Chapter 34
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends, or the song with or without you by U2.
~*~
"Chandler?" Joey screamed his name at the top of his lungs as he burst through the apartment door.
He looked around him and let his heart sink at the sight of the now pastel coloured room that glistened with baby banners and balloons. His eyes rested on the empty crib in the middle of the room. Tears shimmered in his eyes as he pictured his sweet baby girl lying there, sleeping peacefully. He missed her dreadfully, and her Mom, more than they would ever know.
He walked into his room and picked up Hugsy, who sat motionless on the wall shelf. He carried the stuffed bear carefully to the living room and placed him gently into the crib. A sad smile passed his lips. He had promised he would give his daughter his favourite toy and that's exactly what he was doing.
"Ill miss ya Hugsy," Joey patted the penguin and went back to his room, closing the door solemnly before throwing himself face down on the bed to think about his future.
His body had barely touched the sheets when he heard a click and familiar voice fill the room. He lifted himself off the bed and placed his ear at the door to listen.
"WELCOME HOME!!!!" Monica and Chandler chorused together.
Phoebe didn't respond. She placed herself down on a chair and looked around her, mixed emotions overwhelming her.
"Guys, this is beautiful," She gushed "But," She paused.
"This isn't my home. Why didn't you have this at my place?"
Monica handed the baby to Chandler and sat on the floor at her friends' feet.
"Oh honey. I was hoping you wouldn't notice this, at least not yet." Monica let out a little sigh of defeat.
"What do you mean?" Phoebe looked down at Mon, puzzled to the goings on.
"Phoebe, you don't have an apartment anymore. You were evicted for non- payment of rent." Monica winced, feeling guilt at having to break it to her.
"That can't be right? I can't lose that apartment. It was my grandma's. It's the only home ive ever know. Please say it isn't true." Phoebe burst into uncontrollable sobs as the realisation hit her like a tonne of bricks.
Monica didn't need to answer. She could tell by Phoebe's reaction she knew it was true, and no amount of "im sorrys" were going to reassure her. She shut her eyes and prayed silently. "Please God, she doesn't deserve this, she's a good person! Give her just a bit of happiness."
Back in his room Joey had sunk to the floor and curled his knees into his chest. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The woman he loved and his daughter where homeless. He couldn't allow this to happen. 5 months of thinking things over hadn't gotten him anywhere, and now in 2 small minutes his future had flashed before him, making everything seem crystal clear. He had finally realised what he had to do to make things all right. It was so simple.
He uncurled himself from the floor and took a deep breath before opening the bedroom door, about to make that future into reality.
~*~
Ross raced into Central perk and scanned the room fervently for the second time that night. As far as he could tell nothing had changed. The candles were still burning and it was still as empty as before, no sign of Rachel either.
He stood expectantly for a moment and listened to the first few bars of a familiar song float around him. It was "With or Without You" by U2, the song he had requested for Rachel the night they had broken up. He looked to the ceiling as he listened to the words.
See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you
With or without you
With or without you
He let his knees bend as he took a seat at the coffee table, never once removing his eyes from a spot on the ceiling, hanging on every word that was sung.
Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
His eyes fell from the sky to the table before him, his attention drawn away as he watched the last burning candle flicker furiously and get smaller as it burnt out into nothingness, plunging the room into near darkness. One last tiny bit of dying ember fell onto a magazine on the table, its fire growing determinedly as it touched the glossy paper. Ross leant forward, grabbing the magazine, batting it furiously to extinguish the flame.
As it waved through the air in his hand another piece of paper that had been concealed within it went hurtling across the room, landing softly on the couch beside him.
He checked the magazine to make sure the last of the flame was out and went to sit it back down, but as he did so the publications title caught his attention.
"Real Estate Weekly: Scarsdale" he let out a little chuckle thinking back to the moment 3 years previous when Rachel had freaked out at his suggestion to move there when they had kids. His whole evening had been about reminiscing; just as Rachel had planned it all.
He threw it back onto the wooden table before suddenly realising something. The magazines in Central Perk were very rarely updated, and when they were it was usually a 3-month-old copy of "Cosmopolitan" that replaced a 10- month old copy of "Vogue". He had never seen this one before, and he knew he would have remembered it if he had. There was no other explanation. Rachel had to have put it there, but why, he wondered.
