Next Chapter is here! lovely and long this one. I'm quite pleased with how this chapter has played out and I'm starting to get more of a feel for where this is going. For the rest of the story I will be following (ish) the timeline of the Carla's ordeal storyline but I will be changing and adding situations. As always please let me know what you think.

Settling herself down with a coffee Carla let out a contented sigh as her body began to relax. Work had been hectic that day her and Michelle had gone through the order book and tried to contact as many clients as they could to bring in more business. It had been a long tedious job and they had only had a handful of positive replies but Carla had been pleasantly surprised. She had been convinced that no one would want to continue dealing with her especially with Frank poisoning all her clients' minds and poaching them for himself. Carla shook her head in disgust as a wave of fury coursed through her veins that man would not rest until he destroyed her she was sure. However she had decided, with a lot of persuasive encouragement from Michelle, that she was not going to lie down and wallow in self pity while waiting on a court date. Smiling to herself Carla remembered the look on Michelle's face when she had told her she was going to go back to work. Michelle had practically beamed and had taken it on herself to chaperone and be mother hen which had been more enjoyable than expected.

Carla placed the now empty cup in the kitchen sink and glanced up at the clock on the wall. 8.30 Michelle said she would be home about half 9ish plenty of time for her to have a good long soak in the bath undisturbed. Michelle had gone to see Ryan after much persuasion from Carla and she was sure that the break would do them both good. As they now lived and worked together Carla was sure she must be grating Michelle's nerves by now also the last couple of nightmares Carla had suffered had resulted in her screaming and pleading for Liam to help her. When she had come too and realised what she had done the awkwardness was nearly too much to bear. For Carla it meant admitting just how deeply in love with Liam she was and for Michelle it wasn't easy listening to Carla cry out for her dead brother. They had sat up one night in the early hours and talked until it was time to go to work Carla had felt relieved after their conversation but she felt as if Michelle had been a bit strained the last couple of days. Carla hoped the evening out and seeing her son would ease some of the tension from Michelle.

Once Carla had ran her bath with plenty of bubbles and lit all of her candles she went to get changed into her silk bath robe. As she made her way from her bedroom to the bath she was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. Carla couldn't stop the involuntary jump as her mind tried to think who could possibly be at her door. Pulling herself together she shakily picked up the receiver.

"It's me please let me up"

Carla groaned inwardly as she recognised Peter's slurred voice she really didn't think she had it in her to comfort him in the state he was no doubtably in. Also she had not spoken to Peter since the night in the Rovers and she really didn't want to argue over why she hadn't answered his texts or calls.

"Hello? Can I come in then?"

"Ok darlin' up you come"

Sighing Carla made her way back over to the couch and arranged herself so that she wasn't showing too much flesh as she gave herself the once over Peter came staggering through the door.

"Hello darlin' bad day?"

Peter grimaced at Carla and made his way over to the couch and sat down heavily his head automatically falling forward onto his hands.

"Coffee it is then"

Carla glanced at Peter while she was stirring his coffee he looked haggard and now he was here Carla definitely knew were this conversation was going to go. She knew she hadn't exactly been forthcoming with Peter since she had ended up back in hospital and she knew the lies Michelle had told wouldn't have washed with Peter.

"What's been going on Carla?"

Peter's deep baritone echoed through the flat and Carla took a deep breath before sitting down and taking Peter's hand.

"I'm fine Peter"

"I didn't ask whether you were fine I asked what's been going on Michelle has never seemed so stressed and I don't believe it is just the factory and Ciaran. You have ignored me for the past couple of weeks and you have barely mentioned your family before so why the sudden departure?"

Carla sighed and looked into Peter's warm brown eyes he looked at her with genuine concern desperation obvious in his tone, in his wild gestures and Carla felt her resolve crumble.

"I couldn't do it Peter when I came back from LA reality hit and the pressure was overwhelming. Michelle has been trying to keep everything ticking over the factory and... well... me"

Peter took a deep breath and pulled Carla into a clumsy hug she stiffened at the contact and she tried to ignore the upset look on Peter's face. He smelt of whiskey and cigarettes and it made her slightly on edge but she couldn't explain why. After a few minutes Peter shuffled uncomfortably and Carla slowly pulled away from him and carefully picked her mug back up from the coffee table.

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped you know I would!"

