Cousins

TOW They All Leave Home

A/N: Yeah, this has been done before. But I thought it would just be cool to try a story about the cousins in actual spin-off format, with actual episodes. Don't worry, that doesn't mean it's in script format, lol. Each "episode" won't be long, eight short chapters at most.

I just always thought a sitcom about the cousins would be perfect for an actual Friends spin-off. It'd be a new group of people, yet still with ties to the original six. Even before I found spin-off fics, I came up with how I imagined the cousins to be and that they live in Manhattan.

I'm sorry to those who feel I may be stealing their ideas. But I promise you, other than the very basic concept of the cousins living together in Manhattan, all plotlines and personalities will be my own.

If this goes well, I have fifteen episodes planned so far for season one, and will give you a sneak preview of the summaries in the next chapter. But for now, here's TOW They All Leave Home.

"One…two…three!" Erica called. She then stumbled backwards into the kitchen cabinets as her cousins pushed a foosball table into her new apartment. The expensive table had been a college graduation gift from her honorary uncle Joey, who'd been rolling in cash ever since his sitcom premiered.

Tightening her blonde ponytail, Erica yelled, "Aw, guys! You scuffed the floor!"

"Well, excuse me, princess," Jack retorted, helping Ben and Mikey carry the table further into the apartment. Mikey was Mike Jr., Phoebe and Mike's twenty-year-old son.

Setting the table on the edge of the kitchen, Ben sat on the arm of the couch and caught his breath. "Sorry, Erica. But you get what you pay for. And you're not paying us anything."

"Because you're family! Duh!" Erica said.

Mikey grinned at her. "I'm not. That'll be ten bucks an hour, please."

"Well, you're considered family, so it doesn't count," Emma said as she came in from the bedroom. "And are you guys free on Saturday?"

Ben put his hands on his hips. "That depends what for."

"The bedroom needs painting. I swear, it's like this place hasn't been lived in since Aunt Monica and Uncle Chandler were here," Emma explained.

While apartment hunting in Manhattan, the group had seen this place listed and decided to check it out, just for sentimental purposes. None of them thought that they could afford it, remembering the stories that Monica had only been able to live there because of rent control. But to their surprise, the building had deteriorated over the years and the rent had been slashed down to compete with newer buildings in the neighborhood.

Since Emma and Erica were making the most money, they'd been able to claim it over Jack and Mikey, who'd also been in the market for apartment housing.

"Hm, spending the day painting a room for my cousin," Jack wondered aloud, pretending to consider the idea. "Nope, I think I've got a root canal that day I'd rather go to. What a shame."

Emma crossed her arms. "Fine then. See if I help you move into your place."

"Oh, no! Now who will stand around and tell me what to do?" Jack exclaimed in mock horror.

Erica, meanwhile, had begun to go through the many boxes on the kitchen table. "Has anyone seen my tennis ball?"

"Why, looking to play a few matches?" Mikey asked in confusion, glancing out the big picture window. The rain was coming down in sheets, like it had been since they'd left Westchester that morning.

Not even looking up at him, Erica explained, "No, it's to get that scuff mark off the floor.. There's no way I'll be able to do anything else until its gone."

Ben laughed at her. "Are you sure you're adopted? You sound just like…"

"Yes, ha ha, I'm turning into my mother. I accept that. Now where's that damn…"

"Looking for this?" Mikey asked, tossing up the tennis ball he'd found in a box labeled "cleaning supplies."

Jack held out his hand. "Hey, toss it over here!"

"Oh, don't you dare…" Erica warned.

"Sure. Catch!" Mikey called, tossing the ball to Jack.

Emma laughed and held up her hands. "Guys, over here!"

"Yes, throw it to Em!" Erica agreed.

While Emma pouted, Jack teased, "Yeah, right. Erica's got a better chance of catching it before Emma even reaches for it."

"Now, Jack, be nice," Ben chided, then smiled. "Erica's not even in the ball's line of direction. There's a chance Emma might catch it first."

Emma crossed her arms at her chest. "All of you are mean!"

"Hey, you were the one willing to join in when it was me they were teasing," Erica reminded her. Glaring at the boys, she reached into another box marked "junk drawer." "Fine, you boys play with your balls all you want…"

"I always do," Jack interrupted, tossing the tennis ball in the air and catching it.

Erica rolled her eyes. "Ignoring that. I've got an eraser right here." Holding up the school supply, she went back to the scuff and rubbed it out. "There. Good as new."

"And now we'll all sleep better tonight," Mikey joked

Seriously, Erica shrugged. "I know I will. Now let's put that foosball table over by the picture window. Emma…"

"Can't. Just did my nails this morning," Emma replied, holding up her pink fingernails.

Ben raised an eyebrow at her. "Why would you paint your nails when you knew you were moving today?"

"In case we meet any cute neighbors who come over to welcome us to the building," Emma explained, as if it should have been obvious.

Her older brother let out an exasperated sigh. "Good to know you've got your priorities straight."

"Hey, you never know. I could meet a guy, and get him to help me finish moving in," Emma pointed out.

At that, Jack glanced at his sister. "In that case, why don't you have your nails painted?"

"Ha ha. Besides, we haven't seen one cute guy since we moved in here," Erica retorted, then frowned. "Which is a shame, really…"

Checking his watch, Ben said, "Well, as much as I'd like to stay and sympathize, Sarah's expecting me home for dinner." Sarah was Ben's wife of two years. The two had met in college, stayed friends, and eventually became husband and wife.

"Oh, yes, wouldn't want the take-out to get cold. Or are you making dinner tonight, Mr. Housewife?" Mikey teased.

Ben glared at him. "We're ordering Chinese food, thank you very much. It's not her fault she's been running late at the office."

"I never got how a nut job can be a psychologist," Jack quipped, earning him a smack from Erica.

Glaring at him, Emma chided, "Jack! That's not nice! Sarah is perfectly normal."

"Yeah," Ben agreed, then checked his watch again. "But I gotta get home soon."

Noticing the rain was somewhat letting up, Mikey suggested, "Hey Ben, you got some time for a pit-stop? We've been meaning to check out our parents' old haunt and see if it's still any good. I think it's called Central Perk?"

"Oh, I've been dying to check it out all day! Let's go!" Erica exclaimed. As the group made their way to the door, she held up a hand and got their attention. "But not before we move the foosball table to the window."