The Day They Left
Part 3 of 'Twists of Fate and Bad Luck'
Joey sat in his apartment watching television. It was 10:30 in the morning. The phone rang and he slowly stood up and answered it, "Hello?"
"Is this Rachel's apartment?" a voice asked from the other side.
"No, well, not anymore, but I can get her a message, if you want," Joey miserably said.
The voice quickly asked, "Did she move? Why?"
"Her and Janie moved to their own apartment two months ago," Joey told the woman.
"Oh wow, I didn't even know. Can you tell her that Kelly called? I used to work with her," the woman happily said.
"Alright," Joey told her, "Bye." Joey had just set down the phone when it rang again, "Yeah?" He said this time, more annoyed by the interruptions.
"Hello, my name is Glenn Barton, is this Joey Tribianni?" a male voice said at the other end of the line.
"Yeah, I'm him, why?" Joey asked, confused.
"I'm a casting agent for a show here in Los Angeles and I would like to meet with you," Glenn cheerfully told him.
Joey smiled slightly, "What show?"
"It's a new show, actually, along the same lines of 'Ally McBeal', sort of comedy meets drama meets sci-fi," Glenn said.
"Wow," Joey said, "That's pretty cool."
"We saw you on the soap you're on and we wanted to meet with you. The part is a guest appearance, but if we like what we see, we do represent other shows," Glenn reassuringly spoke.
Joey shrugged, "I guess so."
"I'll give you a call in the morning, maybe you could fly out here some time this week," Glenn told him.
"Yeah, thanks," Joey said and hung up the phone. He thought about it, his life here was getting pretty dull and everyone seemed to be moving on. Monica and Chandler had been happily married for four years; Phoebe was engaged; Ross and Rachel had a daughter that was almost three. It seemed everyone was moved on and he rarely even saw Rachel anymore. She was always doing baby-stuff. It wasn't like Joey felt anything for her anymore, that had been a small crush that had lasted less than a month. But he really missed her.
Monica wandered around her apartment, waiting. Waiting for two things, for Chandler to come home and for her doctor to call. The phone rang and she jumped. She stared at it for a moment, then it rang again and she quickly picked it up.
"Hey Mon, it's me. I'm at the coffee house do you want anything?" Chandler asked.
Monica sighed, and angrily said, "No, I'm fine." She didn't want Chandler to call, she wanted her doctor to call.
"Are you okay?" Chandler asked uneasily, "Have you been mixing chemicals to make household cleaning agents again?"
Monica smiled, "Be quiet, I'm fine, okay?"
"Whatever, I'll be home in, like, four minutes," he said, "See you then."
"Yeah," Monica said and set down the phone. She turned to sit on the couch and wait, but the phone rang again, she quickly answered it, "Chandler, I'm fine, really."
"Is this Monica Bing?" the person on the other end of the line asked.
"Oh, sorry, yeah it is, I thought this was someone else," Monica said, embarrassed.
Three minutes later Chandler walked up to the door of his apartment, whistling. In one hand he had a cup of coffee and in the other a bag, which had a muffin in it. He knew Monica didn't want anything, but he brought her a muffin anyway. He opened the door.
Monica was standing in the middle of the living room, clutching the phone.
"Hey, Mon, I brought you a muffin," he started to walk over to her, when he noticed she was smiling and not moving at all. "Are you okay?"
Monica nodded and sniffed, "I'm great." She looked at Chandler and quickly said, "I'm pregnant."
Chandler dropped the muffin and the coffee, "Seriously? Wow, that's so scary and cool at the same time."
Monica nodded and ran over to him, she threw her arms around him, "Can you believe it?"
"I'm trying to," he said, grinning. He leaned back for a moment, "It's mine, right?"
She hit him lightly and half-angrily said, "What?"
Chandler smiled, "You've been spending an awful lot of time at work lately."
Monica grinned, "Yeah, actually I'm caring the head waiter's baby."
Chandler laughed and kissed her, "We're going to be parents."
Ross walked into the coffee house where Rachel and Janie sat on the couch, waiting.
Janie giggled, Ross picked her up, "Daddy!"
Rachel half smiled as Ross sat down and kissed his daughter, "Hi Ross."
