:I'm feeling really guilty that I haven't updated this in a while…in a LONG while. Truth was, I came to a bit of a writer's block with it and wasn't sure what to write next. I hope you haven't given up on this; things are about to get VERY interesting. It's not over yet…not by a long way! Here is the long overdue part 11. Enjoy and PLEASE review!:
TOW The Reunion
PART ELEVEN
One Week LaterRachel stared at the place that she had thought was home. It had all been the 'perfect' home and the 'perfect' marriage. Now it was just all a mockery of all that she had believed in over the past five years.
Taking a deep breath, Rachel walked up to her house and pulled her keys from her pocket. She unlocked the door and walked inside. To her surprise, she saw Barry sitting at the foot of the stairs with his head buried in his hands. He looked up and shock spread over his face.
"Where the hell have you been?!" he burst out, staring at Rachel in disbelief.
Rachel looked at Barry coolly and shrugged. "At a hotel," she replied. "Why…did you miss me?" she laughed scornfully.
"Of course I missed you Rachel!" Barry yelled, "You've been missing for seven days without so much as a phone call! Didn't you think to let me know that you were alive?"
"Oh, I've been thinking Barry," Rachel replied calmly, "I've been thinking a lot." She walked past him and started up the stairs. She paused and turned around. "I've just come back for the rest of my things," she added, "You'll be expecting a letter from my lawyer tomorrow."
"What letter?" Barry demanded.
"A letter explaining that your wife wants a divorce Barry!" Rachel spat, storming to her bedroom. She opened her closet and pulled out clothes and shoes from it, stuffing them into a large travelling bag.
Barry stormed in the room, glaring at her. "You won't get a penny out of me!" he announced bitterly.
"I don't want your money Barry," Rachel told him calmly, continuing to shove clothes in the bag, "I just want a divorce."
Barry started to laugh scornfully and Rachel looked up, glaring angrily at him. "What's funny?" she demanded.
"I'm just picturing how you're going to survive without the financial security of being married to me," Barry told her, "Where are you going to live? You've only been gone a week and already you're back for your clothes."
"I'll manage." Rachel stated coolly, picking up her bag. She walked out of the room, down the stairs and opened the door to outside.
"You won't last six months!" Barry yelled at the top of the stairs, "You'll soon be crawling back!"
"You wish Barry," Rachel told him, shutting the door behind her.
*******
"You know what I'm thinking right now?" Chandler asked Monica later that day. They were snuggled together on the couch, watching TV. Phoebe was out shopping with Ross and Julie.
"What?" Monica asked, looking up at him and smiling.
"I'm thinking that we never move from the position we're in right now." Chandler replied, holding Monica tighter in his arms.
"What happens if the others come back?" Monica teased, stroking his cheek.
"They can just stay out there." Chandler said, smiling mischievously. He turned his body slightly so that he was facing Monica properly and started to kiss her fingers lightly, slowly letting his lips run all the way up her arm, to her neck, cheek and then finally to her lips.
Monica giggled and pulled him to her, kissing him passionately on the lips. She ran her fingers through his hair. "Hmm…" she mumbled, as he returned her affections. They lay down on the couch together, kissing softly. They paused, looked into each other's eyes and smiled tenderly.
"I love you." Chandler whispered.
Monica eyes lit up and she kissed him. She saw him looking at her hopefully. She giggled when she saw slight panic going through his eyes. "I love you too," she told him, immediately easing the tension that was spreading across his face.
Chandler breathed a sigh of relief and kissed her passionately on the mouth. "I was thinking my little confession was going to bounce back and bite me on the face," he admitted as they broke apart.
"Chandler, there was nothing to worry about," Monica assured him, smiling softly, "I've fallen in love with you in such a huge way. I never knew such a love existed."
Chandler smiled widely. "Me neither." He told her, pulling her up from the couch. They stood millimetres apart from each other and in one sudden movement Chandler picked up Monica and held her in his arms. "You are about to get the biggest loving in your life darlin'." He said, smiling seductively at her.
Monica giggled, "Lead the way," she said. He moved slowly to the bedroom, never taking his eyes off Monica.
A loud noise rang from the buzzer near the door and they both groaned loudly.
"If that's Joey…" Chandler moaned, "Of all the times. He had seven days before now."
Monica sighed, "Looks like our moment of loving passion is going to get interrupted." She said regretfully.
Chandler carried Monica to the buzzer and she pressed the button, still in his arms. "Hello?" she called.
