Peter hadn't planned on staying in Manchester for so long, in fact he had only intended on being back for Simon's birthday and for a few weeks after that, so when Peter realised that he'd actually been there for almost two months he was utterly astonished.

The bookmakers that he had been helping a friend to run back in Portsmouth had really been struggling without him and the staff desperately needed him to come back and help them out. Peter had really tried to help out as much as he could, over the phone and over the Internet but it was clear that they really needed him to go back down south, in fact they practically begged Peter to return.

Peter eventually decided that the right thing to do was to go back, just for a couple of weeks and try get them back on track. After all, he had left them in the lurch over this summer and he was still getting paid for it too.

Simon was not impressed with this decision at all, He had hoped his Dad might have stayed with him for the rest of the summer holidays and as it was the middle of August, Simon assumed they had at least a few weeks more together. Peter had promised Simon that he would come back again soon but that only made Simon started asking when his Dad would finally come back to Manchester for good.

Peter wasn't too sure about his intentions, he wasn't even sure just when he would be able to return from Portsmouth this time around. He had a lot of responsibilities down there, responsibilities that weren't so easy for him to get out of, he was a crucial part of a business and even had his own studio flat that he had been renting.

In the end Leanne had the good idea that Peter could take Simon with him so that he could stay there for a week. Simon was thrilled with this idea and went to pack immediately, whilst Peter had gone down the Rover's to meet Carla and tell her his news.

When he told her that he was heading back down to Portsmouth, he just casually dropped it into the conversation, as if it was just a general piece of news and Carla made it very clear that she wasn't too impressed with this idea, especially when she found out Simon was going too.

They had both been having a lot of fun with Simon and were even beginning to spend some time alone without him. After getting interrupted by Michelle on that Friday night, they had met up in the pub a few times. Carla had even dragged Peter down to the factory one day and made him help out because she said that he was getting too used to living a life of luxury and that he needed to get off his lazy backside. Peter had complained at first but he'd actually had a ridiculous amount of fun back at Underworld. He spent the day larking about with Kirk and flirting with the girls. They all loved having him back at the factory and even though she normally didn't tolerate this sort of behaviour, Carla couldn't help but grin at Peter the entire day. She tried not to show her disappointment as Peter explained the situation to her and said that he would be back soon. She nodded at him but he could tell that she was slightly gutted to see him leaving again.

Peter's first week back in Portsmouth with Simon was extremely pleasant but on his last night Simon began asking him if would come back for good again. Simon reminded Peter that he had only left Manchester to get his head straight and so that he could be a better father. Simon acted like he truly believed that Peter had changed and said that he really really wanted him to come back for good. Peter still wasn't sure but promised Simon that he would think about it whilst he was gone and that he would let him know soon.

It was after Peter had put Simon on the train back to Manchester, that things began to feel different. Whilst Peter was glad to see his new friends and he had relished being behind a bookies counter again, he was finding it difficult to get used to his everyday life back in Portsmouth. It was as if it wasn't as enjoyable anymore and as he went home each night to his empty flat, he really missed having his Dad around for company, he missed being able to meet up with Simon whenever he wanted, he even missed Tracy and Amy.

Peter sincerely missed Carla and even though they had kept in contact over their phones and Skype it obviously wasn't the same as being with her and being in her presence. Even though Peter had promised to be back in a few weeks, Carla knew it would be longer than that and in true Peter fashion it was almost a month before he made it back to Weatherfield.

A five hour journey from Portsmouth to Manchester had been turned into an almost ten hour journey due of various delays. Peter was then forced to sit next to a screaming toddler for most of it too. Normally he liked little kids and could put up with them for hours on end but not the loud and screaming kind. He had tried to drown out the noise with his headphones but the toddler next to him was far too noisy for that idea to work.

The only thing keeping Peter positive was seeing his Dad, Simon and Carla again and as he got back to Manchester almost five hours later than he was supposed to, Peter was not in the best of moods, in fact he was downright miserable.

As he dragged his suitcase through Piccadilly and carried a huge backpack on his back, he wondered what his family and Carla would make of his new news, He had made the choice on wether to stay in Manchester or not and he was very eager to hear what they had to say on the matter. Peter had to wait ages for a cab and then as one of the wheels on his suitcase broke, Peter was beginning to feel like someone was against him coming back to Weatherfield tonight.

