The One With The Tension
Summary: Slightly AU (I guess…) When Joey comes back to New York for a visit after not contacting anyone for over 6 years, Phoebe doesn't talk to him. She acts like something's wrong but never answers his constant pressing. But is it really something too big for him to understand? Or was he all she needed? Set like 2011
Okay, so I've basically loved Phoey and Rosschel ever since I first saw the show.
So… I was two or three lol.
And then whenever we would watch late season three (my parents bought all the DVDs… well by then it was like season 7 or 8 but I wanted to watch it from beginning to present) my tiny brain was like "Hey! Chandler and Monica need to be together because everybody will have someone!" So I was a happy little kid when I saw the London stuff… I mean, I didn't get WHY they were in bed or anything but yeah xD
You can imagine how sad I was that she married Mike. I liked Mike but… I loved Joey. He was my second favorite character, behind Phoebe (now I really like Chandler because I get his jokes… when I was little I thought he was weird lol)
So yeah.
I only saw the first couple episodes of Joey like three years ago on YouTube. Didn't like it.
So I'm not even gonna bring up his "love interest".
That's why this is slightly AU. She kinda… isn't part of the picture here if you get what I mean lol xD
OMG it's like I can hear Pheebs in my head.
"Yeah, go on get outta here! You get your pretty little a** back to… LA (had to look it up… lol .-. ) missy!"
Hahahahahahaha… I love that girl xD
Okay, okay enough rambling… On with my first Friends fanfic!
P.S. if it sucks well sorry first time writing in Friends fandom lol
Btw:
what's happening
thoughts
flashback
Texting/ im
"person on other side of phone conversation"
Monica's POV:
Phoebe…
Picked a great time to blow up my phone last night.
Flashback:
Buzz.
Buzz.
Buzzzzzzz.
Ugh not now phone let me rest.
I turn away from the phone, and try to cuddle with Chandler.
We're doing great.
He's still sweet and funny and sarcastic.
You'd never believe this but he's actually a good father.
After how bad his parents screwed him up I'm so proud of him.
As for Erica and Jack?
They're angels.
Well, Jack's kind of embarrassed of me.
Chandler jokes that it's because I wanna hug him every time I drive them to school.
Hey it's not my fault Jack's so damn cute!
I get that boys aren't supposed to be all for their mom always gushing at them, but he's only seven years old for God's sake!
Erica is a sweetheart though.
She loves hugging me, trying to cook like me, sitting on her daddy's lap.
She's adorable.
Such a Mommy's girl.
I'm making sure of it after how my mom treated me.
As of now Jack's more keen on Chandler.
…But they're so precious.
They both have Erica's eyes.
Not my Erica. The sweet, but ditzy biological mother.
Erica has the same color hair as her, but Jack has kind of brown hair.
Must've gotten from that boyfriend of hers or something.
I don't think they're dating anymore.
I'm not sure.
All we talk about is the kids.
"Mon?" I hear Chandler say hoarsely, clearing his throat before turning to me. "Honey why are you up? It's still dark out."
"I know… My phone woke me up. I didn't even see who it was." I admit, pecking him before grabbing my phone. "I should probably check who it was.
6 missed texts.
4 missed calls.
Who are they from?
Take a guess.
Yep. Phoebe.
Well, a text from Ross and a text from Rachel but still.
I sigh and go to my missed texts.
11:24 PM
Pheebs: Monica! Please call me it's urgent!
11: 31 PM
Pheebs: Mon please pick up.
12:56 AM
Pheebs: MONICA PICK UP THE GODDAMN PHONE!
10:56 PM
Ross: Mon Pheebs is calling us repeatedly saying she needs to talk to you. Please answer her calls she's driving us insane.
11:58 PM
Rachel: MONICA. It is 12:00 AM. Phoebe will not let us sleep. Please. PLEASE pick up the phone and talk to the poor thing. Emma can't sleep and neither can we! Bye:)
I look at the clock on the dresser.
