Hey :) Sorry I havent updated this in a bit. Been busy with College work. Hope this makes up for it :) Enjoy :) X

Four Months later, Lauren had improved greatly. She had admitted she was ill and was working towards improving her health. Currently, she was louging on the sofa with Kate and Maddie playing Mario Kart on the Wii Machine. Martin had day release, so he was spending time with his family, making up for missing his little sisters birthday.

'YES!' screamed Lauren happily, as she came first for the third time in a row. Kate and Maddie groaned in defeat.

'Lauren! Your too good for us!' Maddie complained, slumping back against the pillows with Kate. Lauren giggled at her two best friends reactions.

'Oh come on. You know I play all the time with my sister and brother' said Lauren, hitting Kate with a pillow. Kate shrieked and gasped, hitting Lauren back and soon a pillow fight erupted between them

'TIME OUT! TIME OUT!' shrieked Lauren, as her phone was ringing. She answere dit giggling.

'Hello'

'Hey babe' said Joey, on the other end of the line, making Lauren's eyes light up

''Babe! you okay?' Lauren asked

'Yeah... erm, do you think you can let me in?' asked Joey, making Lauren frown

'Eh? How'd you mean? Your working... aren't you?' asked Lauren, getting off the sofa and heading for the door, seeing Joey staring back at her, smiling his smouldering smile. He hung up as she opened the door and allowed him to step in before she launched herself into his arms. He laughed lightly and picked her up, wrapping her legs round his waist.

'Missed me? Of course you did' said Joey, smirking. Lauren lightly slapped him on the shoulder, but kissed him sweetly. He lowered her down onto her feet slowly and they pulled away, Lauren feeling Kate and Maddie watching them. Lauren hid her face in Joey's neck, nhaling his aftershave that she loved so much, sighing contently.

'I miss you' said Lauren, resting her chin on his shoulder. He smiled down at her and kissed her head.

'Just one more month, babe. Then, you'll be back in my arms for good' said Joey. Lauren smiled brightly.

'And I can't wait' said Lauren. Joey smiled at her and saw Julia smiling at them, Katwe and Maddie standing behind her, goofy smiles on their faces.

'Can I take her out for a few hours?' he called to Julia

'Sure. Have her back by five though' Julia called back. Lauren giggled and looked at Joey.

'Let me run and get my jacket' said Lauren, quickly rushing to her room. Joey walked over to Kate and Maddie.

'You girls okay?' he asked

'Yeah thanks. How are you?' asked Kate

'Yeah I'm good thanks. WHat you been up to?'

'Playing Mario Kart on the Wii... although Lauren destorys us, she's too good' said Maddie, making Lauren laugh as she reappeared.

'Yeha... Never play Mario Kart with Lauren. You'll never win' said Joey, forging pain when she hit him on the arm.

'Be quiet, you' she joked, hooking her arm through his. He looked at her and smiled

'You ready?' he asked. Lauren nodded and they bidded Kate and Maddie goodbye, before exiting the centre. They entered the taxi and watched the scenery go by.

'So, where are we going?' Lauren asked

'I thought I'd treat you with a shopping trip. Anything you want' said Joey

'What? No, Joey you aint spending all your money on me' said Lauren. Joey sighed lightly and turned his smouldering look up to an eleven.

'Come on, babe... Let me treat you... Anything you want' he said, locking eyes with her and his gaze turning intense. Lauren bit her lip and smiled.

'OKay. Fine. You can treat me' she said, giggling, as Joey smiled and wrappe dhis arm round her shoulder, pulling her to him and kissing her head...

Three hours later, Joey and Lauren arrived back at The Priory, Lauren giggling at something Joey said as she walked through the doors. Theyw ere walking down the corridor when Julia spotted them.

'Looks like someone had a good time' said Julia, eyeing Lauren's three bags.

'Yep. Great time. Where are Kate and Maddie?' she asked, looking around for her friends

'Their parents came and took them out for the day' said Julia. Lauren nodding in understanding and headed for her room to put her bags away. She entered her room and placed the bags near her bed. She turned round to face Joey, as he shut the door.