Ross smiled. "How are the girls?"
Rachel tried to sound happy, "We're okay. Where's Ben?"
"He went shopping with Phoebe and David," Ross told her.
Rachel nodded, "Sounds like fun. I haven't been to shopping in months. Janie gets too tired."
Janie leaned on Ross, and said, "It's boring."
"So, is Ben okay now?" Rachel asked, she was tired.
"Yeah, he seems to be over it, but I can still tell he misses Carol and Susan," Ross shrugged, "Can you imagine being in his situation? When Susan died, Carol couldn't handle it, I guess. She just disappeared. His own mom just left. None of us saw it coming."
Rachel nodded, half-listening. Ross rarely saw Janie. She was so worn out these days. She rarely had any spare time, Rachel wished she could just disappear.
Monica and Chandler came running into the coffee house, "Hey, guys!" Monica said, jumping up and down.
"Hi Auntie Moca!" Janie said from her spot on the couch in between her parents.
"What's up?" Ross asked, noticing Monica and Chandler's happy faces.
Chandler put his arm around Monica, "We've got a surprise!"
Rachel smiled along with her friends, "Tell us."
Monica giggled, "I'm pregnant!"
Ross stood shocked for a moment then stood up and pulled Monica into a hug, "I'm going to be Uncle Ross!" He then turned to Chandler, "Congratulations, man!"
Chandler grinned and put his arm around Monica, "Thanks."
Rachel stayed sitting on the couch, she felt intense jealousy; Monica and Chandler were going to have a real family. She was just a single mom. "I'm happy for you guys!" She half lied.
Monica winked at Janie, "You're going to have a little baby cousin to boss around."
Janie smiled in bewilderment, "Like Ben bosses me around?" she said thinking of how her own brother constantly had her doing things for her when she stayed at her father's apartment.
Monica went and picked up Janie, "Kind of, sweetie." She turned to Rachel and Ross, "Can we go buy Janie some ice cream?"
Ross shrugged, "Maternal instincts kicking in."
"Are you kidding? She's had maternal instincts since our wedding day," Chandler said with a smirk.
"Go ahead," Rachel smiled, feeling joy for her friends. "Bring her home for supper, not like she'll eat, when she's full of ice cream!" She stood up and gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead. "Bye honey."
Janie smiled, "Bye, Mom." Chandler and Monica left with Janie.
Rachel and Ross sat back down on the couch. Ross noticed Rachel's unhappy face.
"Are you okay, Rach?" He asked.
"I don't know, it's just Monica and Chandler have the perfect family now," Rachel sighed, "And lately I keep thinking that Janie needs a real family. And I don't see that anywhere around her for her. I mean, I don't have a boyfriend or even anyone of the male gender who I want to be around 'full- time.'"
Ross felt hurt, "So this is about Janie needing to have a Mommy and Daddy tuck her in every night?" Ross half mocked, "Because, I'm sorry, Rach, but just adding some guy to your life won't do that."
Rachel grabbed Ross's arm in impulse, "Unless her real Mommy and Daddy kissed her good night every night."
"What do you mean?" Ross hesitated.
"What if you and Ben moved in with Janie and I?" Rachel smiled, without forcing herself to.
"There's no room for us," Ross told her.
Rachel paused, then said, "Ross, don't you ever think about giving things another chance?" Rachel asked. "For Janie's sake."
Ross looked away from her, "Like, Ben, Janie, you and me?"
Rachel shrugged, "I guess so." Ross paused for a moment, trying to think of what to say. Rachel thought for moment, and then leaned in and kissed Ross. After a moment she pulled back. "A real family."
Ross folded his arms, "Rach, this perfect family thing is an illusion; don't you see that?"
Rachel leaned back, "That's a 'no'." She stood up, and wiped a tear from her eye.
Ross grabbed her arm, "Rach, don't run off hurt, please," He begged.
Rachel pulled her arm from his grip, "I've got to go." She turned and rushed out of Central Perk.
Ten minutes later, Rachel entered Joey's apartment. Joey was sitting at the counter. He looked up and smiled as she entered, "Hey, Rach, what's up?"
She miserably answered, "Not much," Rachel sighed and sat in the recliner.
