Chapter 18- Plans A-Z

Joeys POV

Zoe and I were waiting inside the house for Lauren when she got home, she'd been out shopping with Poppy and Abi for the last of the remaining baby things (that we didn't actually need). It was getting near tea time now and like most nights at this time of year, it was dark and cold. Zoe was adamant it was snowing too, I was sure it wasn't but there was no arguing with her. The door opened with a thud, a gush of cold air blowing through as she waddled in, already calling my name for assistance with the bags. She stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of us. I'm sure we looked quite the pair, Zoe and I both grinning madly at her, blocking the entrance to the Kitchen as to not spoil the surprise that awaited her.

"Joey… What's going on?" She frowned as she looked down at Zoe in confusion. She slowly removed her coat and scarf hanging them on the pegs in the hallway. She turned round her huge bump now on full view, her pleated coat did a lot to cover it. She stepped forward as Zoe continued to stare at her. "I thought your Mum was having Zoe so we could go for dinner?" Then worry crossed her face. "Is everything okay? You're not sick are you baby?"

She stepped forward to check on Zoe who giggled and shook her head, I held my hand out and she took it willingly. "She's fine. We're both fine."

Zoe was grinning in pure happiness, she was so excited she couldn't hold it in any longer. "We got a surprise for you, Mummy!" she jumped up and down a little picking Bella up from the floor who had magically escaped from her hutch. I swear that rabbit has magic powers.

"Ye it's a surprise Zoe you're not meant to tell her, the clues in the name baby" I laughed as Zoe shrugged and gave me an all too innocent look.

A smile lit up on Laurens face as she looked down at Zoe and raised her eyebrow at me "A surprise? For me?" Zoe nodded and handed a picture to Lauren.

Lauren smiled and eased herself down so she was crouching near Zoe, "Thank you baby, it's beautiful." Lauren smiled at Zoe and kissed her nose playfully, she held her hand out to me so I could help her up.

"Hi" I smiled kissing her once she was standing in my arms "You had a good day spending all our cash?" I nodded indicating to the numerous amounts of bags on the floor.

Lauren looked up at me and smiled as she cupped my cheek. "Hi baby… not all for us, did some Christmas shopping before the twins come along and we have three children to compete with whilst shopping" I chuckled continuing to hug her when I felt her pull away from the hug. Her eyes looked behind me into the kitchen and flew open in shock. "Joey…" she breathed. "What have you done?"

Wrapping my arm around her and calling Zoe, I guided them into the kitchen. "We wanted to take you on a picnic, but since the weather doesn't exactly go in favour of a picnic this time of year we thought we'd bring the picnic to you"

She stood static a while looking around, taking in all the details. Her eyes were sparkling as she took in the scene and she shook her head. "This is… Joe it's …" her voice trailed off getting a little tangled in her emotions.

" Do You like it, Mommy?" Zoe chimed dropping Bella to the floor.

Lauren just nodded. I could see tears shimmering in her eyes; I leaned down to brush another kiss on her head. She sighed contently. "Why?"

I grinned at her rather vague question. "Because we love you, that's why."

Her breath caught and she kissed Zoe on the head before turning, she threw her arms around my neck. "I love you, Joey."

I pulled her close my arms only just about fitting around her stomach I lifted her chin to look into her eyes. "Tonight is about us, Lauren. Our family. You, Zoe and the twins are the most important things in my life. I wouldn't have made it through the last year without you... and I know we haven't had a honeymoon, so this is our own style honeymoon"

she smiled through her tears and giggled as we both felt the twins Join the party "I'm so happy you turned up hear Joe…we love you very much" I smiled as I led her over to the table. She sighed and sat in one the chairs Zoe climbing next to her. Leaning down, I pulled off her boots. "Picnics don't require shoes" she playfully rolled her eyes, but I could see she was thankful for their removal; her feet had been killing her the last month. Zoe happily kicked hers off too wiggling her toes out to how us she's don't the same.

I smiled widely and laughed as Lauren noticed the look on my face "Are you sure you ate enough? I lost count after the first dozen doughnuts you ate"

"Those little things don't count as an actual doughnut Joe, They're like a bite… maybe a bite and a half at most you need about six before you can actually say you've eaten a doughnut" she shrugged dismissing the thought.

Zoe giggled beside me. "Daddy you ate lots too." My eyes widened my 4 year old was actually telling me off. Lauren chuckled and leaned forward, pulling Zoe into her side a little.

"Ye Joe… big greedy guts" she smirked at Zoe. I leaned over and pulled Zoe into my lap tickling her. her laughter loud enough to fill the entire house.

Lauren laughed at our antics as she shook her head. Looking up, I saw Lauren watching her stomach a pondering look on her face. "What is it?" I asked gently, while holding Zoe , sensing her sudden change in demeanour

"Nothing" she smiled but I wasn't convinced. Zoe climbed off my lap and went to the living room. she was obviously bored. "Don't get running about Zoe, you'll be sick" Lauren called after her.

"I won't I promise"

Lauren smiled at the response, she was a good kid- knew how to wrap us around her little finger, but honestly she was near on perfect. I stood up reached for the draw of Laurens Desk in the conservatory, pulling out an envelope that had arrived this morning. Taking a deep breath, I sat back down and pushed it across the table.

"What's this?" her face wrinkled with confusion as she finally stopped eating and tore open the envelope.

My voice shook. "It's Official."

Laurens voice became softer. "Can you be a little clearer, please? I'm not sure I understand."

"You, Mrs Lauren Branning are the Official Mother of Zoe Branning" I informed her.

Her hand was shaking as she took the papers from the envelope. Her eyes flew over the legal document inside, widening and filling with tears as she read the words. Her shocked gaze lifted to me. "Really?" Her voice caught a little.

I nodded. "They came this morning after you left, I was going to ring you but decided to surprise you instead." I moved next to her and pulled her up from the chair and into a hug "Are you happy baby"

"More than ever" she kissed me and groaned I smiled and kissed her deeper only for her to pull away. "Joe…"

I stepped back a little to see her wide eyed holing a little tighter to her stomach "Babe?" We both stepped apart as Lauren let of a pained groan and a flood of water hit the kitchen floor. "Wow"

"I think that's my waters…oww Shit… Joey" I took hand stepping closer, being careful not to slip on the soaked floor.

"It's alright baby…just stay calm, I'll call your dad and Abi ask if one of them can come and have Zoe, then we'll get straight to the hospital alright? Are you having any pains ?" I was trying my hardest to stay as calm as possible but I was bricking it. She was early by three weeks and we were totally unprepared. She shook her head to my question but then groaned and stated she wanted to change her previous answer.

I eased her back into one of the chairs and called Max alerting him as to what was happening. "Your Dad's on his way with Abi and he's going to call my Mum"

"They're not meant to be here yet Joe… this is not the plan…"

"This is just plan B baby… the doctors said that 90% of the time twins are early, you have nothing to worry about ok. I'm right here."

"I'm scared Joey" My heart broke at her words, she'd usually Mock she was scared but right now there was nothing but truth in her cracking voice. she stared down a little at her bump and started fidgeting about.

"Listen to me baby...I'm right here, im not going anywhere, we're going to go to the hospital and just take things one step at a time ok ?" she nodded through her sniffles. "come beautiful...lets have us some babies"

So Laurens gone into Labour and she's officially Zoe's Mum... this was the penultimate chapter ! next one up tomorrow and then the epilogue (of sort) Its a special one ! xxx