"Come on in." Lauren stepped aside allowing Joey through the entrance. "Everyone's in the livingroom. Follow me." Lauren walked into the livingroom with Joey close behind. After small talk with family and friends, Joey was settled and talking with eveyone. "Joey, you should've seen Lauren's daughter, Rebecca, she's adorable" Fatboy said, everyone agreed.
"Well I'm glad you guys like her." Lauren laughed, but Joey seemed shocked. Upset even. "That's okay, I'll meet her another time. How long are you in Walford for Lauren?" Lauren turned her head to Joey "Three or four weeks. I finally have some time off and I missed home, so we'll be here as longs as we can."
Joey and Lauren exchanged awkward glances throughout the next hour, until everybody was exhausted and decided to head out. "Thanks for coming. I missed you guys." People were headed out the door left and right, except Joey. The only sound in the room were the goodbyes of their family and friends.
"I should probably go." Joey said getting his coat and heading for the door. "Wait, it seems like you just got here. You can stay for a while if you'd like." Lauren had missed Joey deeply and wanted to at least find out how he's been. These couple years had definitely been good to him. "Okay." Joey said putting his coat back down. "Damn, I almost forgot. I have to tuck Rebecca in. i'll be right back." Joey smiled "Take your time."
Lauren ran upstairs surprised to see Rebecca still awake "I thought you'd be asleep." Lauren walked up to the bed Rebecca was lying in. "I was waiting for you, me and grandma watched a movie." Tanya signaled to Lauren that she was going to bed. "Sounds like it was fun. I love you." Lauren lifted the blanket up to Rebecca's chest. "Love you too, mummy." Lauren placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead. "Goodnight, sweet dreams." Lauren walked to the door and shut the light off "Sweet dreams." Lauren took one last look at her daughter before leaving the room and closing the door. She walked back downstairs to where Joey was.
"Do you want to go into the kitchen?" Lauren motioned towards the kitchen door. "Sure." Joey and Lauren silently headed to the kitchen, sitting at the table. "How have you been, Joey?" Lauren looked at Joey's face. "I've been good. Came home a few months ago, I just needed a break." Lauren smiled at Joey. "I didn't know you had a daughter."
"Yeah, she's amazing. I love her so much more than I thought possible. I would love for you to meet her." Joey chuckled when she said she wanted him to meet her daughter.
"And I would love to meet her, her name is Rebecca, right?"
"Yeah."
"Where's her dad?" Lauren suddenly got nervous. She couldn't tell Joey now, what would he think? How would she tell Rebecca?
"He's... out of the picture. Just me and her."
"Oh." Joey seemed to regret asking. It was silent for few minutes until Lauren spoke up.
"He doesn't know."
"What?" Joey was confused
"Her dad. He doesn't know about her."
"Why?"
"He was- is better off not knowing."
"How do you know? What if he wanted her?" Joey seemed concerned for Lauren and her daughter.
"Well he didn't want me, so he probably wouldn't want a daughter with me." Lauren's voice was just above a whisper now.
"Does she ask about her dad."
Lauren laughed "All the time. She has his eyes and hair, she reminds me of him."
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah me too."
Lauren and Joey talked for two more hours about what they had done over the past six years. They felt like they had never left one another even though neither would admit that to each other. "I should go, it's passed midnight." Lauren was a little dissapointed he had to go but she understood, she was tired from the long day she had. "Okay, Joey. Maybe we could get coffee sometime tomorrow. You can meet Rebecca." Joey smiled and laughed. "That sounds great. I would like that, and i would like to meet this little girl that you've described as "your angel"" Joey said the last part in a voice he thought sounded like Lauren's "Funny." She nudged his shoulder.
They walked to the front door. "Goodnight, Joey." Lauren opened the door. "Goodnight, Lauren." Lauren pulled him into a hug. "It's nice to see you again." Joey smiled and pulled out of the hug, even though he didn't want to. "You too. Here, before I forget." Joey handed her his phone and she put her number in it.
"Text or call me. We'll talk about coffee."
"Got it. See you tomorrow."
"See ya tomorrow." Lauren watched as Joey walked to his car and drove away. About twenty minutes later when she had just gotten out of the shower her phone vibrated.
"Just got home and now you have my number. Night, Lo. Sweet dreams."
Lauren blushed, Joey Branning was making her melt without even knowing it.
"Goodnight, Joey. Sweet dreams."
That's when it hit Lauren, that not being with Joey was the empty feeling in her heart. "I still love him."