That night when we're back at Mum's, my brain is in overdrive. I can't seem to shut down and sleep. I can't stop thinking about how great it is living here, away from Walford, just us. I toss and turn, relentlessly. Beside me, Joey is spark out, obviously not sharing my concerns. If I'd stayed in the Square, things wouldn't have gone this well for us. The more I think about it, I realise there's just something about that place. It's toxic. Mum and Dad got back together, away from there and the same goes for me and Joey. The fact is, I don't want to move back to Walford. But Joey and I haven't discussed it so I don't know his thoughts on the subject. Sighing loudly, I resign myself to the fact that I won't be getting any shut eye tonight.

"Babe, go to sleep." Joey mumbles, his voice thick with sleep.

"I'm trying." I reply.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Just go back to sleep."

"Tell me what's wrong." He rubs his eyes, looking more awake.

"Nothing at all."

"Is this about your Mum and Dad getting back together? I thought you'd be made up."

"I am! Course I am. It's not that."

"What, then? Moving back home?"

"Well, yeah."

"You don't wanna move back home?"

"Do you?"

"Wherever you go, I go."

"I just think we've been happy here. We're happy here."

"Yeah. Course we are! Happier than we ever were there."

"So do you think that's because of the timing or the place?"

"Both. I don't think we would have been happy earlier this year, no matter where we were. But, we wouldn't be good now if we were still there."

"Do you wanna move back to Walford?"

"If you do, babe."

"I don't."

"So, what you saying? You wanna stay here?"

"Yeah. I just want it to stay like this."

"Fine, then. Let's do it."

"What?"

"We'll stay here. Move in together. Save your mam the bother of putting this place up for sale. What do you say, babe? You wanna live with me?"

"Shit, Joey. I don't know. It's so fast."

"Is it too fast?"

"I don't know. Can we talk about this later?"

"Yeah, yeah. Try and get some sleep, babe. Love you." He kisses my cheek.

"I love you too." I whisper, unable to meet his eye as I stare somewhere above his shoulder instead.

"You what?" Joey grins inanely.

"You heard." I roll my eyes.

"No, I must have missed it. What was that again?" Joey frowns in mock recollection, his eyes twinkling.

"I'm not saying it again." I chuckle, adamant.

"I love you, baby." Joey murmurs, cupping my chin in his hand. He plants a soft kiss on my mouth, and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I love you too." I reply, looking him in the eye this time.

"I think I'm even happier now than the first time we ever said it." He grins, and kisses my nose.

"You earned it." I shrug casually, smirking.

"So if I asked you to live with me again would that be pushing it?"

"Know when to stop." I laugh.

"Okay, I'm stopping. Go to sleep, we've got a big day tomorrow."

"Come on, we need to leave!" Joey thrusts a mug at me, the minute I walk into the kitchen.

"I've just woken up." I yawn, gratefully taking the coffee.

"We won't have enough time, babe. You overslept."

"What is the big deal about today? You've been so secretive about it. What are we actually doing?"

"Loads of stuff. First, we're going strawberry picking. Then lunch and ice cream for dessert. Then shopping. Then back home to cook us dinner which we'll eat whilst watching a film." As Joey reels off our itinerary, a huge smile spreads across my face.

"I didn't mean everything in one day." I giggle.

"I know babe, but do it big or don't bother." Joey shrugs.

"Give me 10 minutes. I love you." I kiss him quickly, before running up the stairs to get ready. He's unbelievable sometimes. Walford Joey is different to out-of-Walford Joey. He's more chilled out, more attentive. I reckon I could get used to this. I pull on some jeans and a t-shirt, and then apply my makeup as quick as I possibly can and grab my bag before running out the room and down the stairs.

"10 minutes, you said." Joey greets me at the bottom of the stairs with an unimpressed look on his face.

"How long was I?" I ask.

"36 minutes." Joey shakes his head.

"Sorry." I pout.

"Tell me you love me again and maybe I'll forgive ya."

"You can whistle!" I snigger, slipping on my jacket and heading out the door.

"Birds. Hot one minute, cold the next. Head-fuck." Joey sighs, dramatically.

"You love it." I state, unashamed,

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

Our day goes great. More than great. Joey's treated me like a total princess, buying me everything I just so much as looked at and we did all the things I said. He's just so brilliant, I feel almost giddy, like I could burst because of how happy I am! I wish everyone could be this happy.

"Thanks for today, babe. It was the best." I tell him, as we're snuggled up on the sofa after having just watched The Vow. I hope he took notes!

"You don't have to keep saying thanks, Lauren. I loved it, I had a great time." He grins, kissing the top of my head.

"You were probably bored as fuck, trailing after me round thousands of shops, carrying all the bags." I scoff.

"Baby, I just wanna make you happy and if you're happy then I'm happy." Joey says, earnestly.

"You do make me happy. I can't imagine not being with you."

"Well you don't have to cos it's not gonna happen this time."

"I know, babe. I do trust you."