"Peter don't shout please I didn't want anyone to know. Michelle only realised how bad the situation was because she stayed behind, I thought she had gone I didn't want her to witness what she did"

Peter's head whipped round and he really looked at Carla she could practically see the wheels turning inside his head and she suddenly wished she had just ignored his call and had her relaxing bath. With his gaze fixed and unblinking Carla felt like he was seeing deep into her soul and she looked away uncomfortably.

"What did you do?"

Peter's tone was forceful and Carla shuddered the last person who had spoken to her in that way had proceeded to slam her against a door and rape her.

"What did you do Carla answer me!"

Carla got up and headed towards the kitchen leaning onto the worktop she bowed her head and spoke slowly and deliberately to Peter.

"I'm not going to talk about it Peter I'm fine and that's all that matters"

"Do you think I'm fucking stupid Carla you tried again didn't you? You tried to top yourself like a coward! "

"Shut up Peter"

Carla's voice was hoarse and she forced her body to stay still despite the rage that was erupting inside of her.

"No I won't! You promised you wouldn't do that again the shit you put us through last time and to do it again is just selfish Carla."

Peter had moved and was now standing unsteadily with his fists clenched in anger.
Carla whirled round a look of fury on her face and she angrily pointed at Peter.

"Selfish! Sorry was it you who was defiled in the most horrific way! You who has to live with his taunts ringing in your ears!"

"Well no but-"

"He is trying to destroy my life and it is all my fault!"

Carla's breathing was heavy and she had tears of anger and frustration building in her eyes. Her self loathing was rearing its ugly head as her mind was filled with memories of Frank. She was the one who had been too weak to fight him off; she was the one who had tempted him with her flirting and coaxing even though it had been Peter who held her affection all along. She had been the one to break his heart and she was the one who had made him lose control as Frank had so blatantly put it what had happened was all her fault and she was going to have to live with that fact.

Peter's heart broke at the look on Carla's face and he slowly made his away over to her his arms open tentatively.

"Don't say that" Peter's voice was rough with emotion and he struggled not to shed a tear "Don't you ever think that any of this was your fault the blame lies entirely with Frank he is the only one who should ever hold the guilt for that night"

As Carla slowly looked up to him Peter's heart fluttered. Even in her fragile state Peter couldn't help but admire her beauty she would always look beautiful to him and with her current defeated aura Peter just wanted to hold her close and never let go.

At the moment all rational thoughts of his wife and child had completely gone from his mind and all he wanted to do was stay with the woman in front of him forever. He suddenly felt jealous over the fact that Michelle had been helping Carla it should have been him just like when he had kept her alcoholism a secret. Yeah but you were too caught up with your wife his brain snidely reminded him.
Peter slowly enveloped Carla in his arms and he tucked her body to his as she leant into his neck. As his body felt her deep breathing against his skin a shot of arousal coursed through him and he struggled to gather his wits a difficult feat while under the influence of nearly a full bottle of whiskey.

As Carla leant into Peter and tried to find comfort in his embrace she felt him tense in her arms, his back become ramrod straight and she pulled back to see what was wrong. Carla looked at Peter and she felt disarmed by the look on his face a combination of love and lust and as she recognised the second emotion she began to feel uncomfortable.

"I think you should go now Peter Leanne will wonder where you are"

Slowly cupping her face in his hands Peter tucked a stray hair behind Carla's ear and tilted her chin so that he was looking deep into her eyes.

"You know you're beautiful don't you"

Again his actions unsettled Carla and she took two steps back trying to make some space between them. At one point she would have given anything for him to say that to her but now it just made her feel uncomfortable and on edge.

"Don't play games Peter go home to your wife"

Carla disentangled herself from Peter's arms and made her way over to her bedroom she needed to put some distance between them. She didn't want to be a fool and read the situation incorrectly and become upset over nothing but at the same time she had a feeling Peter wasn't going to leave easily.

"You're drunk go home and sober yourself up"

As Carla opened the door to her bedroom she suddenly felt her arm being pulled backwards and memories of that night came flooding back and she clenched her eyes shut at once. She felt herself being turned around forcefully and a pair of hands rest on her shoulders.

"I don't want to go home"

Carla opened her eyes and tried to make her brain realise that Peter wasn't a threat he was just drunk and upset and not his usual considerate self. Peter pulled her flush against his body and she began to panic as she felt him become hard against her thigh. The memory of Frank grinding against her stomach before he had forcefully entered her was all her brain could think off and she tensed and began to curl in on herself as she felt her legs begin to give way.

