21st April 2013. Back again. Hope you enjoy this... Pretty sure you will.

Chapter 13.

Lauren helped Joey strip down to his boxers and then she stripped herself and pulled on the T-shirt Joey had been wearing beneath his shirt. She climbed into the bed with him and he held her in his arms, "I was so worried, baby." She told him after several minute's silence.

"I'm fine, really." He whispered.

"I know you don't want to go back to the hospital but you'd tell me if your head really hurt, right?" she checked.

"I'd tell you." He promised her. He pulled her as close as he could in his arms, "Don't think I'm going to be up to keeping my promise from earlier though, babe..." he whispered.

"It's okay, baby. We've got plenty of time for that. We'll have every night," she told him with a smile.

"You don't regret leaving home, do you?"

"I won't lie... I'm going to miss my parents and my little man but I can't live there. I know that. I want to be with you and we can't do that here. So, no, I don't regret it. I do wish things could be different though. I wish everything was a little easier for us."

"How did they take it?" he asked her softly.

"They were shocked when I told them about my health issues. And upset. Lucy is struggling to understand why we're leaving but she'll come round. She just needs some time to absorb it all, I think. It's not like I'm not going to see her again or anything."

"Did you mention about us having a baby?"

"No. I thought we should talk to our parents about it first. We can tell our friends when it's actually happening, I guess."

"I love you, baby girl..."

"I know you do. I love you too."

"Oh and what's with Fatboy calling you baby girl...?"

"I dunno. He just always has. He doesn't mean anything by it. He's just a mate... always has been."

"Okay... but just so you know, you're only my baby girl, alright?"

She giggled, "Yes, baby." She whispered, kissing him softly.

"Glad we've got that cleared up..." he said. His hands brushed across her back and slipped under his T-shirt she was wearing. "Sleep now... talk in morning." He murmured, his body already beginning to shut down.

Lauren stared at him in the dark, seeing his face look peaceful as he slept, despite looking a bit of a mess. His hand moved across her back every now and again and Lauren found it was gradually lulling her to sleep. She really did love sleeping in his arms. It was so relaxing.

*JL*JL*

Lauren woke the next morning to find Joey still asleep. His face was more heavily bruised now than it had been and again she wondered just what it was that had happened. She carefully pulled herself from his arms and crept out of the room and down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and found Whitney and Tyler there, eating their breakfast. "Hi guys..." she said. "Is it okay if I take Joe up a coffee?"

"Of course..." Tyler said. "How is he this morning?"

"Well his face is a bit colourful. I'll make sure his head's alright when he wakes up." Lauren said, getting a mug ready as she waited for the kettle to boil. "Can I ask you guys a favour...? Though I probably owe you loads already."

"Sure..." Whitney said.

"Joey's sister wants to meet her dad. She was just a baby really when he left them. Joey and his mum are going to tell her everything about him but I reckon she'll still want to see him. If she turns up in Walford, can you keep an eye out for her, make friends with her, be there for her if she has any problems with Derek? We won't be able to come and keep an eye on her and I know Joey's mum would be really grateful; Joey too. She's a really nice girl. I think you'd like her a lot."

"We can do that..." Whitney said, smiling at her best friend.

"Thanks." Lauren turned to the kettle which had now boiled. "I'm sorry for dumping all that on you last night... I know it was a lot to take in but I didn't want to just disappear again without telling you everything."

"It's fine, Lauren." Tyler said. "I'd better go to work. I'll see you later." He stood and kissed Whitney on the cheek. Before he left the room he hugged Lauren, "I hope everything works out for you and Joey, Lauren. Look after yourself, okay?"

"I will." She said with a smile. Lauren sat down in the seat he'd just left after he'd gone and began to drink the coffee she'd made.

"You okay?" Whit asked her softly. Lauren nodded but then shrugged at her friend. "You wanna talk about it?"

"I don't know, Whit..." she said softly. "I told Joe we shouldn't tell anyone before speaking to our parents about it but I need to talk to someone..." she whispered.

"What is it, babe?"

"We're... we're going to try to have a baby..." she said quietly.

"Are you...?"

Lauren realised what she was asking and quickly denied it. "No, it's a bit more complicated than that. With my heart condition it takes a bit more planning." She glanced up at her friend, "I'm going to have to come off the medication in order to have the baby." She told her.

"Is that a good idea?" Whit asked.

"We spoke to my consultant about it and he wasn't opposed to it. I'd be off the medication for quite a while. I'd have to stop about six months before we started trying and I wouldn't be able to start taking it again until after I'd finished breastfeeding."

"And you want to do that?"

"I want to have a child with Joey... more than anything. I've dreamt of it for about the last year. Now it just seems like the right time to do it. We want to have a family together so much and we need to do it now, while I'm healthy enough to be able to come off the medication."

"Are there any risks?"

