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" Monica? what are you doing here?" Monica looked up from her cup of coffee to see Ross standing in the bedroom doorway rubbing his eyes.
" Hey, I made coffee, you want some?"
" Sure." He stumbled into the room and headed towards the coffee. " You didn't answer my question." He said as he began to pour.
" What, I can't visit my brother anymore?"
" Well, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that…" He looked at the clock. " It's 6:00 in the morning on a Wednesday, and its not like you live across the hall."
" Yeah I know but I a… needed a place to crash."
" What? Did something happen? Where's Kev and the kids?"
" Umm, hey, don't you have to go to work?"
" Would you stop avoiding questions."
" The kids are in the guest room and Kevin's at home sleeping probably. He doesn't get up until seven."
" Wh-,"
" Hi." Rachel interrupts.
" You're up early." Monica said, glad for a distraction from her conversion with Ross.
" Well I figured you'd want to leave early because let's face it, your Monica."
" I have to buy a few things that we'll need from the store."
" Okay. Where are you going anyway?"
" We'll spend like a week in some hotels and, well I've never told you this but when I was 2, I was adopted. I found my birth mother. I'm going to stay with her in Jersey."
" Oh my god, Monica we've known each other practically our whole lives. How could you not tell me that?"
" I'm sorry but I've never told anyone and I didn't think I would need to see her ever again. Well until I got into this predicament. Look, I can get into the details later but right now I have to concentrate on this."
" Fine. What part of New Jersey does she live in?"
" Edison."
" Hold on!" Ross cut in. " Would some one tell me what the hell is going on?" Monica sighed.
" I'll give you the cliff notes version of the story. You see this," She lifted her shirt to reveal a bruise on her back. " It's from when Kevin kicked me on my back. No, this hasn't been the first time he's beaten me and that's why last night I took the kids and plan to move away from him. No I'm not going to the police and no I don't want you to go and 'kick his ass'. I can't just ask him for a divorce because he'll never give it to me."
Ross stood silent. He walked over to her and lifted her shirt to see the bruise. He examined it and looked back at her. He was speechless. He had no idea that Monica was in this kind of trouble. He never thought Kevin was the kind of guy who could do this. Ross felt his anger start to rise, he wasn't going to let that asshole do this to his sister any more. He stepped back and Monica stared at him awaiting a response. Rachel stood by watching the two.
" I'm here for you. He is not going to lay a finger on you and definitely not on my niece and nephew." Monica nodded. "Why didn't you tell me sooner."
" Because it's not the kind of thing you're proud of and I didn't know what to do. I was still in love with him, but I'm not anymore." Ross pulled her into a hug.
*****
Kevin woke up and didn't see Monica next to him. Suspicion started to rise in him. He put on his robe and went into Adam's room. He peeped in, didn't see Adam and his pajamas weren't on the floor as usual. He crossed the hall and saw Ashley wasn't in her room either. He ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. The same dishes that were in the sink last night stood in the same spot. Monica usually washed them. He looked out the window and both BMWs were still in the driveway. He grabbed the cordless phone and started to dial.
Monica pulled away from Ross when she heard the phone ringing from her bag. She knew he would call.
" That's him right?" Rachel asked.
" More than likely." she replied. "You guys have to stay quiet. Say one word and he'll know
we're here."
" Okay." Rachel and Ross answered simultaneously. Monica picked up the phone and slowly flipped it open.
" Hello."
" What do you think you're doing?"
" I don't know, What do you think I'm doing?" She shot back.
" Look Monica I know what you're trying to pull and it's not gonna work. So why don't you stop all this drama and just come home before you find your self in real trouble."
" Why? I would be a lot safer in a pool infested with hungry sharks than I would ever be with you."
" Very funny. You know me. You know what I am capable of. I will get my way in the end."
" I am not your slave and you are not going to control my life. It's over Kevin."
" No it's not. Monica, You are not going to just run away with my children, okay?"
" I'm doing this for them."
" What are you talking about, I never laid a hand on those kids. I love them."
" Oh, but you can hit me anytime you feel like it?"
" That's different. Sometimes you just aggravate me and I get pushed over the edge."
" That gives you no right to touch me." She starts to walk over to the window. " It's over Kevin. Just let it go." She tossed the phone out the window.
" It's not over till I say it's over!" Kevin heard the phone crash into the busy sidewalk. Then the phone line went dead. " She's gonna get hers. Just wait and see."