It was Friday morning and Carla strolled into Roy's Rolls at around eight am, She was kind of hoping that a certain bearded ex (sort of) husband of her's might have been sat in there getting breakfast, he wasn't but Michelle was sat in there instead so Carla guessed that that was the next best thing.

"Hiya." Michelle said as Carla sat down in front of her, she had already filled her in on what had happened with Marc at the factory on Monday but she hadn't told Michelle about just how close she had got to kissing Peter… Again.

"Morning..." Carla said, "You're an early bird ain't ya?"

"Yeah well Liz and Tony were playing their records this morning, It had gotten so bad that they were actually singing along so I just had to get out of the pub." Michelle said grinning.

"Oh god." Carla cringed "So what you up to later then?"

"Nothing much, why?" Michelle said eating a bacon sandwich and sipping tea.

"Well I reckon me n you need to get a few drinks in, what d'ya say we go down the bistro n get a few bottles of wine, y'know just like we used to." Carla said grinning and reminiscing about how her and Michelle would often go to the bistro after a long day of work at the factory.

"Well I'm definitely up for a girly night out but I'm rather surprised that you don't have plans with a certain man and his son this evening, I mean I barley see you these days, since you spend so much time with them." Michelle said with an eyebrow raised but she wasn't being entirely serious.

"I do not…" Carla said defensively but she knew Michelle was right and the only reason that she wasn't having a movie night in with Simon tonight was because Leanne had grounded him for being rude to her so that meant he wasn't allowed out at all. Carla thought about going over to his place or still having the movie night at Ken's but she knew it would be undermining Leanne's authority to do so, so she told Simon they'd do it some time next week. "So are we going to the bistro tonight or what?" Carla eventually asked.

"Yeah go on then, it's been a while since we've got drunk n judged everyone." Michelle laughed.

So that's what they did. Carla and Michelle met up outside the bistro at seven thirty pm. Carla was dressed in a pair of black jeans black boots and a black shirt the same outfit she had on at work that day only she'd undone the first few buttons on her shirt to make it just a little more dressed up. Michelle had opted for a navy blue dress and black jacket and a pair of killer heels.

They had been sat in a table in the corner and had an amazing view of everyone in the restaurant. They of course ordered a bottle of wine and had already been having watching various different people in the bistro, they watched two people have what looked like a horrendous date and they watched Sally and Tim argue their way through their starters also.

As Steph brought their bottle over and Carla had said thank you, Michelle was busy watching Nick and Leanne, who were both giggling about something together behind the bar.

"Eh what do you think about Nick and Leanne?" Michelle asked, Carla glanced over at them as she poured herself a glass of wine.

"What d'ya mean?" She asked

"Well it's just they've been getting on well recently that's all... I reckon there's still something there." Michelle said as Carla poured a glass of wine for her.

"Really?" Carla said as she wasn't too sure "Leanne seems really happy with Kal."

"I know I'm just saying they've been through a lot together and it just seems like they still have a little spark." She picked up her glass and sipped the wine. As Carla did the same Peter appeared in the doorway of the bistro. "Oh speaking of Sparks…" Michelle said nodding in his direction "I don't suppose he knew you were coming ere tonight." She said thinking it was little too convenient that he had turned up.

"No... He couldn't ave. I haven't even spoken to him today and anyways look he's got his whole family with him." Carla said as he walked further into the restaurant followed by Simon, Tracy, Amy, Ken and then there was also a blonde haired woman with them too.

Carla felt her mouth go dry, she watched the blonde woman closely as Steph showed the Barlow's to a table. Simon and Amy sat down next to each other at one end of the table, Peter had sat opposite Simon and then the blonde woman sat between him and Ken. Carla looked at her and then back at Michelle.

"Errrrr who's she?" Michelle asked before Carla could get the words out.

"I dunno I've never seen her before…" Carla shrugged trying to act casual, as the blonde woman took off her jacket.

Peter was sat with his back to Carla and Michelle's table, so he couldn't see them but Simon spotted Carla when he looked up from his menu. He smiled and began waving at Carla excitedly, She waved back pleasantly although she was still a little surprised to see a stranger at what seemed to be a Barlow family dinner. Peter turned round to see what Simon was waving so happily at and grinned when he saw Carla sat in the corner with Michelle. He nodded over at them before turning back to his son.

"Maybe she's a family friend." Michelle suggested as she could tell Carla was still trying to work out who the mysterious blonde woman was.

