Thanks to everyone who has reviewed the story so far... I love reading them and it makes me want to continue writing! xx
EPILOGUE:
Lauren sat in the car beside her dad. She could feel him watching her, "You okay?" he asked, not for the first time today.
"I'm great, dad." Lauren repeated, a smile on her face, also not for the first time.
"Any last minute nerves?"
"A few… but none about this, dad… This is the one thing I'm not nervous about…"
"What are you nervous about then?" he asked.
"This…" she breathed, her hand waving down her body. "I feel like a fool… and I have to cope somehow with everyone staring at me…"
"Well, firstly they'll be staring at you because this is your day… and also because you look stunning…" He reached over and placed his hand on hers, squeezing it gently. "The last thing you are going to look today is a fool…"
"Thanks dad."
Max glanced at his watch, "It's time, babe… we should be getting inside." He smiled, "Don't want to be late for your groom, do we?"
"I thought that was what brides were supposed to do?" Lauren said.
"Well, you'll want a few minutes with your girlfriends before we go in anyway, won't you?" He said, "By the time we're out of the car and have done that we'll already be late."
Lauren smiled, "Anyone would think you were eager to get rid of me…" she teased him.
"I'm not getting rid of you, babe… merely gaining another son…"
Lauren smile broadened, "I hope you remember to tell him that later…" she said.
Max patted his jacket pocket, "I intend to, babe…" he told her softly. "Although you'd think he'd already know… seeing as how I changed the name of the car lot…"
"That was almost three years ago, dad… and anyway, it'll be nice for him to hear it again…" Lauren said.
Max leant forward and opened the car door, climbing out and then leaning back inside and holding his hand out towards her so she could take it. He helped her climb carefully out of the car. Lauren took a deep breath and then slid her arm through her dad's as they walked up to the church.
"Lauren, you look beautiful…" Her blonde best friend said. Both girls fussed around Lauren for a few minutes, straightening out the dress and making sure she had everything.
"She's right, Lauren… you're simply stunning…" Her other friend agreed. She glanced at the blonde beside her, "You do know your mum is going to go mental, right?" she said, smirking at her.
"Don't remind me…" she groused. She looked again at Lauren, "I blame you…" she said.
"You promised me, Nancy…" Lauren said.
Nancy smiled, "I know… and I'm glad I did… kind of… after all, it was the only way Whit and I could convince you to get that dress you're wearing… which even I have to admit is bloody amazing…"
Lauren smiled, stepping forward and hugging Whitney, "Thanks for being here with me, Whit…" she said softly, "I wish Lucy could be here too…" she added.
"Me too, Lauren… but I'm sure she's looking down on us all and is really pleased for you… and jealous to the core that you're making an honest man out of Joey…"
Lauren giggled. "You've probably got a point… I'm not sure I could've handled the drama of her being here to be honest…" she admitted. She pulled away from Whit and then turned to her blonde friend, who was currently brushing her hands self-consciously down the bridesmaid's dress she was wearing. She moved closer to her and hugged her too. "Thanks Nance…" she whispered, "I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for your help over the last few years…"
"That's what friends are for," Nancy said quietly.
Lauren took a deep breath, pulling away from Nancy and staring at her, "I've made a decision…" she said, staring at the blonde. "I want to take this off…"
Nancy's mouth dropped open for several seconds and none of them said anything. Nancy was the first to come back to life, nodding her head and moving around her best friend, "If that is what you want…" she said, smiling as she helped Lauren remove part of what she was wearing.
*JL*JL*
The doors at the back of the church opened and the music began to play. Nancy and Whitney stepped inside first, walking slowly into the church and up the aisle. Nancy tried to ignore the gasp from her mother as she walked past but Whitney's giggle didn't really help too much. She was sure she saw her dad wipe away a tear as well, which was almost as bad. As they got level with Tanya, Nancy passed the slightly off-white lace jacket to her, continuing to move to the front of the room and take their place. Tanya gazed down at the item on her lap in shock, knowing what it was, a lump formed in her throat as she realised what it meant. She looked up and found Joey's head had turned and he was also staring at it. She smiled at him and he flashed a grin at her, turning his head back to the front of the church, waiting for his bride.
Lauren walked slowly beside her dad up the aisle. She had thought she'd be caught up in the emotions from people staring at her but there was only one person she was interested in and that was the man they were walking towards. For the first time in just over three years Lauren Branning felt beautiful, the words from her friends when they'd gone dress shopping ringing in her ears with each step she took. Every little time Joey had told her she was beautiful drifted through her mind and with each step her confidence grew. She felt beautiful and she hoped that Joey felt the same way when he finally got to see her. Her mum had done her hair that morning, putting it up with small strands of hair hanging in curls around her face. Lauren had made sure there was enough for her future husband to push back from her face as soon as he got a chance… because it wouldn't be right if he couldn't do that. They slowly moved closer and Lauren knew that most of the people present would be able to see her scars now, the back of the dress exposing her back for all to see. Even after three years there was still slight scars there… and her left leg remained scarred as well. The back of the dress had been the one thing she hadn't liked about it when she'd tried it on, her reluctance to reveal so much of herself heavy on her mind. That was the reason she'd got the lace wrap when they'd bought the dress, because it hid her back from view… but this morning… something had told her that this was what she needed to do. And so far she wasn't regretting that decision, although it was getting more difficult to stay strong with each step. Knowing she would soon be by Joey's side gave her the strength she needed... that and her dad walking beside her. Her arm and hand tightened slightly on her dad's as they continued to move and he placed his hand on hers, squeezing it to reassure her. She'd seen the emotion on his face as they'd waited outside the church and he was now giving her the strength she needed to take these few last steps.
Finally they reached the front of the church and stopped. The room seemed to freeze… as did Lauren's heart as she waited for Joey to look at her. His head turned, his face lighting up as he saw her, his eyes running up and down her full length. Lauren relaxed as she saw the smile on his face... those irresistible dimples appearing and taking her breath away. He stepped closer to her, slipping his hand in hers and lacing their fingers together. "You look stunning, babe…" he breathed, "Takes my breath away to see you…" he admitted, echoing her previous thoughts.
"You don't look so bad yourself…" she told him. She glanced at the vicar, "You still want to do this?" she whispered, "It's not too late to change your mind…"
"Never been more sure of anything in my life…" he said, grinning at her. "What about you?"
"I haven't ever wanted anything more, Joe." She said, squeezing his hand.
"Then let's do this…" he said, releasing her hand and placing his hand on the small of her back, his thumb brushing over the scar at the base of her back as he nudged her forward so they could take their places in front of the vicar and the service could begin. It was time to start their life... together.
THE END.
A/N: That may seem like a strange place to stop but it felt right to end it there. While Lauren and Joey's relationship was a large element of this story, it was mainly about Lauren feeling better about herself after the fire… and hopefully the epilogue showed that. Send me a review and let me know what you thought. Back soon with another story, no doubt.
