Chapter 32.

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

A/N: This chapter flashes back in time a few hours previous of the last chapter. I hope its not too confusing. I just have to fill you in on what's happened to the others.

~*~

Monica could feel the tiredness washing over her like a damp cloud, but true to form she was battling on, packing Phoebe's case for her return home later that day.

Phoebe sat at the edge of the bed, almost like a statue. The slightest bit of movement sent pain writhing around her body. Although her wounds were healing pretty well there was still an element of discomfort, which was evident on her face anytime she as much as coughed.

"Mon, let me help you," Phoebe tried in vain to move herself from the bed and let out a loud yelp.

"Don't you dare. Just you sit where you are. I have this under control." Monica sounded stern, but the smile on her face showed she was only pretending to be angry. Phoebe smiled back, but it was short-lived.

"I'm so sick of this Monica. I feel like some sort of vegetable. I cant move, I cant walk, I cant even hold my baby for Christ sake," She slammed her clenched fist down on the mattress and winced in pain, tears threatening to erupt.

Monica placed down the folded up nightdress neatly into the case and move around the bed to sit next to her, rubbing her knee sympathetically as she did so.

"Hey, listen to me okay. Your going to get better soon, and you'll be able to do all that stuff again. In fact you will more than likely miss the rest you've been getting. Hell, I'd kill for all the respite you've had." Monica tried to make a joke of the situation, but Phoebe didn't laugh.

There was silence as Monica tried to think of another plan of action to cheer her up.

"Phoebe, look at me." Monica touched Phoebe's cheek to turn her head.

"The baby is just fine. Chandler and me have been taking good care of her. And Joey did his bit too, when he was here." Monica's voice trailed off at the end of the sentence, feeling her self getting flustered at having mentioned Joey's name.

He hadn't been around in days. He had made no effort what so ever to try and find out how Phoebe was either. At least not that she knew of.

Phoebe noticed Monica's embarrassment and tried not to let it show that she had flinched at the mention of his name too.

"Mon, im so grateful to you and Chandler for everything you have done for me these last few months. But you have to understand, she's my child, and I want to do all the things a mother should be doing. Like feeding her, changing her diaper, singing her too sleep. But I cant, and that hurts more than this," She lifted her shirt and showed Monica the huge red open wound that ran nearly the length of her belly.

"I understand sweetie, I really do." Phoebe tucked her head into Monica's shoulder, enjoying the little moment of comfort. Tears were now falling freely as she felt more and more sorry for herself. Monica brushed her hair softly with her hand, in attempt to soothe her anguish over the baby. But Phoebe's tears weren't really about her little girl at all. They were about Joey.

~*~

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" Monica ran towards Chandler, gasping for breath.

"What's happened? Is Phoebe ok? The baby?" Chandler looked panicked.

"Everyone's fine! I wanted to see you alone before Phoebe's Dr. discharges her." Chandler let out a sigh of relief and nodded for her to continue.

"We really need to do something to cheer her up, she's so down. I want to try and get the happy Phoebe back, if that's possible." She went quiet as the realisation that may never happen hit her.

"So, anyway," she snapped herself back to reality. "I was thinking about organising a welcome home party for her tonight. It's going to be at least another couple of hours before she's released. The have to run a few tests on her, check her stitches and get lulu sorted."

"Lulu?" Chandler burst into laughter, but tried to ease it when he saw Monica's face blush bright red.

"Its what I call the baby. Pheebs still hasn't named her, so I gave her a little pet name until she does"

"Ohhh, good choice" Chandler chuckled again, but Monica choose to ignore him.

"So, can you help me? Ive tried to get a hold of Ross but he's not home. And Rachel says she's sorry she can't help but she has something romantic she needs to do for Ross tonight. I didn't go into details on that one!" Now it was Monica's turn to crack a joke, and chandlers turn to be serious.

"Did you try Joe?" He asked solemnly, knowing fine well what the answer would be.

"I did, but he's left a message on the answer phone saying he's out of town. Did he mention to you where he was going?"

"Out of town? Joey gets home sick if he leaves the village! That's weird. But no, he didn't mention it to me. I'm the last to find out anything these days." He flashed her a reassuring smile and pulled her into him, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose.

"If you wanted to know if I loved you all you had to do was ask. I would have told I did. Would have saved a lot of time if you had." She smiled back and returned his kiss, this time on the lips.

It was growing more passionate when she broke away. "Lets go get this show on the road."

~*~

"They really need to start putting elevators in Manhattans apartments!" Chandler puffed and panted exhausted, as him and Mon reached the top of the stairwell.

"They do honey. But to afford an apartment in a building with an elevator the two of us would have to sell our bodies and club the money together. And even then im not sure we could afford it."

"I have a $100 in my pocket to give you if you're offering those services," He winked at her cheekily, but her face was expressionless and staring at the door to Phoebe's apartment.

"What's up?" he followed her gaze to see at least 20 black bin bags huddled clumsily outside the door and a note pinned to it. He watched as Monica approached the door and ripped the note from it, scanning it quickly to see what it said.

"NO! They can't do this!" Monica screamed in frustration, thrusting the note under Chandler's nose for him to read.

Dear Ms Buffay,

It has come to our attention that you are in arrears of $4000 on your rent for this apartment. We have sent you several letters regarding this matter, but it has still not been dealt with. Therefore it is our regret to inform you of your eviction. You have one week, effective from the 8th of June, to remove yourself and your belongings, or we will have no choice but to send in the bailiffs.

Yours Sincerely

Ann Miller

Housing Department

"Oh my god. That was over a month ago. They have taken all her stuff to pay for the rent. She has nothing left apart from," Monica who had been racking through the bags finished his sentence.

"Clothes, a few candles, a photo album and junk." She sighed dejectedly.

"I don't believe this. How could I have been so stupid to not think this would happen? It never even occurred to me to pay her rent for her while she was away." Monica hugged Chandler soothingly.

"It didn't occur to me either. This is no ones fault."

"How are we going to break this to her? It will kill her Mon. This was like her family home! Its all she has for happy memories!" Chandler felt his heart snap in two.

"I don't know. But what I do know is that we're still having this welcome home party if it kills me! We've bought all the stuff, and ill be damned if its going to waste. We will figure out where she's gonna live once we've cheered her up! She needs that more than anything!"

Chandler nodded.

"One snag though. Could we have it at your place? Rachel's warned me under no circumstances to go to ours before 11pm."

"Of course we can. And at least we don't have to worry about Joey, if he's out of town."

The two descended the stairs, all which was left of Phoebe's past in their hands. The party would be the beginning of her new life. In more ways than one.

~*~

Ok guys, that's it for this chapter. I'm trying to drag it out, cuz im gonna miss writing it lol Rachel and Ross will be in the next one, which I promise to have up tomorrow.

Remember, if there's something you want to see happen let me know in your reviews :o) Ttfn xxx