"God Al, can we save the stupid questions for another day please?" Joey snapped, having seen Lauren freeze but then pause at his reaction "You told me you were fine with me and Lauren." Lauren lifted her head, away from Max, to look at Joey and Alice.

"I am. I am. I just have so many questions, and I need to get used to it" Alice said hurriedly "I swear Lauren, I'm on your side. You make him happy, so I'm happy" the girls exchanged a smile.

"Want to go tell everyone else that?" Lauren said, to which everyone laughed and Joey opened up his arms for her to step in to, which she did. "Oh I see how it is, been replaced have I?" Max called across to her teasingly. Joey laughed as she bantered with her Dad that she could love them both, but she'd love him more if he brought her shoes. He caught Alice watching them, Lauren leaning against Joey, with his arms wrapped around her, and winked. She smiled and subtly took a picture of them, mouthing "Mum" at him.

He groaned and laughed at the same time, Lauren turned around to look at him puzzled. "My phone's going to go off in 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1." And with that his phone rang and everyone laughed. He rejected the call though and told Alice to tell their mum he'd call her tomorrow & fill her in.

Max and Alice started talking to Abi about her exams as Lauren and Joey had a quiet discussion of their own "You've told your mum about me?" "About you? Yeah. About us? No but Al just took a picture" "Oh" Lauren looked worried "She's going to be happy babe" She raised an eyebrow "I ain't been like this with any other girls. You could have tentacles and I doubt she'd care" they both laughed, he leaned in to kiss her, broke away and ran his hands over her back.

"You sure you want to be touching me? You might die or be cursed or something?" Lauren muttered, not fully expecting him or anyone else to hear. "I might what?" He was confused.

"Let me guess. Dot." Her dad said, she nodded, eyes tearing up. "I'll be having words with her if she carries on then Lauren." She looked at him in surprise. "It's your life and your happiness. It's about time I help you fight to be happy" the father-daughter-duo shared a smile, their relationship already a little more stable, just with those few words.

"Reckon I need to touch you some more, work out if I've been cursed yet" Joey whispered in her ear, as she laughed. "Think it may be worth it." He said with a smirk. "Yeah?" she said looking up at her properly. He could tell the others were trying not to listen in and carry on a conversation.

"Yeah. I think you could be worth it. You know, if you stop being a drama-queen and start talking to me, not avoiding me" he teased, but he was being serious. "You can't just shut me out though babe, won't make anything better"

"I'll try. No promises. Just not used to relying on other people Joey. I do love you." He kissed her head and mouthed "love you too" as Tanya came in from the kitchen and glared at them.

"What are you planning on doing for dinner then Max? Seeing as you have invited people over, and you missed dinner because you were off with your wife and drunk of a daughter, and God knows where you were" she gestured at Abi. "Take-out sound good?" Max said, and everyone was quick to agree. Tanya just rolled her eyes and went back in the kitchen.

Everyone sat around the TV, full after dinner. Tanya had excused herself off the bed before the food had arrived.

So dinner was good. Relaxed and pretty drama free. Joey and Lauren were aware that Max, Alice Abi (and Jay who had joined them) were all trying to be subtle in them watching them. But that didn't bother either, Joey was just happy she was back talking to him and they obviously had a few people on their side.

Lauren was curled up on Joey, already half-asleep when Joey whispered in her ear "what do you reckon my chances are of sneaking into your room tonight?" she laughed as he tucked her hair behind her ear, she got cut off from replying by Alice exclaiming "oh my God. You did the hair thing. You do love her" Joey laughed "That's what I've been trying to tell you Al". She looked sheepish at her interruption but everyone just found it funny. "I think your chances are slim" she mumbled into his chest, knowing he could hear her but the others couldn't, she could see her dad watching them, making sure Joey's hands stayed where he could see them. "Doesn't mean you should try though" She smirked before standing up.

"Think I'm going to call it a night everyone, I'll see you tomorrow" she leaned down to kiss Joey, and as it got heated, pulled away. "Love you" Joey watched as she hugged Abi and Alice, laughing at Alice apologising and saying she appreciated her support, and hugged her Dad thanking him and exchanging I love you's before leaving the living room, shooting him a smirk as she left.

Damn. Now how was he going to manage to follow her?