Soso sorry for updating so late! Even though it's waaay overdue, hope you enjoy the chapter and please let me know what you think! :)

The next couple of days are a blur. I know I went off with some random blokes but after that, my memory's a blank. Somehow I managed to get home and now I'm in the hospital being told all this scary shit about how fucked up my liver is. I can't drink again. Ever. After the Doctor leaves, Mum is being all sympathetic and nice which is just making me feel worse. I tell her I'm tired and that she should just go home. She reluctantly agrees but on her way out, she stops and turns backs.

"Lauren. Yesterday, when we didn't know where you were, Joey asked about you, he wanted to help find you. I didn't really want to tell you but I have because I think you needed to know." Mum says.

"I don't care. I'm done with him." I sigh and turn away from her.

Vague snapshots from the other day start coming back to me: Joey inviting me to lunch; going to the Vic to see him with Lucy; doing what I do best and shouting the odds then drinking myself into oblivion. Why was he asking about me? I'm nothing to him anymore. The Joey I know wouldn't have gone back to my best friend; hell, the Joey I know wouldn't have broken up with me. Ever since it happened, I thought I'd accepted it but I hadn't really because I kept expecting him to rock up on my doorstep and tell me he wants me back. But that won't happen and I really need to get that into my head. I don't know why he came round and said all that stuff; probably just to fuck with my head but enough is enough. Joey can't be a priority anymore.

"Just 5 minutes, please." Joey's voice rouses me from an uneasy sleep.

"Not a chance. Sling your hook." Dad snaps, angrily.

"I have to see her."

"Not on my watch, sunshine. There's no way I'm letting you anywhere near my daughter."

"Uncle Max, you don't know how scared I've been."

"She's my little girl! How scared do you think I've been?"

"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. Please, let me see her."

"You're really starting to piss me off now, Joe. Get lost and don't come back here again."

Dad sounds really angry and I hear his footsteps stomping up to my room. He opens the door gently and I quickly shut my eyes, pretending to be asleep. He places his hand on my hair and smooths it down.

"My baby." He whispers.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I'm gonna fix you, I'm gonna make you better again."

He kisses my forehead, and then takes a seat on the chair next to my bed, waiting for me to wake up. A lump rises in my throats at my Dad's tender words and a tear rolls down my cheek.

"You're awake." He whispers.

"This isn't your fault, Dad." I tell him.

"It is. Me and your Mum made everything about us and we didn't think about how it was affecting you kids. We never thought our constant fighting could impact you because we loved you and we were doing our best with you. I'm so sorry, Lauren." Dad holds my hand in a tight grasp.

"I'll be okay." I promise him.

"Course you will. I love you." Dad presses his mouth against my head and his tears fall on to my face.

"Please don't cry, Dad." I plead.

"I can't believe I let this happen to you. All this time I was angry at Joey and I'm the one to blame, not him." He sighs, desperately.

"I don't blame you. I just didn't think I could ever drink too much." I explain.

"Me and your Mum have been talking." Dad takes a deep breath, like he's gearing himself up to say something I'm not gonna like.

"And?" I ask, cautiously.

"The Doctor said there's this clinic. Residential care, to help you. We let this happen to you because we're selfish and we owe it to you to let you get better properly without us and our problems and stupid fights. We think you should go." Dad tells me.

"Okay. I'll go." I agree.

"Just like that?" Dad looks at me, confused.

"Just like that." I nod.

"I thought I'd have to persuade you." He admits.

"A month ago maybe you would have. Even a week ago, you would have had to. But, I'm done with Walford and all this shit. I think you're right, I'll be better off out of it." Maybe this is what I need. Being away from Joey and Lucy and all this drama.

"It's not forever and we'll come to see you. Your Mum's going too, and she's taking Oscar. They're going to live nearby." Dad's voice is strained and I can tell he's not too chuffed about this part.

"Are you okay with that?" I ask.

"It's not about me and your Mum. It's about getting you better, whatever it takes." His voice cracks and then I know.

"Mum isn't coming back is she?" I whisper.

"No and she doesn't want you to come back either. But you can, if you want to. You can come back and live with me or you can live with your Mum." Dad explains.

"You're gonna have a baby, you don't want me there taking up space." I don't know if I can leave forever. Once again, Joey crosses my mind.

"I'm not. We're not having a baby. Me and Kirsty are done." Dad says, shortly.

"What, why?" Confusion crosses my face. How long was I out for?

"You don't need to worry about that. All you need to think about is getting better; you don't have to decide where you wanna live yet, you have plenty of time to think about it. Just get better so I can have my stroppy, spoilt, brilliant daughter back." Dad smiles, making me chuckle.

"Dad. Joey was here, wasn't he?" I sigh and Dad's face tightens.

"Yeah." He replies, shortly.

"I heard you arguing." I admit.

"I wasn't gonna tell you. You're better off without him." Dad frowns.

"Okay." I'm too tired to argue and maybe he's right.

"You're very agreeable today." Dad chuckles.

He doesn't get it. He thinks it's because I want to change and because I care what happens to me but it's not. It's because I've given up.