It was the day after the karaoke night and after a rather public declaration of love, Carla and Peter were more loved up than ever. They had gone back to Peter's flat in the end and were still there at three pm the next afternoon.
They hadn't been dressed long, If you could call being wearing their PJ's being dressed that is, and were cuddled up on the sofa watching an old black and white movie when Peter's door opened.
It was Simon, followed by a shy looking Santana and even shyer Carmen, Santana's little sister.
"Hi Dad." Simon said smiling at his Dad and Carla, who had actually fallen asleep in Peter's arms from the moment the film had started.
"Alright Si…" Peter said quietly as he closed the door. Simon and Santana were supposed to be doing a round of crazy golf but Peter had guessed that they had obviously thought against it when it started to rain heavily.
"Yeah… we decided to give golf a miss, as it's raining n all." Simon said closing the door behind them.
"Hello Mr Barlow." Santana smiled, she was holding her little sisters hand tightly as they stood awkwardly by the door. "I hope it's okay that we are here." She said worried that she might be intruding especially as Carla looked incredibly peaceful as she lay in Peter's arms.
"Of course it is and please… Call me Peter." Peter said giving her and her little sister a welcoming smile. Carmen who was wearing a red raincoat and her shiny red wellington boots was still clutching on to her sister as they made their way further into Peter's flat. "Hello Carmen." Peter said to her.
"Hello." Carmen said quietly.
"You remember Peter… Simon's Dad, don't you Carmen?" Santana said bending down and taking off Carmen's red raincoat.
"Yeah course, we went on the rides together at the fireworks… that's Carla isn't it." Carmen said looking at Carla and wriggling out of her coat, she was dressed adorably, in thick black tights, which were underneath blue dungarees and a white long sleeved top. Her dark hair was loose around her shoulders but she had a sparkly sliver Alice band in it to keep it from falling in from of her face.
"Yes it is." Santana said smiling as Simon took off his coat and then hung up hers and Carmen's too.
"I didn't know you were going crazy golf as well Carmen." Peter said, he still had a fast asleep Carla rested against him and he didn't want to wake her up so he was still talking rather quietly.
"Huh!" Carmen said loudly, forgetting that she was meant to be being quiet.
"Shhhhh Carmen." Santana said bending down to her little sister's level and putting a finger up to her lips.
"Sorry." Carmen practically whispered with a cute little giggle.
"It's alright." Peter grinned, "I said I didn't know that you were going to crazy golf as well." He said a little louder this time so that Carmen could hear him better.
"I wasn't going but my Mummy had to go to work and there was nobody to look after me." Carmen said quietly to Peter. "Our big sister has gone to grown up school far away in London so she can't look after me anymore." Carmen then glanced at her sister and said, "Tana didn't want me to come to crazy golf."
"Oh I'm sure that's not true." Peter said looking at Santana who was standing with Simon.
"It's not." Santana said sighing and rolling her eyes.
"It is! You wanted to be alone with Simon so you could kiss him." Carmen giggled.
"No I didn't!" Santana almost shouted going bright red.
"Shhhhh Tana!" Carmen said putting her own finger up to her lips this time in the same fashion as Santana had done only moments ago.
"You shhhh!" Santana said still embarrassed at what her little sister had said in front of Peter. He had tried not to laugh at the situation but as Carmen comically stood there with her fingers on her lips, his mouth couldn't help but curl into a smirk.
"Do you two want a drink?" Simon asked Santana, trying to get the subject of conversation off him and his girlfriend kissing.
"Yes please… Carmen do you want a drink?" Santana asked,
"Yes please." Carmen nodded.
"I'll ave a coffee if you're offering Si." Peter said,
"I wasn't…" Simon grinned but he was joking as Carmen looked as if she was deep in thought, "Do you want some juice or something Carmen?" Simon asked her, She thought for another moment and then looked at Peter, who she had worked out was the one in charge.
"Do you have hot chocolate here?"
"We sure do." Peter nodded,
"Can I have a hot chocolate with some milk?" She asked, Santana shook her head worried that Carmen was maybe crossing the line but Simon nodded at her and said,
"Of course... Two hot chocolates coming up."
"Oi… don't forget my coffee." Peter said as Simon went into the kitchen to begin making the drinks. Santana followed him as Carmen began staring at the TV Screen, she watched what was happening for a while and put her head on one side as Peter asked,
"Something wrong Carmen?"