Joey looked at her concerned, "Is everything okay?"
Rachel stood up, "No, everything is awful." She started to cry, "Ross is never around to spend any time with Janie. He sees her like once a week and he lives like a block away! I hate living alone, it is so boring. I mean don't get me wrong, I love Janie so much, but she's a handful. Everything was fine a few months ago! And I have to work at least part time so we can eat! And I never see any of you guys anymore! Never! I hate it. And Ross doesn't want any of the things that I do!" She sat back down and buried her head in her hands.
Joey sat on the arm of the chair, "It's okay. I know, it sucks not seeing anyone anymore."
Rachel nodded, "Why can't things be different? Maybe Janie and I could just move back here with you."
Joey frowned, "You can, but I don't think I'll be here much longer."
Rachel looked at him with big eyes, "Why not? Are you moving?" Joey nodded, she continued, "To where?"
"California, maybe," Joey said. Rachel started crying again. Joey quickly told her, "Just maybe, nothing for sure."
Rachel paused for a moment, thinking, "Can I come?"
Joey froze, "What?"
Rachel started to smile, "Yeah, just for a few months, with Janie. I just need to get away. We can all live together and I'll come back in a few months. You might even want to come back then, too."
Joey thought for a moment, "What about Ross?"
Rachel folded her arms, "He's too busy with Ben and with work. He'll be fine. We'll be back before anyone notices we're gone." She stood up, "Please, Joey, it'll be so great. I can take some time off work, I've got money saved up."
Joey stood up, "I would like some company out there." Rachel nodded in excitement, "Plus, I love Janie so much, she'd love it. We could take her to Disneyland and that San Diego Zoo they're always advertising."
Rachel grinned, "It'd be so great."
Joey smiled, "Sure. Why not? No one will miss us, right? When should we go? Next week?"
Rachel shrugged, "Let's go today."
Joey couldn't believe it, "What? Are you sure?"
Rachel started to tear up again, "I don't think I can handle it here anymore. Please?"
It was 6:30. Phoebe and David walked up the steps to the hallway to Chandler, Monica and Joey's apartments. Ben was walking in front of them.
"Thanks for taking me out with you guys today," Ben said. "You guys are so much cooler than my dad."
"Yeah, well he's all into dinosaurs and stuff," Phoebe pointed out. "We'll just stop at Monica and Chandler's to pick up that camping bag, then we'll go over and take you home, Ben."
Ben asked, "Can I have my bag? I can't wait to give Janie her present. She'll love it."
David nodded, "You know, you really are a nice brother. My brother never bought me a Barbie."
Phoebe smiled, "Thank God, otherwise you might swing the other way."
"What?" David asked, confused.
Ben turned to David, "She meant you might be gay."
Phoebe gasped, "Ben, how do you know that?"
"Ever listen to Rachel talk about her soap operas?" Ben asked.
Phoebe smiled and tried to open Monica and Chandler's door. It was locked. "Not home," Phoebe muttered.
David shrugged, "Maybe Joey knows where they are."
Phoebe walked across the hallway and opened the door. She walked in, followed by Ben and David.
The apartment was empty. All the furniture was either gone or moved to the back of the apartment.
Phoebe gasped, "Oh my God." She picked up a piece of paper that Joey had scribbled. She turned to David, "Joey, Rachel and Janie are gone," she told him confused.
Monica and Chandler entered the apartment, "What is going on?" Monica said, baffled.
"Did you see Rachel today?" Phoebe asked.
Chandler nodded, "We saw her about two hours ago. We dropped Janie off at her apartment. Why?"
"Was she acting funny?" Phoebe frantically asked them.
"Well, she was moving her furniture around, Joey was there. Phoebe, why?" Monica asked, her voice shaking.
Rachel sat in the airport, clutching onto Janie. Joey sat next to her. He turned to her, "Rach, maybe we should go back. Tell everyone what is happening."
Rachel sighed, "Joey, I can't." She looked at him with pleading eyes. His heart melted. Joey folded his arms, he felt so confused.
Janie pulled on her mom's hair, "Can I see Dad?"
Joey took Janie from Rachel, "In a while. I promise."
