Chapter 14

Lauren opened the door as they climbed the steps to number 5, Oscar was curled into Joey's arms who had insisted on carrying him from the car. "Mom, Dad we're home..." she shut the door and hug her coat up as Tanya came in from the living room. She smiled looking across from her daughter to her son.

"Did you have a good time?" Lauren nodded smiling "Who's this then?" she asked looking at Joey, a coy smile on her face.

"Sorry Mum, this is Joey… Joey this is my Mum, Tanya." Joey easily balanced Oscars weight on his hip and extended his hand out to Tanya.

"it's really nice to meet you, I've heard lots about you and your husband" Tanya shook his hand back and looked at Lauren.

"it's lovely to finally meet you too Joey, this one here doesn't shut up about you, we've been on at her for ages to bring you round." Joey chuckled as Lauren blushed profusely turning to hide her face in her hands. "are you staying for a bit Joey , or do you have to rush off?"

He looked at Lauren who quickly spoke up, not wanting to subject Joey to her parents questioning just yet. "actually Mum, we're not stopping. I'll put Oscar to bed if you want, and then I'm staying at Joey's, I just came to get some stuff." Lauren didn't miss the slight disappointment on her Mum's face as she said they were leaving.

"we could always go out after work tomorrow, if that works for you Mrs Branning, I know my Mum is desperate to meet Lo and so is my sister so, we could make a night of it?"

"Tanya please darling, Mrs Branning reminds me of Max's step Mum"

Lauren chuckled "grandma Dot"

Tanya nodded, "but yes Joey I think that would be a lovely idea, seen as my daughter has kept you secret for god knows how long." Lauren was starting wide eyed at her Mum, who seemed to have no idea how what she said had offended Lauren slightly.

"that's sorted then… I'll make reservations and get Lo to give you the details"

Lauren nudged Joey softly in his side and looked to the stairs. She wanted to get back to his now, she'd had enough of talking, there would be enough of that tomorrow night. "let's go". She moved swiftly from the hall way and up the stairs, Joey following closely behind. Between them they effectively changed Oscar into his Pyjamas and settled him into bed without the slightest of murmurs from the three year old.

Joey watched as Lauren threw random things into a small bag. It was then Joey had a thought. "why don't you bring some more things…" his arms snaked around her waist as his chin rested on her shoulder.

"I'm only staying for one night… I don't need that much, I'm a girl that appreciates the smaller things in life." She turned her face and kissed his forehead.

"I was thinking, that if you had some things at mine, we wouldn't need to keep come over here every time you stay over." He felt Lauren tense slightly and them relax as his lips softly pressed to her cheek.

"are you asking me to move in? Because I love you and everything but I don't think I'm quite ready for that.." Joey shook his head, to try and calm her, before she exploded.

"no, not yet anyway, it's just you stay over a lot, I thought it would be nice if you had some of your things, I'll even give you your own draw." His eyes tried to scan her for any sort of reaction "I have things here…" Lauren quickly reached over to her bed and grabbed for the t-shirt she'd stolen from him.

"you're not having it back" she frowned holding it tight to her and inhaling its distinctive Joey smell.

"it's alright, you can keep it" he smiled and then lifted her chin to look in her eyes. "so what do you say?" she nodded "is that a yes?"

"yes" Joey kissed her deeply "I'm holding you to the promise of my own draw though" she teased as she pulled more things from her draws and wardrobe and put them into a holdall. Ten minutes later Lauren declared she was ready. With a quick goodbye to her Mum and Dad the two of them headed back to Joey's.

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"hmm… it's so cosy in here" Lauren mused as she strode straight over to the window. Joey decided to leave her to it and went to unpack her things. He knew when Lauren was in this dreamy mood there was no point in talking to her, you wouldn't get much of a response.

Once he'd pit her things away he went back to the sitting room. Lauren was sitting in a chair by the widow looking out to the river and sketching her view. She'd left a sketch pad and pencils there a few weeks back . He stood silently by the door just watching her work for a while.

