7th May 2013. Wow, the last chapter got a huge response. So they're pregnant... happiness all round then. Doesn't sound much like the Branning way of life but I could be mistaken.

Chapter 41.

The next few days Joey would barely let Lauren do anything. Who had known that finding out she was carrying their child would bring out the truly soppy side of her husband? Actually Lauren had always known he would be like this but it made her love him even more for being how he was now. "You're gonna have to stop being like this, Joe." She told him one morning as they lay in bed together. His hand was brushing across her non-existent bump and his lips were caressing her neck.

"Like what?"

"Doing everything for me. Treating me like I'm made of glass. Nothing will give us away more than the way you're treating me. Your mum and sister will know immediately."

"You don't like it?"

She rolled over to face him, "I didn't say that..." she whispered, kissing his mouth. "I love it. I love you... but we wanted to keep this quiet until we're past the three month stage. That's five weeks of not letting them know. You're going to give it away in five seconds."

"Okay." He sighed, "but it won't be easy. I'm just so proud of you and I can't believe how excited I am about this."

"I know. I feel the same way..." She shifted closer to him, feeling his arms wrap around her back. Her face was buried in his shoulder and her lips kissed his neck tenderly. "I'm so happy, Joey."

"I know you are, babe."

*JL*JL*

A few weeks later Lauren's mobile rang and she smiled when she saw the screen, "Whit!" she said as she answered it.

"I could do with seeing you, if you'd like to come over to the square?" Whit said.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, concerned for her friend.

"Yeah... I just miss you and I could do with some advice."

"I can come over this afternoon," Lauren said quickly, "I could do with seeing my mum and dad anyway." She said. "And Joey's working so I'm free for the day."

"Why don't you come over for a late lunch and we can have a catch up?"

"Sure. I'll be with you by one. Will Lucy be there?"

"I haven't invited her... is that okay?"

"Course it is, Whit..."

*JL*JL*

Lauren walked out of the tube station back in Walford and made the short journey to where her Auntie Carol lived. Whitney opened the door and hugged Lauren when she saw her. "What's wrong, Whit?"

"It's nothing..." she said but Lauren could tell she was lying.

They moved into the lounge and both sat down. Lauren edged closer to her best friend, "Talk to me, Whit... I know something is wrong." she said softly.

"It's your uncle..." she whispered.

"Derek?" Lauren asked, tension increasing in her body. Whitney nodded. "What about him?" she whispered.

"He's freaking me out..." she said softly.

"How so?"

"Well, he's still living here and... I don't know, maybe I'm being stupid. He keeps looking at me... longer than seems right. It makes me nervous..."

"Have you spoken to Tyler about it?" Lauren asked.

Whitney shook her head, "No... He'd go ape and I'm scared of what would happen if he was to find out. Do you think I'm over-reacting?"

"I doubt it, Whit. He's very dangerous... you saw what he did before I left the square."

"Tyler's been talking about me moving in with him and I'm seriously thinking about it but Bianca relies on my money."

"I think you'll feel more relaxed if you're not here. I'd hate for this to ruin things between you and Tyler. And I'd hate for something to happen to you. I don't want him to hurt you, Whit. You're my best friend. Maybe you should take Tyler up on his offer...?"

"Yeah I guess... I just don't want to make things bad between me and Bi. She thinks Derek is amazing so I can't even talk to her about this stuff."

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Whit. If I was you I'd leave here though."

"How are things with you, Lauren?" Whitney asked. "How's married life treating you? You look happy."

"Things are good. Did I tell you about our week away in New York? Joey surprised me for my birthday." Lauren asked and they spent the next ten minutes with Lauren telling her all about the trip.

*JL*JL*

The door slammed shut and both girls froze. Lauren glanced towards the door to the lounge and saw her uncle standing there. She immediately tensed.

"I see my son has let you off your leash then..." he sneered at his niece.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lauren asked indignantly, momentarily forgetting how much this man scared her.

"Well normally it's difficult to separate the pair of you. I'm just surprised he let you out of his sight."

"I don't need to ask his permission to come here. I came to see my parents and my friend."

"Oh, yes. Lovely Whitney..." he looked in her direction and Whitney winced as she came under his scrutiny. Both girls stood up and Lauren stood in front of her friend, blocking her from her uncle's view. Derek stepped forward and he grabbed Lauren by her arms, pulling her towards him. Lauren tensed instantly. "Why do you always have to poke your nose in, eh? Do you think you're better than everyone else, Lauren? Because, believe me little girl, there is nothing special about you..." He shoved her across the room and she stumbled backwards, glancing at her friend. Her heart sank when she saw her slip out of the door with a quick backwards glance. She wasn't the only person to notice her disappearance. "Even your best friend has deserted you, Lauren." He told her with a laugh, pushing her again so her back was against the fireplace and now she was very frightened. Flashbacks of that afternoon when they came back from Southend came back to her in an instant. And she didn't know what to do. How could she get herself out of this situation? He stepped even closer to her and his hands grabbed her shoulders, in much the same way as he did just over a year ago. "Do you know how easily I could sort everything out now, Lauren?" he said, his voice quiet but hard. It scared her. "It wouldn't take much for me to do the one thing that would truly hurt my son. My stupid insolent son who has never been the boy I wanted him to be. And now I have an opportunity to cause him the maximum amount of pain." His hand shifted and he gripped her throat, his hand tightening ever so slightly.

"Don't do this..." she gasped, her hands futilely trying to pull his from her neck.

"Why shouldn't I?" he roared, spinning her round and flinging her across the room. "You're a dirty little slapper, Lauren Branning. You've proved that over the last few years. I've heard the tales of how you'll sleep with anything... and you've done just that, haven't you? Sleeping with your cousin... There isn't much worse you could do, as far as I'm concerned." Lauren was curled up on the couch and he kept coming towards her, towering over where she lay. "If you're so desperate to sleep with anyone... maybe I should give you a whirl. I'm sure I could show you a good time. Much better than my son, no doubt." His hand grazed across her body and she flinched away from him. "And you don't seem to mind about sleeping with a family member... so how about it, eh?"

"Leave me alone!" She screamed as loud as she could, fear gripping her like a vice as he approached her.

TBC

A/N: Yikes! So I'm guessing this might get quite a response too... Yes, I know... another cliffhanger. And the really bad news... you've got to wait until tomorrow for the next chapter. Sorry.