Flashback -

March 29th 2014-

Life had became a comfortable pattern for Joey Branning. He was slowly getting through day by day. Distraction came from his girlfriend, Hayley Edwards. He feared she was falling hard for him but he put it at back of his mind. His world fell apart last Christmas when she dropped the bombshell she was pregnant. It was only a year previous that he had to say goodbye to the one thing that made him thankful to be alive and that wasn't even a proper goodbye...

Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb was getting married in 2 weeks and had ordered a stag night to end all stag nights. Joey wasn't a big drinker, he was the one who usually served the drinks but he was aware that the day of Lauren's, the love of his life, 20th birthday and it had put him on instant downer like her birthday did last year to him as well. It made him think of her more, if that was even possible, and the only way he could block out any emotions, was to have a good time with his friends.

Before he knew it, he was what Fatboy called 'rat-arsed' and was strolling home, depressed and in the need of Lauren, badly but he knew he was going home to a pregnant Hayley which made him even more depressed. He walked through the door, trying to be quiet.

"And where have you been?" His sister, Alice, said, crossing her arms, walking out of the living room.

"Sssh, your too loud. I'm going to bed" He replied, holding his finger to his lips before forcing himself to bed where Hayley, currently 5 months pregnant, was waiting for him.

"Good night was it?" She asked, in her cheery tone. He laughed as she helped him get out of his clothes before collapsing onto his pillow.

"Thank you, Lauren. I love you" He said, sleepily before falling asleep. Hayley stared at him, wondering who was Lauren and how long he had being cheating on her...

"You alright, Hails?" Alice asked the next morning, handing her a cup of tea.

"Alice, I think Joey is cheating on me. No wait, I know" Hayley replied, sighing.

Alice narrowed her eyes at the blonde "What? How?" She asked.

"I helped him get to sleep last night and he said another girls name" Hayley proclaimed, sighing.

"And this name being?" Alice asked, taking a sip of her own tea.

"Lauren"

Alice choked on her tea, trying to control her cough. Great, she thought to herself, make it obvious.

"Ah, he isn't cheating on you. Don't worry" Alice finally said, wiping away her mess on the table with some kitchen roll.

"Then who is she? I know don't know anyone called Lauren! The only Lauren I can think of is Tanya's oldest daughter. That's her name right?" Hayley replied, sighing.

"Joey needs to tell you. It's not my place to say" Alice said, her head in her heads.

"Please, Al, you know what he is like. He won't tell me. He'll shrug it off" Hayley replied, desperation in her voice, taking one of Alice's hands.

"Okay, this is gonna sound really bad on your part but Lauren is the love of his life. I say is because he still loves her very much. I'm sorry, Hails. It's the truth" Alice replied, sighing, pulling her hand away.

"What happened then? And where does that leave me and the baby?" Hayley questioned, her hand protectively over her stomach.

"Lauren is a, Erm, complicated person. She, like Joey, had never truly been in love before they met. I mean, they thought they were cousins but that's a different story. It scared her. What she felt. What it meant and she ran. She was a coward and I can say that because she is my cousin. She is amazing, don't get me wrong, I love her to pieces but she ran when the going got tough. You and the baby, are his way of moving on. He loves you, I know that. Just in a different way to the way he loves Lauren" Alice concluded, smiling weakly.

"When did she leave? Because me and Joey have been together since last summer" Hayley questioned, not knowing what to do with this information.

"Not last Christmas but the Christmas before, just before. 2012, what a year" Alice sighed.

"And you say he still loves her?" Hayley questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. I'm sorry. It's not what you want to hear but I need to warn you because there will be a day she returns and if she wants him back, he'll go running to her. You need to be prepare for that" Alice replied, regretfully. Hayley took a deep breath and stood up.

"I need to go to work" She said, quickly before leaving. Joey walked in a few moments later. Alice threw a tea towel at him.

"Hey! What was that for?" He said after jumping because it managed to hit him.

"Last night. You said Lauren's name and I just had to tell to Hayley about her because I knew you wouldn't" Alice replied, sighing.

"Okay. How did she take it?" He asked, as he switched the kettle.

"I don't know to be honest. I know your hoping Lauren returns one day but I hope she doesn't because Hayley and your baby deserve better because I know the day Lauren returns she'll say jump and you'll say how high, breaking Hayley's heart" She replied, before grabbing her coat and left, leaving Joey alone with his thoughts...