It's 3:46 AM.
Whatever Pheebs has to tell me must be serious if she's kept it up for like five hours.
I check when each missed call was.
Missed Calls
Pheebs at 3:32 AM
Pheebs at 12:54 AM
Pheebs at 11:45 PM
Pheebs at 11:11 PM
Wonder if she made a wish.
Sorry. Off-topic.
I nudge Chandler, who's already asleep again. "I'm gonna talk to Phoebe in the bathroom.
I see him smirk. "When did she get here?"
I laugh fondly, kissing his cheek and tiptoeing to our bathroom.
I tap call and wait for Phoebe to answer.
One ring.
Two ri-
Answer.
"MONICA! WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THE PAST 5 HOURS?! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CALL YOU BUT YOU NEVER ANSWERED AND-"
"Oh my God; the kids are asleep Phoebe! I was asleep! I'm sorry Pheebs but my phone was on vibrate. But it slid to my ear and I heard the vibrating."
"S-sorry I just…" She trails off.
I swear I hear sniffling.
"It's okay Pheebs. Now what was so important that you needed to call me for?" I ask in a slightly joking way.
Silence.
Silence.
More Silence-
"Mike and I we-we h-had another f-fight…" Phoebe starts bawling.
Yeah… she and Mike?
Not doing the best. Like at all.
He's never home, she wants to see him, he yells at her insensitivity, she cries and screams back.
Every time she describes it it's something like that.
Poor Pheebs.
"Aw Pheebs…" I coo. "You can come over if you wanna talk about it. You wanna?"
I feel her smiling. "S-sure. Thanks Mon."
"Anytime Pheebs."
End of Flashback
…i'LL bE tHeRe fOR yoU…
Phoebe's POV:
I just… I don't even know him anymore…
Where is the sweet, adorable man I married that stood against his parents because they wouldn't accept me?
"Pheebs?"
I dart my head up to Monica's confused expression.
"You okay? Rachel's coming in a few minutes."
Good things it's Saturday.
"Yeah, just a little upset." I smile at her.
Suddenly someone barrels into me.
Or, two someones…
I look up.
"Eri! Jack!" I smile, hugging the twins back.
"Hi Aunt Phoebe!" They chorus.
I laugh and shake my head.
God they're growing up so fast.
Erica's like a mini version of the first Erica.
Except she hates having her hair up.
Unlike biological mom…
Her hair's really straight and pretty.
Naturally too.
I love it.
"What are you doing here?" Erica asks as Jack runs to the kitchen.
"I came to see you guys!" I beam, trying my hardest to hide that I'm upset.
But it's not as hard as I thought it would be.
They always make me smile.
Emma too. She's only a couple years older than the twins.
Ben's 16 so I mean, we don't talk much.
We say hi, but he still stays at Carol and Susan's.
As far as I can tell, he's not gay, but he's okay with his mom being a lesbian.
Ross still doesn't get how Ben can just let it roll off his back.
I dunno.
Maybe the kid's just chill like Carol.
Or maybe he's spent too much time with the girls.
Either way now he gets hang out with Ross so that's good.
"Erica! You want some pancakes?"
"Coming mommy! C'mon Aunt Phoebe." Erica smiles, grabbing my hand.
I giggle, "I'm coming Eri."
Oh yeah.
I gave her a nickname.
Around the time she and Jack were toddlers.
Eri just suits her.
I'm the only one who calls her that though.
I think they get that it's like a special thing for just us.
We walk to the kitchen and, letting go of Eri's hand, I grab a plate and sit down.
"Thanks Mon. This is really good." I smile at her after swallowing.
"No problem Pheebs.
I feel a tug on my light blue sundress with lilies on it.
The same sundress I wore yesterday I…
I didn't even have time to change.
Goddammit Phoebe stop it!
I look down and see Eri smiling at me.
