SO this was a one shot turned 3 shot that's now 4 or 5 because I've got carried away oops ! I hope you like !

"Lauren come on Get up will ya please… half your days gone already!" Max yelled up the stairs, trying to wake his eldest from her comatosed state. "Half four she staggered in this morning Tan… Half four? I mean I know she wants fun, but that twice this week already and it's only Wednesday." Max scurried about the kitchen clattering the mugs and dishes in the sink.

"Eugh, what's all the noise for?" Lauren slumped into the chair her head falling to the table.

"For god's sake Lauren… Look at the state of you… you're a mess. This… this has got to stop. No more partying till three in the morning. No. you need to get your act together. Your 17 Lauren, start acting like it" Tanya noisily rattled about in the cupboard. "There's a mess in the bathroom… which I think belongs to you… clean it up" She slammed a mop and bucket on the floor causing Lauren to shudder as the noise hit her head. "I mean it Lauren"

"YES MUM!" she yelled picking up the cleaning stuff and storming off up the stairs.

Tanya and Max Looked at each other and winced at the door slammed shut upstairs. "could have gone worse… Just make sure she packs the rest of her case will you, I'm needed at the salon." Tanya kissed Max and waved bye, once again leaving him to deal with a hung-over stroppy teenager.

Taking the plunge Max knocked on Laurens door, it had been an hour since she'd woke so he guessed she'd be a little more welcoming. "Lauren, can I come in" He heard a slight grumbled response. "Got you a coffee" he place the mug on the side and looked at his daughter. "Are you ok?"

She nodded and smiled up at him "Yep, I'm really sorry dad, I didn't mean to get so drunk, I don't know why I did it" She looked up into her dads eyes, he could see the tears in them "I've cleaned the bathroom and finished packing"

"You know we only moan because we love you" Lauren nodded "We don't wanna see you get hurt babe"

"I know, I am sorry Daddy" Max kissed his daughters head and wiped her tears. "I've messed up haven't I ? Mum hates me?" she sighed looking at the floor, unable to keep eye contact with her Dad.

"Your Mum Don't hate you babe… she just doesn't like to see you wasting your life, your so clever and you're not using it… but Let's just forget about it ok, enjoy the next week away from here. Have some fun just us 5 Branning's ay?"

"Don't forget Dad, We aint all Branning's, it's only you that's a Branning – us lot are still Cross's remember?" She questioned smiling.

"Ye It's about time you changed them back" Max Laughed. Tanya had changed her and the kid's last names when they first got divorced, and in true Tanya style she hadn't had time to get the papers signed to change them back to Branning. It wasn't that Lauren minded she quite like being a Cross, it seemed to have less pressure than carrying the burden of the Branning name.

*JL*JL*

5:30 came around way to quickly; the house was alive already, with last minuet organisations and panics. A 3 year old Oscar ridiculously excited to by going on a plane for the first time, was running around the house much to Laurens annoyance. She felt pretty rubbish, a hangover had built over the last few days and she was feeling the full force of it now- that and the prospect of spending an entire week with her parents, with no escape route, was quite depressing.

"Lauren come on Taxi's here" she groaned as Oscar ran down the stairs almost knocking her over in the process.

"ahh, Osc watch were you're going will you" The little boy shot an apology over his shoulder and continued to speed through the house. "7 days of this- Great" she mumbled, dragging her suitcase down to the Taxi.

"Jeese Lauren We're only going for a week." Max teased as he heaved her case into the boot. "Get in then" Lauren settled into the seat, immediately shutting out everything with her earphones, in an attempt to stop herself being sent insane by the 20 repetitive questions from Oscar.

*JL*JL*

As expected the wait at the airport and flight itself dragged for an eternity, opting for what she thought would be a safer option she decided to sit away from her parents on the plane. There were three seats in a row, so she and Abi sat across the aisle. Not that she wasn't expecting someone to sit in the spare seat by her, I mean of course they would it was a paid for seat. She just didn't expect the person that did to have this instant effect on her.

He was young, probably only a little older than she was, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. The T-shirt clung to his body highlighting his perfectly formed muscles. Her eyes glazed over him a couple of times as he sat next to her. She swore he was smirking. Quickly averting her gaze she shoved her ear phones back in and turned to face Abi. She wasn't trying to be rude, but he'd got her feeling rather flustered.

*JL*JL*

The innocence and comfort showed on her face as she slept, all senses of worry and stress seemed to have vanished. It was strange really, she never slept on flights, she simply couldn't do it. But right now she stretched and realised for the first time, she'd fallen to sleep on a flight, not only that it had probably been the best sleep she'd had in a long time, but she didn't know why.

