~*~*~*~*~*~*~Silver Springs~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Disclaimer: FRIENDS is registered trademark. No copyright infringement is intended by this work. It is purely for enjoyment purposes.

*takes off formal gloves* Okay, now. I AM SORRY! I would've posted yesterday but I had a marching band 'mini-camp' redux thing followed by an exhibition. I was at school at Noon. We were outside until 4 PM. We had 3 water breaks. Tennessee isn't too hot, but it's evilly humid. I'm tired and sunburned. I toyed with the thought of sleeping all day and not updating until next week, but I like to think that people want to read more.

~*~*~Previously:

"Oh, now you're interested. Well, if you must know, Mary cheated on me…with Joey!"

"Oh, Ross, I'm sorry."

"No don't be. It wasn't you guys.

The girls ALL got up and engulfed him in one big hug. He started to cry and Phoebe got some tissues, and the girls started crying with him, when Chandler came in. He came over and they all started comforting Ross, when Joey and Mary came in.

~*~*~*~*~Chapter 3~*~*~*~*~

Immediately they all stopped and glared at Joey and Mary, both of whom looked intimidated. Ross silently walked over to Joey and punched him square in the jaw. No one made a move to help. No one really spoke. They didn't know what to say.

Joey stood up. "I guess I kinda deserved that."

"You guess," Ross said, his voice in mockery.

"Look…"

Mary stopped him by stepping between the two. "Ross, honey, let's go home and talk."

"Do NOT 'honey' me. I will not go home and talk to you. Mary," he spat, "I refuse to talk to you and I will be moving my things out of the house tomorrow. I think it would be best if you weren't there." He didn't look her in the eye, but past her at a spot on the wall.

"Ross, no!" The tears were falling now and every one else looked uncomfortably at the scene. "Ross, don't leave me. It was an accident!"

"An accident! You slept with one of my best friends. My wife, the woman I loved and promised to honor, and love, slept with another man…by accident! No, an accident is finding the sock you thought you'd never see again; an accident is tripping over your own feet; an accident is crashing your computer by hitting EXIT! No, what you did was no accident; what you did was an act of heartbreak. The heart is a fragile thing to mess with and you broke mine. You betrayed me and I never want to see either of you again!"

He turned and went to the first place he saw…Rachel's bedroom. Mary had collapsed into Joey's arms and Chandler went over to them and told them that he thought they should go. The girls were all holding each other and sobbing openly. Rachel tore out of their arms as Chandler joined them looking solemn, but not crying.

Rachel turned and walked towards her bedroom. She knocked and turned the doorknob.

"Ross," she called out. She went in and closed the door. (FYI, I was gonna stop here, but changed my mind)

He was on her bed, sitting, hunched over with his head in his hands. "Why, Rach?"

"I honestly can't say Ross" She walked towards him and sat on the bed. She cradled him in her arms. He cried freely and talked of his heart. For the next few hours he cried about every failed relationship. She consoled him as best she could. Eventually he fell asleep as he was recounting the tail of RnR and telling her that now he understood her and would never wish it on anyone.

"I'm sorry, Rachel, I really am…"

"Shh."

She managed to get him into the bed. She sat, watching him. He looked so sad. She knew how he felt. Everything in her head told her that she should be happy because he got a taste of his own medicine, but everything in her heart took pity on him and she somehow knew that she would help him get through it. She sighed as she went to her closet and took out a pillow and blanket. She didn't bother to change, but fell on the floor, exhausted. She chuckled. Neither of them had much luck in the love department.

~Meanwhile, in the living room~ (It's later by now. Ross and Rachel are in her room for maybe an hour and a half)

Phoebe, Monica, and Chandler, on the couch, broke their hug and looked at each other. They were at a loss for words. Phoebe spoke first, "Oh well, it's late. Maybe I'll go."

"Okay," Monica said. Phoebe left quietly.

Chandler spoke, "It's sad really. Ross has never had much luck with females."

"I know. None of us does, really."

"Yeah, well, it'll happen. Things will fall into place. It'll take time, but our destinies will come true."

"But isn't it possible that the train has boarded and left without us."

"Maybe, but we'll catch up. We may have to take a different route, but we'll reach our destination."

"Chandler?"

"Yes?" He spoke softly. They sat staring at each other, their faces inches apart.

"How did you become so poetic" She said it as a joke

He shrugged, "What? Can't a guy have a hobby?"

"I always thought you were a porno man."

They laughed. He didn't tell her, but he was reading a lot lately. He enjoyed his poetry and 'alone' time. Chandler had really begun thinking about the world. As far as he let the world see, he hadn't changed. He was still bitter and sarcastic. Monica only wished he was that deep. She didn't know.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Okay, I decided to add a new scenario of Monica and Chandler getting together. Until next time.

P.S. I'm sad that John Ritter has passed. He is one of my comedic idols.