Just a little twoshot what I've had in my head for a few days :) Enjoy :)

Lauren woke up with a smile on her face, feeling the arms of her boyfriend and cousin wrapped strongly round her waist. She tried to move out of his grasp, but he clamped a hand round her thigh, making her shriek with laughter.

'Where are you going?' Joey asked, kissing her neck and trailing his hand up and down her thigh, getting higher every time. Lauren rolled onto her back as Joey climbed on top of her, kissing her, not caring about their morning breath. His hands gripped her waist, and he flipped them over, so she was on top. Lauren broke the kiss and sat up; sweeping a hand threw her hair and glancing at the clock.

'I've got to be at work in ten minutes' she groaned, climbing off Joey grabbing her dressing gown, throwing over her t-shirt clad body, the t shirt been Joeys and headed for the bathroom. After washing her face and cleaning her teeth, she head back to her room and got out something suitable for work. A pair of black jeans and a white t-shirt of Joey's tucked in with a black belt and her black heeled boots later, along with her make up and she was ready. She headed downstairs quickly and saw Joey buttering two slices of toast. She rushed forward, nicked a slice, pressing a kiss to his lips, as she did so.

'OI! That was mine, babe!' he shouted after her, although the response he got was her laughter and the front door slamming shut...

Later that day, Joey was watching TV, when he decided to make a coffee. He paused the movie and headed for the kitchen. He ate a biscuit before chucking the wrapper in the bin. He picked up the coffee and starts to head back to living room, before he stopped and turned back to the bin. He placed his coffee down on the table and picked a envelope out of the bin. He saw it had been ripped open and curiosity got the better of him, his eyes widening as he read the letter...

Lauren yawned behind the Vic bar, making sure Alfie didn't see her, as she didnt want him thinking she was staying out all night, as she had only been working there three weeks, and slightly jumped as Joey suddenly appeared in front of her, looking seemingly angry.

'Hey babe, what do you want?' she asked, smiling

'An explanation' said Joey, looking at her intensity. Lauren frowned until Joey placed the letter down in front of her, on the bar. She sighed and picked it up, reading it over again.

'Lauren, I'm waiting' hissed Joey, trying not to cause a scene. Lauren sighed.

'Okay. On a whim, I was looking at scholarships abroad in art... as I wanted to try somewhere different where I could learn new stuff at the time. I thought my chances where really slim when I applied...' said Lauren, shrugging her shoulders

'Well, obviously they weren't... were they, Lauren? When the hell were you going to tell me?' Joey asked, sounding a little hurt that she hadn't confided in him.

'Never. Because I'm not going...' she said, turning to serve a customer. Joey waited until the customer had gone, before continuing to talk to her.

'What do you mean you're not going? Lauren, its a once in a lifetime opportunity! You'll be mad to throw it all away!' Joey exclaimed. Lauren rolled her eyes, placing her hands on the bar, leaning towards him.

'I don't care! There's no way I'm leaving my family and friends, but more importantly, you here!' said Lauren, before walking down the bar to serve some more customers, leaving Joey dumbstruck...

A week later, Lauren entered an empty house after a late night shift. Joey was working at R&R, Max and Tanya had gone to London for the night, Abi was at Jays and Oscar at Jack and Sharon's. She entered the living room and sat down on the sofa, switching on the TV, before she noticed something on the table for her. An envelope. She reached forward and opened it, scanning the contents before anger started running through her veins, as the pieces connecting in her head. She heard the door slam shut and Joey entered the living room.

'Hey babe. You okay?' he asked, smiling. Whatever greeting he was expecting, he wasn't expecting a slap round the face. He touched his cheek gingerly, as he realised she had found the letter.

'You found it then?' he asked

'YOU WENT BEHIND MY FLAMING BACK! YOU WENT BEHIND MY BACK AND ACCEPTED THE OFFER?' Lauren screamed

'Yes, I did' said Joey, folding his arms and looking at her. Lauren scowled.

'Why would you even do that?' she said

'Because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you, Lauren! You can't honestly tell me you haven't thought about it since you applied?' said Joey, catching her eyes. Lauren thought for a minute.

'Well... warmer weather would be nice, and the clubs and the sights there would be amazing, the beaches...' Lauren trailed off, slipping into a daydream. Joey smirked slightly.

