A/N: Now you have read the summary and the song has finished. This story is based on Joey and Rachel. I will be writing and using some of the script from season 7 & 8 to start the story but eventually it will lead to something else, a future you might say, an imagination/perspective of how I see if Joey and Rachel truly got together.

On some level, I personally think Joey and Rachel could have been a perfect couple. Don't get me wrong, I honestly love Ross and Rachel because they are meant to be on the show, but I do love the idea of Joey and Rachel. They were so close yet so far.

I never wrote stories so not sure about my writing style but I'm going to give it a go. So please try to understand and I promise to do my very best. I am terrible with my tenses and do not have a massive vocabulary so I apologise for that. Oh if there are minor errors I'll eventually fix them. There will be sexual romance in later chapters but "it's very tastefully done" in reference to Rachel but maybe to some people especially Joey "it's not tasteful at all".

Hope you'll enjoy it, if not then I honestly don't care but thanks for viewing it anyways!

Love Wendy

Pairing: Mainly JR and some MC.

Genre: Romance, Angst, Comfort, Hurt, AU

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own these characters (except for the others you'll find out who later), in my dreams I wish but that's not the point. Let's read the story shall we?

Chapter 1: I 'm Here For You

Monica has been yelling at the top of her lungs "I'm engaged! I'm engaged!" Chandler couldn't help but smile because now Monica wasn't just his best friend or a friend who used to live across the hall from him but his fiancée, the woman he will live with for the rest of his life.

Monica: "I'm getting married! I'm gonna be a bride! (Someone else yells at her) No, I will not shut up because I'm engaged!" Chandler laughs. (He yells again) "Ohh, big talk! Huh, why don't you come over here and say that to me?! Huh, buddy?! Yeah, my fiancée will kick your ass! Come on, apartment 20! Apartment 20!

Immediately Chandler's face changed. He was afraid.

Chandler looked at Ross, "Okay you get her in here" then to Joey "You bolt the door. I'll be in the closet!"

Everyone was beyond happy for Chandler and Monica because these two truly deserve one another. As Chandler was pouring champagne in each of their glasses, Rachel couldn't help but look at Monica from time to time. Monica was practically glowing and beaming with happiness and joy. On some level Rachel was a bit jealous probably 98% happy and 2% jealous but she was feeling rather sad then jealous. She didn't let that sadness in her heart show, as this was Monica's night and didn't want to ruin her "thunder". She honestly couldn't be happier than the fact her best friend was engaged but deep down, she wasn't even close let alone she wasn't even dating.

Monica: Okay! Wait-wait-wait! Shhh! Okay, umm, I just wanna say that…I love you guys so-so much and-and thank you for being here on my special night. Our special night. I mean it just wouldn't be my—our-our night, if you all weren't here to celebrate with me—us—Damnit!

Chandler: "It's okay, I want this to be your night too." He raises his class. "To Monica"

Monica: Awww, come on—wait—stop it. Okay, to Monica.

Chandler: To Monica!

Monica: "Y'know what we should do? We should all get dressed up and go to have champagne at The Plaza!"

They all agreed and quickly got dressed cause you know just incase Monica brings out her dark side to demand everyone to hurry up; after all it is her night.

Back in apartment 19, Rachel and Joey surprisingly burst out their bedroom door at the same time. Joey smiled at her and thought to himself how she always managed to look absolutely beautiful and never fails. She was wearing a strapless black dress that was slightly just above her knee and it had a split on the right side of the dress. It fitted nicely which showed her beautiful slim body and not to mention a bit of cleavage but not too much. She still managed to stay beautiful, classy and sexy at the same time, which always surprises Joey.

Joey: "You look beautiful Rachel"

Rachel: "Oh thanks sweetie"

She said this quietly and smiled at Joey but gave out a little sigh and looked down at her handbag.

Joey: "Is everything okay Rach?"

Rachel: "I don't know, y'know? I feel a little umm… No, y'know what? Nevermind, I'm gonna be fine"

Joey: "Are you sure? I'm here for you whatever you need Rachel. Don't forget that"

He said this with sincere and smiled at her to let her know that he meant it. That's the thing that's great about Joey, Rachel thought to herself. Whenever she was in trouble or needed someone, he was there. Well of course he was always there since they share the same apartment but regardless when or where, he was there for her and the others. Sure Joey can be immature and sleep with countless of women, but you can always count on Joey.

Rachel: "I know Joey, thank you. Now let's go celebrate at the Plaza!"

Joey quickly hurried behind her but before they entered apartment 20, Joey tapped on Rachel's shoulder. She turned around to see what the problem was and out of nowhere Joey reached out and pulled her in for a hug. Rachel was caught off guard and did not expect this at all. However, deep down she felt how much Joey really cared for her and it warmed her heart. She slowly wrapped her arms around him clinging onto him tightly. She wished time would just stop because all she needed was comfort and to feel something. Just at that moment Monica opened the door to tell Rachel and Joey to hurry up. However, she stopped suddenly and gasped by the sight of her two best friends hugging each other.

Monica: "I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything? Is everything okay?"

Monica said with concern but deep down she was afraid something was going to ruin her night.

Rachel: "No Monica, everything is fine. I just needed a hug from Joey that was all"

Joey: "Yeah Monica! Beside there's plenty more where it came from" Joey reached out his arms to Monica and gave a grin. Monica smiled and giggled, typical Joey she thought.

Monica: "Oh ok, for a second I thought Rachel's done it again, stealing my thunder!"

Rachel: "What?! No Monica, it's Monica's night I would never do that!"

Monica: "Well then, are we ready to go?!"

