Sorry for the late update :) Enjoy! :) X

Joey looked between the two girls, his face showing shock. Lauren stood back to let Carli in and she shut the door behind her.

'Look at you, you look great' said Lauren. Carli smiled and hugged her.

'I would say the same for you, but I can see that's not the case' Carli said. Lauren smiled lightly.

'Yeah, had a relapse towards the end of last year' she said, leading Carli, Joey, Max and Tanya into the living room. They sat down in different areas of the room, Carli and Lauren sitting on the sofa together, Carli looking at Laurens bandages.

'Oh, Lauren' she said, her eyes filling with tears

'I know... but what's happened, happened... but I'm getting help. I'm on a night release. Go back in about an hour and half' said Lauren. Carli sniffed and Lauren pulled her in for a hug as Carli broke down on her shoulder and Lauren knew why. Joey was now more confused than ever.

'Can you give us a minute?' he asked Max and Tanya. They nodded and left the room, closing the door behind them, heading for the kitchen. Joey turned to the girls.

'Okay, I'm sorry to break up the party... but, how you two know each other?' he asked, pointing to Lauren and Carli. Lauren sighed.

'Carli was one of my best friends. Her younger sister was also one of my closest friends...' Lauren trailed off, her throat growing tight. Joey saw Carli clutch Lauren hand tighter.

'Joey... remember when I told you I lost one of my closest friends?' asked Lauren. He nodded, folding his arms over his chest

'Well... Carli's her sister... Hayley's sister' said Lauren...

Max and Tanya were sat in the kitchen, both drinking a glass of red wine to calm their shock out.

'Well... I didn't expect to Carli again. Ever if I'm honest' said Max

'Join the club' said Tanya, taking a sip of her wine. They were silent for a minute, before Tanya spoke.

'How did she find us?' she wondered

'I don't know. Maybe she's been looking a few weeks or something, tracked us down, I don't know' said Max, drinking the last of his wine and re filling

'Or something to do with Joey... Did you see his face when Lauren opened the door?' asked Tanya, the pieces starting to click together in her head

'No why?' Max asked, frowning

'He looked confused, then shocked when Lauren said Carli's name... Do you think Joey and Carli know each other?' asked Tanya, putting the pieces together. Max shrugged his shoulders

'I don't know. But wouldn't he have mention Carli to Lauren if he knew her?' said Max. Tanya looked at him

'Judging by his face, Max... I don't think Joey knew Carli knew Lauren'...

Joey sat down in the chair, clearly in shock and unable to take this in.

'Wait a minute, let me get this straight... if you two were friends years ago... why wouldn't either of you mention one another to me?' he asked, looking from Carli to Lauren and back again

'Because we lost contact after what happened with Hayley. It was too hard for me to go round to their house, knowing Hayley wasn't going to come bounding down the stairs...' said Lauren

'But...I...What?' Joey exclaimed. Carli groaned and sighed

'For god's sake, Joey. Basically, me, Lauren and Hayley were really close when we were younger. But after Hayley's death, we drifted apart and then when she moved, we lost contact' said Carli. Lauren, however, was looking at Carli suspiciously. When Carli mentioned Joey's name, her head snapped towards her.

'Erm... not been rude... but how the hell do you know Joey?'

'We went out for about two months. Nothing special. But, we've always stayed friend after the break up' said Carli, smiling at Joey, who was watching Lauren

'You two went out?' asked Lauren, sounding surprised

'Yeah. About three years ago' said Joey, and then he frowned at Carli

'Wait a minute... In all the years we've been friends... why didn't you mention Lauren to me? I could've met her sooner and known her longer' Joey asked Carli. She sighed.

'The reason I've never mentioned Lauren to you, is because if I mentioned Lauren... then all the memories of Hayley would come flooding back. And I know this may sound mean... but I don't want to think about her. It too hard and upsetting for me...' said Carli

'If it's too upsetting for you... why have you come to see me?' asked Lauren, frowning. Carli dug into her pocket and pulled out Joey's key to the Branning house.

'My key! Where was it?' he asked, taking it from her.

'On the kitchen table' said Carli, before turning to Lauren.

'So, give me the gossip... whose this mystery girl Joeys been seeing?' Laurens eyes widened slightly

'Excuse me?' she asked, her voice going a little higher than normal

'Yeah. Apparently, Joeys been seeing a girl who's in the Priory too. Do you know her? What does she look like?' asked Carli, wanting the details. Clearly, she didn't see Joeys arm round Laurens waist when Lauren answered the door, either that or she just thought he was been a supportive cousin.

'Erm...' Lauren struggled for words and looked at Joey for help. Joey sighed.

'Okay... listen, Carli... what you've got to understand is that we didn't mean for it to happen-' Joey began, but Lauren cut him off by dragging him to his feet and out into the hallway.

'Joey, is this a good idea?' she whispered. Joey placed his hands on her shoulders

'Lauren, I know Carli. She won't judge... just break it to her easily, okay?' he said. Lauren looked sceptical, but she nodded.

'It'll be okay, I promise' he said, tucking her hair behind her ear. She smiled at him and headed for the living room. She took a breath and entered the living room again, smiling at Carli, Joey behind her.

'Carli... I'm the girl who Joeys been seeing...' she said, grabbing Joey's hand as he offered it to her. Carli looked at them both, her eyes widening and her mouth dropped open in pure shock.

'What? But... you're both Brannings!'

'Yeah, we're cousins. Its legal' said Joey simply. Carli was glad she was still sat down. She looked away from them and processed the news.

'Carli, please say something... Anything' said Lauren. Carli looked at them both.

'How long?'

'Since last year...'answered Joey. Carli stared at them.

'Do you love each other?' she asked

'More than ever, now' Joey answered again, making Lauren smile at him. Carli nodded and exhaled.

'Wow... Well... then... ill support you... but go breaking her heart, J... and I wont be so kind' she said, then seeing Laurens smirk at Joey, rounded on her.

'That goes for you too, missy. Hurt Joey and I hurt you' she said, smiling to show she didn't really mean it. Lauren smiled and giggled, hugging her own her old friend...

R&R :D X