AN: So, some notes…
Exintaris—what's wrong with snoring? ;) And I knew you would be the one to figure the Joey thing out (I know that you know, lol)
Krystin: Rachel can't be married to Ross; Rachel is married to Barry Farber!
Monica-Bing: Other shoe dropping now.
This is a Romance-Drama. More drama coming into play here…you've been warned.
Kind of Blue
Blue Because You Love Her
He paced around the living room nervously, and tried desperately to control his shaky hands.
But it was no use; he was beyond nervous, and it was killing him that he had to wait it out here, alone. (Why did Chandler choose this weekend to abandon him for some trip to Boston?) He needed to know what was going on…the anxiety alone was driving him mad.
There was a soft knock on the front door, and he stumbled twice in his frantic race to answer it. He swung the door open, and tried his best to look calm.
Unfortunately, he wasn't that great of an actor.
"Hey," he said as casually as he could, though it still came out shaky and tense.
"Hey."
"C-come on in," he opened the door wider, and stepped to the side quickly.
"Thanks."
She walked in, and his eyes never left her. She turned to face him, and was startled by the intensity of his gaze.
"Joey," she started slowly, "I—I got the test results, and…"
"What? Is it mine? Is the baby mine?"
"No."
"Oh," his shoulders fell, and he leaned back heavily against the wall for support.
"Joey, I…I don't want to stop seeing you, but—"
"But you have a family now. And you should be with your husband, and your baby. It's only right."
"I'm sorry," she whispered softly, and moved toward the door, "I…I should go."
She opened the door, and walked out of his life.
He sank to the floor, and put his head in his hands.
"But I love you," he said to the empty room, "no matter what."
She stood on the other side of his door, her heart racing wildly.
A stifled sob could be heard from the inside the apartment, and it only broke her heart further.
She loved Joey, she did.
So why did she lie? Why didn't she tell him that he was the father of her baby?
At the time, the reasoning seemed so logical. Joey was a single guy, who wasn't ready to be tied down with a baby. And she had a husband at home who would provide for her, and give her everything she needed.
So what if she didn't love Barry? Love was overrated anyway.
Oh, but Joey. She did love Joey, and she knew, deep down, that if she would have told him the truth, he would have stood by her, and loved her, and the baby.
Rachel cradled her arms around her stomach, and took a deep, shaky breath.
No, she'd done the right thing. She'd freed Joey, really.
She'd done it for love.
***
"Roller coaster of looove…Roller coaster…a hoo hoo hoo…"
Monica smiled, and opened her eyes slowly, her grin broadening as she was met with the image of Chandler not only singing, but bobbing his head like a maniac as he drove down the highway.
"So, how many more miles, funky white boy?"
Chandler started, and Monica giggled when his face reddened.
"I—I thought you were asleep," he muttered sheepishly.
"Kinda hard to sleep with your…um, what was that? Was that singing?"
"Very funny," Chandler smiled, "we're about an hour outside of Boston."
"Wow, how long was I out?"
"Well, I managed to get through Bohemian Rhapsody, My Sharona and Ain't Too Proud to Beg without you waking up," Chandler laughed.
"I can't believe I missed the show," Monica replied flatly, "You want me to drive now?"
"You wait until we are almost there to ask?" Chandler winked.
"Well, you know, a gal needs her rest…"
"Right. Nah, I'm all right. But you get to drive the whole way home."
*
Ross lived in a small two-bedroom house, not far from campus. He was standing on his front porch when Chandler and Monica pulled up in their rental car.
"Hey Mon!" Ross waved enthusiastically, as Chandler put the car into park.
"Oh God, your brother really is a dork," Chandler observed wryly.
"Yeah," Monica shrugged, and opened the door of the car, "Hey Ross!"
"Wow, nice car!" Ross bounded down the steps and moved to hug his sister.
"Yeah, it's a rental," Monica laughed.
"But still…hey, who's this? I thought you were bringing—"
"Ross, this is my boyfriend Chandler. Chandler, my brother Ross," Monica interrupted quickly.
"Hey, nice to meet you," Ross smiled, and extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you," Chandler smiled, "And I hear you're engaged! Congratulations!"
"Hey, thanks! Yeah, I'm hoping my fiancé will make an appearance sometime soon…she is dying to meet Monica."
"Well, since you have told me next to nothing about her, I can't wait to actually find out if she's a real person," Monica joked, as Chandler moved to retrieve their bags.
"Oh, whatever," Ross laughed, "Anyway, you guys'll have to share a room…but no funny business," he pointed his finger at Monica sharply.
"Okay, dad, sheesh!"
"Come on in, I'll give you the grand tour!"
"So Ross, we've been here an hour, and still no fiancé," Monica smiled, "When are you gonna fess up? She isn't real, is she? Mom and dad have been on your case ever since you and Carol got divorced, so you made a girl up to shut them up?"
"As a matter of fact, NO," Ross sighed, "All they ever do is complain about how they never hear from YOU!"
"Well, Mom needs to let the little things go, ya know? I'm sick of hearing about how my hair looked 'so much better short and neat'," Monica mocked her mother's tone with bitter precision.
"So Ross," Chandler decided to try and make his way into the conversation before he dozed off, "you were married before?"
"Yeah, but it didn't work out," Ross replied somberly, "She was cheating on me with someone else."
"Yeah, someone named Susan," Monica laughed.
"Whoa, your wife's a lesbian?"
"Ex-wife, and…yeah."
"Wow," Chandler smiled and shook his head.
"What is it with you guys and lesbians, anyway?" Monica tutted.
"It's…. hot!" Chandler smiled wistfully.
"Whatever," Monica shook her head.
"Hey, she's here!" Ross jumped up and skipped to the front door, just as his fiancé walked up to the porch.
"Hi sweetie! My sister and her boyfriend are here!"
"Oh, great! I can't wait to meet…oh my God."
Chandler turned around, and felt all of the blood rush from his head.
"Phoebe."
AN: Ha ha, short chapter with a cliffhanger, hee.
Hate me yet? You will, I promise…