Chapter 20

His normally quite calm demeanor slowly changed and his face contorted in an all-consuming anger; his nostrils flared, his eyes wide as he stood hands on hips puffing out his chest. He Turned to face Joey who was looking at the floor, by no means was he sacred of Max, it was purely that he didn't want to cause a scene. It was the last thing Lauren needed.

His hand closed into a fist, he stepped forward towards Joey, daring him to respond to his silent questions. Tanya Placed Harry into the cot and moved to her husband. Max pushed Joey a little, was he trying to wind him up ?

"Care to give me an explanation ay Joey? Care to explain to me why, my wife calls and says my little girl's in hospital? Hmm ? care to tell me why the hell this is looking like you and her have had a baby?" each sentence was accompanied by a push to Joeys arm. Tanya was trying her best to move Max away but it wasn't working.

"Leave it Max…"

"No, no Tan, I wanna know why this Pratt and our daughter decided they were ready to raise a kid and to top it off they didn't even tell us… think your big do you Joey, get her pregnant and lead her into a false reality, ready to drop her in it years down the line" Max was shouting now and had Joey pinned against the wall.

"Leave him alone Dad !" The three of them turned and saw Lauren sobbing on the bed, obviously having woke and witnessed her Dad's cave man act. "Daddy…Please…"

Max dropped his hand from Joey's shoulders and then leant on the side of Laurens bed. "What the hell is going on in that head of yours Lauren?" Lauren carried on crying, it was like she was a little child again and was being told off. Tanya grabbed Max's arm and moved him away from the bed.

"Stop shouting at her Max, it's not helping anyone, especially not Lauren, and hitting Joey won't make it better either."

He shook his head "How could she let this happen, she's 19 too young."

Tanya's eyes widened. "Excuse me ! I have Lauren at 17 if you hadn't remembered. And you need to let them explain Max, you're jumping to conclusions, and wrong one's at that."

"Fine. Lauren, Explain, now !"

She looked at Joey who moved and sat on the bed taking her into his arms. She sat silently against him for a few minutes and could hear the debate going on between her parents. Laure closed her eyes wishing all of it would just go away. How something so amazing as a baby, could cause so much trouble.

"Can you just stop please…Just shut up." She was verging on hysterical "I didn't know I was pregnant Dad. I didn't know, I'd been carrying my son for 8 months and I'd not had the slightest of clues."

"What do you mean you didn't know?" Max asked completely dismissing the fact she was upset.

"What do you think I mean ? I didn't know. I failed as Mum right from the start. There were no indications until last night when I went into labor. I was so Scared Dad. I didn't know what was happening. The next thing I know I'd had Harry and I'm going to do everything I can't be the best Mum possible to him"

Max shook his head in disbelief "So you're keeping him then?"

"Why wouldn't we?" Joey asked running his hand over Lauren back.

"I wasn't talking to you." Max Snapped back. "Lauren ?"

"Like Joe said, there's no reason why we shouldn't, he's our son, I doubt you could have given me up or Ab's or Osc." Harry started to murmur in the cot, slowly waking from his sleep.

"You really think you can do it ? that he'll stick by you?" Lauren nodded "Then Your more stupid than I first thought" Max walked towards the door.

"Daddy Please…" she sobbed, Max didn't turn back, he just continued to walk away. She looked over to Joey and shook her head biting her lip. Her tears flowed down her cheeks as Joey sat on the bed and eased her into his arms.

"It's alright babe, everything's going to be just fine. Come on"

"Lauren…I think he needs feeding darling" Tanya eased Harry into Laurens's arms and swathe horror on her face. "Relax Lauren"

"I don't know what to do Mum…I don't want to him…" she murmured staring down at Harry getting more flustered by the second.

"I'll get a nurse" Tanya smiled and walked out into the corridor. she saw Max slumped into one of the chairs. She looked at him and walked straight past to the nurses station.

"Tan wait…"

"No way Max…you made your bed, lie in it. Talking of which, you can sleep on the sofa tonight. You do realize you've broken you're girls heart Max, and you'll be lucky if either of them talk to you again" Tanya walked off and left Max slightly dumbfounded.

*J&L*J&L*J&L*

"There we go, see Lauren as easy as that, Just tilt his head up a little more…perfect." Lauren smiled and thanked the nurse. It had upset Lauren even more that her body hadn't been producing enough milk for her to breast feed, so she had no other choice but to use a bottle. Tanya had reassured her that she, Abi and Oscar were all bottle fed and that it wasn't something to feel guilty about. Of course Lauren was already emotional and it brought on another round of tears.

Once she'd calmed down, she was a natural at it and seemed to know what to do. Instinct maybe ? Tanya had left the three of them alone and had been asked by Joey to go to his Parents' house and talk to his Mum, only. He guessed Tanya hadn't got there yet as he was yet to receive a panicked call from his Mother.

"He's a hungry little boy" Joey said softly, watching Harry guzzle the bottle down.

"Like his Daddy…" a small giggle escaped Laurens lips as she said that.

"hey, there's that beautiful smile I know and love" his thumb swiped across her cheek. "much better than those tears" she nodded "no more tears ok? All smiles from now on"

"All smiles" she confirmed "I can't promise Harry wont cry though"

"I think we can make an exception don't you ? here I'll take him you try and get some more sleep ok, We'll see you in the morning" He took Harry to his shoulder and then placed a gently kiss to Laurens head. "I love you"

"Love you More"

Meanie Max ! Small time hump in the next chapter, remember all of this has happened within 24hours hope you continue to read review and enjoy :) xxx