No matter how many times I think I don't have any new ideas, one just happens to come along. I know you're all eagerly awaiting updates for TOW All the Love and Friends: The Next Generation, and I'm hoping to provide those in the next week or two. My life has been thrown into a tailspin since the end of February, and I've had little to no motivation to write things that were comical. I hope you like this story. It is Phoebe centered, so those looking for Mondler or Roschel will be disappointed. I will of course implement the entire gang at times, but it's a Phoebe story. It's actually a Phoebe and David story. I love Phoebe with Mike and with Joey, but I also love her with David, and the writers said David was originally supposed to come back and marry her until they discovered how much they liked Mike, so they kept him. I've always wanted to write Phoebe and David together, so here it is. I don't know how frequently I will update. I don't know how long it will be. I do hope you enjoy reading it, though.
I don't know if this story will trigger anyone, but it will have some serious/sad moments here and there. Being a comedian, I will also have funny moments as well.
Phoebe rested her head back onto the pillow, exhausted. She had pushed not one, not two, but three babies out of her today, and she felt drained and, now, empty. Literally.
"You did so well," the nurse said to her, patting her hand.
"Thanks," Phoebe murmured. She closed her eyes. She knew Rachel was out there asking Frank Jr. if she could keep a baby. She knew it was a ridiculous and unimaginable request that wouldn't come true, but Phoebe thought she would try. You never knew unless you tried. She opened her eyes again and looked over at the babies being checked over by the two nurses. They were so small, so innocent. She felt a pain in her heart then. Why had she done this? Why had she put herself through this pain again?
Flashback
"You gotta push, love," Fiona urged. Phoebe shook her head vehemently. Everything hurt. She was scared, and she was alone.
"I can't," she whimpered.
"You have to," Fiona said, smiling gently.
"I...don't... want...to," Phoebe grunted through her pain.
"I know you're scared. I know you don't want to, but it's happening with or without you, Phoebe, and if you don't push, it just puts stress on the baby. Do you want to hurt your baby?"
"No," Phoebe shook her head.
"Then push for me," Fiona said firmly. Phoebe caved and pushed. Within moments, a screaming baby was in Fiona's arms. Phoebe looked up at the two of them and felt a mix of emotions as Fiona cleaned up the baby quickly.
"Here's your little girl," Fiona murmured, getting down to Phoebe's level so she could see. "Do you want to hold her?"
"No," Phoebe whispered. If she held the baby, then she would get an attachment to it, and that was the last thing she wanted. It would make this all so much more difficult.
Present
"Hey, Phoebs," Rachel said, coming in. Phoebe saw the look on Rachel's face and already knew the answer.
"Did you ask him?" she asked hopefully.
"No, sweetie, I didn't," Rachel answered sadly. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Phoebe responded. She knew it was a long shot. Rachel put her hand on Phoebe's shoulder and squeezed comfortingly. The others slowly came in one by one except for Joey, who had a kidney stone and was sleeping.
"Hey," Monica said. "How are you?"
"I'm okay," Phoebe lied.
"They're so small," Ross commented, looking at the babies.
"You did great, Phoebs," Chandler assured her. The nurse distributed the babies to whoever wanted to hold them, and Phoebe watched as Monica cradled Chandler while Rachel held Leslie. Ross held Frank Jr. Jr. until he passed him to Phoebe.
"Could I have a minute alone with the babies?" Phoebe asked after a moment.
"Sure, sweetie," Rachel said, handing her Leslie while Monica handed over Chandler. Monica touched Phoebe's arm lightly before following the others out. Phoebe felt tears in her eyes as she looked down at the three gurgling babies in her arms.
Flashback
"Do you want to say goodbye?" Fiona asked. Phoebe hesitated. It would hurt so much.
"No," she shook her head.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
Fiona waited a moment before slowly turning away and walking out of the small house. Phoebe turned onto her side and felt the tears slide into her mouth while others landed on the pillow. She tried to mentally tell herself that 16 and homeless was not the kind of mother a baby should have. A baby needed a family with a mom and a dad and a chance at education and a real life. Living on the streets with a deadbeat teenager who never went to high school was not an option. After some time went by, Phoebe cried harder. She wished after all that she had said goodbye.
Present
Phoebe was wheeled out beside Joey, who was now cracking jokes about his whole procedure. Phoebe stayed quiet. The whole procedure felt like a blur to her now. She kept thinking about why she agreed to help her brother. It was partially because he was desperate and partially because she had already done it once and survived so she knew she could do it again. Her biological mother's lesson with the puppy was a joke, but she had gone along with it to pretend to understand.
"You okay?" Joey asked, finally noticing her mood.
"I'm just tired," she lied. Well, it was a partial lie. She was pretty tired from everything. They reached the front doors, and Monica was waiting with a cab for them. Phoebe slid in first and rested her head against the window. Joey squished in next to her while Monica climbed in last. When they reached Phoebe's apartment, Monica got out with her, leaving Joey in the back humming to himself.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Monica asked.
"I'm fine."
"You wanna talk?"
"No," Phoebe shook her head.
"I know this was all really emotional and exhausting for you," Monica said empathetically.
"I'm fine," Phoebe repeated.
"Okay," Monica said reluctantly. "But if you ever want or need to talk, I'm here, okay?"
"Okay."
Monica watched as Phoebe went inside. She couldn't help but feel a little worried about her friend.