"Maybe…" Carla said, "I mean I've never seen her before but I guess she could be." Michelle had known Carla forever and could easily tell when she was feeling jealous. Michelle smirked at Carla who then snapped, "What's so funny?"

"Woah! Jealously is so not a good look on you." Michelle laughed, Carla shook her head at her.

"I'm not... Jealous… I'm just wondering who she is that's all." Carla said but she had to admit that the intense feeling she had rising inside her body was definitely jealously and jealous was definitely not her style.

"Why don't you just make an excuse to go over there and see if Peter introduces you?" Michelle suggested.

"As if..." Carla scoffed "Forget em anyways. This night is meant to be about you and me avin a good time." She raised her glass in the air and said, "Ere's to us." Michelle joined in with Carla's toast and as they clinked their glasses together, Peter turned around again he smiled over at them cheerfully, although Michelle was sure the smile was more for Carla's benefit.

They'd got through the entire bottle of wine very quickly between the two of them and it wasn't long before they wanted another one. Carla looked around to see if she could get the attention of a waiter but there was no one to be found and Leanne was at the bar on her own.

"I'm gonna go and get us another bottle." Carla said finishing the last drop that was in her glass.

"Sure." Michelle said smirking because it just so happened that the bar was close to where the Barlow's were enjoying their meal.

Carla walked over to the bar where Leanne looked rushed off her feet. Leanne saw Carla standing patiently at the bar and quickly made her way over to her.

"Hi Carla what can I get you?"

"Just another bottle of red wine thanks." Carla said she glanced over at the table where the Barlow's were sat.

"Okay, I'll bring it over when I can..." Leanne said putting some money in the till, Carla could see how busy she was and gave her a small smile.

"Oh that's okay, I'll wait ere for it, you're rushed of your feet." she said, Leanne nodded thankfully

"Okay, God I'm gonna kill Nick when he gets back in ere. Five flamin minutes he said." Leanne complained as she handed Steph some drinks on a tray.

"Why where's he gone?" Carla asked

"Oh we ran out of change so he said he'd go and get some but that were almost half an hour ago." Leanne said.

"So I hear you grounded Simon." Carla said but she wasn't completely focused on Leanne, she had her body turned to the side so that she was still able to check on The Barlow's and talk to Leanne at the same time.

"Yeah, he came strolling home from school at eight o clock the other day, it was my night off but he didn't quite know that so I think he reckoned I'd be ere n he would get away with it, anyway it wasn't so much the time he'd come in that got him grounded, it was the attitude on him. He's only out tonight because it's a family thing, Peter was planning on leaving him at his Dad's but I was like no, drag him along too." Leanne explained but she knew Carla wasn't really listening as she started over at Peter's table.

"Oh right…" Carla said distantly then she asked "Leanne… You don't recognise that woman do ya?" She was now facing Leanne properly, Leanne shook her head with a grin.

"Nope." She said as the jealously Carla felt was evident by the look on her face.

"Yeah… Me neither." Carla said going back to stare over at Peter and his family's table. The blonde woman was talking to Ken now but Peter was watching her, almost as if he was hanging onto her every word. Leanne went and got the wine that Carla and Michelle always drank and came back to find that Carla was still transfixed on this mystery woman.

"Here's your wine." Leanne smirked as she handed Carla the bottle.

"Cheers Leanne." Carla said taking it off of her. She then walked back to the table where Michelle was sitting. She put the wine on the table and slumped back in her seat.

"So did ya find out who she was yet?" Michelle asked, wondering if Leanne might have recognised the woman.

"No." Carla moaned. It wasn't long before Peter and his family had begun laughing at something the blonde woman had said. "Well she's obviously a riot." Carla said scowling over at them all.

"Wow you really are jealous... I love it." Michelle exclaimed as she saw Carla's face.

"I'm not jealous..." Carla lied, she knew that she wasn't fooling Michelle one little bit. "Okay… I just want to know who she is, I mean she must be important if she's out with the whole family."

"Maybe she is family?" Michelle said opening the new bottle of wine as Carla shook her head.

"I've been to plenty of Barlow family functions in the past to know that, that woman is not family." Carla said holding up her glass for Michelle to refill. Michelle glanced over at the blonde woman and started laughing.

"Eh maybe she's another one of Peter's wives." She joked.

