla bent down and stroked Bailey gently on the head, she knew that know they were settled they should probably talk again... only this time she wanted to find out more.

This time friendly conversations about Dogs and the weather just wouldn't cut it.

"So…" Carla said taking a deep breath as she raised her hand back up to the table. "How d'ya find me then?"

"You make it sound as if you're part of the witness protection program or somethin..." Peter chuckled. Carla laughed too... for a moment anyway and then she took a deep breath and looked at Peter in a way that almost made him shiver.

"Peter..." She said softly, "Who told you I were ere?"

Peter rested his hands on the table in front of him as Carla watched him... and waited with bated breath for his response.

He didn't even dare to think about lying this time.

Instead he came straight out with the truth, which even though what he said surprised Carla, it relived her all the same because Peter was being honest with her.

"Simon."