As much as Carla didn't want to admit it, she knew she had a problem when it came to alcohol. She was more than capable of sinking a few bottles after work every single evening. That was when she decided she needed more control over her drinking before it was completely in control of her. An alcoholics anonymous meeting wasn't a meeting she ever wanted to attend. She was into more of a business meeting at lunch with a large glass of wine and a getting a contract signed.

Carla had in fact bailed on the first meeting she went to when she realised that Peter Barlow was in attendance. The last thing she needed was everyone thinking she was an alcoholic. She wouldn't hear the end of it if her work force caught wind of this. Peter assured her that he wasn't going to breathe a word to anyone and promised her he'd be there for her before she well and truly hit rock bottom. Carla was reluctant at first, but she knew she couldn't do this on her own.

As the weeks went on, if Carla was feeling wobbly she would lean on Peter for support and reassurance. He was there immediately. It went as far as him lying to Leanne on his whereabouts. He would tell her that he was helping an old friend with their addiction which wasn't a complete and utter lie, he just didn't mention that this friend was in fact Carla. Of course Leanne was skeptical about Peter helping an alcoholic because the last thing she wanted was him to go spiralling off the rails.

12th November 2010

Tonight was the night where Carla's drinking took a turn. She ended up getting arrested for drink driving. It was the opening night at The Joinery, there was booze everywhere she turned. She had no idea how Peter managed not to get wasted when everyone else had a glass in their hand. Carla had been doing well, keeping her drinking under control and not letting it take over. However, the problem wasn't the fact that there was alcohol everywhere and she was struggling to control herself, it was Peter. She was struggling to control herself around him.

The past few weeks where he had been nothing but supportive to her had inevitably made her fall for him. The only problem with that he was engaged to Leanne. Leanne was also a good friend to Carla, so it was completely wrong for her to have these feelings but the more time she spent with Peter the stronger those feelings got. However, it was clear to everyone how much Peter loved Leanne. That was when she decided she really needed a drink. When Peter had turned his back, she swiftly grabbed a glass of wine in hope to numb the feelings. One drink did absolutely nothing so she had another and then another. It was at this point she decided to leave The Joinery as she wasn't feeling a lecture off Peter if he saw her like this.

Carla hadn't actually planned on drinking tonight and had brought her car. Three glasses was barely anything and it would be fine she told herself. Only it wasn't. She had managed to get caught driving under the influence and arrested. She was allowed to call for someone to pick her up from the station and considering Peter was the only one who knew about her drinking, she called him.

Obviously he was frustrated with her at first but knew there must've been more to this as she'd been doing so well. He'd taken her back to her flat and made sure she was alright but he soon began to realise that it seemed like it was something to do with him.

Carla had sat down on her sofa, just hoping that Peter would leave her alone so she could sink a bottle without the lecture. "Why am I getting the feeling you're angry with me?" Peter questioned. Carla looked at him intently before changing the subject.

Peter then began listing off the possible reasons why not driving could be a positive which increased Carla's frustration as he was trying to fix everything. She once again tried pushing him away and for him to go back to the bar. She assured him that she was in fact fine but he knew for certain that she wasn't. He sighed as he slowly walked over to her from the kitchen. "Carla, tell me what happened?" He asked softly, resulting in Carla feeling weak.

"When I saw you at tea time, I was trying to send out a May Day." She said as she could barely look at him. Peter sighed, he was disappointed with himself that he hadn't seen this sooner. He apologised but she didn't want him to be sorry because really, it wasn't his fault.

"Look, tonight I was trying to drown my sorrows, well just one big sorrow." She said as she looked at him. "It's a biggie." Was she really about to confess her feelings for him right now?

"Okay." Peter said softly. "Try me." He wasn't sure what to expect.

"It's you!" Carla admitted. Peter's eyes went wide. "Please don't tell me this is a school girl crush because you're right under my skin and I'm guessing by the look on your mush you didn't have the slightest incline… God, I need a drink." She said as she hurried up off the sofa not wanting to see a disappointed look on Peter's face. Although, if Carla hadn't quickly rushed off, she would've seen it wasn't disappointment that filled Peter. Peter felt as though all his Christmas's had come at once. He never set out for Carla to fall for him but he too was struggling to deny what he was feeling for her, only he kept assuring himself it was Leanne that he loved, until Carla's confession.

A short while later Carla had sobered up and hoped that Peter had left, only he hadn't. He was sitting on her sofa clearly in a deep thought. "You still here? I was hoping you'd legged it." She said as she sat next to him.

"I was waiting for you to sober up." He said.

"There's no point dragging this out longer than it needs to be… Just go back to the bar, I'll get over it." She said as she had sobered up she began to feel more embarrassed with herself and she really wanted Peter to leave to avoid falling flat on her face in rejection.

"Carla, I don't want to go back to-" Peter started before Carla cut him off.

"Look, I already feel mortified so please, just go!" She sighed as she put her head in her hands. Only Peter still hadn't moved. He knew he should leave and go back to the bar where his Fiancee was but he couldn't.

There was a silence that lasted a few moments. Carla still wasn't able to look at Peter. "You know, you haven't actually asked how I feel." Peter said softly, earning a scoff off Carla. "You've just assumed that-" Carla cut him off once more leaving him annoyed.

"That you think I am a right drunken tart, who's life is one complete and utter mess, that has the potential to throw myself at-" This time it was Peter's turn to interrupt her and he didn't do this with words. He did this by kissing her.

The started off slow and cautious at first but it soon began to get deeper. It wasn't until Peter's hands had found her waist that she's realised what was going on which caused her to pull back abruptly. "Peter, what are you doing?" She managed ask as she could feel her lips tingly and wanting more from Peter.

"Carla, you're so gorgeous you're off the scale." Peter said which caused her to blush slightly. "You're incredibly strong and smart and it would've been impossible for me not to have grown feelings for you." Peter said. Carla then felt bad at the thought of Leanne and the fact Peter had kissed her and she'd kissed him back.

"What about Leanne?" Carla asked dryly as tears threatened to escape her eyes. "You're planning a wedding." Peter sighed.

"Leanne is a like a safety net, I guess… I'm not getting any younger and I think somehow we've grown to settle with one another." Peter said not really knowing how he feels about Leanne.

"Do you love her?" Carla asked looking up at him.

"I thought I did… Maybe I don't anymore." Peter said vaguely as he too could now do with a drink to help him calm down.

It was Carla's turn to test the waters so she slowly leaned in and placed a small kiss on Peter's lips. She pulled back ever so slightly but Peter caught her lips, leading them to very quickly, once again share a passionate kiss.

The atmosphere in Carla's living room began to get heavy and hot. Soon they'd began tugging at one another's clothes. There was only one likely outcome to break this atmosphere.

Carla got up onto her feet and pulled Peter with her in the direction of her bedroom. Their lips barely breaking apart. As they reached the room, it was as though everything in the world was right. It wasn't like Peter was engaged and Carla hadn't long been arrested for drink driving. It was something extraordinary.

Thank you if you've made it this far! I truly love Carla and Peter's relationship and i'm going to be so sad when Peter leaves later this year so I thought I'd go all the way back to the start of their relationship and change things up. I hope that you like the first chapter, please read and review :)