Carla opened her eyes to find a blurry Michelle, Sean and Peter all standing above her.

"She's awake!"

"Thank god"

They all eventually came into focus and it was then that Carla felt an extreme surge of pain to the back her head.

"Carla! Are you alright?" She heard Michelle say, She then felt an arm go underneath her and pull her up and off the ground. Nothing made sense and Carla looked down to see that she had been lying flat out on the floor of the Rover's. As Peter helped Carla stand up straight, she looked at all the concerned faces around her,

"What happened?" She asked blearily.

"You slipped on a spilt drink" Peter said watching her, She closed her eyes and grimaced as the pain in her head only began to get worse.

"Someone get her some ice." Peter said looking worried as he took her around the waist and lead her over to a chair, She sat down and tried to work out what had happened to her because even though she knew that Peter had told her, she couldn't quite remember what he had actually said.

"Where's Simon?" She eventually asked and Peter looked around him as if Simon would have been standing happened there but he wasn't of course, Peter then turned back to look at Carla again

"He's not here, he's at home with Leanne." he said uneasily but Carla still looked puzzled like she couldn't seem to piece together the events that were happening right in front of her.

"Is he?"

"Yeah" Peter said a little confused himself, he watched as Carla was obviously contemplating the situation she was in. Her skin was pale, eyes slightly glassy. She frowned and then asked

"I know you've already told me but… what happened again?" and every so often Carla would wince at the pain that she was feeling on the back of her head. Peter turned to Michelle, who had been standing watching Carla worriedly.

"I reckon she might have concussion." Peter said as it had looked like Carla had hit her head pretty hard when she hit the ground and she definitely wasn't acting right. She almost looked dazed as she sat there in the pub. Sean then came running over with an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel. Peter took it from him and held on the back of Carla's head

"Ow!" She cried in pain. She tried to move away from Peter but he had hold of her pretty tightly.

"Aren't you supposed to ask em questions, basic ones just to see if they can answer them?' Sean said in a bit of a panic "What's ya name?" He then asked,

"Eileen Grimshaw" Carla sighed trying to be sarcastic, even with the pain she was in, Carla could still remain as sassy as ever. Sean didn't get it though and looked even more panicked "Sean I'm fine." She added but then Michelle practically shoved three fingers in her face

"How many fingers am I holding up Car?" She asked, Carla winced again as Peter held the ice firmly onto her head.

"Three"

"Good, How about now?" Michelle asked, now holding up six fingers

"Stop it Michelle, I'm fine" Carla said trying to remove the ice pack and Peter's hand from the back of her head but Peter refused to let go of her.

"Carla you should leave it on a bit longer" he said but she managed to push him away

"I'm still not talking to you Peter." Carla said stood up. However the moment she stood up, she felt extremely dizzy and then she was suddenly sick. Peter and Michelle both jumped backwards to avoid the vomit that hit the floor. Carla looked horrified at what she had just done and wanted to just disappear but she could barley manage to stand up right, let alone to try and do a runner.

"Oh dear" Sean said and then he ran out back to get a mop bucket, as various punters in the pub recoiled at the sight before them.

"That's it, I'm talking you to the hospital" he said taking Carla by the hand. Carla wasn't feeling too great as it was, but Peter's gentle touch made her feel even more shaky.

"Peter I don't need..." She stopped talking as she began to feel nauseous again. Normally she would try and fight him off but she had to admit that she didn't feel good at all. The pain in her head was bad enough but she still couldn't even stand up right and as she swayed to the left and grabbed hold of Peter, she realised that the hospital was probably a good idea after all. "Okay… I'm thinkin that maybe I should go down the hospital after all" Peter nodded and said

"Good… let's go then." Carla looked at Michelle hopefully

"You coming Chelle?"

"Carla... Y'know I would but I can't really leave Sean to deal with this all on his own." Michelle said looking down at the wet floor and the pub full of people.

"Of course you can't" Carla snapped, not really surprised that Michelle had said no.

"Carla… I'm sorry" Michelle said feeling extremely guilty that she wouldn't be able to go with her best friend. Carla just walked off on her own accord, she got to the door of the Rovers and pushed it. When it didn't open she turned to Peter and said,

"Come on Peter, get a wiggle on"

"I'll call you and let you know what happens okay." Peter said to Michelle grabbing Carla's bag off of the bar. When he got to the door, Carla gave it another push but still didn't open.