Eventually his cab came and took Peter back to Coronation Street. He got out, paid the driver and grumpily knocked on the door of number one. It was now nine thirty pm, hours and hours later than he was supposed to be back. His Dad answered the door and smiled at him warmly.

"Hi Peter" Ken said taking the suitcase of off him and pulling it inside.

"Hey" Peter said gruffly as he stepped inside the house, He followed Ken into the back room and frowned when he saw that it was empty. "Where's Simon?" he asked

"Sorry Peter, He had to go, he's got a school trip tomorrow and Leanne wanted him to have an early night" Ken said apologetically, he knew that Peter would have been desperate to see his son and had tried to talk Leanne into letting Simon stay longer but she was having none of it.

"Great" Peter mumbled putting his stuff into a corner, he glanced around and then asked "Where's Tracy?"

"Gone to bed, she wanted an early night too." Ken said, Peter sighed and flopped down into the sofa. He had been really looking forward to seeing Simon after being away for so long and now it felt like he had rushed to get home for nothing.

"Fantastic" Peter said sarcastically. He sat chatting with Ken for a little while before saying "I might go down the pub, d'ya fancy it?" Ken hesitated for a moment and shook his head.

"Maybe not, it'll be rather quiet tonight" Ken said awkwardly, Peter frowned

"Well that's good isn't it?" He said although he didn't care less if it was packed or not he was just hoping that Carla might have been in there with Michelle or something.

"I don't know Peter you've just got back you must be tired?" Ken said. He seemed to be trying to convince Peter not to go, so of course this made Peter want to go even more. He said goodbye to his Dad and went next door. When he got inside the pub he realised why Ken had tried to make Peter to stay at home.

Carla was sat at a table with Marc Matthews, the guy who she had done some business with last month. She was wearing a khaki sleeveless shirt and tight black jeans. They were sat sharing a bottle of wine and laughing loudly over something. Peter couldn't believe his eyes.

This was the same guy who she had called a bore and not her type yet she was smiling at him in a way that made Peter's stomach turn. He almost turned around and walked right out of the pub but he made it to the bar without Carla even noticing him. Sean glanced over at Carla and then at Peter

"Hiya Peter nice to see you back again, what can I get you?" He asked cheerily, Peter cleared his throat

"Can I just get a Orange juice please" he said feeling a little stupid now because not only was he ordering an orange juice, in a pub. He was choosing to drink it on his own, like some sad loner.

Steve eventually came from out back and smiled at Peter, glad to see his friend back

"Hiya mate" Steve said but he could instantly tell Peter's attention was on the table in the corner, where Carla was sat.

"Hey" Peter said as he drank his orange juice bitterly "So how long ave those two been sat there like that then?" Peter asked nodding at Carla and Marc, all the while knowing that he had no right to be so jealous, especially when nothing was even going on and that Carla and Marc were just sitting having a drink but that was probably what hurt Peter the most. He couldn't sit and have a few drinks with like that, He hated that he couldn't do the whole normal socialising thing and to see Carla doing it with this Marc only made him feel worse.

"About half an hour I'd say" Steve said as Michelle came through to the bar. "But I also happen to know that they went out for dinner last week..." Steve said cautiously as Michelle came up behind and she did not look happy.

"You're Mum's ready for you Steve." She said a little peeved that Steve was telling Peter Carla's business. Steve nodded and sighed at Peter who was processing the news that Carla had already been out with Marc before tonight and that he new nothing about it.

They had kept in contact the whole time he had been gone, She phoned him loads and they even Skyped a few times and Carla didn't mention going out with Marc once.

"I'm taking me mum to the theatre tonight" Steve said hugging Michelle goodbye and kissing her on the cheek.

"Oh right well have fun." Peter said as Steve left the bar with Liz. Michelle looked at Carla and then at Peter just as Steve had done. Anyone one could see how envious Peter was as he sat there with his eyes fixed on Carla.

"She's not all that keen on him y'know" Michelle said with an eyebrow raised Peter looked at her

"Really? It doesn't look like it to me" Peter said unconvinced, Carla finally saw that he was stood there with Michelle, She smiled delightedly, got up from her chair suddenly and rushed over to him.

"Hi Stranger" She said going in for a hug, She was expecting Peter to wrap his arms around her and hold her close, just like he used to, only he didn't and it was highly awkward when he didn't show any enthusiasm in returning her embrace.

