Joey knocked at the door to number 5. He should have come up over sooner really, but Alice was so upset and he had to sort her out. Tanya opened the door "Oh darling it's you, come in. "alright Tan, can I see Lauren please?" Tanya moved into the doorway of the sitting room about to tell Joey to go on upstairs when "No you can't." "What, Abi darling. Don't be silly. He wants to see Lauren." Joey was surprised Abi didn't want him to see Lauren; he thought she liked him but maybe the whole secret relationship thing had upset her.

"Well he can't. I won't let him. She's upset and it's his fault." "Wait, what? What's my fault? Let me see her" "Abi darling, move off the stairs. I think Joey and Lauren need to sort out whatever's going on."

"No. Dad!" Abi was stood in the middle of the stairs to stop anyone coming up when she screamed for Max, who came quickly from the kitchen. "What? Abi what?"

"Tell him; tell him he can't see her." Abi was really angry and upset at this point, close to tears. Tanya went to argue back with Abi but Max stopped her "Why Abs? Tell me why and I will." Max wanted to see want his youngest daughter's reasons were, it wasn't like her to get so upset and to be defending Lauren.

"He made her cry. She was upset, and he wasn't here. Stop being his uncle, stop being his friend. She's your daughter. And he's her boyfriend, and he made her cry. Don't let him come up" And with that Abi turned around and went back upstairs.

"Teenage girls and their dramatics ay, go on up Joey?" Tanya said before Max stopped her "No wait a second. Maybe she's right Tan. I haven't even seen Lauren. If he's properly upset her, then we should keep him away for a bit?

Joey mate, I know you love her otherwise I wouldn't have let this carry on, but I know Lauren. And I know Abi, if Abs is being all mama-lion protective; it usually means Lauren's too upset to defend herself so Ab does it for her. Maybe its best you come back in the morning ay?"

"Finally making the right choice." Abi called down for upstairs, where she'd be sat, listening in whilst keeping an eye on Lauren still.

"Alright, Abi babe, you've made your point this time." Max called up to her, not annoyed though, more amused actually, it was rare in the Branning house that it was Abi being defensive and sarcastic.

"Just looking after my sister. Just like he was, instead of looking after his girlfriend" Abi called down before heading back into her and Lauren's bedroom.

"Is that what this is about? Max, Tanya, I had to sort Alice out. I didn't realise Lauren was even upset and Alice literally had no idea, and after Dad, I needed her to be okay, you get that right?" Joey said worriedly.

"I do get it. Lauren probably does too Joey. She's not stupid. Probably just hurt. You had good intentions, but your actions still hurt her" Max said, feeling bad for the lad, but still not willing to let him go see his upset daughter. He took on a more serious tone though "Nephew or not, you're in a relationship with my daughter and I don't want to see her hurt by you after tonight. Got it?"

"Yeah. Got it. Just tell her, tell her I'm sorry. That I'll come find her in the morning and that, that I love her, aight?" Joey said, feeling awkward telling her dad, his uncle this. "I will. Night Joey"