End of Part 3
Part 3 of 'Twists of Fate and Bad Luck'
Joey sat in his apartment watching television. It was 10:30 in the morning. The phone rang and he slowly stood up and answered it, "Hello?"
"Is this Rachel's apartment?" a voice asked from the other side.
"No, well, not anymore, but I can get her a message, if you want," Joey miserably said.
The voice quickly asked, "Did she move? Why?"
"Her and Janie moved to their own apartment two months ago," Joey told the woman.
"Oh wow, I didn't even know. Can you tell her that Kelly called? I used to work with her," the woman happily said.
"Alright," Joey told her, "Bye." Joey had just set down the phone when it rang again, "Yeah?" He said this time, more annoyed by the interruptions.
"Hello, my name is Glenn Barton, is this Joey Tribianni?" a male voice said at the other end of the line.
"Yeah, I'm him, why?" Joey asked, confused.
"I'm a casting agent for a show here in Los Angeles and I would like to meet with you," Glenn cheerfully told him.
Joey smiled slightly, "What show?"
"It's a new show, actually, along the same lines of 'Ally McBeal', sort of comedy meets drama meets sci-fi," Glenn said.
"Wow," Joey said, "That's pretty cool."
"We saw you on the soap you're on and we wanted to meet with you. The part is a guest appearance, but if we like what we see, we do represent other shows," Glenn reassuringly spoke.
Joey shrugged, "I guess so."
"I'll give you a call in the morning, maybe you could fly out here some time this week," Glenn told him.
"Yeah, thanks," Joey said and hung up the phone. He thought about it, his life here was getting pretty dull and everyone seemed to be moving on. Monica and Chandler had been happily married for four years; Phoebe was engaged; Ross and Rachel had a daughter that was almost three. It seemed everyone was moved on and he rarely even saw Rachel anymore. She was always doing baby-stuff. It wasn't like Joey felt anything for her anymore, that had been a small crush that had lasted less than a month. But he really missed her.
Monica wandered around her apartment, waiting. Waiting for two things, for Chandler to come home and for her doctor to call. The phone rang and she jumped. She stared at it for a moment, then it rang again and she quickly picked it up.
"Hey Mon, it's me. I'm at the coffee house do you want anything?" Chandler asked.
Monica sighed, and angrily said, "No, I'm fine." She didn't want Chandler to call, she wanted her doctor to call.
"Are you okay?" Chandler asked uneasily, "Have you been mixing chemicals to make household cleaning agents again?"
Monica smiled, "Be quiet, I'm fine, okay?"
"Whatever, I'll be home in, like, four minutes," he said, "See you then."
"Yeah," Monica said and set down the phone. She turned to sit on the couch and wait, but the phone rang again, she quickly answered it, "Chandler, I'm fine, really."
"Is this Monica Bing?" the person on the other end of the line asked.
"Oh, sorry, yeah it is, I thought this was someone else," Monica said, embarrassed.
Three minutes later Chandler walked up to the door of his apartment, whistling. In one hand he had a cup of coffee and in the other a bag, which had a muffin in it. He knew Monica didn't want anything, but he brought her a muffin anyway. He opened the door.
Monica was standing in the middle of the living room, clutching the phone.
"Hey, Mon, I brought you a muffin," he started to walk over to her, when he noticed she was smiling and not moving at all. "Are you okay?"
Monica nodded and sniffed, "I'm great." She looked at Chandler and quickly said, "I'm pregnant."
Chandler dropped the muffin and the coffee, "Seriously? Wow, that's so scary and cool at the same time."
Monica nodded and ran over to him, she threw her arms around him, "Can you believe it?"
"I'm trying to," he said, grinning. He leaned back for a moment, "It's mine, right?"
She hit him lightly and half-angrily said, "What?"
Chandler smiled, "You've been spending an awful lot of time at work lately."
Monica grinned, "Yeah, actually I'm caring the head waiter's baby."
Chandler laughed and kissed her, "We're going to be parents."
Ross walked into the coffee house where Rachel and Janie sat on the couch, waiting.
Janie giggled, Ross picked her up, "Daddy!"
Rachel half smiled as Ross sat down and kissed his daughter, "Hi Ross."