Suddenly remembering the piece of paper that had unintentionally fallen from it moments earlier he made a grab for it, plunging himself across the table to reach it.
He sat with it in his hands for a moment of contemplation before tearing it open apprehensively.
He half expected to find another of Rachel's messages to dash off somewhere randomly, but instead he was met with 4 little words that made his heart melt.
My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose
As he read the words over and over in his head, trying to digest this was really happening, he heard a dull rapping sound coming from behind him. At first he couldn't distinguish what, or where it was coming from but as the noise intensified he realised it was coming from the door. He swivelled his body around to investigate the tapping, where his eyes met with Rachel's, standing with her face pressed against the outside windowpane of the door, staring longingly back at him.
Without giving it a second thought he jumped from his seat and ran to where she was, carelessly fumbling with the handle as his whole body shook with nerves. As he threw open the door he felt a rush of cool night air hit his face. He bundled Rachel into his arms, never wanting to let her go, praying this over-whelming feeling of love would never leave him.
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
Rachel glanced reflectively into his eyes, seeking out answers on his face.
"So?" She questioned, her voice whispering and trembling with fear.
Nerves rattled in her body, and the deadly silence that followed her question intensified that feeling of dread.
Finally he spoke.
"Rachel, ive known you forever, and ive loved you forever. All I have ever wanted was for us to be together, to be a family. But somehow, along the way things went wrong, we were wrong,"
Rachel swallowed. This didn't sound good and she was determined not to cry.
"But now, I cant image not having you wake up next to me, holding you, kissing you. You make me complete. Ive always known it, but ive always been too stubborn to admit it."
Rachel couldn't hold in her tears any longer as she let out a whimper, her lip trembling.
"Rachel?" She looked into his eyes, wondering what was coming next. The part she had been waiting so long on.
"Yes. I will marry you."
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you
~*~
Ok this time I promise there is one more and then that's it lol (Ive been saying that since chapter 12 lol) But I really mean it this time. Chapter 35: Find out what Joey's gonna do, and how everyone reacts to Ross and Rachel's news :o)
Keep reviewing ;o)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends, or the song with or without you by U2.
~*~
"Chandler?" Joey screamed his name at the top of his lungs as he burst through the apartment door.
He looked around him and let his heart sink at the sight of the now pastel coloured room that glistened with baby banners and balloons. His eyes rested on the empty crib in the middle of the room. Tears shimmered in his eyes as he pictured his sweet baby girl lying there, sleeping peacefully. He missed her dreadfully, and her Mom, more than they would ever know.
He walked into his room and picked up Hugsy, who sat motionless on the wall shelf. He carried the stuffed bear carefully to the living room and placed him gently into the crib. A sad smile passed his lips. He had promised he would give his daughter his favourite toy and that's exactly what he was doing.
"Ill miss ya Hugsy," Joey patted the penguin and went back to his room, closing the door solemnly before throwing himself face down on the bed to think about his future.
His body had barely touched the sheets when he heard a click and familiar voice fill the room. He lifted himself off the bed and placed his ear at the door to listen.
"WELCOME HOME!!!!" Monica and Chandler chorused together.
Phoebe didn't respond. She placed herself down on a chair and looked around her, mixed emotions overwhelming her.
"Guys, this is beautiful," She gushed "But," She paused.
"This isn't my home. Why didn't you have this at my place?"
Monica handed the baby to Chandler and sat on the floor at her friends' feet.
"Oh honey. I was hoping you wouldn't notice this, at least not yet." Monica let out a little sigh of defeat.
"What do you mean?" Phoebe looked down at Mon, puzzled to the goings on.
"Phoebe, you don't have an apartment anymore. You were evicted for non- payment of rent." Monica winced, feeling guilt at having to break it to her.
"That can't be right? I can't lose that apartment. It was my grandma's. It's the only home ive ever know. Please say it isn't true." Phoebe burst into uncontrollable sobs as the realisation hit her like a tonne of bricks.
Monica didn't need to answer. She could tell by Phoebe's reaction she knew it was true, and no amount of "im sorrys" were going to reassure her. She shut her eyes and prayed silently. "Please God, she doesn't deserve this, she's a good person! Give her just a bit of happiness."
