So firstly... wow! Thanks for the reviews guys. I was a bit worried I'd left it too long since Haven... so your reviews were very welcome. So anyway, I hope you like this story, I've developed some of the characters I didn't use as much in the first story... as well as introducing some new ones. I'm glad people liked Lauren and Joey's interactions with Oscar... he plays a much heavier role in this story.

Chapter 2.

It took them longer than it usually did and Joey had to admit, to himself at least, that he was knackered by the time they reached Maggie's Cafe. He slumped in his chair and Lauren looked at him in concern, "I'm fine… I just underestimated how much that would take out of me." He told her gently.

Lauren helped Oscar sit down and then took a seat in the booth next to Joey. She reached over and squeezed his hand, "Just tell me if it gets too much, okay." She said to him softly.

"I'm fine, really, babe. I'll tell you if it's a problem, I promise."

She kissed him softly then turned her attention to her brother. "What do you want for lunch then, little man?"

"Do they have sausages?"

"They sure do, Oscar." Joey said with a smile. "What would you like with them?"

"Chips!" he cried out.

"Chips it is then," Joey chuckled.

Maggie walked over, "Joseph, long time, no see." She greeted him with a warm smile. She was the only person he allowed to call him Joseph, having known him a long time.

"Hi Maggie. It's good to be here." Joey said, blushing slightly.

"Well now, what can I get you all to eat?"

Lauren smiled, "This little man here would like sausages and chips and a banana milkshake, please." Oscar's face lit up as she said his order. "Joe and I will have our usual, please Maggie? Thanks."

"You're welcome, honey." Maggie said, smiling at them both and walking back to the kitchen.

"You should let your dad know where we are…" Joey said to her softly. Lauren nodded and pulled her mobile from her bag. She sent a quick message to her dad and also Uncle Jack. Joey's arm was around her shoulders and Lauren leant her head against his body. Their food arrived and all three began to eat.

Oscar was eating quickly until Lauren spoke to him, "Little man… do you remember what happened when you ate your food too quickly?" she reminded him in a soft voice.

Oscar looked up at her, his eyes wide and he nodded, "Sorry Laur…" he whispered.

"It's okay, little man. We just don't want you being poorly again, do we?" she said and Oscar shook his head. He slowed down and took his time to chew each mouthful.

Joey watched the young boy, a dream drifting into his mind as he saw Lauren with him. This wasn't a new thought, it had been a pretty regular daydream over the last few weeks. Ever since the pregnancy scare when Lauren had her three month check-up with her consultant. Since their chat with the consultant neither Lauren nor Joey had spoken about it but it had definitely been on Joey's mind. He reached over and placed his hand on Lauren's thigh, squeezing her leg gently. She turned her head to look at him, a blush warming her face. "I love you, babe." He whispered.

"I love you too." She said back to him softly, leaning forward and kissing him tenderly.

"You two are bleurgh…" Oscar said making Lauren and Joey laugh.

The door to the café opened and Jack walked in, smiling when he found the three of them laughing. "Are you three finished?" he asked as he walked to their table.

"Nearly," Lauren said.

"I'll be back in a minute then," Jack walked over to the counter and paid the bill for their meals. He walked back over to their table and sat next to Oscar. "Your parents went home. They took Abi with them."

"What happened after we left?" Lauren asked.

"Derek and your dad had a row... Tyler and Fatboy managed to stop it before it got physical. Derek stormed off, Carol and Bianca went after him."

"I guess everyone knows now then..." she whispered. Joey reached for her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Yeah, they do." Jack admitted, watching his niece and nephew carefully.

Lauren moved closer to Joey, pressing her face into his shirt, breathing deeply. Now would be a great time for a drink she thought to herself. She felt Joey press his lips against the top of her head and she instantly felt better.

"What about Alice?" Joey asked.

"She wants to see Derek now, more than ever. I took your mum and Alice home, your mum literally dragged her from the room. I'm not sure what's going to happen with that to be honest. That was before the fight between your dad's started."

Lauren turned to look at her uncle, "And Abi?" she whispered.

Jack's face darkened, "Let's just say she's not exactly flavour of the month with your parents. Both of them were speaking to her sternly last time I saw them. They're going to meet you at home."

"Don't you have to go back to the hospital?" Lauren asked Joey.

"No. I got released this morning. That was why we were a little late. It was a last minute decision by the doctor. I've still got to go back for therapy a couple of times a week and for check-ups and things but there's no need for me to stay there anymore." He told her softly.

