16th April 2013

Surprise! Another bonus chapter. I think you'll like it. Longest chapter so far too... Enjoy!

Chapter 6.

Joey was stood at the side of the room nearly half an hour later, watching Lauren talking animatedly to her Art History teacher. His emotions were all over the place this evening. It had been an eventful day and he was looking forward to going home with his girlfriend and holding her in his arms as he slept. Maybe if he was lucky, and not too exhausted, he might get to do a little more before they got that far. It had been a while since the last time they'd been together. Joey was also keen to have a discussion regarding their future over the next couple of days. It was something he'd wanted to speak to her about for a while but had held back because she was so focused on her art show. There was also a little part of him that was shying away from the conversation himself. He knew they needed to talk about this but it was a serious discussion and he was a little unsure how it was going to go.

He still hadn't worked out how he felt about seeing Derek again. It had come as a shock to him when he saw him on Christmas Day but then it had just been a few seconds. Today he'd got a very real reminder of what the man was like and it had taken him back to when he was seven years old again in an instant. He was going to speak to his mum about it over the next couple of days, depending on what he and Lauren were doing. He wanted to make sure she was okay and he already knew his sister was going to be an issue when it came to his father. Alice had wanted to know her father throughout her life. It had come up in conversation a lot, especially since she'd become a teenager and the reason for her not contacting him was because they'd never known where he was. They couldn't use that reason anymore so it was definitely something they would have to deal with. He just wasn't sure how to do that yet.

*JL*JL*

The family were about to leave the college about an hour after the ceremony had ended and were making their way to through the building.

"I need to pop into my workroom quickly," Lauren said.

"What for?" Tanya asked.

"We were there earlier with Oscar and he painted a picture for you. I said I'd pick it up tonight once it had dried." Lauren said with a smile. "I've got a few bits and pieces I need to collect as well but I can do that another day if it's easier?"

"Tonight's fine." Max told her, "Saves you having to bring it all home on the tube then."

Lauren smiled and led them into the room. While she went through her cupboard and picked up the few sketchpads and other items in there, Joey went and retrieved Oscar's masterpiece from the easel. "Is anything over here yours, babe?" he asked Lauren.

"Umm, yeah. There should be some charcoal pencils and I think my Art History book is over there too. I left it there after the exam." She said while she was digging stuff out of her cupboard.

Several minutes later Lauren had collected all her things and put them in her portfolio. All that remained at the college was the portfolio Joey had given her for her birthday. That was locked in her cupboard. "Do you get your art back, Lauren?" Her mum asked, "I never thought to ask you earlier."

"Yeah, I can collect it next week apparently. I've left my other portfolio here so I can put all of it apart from the two largest pieces in there."

"Let me or your Uncle Jack know when you want to collect them, babe," Max said, "and we can drive you over. I don't want them to get ruined."

"Thanks dad." Lauren said with a smile.

"Well, I don't know about you lot but I'm starving. Let's go and get something to eat," Max said, ushering his family out of the room.

Within thirty minutes they were sitting in a nice little restaurant recommended by Joey that was near Lauren's college. "I still can't believe I won the award." Lauren said as they were studying the menu.

"What was in the envelope?" Tanya asked.

"I have no idea." Lauren said, looking at her mother. "Actually..."

"It's here, babe." Joey said, passing the envelope to her, "I took it from you when you got back to your seat, so you didn't lose it. You were in a bit of a daze."

"I only just realised I didn't know where it was..." she admitted, blushing as she opened the envelope. She pulled out the letter inside and opened it to read it. The rest of her family could see the shock on her face, "There's a cheque inside..." she said softly, "It's for £1,500."

"Wow, that's a lot of money, Lauren." Tanya said.

"Yeah... I'm not sure what I'll do with it."

"There's no rush to spend it, babe." Max said.

"I know." Lauren told him.

"Right, let's get some food on the table then, we've got celebrating to do..." Max announced.

*JL*JL*

"I don't remember the last time I've eaten so much," Lauren said a couple of hours later as they were driving home.

"Me either... although I've mainly been living on hospital food which isn't that appetising," Joey said.

"True..." Lauren said as she shifted in the seat and leant against him, her head resting on his chest. His arm was around her shoulders and his other hand was wrapped in both of hers. She smiled as she stared out of the window into the darkness, the passing streetlights and lit shop fronts the only thing lighting her face. She couldn't wait to get home.

Joey brushed his hand through her hair and kissed her forehead as he thought about what was ahead. He was tired but not too tired for some time with his girl. And tonight would be the first time since before Christmas when he could take his time with it. There was no need to rush in case they were disturbed. He looked into the front of the car and saw his aunt and uncle and wondered just how okay they really were with him staying. Max obviously knew they were sleeping together. That thought made a shiver of horror run through him as he remembered that particular conversation with his uncle and it drew Lauren's attention back to him, a look of concern on her face. "It's nothing," he whispered, kissing her gently on the lips. He wasn't sure she believed him but she said nothing more. He rested his head on top of hers and by the time the car pulled up in front of her house he was almost asleep.

