A/M: Back again! sorry i didn't post again yesterday, ran out of time tooooo quickly! and i've of posted sooner today but 1. i was rather hungover and 2. i needed to edit this chapter quite a bit!

I've actually come to the end of what i'd already written for this story, but it isn't over.. so i may have to slow down on the chapters in order to find time to finish writing it. There isn't much left, but it would drive me insane if i didn't finish it! So lucky you lot ;-)

Anyway, enough babble.. Enjoy! and R&R please?

Thanks for your continuous support, it's a joy to read your reviews and although i don't reply to them all, they are all very much appreciated! xxx

'You feeling okay Lauren?' my mum asked just as both Joey and I reached them as they were just finishing their breakfast.

'Yeah I'm fine mum, just felt a bit sick that's all.' I smiled and sat down next to Abi, Joey taking the seat opposite me. I could feel his gaze fixated on me and whilst it made me nervous, it warmed my heart, there was no doubt about it; I was completely in love with Joey Branning.

I felt Abi nudge my arm under the table.

'You okay?' she mouthed to me darting a quick glance at Joey. I nodded and gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand under the table.

Everyone else has just about finished their breakfast when I sat down to begin mine so one by one they drifted back to their rooms to get ready to head into town to shop, all but Joey.

'We ain't got all day Lauren' Joey teased whilst I ate my breakfast.

'Just for that I'm going to take even longer' I stuck my tongue out to him and giggled which brought a smile to his face. 'What?'

'Oh nothing..' he said smiling at me.

'Hmm, now shut up and let me eat' I joked, just finishing my breakfast. Joey chuckled and shook his head.

Later on, we'd both headed back to our own rooms, for once after we'd decided we would go shopping with the rest of the family. We couldn't keep sneaking off just the two of us because before long someone was bound to get suspicious.

'Shopping then Lo?' Alice asked me when I walked into our room.

'Yep, can't say no to spending money can I?' I winked at her before I made my way into the shower.

We all got ready and about an hour later we met everyone else; all but Bianca, Carol, Morgan and Tiff who had decided to stick around at the hotel. As we reached them I immediately noticed Joey. He was wearing beige shorts and a grey polo shirt, he looked good. His eyes caught mine and I couldn't help but flush a shade of crimson which amused him somewhat as he began to chuckle.

'Hey beautiful,' he whispered as I reached his side. I blushed again but couldn't hide the smile that swept my face.

'Hi' I whispered coyly. He laughed slightly and shook his head.

'You're going to have to get used to these compliments baby' he told me, winking cheekily.

I shook my head and blushed again with a little giggle. I felt like a thirteen year old with a major crush, I couldn't bring myself to accept that he actually felt the same way.

'Right come on then, off we go' dad exclaimed and everyone made their way into town. We reached the shopping centre and everyone split off one by one into separate shops.

'Time for our quick get-away' Joey whispered grabbing my hand and pulling me away from the group and into a cute souvenir shop.

'This is sweet' I asserted as we walked around the shop. We spent about an hour wandering around the various holiday shops hand in hand. We managed to lose the rest of the family almost immediately so we'd had time to ourselves to act like a normal couple. Joey never let go of my hand, his warmth radiating through me, straight to my heart.

A few hours later I'd managed to spend quite a bit of money, none of my own of course as Joey had insisted on buying me anything I paid the slightest bit of interest too. We were just off to meet up with everyone else before we headed back to the hotel for our last but one night here.

'Joey you really didn't have to buy me everything!' I told him shaking my head but a smile plastered across my face.

'I wanted to' Joey shrugged looking down at me and reciprocating the smile. 'I want to spoil you,'

'Well consider me spoilt! You don't need to though, I'm happy with just you' I explained, stopping him and leaning up to kiss him as he pulled me into a gap between two walls away from the public eye. The kiss turned somewhat passionate within a few seconds.

'Joey, you're starting something we can't finish,' I whispered as he began to pepper kisses down my neck.

'Who says we can't finish baby?' he whispered as he ran his hands down my body and rested them on my waist and brought his eyes to meet mine.