Rachel: "Yes, yes we are"

Rachel gave a sigh of relief and thank God that Monica didn't make a big deal out of it. However, Monica was too busy beaming over her engagement she didn't really bother to care for anything else. Ross shortly arrived and they all went to the Plaza to celebrate.

As they were celebrating, drinking and enjoying each other's company at the plaza, Rachel noticed something she never did before. Every time she looked at Joey, he was staring at her but when she noticed he was, he quickly would look away. Rachel was curious but dared not to think about it, beside if she did, all she could hear was Monica's voice sharing her joy not just to her friends and fiancé but also to the whole plaza! Rachel couldn't help but smile and laugh how happy Monica and Chandler was. Phoebe during the whole night tried to persuade Chandler that she wants to sing a song at their wedding. At first Chandler hesitated only because the song started like this "First time I met Chandler, I thought he was gay. But here I am singing on his wedding day!" However he eventually agreed only because she has this crazy temper they did not want to see. And for Ross, well he just simply kept telling Monica how happy that not only that his sister was engaged but with his best friend.

As the evening went by, it was eventually time to go home. The new engaged couple with Rachel and Joey shared a cab while Ross and Phoebe shared one.

Rachel was feeling rather unease due to the fact they were heading home only because she couldn't help but think about why Joey kept gazing at her at the Plaza. Thankfully Joey offered to sit at the front seat so it wouldn't cause any awkwardness but no matter how much the avoid it they were going to be alone in apartment 19.

As Joey closed the door, he turned around and placed his hands together obviously trying to break the tension between them.

Joey: "What a night! Monica sure had heaps of fun ha?"

Rachel: "Yeah, Monica sure did. God bless those two, I am so happy for them, it almost made me cry!"

Joey: "Rach, you did cry …"

Rachel: "What?! No I didn't"

Joey: "Yes, yes you did. Rachel always cry"

Rachel: "That is so not true!"

Her voice began to become high pitched almost started to sound like she was about to sob.

Joey: "Oh no, Rachel I'm sorry, you know I was only joking." He said this while giving a small laugh but quickly replied, "Please don't cry, you know how much I hate seeing women cry"

Rachel: "I'm okay, it's fine Joey"

Weeping away the tears Rachel sighed and there it was, the awkwardness rose again. Joey began to fidget and was looking at the floor where as Rachel pretend to be amused with her heels, her new beautiful heels which she brought not long ago, well this morning actually. Rachel told herself this is her only chance to ask him.

Rachel: "Uhm Joey, at the plaza …"

Joey: "Yeah?"

Rachel: "Well I couldn't help" she paused and thought carefully of the words she was going to say to him "couldn't help but uhm noticed that you were looking at me, and not just once" a short pause trying to be curious and continued "so I wanted to ask you why?"

She felt that her hands were becoming a bit damp so she nervously but quickly wiped them on her dress – but from behind so Joey wouldn't notice. Joey's eyes darted away from Rachel and back at her and away again. She knew he was nervous even though he always appears to be a macho man yet he never could hide his true feelings, it always showed. Seeing him nervous was rather adorable Rachel thought to herself, as she waited for him to reply to her question. Joey opened his mouth but it seems like no words were coming out.

Joey: "Uhmm, I just really wanted to make sure you were truly okay"

Joey spoke really quickly and gave a smile while waving his hands in the air to appear like it was nothing. Rachel knew this wasn't the truth, well maybe it was half the truth but she needed confirmation.

Rachel: "Joey. Are you telling me the truth? I know how much you hate keeping secrets"

Joey: "Ugh, fine! But no, it is the truth I just want to make sure you were okay and …"

Rachel: "And?" she said curiously but was afraid to hear what was coming.

Joey: He began to spoke but quietly "Because… because you looked really beautiful tonight"

Joey quickly looked down to the floor and kicked his shoe lightly. Well he was only doing this to avoid looking at Rachel. Rachel froze at the response. She took his words at heart because she knew he was telling the truth and the fact he truly meant it. She didn't know what to do so slowly approached him. It seems like forever to reach him, but once she was face to face with him she slowly reached out her arms. Well you can predict what happened next, she was hugging him and carefully place her head on his chest. Now this wasn't a friendly hug it was a hug that she herself couldn't explain. She held onto him tightly and it warmed her heart just like it did earlier in the evening.

Joey was surprised but gave in and held onto her tightly placing his arms around her. Having her fitted so nicely in his arms made him think how they would make a pretty good couple. But he dared not go further because after all she is Rachel, his best friend. The girl he knew he could never get because she was smart, beautiful, caring, funny and was way out of his league. He inhaled and could smell the sweet vanilla and coconut scent that was from her hair. God she smelt amazing. Coming back to reality he quickly pulled away because he knew this would be a dangerous territory he was heading. Rachel opened her eyes and simply just stared into his dark brown eyes. There it is, that feeling. What is this feeling? She couldn't stop it nor can she fight it. Joey too was staring at her eyes, the bluest eyes he has ever seen. They were dazzling and he couldn't resist because it seem to hypnotise him. What is this feeling that he was feeling? He couldn't even answer that. Joey took a step back and opened his mouth to speak.

Joey: "uhm well, I should be – I should be err going to bed now. Got an audition tomorrow" He smiled and took another step back slightly turning towards his bed to indicate he was heading in that direction.

Rachel: "Right, goodnight Joe"

Joey: "Goodnight Rach"

He said politely and leans in to give her a kiss on the cheek. Then slowly he dragged his feet into his bedroom and quietly closed the door.

Rachel was left alone in the living room confused but her heart, it felt warm, and she felt complete and happy. She slowly turned in for the night and wonder what will happen tomorrow.