Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourited and followed this story :) This is the final chapter, so Enjoy :) X

A month passed by slowly for Lauren and Joey. Thankfully, they didn't have to wait any longer. Today was the day Lauren was finally allowed home for good. Lauren woke up for the last time in her room at the Priory and looked round. She sat up and stretched. Her eyes caught her wrists as she stretched and brought her arms down and rested them on her lap. She looked at her wrists, both which had healed but had noticable scars on them, her right one more. She traced the noticeable scars on her right wrist and sighed. Her phone pinged, indicating a message,

From Joey

To: Lauren

Just eight more hours and you'll be back in my arms where you belong. Can't wait to have you in my bed tonight ;) Love you baby Xxx

Lauren smiled and giggled. She pressed reply and typed.

From: Lauren

To: Joey- New Story

And I can't wait for the eight hours to fly by. Can't wait to see you tonight. Love you too, baby ;) Xxx

Lauren smiled and dropped her phone on her bed. She glanced at the clock and saw it was ten. She grabbed her dressing gown and threw over her pyjamas. She dragged out her suitcase and opened it. She grabbed all of her clothes from her wardrobe and started to pack her stuff away so she didn't have to do it at the last minute. It took her half an hour to pack everything away, she put the suitcase near her door and looked round. She still had all of her paintings and photos to take down, but she'd do them later. She headed into her bathroom and got a shower. Half an hour later, she got out, a towel wrapped round her body and hair. She washed her face and clean her teeth, before heading back into her room to dry her hair. After drying her hair, she grabbed a pair of skinny jeans and one of Joey's t-shirts and threw them over matching under garments. She did her makeup lightly and nodded in the reflection after she had done. She took a deep breath and opened her door, seeing Martin, Kate and Maddie in the lounge.

'Morning guys. You okay?' she said, walking over to them. Martin's head snapped up at her voice and he bounded over to her, wrapping his arms round her. Lauren laughed, a hint of confusion in her laugh.

'What was that for?' she asked, as he pulled back

'I can't give one of my closest friends a hug for finally completing treatment?' Martin asked. He wrapped his arm round her shoulder and led her to the kitchen for some breakfast...

Meanwhile, back in Albert Square, Tanya was bustling round the living room, on a cleaning mission. She was determined to make the house spotless, more so than it already was. Max stayed out of the way, hiding in the kitchen. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, drinking his cup of tea, when the back door opened and Joey stepped into the kitchen, a smile on his face.

'Why you hiding in here?' he asked, as he shut the door. Max chuckled

'Tan is on a cleaning mission, so I'm avoiding her' said Max. Joey laughed

'So, today's the day. What will she get back here?' Joey asked. Max smiled and visibly brightened

'Well, she's got to have a check up and she'll probably want to say goodbye to Martin, Kate and Maddie... So about eight the latest' said Max. Joey nodded.

'Okay. Are you picking her up?' he asked

'Yeah. Why? Want to come?' Max asked. Joey nodded

'What time we setting off?'

'About half five' said Max, draining his tea. He placed the mug in the kitchen sink and picked up his jacket.

'Ready to sell some cars?' he asked Joey. Joey nodded and opened the back door, heading for the car lot...

The rest of the day passed by quickly for Lauren. She had spent it saying goodbye to everyone in unit, although she was confused to why Maddie and Kate were avoiding her. As six o clock came and passed, it suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks that she was leaving the unit and been trusted on her own, out there with temptations drawing her in. She started breathing heavily as tears blurred her vision.

'Lauren? You okay?' asked Martin, rushing over to her

'I don't want to leave. I can't leave..' she said, the fear and panic evident in her voice. Martin put an arm round her and lead her to her room, sitting her down on her bed.

'Hey, what's brought this on? You were so happy this morning' he said, sitting next to her and putting a comforting arm round her. Lauren reste dher head on her shoulder and sniffed

'I'm terrified that I'll give into temptation. That I'll start self harming again. I don't want to do that. I want to live my life, with temptations around me...' admitted Lauren

'Oh Lauren. Look at me, look at me' said Martin, lifting her head off her shoulder and cupping her face in his hands.

'Lauren, of course your going to have temptations. Life does. But I know you. I know that your going to be stronger than just giving in... If you feel like you can't cope... Give yourself a break or say to yourself ''I'm stronger than this''. Trust me, Lauren.. Your going to be fine. I have faith in you...' he said. Lauren eye's were wet with tears. She sniffled and pulled Martin in for a hug.

'Thank you, Martin. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't here...' she said. Martin smiled and hugged her back. A knock at the door broke their moment and they pulled back from the hug.

'Come in!' Lauren shouted. The door opened and revealed Maddie and Kate.

'Hey girl' they said, as thy entered the room, a bag in Maddie's hand. Lauren squinted.

'What's that? I told you guys not to get me anything' said Lauren. Maddie giggled and handed Lauren the bag. She opened it and saw a photo album. She pulled it out and opened it. She saw the album full of photos of herself, Martin, Kate and Maddie. She gasped at some photos. When she reached the end, she saw three handwritten notes from the three of them.

'Oh my god, you guys. You've turned into a wreck' she cried, putting the photo album down and pulling them in for a group hug, all of them shreading their own tears that they were loosing a member of their family. They didn't know how long they had stayed in the hug, but it was broken by Julia, opening the door.

'Sorry to interrupt, but Lauren, can you come with me for a minute?' she asked. Lauren nodded and pulled away from the hug, following Julia into check up room...

