Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends.

I hope everyone who's reading this is enjoying it :o) If you are please leave me a review. Thanks :o) The first couple of chapters are going to focus more on Phoebe/Joey and Rachel/Ross, but the good Chan/Mon stuff will come later I promise.
~*~

Ross opened his eyes and closed them again immediately. He could feel an unusual weight around his waist, but felt too tired to query it. Or at least he was until he felt the weight move. He jumped up and turned to his left. "Rachel!" he screamed. Rachel who was lying next to him jumped also, startled by someone shout her name. Her eyes blinked furiously, adjusting to the light. "What!" she screamed back at Ross, fuming that he had woken her so alarmingly. "What are you doing down here next to me. I, I, thought you were in bed, you terrified me" "I terrified you!" she roared, evidently angry at his outburst.

Both sat quietly before Ross apologised. "Sorry Rach, didn't mean to scare you, I just got a bit of a shock when I felt your arm around me." Rachel, who was a lot calmer than before reached up and gave him a hug. "I'm sorry too." "I didn't intend to sleep here with you all night, I just felt a bit cold and thought if I lay with you for a minute or two I would warm up. I must have fallen asleep" she lied, trying to hide her shame. She hadn't been able to get Ross' warm embrace out of her head, so she waited until he was asleep and curled up beside him on the floor.

Ross didn't know how to respond. He just smiled and nodded, showing Rachel he didn't mind what she had done. He was slightly scared to say anything in case it came out the wrong way and he ended up professing his feelings for her.

"I've already ruined one vacation in London because of my big mouth"

~*~

Back in Chandler's room Monica was already up, washed and dressed. She had gone back to her own room for fresh clothes and had returned to wait on her friend. Her impatience was showing as she tapped her fingernails on the round table she was sitting at. "Chandler, get a damn move on, come on, and get your finger out. We are supposed to meet the others downstairs in like 2 minutes. Don't dare make me late"

Chandler appeared from the bathroom.

"Take a chill pill woman! You'll give yourself a stroke by the time your 35 the way you go on." Monica glared at him; he knew he had said too much.

"Ok, im ready" he picked up his jacket and reached into the pocket for his keys. By the time he looked up Monica was already in the hall, with the door open waiting on him. "She so damn eager" he moaned into himself.

He closed the door behind him and walked over to Monica and the waiting elevator.

~*~

They were the first ones down to the reception. Monica smiled. "See I knew id get us here first" her tone was smug. Chandler grinned sarcastically.

"Ahh, here's Ross and Rach" Monica ran towards them, leaving Chandler behind. She hugged Rachel tightly.

"Morning Hun" Rachel said as she returned her friends embrace.

"Did you guys not go in and get Phoebe?" Monica asked.

"No, we thought she would be with you" Rachel shook her head. "I'll go," said Ross. But just as he turned to head back to the elevator its doors opened and Phoebe and Joey appeared.

Everyone turned and looked at each other, obviously all thinking the same thing. Joey wasn't staying at the same hotel as the rest of them. The plays producers had booked him into a 5 star place in Kensington, that no one else could afford. Well, not for a 2-week stay they couldn't. "Morning people" Joey beamed the biggest smirk they had ever seen.

"Good night last night?" Chandler winked

Phoebe butted in before Joey could answer and give their secret away. "No, not really if you must know."

"PHOEBE" blasted Monica. "What the hell happened to you face?" Everyone turned to stare at the huge black bruise on her jaw line. Phoebe started to shift uncomfortably, touching her hair and mumbling. "Were you fighting again"? Monica scolded

While phoebe played with her hair, trying to think of something to say she heard Rachel squeal. "Phoebe! Your arms!" Phoebe looked down to see her sleeves had ridden up and her bruises were on show. She immediately burst into tears and ran for the bathroom before anyone else could comment. Joey was torn between running after her and staying with his friends to explain. As he walked in the direction Phoebe had ran Monica grabbed him.

"Not so quick!" "What happened last night Joey" Rachel added.

Joey looked down at his feet. he hated being in situations were everyone was waiting on an answer he didn't want to give.

"JOEY" screamed Ross "You have to tell us"

"Ok, but lets sit down, it's a long one"

The five moved towards the couches in the receptions lounge.

Monica, Chandler, Rachel and Ross sat while Joey stood In front of them.

"It started at the party."

15 minutes later Joey finished telling them what had happened.

Monica's mouth was agape, while Rachel fought back the tears welling in her eyes, her hands cupping her mouth and nose. Ross kept repeating something incoherently and Chandler sat silently shaking his head in shock.

