Love the reviews, thank you, you lovely people. Keep them coming, they make me want to write so much more for you all :)! Decided both Carla and Peter deserved a bit of a happier chapter haha. Enjoy XO
The sound of your heart beating made it clear suddenly, the feeling that I can't go on is light years away, 'cause I am your lady and you are my man.
Carla couldn't sleep that night. She'd done a lot of bad things in her time but she knew what she'd done to Peter was one of the lowest. She tossed and turned, the bed sheets tangled in her tired body as she thought over what she'd done, regretting it completely. Peter's reaction to her cruel act had made her realise that they could have begun to build a life together again, that he was truly serious about making things right again. But of course she seemed to only be able to push him further away, making the reunion almost impossible. She knew Peter had been so careful not to put a foot wrong since being back in her life. He hadn't pushed her, hadn't argued, he hadn't even pointed out her own faults that made their marriage difficult. Although, Carla knew them all too well regardless. She was pushy, needy, bossy even. Forcing him into things he had no interest in. But since he'd back, he hadn't hinted to those factors even once. He'd been the perfect gentleman. And yet still Carla continued to make his life a living hell.
Everyone has their demons.
Maybe, Carla thought, it was time to put Peter's aside for now.
Carla eventually gave up trying to drift back to sleep and clumsily climbed out of bed just after six. She made herself a coffee and pottered around her flat, trying to keep busy, trying not to think of Peter. Eventually she made her way back into her bedroom and got herself dressed, taking ages pondering over what to wear, how to impress him. Stupid she knew, when she was sure she could have him so easily but she longed for him to crave her like she did him, to think about her every minute of every day. Carla was an incredibly clever woman but she could never quite understand just how many of her feelings were reciprocated. Then again, she never gave Peter the chance to tell her.
After hours of getting ready, a multitude of different outfits and eventually ending up back in the first thing she tried on, Carla slipped into her leather jacket and headed out of her flat. She made her way over to Peter's and stood outside, shuffling her feet for a few moments before eventually knocking.
"Oh, Hiya Ken.." She smiled politely as Ken opened the door, "Is Peter around?" Ken nodded with a soft smile, "Of course Carla, he's just through there. Do come in." He stepped aside happily to allow Carla to walk through. Ken had always had a soft spot for Carla. He liked the positive effect she had on Peter, even now. He'd been full of sorrow when Peter did what he did and always secretly longed for a reunion, despite always thinking it was against the odds. Until now, perhaps.
Peter stood up as he heard Carla's voice, nodding gratefully as Ken said he'd leave them to it. "Carla hi, didn't expect to see you today.." They stood on the hallway of his dad's house, neither of them wanting to make their conversation public. Carla shrugged, "Well I thought I deserved a day off from slaving over a hot stove so I decided you could take me for lunch." She smirked cheekily as she half joked, them both knowing she hardly even knew what a stove was. Peter gave a hearty laugh, nodding, "Oh I see how it is…" He tried to contain his joy at the prospect of spending a day with her, any thoughts of what she had done to him only the day before were gone. He was fickle he knew, but Carla standing there in front of him, offering everything he could want, who was he to turn that down.
"I have to warn ya though, Barlow, I'm a 5* kinda girl." She grinned as he pulled on his coat with a laugh, "I have heard that love." He let her link his arm with hers and they walked out, his face displaying how proud he was to be seen so publically with her, even if it was just a friendly gesture. For now.
Peter took Carla to lunch in a little restaurant in town, quiet and away from prying eyes. They often used to eat here when they were together and he remembered it was one of Carla's favourites. Peter pulled out Carla's chair for her before sitting down himself, boldly ordering her a red wine and himself lemonade, wanting to make her proud despite his little stumble.
"You didn't have to do that y'know." Carla spoke honestly but smiled up at him, chewing on her lip slightly. "I wanted to. I'm fine, just a blip that's all."
They spent their lunch in a blissful bubble, laughing over trivial things and enjoying the peacefulness of being away from the street. They didn't speak about anything serious, they didn't encounter awkward silences, just pure happiness from two people that were and probably always would be, bound by unconditional love.
Carla cackled loudly as she yanked Peter's hand and pulled him from the taxi hours later, leading him inside and up the stairs, quickly heading into her flat. He grinned down at her, the sexual tension between them had been growing since the first night he came to her flat and yet neither of them had given in. Scared of what it would mean. But with the troubles of the last few days, it was as though a weight had been lifted for both of them. They were able to enjoy the day together and live for the moment, even if that was just for today.
Peter let Carla lead him into her bedroom and it barley took minutes for their passion to overtake, any thoughts of right or wrong vanished. Before they could change their minds, they were one again.
Carla lay naked against Peter's also naked body, absentmindedly stroking his chest as they lay quietly together, scared to ruin the moment that had made them both feel as though the past year had never happened.
"Do you regret that?" Peter looked down at her, both his arms around her body as he held her against his chest, needing her warmth and love. "No.. No. Why do you?" Carla didn't look up, scared of his answer but he quickly reassured her, telling her he'd never wanted anything more.
He stroked her hair softly, letting it tangle around his fingers as he built up the courage to speak, saying things he'd been wanting her to know since she regained conscious. "I never thought I'd see that little smile again, y'know…" Peter whispered as he noticed the tiny, coy smile on Carla's lips, causing her to look up at him, intrigued, "Every night in that hospital when you were… sleeping. I watched you, waiting for some sort of movement. I didn't think it would ever happen…" Carla frowned softly as she sat up slightly, her body still so completely against his though, "You were there when I were in hospital? Every night?" She watched as Peter nodded slightly, taking a deep breath as she thought through everything, "You didn't tell me…" She looked up at him from under her long lashes, looking so little and delicate in his arms, "I didn't think you'd want to know." Peter shrugged, still tenderly stroking her hair. "I've been a cow ain't I.." Carla mumbled guilty as Peter chuckled, "No change there love." He joked, making Carla nudge him softly before laughing herself.
"Carla I deserve everything you throw at me and more probably, I definitely don't deserve this.." Peter's fingers stroked her bare skin now, unable to believe what was happening, unable to believe his luck. "Mhm, well there's a few folk who'd say I 'ad it coming to me so I guess we've both had our just deserts eh?" She took a deep, almost nervous breath, "Look Peter, I've had enough of talking about where we went wrong… There's plenty of time for that and we will, we will 'av to talk about it, I know that. But right now, can we just stay wrapped up in me silky sheets and enjoy the moment?" She looked up at him, her eyes twinkling in a way Peter knew they hadn't in a while.
"And how do you plan on enjoying the moment?" Peter smirked cheekily, not denying he too wanted to put off that dreaded conversation, not knowing where that would leave them. For now, he was happy to pretend they had never parted.
"I can think of a couple of ways darlin'…" Carla threw him a dirty smirk and giggled playfully as he rolled her over and lay above her, them both enjoying hours of complete ecstasy wrapped up in each other, a happiness that was from far more than simply making love.