Chapter 29

Penultimate chapter :(

Arriving home that night, Lauren and Joey were still in their own little bubble. A bubble of pure happiness in which it was them against the world. Lauren's smile hadn't left her face since the second Joey had proposed to her. She was overwhelmed that he'd actually asked her. Even though she was happy with Joey, more than happy in fact, she still couldn't come to terms with the fact that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. It was a strange thought altogether really.

"What you thinking?" Joey asked softly as they climbed the stairs to their apartment.

"Have I dreamed today?" she questioned a little hesitantly. "Because none of this feels real… tell me it's really?" Joey stepped forward and placed his lips on hers.

"It's all real beautiful, I can call you my fiancée, the mother of my child…the love of my life" their fingers seemed to entwine at their own accord as they took the last steps towards their door. They could here Tanya talking away to Harry, which gave Lauren a warm feeling inside. With a quick twist of the key the door was open and Lauren was rushing over to her son.

"Hello baby boy …aww Mummy's missed you" Harry responded with a gurgle and small flicker of a smile. Lauren held him tight against her chest, loving the feeling of having her back in her arms.

"Good day Darling ?" Tanya asked as she wiped the kitchen surfaces. Lauren and Joey shared a look, that didn't go unmissed by Tanya's beady eye. She had a terrible habit of that, Lauren could never get away with things as a child because Tanya seemed to notice everything. "What was that look about ?" she questioned stopping with the cleaning to face them.

"Well… Joey and I are…" she looked from her Mum to Joey and then back to Tanya. "Joey asked me to Marry him …and I said yes" Lauren bit her lip a small smile tugging at the edges of her mouth. She hoped to god that her Mum felt the same way about it she did, because she was so Happy she could burst.

Tanya's hand shot to her mouth a small gasp only just leaving before her hand muted the sounds. "Married?" she stuttered after a few moments. "You're getting married ?" Lauren nodded.

"I would have asked you and Max for permission, but it hadn't planned on doing it today, but when it came down to it I knew it was the right time. I've always know, Lo's my other half, and well…ye im not sorry for loving her" Lauren Laughed as Harry made a whining noise and shifted his head to look at Joey almost questioning what he'd just said. Joey chuckled and reached for Harry "Yes Mr. I love you too"

"You really love them don't you?" Tanya asked an absent minded smile set on her lips. Lauren rolled her eyes and walked off hanging her coat and bag up.

"Yes I do…"

"Well I guess a congratulations is in order then no ?" she smiled and Caught Lauren who wrapped her arms around Mum. "I'm so very proud of you Lauren and I know your father will be too"

"Thank you Mum, there's something else actually…" Joey frowned and walked back over to them, Harry perched happily against his chest, Joey's shirt becoming wetter by the second as Harry shoved it into his mouth with his fist. "I'm not going back to work" she turned to ace Joey who just grinned. "I want to stay at home with H, I don't want to be away from him. I'm sorry Joe"

"You don't have to be sorry baby… we'll work it out ok ? you can work from home or take H to the office with you, either way I don't mind babe as long as your happy…" He leaned across and kissed her gently "Let's get some food for you little man ay?"

Lauren watched in awe as Joey proceeded to go to the kitchen and do Harry's bottle. "He's a keeper Lauren…you look the happiest I've seen you in a very long time" her Mum whispered into her ear, tapping her shoulder gently. "I love you darling, just let me know when I'm needed again"

"I will thanks Mum" Tanya quickly shot a goodbye to Joey and left.

*JL*JL*JL*

Half three in the Morning Lauren woke to the most horrifying feeling. She shot up in bed feeling her heart triple speeding. The panic set in as she turned in the bed feeling it cold and empty, Joey wasn't there. She switched the lamp on next to her and swung out the bed to check on Harry. She closed her eyes, fear coursing through her body as the cot Lay empty.

She heard a sudden clutter from the living room and then Joeys telltale "Oh shit" closely followed by a "Don't tell Mummy I said hat H" On a few occasions Lauren had caught Joey swearing in front of Harry and found it particularly funny how he would always think she would be annoyed at him. She tiptoed into the lounge and saw Joey sitting in the armchair by the window, Harry wrapped in a blanket across his chest.

She stood there for a good few minutes just watching her boys together. Her boys. She liked the sound of that. Joey was so amazing with Harry, nothing like the example that she'd seen set by Derek. Obviously Joey's real Dad had taught him well in the 6 short hears they'd had together. Joey Looked like his Dad and H look like the two them. Lauren had seen in photos how alike they were, she'd seen a picture of Joey's Dad holding Joey just as Joey was with Harry now. it warmed her all the way through, the chill of the room suddenly insignificant.

"Hi" she whispered eventually perching herself on the arm of the chair. She met Joey's gaze as he Looked up from Harry.

"Sorry baby, we didn't mean to wake you" Lauren shuffled off the arm as Joey gently moved her to his lap.

"You didn't wake me…I woke up and you weren't there, neither was H." she looked down and saw her son staring up at her, his brown eyes shining in the light. He was so content just being held by his Daddy.

"I'm sorry, did we panic you?" Lauren nodded but noticed the sudden guilt on Joey's face, she also took in his image now she could see him better. For starters, he was topless… his toned muscles catching the light from outside perfectly. Secondly he's got his glasses on, now those she hadn't seen in a long time, looking back now it was strange to think how she would have been two, nearly three months pregnant with Harry at the time.

"You've got your glasses on" She grinned running her finger along the frame. Joey nodded and she swore he blushed a little, that was usually her thing. "Funny how the only time I ever see you with these on is when you scare me… first in an empty office and then tonight…"

"Ye well… it's been late both those time's and trying to put contacts in when it's dark isn't really a clever idea. Plus the Fact our son was being fussy and was having a bit of a fit in his cot, so we thought we'd let you sleep a little longer."

"You're a pushover" she teased running her finger through his hair and softly kissing his pouting lips. "But your my pushover"

"It's good to hear…He's just like you, loves to look out the window and he loves the lights" Joey mused as he stared down at H, "anyway me and Harry had a talk, Didn't we buddy?" Lauren sensed the laughter in his voice

"Oh really?"

"hmm" he replied moving Harry to lay differently. "Harry really wants his Mummy and Daddy to take him to work tomorrow"

"He does, does he?" Lauren froze slightly at the thought, could they really take Harry to the office and tell everyone about them, "Them" being the fact she was engaged to the boss and they had a baby. She was more than sure that that was the perfect recipe for disaster on a Branning scale, especially since Lucy and Luke had made their presence known. "Do you think that such a good idea?"

"I Do… I mean only if you want to, but I think if we do, we won't have to hide anything anymore, we can walk down the corridor holding hands, I can kiss you when I want and best of all you can bring Harry in to work, we can take time off when we want" Lauren kissed him before he'd even finished.

"You've convinced me…Just"

"Honestly babe if you don't want to its fine…" he admitted feeling slightly guilty at how he'd just blurted it out, without really thinking it through.

"I've Just said yes Joey… You'll just have to protect me if dizzy Helen throws a heel at me or anything" her head fell against his chest feeling, beginning to feel sleepy now she knew her boys were safe.

"I'll protect you don't worry… I'll always protect you" Joey looked down and saw her eyes firmly closed. He eased her down onto his lap a little more and Move Harry to gently lay on his other side. "Sweet dreams baby"

I'll be back tomorrow with the last chapter... I hope you enjoy what would you like to see tomorrow ? xxx