"Good, cos if we're gonna do this then you gotta be sure. Sure about me, you know?"

"I'm totally sure about you. That's not why I'm hesitating."

"There's no rush. We should just take our time and carry on as we are."

"Yeah, totally."

"Except you don't really wanna move back to Walford."

"I guess I'll have to. Moving in together is pretty huge."

"You can say that again."

"Anyway, you best get off. If Dad catches you here."

"He'll have my head on a platter, won't he."

"See you tomorrow then, you're meeting us here aren't you?"

"11 on the dot."

"I'll be the one not in white."
"Chance would be a fine thing."

"They must be mental." I whisper to Joey the next morning, watching on as my parents get married. Again. It's down the registry office; they wanted a small affair without the drama of last time and most importantly, they actually wanted the day to end in them being married.

"Crackers, babe." He rolls his eyes, playing along.

"Getting married!" I scoff.

"Ridiculous init, who'd do a silly thing like that?" Joey mocks.

"Last legal form of slavery."

"Binding yourself to someone forever. Jesus."

"Or until you cheat and get divorced and get married again."

"Either way, it should be abolished."

"We abolished slavery and the death sentence, and it's only one up from those two init."

"Couldn't agree more, babe."

"And look how stupidly happy they look about it! As if it's a good thing." I sigh, a tiny smile crossing my face.

"Just wear it, will ya? Even if we don't lose our senses and stay as we are until the end, just wear the ring. It's yours. You should wear it." Joey says suddenly, pulling the ring out of his pocket.

"How long have you had that?" I narrow my eyes at him, suspiciously.

"Since you were in the clinic." He admits.

I hold out my hand to him, nodding slowly. A massive grin spreads across his face and he places it on my ring finger, softly kissing my hand.

"It's perfect." I feel my eyes tearing up, as I admire the rock on my, now heavy, hand.

"Don't cry, babe." Joey holds my face, planting a kiss on my mouth. Pretty lucky we're in a registry office really cos that much tongue isn't acceptable in church! Up ahead, the registrar pronounces Mum and Dad, man and wife, and the few people we've invited burst into a round of applause. Whilst everyone looks at them, Angela's gaze sweeps over us instead, her eyes not giving anything away.

"Your mum's looking at us." I whisper to Joey.

"Probably revolted by that disgusting display of affection." Joey winks, standing up and pulling me up with him. He holds my hand gently in his, running his thumb over my ring, a smile on his face.

"You know we're not actually gonna get married, don't you?" I tell him.

"Course not, babe. I mean, what would ever give me that idea? Not like we're engaged or anything." He teases.

"We are not engaged!" I reply hotly, outraged. He just raises an eyebrow at me, smirking.

"Shit, I guess we're engaged." I squeeze his hand tightly as we exchange a hesitant but excited look.

"What was it you said last night? Not dressed in white?" Joey snickers, kissing the top of my head.

"You are never getting me down the aisle." I assure him, firmly.

We follow everyone out, Mum and Dad leading the crowd as we head back to Walford for a good old knees up down the Queen Vic. Just like old times.

"You and Joey look pretty pleased with yourselves." Mum points out as we're chatting later on. Her eyes land on Joey who's at the bar with my Dad wearing a gigantic beam across his boat; a smile way too big for discussing the footie results. The fact he keeps throwing sly glances in my direction, may also have added to her suspicions.

"Do we?" I answer, nonchalantly.

"You've not been up to any funny business in the toilets have you?" She narrows her eyes at me.

"Mum!" I gasp in mock outrage.
"Don't give me that, Lauren. I wouldn't put it past you." She laughs.

"As if." I scoff, hoping my face doesn't give me away as I recall our Queen Vic bathroom session. That feels like ages ago.

"You're different, darling." Mum observes, stroking my hair.

"Mum, honestly we haven't!" I insist.

"Not that! Just, in yourself. You're different. Maybe it's Joey or maybe it's this huge thing you've been through that no-one your age should have to go through. But you've come out the other end fighting. I'm so proud of you, love. You don't need your old Mum anymore, eh?"

"I'll always need ya."

"No, you won't. You stopped needing me a long time ago. And that's fine, that's the way it's supposed to be. You've gotta live your own life."

"I am. Me and Joey, we're good."

"I just couldn't help noticing that you looked less than thrilled at me and your Dad getting married again."

"Mum. I was made up. I am! I'm dead happy you're married again!"

"Then what?"

"It's just, moving back here. It's not what I want. Joey wants to live together. You know, in your place."

"Then do it."

"But-"

"But what? Have you got an actual reason why you can't?"

"Well, this is my home init."

"Yeah course it is darling, but we lived in our old home longer than we've lived here. But moving here was the right thing to do, wasn't it?"

"If we'd never moved here we wouldn't have met Bradley, or Billie, or Grandma Dot."

"And Joey."

"Yeah, him an all."

"Look, love. I know it's scary. I was scared when I married your Dad. I'm not an idiot. Of course I had doubts. If he could do it her then he could do it to me. And as much as I love your Dad, Joey is nothing like him. He's learnt from his mistakes and he thinks the world of you."

