Part 3: Bye Bye Love

Author's Note: That's better! Thanks to all my readers and reviewers. The observant will notice that I have again made Emily a singer, as I did in TOW The Blues (and indeed in the Emily chapter of the Love Goddess sequence). Although there is no warrant for this in the TV series, I make no apology: her character needs to be fleshed out, and this is an area that I know well, being very fond of singing the kind of stuff she likes (I know at least part of all the songs I mention, boast boast).

-----

As day succeeded day, Emily quietly became part of the friends' lives. Even Ross adapted, if grudgingly, to her presence among them, although it took some time before he could bring himself to address her directly, and when he did, it was only to disagree with something she had just said. This began to be so noticeable that one or more of the other women would often glare at him when he did it, but Emily never showed that it bothered her.

'Why do you put up with Ross's crap?' said Phoebe to her one day. 'Any of us would have booted his ass by now.'

Emily gave a little grin. 'So would I have done, back in the old days. But I see this as my penance, Phoebe. If I am to get anywhere with him, I cannot afford to be antagonistic. It's not as if I roll over and play dead when he disagrees with me; I won't go that far. But he has got a lot to get out of his system. Best to let him do it.'

In point of fact, Ross did not have many opportunities to behave in this way, for when they were in Central Perk and Emily was working, she spent far less time with them than Rachel had used to do. She proved to be a notably efficient waitress, and as such made a good impression on Gunther, her fellow waitresses, and the clientele, who were often charmed by her British accent. At first she was reluctant to do some singing, despite what she had said to Gunther, for she was afraid this might alienate Phoebe. But Gunther, who had taken to her from the start, was very keen to hear her sing, and had a quiet word with Phoebe. So it was that, one Sunday afternoon, Emily finally stepped in front of the microphone. She had a good enough voice to carry a tune without backing, but Phoebe was there with her guitar, and after a while she began to accompany her. She later told the others that they had sometimes sung together in her apartment.

Emily's repertoire was mainly of the folk type of songs, but it covered items made popular by singers as varied as Burl Ives, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and a whole variety of English, Scottish and Irish singers and groups, and it ranged from truly traditional items as old as Mary Hamilton to songs of today like Folsom Prison. What particularly appealed to her audience, which grew substantially during the afternoon, was the way she would vary the type of song from one to the next, following a standard like The Nightingale or Barbara Allen with something much lighter, like In The Jailhouse Now, and then moving to one with a rousing chorus that everyone could learn and join in, like Have A Drink On Me. People began to make requests, but discovered that she would not sing most pop or country and western songs. She did, however, admit that she had one or two favourites, and asked the audience to guess them. No one was lucky, until Ross, who had been sitting looking glum, suddenly called out, 'How about Bye Bye Love, by the Everly Brothers?'

'Ross!' cried Monica and Rachel in simultaneous horror, which was covered by laughter in the audience. Joey also looked shocked.

He looked back at them all blandly. 'What?'

Before anyone could speak, Chandler hissed, 'She's going to sing it!'

Bye bye love,
bye bye happiness,

hello loneliness,
I think I'm gonna cry.
Bye bye love,

bye bye sweet caress,

hello emptiness,
I feel like I could die,
Bye bye, my love, goodbye,

sang Emily. Her voice was light, her face was smiling, as if to say, it's only a pop song. Some of the audience, probably familiar with the song from its revival in the musical All That Jazz, joined in. Emily's glance occasionally rested on Ross, but not so often that it seemed deliberate. But when she had finished, without a break she launched straight into a slow, haunting song of lost love from the Appalachians made famous by Jean Ritchie, My Dear Companion.

            Oh have you seen my dear companion,

For he was all this world to me?

I hear he's gone to some far country,

And that he cares no more for me.

Don't you remember the day last summer,

The sun so warm, the skies so blue,

The little birds did sing so sweetly,

The day I fell in love with you?

she sang. The whole of Central Perk went completely silent, recognising genuine emotion and pain in her voice. Phoebe did not even attempt to accompany her, but sat regarding her; in a while tears began to roll slowly down her cheeks.

As Emily sang the refrain for the second time, with the slight variation, But now the stars have turned against me, And so he cares no more for me, Ross bowed his head. He could not shut out the grief that her voice conveyed, a grief that he felt equally and could no longer hide in anger, a grief that encompassed not only his break-up with Emily, but the older troubles with Rachel and, behind them all, the original, traumatic break with Carol. As the refrain came round the third time, he swallowed hard, but could not resist the tears: he covered his eyes and made a choking noise as he attempted to control the sound of his crying. Watching him closely, Rachel, who was seated next to him, saw his shoulders shaking and patted him on the back. Her own eyes were pricking; she found the song very moving and poetically appropriate, if not very close to the facts of the situation between her and Ross. He turned a tear-streaked face to her.

