Thanks for the reviews, everyone. Especially Monica Bing. You are my inspiration. As promised here's the next chapter. Pretty quick, huh?

Disclaimer: They're mine. They're all mine. (Lawyers showing up everywhere) Heh heh… just joking. They DO NOT belong to me. (Close call)

JOEY AND RACHEL

"Hey, Joey."

Joey stared at her in disbelief. She started to get a little uncomfortable. This was hard enough as it was.

"Can…can I come in?"

"Um…I guess…I mean, sure, yeah, come in."

She walked in. She wasn't even sure why she was here. She just had this overwhelming urge to see him. Chandler had protested, saying it was late; that they'd be asleep. He'd even said that they probably left the state. He really didn't want her to see Joey. Still grumbling, he had dropped her off and asked her to call him when she was ready.

She sat down on a couch. "Where's Amanda?"

He pointed to their bedroom. "Well, she's asleep."

"Oh"

They sat in an embarrassed silence. Joey couldn't seem to get any words out. Just the sight of her had taken his breath away. She'd always done that to him…but…this was a different Rachel in front of him. Hell, she wasn't supposed to be at his apartment at this time. She was supposed to be with Ross.

"I don't want to be rude or anything…why are you here?" He really did sound rude, he thought.

"I …I really don't know. I just had to see you. I need to talk to you." But what about? She had no clue. Her thoughts were in a mess. There was so much she had to tell him but she didn't know where to start.

Joey watched the emotions flickering on her face. In the past, they could talk to each other so effortlessly. The past…it was always there. Tormenting him. Sure they'd all had some great times. He could vaguely remember them. But…Rachel. Every moment with her was clear as day. The good times and the bad. Everything.

She shouldn't have done this. As much as she hated to admit, Chandler was right. Joey wasn't happy to see her. He was … well, no other word for it, devastated. She got up.

"I think I better leave." She ran to the door.

Joey's head shot up. What the hell was wrong with her? Was this some sort of a game? Yeah, that was it. Come and torture Joey. Suddenly he was mad.

He caught up with her on the porch and grabbed her shoulders.

"What do you think you're doing, Rachel?" he fairly hissed it at her.

"I just…realized it was late…a mistake…I'm sorry." She could feel her eyes tearing up. Oh god, not now. Not in front of Joey

He let go of her. She was crying, he thought in dismay. He swore and pulled her into his arms. "Rachel, we should probably…go somewhere else to talk."

She nodded.

****

"Where are we?"

Joey unlocked the door and gestured for her to follow him inside. "Central perk." He turned a light on.

She was so upset in the car she hadn't even noticed where they were headed. She looked around her. It was almost the same as before, except for the big "sold" sign on the door.

He noticed her staring at it. "Yeah, Gunther sold the place. He married this girl and she wanted to leave the city. So he put the place up for sale."

"So … who bought it?" It was sad. She hadn't been here for years but it was still a part of her. Ross had never wanted to come back here. He was worried he'd meet Joey. And she…she didn't want to either. She wanted to move on with her life. Forget the past ever happened. She had even tried cutting herself off from Monica. But that couldn't work. She was after all Ross' sister. So except for Joey, she made an effort to remain friends with the old gang.

Joey smiled. "I did." He had jumped at the chance. He wasn't going to let his entire past slip away.

"Oh." She seemed to be saying that a lot lately. She just didn't know how to talk to Joey anymore.

He sat on the couch. "Yeah, closed the deal a week ago. I thought I'd keep it just the way it was. You know, it's great the way it is. Maybe add a touch of paint. Oh, and a couple of extra chairs. I used to always want a TV in here. But since Baywatch got cancelled, there isn't anything worth watching. And…"

"Joey, you're babbling." She smiled. A babbling Joey was definitely better than a silent one.

She sat down next to him. Nothing to do but just say it. "Why did you object?"

His gaze fell to his shoes. He could pretend like he didn't know what she was talking about. But he did and she knew that. He took a deep breath.

"I didn't want you to marry him."

She suddenly burst out laughing. He was dumbfounded. Definitely not the reaction he had expected.

She stopped laughing and wiped her eyes. "Sorry, honey. But that was hilarious."

He was not sure what to say. "Hilarious?"

"You always thought you weren't the astute one and you were the only one who was right."

She sobered up and looked up at him with an unfathomable emotion in her eyes. "Joey, you were the only one."

He was confused. That sudden outburst had left him speechless. He got up and walked towards the counter. He needed something to drink. "I'll just get a … a… coffee. Want some?"

She shook her head.

Right, she didn't want any. Good, because for the life of him, he couldn't figure out he was going to make it. Damn, why didn't he keep some beer in here?

He turned around to face her. And gasped. In the dim light, she made a particularly forlorn figure. He had noticed it at the party but tonight it hit with full force.

She was just as beautiful as ever. No one could deny that. But…the light had dimmed. The radiance that was all Rachel. She wasn't happy. And that hurt … more than he thought possible. He had thought he had done the right thing walking away that day. What if he hadn't?

He knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. "What is it, Rach?"

She broke down. She held on to him like he was her lifeline. She sobbed her heart out. All the pain, the misery…everything. She finally cried over everything.

Joey held her. He couldn't believe it. Why did she have to go through this? He wasn't sure what the problem was. But it wasn't right. Rachel needed some happiness in her life. He always knew that and by walking away that day he was sure she would have it.

Her crying soon subsided. She still didn't let go of Joey. It was too comfortable. It had been years since she was held like this. By someone who cared for her.

He gently pulled away from her. "Tell me."

And she did. She told him everything. She had done the same thing with Monica and Chandler today but Joey was different. He always would be. She felt like she could face the world again if he was in her life again.

After she was done, there was silence. He wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm so sorry. Do you want me to punch Ross' lights out?"

Rachel smiled. Joey grinned. Anything to make her smile.

She sniffed. "I really need a tissue."

As he handed one, she saw a glint of gold. His wedding ring. He was married and instead of letting him spend some time with his wife, he was here with her.

"So you and Amanda, huh?"

Joey started. He hadn't even thought of his wife. "Well, yeah. We met at Chandler's birthday party, around two years back." He had only gone to that because Phoebe had said that Rachel might be there. She wasn't. But Amanda was. She spent the whole evening with him. Chandler was so proud. He thought Joey was finally getting over Rachel.

"She asked me out. Monica convinced me to accept. I hadn't dated for a long time." What a convincing argument. Monica pleaded with him, yelled at him and finally resorted to blackmail. No more dinner at their place and no watching TV with Chandler. Joey gave in at that.

"You didn't date?" Rachel said that like it was something totally foreign.

"Yeah, I wasn't really interested in anyone." He wasn't even interested in Amanda. No one could compare to Rachel. She was the one. But he had given it a shot just for Chandler and Monica. Phoebe was against it. She was sure that Joey was making a mistake.

"So you went out with her?"

"Yeah. She became my steady date at everything." It was convenient. She was a really nice person. She seemed to care for him a lot. And they had fun. But he still felt like he was using her.

Rachel smiled wistfully. She was glad Joey had found happiness. "So when did you propose?"

He thought back to that day. It was Valentine's Day. They'd had a great dinner and come back to Joey's apartment. She was making some coffee when she suddenly stopped. She looked him straight in the eye and mouthed 'I love you'. Those three words shattered his world.

"On Valentine's day. I proposed to her on Valentine's Day."

Rachel closed her eyes. That was so romantic.

Joey still thought of that day. The day he decided that he was being stupid, pining for Rachel. It was time to move on. And why not with Amanda? She was a wonderful person. He asked her to marry him. She was so ecstatic; she never noticed that he wasn't. She didn't notice the desolation in his eyes

At least not until 6 months into their marriage. She had walked into their bedroom and had caught Joey in an unguarded moment. He was on the bed and had a defeated look on his face. She caught a glimpse of the absolute misery in his eyes. She had asked him about it. He confessed. He told her he was in love with a woman who had married someone else. He didn't mention her name. He had tried so hard to put it behind him but it didn't work. She was still in his thoughts.

Amanda had run out of the room. She had stayed at her mother's for a week. When she finally came back, she was the same. She didn't want their marriage to break up. She promised to help Joey get over his sorrow.

Somehow, it made Joey feel worse. He would have felt better if she had screamed at him, asked for a divorce. But no, this calm acceptance was awful.

"Joey…Joey." He came back to the present. Rachel was saying something.

"Huh?"

"You tuned out."

"Sorry." He wanted to tell her. She had poured out her heart to him. Admittedly, his life wasn't half as bad. But the emptiness was still there. No matter how much Amanda tried to get rid of it. She was being great …so understanding. It was pure hell.

"Joey, I always knew you'd find the one woman who would stop your womanizing."

"I did." But it wasn't Amanda. He stared at Rachel intently.

It was creeping her out. She changed the subject. "So Gunther got married?"

He sighed. "Yeah. To this hot brunette called Catherine. Very hot. She didn't like New York though. He was willing to do anything for. So that was it. He packed his bags and put this place up for sale. I couldn't believe he was willing to give it up."

"I don't know…if you find your one true love, I guess you'd be willing to do anything."

She was right. If he had Rachel by his side, he would have done anything for her. "Do you still believe in love, Rachel?"

She thought about it. Shockingly, yeah, she did. No matter what had happened, she hadn't given up on it. "Yeah. Funny isn't it? I feel like I shouldn't give up on it. Even though I really have no chance."

"Don't you?"

"I'm not leaving him."

He understood. For Emma. Rachel loved that kid. She would never do anything to hurt her.

He hugged her. This woman was unbelievable. Her marriage was in ruins but she was still so strong. He couldn't help himself. He didn't think it was possible but he was falling deeper into love with her.

He raised his eyes to the heavens. This was so unfair.

I think I'll update again tomorrow, or at the max, the day after that. Bet you didn't expect that from me! You know what to do. R & R!