Chapter 54.

Lauren woke the next morning, slightly disoriented as she was in unfamiliar territory. An all too familiar sensation came to her and she pulled herself out of Joey's arms and made a quick dash for the bathroom, throwing up into the toilet as soon as she was there. She knelt in front of the toilet, considering if her morning sickness was over when she heard the sound of Joey's soft footsteps into the room. "You okay, babe?" he asked her in concern. Her stomach churned and she threw up again before she could answer him. He crouched down beside her and held her hair back, soaking a flannel in cold water and offering it to her. She took it from him and ran it over her face, sighing as it soothed her hot skin. "Feeling a bit better?" he asked after she hadn't thrown up for a couple of minutes.

"Not a great deal..." she admitted.

"Let's get rid of this..." he said, reaching for the flush and pulling it. "What can I do to help you feel better?" he asked her softly.

"You're already doing it..." she said.

Joey leant forward and pressed his lips against her temple, "Can you move?" he breathed in her ear.

"Yes, but I'm not sure I should..."

Joey got to his feet and bent down, lifting Lauren in his arms, ignoring her protests. He carried her back into their bedroom and laid her back on the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand brushing some hair back from her face, looking at her face in concern. "Do you want me to get you something for breakfast?" he asked.

"Not unless you want me to throw up again..." she whispered.

"Really?" he asked.

Lauren opened her eyes and looked at him, "This is all new to you, isn't it?" she asked him and he nodded. "Can you get me my laptop?" she asked him. He got to his feet and walked over to the desk on the other side of the room, returning with her laptop. While he'd been gone she'd moved herself further up the bed so she was leaning against the pillows.

"Easy baby..." he said softly as he gave her the laptop. She opened it and turned it on, looking at Joey while she waited.

She smiled and then patted her hand on the bed next to her, "Get back in here..." she said quietly.

"Shouldn't we be getting up?" he asked.

"I don't feel quite like it at the moment... and the doctor did say I should rest, Joe..." Lauren reminded him. Joey walked around the bed and then climbed back into it. She'd started typing on the keyboard as he did so.

"What are you looking for?" he asked.

"A book for you..." she said, biting her lip as she started to browse the webpage she'd loaded up.

"A book?"

"On what to expect for first time dad's..." she said as she looked at one of the books listed.

"They do books about that?" he said.

"Yep..." she told him, "and I've just ordered one for you..."

"Won't you need a book too?" he asked.

"I can read yours with you... and I've got mum here... she'll be able to help me with anything I'm worried about..." She completed the transaction and then shutdown the laptop again, placing it down beside their bed. She wriggled down under the duvet and then pressed up against Joey. "This is nice..." she told him softly, her arms winding around his waist.

"It is..." he admitted.

"I ought to phone the doctors today..."

"Why?" he asked quickly, concern on his face when Lauren looked up at him.

"The hospital told us to... and I'll need to get a midwife appointment too..." she added. Joey relaxed beneath her, now the immediate worry for her had subsided. Lauren smiled, kissing his chest, "Is it going to be like this for the next seven months?" she whispered.

"Like what?"

"You... freaking out whenever I say something..."

"No..." he said and Lauren tilted her head back and looked at his face, meeting his eyes. "Maybe..." he conceded, "I guess I do need that book..." he murmured.

"We're going to be fine, Joe... you don't need to panic..." she said softly.

"I just worry..." he whispered. "I've spent the last week or so thinking I was going to lose you both..." he admitted, his hand moving to settle on her flat stomach, "and praying you'd both stay with me..."

"We're home now... and the doctor said I'm fine..." she reassured him.

"I know..."

They were silent for some time until Lauren spoke again, "Can we not tell anyone else about the baby for a while?" Lauren whispered.

"Why?" He asked.

"I know some of the family know... but most people in the square are still getting used to me and you being together... and we're bound to get problems from that... I don't want to add our good news to the grief we're going to get..."

"People will be fine, babe... no one's said anything to me since they found out..." He reassured her. Lauren didn't say anymore but she knew it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it would. They were going to get some hassle from people.

*JL*JL*

By the middle of the morning Lauren's stomach had stopped churning and the couple went downstairs. They found Lauren's parents in the kitchen and Lauren told them both that they wanted to keep the baby a secret for a little while and asked if they could speak to the family members who already knew. Max and Tanya quickly agreed, understanding them wanting to keep it private for a little while longer. Fortunately because of her health issues other than Carol and Jack no one else in the family knew about the baby as they'd not said anything in case she lost it. Max went to call them both straight away while the rest of the family ate their breakfast.

"What are your plans for today then, darling?" Tanya asked. "You must want to see your friends?"

Joey saw the flash of pain that washed over her face and he reached for her hand, "What friends?" Lauren whispered. Tanya frowned and Lauren saw the confusion on her face so she knew she needed to explain, "Before that night when we were leaving Lucy and Whitney gave me an ultimatum... it was either them or Joey..." she said.

"Oh..." Tanya said softly, sympathy on her face. "I'm sure it'll all be forgotten now, darling..." she said gently.