"Um…hi…this is Joey."
Chandler groaned quietly. He and Monica looked at each other and they nodded, silently agreeing that they must invite him up.
"Come on up," Monica called. Chandler gently let her stand on the floor and she turned around to face him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"Later." They said together, causing them to grin.
"God are we meant to be or what!" Chandler commented, rolling his eyes.
They went into a final embrace and broke apart when they heard Joey knocking the door. Monica opened it and smiled hesitantly at Joey, who just looked at her wearily. "Come in," she gestured to the inside of the apartment and Joey walked in.
******
"So…um…crazy stuff about that parking ticket!" Chandler joked a few minutes later, trying to put Joey at ease.
"Yeah," Joey replied, smiling a little, "It's not a good idea to tell an attendant that you have no money and then show him a wallet full of fifties." He laughed nervously.
"So, Joey, you…you knew Kip?" Monica asked him. A pained expression flashed across Joey's face and he nodded.
"I take it from that look you knew him at least as well as we did," Chandler commented, exchanging a worried glance with Monica. Seeing Joey's drawn and pale face, he gestured to the couch. "Sit down." He suggested.
Joey sat down and stared at Chandler and Monica's confused faces. "I came here to…to…tell you," he paused and swallowed hard.
"Tell us what?" Monica asked anxiously.
"To tell you what happened the night Kip died." Joey finished.
"What…what do you mean?" Chandler sputtered, "We know what happened. There was a car crash."
"It wasn't as simple as that." Joey said quietly, turning away.
"I don't understand…" Monica whispered, "What do you mean…not so simple as that?"
Before Joey could answer, there was another noise from the buzzer. "I bet that's the others back from shopping," Chandler told Monica, walking over to the button.
"They would have just come up," Monica said, confused, "They have a key…"
"Hello?" Chandler called through the speaker.
"Hello, it's…it's Rachel." A voice replied.
Chandler widened his eyes in shock and glanced at Monica, who rushed over frantically. "Rachel!" she shrieked, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine Mon," Rachel assured her, "But…but can I come up?"
"Boy are we popular today," Chandler said dryly, glancing at Joey.
A few minutes later, Rachel was in the apartment explaining her problems to a shocked Monica and Chandler and to a curious Joey. She gaped when she saw him. "Are we fated to meet everywhere we go?" she asked him. Joey smiled a little.
Chandler glanced between the two of them. "Do you two know each other?" he asked, puzzled.
"Sort of," Joey replied, "We met a week ago…at Kip's graveside."
"Oh gosh…yes…" Rachel exclaimed. She looked at Joey worriedly, "Are you ok now?"
"Well, that's what we're about to find out." Monica said, staring curiously at Joey, "What was it you were about to tell us?"
Joey took a deep breath. "Sitting here now, facing you, I'm not sure you will want to hear this." He muttered.
"Try us." Chandler said, folding his arms. "There's something that we should know about Kip's death…am I right?"
Joey nodded slowly and Rachel gasped. "What is it?" she whispered in frantic tones.
"I was with Kip the night he died." Joey confessed darkly, looking down on the floor.
"What?" Monica whispered, stepping back in shock. Chandler squeezed her hand gently, trying to calm her.
"You told me you hadn't seen Kip in two years," Rachel said suspiciously, "Did you lie?"
"Yes," Joey admitted, "I did. I think I should start from the beginning…"
The apartment door opened and in walked Ross, looking tired and worn out. "I've left Julie and Phoebe to it." He explained, "They are hell bent on visiting every shop in New York." He looked around, surprised at the number of people gathered in the room. His gaze rested on Rachel and he sighed in relief. "Rachel, you're ok!" he exclaimed, rushing over to hug her.
"Listen, I've obviously come at a busy time for all of you so I'm just going to go…" Joey said, getting up off the couch.
"No." Chandler said firmly, blocking his way, "You're not going anywhere until you tell me what happened to Kip."
"What's going on?" Ross asked in confusion. He stared at Joey and a look of recognition spread across his face. "Oh…you knew Kip." He said.
Joey sighed and sat back down on the couch. "As I said, I'm going to tell you all what happened to Kip five weeks ago…"
"What's going on?" Ross blustered, "What is he talking about?"
"Shut up Ross!" Chandler snapped, "Let the guy speak."
"Ok…" Joey took a deep breath and began his story...
END OF PART ELEVEN:the college friends are settled…and Joey's startling revelations will be revealed very soon! Lol :