Lauren climbed out of the car and walked round to the other side, opening the door for Joey. She helped him out of the car and they slowly made their way to the front of the house. Max walked behind them, his hands on Joey's waist as additional support up the stairs. Once they were in the house Lauren and Joey paused in the hallway. "Go on, up you go..." Max said, "before Joey passes out from exhaustion..." he added. The pair silently went up the stairs, slower than either of them would've liked but Joey was really struggling with his left leg now.

Lauren pushed Joey onto the bed and started easing his clothes off him. "Are you trying to seduce me, Miss Branning?" he asked her softly.

"Maybe..." she said with a smile. "Stand up a minute," she whispered, holding out her hands so she could help him. He tiredly pushed himself to his feet, most of his weight on his right leg now. She undid his trousers and pushed them down his legs. "Pants on or off?" she murmured.

"Off." He breathed into her hair.

Once they were also gone she pulled back the covers on her bed and helped him back onto the bed. "Do you need anything? A drink?" He nodded and she kissed him softly before leaving the room and going down to the kitchen. Her parents were both there.

"Everything okay?" Tanya asked her.

"Yeah. Just getting some water." Lauren said, suddenly she felt a little shy around them both, the fact she was going to be sleeping with her boyfriend playing on her mind. Although it seemed they were literally only going to be sleeping. "Night mum. Night dad. Thanks for today." She put down the glass briefly and hugged both of her parents.

"You're welcome, sweetheart." Max said. "See you in the morning."

She left the room and was soon back at her bedroom. Surprisingly Joey was still awake. "I thought you'd be asleep already..." she said as she put the glass down.

"Not going to sleep until I have my girl in my arms." He said, staring at her as she began to undress. He saw the moment of hesitation once she got down to her underwear but then she removed her bra and her knickers were next to go. She stood where she was, completely naked in the dark room and Joey ran his eyes over her, "You get more beautiful each time I see you." He whispered and he could swear he saw her blush, even with no lights on. "Come here." He beckoned, holding his hand out towards her.

She slid under the covers and he took her in his arms, pulling her against his equally naked body. "Do you want to...?" she whispered.

"Yes... but I'm too tired, babe. Is that okay?"

"Of course."

"I just want it to be special and there's a good chance I could fall asleep any second."

"It's okay, baby." She said. "This is nice." She added. His hands brushed over her body and Lauren could practically feel every inch of her body tingling from the sensations he was creating.

"Can we talk about things tomorrow?" he asked her softly. She tensed in his arms at his question, instantly expecting the worst. "It's nothing bad, I just think there are things we need to work out..." he murmured.

"So I don't need to be worried?" she checked.

"Not as far as I'm concerned." He told her.

"Thank god for that." She said. "You had me scared for a second..."

He lifted her chin from his chest and lowered his lips to hers, kissing her deeply. "Never think that, babe." He kissed her again, tenderly peppering kisses over her face.

"I thought you were tired?" she gasped.

"Second wind..." he murmured, his arousal overriding any previous exhaustion. He had a thought and rested his forehead against her chin, "I need my bag..." he said softly.

"What for?"

"Condom..." he reminded her.

"Oh... right." She kissed him and then pulled herself from his arms and reached for his bag.

"Front pocket..." he told her, rolling onto his back.

She pulled out the box and took out one of the squares, opening her bedside table and putting the rest of the box in it. She turned back to him and tore open the wrapper. She rolled it easily on his length, brushing her hand gently up and down once it was in place. "How do you want to do this, baby?" she asked him. Rather than answer he grabbed her around the waist and rolled them so he was on top of her. Lauren shrieked out in surprise and they both froze, remembering where they were. She giggled and lifted her head to kiss him, "Warn me next time..." she told him.

"Sorry baby girl..." he whispered. He kissed her, his hands brushing over her body until Lauren felt like she was on fire.

"Joe... please..." she begged him.

He slowly pushed into her, both of them moaning into each other's mouth as they were reminded again of their desire for each other. "Baby, you feel so good..." he told her.

"Joe, I love you so much." She told him as he started to move within her. Neither of them was in a rush for this to be over so the pace was gentle. He lifted her left hand from where it rested on his chest and threaded his fingers through hers, placing them both on the pillow beside her head.

"I'm never going to do this with anyone else, babe. No one else has ever felt like this. We're so right together." His last sentence was almost a whisper.

His words heightened the emotions she was feeling and her hand gripped his tighter as she tried to hold back her peak. She wanted this to last longer and more importantly, she wanted him to come with her. Her body was literally trembling beneath his and she kissed him passionately as her free hand brushed the side of his face. After holding it back as long as she could she knew she couldn't any longer, "Joey..." she moaned quietly as her body exploded in ecstasy. It only took a couple more thrusts and he stiffened above her, his face burying into her neck as his cock pulsed within her.

Joey rolled to one side, pulling Lauren with him. Was it wrong that he couldn't bring himself to let go of her? Unfortunately he did release his hold on her, only briefly mind, so he could dispose of the condom and then she was back in his arms and they lay in silence on her bed. "I love you too..." he told her softly. "I'm always going to love you, Lauren Branning."

TBC

A/N: What did you think? Definitely only one chapter tomorrow... but it's a good one! See you then...