"Seriously! Why is the flamin door not opening?" She asked Peter shook his head at her as he pulled it open,

"Maybe that's why" he said slowly

"Oh" Carla said realising that she had been pushing it the whole time, Peter took Carla's hand again and said

"Let's just get to the hospital eh"

Peter ended up taking Carla down to street cars and getting a cab to the hospital. He didn't have time to go into his place and get his car keys and he was sure that an ambulance wouldn't come straight away just for a case of suspected concussion.

As they made their way to the hospital, he had kept asking Carla questions to try and keep her alert, He could tell she was getting more and more irritated by this and she eventually snapped at him

"Oh would ya just shut up Peter!"

They'd got to the hospital rather quickly and Peter told the driver to keep the change as he paid. He had his arm wrapped securely around Carla's waist in case she felt dizzy again. He took her into the Urgent Care centre and he almost swore out loud when he saw how many people were in there.

There were a whole load of people who looked like they should have been out clubbing, only some of them had bloody noses or swollen lips and it looked like there had probably been a fight. There were also a lot of very unwell looking people and some one was even sitting with a cardboard bowl, obviously In case he needed to throw up. Peter looked around to see if he could find Carla somewhere to sit. Eventually a man looked at the two of them, saw how Peter was obviously holding Carla upright and got up to offer his chair to her, Peter thanked him and sat Carla down gently.

"Wait here Carla, I'm gonna go and book you in." he said, Carla nodded slowly as he walked over to a desk where the receptionist was sat.

"Hi I'm here with my... friend Carla she slipped over and hit her head, I think she's got concussion" Peter said to the woman who was sitting behind the desk, She looked over at Carla, who was sitting with her head buried in her hands.

"Could you get her to fill in this form please and then return it to us, Then we can get your friend in to see the triage nurse but I have to warn you sir we are very busy tonight, there was a huge incident at a local night club and lots of people need to be seen" The woman said and she handed Peter a clipboard, He glanced at it quickly and decided just to fill it out himself because all it needed were a few basic details of Carla's those of which he knew anyway.

"Here" Peter said handing the clipboard back to the woman "How long it will take roughly? y'know for her to be seen?" he asked looking back at Carla anxiously, The receptionist sighed slightly which had irritated Peter a little.

"As I said sir, we are very busy at the moment and there are lots of people to see." she looked down at what Peter had written, "How many times has your friend been sick?" she asked with an eyebrow raised.

"I don't know... A few" Peter lied hoping it might get Carla seen a little quicker, The receptionist nodded and handed him one of the little cardboard bowls like the one he had seen earlier.

"Okay, I'll see if I can get her seen as soon as possible, most of the people here only have superficial injuries but concussion can get pretty serious so she'll most likely be bumped up the list. Could you tell her to try and sit up straight please?" She said she read Peter's expression and added "It's just in case she loses consciousness, we wouldn't want her to hit her head again would we?"

Peter nodded and he went back over to Carla who was still sat with her head in her hands "Right that's you all booked in Carla and the nurse said to sit up straight." he said getting down on his knees in front of her so he could see her properly, She sat up straight and said

"Ow me head is killing me." She began rubbing the spot on the back where she had hit it on the floor.

"Yeah well I'm not surprised you hit the ground pretty hard" Peter said anxiously. A nurse came out from a grey door and called out someone's name, it just so happened to be the woman who was sitting next to Carla so when she got up Peter went and sat in her seat.

Carla watched Peter for a moment, trying to piece together the events that had led her to the hospital.

"Were we arguing?" Carla asked, She could remember that she had told Peter she didn't want to speak to him when he had been trying to help her but she wasn't exactly sure why, He sighed and nodded

"Yes we were, you went to storm off home and you slipped on someone's spilt drink" He said, Carla was silent for a moment and then she smiled weakly

"Y'know I reckon I'm probably owed some compensation from Steve McDonald now" She said, Peter laughed slightly glad that Carla seemed to still be able to make jokes.

"He weren't even there Carla remember? He's taken Liz out"

"Oh... Well I were just joking anyway. " Carla said wondering if he was taking her seriously. He was still watching Carla with a very concerned look on his face and she could tell that he was sincerely worried about her. She glanced down at the cardboard bowl he was holding

"Is that for me?" She asked remembering how she had been sick on the floor of the pub and how she'd never live it down.

