Carla and Peter both jumped at the sound of the unexpected scream. They both stood up in shock as Tracy came running into the house, absolutely stricken and almost in tears, they both knew that something must have been horribly wrong.
"Peter quick, its Dad!" Tracy shouted, waving Peter over to the door.
Peter felt sick to the stomach when Tracy said the words it's Dad.
"What happened?" He cried, running into the back yard followed by Carla, He stopped so suddenly that she practically crashed right into the back of him.
They were both horrified to find Ken lying flat out, on the cold ground. His eyes were closed and the sight, forced Peter to suddenly drop down to his knees. Carla put her hand over her mouth as Tracy started crying. Peter bent down to check his Dad's breathing and cried,
"Tracy what the hell happened?"
"I don't know one minute we were talking and the next… he just clutched his chest and then he dropped to the ground." Tracy sobbed, with tears streaming down her face as Peter had his head close to his father's chest. Carla, who had been watching the whole thing, got her phone out of her pocket.
"Peter… I'll call an Ambulance." She said as he then sat up straight and took a huge sigh of relief when he realised that Ken was still breathing.
"Peter is he breathing?" Tracy asked, still distraught from the shock of seeing her Dad collapse so suddenly in front of her.
"Yes…" Peter said, feeling a little short of breath himself. He didn't want to move his Dad in case of doing more injury but he knew he needed to put him in the recovery position. Peter was also desperate to see if his Dad had somehow hurt himself on the way down and took another look at him, before gently moving one of his arms.
"Don't move him." Tracy said, wiping her nose and bending down to join them both on the floor. Peter began putting his Dad gently in the recovery position anyway, ignoring what Tracy had just said to him, "Peter!"
"Shut up Tracy!" Peter snapped as Carla had now got through to the emergency services and was talking to them.
Peter watched Tracy whilst Carla spoke into her phone. Tracy's bottom lip wobbled as she caught Peter's gaze as he shook his head at her.
"Please Peter, don't look at me like that." She said wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I knew he wasn't feeling good earlier…" Peter sighed, feeling guilty for going out with Carla when he'd seen that his Dad was poorly beforehand. "I should ave known better than leaving you with him, I should ave stayed home."
"This isn't my fault…" Tracy sobbed, she glanced at Carla who was still on the phone and asked, "Are they coming?" Carla was mid conversation by this point and just nodded at Tracy as she continued talking down the phone.
"Yes, yes… we've already done that…" Carla said, looking at Ken who was still out cold but now in the recovery position thanks to Peter. "Look I don't know, I'm gonna pass you on to his daughter, She was with him tonight and can probably tell you more." Carla said because the woman on the phone was asking her all sorts of questions about Ken's health and she assumed that Tracy would have a better idea of how he was feeling seeing as she'd been sat in with him the whole night.
Tracy took Carla's phone off her and stood up clumsily as she spoke into it.
"Hello…" Tracy began as Carla went and took her place on the floor next to Peter. He was holding of one of Ken's hands tightly and was looking down at him worriedly.
"I hope he's alright…" Peter said biting his lip anxiously, "God I feel so useless."
"Darlin you put him in the recovery position." Carla said supportively "You did everything we were supposed to do." She said and she stayed next him supportively until Tracy eventually hung up the phone. Peter looked up at her
"What's going on then? Are they on their way?" He asked, Tracy nodded and then started to cry uncontrollably.
"Tracy what did they say? What should we do?" Carla asked
"They said…" Tracy cried "They think he might ave had a … heart attack." Tracy then continued to cry hysterically after saying the word heart attack. Peter shook his head in disbelief and looked like he was about to cry himself.
"Baby don't panic…." Carla said as Peter sniffed hard and began breathing rigidly. "They said might, that just means that they don't know yet." Peter took a deep breath as he tried very hard to stay in control of the situation. All his senses were telling him to panic but he knew that he had to try to remain strong for his own sake as well as his family's.
