A/N: After a rethink, this chapter won't be the last, but second to last instead.

"Why are you doing this?!" I groan at Mum for the fifth time that day, as I help her set the table. She and Dad are definitely back together so she's dragged us here to have this ridiculous dinner as a family. Yes, that includes Joey's Mum. She's going crazy. She's even got Abi and Alice in the kitchen, piping cream onto cakes. She never pipes!

"Because you and Joey are serious about each other and I still haven't met his Mum so we should meet and discuss what we're wearing to the wedding!" Mum replies for the fifth time that day.

"There isn't gonna be a wedding!" I protest.

"What, never?"

"Not for the foreseeable. Not for like 10 years, at least."

"You heard this, Joey?" Mum calls to him, smirking. He's sat on the sofa with Dad watching the footie.

"What's that?" Joey asks.

"According to my daughter here, we won't be hearing the sound of wedding bells until at least 10 years." Mum winks at me, knowing she's dropping me in it and loving it too.

"I think that's very sensible, babe. Maybe even 15." Dad agrees, grinning.

"We'll see." Joey rolls his eyes, exchanging a knowing look with Mum.

"What, you're gonna force me down the aisle?" I snort.

"And I'll force her back up, so don't even try." Dad gives Joey a look.

"Alright, Uncle Max. You don't need to start getting all territorial just yet. And besides, I know what you'll do to my baby maker." Joey chuckles, shaking his head.

"I don't think you really know, Joey. Cos it's not funny." Dad gives him a stern look. Before Joey can think of a reply, the doorbell goes and he jumps up eagerly.

"Saved by the bell." He rushes out of the room and into the hallway. I hear him raise his voice and it sounds like an argument of sorts. That can't be his Mum.

"I'll go see." I tell Mum, before following him out. I stop dead in my tracks when I see Lucy standing on the front step.

"What are you doing here?" I stare at her, gobsmacked.

"I just want to talk to you for 5 minutes, Lauren. Please. He won't let me in." She gives Joey an annoyed glance.

"I have nothing to say to you." I shrug.

"Just get gone, Lucy, yeah? You fucked things up once, but not again. We're in the middle of something and you're interrupting." Joey snaps at her, looking irritated by her mere presence.

"I want to speak to Lauren. I need to apologise. Please, 5 minutes?" She pleads, looking at me desperately. Joey and I exchange a glance and his eyes are telling me no. No, don't talk to her. Don't fall for her bullshit. I give him a tiny, helpless shrug and then turn to her.

"You've got 5 minutes and not a second more." I tell her, sharply. Joey sighs heavily, and then goes to walk back into the living room, stopping next to me.

"I'm gonna be in there. 5 minutes." He warns quietly, before leaving me to it. I motion for her to go outside, and then follow her out.

"What?" I snap at her, unable to stop myself from getting angry. Seeing her again has just brought it all back. She really is a bitch.

"Are you two back together?" Lucy asks.

"That's got fuck all to do with you." I reply, shortly.

"I'm glad you are. You belong with him." She nods, smiling.

"Did you want something? Because like Joey said, we're in the middle of something."

"Okay, I get it. You don't wanna be friends. I don't blame you. I just need you to know that I'm sorrier than I can put into words."

"Try."

"If I could take it back, I would. I completely fucked up. All I could see was you and Joey together, happy. When I couldn't have him. When he didn't want me. And it was so easy. I knew he wouldn't believe you. I don't deserve your forgiveness but I need it. Please. I am genuinely so so sorry. I've done some stupid things but this was by far the worst and all I can say is that I'm a bitch and I'm so very sorry."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Can we please be friends again?"

"No, Lucy, we can't. Too much has happened. I can't just forgive and forget. Was that all?" I ask her, just as Joey's mum walks up to the house.

"Hiya, darling." She hugs me and kisses my cheek, before spotting Lucy.

"Hiya. Come in." I return her hug, before holding the door open for her.