"I chose Joe, mum... I saw the looks on their faces... they won't forget that..." she said. "And I don't regret my choice... it'll always be Joe... so I don't think they'll exactly be rushing to be my friends right now..."

"Why don't you come to the salon with me in a minute...? I can do your hair for you... maybe Poppy could do your nails... then you can meet Joey in the cafe for a late lunch..." Tanya said.

Lauren smiled at her mother, "I'd really like that, mum..."

"Well eat up and then get yourself ready... I'm sure Joey can find something to do for a couple of hours..."

"I can do that... I'll go over the car lot with your dad, help him catch up on some paperwork and stuff..." he said.

Max walked back into the kitchen, "Carol hadn't told anyone and isn't going to... she said it's your news to share..." he said.

"And Jack?" Tanya asked.

"He'd only told Sharon... so she knew why Joey wasn't at the club for his shifts... she was there when I called and they've both agreed to not say anything to anyone until you're ready to announce it." He put his hands on Lauren's shoulders, squeezing them gently before leaning down and kissing the top of her head.

"Joey's going to help you with some paperwork this morning at the car lot..." Tanya said, staring at her husband. "Lauren is having a pamper morning at Booty's before she meets Joey for lunch..."

"That's okay. I was heading over to the office in a minute anyway."

"Give me five minutes and I'll come with you, Uncle Max..." Joey said. Lauren and Joey left the kitchen hand in hand, walking back up to their room so they could clean their teeth and grab their coats and shoes. "Have a nice time with your mum, babe..." Joey said, his hands cupping both sides of her face as he bent down to kiss her tenderly. "Give me a call when you're nearly done and I'll come and collect you from Booty... then we can walk over to the cafe together..."

"I can meet you there..." she said.

"I thought it'd be easier if we both walked in there together... face Lucy together..." he whispered.

Lauren's eyes widened and she swallowed the lump that'd formed in her throat, "Good point..." she said softly. Joey lowered his head and kissed her again, Lauren winding one arm around his neck as the kiss lengthened. She pulled away from him reluctantly, "You'd better go... dad's waiting..."

"I'll speak to you later..." he said, his thumb stroking the side of her cheek. His other hand drifted down her body, settling on her stomach, "Look after yourself... and Peanut..." he said, "Remember what the doctor said, take it easy and no stress..."

"I will..." she said.

He turned and walked down the stairs and about a minute later, after grabbing her handbag Lauren followed him, seeing him head out of the front door with her dad as she was going down the stairs. She grabbed the phone and walked into the kitchen, her mum looking up at her and frowning. "You okay, sweetheart?"

"Yeah... I just need to book a doctor's appointment about the baby... and then I can sort out a midwife appointment while I'm there..." she said. "The doctor told us yesterday at the hospital that we should do it soon..."

"Give them a call now then, darling... and then we'll head off..."

Lauren nodded and quickly called the surgery. She managed to get an appointment for the next day and made a note of it on a pad of paper. Once the call was ended she turned to her mum again, "Let's go then..." she said. They walked out of the house and immediately Lauren became very self conscious. She looped her arm through her mum's as they walked away from the house, soon reaching the pub and turning into Bridge Street. Lauren could feel everyone staring at her as they walked through the market and it felt like there was a flashing neon sign above her head, announcing to the world that she was a convicted criminal. Her mum seemed to sense her distress and brushed her hand on Lauren's arm but by the time they reached Booty's Lauren was visibly upset.

"It's okay, sweetheart..." Tanya said, trying to calm her down.

"They were all staring at me, mum..." she whispered.

"They haven't seen you for a long time, darling... that's all it was..." she said softly.

Lauren glanced at her, "So it's got nothing to do with the fact I've been in prison then?" she whispered, "Or the fact I've got this tag around my ankle?"

"Of course not... You're hardly the first person on the square to go to prison, Lauren... You aren't even the first person to have a tag, are you?" she said softly. "Now let's get this hair sorted out, shall we?" she added with a smile. Lauren nodded and followed her mum over to the sinks, sitting down and letting her wash and condition it. Every now and again her mum would tut and make a disparaging noise at the state of her hair as she started to trim it. Lauren would giggle as she saw her mum's face in the mirror, wondering just what she expected after a couple of months in prison. She tensed slightly when Poppy came into the salon but she smiled broadly at Lauren and came over to speak to her, asking her how she was. She was just being her normal self… being Poppy... and it helped ease some of the tension Lauren was feeling... maybe her friend's would be okay after all.

Poppy did her nails for her once her hair was finished, she even gave her a hand massage. Just as she was nearly done the door to the salon opened and Joey walked in. Lauren tilted her head back when he put his hands on her shoulders, just like her dad had done that morning and she smiled at him. "I'm nearly done, Joe." She said.

"Whenever you're ready, babe." He said, sitting in the chair next to her.

"Do you want me to do your nails too, Joey?" Poppy asked with a cheeky grin.

"You're alright..." he said, wrapping his arm around Lauren's shoulders and squeezing the top of her arm. Lauren tensed slightly, watching Poppy's face for any sign of disapproval but there wasn't any so she relaxed again.

