The next Morning Lauren sat in the kitchen excited that, by the end of the day, Hope was hers on paper. However Joey had been acting really suspicious the previous night and this morning. He'd been out twice, which for Joey wasn't normal, he would only venture out or a reason, so going out and giving the reason of needing fresh air didn't provide Lauren with Much assurance. Last night he'd disappeared for a good hour and returned acting really shifty and on edge. Then to top it all off there had been numerous phone calls which he would answer and take to another room.

Lauren sat fiddling with her mug of coffee in the kitchen whist feeding Hope in the highchair. Again the phone rang, but this time it was the house phone. Hope was babbling away to Lauren, who was amusing her to no end, until the phone caught her attention "Hold that thought Baby" Lauren sprung up "I'll get it". As she approached the hallway, she heard Joey pound down the stairs and literally dive on the handset answering the phone before she could. Lauren frowned at him and turned back to the kitchen.

"Oh ow" Hope lifted her hands in the air as Lauren walked back in, she laughed at Hope seeing half her food was on the floor.

"I'll give you Oh ow Mrs… Food stays on here" Lauren tapped on the tray of the highchair causing hope to giggle.

"Erm… I'm going out babe; I'll meet you about 12 outside the registry office to sign the papers" Joey leaned down and kissed Hopes head then brought Laurens lips to his. "See you later" Joey walked off quickly.

"Joey where you going ?" she received no answer as the front door shut and the car started.

"Gone" Hope said looking at her empty dish

"Ye so's Daddy" Lauren frowned slightly looking at the front door. "Right come on then, let go get dressed and go see Nanny"

"Nanna" Hope suddenly became very excited, Lauren lifted from the chair putting her on her feet. Hope toddled off to the bottom of the stairs while Lauren cleared the kitchen, luckily the recently install stair gate was in action. Hope frowned at the thing blocking her path. "Mamma" Lauren laughed and lifted hope onto her hip and opened the gate to walk up the stairs.

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"Hello Darling, Hi ya H," Hope lifted her arms to Tanya as her and Lauren walked through the door of no.5

"Nana" Hope pressed her body into Tanya's giving her a big hug.

"I love it when she does this" Tanya smiled as she cradled Hope to her shoulder.

"I know, she does it of a night when me and Joey are on the sofa, she sits between us and snuggles in my side but holds Joeys hand. It's my favourite part of the day."

"Did you and Joey … talk yesterday?" Lauren knew what she was referring to but didn't understand why she didn't just say it out loud; it wasn't as if Hope could understand. Then as if to answer her question Abi appeared in the door way scooping Hope from Tanya's Arms.

"Alright Abs?" Abi nodded

"I'm going to the shops, I'll take hope, sounds like you two need to talk" Lauren smiled at her, she loved her sister sometimes.

Once Abi had left The two older Branning's sat in the kitchen "So, come on then?" Tanya Questioned raising her eyebrow.

"Yes Me and Joey spoke" Lauren took a deep breath in "and Yes I took a test, we're having another baby" Lauren smirked into her mug as she saw her mom fill with tears and smile brightly.

"Oh Baby I'm so happy for you… Joey take it well I guess?"

"Well I thought he did … He was really happy last night, said all the right things, but then he started acting really weird, like this morning ye, I went to answer the phone and he virtually tackled me so I didn't answer it… It was really odd, and like now ye , he's disappeared in the car and didn't say where he was going just that he'd meet me later."

"That is a bit odd" Tanya stared into space for a second, it wasn't like Joey at all- well didn't sound like him.

A while later Lauren looked at her watch "Oh Better get going, Hope come on Baby, You cans see Auntie Abs Later." Abi passed Hope across to Lauren receiving a very sloppy kiss goodbye. "See you later."

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Arriving at the registry office Lauren could see Joey standing against the wall, a smirk on his face. He stepped closer to her taking her one hand so she could still push the pushchair.

"Joey what's going on?" Lauren quizzed as Joey led her to a side room in the building.

"Come on, you'll find out soon enough" Lauren frowned at him "Just trust me babe" She nodded and followed him. "Close your eyes"

"Joey… Really? Do I have to?" she sighed

"Yes… now will you do as you're told please?"

"Fine" Lauren closed her eyes and could feel herself being guided around a room. It was so tempting to open her eyes, she so much wanted to see what was going on, yet at the same time she loved the thrill of the surprise.

"Open" Joey removed his hold of her revealing where they were. Lauren slowly edged her eyes open, half scared about what she would see. But once they opened she was twice as confused. They were in a small room with a few chairs and a table, nothing different.

"I don't understand" she turned to Joey who smirked.

"Well there's one more thing we have to do before we sign the papers… now I know I've been acting really shifty… don't look like that you know I have… I've being planning this" with that Poppy and Fats came into the room. Lauren looked from their friends to Joey; none of this was making sense in the slightest.

"Before you sign, I want to prove to you how much you mean to me and What you told me last night has made me the happiest man alive… Lauren Branning, Will you marry me?"