Ross smiled. "How are the girls?"
Rachel tried to sound happy, "We're okay. Where's Ben?"
"He went shopping with Phoebe and David," Ross told her.
Rachel nodded, "Sounds like fun. I haven't been to shopping in months. Janie gets too tired."
Janie leaned on Ross, and said, "It's boring."
"So, is Ben okay now?" Rachel asked, she was tired.
"Yeah, he seems to be over it, but I can still tell he misses Carol and Susan," Ross shrugged, "Can you imagine being in his situation? When Susan died, Carol couldn't handle it, I guess. She just disappeared. His own mom just left. None of us saw it coming."
Rachel nodded, half-listening. Ross rarely saw Janie. She was so worn out these days. She rarely had any spare time, Rachel wished she could just disappear.
Monica and Chandler came running into the coffee house, "Hey, guys!" Monica said, jumping up and down.
"Hi Auntie Moca!" Janie said from her spot on the couch in between her parents.
"What's up?" Ross asked, noticing Monica and Chandler's happy faces.
Chandler put his arm around Monica, "We've got a surprise!"
Rachel smiled along with her friends, "Tell us."
Monica giggled, "I'm pregnant!"
Ross stood shocked for a moment then stood up and pulled Monica into a hug, "I'm going to be Uncle Ross!" He then turned to Chandler, "Congratulations, man!"
Chandler grinned and put his arm around Monica, "Thanks."
Rachel stayed sitting on the couch, she felt intense jealousy; Monica and Chandler were going to have a real family. She was just a single mom. "I'm happy for you guys!" She half lied.
Monica winked at Janie, "You're going to have a little baby cousin to boss around."
Janie smiled in bewilderment, "Like Ben bosses me around?" she said thinking of how her own brother constantly had her doing things for her when she stayed at her father's apartment.
Monica went and picked up Janie, "Kind of, sweetie." She turned to Rachel and Ross, "Can we go buy Janie some ice cream?"
Ross shrugged, "Maternal instincts kicking in."
"Are you kidding? She's had maternal instincts since our wedding day," Chandler said with a smirk.
"Go ahead," Rachel smiled, feeling joy for her friends. "Bring her home for supper, not like she'll eat, when she's full of ice cream!" She stood up and gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead. "Bye honey."
Janie smiled, "Bye, Mom." Chandler and Monica left with Janie.
Rachel and Ross sat back down on the couch. Ross noticed Rachel's unhappy face.
"Are you okay, Rach?" He asked.
"I don't know, it's just Monica and Chandler have the perfect family now," Rachel sighed, "And lately I keep thinking that Janie needs a real family. And I don't see that anywhere around her for her. I mean, I don't have a boyfriend or even anyone of the male gender who I want to be around 'full- time.'"
Ross felt hurt, "So this is about Janie needing to have a Mommy and Daddy tuck her in every night?" Ross half mocked, "Because, I'm sorry, Rach, but just adding some guy to your life won't do that."
Rachel grabbed Ross's arm in impulse, "Unless her real Mommy and Daddy kissed her good night every night."
"What do you mean?" Ross hesitated.
"What if you and Ben moved in with Janie and I?" Rachel smiled, without forcing herself to.
"There's no room for us," Ross told her.
Rachel paused, then said, "Ross, don't you ever think about giving things another chance?" Rachel asked. "For Janie's sake."
Ross looked away from her, "Like, Ben, Janie, you and me?"
Rachel shrugged, "I guess so." Ross paused for a moment, trying to think of what to say. Rachel thought for moment, and then leaned in and kissed Ross. After a moment she pulled back. "A real family."
Ross folded his arms, "Rach, this perfect family thing is an illusion; don't you see that?"
Rachel leaned back, "That's a 'no'." She stood up, and wiped a tear from her eye.
Ross grabbed her arm, "Rach, don't run off hurt, please," He begged.
Rachel pulled her arm from his grip, "I've got to go." She turned and rushed out of Central Perk.
Ten minutes later, Rachel entered Joey's apartment. Joey was sitting at the counter. He looked up and smiled as she entered, "Hey, Rach, what's up?"
She miserably answered, "Not much," Rachel sighed and sat in the recliner.