'NO! I'm not going, Joey! I'll just call them and tell them to give my place to someone else' said Lauren, heading for the phone, but Joey grabbed her arm.

'Lauren, you'll regret it later in life... trust me. I don't want you to do the same. I want you to make something of your life, do something your proud of' said Joey. Lauren looked at him and sighed

'But my home, my friends?'

'This place will always be your home, babe... wherever you are. And youll make new friends, baby. Trust me, babe. You'll forget about Luce and Whit and make new friends' said Joey, wrapping his arms round her waist, and pulling her flush against him.

'Well, as long as I have you by side, then I'll go...' said Lauren, smiling at Joey. Joey swallowed and looked at her.

'Won't you?' asked Lauren, faltering

'Baby... I can't come with you...' said Joey. Lauren stepped away from him, tears in her eyes.

'What do you mean?' she asked

'I cant come. I've Alice here. What if something bad happens to her and I'm not there to protect her? What if she needs me, Lauren?' he asked. Laurens mouth dropped open

'What about me? What if I need you?' she said, allowing the tears to trickle down her cheeks.

'You wont need me, babe. You'll meet new people, fall in love with someone and make a life...'

'I want that with you!' said Lauren, cutting Joeys sentence off. His eyes widened slightly

'Excuse me?'

'I want to make a life with you. Not someone else... you' she whispered, pressing her forehead to his. Joey closed his eyes and sighed.

'Babe...' he groaned. Lauren saw what he was going to do in his eyes

'Joey, don't you dare. We'll make it work. We'll Skype and call and text everyday...' said Lauren, panic evident in her voice.

'Babe, you know it wont be the same... you know that' said Joey, pulling her to his chest and hugged her tightly, vowing not to let his tears fall.

'I'd better go' he said, wanting to get away and let go of his emotions in private. He pulled out of Laurens hug and headed for the door, wanting to get away. However, Lauren pulled him back to her and planted a bruising kiss on his lips. Joey placed his hands on her shoulders.

'Lauren... babes... don't...' said Joey, between kisses, trying to push her away

'If this is... if this going to be our goodbye... just stay the night, please.. please' Said Lauren. Joey looked at her and slightly nodded. He followed her up the stairs, realising that by the end of the week, she couldn't be here. They reached her bedroom and Joey grabbed her arm roughly, spinning her round and kissing her roughly. Her back hit her bedroom door and she moaned. Joey opened the door and slammed it shut, tearing her t-shirt over her head and reconnecting their lips, Lauren knew that he was facing up to the fact that she wouldn't be here by the end of the week. She ripped his shirt off, pressing their bodies together, as she pushed him down onto the bed, straddling him.

'You're so beautiful' whispered Joey, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Lauren smiled and leant back down to kiss him roughly, her hand trailing down to his belt and undoing it slowly, teasing him...

Two days later, Tanya was clinging to Lauren like a lifeline, as Lauren said her goodbyes to her parents. At first, Tanya and Max had been reluctant to let her go so far away, but as Lauren pointed out, she was an adult and it was the first step she was going to take to make something of herself, despite her broken heart.

'Tan, let her go... Tan, let her go...' said Max, praising his wife off their daughter. Abi hugged her sister goodbye, her eyes filling with tears. Abi drew back quickly, and wiped her eyes as Lauren reached to hug her Dad and Uncle Jack

'Take care, Lauren' said Jack. Lauren nodded and moved to hug Lucy and Whitney.

'Promise us, you'll keep in touch?' asked Whitney, pulling away from the hug, her eyes glistening with tears

'I promise' said Lauren, smiling weakly, and turned to head back to the taxi which was taking Lauren to airport.

'Lauren, are you sure you don't want me to take you?' asked Max. Lauren shook her head

'No. I don't want change my mind when I'm about to board the plane, plus it'd be harder to say goodbye to you all... said Lauren, as she opened the cab door. Tanya and Max nodded in understanding and Lauren took one last look behind the Square, her eyes connecting with Joeys, who was looking out of his bedroom window, looking visibly upset. She sniffed and climbed into the taxi, shutting the door and watching the scenery pass by as she exited the Square...

R&R :D X