Back in his room Joey had sunk to the floor and curled his knees into his chest. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The woman he loved and his daughter where homeless. He couldn't allow this to happen. 5 months of thinking things over hadn't gotten him anywhere, and now in 2 small minutes his future had flashed before him, making everything seem crystal clear. He had finally realised what he had to do to make things all right. It was so simple.
He uncurled himself from the floor and took a deep breath before opening the bedroom door, about to make that future into reality.
~*~
Ross raced into Central perk and scanned the room fervently for the second time that night. As far as he could tell nothing had changed. The candles were still burning and it was still as empty as before, no sign of Rachel either.
He stood expectantly for a moment and listened to the first few bars of a familiar song float around him. It was "With or Without You" by U2, the song he had requested for Rachel the night they had broken up. He looked to the ceiling as he listened to the words.
See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you
With or without you
With or without you
He let his knees bend as he took a seat at the coffee table, never once removing his eyes from a spot on the ceiling, hanging on every word that was sung.
Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
His eyes fell from the sky to the table before him, his attention drawn away as he watched the last burning candle flicker furiously and get smaller as it burnt out into nothingness, plunging the room into near darkness. One last tiny bit of dying ember fell onto a magazine on the table, its fire growing determinedly as it touched the glossy paper. Ross leant forward, grabbing the magazine, batting it furiously to extinguish the flame.
As it waved through the air in his hand another piece of paper that had been concealed within it went hurtling across the room, landing softly on the couch beside him.
He checked the magazine to make sure the last of the flame was out and went to sit it back down, but as he did so the publications title caught his attention.
"Real Estate Weekly: Scarsdale" he let out a little chuckle thinking back to the moment 3 years previous when Rachel had freaked out at his suggestion to move there when they had kids. His whole evening had been about reminiscing; just as Rachel had planned it all.
He threw it back onto the wooden table before suddenly realising something. The magazines in Central Perk were very rarely updated, and when they were it was usually a 3-month-old copy of "Cosmopolitan" that replaced a 10- month old copy of "Vogue". He had never seen this one before, and he knew he would have remembered it if he had. There was no other explanation. Rachel had to have put it there, but why, he wondered.
Suddenly remembering the piece of paper that had unintentionally fallen from it moments earlier he made a grab for it, plunging himself across the table to reach it.
He sat with it in his hands for a moment of contemplation before tearing it open apprehensively.
He half expected to find another of Rachel's messages to dash off somewhere randomly, but instead he was met with 4 little words that made his heart melt.
My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose
As he read the words over and over in his head, trying to digest this was really happening, he heard a dull rapping sound coming from behind him. At first he couldn't distinguish what, or where it was coming from but as the noise intensified he realised it was coming from the door. He swivelled his body around to investigate the tapping, where his eyes met with Rachel's, standing with her face pressed against the outside windowpane of the door, staring longingly back at him.
Without giving it a second thought he jumped from his seat and ran to where she was, carelessly fumbling with the handle as his whole body shook with nerves. As he threw open the door he felt a rush of cool night air hit his face. He bundled Rachel into his arms, never wanting to let her go, praying this over-whelming feeling of love would never leave him.
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
Rachel glanced reflectively into his eyes, seeking out answers on his face.
"So?" She questioned, her voice whispering and trembling with fear.
Nerves rattled in her body, and the deadly silence that followed her question intensified that feeling of dread.
Finally he spoke.
"Rachel, ive known you forever, and ive loved you forever. All I have ever wanted was for us to be together, to be a family. But somehow, along the way things went wrong, we were wrong,"
Rachel swallowed. This didn't sound good and she was determined not to cry.
"But now, I cant image not having you wake up next to me, holding you, kissing you. You make me complete. Ive always known it, but ive always been too stubborn to admit it."
Rachel couldn't hold in her tears any longer as she let out a whimper, her lip trembling.
"Rachel?" She looked into his eyes, wondering what was coming next. The part she had been waiting so long on.
"Yes. I will marry you."
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you
~*~
Ok this time I promise there is one more and then that's it lol (Ive been saying that since chapter 12 lol) But I really mean it this time. Chapter 35: Find out what Joey's gonna do, and how everyone reacts to Ross and Rachel's news :o)
Keep reviewing ;o)
