A smaller chapter, with a time jump… be prepared to dislike me for where it ends :(
"Babe I can't believe you actually slapped her" Joey chuckled as they walked into the house carrying hope.
"I can, she had it coming for months, regretting it now though… my hands throbbing" she looked at joey half embarrassed at what she'd just said.
"Go in the kitchen and stick the kettle on, I'll put hope to bed and then you Mrs Branning are going to let me look after you and that bump" Joey walked gave her a stern look as she was about to protest. "Say night night Mommy"
"Night Baby" Lauren placed a kiss to Hopes forehead as Joey carried up the stairs.
When Joey came back down the stairs Lauren was still sitting in the kitchen in the exact same spot as where he'd left her 15 minutes ago. Her face was full of thought; some he could tell were good as once in a while her lips would curve to a subtle smile only to fade again seconds later, when what her presumed were unwelcome thoughts clouded the good ones.
Edging beside her he took her hand; she winced slightly as the skin was still tender from the slap. Joey took her hand softly braining it to his lips. He placed an open mouthed kiss to the centre of her palm before placing it back on the table. Lauren watched as he went to the freezer on pulled out a bag of peas. Wrapping them in a tea towel he placed it on Laurens hand, his thumb stroking the back of it. "Let me take care of you Lo". Lauren smiled weakly at him and nodded, she was close to tears.
It only took one more simple gesture from Joey and her walls were down. He reached out his hand tucking her hair behind her ear. She looked at him as the tears started to flee. "Oh babe" Joey pulled her sideways into his embrace feeling her body shake with sobs. Feeling this Joey lifted her onto lip, his arms holing her tight, her hand dropped to her stomach, slowly caressing her bump. A little later her breathing had evened out, yet she still remained in Joeys embrace. Whilst he was cradelling Lauren he recieved texts from Most people asking if Lauren was ok and that Tanya had gone on to explain the whole Hope situation and they were ok with the situation and didn't see why anything should change, and they were right why should they? Hope was Laurens.
"You alright?" she nodded against his chest. "You're a terrible liar Lauren Branning," Joey kissed her head gently as she let out a noise half between a groan of satisfaction and relief. "You know, he will come round Lo? You're his daughter"
She shook her head "No he wont. He don't care Joey he really don't, I swear he deliberately sets try and destroy every little bit of happiness I have"
"Well I aint going to let him or Hannah or anyone else ruin what we have Lauren, You, hope and bump mean the world to me If one of you aint happy then neither am I babe" Lauren looked in his eyes seeing nothing but truth and love. She nodded slightly and then rested her head back on his shoulder.
"Can we go to bed now please; I'm too drained to do anything" not saying anything Joey lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. "I can walk you know" she held her arms around his neck and smiled at him.
"Why would you wanna walk when your husband can carry you ay?"
"You have a valid point Mr Branning" she dropped her head back to his shoulder.
The closer they got to their room, the closer to sleep Lauren was becoming. She realised over the last few months that it was only when she slept in Joeys arms that she actually had a decent night's sleep, tonight she didn't know if it was the fact she was once again in Joeys arms or the fact that she was completely exhausted, but as soon as her head touched the pillow she was virtually asleep.
"Hope come on boo, we've got to go" Lauren watched as the now nearly two year old dashed into the hall way, She held her hand out to a rather large Lauren. Lauren took the little hand encasing it in hers. The two girls followed Joey down the steps and to the car. "Climb in then baby" Hope pushed herself into the car with a little nudge from Lauren; she climbed in the seat and lifted her arms up so Lauren could do the fastenings on the car seat. "all done" Lauren placed a kiss to Hope's head and smiled at her before shutting the door and climbing in the front.
Driving along Lauren watched as the cars passed by, she studied people's faces as they walked the streets, her mind picturing what their lives were like if they had a story like she did. It was times like this she really appreciated her life, Joey and Hope and this baby, if you were to ask Lauren if this where she expected her life to be at right now her answer would be a guaranteed no.
"You alright babe?" Joey spoke briefly glancing at her.
"Hum hmm" She nodded and smiled tilting her head against the window "Do you ever wonder where we'd be now if we hadn't met each other?"