"No it's for me, I had some bad food earlier." Peter joked, Carla frowned at him not sure whether he was joking or not.

"Really?"

"Of course it's for you" Peter said smiling although he was still really concerned as Carla seemed pretty out of it. She was silent for a few minutes and then she snatched the bowl of off him to be sick again. She did it rather neatly this time, getting it all into the bowl. She looked mortified as Peter got up and took the bowl from her gingerly

"I'll just go and empty this" he said and he took it into the men's toilets. It was another three quarters of an hour before a nurse came out of the grey door and called out

"Carla Barlow" Carla sighed and stood up, Peter got up as well and walked behind her gingerly so that he could be there to catch her in case she had another dizzy spell.

"Sorry about that" Peter began,

"Eh?" said Carla looking baffled and turning to face him

"Well I know how you like to be called Connor but I thought I'd better give your legal name… just in case" He said awkwardly

"Don't be silly" Carla started but she swayed suddenly and before she knew it Peter had his arm back around her waist, he helped her walk the rest of the way to the nurses room.

Whilst inside Carla had tried to explain what had happened. She told the nurse that all she knew is that she had fallen and that now she was in rather a lot of pain. Carla rolled her eyes a little when Peter began telling the nurse she had been rather spaced out since the fall, that she had been sick twice, that she couldn't remember much about what had happened and that she really didn't seem like her self. Carla really didn't want to make a big deal out of all of this but she knew Peter was just trying to be as helpful as he could and that he just wanted to look after her, so in the end she just nodded along with everything he was saying.

The nurse typed all the information on the computer. She then took Carla's blood pressure and temperature. She frowned when she saw that Carla's temperature was over thirty-nine degrees which was way above normal and asked if Carla had been drinking prior to coming to the hospital. Peter saw the nurses' concerned expression when Carla had said she had shared a bottle of wine with a friend.

"Is she okay?" He asked nervously, the Nurse looked into Carla's eyes closely and then said

"I'm gonna send you straight through to the trauma room, so you can have a proper assessment done but it definitely looks like you're concussed." The nurse said "If you follow the signs on the wall and make your way to accident and emergency, someone will be there to assist you."

Accident and Emergency was full of all sorts of ill people, lying on hospital beds with their family or friends next to them supportively. Peter had helped Carla walk most of the way just in case she felt faint again. Carla had still felt really unwell but the way Peter was holding her close, so tenderly and making sure that she was okay, really made her feel warm inside.

Carla was given a bed opposite an old man, he was very pale and next to his bed was a woman who looked a similar age to him. She was chatting away to the old man but she gave Carla a smile as she got onto the bed. Carla smiled back at her bravely as Peter sat down on the chair that was next to her bed. A nurse then passed by and said that a doctor would be along to see Carla shortly, although Carla and Peter both had an idea that shortly probably meant a very long time.

After about ten minutes had gone by Carla was slowly beginning to remember more of what had happened before she had slipped, She remembered some of the argument with Peter and couldn't believe how petty it had been.

"Do you want a drink or anything?" Peter offered remembering how he'd seen a coffee machine on their way in. Carla shook her head and was still perched on the edge of the bed as if she thought she would be getting up again in a little while.

"No thanks" She said but then Peter frowned at her "What?" she asked

"I think you might as well lay down and get yourself comfortable" He said looking at his watch, it was almost midnight, way later than Peter had realised.

"I'm alright like this, I'm feeling a little better now." Carla said defiantly, even though the bump on the back of her head was really hurting her. She soon leant just that little bit too far forward, lost her balance and almost fell right off of the bed. Peter jumped up and caught her before she hit the ground again. Carla laughed but Peter didn't find it so funny

"Lay down Carla" he insisted and he had said it so firmly, that Carla reluctantly laid back. The hospital bed was raised by about forty degrees so Carla wasn't lying completely flat on her back. She turned her head so she was facing Peter and said

"Happy now are ya?"

"Yes" he said sitting back down on the chair. He pulled it in closer to the bed so he could reach Carla properly. She laid there in silence for while and then began biting down on her bottom lip agitatedly "You're not worried are you?" Peter asked, She shook her head at him slowly

"No… not really, I just hate being in hospitals" She said "I know that sounds crazy, I mean no one actually likes being in ere it's just... All hospitals seem to do for me is bring back some really horrible memories" Peter nodded, knowing exactly the horrible things Carla had been through, the ones which had led to her having to stay in hospital in the past. "This beats the last time I were ere though. After that bus crash." Carla said "Everyone else had someone who'd rushed here to see em and… there was me on me own... The whole time."

