Thank you for all the reviews for the last chapter I did My race 5k in 50 minutes :) so… hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you can do xx

"Fuck" was the first thing that left Joey mouth, he'd said it before even realising how bad that it could sound

"Is that all you can say?" she asked

"I just need a minuet babe, I need to get my head around this"

"You need to get your head around it ! Im the one that's fucking knocked up again, has no stable place to live and a boyfriend who…" she stopped herself before she said anything else but Joey was really pressing her buttons

"Go on Lauren finished the sentence… boyfriend who what?" he was shouting now and it was beginning to scare Lauren, it was something that she'd never seen before.

"Stop it Joey… your being an idiot, your acting like him"

"Babe…I'm sorry" Joey watched her face fall and her complexion pale.

Lauren almost fell to the floor as the words left her mouth she didn't mean it and Joey knew she didn't, the world seemed to go in super slow motion around her, Joey was speaking but she couldn't seem to hear what he was saying, the room just echoed with silence reality hitting her hard in the face. Moving swiftly, Joey managed to get to her before she completely hit the floor, his body creating a cushion for her to fall on. Her eyes shut as she felt his warm grasp on her arms where her towel wasn't covering them. "Im sorry" was all she kept saying over and over.

Joey held her firmly against him as she sobbed into his embrace. He slowly manoeuvred easing them to a sitting position leaning against the wall still cradling Lauren in his arms. Her tears were free falling, soaking through his hoody. Joey wasn't much better himself, his own tears had started fall as soon as Lauren's body hit his and her deep crying only made him worse. There wasn't a way he knew, that could calm her right now, since being with her he'd never seen her in this state.

Half hour later and they were still in the same position; Lauren was barely visible curled into Joey, he was her safe haven. His lips remained pressed to her forehead as his hands comfortingly stroked her hair, she was cold too her body shivering attempting to absorb some of Joey's heat. Occasionally he would whispers reassuring Lauren she was safe and that he was there, to which she would respond by burring further into his shirt, but honestly Joey didn't know if they would be ok. Glancing at his phone, he remembered the phone call he received, he glanced down at Lauren to see her face all read and blotchy her eyes just about open still.

"Come on sweetheart let's get you dressed" Joey effortlessly lifted her into his arms, placing her softly on the bed before getting clothes for her. After another 5 minutes Joey had dressed Lauren her body relaxing slightly as it craved the comfort of the fabric.

Moving away from the bed he began to pack more things- knowing that making a quick getaway was always on cards they kept most things in their bags and suitcases anyway. He quickly glanced at Lauren letting out a sigh when he saw she was still sitting in her previous position. "Lo baby, talk to me"

Lauren shook her head and wiped the tears with the back of her hand. He crouched to the floor by her feet and took her hands "What's this about ay? The fact we're having to move again, the fact he knows where we are, the fact you're pregnant again?" Her eyes shot up at the last part of the sentence meeting and locking with Joeys.

"I can't do it again"

"Can't do what? Have another baby? Lauren you seriously need to consider this…"

She looked up at him no give away on her face to how she was feeling "I meant move again" she stood up off the bed and prepared the pushchair clicking everything into place. "We need to find a place we can stay and where we're safe"

"We will baby I promise you" he reached for her hand squeezing it in reassurance "I'm sorry about how I reacted earlier, I didn't mean to scare you babe, I'd never ever do anything like he did you know that right?"

Joey saw the relief on her features, also slightly mixed with guilt "I shouldn't have said what I did, I know it must be hard for you too am I forgiven?" he stood up from his squatting position and moved to Lauren,

"I'll always forgive you for anything baby… now about this" he placed his hand on her stomach "What are we going to do?"

"What can we do Joe? it's a baby, our baby another Rosie or a mini you" Joey could see how serious she was being about this, he thought he was going to have to put up a fight to get her to keep this baby.

"We're just going to have to take things one day at a time aren't we? Lauren nodded "how do we get into these messes ay?"

"Faulty condom" she giggled "We will be ok though wont we?"

