"Fred, I." Lindsey stuttered, wiping away the mascara from her eyes as she turned to look at Freddie.

"He did all of that to you?" Freddie spoke softly, looking over at Lindsey sadly.

"I'm going to go." Mercedes said awkwardly, standing up. "Linds, thankyou for telling me all of that and for confiding in me. Give me a call tomorrow and I'll come see ya' and the kids. Always here, you know that right?" Lindsey nodded and smiled faintly, hugging Mercedes before she'd left.

"I'm sorry I kept it a secret, it's just-"

Freddie shook his head and sighed deeply, walking over to Lindsey and taking a seat on the sofa beside her as he pulled her into a tight hug.

"You couldn't even confide in me about what happened?"

"I couldn't confide in anyone. Me and Joe, we decided it was best to just try and forget what had happened and it keep it behind us but I should've known it wouldn't have been this easy. That first time I got pregnant, well, second and I lost her, I had memories come flooding back and I've never really gotten over that. Then JJ and Daisy, both of their pregnancies gave me crazy flashbacks to that night and I just want to forget it, I just want to forget what happened."

"You can't just hide that from me forever, that is a lot of stuff to go through."

"I know, I know and I don't need a lecture! I just, I just need to put it behind me. Abuse is not something we can just forget about, I know but it's something I'd like to forget about."

"So, this was why you were always touchy? That time you found out you were pregnant, you didn't want to keep it or even tell Joe."

"Because I was scared it would happen all over again. I thought of some pretty bad excuses but I didn't want to go through that again."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this now. You kept so many secrets.."

"I don't need a lesson from you." She snapped, pulling out of the hug and getting up as she wiped her eyes yet again and headed to the front door.

"Linds, where are you going?" He asked, jumping up from his seat.

"Somewhere away from you! I can't do this, I can't relive these memories!" She spoke, her voice shaking.

"I'm sorry! It's just come as a shock and I wasn't expecting it. Look, you know how much I love you, right? And I'm doing everything I can to protect you and our family. When or if Joe gets out of prison, I promise you I will protect you and he won't ever /ever/ be able to hurt you again." Freddie said softly, Lindsey nodding faintly as Freddie pulled her into a hug.

The next morning, Lindsey awoke bright and early and the previous night's worries had all been put aside. Lindsey got herself ready and picked up JJ from his cot as he'd just woken up. Placing him down onto the floor after getting him ready, she turned around to see Freddie, smiling at him.

"Morning." She said, walking slowly over to him.

"How you feeling?" He asked, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Fine, wonderful actually. I just want to forget last night." She replied, winding her arms around his neck.

"I won't talk about it again then, I just wanted to check you were okay."

"I will be." She said quietly, smiling slightly as she leant up and kissed him quickly. "I'm going to go and take JJ to nursery and then I thought maybe we could go down and get the adoption paperwork?"

"Let's do it! I'll stay here with Daisy, saves you taking her aswell." Lindsey nodded and kissed him again, picking up JJ and putting on his coat and shoes before leaving the house.

Freddie was about to check on Daisy when he heard a knock at the door, opening it up to see Mercedes waiting.

"Is Linds 'ere? I wanted to check she was okay." Mercedes said, peering her head into the flat and glancing around.

"No, she isn't here. She's just gone to take JJ to nursery." Freddie replied. "She's fine, don't worry, just wants to forget about it all."

"Seriously? Forget? Joe needs to be put away for a long, long time. I'm not lettin' /him/ go anywhere near Lindsey ever again."

"You sound like her you're wife, Merc. Do you know that?"

"I'm just being a protective best friend! Now, if you don't mind. I've got some talking to do."

"Don't, don't go to the prison and talk whatever you do!" He panicked.

"Don't tell me what to do! Someone's got to know about what he did. Lindsey needs to get justice! Mercedes snapped, glaring at Freddie before storming off.

"How did you know? Who told you this?" Joe whispered angrily, glaring at Mercedes over the prison table.

"Ha, so you ain't denying it then? You did it, you abused Lindsey and you never even apologized, you didn't hold her hand when she was losing your baby?"

"Mercedes, Lindsey is making out to be ten times worse than it is! I never did any of that, I was there throughout everything, I lost a baby too."

"Who do you think I believe, hey? You, sitting in a prison cell for abducting your son? Or Lindsey who was so upset last night when she had to bring this up again? The police are going to find out that you were abusive and Lindsey is going to get justice for the baby she lost. Bet you've already been told this by her and your brother but, I hope you rot behind these bars and my best friend never has to put up with you again." Mercedes whispered angrily, getting up from her seat and leaving the prison leaving Joe in a shocked state.