"I don't think I can do this." I swallow loudly, my mouth suddenly dry as Joey parks up outside his Mum's house. Well, his house I guess. In his old life, before me.

"Course you can, baby." Joey reassures me soothingly, running his hand down my arm comfortingly.

"She's gonna hate me. She's gonna be disgusted." I groan.

"She knows." Joey tells me.

"What? Since when?" I splutter.

"I came to see here when you were in the clinic. I told her everything."

"What did she say?"

"She said that she wants to meet the girl who could get me to commit."

"She was cool with it?"

"Yeah! She even joked about it!"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, she said if we got married then at least we wouldn't have to faff about with changing your name."

"That is very true."

"I'd say a reason to get married."

"You would, wouldn't you?"

"Think about it. If you got married to Peter, you'd be a Beale. Let that sink in a little. A Beale?! And your future would depend on a fruit and veg stall. Living the dream, eh?"

"And I'd be living the fast life with you?"

"Yeah, baby. Name up in lights and all that."
"I think I've had enough drama to last me a lifetime. I want nights in with a film on and shopping together and strawberry picking and going for ice cream and cooking together like we did the other day. I want a quiet life."

"I can do quiet, babe. I relish quiet. I can give you anything you want."

"I just want you to there to be when I wake up every morning."

"With a mug of tea made for you as soon as you open your eyes. I promise."

"Can I meet your mum now then?"

"Not nervous anymore?"

"Suddenly, I'm quite calm." I smile, climbing out the car. Joey gets out too and takes hold of my hand, leading me through the gate. He pulls a key out of his pocket and unlocks the door.

"Ready?" He turns to me, his hand paused on the door handle.

"Yes." I grin, nodding. He winks at me then pushes the door open and holds it open for me so I can walk through first, then he follows me in.

"Mam!" He calls.

"In here." A voice answers and he leads me into the living room, walking in front of me. When we walk into the room, his mum's face lights up when she sees him and she throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"How are ya, Mam?" He asks her, kissing her cheek.

"I'm great, son. How are you?" She smiles at him, her eyes shining.

"Just fine, Ma. This is Lauren." He introduces, raking his hand through his hair. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was nervous but of course Joseph Branning doesn't get nervous.

"Lauren, love. I'm Angela. It's great to finally meet you. I can't believe it's taken him this long to introduce us." His mum smiles at me warmly, and hugs me.

"I know! What are you like, Joey?" I grin at him, and hug her back.

"He probably wanted to keep you all to himself." Angel winks at me knowingly, and I feel my face colouring.

"I bought her here as soon as I could." Joey holds up his hands in protest.

"It was my fault, I was too busy drinking myself stupid." I say lightly, smiling.

"Yeah, Joey mentioned that. Are you alright now, love?" Angela's expression instantly creases into one of concern.

"Oh, yeah, great." I assure her.

"And how's Max? It's been years since I've seen him." She smiles, fondly.

"He's good. Did you get on with my Dad?"

"Yeah, he's great. As is Jack. I was sorry to hear about your Bradley." She says, quietly.

"Thank you." I nod, unsure of what else to say.

"So, tea?" She offers.

"Tea would be great." I nod, smiling.

"I'll put the kettle one." Joey smiles reassuringly at me before leaving the room.

"I must say love, when Joey told me about the two of you I was shocked." Angela says confidingly.

"Oh?" My heart drops. Because we're cousins. She was probably disgusted.

"My Joey has never really had a girlfriend. I'm sure you'll have heard all of this from Alice, but we've not met any girls he's been courting for years. Years!" She exclaims and I let out a breath that I hadn't realised I'd been holding in.

"Oh, I thought you were gonna say, well, you know."

"What, that you're cousins? Oh, that doesn't bother me, darling! As long he's happy, I wouldn't care who he was with. And I can see that he's happy."

"You don't think I'm too much for him? To complicated, too messed up?"

