Author's note:

Okay just a few things to say about this; this story is mainly about the characters that were kids when the show ended; i.e. Emma, who is the main character (well I think she'll be – we'll see how this pans out!) Also I'll include a few of my own characters throughout the story – some of Emma's friends for example.

Another thing. I'm setting the story where the original was set – Manhattan – however, I'm not American myself (although apparently I sound like I am) so my knowledge on how some things work over there, (i.e. the education system) is very limited. So if I get anything wrong, don't hesitate to kindly point this out in the review!

Oh and also this is my first fanfic so be nice!

Chapter 1: Working Nine To Five

The brunette sighed loudly and glanced at the large clock on the wall of the office. The school bell had gone at least half an hour ago, but she still couldn't leave. She thought she had left these days behind her. She tapped the pencil loudly against the desk. The teenager sitting across from her was looking at her pleadingly, as if she could do something.

"Stop looking at me like that." Emma told the young girl.

"Like what?" the teenager replied.

"Like I have the authority to do something."

"Come on Emma, there must be something you can do?" Emma flinched. These kids always thought she held some sort of authority; yet they would never refer to her as 'Miss', always opting to refer to her as Emma rather than her surname. Or surnames rather. Her younger siblings had lucked out by being born after their parents had married; therefore they had received just their father's surname. Emma had gotten both. Well at least she had been luckier than her half-brother, Ben. Ben had received three names: his father's, his mother's and his mother's lesbian lover's surname. Poor Ben.

The teenage girl sitting opposite Emma sighed loudly.

"Is there anyway you don't have to call my parents?"

"Sorry; they've already been informed."

"I was provoked you know."

"Yes, I know."

"So then why bother ringing my parents when you know it was an accident?"

Emma continued tapping her pen. If she hadn't informed the girl's parents the principal would have been on her ass. The girl had punched another girl in the face after all. But it wasn't as if the other girl wasn't asking for it. Emma sighed once again. If this was her job for the remainder of her life, she had wasted a few years by going to college to become a certified teacher.

She hadn't imagined herself as a secretary at all. Least of all at the school she had also once attended; she hated the fact that the principal was still the boss of her. She couldn't stand her when she was at school; the principal had always had her favourites, and Emma had never been one of them. Emma assumed it was because she had been born outside of marriage. The principal was very old fashioned.

"Emma please let this go. You understand right?" The teenager was still pleading with her to look the other way, in spite of the fact that her parents had already been called. Emma sighed again.

"I'm sorry Jenny but I had to. If it was anyone other than the principal's daughter this could've been avoided. Seriously if I hadn't of called your parents, my job would be on the line. Don't worry I'll go easy on you." After all, Emma thought, if the principal had wanted her punished she could have done it herself rather than go home as soon as the bell went and leave Emma to deal with the situation. It hadn't been in her job description to do things for the principal when she was too lazy to do it herself.

A loud knock on the door interrupted Emma's thoughts. The teenager swore under her breath.

"I think that's your parents Jenny." Emma announced as she walked towards the door.

--

Emma wrapped a light blue scarf around her neck before stepping out into the bitter Manhattan winter weather. Jenny's parents had been very kind about the incident, and the matter was resolved very quickly. Emma rolled her eyes when she saw that the car park was now empty; only her car remained. She sat down into the drivers seat and started the car.

It was now five o'clock; she hoped that some one had started dinner. It was actually her turn to make dinner but she had been held back and hadn't had time to call home. She hoped Erica was cooking; she had clearly inherited her mother's cooking ability. Emma had always questioned why her cousin was so slim – if either of her parents were chefs, she'd be the size of a house.

It was strange, Emma felt. Erica and Jack were so like their parents - both witty and sarcastic, like their father, and Erica had gotten Monica's domestic skills. Yet she had discovered during her high school years that they had been adopted. Her mother had made her swear never to reveal this to the twins though, they had never been told. Emma wasn't sure if Monica knew that her mother had told her. It wasn't as if it had come up in conversation.

Emma pulled into the driveway of her home and sighed. At least it was the weekend, she thought to herself. Hopefully no one had any other plans so they could catch a movie or something.

Emma entered the house to the aroma of a strawberry flavoured dish. Excellent; Erica most have made desert as well. Emma entered the kitchen to find her three housemates sitting down and enjoying a homemade pizza. Erica always spoilt them.

"Well, well, look who finally came home," a blonde at the table announced.

"Yeah well work was a little crazy today." Emma replied, snatching a slice of pizza from the table. She knew that wasn't going to fly though – two of the people sitting at the table worked in a hospital, she was a secretary in a private, all girls' school. One is more stressful than the other, and the two raised their eyebrows when Emma said this.

"It's ok Emma, I made dinner instead. Homemade pizza, and for desert strawberry tartlets!" Erica said as she pushed a black lock of hair behind her ear.

"Well that sounds better than what I was going to make, doesn't it Andrea?" Emma asked the blonde as she sat down on the remaining chair.

"Mmm… frozen lasagne again," the blonde intern retorted, grinning from ear to ear. Emma rolled her blue eyes once more. She seemed to be doing that a lot today.

"Okay we have to go back to work." The male housemate said as he and Andrea rose from their seats.

"Luke, you seriously going already? I just got here!" Emma replied. Damn kids and their squabbles, she had been looking forward to a relaxing evening with her friends all day.

"Well that's what you signed up for when you decided to hook up with an intern isn't it?" he replied, smiling sympathetically. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek before leaving the kitchen with Andrea, and not long later, Emma heard the sound of gravel crunching under tyres – they were gone. Emma frowned and took another slice of pizza.

"I'm sure they'll be back before you know it," Erica said as she collected the empty plates to pile into the dishwasher, "oh and before I forget, here's a letter for you."

"Who is it from?" Emma asked.

"I have a theory," Erica replied grinning as she handed Emma a cream envelope with very posh writing on it. Emma knew who had sent it as soon as she saw the name written on the envelope: Emma Monica Juliet Geller-Green. There was only one person who would ever call her that.

"Doesn't look like Ben's writing does it?" Erica observed.

"Definitely not!" Emma replied as she opened the envelope.

Review please and thanks!