"That's not funny Chelle" Carla frowned still watching Peter.

The Barlow's had eventually decided what they wanted to eat and ordered their food with Steph. Leanne came over after ten minutes or so and stood next to Peter. She had been watching Carla for a while now and decided to intervene in the situation.

"Don't look now but ya do realise that a certain wife of yours is watching your every move." She said

"Really?" Peter said unable to stop himself from turning to look at Carla, she was quicker than him though and had managed to divert her gaze before he had caught her staring.

"I said don't look." Leanne said slapping Peter on the arm

"Ow!" Peter cried, "I couldn't help it."

"Leanne's right though, Carla's been watching you like a hawk, it's kinda scary actually." Tracy said as she was sitting facing Carla and had seen her looking over.

Carla, who was unaware that some of the conversation at the Barlow's table had turned to her, was trying her very best to act like some sort of rational human being but when she tried to casually glance over she saw Leanne being introduced to the blonde woman. She almost slammed her glass down on the table, making Michelle jump. Leanne saw Carla and Michelle's reaction from a distance, and as the woman who's name was Sophia started chatting to Tracy, Leanne turned back to Peter and said

"So are you gonna put Carla out of her misery and introduce her then?" Peter turned his head, gave Carla a cheeky grin and then turned back again before she even had time to register it. "You're loving this aren't you?" Leanne said rolling her eyes.

"Just a bit." Peter said

"Honestly Peter go and get her, besides Sophia wants to meet her." Ken said looking at Peter in disappointment.

"Hey you're acting as if this was all some big plan, I didn't know Carla would be in ere did I?" Peter said but he was feeling slightly pleased that Carla seemed to be getting more and more jealous by the second. Leanne went back to work as Peter eventually got up off his chair, he had rested his hand on Sophia's shoulder as he did so. Michelle did an over the top gasp and looked at Carla.

"Oh my god he just touched her!" She cried trying to wind Carla up some more.

"Don't." Carla said as Peter made his way over to them. He looked at the two bottles of wine on their table and shook his head.

"All this wine and no food… You'll regret that in the morning." he said winking at Carla as he walked past their table and into the toilet.

"Oh he totally knows what he is doing to you." Michelle said as Carla sighed and put her head on the table.

"This is torture." She said bitterly, Michelle was highly amused by all this and nudged Carla.

"I gotta say Peter is looking good tonight…"

"He always looks good…" Carla said still with her head on the table.

"So… are we thinking that this woman is maybe a new friend of the family then? Maybe she's a mate of Tracy's or… Peter's?" Michelle couldn't help but laugh again when she looked at Carla who was slumped dramatically over the table.

"This is not funny Chelle, I mean what on earth is happening to me? I am so not the jealous type." Carla said through her hair, She sat up and sighed as if she was extremely disappointed in the way she was acting. "Even if she is a friend of Peter's, why am I so jealous of her, I mean all she's doing is sitting next to him… and almost touching him…" Carla said enviously, although she knew exactly why she was so jealous, she knew why and the thought of it made her feel sick. Michelle just shrugged at her still finding the situation rather amusing.

"Eh go and ask Simon who she is, he'll tell ya." Michelle said because according to Amy, Simon wanted his Dad and Carla back together pronto.

"I can't do that how obvious would that be?" Carla said she looked over at the table where the blonde woman was now chatting about something with Tracy. She was silent for a few moments as she continued to watch them. "Maybe she is just a family friend." Carla said still watching her

"God Carla you are obsessed. If you don't go over there I will!" Michelle cried

"Don't you dare." Carla said firmly. She caught Peters eye as he came out of the toilets. He smiled at her and then looked at Michelle.

"Michelle... you don't mind if I borrow Carla for a minute do ya?" he asked, Michelle raised an eyebrow at him.

"Not at all." Michelle smirked holding a glass of wine in her hand. Carla looked at Peter, she was so relived that he had finally come over to her but also anxious.

"What for?" she asked, Peter reached out and took her hand.

"You'll see…" he said mysteriously as he pulled at Carla's hand, making her get up off her chair. Michelle watched as Carla and Peter began walking to the table where his family were sat.