"They said if he wakes up, then we need to keep him calm and make sure he doesn't move to much, just incase he has hurt himself." Tracy said bending down and still crying her eyes out. The back yard was rather crowded with the three of them all on their knees with Ken still flat out.
"If he wakes up?" Peter sobbed, his brown eyes going wide at the frightening prospect of his Dad not waking up.
"We can't loose him too." Tracy said almost chocking on her tears "Not after Mam..."
"Right that's enough to of this, Tracy you said when your Dad wakes up he needs to be kept calm right? Well he's not gonna be calm if he sees you pair, sat ere crying like babies is he?" Carla said as more tears fell from Peter's eyes, she reached over and took his hand. "Come on both of you, stop this silly noise now."
Peter nodded gratefully at Carla, knowing that she was only trying to help keep him and Tracy calm. He looked down at his Dad and it was almost as if Carla might have seen this coming because Ken suddenly opened his eyes. He gazed blearily at his surroundings, coughed and said,
"Peter?" Tracy, Carla and Peter all breathed a gigantic sigh of relief at the sight of Ken being conscious again.
"Dad!" Peter cried, "An Ambulance is on its way okay?" He said, still holding lovingly onto one of Ken's hands.
"Dad, are you okay? Where does it hurt?" Tracy asked worriedly,
"I'm not really sure…" Ken said and then he tried to move but Peter shook his head at him.
"No, Stay there Dad, let the paramedics sort you out." He said.
The ambulance arrived shortly after, Carla went and met the paramedics out front and led them out to the back yard. They spoke to Ken about what happened and praised Peter for putting him in the recovery position. They then explained to Ken that they would have to take him to the hospital for some tests and as they put him onto a stretcher and brought him out to the front of the house, Carla, Tracy and Peter realised that the ambulance had attracted the attention of many passers by.
"Can we come in the ambulance with him?" Tracy asked as they loaded Ken onto it, one of the paramedics nodded but said "Well I'm afraid there is only space for one of you." Tracy looked at Peter desperately but he said,
"No way, I'll go"
"Peter please…" She cried but he shook his head adamantly.
"Tracy don't worry, I'll drive us up there." Carla suggested "Come on we'd better go get Amy and take her next door."
"Good idea." Peter said and then he pulled Carla towards him for a quick kiss before getting in the back of the ambulance. Tracy then started bawling again as it drove away from Coronation Street.
"Come on Tracy, stop that." Carla sighed, "We've got to go and sort out Amy, do you really want her to see you like this?"
"No." Tracy shook her head
"Come on then." Carla said as Tracy followed her back inside number one.
Tracy got Amy from her room and explained that her Granddad was feeling ill so they had to call an Ambulance for him. Amy had a million questions but Tracy just couldn't seem to answer any of them properly, Carla sighed, took Amy gently by the hand. She told Amy that everything was going to be all right, that they would take her to stay at her Dad's and then go to the hospital to be with Ken. Amy felt somewhat relived at Carla's calm state and nodded at her as she spoke.
It was only when they all left Ken's house that Carla realised that given the situation with Liz, taking Tracy into the Rovers would probably not be a good idea at all.
"I reckon you should probably wait by my car." Carla said pointing over at her flat where her car was parked, Tracy nodded dejectedly and began making her way over to Victoria Court.
"Why's my Mum not coming in?" Amy asked, Carla hesitated for a moment but then said a very convincing,
"She's just very upset about your Granddad that's all, we don't need the whole pub seeing her like that do we?" Amy nodded at Carla and the then walked into the pub hand in hand. Michelle who was stood behind the bar, saw them both come in and frowned at the sight of them.
"Carla?" She said because the last she had heard Carla was supposed to be on a date with Peter, yet here she was walking in the pub with Amy.
"Hiya Chelle." Carla said softly, making her way straight behind the bar, Liz had come out to help Michelle and when she saw Carla with Amy, she shook her head in disbelief.
"Oh she's not gone and pawned Amy off on you has she?" She asked disgusted. Carla shook her head and made sure she spoke quickly before Liz could say anything else.