"No not again not Frank please"

"What! No Carla it's me love its Peter"

Peter tried to pull Carla back up of the floor but the tears were falling fast as the memory became more prominent and she became a dead weight as she continued mumbling incoherently and pushing blindly against his chest and legs. Peter staggered forward and Carla slid herself backwards against the wall and pulled her legs against her chest as if to protect herself as her vision swam and her mind began to play the memory of that awful night.

As the back of her head came into contact with the flat door she looked into Frank's eyes and all she could see was pure hatred. At that moment Carla thought he was going to kill her. Frank's grip tightened around her arms painfully and she knew there would be bruising left there marring her arms. As Frank slammed her against the door once more the look in his eyes became primal and Carla felt the remaining colour drain from her face he wasn't going to beat her in that moment Carla knew what he was going to do and her body froze in fear.

"Frank please don't"

Franks smile became maniacal and he pushed himself into her so she could feel him hot and hard against her stomach.

"You are mine NOT a filthy worthless hoare! Only I am allowed to touch you!" Frank let his hand drift to her breast where he then cupped it and began to squeeze so hard that Carla opened her mouth and cried silently in pain. Carla flailed trying to free herself of his grip but she only accomplished in jerking him around with her while he laughed at her attempts to get away. Grinding against her Frank began to kiss Carla's neck moaning against her skin and nipping at her earlobe. When she whimpered against his ministrations he slammed her back against the door once more and snarled.

"I am going to fuck you and you are going to take it like the bitch you are I am going to erase Peter fucking Barlow from your mind"

Frank released Carla's arms but held her against the door with his body as he slid his hands up her thighs and dragged her skirt upwards he then viciously tore her underwear from her body and ripped her blouse open. Her small frame shook against his towering strength and she realised she couldn't stop him. As he crashed his lips to hers he tugged at his belt and then without warning threw her to the floor. Carla tried to curl into herself desperate to stop what she knew was going to happen.

"I loved you and you treated me like a fool"

"I didn't mean to hurt you please Frank please don't" Carla whispered and looked at him with pleading eyes. Frank knelt down and pinned her to the floor his weight crushing the breath from her and she struggled against him.

"I loved you"

With those last words frank dragged apart her legs and shoved himself into her hard. Carla couldn't stop the scream that tore through her as her back arched up involuntarily from the floor in agony. Frank slapped her across the face and continued to thrust as Carla felt as though she would split in two with the sheer force of his blows.

"You- cheating- tart- ." Frank grunted each word every time he drove into her and Carla felt like her insides were being torn with red hot pokers. As she closed her eyes tight against the onslaught Frank continued kissing her neck chest and lips. As she trembled he would backhand her and she wished in that moment he would have just killed her. After what felt like hours but in reality was probably only a few minutes Carla felt Franks thrusting become more pronounced his grunting become deeper and in that moment her mind went into freefall desperately trying to block out what she knew was going to happen now ...

"PETER! Get the hell away from her NOW!"

Carla could hear arguing voices mingling in the rush of adrenaline as she fought to free herself from the horrific memory. Michelle. Her brain could hear Michelle screaming and then she felt herself being pulled into someone's gentle embrace. Looking up into Michelle's concerned face she felt her muscles unclench and her mind begin to clear.

"He didn't do anything it was Frank, the memory I couldn't stop it" tears were falling steadily down Carla's cheeks and she struggled to regain her composure. Michelle cradled Carla to her and slowly rocked her back and forth while gently wiping away her tears.

"Sshh Car it's ok nothing like that will ever happen again".

Peter stood in the doorway stiff as a board as he took in the scene in front of him Carla was shivering and gasping for breath and as he locked eyes with Michelle's murderous glare he felt a hot wave of guilt pulse through him.

"Michelle I wasn't .. I didn't mean to upset her ... I wouldn't" Peter stumbled over the words desperate to make Michelle believe that he hadn't come to cause Carla any more pain.

"Just get out" Michelle spat sending one final glare towards Peter and she watched as he slowly backed out of the flat and stumbled away. Once she was sure he had gone she half carried, half dragged Carla onto the sofa and leant backwards pulling Carla flush against her body. Michelle took a deep breath trying to calm herself the rage she had felt when she had seen Carla at Peter's feet begging him to stop had been all consuming. In that moment she realised she would do anything to protect the woman who was now tucked safely in her arms and she felt sorry for anyone who tried to harm Carla ever again while she was around and ready to fight.

A.N I apologise to Peter lovers this idea just popped into my head and I thought oh well lets run with this :) Please don't hate me!