My Son

Lauren awoke the next day in Joey's apartment. Rolling over in bed she expected him to be there, instead her felt a piece of paper. Sighing she reached for it, her tired eyes trailing over the note that told her, he had to go to work and would be back lunch time and for her to wait for him. Smiling she chucked the note into the bin, picking up his shirt she through it over her underwear and shuffled into the kitchen, hunger kicking in.

Searching the cupboards and fridge she got out the perfect ingredients for a bacon sarnie, her favourite. After making her breakfast she cleared away what she had used, putting it back where she found it. Lauren sighed resting against the kitchen counter, she could see herself here, living with Joey, she had only stayed here one night but felt more comfortable here than she did at home. Deciding to have a nose around his apartment she found some paper and a pencil, settling down on one of the couches, the TV subtle in the background she began sketching, something she hadn't done for a while. Finding herself getting lost in drawing she failed to hear the front door unlock and then shut quietly behind. Glancing up for a second Lauren let out a shriek, a random women standing in the hallway of Joey's apartment.

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you" the women stepped further into the apartment, noticing Laurens attire, her small frame swamped with one of Joey's crisp white shirts.

"No I'm sorry I didn't mean to scream just caught me off guard" she replied, tugging on his shirt to cover more of her body. "You must be Lauren" the women said, moving closer towards a very confused Lauren. "Sorry who are you?" Lauren rubbed her forehead, had she met this person before.

"I'm Jane, Joey's mum" she replied, smiling and extending her hand out to Lauren, who now looked rather embarrassed about how she looked. "Lovely to meet you, give me a second I will just change" Lauren blushed quickly walking into Joey's bedroom to throw on her clothes before entering back into the living room.

"He said you were gorgeous, he wasn't lying" Jane commented, seeing Laurens face flash red again. "Thank you" she replied, brushing her hair behind her ear, facing Joey's mum.

"I'm guessing Joey told Alice about Derek then?" Jane filled the silence between them, Lauren looked up to see the women before her smiling a little, she obviously knew everything, once again Joey's honesty shining through.

"Yeah, she didn't take it too well, in fact I got a nice slap" Lauren now chuckled; she found it strange that her quiet, petite, sweet cousin actually slapped her, they were defiantly related, Lauren slapped people a lot. "Oh god I'm so sorry Lauren, I'm sure she didn't mean it, she gets her temper from Derek" Jane replied, feeling a little embarrassed at her daughters outburst.

"It's fine, water under the bridge" she smiled, Jane seemed genuinely nice she could already see traits of Joey within meeting this women for a few minutes. They had the same eyes, the same smile, and the same gentle nature. "My son loves you" she smiled, watching Laurens face light up, "I love him too" Lauren replied.

"So you draw?" Jane pointed to the paper on the glass table, Lauren blushed once more, Joey was the only one to have seen her drawings, occasionally her dad had but he never paid much attention.

"Yeah, kind of a hobby" Lauren replied, passing Jane her drawings the first one of Joey. It took her breath away; the detail of his face and features was that of a professional artist. "Lauren these are amazing honey" she smiled at a shy Lauren. "Thank you" Lauren replied politely, maybe her art was better than she thought.

"Would you like some lunch Jane?" Lauren got up, walking over to the kitchen setting out two plates. "That would be lovely" she smiled, watching the young girl working her way around her sons kitchen, she belonged here, with Joey, everything he had told her was accurate. Lauren was breathtakingly beautiful, she was sweet, she blushed at any sort of compliment and she was made for him. After Lauren made some lunch for herself and Jane, they sat chatting, just general conversation, Lauren asking all the things girlfriends ask their boyfriends parents. The two got on so well, Lauren even found herself opening up to Jane about her life, something she only did with Joey.

Joey arrived back from work just after lunch, he was planning on taking Lauren home and seeing Alice. Unlocking his door he heard two voices from his apartment. Glancing around the corner he spotted his mum and Lauren chatting as if they were old friends. He couldn't help but smile, he knew that his mum and Lauren would love each other, they were pretty similar in many ways.

"Hey" he smiled, walking over to his mum kissing her cheek, then kissing Lauren, sitting down next to her. "How was work?" she questioned, snuggling into his side. "Fine thanks, I should be getting you home, plus need to sort it out with Alice" throwing a look at his mum, "I think you should come too mum" Jane nodded in response, Alice should hear it from her as well. "Okay I'll just get my bag, and then we can head off" Lauren hopped off the sofa, going into Joeys room to get her belongings.

"I love her" Jane whispered, a grin appearing on Joey's face, "Me too" he replied, smiling as Lauren reappeared with her bag.

Arriving back at the square 20 minutes later, Joey took Laurens hand as the three of then walked to number 23. Knocking on the door, Alice appeared seconds later her eyes puffy, she had obviously been crying. "Mum" her voice was a whisper, "I think we need to talk" Jane said, walking into the house followed by Joey and Lauren.

"Why didn't you tell me mum?" Alice was pacing the room, occasionally throwing dirty looks at Lauren and Joey who were still hand in hand. "It was easier not to, then Joey met Lauren and you know the rest, for them to be together you had to know" Jane tried to reason with her daughter who was on full stubborn mode.

"But them two, they are practically cousins still" Alice proclaimed throwing her hands up in the air, "Its wrong, can't you see that?".

"No Alice, it's not, they aren't blood related, you need to pack this in now" Jane's voice rising a little out of frustration, sometimes Alice could be so like Derek it hurt. Alice huffed sitting down on the couch, all three looked towards the door as they heard the front door open and slam shut.

"Dad?" Alice called, Jane paled considerably, and Joey tensed up clutching tightly onto Laurens hand. It would be the first time in years either had seen Derek, and quite frankly neither wanted to again. That's when Derek appeared in the door way, his eyes darting straight to Jane's, his face washed with shock, he never expected to see her again, moving his eyes away from hers, he spotted Lauren, her hands entwined with Joeys. That's when their eyes locked, his burning with rage, he knew in that instant what had happened.

All hell was about to break lose.

Back Tomorrow :) x