Apologies for the late update. I lost this chapter so I had to re-write it.

Enjoy and review :)

So me, Peter and Simon are supposed to be meeting at eight pm.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous which is ridiculous because I've been out with the both of them, plenty of times.

Maybe it's because things are so different now.

Maybe it's because Simon has grown up so much since the last time that I hung out with him properly and I'm scared he's going to be different.

Then again he pretty much hated me back then so I suppose it can't be worse than that, can it?

The last few times he has seen me he's been rather nice actually… I really hope that he doesn't mind me coming out with them both tonight.

I guess I'm slightly nervous about Peter as well.

I'm not nervous about being around him but more of the fact that I already can't seem to stop thinking about him.

He has completely and totally consumed my thoughts but it's a nice distraction from the fire though if I'm honest.

I feel a little more like me today, I feel as if there is a light at the end of one very long tunnel and that light could just be Peter.

We stayed in the café until about half past one and I managed to eat three quarters of my breakfast, although judging by the way Roy acted when he came to get my plate you would think I'd cleared the entire thing.

I saw him and Peter give each other this co-operative smile and nod as Peter was leaving the café and even though I knew Roy still wouldn't give anything away about their little chat, I asked him again and again because I am still so curious to know what they said.

Fancy those two sharing secrets n stuff.

Roy didn't budge. I knew he wouldn't.

He just continued acting his usual self and I soon left him to it in the end.

I am still so thankful to have him. So much so that I give him a big squeeze and a kiss on the cheek before leaving his place to meet Michelle.

I tell him that Peter has convinced me to go out tonight and that I wont be home later and do you know what Roy actually asks me,

"Will you be staying out the whole night?"

"Of course not Roy… I mean what kind of girl do you think I am?" I say with a grin. "Besides Simon's coming too, it's just dinner and the cinema, I'm sure I'll be back before midnight."

"Okay." Roy says with a nod and he looks so pleased for me that I hug him again.

As I leave the café and as I walk the short walk to The Rover's to see Michelle I wonder if she'll be pleased too.

I hope she doesn't think that I'm going too easy on Peter and that all has been forgiven… I hope she understands how much he has helped me.

I mean she's the one who made him come here after all, the way I'm feeling right now has a lot to do with her as well as Peter.

I walk into The Rover's and when Steve sees me he gives me one of his dopey grins and I must have given him one back because he then says,

"Ahhhh, now there's the Carla we all know and love." His Mother is stood with him and she is smiling at me too.

"Is Michelle out back?" I ask trying not to show how embarrassed I am right now.

"She sure is." Says Liz.

I find Michelle sat at the table in her living room, she's reading something on her phone when I make my presence known.

"Alright Chelle?" Michelle looks up from her phone. She then jumps up excitedly and throws her arms around me.

"Oh my god." She says holding me so tight that I can barley breathe.

"What?" I say as she pulls away from me but she still has hold of my shoulders.

"It's really you..." She says with tears in her eyes and I wonder what on earth she's talking about at first, I mean I can't look that different can I?

Then I look at Michelle properly and I see the look of sheer relief on her face.

I see now.

I see what she means.

I see that I must look different, that there must be something about me that shows just how much better I feel today.

I see how happy she is to see me standing in front of her with a half perplexed and half amused look on my face.

I must be so good for Michelle to see me like this rather than the miserable way that I looked before.

"Of course it's me." I say with a loving smile and then I reach forward and give Michelle another hug.

"I'm sorry..." Michelle sniffs, "It's just how happy you look today... I noticed it the moment I saw you."

"Thank You Michelle…" I say and I'm the one welling up now. "Thank you so much… Thank you for calling him." I say because I really do mean it.

I am immensely glad that she got in contact with Peter.

Me and Michelle hold each other close for a little while and it's only when Steve comes in and puts his arms comically around the both of us that we realise just how long we've been hugging.

"Come on then…" Michelle says with a grin as she sits down and as I wipe at my tear stained eyes. "What happened then? I want every single detail."