'So, what do you want to do now?' he asked. Lauren didnt answer him. She walked over to him, wrapping her arms round his neck and kissing him. He wrapped his arms round her waist and pulled her close as he made the kiss deeper. One hand left her waist, trailing up her back and tangled in her hair. Joey walked them backwards until Lauren's back hit the matress of her bed, both of his hands now tangled tightly in her hair, the kiss turning rough and passionate. Lauren could feel herself getting worked up. She felt Joey's lips trail down her jaw to her neck, determined to mark her as his, which he did, Lauren threading her fingers through his hair repeatedly. After marking her, he lifted his head and look down at her, stroking a piece of hair out of her eyes and beind her ear, looking at her with his eyes full of love and lust. Lauren flipped them over and kissed him hard, before trailing to his neck and leaving her mark on him. Joey gripped her hair tightly, as he felt her other hand travelling down to his jeans. Suddenly, Lauren stopped what she was doing, sitting up abrutly.

'Babe! Seriously?' exclaimed Joey quietly, wondering why Lauren had stopped what she was doing

'Can you smell something? 'she asked. Joey frowned and sniffed the air.

'No... Now come here..' said Joey, grabbing the back of Lauren's head and flipping them over. He crushed their lips together, tangling his hands back in her hair. Lauren moaned, as her fingernails stratched Joeys back harshly. Joey hissed and bit her neck at the unexpected movement, making Lauren gasp, pressing herself into him.

'LAUREN! I'm- OH GOD! SORRY!' shouted Maddie, as she swung the door open, but at seeing Joey and Lauren in a very heated make out, fled the room shutting the door behind her. Lauren hid her neck in Joey's shoulder, giggling and blushing.

'Oh my god... I wont be able to look Maddie in the eyes for days now' she muttered. Joey chuckled and kissed the top of her head, stroking her hair as he did so...

Joey arived back in Walford two hours later, as he had a shift to do at R&R. He headed from the train station and rounded the corner, bumping into TYler and Whitney.

'Sorry' Joey apologised and carried on walking, however Tyler stopped him in his tracks.

'OI! Howse that blonde of yours?' he shouted. Joey turned to look at him, scowling.

'Excuse me?' he asked

'The blonde I saw you with last night. Looked pretty up for it didn't she?' said Tyler, smiling cockily. Joey walked up to him, but Whitney stood infront of her boyfriend.

'Whit... Tell your boyfriend or whatever he is... That 'that blonde' is mine and Lauren's friend and theirs nothing going on' said Joey dangerously, turning on his heels and aiming to walk away

'Bet she sees to you good and proper, doesnt she? WOnder what your precious, Lauren would think?'. Tyler just had time to push Whitney out of the way before Joey punched him. Tyler staggered back, but he retaliated and soon a struggle broke out. It was eventually broken by Max and Whitney.

'What the hell is going on?' shouted Max, clamping Joey's arms to his side

'Carli. He thinks somethings going on with me and her!' shouted Joey. Max turned him away and pushed him in front of him, telling him to get inside the house.

'See, Branning! Your just like your Dad!' shouted Tyler. Max just had time to wrestle Joey away from Tyler, before he hit him again. Max heard Whitney shuting at Tyler, as he walked back to the house with Joey, who was still angry...

That weekend, Lauren arrived home for her night out from the Priory. Joey greeted her at the front door to her house with a smile.

'Alright, babe?' he asked, as he picked her up and swung her round in a circle. She giggled as he carried her into the house, nodding.

'Yeah. Am now' she said, kissing his cheek, making Joey smile. He placed her on the sofa and sat next to her, Lauren looked round.

'Where is everyone?' she asked, noting that the house was empty. Joey put his arm round her shoulder and smiled.

'Your mum and dad gone to the Market to get some stuff for the tea, Abi is at Jay's and Oscar's with Dennis' answered Joey. Lauren smiled, a cheeky glint in her eye. She leant forward, Joey meeting her halfway to connect their lips, his hand sliding from her cheek into her hair, pulling her closely. The front door slammed shut and they pulled away, just as Max and Tanya walked into the living room.

'Don't mind us. We were just making sure you'd got here alright' said Tanya, as Lauren shot her an annoyed look. She and Max left the living room and went into the kitchen,. Joey chuckled and pulled Lauren close to him, back in for another kiss, when Carli stormed into the living room, clearly furious about something

'Why does that black haired dude think we're having an affair?' she shouted. Lauren instantly pulled awya from the kiss and looked at Joey, who looked shocked at what Carli had just said

'Joey?' asked Lauren, when Joey didn't reply. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, as he racked his brain for a way to kill Tyler. He felt Lauren get to her feet.

'Is it true?' she shouted, tears glistening her eyes...

R&R :D X