September 1994

She raced into Central Perk in her wedding dress, crying and upset. A year earlier, Monica had given Rachel her address and phone number and then had not heard from her since. Monica had even forgotten she had given Rachel that information but there she was, scared and upset. Monica had been sitting in Central Perk with Ross, Phoebe, Joey and Chandler. Monica was talking about a date she had that night and in she ran, completely upset. Monica got up and approached her.

"Rach?" Monica asked

"Monica," Rachel cried as she hugged Monica. "Hi. I hope it's okay...I..you gave me your address last year and I couldn't do it. I couldn't get married….I had-I can't-I-"

"It's okay. Come here….here, you know Ross and this is Phoebe and Joey and-"

"Hi-"

"And you remember Chandler?"

"No, no, I'm sorry...nice to meet you," Rachel said, sounding flustered. Monica bit her lip, hoping Chandler won't say anything. Instead, Chandler just let out a snort and looked at Phoebe.

Monica then sat Rachel down and began listening to a story about how Rachel had crawled out the window at her own wedding after looking at a gravy boat and realizing that her fiancee reminded her of Mr. Potato Head. Monica felt for her, she seemed broken and that inner desire to fix people came back in full force. She wanted to fix her friend, take care of her which is probably why she didn't protest several hours later when Rachel invited herself to live with Monica.

"I guess I'll stay with Monica," Rachel cried on the phone to her father once they were all back up in Monica's apartment. Monica cringed a bit as Joey, Chandler and Phoebe stared at her.

"I guess she's staying with me," Monica offered.

"You cannot let this happen," Chandler said.

"I'm not going to kick her out," Monica said.

"What's wrong with her? She's hot," Joey said.

"She's the devil," Chandler said.

"She's awful," Phoebe whispered.

Monica looked at Phoebe and Chandler. She knew it would be hard for both of them to accept Rachel but she just could not find it in her heart to get rid of her. Rachel was in hysterics.

"Guys…" Monica said.

"You don't have to save everyone," Chandler said.

"I have to save her….you don't get it," Monica said.

"So Rachel is living with you?" Ross asked, grinning wildly as he walked towards them. "I like that idea."

"Of course you do," Chandler muttered.

"Hey, you were mean to her as well. It was a two way street, buddy," Monica said, pointing a finger at him, "and Phoebe, I am so sorry. Really, I am….but and I'll explain it later."

"Monica," Rachel hung up the phone and looked at her from the kitchen, tears streaming down her face. She was melting down, her entire body shaking as she was trying desperately to catch her breath. Monica got up and walked towards her before turning to look at Ross, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe.

"I'm gonna talk to Rachel outside for a moment," Monica said as she guided Rachel outside and the two sat side by side on the steps. Rachel kept sniffling, trying to catch her breath. "Okay..what happened?"

"It was all wrong. I was all wrong. I stood there and I thought, no….I didn't wanna be there anymore. I was...I don't love Barry. I don't want everything planned for me and I hate Nancy and Mindy…..I hate…...they were never my friends and I was always….I'm sorry."

"I know."

"Can I live with you?"

"Yeah."

"Can you help me?"

"Yes….even though I wasn't invited to your wedding."

"Well, next wedding….you're my maid of honor."

"Let's get through today…..by the way, you know Chandler," Monica said.

"I know I do."

"And I will talk to him but you two need to be nice to each other. You need to talk to each other. 'Cause he's one of my best friends….and he's Ross' best friend. "

"I will."

"Also...you're in my world now, so there will be ground rules. I swear. All four of those people in there, they're on my side. You screw me over….again….you're out," Monica said which made Rachel smile. She sniffled slightly as she took a breath.

"I know. I made a mistake, Mon. I made a lot of mistakes and I screwed a lot of things up….but...I'm twenty four years old, I've never had a job. I've never….I want to live, figure out who I am and I can't do that there. Surrounded by those people…."

"Okay….also, I have a date tonight-"

"You and Chandler?" Rachel asked, the smile on her face getting even bigger. Monica laughed.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Long story. I'm going on the date tonight. I'm not arranging my life around you anymore. Are you going to be okay here? Joey has a date. Ross is moving into his apartment. Phoebe, I think has plans but Chandler will be here tonight. Talk to him. You need to...you have to."

