The Other Branning ~ Eastenders

Boy or Girl?

Joey bit his fingers nervously, he just knew the sonographer was going to tell them something was wrong with their baby. At the twenty week scan, they Doctors had told Joey and Grace that there was nothing wrong with their baby, but they'd keep monitoring to make sure. Grace couldn't look at the screen in fear of her baby not being as perfect as Aria. "Well..?" Grace stuttered.

"Ten fingers, ten toes. Your baby is still developing nicely. I'm aware of your situation being cousins, and though we would assume something probably would or will go wrong, this little one is strong as an ox. If anything was going to go wrong, we'd assume we'd know by now as this is your twenty eight week scan. Now, do you want to know the sex?" The sonographer smiled, reassuring them. Joey punched the air in happiness. He was relieved, the couple both were.

Grace shook her head still. "No, we want everything to be a surprise. We'll love this little baby no matter what gender they are." She smiled down at her tiny bump. She hopped off the bed, engulfing Joey, who had tears in his eyes, in a hug.

"Hear that, Ari? Your baby brother or sister is just as amazingly perfect as you." Joey sung to a sleeping Aria in her carrycot.

_____

"GRACE BRANNING! You slag!" Joey and Grace heard their angry cousin, Lauren Branning, screaming at them from behind. They knew she would never forgive them for being together. Lauren wanted to be the girl carrying Joey's baby, she loved him first after all. "You think you can just go around stealing other girls boyfriends! First you stole Lee off Whit, married him, cheated on him with his own BROTHER, and now you're after Joey! You are so gonna mess up Aria and that thing you call a baby inside of you! I bet Aria will be a slag just like you." Lauren sneered at her cousin, who she now hated.

Joey rolled his eyes. "You need to get over it, Lauren. We were a long time ago. Alright?"

"Oh and you, just working your way through your cousins. What is wrong with you? Well, I won't be letting Abi or Penny anywhere near you." Lauren turned her nose up at the man she once (and really still did) loved.

Penny came out of Jack's house, wheeling her way over to her sister. "Shut up, Lauren, go back to your little hole at Beale's house and continuing sponging off of him. At least Grace still has dignity and pride, she pays rent. What do you do? Nothing all day except cheating on your current partner. Who is it this time? Peter, Steven or Josh?"

Lauren couldn't take the backchat, storming off (back to Ian Beales). "You shouldn't get involved, Pens." Grace stroked her sisters hair.

"Well, I need you and Joe to work out so I can stop sharing with Amy." She grinned. "Plus, I've got two little nieces and nephews now!" She laughed.

"Well that's true. Anyway, you two go home, I'm just gonna take Ari over to Johnny's for the afternoon." Grace kissed Joey on the cheek and made her way over to the vic. Johnny's face lit up when he saw Grace pushing Aria's pram.

"How's my baby princess?" Johnny kissed Aria all over her face, making the five month old giggle. She was definitely a Daddy's girl. "Any specific time you want be to bring Ari back tonight?" Johnny asked, he was always so careful not to upset Grace.

"No, course not. You know you can have her anytime you like. Just call me later if you want to take her overnight. She really likes carrot purée at the moment by the way. Strange girl." Grace gave her baby a quick cuddle before giving her to Johnny for the evening. "Almost as much as she loves you. Just make sure she has her dinner about six, or she won't settle for the night. The past few days she's had her dinner, had a bath and then gone to sleep and doesn't wake up until around seven in the morning, eight if were lucky." Grace chuckled. "Anyway, I'll see you later." She kisses Johnny's cheek and waddled out of the vic, "love you, baby girl," Grace blew a kiss to her daughter as she left.

______

Johnny heard his phone buzzing, just as he was feeding Aria dinner. "Looks like Mummy wants you home tonight after all, bubba." He pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Hello?" He answered.

"Johnny, it's Joey, has Grace been to see you since she dropped Aria off?" Joey asked, he seemed flustered.

"No, I haven't seen Grace since she dropped Aria off around eleven." Johnny told him. "Why, what's happened?" Johnny had noticed the concern in Joey's voice.

Joey shook his head to Jack, confirming that Johnny hadn't seen Grace. "We haven't heard from her since that time either. Normally she replies to texts straight away. It's probably fine, we're just getting a bit worried. Her phone keeps cutting out too." Joey explained.

"No, you're right. It doesn't seem like her. Give a few more hours and then call the police." Johnny agreed.

"Yeah, yeah, will do mate. Thanks anyway. Can you keep Aria tonight if Grace doesn't turn up?"

"I'd love to. Keep me updated please, mate." Johnny asked. Joey agreed to his request and hung up. Johnny turned his head just as Lee rushed in, vigorously washing and scrubbing his hand. "What happened to your shirt? Is that blood?"

"I just...erm...got in a scrap. At a pub. Just with some old mates. Army mates." Lee made excuses.

Johnny shrugged his shoulders, "you want more, Ari bubs?" Her bowl empty, Johnny got up to purée some more strawberries and mangos.

"Johnny, don't tell anyone about this. You know, don't want Mum to Dad to start getting worried about me again. Yeah?" Lee pressured Johnny.

"Yeah, sure." Johnny agreed.

••••

Hey guys!
Enjoying the story so far?
Will Grace be found?
Will she have a baby boy or girl and what will it be called?