Chapter 50
It had been 6 weeks since Lauren had last had a seizure and she was now officially out of the post-partum stage. Her weekly visits to the hospital had been reduced to once a month and the doctor was happy with her progress and to limit the seizures to being just post-partum ones. It was determined after a few more blood tests that all the medication was out of her system and there may be an underlying issue. But since Lauren hadn't had any more, they'd decided they must have been birth related and seems to be unworried.
Joey was now enjoying his time at university, unlike he was back in September. Nearly 2 months on and he was doing really well; he and Lauren had a great relationship with the university (especially the Dean), who after finally meeting the couple together and understanding their circumstances had pretty much given Joey free will to complete his course however he chose to. Now Lauren was also in the swing of things being a Mum, he was attending lectures and training sessions with ease .
Lauren looked at the kitchen clock and smiled, a very smiley Amber staring back at her from her bouncer "Let's go see Daddy, shall we?". Lauren lifted her 9-week-old daughter up and into her arms, walking into the hallway, getting them both organised to go and see Joey's first football match that he'd been training for the past few weeks. It was for the university team and today was his debut, something Lauren was very excited about. Joey had no idea she was going though, or that she had sneakily invited their friends from Walford. It had been so long since either had seen anyone from back home, and she decided it was time that changed.
Lauren pulled her coat on and fastened it up, pulling the hood over Amber's pram to keep the chill out. They started their walk to the train station where the others were going to be meeting her. It was only a 5-minute walk from their flat to Brighton station, they lived in a really nice area with lots of students from the university living nearby, so it was never lonely, something which Lauren liked a lot, so she quite enjoyed the walk. She arrived at the station and looked at the timetable, making her way to the correct platform. She stood and waited patiently, watching people go about their everyday lives, there was an announcement over the speaker informing everyone that the train was due in the next few minutes. She took the cover off Amber to check she was okay, smiling warmly seeing that she was snuggled beneath the blankets, a rather scruffy looking Bunny fisted in her hand, fast asleep. She pulled the cover back over and looked up as the train pulled into the station, trying to find her friends through the crowds.
"Lauren Branning, what're you doing?" a voice sounded from behind her
A grin grew on Lauren's face, spreading wider and wider as she turned to her friends. She turned the pushchair and made her way across to them, "I was trying to find you!"she exclaimed, putting the brakes on the pram and hugging Whitney tightly.
"God have we missed you !" she chuckled moving aside to let the others hug their friend too.
"I've missed all you too…I bet it's quieter without me ay?" Lauren hugged Lucy and Fatboy in turn.
"it's definitely different" Lucy smiled.
She looked at Tyler who was awkwardly standing by Whitney "you must be Tyler?"
He stepped forward and smiled "ye"
"it's nice to finally meet you. Joey spoke about you quite a bit"
"All good I hope" he smiled
Lauren nodded "yes... he was really grateful for your friendship, we both were. Especially when things were a bit tough" Tyler shrugged off the thanks as Lauren removed the breaks and gently pushed the pram back and forth. Lucy grinning widely as she watched the naturalness of Laurens actions.
"come on then we want to see her" She said impatiently seeing the others waiting too.
Lauren grinned, rolling her eyes and pulled back the hood to show a snoozing Amber wrapped up warmly in a fluffy cream onesie. "she's still sleeping".
"She looks like you Lo" Whitney smiled beaming into the pram "she's she cute".
"I think she looks like Joe, but everyone says me, her hairs definitely all me though…" Lauren ran her fingers over Amber's head and then put the hood back up. "Are we ready then ? We've got to change platforms"
*JL*JL*JL*
They made it to the sports stadium in perfect time. They found their seats which were near the front. Amber had been passed around like she was a mini parcel, not that Lauren minded, even she couldn't resist the cuteness of her daughter.
"she just smiled at me" Tyler grinned looking down at Amber on Whitney's lap.
"That was wind babe" Whit retorted
Lauren frowned looking between the two "ok! Why is it I don't know about this ?"
"about what?"
"About you two! I've only been gone for three months"
Whitney looked guilty and hid her face in Tyler coat "sorry… anyway your one to talk" Whitney teased only for Lauren to narrow her eyes. "I think you best have your daughter back Branning before my boyfriend's face makes her cry" she shot a look at Tyler. Amber was passed back to her Mummy, her bottom lip beginning to wobble.
"Oh she's hungry aren't you grumpy bum?" she sorted a bottle quickly and fed her with ease. The other watching on as if it had always been that way.
Fatboy and Lucy returned with the drinks and snacks and they all waited for kick off. Lauren wasn't really sure what she was expecting, she didn't know the first thing about football but she did know her gorgeous boyfriend would be running around in a pair of shorts and that was enough for her.
"oh here they come!" Fatboy comment as the teams all made their way to the pitch and shook hands.
They were all really into the game and after some explanation, well a lot of explanation from the boys, Lauren was actually enjoying it. Amber was sitting on her lap completely mesmerised by the activity and colour around her. Lauren was sure she could see Joey on the pitch as she would make noises every so often.
"come on… Yes go on!" Tyler stood getting really animated as Joey made his way towards the goals. "Get in there son!"
The crowds erupted into cheers and chants as Joey equalized the scores.
"Yeah… say go Daddy" Lauren cheered clapping Amber's hands together "Woo…Daddy scored Amber!" she was greeted with a rather wet tap on cheek from Amber's saliva covered hand. "thanks baby!" she giggled turning her back around to see the last bit of action.
