Chapter 64

As promised Lauren was released from the clinic two days later. Joey had picked her up with Max on her release, it taking quite a lot of convincing that Max was on her side despite everything. Joey's Mum was looking after Amber for the day so Lauren wasn't overwhelmed by everything.

They sat side by side in the back of Max's car, an unusual silence between them. The two of them seemed to be holding their breaths in case they said something that would cause a reaction. A reaction that would then lead to a chain of reactions. So instead, they stayed silent. The occasional glance and heavy breath shared between them breaking the silence.

"You two ok?" Max asked

Joey glanced at Lauren who was staring out of the window "Babe? You alright" she gave a little nod and a gentle smile "We'll be home soon and you can do whatever you like… we could watch movies or anything"

"you have university" Joey suddenly clicked on to what she was so nervous about. He'd Completely forgotten about what would happen when he went back to university. Granted he only had a couple of weeks left before he returned in following September.

"I've sorted it with my tutor. And Mum and Alice have offered help to. Alice says she can help out when she doesn't have sixth form, and Mum's offered to come every day I'm not there."

"I'd like that" Lauren nodded "Do you have to go back to uni right away" he could hear her voice catch.

"No I have today and tomorrow off then I'm back Monday. Will that be ok?" he moved her hair behind her ear, a smile gracing her lions as she leant into his hand.

"That sounds good."

*JL*JL*JL*

Max and Lauren were sat alone in Joey and Lauren's flat. It didn't seem to be too uncomfortable between them until Joey went to his Mum's to get Amber.

"Have you eaten today? I could cook something for you and Joey?" Lauren frowned at him "ok I can order something in for you?"

She chuckled "never were a good cook were you? At least you never nearly killed in of us." She sighed fiddling with her fingers.

"you can get that thought out of your head right now, it wasn't your fault." She shrugged "Did your Mum ever tell you how you got that scar on you head?"

"This one?" she asked pointing to the faded line across her forehead. Max nodded. "No…"

"Well I had taken you for a walk, you were about two and you were into everything, your Mum had warned me you would try and run off and climb on things. I wasn't around you much when you were young Lauren, I worked a lot so I didn't know much about what you were like, just what your Mum told me. Anyway, thinking I knew best I let you walk to the park, the little one that was about five minutes from the house"

"I remember that park…" she smiled thinking of all the times she'd played there as a child.

"you held so tight to my hand so you didn't fall, but when we got to the park you toddled off and tried to climb up the slide and you fell off…I was too busy trying to think of my next car auction I didn't even realise you'd fallen until you screamed."

"Dad…"

"we all make mistakes Lauren, and it's hard to let your kids out of your sight after anything happens, but you have to move on from it. What happened with you was my fault. Amber being allergic to nuts isn't yours ok?"

"I feel like I failed her though, parents are meant to protect their kids ain't they? Stop them getting hurt."

Max leaned over and held her face softly into his hands "I haven't protected you have you ? You're hurting. Your there for Amber and have been since the day she was born. I've been awful to you Lauren, not just your pregnancy but when you were ill and when you first told us you were seeing Joey." She shook her head "I mean it Lauren"

He folded his arms around her let her lean against him "I really love him Daddy"

"I know you do babe…I know you do."

so views and reviews have trailed off for this story now... so i'll be posting the last two chapter tonight :) big thank you to all the reviewers of this story hope you enjoy the last few chapters xx