This story ISNT a contination of my other story. This is a complete new story :) Enjoy :)

Christmas. The time of year where families get together, spend time with each other and give presents for one another. Kids were getting excited because Santa and Rudolf were coming. People were filling up the streets of London, rushing around, getting last minute things. One person who wasn't excited for Christmas was Lauren Branning. She took a swig from the vodka bottle as she headed down the steps from her house and through the gardens, heading for the train station. An arm grabbed her as she headed through the gardens and Lauren found herself being spun round to come face to face with Joey. Her ex. Her cousin.

'What do you want?' she asked, her voice sounding hard and bitter. She went to take a swig of her drink, but Joey grabbed the bottle of vodka and dropped it onto the ground, the bottle smashing into pieces, just missing their feet.

'Why did you do that?' Lauren fumed, her eyes slowly filling anger at Joey's actions

'Because I'm not letting you drink yourself to death, Lauren!' said Joey. Lauren scoffed and wrenched herself free of Joey grasp.

'Drink myself to death? Don't be so stupid!' said Lauren, taking a step back, when Joey stepped forward.

'So, where are you going now?' asked Joey, his voice beginning to turn cold

'Out. Out of Walford and away from you!' Lauren snapped at him, not in the mood for Joey's mood swings. She stormed off, heading for the train station. Joey watched her walk away. He sighed and headed for R&R to start his shift...

Joey stumbled from R&R as three am starting to appear on his watch. He groaned and dragged his feet towards Cora's house, ready for bed when a voice stopped him.

'Look who it is... the guy that broke my heart!'. Joey turned to see Lauren walking down the Market, slightly swaying from side to side. He rolled his eyes at her sentence.

'I didn't break your heart, Lauren. I just don't feel that way for you anymore' said Joey, each word tearing at his heart. Lauren shook her head and slowly walked up to him, backing him into darkened and secluded alleyway.

'Lauren? What are you doing?' Joey asked, as Lauren grabbed hold of his arms, keeping him in place.

'Oh, come on, Joey. You don't have to play around with me. I know that you can't just switch your feelings off like a light switch. I know you still feel something for me, Joey...' Lauren said, her voice slowly going husky, making Joey swallow, as she was voicing exactly how he felt for her.

'Lauren, don't do this'

'Don't do what? Voice your thoughts? It's always going to be you and me, Joey. No matter what, It's always going to be you and me...' said Lauren, tears glistening in her eyes. Joey's gaze was fixed on Lauren. He reached out and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Lauren clamped a hand round his, holding it against her cheek, leaning into his touch that she had missed so much.

'Lauren, please, don't do this' said Joey softly, trying hard to resist her, Derek's word flying round his head, getting louder and louder.

'Don't do what?' asked Lauren, stepping closer to Joey, his scent filling her nostrils, making her fall for him a little bit more.

'Do this... What your doing right now..' said Joey, however he felt the magnetic pull between him and Lauren.

'I'm not doing anything' murmured Lauren, so close to his lips. Joey sucked in a breath, his other hand trembling as he tangled it in her hair.

'Lauren...' he murmured. Lauren leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. He responded for a nano second, before he gripped her arms and pushed her away.

'Lauren, I can't...' he said, reluctantly. Lauren scowled.

'Fine. But remember this, when you go home, it'll be me who you'll be thinking of, who you'll be dreaming of and who you'll remember having them close shaves in my house in the living room, in the bathroom, in my bed...' whispered Lauren against his lips. His eyes darkened as he remembered the stolen kisses and make outs whenever they had the house to their selves. He was snapped back to reality when he heard Lauren walking away. He grabbed her arm and spun her to him, crushing their lips together. Lauren gasped and he took advantage of her gasp. He pushed her against the wall roughly, both of them fighting for dominance in the kiss, both desperate to show the other how much they had missed them. Joey continued to trailed kisses down Lauren's jaw and neck, Lauren's nails raking through his hair to the nape of his neck. Joey pulled away, having a quick glance around to make sure no one had seen them, even though the alleyway was pitch black and looked back at Lauren, who was looking at him, with a saucy smile on her face and Joey found himself returning it...

A few hours later, Joey woke up and blinked, as the daylight streamed through the curtains. He sighed and looked down at his chest, a smile spreading onto his face, as Lauren was still asleep. He stroked some hair out of her eyes, but her eyes fluttered open and she sat up, wondering where she was before the events of last night came flooding back to her. She looked at Joey, who smiled at her. She smiled back and kissed him deeply. Lauren heard her phone going off, and pulled back, Joey groaning in protest. She saw the caller Id and rolled her eyes.

'You going to answer that or what?' asked Joey, playing with Lauren's hair. Lauren looked at Joey, then at her phone.

'Nah' said Lauren, chucking it back down onto the floor and allowing Joey to pull her back in for a kiss.

'Joey? Son, You in there?', Joey literally threw Lauren off him, clamping a hand over her mouth, as her head hit the pillow so suddenly. Joey looked at her, a finger to his lips.

'Joey?' Derek asked again, knocking on the door. After a few minutes, Joey heard his father retreat back downstairs and out of the house and climbed out bed, grabbing some clothes and throwing them on.

'Joey? What's wrong?' asked Lauren, as Joey chucked her clothes at her.

'Just put them on! And get back home!' said Joey, not meaning to sound harsh, but he was panicking a bit. Lauren did as she was told. Joey headed downstairs, going through the kitchen and leading Lauren out of the back door.

'What's going on?' she asked, as Joey told her to head the opposite way.

'LAUREN! JUST... Look, I'll explain everything later, okay. I promise' said Joey, as he stormed away. He heard Lauren storming away in the opposite direction, muttering to herself...

R&R :D