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part five

Meredith placed a hand on his arm, smiling. "This isn't a party, it's a sophisticated social gathering with pizza and wine."

"And Joe Walker," Dylan scoffed, eyeing up the man across the table from him.

Joe mocked laughter, but brought his glass to his lips and tipped his head back, standing up with Brolden. "Party. Started. Now."

A few hours went by, all but Lauren and Joey drinking the night away. Eventually, the energy ran out and a cab was called.

"Okay so who's leavin'?" Julia slurred, fumbling with the keys to the door before Lauren took over.

"All of us," Brian answered, leaning heavily on Meredith with his eyes half closed.

Joe snickered behind his hands, nudging Dylan roughly in the ribs. "All of us but Joey." The boy in question blushed, rubbing his neck.

"Aww, Joey's gonna stay with his girlfriend!" Jaime sung, grinning.

"Yes he is," Lauren murmured, apparently not quiet enough as Jaime squealed in response. Lauren ignored the group and unlocked the door, letting them out. "Okay, stay safe you guys, I love you."

"We love you too, Lauren!" Jaime and Meredith chorused, beaming.

Julia grabbed onto Joe's arm and swung her purse round her shoulder, winking at Lauren poorly. "I think you two should have the apartment to yourself, I'll stay at Jaime's for tonight."

"O-okay, stay safe, Jules," Joey stuttered, a small smile creeping up his face.

Lauren flipped the group off as Walker wiggled his brows at her. "Make good choices, Doolia!"

"I could say the same for you!" She smirked, making kissy noises as Dylan ushered her out of the apartment, snickering himself.

A round of 'goodbyes' and 'I love yous' and 'use protections' rung throughout the hall as they left. Once Lauren had closed and locked the door, she turned around with a smile on her face.

"I'm kinda glad they left us alone," she said, fiddling with her hands.

Joey took a step closer to her, smiling. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, very glad," she let him move closer, sighing happily when he wrapped his arms around her waist. "So you think you're okay to do this now?"

"Do what?" He played dumb, running a hand through her hair.

"Do... me?" She giggled, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down to meet her in the middle.

He laughed against her lips and kissed her gratefully, her hands immediately riding up to play with his hair. Lauren pushed up onto her tiptoes and in response Joey backed up until she was pressed against the door. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He squeezed her waist a little, prompting her to hop into his arms and wrap her legs around his waist. She tightened her grip a little, a soft moan slipping out of his mouth before he pulled away.

"Are you 100% sure you want this?" Joey asked, a little crease forming between his brows that she desperately wanted to smooth out.

"100%, JoJo, I want this more than anything," Lauren promised, pecking his cheek softly. "Do you?"

He smiled, the crease disappeared and his eyes lit up. "God yes."

She went in again, laughing against his lips, overwhelmed with a feeling she'd come accustomed to over the last few weeks, happiness.

"Lo are you sure? I don't wanna take advantage of y-"

"Joseph Michael Richter if you ask me one more time," she deadpanned, before her lips broke out into a smile. "I'm better. Maybe not 100%, but I'm sane enough to know I want this. And I finally understand that all the bad shit wasn't my fault, so thank you for helping with that. But I want this... I want you, please, Joey."

He let out a weightless sigh. "I'll stop bugging you about it, I promise." His innocent smile switched to a cheeky grin, his eyes growing darker with lust. "But you don't have to beg me, darlin', I'm more than happy to give you what you want."

She ran her hands under his shirt, dropping her voice to a whisper. "Then why the fuck are you still wearing clothes?"

                                          ***

Joey looked up at her, watching as her hair fell over her eyes. He watched as she tilted her head back, her hands finding his legs and her fingers running up them gently. He traced hearts into her thighs as she moved, his hands slowly working their way up to her waist. Subconsciously, he squeezed a little, his nails digging into her sides, forgetting about the scars.

Lauren inhaled sharply, falling forward a little. "Jay, baby, that hurts."

"Oh god, Lo, I'm so so sorry," he muttered, embarrassed. He pushed up onto his elbows, his grip on her hips much looser.

"No it's okay, I'll just have to get you back, tell me if you want me to stop."

                                          ***

Lauren decreased her pace, Joey groaning in response, whispering in her ear pleadingly. She just rolled her eyes, continuing painfully slow. It was something she could take but Joey could not. Lacing his fingers with hers, he pushed her onto her back. He grabbed a pillow for under her head and pulled her closer by her thighs, prompting her to wrap her legs around his waist.

"I told you to stop teasing me," he smirked, kissing her neck softly.

"I told you to wait for it and let me have my fun," she pouted, threading her fingers through his hair.

He shrugged, his hands wandering everywhere. "I know, but you've had your fun, I wanna have mine."

                                          ***

Joey laid with Lauren curled into his side, her head resting on his chest, her legs intertwined in an inseparable knot with his. He slipped an arm around her waist, one of her hands finding his and lacing their fingers. With her spare hand, she traced incoherent patterns into his chest. He planted a few stray kisses in her hair, whispering compliments to her until her cheeks were a rosy red.

"I'm so glad we did this," Lauren sighed, squeezing his hand. "You're genuinely the best thing that's ever happened to me."

It was Joey's turn to blush, his heart fluttering for a second. "That's very sweet of you, Lo, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, obviously."

"Stealing my compliment, huh?" She joked, laughing when he did. "Seriously, I'm so lucky to have you in my life as my best friend and, uh, possibly maybe as my, uh, my-"

"Yes, I'll be your boyfriend, as long as I get to wake up next to you every single day, that's my only condition," he smirked, using his spare hand to boop her nose.

"Okay, I'll always be here when you wake up, don't worry, honey," she yawned.

He felt her breathing start to slow and her body shuffle down until he could feel her eyelashes on his chest. He shuffled down too, pulling her as close as he could.

"I love you, Lo, sweet dreams," Joey whispered, not expecting a response.

She nestled into him, planting a small kiss on his collar bone. "I love you too, JoJo, nighty night."

a/n: in the immortal words of harry potter's dead family and friends... everything ends.

belle x