'Me, I'm not fucking you in a shopping centre,' I told him sternly. He faked a gasp.

'Lauren Branning! What have I done to you? Such horrific language' he teased, winking and entwining his hands with mine. I laughed slightly and bowed my head as he met our foreheads.

'We need to get back Joe, they'll be waiting for us.' I told him about to step out of our embrace when he pulled me back gently and leaned in. He planted his lips gently on mine and I felt him smile.

I smiled back as we pulled away and began to walk back to meet the others, hand in hand, dropping them as we caught sight of our family. I immediately missed the contact.

….

'Good day then Lauren?' Alice asked me as all three of us girls flopped onto the bed surrounded by shopping bags as we reached our hotel room.

'Yeah, was actually pretty good. You?' I asked calmly, not wanting her to suspect anything. I hated hiding things from one of my best friends. Usually we shared everything but Joey and I both agreed, even this needed to stay secret from as many people as we could manage for at least a while longer. How would we even begin to explain it? Mom, Dad… me and Joey are hooking up. Yes, Joey your nephew. Oh please. Abi was slowly catching on, she knew bits but not the full extent to which Joey and my relationship had gone. I didn't want the hassle. She seemed pretty calm when I told her before but when she knew it was more than a hook-up I think she'd be very different. We flew home in a couple of days and I hadn't told Joey this but I was worried about how things would be at home. On holiday it seemed almost surreal, but back to reality when we returned home I was secretly expecting Joey to leave me. It was almost as if we'd have to admit to our situation at home and the opinions of everyone else as they would all find out at some point. There was always a 'Branning drama' and I wasn't sure we were strong enough to get through them; this may be one of the biggest 'Branning dramas.' I know Joey told me he loved me, but I couldn't shake the doubt – not that I'd ever admit this too him, I wouldn't know what to say or actually how he'd react.

'Wow Lauren this is stunning!' Abi exclaimed as she held up a dress she'd fetched out of one of my shopping bags just as Alice went to shower. I smiled and rolled my eyes knowing Joey had insisted on buying it for me after I told him I liked it. 'Wear this tonight when we go out!'

'We're going out?' I asked unknowingly. Abi nodded.

'Dads booked a table at some posh restaurant or something; he told us when we were waiting for you and Joey earlier.' She explained. She flipped the dress over. 'Jesus Christ Lauren, how did you afford this?' I blushed slightly and bowed my head averting her eyes.

'Joey.' She whispered just loud enough for me to hear. I lifted my head to meet her eyes and nodded slightly with a shrug. 'I just hope you know what you're doing Lo,'

I sighed and nodded again smiling convincingly. I think I do, I'm sure I love him, but it would take so much more for me to shake the doubt of him not loving me in return, off.

'You know where I am if you need to talk,' Abi sighed as she'd move to stand next to me and wrapped her arms around me pulling me in for a hug. I reciprocated her gesture and smiled at my grown up little sister. She'd always been more mature than me even though she was 3 years younger.

'Thanks Abs,' I smiled as we pulled away.

Just then I received a text.

I miss you already xx

I couldn't help but smile and blush and did everything I could to disguise it because even though Abi knew exactly who it was from, I couldn't be dealing with the inquisition I would receive.

'Off you go then, I'll cover for you' Abi told me shaking her head with a chuckle.

'You're the best Abigail!' I smiled at her, using her full name as I knew she didn't like it.

'Oi, less of the 'gail', have fun and i'll see you back here in an hour or so?' Abi asked and I nodded, exiting the room.

Alice's POV

'Where did she go in such a hurry?' I asked as I came out of the bathroom just as Lauren rushed past me.

'Pool' Abi said nonchalantly.

'Abs?' I questioned.

'Mhm?' She replied, averting my eyes.

'You okay?' I asked.

'Yeah, it's nothing Al,' she looked at me and smiled convincingly. I felt like I was missing something here, like I was on the outside of an inside joke.

'Okay, well I'm going to sit on the balcony and read for a bit' I told her heading outside.