"Yeah… I think your TV is broken." She said frowning, not able to understand why everything was in black and white.
"Why's that?" Peter asked with a grin.
"The colours not working on it." Carmen said, climbing up into the armchair that was next to Peter's sofa.
"That's because it's a very old film." Peter said to Carmen, "It was made a very long time ago when they couldn't make films in colour."
"Like in the olden days?" Carmen said with her head on one side again but this time she looked as if she really understood what Peter was saying.
"Sort of." Peter said looking down at Carla who was still snoozing in his arms.
"I know… it's like the beginning of The Wizard film, the one with the yellow brick road." Carmen said with her eyes wide.
"Yes it's like that, only this film doesn't go colour it stays black and white." Peter said.
"Me and Tana love The Wizard film, don't we Tana!" Carmen called into the kitchen, once again forgetting to be quiet. Santana nodded at her little sister and said,
"Shhhhh Carmen… Carla is sleeping. Carmen nodded and then turned back to Peter, who was still smiling away at the endearing little girl who was sat on his armchair. She looked at the television one more time and then at Carla.
"This must be a very boring film." Carmen said, Peter chuckled at her as she nodded to herself, "Yes… I think that's why Carla is sleeping."
"Carla's just very tired that's all." Peter grinned, leaning forward and kissing Carla on the forehead. "She had a busy night."
"Why what was she doing?" Carmen asked as Simon brought her a hot chocolate over, this thankfully diverted her, especially since Simon had even sprayed some whipped cream on the top of it.
"Wow… what do you say Carmen?" Santana said and practically on cue Carmen said,
"Thank you Simon." She licked a bit of cream of the top of her mug and then put it down on Peter's coffee table. "Delicious." She said precociously and nodding as Simon put a coffee down for his Dad on the table.
"Thanks Si." Peter said as Carmen was studying his TV again. He watched her amused and eventually she turned back to Peter and asked,
"Do you have the Disney channel?"
"Carmen." Santana laughed as her sister was so cheeky at times and it wasn't taking her very long to make herself comfortable.
"I'm only asking." Carmen said. "Do you?"
"Yes I do." Peter laughed pointing at the remote control. "Go on… you can change the channel if you want." Carmen jumped up immediately and got the remote. She knew the exact numbers she needed to put the Disney channel on and jumped for joy when she saw that her favourite TV Show was on. "Yay! Sophia's on." She cried.
"Carmen for the last time would you shhh!" Santana said putting a finger up to her lips, "You'll wake Carla up."
"Sorry." Carmen said sitting back down on the arm chair. Peter watched as a little princess in a purple dress began singing on screen and when he looked at Santana properly he noticed how tired she looked, her eyes were puffy and she had dark circles underneath them. He wondered if she was okay and was planning on asking her but she and Simon stayed in the kitchen whispering away to each other, whilst Carmen bounced away on the chair to her favourite show.
It wasn't long before Simon said nervously said,
"Dad we're going to go into my room for a bit… If that's okay?" Peter nodded at his son but gave him an authoritative look all the same, one that said you can go into your room but you will be under strict supervision at all times. Their sex education talk the other day had definitely opened up Peter's eyes to just how much his son already knew and even though insisted that he and Santana only kissed, Peter was talking no chances.
"I'm gonna stay here Tana." Carmen said, like she had any choice in the matter but not taking her eyes off the TV.
"Be good Carmen." Santana nodded at her followed Simon into his bedroom. He closed his door half way and left his Dad and Carmen in the living room with Carla.
"Do you have any biscuits?" Carmen asked Peter with her politest tone of voice. Peter grinned and gently got up from the sofa so that he didn't wake up Carla, he had rested her head on a pillow and pulled a blanket up and over her to make sure that she stayed cosy whilst he went on the hunt for some biscuits.
"I think I've got some Oreos somewhere." Peter said as he went into his cupboards and procured a packet of Oreos. "Ere we are." He handed them to Carmen, who looked thrilled and said another,
"Thank you." She took a biscuit out and bit into one as Carla stirred on the sofa. "Hey look… She's waking up." Carmen whispered for the first time, as Carla opened her eyes and sat up straight.
"Hi Carmen." She said tiredly but still with a warm smile on her face, Peter looked lovingly at Carla and made his way back to the sofa where she was sitting, he knew how taken she had become with Carmen at the fireworks display a few weeks back and that she'd probably be thrilled to see her again.