"and where was Michelle? wasn't she on the bus with you?" Peter asked as it sounded odd to him that Michelle wasn't there for Carla, especially when she needed her.

"She were but she went off with Steve and spent the whole time with him. She didn't come and see me... Not even once" Carla said still resenting Michelle just a tiny bit for not even popping her head around the curtain.

"Really? I'm surprised" Peter said, "I mean you two are practically sisters." Carla nodded

"Yeah I were surprised too to be honest. I mean don't get me wrong, I still love her to death but at the time it just felt like there were no one in this world who cared whether I were alive or not." She said and Peter took her hand "I don't want you to get the violins out or anythin… I guess what I'm tryin to say is ... I'm glad that your ere Peter. It's really comforting to know that I can still count on you." She said squeezing Peter's hand tight.

"Carla, seriously after how much you've been there for me Dad and Simon recently, how could I not be ere eh? Just let me know if you want me to call someone for you?" Peter said, Carla looked at him confused

"Like who?"

"I don't know like... Marc?" he said although he regretted it instantly because it came across quite petty and as if he was trying to be funny. Carla shook her head at him and said,

"I don't want you to call anyone... I just want you ere Peter." she smiled at him weakly and he smiled at her too, glad to hear that she needed him. "That's what we were arguing about wasn't it... Marc" Carla said as most of the row she'd had with Peter in the pub had come back to her, He nodded ashamedly

"Yes but straight off Carla, I just want you to know that I were being a right selfish prat."

"Oh Go on" Carla laughed

"It's no excuse but I had the journey from hell today, All I wanted was to see Simon and he was already at Leanne's n in bed by the time I got back. Then seeing you in the pub, having so much fun with that Marc, It just got me even more wound up." Peter said

"You really don't like him do ya?" Carla said

"I'll be honest with you Carla" Peter started "You're right, I don't like the man and it's simply because it drives me insane to even hear that another man has got close to you" he said looking down at their entwined hands "Now I know I ave absolutely no right to be so jealous but I just can't help it I'm afraid"

"Peter" said Carla, forcing him to look up at her "This whole Marc thing it's ... nothing. I mean yes I went out with him once just to keep him company but that's all it ever was. I mean if I'm honest with you, I were just trying to distract myself because you weren't around" Carla admitted.

"Well as happy as I am to hear that, I'm gonna have to get used to all this aren't I? Especially if I'm gonna stay in Weatherfield." Peter said, Carla stared at him stunned

"Stay? Like for good?" She asked, Peter nodded at her

"I feel like it's time I came back and was here for me family" he said, "Which is why I should probably get used to the idea of you being with another man sooner rather than later" Carla gulped nervously at him and said

"Peter" She paused "Y'know... there's not gonna be another-"

"Carla Barlow?" A voice suddenly said, they both looked up at the doctor who was stood at the end of the bed looking through Carla's notes. Peter let go of Carla's hand quickly.

"Yes" Carla said, rather glad She had been interrupted because she wasn't sure just what she was about to say to Peter just then.

"I'm Dr Turner" the doctor smiled as he put Carla's notes down "Now your symptoms definitely seem to show that you've got concussion but I'm just going to do a few little exercises just to be sure." The doctor then asked Carla some basic questions and shone a bright light into both her eyes.

"Woah" Carla cried squinting slightly. "Is that bloody bright enough?" She asked as the doctor continued with his examination and eventually he said,

"Right the good news is that you only seem slightly concussed and I don't think there's any need for a CT Scans as you seem to be recovering quite well. However things can change very quickly, especially if you've been drinking, so we will have to keep you in for a while for observation."

"She'll be okay though right?" Peter asked still looking very concerned, The Doctor nodded at him assuringly and said

"She should be fine by the morning but as I said we're just keeping her in as just a precaution" Peter nodded, looking more relieved now he knew that Carla would probably be fine. Carla began to move as if she was going to get up. Dr Turner shook his head at her "I'm afraid that we don't have any available beds upstairs, so we will have to keep you down here if that's okay"

"Well it will have to be won't it" Carla said dryly as if she had a choice in the matter.