"Okay, I will and I'm fine….I'll ask him why he's not on a date with you."

"Don't ask him that."

"Can I have a hug?" Rachel asked. Monica nodded as she and Rachel shared a hug. Rachel was still shaking as they hugged. She wasn't sure she had ever seen her friend this upset. Sure, Rachel got upset a lot, she was a crier but this seemed more like fear.

"Rach, it will be okay."

"I don't know how to do anything. I'm not qualified for anything. I have no more friends-"

"Well, that part's not true. I'm your friend. Ross is still your friend. My friend, Joey will hit on you but he's a sweetheart. Come on, I'm not letting you fall, Green."

Rachel smiled and let out a chuckle which confused Monica a little. Rachel shook her head.

"Chandler….whenever I would see him, he would use that Wylie Coyote analogy and tell me to go run off a cliff. Metaphorically, I have and I hit the ground."

"You two need to talk," Monica said getting up and reaching her hand towards Rachel and gently pulling her up. The two women walked back into the apartment. There was a lot she had to say to Rachel, a lot they had to discuss but now just did not seem like the greatest time.

The next morning, Monica woke up to the sounds of pans banging in the kitchen. Her date had gone okay but she was a bit freaked by the clanging sounds. She got up and opened her door to see Rachel standing there, pulling stuff out and seemingly attempting to make breakfast.

"Morning, Rach."

Rachel turned to look at her, grinning from ear to ear.

"I thought I'd make you an omelet. To say thank you."

"Do you know how to make an omelet?"

"No."

Monica laughed as she walked towards Rachel who was currently wearing a pair of her pajamas. Monica had given Rachel some clothes to borrow before because Rachel had none of her own. Monica took the the pan from Rachel and began to clean up and cook the omelet.

"Thank you, Rach. I'll do it."

"Okay...sorry."

"That's alright. I'll teach you at some point."

"How was the date?" Rachel asked.

"It was okay. How was your night?"

"I talked with Chandler. He's a really funny guy."

Monica's mouth dropped open. Rachel was saying nice things about Chandler?

"Oh my G-d," Monica said.

"I know….last night, I was sitting on the couch crying. That's what I did after you left and Chandler came by looking for you and I invited myself to watch movies with him and we talked….a lot and...it felt right and good and...nice. We apologized to each other and we laughed and...I don't think I will be calling him an alcoholic loser anymore."

"Good. I'm so happy."

"Now, why aren't you two together?" Rachel asked, grinning as she plopped herself down at the table.

"You're still on real thin ice with me," Monica warned.

"What? You've….you like him."

"Rachel."

"He likes you."

"I know….he's...I can't...Rach, look, what you don't know...he's got a lot of issues. I can't."

"Okay….I understand."

"So….what are your plans for today?"

"Hmmm...I probably should go back to my apartment," Rachel said which made Monica's heart drop a bit. Perhaps it was too good to be true?

"Oh...yeah, I get it."

"Clearly, you don't," Rachel said, apparently noticing Monica's look, "I need to get my clothes and my toothbrush and….my ID and my accessories. Shoes. My boots. All my boots...they must be wondering I am."

"Of course...well, maybe we can get Joey, Ross and Chandler to help."

"Would they?"

"Of course."

"I have a lot of crap."

"I've known you for 18 years. I am sure you do," Monica said.

"You can borrow my boots. Anytime. You don't even have to ask."

"Thank you," Monica said.

Rachel let out a sigh as Monica continued to cook breakfast which of course was soon interrupted by Joey and Chandler walking in to find where breakfast was.

"Mon, I want food," Joey said.

"I'm making breakfast, hold on," Monica said.

"Hey, Rach," Chandler said.

"Hey...loser," Rachel grinned before noticing everyone staring at her, "I'm making a joke. Good morning, Chandler and Joey."

"Timing is everything, sweetheart," Chandler retorted.

"Oh, bite me," Rachel said.

"Boys, we need your help today. Rachel needs to move out of her apartment and you guys need to help get her stuff," Monica said which caused both boys to groan and stare angrily at Rachel.

