Here's today'd promised update :-)

Unsure of tomorrow, need to write some more yet! Do my best to keep regular updates, reviews welcome and loved as usual!

Lauren's POV

About half an hour later, I was ready to go out. I was no way in the mood for this, I wanted anything but to go out and to be forced to sit on a table with Abi glaring at me with her disapproval and my boyfriend probably sat next to me fondling my leg. Eurgh, why can't things just be easy! Why the hell did I have to go and fall for my cousin? I hadn't seen either Abi or Alice after they'd left, Abi probably couldn't bear to look at me.

I made my way down to reception to see everyone was waiting for me. "Why does it take you so long to get ready?" My dad called, half-heartedly. I looked at him and shrugged, trying to act normal. As I walked over I caught Joey's eye and he smiled lovingly at me, his eyes darting all over me as he took in my attire. One track mind. I forced a smile back at him convincingly, I hope, just before I noticed Abi, her eyes glued to me as I reached Mum's side. She smiled gently at me, which I thought was strange considering nearly an hour ago she was telling me how she was basically ashamed of me. I brushed it off and stayed close to Mum, hoping to avoid any awkward moments with either Joey or Abi tonight, only to make things worse. I hated it, the fact I couldn't just go stand next to my boyfriend and kiss him, hold his hand and hug him without looks of disapproval and disappointment from all of my family. I. Loved. Him. That was it, it wasn't a crime and it wasn't wrong – to us anyway. I noticed his eyes were locked with mine and smiled at him gently, telling him through my eyes that I loved him. No part of me wanted this to change what we had, but it would, of course it would. We were being torn apart and it was killing me.

We all made our way to the restaurant in the hotel and I sat down next to my Mum, away from Abi but not suspiciously too far away from Joey too. Joe was sat opposite but 1 away from me and all the time I felt his gaze rested on me, making me nervous and awkward. As we ordered I felt my phone vibrate.

Joey: you look beautiful. Xx

I smiled involuntarily but didn't reply as truthfully I wasn't sure what I should put back. Things were not okay, and I couldn't pretend they were and that I was happy. Because I wasn't, I wasn't happy that the best feeling I'd ever had and the best thing that had ever happened to me was about to be destroyed against my own will and there was nothing I could do about it. I kept my head faced down to my plate as everyone conversed around the table. I could feel Abi's look on me as well and bravely I lifted my head to look at her.

"You okay?" she mouthed, unnoticed by anyone else, but Joey I think. I nodded and forced a smile to her. I could feel it, I could feel the tears brimming, forcing their way out but there was no way I'd let them. I felt my phone vibrate once more.

Joey: are you okay?

I sighed and locked my phone again, not knowing what to put back. I wasn't okay, he could read me like a book. I felt a tear drop down into my lap as if on cue, feeling my phone vibrate again.

Joey: baby, talk to me, please?

I braved a glance at him, his eyes looking torn and worried pleading with me to talk to him. But this was typical me, encounter a problem and bottle it up, keep it to myself until I do something unbelievably stupid and wreck everything and hurt everyone. Another tear rolled down my cheek as our eyes locked and I reached to wipe it away immediately.

"Mum, I'm just popping to the loo," I whispered, diverting my eyes from her so she couldn't see I was crying and got up to hurry to the bathroom. I rushed in and shut the door behind me, resting my hands on the sink in front of me. I lifted my head to look at my reflection in the mirror and there staring back at me was the broken, weak girl I'd never admitted to being. Joey brought he best out in me, but he also brought the emotions, the weaker side. I sobbed for a while longer, hearing a knock on the door.

"Lo?" I heard him say. Of course it was him, who else? I sniffed and wiped my eyes.

"Yeah?" I replied, my voice breaking. I heard him sigh, clearly becoming affected by this.

"Let me in baby," he whispered, knocking the door with his fist once more. I moved to the door and unlocked it without hesitation. He moved in instantly and embraced me in his arms. "Hey beautiful, don't cry, please don't" I felt his hand on the back of my head, stroking my hair. "Talk to me,"

"I.. I…" I sobbed, soaking his shoulder. "How did you get away from the table?" It clicking quickly, he must of caused suspicion, making me feel even more apprehensive.

"That doesn't matter. Lo, talk to me please," he pleaded, "What's wrong? Have I done something to upset you?" the hurt evident in his voice.

I shook my head, lifting it off his shoulder to look at him, I also lifted my hand and placed it on his cheek. "It's not you, it's us. We're ruined. Our little fantasy, how could we think we could be approved? Abi's against us and she'll tell the rest and not long before I'm separated from you for good,"

"Don't say that, Abi's not against us babe, you know that" he told me, catching me off guard.

"What? She doesn't understand, she's completely against the idea,"

"Didn't she tell you?" he asked, pulling away from me slightly, as I shook my head completely unaware of what he was talking about. "She came and saw me earlier, she knows we are real, she knows I love you and her mind is made up. She was only worried about you babe, she's made up for us," he shrugged and caressed my cheek with the back of his index finger gently.

"Really?"

"Really." He asserted. I breathed heavily, a weight somewhat being lifted.

"People will still disagree," I told him, knowing just because Abi approves doesn't mean anyone else will. "Abi won't make a difference. You know we'll be targeted by our family, deemed the family let downs."