Rachel stood up and ran to the bathroom where her friend had been for 20 minutes, probably breaking her heart. She had to try and comfort her. No one else moved. It was clear it hadn't sunk into them yet. "Phoebe attacked!" Ross repeated clearly this time.

Ross had always had a soft spot for her. In his eyes she was vulnerable even although she was so strong-willed. In someway he felt like he had to protect her, the same way he did with the other girls. He knew they weren't as close as the rest, but she had always been good to him when he needed someone. Like the time she was prepared to sleep with him to help him get over Carol becoming a Lesbian. He always wondered what would have happened had the others not come into the bar.

~*~

Rachel chapped on the bathroom door and let herself in. She could hear Phoebe sobbing before she saw her. As she closed the door and turned she spotted Phoebe. Her back was against the white tiled wall, her head resting on her knees. Rachel kneeled down beside her friend and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her towards her. "Oh, sweetheart, you're going to be ok. We are all here for you. You know that right?" She could feel Phoebe nodding into her chest. She looked up into Rachel's eyes. "Have I ruined everyone's day?" "No, of course you haven't! We are all going to have a great day, including you. Once we know you are ok!" "I'm ok," "Its just." Phoebe stopped herself. "Just what Pheebs" "Why do I always have to say too much" she scolded herself

"Pheebs, sweetie, is there something you want to tell me?" Phoebe remained quiet for a minute. Should she tell Rachel? She was one of her best friends after all. She could trust her with anything, but she had always sworn to herself she would never talk about the bad things in her past. No one should know, its too terrible, no one will want to know me if I tell. Joey especially.

"Pheebs?" Rachel probed her, trying to get her friend to open up. "We can't help you if you don't tell us"

"You promise you wont tell anyone if I tell you?" "I swear" Rachel answered and touched Phoebe's heart.

"It all started when I was 12 and my mom married my step dad."

~*~

Outside in the lobby Joey paced the floor around the couches his friends were sat on. "Joey will you please sit down, or at least stand still, your driving me crazy" Monica snapped at him. "I'm sorry Mon, im just anxious to see how Pheebs is." "Oh, no, im sorry sweetie for snapping at you. Im just as upset." Joey leaned down and kissed Monica on the forehead and resumed his rhythmic pacing. He stopped suddenly as his cell phone started to ring.

"Hello, Joey Tribbiani" he answered.

He listened intently to what the person on the other end of the line had to say, just adding a few "yeahs" and "ok's" He switched his phone off and put it back in his pocket. Chandler, Monica and Ross were staring at him, all wondering who would be phoning him. Joey answered what they were all thinking. "It was the director of the play". "They have cancelled it!" "Apparently it didn't go down as well as first expected" His voice was monotone. "Oh man im sorry" Chandler stood up and patted his friend on the back. "Hey you know its ok. I'm kind of glad in a way. I didn't want to leave Phoebe every night anyway, not now. And it means I get to enjoy London, I can treat it as a vacation like you guys." He smiled convincingly, and sat back down with Chandler.

~*~

Rachel had been listening to Phoebe for what seemed like hours. She couldn't begin to take in what she was being told, never mind begin to comprehend how her friend felt. She felt so stupid about getting so worked up over a stupid boat trip yesterday as Phoebe recounted tales of being molested, by her stepfather of all people.

"I had been on the streets for 2 months when I took ill. At first I thought I had some disease like dysentery, cause you know, living on the streets isn't the cleanliest way of life. But one night I woke up with blood pouring from me. I got so scared, I was sure I was about to die. I was so young and naïve, how was I supposed to know I was pregnant. She stopped as she heard Rachel gasp. "Pheebs! You were pregnant?" tears rolled down her face. Phoebe nodded, not able to look her friend in the eye. She felt disgusted with herself. "I miscarried that night. One of the other homeless ladies said it was probably because of lack of nutrition. "You didn't go to the hospital" Rachel asked, shocked. Phoebe shook her head, still unable to look up. "I didn't have medical insurance or any money. They would have turned me away!" Rachel sat for a few seconds, trying in vain to digest everything she had just been told. She didn't know what to say. She looked down to see Phoebe howling uncontrollably. "Please don't judge me or hate me," Phoebe begged between her tears.

"Sweetheart I don't hate you or judge you, I love you and think you are a wonderful and amazing person. You say you're not strong, but you are. Look how far you have come since then. I couldn't have done it, none of the rest of us could." Phoebe looked up at Rachel and hugged her securely. "Lets go have some fun" Rachel squeezed Phoebe reassuringly. Phoebe smiled and stood up. "Thank you for being my friend" "Friends forever" Rachel kissed her bruised cheek and took her hand to exit the bathroom.

~*~

I'll have chapter 6 up tomorrow hopefully :o)

Please review.