"Of course we will baby, now come on let's get out of here" .

*J&L* *J&L* *J&L*

Joey had driven to the address that was nearly an hour away. It was a really secluded area on the outskirts of London. There were only a few houses around and it looked like a perfect little community. Pulling up outside Joey saw Jack in the door way.

"Joey?" Lauren lifted Rosie from the car and stood in front of her boyfriend "Do you think we can keep baby to ourselves for now" Joey stepped forward and kissed her.

"Lips are sealed babe" he took her hand as they walked into the house, both of them greeted with huge hugs from Tanya. Lauren had recently wondered if there was something going on between her mom and Uncle but chose not to pry knowing that things in the past hadn't worked out- then again neither did they with her dad but she let him back on the scene.

"Look how big you got Rosie… you look more and more like you Mom every time I see you"

Lauren passed her daughter over to Tanya "say that's because I'm nearly one now Nanny and I do nothing but eat" They followed Tanya through to the lounge where there was an unfamiliar male sitting in one of the chairs. Almost like an instinct Lauren had grabbed Rosie back and Joey was standing slightly in front of them his arm around Laurens waist.

Noticing the tension Jack spoke up "it's alright Joey, sit down, he's a mate of mine used to be in the force with me… he's been helping me and Your mom Lo"

Lauren nodded as she released a wriggling Rosie. As soon as she was on the floor the infant speedily crawled over to Tanya and pulled herself to her feet so she could gain her Nans attention "Nana" he arms shot up to Tanya who instantly lifted her up, "Shall we Let mommy and daddy have a chat with Uncle Jack and we can make some drinks?" although she was speaking to Rosie Lauren and Joey knew she was asking for their benefit. Joey nodded his and Laurens eyes following Rosie out the room.

"Right love birds… this is Geoff, Geoff My niece and nephew – Lauren and Joey" he shook Joeys hand and smiled at Lauren, she was still slightly tense at being in contact with anyone she didn't know.

"Well Jack's told me all about your situation, I still work in the force and have managed to get something sorted for you guys… I have three options for you, I'm not sure you're going to particularly going to like any but at the moments they are really your only choices.

"Go on" Joey encouraged, his fingers stroking gently across the base of Laurens back.

"Well you can either stay here in London, we have an apartment available near your Mom's Joey in Sailsbridge, you can move away from London, Lauren your mom said something about a friend of hers in Wales?" Lauren nodded but still didn't speak "and lastly, you can leave the country, your best option would be Spain Lauren, you Mom has friends out there"

Joey and Lauren shared a look that didn't go unmissed "You can have some time if you like… the sooner though the better" on cue Lauren and Joey both protested

"London" they spoke in unison that invisible connection returning. Joey squeezed Laurens hand "We need to stay in London, everything's here."

Jack's face pretty much gave away what he thought "Is that really the best option?"

"Yes. It is our decisions final, I need to be around Mom and my friends and you, it's just unfortunate that he happens to be here too" Lauren pleaded with her Uncle trying to get him to understand, without having to say she was pregnant again.

"If you're sure then that's fine… it's the new apartments on the end of porters drive Joey you know it?"

"Ye I know it" he looked at Lauren "It's a nice place babe don't worry"

Geoff handed Joey a key "It's all yours then"

"What?" Lauren spoke directly to Geoff for the first time "Ours?"

"yes Lauren, your Mom and Joeys mom have helped out but your Boyfriend her told your uncle to take the rest of the money for wherever you chose and buy it… we got it cheaper for you as the your now on the Police protection list."

"Wow… babe, thank you" her voice whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Joeys cheek.

"I don't want to deprive you time with your family but you should really get to the apartment, there's less risk of him Following you in the day time- he's a clever man and doesn't want to be seen."

"Right we'll go now then… Thank you all so much for this" joey stood up shaking Geoff's hand again as Jack hugged Lauren.

The mad their way to the door way where Tanya was already waiting with Rosie, "Me and Jack will follow in our car with some other stuff for you, I've got a shop in for you and made you a pasta back for your tea it'll just need reheating."

