:as always, please review!:

TOW The Reunion

Part 15

"In breaking news today, it has emerged that the Hollywood actor Joey Tribbiani has been arrested in New York for his involvement in a car crash in Beverly Hills six weeks ago. Sources say that Joey Tribbiani had not told the police he was in the passenger seat at the time of the crash, and mislead authorities into thinking the car had been stolen by the deceased 26 year old driver – Michael Kip Granger. Joey Tribbiani is currently on bail waiting for a court date. In other news…"

Chandler flicked off the television and stared numbly at the blank screen. So, the news had reached the media. It had been barely three hours since the group had returned from the police station. Julie had gone back to Ross, but the rest of the group were gathered around the apartment. He turned to look at Joey, who was sitting on the couch with his head buried in his hands.

"At least they don't know which hotel you're staying at," Chandler told him, trying to be helpful.

"They'll know soon enough," Joey muttered, "Someone from the hotel will leak it out eventually."

"Surely they can't do that?" Monica asked, aghast at this prediction.

"Oh they can, and they will," Joey said, looking up at her, "You don't know the business. The media will be dying to know my location."

"Oh my god, it's going to be hell for you," Rachel murmured.

"Wait a minute, I've got an idea!" Phoebe exclaimed, grinning. "Why don't you stay here, and I'll take your place at the hotel! Can you imagine the reporters' faces when they discover that they've been played for fools?"

"You'll have to share with Rachel," Joey said, glancing at Rachel's face. She looked like she was trying her hardest to be pleased with the idea.

"I…I suppose that will be ok," she said now, smiling stiffly.

"It will only be for a couple of nights," Phoebe told her, smiling knowingly, "I'm due to be sharing an apartment with my new business partner next week."

 "Ok," Rachel agreed, "Why don't you pack your stuff and come with me now?" she turned to Joey, "I'll drop your clothes off later."

Joey nodded and smiled gratefully at her.

Chandler and Monica exchanged nervous glances. Neither of them was too thrilled at the prospect of a new roommate. It would mean sneaking around again as Phoebe was still the only member of the group who knew about their relationship. Chandler looked thoughtfully at Joey. Telling him would probably not do any harm as he didn't know anyone well enough yet to care, but the more people knew, the more likely it was going to get leaked out. Suddenly, Chandler saw what kind of life Joey must have lead as he had tried to cover up his involvement in Kip's death – it must have been difficult to keep such a secret bottled up inside. He realised that he and Joey were probably going to have a lot in common.

"Right, well, I'll see you two later," Rachel said now, as Phoebe collected up her stuff. The pair walked over to the door and left. Chandler smiled wryly. Rachel and Phoebe were so different from each other; he wondered how they were going to bond in that tiny hotel room.

"Ok Joey, I'll show you to my room, you can sleep there for now," Monica said, smiling gently at the tired actor. To her surprise, Joey cocked an eyebrow and shook his head.

"Maybe I should sleep in Chandler's room so you two can share Monica's." he suggested, smiling genially for the first time in weeks.

Chandler's eyes widened and he looked at Monica. "How…how did you know?" he asked, shocked.

"When I called this apartment from LA to find out where you lived, I heard some stuff in the background," Joey said airily, grinning.

"Oh…I see," Monica said, blushing. Chandler caught her eye and smiled softly at her.

"Oh god, don't go all 'icky' in front of me," Joey mock moaned, "It's making me nauseous."

Chandler laughed and nodded. He had the feeling this was the 'real Joey' – a man who loved to have a joke with his friends. He hoped when the situation with Kip was all over, he could get to know the 'real Joey' better.

"Can you keep a secret?" Monica asked now.

"Am I the only one who knows about you two then?" Joey asked, eyes widening.

"Phoebe knows," Chandler explained, "but that's it."

"And we might as well tell you something else," Monica added, taking Chandler's hand, "we're engaged."

Joey whistled softly. "Can I be in the room when you tell your brother?" he asked her.

"Yes, I could do with a bodyguard," Chandler jumped in, swallowing hard.

****

"So, have you heard from your soon to be ex-husband's lawyer yet?" Phoebe asked Rachel later that evening.

Rachel stared across at the almost-stranger sitting on her bed in that easygoing, careless manner she secretly envied. She could sense that Phoebe was desperately trying to be friends with her…maybe she should make an effort too. She sat down on the edge of Phoebe's bed and smiled weakly. "Not yet," she replied, "but I will. Barry will have got the letter by now."

"Are you back in New York for good?"

Rachel shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe," she replied, smiling. It was something she had been thinking about a lot lately. She had missed the city, and years of wasted time being angry at Monica pained her. She couldn't believe she had been so stubborn before. She missed Chandler too, he hadn't changed much, and he was obviously back for good. It was like he had been Monica's roommate for years, not just five weeks.

The thought of Monica and Chandler's living situation reminded Rachel once again of her suspicions of those two. She turned to Phoebe. As this woman had been living with the 'friends' for a few weeks, it made sense that she would know something.

"Phoebe, how has it been living with Monica and Chandler? She asked, staring at her innocently.

"Oh it's been great!" Phoebe said enthusiastically, "it's changed my life for the better…and all because of that guy who nearly attacked Monica in the alleyway!"

"What!" Rachel blanched. In the back of her mind, she remembered when she had first met Phoebe. Chandler had mentioned something like, 'saving Monica's life'. She realised with all the chaos involving Joey and Barry, she had never inquired about it. "That's…that's how you met Monica? You saved her life?"

