Hello, I'm back and my sincerest apologies for not updating in so long. This isn't the last chapter. There'll be one more after this... maybe two. Anyways I hope you enjoy and please review with any thoughts and speculations. x x x thanks for reading, ye're all such sweeties
"Bye Dar," Lauren stuttered quietly, wrapping her arms around Darren's neck and resting her head in the crook of his neck.
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed affectionately. The past 2 months had gone by in a whirlwind and Darren felt almost cheated that the limited time he'd been given to spend with his friends had been so hard. Now the time had come to return to his life in LA. The tour had been postponed and Glee couldn't wait forever.
"I'm gonna miss you so much Lo, I wish I could stay."
Lauren smiled sadly and pulled back, wiping her eyes dry with the cuff of her sleeve. His eyes, like hers were shining as tears threatened to fall.
"Sometimes I miss how things used to be... You guys are always moving on to new things and I'm just not a part of the journey anymore," he sighed.
Lauren began to shake her head slowly,
"Darren you'll always be a Starkid. Things change, but that doesn't mean everything we leave behind has to be forgotten... Plus you're my best friend, I couldn't forget about you if I tried."
Darren listened to her words thoughtfully, "that was very philosophical," he mused lightly.
"I've been reading a lot of self-development crap over the past few weeks. Doctor's waiting rooms really aim to inspire their patients," she laughed huskily.
He opened his mouth to make a witty response however closed it again when he saw Lauren's expression harden as an announcement was made over the intercom by a cool female voice:
"Final call to all passengers on flight 343 to Los Angeles,"
Lauren began to feel her eyes welling up again and forced herself to look away, not wanting to make things harder than it already was. Of course Darren hadn't been able to go on the tour with them; he'd already taken 2 months off work, and she couldn't help but blame herself for it. No rehearsals, no late night bus adventures, no backstage pranks... well not with Darren anyway,
"Do you think you could join the LA show with us?" she pleaded, still blinking the tears back.
"Lo, you know I don't know the answer to that yet but I promise, if I can, I will."
They stood in silence for a moment, neither wanting to say the final words of departure. Eventually Joe came up and took Lauren's hand. He had stepped back to give them a moment alone, but now the time had come,
"Dar, they're closing the doors man."
Darren sighed as he realised that the goodbye was inevitable. He watched the flight attendants checking their watches and he wished more than anything that he could just not go back. He loved his life in LA but he loved the Starkid life just as much. He put his fist out to his friend and Joe smiled, accepting the familiar gesture and fist-bumped him. Lauren was leaning against Joe's side and smiled at them... some things never change, she thought.
"This isn't goodbye forever Lo," Darren stated, trying to reassure her.
"I know," whispered, leaning in to give him a final hug.
"I'll call you tonight when I get home, okay?"
"Okay," she nodded
"Look after yourself," Darren said with every ounce of sincerity. He looked at Joe as he said it, knowing that it was Joe who was the rock force behind Lauren's recovery,
"Look after Walker for me too, Lo," he added, smiling as he heard her laugh softly.
"I will."
They watched as Darren walked away and handed his passport to the composed woman behind the desk, who looked incredibly irritated by Darren's laid back attitude as he strolled through the doors; looking back as he went and flashing Lauren and Joe a warm smile. They stood together, Joe's arm wrapped protectively around Lauren, who in turn, had her hands wound around his waist. It was the last glimpse of them he saw, before the doors were closed shut behind him and they were once again living in a separate world to his.
"So, do you wanna go grab a coffee?" Joe suggested, hoping to cheer Lauren up.
"What happened to , 'the doctor said no caffeine Lo,'" Lauren mocked, trying to imitate him, however a hopeful smile played at the edge of her lips.
"I don't think one will do any harm," he said, squeezing her hand and swinging it back and forth as they walked out towards the carpark.
Twenty minutes later they pulled up outside a large shopping complex, looking forward to a Starbucks and afterwards a browse around the shops. Lauren had lost a lot of weight with everything that had happened and most of her clothes now hung loose on her small frame. The thought of doing a bit of retailing was a welcome distraction and as she passed the shop windows, her eyes grew wide with desire. She had just spotted a pair of high waisted navy skinny jeans when she heard a voice behind her,
"Oh my God, if it isn't little Lolo."
Lauren spun around to see the familiar smiling face of her childhood babysitter beaming at her. Lauren guessed she must be in her late thirties by now but her face still hadn't changed much, except for a few faint laugh lines. A small boy clung tightly to her hand and Lauren smiled in surprise at him,
"Rebecca!" she beamed, "I haven't seen you in forever, how are you?"
"How am I? How are you? I met your Mom last week and she told me about…everything. You poor thing."
Lauren sighed exasperated and inwardly cursed her mother. All she wanted to do was forget about it and it seemed all anybody else wanted to do was talk about it,
"I'm fine," she said, probably a little colder than necessary, but she couldn't help that it was getting to her. She felt Joe squeeze her hand reassuringly and knew he must have picked up on her tone.
