Disclaimer: I don't own friends or any of the characters. (Yawn)
Ross stood in the doorway staring at Rachel. She only had on her nightdress and was shivering with the cold in the airy hallway. Her hair was a mess and her mascara had run down her wet cheeks.
"Can I come in?" she asked, her voice quivering. "Of course you can" Ross opened the door wider and cleared a path for her.
"What happened Rach?" he questioned, visibly concerned about her. "I had a nightmare about the elevator and the boat" she looked down as if she was embarrassed to admit it. "I didn't know where else to go." Ross felt strangely proud that she had come to him and not Monica or Phoebe. "Everyone else was downstairs, and I didn't want to get in the elevator on my own" Ross nodded, his pride now quickly diminished. He knew it was too good to be true.
"Im sorry I woke you, I feel so mortified, I shouldn't have disturbed you, listen I'll go."
"Hey, hey, hey, you don't have to feel ashamed and you certainly don't have to leave!"
Rachel looked up at him and smiled. "I owe you so many favours after all the help you've given me today" Ross laughed nervously "Yeah I guess you do" he laughed again then cleared his throat. "Hmm, so anyway, why don't you get into bed and ill go get some more pillows and covers out of the wardrobe.
"You don't have to sleep on the floor Ross, im the one being an inconvenience here." " Don't make me have to argue with you, Rachel Karen Greene," he said sternly with a smile on his face.
She laughed and nodded. "Ok, well if you're sure"
"I am, now go get in that bed," he said as he emptied the wardrobe of its bed sheets. "I wish he had been that demanding when we were dating," she thought to herself as she climbed under the covers, moving her hair out of the way as her head rested on the pillow. She lay watching Ross make himself a bed on the floor. His arms looked so strong and powerful. She knew he had been working out, but with clothes on she never noticed the extent to which is weight training had gone. She wanted those muscular arms to cuddle her right now, but she knew it wasn't the best idea in the world. It would only complicate things in the long run. "I have to leave soon after London, it's too late to start something" she tried to talk herself out of asking for a hug. Ross lay down, tossing and turning as he tried to get comfortable. "Goodnight Rach."
Rachel paused for a moment, sadness in her eyes. "Goodnight Ross" "I'm really going to miss you when im gone" she whispered as she shut her eyes.
~*~
Chandler was still staring at Monica in confusion. She was the last person he expected to see at 3:45am standing by his bed. He repeated the question he had asked Monica, as she hadn't answered him. "What are you doing here?" he swung his legs out of bed and sat up straight. "Umm, don't get mad ok?" she asked looking for reassurance. Chandler grabbed her hands and she continued. "I woke up, and umm, I felt kind of lonely, and umm, scared" her face screwed up as if the last part was painful for her to admit. "Really? Scared? Monica-Warrior Princess? Scared huh? He laughed sarcastically. "CHANDLER!" Monica's voice rose by what sounded like ten octaves. "Do you always have to mock?" Chandler shrugged. "It's in my genes" he smirked. "Yeah well just make sure you keep it in you jeans" Monica quipped back.
"So how did you manage to get in here?" "Umm, well." Monica screwed her face up again. Chandler sat back and crossed his arms waiting on the reply. "I went to reception and told them there had been a family emergency and I couldn't get you on the phone. So they gave me the master key the maid uses." "Ahh, the Monica we know and love" he mused. She slapped his thigh. "Stop it, im sorry ok. I wasn't going to wake you. I was just going to come in and sleep on the floor, then go before you woke and knew I was here. I only wanted to be somewhere I was comfortable. If it's so much of a problem ill go back to my own room and be alllll alone." She knew just what to say to wrap Chandler around her little finger.
"Ok, you can stay, but no funny business you hear" Chandler wasn't finished with the sarcasm. "Yeah, dream on mate, like that's ever gonna happen" Chandler smiled, but deep down he was hurt by her comment. He knew she was just kidding back with him, but still it had hit a nerve.
"Ok, well im going back to sleep, I don't know what you plan on doing?" "Awww" Monica sighed. "Can't we stay up and talk? We never talk." Chandler raised his eyes. "Monica, all we ever do is talk." "Noooo, like a girly chat" Monica jumped up on the bed, bouncing on her knees. "Come on it will be fun." She said as she continued to bounce.
