Lauren Branning Lover 🖤

GIF is not mine - credit to creator 🖤

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Not everything means something else, Lauren; goodnight.” I watched with disappointment as he left the pub. Yet for some reason, I felt this pull to him, earlier the near kiss. The way he spoke to me, touched my hair, lifted my chin… for the first time, I felt like a woman who was genuinely seen and someone was attracted to, and I loved it.

I found myself leaving the pub without even getting the food I came in for, walking towards the garage, catching up with mark. “Mark, wait!” I saw him turn around to acknowledge me before continuing his walk into the garage with a bottle of whiskey, unlocking the door and pouring himself a glass as I followed him. “I get it, you don’t need to rub salt in the wound,” I was seeing a different side of him, a side that wasn’t just looking to be an adrenaline junkie, fighting and chasing danger… I closed the door behind me, locking it as I stepped closer to him. “I felt it too…” he stopped dead in his tracks like he was trying to read my eyes like a book, my breath caught in my throat as I looked at him, really looked at him, allowing myself to admit what I’d been trying to ignore as best as I could. “Lauren?…” I knew I should feel guilty, but I didn’t, I felt more at peace than I had in a long time, my throat felt like it was drying with the tension between us while simultaneously feeling like the world had completely frozen in this moment. I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, letting my hand entwine with his before whispering like the whole world was both the loudest and quietest it had ever been. “Kiss me again…” I watched mark smile softly as he pushed my hair behind my ear, gently lifting my chin with the side of his index finger before kissing me softly, causing my arms to instinctively pull him closer, finding the back of his neck as the kiss continued.

The continuation to the weeks final scene of them!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I was clutching the wound pouring with blood in the warehouse after the men left, Dad having made his choice. I could only feel blood from the front, which meant the bullet was still in me, and I didn’t know how long I had to get out of this. “Lauren, stay awake! Look, I’ve got phone signal. Help’s gonna come, Uncle Jack will find us. You’re my sister, okay?” I watched my younger brother’s hand shaking as he spoke to the ambulance while forcing his tie to my stomach to keep pressure on the wound. I had started to slouch further down the wall as the blood loss increased by the minute, leaving me feeling weaker and more exhausted. I had managed to pull my mobile from my clutch, smiling weakly seeing the photo of me and mark together. He’d derail if I didn’t get out of this in one piece. He would eventually find out the truth, and my Dad would live with his fury while knowing he lost his two daughters. The pair of them would be in a state. I weakly managed to open my phone, pressing on the shortcut to favourite contact, hearing the man I loved’s voice through my speakers. “Lauren, where are you? We’ve got your Dad’s wedding in 30 minutes, and I can’t find you anywhere?” In all my life and no matter what I’d faced along the way, I had never yearned for the man I love to be next to me, stroking my hair, holding me in his arms, telling me I’d be okay. I moaned in pain as Oscar pushed the handkerchief from his blazer to my wound, the blood soaking fast. Oscar realised who was on the phone pretty fast. He also realised all the strength I was trying to pull together to be able to speak to him, so if the worst did happen, I knew I’d be leaving mark with something he could hold onto. I pressed the fabric down harder on the wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding. “Listen… you know I love you, right? You really do make me the happiest woman alive, Mark… something’s gone down, Oscar… Oscar’s okay, but I’ve got an injury, and I don’t know… I don’t know what’s going to happen, okay? But I needed you to know that Mark Fowler Jr. I love you with everything in me, okay? I always… I always will.” I could hear him moving while speaking to Grant. “Lauren, listen to me. I’m coming… I’m coming. I just need you to hold onto that for me. I’ve never let you down, and I won’t, okay? Just stay where you are.” I heard an engine starting as he stayed on the phone, asking Oscar questions while periodically telling me over and over that he was coming, to stay awake because he was coming for me. I was laid on the ground, struggling to stay awake and fighting to keep my eyes open as Mark ran in with Grant, Sam, and Phil instantly running over to me, changing the handkerchief on my wound as he pulled me in his arms, moving my hair out of my sweat-covered face.

I started to come around slowly from what could only be described as a hangover and flu rolled into one, feeling my hand being held. I slowly turned my head to the left to face the person being greeted by Mark, looking exhausted, emotional, and everything in between rolled into one. “There she is…” he looked like he had been holding a breath that he hadn’t released until he had seen my eyes opening. He carefully helped me sit up, assisting me in taking some sips of water while he absentmindedly drew patterns on my arm to relax me.