"I'd be automatically classed as a high-risk pregnancy because of my heart condition but my doctor doesn't think it's too much of a cause for concern at the moment. I'm a little worried though..." she admitted.

"About what?" Whit asked, seeing the sadness on her friend's face.

"What if something goes wrong... and I don't make it. I'm scared for Joey." She whispered.

"Oh Lauren..." Whitney whispered, moving to her friend and hugging her as she began to cry. "Your family would be there for him though, right?"

"That's why we want to speak to them first. I want them to support us with this. I think they will. Dad already knows we're thinking about it and were going to speak to the consultant about it. I want them to be there if anything goes wrong..." she said as she wiped away her tears.

"Well I hope nothing does, Lauren." She said softly. "If you ever need anything, please call me, okay?"

"I will, Whit. I wanted to say thank you for being there for me at Christmas, too."

"It was no problem. I'm glad I could help... although I didn't think I had when I left you."

"The others don't hate Joey, do they?" Lauren asked in a whisper.

"No. They might have done a little bit when you were still telling us everything but when you told them what happened. To be honest, Lauren, it's just nice to see you so happy. Everyone can see how much you love each other. I look forward to getting to know him better in the future."

"Thanks Whit." Lauren said, "I guess I should make him another cup of coffee..." she said with a smirk, having drunk the one she'd made him earlier. She got up and started making another cup.

"I'd better go and get ready for work too. I'll leave the keys on the side, babe. Put them through the door after you lock up, okay?"

"Will do. Thanks for letting us stay last night. It was nice not to have to go home to be honest, although I'd rather Joey wasn't hurt." Whitney hugged her friend before leaving the room then Lauren took the new cup of coffee up to Joey. He was still asleep but she nudged him awake and gave him the cup, "Morning baby..." she said as he took a sip of the drink. "How's the eye and head?"

"I'm fine, babe." He said softly. "Do you still want to take Oscar out for the day?" he asked, "Any ideas on what to do?"

"I'd like to, if you're up to it. I was thinking maybe the seaside. The weather looks nice outside and I'm sure dad can let us borrow a car from the car lot, if I can't borrow his."

"You'll have to drive, babe... I shouldn't with my eye like this."

"Okay."

"We ought to make a move then..." he said, "Unless you want to have a little us time first?" he said with a sly smile. He put down the cup and reached for her, not even waiting for her answer.

"We really shouldn't, baby..." she said softly as Joey kissed down her neck. "Baby, Whitney's still at home." She whispered.

"But I promised you last night..." he breathed against her skin.

"I know." Lauren said, her heart beginning to race as he sucked gently on her skin. There was the sound of footsteps on the stairs and then the front door slammed.

"See Whitney's gone now..." he said, smiling at her. "Please baby girl."

"Do you have anything with you?" she checked, her protests fading away as she felt her arousal increase.

"I may have slipped something in your handbag last night." He said, trying to look as innocent as he could.

"Joey! What if someone had found it in my bag?"

"I'm pretty sure they've assumed we're sleeping together, babe." He said, kissing up her neck again.

"You're going to be the death of me, Joey Branning." She said but regretted the words as she felt him tense beside her. "I'm sorry, baby," she breathed, hugging him tightly.

"It's alright, it's just a phrase." She moved away from him and reached for her handbag, leaning off the side of the bed as she tried to find the foil square. He moves after her, lifting his T-shirt up her body and kissing the base of her back. He gradually climbs her body, edging the T-shirt higher as his lips kiss up her spine. "Joey..." she moans as he nips at her shoulder blade. She's not sure how he manages it but his hand is in her knickers in a matter of seconds and she cries out softly as he touches her. He releases his hold on the top she's wearing, moving his mouth to her neck instead. His teeth graze her skin again and she whimpers, trying to move beneath him but seemingly unable to. She can feel his hard cock pressing against her bum and she's almost desperate for him to move this on.

"You okay, baby girl?" he breathes in her ear, nipping it gently.

"Please Joe..." she murmurs.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

She nods her head, waving her right hand at him, "Three, Joey? Really?" she giggles.

"Didn't want to get caught short, did I?" he says and she can hear the smile in his voice.

"Were you planning on ravaging me while I told them about us?"

"Don't give me ideas, babe." He said and she giggled again.

"You know, I really think you would too..."

"Give then..." he said and he reached for her hand and took them off her. "Stay there, baby girl." He said, patting her softly on the back as he pushed himself upright. Lauren felt the bed shift and she assumed he was removing his boxers. He was kneeling between her legs but as she was face down on the bed she couldn't really see much of anything. He moved again and Lauren tried to work out where he was going but in the end it was unnecessary because he pulled her back towards him so she's lying in on her side in front of him. He pushed her knickers down her legs and she kicked them away. She goes to lift the T-shirt over her head but he stops her, "Leave it... there's something about you in my clothes that turns me on." He whispers, pressing the evidence of that statement against her body as proof. He eases into her from behind and Lauren sighs, loving the feel of him in her. Each time they're together it's like it's the first time. She would never grow tired of this. He's barely moving in her, because of how they're lying but his hands are running all over her body and it's like the whole of her body starts to tingle. He kisses her neck again and she tilts her head back, giving him better access. He lifts her top leg and pulls it back over his thighs, opening her up more and he starts to move faster. "Keep your leg there, babe..." he breathes against her neck and his hand moves again, moving this time to her clit. Her body twitches as he touches her. "Do you like that?" he asks her softly.