"You two make a cute couple, you know..." she said, almost as if she knew what Lauren was thinking. "Gorgeous too..."

"Thanks Poppy..." Lauren said, "It means a lot to me... for you to say that..." Her face was a pretty shade of pink by the time she'd finished speaking and Poppy just smiled at her. Joey kissed the side of Lauren's head, increasing the depth of her blush and then got to his feet, walking over to the counter where Tanya was standing.

"Let me pay..."

"Don't be silly, Joey..." Tanya protested. "It's my treat..."

"Well, let me pay for the manicure at least..." Joey said, pulling out his wallet. Tanya gave in, seeing the look of determination on his face and she accepted the money he gave her for the treatment Poppy had done.

"You should be saving your money, Joe..." she said quietly.

Joey stared at her and then flashed a grin at her as he realised what she was saying. "I've got money saved..." he told her, "All those extra shifts in the last month or so..." He glanced at Lauren, seeing her talking to Poppy, "I'm taking Lauren away for a long weekend once the tag is gone... I promised her I would at Christmas..."

"That's lovely, Joey… I'm sure Max and I can help you out if you need a bit extra… You shouldn't spend all the savings you have."

"Thanks Auntie Tanya…" he said. He turned back to Lauren and she smiled at him. He helped her to her feet, noticing she swayed slightly so he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Just a bit light headed… stood up too quickly…" she said.

"Let's go and get some food then, eh?" he said, kissing her forehead. Lauren nodded, squeezing his hand and they walked out of Booty, Lauren calling a thank you to her mum and Poppy as they left. Lauren's grip on Joey's hand tightened as they walked back through the market and then headed towards the cafe. While Lucy was in the cafe it was Marie that served them (to Lauren's relief) and soon they were heading towards the table in the far corner of the cafe, near the window. They sat opposite each other and Lauren smiled as Joey reached his hand across the table and gave hers a reassuring squeeze. Lauren kept glancing at Lucy as she busily served customers but she didn't think she'd seen either of them yet. Lauren's eyes ran around the rest of the cafe, finding Whitney staring at her from across the room. She was sitting at a table on her own but there was a second mug on the table with her so Lauren was pretty sure Lucy had been sitting with her. Lauren smiled at Whitney, tentatively testing her response. Whitney turned away from her, blanking Lauren completely and sending Lauren's emotions plummeting to the floor.

"Fuck..." she whispered, lowering her head so she was staring at her mug.

"What's wrong, babe?" Joey asked her, glancing around the cafe and seeing Whitney at one of the other tables. He turned back to Lauren, seeing her face was flushed and he knew if she looked up at him there would be tears in her eyes. "Hey..." he said, forgetting his coffee and reaching across the table, lifting her chin so she'd look at him. Sure enough tears were running down her face and he brushed them away gently, "Don't let them upset you..." he said softly, "If they're prepared to stop being your friend because of me... then that's their loss, not yours..." he told her, "and they clearly weren't that great of friends in the first place, yeah?" Lauren gave him a watery smile and Joey acted instinctively, leaning forwards and kissing her softly. As they pulled apart they realised the cafe had fallen silent and as they both looked to see what it was that'd caused it they found everyone was staring at the two of them. Lauren shifted uncomfortably in her seat and she tried to pull her hand from Joey's but he tightened his grip, not letting her do so.

"Well...?"

Lauren was surprised by her voice but heard the antagonism in it and she knew they were heading for trouble. "Hi Lucy..." she whispered.

"Hi Lucy..." she said in a sarcastic voice, "Is that all you have to say to me?" she asked as she stood over their table, seeming to have appeared from nowhere because Lauren hadn't seen her walk over.

Lauren stared at her blankly, not sure what her former friend was expecting her to say. She glanced at Joey, "maybe we should go..." she whispered.

"We're still drinking our drinks." He said.

"Please Joe..." she breathed.

Joey stared at her, seeing the tears returning and knowing Lauren wouldn't want Lucy or Whitney to see she was upset. "Okay..." he agreed, getting up from his seat, managing to squeeze into the gap between Lucy and the table so that he could help Lauren to her feet. He stepped backwards, creating a space for Lauren to walk in front of him and forcing Lucy to move out of their way. The couple walked out of the still silent cafe but Joey was disappointed when Lauren pulled her hand from his once they were back outside. Lauren kept her head down once they were back in the market and she wrapped her arms around her body, almost trying to protect herself from anyone hurting her, feeling even more self conscious than she had when she left that morning. "I'll just go to the Minute Mart to get some milk..." Joey told her softly, "I'll just be a minute... promise..." he moved closer to kiss her but Lauren stepped back and she saw the hurt on his face before he turned and walked to the shop. Lauren stood in the middle of the street, willing him to come back to her so they could go home.

A/N: Oh dear, Lauren and Joey have run into Whitney and Lucy... can you see where the drama is coming from now? Let's hope things don't get any worse... Send me a review and tell me what you think. Back tomorrow...