"Hi!" Carmen said with a mouthful of cookies.
"Where did you come from then?" Carla said to Carmen as Peter sat back down on the sofa and put an arm around her.
"Me? I come from England." Carmen said not quite understanding what Carla had meant. Carla and Peter both laughed at her as she dipped one of her biscuits into the cream on her hot chocolate. "Mummy had to go into work… she helps old people and sick people and one of them is very very sick. Tana and Simon are in there." She said pointing over to Simon's bedroom door.
"I see." Carla said looking over at Simon's bedroom door. Peter leant in towards Carla and said,
"They've not been in there for long… Si actually left the door open of his accord." Carla gave him a quick kiss after checking that Carmen had her eyes on the TV.
"What happened to that movie you put on?" Carla whispered to Peter when she saw what Carmen was watching.
"Oh it was deemed boring by Carmen… And by you apparently." Peter said tucking some hair behind her ear.
"I was not bored… Just knackered and can you blame me?" Carla said smiling and remembering just how much sleep her and Peter had got last night. She looked over at Carmen who was licking an Oreo that she had spilt down the middle. "Peter, she is so cute."
"I know…" Peter grinned, "Look at her little dungarees." He said as Carmen bit into her biscuit, she was well aware that the two adults in the room were watching her and decided to play up to this.
"Mr Peter." Carmen said with an adorable little smile,
"Yes Little Miss Carmen…" Peter said, sure that this little four year old had something up her sleeve.
"Ave you and Carla watched Frozen before?" She asked innocently enough but Carla and Peter both knew this was a hint rather than a question.
"No we haven't." Peter said much to Carmen's surprise and also to her delight, one of her favourite things to do, was to make her family members watch Frozen and since she had got through all of them, Peter and Carla were next on her list.
"Y'know sometimes they ave it on the Sky Box… we have it on ours." Carmen said casually although it was clear that she was desperate to watch her favourite movie.
Sure enough, Peter was pointing his remote at his television, browsing the movies that were available on demand and looking for the film Frozen within minutes. He found it and Carmen jumped with joy as he selected the film and said that they could watch it.
"I ave a feeling I might regret this." Peter said as the film had only been on for a few moments before the first song had started.
"Awww but look how happy you've made little Carmen." Carla said, watching as Carmen actually got off her chair and started marching along to the music. She sang along word for word just as Santana soon appeared in the living room.
"Oh god…" She said, shaking her head at her little sister, "Simon I thought you said you didn't have Frozen ere." She called into Simon's bedroom.
"We don't." Simon said confused as he walked into the living room also.
"Oh but we do now." Peter said, nodding towards his TV, "Carmen just happened to mention that sometimes it's on SKY demand." He said with an eyebrow raised.
"Of course she did." Santana said smirking. They all laughed as Carmen continued to march her way around the living room, over and over again until the first song had finished.
"Just how many times has she watched this?" Carla asked as Carmen sat down on the armchair and stared at the screen devotedly.
"Oh I dunno like a million." Santana said sighing but still watching her sister with a look of love.
"Tana come and sit down." Carmen said waving her big sister over, "Come on quickly… before Do You Wanna Build A Snowman comes on." She begged. Santana looked at Simon who just grinned at her and said,
"Go on… you know you want to."
"Fine… but only because I haven't actually seen it in ages..." Santana said as she squashed next to her little sister on the sofa.
"Sure… and I bet you just happen to know all the words to all the songs as well." Simon quipped from the kitchen as he went to wash up the cups that they had been using, Carla turned to look at him with a grin and then gave Peter a nudge,
"You do realise he's morphing into you right?" She said, Peter chuckled proudly and nodded at her, he still had an arm around her and pulled her close to him happily. He was still unable to believe his luck, he had Carla back, his own place and Simon truly seemed as if he was happy too. As they all sat and watched the Disney movie together, it really did seem as if life was perfect.
Carmen continued to adorably sing her way through the film and even Santana joined in with some of the songs too. Carla watched as Carmen snuggled up with her sister and felt a slight pang of jealously, wishing that she'd had a sister when she was growing up. She'd had Rob of course but she'd always wanted a sister, someone bigger who could have looked after her, just like Santana was doing for Carmen.
Family seemed to be a huge theme of the movie and the further they got into the movie Carla and Peter both found them-selves transfixed by what was happening on screen. They even gasped out loud at one particular part of them film and found them self, chuckling away at another.