'Those old songs can make you so sad,' she said softly, tears shining in her own eyes. He nodded, apparently unable to speak, and groped for a handkerchief.

The song ended. 'I'm going to take a break,' Emily announced in a very quiet voice, and amid loud applause she headed straight for the counter and went into the back room. Instantly Phoebe jumped up and followed her, and Rachel was not far behind. They found her standing with her back to the doorway, shuddering with sobs. She turned to see them and threw herself into Phoebe's open arms.

'Oh God, Phoebe!' she muttered brokenly. 'Bye Bye Love! Did he have to do that?'

'There, there, sweetheart,' said Phoebe, stroking her hair. 'He's not worth it.'

Rachel moved up and patted Emily on the shoulder. 'You paid him out, honey,' she said. 'He was crying before the end of your last song.'

Emily lifted her head from Phoebe's shoulder and looked at her in amazement. 'W-was he really?'

Rachel nodded. 'I wouldn't lie to you, Emily. You really hit him hard.'

An expression that looked rather like satisfaction appeared on Emily's face. 'Well, it wasn't revenge, precisely, but if I've made him feel something besides h-hatred – '

'He doesn't hate you, Emily,' said Rachel softly. 'But he's very, very bitter, as he was with me.'

Emily nodded and turned to Phoebe. 'I, I don't think I can sing any more. Why don't you finish the set? Give them Smelly Cat.'

Phoebe smiled. 'I'll do that. Now I think you need to repair your face a little, and get a drink, and show him that you can take it and rise above it. Oh, and you know what?' She hugged Emily to her briefly again. 'That was like the best singing I ever heard.' She hurried off, calling over her shoulder, 'I'll tell Gunther.'

Emily looked at Rachel, her face very uncertain. 'I … I'm not sure I can face everyone. I really laid myself open.'

'Yeah,' said Rachel, 'but everyone there was sympathetic to you. Just don't refer to it and people will let it alone, I'm sure.' She put an arm round her shoulders. 'Phoebe was right. You really have a talent. Have you never thought of going professional?'

Emily smiled weakly. 'Can you imagine my father's reaction to that? The echoes of the explosion would still be reverberating.' She straightened herself up. 'I'd better go and repair my face, as Phoebe said. Thanks for coming out, Rachel; you're a real friend.'

Rachel, very pleased, decided to open her heart a little. 'You know, I felt you were singing that song for me too. It brought it all back.'

'That's the trouble with songs,' said Emily, as they went through the doorway. 'They can make memories come alive.'

When they went out into the main room the counter was thronged, and there were people queuing behind .

'Oh my goodness!' cried Emily, suddenly energised. 'No time for faces.' She gave her eyes a final wipe with the handkerchief she had pulled from her sleeve and rushed off to assist the overloaded staff, though she was not on duty.

Rachel watched her, smiling fondly. No doubt about it, now she knew Emily so much better, she was getting to like her quite a lot. She made her way back to where her friends had been sitting, to see that only Monica was left, while Phoebe was sitting beside the microphone.

'That song really affected Ross,' said Monica. 'He left, almost in tears, and Chandler and Joey went with him. Serves him right, I say. That was a mean thing to do.'

'Yes,' said Rachel, 'but you know what, Mon? I felt sorry for him. This is the third time he's really been in love and it's gone wrong. You can't blame him too much for being bitter. And the song made him feel something else than bitterness, which I think may be a good thing.'

Monica nodded. 'You could be right. I hope so.'

Presently Emily made her way to them, clutching an enormous mug, and smiling at the patrons who complimented her on her singing. 'Phew!' she said. 'What a rush! Hey, I've had an idea: why don't we do backing vocals for Phoebe, like on that video of Smelly Cat where her voice got dubbed over?'

Monica and Rachel looked at each other. 'Yeah, why not?' said Monica, suddenly enthusiastic. 'C'mon, Rach, no one'll notice if we miss a note now and then, with Emily to cover us.'

Though surprised at Emily's sudden high spirits, Rachel found them infectious. 'Yeah, let's do it!' she said.

They rushed over to Phoebe, who indulgently accepted their offer of backing. She and Emily hastily worked out what they would do, and before long Rachel was singing along, and trying not to giggle at the rather ridiculous words. Some in the audience evidently did think it funny, but most gave them a respectful hearing and fair applause.

'You know what?' said Phoebe. 'Somehow I don't feel like singing much more. Let's finish with one of your choruses, Emily.'

