Thank you so much for the reviews on the last chapter :) X

The next morning, Lauren woke up, smiling when she saw she was wrapped in Joey's arm, protectively. She lifted her head off his chest and smiled. She brought her hand up to gently stroke his face. She smiled as she felt slight stubble, as her fingers brushed over his jaw.

'It's rude to stare, baby' he said suddenly, making Lauren jump.

'How long have you been awake?' she playfully scolded, smiling. Joey chuckled and pulled her onto of him, frowning as he saw her dressed in his t-shirt.

'You weren't wearing this when we fell asleep' he said, fingering the hem of his t-shirt

'I wanted a drink in the night, so I threw it on' said Lauren, leaning down to kiss him. He groaned and ran a hand through her hair, holding her by the neck to keep her lips against his. They pulled away when the need for air was too much for them to ignore.

'So.. what we doing today?' asked Lauren breathlessly, as she gasped for air

'Well, I'm gonna hit the gym for a few hours and then mum wants to take us out for a meal... if that's okay with you?' Joey questioned. Lauren thought for a minute and then nodded.

'Yeah, that would be nice' she smiled. Joey smiled back and kissed her, before she pulled back.

'Ooh, that means I can go shopping and get a new dress. Check out the shops' she said, her excitement raising. She climbed off Joey and grabbed her dressing gown, turning back to Joey when she realised he hadn't moved.

'You coming?' she asked, motioning to the stairs

'Yeah, in a minute. Got something to sort out' he said, smiling. Lauren smiled and skipped down the stairs, before picking up his mobile. He dialled the number and waited till the person picked up.

'Max? It's me... The plan still on?' asked Joey...

Lauren entered the kitchen and saw Leslie making chocolate pancakes.

'Morning Leslie. Anything I can do to help?' Lauren asked, as she walked in. Leslie turned and smiled for a second

'Oh no, its fine darling. Help yourself to coffee or tea' she said. Lauren headed for the cupboard where the cups were and got three down.

'Would you like one?' Lauren asked Leslie

'Please, love' she said, before heading for the kitchen door. 'JOSEPH! BREAKFAST' she shouted, making Lauren laugh. A few minutes later, Joey entered the kitchen, yawning.

'Thanks, babe' he said, accepting his coffee off Lauren and kissing her lightly before sitting down, Lauren joining a few seconds later, placing Leslie's mug down as well.

'Thankyou darling' she said, as she placed a plate full of pancakes in front of Lauren and Joey. Lauren smiled warmly at her, before tucking into her breakfast...

After Joey set off for the gym, he left Lauren with Leslie in the living room, hoping everything would turn out okay. After the credits rolled on the Hangover Movie, Leslie switched off the TV, making Lauren look at her. Leslie swallowed, as she didn't know how to begin the convosation off.

'You okay, Leslie?' asked Lauren. Leslie nodded, before clearing her throat.

'Lauren, darling... er... Out of curiosity... Have you had any... counselling lately?' she asked. Lauren's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

'Counselling?' she asked, her voice slightly higher than normal

'Yes... Joey told me what happened...and...' Leslie trailed off as she saw Lauren tense

'And what?' asked Lauren, afraid of the answer

'Well, Joey's worried, darling. He's very worried that, because you've had a relapse, you could have another one and that it could lead to having you readmitted...' Leslie confessed. Lauren stared at her for a few moments.

'Joey set this up, didn't he?' she asked, as the pieces clicked together

'Him and your Dad' admitted Leslie. Lauren nodded stiffly.

'Are you a therapist?' asked Lauren tentively. Leslie nodded.

'Yes, I am. If you want this sessions, Lauren. I will keep the information strictly between us. I won't tell Joey or your Dad, unless it's something urgent...' said Leslie, reassuring Lauren...

An hour and a half later, Joey arrived back home, just as Max pulled up in his car.

'Alright, Max' said Joey, as Max joined him on the garden path and gave him a man hug, clapping him on the back once.

'Yeah, I'm alright. Just worried about Lauren' admitted Max, as Joey opened the door and stepped into the house. He entered the living room to find his mum sit in the same place he left her and Lauren no way to be found.

'Mum? Did it go alright? Where's Lauren?' asked Joey. Leslie pointed upstairs, still not speaking. Joey frowned before heading for the stairs, leaving Max with Leslie.

'What happened, Leslie?' asked Max, as he shut the living room door and sat down.

'That poor girl... I knew she had been through a rough time... Make no wonder the poor girl had a breakdown...' whispered Leslie, finally looking at Max.

'What did she say?' Max asked

'Everything. But the odd thing what struck me was the fact that even though you paid your brother... Jack, to leave Albert Square, you accepted him back two weeks later... Why would you do that, when he's partly the reason for Lauren's breakdown?'

'He's my bother, I've already lost one. And yeah, he killed him.. But after Lauren went missing, I realised that maybe Jack could track her down, so I call him back. After your son and brother die, Leslie and your daughter goes missing... You realise that life is too short. Yes, he killed Derek and yes, I hate him it and I'll never forgive him... But life is too short to hold grudges...' said Max...

Joey rushed up the stairs, to his and Lauren's room and saw he sat on the bed, her phone in her hands. From where he was stood in doorway, he could see she had been crying.

'Lauren? Babe, are you mad at me?' he asked as he edged into the room. Lauren didn't reply for a few minutes.

'I'm not mad. I'm annoyed that you went behind my back and arranged it, with my Dad, might I add... without consulting me first' said Lauren

'But babe... would you have agreed to it if I had consulted you?' asked Joey, making Lauren look at him

'Maybe... if you'd talked to me about your fears' said Lauren, making Joey frown

'What fear?' he asked

'The fear of me having a relapse and getting re admitted... Do you know how that made me feel?' asked Lauren. Joey shook his head.

'It made me feel bad... Because before I did.. do what I did the other night, There was a voice in my head what said your name... And I ignored it... Now I hear that fear from your mother and it made me feel ashamed and guilty because I agreed not to do it anymore and I broke that promise to you... if you'd told how you felt, I might've had the strength to resist the urge to do it...' said Lauren honestly, looking at Joey with tears in her eyes.

'I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lauren... But I didn't want you to think I've lost faith in you when I haven't. I promise you I haven't' said Joey as he sat down next to her on the bed.

'Joey, I'm not perfect. I'm going to have relapses. Sometimes I'll be able to control them, other times I won't. But I promise you, I'll try my hardest and you have to tell me if you feel like I'm going to go off on one, babe... Okay?' questioned Lauren

'Okay, sure. I promise' said joey, smiling at her. Lauren nodded and kissed him deeply before pulling away

'So, fancy coming shopping?' she asked. Joey groaned and fell back against the pillows.

'Do I have to? You spend ages in the shops, You're as bad as Alice' he said. Lauren pulled on her jacket, before grabbing her bag and heading for the stairs.

'Fine! You stay here while I look round Victoria Secret' she said, heading down the stairs. She smirked to herself as she heard Joey scramble off the bed and rushed down the stairs.

'Your evil sometimes, you know that? bribing me?' he questioned

'It worked didn't it?' laughed Lauren. Joey told his mum they were heading out and that they wouldn't be long, before he followed Lauren out of the door and down the path...

R&R :D X