Just the movie finished Peter's phone began to ring, he answered it to find that it was Ken and he was calling to invite everyone to dinner. Peter looked at the kids and then at Carla who was sat right next to him in her pyjamas, they all looked rather settled where they were and Peter wondered if they should maybe stay home after all.
"Well I've kind of got a house full at the mo Dad." Peter said watching as Carmen started on the Oreos again. Santana leant and took them off her saying,
"No Carmen you've had enough."
"Tana I'm hungry." Carmen wailed, making Peter decide that maybe they should go round to his Dad's because at least that way he wouldn't have to cook.
"Y'know what Dad, we'll be over in an hour or so okay." Peter said hanging up the phone.
"We'll be where in an hour?" Carla said watching Peter who got up off the sofa and pulled Carla up with him, "Peter…" She giggled as he put an arm around her.
"Me Dad wanted us to come over for a Sunday roast…" Peter said and then he nodded towards Carmen and Santana. "You too girls."
"Oh do we ave to, I love your Dad but I was aving fun ere." Carla said slightly disappointedly.
"Yeah me too but it's either that or me and you will ave to cook." Peter said knowing full well that Carla's reaction to that would be.
"I better get dressed then." She grinned.
In the end, Carla had to go home and get some dressed because the only clothes that she had a Peter's place was the outfit she had on last night and she said there was no way that she was being seen in the same outfit again and that she'd meet Peter and the kids at his Dad's house.
Peter took the kids to Number one and introduced his Dad to Santana and Carmen. They had already met Tracy at the fireworks and Amy at school so it didn't take them both long to feel welcome and at home. Carmen was sat playing with Eccles whilst Amy, Simon and Santana were sat at the table chatting about the next party that they were going to so Peter went in the kitchen to help his Dad and Tracy with lunch.
"So how was last night." Ken asked as he poured some boiling water into a pan for the vegetables he was cooking.
"Good…" Peter said putting his arm around Tracy, "Really good actually." He said smiling and remembering how well she and Carla had been able to get on with each other.
"Tracy?" Ken said, watching her to make sure that she was on the same page.
"Yeah it really was." She said nodding at him.
"Good. I am so glad that you both had fun." Ken said still loving the fact that Peter and Tracy were getting along so well these days. "And it sounds like the kids had fun at this party too." Ken said as he'd already spoken to Amy about the party that they had attended last night.
"Yeah they haven't stopped talking about it, apparently she's having another one for Christmas?" Tracy said, "These kids ave a better social life then the three of us put together."
"Speak for yourself." Peter said nudging her,
"Dinner's going to be ready in a minute or so, Where's Carla?" Ken asked.
"She went home to get dressed, she didn't want to wear what she wore last night, you know what she's like." Peter said rolling his eyes.
"Remind me why you two aren't living together again?" Tracy said because she thought it was ridiculous that they both had separate flats seeing as they had spent almost every single night together since they had reconciled.
"Because we are taking things slow." Peter said, "I mean we've only been back together two weeks Tracy."
"Speaking of Carla..." Ken said as he checked the potatoes that he had put in the oven. "Isn't it you two's wedding anniversary on Friday?"
"Yes it is." Peter nodded, amazed that his Dad had remembered the exact date.
"So… are you doing anything for it?" Ken asked, Peter shrugged and looked behind him, to make sure that Carla hadn't come in without any of them noticing it.
"Well… we haven't really spoke about it really… I ave been thinking about doing something though." He said,
"But?" Ken said because Peter's tone suggested that there was something bothering him.
"It's slightly awkward really." Peter said,
"Errrr Why?" Tracy asked,
"Well we've been married for what, two years…? But how do you celebrate a wedding anniversary when you haven't even been properly together for half that time." Peter asked. Ken and Tracy both kept quiet because neither of them knew what to say to each other. "Yeah… Thanks you two, very helpful." Peter said with a sigh.
There was an awkward silence in the kitchen as the door went, Simon went to answer it and let Carla in. She came into the living room with a huge smile on her face and when she walked into the kitchen she knew that something must have been going on by the looks on Ken, Tracy and Peter's faces.
"Is… everything okay?" She asked,
"It is now." Peter nodded at her and gave her a quick kiss.
"Hello Carla, thanks for coming." Ken said with a welcoming smile. Tracy gave Carla a quick smile too and then went into the living room. Carla still thought something was up but decided she'd leave it for now.