"Look, Ken just had a funny turn and he's on his way to the hospital." Carla said quietly, so that only Michelle and Liz could hear.
Michelle and Liz both looked at each other worriedly, they could tell that Carla was probably playing Ken's funny turn down a little, just for Amy's sake because she was stood there, listening to every word. Michelle smiled at Amy bravely and said,
"Amy your Dad's out there, why don't you go and say hi?" Amy nodded and looked up at Carla.
"Bye Carla." She said sadly, she then gave Carla a very surprising and unexpected hug before heading out back to see if she could find her Dad.
"Bye Darlin" Carla said after her, she was a little taken aback that she had gotten such a loving goodbye from Amy because she'd never really showed much an interest in her before.
"What happened?" Michelle asked after making sure that Amy was definitely out of ear shot.
"I'm not sure, me and Peter didn't see it, he were arguing with Tracy. She said one minute he was fine the next he was clutching his chest." Carla shrugged.
"Oh god Poor Ken." Liz said with her hand over her mouth.
"Peter's gone up there with him, I'm gonna drive me and Tracy in a bit, could you watch Amy for us?" Carla asked.
"Of course we can." Michelle nodded.
"You just make sure you let us know about Ken alright." Liz said as Carla waved goodbye to them.
She quickly left the pub and met Tracy outside her building, Tracy didn't say anything as Carla unlocked her car and got inside.
Carla's driving was fast at the best of times but she had actually managed to get the hospital only five minutes after the ambulance had arrived. She parked in the hospital car park as Tracy then phoned Peter to see where he was.
They eventually met up with him in a unit called the ACCU unit. Peter who had been sitting on one of those generic plastic chairs, got up and threw his arms around Carla the moment that he set eyes on her, almost knocking her over in fact.
"Hey…" She said giving him a little peck on the lips, Tracy glanced around where they were stood and then back at Peter who still had hold of Carla.
"Where's Dad?" Tracy asked frantically, Peter then pointed into a room where Ken could be seen lying on a hospital bed, there was a doctor by his side who was attaching various things to his body.
"In there, they are doing something called an ECG? It's to measure his heart or something, it will tell us if it was a heart attack or not." Peter said hoarsely, although he was feeling calmer now that Carla had arrived. He had been going out of his mind sitting there on his own, but he was so much more at ease now that she was now holding his hand supportively.
"Did they say how long it would take?" Tracy asked, staring through the blinds and at the bed that her Dad was now in.
"They said five minutes or so." Peter said sitting back down on the chairs, which were placed outside the room. Carla sat down next to him, as Tracy remained standing up and anxiously staring through the window.
"Why don't you sit down Trace?" Carla said after a while of watching her. "The doctors know what they are doing, your Dad's in safe hands." Tracy sniffed, knowing that Carla was right but she still continued to stand up and watch her Dad through the blinds.
"Feeling guilty are we?" Peter hissed, Tracy turned around in despair and shook her head at her brother.
"Don't Peter… I didn't know this would happen did I?" she said almost in tears again.
"Well how did you think Dad would react to finding out about you having an affair with Amy's almost Granddad?" Peter asked, "I mean he was hardly going to take it well was he? He's not getting any younger Tracy, You really need to realise that your selfish actions always end up affecting all of us." Tracy didn't answer him and just started crying again, much to Peter's annoyance.
Carla watched Tracy wipe her eyes mournfully and sniff as she turned back to face the window, Carla could tell, that for once Tracy was obviously feeling incredibly guilty about what she had done.
"That's it Tracy, just sit there n cry." Peter sighed shaking his head at her in disgust.
"Well what else am I supposed to do eh?" Tracy sobbed. Carla would never admit it to anyone but she was beginning to feel sorry for Tracy.
"Look Peter… I think that Tracy feels bad enough without all of this bickering." Carla said, "All that matters now is that your Dad is okay." Tracy looked a little stunned but she nodded and gave Carla a sad smile.
