Heyo! I decided to just take a break from my other fics, and write a songfic type of thing. I'm not sure if this will extend to more than one chapter...............but MAYBE. Anyway......this is a R&R sort of fic.......but it's not one of those 'getting together' thingy's. Anyway.......I hope you enjoy it! (btw, just for the record.......Rachel and Ross are married and have 2 kids.) [Okay, the words of the song are going to be spread out across the whole fic, I hope it's not confusing!!]

~Family Portrait~

(we fade in, and we see this big picture of a family. On it we see Ross, Rachel and two little girls[one is about 6 and the other is like 3] and one little boy. They all look so loving and have huge smiles on their faces. We slowly go closer to the smallest girl's face, and when we ONLY see her face, with her huge 'toothless' grin, we fade from the face to another face, of a teenage girl lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, tears rolling down her cheeks. As we get farther up, we can see all of her. She's covering her ears with the pillow and of course, still crying. In the background we can hear yelling, which seemed to be coming right through the walls. She turns to her right side, where her bedside table is. There we see a smaller version of the picture. She reaches out for it and looks at it, trying to now hold back tears. But as she breaks down again, she holds the picture to her heart, and we fade out.)

Girl's voice: (V/O) If somebody asked me to sum up my life in a few words, I wouldn't be able to give that person a right answer. My life has been a series of ups and downs. Its like a roller coaster.........and I cant get out of the cart; it keeps going on and on, up and down, and back up again. I dont really want to put the blame on someone, but I must say that some of this is my older brothers fault. My older brother, Nicky, is 18 years old. He used to be the star player on our schools basketball team, but now he is spending some time in a rehab center. After that he he will be off to boarding school, away from his 'friends'. A while back, Nicky started mixing with the bad groups, and soon ended up drugging himself like crazy. Mom and dad were so disappointed, and for a while all you could hear in this house was Nicky, Dad and mom screaming their heads of at each other. Now it's only mom and dad. I dont really understand why they seem to hate each other so much, but still bare to see each other everyday. But that was none of my business. Nothing is, according to them. I dont think they even know I'm around. You see, when I was about 4 years old, my older sister, Emma caught pneumonia, and a few weeks after battling it, lost the battle. My mom and dad were never the same.

(we fade to another bedroom in the house where we see Rachel, sitting on the edge of the bed, her face in her hands. Ross is standing in the bathroom doorway, staring at her crying, a sad look on his face. He then walks over to her and sits down, putting his arms around her shoulder.)

Ross: (whispers) Look Rachel, I'm sorry okay. I'm really sorry.

Rachel: (shakes his arm off) You dont mean that! God, just get away from me! I hate you!

Ross: Rachel-

Rachel: GO AWAY!

(Ross gets up slowly and walks out the door, looking one more time at the sobbing Rachel)

(we fade to the girl[Melanie's] room. She's just staring up at the ceiling, when she hear footsteps. She turns off the lights and gets under her covers, rubbing the tears away from her eyes. Then, the door opens, casting a line of light across the room. Melanie shut her eyes tightly. Ross walked over to the bed and looked down at Melanie.)

Ross: (whispers) I'm sorry sweetie........I really am. So much is going on.......I dont understand why, but it is. I love you. (he leans down and kisses her head, the he turns around and walks out the door, slowly closing it behind him. We go to Mel's face, and we see silent tears yet again creeping down her face. We slowly fade out.

~~

Momma please stop crying

I cant stand the sound

Your pain is painful

And it's tearing me down.

I hear glasses breaking as I sit up in my bed

I told dad you didn't mean those nasty things you said.

You fight about money

About me and my brother

And this I come home to

This is my shelter.........

It aint easy growing up in world war three

Never knowing what love could be

I dont want love to destroy me like it has done my family.

~~

Melanie woke up the next morning, and she could still feel where the tears had poured down her face. Without bothering to change, she just washed her face and made her way downstairs, where she saw her mom and dad sitting silently in the kitchen, sipping their coffee.)

Ross: Morning sweetie.

Melanie: morning dad, morning mom.

Rachel: (mumbles) Morning.

Ross: (smiles at Mel) breakfast?

Melanie: No thanks, I'm not hungry.

Ross: Uh, all right.

Melanie: I'm going over to Maddy's. Bye!

Ross: Uh, say hi to your aunt Monica for me.......!

Melanie: Aiight.

