I'm not sure where this came from haha, but I felt like it was something I wanted to explore briefly. I love these two, and their friendship hasn't been explored enough. Enjoy and thanks for all the reviews as always, please keep them coming!

"'Cause there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew. All the things you'd say they were never true, never true and the games you'd play you would always win, always win."

Carla pulled her dressing gown around her tighter, having grabbed it quickly. She stood by the door, Peter listening from the bedroom where Carla had asked him to wait while she talked to her best friend. She bit her lip nervously as Michelle stepped inside, her face saying it all.

"Oh you are alive then?"

"Chelle-"

"Thank god you told me, I mean at least I didn't humiliate meself at the police station this morning demanding to know why more wasn't being done to find my best mate! Do you know what an idiot I felt when they told me, Carla? You've been home nearly two days and you didn't think to send a text or answer your phone?! For all I knew, you were dead in a ditch!"

Carla looked down, fiddling with the rings on her fingers, unused to their presence again. "Chelle, it were an accident, I never meant to ignore you, it's just been an awful few days, I needed space."

Michelle watched her, shaking her head. Carla could see she was angry but more than that she could see the pain in her eyes. They'd been through so much together and Carla always seemed to do a good job at messing her around, even now. Michelle had always been Carla's constant, the one she could rely on to be right beside her no matter what she threw at her. Had she pushed her too far this time?

"Don't give me that crap, Carla. Don't make me look like an idiot, I know he's here. His shoes are over there for a start. You never learn do you?" Michelle watched her, words spewing from her mouth, unable to keep them in as her anger and hurt bubbled over. Carla's silence simply infuriated her further. "He jumps and you say how high, fuck everyone else who might get hurt in the process. Never mind Leanne or Simon or me." She glared, Carla refusing to look at her, "Or Maria, or Paul" She almost let Tony and Frank's names fall from her lips but stopped herself, she was hurt, but she liked to think she wasn't that cruel.

"That's the thing about you, you're selfish, you 'ave been ever since we were kids. You went after our Paul because Liam wouldn't give you the attention you wanted, you made Paul love you and then you made Liam love you and now they're both dead. Is that why you treat me like shit? Wrong Connor?"

Carla shuffled her feet, her heart aching at Michelle's words but she made no attempt to deny them either. She figured if she had finally pushed Michelle far enough to say them, she must really deserve them.

"I hate you. I hate everything you stand for, Carla. I mean, this is a new low, even for you."

"You don't mean that, Michelle." Carla shuffled her feet along the floor almost nervously.

"Don't I? I thought you were my friend, Carla. My best mate-" Carla could see tears in her eyes too.

"I am! I always will be. It's been really difficult, I was so scared these last few-" Michelle scoffed, interrupting again. "Oh please, you know what? I don't want to know. I am so sick of you and your dramas. I'm sick of picking up the pieces until some other sucker comes along for a quick fumble."

Carla stepped closer to her, shaking her head, "You know what, Michelle. I am sorry, okay? I'm sorry I didn't text you or come and see you but you're out of order. You're not perfect, either 'Chelle. Remember that."

Michelle frowned, her hand on Carla's elbow to pull her back round to look at her, "What's that meant to mean?" She frowned more when Carla shook her head, pulling away from her, "I said, what's that meant to mean?" As the door opened, she didn't even turn to look at Peter, her eyes focused in fury on Carla, "Stay out of this, Peter." She spat. She suddenly felt as though they were back in the factory, arguing over Liam's death. Michelle never thought she'd feel as hurt as she did back then, but how wrong she was

Carla barely registered Peter's arrival either, not realising all the shouting had worried him, wanting to calm the situation. "You 'aven't always been there either, Michelle. Sometimes you put blokes first an' all."

Michelle tilted her head as she still watched her. She had known Carla since they were 5 years old, she knew her inside out, every trick in the book, she had her clocked. "Go on. If there's something you want to say, say it." Her voice was low, serious, demanding.

"Say it!" Michelle shouted now.

"Where were you when Frank raped me." Carla's tone was almost taunting but the words stuck in her throat, and she regretted them as soon as they left her lips. They clung in the air, the atmosphere changing completely now. Before Peter could say a word, Carla's face stung from the slap Michelle forcefully left upon her cheek but she didn't cry as Michelle did now, she wouldn't let herself. "See, there's the Carla we all know and love! How could you?" Michelle shook her head as she angrily wiped her eyes.

"You know what, good luck to you both. Drink yourselves to hell." And with that, Michelle was gone, and this time, Carla thought it might be for the last time.

Peter rushed over to her quickly, "Are you okay?" He stroked a finger over her red cheek as she nodded, grabbing hold of his top and pulling him close, a few tears falling now, "She hates me Peter. She's the last one I 'ave left and she hates me an all." Pushing her hair from her eyes, Peter shook his head, "She doesn't hate you, love. She's hurt, that's all."

Carla rested her forehead against his, still making no effort to stop her tears, "I'm a horrible friend, no wonder she wants n'owt to do with me."

Peter sighed sadly, Carla's hands still on his top, keeping him close. "Look, do you want me to go? Michelle's right love, I have taken over these last few weeks and I don't really have a right to demand time with you. Go after her..."

Carla shook her head quickly, her grip on fistfuls of Peter's top tightening, "No, stay. Please stay, baby." Her lips were right by his ear, whispering her need and sending shivers along his spine that don't go unnoticed by Carla. So he takes this as his cue to kiss her. Walking her gently to the wall, Peter kisses her hard but soft all at once. He kisses her and he can hear her pulse beating as he does.

He takes his moment whenever he can, the moments when she is vulnerable and wearing her heart on her sleeve. The times when her trust is visible like an open wound because he knows better than anyone that she can close off for days on end. He knows she can put barriers up higher than he had ever imagined. So Peter takes his moments gratefully, because these moments mean she is open and they mean another chance to rebuild their ruins.

He kisses her with force, but with love as he pushes her through to the bedroom and they tumbled into bed.