"Can I sit with you?" She asks sweetly.
I reply by beaming and scooping her up onto my lap.
Monica comes by and puts Erica's plate down before going back to get her own.
Mon sits next to me.
I hear a knock on the door.
"I can get it!" Jack smiles and runs over to the door.
"Wait Jack." I say.
Monica looks to see that it's just Ross and Rachel with Emma.
"Okay you can open the door Jack-Jack." She smiles at him.
Jack-Jack.
It's a cute nickname. She doesn't use it a lot though.
He opens the door; not knowing who it is because at least at his level you can't see though the window.
"Hi!" I hear Rachel and Ross.
"Hi Aunt Monica!" Emma runs over to her blood-relative aunt and hugs her.
"Hey!" She laughs a little.
I set Eri down and stand up.
"Hi Pheebs!" She smiles, before quieting down. "How you doing?"
"Good. Thanks Rach." I smile back.
"Hey." Ross says as he shuts the door. "Where's Chandler?"
We all hear a loud snore and laugh.
"I'll wake him up." Monica offers with a roll of her eyes, putting Emma back down.
I'd love a life like theirs.
Happy, a family…
With the person you actually love…
But my person is in LA now.
We haven't talked since that day he left.
Even though it was like six years ago I remember every detail.
Flashback:
I try to control my sobs. For him.
"Aw, c'mon Pheebs. Here; look at me." Joey tilts my head up to meet his eyes.
"Joey… I don't want you to go!" I wail, clutching onto him tightly.
He returns the hug and signs as he pushes his chin on my head. "I don't want to leave you guys either. But I have to. It's for the better of my career."
"To hell with your career. I need you Joey." I snap, sniffling before laying my head on his shoulders.
Everyone else had said goodbye to him.
No one's compared to mine.
Well, maybe Chandler's…
He cried.
But he doesn't love Joey the way I love Joey.
"Pheebs, you know I need to do this. Why do you have to make things so hard?"
"Oh I dunno, maybe because I love you?!"
Holy crap did that just come out of my mouth.
Because I think it did.
But… I'm supposed to love Mike…
"Phoebe. You're gonna be fine. I'll text you everyday. We can call each other and everything!" He smiles slightly, before noticing my sad expression. Joey sighs. "Look sweetie I'm just tryin' to make this easier on you."
"I know." I answer quietly, looking down.
He looks reluctant. "I gotta go."
I nod, before making sure no one else in the group is watching. I lean forward and press my lips gently on his cheek.
He backs away, confused.
"It'd for good luck silly!" I smile, and he looks at the group and the kids remorsefully.
Suddenly he looks about 50 years old.
"Joey?"
"I gotta go."
"But-"
He hugs me again before walking away.
Walking right out of my life.
End of Flashback
It still haunts me.
And Joey swore he would talk to me.
He never kept in touch.
My Joey… I need him.
Why I married Mike I have no idea.
"Pheebs." Rach says quietly, leading me into guest room. "You're crying."
"I'm fine. Just miss Joey."
"Oh honey you know he hasn't talked to any of us in over six years."
"I know Rach, but I had a flashback to when he left. It was scary and sad." I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I need to take a nap."
"Okay Pheebs." She smiles softly, mouthing, "I'll cover for you" as she shut the door. "Guys Phoebe's getting migraines and isn't feeling too hot."
"Aw…" Mon said sympathetically.
I laugh to myself.
The two best cover girls ever.
Okay so did you like it?
My first so please be nice!
And anyways don't worry. Joey's coming soon.
Gonna post this soon and next chapter should be up by… well, knowing me, being all irresponsible with two serious stories, a funny one on the side and now ANOTHER serious one?
Lol
PS Erica hating her hair up and her brother's nickname… That's a throwback to my friend Sarah. Everyone calls her little brother- including her- that and she hates her hair up.
And I know I'm sappy but I couldn't help giving Phoebe a special bond with Eri! :D