Hey so this fic will remain Laurwalk, but there will be a little angst and drama coming up because I think that this story needs a little excitement. I have a sort of prequel to this story, of the Starkids in college which follows the Crisspez relationship and explains a lot about Joe's reaction and feelings in this chapter. It's called 'Beauty and the Beast' if you want to check it out.

Thanks again for the reads and reviews, please continue, I appreciate all your feedback and I try to take your suggestions on board. x x x

"Look Lo, there's your …" Darren whispered as he paused the scrolling movie credits on her name. He turned his head, excited to see her expression, however the sight that met him made him stop.

His face softened as he saw her curled up, fast asleep with her head resting lightly against his chest. She looked so young when she slept and Darren couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic as he thought back to their college years together.

He was happy for Joe and Lauren, they were his best friends and seeing them together just made sense, but he knew he would always harbour a special place in his heart for Lauren. She was the first girl he had ever loved and his memories of their relationship remained some of his happiest.

He leant his head back against the sofa and closed his eyes, suddenly feeling the jet lag catching up on him. He loved visiting Chicago and seeing all his friends, it always felt like he was returning home after a long vacation. You enjoy the new surroundings but it's not where you belong.

Joe closed the apartment door softly behind him and tip-toed down the hall. The apartment was silent so he presumed Darren and Lauren had gone to bed. Walking in to the sitting room, he noticed the TV was still on and smiled as he saw his girlfriend's name on the screen. He bent down to remove the DVD and it wasn't until he got back up, that he noticed the two on the couch. The remains of gluten-free snacks littered the floor and sofa around them.

He felt his stomach clench uncomfortably, as he noticed Darrens arm around Lauren, and felt the familiar feeling of jealousy rising inside of him. He knew neither Darren nor Lauren would go behind his back but he couldn't ignore the fact that the pair had history and his biggest fear was that she would change her mind and go running back to Darren.

He sighed as he placed his hands under her and lifted Lauren up carefully, cautious not to wake her from her peaceful state. He carried her in to his room and placed her gently on the bed and pulled the covers over her. Her eyes fluttered open sleepily

"Joe, you're home" she sighed.

"Hey sleeping beauty," he whispered

He kneeled down and kissed her on the forehead and when he pulled back she was already fast asleep again, now with a small smile on her lips.

"Love you Lo," he whispered under his breath before climbing into bed next to her, and wrapping his arm around her dainty waist.

He lay there, listening to her breathing in and out, and it wasn't long before he dozed off. He woke suddenly in the early hours of the morning, to feel Lauren shaking in his arms.

"Lauren?...Lo? …..wake up, it's ok, you're ok, it's just a dream," he shook her gently now noticing the streams of tears rolling down her cheeks.

Her eyes shot open and and her mouth opened letting out a silent scream. He turned her around to face him and pulled her into his chest, rubbing her back soothingly. She finally looked up and he saw that her eyes were red and swollen.

"Lo, are you ok?" he asked anxiously, knowing the full reason behind her terror.

She nodded hesitantly, "It was him, Chord," she established, as if Joe hadn't guessed, "It was that night at Darren's, except this time no one stopped us as we left and before I knew it we were in his car. I tried to get out but he'd locked the doors and when I turned around he was just there, laughing…. It was like a game to him."

She took a deep breath before continuing, "He pinned me down and I felt powerless. His hands started … wandering but that was the least of it. It got …worse …and …."

At this point Lauren could no longer go on and she buried her head in his chest again. He let her cry, after a while the shaking ceased and he realised she had fallen back to sleep. Leaning over to the bedside locker, Joe grabbed his phone to check the time.

It was only 6.30 meaning rehearsal wasn't for hours but he knew he was gone past the point of sleep and it was pointless to even try. He exited the room silently. Walking into the kitchen he was surprised to see Darren sitting at the table staring at a mug of coffee in front of him.

He raised his head slowly, equally surprised to see Joe.

"What are you doing up?" they asked at the same time. This caused both guys to crack a smile.

"Jet-lag" Darren answered first, "It always takes me a few days to adjust to different time zones even if it is just a couple of hours….You?" he asked inclining his head at Joe.

Joe didn't respond and it was Darren that spoke again, "its Lauren, isn't it? I know she's having nightmares."

Joe looked at him surprised that he knew this.

"Joey told me she's been having them a lot," Darren explained.

Joe's prolonged silence told Darren he was correct in his assumption.

"Listen man, I think maybe you should encourage her to talk about it more. She needs to talk to someone about it instead of just bottling everything up," Darren advised.

Joe clenched his fists. What did Darren know, he hadn't been around. How would he know what was best for Lauren? He probably just wanted Lauren to turn to him and once again, he could play the hero.

"She talks to me about it," Joe responded through clenched teeth.

Darren's eyes widened as he sensed Joe's anger.

"I know, but I'm just saying that maybe she should talk to someone el…"

"You mean you," Joe interrupted angrily.

"Well maybe, it doesn't have to be me, it could be Julia or Jaime or any of the others. Maybe you should even consider taking her to see a professional." Darren responded his own voice now rising in unexplained anger.

"You think just because you dated her first and that you knew her longer, that you know her better than me… Well news-flash Darren. You left for LA, and you no longer have the right to just step in and pretend you know what's going on….I bet you didn't know that Jaime got offered the opportunity to make an EP or that Dylan got cast in a new play or that Julia, broke up with her boyfriend."

Darren was now on his feet glaring at Joe.

"You would have done the same thing, had you been given the opportunity to be on a big TV show, and you know it. All I'm saying is that by protecting Lauren so much and not making her to talk to people about it, you're hurting her and making things worse."

Joe couldn't believe what he was hearing and he now felt the full force of his jealously take over. He looked at Darren and saw him as competition, a threat in his relationship.

"You just wish it was you," Joe spitted out venomously

"What?" Darren asked confused

"You wish Lauren was still yours and seeing me with her makes you appreciate what you had and then lost."

"I don't believe this." Darren spluttered, "You're delusional man," Darren shouted slamming the coffee mug down on the counter and storming out of the apartment angrily, slamming the door.

Joe slid down the wall and buried his head in his hands. "Joe?"

He looked up on hearing her voice to see Lauren standing in the doorway barefoot, still wearing the same t-shirt she'd been wearing the night before. She looked disappointed and upset.

"We need to talk."

I know. I don't like Darren and Joe fighting either but it felt like it was the only way that Joe would react. I never wanted Darren and Lauren cheating on Joe but I felt like the two had chemistry and it had to be acknowledged in some form without any of the characters being dishonest.

Thanks and please revie x