Lauren's pov: I patted my tummy. "Lo? Is it true?" Abi shouted up the stairs. I knew she was talking about me and joey taking a break as word always gets around the square. I sighed and stumbled down the stairs nearly falling. I grabbed my jacket which abi noticed to which she asked me "where are you going lo?" I shook my head. "I don't need permission to leave the house do I?" Abi scoffed. "Like that would stop you" she said with a laugh. I gave her a look so she carried on talking "we need to talk about things." I sighed and put my jacket back on the peg. I nodded my head and followed her into the kitchen. She sat down on the chair opposite the door leading to the hallway. I sat opposite her and waved my hand about to encourage her to carry on talking. "Joey. He is the love of your life. You have been so complicated since you came back to the square, always having a problem with a boy. First it was jake cheating on you and you cheating on him with Peter and now finally when you have just got things back on track with joe.. You cut everything off! Why?" I sighed and took my hand in hers, avoiding the question I asked " how did you know we were back together anyway?" She sighed. "Lucy" I said answering my own question to which she nodded to. I sighed and dropped her hand and put my head in my hands. I leaned on the kitchen table with my elbows. "I was talking to lucy when joey walked in minutes later. She was going on about how me and joey were just like mum and dad. She said that I was stupid in other words because I was taking joey back after everything he had done. I mean seriously, he slept with both my friends while I was in REHAB! He doesn't love me abs!" I said crying eventually at the end of my say. She shhhd me and patted my head as she kneeled beside me. "There is no doubt lauren, he loves you. He was a proper mess to get into bed with lucy Beale." She did which made me laugh. I wiped my eyes furiously. I had let Joseph branning get me all emotional again. I wasn't like abi who wore her heart on her sleeve. I was hard as a rock but joey got me crying so much I could make a river of tears. I jumped up from the table and made my way back to the front door. I grabbed my jacket and headed to joeys house, ignoring the calls for my me by abi and now Peter.

"Joey..." I said panting. as soon as i looked at him i burst into tears. He pulled me in for a hug and squeezed me shushing me calmly but I knew he was worried. As he took my hand my heart fluttered. It killed me to say it but, I really did love Joseph branning after all this time and after what he has done.


After taking the last sip of my coffee I has been holding onto since entering his house. Not a single word had been passed since the event at the door. I finally spoke up even though the words caught him off guard he looked pleased I was talking to him and discussing my problems. "I'm pregnant" i said. ignoring these words he completely changed the subject. "I'm glad you came to me instead of turning to the drink" he said. I looked up with tears flowing from my eyes. He sighed and I spoke again. "I am pregnant joey. And I don't know who is the father" I said. He sighed and shook his head. And took my hand in his "I will support you, no matter the decision you make, because I love you." I smiled sadly "you mean it?" J asked now sounding desperate. he kissed my lips and whispered into my ear "what do you think?" i pulled away and checked the time on my phone. "Damn" I said as I realised I only had 10 minutes to get to my appointment at the hospital. "What?" He asked worriedly. "I was supposed to be at the hospital in 10" I sighed and chucked my phone across the room. He looked taken a back by my actions. "Sorry" I whispered under my breath. He didn't answer me, instead he just picked up my phone, jacket and pulled on my hand. I stood up meeting his eyes. He pulled me in close still with the objects in his right hand he put the other hand on my back. He kissed me deeply to which i responded to. "I love you" he mumbled under his breath. I smiled weakly and nodded "I love you too"


Joeys pov: We sat in silence the whole journey to the hospital in the taxi. I took Lauren's hand in mine and squeezed it which she jumped at. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you" I said honestly. She rolled her eyes and let go of my hand moving towards the hospital doors. I just stood there in my own world. She turned her head "coming?" she asked raising an eyebrow. I nodded and clutched her hand. We made our way to the desk, moving out of the way to make room for the unwell patients. "Lauren branning" lauren stated. The woman sat at the the desk nodded and searched around for our appointment. "Just on time" she said smiling. "Room 4. The second to your left" she added pointing down the corridor. Lauren sighed and I followed her, still holding tightly on her hand.

We waited for a minute or so before the doctor entered the room. "Lauren branning?" He checked. She nodded, sighing for the millionth time today. "Lauren, your baby is nice and healthy." She smiled. "Do you know if I'm the dad?" I asked and he sighed.

"We need a DNA test from you please Joseph branning" I nodded and glanced over to a worry looking lauren. "Everything will be okay" I said. She looked still, unconvinced and waved her hand about to lead me into the direction of the door where the doctor was now standing, patiently waiting.


