Hook, Line & Sinker- This is a sequel to 'Dare To Believe' This is set roughly 2 years after that. You might wanna read that before reading this
Prologue- 10th January 2015
The new year had brought nothing but more existing for 20 year old Lauren Branning who currently had just made the move from the South of France to Central London with her fiancé, 23 year old, Daniel Leighton. Being engaged should be a joyous time, an exciting time as you plan your wedding but for Lauren, it was just a way of moving on, moving on from the life she left 2 years ago.
That morning, she woke up to Daniel making her morning coffee which he had put into her travel mug, giving her it with a kiss on her cheek. She smiled weakly at him.
"So this studio, do you have a good feeling about it, sweetheart?" He asked her, referring to a piece of paper under his hand. Lauren had been looking for a studio, somewhere she could go and draw but mostly to have thinking space, something that Daniel gave her often.
"Yes, this could be the one" She replied, smiling a little, looking at him. He made her feel safe and was everything on paper but he didn't excited her, he didn't challenge her and at the end of the day, she loved him but she wasn't in love with him, he didn't consume her very being.
Planning her 21st birthday was proving a challenge for Alice Branning. Nothing appealed to her and when she had just about had enough, she heard the grizzly cries of her nephew upstairs. She looked at her brother, Joey, who was sat across from her, sighed at the cries and headed upstairs.
At 27 years old, he had hoped he would of achieve something more productive then he had done. Over the past two years he had been in serious denial about the departure of the love of his life, Lauren. He wished it was different, the baby he was currently feeding was hers and he woke up next to her every day, smelling her floral scent, kissing every inch of her body and facing the world together but the baby Joey was holding was his son but not Lauren's. It was his girlfriend's, 22 year old, Hayley Edwards who the opposite of Lauren. Blonde and Shy. She brought the needed sunshine he needed in his life, true to her hair colour but he craved the wonders of the night and all it brought. The wonders being Lauren. It had been 2 years since he saw her, spoke to her, held her, made love to her and had her in his arms. He sighed as he rocked Mason, his son, back to sleep, wishing life could be different...
"Yes, I think this one is perfect. I'm going to take it" Lauren said, on her phone to Daniel, pacing the studio that once had been a flat and looking out across the open windows, that reached the floor, making a mental note to ordered some black curtains and hung up her phone. She had found her safe haven, her thinking space as she opened the window which was also a door and walked onto the balcony, looking out across London.
It had took her a while to get used to the cold, her tanned skin from the warm sun of Southern France would disappear soon and her scars would be more visible. As she looked out from the city, she felt the familiar pull to go to the East End again, visit her family, see Joey but that part of her life was over, she had to be sure of it. Lauren was a new person now. She paced the balcony as her phone rang and smiled when she saw her little sister, Abi, name flash across the screen.
"Abigail! What can I do for you?" She asked, smiling.
"Less of the Sunday name, please. We need to talk" Abi replied, sounding a little scared.
"What's up, Abs?"
"It's Mum. It's the cancer" Abi began to cry "Its back. They don't think she'll make it to Christmas"
Lauren gasped, holding her mouth as tears fell as one of only things she would return to Walford for became a reality...
"Okay, Thanks, Uncle Max, thanks for letting us know. Send our love" Alice quickly hung up her phone, shocked.
"Hey, Al, what's up?" Joey asked, from the doorway, Mason on his hip.
"It's Auntie Tanya. Her cancer is back. They say its fatal this time" Alice replied, sighing, running her hands through her hair. Her brother took a moment to take this in.
"Is there anything we can do?" He asked after a moment.
"No, Abi is letting Lauren know. I don't know how she is gonna take it. She is in France" She replied, standing up.
"Do you think she'll come back?" Joey questioned suddenly, his voice full of hope.
"I don't know, but don't get your hopes up. You have a girlfriend and son now and Lauren will be focusing on her mother if she does come back. So hands off" Alice warned him, pointing her finger at him.
"Actually, it's a case of her keeping her hands off me" Joey said, smirking. Alice shot him a look, raising an eyebrow.
"Fine. I understand. I'll keep my distance" He said after a moment. She nodded and took Mason off him.
"Good, I hope you do. Now get to work. Hayley will be home soon anyways. Mason can spend some time with his Auntie" Alice ordered, smiling, balancing Mason on her hip.
"See you later, Masey" Joey said, kissing the top of his son's head and left...
"Lauren, are you sure about this? We just got the lease on this place" Daniel asked her, as she began to pack her bag.
"Yes. I am. This is my mother, Daniel. I need to be there" She replied, sighing.
"I understand. I'm coming with you of course. I'll get Mark or Henry to take over this place. What about the studio?" He then asked, staring to pack his own bag.
"I signed the contract. I'm gonna need somewhere to go anyways. You know I draw to out my emotions. Last time, I drank myself to oblivion when Mum had her treatment" Lauren replied, remembering her 17 year old self and shuddered.
"Okay, sweetheart, lets get packed then" He said, resting his hands on her shoulders and kissed her hair briefly.
Lauren knew moving back to Walford was a bad idea the moment she started packing but she had to be there for her mum.