Chapter 35

It had been three weeks since Lauren and Joey had found out they were expecting. After a trip to the doctors and then a referral to the hospital, the pregnancy was confirmed and they were told Lauren was about 7 weeks at the time, which, after some figuring out they'd narrowed the conception down to her birthday weekend or there about.

Once again the two of them were hiding the pregnancy from the family; keeping secrets seemed to be becoming a forte for them both. They wanted to wait until Lauren was at least 12 weeks along, although it was already starting to get a little difficult. Lauren was growing in more ways than one. Her super skinny jeans took a few tugs and jumps on the spot before they made their way up her legs, her bras were becoming a little too tight and her tops seemed to be slightly more taut across her stomach.

"Hello, gorgeous" Joey greeted Lauren as he climbed gently onto the bed behind her. She smiled weakly at him as she turned to him, her eyes telling him something was wrong "what's the matter?"

Lauren pushed herself up against the headboard, pulling the throw around her "Our child is playing havoc with my body. I've been sick four times today. I only had to look at that sandwich your Dad was eating and had to run and vomit. It's vile, Joe"

Joey had to try and suppress a laugh.

"Don't you dare laugh. This is partly your fault" she proclaimed, hitting him on the arm

"Ow" he replied "sorry, baby. Am I safe to kiss you or do you smell sicky?"

Lauren rolled her eyes and pulled Joey towards her, kissing him softly.

"What did you today?" he questioned as they pulled away

"I made dinner. We had pizza, I fancied pizza, well, baby fancied pizza" she replied "I did some drawing, cleaned and did some shopping. Oh, and your Mum and Dad have gone out. They said they'd be back late tonight"

"Did they say who they were going out with?" he asked

"Someone called Geoff?" she informed him as she climbed from the bed, grabbing a cardigan from her wardrobe, pulling it around her "you know him?"

"Yeah, he used to work with Dad" he explained "you cold, babe?"

"I wasn't. I was really hot this afternoon, now I'm freezing" she admitted as she climbed back onto the bed, snuggling into his body, his arm wrapping around her shoulder as she rested her head against his chest, Lauren being able to his heartbeat. "I called Fats and Tyler earlier, your going out with them tomorrow "

"I am?" he questioned. He didn't recall having plans with either of them.

"Yeah, you're going into London and going to that cocktail class" she informed him

"You changed the booking? Babe, I thought we were gonna do that together" he sighed

"How can we? I'm pregnant, Joe, and by the time I've had it and we're settled, it's gonna have run out. You might as well use it" she replied "You deserve it, Joe" she informed him "and you'll have a really good time"

"I'd have a better time if I were there with you" he admitted, smiling at her warmly as he began to change out of his work clothes "but at least you and I have got something else to do together"

"Yeah, what's that?" Lauren inquired, raising an eyebrow at him

"Bringing up this one together" he informed her, placing his hands on her stomach, his grin wide as he kissed her softly, Lauren kissing his jaw as they pulled away "will you be okay on your own the whole weekend though? Mum and Alice are bound to wanna do something. I don't want you tiring yourself out"

"I'll be fine, I promise" she assured him "as long as baby behaves"

*JL*JL*

Joey left early the next morning, leaving Lauren asleep in their bed. He wrote her a quick note and kissed her forehead, whispering "see you later, beautiful" to her as he went and "you behave yourself for Mummy", as his thumb brushed across her stomach. Looking back at her once more, he left the bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind him.

"You're up early, son" Mandy greeted Joey as she walked into the kitchen

"Christ, Mum, are you trying to give me a heart attack?" he inquired, allowing his breathing to return to normal as he turned to face her, she was obviously up for work "I'm going away on the cocktail course"

"I thought you and Lauren were doing that together?" she asked, flicking the kettle on

"We were, but she changed her mind. She wanted me to spend some time with the lads" he explained. A horn beeped outside and Joey shot up from his chair to avoid any more interrogation from his Mum… "See you"

"Bye, love" she replied, watching as he hurried from the house

As Joey left, Mandy was joined by Derek, beginning to organise the both of them breakfast.

"Mandy?" Derek called, snapping his wife out of her trance

"Sorry, love, what did you say?" she questioned

"I asked why you were so distracted" he informed her

"Something's going on between Joey and Lauren, I know it" she admitted "they've been acting weird these past few weeks, ever since that disagreement and now he's gone to London for the weekend"

"So?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow at his wife

Mandy rolled her eyes. He was missing the point… "He's gone on his own. They were meant to go together. I might call in sick to work, see if I can talk to Lauren and figure out what's going on"

"Don't go meddling, Mand. They won't thank you for it" he replied "right, I'm off to the car lot. See you later"

As she said she would, Mandy called in sick that morning. She'd told them she was going to work from home, but she didn't really have much to do. Mandy was a social worker, and worked from home most of the time anyway. As she heard movement upstairs, she lowered the volume on the TV, moving to the hallway as she heard someone heaving

"Alice, love?" she questioned

"It's Lauren" she admitted. Mandy was soon up the stairs, making her way into the bathroom, finding Lauren sat on the bathroom floor, Alice stood at the side, looking disgusted but trying to be supportive

Mandy moved to Lauren's side and slowly rubbed her back… "It's okay, love. How long have you been like this?"

"About ten minutes. Sorry, Al, I didn't mean to wake you" Lauren sighed, moving her head to the toilet bowl, vomiting again.

"It's okay, Lauren" Mandy replied, rubbing her niece's back soothingly "Alice, can you go downstairs and get Lauren some water please?"

Alice nodded disappearing from the bathroom, Mandy moving to perch on the edge of the bath "Maybe I should take you to the doctors, love?"

"I'll be fine" Lauren assured her "it's probably just a 24-hour thing"

"If you're sure, darling?" Mandy questioned, grabbing one of Lauren's bobbles from the cabinet, tying her hair back from her face "are you done?"

"hmm" she nodded

"Then it's back to bed" she informed her, helping her niece up, flushing the toilet as she went "no arguments. You know Joey would do the same"

Lauren smiled, knowing full well Joey would have her chained to the bed if he could. He was always very protective, even more so now she was pregnant…

"Thank you" she whispered as Mandy tucked her into bed

"Get some sleep, sweetie" she replied as she closed the door behind her, none the wiser that Lauren was carrying her grandchild.