"Can I help with anything Ken?" Carla asked although they all knew Carla could barley use her own oven let alone anyone else's.
"No thank you dear." Ken said politely turning down Carla's offer, "It's nearly ready and I reckon you should go in there n get a seat at that table because it's going to be pretty packed by the time the food is ready.
Five minutes later, as Ken began brining in all the food, Tracy and Peter decided to try and sort out the seating situation.
"How about if we have all the adults at the table and all the kids on the sofa and armchair?" Tracy suggested because she was not about to be eating a full sunday roast on the sofa, not if she could help it anyway.
"Hmmm I reckon Carmen should probably sit at the table to be honest." Peter said looking down at Carmen who was still playing with Eccles. "And Santana I mean they are guests after all, if me n you ave the sofa n armchair then maybe me Dad n Si can sit at the table with them."
"Errr what about me?" Carla said from the sofa, "Aren't I a guest too?"
"You?" Peter scoffed,
"Please, Carla at this point you are part of the furniture." Tracy said amused. Carla laughed and had to agree at letting the kids sit at the table seemed like the fairest thing to do.
As Carmen and Santana sat down at the table with Simon, Peter took a plate for him and a plate for Carla as they were sitting on the sofa.
"Thanks baby." Carla said with a grin as Peter sat down next to her.
"Thanks Mr Barlow." Santana said as Ken gave her and Carmen a plate of roast potatoes, chicken, vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and some gravy.
"Oh you can call me Ken." Ken said smiling.
"Thanks Ken!" Carmen said, picking up a fork and tucking into her food straight away.
"It looks amazing." Santana said almost laughing at her little sister who already had a mouthful of chicken.
"Yeah thanks Granddad." Simon said, he was sat happily in between Amy and Santana, so pleased to have a nice family meal with everyone, he only wished that Leanne could have been there too but of course, she was at work.
The room was alive with chat as everyone got going on their roast dinner, the three almost teenagers spoke about the party last night, Ken listened in as he was sat at the table with them but was soon engaged in a conversation about books with Carmen who had noticed how many Ken owned.
Tracy, Peter and Carla made their own conversation about the karaoke night and as they were almost finished their meal, Peter innocently asked,
"So Carmen… What did you do whilst your big sister was out partying last night?" Carmen shuffled about in her seat for a bit and didn't answer Peter. Santana watched her sister for a minute and then gave her a little nudge.
"Carmen?" She said, "Peter just asked you a question."
"I know…" Carmen said looking down at her plate.
"So answer it." Santana said getting slightly irritated by her sister's rudeness.
"I don't want to." Carmen said quietly.
"Why not?" Santana asked,
"It's fine." Peter said cautiously as he could tell something wasn't quite right with the way Carmen was acting but she continued to speak anyway,
"Because you're going to get cross with me." Carmen said still looking down at her plate. Santana looked concerned and put down her fork,
"I won't… I promise." She said staring down at her baby sister.
"I… I made Daddy a birthday card and a present." Carmen said finally looking up at her sister.
The adults in the room all wondered why this seemed to be something that Carmen was ashamed of but Simon and Santana looked at each other and then back at Carmen.
"Why did you do that?" Santana asked,
"Because it's his birthday soon."
"No it's not." Santana lied but her sister was way too wise to believe her.
"Yes it is. I know it is. It's the first day of the Christmas month and I know that that day is soon cause Mummy got me a Frozen chocolate calendar. That means when I open it, it will be Daddy's birthday." Carmen said. Santana who was astonished at her sister's good memory, cleared her throat and said,
"But Carmen you know that we won't be seeing Daddy on his birthday." Carmen sniffed and nodded at her big sister forlornly.
"I know… but I can send it to him. I just need his address." Carmen said with four-year-old hope.
"We don't have his address…" Santana said awkwardly.
"Why where is he?" Amy asked but Santana, who was getting more and more upset, got up from the table and said,
"Could you excuse me for a moment?" She walked down the hallway and out the Barlow's front door, leaving Ken, Tracy, Carla, Peter, Simon and Amy all confused.
Carmen on the other hand looked very upset, she put her fork down onto her plate as the front door slammed shut, then she burst into tears. Peter got straight up off the sofa and scooped Carmen up off the chair. Her legs and arms went right around him as Simon got up and ran after Santana.