"You missed you're breakfast" a soft voice spoke, she didn't recognise the voice for some odd reason. She cracked an eye open and shot up back into her seat. She'd somehow fallen to sleep on this strangers shoulder. He hadn't seemed to have minded though, from what she gathered she'd slept for a good 2 hours which meant only half hour of the flight left.

"I'm so sorry" she said, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I don't know why I fell to sleep I never sleep on flights" The stranger smiled at her shaking his head.

"It's no problem honestly, I was sleeping myself, I woke and saw you asleep on my shoulder, I didn't want to wake you, and your sister said you'd been tired so I didn't see a problem"

"Well I'm sorry anyway, and I owe you thanks you seem to be very comfortable to sleep on, I've not slept that good in a long, long time, actually where is my sister ?" he again smiled and pushed a few things onto her lap.

"I'm glad I was of some assistance then, she's gone to sit with your parents, something about Oscar's on your Mum's lap… you should eat, we'll be landing soon and you missed breakfast." Lauren nodded and took the wrapped crackers, spreading them and eagerly eating. "I take you're on a family holiday then?"

Lauren nodded and held her finger up to him a second why she continued to chew and swallow. "Ye, Mum, Dad, Sister and brother, you?" She was actually interested in him, he was happy to talk to her and it didn't seem awkward despite only meeting him properly all of 5 minutes ago.

"On my own flying out, meeting some of my mates, bit of a lads holiday, but couldn't come out 'till now 'cus of work. Sorry, I feel really rude…" He extended his hand out for Lauren to shake "I'm Joey by the way"

Lauren grinned at him "Nice to meet you Joey, I'm Lauren" they shook hands smiling, Lauren slightly blushing at the contact. "So…" she was cut off by the plane announcement they would be landing. She went tense and Joey could see the fear in her body.

"Lauren?" he questioned as she sunk into her chair.

"Sorry I'm not a fan of taking off or Landing, I usually just close my eyes and put my earphones in , kind of block it out. I don't want to be rude…" She swallowed deeply and looked at him.

"You wouldn't be being rude, you could always just hold my hand" He offered his hand to her and she didn't hesitate in taking it. Her grip was pretty tight but Joey just chuckled. "Just look at me ok" She nodded and stared deep into his eyes. "Now count to ten… One , two…" They reached about 7 when the plane jolted and landed.

"Was that it ?" she asked frowning, Joey nodded and smiled slightly.

"Ye babe, that was it" He hadn't intentionally called her babe, it had just naturally rolled off his tongue. "Nothing to have worried about ay?"

"No" she giggled, and realised she was still gripping onto his hand. Joey caught her looking at their entwined fingers, but instead of breaking the contact, he gently swept his finger across her knuckles.

"I should give you my number… if you want, we could meet up whilst your out here… might get you away from you're a family a bit … I mean you don't have to"

"No, I'd really like that, I can give you my Facebook account, and you can message me? Sometimes my messages don't work properly abroad" Joey nodded and gently slid his hand from hers to reach his phone.

"What's you last name?" he flicked through his phone reaching the internet quickly,

"Cross" Lauren replied doing the same with her phone "Yours?"

"Bennett… found you" he showed the screen to her making sure he had the right one.

"Yep that's me…right so you're now added too"

"Lauren, come on…" Her Dad called as people were starting to vacate the plane. She quickly picked her bag from the floor and watched joey intently.

"I'll call you" he smiled leaning over and unexpectedly pulling her into a hug. "I'd really like to get to know you" She pulled away from the hug.

"I think that can be arranged… bye… oh and thanks again" she scurried off In the direction of her parents, Oscar reaching for her hand. Instead she picked him up tickling him as they walked along the walkway into the airport.

"Someone's in a better mood" her Mum teased, Lauren was completely oblivious to what her Mum was saying, her eyes too busy trying to seek Joey out again. They were waiting for the final suitcase when Laurens phone buzzed.

Joey: Nice suitcase ! Hope to see you soon and have fun

Lauren turned round to see Joey standing at the opposite end of the conveyer with some of his mates, who'd obviously met him there. He saw her look and smiled.

Lauren: Thanks! Hope to see you too, I still need to thank you properly for letting me sleep on you

"Lauren… you still with us or what?"

"Hmm?" she looked up to see her Mum with the last case

"I said you seem happier now?"

"I guess this holiday might not be as bad as it first seemed"