"Carla it's not the Doctors fault" Peter said, Carla raised her eyebrows

"I'm aware of that Peter" She said smirking

"Don't worry many people who suffer from concussion can be quite irritable" Dr Turner said smiling, Peter thought it was best not to mention that Carla could be quite irritable even at the best of times.

"Right I'll be back to bring you some painkillers, then we will check on you in an hour or so. If you have any problems or start to feel any worse, get your boyfriend to find a nurse immediately."

Peter and Carla both chose to remain silent and not correct the doctor on the boyfriend part. Dr Turner went over to the bed opposite where the old couple where. Carla watched them for a minute even though the old man looked very ill there was a genuine look of happiness on his face as his spoke to his wife, they were both holding hands blissfully, as if there was no one else in the room.

"Uh they are so cute" Carla said still watching them, Peter took a look in the direction that she was staring at "Look how they're holding hands like that" Peter chuckled at Carla as she continued "Wow… I'm jealous of a pair of old age pensioners, is this really what me life has come to?"

Peter chuckled again, reaching over and taking Carla's hand once more

"There" he said "Now you've no reason to be jealous" She smiled down at their hands and they sat in silence for a few moments. Peter had noticed that Carla had shivered every so often and he was just about to ask her if she was feeling cold when his phone began ringing. He let go of Carla's hand so he could get his phone out of his pocket.

"It's Michelle" Peter said handing Carla the phone,

"Hiya Chelle?" She sighed although she was pleased that Michelle had made the effort to call her, especially at almost half past twelve in the morning. "It's just concussion, The doctor reckons I'll be fine in the morning they just want to keep me in, just to make sure" Carla said she shivered again as she spoke to Michelle, and Peter soon noticed that Goosebumps had suddenly appeared on Carla's sleeveless arms. He got up off of his chair and Carla watched him as he walked over to a nurse.

"What is he doing?" Carla said to herself as Michelle spoke down the phone, She soon saw what he was up to, when after a few moments he appeared with a blanket. Carla grinned at him when she had ended her conversation with Michelle and said

"Awww aren't you sweet" She had been assuming that Peter had noticed how cold she had become and reached out to take the blanket from him but he just wrapped it around himself dramatically and sat down with a grin. "Don't take the mick Peter, I'm frozen over ere" Carla groaned and then he chucked the little white blanket over to her, she inspected it first and other than a few loose threads it looked almost perfect. She smiled and wrapped it around her self triumphantly. "Thank you… So since you're plannin on sticking around ere, does that mean you're gonna get yourself a fancy new job?" She asked, already feeling a little warmer,

"Yeah… and somewhere to live I suppose." Peter sighed not knowing where to begin with either of these challenges.

"Why? what's wrong with your Dad's place?" Carla asked fiddling with one of the loose threads on the blanket absent-mindedly

"Well it's okay for now but I can't really stay there for too much longer, there's barley enough room as it is" He said, Carla nodded sympathetically "So unless Anna Windass is planning on moving out the bookies flat, I'll have to find somewhere new... Eh you don't fancy a lodger do ya?" He joked, Carla shook her head

"Not one little bit" she said smirking "Tell ya what though, I do have a job down factory for ya."

"Oh yeah" Peter said his eyebrows raised

"Yeah... Our cleaners quit on us" She quipped, Peter nodded sarcastically as Carla laughed, "I think you'd look rather fetching in a pair of rubber gloves." She said as Dr Tuner returned with a cup of water and some painkillers. "Thank you" Carla nodded at him she then looked back at Peter "So what d'ya reckon then? d'ya fancy being me new cleaner?" She sat upright so she could take the two painkillers but she didn't take her eyes off of Peter.

"Tell ya what, I'll look for some other jobs and if I ave no luck I'll apply for your cleaning job okay" Peter said as Carla swallowed down the tablets. She nodded at him with a smile but he then looked disheartened as he stared down at his feet miserably.

"What?" Carla said watching him, she was still sitting upright as He shrugged

"Nothing"

"Peter?" Carla asked looking unconvinced

"It's just I reckon you should keep that cleaning job available because I don't think many people are gonna want to hire an ex convict." Peter said,

"Peter you were wrongly accused, miscarriages of justice happen all the time. Man up and stop feeling so sorry for yourself" Carla said rolling her eyes.

"Oh come on Carla, Be honest, would you hire someone who had been arrested for murder… twice?" Peter said. Carla thought for a moment but couldn't admit to Peter that she probably wouldn't. Instead she chose changed the subject slightly.

