Lauren remained glued to the spot; she'd completely frozen having seen the blood. The world stopped around her paused- not wanting to face the reality of what was happening. She could faintly hear Joey's voice in the background, but it was muffled, it wasn't really there. Her mind was firmly on the blood. This shouldn't be happening.

"Babe, Lauren, take to me" Joeys hand reached for her face, his thumb gently brushing across her cheek attempting to bring her attention to him. Laurens eyes flickered to his momentarily before drifting to the blood on the bed. "Lo, just stay calm babe, I'm going call your mom to have hope and then get you to the hospital"

Before he could talk anymore Lauren halted again but pushed herself further up the bed, feeling more fluid leave her. "Oh my God Joey… I think, I think I've just lost more blood" She squeezed Joeys hand a little tighter than he would appreciate in another situation, but right now Lauren was priority.

Joey moved the rest of the bed sheets rubbing his hands over his head when he saw the pool of pale red liquid. "Shit Lo, that wasn't blood, I think that was your waters babe"

"What?" The shock was evident on her face, "NO, no baby you stay in there for me, please you got six more weeks inside me yet" Lauren caressed her bump lovingly pointed her finger at it as she spoke.

"Babe, can you move alright to put some clothes on? It'll be alright Lo I promise" Lauren nodded pushing herself from the bed to throw some clothes over her underwear. Meanwhile Joey was calling Tanya and had already dialled an ambulance.

"Joey…"she reached for his hand sitting back down on the bed. "If that was my waters why am I bleeding, that's not meant to happen is it ?" Joey could see she was petrified about what was happening.

"No. no baby it's not… but it'll be ok, I promise you" Joey sighed pulling her gently into his side. They heard the door open downstairs Tanya having used her own key, shot up the stairs.

"OH god Lauren!" Tanya's hand shot to her mouth taking in the crimson stained sheets and Laurens paled complexion. "Joey you ok darling" He nodded.

"I just need to get Lauren sorted" Tanya reached for his hand as he encouraged Lauren to regulate her breathing. Leaning closer to Tanya he whispered in her ear.

"the baby aint been moving Tan, I can usually feel it kicking and wriggling when were in bed but, ive felt nothing for about 3 or 4 hours, I aint slept and Lo's been moving about all night."

Tanya glared at Joey and then at Lauren who seemed to have missed everything that Joey had just said. "Mom, something's wrong I can tell there is… something just don't feel right."

"Lauren, Listen to me darling, has the baby been moving?" Tanya watched as her daughter collapsed against Joey, tears falling quickly. It was as if now she was actually realising what was happening.

"Joeys called an ambulance Lauren; you'll be fine you both will." Lauren watched as her mother reassured her. Joeys arm tightened around her as she rested her weight against him, they could distantly hear the sirens, providing some form of release.

"Lo, stay with me Lauren, open your eyes" Joey pleaded with her as she lay unresponsive in his arms. Her face was white and he was pretty sure the sudden loss of blood combined with the stress of it all had caused her to pass out. "Come on Lo, you can't sleep through this one baby".

*J&L* *J&L* *J&L*

Joey clutched tight to Lauren hand as the paramedics rushed her straight to A&E. The harsh white lighting made her look twice as pale, her skin a stark contrast to the blood stains on her legs and dress.

"Ok what we got" A woman who Joey assumed was the doctor was listening intently to the paramedics.

"This Is Lauren Branning 20 years old, 7 and half months pregnant, she's had heavy blood loss and her waters have gone, the waters weren't clear, they were quite bloody, she was passed out on arrival, assuming it's from the sudden blood loss, that's her husband Joey on my count please… 1,2,3" On the third count they transferred Lauren over to another bed and started attaching her machines. The paramedic spoke a little quieter to the doctor, something that didn't go unmissed by Joey. "We took a trace in the Ambulance and the foetal heart rate is very slow, he said she's not felt the baby moving for about 4 hours and said that baby's usually quite active."

The doctor nodded "Ok thank you… right Louise can you call maternity tell them we need all notes on Lauren Branning and they need to make a bed available as soon as." The doctor carried out her initial tests and was soon joined by a doctor from obstetrics, as hard as he was trying, he couldn't understand what they were saying. Lauren had eventually been moved to the maternity ward, which was much more comforting, the soft furnishing made the experience less daunting but his frustration was building as he still had no clue what was happening. Every time they spoke it was always hushed and was in Medical terms, finally the doctor came over to him.

"Mr Branning, as you probably guessed your wife has gone into early labour, but she's also had what's called a placental abruption, where the placenta has detached from the uterus. Now Lauren is actually in established labour, she's not ready to start pushing yet but we may need to consider a c-section if the baby becomes anymore distressed, but we'd like to avoid that if possible."

"Will they be Ok, what about the baby, it hadn't moved for a while" Joey question tears in his eyes, they flickered slightly to Lauren and then back to the doctor.

"I'm afraid I can't say for sure, right now they are both stable, Babies heart rate has picked back up, the lack of movement was probably due to shock, our main concern is after the baby is born. The baby is early and the placental abruption can cause issues with bleeding after birth but until then we just need to wait. She will be awake soon"

"Thank you" Joey moved back to Lauren, he slowly grasped her hand and caressed her face brushing her hair out of the way. A small groan left her lips as she started to come round.

"hmm, Joey…" She looked around slightly disorientated, "Where am I ?"

"Thank god your awake… you're in hospital babe" Joey saw her face pale even further if possible as she remembered what had happened.

"The baby, Joey… Is it ok… Please tell me its … awwww" She was cut off by a contraction hitting her, she looked at Joey confused as he began to explain what was happening. "So the baby's ok?"

"Yes Lo, the baby's ok" joey chuckled as Lauren screeched through another contraction

"Joey…don't laugh they really hurt"

"Sorry babe, Im sorry" He kissed her forehead as a midwife came through.

"Hiya Lauren, Im assuming Joey explained what's happening?" Lauren nodded breathing though another pain. "Ok well it's obvious, your contracting well, is it ok to examine you ? "

Lauren nodded weakly, her grip tightening on Joey's hand. A few minutes later, the midwife had finished. "Alright Lauren, you did really well darling, your about 5 centimetres, so a long way to go yet I'm afraid. You can use the gas and air if you wish, just not too much ok?"

"Ye thank you" Laurens head hit the pillow again, "This is going to be a long night Joe… a long night"

Not as long… but tomorrow's is so hope you enjoy this as much as you can … and what would we like to see a baby boy or another girl?