Joey looked at her concerned, "Is everything okay?"
Rachel stood up, "No, everything is awful." She started to cry, "Ross is never around to spend any time with Janie. He sees her like once a week and he lives like a block away! I hate living alone, it is so boring. I mean don't get me wrong, I love Janie so much, but she's a handful. Everything was fine a few months ago! And I have to work at least part time so we can eat! And I never see any of you guys anymore! Never! I hate it. And Ross doesn't want any of the things that I do!" She sat back down and buried her head in her hands.
Joey sat on the arm of the chair, "It's okay. I know, it sucks not seeing anyone anymore."
Rachel nodded, "Why can't things be different? Maybe Janie and I could just move back here with you."
Joey frowned, "You can, but I don't think I'll be here much longer."
Rachel looked at him with big eyes, "Why not? Are you moving?" Joey nodded, she continued, "To where?"
"California, maybe," Joey said. Rachel started crying again. Joey quickly told her, "Just maybe, nothing for sure."
Rachel paused for a moment, thinking, "Can I come?"
Joey froze, "What?"
Rachel started to smile, "Yeah, just for a few months, with Janie. I just need to get away. We can all live together and I'll come back in a few months. You might even want to come back then, too."
Joey thought for a moment, "What about Ross?"
Rachel folded her arms, "He's too busy with Ben and with work. He'll be fine. We'll be back before anyone notices we're gone." She stood up, "Please, Joey, it'll be so great. I can take some time off work, I've got money saved up."
Joey stood up, "I would like some company out there." Rachel nodded in excitement, "Plus, I love Janie so much, she'd love it. We could take her to Disneyland and that San Diego Zoo they're always advertising."
Rachel grinned, "It'd be so great."
Joey smiled, "Sure. Why not? No one will miss us, right? When should we go? Next week?"
Rachel shrugged, "Let's go today."
Joey couldn't believe it, "What? Are you sure?"
Rachel started to tear up again, "I don't think I can handle it here anymore. Please?"
It was 6:30. Phoebe and David walked up the steps to the hallway to Chandler, Monica and Joey's apartments. Ben was walking in front of them.
"Thanks for taking me out with you guys today," Ben said. "You guys are so much cooler than my dad."
"Yeah, well he's all into dinosaurs and stuff," Phoebe pointed out. "We'll just stop at Monica and Chandler's to pick up that camping bag, then we'll go over and take you home, Ben."
Ben asked, "Can I have my bag? I can't wait to give Janie her present. She'll love it."
David nodded, "You know, you really are a nice brother. My brother never bought me a Barbie."
Phoebe smiled, "Thank God, otherwise you might swing the other way."
"What?" David asked, confused.
Ben turned to David, "She meant you might be gay."
Phoebe gasped, "Ben, how do you know that?"
"Ever listen to Rachel talk about her soap operas?" Ben asked.
Phoebe smiled and tried to open Monica and Chandler's door. It was locked. "Not home," Phoebe muttered.
David shrugged, "Maybe Joey knows where they are."
Phoebe walked across the hallway and opened the door. She walked in, followed by Ben and David.
The apartment was empty. All the furniture was either gone or moved to the back of the apartment.
Phoebe gasped, "Oh my God." She picked up a piece of paper that Joey had scribbled. She turned to David, "Joey, Rachel and Janie are gone," she told him confused.
Monica and Chandler entered the apartment, "What is going on?" Monica said, baffled.
"Did you see Rachel today?" Phoebe asked.
Chandler nodded, "We saw her about two hours ago. We dropped Janie off at her apartment. Why?"
"Was she acting funny?" Phoebe frantically asked them.
"Well, she was moving her furniture around, Joey was there. Phoebe, why?" Monica asked, her voice shaking.
Rachel sat in the airport, clutching onto Janie. Joey sat next to her. He turned to her, "Rach, maybe we should go back. Tell everyone what is happening."
Rachel sighed, "Joey, I can't." She looked at him with pleading eyes. His heart melted. Joey folded his arms, he felt so confused.
Janie pulled on her mom's hair, "Can I see Dad?"
Joey took Janie from Rachel, "In a while. I promise."
End of Part 3