"Is this why you were nice to me last night?" Chandler asked.

"No….a little….I still need help moving my crap and I really don't want to run into any of my old friends or Barry…." Rachel said.

"Don't worry, babe, Joey's here."

"Joey, stop hitting on her," Monica admonished.

"Yeah, don't mind my roommate….he's a walking penis," Chandler said.

"Thank you," Joey said.

"Wasn't a compliment, Joe."

"You just called me big...actually, Rachel a lot of people just refer to me as Big Joe."

"Joey, stop," Monica said.

"And no one does that," Chandler said. Rachel began laughing which made Monica happy, she was at least feeling better. She especially enjoyed watching Rachel and Chandler banter back and forth, whatever they discussed seemed to move their relationship in a good direction. They no longer seemed mean spirited and nasty towards each other. Quite the opposite, they actually seemed like friends.

Rachel lived in a fancy apartment on Long Island. While Monica loved the place she called home now, Rachel moving from her fancy apartment with an elevator to a building where she'd have to walk up six flights of stairs daily seemed like a big step down.

"Can I live with Barry?" Chandler asked when they were finally let into the apartment. Rachel had to go beg the super let them back in and it was then she also found out, Barry wasn't home. He had gone to Aruba on their honeymoon, without her.

"Okay, let me grab the suitcases and….I just need some stuff like for clothes," Rachel said, looking sadly around the apartment.

"Rachel, this is where I take control. Okay, Joey, Ross, Chandler take the boxes and...where's your room?" Monica asked.

"Come on, boys," Rachel said as the boys groaned. They followed Rachel into her bedroom and Monica waited for to come back out. "They're packing my closet." Rachel said when she returned. "Monica….I loved this place."

"It's a nice apartment."

"Yes, but it didn't have Joey and Chandler barging in and making jokes and asking for breakfast."

"Oh, the novelty of that wears off."

"No, I'll never get sick of it. Hmm...messages," Rachel said as she walked towards the answering machine. There were ten messages. Rachel pressed play, which soon revealed itself to be a mistake. There were messages from Nancy, Mindy and several of Rachel's former friends leaving messages basically ripping Rachel to shreds, calling her names. Monica's heart broke as tears ran down Rachel's face. Monica immediately comforted her, putting an arm around her.

"Did they not think I'd be back? The guy went Aruba and...none of my friends are worried about me? They're not wondering where I am? For all they knew, I was missing for twenty four hours and no one cared. I have no friends."

"Rachel, sweetie," Monica comforted her. "It's okay."

Suddenly, Monica felt surrounded. The three boys wrapped their arms around Rachel and Monica, hugging them. Monica heard Rachel giggle a little.

"I can't breathe," Rachel said as they all separated.

"You got us, Rach….we're not going anywhere," Ross said.

"Yeah….we could care if you went missing. We'd get you….also, the Gellers don't let anyone go missing. Believe me," Chandler grinned which caused Ross to smack him upside the head.

"Let's get to work, please." Monica said and of course, off they went, packing Rachel's belongings and heading back to her new home. The one she would now share with Monica. Once Rachel got settled and got a job working at Central Perk, Monica knew she'd have to explain it to Laurie and Ellie. They would have questions and Monica decided that there needed to be a lunch, one Rachel wasn't so sure about.

"They called me Rat Face Green," Rachel complained as they sat together at a sushi restaurant waiting for Ellie and Laurie said.

"You know about that?"

"Of course. I….I just-"

"You have to make up with them too."

"I made up with Chandler, isn't that enough? That's a huge deal."

"I know and I am so happy but if I explain to Ellie and Laurie that you are now my roommate, they will have a lot of questions."

"i feel like I need a t-shirt that says 'Rachel Green Apology Tour '94'", Rachel grumbled.

"You're almost done."

"Oh my G-d, Rat Face!" Ellie exclaimed as the she and Laurie walked up to them. Rachel let out a snort and shook her head.

"Hello, Ellie," Rachel said.

"What is she doing here?" Laurie asked as she and Ellie sat down.

"Rachel is my new roommate," Monica said.

"Oh my G-d, do you like hate yourself?" Ellie asked.

