The reception was perfect, not that everything went to plan. For example, there would be no bouquet to toss. In all the excitement no-one had noticed for half an hour that Emma was out of sight. She was found under the main table with the remnants of Rachel's bouquet, all the flowers having been pulled out of the supporting wires so that Emma was sitting in a field of flowers looking very pleased with herself.
'Let her,' Rachel smiled. Everyone else oohed and aahed and took pictures of Emma, who accepted it all as her due. Some girl would have to do without the lucky bouquet, but Rachel thought that whoever it was shouldn't need to rely on that kind of luck. Besides Monica and Phoebe were take care of.The food was wonderful, the music was great, everyone was mingling well. Rachel and the others couldn't help noticing that this was in a large part because of the whole debacle with Emily. At least that had served some purpose. By unspoken agreement the seven of them decided not to speak of it inside the reception hall.
Eventually Emma had gotten cross and tired after being made a fuss of over the flowers and the hired baby sitter took her away with the twins to the room set aside for the children to rest in. With the children out of the way, the reception got a little livlier, with Joey making the moves on every single female he could find, one after the other. Phoebe and Mike were also dancing. Ross had become trapped in some filial duty or other, and Rachel left him to it going in search of Monica and Chanlder.
The three of them went outside to look at the restaurant gardens. Rachel was still in her wedding dress but she was considering whether it would soon be time to change into her going away outfit. She knew it was silly but she wanted to enjoy wearing the dress a bit longer - after all she'd never have another wedding dress.
'This is wonderful,' Monica said. She was relieved they'd got this far and she was able to relax. She'd laughed and smiled a lot since the wedding. Chandler squeezed her hand.
'You guys,' Rachel said, 'I can't believe you kept that secret.'
'We thought it was for the best,' Chandler said.
'I know,' Rachel said. 'And what does it matter? We're here now.' Monica thought of what Phoebe had said to her and asked Chandler,
'Did Emily actually say anything? When you grabbed her?'
'She said "ow" "let go of me" "don't touch me"'
'No I mean about why she came, what she was going to say at the wedding?' Monica asked.
'No. We didn't ask,' Chandler said. 'Really we were too busy trying to get her under control until the police came.'
'I wonder what it was,' Monica said, anxiety returning. Maybe they should know, get whatever awful thing it was over and done with. 'She could come back.'
'Don't say that,' Rachel shivered. 'She's obsessed.' Then Rachel laughed. 'Of course Ross is a wonderful guy, worth getting obsessed over but it's been six years. It's time she got over him.'
'Like you did,' Chandler smiled.
'That's different, we're lobsters, we'd never have gotten over each other,' Rachel said. 'We never did get over each other.'
Suddenly Phoebe came running out, looking distraught.
'Rachel! Monica! Chandler!' she cried. She grabbed hold of Monica for support. 'It's awful!'
'What is it Pheebs?' Phoebe was looking panicked.
'Oh Monica, Joey's been arrested. The police are here,' Phoebe said.
'What?!' the others said at once. They realised now that they could hear a commotion inside the restaurant. What on earth had Joey done in his short time in New York to have the police after him?
'The police?' Rachel asked. 'Why?'
'For assaulting Emily,' Phoebe said in awed tones. Chandler stared blankly.
'How could that be?' Monica asked, 'It was a citizen's arrest.'
'No-one said the word "arrest," you guys just grabbed her and slapped her and dragged her away,' Phoebe said. 'They said it was unjustified. They've got it all on tape from the wedding video.'
'Oh my God,' Chandler said slowly. If Joey was in trouble, he was next.
'But they had a right to get rid of Emily,' Monica said, 'She had no right to be there.''I don't know but she's not the one who's under arrest,' Phoebe said. 'Mike's trying to find out what's going on. Oh this is awful.' Chandler was staring straight ahead and suddenly broke free of the group when the police appeared in the doorway.
'Chandler Bing?' they said.
'That's me,' Chandler said, walking towards them. He might as well get this over with.
'No!' Monica screamed, running after him as the police arrested him.
'Lady,' one said to Monica, 'We've got him on tape.'
'But she threatend us,' Monica said.
'That's not on the tape,' the policeman said deadeningly. And it was true, because they'd never let her open her mouth. And of all the things Emily had said to them, she hadn't made an actual threat.
'You can't take him!' Monica pleaded, but they could.
'Mon,' Chandler said, 'Just call my attorney will you?' Phoebe and Rachel tearfully held the sobbing Monica back as they took him away.
'Chandler,' Monica called uselessly. This was a disaster. She felt like sinking to the ground. And then there was herself. What was going to happen to her? What if someone wanted to arrest her over the airport hoax. Was she going to end up in jail too?
Mike came out, looking pale.
'It's all right Monica. i've called a lawyer for both Chandler and Joey. They'll be taken care of.' And what about me? Monica felt like asking but she thought she'd start screaming again if she spoke. She just nodded in response to Mike, leaning against Rachel. 'Something else has happened,' Mike said, 'That Emily woman has turned up.'
'What?!' Rachel said. This was all her fault. Had she come to gloat?
'She's looking for Ross,' Mike said.
'Someone had better tell her it's too late,' Phoebe said sharply.
'I don't know what she wants but I can't talk to Ross, one of his aunts is having hysterics because the police came so I thought I'd tell you guys,' Mike said. 'I'll tell Ross when he's free but I assume you'd want to do something about her now.'
'We'll sort it out,' Rachel said, 'Come on Phoebe.'
'I'm coming too,' Monica said shakily. She had to know everything.
'She's in one of the reception rooms, near the hall.
The three women entered the side room as one. Emily was sitting on a chair with two men standing on either side of her chair. She was dressed in the same trouser suit she'd worn to the wedding.
'I didn't ask to see you,' Emily said on seeing them.
'Well you don't always get what you want,' Phoebe said sharply. She glanced at the two men who stared blandly back at her. Bodyguards? Whoever they were, they were allowing Emily to look relaxed. Phoebe didn't like the way that they were looking at Rachel, almost as though they found her appearance amusing. It was true that she was looking frazzled - who wouldn't? But there was nothing to laugh at.
'How can you be here? Why did the police let you go?' Monica almost wailed.
'I didn't do anything wrong,' Emily said, 'Unlike Chandler and Joey. And you.' Monica felt a jolt and Emily smiled tightly. 'Oh you really didn't think they wouldn't record all calls on that phone did you? I recognised your voice at once and of course I told them who you were. They were very upset about the hoax and I'm sure they'll be along at some stage.' Monica could feel Rachel and Phoebe staring at her in surprise. 'Of course,' Emily said, 'I'll also be suing you, Chandler and Joey for what you've done to me. You won't get away with it.'
'Well it doesn't matter,' Rachel said, startling Monica. Monica was in deep deep trouble, how could it not matter? 'You didn't stop the wedding. I got married anyway.' Monica was surprised to see a look of deep contempt from Emily. As though Rachel was barely worth noticing.
'No you didn't you stupid cow.'