"You know what you're right Peter, You can't go and work for someone else and d'ya know why? because you ave way too many useful skills to be using them for someone else's profit. You just need to figure out a way to be your own boss again."

"And how do I do that eh?" He asked although the way Carla had just showed that she believed in him had already made him feel a little better about himself.

"I don't know…" Carla shrugged, her head still throbbing from the bump earlier. "I'm far too concussed for all that kinda talk, We'll discuss that another time but trust me Peter you will be fine I know it." She smiled at him admiringly and Peter moved closer to her.

"Carla…" he said softy stroking her hand with a few of his fingers, She looked down at what he was doing and then back up at him

"Yeah" she said quietly

"Would you just lay down?"

She laughed a little frustratedly and lay back down on the bed. After a few moments Carla felt her stomach rumble with hunger she turned to Peter again

"I'm well hungry, do ya reckon I'll be allowed to eat summat?" Carla asked pained

"No idea? D'ya want me to go and ask?" Peter said beginning to feel his tummy as well "I'm pretty hungry me self actually"

"I know right, would kill for a Pizza right now wouldn't you" Carla moaned Peter grinned at her

"Eh do you reckon I should call Pizza Hut and get em to deliver a pizza to A&E?"

"Oh my god, Do it Peter" Carla said practically salivating as she spoke, Peter laughed and stopped a nurse who walked past

"Excuse me. Carla ere has got concussion" He said pointing at Carla as he said her name and Carla couldn't help but giggle as he did it. "Is she allowed to eat anything?" The nurse looked at Carla's notes and then up at Carla who was smiling eagerly, trying her very best to look as if she was completely fine.

"Well I'd recommend you refrain from eating anything too big for the next few hours. I'd stick to water and dry foods if I were you." The nurse said, Carla groaned as she walked away.

"There goes our Pizza Plan eh." She mumbled clutching her tummy as if she was really starving hungry.

"I think their delivery stops before midnight anyway" Peter said noticing a heavily pregnant woman with blonde hair who was stood at a bed diagonal from them. She was standing up chatting away to a man who lay in the bed. Peter looked around and suddenly got up of off his chair. Carla watched him baffled as he pulled it over to the pregnant woman and then she realised what he was doing. Peter gave the chair to the woman to sit down on. She thanked him and as Peter made his way back to Carla, she smiled at him affectionately, She had always loved how sweet Peter could be at times, even to complete strangers.

"Can you believe they've let her just stand up like that for all this time?" he said shaking his head in disgust.

"As heroic and as charming as that was Peter ... Where are you gonna sit now eh?" Carla asked, Peter then perched on the end of her bed by her feet. "Oh no you don't" She said giving him a small kick, He grabbed one of her feet playfully

"So where do you want me to sit then?" Peter said still holding one of her feet, She giggled weakly at him and moved up towards the edge of the left side of the bed.

"I dunno… How's about you come ere n give me a cuddle?" she suggested, patting the space that she had left next to her with the palm of her hand. Peter didn't hesitate to get closer to Carla, closer than he had been for such a long time. He went, sat next to her properly and put his arm around Carla so that she fitted snugly underneath it.

"Do you think this is alright? Y'know me sitting here on the bed like this?" he said glancing around to see if the doctors or nurses were looking. He knew that it wouldn't really be a problem and it was more that he was getting slightly nervous at how close he was to Carla's body now. Carla on the other hand wasn't nervous at all and said

"Well they should make sure that there are enough chairs for everyone shouldn't they? and anyways they should be concentrating on doing their job, not worrying about what you're doing. If they say anything to ya I'll g-" Peter cut her off

"You know yes would have been a fine answer" He smirked taking some of the blanket and putting over his legs as well as Carla's, She sniggered and sunk into his body, comfortably resting her hand on his chest and laying on it. After a few silent minutes Carla looked up at him and said

"Eh, what did Simon say when you told him that you are stayin?"

"I aven't told him yet actually, or me Dad… in fact you're the first person I've told"

"Oh right" Carla said "Well I reckon they're gonna be over the moon to hear you're sticking around, Simon especially, He really really missed you over these past three weeks"

"Yeah I missed him too, I cant believe I managed to stay away for so long, Weatherfield is my home" Peter said stroking Carla's head absent-mindedly, She was silent for a moment and then she said quietly

"I... missed you too y'know, did you miss me?"