"Mmm hmm..." she moans. He presses there again, harder this time and Lauren arches her back against him.

"You're close, aren't you baby?" he asks and Lauren can only nod. "Hold it off as long as you can." He tells her, "Don't come until I say you can..." he breathes in her ear.

She whimpers when she hears his words and tenses slightly as his finger traces a circle around her clit, she's not sure she could hold it back, even if she wanted to. "Can't Joe... so close." She gasps.

"I'm nearly there, baby girl." He hums against her skin, his finger still circling around the sensitive nub, moving ever so slightly closer on each revolution. He moved faster still, the slightly harder thrust of his hips against her bum shifting her slightly higher up the bed each time. "You're so tight on me, baby. This feels so good." He whispered to her, his words having as much of an effect on her as his actions were.

Lauren's whole body felt like it was on fire and she knew he needed to reach his peak in the next minute or there was no stopping her. "Now, Joe... now." She gasped. He stopped moving and Lauren thought she was going to die... or spontaneously combust, whichever was easier. "Joe!" she moaned. His breathing was short and hot against her neck and she wondered why the hell he'd stopped. He shifted behind her, pulling from her body and she let out a sob.

"Just a second, baby." He said softly. He took her hand in his and helped her sit up on the bed. He pulled her up so she was kneeling on the bed and he slapped her bum when she tried to rub her thighs together to increase the friction and push herself over the edge. "I'll give you what you want in a second, baby, don't worry." He said, his voice thick with desire as he breathed in her ear. She was silent the whole time he moved her on the bed but she let out a whimper as he pushed back into her, his hips pressing against her bum once more. "Lean forward, babe. Rest your hands against the wall." He nudged her knees apart and it was just like it had been the day before in the bathroom. Joey gripped her hips tightly in his and set a much faster pace, each stroke deeper than the one before. "Touch yourself, baby girl," he said softly.

Lauren paused as she tried to compose herself enough to move. There wasn't one part of her body that didn't feel like exploding in sensation at the moment. Her fingers brushed across her clit and her body quivered. Joey moved faster, urging her body down on his length, trying to push deep inside of her. "Need to come, Joey..." she cried, not knowing if she could last another second.

"Nearly there..." he gasped, "Are you touching yourself?" he asked. She pressed the nub harder and gasped as a lightning bolt of arousal shot through her body. "That's it, baby..." he hummed, her body tightening on his cock so nicely. "Just a few seconds more..." His hand released her hip and joined hers on her clit, pressing on it hard just as his length throbbed inside her. He pushed into her one more time and moaned her name into her hair. Lauren screamed his name as he pulsed in her, his finger now rubbing fast across her nub, lengthening her peak. Lauren sagged against him and his arm wrapped around her waist. They both fell sideways onto the mattress, an entangled mass of limbs and bodies. "Babe, that was amazing..." he whispered.

"Yeah..." she said softly. "We really should go. Dad wants to talk to us and we can't be too late if we're taking my little man out."

"Sure you don't have time for round two?" he asked her, his body already recovering from their previous activity. Really, it was all Lauren's fault. She was just too damn irresistible for her own good. Not that he was complaining, mind. He kissed her mouth softly and she melted beneath him.

"You've convinced me..." she moaned when he dragged his mouth from hers.

Joey reached under the pillow and pulled out one of the remaining condoms. He removed the old one and rolled on the new one with practiced ease. Lauren pulled off the T-shirt she was still wearing as he did this. He moved so he was on top of her this time, slipping into her body with a grace only he seemed to possess. His mouth moved to her chest, pulling a peak into his mouth and sucking hard. Lauren whimpered as a bolt of lust shot through her between the two points he was paying attention to. He moved to her other breast and repeated the same action, her hand brushing into his hair, scraping at his scalp as the intensity built within her. He was moving slowly within her, keeping the pace much less frenetic this time, almost teasing her to her peak. "I love you, Lauren Branning..." he moaned into her neck and his words pushed her over the edge, taking him with her. He collapsed on top of her and she hugged him close to her.

He tried to roll them over but she tightened her hold on him, "Stay..." she whispered.

"I don't want to hurt you..."

"You aren't. You're right where I want you to be." She replied.

TBC

A/N: Did you like? So back tomorrow... with the start of Joey and Lauren's day out with Lauren's little man. Yes, that's right guys, Oscar is back!