Max and Joey pulled up at the Priory. They got out of the car and headed inside, pressing the buzzer on the door. Julia smiled widely at them and opened the door. They walked in and saw Lauren taking a photo of something, smiling proudly. She saved it and hugged Martin, Kate and Maddie again. Max and Joey smiled as Kate pointed over Lauren's shoulder. She turned and smiled widely at seeing her Dad and Joey standing there. She giggled and bolted down the corridor, Joey picking her up and swinging her around, laughing in delight. He put her down on her feet and she hugged her Dad.

'Hey darling' he whispered to her

'Hey Dad' said Lauren, smiling as she rested her head on his shoulder. She pulled away and clapped her hands.

'I'll just go and get my case and bag' said Lauren, rushing back down the corridor, however come to a stop when Martin brought them items for her.

'Thank you for everything, Julia. We seriously couldn't have done this without you' said Max, as Lauren was saying her goodbyes again. Julia smiled

'It's no worries. Call me. If you think she's going to relapse, call me and I'll come and see her' said Julia. Max smiled and nodded, producing some flowers and a box of chocolates for her.

'Oh Max. You didn't have to... But thank you' said Julia, hugging him and then Joey. Just then, Lauren bounded up to them both, a huge smile on her face.

'Ready?' asked Max, picking up her case and bag. Lauren nodded and grabbed Joey tightly.

'I'm ready. Let's go home' she said to them both. Joey smiled and opened the door for her, allowing her through first, her laughter like music to his ears...

As they arrived home, Joey felt Lauren tense up slightly against him, but he didn't think anything of it. As they pulled up outside the house, Lauren noticed the house was in darkness. As she exited the car, it clicked into place.

'Oh no. Please tell me hasn't thrown me a party?' she asked. Max and Joey looked at each other and swallowed.

'Erm..' said Joey, his voice slightly higher than usual. Lauren groaned and rolled her eyes.

'Oh god' she groaned. She sighed and headed up the steps, opening the door. She took a deep breath and opened the door. The room erupted into cheers and party poppers and everything. Lauren laughed nervously, as everyone took turns to hug her and talk to her. Max and Joey stood in the doorway, watching her. Out of the corner of his eye, Max saw Tanya stood with happy tears in her eyes and sighed...

Later that night, Lauren managed to escape the clutches of her family and headed upstairs to her room. She took a deep long awaited breath and rested her back against the door. A knock startled her and she opened the door to see Joey standing there.

'you okay?' he asked frowning. She shook her head and he wrapped his arms round her, pulling her in for hug as he walked into the room. He rubbed her back comfortingly and she calmed down.

'Want to tell me about it?' he asked, as he sat them both down on her bed.

'I can feel it... the temptation. I'm terrified Joey...' she said. Joey sighed and rubbed her back.

'It'll be okay, babe. I'm going to be here for you... Always' he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Lauren smiled, reaching up to kiss him. She climbed onto his lap and turned the kiss deeper. She felt his hand travel down her sides to her thighs, grabbing her to flip them over. Her back hit the mattress and Joey assaulted her neck roughly as her fingers scrapped through his hair, eliciting a groan from his mouth. His lips crushed against Lauren's as their hands traveled to each others buttons on their jeans. Lauren managed to pull Joeys jeans off and throw them to the floor. Joey cradled her in his arms gentle, wanting to show her how much he'd missed her..

Afterwards they laid in each others arms, content with where they were.

'I love you, Joey. I always will' said Lauren, as her eyes started to feel heavy. Joey smiled and kissed her forehead firmly.

'I love you, too babe. Always' he said. He watched as she fell asleep and smiled at her. After a few minutes, he heard Alice shouting his name from downstairs. He groaned and gently slid out of the bed, throwing his clothes back on, pulling the duvet around Lauren before leaving the room. He headed downstairs.

'Whats up?' he asked

'Help me tidy up' she said, pointing to the living room. Joey scoffed and shook his head

'You made me get out of bed with Lauren just for this?' he said, Alice pulled a face.

'Too much information' she said, heading into the living room. Joey rolled his eyes and followed her...

It took them forty five minutes to clean the living and dining room up.

'Okay, next time... the party is just us...' said Tanya as she sat down on the sofa. Max and Joey recoiled.

'Excuse me?' asked Joey

'Next time?' finished Max, as they both stared at Tanya, who had only just realized how that sounded.

'No, I didn't mean that... I just meant whenever we have something to celebrate... its just us three, Abi and Oscar' Tanya said, rephrasing her sentence. Max narrowed his eyes at her, but didn't say anything. Joey rolled his eyes and headed into the kitchen to make them some drinks. He entered the living room, frowning.

'Max, did you take Lauren's stuff upstairs?' he asked. Max frowned.

'No, I thought you did?'

'I haven't' said Joey, setting the tray, which had their drinks on, on the coffee table. He turned and stood at the bottom of the steps.

'Lauren? Lauren, did you take your stuff upstairs?' Joey shouted up to her. There was no answer. Max frowned and jogged up the stairs, Joey behind him. They opened the door to Lauren and Abi's room and saw the room empty, more specifically, Lauren's bed was empty

'Where the hell is she?' asked Max, looking at Joey...

Lauren held back the tears as the train pulled out of Walford. She couldn't stay there, not with the bad memories and everything. It was too overwhelming, and the party was the last straw. She didn't feel 100% ready to be back in Walford, and until she felt ready... She wouldn't be back...

I think you know what this means... Yes, I'm planning a sequel, but I do not when I will start it. Keep your eyes peeled though :) Hope you enjoyed the last chapter of Christmas Murder :D Xx