Sorry I havent updated this in like forever. I've had writers block at the moment with this story and I abandoned it till I got inspiration again :) So, hope this chapter makes up for it :) Enjoy :) X

After the doctor had checked over Lauren's vital signs and made sure she was comfortable, he left the room, jotting down notes and still in slight shock at what had just happened. Max allowed Joey to to stay in the room, as it was clear from Joey that he wasn't leaving anytime soon.

'Lauren... We'll be back in a bit, okay?' said Max. Lauren nodded and smiled at him before he left the room, leaving Joey and Lauren alone.

'You had me so scared then. I honestly thought I'd lost you then' said Joey, gripping her hand. Lauren smiled.

'Yeah, well you didn't. I'm still here' she said, her eyes watering slightly as she imagined Joey and her family going through the horrible pain of loosing her and burying her.

'Hey, come here. It's okay' said Joey, pulling her gently in for a hug, as he saw her eyes watering. He sat on the bed, even though he shouldn't really, been careful of the wires connected to Lauren. He stroked her hair comfortingly, while holding back his own tears. In them few moments, when he thought he'd lost her, it hit him how much he loved her. She was it. His other half. There was no question about it. It was always her, ever since he laid eyes on her the first day he met her. He tipped her head backwards gently and kissed her, his arms going round her shoulders,keep her close. Lauren tangled her hand in his hair, tugging gently eliciting a small groan from Joey throat, as he pulled away a few minutes after.

'You have no idea how much I want to be our bed right now' he said, as he slid back into the chair. Lauren giggled and then stopped to look at him.

'Our bed?' she asked. Joey realised what he said and tried to back track

'I mean my bed... But it's yours as well... because you sleep in it when you stay over, so i just call it our bed' he admitted. Lauren smiled

'Our bed... I like it' she smiled. She saw Joey's eyes light up, but she couldn't help thinking he was holding something back.

'Do you want to ask me something? You're a little on edge' she questioned, Joey's eyebrows raising in surprise.

'I am?'

'I can read you like a book. I know you, Joey. What is it?' she asked. Joey swallowed and opened his mouth to speak.

'Lauren, will you m-' began Joey, bt his sentence was cut off as the door banged opened and a scream filled the room.

'LOZZI!' screamed Oscar, bursting into the room and up to his sister. Lauren pulled her attention from her boyfriend to her little brother.

'Hey, Oscar' she said, slightly distracted by what Joey was about to ask her. She looked at him and saw he looked slightly disappointed, but he quickly hid it.

'Lozzi, can I give you a hug?' Oscar asked, looking at the wires going into Lauren's body. Lauren nodded and accepted a hug off her little brother, before he sat in the chair on Joey knees. The door opened again and Lauren knew she was going to have to wait till they had all gone to ask Joey was he was going to say...

As Tanya shut the door to Lauren's hospital room, she noticed a very slight tension in the air, but she shrugged it off, thinking nothing of it.

'My darling, you had us so worried' she said, going to hug her eldest. Lauren patted her on the back and smiled awkwardly.

'When did you arrive back?' Lauren asked

'Tonight. Saw everyone crowded in the middle of the market and then I saw Joey and Max looking terrified. I put two and two together...' said Tanya. Lauren nod her head, as if that explained two weeks of absence from her life.

'Lauren, can I get you anything? A drink or something?' asked Kirsty, standing next to Max.

'Some water please' said Lauren, smiling at Kirsty. Kirsty nodded and left the room to find a vending machine with cold water in, rather than the room temperature water was in Lauren's room, as she knew Lauren didn't like it.

'I'll be right back' said Tanya, glaring after Kirsty and following her out of the room.

Max, Joey, Lauren and Oscar watched Tanya slammed the door shut and followed Kirsty down the corridor and out of sight.

'Shouldn't you go after her?' asked Joey, just as Lauren opened her mouth to say the same thing

'No, there's more important things here' said Max. Lauren blinked and smiled. For once, her Dad was putting one of his kids first instead of another woman. She reached for hug and Max accepted it, making Joey and Oscar smile.

'How are you feeling?' Max asked Lauren, when they pulled away from the hug. Lauren looked down at the bed covers

'Alright, I suppose' she said, making Joey and Max frowned and looked at each other. Lauren sniffled and suddenly burst into tears.

'Lauren? What's wrong?' asked Joey, putting Oscar on the bed and putting his arm round Lauren, her head fell onto his shoulder as she cried.

'Lauren, tell us what's wrong please.. You're scaring us' said Max, taking Lauren's hand in his. Lauren sniffled and looked at Max.

'I saw Bradley, Dad' she said...

'Okay, I'm suggest something and I want you to agree to it. Stay away from my family' said Tanya, as she saw Kirsty paying for the water, and bending down to get it from the machine.

'What you on about?' Kirsty asked, walking back down the corridor. Tanya caught her arm and swung her round to face her.

'I'm talking about moving in on my family. Lauren, Abi and Oscar are mine and Max's kids, not yours. So stay away from them..' said Tanya

'I'm sorry, but who are you to tell me what to do? You swan off for two weeks and leave them. I was there to put hot food on the table, supply them with hot water and make sure they didn't starve... All because your mother spent the money you left them on fags! So forgive me for keeping your family alive and well!' said Kirsty. Tanya gritted her teeth and swung her hand, connecting it with Kirsty's cheek. Tanya looked slightly surprised at what she did, but she turned on her heel and headed back down the corridor, leaving Kirsty rubbing her cheek...

Max, Joey and Oscar were all silent as Lauren finished her tale of seeing Bradley again.

'Basically, I was i limbo, basically like a waiting room... Bradley came through the door and stood there. I was so happy to see him, Dad. I could hug and talk to him... I didn't want to let him go. I wanted him to stay so badly... Then I heard your voice, Joey. Asking me to come back. I was so hellbent on dying just to be reunited with Bradley, I almost gave up... But then I realised the pain that I would put all of you through and I couldn't do that...' said Lauren, choking on a sob. Max sat in another chair in the room, watching Lauren.

'What... What else did he say?' asked Max

'He said ''tell Dad to make a flipping mind up about his women. It's one or neither. You can't keep toying with their feelings. You've got to choose one or no bother with either. Try being a Dad once...' are his exact words' said Lauren, looking at her Dad, who smiled.

'Yeah, that sounds like Brad' he said. Lauren smiled and slightly chuckled. Sudden;y, the door opened and Kirsty walked in, a hand print visible on her face from Tanya's slap.

'Tanya's taken Abi and Cora home' she announced. Laure gaped at her cheek

'What happened? Thank' she said gratefully, as Kirsty handed her the water. Kirsty sighed.

'Nothing for you to worry about. You just concentrate on getting better. I'll look after your Dad' said Kirsty, making Lauren smile.

'Yeah, I think it's time we make a move. Come on, Oscar' said Max, going over to Lauren and hugging her tightly.

'See you tomorrow, yeah?' he questioned. Lauren nodded and kissed Oscar's cheek, waving as they headed out of the room. Lauren slumped against her pillows and pressed a hand to her forehead.

'Babe? You okay?' asked Joey, concern lacing his voice

'Yeah. I'm just tired; said Lauren, smiling at him. Joey smiled back and kissed her lips.

'Get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up' he said

'Mmm... Sounds nice' said Lauren, as her eyes slowly flickered closed and she asleep instantly. Joey waited a few minutes before reaching into his jacket pocket, his fingers curling round the glanced at Lauren, making sure she was asleep, before opening the box and smiled at the ring gleaming inside...

R&R :D X