Peter still wasn't used to Carla and Tracy sort of getting along and he was also still so mad at his sister for what he'd found out earlier but he knew that Carla was right, the arguing was going to get them nowhere.
"You're right… Maybe I am being too harsh." He said nodding at Carla, He then bent his neck, so that his head was rested comfortably on Carla's shoulder. He then looked at his sister who was still distraught and said a very apologetic "Sorry Tracy."
Tracy nodded at her brother tearfully and watched as Carla went and put an arm around him so that she was now cuddling him close. She then kissed him tenderly on the forehead and as Peter moved in even closer to Carla, this was the first time that Tracy had actually realised what had been going on in front of her. It was then that she remembered how she'd seen them kiss at least twice this evening already.
"Are… you two back together?" She asked with an eyebrow raised, Peter looked fondly up at Carla, who was also looking down on him.
It was the first time that someone had asked them this question since they had actually got back together and it felt so wonderful for them to finally say,
"Yes." They'd both said it so simultaneously that they grinned at each other. Peter lifted his head so that he could meet Carla's lips properly. Their lips gently touched and whilst it was quite a timid kiss it was enough for Tracy to screw up her face and say,
"Alright, I suppose I'm happy for ya and all that but there is a time and a place."
Carla giggled and pulled away from Peter but she still kept her arm around him supportively. She could tell that he was still feeling anxious about his Dad and that he was also still hurt about what Liz had said to him before.
"You did good earlier…" Carla said softly, Peter looked at her and said,
"Y'know I don't think I've been that scared in years." Peter said reaching up and holding the hand that Carla had rested on his shoulder,
"Really?" She said surprised.
"Yeah I were petrified…" Peter replied playing with Carla's fingers absent-mindedly.
"Well you didn't show it, you were really calm. I'm proud of you baby." Carla said fondly, Peter smiled back her, even after everything with his Dad there was still a tiny part of him that was overcome with happiness.
"I gotta say, I really love hearing you call me baby again." He said as Carla pulled him in even closer.
"Mmmm well I love calling you baby again…" She started "You ave no idea how many times over the past few months that I almost called you it, It were starting to drive me insane."
"Well now you can feel free to call me baby over and over again." Peter beamed.
"Okay… Baby" Carla said kissing him again. Tracy sighed at the sight of them both and turned her back so she wasn't able to see.
They both stopped kissing very quickly as they knew it really wasn't the time or the place for it. Peter stayed put in Carla's arms though, feeling extremely lucky that he had her support during this difficult time.
After what seemed like forever, a doctor came out of the room that Ken was in and walked over to where Peter and Carla were sat.
"Are you Mr Barlow's son?" He asked, Carla released Peter from her hold and he quickly sat up straight.
"Yes…" He said as Tracy came running over, "What is it? Was it a heart attack?" Peter asked anxiously, the doctor shook his head and said,
"No it wasn't a heart attack, Your father has something called angina." The Doctor explained to the three of them that angina was a heart condition and it was very similar to having a heart attack and a lot of people mistake it for a heart attack. Peter, Tracy and Carla all looked relived as the doctor told them that Ken would be fine but they wanted to keep him in for observation just to be safe and he would have to take some medication in the future to prevent this type of thing happening again.
"Can we see him then?" Tracy asked desperately, The Doctor nodded and said that they could go in and see Ken for a little while. Peter thanked the doctor as they made their way into the room where a fragile looking Ken was laying down in a bed.
"Its just angina." he said as his two children and daughter in law walked cautiously into the room.
"I know…." Peter said still not quite over all the panic he had been feeling earlier on.
"You gave us quite a scare earlier Ken." Carla said as cheerfully as she could, deciding someone had to try and remain positive as Peter and Tracy were still looking anguished, Ken smiled at her weakly and looked at his two children.
"Come on you two, I'm okay. The doctor said so didn't he?" He said holding out his hand for Tracy, She took hold of it and said,
"I'm sorry for everything Dad." She genuinely looked sorry as she spoke and sniffed, as more tears fell down her cheeks.