'The Wild Rover,' said Emily instantly, and led off:

            I've been a wild rover for many's the year,

            And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer…

Half a dozen voices joined in at once, and more knew the chorus. By the time the second chorus was reached, the entire audience were raising the roof, stamping or clapping thunderously the four beats after And it's no, nay, never…Arms around each others' shoulders, Phoebe, Monica, Emily and Rachel swayed in time to the rhythm, singing lustily, totally immersed in the moment. When the song had finished on a prolonged No NEVER, no moooore! there was a storm of applause and cheers. Then Central Perk began to empty, though many of those leaving came up to say a word or two of congratulation to Emily, who looked flushed and happy.

'Ohhh, that did me good!' she said, beaming at the other women. 'Well, what now?'

Monica sighed a little. 'I'd like to follow that with a girls' night out,' she said. 'But I suppose we'd better get back to the apartment and collect the guys, or Chandler will mope.'

'Why Chandler particularly?' asked Emily curiously.

Monica looked at a loss for a moment. 'Oh, er, um, well … he's the type who always does mope, if he thinks he's being neglected,' she produced. Emily found her air of triumph surprising; it was if she was pleased with having concocted a good excuse. She wondered if something was going on between Monica and Chandler, and decided to keep an eye out for anything significant.

Gunther came up just then, with a thick handful of notes and coins. 'The customers left these for you, Emily,' he said, 'and thanks for helping out in that rush. I'll add a bonus to your next pay check.' He paused, looking a little shy, then said, 'That was really great singing,' in a warm voice, before moving away a bit hurriedly.

'I think he could be interested in you,' said Phoebe archly.

Emily giggled. 'Well, that's another boost to my confidence. Oh, thank you all so much for being here for me and joining in so well.'

'I wouldn't have missed that for anything, would you, Rach?' said Monica.

'Oh no,' said Rachel. 'Best fun I've had since I don't know when.'

'It was fun,' said Phoebe. 'Well, mostly fun,' she amended, looking at Emily a bit apprehensively, as the others did too.

But Emily smiled at them. 'I've sung it out of me. I know, I cried, but I think singing My Dear Companion was cathartic. I feel so much better about … everything. Okay, let's go and find our wandering boys.'

-----

In their apartment, Chandler and Joey were trying to console Ross without much success.

'It really hit me,' he was saying sadly. 'It brought them all back, all my lost loves, Emily, Rachel, and Carol too. You know, I noticed Rachel was crying a little.'

'We all were,' said Joey. Chandler looked at him quizzically. 'Well, I was, and I could see tears on Phoebe's cheeks, and on plenty of people in the audience, guys included. Just because you have a frozen heart …'

'Okay, it was a sad, sad song,' said Chandler. 'Well, Ross, what are you going to do about it?'

Ross looked at him questioningly.

'It's clear that a lot of feelings are still swimming around,' Chandler elaborated. 'If Rachel was affected, maybe she'd be interested in getting back together with you. That dear companion song was powerful. I know, if I saw Janice right this moment, I'd be tempted,' he added, taking a chance to lay a false trail so Ross would not suspect what was going on between him and Monica.

Joey snorted derisively, but said nothing.

'And of course,' Chandler went on hastily, 'Emily came here to try to win you back, but I guess you've shot that one down in flames. Bye Bye Love!' He snorted.

'Oh God, I wish I hadn't done it now!' Ross moaned. He blew his nose. 'But I was, I was so bitter. I feel so much better for having cried, but, but that song's made me actively want to get back with one of them. The problem is, which?'

He looked at them mournfully. Chandler shook his head. 'I can't advise you, man. I've had my problems, but I've never been in a position like this.'

'Me too,' said Joey. 'But what I think is, Rachel is the one you've loved the longest, and, like Chandler says, you've probably blown any chance with Emily with that Bye Bye Love stunt.'

Ross sighed. 'Yes, and in some ways, you know, Emily has treated me worse. But should I do that to her, I mean, go back to Rachel right in front of her? It might destroy her.'

'You don't even know that Rachel would take you back,' said Chandler, dismayed at signs of the re-emergence of self-satisfied 'She still wants me' Ross.

Then there came hammering on the door. 'Come on, you guys,' cried Monica. 'Let's go out and celebrate the success of Emily's first singing spot. She got so much in tips, she wants to treat us all!'

'I'm there!' cried Joey, grabbing the door and throwing it open.

'You're coming,' Chandler hissed to Ross, who was hunching in his chair, 'if I have to drag you by the ear. This is your chance to make nice to them both and see how things really stand. Emily got back at you with that song, so maybe she won't be too mad at you. Anyway, you have to try!'

Ross nodded. 'You're right, you're right.' He got up and followed the others.