Sorry I havent updated this in a while. Been very busy with college and my Drama course, and new stories that made me forget about this one. So I apologize.

Hope you enjoy this one :)

Enjoy Xx

The next morning, Lauren awoke to find Joey still asleep in the chair next to her and she smiled. He looked peaceful and at ease. She reached out a hand and gently stroked his face, gently caressing his cheek with the back of her hand. He frowned in his sleep, before his eyes flickered opened and smiled sleepily at her.

'Morning babe. How you feeling?' he asked, taking her hand in his and holding it tightly. Lauren smiled contently and nodded.

'My stomach is a bit sore, but I'll be fine' she said. Joey smiled and leant forward to kiss her. Their lips met in a sweet kiss, making Lauren smile. They pulled away and Lauren leant back against her pillows. The door opened and a nurse entered the room, with a tray of food.

'Good Morning, Lauren... How are you today?' she asked

'I'm fine thankyou' replied Lauren politely. She went to sit up, but Joey stopped her.

'I aint having you pull your stitches out, Lo...' he said gently. With Joey's help, Lauren slowly sat up and waited a second while Joey fluffed her pillows. She smiled at this and blushed slightly. Joey winked at her, before she least back against them.

'Better?' he asked her

'Yes, thanks' she replied, blushing again. The nurse made Lauren jump as she forgot they had company.

'Breakfast, Lauren. Is toast alright?' the nurse asked, Lauren smiled and nodded, taking a bite of the toast. The nurse smiled and left the room. Lauren pulled a face and swallowed the slice of toast, before cringing and dropping it back onto the plate, pushing it away.

'What's wrong?' asked Joey, slightly amused

'It's cold and bleurgh' said Lauren, making Joey laugh. Lauren smiled and they lasped into comfortable silence, until Lauren remembered something.

'Joey... What did you want to ask me last night?' she asked, making Joey freeze...

Meanwhile, back at the Branning house, Max was sat on the sofa, where he had been sat all night, not able to sleep.

'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...'

Max sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. Maybe it was time to put his children first over a woman. He sighed and ran a hand over his head, before making a descion. He headed to the kitchen and found Kirsty making a drink. He closed the door and swallowed, before clearing his throat to get her attention. She smiled as she turned round, but it dropped when she saw the pained expresison on Max's face and she knew what was coming.

'Kirsty, I'm-' started Max, but Kirsty held up a hand, stopping him. She smiled a watery grin at him and shook her head.

'I know what you're going to say... It's okay, Max. I know. You need to be a Dad right now to the kids, it's what they need... No hard feelings, I'm glad your finally taking some responsilbilty... I'll pack my bags and I go to the B&B, no hard feelings, I promise...' said Kirsty.

'Thankyou, Kirsty' said Max, smiling. Kirsty nodded and kissed his cheek, before leaving the kitchen to head upstairs and pack her bag...

Whitney was sat in the gardens, tears scrolling down her cheeks, as she clutched Tylers jacket to her chest. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Tiffany sat next to her.

'It's okay, Whitney... I promise' she said, hugging Whitney round the waist. Whitney smiled through her tears and hugged her back.

'I know, darling. It's just really hard not having him with me...' said Whitney. Tiffany fornwed.

'You'll always have him with you.. In here' said Tiffany, pointing to her heart. Whitney smiled and pulled Tiffany into a tight hug, as the tears came fast. She felt Tiffany patting her back and she released her hold a little.

'You know, Billie's up there... He'll look after Tyler and when it's your time to go and be reunited with Tyler.. He'll be there, waiting for you' said Tiffany. Whitney looked at Tiffany and smiled

'When did you get so wise and grown up about things like this, eh?' she asked. Tiffany giggled

'Dunno really. You just learn to cope with loosing people in your life, I guess' said Tiffany, making Whitney smile. She jostled Tiffany slightly, to get her attention

'How about ice cream and movies... You can pick' said Whitney

'hmm... Okay then!' said Tiffany smiling...

'Aren't you talking to talking to me?' asked Lauren. Since she had asked Joey to tell her what he was going to ask her the previous, he had snapped at her slightly, not intentionly, making them have a little spat. And it was evident in the room now.

'Yeah, I'm just... It's not exactly how I wanted to you' admitted Joey, sighing. Lauren frowned

'Well, do you want to go outside?' she asked. Joey looked at her.

'Are you allowed?' he asked. Lauren shrugged, but unclipped the tube what was going into the canula and reached for her dressing gown. With Joey's help, she slid on her dressing gown and her 'me to you' slippers and gently slid off the bed.

'You okay?' asked Joey, tightening his hold on her as she swayed a bit. Lauren smiled and nodded

'Just feels weird been on the ground again' she said, before they headed for the door. Lauren poked her head round the door and saw her nurse, Maggie at the nurses station.

'Maggie? Can I go outside for some fresh air?' she asked. Maggie frowned

'Should you be out of bed, Lauren? You're still recovering!' Maggie scolded. Joey stood next to Lauren and smiled.

'Don't worry, Maggie, I'll take good care of her and I'll bring her back if she's in any pain' he said honestly. Maggie sighed and thought for a moment.

Go on, then. Ten minutes. That's it!' she said. Lauren smiled and she and Joey set off down the corridor and out of the ward. They found a little garden, not far from the ward that Lauren was on and sat down on the benches.

'Never thought I'd see the sky again..' admitted Lauren. Joey turned to look at her and smiled.

'I never thought I'd see again after last night' he admitted. Lauren smiled slightly and rested their foreheads together

'I proved you wrong' she whsipered. Joey nodded and captured her lips between his. Lauren responded and let her hands play with hairs on the back of Joey's neck, as his right hand tangled in her hair, keeping in place. When they needed to breath, Lauren reluctantly pulled away.

'I love you' she whispered, locking their eyes together. Joey smiled

'I love you, too' he replied,making Lauren smile. He stared into her eyes and realised now what the perfect chance. He tucked his hand into his pocket and pulled out the ring box, snapping it open.

'Lauren... Will you wear this ring... As a promise to be mine forever?' he asked Lauren was speechless. Her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish a few times, before she got her bearings.

'Wow! erm... Is it an...' she trailed off and Joey quickly shook hi head

'No! Not yet anyways... It's an eternity ring. One day, hopefully, an engagment ring will join it and you'll agree to be mine for good in front all our family and friends...' said Joey, surprised at himself that he didn't stumble over his words, although he was screaming on the inside. Laurne thought for a few minutes, making Joey more nervous with every second what passed.

'Yes!' she whispered finally. Joey blinked

'Sorry?' he asked. Lauren smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with tears.

'YES!' she laughed, kissing him. She felt Joey relax into the kiss and he pulled away to fit the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly and the sparkle matched the one in Lauren's eyes

'Perfect!' Joey murmured happily, before kissing her again...

R&R :D Xx