"Is this your son?" Joe asked suddenly, hoping to change to topic.
"Yes, this is Joshua," she said proudly, ruffling his blond hair affectionately as he hid his face in her leg in response to the sudden attention.
Joe crouched down in front of Joshua and after routing around in his jacket pocket for a minute, he produced a bright red lollipop,
"Do you like lollipops?" Joe whispered, handing the sweet out to him. Joshua nodded, his eyes fixated on the candy.
"Well I've been waiting all day for the right person to give this to... I think you might be the man."
Lauren watched Joe in awe. She'd never known he was so good with kids. Joshua now looked up at Rebecca questioningly, as if asking permission to take the lollipop. Rebecca nodded her consent and Lauren smiled as his chubby little hand reached out and took it from Joe,
"Thank you," he chirped, already rying to rip the plastic wrappings from it.
Joe straightened up and grinned at Lauren, who for some reason had her hand placed over her flat stomach and a weird look on her face, that he couldn't quite pinpoint,
"He's gorgeous Rebecca, he really is," she said.
"Thanks Lauren and it's great to see you looking so well…. Who knows, maybe one day you two will have your own little one to keep you busy."
"Maybe," Joe responded thoughtfully, more to himself than anything as he glanced down at Lauren lovingly. They didn't stay long with Rebecca and a few minutes after saying goodbye to her they finally joined the growing queue in Starbucks. Lauren stuffed her hands in her pockets and amused herself by people watching. Joe turned,
"Do you think you could see us with kids someday?" he asked, "I mean, obviously not right now, that would be terrifying, but in the future."
Lauren felt her stomach twist uncomfortably and her mouth went dry, not knowing what to say.
Joe's eyes widened, "oh shit Lo, sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out and I know we've only been going out a few months… but... but I know that there's no one else I'd rather spend the rest of my life with."
"Was that a proposal?" she asked disbelieving.
Joe thought about it for a second before answering confidently, "I guess it was... I've felt what it's like to almost lose you and I don't think I could I could go through it again... so yes, Lauren Elizabeth Lopez, that was a proposal."
Lauren leaned up on her tippy-toes and planted a soft kiss on his lips. Joe leaned his forehead against hers, "Obviously I plan on asking you properly, with a ring and not a million people around us, but just know that that promise is there."
"Joe, I don't need some fancy ring to prove..."
"I want to though. I want to marry you someday, I want to have kids with you Lo, I want us to get a house together and I want us to grow old in each other's arms."
"I do too, but we don't need to rush," she responded quietly.
They took a seat by the window and after about half an hour Joe frowned as he saw Lauren's coffee remain untouched,
"Loz, what's up?" he asked eventually, "did I freak you out with all my talk of our future and…"
"Joe stop," she interrupted, "trust me, you didn't freak me out."
Joe's face relaxed as she spoke and Lauren was relieved when he suggested they leave and hit the shops. As they gathered their things, Lauren felt that nausiating feeling return to her stomach. There was something she hadn't told him and everyday she went without telling him the worse it got. It would cause a drastic challenge to their relationship and she herself was finding it difficult to cope with... but knowing it would effect Joe just as much as her, she knew it was time.
No, I'll have to tell him soon... tonight, she decided. She owed it to him to be completely honest.
"Well there's no fear of forever 21 going bankrupt," Joe stated, dumping the pile of bags down in the hall.
"There was a sale."
"Believe me, I know. The weight of those bags alone is enough to let anyone we passed know that."
Lauren hit him lightly and squealed as Joe pulled her in to him so that their bodies were pressed right up against one another. Joe pressed his lips to hers feverously and lifted her off her feet. Her shirt lifted slightly as he raised her and she could feel his tough against her skin on her waist. Her tongue traced his lips and strands of her hair fall forward, tickling his cheek. He smiled into the kiss, before moving back in towards their bedroom and laying her gently on the bed. Lauren began to unbutton her blue denim blouse and Joe bit his lip as he saw her eyes shine cheekily in the semi-darkness. He pulled his t-shirt off over his head and leaned down over her, careful not to let his weight crush her,
"There's that six-pack," Lauren giggled, walking her fingers up along his abs and chest seductively.
"I love you," he murmured, planting soft kisses along her neck and jaw. His heart was pounding with adrenaline and he heard his breath stutter as he felt Lauren's hands niftily pulling down his jeans zipper. Within minutes there was a small pile of clothes occupying the bedroom floor. Lauren looked at Joe expectantly as he reached over towards the bedside locker, pulling a condom out of the drawer. She pushed the conversation she'd planned to have with him to the back of her mind, promising herself that the following morning she'd talk to him. For now though, she just wanted to focus on the moment and forget about everything else.
It was just her and Joe.
Ok so, let me know what you thin ;)