"Thanks Mom" Lauren hugged her tight before jogging to the car with Rosie.

*J&L* *J&L* *J&L*

"That's everything Darling, you only need to call me and I'll be straight to you" after arriving at the apartment 4 hours ago, they had got everything set up, finally they had been able to use the furniture from the baby store, that had been stored in the boot of the car for the last two months. Between them, Jack and Joey had made pretty light work of the DIY and had everything fixed up within an hour.

The apartment was bigger than Lauren was expecting, the living room, kitchen and dining room were all open plan leading onto a small hall way which had three rooms from it. There was a large bathroom, including a large bath, much to Laurens delight and two bedrooms a large master suite and then a smaller room which they had done out for Rosie. All the rooms where a pale cream but Tanya had brought them soft furnishings like cushions and accessories in different colours. It wasn't exactly to their taste but until they were settled it was like a mansion compared to the dive of a hotel they had suffered the past two months.

"Joeys mom said she'll pop in tomorrow, apologies in advance I had to tell her about Rosie"

"Oh great" Joey sighed "She's going to love me now aint she" he half laughed at the latter of the sentence

"No she was really great about it Joey, especially after I explain how everything had happened… she loves the pair of you very much joey do underestimate a mothers love" Lauren blushed slightly at her words, never had words been as true.

"I won't Tan thank you" They eventually said their goodbyes, the day's events catching up with Lauren. She emitted a small Yawn and Joey smirked pulling her back to his front "Why don't we eat and then I'll run you a bath babe… I saw you eyeing it up earlier"

She laughed making Joey smile, she hand done much laughing recently "sounds like a plan babe… and I'm just thinking ahead, when I was pregnant with Rosie the bath was like my get away it just calmed me and took my head somewhere else away from all the stresses."

"You got me to do that now, but that bath does look kinda good" Joey had moved them to the kitchen and was heating up the pasta, Lauren just staring at him. "Eat up babe" he said placing a dish in front of her.

It didn't take long before they finished and Lauren was lying in the bath, the water soothing away every worry. Joey put his head around the door "Babe?" he whispered not wanting to spoil her relaxation, she groaned a response to him "I've booked you an appointment for tomorrow afternoon baby, get you checked out by the doctor"

"Thanks baby" her response was quiet and soft

"I leave you to it then" he shut the door behind him leaving her a while longer. Looking around the apartment he felt slightly lost, they'd not had this type of freedom before, eventually he settle on the sofa and tuned into some trashy TV show. He felt the sofa dip next to him, the smell that was undeniably Laurens filled his nose as she buried under his arm resting her head on his chest. His eyes gazed up and down her body seeing her in his t-shirt again.

"Don't you own any clothes of your own beautiful?" his fingers traced patterns over the skin showing between her knickers and his top grazing back and forth over her tattoo.

"Ye I just like yours better"

"I love this you know… I love the fact that only I know you have it… I love how it speaks the truth" he stared at the writing that was obviously Laurens, the perfect swirls to each letter combing them to make a piece of art, he read the words aloud "There is strength in my weakness and beauty in my flaws"

"You seem to have taken a liking to it baby" Lauren turned further into him

"It speaks the truth Lo that's Why… you are strong and you are beautiful, even though you don't believe it or see it sometimes, I'm always going to see it and I'm always going to make you believe it"

"Talking like that is how we ended up with Rosie and how I ended up pregnant again?" she said smirking as she sat up straight, Joey pulling her onto his Lap

"I thought it was a faulty condom?" he smirked and raised his eyebrow; Lauren leaned down to kiss him.

"Well" her voice was Jokey "Do the curtains babe I'm going to bed" Joey nodded as she sprung up from the sofa pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.

*J&L* *J&L* *J&L*

"Ye they're going to bed now, He's just drawn the curtains and Turned the lights off" The car swiftly drove off leaving no clue that it was ever there.

I know I'm a killer for cliff hangers, bit of a rough chapter in all for them what did we think ? xxx