Thanks for your reviews on the last chapter :) Ready for the next chapter?
Enjoy Xx
A few hours later, Lauren was sat back in her bed, reading a magazine, when Max entered the room. Lauren smiled.
'Hey Dad. You okay?' she asked, throwing her magazine onto the bed, near her feet. Max nodded and sat down.
'Yeah, I'm fine darling. How are you?' he asked. Lauren nodded.
'I'm okay. My stomach still hurts, but apart from that I'm okay' she said, wincing a bit as she got comfortable again. Max looked round the room.
'Where's Joey gone?' he asked, not seeing him
'Gone to get a drink and something to eat..' answered Lauren, smiling at the mention of Joey. Max stroked his daughters hand. They sat in silence for a minute, bofore Max spoke.
'You know, seeing R&R on fire and knowing you were trapped... It was horrible. I thought I'd never see you again, especially after last night... Anyway, last night I did a lot of thinking, after you told me what Bradley had said... Maybe it's time for me to be a Dad for once, put my family first and make you better..' said Max. Lauren blinked a few times, taking all this in.
'You've gotten rid of Kirsty?' she asked. Max nodded.
'Well, actually... she got rid of me... Turns out she heard you telling me what Bradley said and guessed it would happen sooner than later...' answered Max.
'Oh right! So, has she gone then?'
'Yep. Packed her bags and went to book a room at B&B..' answered Max. Lauren smiled at the thought of just having part of her family back under one roof, until she remembered Tanya had returned.
'Wait... What about Mum?' she asked
'She's staying at her Mum's... Unless you want her back.. It's up to you, Lauren. If you'd feel comfortable with your Mum staying as well, then I'm sure we can sort something out...' said Max
'No. I just want it to be us... And possibly Joey' Lauren added after an afterthought. Max rolled his eyes and smiled at his daughter.
'I'll think about it..' he said, making Lauren smile. Just then, the door opened and Joey re-entered the room, looking slightly surprised to see Max.
'Oh, I didn't realise Max was here... Do you want me to come back?' he asked Lauren, wanting to give them some alone together if she wanted. Lauren shook her head
'It's fine. Come in' she smiled, as he made his way over to her bed and perched on the edge near her hip and leant back against the pillows with her. Max raised an eyebrow.
'You allowed to do that?' he asked
'He managed to charm my nurse into letting him do it... So, yeah he is' Lauren chuckled. She felt a kiss been pressed to her head and smile, before snuggling into Joeys embrace. Max smiled at the sight of them. At first, he was shocked at their relationship, but then he realised that he had noticed it all along. Lauren became happier after Joey moved in, so when Lauren drunkenly revealed their relationship, he wasn't so against as Lauren thought he would've been.
'Lauren, what's that on your finger?' he asked, as he spotted the ring. He stilled in his chair as Lauren looked down at her hand.
'Oh, it's not what you think it is, beofre you explode! It's a promise ring, Dad. A promise to Joey that we're in it for the long haul..' said Lauren hurriedly, before Max took it the wrong way. Max raised an eyebrow.
'You want to marry my daughter?' he asked Joey. Joey nodded.
'One day. When we're both ready and settled with jobs.. Then yeah, I would' said Joey. Max was surprised. Lauren really did have Joey wrapped round her little finger tightly...
Meanwhile, back on the Square, Tanya saw Kirsty heading out of the B&B and she felt a smirk cross her face.
'So, he finally kicked you out? I'm not surprised!' shouted Tanya. She watched as Kirsty stopped and turned to face her, then began to walk towards her.
'Actually, Tanya... I went because Max finally realised that he had three kids, one of whom is in hospital, which made he realise its time to step up to the marka dn be a Dad. And I didn't want to be a bump in the road, so I ended the relationship for the sake of his relationship with his kids..' said Kirsty
'Oh what? You think when he's had enough of playing Dad, he's going to want you back? Oh please, once Lauren wants my help, I'll back in that house faster than you can say marriage wrecker' said Tanya, before walking away from Kirsty...
Whitney and Tiffany were laid on the together, eating popcorn and watching the second Harry Potter movie when there was a knock at the door.
'I'll get it!' shouted Carol from the kitchen
'Cheers!' Whitney shouted back, not taking her eyes off the screen and continued to munch on the popcorn. A knock at the closed living room door made her groan and pause the movie. She sat up, ignoring Tiffany protests.
'What?' she shouted. The door opened to reveal a red eyed Antony Moon. Whitney blinked then remembered what had happened. Tears began to cloud her vision again and she got to her feet and hugged Antony tightly.
'I'm sorry! I'm so sorry' whispered Whitney in his ear, as she felt him break down against her shoulder. She saw Eddie watching them, him looking as bad as Antony.
'I'm sorry, Eddy' she mouthed. Eddie nodded and smiled at her, before accpeting a hug from Carol, as he grieved for the loss of a son...
R&R Xx