As Mel walked out the front door and started walking down the side walk, she breathed in the fresh air slowly. She didn't really like going over to Maddys, even though Maddy was her best friend. Maddy was actually her cousin, by blood, but Melanie thought of her as more like a sister. But the thing was that Maddy had what Mel dreamed of, and she hated it. A perfect family. Maddy had two sister, and two perfect parents, who practically never fought. All SHE had was a broken family.

~~

As Mel walked home late in the afternoon, she couldn't help but notice the car parked in the driveway. It was Nicky's. Without thinking twice, she began to run. She was so happy........Nicky was home!! But when she entered her house, her smile dropped and all she wanted to do was run back over to Maddy's. It turns out Nicky was definitely NOT expected.

(we can hear voices from the kitchen) (all voices O/S because Maddy is just listening from the hallway)

Rachel: NICKY, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT REHAB! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING BACK HERE!

Nicky: I CAME TO VISIT, IS IT A PROBLEM FOR A SON TO MISS HIS PARENTS?!

Ross: Miss his PARENTS, REALLY?!

Nicky: Well, if YOU'RE not welcoming me here.........then I came to visit MY SISTER!

Rachel: YOUR SISTER IS DEAD!

That brought silence. That stung Melanie's heart.......and she sunk to the floor, only the wall behind her for support. And in an instant, she was sobbing. Her heart, her soul, hurt so badly. She felt like a hundred knifes were stabbing at her, and she couldn't breath. She couldn't move. The words kept echoing in her head 'YOUR SISTER IS DEAD' she heard her mother screaming, over and over again. From the kitchen, yelling resumed.

Ross: Rachel, have you gone MAD?!

Rachel: She's gone Ross.........Emma's GONE!

Ross: yes, I KNOW that! But-

Nicky: I meant MELANIE mom, REMEMBER HER?!

Rachel: My baby.........my poor, poor baby.

She didn't love her. Her own mother didn't love her. Her heart was pounding, oh all she wanted to do was disappear. She hated her life. She hated Emma. She hated Nicky. And she hated her mother.

~~

Can we work it out? Can we be a family?

I promise I'll be better

Mommy, I'll do anything.

Can we work it out? Can we be a family?

I promise I'll be better

Daddy please don't leave.

~~

Nicky: You know what mom, dad. I'M LEAVING!! I cannot believe you guys!! Why dont you stop thinking about yourself's and think about MELANIE! I dont care if you hate ME.....just......just..........Melanie, okay? (and with that he walked out of the kitchen, and when he entered the hall, he saw Mel, and his face fell.) I'm sorry Mel. I shouldn't have come. Take care of yourself, okay kiddo? (and with that, he was gone)

The rest of the evening flew by for Melanie, because after she had fled up the stairs and barricaded herself in her room, she felt safe. Away from life and away from them. She paced around her room, sobbing hysterically, trying not to trip. She could hardly see the floor with all the tears in her eyes, but as she looked around her room she noticed the picture frame. She walked over at it, picked it up and looked down at it.

Melanie: (hisses, talking to Emma) It's all your FAULT! You ruined EVERYTHING!! (yells) EVERYTHING!!!!! (she throws the frame against the wall and it shatters to the floor)

(she stares down at the frame she just threw, and she falls face down onto her bed, sobbing 'I'm sorry!')

(time lapse: few hours later. She hears a door bang and some talking. It's Ross and Rachel. She can hear them walking down the stairs, arguing. She opens her door and listens to them talking downstairs)

Rachel: ross.....you cant do this! Please!

Ross: RACHEL! It has gone TOO FAR! If I could I would bring Melanie....remember her.....with me!!

Rachel: Well, I WOULDN'T LET YOU!

Ross: You dont even know who she IS!

Rachel: She's my DAUGHTER, I gave birth to HER......of COURSE I know who she is!

Ross: Well, she ISN'T DEAD Rachel!

Rachel: I KNOW THAT!

Ross: Oh really, then why did you say she was??

(silence)

Rachel: (sobbing) Look Ross, I'm sorry......but please, you CANT leave!





Leave.



~~

Daddy please stop yelling

I cant stand the sound

Make momma stop crying

Cause I need you around

My momma she loves you

No matter what she says its true

I know that she hurts you but remember I love you too.