"That's great." She said happily. She squeezed his hand tightly.

"We should be getting back to the square," Jack said. "This monkey here is coming over to mine tonight for tea with Denny," he said as he messed Oscar's hair, making him laugh. "And you two have a presentation evening to get ready for." The four of them got to their feet and left the cafe, Joey and Lauren waving to Maggie as they left.

*JL*JL*

Once they were in Jack's car he started the engine and they drove back to Walford. "I was so proud of your work, Lauren." Jack said to her softly as he drove. Lauren was sitting in the front of the car and Joey and Oscar were on the back seat, Joey entertaining Oscar as they made their slow journey through London. "Those pictures were amazing, darling. You should be so proud of everything you've achieved."

"Thanks Uncle Jack." She whispered, her face heating at his praise.

"I'm just sorry Derek arrived before we all got a chance to tell you how good it was. I'm sorry he ruined it."

"It's not your fault. I told Joey the same thing earlier." Lauren said.

"I know your mum and dad are really proud of you too; the way you've sorted yourself out in the last two years and especially in the last few months. I'm sure they'll want to tell you themselves when you get home."

"Why do you think she did it, Uncle Jack?" Lauren asked him softly.

"I don't know, Lauren. She's coming over to mine tonight as well as Oscar."

"She's been off ever since I ended up in hospital after Christmas and it's not got any better. I just never thought she would do something like this. Mum and dad have told her so many times that Derek wasn't to find out about the two of us and then she deliberately invites him to my show. I take it she knew Joey was going to be there, right?"

"Yeah, she knew. We all knew Joey was going to be there. The only person who didn't was you. Joey wanted it to be a surprise."

"Well it was certainly that. The whole day was one big surprise." Lauren said. She stared out of the windscreen, deep in thought. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to face her. I'm so angry with her right now." She admitted.

"Don't worry about it, Lauren. Joey will be there and your parents will keep her out of your way, I promise."

"I just don't understand why she hates me so much..."

"We'll work it out." He told her softly.

*JL*JL*

Lauren had been quiet for the rest of the journey and both Jack and Joey were worried about her by the time they reached the square. Joey felt his own trepidation increase as the car pulled into the square. Bad memories came back to him as the car drove past the car lot and where his dad apparently lived. Finally the car was outside number 5 and it stopped. Jack got out of the car and helped Oscar get out of the back seat. Lauren, after a brief pause, got out of the front of the car too and stood by Joey's door, looking at him through the window. She opened the door and leant inside, brushing her hand down the side of his face and bringing his attention back to her, "You okay?"

"Yeah, just caught up in memories of the last time I was here." He said softly.

Lauren kissed him softly, feeling him smile against her mouth. "We should get inside..." she breathed, "before we're seen..." she added. She helped him get out of the car and both of them realised his energy reserves had severely been depleted as he had to lean on her heavily as they made their way up the stairs to her house. Lauren opened the front door, "Dad..." she called. Her dad appeared and saw her struggling with Joey and rushed to help her.

"Come on, son." He said to Joey, pulling his nephew's arm around his shoulder and taking his weight from his daughter. Slowly the pair walked into the house and moved into the lounge. Lauren trailed after them with Jack and Oscar entering the house a minute or two later.

Joey was eased onto the couch and Lauren was quickly sitting next to him. He was exhausted and it had crept up on him really suddenly, without him realising. He could feel Lauren watching him in concern and he smiled at her, hoping to ease her worries. "Get some rest, baby," she told him gently.

"I'm okay."

She leant forward, "I want you to be rested for tonight, Joe."

"Really?" he asked, his eyebrow rising in tandem with his hopes.

Lauren blushed when she realised what she'd said, "I didn't mean that... I was talking about the presentation evening at college."

"So no chance of any late night activities then?"

"I'll consider it if you get some rest now?" she said with a smile.

"Okay, you've convinced me." He relented. "Will you stay with me?"

"I wasn't planning on going anywhere..." Joey took her hand in his and let himself relax, closing his eyes. "Why don't you lie down, baby?" Lauren said softly. He opened one eye to look at her and she smiled at him, patting her lap. He rearranged his position so his head was now on her lap. She began to run her fingers through his hair and after a couple of minutes he drifted off to sleep.

TBC

A/N: Isn't Oscar sweet? Next update tomorrow.