"Yeah, I kicked some creep's butt when he tried to attack her," Phoebe said, smiling grimly, "Then it all just went from there. A couple of days later, I met Chandler and he kind of put two-and-two together."

"Wow, so…um…how's it been since?"

Phoebe looked at her suspiciously. "It's been fine," she said slowly.

"So…nothing strange going on?" Rachel looked at her wide-eyed, still feigning innocence.

Phoebe leaped up from the bed and stared at Rachel equally wide-eyed. "Oh my god, you know!" she shrieked, hands on mouth.

"Know what?" Rachel asked, smiling calmly.

Phoebe lowered her hands and looked at her in confusion. "Nothing…nothing!" she stuttered.

"Know what Pheebs?" Rachel repeated, realising that she had caught Phoebe out. There obviously was something going on after all. "What am I supposed to know about?"

"Nothing…really. I was just getting mixed up about something, there is nothing going on at Monica and Chandler's at all."

"Pheebs, whatever it is, I'm going to find out eventually." Rachel told her, walking into the bathroom. "I'm going to have a bath." As she undressed, she smiled as she heard Phoebe mutter in the other room, "Oh god, she knows."

****

"I never realised how dull it is to hang out in an apartment all day," Joey grumbled, staring at the TV.

Chandler looked at him sympathetically. "I know but you really don't have a choice in this."

Joey stood up and paced the living room. "I wish I knew what is going to happen to me," he worried, "Will I get a year? Two years?"

"You don't know if you'll get a prison sentence at all." Chandler told him, "It could be just a suspended sentence."

"Well I think it's safe to say that my career is ruined." Joey sank down on the couch and sighed dejectedly.

"You look like you could do with a drink," Chandler said, getting up and walking over to the refrigerator. "Monica won't be back from Allesandros until later, so we can get as drunk as we like. Want a beer?"

"Yes, I'll have the poison which killed my best friend." Joey said sarcastically.

Chandler looked at his own drink and sighed. "Maybe you're right," he muttered, pouring his bottle down the sink. He went back over to the couch and sat down.

"Hey, if I ask you something, will you promise not to tell anyone?" Joey asked, staring at Chandler sincerely.

"Go on, fire away."

"Is Rachel…um…thinking of dating anyone when she divorces her husband?"

Chandler blinked for a second before studying Joey's face. He detected a hint of a blush on his cheeks. "You like her!" he realised, a grin forming on his lips.

Joey's cheeks blushed deeper. "Well she's…hot." He admitted, grinning bashfully.

"Well, not wanting to burst your bubble or anything but you've got competition buddy!" Chandler said, smiling. "Ross likes her too."

"Wh…what?" Joey stuttered, "but he's going out with Julie!"

"Yeah but this whole Kip business has brought some old feelings to the surface." Chandler shook his head in amazement.

"Yeah, like Rachel and Kip," Joey said sadly, before widening his eyes. "Oops, oh god…"

"Rachel and Kip?" Chandler shrieked.

"I never said anything!" Joey freaked, "Forget I said anything!"

"No no, you're not getting off that easily!" Chandler said, shaking his head, "what did you mean by that?"

"Oh god, Rachel is going to kill me for this," Joey moaned, "I'm sure she told me this in the strictest of confidentiality."

"What? What has she told you?"

"Well, it's like this…"

****

"Rachel and Kip…Rachel and Kip," Ross mumbled to himself. It all made sense now. Kip being jealous of Ross getting close to Rachel…their whole stupid fight had been over her.

"You figured it out huh?" Julie asked.

"Yeah, I think I get it." Ross muttered. "Why didn't he tell me?"

"From the sounds of it, Kip was having problems admitting his feelings to himself, let alone telling anyone else," Julie guessed.

"Rachel and Kip," Ross mused, "I never would have guessed."

"You…you don't mind?" Julie asked timidly.

Ross looked at his girlfriend and smiled. He pulled her into a hug. "Maybe back then I would have…but not now."

"I'm so relieved to hear you say that," Julie smiled, "I don't think I can compete with a girl as beautiful as Rachel."

"Hmmm," Ross looked away for a minute. What happened in the past should be forgotten now, and that included teenage crushes. Rachel was going through a divorce, so there wasn't as if there was anyone else she wanted to date right now …not that he would mind of course.

"Are you still mad at Joey?" Julie asked, staring seriously at him.

"My feelings still haven't changed on that." Ross replied stonily.

****

One week later

"I love you," Chandler mumbled into Monica's neck as they lay on the couch. They were alone in the apartment after Joey had decided to face the music and venture outside for some fresh air.

"I love you more than you love me," Monica said, staring into his eyes.

"I don't think that's possible," Chandler whispered, kissing her tenderly on the lips.

"Hmmff…god you're good at that," Monica murmured.

The intercom for the apartment buzzed and they both groaned in dismay.

"Why does that always happen?" Chandler said in frustration, standing up to go answer it. "Hello?" he snapped.

"Hello, this is Karl Jeffers, Michael Kip Granger's attorney," the voice called through the door, "Do you have a minute?"

Chandler glanced at Monica, who mouthed 'attorney'? Chandler shrugged and turned back to the intercom. "Sure…come on up," he said hesitantly.

"Why would Kip's lawyer come here?" Monica asked in confusion.

End of Part 15