So I tell her, starting with almost knocking Peter over in my car and then about what we said to each other in the café. I stop when I get to the part where we almost ended up using Roy's table for things that he really would have disapproved of. I grin wickedly because Roy's reaction was so adorably him and it actually makes me want to laugh out loud. I also grin because Michelle is smiling at me from ear to ear.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing it's just... I so knew that you two wouldn't ave been able to go through the whole night with out something like that happening." Michelle says smugly, although she doesn't look too smug when I tell her that Roy interrupted us. "Oh…" She says with a frown.

"It's okay… I'm actually glad he came back." I explain, "It got me and Peter talking again."

I continue to tell Michelle about everything that Peter and I spoke about and when I get to the part where I tell her that he actually got me to say that the fire was an accident, Michelle starts crying again which in turn makes me cry too.

"I knew he could do it…" She says, "I knew if anyone could do it, than it would have been him."

"It's thanks to you though Chelle. I'm sorry for having a go at you and running out like that last night." I say, Michelle wipes her eyes and then smirks at me. "What's funny now?" I ask because she's got that devilish look on her face again.

"Well what happened next?" She asks obviously intrigued.

I know she probably thinks Peter and me had sex last night.

She's probably imagining all sorts and as I tell her what actually happened, I don't think she could even begin to understand what happened means to me.

The fact that Peter and me were able to share a bed and not do more than kiss, speaks volumes.

We were intimate with each other with out actually being intimate and all I know now is that the idea of me having to sleep alone tonight, is one that is plaguing me with fear.

I tell Michelle about how I've been sleeping in Peter's T-Shirt and she actually laughs out loud at me this time.

I cannot put into words how good it feels to laugh and chat with Michelle again.

To giggle and talk about things like relationships and men, just like we used to.

After the fire... whenever I used to laugh about anything, I'd always kind of feel guilty afterwards or something.

It was like I felt bad because for one small moment... I forgot that I was supposed to be sad, I forgot I was responsible for the death of two people.

I don't feel like that now, I can laugh along with my best friend about the fact that I practically stole my ex's T-Shirt like and not feel the slightest bit bad about it.

I stop laughing when Michelle then asks,

"So… what's next for you and Peter then?"

This question really has me stumped if I'm honest.

There's still a part of me that shall never forgive him for what he did to me, what he did to himself and what he did to our marriage but the other part of me just wants to tell him that I never want him away from me again.

In the end I tell Michelle that I have no idea what's going on with us and she says that she's so glad that she called him because whatever is happening to Peter and me, it seems to be having a positive effect on me.

Michelle's right… as always.

I still hate that.

We talk some more about Peter and about some other stuff too, about Steve and about Liz and then we go for drinks in the bar although I only allow myself the one because I want to be totally sober for tonight with Peter and Simon.

As time seems to creep closer to eight pm I start to feel nervous again.

I tell Michelle about this nervousness and she tells me that I'm being totally ridiculous. She gives me a kiss, an encouraging hug and sends me on my way next door at only a few minutes to eight.

"Okay Carla… calm down, this is just a meal and the cinema… something you've done hundreds of time before." I say this to myself as I gather up the courage to knock on the door to Number one.

I wonder who's going to answer it and almost panic when I think about the possibilities of who it could be but it's okay because Ken answers the door with a smile and says,

"Hello Carla."

"Hi Ken." I say thankfully and as he moves so I can walk into his house.

I give him a little hug and before I know it, he's hugged me back. He's hugged me back in such a warm and welcoming way that I almost well up.

I hadn't realised how much I've missed Ken until just now, He is such a wise and remarkable man that just being in his presence always had me in awe.

"Do go in." Ken then says because I'm lingering awkwardly in the hallway.

I'm slightly worried about Tracy being in there but you know what I'm not going to do this anymore.

I'm not going to be this nervous wreck anymore. I'm not going to let her undermine me.

Whilst I've never let Tracy Barlow know just how much I worried about being around her, I still decided that enough is enough.

Yes her child was almost killed in my flat but you know what… it was an accident.

I keep telling my self this as I walk straight in the Barlow's living room but Tracy isn't there.

Peter is though. He's sat on the sofa with Eccles on his lap, he's stroking her softly absent-mindedly as his eyes are fixed on the TV and he looks so cute that it hurts.

"Peter…" Ken says, Peter turns to look at him and then he sees me.

"Hi." I say and when Peter smiles at me I go weak… again.

This reaction has really got to stop to be honest.