After being in and out of sleep for hours, I woke to the sound of commotion in my room. “Have you any idea how that will affect your kids max?! Oscar will end up blaming himself, while Lauren will spend god knows how long wondering why she wasn’t good enough for you to choose! She could have died, and you have the cheek to turn up with your missus, acting like you own the show! Trying to take over, telling the nurse I’m not her next of kin!? Grow up max! As a dad, you should have worked a way to save them both!” I slowly sat up at the sound of marks anger towards my dad. I couldn’t blame him… I don’t know how I’d react if he rang me, telling me he loved me, thinking he might not ever get to tell me again. “Mark!” The sound of my voice seemed to have snapped him back to the current time, finally, as I watched Cindy and my dad winding him up. He instantly moved to be on my side, sorting my pillow out and fussing over me. “You’re gonna let him speak to me that way?” My dad, on the other hand, had woken up and chose violence if he ever thought I’d be stopping marks defence of me for him. “He’s right, Dad! What are we supposed to think? How is Oscar going to take feeling guilty? And me!? Because you’re incapable of being a dad that doesn’t get in trouble and land us in it! You’ve no right to try overstepping my partner. Just go. I don’t want you here. I don’t want to see you!” I watched as Cindy took my dad out of the hospital room while mark tried to calm himself by drawing absentmindedly on my arm.

GIF isn’t mine - credit to creator 🖤

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

He asked the question… the one question I had always wanted him to ask me from the day we got together and I ran, frozen in front of everyone. I didn’t answer, didn’t cry, my body was so taken in shock that I just walked away from him while he was down on one knee asking me to marry him, to be more than his work wife, his girlfriend, his calmness and his favourite person.. and the truth was looking back I wanted to say yes the word just didn’t leave my mouth. It wasn’t like it was some big event, it wasn’t he knew I wasn’t a fan of things like that. He kept it simple, just some of our closest friends and family laughing and making memories while we sat in the park eating ice creams. I closed my eyes still sat on the bench in the middle of the square watching the world carry on, locals outside the pubs and clubs, teenagers by the chippy and chicken shop. All such simple things in life whilest I sat here feeling like I was in the middle of nowhere wondering if maybe me running was the straw that would break his back.

I knew I had a tendency to screw up friendships, boyfriends, my last marriage, my family… but Mark, Marks different. I desperately didn’t want to screw what we had up; it makes me happier than I’ve ever known. I truly did get with my best friend; we balance each other out. I’m his calm while he brings the spark out of me, winds me up to no end, snores too loudly, wakes up obnoxiously early to go for a run, stays in the gym at the punch bag too late, and just generally he was the centre of my world, made me want to be a better woman. The soft moments, surprising each other at work just because, the way we never leave the coffee pot empty for each other even if it means pouring the remaining down the sink so the other doesn’t get a better brew, the way every day we still seem to fall for each other.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I was brought out of my trance by Peter sitting next to me on the bench. I still cared for him, I’d go as far to say respected him we just stopped being compatible in a relationship. He found happiness with a girl so similar to him, she was lovely. Had the same aspirations, wanted to build a life built on education which was what he would flourish in, while I was born to be a grafter. I smiled softly at him still knowing when I needed a friend even when I didn’t always deserve it “Mark proposed… down on one knee, surrounded by our favourite people and in a way that was so effortlessly me, and I froze…” I still trusted Peter and his wisdom, not ever in a romantic way, but in a way that he’d seen me grow from troubled teen to an adult trying to be a good person and breaking the habits that I seen my parents do time and time again. “Yeah I heard… he’s drowning his sorrows in the pub” I knew that look, it was sympathy. The look when someone knew that the great Lauren Branning had striked again and messed things up. I rubbed my temples at the thought of him sitting there embarrassed, that was the last thing I wanted for him, I just was shocked. “I’ve made too many mistakes, I mess things up. I take after my dad being a tornado but him… it’s different” Peter shared a comforting smile as if he knew it wasn’t his words I needed right now, it hasn’t been his for a long time. “Tell him then…” Peter gently squeezed my shoulder as he left me alone once again.