"I know. I trust Joey."

"And you're not worried about leaving us, are ya? Cos we'll see you more than we'd see you if you didn't live with Joey. He'll be at work and you'll be here. And then neither of you can cook so you'll be round for your teas every night."

"I'm not worried about leaving you."

"So what's stopping you?" Mum asks and as I let her words sink in, I realise I don't have an answer. Not a proper, real reason why I can't live with Joey.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." I admit.

"There you go then, love." Mum smiles, patting my shoulder.

"So, I'm moving in with Joey."

"Congratulations!"

"Oh, and we got engaged." I proudly show her the ring that's been weighing me down for the past few hours.

"Oh, darling! It's gorgeous!" Mum squeals, grabbing my hand in excitement.

"Please don't tell Dad. The moving in thing will be a big enough shock for him, but we can't do either if he kills Joey." I tell her, worriedly. I know what she's like when she's got a drink down her and she's had a fair few already.

"Course I won't say anything, darling. Ooh, it's exciting isn't it! My baby girl, all grown up!" Mum looks delighted as she pulls me into a tight hug and kisses my cheek.
"Mum." I roll my eyes.

"Oh sorry darling, it's just great to see you so happy and back on track, you know. It's brilliant." Mum beams.

"Thanks, Mum. It feels good. We were never this happy the first time round. It just feels right this time." I hug her again.

"Because it is. Here, you're gonna need this." She reaches into her bag and slips something into my hand, winking.

"What are you carrying that round for?" I ask her once I realise what it is.

"I had a feeling I'd need it. Go on, what you waiting for?" Mum kisses my cheek before giving me a gentle push in Joey's direction. Taking a deep breath I march over to the bar, tapping my Dad on the shoulder.
"Sorry old man, I need to borrow my boyfriend." I grab Joey's hand and lead him out of the Vic.

"Where's the fire, babe?" Joey chuckles, almost jogging to keep up with me. I keep on going determinedly, and only stop when we're outside the café.

"What happened here?" I demand, grinning from ear to ear.

"You punched Lucy and broke a window." He laughs.

"Before that."

"I don't know, babe. Lots of stuff, I guess?"

"Where did you see me for the first time?"

"Oh." Joey grins as the memory comes back to the forefront of his mind.

"I said, are you really my cousin?" I repeat my words from over a year ago.

"And I laughed and went, who are you?" Joey's words are ingrained in my memory; so permanently that I could do this re-enactment without him.

"Yeah sorry, I'm Lauren, my Dad is your Dad's brother."

"Oh right. I never met another Branning before. Never fancied it to tell you the truth."

"Yes well, we're not all like him."

"Yeah, I can see that." Joey smirks at me, just as he had done then. I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him, urgently.

"The thing is Joey, you made this place bearable. And yeah, we do have bad memories here, but that was the old Lauren and the old Joey. We could stay here and everything would still be great. Because it's not the place. It's the timing. And finally, we've got our timing bang on."

"So, you wanna move back?"

"No. I just needed to know that we could move back here, if we wanted. I needed to understand that if things are gonna fuck up, it'll happen anywhere. And if things are gonna stay great, then that could be here. And then I was talking to my Mum and I realised something else."

"A day of revelations, by all accounts. What did you realise?"

"I couldn't think of a single reason why we shouldn't live together. So, I guess you'll be needing this. I love you." I press the key to the house into his hand, as Mum had pressed it into mine moments earlier.

"I love you, Lauren Branning." Joey picks me up, twirling me around. He closes the gap between us, kissing me slowly. Like we've got all the time in the world. Because we have.

A/N: So there we have it, the final chapter! I was soso nervous to post this as I didn't want to disappoint anyone. I hope everyone has loved this story as much as I've loved writing with it and is as pleased with the ending as I am. I felt it was fitting as Joey and Lauren were never over the top or overly romantic so I was aware of not making it too cheesy as I was writing it. Thank you to all of you for sticking with this story as long as you have and for all your lovely, kind words, which have just blown me away. To each and every single reviewer and guest reviewer, thank you very much as your comments have brought a smile to my face! I will be continuing my other Jauren story, 160813, so stay tuned for the next update on that! Thank you to armanii96 and Lolly for being very supportive and encouraging and motivational! And if it wasn't for each and every one of your reviews, this story would probably never have got finished so thank you! Please please please review and let me know your thoughts! Also, head over to the other story if you haven't already checked it out as I will be updating it soon. Thanks for sticking with me. Much love x

-side note to Lolly- Thank you thank you! I have to reply to you, how can I not? I can't read your reviews and not reply, it would be rude. Thanks for all your support, you genuinely don't know how motivational your reviews have been! Thanks for sticking with the story and I hope you weren't disappointed by the end. Fear not, I am continuing my other Jauren story so it's not the end yet. So happy and glad you loved this story so much, thank you. Much love x