Chandler sighed and rolled his eyes again. "What you wanna talk about?" "Yay, this is gonna be so much fun." Mon clapped her hands together and took her position on the left hand side of the bed. "So what do you really think of Ross?"
~*~
The sun had started to rise just a little over an hour ago. Its rays beaming into Phoebe's room, casting shadows over her and a peacefully sleeping Joey. She had been awake for a few minutes, staring at her friend. She thought it was still a bit premature to think of him as her boyfriend. "Don't want to jinx myself," she thought seriously.
Phoebe gently manoeuvred herself out of Joeys grip and moved as quietly as she could across the room to the bathroom. She heard Joey stir slightly. She paused and turned to watch him. He had turned onto his back and was now snoring softly. A smile crept onto her face as she closed the bathroom door behind her and began to draw herself a bath.
Phoebe submerged herself into the warm bubble bath she had just run. The water was boiling and she could see her skin turn red ever so slightly. As she looked down at her skin she noticed the bruises she was covered in for the first time. A pang of sadness returned to her as she mulled over how stupid she had been. She ran through the event in her mind, watching it like a film. She could see Michaels face, eyes wide and raging as he tore at her clothes, groping her painfully. She closed her eyes in the hope the image would go but instead she saw another picture.
Phoebe was just 13. Only a child. She was sitting on her sofa at home. Her Mom was in the kitchen baking cookies from a recipe Phoebe's grandmother had given her. Her stepfather was sitting next to her watching a football game on TV. Phoebe felt a familiar feeling raise in her stomach. it was panic. Her stepfather's hand was on her thigh, sliding up and down the length of her leg. She wanted to scream out for her mom to help her but she afraid. what would he do to her if she did? He already hurt her, physically and emotionally. He would most certainly kill her if she told her mother anything of his abuse. He had told her so on many occasions when he had crept into her room at night. It had been then that Phoebe decided to run away. She couldn't take it any more. She had to go now; this was her one chance at freedom. "Mom," she called as she stood up and away from his grasp. She looked at him and saw the panic mixed with hatred in his eyes. "I'm just going to go to the shops to get a magazine, then go round to Amanda's house for a little while" "Ok, but don't be long, you know I have to go out soon and I don't want your father out looking for you!" Phoebe tried not to cry as she went to her room to gather a few belongings. She threw some clothes and a framed picture of her and her mom taken that Christmas into a small blue rucksack. She walked back into the living room and then into the kitchen. She kissed her mom on the cheek. "Bye Mom" "See you soon Pheebs" her mom replied as Phoebe closed the door behind her, tears streaming her face It was the last either saw of each other.
Phoebe opened her eyes and stared at the bubbles covering her body. A single teardrop fell from her eye. No one knew what she really had to endure in the past and they never would. She was so ashamed. Her father had left, her stepfather had abused her in everyway possible and her mother had killed herself. and it had all been her fault.
Every one of her friends considered her the strong one amongst them, but if only they knew it was all a façade. She had even duped Joey into believing she was ok last night. He had told he loved her, but deep down she knew it had only been sex he was after. She had given him what he wanted and she was almost sure it would go no further. I bet he's gone when I get out here she told herself. Why would he want me? No one has ever wanted me. not really. It was only sleaze balls that seemed to fall for her. And Joey was no sleaze she smiled. she truly felt love for him, but in order to be with him she knew she would have to get the past off her chest. But she couldn't tell him. how could she tell him she had had sex with her stepfather and been preg. No, she shook her head. I can't go over this again, I have to get ready and go meet my friends and have a fun day with them. She would think about this later.
She removed herself from the bath and wrapped herself tightly in a robe that hung on the door. She opened the door and paused half way out. Joey was standing next to the kettle that was placed on a little sideboard by the bed. "I made us coffee sweetie," he said before walking up to her and kissing her softly on the lips. He looked so happy and excited, like a little kid she noted.
"He does love me," she told herself as her heart fluttered. "I need to tell him everything. tonight"
To be continued.