I didn’t go home that night, terrified if I did that Mark would decide I humiliated him and would call us off so I chose to spend a night on my dads sofa still able to hold onto the small shred of hope that somehow Mark and me would be able to figure this out and come through it. I didn’t get any sleep, just kept going over everything in my head, the lead up, the surprise, his words. It took me a while to realise I was shocked and taken aback because he tried to make it as much about me as he could, not a big fancy event, not a spectacle, just us and the people we love most in this world. I got off the sofa tidying it up before I brushed my hair and tried to freshen up as best as I could. “I’ve gotta go talk to him…” I watched my younger brother quietly enter the room looking at me with nothing but pity. “If you don’t say yes then I will!” I threw a throw cushion at his side while he sat down putting on some mindless tv show. He was right though, if I didn’t act then someone else would do and the thought of that made me sick to my stomach. He was my person despite this blip.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I sat outside the hospital room with Vicky, Sharon, Sam, Phil, and Grant waiting for news on his current condition. He had ended up in a fight that went wrong with Joel; a too-hard of a knock to the head sent Mark to the ground and seizing on the floor in the Vic, and now we’re stuck here waiting for him to get out of surgery for a bleed on the brain. I rubbed my temples as the effects of Mark being in such a bad way affected us all. Grant had been pulled back from hitting walls twice already; Vicky was being comforted by Sharon as she cried on her shoulder; Sam was drinking coffee like somehow it would magically start tasting nice; and me, I had gone between pacing the corridors, pestering the medical professionals to get an update, and sitting wrapped in marks black hoodie. I was still adjusting to this world, the fighting, danger, the chaos… somehow while we all dealt with it differently, we were still all silently pulling each other through it.

Hours had passed by as we all tried to relax. Mark had gotten out of the theatre a few hours ago, but we figured it was best to let him get some rest. Some of us managed to dose off while the rest of us continued drinking the dreadful machine coffee or taking it in turns to go to the café for coffee, which was mildly better. “I’m telling ya right now I’m going home!” I was brought out of my thoughts at the sound of the man I loved’s voice. Shaking my head, I checked myself in the metal of the coffee vending machine. I wasn’t sure if I was hallucinating. But judging by the looks on everyone else’s faces, I wasn’t. I kept his hoodie on and walked into his room where he was getting ready to leave, the doctor making a seemingly futile attempt at calming him down. Mark could take on the world until I was stood in the room. The next thing we would know, he would be giving in because he’s distracted. “Oi. Genius, get back in that bed else it won’t be the doctor sedating you; it will be me.” Mark stopped his movements pretty fast at the sound of my voice, his eyes meeting mine, looking exhausted while wearing his hoodie that buried me because his muscles and height were so much bigger than mine. I watched the defeat in his eyes as he begrudgingly sat back down on the bed. I walked closer to him, pulling the blanket over his legs as the doctor reattached his cannula to his hand. I watched the doctor finish up as he left Mark and me alone in the small hospital room.

Marks been in Portugal visiting his aunt Sam and Dad, a surprise return for his girl’s birthday 👀 Cloud delulu at this point because I’m trying to stay awake so I’m tired tomorrow to get a good night’s sleep because I have to fast 🥴

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I had been in a routine of eat, sleep, work, repeat for the last month while Mark was in Portugal. We spoke every day numerous times but it doesn’t quite hit the same on your birthday when you’ve not got the one person you want to celebrate with in the same country let alone city as you. We had been together for over a year now, the divorce came through for Peter and me and we had reached somewhat of an amicable point. He’s moved on, met a girl just outside of the square that is so similar to him, they both love simplicity and it generally just works just like it does for Mark and me, we balance each other out while still having the most fun together. He had been helping his dad fix up the bar, it worked as a nice way for some quality time for them helping Sam while not having to sit and have awkward talks over teas and coffees avoiding the watchful eyes and ears of the square’s busy bodies. Though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t missing him, he had flowers arrive along with a necklace and more beautiful birthday gifts and I loved the thought and how special it made me feel but it wasn’t him, I’d take no presents in a heartbeat if it meant he was at home with me.

I had grown close with his family. Vicky took me under her wing and supported me against all the talks and whispers when it first came out about the divorce and seeing Mark. I’d go as far as to say we’ve developed somewhat of a friendship. It took a little longer for Sharon. She was admittedly wary after the me and Zach situation when he was marrying Whitney, though she has started to warm to me when she realised I wasn’t as quiet and laid back as the Beales showed me to be. I fought my battles, stood up for my family and the people I cared for. I didn’t just lay back and let the world take its course. I fought tooth and nail to get what I earned and deserved. Mark brought the spark in me back out while protecting the spark just enough that I didn’t fall into any old habits or patterns.