I ran away today

Ran from the noise

Just ran away

Dont wanna go back to that place

But I dont have a choice, no way

It aint easy growing up in world war three

Never knowing what love could be

I dont want love to destroy me like it did my family......

~~

The word 'leave' pierced Mel's heart, and she ran out the door and clung onto the railing where you could look down onto the entrance hall. She watched, crouched down in silence as Ross and Rachel stared at each other.

Ross: (whispers) I'm sorry Rachel. I'm sorry for EVERYTHING. But enough is enough.

(Rachel looks down at the floor and Ross begins to turn around)

Rachel: Ross, please! We can work this out?

Ross: Yes, maybe we could. But it will come up again.......and again. Until we both kill each other! I cant take it anymore!

Rachel: Well, neither can I Ross, but I am TRYING! I WANT to try! I love you, Ross!

(Ross looks away)

Ross: (shakes his head) I'm sorry. (he this time turns around fully and walks towards the door, leaving Rachel sobbing behind him. He opens the door and looks back around the house. He notices Melanie upstairs and looks down. He blows her a kiss and walks out the door, leaving a sobbing Rachel and a teary eyed Melanie.)

(without thinking, Melanie stood up and ran. Down the stairs, past her mom and out the door. She ran to the car that was backing up the driveway. She ran right to the drivers window, and sobbing, banged on the window. The door opens and Ross stepped out, looking down at her. Melanie, sobbing, grabs hold of him and hugs him tight. He hugs her back, tears threatening to fall.)

Can we work it out? Can we be a family?

I promise I'll be better

Mommy I'll do anything

Can we work it out? Can we be a family?

I promise I'll be better

Daddy please dont leave.....

In our family portrait, we look pretty happy

Lets play pretend, and act like it comes naturally......

~~

(she breaks the hug)

Melanie: Daddy....dont leave! Please....I love you! I NEED you!

Ross: honey, I dont have a choice!

Melanie: Please.......PLEASE?!!

Ross: I'm sorry. This has to end......and it has to end now.

Melanie: then take me with you!

Ross: (looks up at the house) No. You have to stay with your mother.

Melanie: She doesn't even know I'm ALIVE!

Ross: Look, what ever she thinks......but you KNOW she loves you....and you love her too!

Melanie: I love YOU! I want to go with You! (yells/sobs) PLEASE?!

~~

(in the background, song plays)

I dont wanna have to split the holidays

I dont want two addresses

I dont want a step brother anyway

And I dont want my mommy to have to change her last name......

~~

(Ross shakes his head slowly and gets back in the car. Melanie stands there crying, staring at him. Then her sad face turns into anger, and she glares at him as he pulls down the drive way.)

melanie: ( as she starts yelling, and then sobbing only, the song starts up in the background) I HATE YOU!! I HATE YOU!!



In our family portrait

We look pretty happy

We look pretty normal

Lets go back to that

IN our family portrait

We look pretty happy

Lets play pretend, act like it comes naturally.....(X3)

If she had known that was the last time she would have seen him, she wasn't sure if she would have said that. But at the moment........it had been true. They were now, completely, a broken family. And that was how...............her story ended.

(we go to Mel's face, and she's staring after where the car went)

Melanie: Goodbye daddy......

(with that she began to walk.....not to her house, but to Monica's. She didn't belong at this house.....she thought....she KNEW.)

melanie: I'm sorry for doing this mom. But I know you dont love me. You're all about Emma. And I'm sorry I'm not Emma. I'm sorry you hated me.....I'm sorry that I was the one that didn't die. (whispers) (looks back in the direction Ross drove off) but you took my shining star.......

(with that, we slowly zoom away, getting farther and farther from the walking figure off Melanie.)

Dont leave, dont leave, daddy dont leave....turn around please....

I remember that night you left.....

You took my shining star....

Daddy dont leave....daddy dont leave....dont leave me here alone.....

I will be nicer

I'll be so much better

I'll tell my brother

I wont spill the milk at dinner....

I'll be so much better, I'll do everything right



(FADES OUT COMPLETELY)

I'll be your little girl forever.....I'll go to sleep at night.....

~~~~

:.:.:.THE END::.:.:.

Phew, that was long.....but I'm done! I hope you liked it! I know it was sad, but oh well. I was crying while writing, hehe. Sorry for the sad ending. Ah well...please REVIEW and make me HAPPY!! It's been a bad day. Thanx for reading....bye guys!