Thank you all for the birthday messages, I had a lovely day, sorry this chapter is only short I have such a busy day ahead but I promised a post so here it is, I hope you like it and I will be back tomorrow with a few chapters :) (the drama begins...oo I'm mean)

Hello, Goodbye

After the girlfriend declaration, the couple went from strength to strength enjoying the last few days of their holiday before having to head home separately. What worried Lauren the most was that as soon as they got back home his feelings would change towards her, that he would see her differently in her home setting. Being in Walford brought back the worst sides of Lauren, everyone knowing her history, her family's history and she wanted to shield Joey from all of this.

The final day of the holiday soon arrived, luckily Laurens flight wasn't till the afternoon and Joey didn't leave till the following morning. Spending the last day together seemed perfect, Joey picking her up from the hotel and heading to the beach, Lucy and Whitney still in bed nursing a killer hangover.

"Can't believe the holiday is over already" Lauren sighed, sitting between his legs on the sandy beach, she would miss these moments with him, just the two of them, no family interrupting or questioning the change in Lauren. "I know, it's been sort of epic" he chuckled, his fingers brushing up and down her thigh. "I promise as soon as we get back I will call you, seen as you are my girlfriend" kissing her head.

Turning to face him, he smiled back at her "I will never get bored of hearing that" she giggled leaning forward and kissing his lips softly. "Hearing what?" he replied cupping her face as she position herself on his lap. "Girlfriend, it's got a nice ring to it" she smiled, truthfully she loved that she was his girlfriend, a firm label on what they had. Wrapping his arms around her he couldn't resist kissing her again and again, each time their lips met it set his body alight, his heart pounding in his chest, Joey was falling in love with Lauren quicker than he ever imagined.

"I'm going to miss this" she sighed, pulling away from him, resting their foreheads together, his brow furrowing a little, they weren't breaking up, they would still see each other what would she miss. "What do you mean?" he replied, looking deep into her brown eyes. "It just being us, when we get home we have to bring our tragic families into it, I'm scared it will be ruined" ducking her head down onto his chest, hearing his heart beating through his strong exterior.

"Baby, that will never happen, there's two people in this relationship, me and you no one else matters" his words sinking in hard, they weren't going to allow their families to ruin what they had. They might be tragic at their lives but these two were going to make it work in the real world.

"I think my dad will like you" she smirked. Max would love Joey, he was strong, protective, and he had a career and most of all he would take care of Lauren. "Good I'm glad, I would say my dad would love you, but he doesn't even love me so" he sighed, Lauren sitting back up, his eyes looked watery, the relationship with his dad had obviously reached an all-time low. "I don't need your dad to love me, I just need you to" she whispered, they had never discussed love; it was the first time the word had cropped up in conversation.

"Lauren, you won't ever have to doubt that, I am falling in love with you" his eyes shining complete truth, hitting a cord in her heart, no one had ever said those words to her before. Most of the time Lauren didn't think she deserved to be loved, her mistakes, and her family's mistakes being the front post for this thought.

"I'm falling for you too" she replied, watching his face light up, a huge smile sweep across his face, cupping her face once more his lips touched hers. Kissing her softly at the beginning, he felt her running her tongue along his bottom lip accessing entry into his mouth. Moaning into the kiss he picked her up, Lauren now straddling him, her crutch grazing over his, her finger knotting in his hair. Becoming breathless, Lauren pulled away leaving Joey pouting, her phone began to ring, she knew what this meant, and it was time to go. Standing up reluctantly, Joey took her hand in his once more as they began walking back to the hotel.

Helping the girls down with their cases, Joey and his friends gathered outside to say goodbye. The boys each hugging the girl's separately as Lucy and Whitney got on the coach leaving Lauren to say goodbye to Joey. Sighing he pulled her into his body, her arms wrapping around his waist, unexpectedly tears formed in her eyes. Titling her chin up, he saw the sadness in her eyes, "See you soon baby" his lips kissing hers. "Text me when you land" Lauren nodded, hugging him tighter not wanting to let go, desperately holding onto these last few seconds with him. Pulling out of the hug, she let go of his hands, making her way over to the coach. "Bye Joey" her voice almost whispering, "Bye babe" he smiled, trying to keep his own emotions in check as the coach doors closed behind her and set off towards the airport. "I love you" he whispered the coach now in the distance, Robbie patting his back as they turned and walked away.

Sitting down in her seat, her head resting against the window, the tears fell freely, Lauren occasionally brushing them away with her thumbs, his scent still strong on her clothes. It was now the tests of time, when they finally arrive back home would they be able to survive as a couple, or would the real world bring them back down into a crash landing.

Sneak peek Chapter 10 - Unexpected

"Joey?" her voice almost a whisper

"I need to go" scrambling for the door

"How could you"

Duff Duff Duff

Back tomorrow :)