*JL*JL*JL*
The match soon drew to a close, with a win for Joey's team 3-1. All his concentration had been on the game he was still completely oblivious to the fact Lauren was there. The group of them waited in their seats until the mass of the crowds had cleared. As the last of the people left, the team began their cool down on the pitch.
Joey's face was priceless when he saw them all sitting in the stands. Lauren noticed the smile spread across his face and winked at him, causing him to laugh.
"coach mind if I go ? I've got some visitors" the coach looked towards where Joey's head was inclining and he noticed Lauren and Amber.
"That your little one?"
"yes, " joey said proudly
"Go son, you played a good game today" Joey nodded and jogged over to his girls.
Amber squealed as he got closer recognising her Daddy. "what are you doing here ?" he questioned leaning in to kiss Lauren. He took Amber into his arms and kissed her too.
"We didn't want to miss your first game…and these lot have been begging me for weeks, to come and see us, this was the perfect opportunity."
"maybe we should go and get some food then ?" they all agreed but seemed a little preoccupied watching Joey and Lauren together. "great…I'll just go and shower and change. I'll meet you round the front in 15. Choose somewhere to eat babe"
Lauren nodded kissing Joey quickly. Once Amber was back in her pushchair the group left the grounds and made their way to the front of the building where Joey was going to meet them. Lauren had decided they were going to go and eat at one of hers and Joey's favourite fish and chip shops.
"So, where're we going to eat then?" Lucy inquired as the group (Joey included) began to walk back towards the train station.
"You'll love it, Luce" Lauren assured her, smirking at Joey knowingly.
"I will?" she questioned
"Yeah" she replied
10 minutes later the group arrived at their destination. All of them standing outside looking through the window.
"A chip shop?" Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow at Lauren who turned to her, smirk in place.
"Yeah. They do the best fish and chips in the area and I want you all to try them" she replied
"There is no way I'm going in there. I work in a fish and chip shop, and you know I try to avoid them at all costs" she proclaimed
"Come on, Luce, stop being such a wimp" Fatboy chuckled
"I'm not, but I might cry if I have to step foot in there" she admitted pouting.
"Well I'll get you a tissue then" Joey informed her, moving towards her, throwing her over his shoulder "because we're going in"
The rest of the group followed them into the shop laughing loudly.
"That was so unfair" Lucy proclaimed as they were seated at a table, pulling her mirror from her handbag, readjusting her hair
"Stop moaning" Whitney chuckled, nudging her in her side "it's nice in here, Lauren. Do you and Joey come here often?"
Lauren pulled off her coat and sat down… "I wouldn't say often, but we've been a few times. Mainly on the weekends if Joey's been training"
The boys returned with the drinks and took the last seats…
"Food will be about ten minutes" Joey informed them, throwing his arm around Lauren's shoulder "so, tell us, how's life back on the Square?"
There was an awkward silence as the others exchanged glances. Whitney's eyes connected with Lauren's, a forced smile appearing on her face…
"What's going on?" Lauren asked, folding her arms across her chest "and don't even think about lying"
"Well… Things have changed since you left" Whitney admitted
"Like what things?" Joey asked
"Well, your Dad, he's kind of been off the scene for a while" Tyler informed him. Joey scoffed and shook his head in reply… "There's more, mate. Your Mum reported him missing a few days after he disappeared. There's been no sighting of him or anything. They got back from that day at the hospital and no ones seen him since"
"Until last week" Fatboy interjected "Tyler and me were in Birmingham for the weekend and we saw him in a club"
Joey reached for Lauren's hand and entwined it with his… "Why do I get the feeling there's more to this?"
"I'm sorry, man, but he got arrested" Fatboy informed him "he's on trial for a list of things as long as your arm"
"Well that's good, isn't it?" Lauren questioned
"Lauren, baby girl, he's been working with young girls, selling them" Fatboy explained "that's where he's be heading off to when he was on business"
"So what exactly does this have to do with Lauren and me?" Joey inquired
The two exchanged a look "Lauren was in his list" Joey jaw clenched as he glared at his friends.
"What's that meant to mean?" Lauren whispered.
"He was trying to recruit you Lauren, he thought with you on his books business would rocket. That's why he didn't want you with Joey."
"If I ever see him again i'll kill him" Joey threatened "He's sick" he shook his head looking disgusted into the distance. "Does my Mum know? Where's she, she was at my Nans"
"ye she knows, she's going to testify against him. She said she was going to call you when it calmed down, Alice is beside herself and you're not exactly her favourite person right now, let's put it that way" Whitney informed him
Joey nodded his head in understanding. He knew that Alice would be upset. She was Daddy's little girl and couldn't bear a bad thing being said about him, and knowing that she'd been lied to all these years would've torn her apart, especially when Joey knew what their father could do.
"I'll call her tomorrow" he informed the group
"Probably for the best. She's gone a bit, off the rails" Whitney admitted
"She's turning into me then?" Lauren questioned with a slight laugh
"You're not off the rails, babe" Joey assured her, kissing her smiling lips. The food arriving broke them apart
"Okay, you're right, this looks amazing" Lucy sighed
"Told you" Lauren chuckled "now eat up. Dessert's even better"
A much lighter chapter, Lauren and Joey are settled into life as Parents now and Amber's a very happy baby. The next chapter answers so many questions so if you want it tonight you know what you gotta do :) xxx