"Shhhhh Carmen, it's okay." Peter said as Carmen sobbed onto his shoulder.
"Tana is cross with me." Carmen said in between sobs.
"No she's not." Peter said rubbing Carmen's back sympathetically. Carla watched as Peter tried his very best to comfort the distraught little girl that was in his arms. It always warmed her heart to see Peter interacting with children and Carmen was no exception.
"Yes she is… she always gets cross when I talk about Daddy… She thinks he is not coming back but he is… he's only gone away for work, he told me so on the phone." Carmen said still in tears.
"Well if your Daddy says he'll be back I'm sure that he will be, especially when he's got a beautiful little girl like you to come home to." Peter said as Carmen rubbed her eyes. She sniffed hard, looked down at the adults who were left in the room and then hid her head by putting her face on Peter's chest again. It was very clear to Peter that she was suddenly very aware that she was sort of in a room of strangers and that she was probably feeling a little embarrassed. "Hey Carmen guess what we've got for pudding?" He whispered in her ear, Carmen shrugged and didn't move her face from Peter's chest. "Ice cream." Peter said, "Do you want to come into the kitchen and help me serve it?" he asked. Carmen nodded and wiped her eyes once more.
"Okay." She said. Peter smiled at her and took her into the kitchen so that he could wipe her face and get the ice cream ready.
Meanwhile, outside Simon found Santana sat on the bench outside Audrey's salon. He smiled to himself as he walked over to the bench where he had shared many chats with his Dad and Carla in the past. He didn't say anything as he sat down next to Santana who wiped at her eyes.
"Sorry." She said, "I didn't meant to be rude I just needed to get out of there for a second."
"Don't be silly, you weren't rude." Simon said shaking his head, he watched his girlfriend for a moment and then asked, "Santana… what's wrong." She hesitated for a moment and then bit her lip. "Remember, you can tell me anything." Simon added.
"My Dad's in prison." Santana said quietly.
"What?" Simon said, "You told me he went away for work."
"I know I did." Santana sighed, "I'm sorry Simon… I just didn't want to tell you… I was too embarrassed to say where he really was." Simon put an arm around Santana and said,
"You don't need to be embarrassed Santana." He said, he of all people knew what it was like to have a Dad who was in jail but then he remembered that he hadn't actually told Santana about that yet. He had told her everything else, about his alcohol problem and about Tina but not actually that his Dad had spent time in prison. He wished he had done now because than maybe Santana wouldn't have felt so embarrassed about it. "My Dad's been in prison." He said, deciding there was no time like the present.
"What?" Santana said staring at him, "When?"
"Last year…" Simon began, "In fact he's been in there twice... I now exactly what you're going through right now and I promise you it gets better." Santana gave Simon a relived look and wiped her cheek again as a tear dribbled down it.
"How come you never told me that?" She said and Simon shrugged.
"I dunno… I mean I told you everything else didn't I? I guess I just didn't want you thinking that my Dad was some sort of criminal, he were wrongly accused… what did your Dad do?" Simon asked, Santana looked down at her hands and shook her head,
"I don't know… Mum won't tell me, she said Dad doesn't want us to know. All she said is that he's got four months. Carmen doesn't even know he's locked up. She thinks he is away working." Santana said sniffing.
"Oh right…" Simon said, "Hey… four months ain't that bad… me Dad got fifteen years."
"What's this My Dad's dodgier than your Dad?" She asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Oi…" Simon chuckled, "I told you… he were wrongly accused."
"I know." Santana grinned, "Your Dad is lovely… your whole family is lovely actually. It's so nice to be here today, at a proper little family meal."
"Shall we go back in there then?" Simon asked. Santana nodded and kissed him on the cheek before getting up and heading back to Ken's house.
They both walked in the living room to find, Carla still sat on the sofa, Tracy on the armchair, Ken at the table with Amy and Carmen carefully walking out the kitchen carrying a bowl of ice cream. She gave it to Amy and then looked up at her big sister.
"I'm helping." She said proudly. Santana bent down and kissed her sister lovingly on the forehead and said,
"You are such a good girl Carmen." Carmen smiled at her and put her arms around her, holding her close and feeling glad that her sister didn't seem so upset anymore.
"Sit down Tana and you Simon… I will get you some Ice cream." Carmen said excitedly, Santana and Simon both did what they were told as Carmen turned around and said, "Two more Ice creams please Peter!"
"Coming up." Peter's voice called from the kitchen.