I'm almost wondering if I've gone back in time. These butterflies that I'm feeling right now are the very same ones I used to feel when I first realised that I fancied him.

I'd see him across the road or in the pub and all he'd have to do is smile at me, wink at me or even glance at me and I swear I have never felt anything like it… well not until now anyway.

Back then I was able to pretend like nothing was happening, at least I could act cool on the outside when I was melting on the inside.

I mean right now I reckon that I'm standing over here looking like some lovesick teenager.

I wonder if Peter knows the effect he is having on me.

He must know.

He knows me better than anyone, he must know that he still makes my heart race. He must know that he makes my senses come to life… he must do, even after so many months apart.

"Take a seat Carla." Ken says pulling out a chair for me to sit on. As I sit down I glance around the warm and friendly room.

A room which I've spent countless family dinners in and a room that when I breathe in and take in that familiar smell, I already feel like I'm at home.

Peter's watching me from the sofa as Ken says something, I barley hear him because I'm too busy looking at my surroundings, they are such basic household items but I am so pleased to see them all again.

I look at Ken's bookshelf, it's brimming with books, old ones, new ones and ones that I've never even heard of let alone read. I look over at the little knick-knacks that Deirdre used to collect and feel a sudden pang of sadness in my heart because I really wished I'd have spent some more time with her before she passed.

I see Peter's stuff all shoved messily into a corner with a duvet on top of it and then as I turn back around I smile at the cheesy family photos that are scattered around the place.

There's this unbelievably cute one of Peter and Simon, which has to be at least six or seven years old.

I feel such a rush of love when I look at that picture, It's almost nostalgic.

These days Peter Barlow without a beard is like Liz McDonald without her loud clothing but back then he didn't have facial hair and seeing him with out it in the photo reminds me of when I first fell in love with him.

Simon looks adorable too, really small and innocent.

I am snapped back to reality by a very familiar hand that is moving slowly from side to side, in front of my face.

"Ello… earth to Carla." Peter says with a grin. I shake my head slightly and grin back at him as he says, "Me Dad was wondering if you wanted a cuppa…"

"Oh god, Sorry Ken. Yes please." I say quickly. Ken gives me a nod and then goes into the kitchen. Peter is still grinning as he asks,

"One too many with Michelle was it?" he knows I went to the Pub because I told him I was going to meet her before he'd left the café.

"I only had the one actually… I was just… looking." I say

"Looking…?" says Peter, amused and nodding slowly.

"Yeah… I just haven't been ere in a while… I've missed it." I admit.

"Well I'm sure that it's missed you." Peter said, he looks down at Eccles and holds her up in the air, so that she's sort of facing him. "Ave you missed Carla Eccles?" Eccles obviously doesn't answer him but Peter still looks disappointed all the same, he then turns the flamin dog around and makes her nod at me. "I missed you Carla." he says putting on this ridiculously soppy tone of voice, one that I'm guessing he reckons sounds like a dog's.

"You're such an idiot." I say but I cannot help but laugh as he continues to make Eccles nod away at me. "Put her down Peter, or I'll ave you done for animal cruelty." I say reaching forward and tapping him on the arm. He bends down and lets Eccles trudge into the kitchen and when he gazes back up at me I say, "And that dog voice was just awful."

"Oh I dunno… I thought it was quite pawsome." Peter grins.

He is such a pillock… a luscious pillock but a pillock all the same.

"Ha ha how punny of you Peter." I say shaking my head but I'm still unable to stop from smiling at his terrible jokes. "Seriously after all these years I would ave thought you'd ave run out of these appalling jokes by now."

"Oh I've got enough to last me a life time…" Peter says, "Besides as long as they keep making you smile like that... I'll try to tell as many corny jokes as I can."

That's it… I can't help myself. I lean forward and place a soft kiss on Peter's lips.

It's only a little one.

Our lips only meet for a few seconds but it's enough.

We smile coyly at each other and then we quickly look away as Ken brings in my tea. I say thank you and glance around the room again because there is no sign of Simon anywhere.

"Simon's not back from the go karting party yet." Peter says on cue.

"Oh right." I say but I'm sort of wondering if Simon is stalling on purpose.

Oh god, He's probably dreading tonight. Peter probably told him about it and he probably hated the idea of us all going out together.

