A/N: So here's the next chapter... It's quite a sweet one. There's a lot I really like about this chapter.

Chapter 11.

Lauren was itching to get back to his room. She knew from Alice that he was okay and she knew her dad was with him now. She was worried though. In her gut she couldn't help feeling she needed to be there; that in some way he needed her. Maybe she was wishing that be the case? "Are you done, Alice?" She tried to keep the hope from her voice but didn't think she managed it that well.

"Yeah. Let's go. I should imagine your dad wants to get back to the Square by now." Just a few minutes later Lauren was forcing herself to walk at Alice's pace back towards her cousin, which was far too slow in her opinion. She needed to see Joey. "Are you okay, Lauren? You seem really jumpy..." Alice asked.

"I'm fine... just eager to make sure Joey's okay."

"Well we're nearly there." Alice laughed as they walked down to his room.

Lauren saw her dad standing outside his room, "Alice, why don't you go in and say goodbye to Joey? I'll be in shortly." Alice disappeared through the doors, "You alright, dad?"

He seemed distracted but nodded his head, "Yeah." She frowned and stepped closer. He hugged her tightly. Lauren kept quiet, knowing something had happened that she didn't understand. "I'll be back tonight to pick you up. I'll bring Alice back so she can stay with him while you come home to get some sleep." His arms tightened around her, if that was at all possible, "I love you Lauren Branning, you know that right?"

"Of course."

"I'm sorry for the things I did when you were younger. I'd do anything to take those things back because I never want to hurt my kids. Never again."

"What's going on, dad?" she asked.

"Just look after Joey today, okay? He's had a tough couple of days."

"You know I will."

"Good. I'll see you later," He kissed her on the forehead and then pushed her towards the room.

"Hi Joey." She said softly as she walked into the room.

His face lit up when he saw her, "Hey!" He looked a little better this morning. The oxygen mask had been replaced by an oxygen feed in his nose.

"I'm gonna go. Uncle Max is giving me a lift home. Do you want me to bring anything back tonight?"

"No, I'm good."

"See you later then. Bye Lauren."

"Bye Alice," Lauren watched as she left the room then rushed over to his side and sat in the chair. "Hi."

"Hi."

"Are you okay?"

"Of course."

"You don't seem fine, Joe."

"I'm good now you're here."

"I missed you." She blushed when she admitted that to him, "I guess that sounds silly when we've hardly spent any time together since you came to the Square but I really did."

"It doesn't sound silly to me."

"I wanted to come and see you straight away but dad made me go and get some food."

"He told me. We had a chat."

"Oh God..." she whispered.

"It was fine, Lauren. He loves you a lot."

"I'm the problem child..." she murmured.

"You're his favourite..." he corrected her.

"Ridiculous!" She scoffed.

"The truth." He stated.

"Joe, there is no way I'm his favourite... Everything that's gone wrong in his life is because of me. I broke up his first marriage. I caught him having an affair with Bradley's wife, videoed it and gave it to my brother for a Christmas present. I tore our family apart. I ran him over with his own car because he wouldn't let me date Lucy's brother."

"Wow..."

"Yeah. All I've ever done is let him down. So you're wrong."

"Lauren, he told me. He said his best and worst memories were of his children."

"More than mum...?" she whispered.

He reached towards her and pulled her face towards him for a quick kiss. He smirked at her, "Yeah. I asked him what his best memories were. He said it was holding each of you after you were born. He said that of the four of his children, you and Bradley were the most special. Bradley because he was his first child but he said he was overwhelmed with being a father at such a young age. With you, it was different. He said you were beautiful and you made his life complete. I happen to agree with him too..."

"About what?"

"You are beautiful."

"Joe..." She blushed again and he chuckled softly.

"I like it when you call me that."

She was silent for a couple of minutes, not sure what to say after his comment, "Joe... will you tell me what happened? You don't have to tell me now, when you're ready but I know you know more than you're letting on."

"I will." He said softly. He reached for her hand and she gripped it tightly, understanding his need for contact with her. "If I tell you, you won't tell anyone, will you?"

"Of course not. It's between you and me."

"I told your dad."

"This morning?"

"Yeah."

That explained a few things to Lauren and she knew that whatever he was about to tell her was really bad, "Whatever you're going to say, Joe, I'm here for you."

"I knew the person who hit me, Lauren." He whispered.

"I guessed as much."

He was quiet, staring at her face. Would she think any less of him if he told her? "It was my dad..." he murmured, barely able to get the words out. He'd thought it might get easier the second time round but if anything it was more difficult because of who he was telling.

"Uncle Derek?"

"The one and the same."

"How could he do that to you?" Joey didn't say anything because he wasn't sure he knew how to answer that particular question. They fell silent. Joey closed his eyes, suddenly feeling very tired. "I'm so sorry, Joey." She whispered to him.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for." He opened his eyes and saw there were tears running down her face, "Come here, Lauren." She shuffled her chair forward and he pulled her in for a hug.

"Why are you comforting me? It should be the other way round," she sobbed into his shoulder.

"You are doing so, just by being here." He whispered to her softly.

"So what's going to happen now?" she asked him.

"Your dad said he'd sort it."

"Do you think he'll tell the police?"

"I don't know. You know him better than me."

"I think he will." She said after thinking about it, "He was so angry yesterday with your dad anyway. And angry about someone hurting you like that."

"Why was he angry?" Joey was confused.

"He said he didn't understand why Derek never tried to have a better relationship with you; why he never tried to repair it." Joey stared at her. He couldn't tell her. He was simply unable to form the words. She looked up at him, "This wasn't the first time was it?" she asked him. Joey shook his head. "Oh God." She whispered. Her lips met his in a heated kiss and he returned it with as much passion. Lauren pulled away from him and she brushed away the tears that had fallen down his face. He relaxed at her touch and after just a couple of minutes he fell asleep, at peace for the first time in years.

TBC

A/N2: So there you go... he told them both. Reading this chapter always puts a lump in my throat - which is a bit silly given I wrote it. What part is your favourite bit? Let me know in a review. Might be one more chapter tonight... haven't decided yet.