They were still hand in hand when they reached the table and it made Carla feel very nervous as they stood there in front of everyone like that. The Barlow's and their "friend" all looked so content as they sat there and Carla felt like maybe she was interrupting something special. Simon had been chatting away but when he saw his Dad and Carla holding hands he stopped talking, Amy started giggling and Tracy raised her eyebrows at them. Peter cleared his throat and said

"Carla, I just wanted to introduce you to Sophia, Sophia this is Carla." Sophia, smiled warmly at Carla. She looked a little older than Carla had realised close up but she was still incredibly pretty.

"Hi Carla it's so nice to meet you, I've heard so much about you" Sophia said holding out her hand, Carla was surprised because she had heard absolutely nothing about this Sophia yet obviously Sophia knew a lot about her.

"Nice to meet you too." Carla said shaking Sophia's hand. Ken and Simon were both smiling at Carla, they could tell she was a little uncomfortable with meeting this stranger.

"Sophia's our grief councillor, she's been helping us deal with everything since... Well you know" Peter said. "I wanted her to meet you because you've been so helpful recently." He said and everything suddenly made a little more sense to Carla she grinned as she stood there next to Peter.

"Oh right…" Carla said

"What?" Peter asked upon spotting Carla's grin. Carla shook her head

"Nothing." She said but she couldn't help the smirk on her face. She felt incredibly stupid for being jealous of the woman that was being paid to help the Barlow's "I've just had a bit too much wine that's all ignore me" Carla said practically laughing, Peter didn't look like he believed her and gave her hand a quick squeeze.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you because from what I hear you've been a real asset to this family" Sophia said

"She really has." Ken said nodding at Carla appreciatively

"Oh trust me it's my pleasure." Carla said modestly. Steph then appeared with plates of food and Carla took this a good opportunity to go back to her table. "I better get back to Michelle before she ends up drinking all the wine… ave a good night everyone." Carla said smiling at them all and winking at Simon.

"You too Carla." Ken said smiling at her, She glanced at Peter before she went to walk away but then he smirked, pulled her close to him by the hand he was still holding and he leant into her ear.

"This won't be the last you see of me tonight." He whispered

"Good." Carla replied sultrily and then she sauntered back over to Michelle who had been watching everything very closely.

"So who is she then? I saw ya shake her hand, What's this keep your enemies closer?" She joked as Carla sat down smiling, she felt so much lighter and much more relaxed, now she knew who Sophia actually was.

"No." She grinned.

"Well come on then, Tell me. I must say you seem to ave calmed down a lot since you've been over there."

"She's their grief councillor." Carla revealed wishing she hadn't been so stupid.

"Oh right..." Michelle said "So why is she out to dinner with them?" She asked, Carla shrugged and picked up her wine glass

"I dunno, their just being nice I guess. Hear this, she said she's heard all about me and that I'm a real asset to the family." Carla said proudly, Michelle grinned

"Oh yeah I bet Peter had a lot of nice things to say about you." She said Carla rolled her eyes.

"Are we gonna talk about anything else tonight?" She said sighing, "I mean as much as I love talking about Peter Barlow there are other things we could talk about." She said. So they talked about other things, they talked about Steve, then they talked about the factory they even talked a little bit about Rob but they eventually wound up going back to a conversation about Peter.

"I know you said you didn't want to talk about him but I'm sorry you have been giving each other the eye all night." Michelle said, because every time Peter had turned around or got up, there had been an electric moment of eye contact between him and Carla, one that Michelle had seen many times from them before.

"Oh behave." Carla said pouring the last of the wine into her glass,

"Seriously Carla what is going on with you two?" Michelle asked Carla looked down at her lap still clutching her wine glass.

"Nothing." She said not looking at Michelle properly.

"Carla you're so annoying" Michelle said shoving her playfully "What's the point in us sitting here as best mates if we're not going to be honest with each other eh?" Carla laughed and looked up at her best friend.

"Nothing is going on Chelle. I mean it. We're friends"

"Yeah well friends don't give other friends lovebites." Michelle said grinning

"Yeah well… I've explained that already avent I? It were just a silly Halloween thing nothing serious." Carla said but she could tell Michelle wanted more from her.

"Do you wanna know what I think?" Michelle asked, Carla shook her head

"Not really no." She laughed but Michelle continued anyway,

"I think that you still love him and he blatantly still loves you and it's only a matter of time before you get back together." Michelle said, Carla glanced over to the Barlow's table and then back at her friend.

"Woah? Chelle... Can we not talk about love please. We decided to be friends for a reason." She didn't want to think about the love word, just the thought of it made her feel sick but the more time she spent with him the more she realised that she was beginning to feel just like she had done many years ago.