"Okay, I'm gonna just go," Rachel said.

"No, wait...come on, let's talk. We are adults...okay...Rachel-"

"I ran out on my wedding. I was all ready to get married and then I ran out and I've lost all my friends, Nancy and Mindy are horrible, horrible people and I have pretty much no one from my old life. I am now completely in debt to Monica and I work as a waitress in a coffee shop," Rachel said, "and I'm very sorry for being nasty to all of you and I...I have apologized a lot and I will never be able to apologize enough to Monica….and please stop calling me Rat Face."

Ellie and Laurie exchanged a look and glanced back at Rachel.

"You're making me feel bad for you," Ellie said.

"Sorry, but look at it this way….I sure you two know Chandler by now and I'm now living with Monica and Chandler lives next door so I can work from the inside to try and get those two to hook up," Rachel grinned. Monica's mouth dropped open, where the hell had that come from? Ellie and Laurie both seemed to like this idea and the three girls high fived each other.

"I like the way you think, Green," Ellie said.

"I don't. We are not….I'm not having this argument anymore," Monica said.

"So you really did lose everyone?" Laurie asked.

"I did. I rebuilding my entire life and yeah, I'm a waitress."

"How's that?" Laurie asked.

"Awful."

After that, the lunch seemed to go smoother and Monica was becoming more and more impressed with Rachel. There really was something different about her. She really didn't seem like the girl she once knew, actually she seemed like the Rachel from those pantry discussions from so long ago. She seemed sweet and kinda hearted and was trying hard, although Monica had banned her from attempting to cook.

A few weeks into Rachel's stay, a few of Rachel's old friends came by to visit and Monica took that chance to deal with a new development within the group: Phoebe. Ever since Rachel had come into the group, Phoebe had been distancing herself and Monica would have none of it so when Rachel reluctantly went out to get a bite to eat with some of her old friends, Monica invited Phoebe to spend the night and would make it a girl's night especially since the boys were off going to see a hockey game. Monica had decided to attempt to make the slow death drink but a smoothie version for herself, Phoebe and Rachel when she got back because she had a distinct feeling Rachel would need a drink. Once the drinks were done, she handed Phoebe her glass and got a glass of her own as the two sat across from each other on the couch.

"Oh, strong...is this Slow Death?" Phoebe asked.

"The smoothie version."

"Nice."

"Why are you pulling away?" Monica asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ever since Rachel arrived...you've been weird...weirder. What's going on?" Monica asked.

"Did you tell her I shoplifted from her aunt's store?" Phoebe asked.

"Of course not. Why would I tell her that? First of all, it's a secret and second...what good could come from me telling her that?" Monica asked.

"I don't trust her and...she came in...I just don't trust her and maybe it's because the run ins I've had with her have been horribly negative...but do people really change that much? Yes, she cut up her credit cards and she's been relatively okay...I tried to cheer her up and she blew me off."

"Well...I mean in her defense-"

"See...you're defending her. I thought we hated her," Phoebe said.

"No, wait...listen. In her defense, your story is very tough and hard to believe because it's so bad and you are so amazing for rising above it," Monica said.

"It's not a made up story."

"I know. Look, honestly, I don't trust Rachel either. She's been here for three weeks. She invited herself to live with me...but just the same way that I felt like I needed to take you in, I have the same feeling with her. She's different now. I can tell. There's just something different...granted if she screws me over again-"

"What happened? Why did your friendship end?" Phoebe asked.

Monica wondered how much she could reveal. She didn't want to get into the whole story because it involved Chandler being addicted to drugs and a lot of other things. Monica wasn't comfortable talking about how far he had fallen yet, especially because he seemed to be doing very well now.

"It did...we were best friends up until the second semester of freshman year. I went to culinary school. She went to some small school and she became a sorority girl and dated Barry...and dumped me as her friend. She didn't return my calls. She just just dumped me...with no word and it hurt," Monica said. "And not being invited to her wedding killed me...but she needs a friend."

"Damn you, Geller and your nurturing-ness," Phoebe said.

"I know. It's a curse. But you're still my best friend. The stuff you told me...that's in confidence. The stuff you told Chandler? Please, he won't tell."