"Let's not get into all that right now eh." Ken said, still feeling ashamed at his daughter's behaviour but also feeling lucky to be alive. Peter nodded and sat down on the chair next to Ken's bed.
"How you feeling Dad?" He asked watching him carefully.
"A little rough but I'll live…" he said with a slight smile.
"Don't Dad." Tracy said sitting down on the end of his bed. "This is not funny, we were so scared."
"Tracy, I'm fine okay." Ken insisted and he gave her hand a loving squeeze.
An hour or so had passed by and Peter soon began making some calls to let people know that his Dad was okay. Tracy was still feeling rather emotional about everything and said she was going to the toilet. She left the room just as Carla had come back from the vending machines. She came into the room clutching four small cups of coffee, just as Peter had finished talking to Audrey, He got up and helped Carla with the hot drinks.
"Ta very much." Carla said as he took two of them off of her, Peter put one down on the bedside cabinet for Tracy and began sipping on the other.
"Thanks for this." He said looking over at his Dad who had managed to doze off. Carla sat down on a plastic chair that was on the other side of Ken's bed with her coffee.
It wasn't long before a young, blonde female nurse had come in the room to check on Ken, but when she saw that he was asleep she then began asking Peter how his dad had been. Carla watched as Peter told the nurse that Ken had been fine, even trying to crack jokes. The nurse seemed satisfied that Ken was doing okay, she nodded and said that she would be back to check on him a little later.
As she left Peter caught Carla's gaze, She smiled at him and took another sip of coffee. There was a moment of silence as Peter continued to watch her.
"What?" She asked suspiciously.
"D'ya trust me Carla?" Peter asked a little warily, Carla frowned
"What d'ya mean do I trust you?" She asked, "Is this cause I was watching you talk to the nurse? I was just being nosy Peter, I weren't spying or out." Peter shook his head at her and said,
"No, I was just thinking about earlier, y'know about what Liz had said to you... about watching me." Peter replied.
"You shouldn't pay attention to Liz, Peter." Carla said shaking her head at him "She was just upset, she's bound to say things she doesn't mean." there was another, slight awkward silence before Peter said,
"I realise that, and I also realise that trust is something I ave to earn back but I was just wondering where I'm at… y'know with you trusting me again.
"Well…" Carla said and she shuffled about in her seat for a moment "If we're comparing how much I trust you now with how much I trusted you before… well before everything happened. I'll be mighty honest with you Peter, it's not the same."
"Okay..." Peter nodded understandingly but he couldn't help but look a little discouraged. Carla saw this look, She got up from the chair and walked around Ken's bed, so that she was now right in front of Peter.
"Peter…" She said as she bent down in front of him, so that she could look right into his eyes properly. He was deliberately trying not to look at her and was staring down into his coffee cup instead because he was actually trying hard not to cry. "Baby look at me." Carla said, taking the polystyrene cup from his hands and placing it on Ken's bedside table. Peter finally surrendered and looked up at her. "Just because I said that it's not the same, it doesn't mean that I don't trust you at all." She said "Peter I feel one hundred per cent at ease when I'm around you, I believe every word you say and I know that when I need you, you'll be ere… I am so ready to be your wife again. Now it may not be the same trust as before but baby, it's pretty damn close." Carla smiled holding onto his hands admiringly. Peter sniffed slightly, almost in tears again, his emotions were already all over the place with Ken but now Carla's little speech had really made him feel as if he was worthy of her love again. "Honestly Peter, we've only been back together for what, a day? And you're already getting emotional on me." Carla said getting up off the floor and wiping his cheek. Peter had to let out a little chuckle, he then took Carla by the waist and pulled her onto his lap.
"A day eh?" He said, moving some of her long brown her out of her face and tucking it behind one of her ears. Carla nodded at him fondly and put her arms around his neck "So… is a day too soon for me to say that I am hopelessly in love with you?" Peter asked, holding Carla around her waist and gazing deeply into her eyes. She shook her head slowly and moved so that her forehead was now rested against Peter's.