Her eyes filled with tears as Joey took a ring from his pocket and got down on one knee. Laurens hands shot to her mouth as she saw the simple yet stunning white gold wedding ring. Her brain unable to process any words she did the next best thing and Nodded bending down to the floor so they were at the same level. "As if I was ever going to say no to You Mr Branning", Joey placed the ring on her finger and kissed her.

"That's not all… I had a feeling you would say that… and so we are getting Married in 15 minutes… so you will officially be Mrs Branning when you sign the papers".

"Joey!" Lauren squealed and flung her arms around him… "I look a mess Joey"

"You never look a mess baby… you always look beautiful, but … I knew you would say that… hence the reason Poppy is here, she has a few gifts for you too."

Lauren shook her head " I can't believe you've managed to do this"

"I do have a brain babe… now go get ready, I'll get hope sorted" She smiled at him, as she was about to walk away he whispered in her ear "Poppy and Fats know about Hope, I had to tell them for this to work" Joey saw her face drop slightly "They didn't care, they said it made no difference and they thought you were amazing for doing it… also they said it was weird that Hope looked like you" She giggled at the last part of the sentence. "No go on… You're wasting valuable time"

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"Right then Miss Branning, I've been given hair and makeup instructions… you just got to sit and relax" Lauren nodded as Poppy started to do her hair. "You're so lucky Lo, this is like a fairy tale… It's like Romeo and Juliette without the fighting, and the death"

"Ye its exactly like that Pops" Lauren laughed at her friend "He said you had gifts for me?"

"I feel like Father Christmas… Ye he's got you a dress and shoes, and there's another box but I don't know what it is." After she'd finished the hair and makeup Poppy gave Lauren her dress.

"It's Beautiful, Did Joey chose this?" Poppy nodded

"He just sent me to pick it up… Shoes are my doing though"

The dress was perfect for Lauren, although never one for tradition Lauren had appreciated Joey's choice. It wasn't over the top traditional, but it was enough for her to feel like she was getting married. The dress was white, but not bright white and had intricate lace detail over it. The dress sat Just below her knee, the material floaty: not too tight but not shapeless either. The part she was most impressed with though was the top half of the dress, Joey had obviously being paying attention when they spotted a similar dress when they were shopping once. The dress had straps that fell perfectly on her shoulders and then it went fitted at the waist before flaring out at the skirt it was perfect.

"Oh MY GOD" Lauren stopped her movement of stepping in the dress and turned to see Poppy staring at her.

"What?" she questioned smiling

"You're pregnant aren't you?" Poppy said pointing at Laurens stomach. Lauren turned around and gave her an awkward smile, she didn't think it was even noticeable yet, after all she hadn't notice and neither had joey. The appointment next week couldn't come quick enough now so she could know how far along she actually was.

"Surprise" Poppy flung her arms around her friend and giggled slightly… "Shoes now Branning" Lauren slipped on the peep toe heels Poppy at chosen and then proceeded to open the Box that neither her or Poppy knew the contents of.

"What is it ?" Poppy asked as Lauren held out the charm bracelet that had four charms on it.

"it's the bracelet I saw the other week when we took Hope out shopping… he's even got the charms on it"

"What do they mean?"

Lauren twisted the bracelet as Poppy fastened it, she first pointed to a circle that had a heart entwined in it. "This one means is Hope, it's the symbol for it" next she moved to one that was a J and L entwined "Obviously this one is Joey and Lauren" she laughed when she saw the next one "This one, don't laugh ok, this is because the first time we … you know, I can of ran from him and the only reason was because I was running from it, ever since then we have this joke that we both run from our problems and run to each other instead" she ran her fingers over the charm shaped like a trainer, smiling. "And this one … I don't actually know what that one means, im sure it has a meaning though"

"That's so cute!" Poppy looked Lauren over, "Ready to get married then Miss?"

Lauren closed her eyes and sighed, "Yes"

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She and Poppy walked back into the room where they had previously been, Joey and Fats were standing at the front, Hope in Fats' arms. They walked down towards them Music playing softly in the back ground.

"You look Beautiful" Joey kissed her cheek,

"My Husband to be has a good taste in dresses" she smirked.

"Your Husband to be has an amazing girl to wear said dress" Joey replied looking over Laurens perfect frame, his eyes lingerig on her stomach a second where their child was growing.

The ceremony went perfectly; rings were exchanged and finally so were kisses.

"Can I just ask you to sign these two registers please?" Lauren nodded before the registrar handed her a piece of paper back, "You are now legally Married and Mrs Branning, you are now the Legal Mother of Hope Trinity Branning"

"Thank you" Lauren smiled as tears fell and Joey kissed her passionately. Poppy and Fat's were whistling and cheering in the back ground which was what eventually brought them back to earth. Lauren flushed a shade of red and giggled burring her face into Joeys neck as he laughed and brushed his hand down her back.

As they were leaving the Building Joey told Lauren he had told their family they would meet them at no.5 in an hour. Obviously, this was so they could tell them about them getting married, both of them deciding to keep the baby news a secret until after her scan next week. Arriving back on the square they were laughing and Joking when Lauren spotted her dad.

I've decided to split this chapter into two because it was getting way too long, How will Max take the news ? A little clue is Feisty Lauren will be back Hope you enjoy :)