"You're not messed up love, you've been ill. Addiction is an illness. Joey is a protector, he needs to fuss around us, you know? He couldn't do that with some boring, uncomplicated girl could he?" Angela laughs, patting my arm.

"Yeah, he does love fussing. He's like a woman sometimes."

"That's what I always say to him! What with everything with his Dad, Joey was always angry. He had a right temper on him. But whenever I've seen him since he moved to Walford, he's been so calm and at peace, you know? Like all his worries have gone. And that's because of you, Lauren."

"I think I added to his worries!"

"No, love. I have to tell you, when he told me what happened with you both and how it ended, I was very disappointed in him. I couldn't believe it! The lad who couldn't turn away someone in need no matter how much it inconvenienced him, just left you when you were at your lowest."

"I was in a really bad place. It weren't all his fault. I was a lot to take on. My mates who I'd known years and years couldn't be bothered with me either. He tried his best. Maybe it just weren't our time."

"But now you're better and he's realised he was an idiot, it could be your time?"

"I think so."

"So, where are you at right now?"

"Well, a few days ago he proposed to me!"

"Oh! And?"

"And I said no. It was just too soon."
"What with you just coming out of the clinic and all, maybe it's not exactly the right time just yet. So, you're just friends?"

"Me and Joey were never just friends."

"There's no rush is there? You can take it as slow as you like."

"We've spent every day together since I've come back from the clinic but we've not actually said we're a couple or anything. And we've had a little kiss."

"Well, I'm made up for you. I think you're absolutely lovely. Anyone who can make Joey smile that much is a good 'un in my book." Angela smiles at me encouragingly, just as Joey walks back into the room, laden with tea and biscuits. He puts the tray down on the table and looks at each of us in turn, grinning widely:

"Are my ears burning?"

"I think it went really great today with your mum." I tell Joey as we're curled up on the sofa, back at home. Mum's out with Dad again so we've got the place to ourselves. I've got a feeling that that's gonna be a regular occurrence.

"I think so too. Yous two really hit it off." Joey agrees, happily.

"She's so great!" I exclaim. She actually is, I really enjoyed meeting her.

"She thinks you're great too."

"You were a bit nervous today, weren't you?"

"Course not." Joey tuts, cockily.

"You were. When you introduced us, you were running your hand through your hair like you do when you're nervous."

"Okay, maybe a little. Just because I wanted her to like you. Needed her to like you."

"I literally don't think it could have gone better."

"I do. If she hadn't got the baby pictures out. I mean, Jesus! Not very cool is it, when you're trying to win someone over and your mum shows her pictures of a one year old you with your willy out." Joey groans.

"I think those pictures settled it." I laugh.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning I weren't sure still."

"And now you are?"

"Yeah."

"So?"

"So, starting right now, I suppose you could call me your girlfriend. If you wanted."

A/N- Thank you soso much for all of your lovely reviews and to all the guest reviewers I couldn't reply to. All the reviews I get are so lovely and positive, and make me smile so much when I read them! I really appreciate them and value your opinions so much so please continue ;) On another note, can't believe I'm writing this but I think the next chapter may be the last! I'm not totally sure but the way it's going, I think it is so I will try my utomost to upload tomorrow so as not to keep you waiting long. Once this one is done, I will continue my other one. Also, what are we thinking of EE lately? Don't hate me but I'm starting to ship Lauren and Peter. He's not Joey obviously, but they have great chemistry and would be cute together, don't you think? Hope you enjoyed this chapter and as always, please do review and let me know what you thought! Much love x

-Side note to Lolly- I love that your bucket list is devoted to Jauren ;) Mine would probably be very similar haha! Thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate them and it makes me so happy to know that you think I'm that talented. You should make an account start a Jauren fic, I'd be your first reader and fan! I agree with your comments about Joey and Whitney. They were bang out of order, what were they thinking? I miss him so much on the show :/ Agreed, I hoped they would get a happy ending but no one in soapland gets a happy ending :( Thanks for all your support :) x