My birthday had gone by slowly, cleaning cars, closing deals, and checking on the garage. I can’t exactly fix a car, but I do deal with the enquiries and pass them over to Phil until Mark is back. We became somewhat of a partnership; the garage is the direct contact for any work needing done on cars brought in the Lott. They cover the MOTs and stuff, so the sales work nicely in all our favours. Being a partner at the Lott put me in a lot more control of the place and allowed me to help it grow more with the times instead of it being frozen in the past. “Birthday food at the Vic. My treat, and I’m not taking no for an answer. My brother will not allow the woman he loves to spend her birthday wallowing, and I’ll never hear the end of it if I allow it.” I smiled as Vicky walked in, giving me instructions without a chance to get a word in edgewise as she placed my coffee on the desk with a bacon roll and a slice of cake. I knew I didn’t have much choice in the matter, and I suppose there are definitely worse things I could be doing on my birthday. “I’ll meet you at the usual time.” I had grown used to the fact that arguing with Vicky and Mark is about as much use as arguing with a brick wall. It’s a waste of breath, and no matter how valid the points are, the likelihood is you still wouldn’t win.

I headed over to the Vic for 6 p.m., our usual time when we’d be doing food. I was greeted by a helium happy birthday in rose gold being on the wall along with flowers on the back of the bench and a box of 18 fresh red roses in the middle of the table. I looked confused as I picked up the small card on the roses. Slowly removing it from the envelope, “18 roses for the 18 months since I saw you in the café. Happy birthday, Lauren, forever yours, Mark.” I turned around fast at the voice I heard as I read the note, seeing my favourite person stood there. I hadn’t even realised how much I missed him until in one breath the tears started to roll down my face, and he was there wiping them gently with the pads of his thumb. He pulled me into his arms gently as he kissed me softly, whispering against my lips, “Happy birthday, Lauren. Didn’t think I’d miss it completely, did you?” I smiled softly, my birthday instantly feeling less dull and so much brighter.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I woke up feeling Marks arms wrapped tightly around me as he massaged my shoulders. “Hmm. Can we stay in bed today?” I wasn’t quite ready to face the watchful stares of Vicky, Sharon, and everyone else, despite knowing other than sleeping next to each other, nothing had happened. He spent the night comforting me, making sure I had pain relief for my ribs, and trying to get me to relax until I eventually crashed out on him. They wouldn’t see it that way, and truthfully, I didn’t want mark to get the scrutiny that I inevitably would from the square. “Afraid not. You need to get up, and we should probably talk.” I turned over slowly, not removing myself from his arms as I buried my head in his solid chest. “I got out of the hospital and came to you. If you want me to go, I can.” The anxiousness in me started to rise as the words left my mouth. I don’t think I thought about how much that thought scared me. What if him trying to kiss me was a moment of madness for him? What if all the baggage of Lauren Branning was in fact not what he wanted after all? “Lauren. You know how I feel about you… you’re the only person who can calm me down. You somehow make me trust you. Make me feel like we’ve always been together, and I love it. I meant what I said that night… I just don’t want you to have any regrets… If you really want this, me and you, then I’m in completely, but I don’t want to hide us away. I want us to be able to go out for dates, bring each other coffees and half-eaten donuts. I want it all with you if that’s what you want?” I instantly attempted to pull myself even closer to him, the safety of his presence calming me instantly. I was taken aback by his words of honesty. Mark wouldn’t strike most people as the romantic type, but he’s not overstepped once. Most of the guys I’ve been with in my past would have, but he didn’t. I instigated all contact, even if it was just cuddling. I’ve not even kissed him yet. “I’m all in, Mark.” He didn’t need a speech right now to know I meant it. I came to him when the world was heavy, and most people hated him. I think I could honestly say I’d always come to him no matter what the world thought.