"You do know that because of you the word friend actually does my head in." Michelle said, "And are ya actually telling me that other than the lovebite there's been nothing else romantic between the two of you."

"I'd hardly call a love bite romantic Chelle." Carla said,

"You know what I mean." Michelle said getting irritated. Carla downed her last bit of wine and sighed,

"Okay…"

"I knew it." Michelle said excitedly

"Calm down Chelle, It's nothing really. We almost kissed at the factory that's all."

"That's all? When did this happen?"

"It were right after I kicked that Marc out." Carla admitted

"Go on then..." Michelle nodded

"Well as I said he'd calmed me down because I'd got me self proper worked up over that cocky little Marc and then there was this serene moment of pure silence between us, even the factory girls were quiet for once... I gave him a quick hug and we were just there y'know, he were stood so close to me, like I could feel his breath on me skin." Carla said longingly.

"So?" Michelle asked intrigued, Carla sighed

"Well I realised that the blinds were open... not that it mattered because the next thing I knew I had Kirk at me office door asking for some petty cash." Carla said, Michelle rolled her eyes and put her head in her hands.

"It had to be Kirk didn't it" Michelle said and Carla started laughing and shaking her head.

"Bless him, I don't think he even knew that he'd walked in on something but I'm glad he did." she said, Michelle finished her glass and looked at Carla seriously.

"Are you though?" She said, Carla nodded but Michelle was looking at her in complete disbelief.

"Alright So maybe a kiss from Peter wouldn't be totally unpleasant..." Carla said as she looked over at Peter as he got up from the table and went over to the door of the bistro. He then headed outside and Carla had assumed it was for a cigarette even though he had told her that he had quit smoking. "Okay It would have been amazing" She said wistfully "But honestly Chelle let's be honest, it wouldn't have been just a kiss would it, we would ave been going at it on that desk, faster than you can say underworld."

"Would that ave really been the worst thing in the world?" Michelle grinned,

"Yes it flamin well would ave, the blinds were open and everything." Carla said almost laughing again. "Oh I dunno Chelle, we're both enjoying our selves so much right now, teasing each other, waiting for the other one to make the first move, but maybe it should just stay that way y'know." Michelle then got up from her seat and shook her head.

"Carla all I know is that you two are perfect for each other. I'm telling you babe it's gonna happen, Sooner or later you and Peter will be in each other's pants again." and with that Michelle went towards the toilets. She stumbled as the amount of wine her and Carla had got through, began to take affect. Carla shuffled in her seat for a while and before she knew it she was getting up and making her way towards the exit of the bistro.

Peter was halfway through his cigarette when the door behind him opened and Carla appeared. She grinned at him and went and stood next to him

"Hi" Peter said exhaling smoke from his lips, Carla who at this point had consumed enough wine to make her a little braver than normal but not enough so that she was drunk, linked her arm through his.

"Hi" She said softly, She rolled her eyes as Peter lifted his cigarette up to his lips

"I know…" Peter said sighing

"So what happened to you quitting those things?"

"I've tried but I just can't seem to stop." Peter said, Carla shook her head at him and then took his cigarette from his fingers, he watched her as she flicked it onto the ground in front of them.

"Does that help?" She asked as Peter chuckled at her.

"If only I had you around each time I wanted to smoke eh."

"You know call me crazy Barlow, but I reckon that not actually buying cigarettes in the first place probably helps with this whole stopping smoking process." Carla said smiling at him smugly.

"Yeah but it's not just that is it, It's having something between me fingers you know, I've read that you should always have some sort of oral substitute." Peter smirked as he moved the hair on Carla's shoulder to take a look at the handwork that he had left last week.

"Don't get any ideas." She said to Peter. He smirked as the bruise was still there even though it had faded considerably. "Why don't you try some lollypops or something?" Carla said Peter placed her hair back into place.

"Lollypops? I'm a grown man." he said but he was considering the idea of it "I suppose I could give it a shot, might get some down The Kabin tomorrow." Carla nodded and they stood together quietly for a moment.

"Sophia seems like she's really nice." Carla said, Peter nodded

"Yeah she really is, She's been a massive help and I really feel as if seeing her is the best thing we've ever done as a family." he said and he looked at Carla, who just couldn't help but think about how foolish she had been earlier. "What are you grinning at?" She started chuckling to her self.

