So once I'd chosen the movie theme for each chapter, I quickly knew I wanted to do this film... and I've stayed pretty close to one part of the film... just my version of it. Enjoy!

Chapter 25: Love Actually.

It was time to change the path they were on. It was ten days before Christmas and Joey had been thinking about this for several days now. Ever since he'd seen the drawings she'd done of him. His original plan when he came back from his mum's was to fight for her and so far he hadn't had the opportunity... he'd even nearly backed out of doing so completely. Now was the time to make a stand. He needed to make a big gesture. He couldn't live with being apart from Lauren any longer. It had already been too long and he didn't want it to be any longer. He missed her. He missed his best friend. He missed the girl he loved.

He had thought long and hard about how he was going to do this. He wanted to show her how much she meant to him. He had thought through everything she had ever told him and so he was going to take inspiration from one of her favourite films. Joey had even rented the DVD – which let me tell would do little for his street cred if anyone ever found out – but he had watched it, having never seen it before.

He watched it a second time and inspiration struck. He knew it was going to take some doing to pull it off but he lived in hope of it happening. Braving the increasingly wintry weather he went out; he had some things he needed to get in order to be ready but tonight was the night.

*JL*JL*

Joey was sitting in the Vic, hoping that things were going to fall into place and enable him to do this. He was ready but he couldn't do this if there was any chance of Lauren not being home alone. He glanced up as the door opened and in walked his aunt and uncle. They walked over to the bar and greeted Uncle Jack who was waiting for them. Joey hadn't failed to notice how his uncle had been intently watching him. He wondered what all that was about. He shrugged it off... it didn't really matter. He was now one step closer to a green light for his plan.

*JL*JL*

Half an hour later he had no idea whether he was going to be able to do this. He glanced around the pub and saw Jay sitting across the bar with Dexter. This meant there was a pretty high chance of Abi being at home with Lauren. He sighed... it was too late now. He had to do this tonight. He didn't want to leave it any longer. He couldn't. He needed to know, for definite, how she felt. And he needed her to know how he felt.

He finished the rest of his beer and decided it was now or never. He stood and walked out of the pub, shivering as he walked outside. It was bitterly cold... it was even snowing. He hoped Lauren appreciated what he was about to do. He ran back to the B&B and got together what he needed.

He ran through everything one more time, both mentally and literally. He took a deep breath and picked up what he needed. He hoped this worked, that this proved to Lauren how much she meant to him.

*JL*JL*

He rang the doorbell and hoped it was Lauren that answered.

His prayers were answered and when the door opened there she was. It threw him for a few seconds. Remembering what he was doing he put his finger to his lips, hoping she'd realise he wanted her to say nothing. She looked at him quizzically. He could see she was intrigued.

He picked up one of the cards he was holding and turned it towards her.

ARE YOU ALONE?

She shook her head. "Abi's upstairs..." she whispered. He nodded. He held up the next card.

I WANTED TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO ME.

The card fell to the floor and the next was revealed.

YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND. THE BEST FRIEND I COULD HAVE OR WANT.

It fell to the floor, landing on top of its predecessor.

BUT YOU ALSO MEAN SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

Again it was dropped to reveal.

I KNOW THINGS FOR US WOULD BE COMPLICATED.

That card was pulled aside quickly before she could think about moving from where she stood.

I KNOW THIS ALL STARTED AS AN ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN US... TO SATISFY OUR NEEDS.

He watched her face and saw her reading the card then glancing at the floor. Two cards followed in quick succession.

BUT THAT CHANGED FOR ME PRETTY QUICKLY. TO ME, YOU ARE PERFECT, LAUREN BRANNING.

I WANT MORE. YOU ARE THE ONLY GIRL FOR ME. I LOVE YOU AND I WANT US TO BE TOGETHER.

He'd held his breath with those last two cards. He wished he could tell what she was thinking. He had just two cards left and the next one was probably one of the most important ones. He slowly released his breath and pulled the front card away.

FOR REAL. I LOVE YOU MORE THAN I HAVE EVER LOVED ANYONE. PLEASE SAY YES.

Her eyes rose and met his and he could see the tears in them. It gave him no clues at all. He took that card away and showed her the last one.

OH AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

He had done everything he could to convince her. He bent down and picked up all the cards and began to walk back down the stairs and across the square, back towards the B&B. It felt like there was a fist clenching around his heart. He had really thought that would work. He thought his plan was guaranteed to make her understand.

He stopped walking when he heard muffled footsteps behind him. The snow had really begun to fall heavily now. A hand slipped into his, squeezing his fingers slightly and he looked back over his shoulder. She was standing there, now wearing a coat and hat, her long hair blowing all over the place as the wind whipped around them. She had never looked more beautiful. He said nothing. He had made the first move but it was most definitely her turn now.

Lauren tugged on his hand and Joey turned to face her. She stepped closer and rose on her tiptoes, softly pressing her lips to his. As soon as their lips touched Joey moaned, his arms wrapping around her and pulling her against him. He had missed her so much. Her arms were around his neck now and when their mouths finally separated she had a gentle smile on her face. "Thank you..." she whispered.

"What for?" he asked.

"What you just did... It meant a lot."

"And..."

"I need to think about it tonight." He froze. He hadn't anticipated her rejecting him. He'd really thought she would say yes. She saw the look on his face and her hand brushed his cheek. "It's not a no, Joe. It's just not a yes either. I need to make sure we aren't about to make a huge mistake, I don't want this to spoil our friendship. It's already come so close to doing that. I'll come over and see you in the morning." She said softly. "I'll bring breakfast with me."

"I'll be waiting for you, babe." He whispered. "Always..." he added. She kissed him softly on the lips again before pulling herself from his arms and running back to her house. He watched her leave him but this time he was filled with hope.

TBC

A/N: Okay, so I know they're not back together but Lauren now knows that he wants to be with her. She just wants to make sure she's not making a mistake. I'm sure everything will be sorted in the next chapter...

COMING SOON... TO A FAN FIC SITE NEAR YOU... FORCES OF NATURE...