When Joey woke up, Lauren was already gone, which, if Joey was honest he hadn't expected her to be there. This was her M.O after every time something had happened between them.

She would flee the scene of the crime.

It was the same when he was 16, when she was 18 and again when he was 21, so really when he thought about it, why should today be any different.

He sighed, as he felt his hopes fading again.

He knew that he couldn't do this to himself anymore.

Maybe once he was married to Lucy these "incidents" wouldn't happen anymore, and he wouldn't wake up feeling this way anymore, well at least that was the plan anyway, he climbed out of bed and he showered, dressed and made his way downstairs to make some coffee.

He could hear someone moving around in the kitchen and when he walked in he was surprised to see Lauren there making breakfast.

This was new. This time she had only fled the bedroom, not the house.

'Morning' she smiled at him 'sit down' she told him pulling out a chair, she poured freshly made coffee into this cup. Joey sat down and he picked up the coffee and took a sip.

'What's all this for?' he asked her

'A thank you for last night and an apology for last night all rolled into one' she told him as she put some toast down on a plate in the middle of the table, followed by crispy bacon and a plate of scrambled eggs.

'Wow this looks and smells great' he told her 'Thanks babe'

She smiled at him broadly 'Well eat up before it gets cold' Lauren told him as she pulled out a chair and took a seat.

Lauren picked at her food but Joey didn't comment, instead he was about to broach what had actually happened and what had almost happened between them last night

'Lauren… about last night..' Lauren cut him off

'No Joey it's my fault' she told him 'I was drunk, as always, and I shouldn't have kissed you like that and I'm sorry' she apologised to him 'It wasn't fair on you or your relationship with Lucy and I promise that it won't happen again' she said and she looked at him over the top of her coffee cup.

'We are both to blame here as much as the other is' he licked his lips 'Don't you think we should talk about why this keeps happening?' he asked her

'We know. I drink too much' she replied 'And I'm going to stop getting drunk all the time and then these…..events… won't happen anymore' she told him

Joey licked his lips and he nodded his head, he looked down at his plate and he pushed some eggs around, he took a deep breath blowing the air out through his lips. 'So what…we agree to forget about it, don't talk about it and we move on?' he asked her

Lauren looked up at him and she hesitated before she nodded

'Yes. Exactly' she smiled at him 'I don't want to ruin our friendship Joey' she told him, she looked at the watch 'Oh I have to go, I'm going to be late' she told him as she took a mouthful of eggs followed by a mouthful of coffee and then she stood up. 'I'll see you later?' she asked him

'Sure. In the Vic at 1:00pm' he replied 'You can buy me lunch' he looked up at her and smiled.

'Deal' she said grinning

He heard her leave and he sighed.

He thought about things.

Yes, maybe he had proposed initially because Lucy had told him that she was pregnant.

And yes maybe he only proposed to do the right thing.

And yes since she had the miscarriage he wondered whether or not he should go through with the wedding.

Every time he looked at Lauren he wondered if he was doing the right thing.

But now.

Today.

After last night.

After the same old conversation that he and Lauren had this morning.

He was certain that marrying Lucy was the answer. He knew that Lauren wouldn't stay over any more and that nights like last night would never happen again.

He was doing the right thing.

He was taking himself out of the equation.

He took another sip of coffee. He was fond of Lucy, yes he had told Lauren that he loved her, he had even told Lucy that he loved her. And he was sure that one day… he would.

He would stand up in the church and in front of his family, in front of his friends, he would marry Lucy. They would have a happy life and maybe even have children, he didn't know. Lucy had said that it was still too painful to talk about after her miscarriage a few months earlier.

Joey sighed and he got up and started to clean up the kitchen. He smiled to himself as he saw that Lauren had somehow managed to use nearly every pan and utensil that he owned. He shook his head.

Okay so maybe Lucy wasn't the girl of his dreams.

Lauren was.

But sometimes dreams were just that.

Dreams.

Out of reach.

Not meant to be.

Just dreams.

Yes, marrying Lucy would solve everything.

AN: So, now you know what happened the morning after.

You know a little bit more the reason that Joey proposed to Lucy… and why he is still marrying her.

You also know that Lauren told Joey she loved him and that he was asleep and didn't hear her, and yes okay she was said it in her sleep too.

Hope you enjoy the chapter

R&R as always. Thank you for all your reviews so far.