"Hi Carla" he said trying not to let his more than obvious bad mood, affect the way he treated her, She let go of him awkwardly not understanding why after being gone for almost four weeks he was acting so cold towards her. She had missed him a lot more than she should have and she had been so looking forward to seeing him again.

"You okay?" She asked a little disheartened, He nodded and continued to drink his orange juice, Carla looked at Michelle for some input but Michelle just stayed quiet. "You sure?" She asked

"Yeah I just said so didn't I?" Peter said Carla rolled her eyes a little and strolled back to the table where she had been sitting. She didn't want to leave Peter like that but she also didn't want to be rude to Marc especially since he still hadn't signed on the dotted line yet.

"Now come on Peter, You should know by now that's not the way you do things." Michelle sighed,

"What do you mean?"

"Well if you're jealous of someone, you don't make it so flamin obvious for a start" Michelle leant on the bar "And you definitely don't take it out on the girl either." She said nodding towards Carla.

"I'm not jealous… and I'm not taking it out on Carla... Not really" Peter sighed "I'm just in a foul mood that's all, I was supposed to be back hours ago y'know, I was supposed to see Simon, he weren't there and now" he stopped talking, He felt really wounded by seeing Carla sat there with Marc, and he hated himself because he realised how ridiculous he must have sounded to Michelle, especially after everything he had done to Carla in the past.

"Well as I said, she's not all that keen on him" Michelle said and Peter looked unconvinced yet again

"Has she told you that then?" he asked and Michelle shook her head at him.

"No"

"Then how can you be so sure?"

"Seriously Peter? She's me best mate" Michelle started "I mean he's blonde for a start and he's younger than her."

"So?" Peter said bitterly, he didn't quite see how that was supposed to make him feel better, Michelle tutted at him and continued

"So... he's not her type." Michelle said "Carla has a taste for men who are older... preferably brooding and with dark hair" Michelle was smirking at Peter now. He hated how funny she was finding this situation compared to how unfunny he found it.

"I guess she had to move on at some point." Peter mumbled not wanting to look over in Carla's direction anymore.

"Oh Peter she's hardly moving on, She's just having a drink with the guy, She doesn't like him that way, she only agreed to go to dinner with him last week because it was his birthday, she felt sorry for him because he's new to the area and has no mates ere yet" Michelle said sighing as Sean came over

"Oh that guy is so dreamy" He said watching Marc, Sean didn't realise that Peter was getting more and more irritated by Marc by the minute and continued to gush about him "He's so funny as well, I mean he always has us in stitches down at the factory… Ooh no pun intended" Sean said laughing loudly, it was obvious that he was reminiscing at something they had all laughed at the factory but when he saw Peter's pained expression he stopped talking and went to serve another customer.

"Peter seriously cheer up, it ain't that bad" Michelle said pulling a pint for a customer next to him.

"I know, I just wasn't expecting this that's all, I mean we've been texting like mad and Carla didn't even mention Marc, not even once."

"Well why would she?" Michelle said with a sigh as she handed the pint she had poured over to the customer who had ordered it.

"Oh I dunno" Peter said deciding to get off the subject of Marc as he could hear how pathetically jealous he sounded. "How's Carla been anyway?" he asked wondering if she had acted like she missed him at all.

"Erm I wouldn't know to be honest" Michelle said looking rather guilty "I've barley seen her, other than in here. I've been really busy with parties and Steve and stuff. I kinda get the feeling she feels a little ignored" Michelle said looking at Carla who was finishing up a glass of wine. Carla had been trying to get Michelle to meet up with her properly over the past four weeks but Michelle had always been busy each time and in the end Carla had stopped texting her to try and organise something.

As the night went on Marc eventually left the pub because he had to get back home to plan for an early morning meeting. Carla got up from the table also and walked over to the bar where Peter was stood with Michelle, on her way over to them a drunken man crashed right into her spilling half of his pint, luckily for this man it went all over the floor and not on Carla because then she really would have really kicked off.

"Woah" he cried raucously but Carla just tutted at him

"Idiot" she said rolling her eyes at Michelle, She looked at Peter and smiled at him expectantly, hoping he had gotten over what ever bad mood he had been in before hand, unfortunately for Carla, Peter was still tired, still jealous and still very very moody.