"Sorry for just walking out like that." Santana said to Ken.
"Don't even worry about it… everything is fine as long you're okay." He said, "Are you okay?"
"Yes." Santana said smiling at Ken and then at Simon. There hands were clasped together underneath the table and it was only Carla who could see this, as she was sat across the room on the sofa. She smiled a heartfelt smile at them as Carmen came bounding into the living room with a bowl of ice cream for her sister.
"Yours is coming Simon." Carmen panted dramatically as if she was out of breath because after all, she had just handed out four bowls of ice cream.
"Thanks Carmen." Simon grinned as Carla got up off the sofa and went into the kitchen. Peter was busy scooping Ice cream into a bowl when Carla pinched him on the bottom.
"Oi…" Peter chuckled, ice cream scoop in hand.
"That kid of yours is totally turning into you." She said, Peter turned around and almost went in for a kiss as Carmen came back into the kitchen,
"I need one more Ice cream." She said,
"Two more." Peter said, Carmen looked down at her little fingers as if she was working something out and said,
"No… just one more for Simon."
"And what about you?" Peter said handing her two bowls of ice cream.
"Oh yeah… silly me." Carmen said giggling.
"You sure you can handle those?" Carla asked as Carmen made her way into the living room,
"Course I can… I'm dead strong... I eat all my veggies." Carmen said, Peter and Carla both watched her as she gave Simon his ice cream, he gave her a high five as she sat down next to him on a chair and began eating her ice cream.
"Santana looks like she has cheered up." Peter said closing the ice cream tub,
"Yeah… I don't know what Simon said to her but what ever it is it's definitely done the trick." Carla said as Peter went to put the Ice cream away. "You not having any then?" she asked, Peter shook his head but Carla frowned at him and took the tub. "What? You love ice cream." She said opening it.
"Nah… I'm stuffed love." Peter said but Carla still got a spoon out of the draw, "Carla… I don't want any."
"Yes you do." Carla said putting the spoon into the ice cream and then raising it to Peter's mouth. "Open." Peter did what he was told and let Carla feed him some ice cream. "They were holding hands under the table y'know."
"Who Si and Santana?" Peter asked, Carla nodded at him and took some more ice cream out of the tub and giving it to Peter.
"Yep." She said, "It were dead cute..." Carla said leaning in and kissing Peter softly. "And so was the way you picked up Carmen...although I gotta be honest… I did get a little bit jealous."
"Did ya now?" Peter asked with a smile.
"Yeah… I did." Carla said as she leant over chucked the spoon in the sink.
"Well maybe I'll pick you up like that later eh?" Peter said as she put her arms around his neck.
"Mmmmm I'd like that." Carla grinned before leaning in and kissing Peter again.
"Oh I so can't wait until this honeymoon period of you two's is over." Tracy said as she came into the kitchen to put her bowl in the sink.
"Yeah yeah, don't hold ya breath Tracy." Peter said kissing Carla again. Tracy rolled her eyes at them and went back into the living room leaving them to it.
Once everyone had finished their ice creams and Carla and Peter had finished their little kissing session, Simon had fished out some playing cards and it wasn't long before their was a highly competitive game of snap going on at the dining room table between, Tracy, Peter, Simon, Amy and Carmen. Whilst they played, Carla insisted doing the washing up. She hated washing up with a passion and normally didn't want to ruin her nails but she wanted to do something to help especially as Ken had been the one to cook the meal.
Luckily for Carla it was only the ice cream bowls that needed washing as Peter had already done the plates and pans earlier. Carla was in the middle of washing up when Santana came into the kitchen.
"Carmen's bowl." She said handing it to Carla with a smile.
"Thanks babe." Carla said, taking the bowl and beginning to wash it. It didn't take Carla long to realise that Santana wanted to talk about something but was obviously finding it difficult to get started. "D'ya wanna dry these bowls for me?" Carla asked.
"Yeah sure." Santana said taking a tea towel, she dried up the first bowl and then said, "Carla…" Carla stopped washing up and looked at the almost thirteen year old that was stood before her.
"Yes?" she asked as Peter walked into the kitchen.
"Opps am I interrupting something?" he asked looking between Carla and Santana.
"I'm not sure…" Carla said looking at Santana, who smiled nervously,
"No… of course not." She said, "I was just going to say thank you for looking after me and Carmen today."
