'You Don't Get To Just Turn Up Here & Say Sorry'
I had this short one shot idea in my head last night & I decided to write it because it wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it.
Dedicated to my Jouren girls, Laura & Abie, who helped me outside with life drama & it meant alot :)
Lauren awoke on Christmas Day, groaning as the last few day events filled her mind. She checked the time, it was half past 9 and Abi had already gone downstairs. Lauren sighed, rolling onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She didn't want a family Christmas, it was the last thing she wanted. She had drunk wrecked her parents wedding and Joey had left. Nothing made sense anymore. There was a knock on the door and Lauren groaned, placing a pillow on her face.
"Go away, Abi, I'm not coming down" Lauren exclaimed.
"It's not Abi, it's me" Her fathers voice answered through the door. Lauren sighed, chucked aside her bed covers and opened the door.
"Please Dad, I don't need another lecture" Lauren said, groaning as she rubbed her forehead, remembering she had told her father all her current secrets a day and a night ago and she spent most of Christmas Eve in her bedroom in a depressed mess.
"I'm not going to give you one, babe, I just want you to come downstairs, I have something for you" Max replied. Lauren rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her hip.
"You'll like it, trust me" Max added, smiling a little. Lauren groaned, nodded, walked out and closed the door. Max stopped at the bathroom.
"You might wanna freshen up and brush your teeth" Max told her. Lauren narrowed her eyes at him, wondering what the hell was going on but decided that because her father seemed in an extremely good mood, she wouldn't argue with him. 5 minutes later, Lauren walked back out of the bathroom and followed her father downstairs where he then stopped at the living room door.
"In there. I'll give you a few moments" Max said, walking towards the kitchen where Lauren saw her mother, Abi and Oscar. She grabbed Max's arm.
"Dad, what the hell is going?" Lauren asked, still as confused as ever.
"Just go and see, Lauren. I'll be there in a few minutes" Max replied, kissing his daughters cheek and walked into the kitchen. She stared at him and locked eye contact with Abi who pointed at the living room and smiled. Lauren rolled her eyes, sighed and opened the door, not knowing what to expect but she wasn't expecting this. It was Joey, standing in the living room. She just stared at him for a moment then let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and Lauren shut the living room door.
"Is it true? What Mum told me?" Lauren questioned, trying to keep her cool, as she felt hot tears forming as Joey's face was torn.
"Yes, Lauren, I'm so so-" His words were cut off because she had walked up to him and slapped him across the face. Joey held his face as he looked at Lauren who was trying to control her emotions.
"I deserved that. Probably a lot more" Joey commented, looking at Lauren intensely and lifted his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. She was looking down at this point and she looked up him at this action. Their eyes locked and passion flared as they closed the space between them and kissed. Lauren gasped as she forgot how good it felt to have his lips against hers.
"You don't just get to turn up here and say sorry" Lauren whispered against his lips as she gently stoked Joey's red cheek with the back of her hand.
The door opened and they created some space between them as Joey saw her father who smiled a little at them.
"Time for that later, right now, I need to give your mum her present" Max said, letting Tanya and Abi in.
"Your father appears to have a plan and I am worried" Tanya told Lauren, as she sat down. Max laughed as he handed her a box. Tanya looked at him, confused.
"Merry Christmas, babe" Max said, kissing Tanya's cheek. She exchanged looks with her daughters of confusion and excitement. Tanya opened the box and gasped when she saw white material.
"You didn't!" Tanya exclaimed as she pulled out a white dress. A wedding dress. Abi was grinning from ear to ear whilst Lauren looked at Joey then to Max, trying to work out his plan.
"Tanya, will you marry me today?" Max asked, as Tanya stared in awe at her dress. She squealed and jumped up. She nodded as she kissed him.
"Go and get ready then. I want a quick word with Lauren and Joey" Max told Tanya. She nodded, grabbed Abi's hand and they left the room.
"I don't care what my brother has said, if you want to be together, then you have my blessing" Max told them. Lauren gasped, looking from the two of them, confused by this reaction.
"Wait, what?" Lauren questioned, in shock. Max chuckled.
"I want you to be happy, Lauren. If Joey makes you happy, then I'm happy for you" Max replied. She smiled and look at Joey, who was also taking this in. Lauren didn't know where this side of her father had come from but she liked it and she ran to hug him.
"Thank you" Lauren said, quietly to Max. He rubbed her back in a comforting way. He pushed her away and walked towards Joey, holding out his hand. Joey shook it.
"But do anything like this again, I don't care what your intentions are, I won't be so kind, okay?" Max said. Joey nodded.
"Wait, what about Derek?" Lauren asked. Joey looked at her and exhaled deeply.
"You leave my brother to me. Now I believe we have a wedding to get ready for?" Max replied. Lauren smiled and nodded then Max left the room.
"Your gonna ruin the moment ain't you?" Lauren asked, reading the deep in thought expression on Joey's face.
"I don't want to but Derek isn't the type to back down, Lauren" Joey replied, sighing.
"Can we at least face whatever Derek does together please?" Lauren offered him. Joey looked at her for a moment and nodded, holding out his hand. Lauren took it and he pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead.
"Oh, Merry Christmas, Lauren" Joey told her, holding her close. Lauren smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Merry Christmas, Joey" Lauren replied, thinking what a 360 turn had just happened.