"WELL. ARE YOU MARRIED? WHERE'S THE BABY?" Max repeated. "Clearly I have to yell as you both appear to be deaf!"
Abby let out a giggle. "She obviously forgot the baby at the airport Dad."
"That's not funny" Peter responded, silencing Abby with a steely glare.
"Lauren?" Max asked tentatively.
"Sorry, I can't do this" Lauren said shakily as she ran out of the car lot and back across the street, into the crowded house. Peter began to follow her.
"Um, no I don't think so. I want answers so you're not going anywhere. Abby go after your sister" Max ordered.
"But dad I want to know the answers too, this is so unfair" Abby complained.
"I SAID GO AFTER YOUR SISTER ABBY!" Max yelled as Abby slid of the desk and exited the car lot.
"Bit harsh Max" Peter said.
"Shut it. "Well are you married?" snarled Max.
"No, not yet. But we are still engaged." Peter said defensively.
"It has been a year… What are you waiting for?" Max questioned.
"Never thought I would hear you complaining, but for your information I wanted to get married, you know elope on a beach somewhere, but she refused, some bullshit about wanting her family there" Peter replied.
"Well maybe she respects family unlike you. I don't know what she sees in you. You're a Beale, its pathetic" Max spat out.
"What you don't like my family name Max? Because it'll be Laurens surname soon enough. Anyway what would you prefer, Branning? Is that why you have Joey in your house? To rekindle the flame? Keep it in the family Max it that how you like it? What will stealing your own sons wife when it came to Stacey. Now if you don't mind I'm going over there to make sure your nephew doesn't get near my fiancé" Peter said as he strode past Max.
"Hey I'm not finished with you!"
Peter stopped and looked back at Max "Yeah? Well maybe I'm finished with you."
Then he turned and walked across the Square leaving Max to lock up the car lot.
Lauren walked into the house and ran up the stairs to her bedroom. She found the bags at the foot of her bed but she bypassed them and sat on the bed and curled herself into a ball. Abby stormed in.
"You're so selfish Lauren, you know I was enjoying myself but you ruined it like you ruin everything" Abby waited for a response.
"Do you think Joey will talk to me Abs?" Lauren asked tentatively.
"Why?" Abby asked confused.
"I could do with a friend I guess" Lauren responded.
"Lame. Ask him yourself. I'm not your slave" Abby called over her shoulder as she walked away past the approaching Peter.
"What's she talking about?" Peter questioned.
"Nothing" Lauren stated.
"Um, Lauren it may be better if we stay at my house tonight. I may have just said some harsh words to your dad" Peter said sheepishly.
"It's fine, knowing dad he probably deserved them. How about you go over to Ian's and reunite and I'll do damage limitation with Dad tonight?" Lauren offered.
"You sure?" Peter sounded skeptical.
"Yes now go!" Lauren said pushing him out the door. "I better show my face at this Branning party anyway."
"Okay… Lauren, just don't say anything about the baby without me. Okay? To anyone" Peter said.
"Okay" Lauren whispered as Peter kissed her goodbye and left.
"What baby?" Joey questioned once Lauren turned around.
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