Chapter 47

"Baby have you seen my text book?" Joey said as he rifled through the ever growing piles of magazines and books on the coffee table. Unable to find it he moved to the kitchen, Lauren appearing holding several books in one hand, Amber with the other.

"is it one of these?" she asked handing the books across to him

"Yes… thank you" he took a quick bite of toast and turned back to Lauren "morning" he smiled kissing her lips.

"Hmm, good morning" she greeted him, sighing contentedly "say morning Daddy"

Joey chuckled as Lauren spoke to Amber. She was only 3 weeks old but was healthy, happy and the spitting image of her Mum.

Today was the day Joey and Lauren were about to take a very big step. After spending 3 weeks at home with Lauren and Amber, Joey was returning to university. Thankfully, the university had understood the circumstances and had sent him the work he had to do via email so he could complete it at home, but now it had come to the time that he needed to start attending lectures. He was apprehensive and unsure about leaving his girls, but it was something that needed to be done.

"Hi" Joey mirrored "are you sure you're going to be okay today? Because you know how worried I get about you being on your own all day"

Lauren rolled her eyes and looked at the time, taking Amber back from Joey. "you need to go" she told him with a smirk.

"Amber needs feeding" he replied

"stop stalling and go… I'll be fine, Amber will fine . Everything will be fine" Nodding his head, he pulled Lauren into him and kissed her, both of them moaning as it deepened naturally. Lauren pulled away a few moments later, pushing at his chest… "Go"

"I'm going, I'm going" he proclaimed, holding his hands up in defence he kissed Amber's forehead softly "bye beautiful girl, and bye you"

"Bye, love you" Lauren called after him as he made his way to the front door

"Love you too" he mirrored, the front door shutting behind him.

*JL*JL*JL*

Trying his hardest to stick to the speed limit Joey drove to his lecture already running late. By the time he'd actually parked and got through the doors his lecture had already started and was 15 minutes through.

"Ah! Mr Branning you've finally decided to grace us with your presence this fine morning" his lecturer scorned, looking down at Joey over his glasses rim.

"Sorry, Sir.. Bad Traffic"

"well next time I suggest you set out earlier or I shan't be so forgiving. Do I make myself clear ?" Joey nodded "Good. Now get your books out and catch up" he replied, turning back to the slideshow

Doing as he was told, Joey sat down and began to quickly catch up with what he'd missed. It was a very long lecture for first thing in the morning and the subject wasn't exactly scintillating. It had been hard enough to endure the lecture before he was living with Lauren and a 3week old, but at that point, with a restless 3week old to contend with he was finding it hard to stay awake as it was. He stifled a yawn and managed to lift his head before it hit the table.

"Not only do you turn up to my lecture late, Mr Branning, you also seem preoccupied by catching up on your sleep" his lecturer proclaimed, startling him "late night partying, was it?"

Joey clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists under the table. He was trying so so hard not to snap at the lecturer. He wanted to keep things as normal as possibly at university, having a baby shouldn't have to affect his education.

"no sir." Joey said taking a breath in through his nose.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't lie to me, Mr Branning. It's one thing skipping 3 weeks of my lectures but to arrive late and without a care after a heavy night of partying, it's unacceptable" he sighed "students, take notes of Mr Branning's failings and make sure you're not going to go the same way. If you don't want to be here, Mr Branning, then I'd appreciate it if you didn't waste my time and resources and leave"

"I wasn't out drinking" Joey shouted, slamming his books to the table "not that it's any of your business but my last 3 weeks have been spent helping my partner look after our newborn baby"

"Mr Branning…" his lecturer begun

"no… no I'm not finished. If you'd have read any of the emails that the Dean has sent you; and I know she sent them because they were sent to me too, then you would know about my situation. You'd know I became a Dad just over three weeks ago… and you'll know that my partner has been ill since."

Joey stood up and shoved his things into his bag. He walked towards the lecturer and slammed a plastic wallet onto the desk in front of him. "The Essay that's not due in for another three weeks…I don't expect it marked. After all I'm just a waste of resources"

Joeys having issues at uni now,make of it what you will... back tomorrow :) xxx