Joey, Lauren and Karen arrived back at Joey's house, it was beautiful. they parked up and got out the car, Lauren and Karen looked around them. they drive way was just how Lauren imagined her house to be. she looked over to joey and saw him watching her, she locked eyes with him and smiled slightly before dipping her head to look down. she felt him move towards her so she looked up slowly.

'its beautiful' she said quietly

'its just how we imagined our house being isn't it? I never thought id see the day of you standing in my drive way though' Joey sighed and took Laurens hand.

'lets get inside and have that chat will we?' he moves her towards the door as Karen follows.

They get inside and Lauren is speechless with the inside of the house as its just how she planned, she couldn't move her eyes were fixed on the photo frame on the drawers beside the door. She could hear Karen and joey talking but couldn't answer or move her eyes, she felt her eyes whelm up and picked the frame up. She jumped slightly when she felt someone behind her touch her shoulders.

'its a beautiful photo isn't it? one of my favourites' Joey said quietly.

'I remember that day, I didn't think you'd keep the photos though' Lauren said as she turned to face him.

'why wouldn't I? you were my favourite part of my life Lauren and none of that will change even if you keep trying to push me away' he smirks slightly and lifts his hands to touch her face

'I'm not pushing you away, I wouldn't be here if I was' she said closing her eyes as she leans into his touch.

'I love you Lauren, always have and always will, please lets talk so I can get you back in my life'

'your so sure I want that? its been too long, lots has changed since you left'

'I didn't leave because I wanted to though?'

'you didn't want to be with me, I got your note'

'I didn't leave a note?'

'what? I got it the morning you left' she put the frame down and walked through to the kitchen and sat down with her hands over her face.

Joey watched her from the door way, he had been standing there about five minutes before he spoke again. 'I got made to leave Lauren, I had to protect the women I loved. I didn't know what to do, we were so happy and talking about our future then I got the call that said I had to leave you. Leave behind the only girl I've ever loved and break her heart' Joey moved into the room when he heard Lauren sob, he knelt down beside her legs and took her hands away from her face. 'I came back for you about two years ago, I watched you and saw how happy you were. I knew I couldn't come back into your life and make you sad again. I knew then I had to let you get on with your life and move on just like you had'

Lauren looked into eyes and saw he was speaking the truth, she lifted her hand and touched his cheek. She spoke quietly through her tears, 'I never moved on Joe, how could I? After everything we went through to be a couple and then you leaving I couldn't put my heart on the line like that for someone who didn't deserve it. You know a week after you left, I ended up in hospital and all I wanted was for you to be there to tell me everything was going to be okay but you couldn't and it wasn't' she sobbed as she took his hand and pulled him up to sit on the chair beside her.

Joey looked at her, 'what do you mean it wasn't okay? What happened? I'm sorry Lauren I should never have left you, I should have been there' He lifted her hand in his and kissed it over and over until she spoke

'I lost our baby, I was 20 weeks and didn't even know. What kind of mother does that make me?' She looked down at her free hand and wiped her tears that just kept flowing.

'You would have been an amazing mother Lauren, I don't doubt that for a second. I blame myself for this, I should never have left that would have caused you to stress' He looked up at her and wiped her tears softly. 'please don't blame yourself Lauren, blame me'

'I don't blame either of us Joe, it would have happened even if you didn't leave. He was beautiful you know, looked just like his daddy' she looked at him and smiled slightly.

'I'm sorry I wasn't there for you Lauren, I will always regret that as well as so many other things in my life' He moved closer to her slowly as kissed her lips softly before pulling back and looking into her eyes 'you were so brave and I know you probably don't want to hear this but it makes me love you more than I ever thought was possible'

'I love you too Joe' she kissed him then moved into his arms

Joey and Lauren had been sitting like that for half an hour in their own little world just holding each other. Joey moved Lauren forward to look in to her eyes, 'where does this leave us? you'll be going home soon'

'how about we don't plan anything and just see where it goes. I've got another weekend off in two weeks, we could meet up again and just get to know each other?' Lauren looked into his eyes

'so like the beginning? we start dating again? I could take the weekend off too and come down to Liverpool, maybe take you out?'

'yeah I like the sound of that' Lauren smiles and cuddles back into Joey

A few minutes later Lauren laughs lightly and looks up at Joey

'What?' he said looking down at her

'You know this means you're off the market now and you have a girlfriend' Lauren looks up over her eyelashes to see Joey's face

'You've always been my girlfriend in my eyes beautiful'

With that they sealed the gap between them with a kiss.