"So how's everything back down in Portsmouth then?" Carla asked trying to make conversation, Michelle glanced at Peter who had finished his first orange juice a long time ago "Peter?" Carla said when he didn't answer her straight away, She then looked at Michelle who just stood there quietly as well. He was about to speak when Carla rolled her eyes "Well aren't you two a bore tonight?" She had meant it as a joke but Peter had been on the verge of snapping for a while now and said

"Well if we're so boring, why don't you go and run after that idiot?" Michelle's eyes widened as Carla looked confused

"Eh?" She said "Are you talking about Marc?"

"Of course, I'm talking about him, who else?" Peter said bluntly "If you were avin such great time with him, you should go and find him." he added

"Peter, me calling you two boring were a joke" Carla said, a little taken aback that Peter could be so hostile towards her, they had been getting along so well before he left and now it seemed as if she'd maybe done something wrong.

"Well I just didn't think it were funny that's all" Peter said "I mean you practically ignore us, all night and that's the first thing you say." Carla could tell that Peter was in a bad mood and the best idea would have been to ignore him but she still couldn't help but retaliate and say

"Ignore you? I came over and said Hi, You were the one acting all bad tempered and moody... What did you want me to do? hang around you and wait for you to stop being a miserable git?"

"Oh please, you just couldn't wait to run back to the table and sit with Marc" Peter exclaimed, although he had a slight feeling that he should probably close his mouth and just shut up.

"Well I weren't going to leave him sitting there alone was I? You could have come over and introduced your self if you wanted" Carla then paused

"Introduce myself to him? No thanks" Peter scoffed rather pathetically

"Chelle?" Carla said looking at Michelle for some sort of support but Michelle just shrugged her shoulders awkwardly, not knowing what to say or do. Carla and Peter arguments were not the kind of arguments that she liked to get in the middle of.

"I'm not getting involved" Michelle said quietly and pretending to keep herself busy, Carla looked at Peter

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?" She said to him because she had no idea that he was returning tonight and she had actually wanted to go out with him properly so that they could catch up.

"I wanted it to be a surprise didn't I" Peter said sighing and finishing his newly refilled orange juice "Why? Are you annoyed that I walked in and found you nice n cosy with Marc?"

"Nice n Cosy?" Carla said irritatedly "I'm sorry, am I not allowed to sit and ave a drink with a friend now?" Carla asked and Michelle could tell by Carla's tone that an argument was brewing

"A friend yeah right" Peter said rather childishly

"Seriously Peter? Tell me you are not actually going there?"

"Going where?" Peter asked foolishly "Do you really think that guy has friendship on his mind?" Peter knew how stupid he sounded in his head but when it came to talking out loud he simply couldn't act rationally about this situation, He wanted to shut up and not say anything else on the matter but then Carla touched a nerve by asking

"Are you jealous Peter?"

"Jealous? Me? Of the guy you called a bore and said that wasn't your type? Sure" Peter scoffed. Carla couldn't quite believe that Peter had remembered what she had said about Marc, especially when she barley remembered saying it herself "I just find it hard to understand how you can sit there and be all pally with someone who is so boring" He added dryly

"Well maybe… I changed my mind" Carla said even though she still wasn't sure about Marc, She was just trying to annoy Peter because his behaviour was extremely frustrating.

"Or maybe you just said that to me to keep me happy"

"Oh Please?" Carla said "Do you honestly think I've never better to do with my time than lie about Marc, just to keep you happy?" Michelle wasn't sure whether to leave them to it or go away but she could hardly leave Sean at the bar alone, She could see that Carla and Peter were both as stubborn as each other and that they were both acting so juvenile on purpose.

"Maybe you two should go out back." Michelle suggested but Carla and Peter ignored this suggestion and shook their heads at her simultaneously. Michelle couldn't help but smirk at how in sync they were with each other.

"It's okay, I ave nothing else to say to Carla to be honest Michelle"

"Yeah, It's fine Chelle" Carla agreed and then she turned to Peter "Look, you're the one who came into my factory, saying you wanted to be friends but I cannot be friends with you if you are going to act like this" She paused waiting for a reply but Peter just breathed in deeply "I don't know what's gotten into you Peter, maybe you just had a bad day or maybe a bad week but you are clearly looking for an argument and I am not going to entertain it, not tonight." Carla began to walk away from the bar, hating that Peter's return had gone horribly. He turned to her

"I'm not looking for an argument Car" Peter started but then Carla slipped suddenly and everything went dark.