"Good. No, I know Chandler won't tell. It's just weird. You, me and Chandler were very anti-Rachel for awhile."

"I know...but she was my childhood best friend. Don't you have any old friends...maybe from childhood that you would give another chance to? Even though they may have hurt you?" Monica asked.

"I guess."

"But...I made a promise to you that I was not going to leave you. I keep my promises. You're one of my favorite people. You're inspirational."

"Thanks," Phoebe smiled.

The two clicked their glasses together and began drinking. Soon Rachel did join them, and was even more depressed. Apparently, her old friends had moved on quite well without her and seemed to be doing quite well without her. Rachel was very happy to drink more of the Slow Death smoothie and complain and sink into depression. As they continued to drink and talk, Monica was amazed at how easy it was. The three talked about everything, of course their favorite topic was about their boys and how they might be as boyfriends.

"I think when it comes to girls, I think Chandler is more sophisticated than he lets on. That clueless thing is an act...that's my guess," Monica said, although she immediately regretted it.

"Oh my G-d, will you get into his pants already," Phoebe said grinning as she sipped her punch.

"Shut up," Monica said, laughing.

"Wait...what?" Rachel asked.

"Monica loves Chandler," Phoebe said.

"Oh, I know that. Why do you think she lost two hundred pounds?" Rachel asked, smiling as well.

"You lost two hundred pounds for Chandler?" Phoebe asked.

"No, it was for my health," Monica said.

"Oh, fuck that. It was so not for your health," Rachel said.

"I am not going to date Chandler Bing. I am not going to sleep with Chandler Bing. I am not going anywhere near Chandler Bing or his thing...ever," Monica said.

"So, okay Rachel...when Monica and Chandler get married-" Phoebe started.

"Wait-" Monica said.

"Yeah?" Rachel asked.

"I wanna sing at their wedding. The song will be called, 'I Told You So.'"

"Can I sing with you?" Rachel asked.

"Of course," Phoebe said.

"I need new friends," Monica mused as she poured some more punch in her glass and proceeded to pour more into Rachel and Phoebe's glasses as well. She needed to find friends who agreed with her that she could not date Chandler because between Phoebe, Rachel, Ellie and Laurie….all seemed to be convinced that there would a Monica/Chandler in the near future.

"So Pheebs...why do you hate me?" Rachel asked.

Phoebe was a little taken aback by the question. Monica was thrown off by Rachel's sudden question as well. She wasn't sure now was the best time for Rachel to be asking those questions.

"I don't hate you," Phoebe said. "I like you...I've been nice to you."

"Okay...I don't believe you though. I get a feeling you don't like me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not. Despite everything...I feel like I'm supposed to be here. I feel home. It's weird," Rachel said.

"I know you're not going anywhere...although if you dump me as your friend again, I swear I will never speak to you again," Monica said.

"I know...hanging out with those girls today, man I was a bitch...and you know, I'm sorry," Rachel said. Monica was happy to hear that, she had a moment where she thought Rachel might go back to her old life but was happy to hear that Rachel wanted to stay where she was.

"Do you remember me?" Phoebe asked. Monica let out a sigh, knowing exactly where this conversation would head.

"What?" Rachel asked.

"Do you remember me?" Phoebe asked.

"From where?" Rachel asked.

"You've met Phoebe before," Monica said.

"When?" Rachel asked.

"Three times, actually. The last time...when you volunteered in a soup kitchen with Monica," Phoebe asked.

"Remember we were seventeen and I talked you into going to a soup kitchen with me and I served all the fancy food which you thought was ridiculous?" Monica asked.

"Which actually wasn't...my friends and I loved it," Phoebe said.

"Really?" Monica asked.

"Yeah...but I remember asking Monica if there were vegetarian items and you said-"

"Beggars can't be choosers," Rachel said, finished as she brought her hand to her mouth, "oh my G-d. That was you?"

"Yeah...kinda hurtful. And you both ate with us after. Monica talked to us...you stared at yourself in your compact mirror the whole time."

"Oh my G-d," Rachel said.

"I also..." Phoebe began, slowly, "um...did your aunt's store ever get robbed?"