Maybe he's at home right now, trying to find a reason not to come.

I chew my lip agitatedly and Peter obviously works out what I'm thinking about because he then says,

"He's really looking forward to tonight..."

"Really?" I ask and I wonder if I really am that transparent or if he just knows me that damn well. "How d'ya know?"

"Because he told me." Peter says, getting up off the sofa and getting on the chair opposite me. "Honestly Carla… I wouldn't lie to you."

I want to believe him… I really want to believe that Peter is telling me the truth right now but there's something deep inside me that is telling me that he is covering for Simon.

Something tells me that there'll be some sort of phone call soon, one where Simon says he can't make it and how Peter will act like it's just a coincidence or something.

"You do believe me… don't you?" Peter asks, watching me with those big brown eyes of his and when I stare into them, I end up nodding at him.

My heart seems to trust him even though my head is begging it not to.

It's begging me to reconsider this whole thing. To go home and not let myself fall for Peter all over again… not that I ever really picked myself back up from the first time that is.

"Good." Peter smiles and I sincerely hope I've convinced him. "So… did you ave a good time with Michelle then?"

"I sure did…" I say mysteriously. It's my turn not to tell him now.

"That sounds very vague." Peter says and I know he is desperate to find out what Michelle thinks about everything.

"We had fun… a lot of fun actually." I smile as the door goes and Simon turns up.

He comes in and greets me with a rather upbeat,

"Hiya Carla."

"Hi Simon." I smile as he gives his Granddad a kiss and a hug. He then tells me, Peter and Ken all about the party he's just come from. He sits at the table with us and shows us the pictures that he and his mates have taken on his phone.

I barley get a second to be nervous because Simon is so full of beans and is so kind to me that I almost forget.

I almost forget who I was dreading to see and as they both walk into their back room my mouth goes dry.

It's Tracy and Amy.

All of a sudden I start to feel guilty again.

Amy gives me a nervous smile as she walks into the room properly, I smile back at her as I actually quite like her, she's quite a cute little kid once you've got to know her.

"What's she doing ere?" Tracy asks and I can tell that she is annoyed, she has every right to be annoyed but it's Tracy so I don't let her see that I'm feeling so inadequate and like I really shouldn't be here.

I feel like I'm intruding and like I'm not worthy of being in such a lovely family environment.

"Errrr ello? Is anyone listening to me? What is she doing ere?" Tracy says again.

"Tracy…" Ken says and he also gives her a look, which probably means shut up but Peter says more than that.

"Who's she?" He says irritatedly, Tracy rolls her eyes at him and doesn't give me the time of day when she says,

"You know… her." She says waving her arm at me and then I hear something rather shocking.

"Her name is Carla, Auntie Tracy" Simon says giving her a scornful look as he gets up of his chair.

Woah.

Peter and Ken both look dumbstruck.

Did Simon just stick up for me?

Did he just sort of fight for my honour?

I think he did.

I honestly don't know what to do.

Simon's definitely his father's son, I'll give him that.

I give him a quick smile to thank him as Tracy raises an eyebrow. She goes to say something else but Simon interrupts her and says,

"Come on you two… we're gonna miss the movie if we don't get going."

"Si's right." Peter says proudly and he gets up too. He nods goodbye at his Dad, ignores Tracy and looks at Amy. "D'ya wanna come too?" he says to her.

"No thanks." Amy says although I can tell she probably wants to but is trying to be loyal to her Mum. I say a quick goodbye to Ken and then leave the living room behind Simon and Peter.

I don't say anything as we leave the house I just smile to myself.

I don't know what is going to happen tonight but what I do know is that tonight is going to be fun.

We go to the Trafford Centre and after much deliberation about where to go we eat in Bella Italia.

It's one of those lovely Italian restaurants where the tables are all placed close together and candle lit, it can be rather romantic but since we have Simon here it's not so bad, he was the one who actually suggested to eat in here and it reminds me of a time when he was very young, we came here to eat, It was my choice and he was an absolute nightmare.

I wonder if he remembers it?

We enter the restaurant and Simon sits next to me rather than his Dad, which is another surprise.

I'm starting to wonder if he's been told by Peter to be on his best behaviour because he's being such a sweetheart. He chats away like normal and we both end up ordering the Spaghetti Bolognese, we also make a right mess of it too by the time it comes.