"Is this a friend of yours, love? Are you coming in, dear?" Angela asks Lucy.

"She's no-one important. Just trying to sell us double glazing. Let's go inside." I say and Angela walks inside. I follow her in and give Lucy one last look before shutting the door, quietly.

"You alright?" Angela asks, peering at me.

"Great! Come on in, meet the other Banning's." I grin, leading her into the other room.

"Mam." Joey hugs her tightly, and kisses her cheek.

"You know Uncle Max, obviously." Joey says, and Dad hugs Angela.

"How long's it been?" He asks her smiling, obviously happy to see her.

"God knows, 17, 18 years? It's good to see you, Max."

"And you, darling. This is my wife, Tanya." Dad introduces.

"Ex-wife, actually." Mum grins, and hugs Angela.

"Only technically." Dad groans, rolls his eyes.

"It's nice to meet you. I can see where Lauren gets her good looks from. Sorry Max." Angela smirks at Dad.

"And Joey here obviously didn't inherit his from his father." Mum smiles and I can tell that they'll become instant friends.

"And this is Abi and Oscar." Joey tells Angela. She gives Abi a hug then picks Oscar up, and he wraps his little arms around her neck.

"Mum!" Alice exclaims, coming in from the kitchen. Angela only just manages to put Oscar down before Alice throws her arms around her. I smile to myself as I watch them. Joey comes to stand beside me and slips an arm around my waist.

"What did she want?" He asks, referring to Lucy.

"She just apologised. You know, about the drink thing. And she said we were made for each other. She wanted to be mates again." I explain.

"Not bloody likely!" Joey exclaims, hotly.

"It's okay, Joey. I'm not stupid. She can whistle can't she?"

"Too fucking right! The nerve of the girl."

"It's good not living here, isn't it? Being away from her and everyone else."

"Just you and me."

"And my Mum and Oscar!"

"You know what I mean. None of your dickhead mates."

"You wouldn't be talking about Peter would you? Cos you're not jealous of him or anything." I roll my eyes.

"It's no wonder those two are twins. They're exactly the same."

"Peter is lovely!"

"Watch it."

"Well, he is. He's really nice and if you could see past your massive ego, you'd know that."

"What are you doing with me then?"

"Shut up, you div."

"You're right. It is so great being away from all this."

"Can't wait till we go back. Promise me first thing in the morning we're out of here?"

"There's nothing I'd love more." Joey kisses my cheek, smiling.

"Dinner is served!" Mum calls, ushering everyone over to the table. Once we're all seated, Dad clears his throat.

"Before we eat, Tanya and I have an announcement to make." Dad grins encouragingly at her. Mum returns his smile, looking like she's about to burst:

"Kids, me and your Dad are getting married again. We're moving back home."

A/N: Thank you to the all the reviewers and all the guest reviewers! Your words are so kind and mean a lot to me. Sorry for the delay in uploading, I haven't been well the past couple of days which is why I haven't written. But I'm better now so expect the last chapter within the next day or two. As you know, this chapter was supposed to be the last but I couldn't write it as it was too emosh so I added another chapter instead but the next one will definitely be the last! Btw, what the hell was with Peter in Thursday's EE? Just as I was starting to majorly ship them /3 What an arse :( But his sister just died so :/ Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and as always, please review and let me know your thoughts. Much love x

-Side note to Lolly- Next chapter is the last, eeek. Was shipping Leter (Leter?!) but Peter was awful to Lauren in Thursday's ep. Aww it's great that you're trying to keep Jauren alive but I think we need to face the truth :( So happy that you've read all my stuff and enjoyed it, thank you! I mean it, seriously make an account and I will be your biggest fan and leave you massively long reviews that make you smile as much as yours make me smile! :D David Witts is so unlike Joey though, haha it's funny. Still waiting for you to buy a publishing company ;) Thanks for reading and your lovely comments! Much love x