"It's nothing..." she paused "I just didn't know who Sophia was at first that's all." Carla said,

"I told you we had a councillor didn't I?" he said as Carla stood before him looking rather embarrassed now.

"I know I just thought she was maybe… one of your friends that's all… I mean she seemed to be very fond of you especially." Carla said looking down, Peter grinned finally catching on.

"Were you maybe a little bit jealous?"

"Say if I were jealous..." Carla started she moved closer to him "What would you ave to say about it?"

"I'd say good." Peter said, licking his lips.

"Good?" Carla exclaimed

"Yeah good, now you know how I felt about Marc."

"You had no reason to be jealous of Marc, Peter." Carla said her hands now on her hips.

"And you have no reason to be jealous of Sophia." Peter said mimicking her actions.

"Well..." Carla said "It's a good thing I'm not jealous then aint it." Peter looked Carla up and down like he usually did whenever she was stood in front of him, he didn't even try to hide the fact that he was checking her out this time. She grinned down at the ground because looking at Peter in the eye made her want to do things she knew she shouldn't.

"I think… I better go back inside." Carla said and she began to walk towards the door of the bistro.

"Why's that eh?" Peter asked after her still grinning at her like a Cheshire Cat, Carla turned on her heels once she was a safe distance away and looked at him.

"Because I've had far too much wine to be standing here alone with you." She pointed at him as he moved closer towards her, He glanced around them and they were indeed alone, He saw her sparkling eyes and her seductive expression and asked

"Don't you trust me?" Carla shook her head at him.

"Oh it's not you I don't trust Peter…" She said biting her lip and making Peter feel weak.

"Oh I think you've under estimated your level of will power." He said walking closer to Carla.

"Trust me… I aven't, besides I better go n re-join Michelle before she puts out a missing person ad." Carla grinned and went to walk back into the bistro but before she did she added. "Don't even think about lighting another cigarette."

Peter knew better than to defy Carla and start smoking another cigarette so practically stumbled in after her. She walked straight past his table and went back to her table where Michelle was sitting waiting for her. She rolled her eyes when she saw that Peter was also on his way back to his table.

"I should've known." She said as Carla sat down.

They were both in the mood for some more drink but they decided against another bottle of wine as three bottles would probably end up with them plastered, Instead they ordered some cocktails each. Michelle finished her first one before Carla had even got half way through hers and she went to order another one. By the time Michelle and Carla had finished and the bistro was near closing, Michelle was more than just a little bit tipsy she was totally drunk.

The Barlow's were almost finished too and Peter watched as Michelle struggled to get up and Carla grabbed hold of her. Ken, Sophia, Simon, Amy and Tracy had just finished with their puddings and were getting up to leave the restaurant.

"Peter lets go, we've already been in here long enough." Tracy groaned she could tell he was watching Carla who was now struggling to hold Michelle upright.

"I'm gonna help Carla with Michelle why don't you guys go ahead." he said walking over to them and leaving his family behind.

"Oh dear." Peter said as Carla had her arm wrapped around tightly around Michelle's waist. "Do you need help?" he said laughing.

"Yeah you could pay the bill!" Michelle cackled, Carla rolled her eyes and smiled at Peter, thankful that he had stayed behind to help.

"We're fine Peter." She said because she knew being around drunken people must be really hard for Peter.

"You don't look fine." Peter grinned as Michelle started pushing Carla towards to the door even though they hadn't even paid yet.

"Wait Chelle" Carla cried, trying to stop Michelle but she was freakishly strong and almost had Carla at the door. Peter was now laughing and Carla knew she could probably do with a little bit of assistance. "Here... you hold Michelle upright and I'll go and pay Nick." Peter took a drunken Michelle off of slightly tipsy Carla.

"Hi Peter…" Michelle slurred practically putting all her weight onto him as Carla walked to the bar "Car where are you going?" She cried, Carla shook her head in disbelief and laughed.

"I'm paying the bill woman." Nick came over to where Carla was stood at the bar, he looked at Peter and then looked at the drunken Michelle.

"Good night was it?" he said smiling and handing Carla a chip and pin machine so she could pay.

"It sure was, although I'm not sure how Michelle has got so drunk." she said putting her card in and paying for their wine and cocktails.

"Peter…" Michelle started practically hanging off him

"Michelle…" Peter chuckled holding her as best she could, she was a lot taller than him in her heels and it was a bit of a struggle to keep her steady.