"I'd say it's never too soon for me to hear that." She kissed him tenderly on the lips, forgetting that they were sat in a hospital and that Peter's Dad was in the bed next to them asleep, or so they thought. Ken woke up just as they stopped kissing and as Carla said, "And just for the record… I'm hopelessly in love with you too." They kissed again this time but with a little more passion, in fact it was a lot more passion and this led Ken to clear his throat awkwardly.
"At the risk of interrupting something…" He said, Carla giggled and stopped kissing Peter.
"Sorry Ken." She said sheepishly as Tracy entered the room again, She rolled her eyes at Carla, who was still sat gracelessly on Peter's lap.
"Oh really, do you two have to?" She cried, going and sitting down on the chair on the other side of the room.
"So I take it you two are back together then?" Ken asked, still watching Carla and Peter, Peter nodded at his Dad joyfully and then looked back at Carla,
"We sure are."
"Well it's about time, I am extremely pleased for you both." Ken said genuinely looking thrilled for them.
"Thanks Ken." Carla beamed.
"So just how long have you two been a couple again then?" Ken asked because he wouldn't have been surprised if it had been a while.
"Oh about a day." Peter said "We aven't actually told many people yet, so other then Michelle and Steve you two are pretty much the first to know."
"Oh and don't we feel honoured." Tracy said dryly. She wasn't jealous of Carla and Peter, just their situation. The affair with Tony was just a power trip, it was just a physical thing and all that seeing Carla and Peter together did, was remind her of being with Rob. "So does that mean your moving back in with her then?" Tracy then asked because as much as she hated to admit it she'd come quite a custom to Peter being around so much, she enjoyed his company and even having Carla over so much had become a lot fun as well.
"Slow down Trace…" Peter said as Carla's eyes widened at the idea of moving back in with Peter so quick. Carla saw his reaction and was relived that they seemed to be on the same page with taking things slowly.
"Yeah we only got back together yesterday." She added just so that Peter knew she was agreeing with him.
"But speaking of moving out, I wasn't going to say anything and I'm thinking that I still shouldn't say anything but… I was supposed to be viewing a flat tomorrow… the guy who owns it said I can move in as soon as possible so if I like it I'll could be gone by the end of this week." Peter said delicately.
"Really?" Ken asked, "That's truly wonderful Peter, You know I'm really proud of you, for turning your life around so well, I can't understand why on earth you wouldn't want to share this news?"
"Well maybe now isn't the time for me to go and move out, y'know now that you're ill and that." Peter said
"Oh don't worry about it Peter," Tracy spat "I'll just look after Dad on me own, y'know, like I did before when you were living it up in Portsmouth." She folded her arms and just shook her head sadly.
"Tracy don't be so ridiculous," Ken said sighing at his daughter's dramatic-ness "Where is this flat then Peter?"
"Two roads away, if that."
"There…" Ken smiled, "He's not going anywhere Tracy, not really." Peter turned to look at Tracy who was still sulking in her chair.
"Don't think she cares to be honest Dad." Peter said but Carla smirked at him and said,
"Oh I think she does…"
"I think your sister is going to miss having her big brother around." Ken said still smiling. Tracy screwed up her face and shook her head at her Dad's totally ridiculous but totally correct suggestion.
"Oh as if, I'll be well shot of him." Tracy lied, hating that her Dad and even Carla could see that she didn't want Peter to move out. Peter watched her for a moment and then asked with a grin,
"Is that it? Are you gonna miss me?"
"No way." Tracy lied again but even she couldn't keep up the tough girl act, especially when Peter playfully shook Carla of his lap and went over to the chair that she was sitting on.
"Come on Tracy be honest… you're gonna miss me, admit it." Peter said and he gave Tracy a little poke in the stomach.
"Would ya stop." She said, "Okay... okay I'm gonna miss ya!" She screeched, giving in as Peter's pokes quickly turned into tickles.