Lauren's pov: I looked around the room. It was white, plain and cold. I felt like I had when I was in hospital for drinking to much, horrible. I wondered how long it was since I had been pregnant, how old was the baby? If It was 3 months (ish) that would mean that I was pregnant when I was drinking heavily. What if the baby had been effected by the drink? What if it was joeys? What if it was joes and he's my cousin, so that would mean some effects (insest) on the baby, right? So many questions were floating around in my head I was unaware the doctor and joey had now entered the room. I saw then the worried looking look on joeys face. I put a hand to my mouth to stop the sob leaving my mouth. "I can reveal the dad is..." "The baby's okay?" I interrupted . The doctor nodded and i let out a breath.

Joeys pov: it was me, I was the dad. I smiled and a huge breath i didn't know I was holding until now came out of my mouth. I chuckled and threw an emotionless lauren into the air. "I will give you some time on your own while I get the nurse to come and talk you through the pregnancy and give you a picture of your baby, that's if you want a scan?" The doctor said smiling politely. I nodded and lauren smiled an unbelievable smile to him. As he shut the door I asked "what's up with you? I'd thought you'd be happy! Or did you want Peter or that jake to have your baby?" I asked raising a brow. She shook her head. "Do you want a baby?" I asked cautiously. "It just... It changes everything joe! How do i know you won't hurt me again? Run away when times get hard? Because it won't just be me you'd be leaving." She said rubbing her tummy. I sighed and took her hand "not a chance in the world I would leave you!" I said smiling. She kissed me lightly when the nurse came in "oh, sorry!" She said. Lauren shook her head quickly "its fine" I giggled at her words and expression. She went red as I carried to laugh gently, but I soon stopped as she hit my arm playfully. The nurse spoke up "if you could lay on the bed please." Lauren moved at the ladies words. "It's going to be cold" she said smiling. I chuckled as lauren jumped "oooh" she mumbled as the gel was moved around her belly. I looked at her proudly holding her hand. "So... Are you going to keep it?" She asked wearily. I knew the answer but i was worried as lauren said nothing. The nurse turned to me as I frowned. "Miss branning?" She asked lauren. Lauren shot her head in the woman's direction "mm?" She questioned. The nurse laughed as I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Do you want to keep the baby?" She asked again. Lauren turned her head to me and raised an eyebrow. I smiled and shrugged. She nodded excitedly. "It's nearly a month old" the nurse said. Lauren smiled.


"I'm going to be a mum" lauren said gasping as we made our way out of the taxi which had stopped infront of the queen vic. After along talk from the nurse going through all the options and looking at the scan picture over again and again and again, we agreed to have a relaxed drink at the pub. I smiled and chuckled "you are indeed. And I am going to be a dad." She laughed. We walked hand in hand into the pub. We saw lucy, Peter, Whitney, and surprisingly jake at the bar sat together. Peter caught Lauren's eye and sighed. I smirked and made my way to the bar "a beer, lemonade and a pack of crisps please. Plain crisps." I said smiling at Tracy. I felt Lucy's gaze burn into the back of my head but then her attention turned to lauren. "You want a photo of me or something?" lauren mumbled to lucy. She pouted as I smirked. Lucy came up to her and slapped her across the face. I knew lauren would try and get revenge but for the baby's sake (like the nurse said) she needed to take care of herself and relax. Not to be stressed or anything like that, I noted. I pulled Lauren's arm back to her side as she put it up into the air to get revenge on the bitch. She looked at me and nodded. Alfie moved to the end of the bar ready to separate the two and maybe tell us to leave as it was best. I paid Alfie his money and lauren picked up her lemonade and I grabbed the pint of beer I had and the crisps we were to share. She sat down dramatically and lucy scoffed.

Peter made his way out of the pub with jake hot on his heels.

Peters pov: "sort him out!" Jake screamed at me as we made our way to the alleyway. I nodded and sighed. "I don't know how to though" I tried to explain. He chuckled evilly. "Well it's lucky i do then isnt it?" He asked.. I sighed and rubbed my temple. "My old mates from where I used to live are visiting this weekend. Sort him out with them. Your on a mission James bond. Here's your weapon" he said handing me a gun. I forced it back into his hand. "No way am I shooting someone" jake smirked. "If someone told you to stay away from a girl that they loved and they were armed. Would you even want to doubt that they will shoot?" He asked. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, he was gone. What was I going to do? I held the gun tightly and pushed it into my pocket and made my way home.

Okay so then it was just me (jacquelinejossafan698) doing this chapter as laurenandjoey (my partner in crime) was unavailable for this chapter. But we will be back for the last chapter. Okay, so we have some options. Tell us on twitter or in the review section what you think Peter should do.

Option 1: go to the police station and get the police involved?

Option 2: tell joey about this or/ and lauren?

Option 3: go ahead with it.

And one final question:

Do you want lauren and joey to live a happy life on a high note. OR do you want a cliffhanger? Tell me on twitter (jacqwitts_ and lauren_and_joey) or in the review box. Thanks again. Xx last chapter. Thanks again for all your support and lovely comments on this story. And a big thanks to laurenandjoey! Xx