"Morning." I narrow my eyes at my mother, when she walks into the kitchen at nearly lunchtime. I don't even know what time she got in as I was already asleep.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks, suspiciously.

"What time did you get home last night?" I raise an eyebrow, and keep my tone measured.

"About 1, I think." She shrugs.

"Who were you with?" I question.

"Er, are we in Freaky Friday or something? I'm the mother, remember?" She exclaims, exasperated.

"You should act like it then." I snap.

"So I got in a little late. Why does it matter?"

"It matters because you lied to me."

"I didn't lie to you, darling."

"You did! After the way you're always banging on about truth and honesty."

"Are you okay, love?"

"You were with Dad last night."

"How do you know that?" She asks, calmly. I'm glad she doesn't try to deny it.

"Me and Joey followed you."

"You had no right to do that."

"Well, I have a right to be told the truth."

"When it concerns you."

"And this doesn't concern me?"

"Not in the slightest."

"You left him because of me! You upped sticks and moved us here to the middle of fucking nowhere because you blamed the drinking on yourself, so I think it has everything to do with me."

"What on earth possessed you to follow me like some detective?"

"You were acting kinda shady." I involuntarily quote Destiny's Child.

"Excuse me?" Mum stares at me, completely baffled.

"You were being well sus! Glued to your phone and then rushing out at night."

"We just wanted to keep it to ourselves for a bit. You should understand that. You did the same."

"Because we were scared of how all of yous would react!"

"Same here! We didn't want to tell you kids and get your hopes up, only for it to fall through. Besides, you were all for it a few days ago."

"I still am! But you lied to me."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"So are you getting back together?"

"I don't know."

"Guess I'll start packing then."

"Hold off on that just yet. Where's Oscar?"

"Joey's took him down the park."

"Joey's a good lad."

"Yeah, I know."

"I know you've had a lot of ups and downs but he does love you, Lauren. He's nothing like Derek."

"I'm just scared, Mum."

"What are you scared about, love?"

"When we were together before, I completely trusted him. I depended on him; I needed him. I'm scared to do it again. He's saying all the right stuff at the moment but it's easy to say it now that the drinking's under control. What if I fell off the wagon? Would he dump me again?" Now that the moment had passed, all my fears had come back resoundingly.

"He's a different Joey to the one he was back in Walford. When he saw you in the Vic that day, it's like something in him snapped."

"Love is just bollocks init? You're better off on your todd."

"Why would you say a thing like that? I know you don't believe that."

"Life would be a lot easier though."

"Where's the fun in that?"

"He kissed me last night."

"Oooh!" Mum squeals, delightedly clapping her hands together.

"Alright, steady on." I roll my eyes.

"Oh stop it, Lauren!"

"Stop what?"

"Acting all cool and unaffected about it. I bet you danced all around your room after he left and went to sleep with a huge grin on your face."

"Maybe I did."

"I know you did! You forget, I'm your Mum."

"Not likely is it, with you telling me every 5 minutes."

"That and the fact you looked like you slept with a hanger in your mouth."

"Oh, ha-ha. Original."

"So, what happened yesterday?"

"Well, we baked cupcakes."

"Joey baked?!"

"Yeah, I was as shocked as you! And then we were joking around and he said I had a great laugh and he needs me to be happy and smiling and laughing all the time."

"Ooh, Mr Smooth."

"And I said no-one could be happy all the time. And he said I could. With him. And then he kissed me." I grin inanely, unable to stop it spreading across my face.

"Credit to him, he's got skills."

"It's not a game, Mum."

"I'm just saying, he's charming! It sounds like it was out of a film."

"He wants to get back together, Mum."

"And what's stopping you?"

"I don't know. I really don't know."

"When he tells you he loves you and all the rest, do you believe him?"

"Yes. I think so, yeah."

"What else do you want him to do to prove himself?"

"I don't want him to prove hisself."

"Then what?"

"I just don't wanna rush into a relationship and then get hurt. I wanna take my time and be sure that it's the right thing to do. Once bitten and all that."
"That sounds very sensible, Lauren. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that."

"So what if he wants to kiss me again?"

"I reckon that's a judgement call." Mum winks. Just as I open my mouth to reply, the front door opens and Joey and Oscar walk in.

"Hiya." Joey says casually, grinning at Mum, as they make their way into the kitchen.

"Lauren!" Oscar jumps into my arms, hugging me tightly.
"Ooh, someone's a bit mucky." I ruffle his hair, chuckling.

"Yeah, we were playing footie." Joey explains.

"Alright, Tan?" Joey smirks at her.

"Joey." Mum replies, coolly.

"I wasn't sure if you were home. Thought you'd stayed out." Joey says, straight-faced.

"Alright, alright! I know you know. Lauren told me." Mum rolls her eyes.

"So, love's in the air, eh?" Joey winks at her, laughing.

"You tell me, charmer." Mum replies, smugly.

"Is nothing sacred anymore?!" Joey groans, sarcastically.

"I'm gonna give Oscar a bath." I chuckle, standing up and taking him by the hand.

"Wait, babe." Joey says, looking anxious.

"Yeah?" I ask.

He hesitates before finally answering me: "I don't suppose you fancy meeting my Mum?"

A/N- Thank you for all the lovely reviews, your comments always make me smile! And thank you to the all the guest reviewers who I can't reply to but really wish I could. I'm made up that so many of you are still enjoying the story :) Sorry that nothing much happened in this one, it was because if Lauren met Joey's Mum in this chapter it would have been way too long so I had to split it. I can kinda feel this story coming to an end and going by the rough idea I have in my head, I reckon there's maybe 2 or 3 chapters left. I did start another Jauren story a while ago now called 160813 and there's only 3 chapters up but if anyone would like me to continue it then I would be more than happy to so please let me know. As always, hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review with your thoughts as I appreciate them very much. Much love x

-Side note to Lolly: Again, thanks for leaving me such lovely reviews, you're fab! I'm honoured that you would start a bucket list because of me, you should add meeting Jac and David to the list ;) I can only hope to have even a tiny bit of J.K Rowling's success and I'm touched that you think so as she is my inspiration and the reason I started to write and even had the courage to post my stories online, so that really means a lot to me! Thanks for all your encouragment and lovely words! Waiting for your publishing company ;) x