It had been a few hours, and we had spent it relaxed in bed, watching a movie and showering. I was currently sat on the edge of the bed trying to brush my thick hair with broken ribs, not exactly the site that anyone wants to see the first morning spent with the person you’ve been crushing on and fighting all the feelings for. I watched as he took the hairbrush from my hand, gently brushing my hair from top to bottom. Small gestures like this throughout our morning had meant everything to me. He applied ibuprofen gel to my ribs before wrapping them in a bandage for support, cleaned all of the cuts and scrapes on my face and arms, peppering gentle kisses onto each one. Not even in a sexual way, just as a comfort blanket to each one. “Still as beautiful as the day I laid eyes on you in the café…” I took a hold of his hand, squeezing it gently. The world seemed to have frozen in place today, and I sort of loved it. No commotions, no busy bustling of the London street, just me and him.

We were awoken a few hours later from a nap by a knock on his bedroom door before it gently got pushed open. Mark instinctively pulled me in closer, almost like he was trying to protect me from any possible threat. “It’s only me… I picked you up some food from the chippy. You don’t have to hide in here, you know. The only one whining is Iain, and he’ll find something new to moan about tomorrow… you’re not in the wrong, Lauren. Unfortunately, as marks sister, I know I’d have heard if anything. Well, you know… but all I heard was you’re laughing and him trying to comfort you. Biased or not, I’d say he’s a good one… anyway Ill let you eat your chippy, but if you want to come down and not be hermits like a pair of teenagers, nobody will say a word. They’ll have me to answer to.” Vicky’s words helped as I watched her leave the food with two cans of juice before gently closing the door. I knew we weren’t in the wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time I had been the talk of the square, and it probably wouldn’t be the last as Max Brannings’ daughter, it comes with the territory.

A little preview to the next drabble 👀👀

Do we go with a morning snuggle and cuteness

OR

A lil drabble I wrote for these legends cause they’ve brought my love for soaps back 🖤

The way he looks at her has my heart ♥️

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The rhythmic sound of the heart monitor was all that could be heard. I felt my hair being softly stroked and I knew the smell before I even opened my eyes… Not the man I wanted next to me. “I’ll kill him. Mark and that Grant. You should have never been caught in the crossfire of the Mitchell’s dealings.” The thing was I knew he wouldn’t… Peter wouldn’t defend me like that, he’d just want me to let it go, stay out of it and go to the police and for a while I probably would have. But for the first time in a long time I felt so alive, so seen. I was no longer just Lauren Branning the alcoholic, or Lauren Beale the housewife. I had a purpose again, I wasn’t just a ticking time bomb that everyone waited to see screw up. Mark seen me as an actual woman, made me feel attractive again, didn’t write me off on the sheer chance I’d pick up a drink or a pill. I didn’t want to go to the police, grass him and his dad in or let uncle Jack take them and find another reason to go after the Mitchell’s. I wanted the thrill to carry on, I wanted more chaos but more than anything I wanted to feel like Lauren again… The old me, not being on the drink but the one who had fun, who didn’t just choose safe, who chose messy and didn’t care. The girl who let her heart lead way before her head got in the mix. And for the first time I felt like I could be her, not for Mark but for myself. I guess it was time to admit what everyone had already seen… I’m more like my dad than I’d like to admit.

“I want a divorce Peter.” Words I should have uttered a long time ago, because even before we got married we were dragging a dead horse hoping for a miracle. There was a time I loved Peter, I can’t say I didn’t once but truthfully I haven’t for a long time. I thought I was broken, that this was just all my scars catching up with me, that I wouldn’t ever feel properly alive again, properly seen but I do. For the first time in years I was so sure of my decision, as sad as I was for Peter because I know he loves me. He has tried time and time again to keep me safe I have reached a point where I don’t want to be wrapped up in cotton wool anymore, I want to be able to do what I want again. I want to not have to worry that I won’t be the perfect Beale housewife.

I left the hospital that night, with broken ribs joined by bruises and cuts to my face but nevertheless I left, Abs didn’t get that chance so no matter how many times I’m in this situation I don’t think I’ll ever take it for granted again. My legs carried me to the one place I didn’t expect though truthfully I think it’s exactly where I need to be, I stood by the door watching him working on a car with his music blaring clearly lost in his own world. “He’s not a bad person you know. As soon as he realised you were working he tried to stop it, it was only supposed to be do some damage to get everyone off his and his dads back. Nobody was supposed to get hurt Lauren, least of all you. Don’t write him off just because he’s made some mistakes in keeping everything afloat. I truly think he cares for you.” I felt Sam’s hand on my shoulder an act of comfort after her words though truthfully I already knew that, I already knew he cared. He’s the only one to see me in this square, he was the first person I thought of when I opened my eyes and the only one I wanted.