Monica's heart started beat fast at this. She wondered what Rachel's reaction would be and she was getting nervous.

"Yeah. When I was working there. I was like fourteen. They made off with like over nine hundred dollars worth of stuff," Rachel said.

"Really? It was that much?" Phoebe asked, a little shocked.

"Yeah. My parents had to write a check to cover for the stolen merchandise and I was grounded for like a month and a half," Rachel said.

Monica kept looking back and forth between Phoebe and Rachel. She remembered that day so vividly, when Rachel had been robbed and what a big deal that had been. She knew how much trouble Rachel had gotten into.

"Um...I was your thief," Phoebe said.

"What?" Rachel asked, sitting up and looking at her.

"That was the second time I was actually in that store. First time, I was fifteen. I mugged a kid and stole his money and then went to your store and bought a purple dress and you were there...you didn't really talk to me but before I left, I heard you say that you needed to tell someone to fumigate the store because homeless people had just walked in. The reason I robbed you...I was pissed...not at you, I had been held captive by a pimp and I was really angry and I escaped but I couldn't do anything to the pimp. He would have killed me so I wanted to harm someone else, someone well...weaker. So I staked out that store until I got your work schedule down-"

"You stalked me?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah. Then when I knew when you would be working, I walked in and just ransacked it while you were on the phone-"

"Talking to Monica," Rachel said.

"It was me you were talking to?" Monica asked.

"It was," Rachel said, her voice soft and quiet. Monica looking back and forth between them, wondering what was going to happen, when suddenly, Rachel began crying. She got up and began stumbling towards Phoebe and immediately began hugging her. Phoebe hugged back.

"I'm so sorry, Phoebe."

"What? No...Rachel-"

"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you went through all that and I'm sorry I made you feel bad and Monica, I'm sorry if I made you feel bad too and...I-" Rachel was crying. Monica got up and walked over to Rachel, hugging her as well.

"Oh, Rachel...it's okay," Monica said. "I do forgive you."

"Really and Phoebe-"

"Rachel, I stole from you...you should be mad at me. I mean, you got grounded because of me," Phoebe said, smiling.

"Ehhh, the clothes were overpriced anyway," Rachel said.

"You're not going to tell your aunt though? Are you?" Phoebe asked.

"Oh G-d, no...first of all, it was like ten years ago and second...there's no reason too. Did you at least get good use out of the clothes?" Rachel asked as she returned to her original seat, Phoebe and Monica both returned to their seats as well.

"I did. In fact, when I was at the soup kitchen, I was wearing one of the dresses I stole and I got so nervous, I put on a sweatshirt...a Lincoln High sweatshirt because I thought you might you recognize the dress...turns out you both went to Lincoln High," Phoebe said.

"That's actually kind of funny," Rachel said.

"Yeah, it was a little bit. We laughed about it afterwards," Phoebe said.

"I want you to like me, Phoebe. I think you're actually pretty awesome and it's my loss that I didn't realize that when I saw you back then. I think you're brave and so, so strong...and I'd like to be your friend, if you'd let me?" Rachel asked.

"I do like you...and you are my friend and when Chandler and Monica get married-"

"Stop it," Monica said.

"When Chandler and Monica get married, will you help me write the song."

"Yes," Rachel said, grinning.

"We are not getting married," Monica said.

Rachel giggled a little as the girls continued drinking and talking. It felt good now, really good. The boys joined them later to play games and drink more and her brother had been hit in the face with a hockey puck but they still continued playing and drinking until they all passed out.

Monica wasn't sure the exact time but she woke to see herself surrounded by bodies and Rachel sitting outside on the deck area. Monica slowly got up and walked towards the pantry, grabbed a box of Twinkies and walked outside.

"Hey."

"Twinkies," Rachel smiled as Monica opened the box and handed her one. The two girls sat side by side in silence as they ate.

"You okay?"

