When she told the rest of the gang at Central Perk, they were devastated.

"No! You can't divorce. It's you guys! You were our role models of what a perfect couple should be. First my parents, now this!" Rachel started to cry.

Ross hugged his sister. "This is so wrong! I wish that somehow *I* could just get divorced again, and you wouldn't have to."

"So what's going to happen?" Phoebe asked. "Is he just staying with Joey permanently now?"

"We didn't discuss it, but I think so."

Phoebe turned to him. "Joey? Did he ask you if he could stay?"

Joey sat there, looking unhappy and deeply troubled. "No--no, he didn't say anything."

Phoebe leaned nearer. "God, you look terrible! Are you getting any sleep over there?"

Joey shook his head numbly.

"You know, Chandler shouldn't just assume he can just be your roommate again. He should know how hard this divorce is gonna be for you. You should say something."

"No," Joey protested. "No, 'cause, even if I still see you guys, he thinks of me as the only one who's really on his side. I--I have to be there for him."

Monica nodded with understanding. "I know. You're his best friend. You're the one he turns to for everything. Just, just take care of him, will you?"

Joey got all choked up, and could only nod weakly as he got up from the couch and rushed out the door.

Phoebe thought to herself that both Chandler and Monica were asking far too much of Joey. "Well, um," she stood up, "I've gotta go massage somebody. Bye."

"Bye!" they answered and hugged each other comfortingly.