"Then we'll face it baby, together" he told me sincerely, looking straight into my eyes.

"But Joe, it's too complicated." I told him, horror fixed on his face anticipating the words I was going to say. "Joe, I… I can't do it-" I was cut off as his hands held my cheeks and he crashed his lips into mine, silencing me with a kiss. His hands moved to my hair as I began kissing him back, it soothing me somehow. I felt, rather than heard him groan in the back of his throat snapping me back to reality as I realised I desperately needed air. We both pulled apart, but remained close as he rested his forehead on mine.

"Baby, don't you dare," he whispered, closing his eyes showing the pain my words caused. "I love you Lauren, I love you. Is that not enough?" his brow crumpled as his words hit home.

I nodded, "I love you Joe" As I told him he pulled me into his arms, them wrapping tight around me.

"Never say that again baby," he whispered as he kissed the top of my head. "I can't lose you,"

My heart melted at his words, realising he needed me just as much as I needed him. "I'm just scared Joe,"

"I know, but we will get through it." He kissed the top of my head again, "You're so strong baby,"

"I'm sorry" I whispered, feeling awful for causing him pain.

"I know beautiful" we pulled away and he smiled at me, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. "What are you most scared of?"

"Kind of sounds hypocritical now," I chuffed to myself. "I'm scared that when people know, you will get bored of the trouble I'm causing and run"

He closed his eyes as he absorbed my words, them clearly hitting home.

"Lauren, this… us, this is it." he took a deep breath, "You are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with and that is exactly what I intend on doing."

I smiled and blushed at his statement. "I love you," I told him.

"Back at ya' Lo," he smirked, leaning in and kissing me gently. "Now, how about I head back in, tell them you've been sick and that I'm taking you back to your room yeah?" I nodded and kissed him gently before he turned to leave.

As I was waiting for him to return my phone vibrated…

Abi: you okay Lo? Xx

I sighed, happy that she was worried, someone other than Joey cared.

Lauren: I am now, it just got a bit much you know? Xx

Almost instantly I had a reply.

Abi: I'm sorry for earlier, just don't want to see you hurt. I'm behind you 100%, he's good for you. Xx

As I read this, Joey walked back in the door seeing me smile.

"What you smiling at beautiful?" he asked curiously.

"Abi, apologising and stuff," I smiled up at him as I finished my reply to Abi.

Lauren: Thank you, it's okay I understand. Abi can you do me a favour? Cover for me tonight, I need Joey? Xx

"What did you tell them?" I asked him as he took my hand and lead me out the restaurant, avoiding our family.

"That I'd bumped into you back here just as you'd been sick and I was taking you upstairs because you also felt dizzy." he told me proudly as I nodded. "You got your key?"

"Yeah, but can I stay with you tonight?" I asked him hopefully, him realising I really needed him.

"Did you even have to ask?" he replied squeezing my hand tighter as we made our way back to his room.

As he unlocked his door I made my way over to the draw where I knew he kept his clothes, pulling out a t-shirt plonking myself down on the bed before yawning, Joey's eyes captivated by my every movement through worry and love. I looked over at him and smiled gently before he walked over and stood in front of me taking the t-shirt from my hands.

"Let me," he whispered, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. He pulled me up and pushed off my jacket, which in actual fact was his, placing it down on the bed before he turned me around and un-zipped the zip of my dress letting it fall to the floor exposing my bra and knickers. "Do you want…?" he trailed off as I caught his question. I shook my head telling him I didn't want to keep my bra on while I slept, so keeping me faced away from him, he unclasped the back and pulled the straps down letting it fall also. He reached for his t-shirt and slid it over my head, pulling it down over my body. I looked up at him as he finished with a small smile across my face.

"Thanks" I whispered, reaching for his hand and entwining it slowly as I stifled a yawn.

"You need some sleep beautiful, last day tomorrow, big day," he told me, stroking my cheek kindly. He never stopped worrying about me, even after the argument, when everything was solved he still really cared about me. I nodded and smiled at him as he pulled me towards the bed and lifted the duvet so I could climb in.

"You too," I told him, not sure whether he was actually coming to bed yet or not.

"Me too baby," he whispered, leaning down and kissing my lips gently. He stepped back and removed his shirt and shorts, remaining in his boxers. My eyes rested on his bare chest which he noticed and smirked slightly at me shaking his head.

"Can I not admire my boyfriend?" I whispered teasingly, smiling at him.

"Anytime gorgeous, anytime," he winked back at me, the mood somewhat lighter. I felt rather than watched him slide into bed next to me just before he wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me back into him. His hands rested on my stomach, one underneath my shirt rubbing my belly. He kissed the back of my neck, on my shoulder-blade adoringly, making me relax into his embrace. "Night beautiful,"

"I love you" I whispered snuggling into him.

"Love you too beautiful," he kissed my shoulder again, "We're going to be fine, I promise" his arms tightened around me almost as if he knew I was still worried. We'd gone through a whirlwind tonight, both of us unsure how we would come out the other end. But as usual, we made it, hand in hand. Tonight I'd realised how important Joey actually was too me, how much I depended on him, I couldn't lose him. And I wasn't about too.

Hope you enjoyed, R&R?