"Well I can definitely tell you I would be married and I would have kids, why you ask ?"
"No reason, I've always wondered if there's people out there with the same story as us, everyone has a story, but not everyone choses to tell it"
"You say some beautiful things sometimes Lauren" Joey smiled across to her as she glanced at Hope in the car seat and then continued viewing and analysing the world around her.
As the car stopped at their destination, Lauren was suddenly brought back from her delusional world, back to the reality where things were more complex and truthful. "We here already?"
"Sure are babe, you were well and truly in your own world… and madam slept" Joey walked around to her side of the car and opened the door. As she went to push herself up Joey reached for her hands to pull her and now the rather large bump from the car.
"It's getting so hard to do that" she giggled shutting the door "should we get the pushchair from the boot?" Joey shook his head.
"Na, I'll carry her, she'll wake up soon"
Sitting waiting to be called, Lauren had gone back to dreaming and she let out a slight laugh "Did I tell you what she did yesterday?" Joey smiled at Lauren and then looked down at Hope and shook his head.
"Well she was playing on the floor in the living room and I sat on the sofa watching the TV. It got to about 7ish and I could see she was getting tired, she kept looking at me really funny and the bump and from nowhere she climbed onto the sofa, put her head in my lap and her hand on the Bump and said Mommy baby"
Joey laughed at the image of Hope in his head "she has been pointing and saying baby the last few days, she's so cute"
"It was really sweet, I could have cried when she did it" Lauren pulled a scrunched up face towards Joey; she was never one for emotions.
"Lauren Branning?" that was their call; they once again made their way to the room, ready for Laurens scan.
"Once again, Baby's looking perfect, You do have a lot of amniotic fluid but that's not a concern, just be prepared when your waters go. Not long to go now ay? What its it 6 weeks?"
"Yep… 6 long weeks" Lauren groaned "I just want to meet him or her already" Joey chuckled at her impatience, then again he felt exactly the same, he'd never now the last 4 months go so slow.
"Still don't know what you're having yet?" They both shook their heads "What do you want Lauren?"
"I'm not fussed as long as it's healthy… Joey wants another girl don't you babe?" Lauren shot him a look to which he raised his eyebrows.
"I don't mind, but I think hope would appreciate a sister" Joey glanced at the nurse as she smiled at him.
Back at home they had decided that a relaxing evening in was what was needed. The day had pretty much tired Hope and Lauren Out. By 6 Hope was already in dreamland and Lauren wasn't far behind. Lauren had fallen asleep on joey on the sofa, he waited for the film to end before he attempted to move her, he didn't think she would appreciate being woke up.
Still able to lift her easily, despite the large bump, Joey carried her upstairs once again placing her in bed. "What time is it?" Lauren asked groaning as she woke slightly.
"Half 11 babe, go back to sleep"
"Hmm, I've got back ache and leg ache and everything-ache" she moaned rolling over as best as she could so she was on her side.
"Try sleep baby," Joey gently started moving his hands up and down her back trying to relive some of the aching. He occasionally felt nudges come from her stomach, no wonder she was aching, this baby had some force behind it. Eventually Lauren was sleeping, not a very peaceful sleep mind.
Throughout the night Joey found it difficult to sleep, he watched as Lauren twisted around in the bed each time getting further into his hold. He smiled slightly, even in her sleep she had the need to be close to him. On occasion the smile would turn to worry as Laurens face would scrunch up and her body would tense, Joey swore he saw her crying too but she was still asleep. As the hours passed through the night, Joey was becoming more and more concerned, her body was completely tense, her body had curled up her knees as close to her bump as possible.
It was in the early hours he'd realised he hadn't felt the baby kicking for a good while, usually there would be odd kicks here and there, but he'd calculated there'd been no movement for about 3 hours. As if she knew there was a problem Laurens eyes shot open, her hand moving to her side.
"Joey… something's wrong" Joey leaned over to the bedside table switching the lamp on. He moved slightly watching as Lauren pushing herself up to a sitting position. Bringing her hand back from the bed her face paled. "Joey I'm bleeding"