"Everything is different. I'm apologizing for everything. I feel right...here's where i'm supposed to be and I saw those girls and I hated them and I saw Nancy and she was mean. I can't believe I wasted so much time wanting to be like them, wanting to be accepted by them and I thought I could be cool and popular and that would be important. Mindy is in Aruba. With Barry."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. How did I pick so badly? Why did I think they would be my friends. You know, that night you called. I was so happy you called and I wanted to drive over here right then but I didn't 'cause I was scared and so many times in the last year and you don't know this but so many times, I drove over here and I sat in my car and tried to will myself to walk in but I couldn't. I chickened out. I was really lonely. It was funny, when I hung out with Chandler….we watched Spaceballs and I hadn't seen that movie in a long time because I had said my favorite movie was Terms of Endearment 'cause I thought that was cooler. I even felt I had lie about my favorite movie."

"Chandler would have killed you if you had made him watch Terms of Endearment and Spaceballs will now be your movie with him."

"What?"

"Well, if that's movie you watched together, from now on whenever he thinks you're upset, he's gonna pull Spaceballs out and you'll be watching."

"Can't wait. What's yours?"

"When Harry Met Sally."

"Of course it is….I can't believe Phoebe robbed my store and I can't believe I was so mean to her."

"I didn't tell her what you said in the car...about her probably dying of disease or drugs? The stuff you said after...in the car? I will never tell her that."

"Oh, G-d don't….how did she get here? How did she...I can't believe-"

"Long story. She worked her ass off though."

"She's incredible and she still has that laugh though."

"I know...and all three of those boys try to make her laugh like that all the time. Especially Joey and Chandler."

"You guys are a fun group."

"We are and you're home."

"Good," Rachel said as she reached for another Twinkie and unwrapped it. Monica did the same. Rachel leaned in and placed her head on Monica's shoulder as Monica continued to comfort her.

It was a few days later and the group of five were sitting in Central Perk, drinking coffee and eating muffins. Ross' nose was still sore from being hit by a hockey puck. Joey was teasing him by picking up his scone and playfully zooming it towards Ross' face. Ross tried his best to look unamused, but instead began laughing.

"Hey, guys," Rachel said as she walked in carrying a big white box. She plopped down on the orange couch, near Phoebe and handed her the box.

"What is this?" Phoebe asked.

"Where did you go?" Monica asked.

"I had to go to Long Island to run an errand," Rachel said.

"This is from your aunt's store," Phoebe said, looking at the writing on the box.

"Open it," Rachel said.

Phoebe opened the box and in it was a red beaded top and a long white skirt with little white eyelets all over it. There was also several long gold necklaces with large different colored stones and a pair of chandelier earrings. She looked over at Rachel who was smiling.

"Oh my G-d, Rachel...thank you," Phoebe said as she and Rachel hugged.

"Why didn't you buy us presents?" Chandler asked.

"Because...I found out that Phoebe had been in my aunt's store twice and received very shitty customer service and I wanted to apologize," Rachel said.

"Apology accepted," Phoebe said.

"You were a bitch," Monica grinned.

"Shut up," Rachel said.

"Oh, did you tell her?" Chandler asked.

"That I robbed her? Yes," Phoebe said.

"You robbed her?" Joey asked.

"My aunt's store. When I was thirteen and fourteen, I worked there every once in a while to get money. I stopped working there when apparently Phoebe stole a shit load of clothes from the store...on my watch," Rachel said.

"You know what I don't get? You were thirteen and fourteen...yet, your aunt left you there alone," Ross said.

"She did. That day you stole all those clothes. I was alone," Rachel said.

"What would you have done if you had caught her?" Ross asked.

"I wasn't being very subtle...Chandler, remember when you and I first met at that movie theater and I had the big giant guitar case?" Phoebe asked.

"Yes," Chandler said.

"I carried that in there and stuffed the clothes inside," Phoebe said.

"Hmmm...Rach, you're an idiot," Chandler said, smiling.

"What? I am not," Rachel said, pretending to be upset.

"Well, I think I agree with Chandler...if I have a store and someone walks in with a giant guitar case and they kinda look like they live on the street, I'd probably hang up the phone and watch them," Monica said.

"I was fourteen. I cannot be penalized for things I did when I was fourteen," Rachel argued.

"Penalized...penal...funny," Joey said.

Soon though, everyone was laughing and gently teasing Rachel for being the worst store person ever. Monica felt so comfortable sitting there, the perfect six she thought. They seemed quite on their way to becoming a family.