"Ohhh come ere Tracy." Peter said putting an arm around her "I'm gonna miss you too, if that makes you feel any better." Carla rolled her eyes at the sight before her and looked at Ken
"Honestly, he's only going around the corner."
"Yes well around the corner is not the same as having your older brother in the same house as you." Peter said sitting on the arm of Tracy's chair with his arm still around her. Carla watched them fondly and said,
"Y'know I reckon this is the first time I've seen you two like this?" She said, slyly going into her bag and pulling out her phone.
"Well we ave our moments don't we Peter? especially lately." Tracy said smiling up at Peter lovingly.
"There!" Carla said as she snapped the perfect photo of them, "Just in case no one believes me when I tell em that you two actually get along." She grinned looking down at it.
"I think it's sweet that you two are so close these days…" Ken said "Deirdre would have loved to see you both like this." He sniffed sadly.
"She sure would ave." Carla said quietly.
"And she would have loved to see that you and Peter are back together." Ken said smiling at Carla sadly.
"You think so?" She said as Peter nodded in agreement.
"Oh yes definitely." Ken said, "So what does Simon think about all of this then?" He asked, Carla looked at Peter because she was also interested to see what he had to say on the matter.
"Well I aven't seen him since since, but I spoke to him on the phone last night and he sounded like he was over the moon." Peter said happily, he was still thrilled at how close Simon and Carla had become, in fact Peter was sure that it was pretty much because of Simon that the pair of them had managed to get back together.
Peter tried to imagine a world where Simon still hated Carla and the idea of it was so hideous, that he quickly got up and went back over to Carla, She had been leaning slightly forward on her chair but as Peter bent down and kissed her so unexpectedly, her body went right back almost taking Peter with her.
"What was that for?" She asked grinning.
"I'm just ridiculously happy that's all." Peter said.
"Oh it's a good thing you're moving out if you're going to be as soppy as this." Tracy said rolling her eyes heavily.
"Come on Tracy, it's a real joy to see Peter so happy." Ken said as Peter squashed in next to Carla on the chair that she was sitting on. "I must say I can't believe you've only been back together for one day, it really seems as if you were never apart, did you also find out about this today Tracy?"
"Yeah…" Tracy began but then she remembered something, "I mean, Beth told me that yesterday she walked in on them going at it, at the factory but I didn't realise they were an item again." Ken's eyebrows rose at that last comment, Carla shook her head at him and said
"We were not going at anything, I can promise you that Ken."
"Yeah… chance would be a fine thing." Peter teased, nudging Carla in the side.
"And just what are you nudging me for? You were the one who said you wanted to wait until tonight and look what happened eh?" Carla said.
"Tonight?" Ken asked
"Yeah tonight was actually out first date." Carla said as Peter began sipping his coffee again.
"Ahhh I thought you both looked smart… I think you two should probably get going then really." Ken said smiling at them "After all I'm fine now." Peter and Carla both shook their heads as the nurse came into the room.
"I'm really sorry but I'm afraid you'll have to get going in a bit, you've already stayed a lot longer than I should have let you." She said.
"Oh no, me Dad can't be on his own." Tracy said almost in tears again.
"Now Tracy don't be silly, I'll be fine."
"I'll look after your Dad I swear." The nurse said as Carla and Peter both got up off the chair that they were sitting on.
"Come on Tracy." Peter said going and pulling her up off her own chair.
"Bye Ken." Carla said giving him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye Bye Carla." Ken said hugging her back, he was still feeling rough but he so pleased that Carla had given Peter another chance that he'd forgotten how ill he had felt. Tracy and Peter both said sad goodbyes to their Dad and reluctantly left the hospital.
It was almost ten minutes later and Carla had driven the three of them home in record time. As they all got out off the car Tracy shook her head and said,
"Honestly… I've never seen driving like that in my life."
"I know right." Peter smirked as Carla locked her car, she rolled her eyes as Tracy and Peter talked about her rather reckless driving.
"Errrr I'll ave you know there is nothing wrong with my driving skills thank you." Carla said.