Ross stood in the doorway staring at Rachel. She only had on her nightdress and was shivering with the cold in the airy hallway. Her hair was a mess and her mascara had run down her wet cheeks.
"Can I come in?" she asked, her voice quivering. "Of course you can" Ross opened the door wider and cleared a path for her.
"What happened Rach?" he questioned, visibly concerned about her. "I had a nightmare about the elevator and the boat" she looked down as if she was embarrassed to admit it. "I didn't know where else to go." Ross felt strangely proud that she had come to him and not Monica or Phoebe. "Everyone else was downstairs, and I didn't want to get in the elevator on my own" Ross nodded, his pride now quickly diminished. He knew it was too good to be true.
"Im sorry I woke you, I feel so mortified, I shouldn't have disturbed you, listen I'll go."
"Hey, hey, hey, you don't have to feel ashamed and you certainly don't have to leave!"
Rachel looked up at him and smiled. "I owe you so many favours after all the help you've given me today" Ross laughed nervously "Yeah I guess you do" he laughed again then cleared his throat. "Hmm, so anyway, why don't you get into bed and ill go get some more pillows and covers out of the wardrobe.
"You don't have to sleep on the floor Ross, im the one being an inconvenience here." " Don't make me have to argue with you, Rachel Karen Greene," he said sternly with a smile on his face.
She laughed and nodded. "Ok, well if you're sure"
"I am, now go get in that bed," he said as he emptied the wardrobe of its bed sheets. "I wish he had been that demanding when we were dating," she thought to herself as she climbed under the covers, moving her hair out of the way as her head rested on the pillow. She lay watching Ross make himself a bed on the floor. His arms looked so strong and powerful. She knew he had been working out, but with clothes on she never noticed the extent to which is weight training had gone. She wanted those muscular arms to cuddle her right now, but she knew it wasn't the best idea in the world. It would only complicate things in the long run. "I have to leave soon after London, it's too late to start something" she tried to talk herself out of asking for a hug. Ross lay down, tossing and turning as he tried to get comfortable. "Goodnight Rach."
Rachel paused for a moment, sadness in her eyes. "Goodnight Ross" "I'm really going to miss you when im gone" she whispered as she shut her eyes.
~*~
Chandler was still staring at Monica in confusion. She was the last person he expected to see at 3:45am standing by his bed. He repeated the question he had asked Monica, as she hadn't answered him. "What are you doing here?" he swung his legs out of bed and sat up straight. "Umm, don't get mad ok?" she asked looking for reassurance. Chandler grabbed her hands and she continued. "I woke up, and umm, I felt kind of lonely, and umm, scared" her face screwed up as if the last part was painful for her to admit. "Really? Scared? Monica-Warrior Princess? Scared huh? He laughed sarcastically. "CHANDLER!" Monica's voice rose by what sounded like ten octaves. "Do you always have to mock?" Chandler shrugged. "It's in my genes" he smirked. "Yeah well just make sure you keep it in you jeans" Monica quipped back.
"So how did you manage to get in here?" "Umm, well." Monica screwed her face up again. Chandler sat back and crossed his arms waiting on the reply. "I went to reception and told them there had been a family emergency and I couldn't get you on the phone. So they gave me the master key the maid uses." "Ahh, the Monica we know and love" he mused. She slapped his thigh. "Stop it, im sorry ok. I wasn't going to wake you. I was just going to come in and sleep on the floor, then go before you woke and knew I was here. I only wanted to be somewhere I was comfortable. If it's so much of a problem ill go back to my own room and be alllll alone." She knew just what to say to wrap Chandler around her little finger.
"Ok, you can stay, but no funny business you hear" Chandler wasn't finished with the sarcasm. "Yeah, dream on mate, like that's ever gonna happen" Chandler smiled, but deep down he was hurt by her comment. He knew she was just kidding back with him, but still it had hit a nerve.
"Ok, well im going back to sleep, I don't know what you plan on doing?" "Awww" Monica sighed. "Can't we stay up and talk? We never talk." Chandler raised his eyes. "Monica, all we ever do is talk." "Noooo, like a girly chat" Monica jumped up on the bed, bouncing on her knees. "Come on it will be fun." She said as she continued to bounce.