"I can feel you staring at me Joseph" Lauren stated, slight humour in her voice.

Her walked over to her and perched on the edge of the chair, looking at the drawing. It was amazing, mind you joey thought everything she did was pretty damn amazing. "it's really good babe…"

"it's not that good…just a rough drawing" she said shutting the sketch pad. She turned slightly on the chair and leaned into Joeys arms.

"come on you…bed time, we have a meeting tomorrow morning" Lauren groaned but allowed Joey to pull her to the bedroom. The two of them quickly stripped down to their underwear, which surprised Joey slightly, it was only usually him that slept his underwear, Lauren always tended to cover up with one of his t-shirts. He didn't understand why, she was perfect and sometimes he wondered if she even knew that.

"I love you" Lauren whispered as she kissed his chest softly and sprawled herself out across it."

"love you too baby" Joey pulled her closer feeling her drift into a gentle sleep.

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The two of them were unwillingly greeted by the vile sound of the alarm the next morning.

"eugh turn the damn thing off" Lauren reached over joey swatting her hand around blindly in aim to reach for the alarm clock. "Joe… switch it of" the irritating sound soon stooped as joey knocked it off and got from the bed. Leaving Lauren pouting once again. "don't want to get up…"

"sorry beautiful… this meeting is pretty important, and they want your designs." Her whipped the overs off the bed as Lauren rolled over into the pillows. "come on Lo… you can stay over again tonight and I'll make it worth your while"

She looked up frowning "are you bribing me with sex?"

"not at all…" Joey smirked throwing his dressing gown at her. "I know you hate mornings but we really need to go in less than an hour babe." Lauren remained quiet for a few seconds before pulling on the dressing gown and sliding form the bed. "morning" Joey said tugging her towards him.

"I really dislike you right now… this meeting best give us lots of money and YOU better be worth it tonight"

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As expected, with Laurens art, the company brought the contract, which brought with it a large sum of money. "Thank you very much Mr Branning, Your wife has an amazing Talent"

The CEO of the company, they had just sealed the contract shook Joeys hand. "Ye she really does." He stood staring at Lauren as she quietly collected her work up into her folder. It hadn't phased him in the slightest that Lauren had been referred to as his Wife, to be honest he quite liked the idea. The majority of the meeting room had cleared now and Joey, being the nice boss he was, and wanting the afternoon to himself with Lauren, had given his department the afternoon off as a reward for securing the contract.

"Hey…" he pulled Lauren to the side as she was about to leave the room "I have a surprise for you…you alright, you look a bit pale."

She nodded a little hesitantly, " im fine just a tired, and a surprise ay? I like surprises!"

"I'm sure you'll appreciate this one"

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On returning home to Joeys, they didn't get round to celebrating, in any way at all, Lauren had fallen to sleep in the car on the way and Joey didn't have the heart to wake her. When Lauren woke she realised she was still at Joeys but he wasn't there. She got up from the sofa and looked around, finding a note on the kitchen side with a key.

Lauren,

Gone to get your stuff, I called your mum and dad rearranged for another day. You really didn't look well. The key is for here, I want you to move in with me babe, I don't like the idea of waking up without you anymore.

We've known each other since September really and it's nearly march now, I understand if you don't think you're ready but I really hope you'll consider it, your Mum and I had a lovely chat earlier.

Lauren smiled as she read it, twirling the key between her fingers, she could imagine Joey acting all coy and nervous of had said this directly to her.

She said you can be very stubborn Branning, so if you wake up before I'm back, there's a key on the side its yours. I've gone to get Chinese to use as bribery

I love you baby xx

Just as she finished reading the door opened and Joey stood there. The smell of the food filled the room.

"Yes" she was up from the stool and in his arms before Joey could even contemplate it. "I love you so so so so much, I want to give it a go"

Again thank you all for the lovely reviews wonderful people ! hope you continue to enjoy this :) I'll be back later xxx