"Oh don't be daft, it's been fun." Carla said whilst Peter nodded along with her.
"Well we both really appreciate it, especially Carmen. She needs stuff like this y'know." Santana said yawning.
"So do you by the looks of things." Carla said, "You look as if you need a good nights kip as well." Santana nodded at Carla whilst she began drying up the rest of the bowls.
"I haven't been sleeping much lately." Santana admitted, "It's been quite hard at home... My big sister Gabby's gone to UNI in London so I've had to watch Carmen a bit more when my Mum's at work and... and I've been worried… about my Dad." She said awkwardly, she looked at the two loving adults that were stood in front of her and bit her lip, she wanted to tell them, she wanted to tell Carla especially because she hoped that maybe Carla could speak to her Mum and maybe offer up some advice. Whist her parents weren't together Santana knew that her Mum still cared about her Dad and that Carla must have still cared about Peter when they had spilt up. "My Dad's in prison." Santana said bravely.
"Okay." Peter said slightly taken aback, Carla on the other hand nodded, she had guessed something was up earlier and the thought of Santana and Carmen's Dad maybe being in jail had come to mind.
"Carmen doesn't know about it, she thinks he is away working… I don't think he did anything really bad as he only got four months but I still worry about him." Santana said.
"Have you not been to see him then?" Carla asked.
"No… Mum says that he's in one of those more relaxed prisons, one where Carmen wouldn't even be able to tell where we were and where we could say Dad's on a lunch break or something but… it's me… I don't want to go but I know that Carmen is really really missing Dad." Santana said, finishing the drying up and then looking at Peter. "Is prison… really bad Peter?" She asked, "I know it sounds stupid but… is it?" Peter thought about lying to Santana for a moment, he thought about saying that Prison wasn't so bad and that her Dad would be fine but he decided that Santana wasn't a little kid who could be fobbed off with some prison fairytale, the truth was probably better.
"I'm not gonna lie, Prison is tough, really tough but from what it sounds like, your Dad's only got a small sentence and whilst I don't know the guy, I do know that if there is one thing that will get him through it… it'll be seeing you and Carmen." Peter said,
"I know that you're probably thinking that it'll be really scary in there but it won't be…" Carla said, "Trust me… I've been there… plenty of times and also trust me when I say the moment you see your Dad, you wont be scared anymore… you'll just be so happy to see him."
"Carmen would love to see him." Santana said as a tear ran down her cheek. "So would I."
"Then what are ya waiting for girl… when you get home tell your Mum that you wanna see him asap." Carla said reaching over and putting an arm around Santana.
"Okay... I think... I will." Santana chuckled hugging Carla tight.
"Good." Carla said, Peter smiled at the sight before him and as Santana let go of Carla and went to hug him, he said,
"Our Simon's got himself a right little keeper ain't he?"
"Thanks." Santana giggled before hearing her little sister screech,
"Tana! Come and play with us." Santana smiled before going into the living room to join her sister and boyfriend in a game of snap.
As it got later it became clear that Carmen was beginning to get tired, She went and sat on the sofa next to Carla and Peter and was nodding off when Santana's Mum had phoned to say that she was on her way to pick them up.
Juliana arrived at almost eight Pm and was welcomed into Number one to meet Ken. She stayed for a cup of tea and finally took Carmen and Santana home at half past eight. They both hugged everyone goodbye and it wasn't long before Carla Simon and Peter decided they needed to go home too. After a lot of long goodbyes and walking back to Peter's, Carla snuggled up against him whilst Simon walked slightly ahead, texting away on his phone and talking to Santana.
"Mmmm I had a great day today baby." Carla said happily as they turned the corner onto Peter's road.
"Me too." Peter said with his arm around her, "Can't believe it's almost December."
"It's not is it?" Carla said frowning, "Already?"
"Baby it's the first on Tuesday." Peter said as they got to his front door.
"No way." Carla said as Peter opened his door, "Can't be." She grinned,
"Can't be what?" Simon asked wondering what Carla was so surprised about.
"It's December on Tuesday?" Carla said walking into the flat.
Peter laughed quietly to himself whilst Simon and Carla talked about how quick the year had gone and as they went upstairs he decided that he definitely had to do something special for his and Carla's wedding anniversary.
I hope you enjoyed that chapter, I know there was a slight lack of Carter action but I wanted us to get to know Santana's family situation a little :)
Let me know what you think and thanks to all those who are still reading this every week.