"Yeah right, I mean that was like an audition for the next Fast And The Furious Movie." Tracy said.
"Hey it's not my fault everyone around ere is afraid to reach the speed limit." Carla said as Peter took her hand and Tracy looked over in the direction of her house sadly.
"I guess I'll trudge home on me own then." Tracy sighed thinking about having to spend the night in the house alone, Carla had been watching Tracy and she still couldn't believe that she felt sorry for her. She thought about how much Tracy would be worrying about Ken tonight and it wasn't even as if she could lean on Amy because she was still next door at the pub of course. Carla knew she'd regret what she was about to say but she knew it was the right thing to do.
"No you won't." she said "Peter will go with ya." Peter, who was rather surprised, nodded all the same.
"Really?" Tracy asked, slightly taken aback because Carla and Peter had barley taken their hands or their eyes off each other the whole night and it truly seemed as they couldn't wait to get each other alone.
"Yes really, you shouldn't have to spend the night at home alone, not after everything that's happened." Carla insisted with a smile.
"Are you coming then?" Tracy asked Peter hopefully, he gave her an enthusiastic nod and said,
"Absolutely, just give me a minute to say goodbye to Carla yeah?" Tracy rolled her eyes for about the a thousandth time that night and nodded.
"Yeah yeah." She said she went to walk away but then she stopped, "Bye Carla… thanks for tonight."
"Bye Tracy and you're welcome." Carla said smiling sincerely at Tracy. Tracy gave Carla a little wave and then started walking towards home.
"You…" Peter said, his arms going straight around Carla's waist. "Are... amazing." Peter said, in between kisses.
"Mmmmmm I know." Carla said, her arms going around Peter's neck.
"Hey why don't you come back to mine too?" He suggested innocently, Carla however, wasn't aware of how innocent this request was and smirked at Peter.
"Yeah... I don't think that's such a good idea."
"I just meant so that we could cuddle." Peter said but Carla shook her head again.
"Oh trust me Barlow, Cuddling is a word that is not within in my vocabulary at the moment." She said with a naughty grin.
"So… tomorrow night then?" Peter asked with half a smile, he wanted to go home with Tracy so that she wasn't alone but he was also devastated that his night with Carla was now cut short.
"I'm afraid I've got a date with your son tomorrow night." Carla said. She and Simon had had these plans for the past few months now but this was clearly news to Peter.
"Oh ave you now?"
"Yes, we are going to see the last Hunger Games movie." Carla said as Peter stroked her hair "We've been waiting for this for months and it's been booked for weeks."
"Well you can always come over afterwards…" Peter suggested.
"Know that does sound like a plan." Carla said shivering as it was almost the early hours now. "Right it's freezing so I'm gonna go inside, call me if you hear anything about your Dad."
"Will do." Peter said before reluctantly letting go of Carla. She almost went to walk away from him but then she stopped.
"Ohhhhhh" Carla then whinged, throwing her arms around him in a dramatic fashion. Peter chuckled as she moaned into his chest. "I don't want to go home alone."
"Hey… this was your idea. Remember?" Peter said holding her close. He desperately wanted her to come back to his Dad's with him but he knew that it would probably make Tracy feel uncomfortable if he and Carla were all over each other the entire time.
"I know." Carla complained, letting go of Peter and pouting. "I guess that's what happens when you try to be a decent human being eh." She sighed giving him one last kiss.
"Night love." Peter said softly.
"Night baby." Carla said and she blew him a kiss before walking into her building.
Peter let out a huge exasperated breath before making his way home and as he got there he saw Tracy waiting for him outside.
"You know you don't ave to do this… you can go up there after her, I'd understand." She said. It had been incredibly obvious how much Carla and Peter had wanted to be alone together and she wouldn't have blamed him if he had turned back and gone to Carla's, but Peter just shook his head and put an arm around Tracy instead. "Seriously Peter, I get it, Carla's important to you."
"And so are you." Peter said giving her a brotherly kiss on the cheek. "Come on, lets go in and put the kettle on eh."