Chapter 25- Sense of Loyalty

I guess I'd followed Joey's instruction to the letter and had fallen to sleep. I kept my eyes closed for a while longer wanting to savour the dream I was having. It was perfect, I was having twins, I was going to be a biological Mum and Zoe was going to have siblings. I had this faultless image of us all together, Joey, Me , Zoe and the new babies. I sighed knowing I'd have to open my eyes soon and my dream would be crushed by the reality. Finally succumbing to consciousness I moved on the bed and opened my eyes hoping to find Joey next to me. I was kind of disappointed when he wasn't there, but then again I wasn't in my bed, well our bed… I was in hospital.

"Ah…good morning Miss Branning, how are you feeling today?" her voice sickly sweet, it didn't give the reassurance I was hoping for.

"Where's Joey?" I looked around still not finding him. She handed me a cup of water.

"Is he the Man that was in here earlier?" I nodded "He left about an hour ago, got a phone call and just left he's not left your side all night though…How's that pain?"

"Ok I guess, my ribs are a little tender…Did Joey say where he was going?" where the bloody hell was he, I had a sudden thought which cause my stomach to turn, I'd seriously kill him if he'd done something stupid. Every though flew through my head yet I'd still arrive at the same conclusion- the one I didn't want to even contemplate thinking of. I was about to ask the Nurse for a phone when he walked in.

"Morning Beautiful…" He leaned over the bed kissing me deeply, Frowning slightly when he pulled away because I hadn't responded to the kiss with our usual gusto. "What's up?" he sat on the edge of the bed staring at me intently.

"Where have you been?" I asked a little guarded

"It doesn't matter…how you and the babies?" I kind of blocked out the latter of the sentence, I could see he was hiding something. His hand always fiddles with the fine hairs at the nape of his neck, it a habit I'd noticed he did when he was either nervous or lying and I guessed now it was a combination of the two.

"I know your lying Joey, just tell me…where have you been?" he anxiously fiddled with his hands and I noticed the slight bruised and scrapes across his knuckles I'd hit him. Nice one Joe. "Oh God Joey, Please tell me you didn't go looking for him?" he scoffed and shook his head

"No. The thick idiot was asking to see you at the desk when I went for a drink this morning. Let's just say, he wishes he'd stayed away now." His hand reached for mine, as much as I hated him using his fists to sort out a problem. It was kind of hot when it was for the benefit of my protection. "I didn't hit him…security came over, he's at the station, in some twisted sense of loyalty to you he's confessed to attacking you" His hand ran down my cheek, his thumb gently brushing the slight tears away, it slowly drifted down and rested on my stomach. I didn't understand what he was doing, his fingers were sprawled out across my side avoiding the aggressive bruising along the side and then his lips brushed across my lower tummy. Joe had popped home quickly last night to see how Zoe was; who apparently had decided I wasn't allowed out again and to pick up some clothes for me after my refusal to wear the disgusting hospital gown.

"Hello baby's" He whispered against my skin. My eyes filled with tears.

"I thought I dreamt it…We're really having twins?" Joey nodded and smiled at me his hand reaching over to my stomach again.

"Ye two babies…Fraternal twins, two eggs, two different babies" his smile grew wider as mine did too; I bit my lip and rested my hand on top of Joeys. "Are you happy Baby?"

"More than I thought was ever possible…I just want to give my other baby big cuddles."

"She's on her way in with Uncle Jack, she was having a right fit last night, Her exact words were no Mummy no bed she was giving Jack and Sharon a run around when I left." I chuckled, it sounded exactly like Zoe. "Your doctor said you should be able to come home later today if you feel alright?" I nodded, it sounded perfect. My own bed, with Joey and no doubt Zoe and Bella. That's exactly what I wanted and needed.

"Mummy!" Zoe screeched the loudest I'd ever heard her speak. She pounded in closely followed by Uncle Jack who looked absolutely shattered. She tried to climb up on the bed to get to me but couldn't quite make it.

"Hiya baby… Ask Daddy to lift you up and I can give you a big hug" she smiled and turned to Joey holding her arms up to him.

"Daddy up…Mummy hug" Joey smiled and lifted her up. She slowly moved up the bed as If she knew where I was hurt. I was surprised to be honest that she'd still kept on speaking, I'd read that witnessing things could re-establish the link of speaking with trauma. Obviously she hadn't as she was quite happily talking away to me- in fact I'd say she was more confident that before.

"Love you Mummy…You no go" I frowned at her and Joey came and sat on the bed next to us as Zoe lay her head in my lap.

"What do you mean baby?" Joey questioned her.

"Mummy 'tay no leave…no go 'way"

"Oh no baby, I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying right here with you and Daddy and Uncle Jack and Bella and Fuzz" my fingers stroked through her thick brown hair. "You have fun with Uncle Jack and Auntie Sharon?" she nodded and held her hand out to uncle Jack.

"she made you this…" he handed me a card and kissed my head "You alright?"

"I'm ok…We're ok" I said glancing at Joey who smiled. Jack raised his eyebrow at the two of us More at Joey as Zoe showed me the card she'd made.

"Are you pregnant?" I beamed and nodded to him. His eyes filled with tears much like mine and Joeys had done. He was like a father to me and he was a damn sight better than my own. "Oh sweet heart I'm so happy for you… congratulations, oh Lauren, you're having a baby" He leaned over and hugged me gently as I giggled.

"Wait for it … it gets better uncle Jack" Joey smiled doing his nervous neck scratch. Jack looked t us and Raised his eyebrow waiting for one of us to talk.

"I'm not having A baby…I'm having two, its twins Uncle Jack…we're having twins"

"Oh good, you letting yourself into a world of trouble Joey, two mini Laurens running about good luck son, you already got one in the making. Half 12 she finally went to sleep last night, under the pretences i wasn't reading the voices right." He laughed and turned his attention to Zoe "Didn't you Mrs?"

"Uncle Jack, bad talk" We all laughed as she through her hands into the air.

"Zoe, can Mummy show you a picture" she nodded with excitement. Joey handed the scan of the babies to me and I passed it to Zo. Her face twisted in confusion as she turned the picture to numerous angles trying to figure out what it was.

"Me no see"

"Shall Mummy and Daddy show you?" she nodded as Joey took her in his lap at the side of the bed.

"This as a picture of what's in Mummy's tummy" Zoe looked even more confused and a little frustrated.

"In my tummy Zoe…is two babies" she shook her head and giggled

"No silly" Joey nodded and "I see?" she tugged a little on my t-shirt. There wasn't much of a bump if one at all I just looked like I'd eaten a big meal.

"You can't see them yet baby…but they're in there and Mummy's got to keep them growing for a few months…then you can see them, until then we can get lots of pictures of them growing inside Mummy" she smiled and rubbed her hand across my tummy.

"Hi Babies" she whispered, I ran my fingers through her hair smiling to Joey

"I think she understands"

So happy your all seem to still be enjoying this story :) Thank you so much for all the reviews I love to read them all :)

So cute Zoe's back and everything's Dandy ... see you soon xx