It's not exactly ideal "date night" food but then again this isn't really a date.

This is just a friendly meal between friends… right?

I get Bolognese sauce on the sleeves of my jumper whilst Simon gets it pretty much everywhere else.

"Look at the state of it… honestly I can't take you two anywhere." Peter grins, eating his pizza demurely and pretending like he doesn't know us because we genuinely look like a mess.

I can tell that Peter is watching the way Simon and me interact with each other and we both laugh at the state of our clothes, I can also tell that Peter is enjoying every single moment of it.

Peter takes a photo of us on his phone and when I lean over the table to look at it... We look like such a perfect little family... I wish we could stay in this restaurant forever.

I wish we didn't have to go soon and that I didn't have to go home later because I'm dreading it.

I wish I could stay here with my almost family.

The waiter comes over and takes our empty plates and then Peter asks for the dessert menu.

Simon chooses one and so does Peter. I say I don't want one but Peter asks for a large one of his because he knows as soon as their ice cream comes, I'll be aching for a taste.

We ended up getting very carried away with the desserts which were amazing, banana's, fudge, ice cream, toffee and whipped cream. Peter asked for two spoons with his and we eat the entire thing between us. It's only when the waiter comes over with the bill and we see that it's half past ten, that we realise that we've totally missed the movie that we intended on seeing.

I wonder if Simon minds too much that we missed the movie but he doesn't seem that upset at all.

"It's okay… I didn't want to see it that bad, I only chose it because my Dad suggested going to see a movie tonight." Simon says whilst we wait for Peter, who's queuing up to use the toilets.

"And you don't mind that I'm ere…" I say delicately.

"No… I really don't." Simon insists, "I'm glad that you came."

"Really?" I ask because he has this look of gratefulness on his face and I really want to know what he means.

"Yeah… When me Dad said he was going to ask you to come I was nervous..." Simon says and it's like he's about seven years old again.

"You were nervous?" I ask,

"Yes." Simon nods.

"Well if it makes you feel any better... I were nervous too." I say smiling softly at Simon. "What made you nervous?"

"I wondered what you might think of me." Simon begins, "I've not exactly been well behaved recently and I know I was... difficult when I was younger but I've changed now... I miss having you around and me Dad... I hope he stays and I hope you and him can maybe be friends."

"I hope so too." I say quietly.

I really really do hope so.

Peter comes out of the toilets eventually and smiles when he sees me and Simon chatting,

"Should me ears be burning?" He asks, Me and Simon just smirk at each other and say nothing.

We mess around in the bowling alley for a bit seeing as we missed our film and it's only when we drop Simon off at Leanne's flat, that I start to feel uneasy again.

"You okay?" Peter asks.

"Yeah..." I say although I'm not, we start the walk to Roy's and we are there before I know it.

There's a lingering silence and I honestly don't know what's going to happen next.

Peter glances around him and then pulls me in for a hug.

"Are you gonna be okay tonight? You know... sleep wise?" He asks, his breath tickling my ear. It almost sounds as if he's offering to stay with me again and as much as I would enjoy him being there...

I have to be strong.

I have to see if I can make it without Peter tonight, after all he may not be here for long.

As terrifying as it sounds, he might be leaving soon and I simply cannot let myself depend on him.

The only person I should depend on is myself.

"I'll be fine..." I nod but it couldn't have been a convincing one because Peter raises an eyebrow at me and asks,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure." I insist as he lets go of me.

"Well you know where I am if you need me... okay?" Peter says.

"Yeah yeah... I know." I nod at him and he goes to walk away from me. Then he stops, he turns around with a glint in his eye and takes off his coat. "What... are ya doing now?" I ask as he hands me his jacket, he's still wearing the plaid shirt from earlier but as he takes it off, I realise what he's doing.

"Here..." he says, handing it to me and taking his coat back. "Just in case you get bored of my T-Shirt." he grins.

I look down at his shirt and I know I'm blushing again.

"Thanks." I say and the idea of me not depending on this man is a ridiculous one.

It's too late.

The damage is already done and as he walks away from me towards his Dad's house, I know that I'm really going to miss him tonight.

Every cloud does have it's silver lining though... I've got his shirt and there is no way I'm giving it back either.