Chandler sighed and rolled his eyes again. "What you wanna talk about?" "Yay, this is gonna be so much fun." Mon clapped her hands together and took her position on the left hand side of the bed. "So what do you really think of Ross?"
~*~
The sun had started to rise just a little over an hour ago. Its rays beaming into Phoebe's room, casting shadows over her and a peacefully sleeping Joey. She had been awake for a few minutes, staring at her friend. She thought it was still a bit premature to think of him as her boyfriend. "Don't want to jinx myself," she thought seriously.
Phoebe gently manoeuvred herself out of Joeys grip and moved as quietly as she could across the room to the bathroom. She heard Joey stir slightly. She paused and turned to watch him. He had turned onto his back and was now snoring softly. A smile crept onto her face as she closed the bathroom door behind her and began to draw herself a bath.
Phoebe submerged herself into the warm bubble bath she had just run. The water was boiling and she could see her skin turn red ever so slightly. As she looked down at her skin she noticed the bruises she was covered in for the first time. A pang of sadness returned to her as she mulled over how stupid she had been. She ran through the event in her mind, watching it like a film. She could see Michaels face, eyes wide and raging as he tore at her clothes, groping her painfully. She closed her eyes in the hope the image would go but instead she saw another picture.
Phoebe was just 13. Only a child. She was sitting on her sofa at home. Her Mom was in the kitchen baking cookies from a recipe Phoebe's grandmother had given her. Her stepfather was sitting next to her watching a football game on TV. Phoebe felt a familiar feeling raise in her stomach. it was panic. Her stepfather's hand was on her thigh, sliding up and down the length of her leg. She wanted to scream out for her mom to help her but she afraid. what would he do to her if she did? He already hurt her, physically and emotionally. He would most certainly kill her if she told her mother anything of his abuse. He had told her so on many occasions when he had crept into her room at night. It had been then that Phoebe decided to run away. She couldn't take it any more. She had to go now; this was her one chance at freedom. "Mom," she called as she stood up and away from his grasp. She looked at him and saw the panic mixed with hatred in his eyes. "I'm just going to go to the shops to get a magazine, then go round to Amanda's house for a little while" "Ok, but don't be long, you know I have to go out soon and I don't want your father out looking for you!" Phoebe tried not to cry as she went to her room to gather a few belongings. She threw some clothes and a framed picture of her and her mom taken that Christmas into a small blue rucksack. She walked back into the living room and then into the kitchen. She kissed her mom on the cheek. "Bye Mom" "See you soon Pheebs" her mom replied as Phoebe closed the door behind her, tears streaming her face It was the last either saw of each other.
Phoebe opened her eyes and stared at the bubbles covering her body. A single teardrop fell from her eye. No one knew what she really had to endure in the past and they never would. She was so ashamed. Her father had left, her stepfather had abused her in everyway possible and her mother had killed herself. and it had all been her fault.
Every one of her friends considered her the strong one amongst them, but if only they knew it was all a façade. She had even duped Joey into believing she was ok last night. He had told he loved her, but deep down she knew it had only been sex he was after. She had given him what he wanted and she was almost sure it would go no further. I bet he's gone when I get out here she told herself. Why would he want me? No one has ever wanted me. not really. It was only sleaze balls that seemed to fall for her. And Joey was no sleaze she smiled. she truly felt love for him, but in order to be with him she knew she would have to get the past off her chest. But she couldn't tell him. how could she tell him she had had sex with her stepfather and been preg. No, she shook her head. I can't go over this again, I have to get ready and go meet my friends and have a fun day with them. She would think about this later.
She removed herself from the bath and wrapped herself tightly in a robe that hung on the door. She opened the door and paused half way out. Joey was standing next to the kettle that was placed on a little sideboard by the bed. "I made us coffee sweetie," he said before walking up to her and kissing her softly on the lips. He looked so happy and excited, like a little kid she noted.
"He does love me," she told herself as her heart fluttered. "I need to tell him everything. tonight"
To be continued.