"You know we love you right?" Michelle slurred, "Me n Car have been watching you all night and we love you..." Michelle drunkenly put her arms around Peter and hugged him tight. Peter laughed as Carla joined them with an eyebrow raised.

"Interrupting something am I? What on earth would Steve say?" Carla joked

Michelle let go off Peter and gave Carla a playful shove

"Eh are you getting jealous again?" She asked putting an arm around Carla.

"I reckon we should get her home don't you?" She said to Peter. Carla knew a drunken Michelle had a tendency to start talking about things she shouldn't, so she wanted to get her tucked up in bed before she could say anymore.

They took Michelle back to the rovers where Steve was waiting up for her. It was only a short walk from the bistro but it took a lot longer than expected, as Michelle was not in the best state to be walking upright.

Once they'd got Michelle inside and safe with Steve, Peter as usual, walked Carla across the road to her building. The heel on one of her boots got stuck between two cobbles and it made Carla almost buckle. Peter automatically caught her, his arms going immediately under hers and picking her back up again.

"All that wine and no dinner doesn't seem like a good idea now does it?" he said as he started helping her walk across the road.

"No it does not." Carla said as he got her safely across the road. "Thanks Peter." She said getting her keys out of her bag.

"So what are you doing tomorrow?" Peter asked Carla shrugged "Me and Si are going to see the fireworks show down the cricket club, if you wanna come."

"Really? I thought Simon were grounded?" Carla asked

"He is but I talked Leanne round… It's a family thing anyway, Tracy and Amy are coming with us as well, so can I tempt you to join us then?" Carla frowned a little at the sound of Tracy's name.

"Hmmm I don't know I mean... if it were just you and Simon then I would definitely be up for it but..."

"Hey I thought you and Tracy we're friends now?" Peter asked, Carla shrugged

"Well I would say friends exactly, I mean she saved me life so I ave to be nice to her but she kinda ... I dunno…" Carla didn't want to bad mouth Tracy in front of her own brother, He nodded understandingly

"I get it, Tracy's not exactly who you want to be spending your Friday night with but" Peter said but Carla interrupted him.

"Alright, alright I'll come but only because I like spending time with you and Simon" She said pushing him slightly, He grabbed her and hugged her tight. She giggled into his chest and then yawned,

"I'm knackered" She said "It's been a hell of a long day."

"I reckon you should get inside and go to bed then." Peter said, Carla sighed pleasantly into his chest.

"Do you wanna come?" She asked enticingly as she let go of Peter, she read his amused expression. "Not like that Peter…I just mean as friends y'know, we can cuddle." Carla said almost laughing because the idea of her and Peter getting into a bed together and only cuddling was slightly unrealistic.

"Hmmm as tempting as it sounds, I think I'll pass on the whole cuddling thing." he said almost hating himself for turning her down like that, especially since that night she had stayed over at his place was one of the best nights sleeps he'd had in ages.

Carla looked at him rather disappointed as she had been on the same wavelength as him when it came to how good that night of sleep had been and it had been so long ago she was beginning to forget the feeling of his body so close to hers.

"Oh alright then." She said sadly, She turned on her heel then went on to stumble into her building. She wasn't anywhere near as drunk as she was acting but she hoped it would save some embarrassment if she pretended she was highly intoxicated.

"It's not because I don't want to…" Peter called after her, She turned around and looked at him hopefully "I mean I would love nothing more than to get into bed with you and… cuddle, but you're slightly drunk and I just don't think it's a good idea." he said softly, wishing that Carla was completely sober so that he could do what he really wanted to and kiss her.

"Don't ya trust me or summat?" she said coyly with her head on one side, Peter shook his head and grinned at her.

"Nope." He said, Carla gasped in outrage and laughed at him "but if it makes you feel any better it's not just you that I don't trust." He said and then he began walking across the road to number one. Carla sighed deeply and rolled her eyes in frustration as he got to the other side.

"Goodnight then!" She called desperately across the road after him.

"Goodnight Carla." he called back. He sighed as he watched Carla go into her building safely and he as he walked into his Dad's house he promised himself that tomorrow was going to be different, he promised that tomorrow he was finally going to make a move on Carla.

Tomorrow he was going to kiss her.

I just wanted to say another thank you to everyone who is still interested/reading/reviewing this.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter & I look forward to reading what you think of it.

:)