"Not really, I actually enjoyed the peace and quiet" Peter joked and Carla nudged him playfully in the side "Okay I'm kidding, of course I missed you Carla" He said "The peace and quiet almost did me in if I'm honest I hated not havin someone in me ear all the time" Carla laughed silently secretly thrilled to hear that Peter seemed to have missed her as much as she missed him. "How's your head?"

"It's okay, still hurts but not as much" Carla said "Thank you for being ere Peter" she raised her head and kissed him softly on the cheek. It was only a small gesture but Peter was sure his heart had actually skipped a beat. Carla rested back into his chest again. "Honestly Carla it's nothing" He said beginning to tenderly stroke her head again in a way that had an amazing effect on Carla, She moaned softly

"Mmmmm I reckon I should get concussion more often, I could so get used to this" It wasn't long before Carla's eyelids began to feel heavy and soon enough she was fast asleep.

Peter felt rather tired himself, as the journey back from Portsmouth had been a long one. The last time he had looked at his watch it was almost five past one in the morning and eventually Peter had managed to fall asleep too. Every hour or so a nurse came to check on Carla and make sure her condition hadn't got any worse. This involved waking her up and asking her a bunch of obvious questions. Each time Carla was woken up made it made her more and more cranky but she always got back to sleep with in minutes thanks to having Peter by her side.

It was almost seven am in the morning when Dr Turner had finally returned and read through Carla's notes. She was still fast asleep in Peter's arms but he had been awake for a good fifteen minutes by the time the doctor had arrived and had just held Carla close to him because he didn't want to wake her.

"Right I've read through Carla's notes and as she has been fine for the past six hours, She's free to go" He said, Peter sat up a little

"Really, that's great" he said and he gave Carla a gentle shake

"Car wake up" he said softly She stirred a little and opened her eyes

"Oh god not again" She groaned loudly, moving against Peter in a way that suddenly made him feel nervous again, he cleared his throat and said

"Carla the Doctor said you can go home." and Carla suddenly sat up properly

"Really?" she asked looking at the doctor as if it might have been a big joke. The doctor nodded and said,

"Yes. How's your head feeling?"

"Erm yeah it still hurts but it's a hundred times better then before" Carla said assuringly and smiling awkwardly trying to make sure the doctor could see that she was indeed feeling better.

"You need to take it easy for the next few days, No driving or drinking alcohol until you have one hundred per cent recovered okay" Dr Turner said "And if you start to feel any of the symptoms on this list you must come back immediately." he handed Carla a piece of paper with a list of the possible side affects she could possibly suffer from.

"Okay" Carla nodded obediently and she was already up and off of the bed. Peter got up as well, he stretched his body as he had got rather stiff laying there with Carla leaning on him, not that he minded of course he would have laid there with Carla forever if he could have. "Thank you" Carla said smiling at the doctor because she was truly glad to be going home. Dr Turner smiled back and went onto the next bed. "Right shall we get out of ere then?" Carla asked she was still feeling a little light headed but she had guessed it was because she hadn't eaten since yesterday.

"I need a wee before we go" Peter said "Sit ere n after, I'll sort out a way for us to get home."

"I'm fine Peter" Carla said but he took her by the shoulders anyways and put her back on the bed. She stayed put as Peter went to the toilet, she couldn't help but feel as if she was in an immensely good mood, even after the painful bump to the head. Peter took a lot longer than she had expected him to but eventually came back. "About time… I were beginning to get worried" She grinned getting up. Peter chuckled

"I've been holding that wee in for about two hours" He said getting his phone out of his pocket.

"Peter you plank, why didn't you just go earlier then?" She asked although she knew why he hadn't gone before, because he didn't want to wake her up.

He just shrugged at her modestly and then smiled as he called a cab for them to get home. Carla watched him admiringly as he gave the details the cab driver needed to pick them up. He had really been responsible and had looked after her over the past nine or so hours and even though she still felt a little rough, Carla felt genuinely content to have Peter there by her side. He winked at her as he said

"Yes she's fine" down the phone as he spoke to someone at Street Cars. Carla yawned and sat down next to Peter with her head leant on his shoulder and they waited there for their cab back to Coronation Street.

I Just wanted to say thanks to all of the reviewers,

I love reading every single one of them

and if you haven't reviewed yet then

*Does best Ellie Goulding impression*

"What are you waiting foooooooooooooor?"

:)