Million dollar 3

Feeling very pleased with themselves, Joey and Chandler dragged Ross, who just seemed to want to mope at the apartement, to Central Perk. Joey and Chanlder took it in turns to tell the girls about their bright idea.

'And you've done all this?' Monica asked.

'Yes, it's all taken care of, the ticket's been booked, she's coming, we've spoken to Joey's friend,' Chandler said, 'You should have heard Ross talking to Emily. He was amazing, I had no idea he could act so well.'

'Academy award,' Joey said. 'He was so convincing, no wonder she said yes. I was gonna say yes.' Monica wasn't so sure. She knew her brother still loved Emily. It had only been a few days since the marriage had broken up. It was all very well for Joey who seemed to be able to switch his heart on and off at will - if he ever really let it get in danger at all.

'What did you talk about with Emily?' Monica asked with concern. Rachel and Phoebe leaned forward.

'I just pretended I was going to do everything she asked.' Ross sighed. 'It was weird, saying all the stuff I decided I'd never say. I felt so bad. I was lying to her and it felt like I was betraying you all over again.' He glanced at Rachel briefly when he said this. She gave him an encouraging smile.

'Poor Ross,' Phoebe said.

'And the weird thing was, she said she was going to call me,' Ross said.

'She was going to call you?' Monica looked sharply at Chandler and Joey. If Emily was ringing because she had suddenly become more reasonable, and this plan by being an elaborate lie threatened a reunion, she would not be happy with them.

'Yeah. She said she had something to say to me but she said it could wait.'

'Something to say?' Monica said.

'Yeah,' Ross said with what Monica thought was an appalling lack of curiosity.

'What?' she demanded.

'I don't know. She wouldn't say. I guess it can wait, whatever it is.' The three girls looked at each other. What it could it possibly be? This had obviously aroused no suspicions in the guys but Monica, Rachel and Phoebe were all thinking the same thing.

'Omigod,' Rachel said.

'Wow,' Phoebe said.

'No, it can't be,' Rachel said incredulously.

'Well you know...' Monica said.

'True,' Rachel said.

'I'll have to give her some advice. I've got all these old baby clothes,' Phoebe said.

'What?' Chandler asked. Monica was staring at him.

'Well what do you think it could be? She's won an Oscar?' Monica asked 'She didn't say she'd had a change of heart about everything. She must be pregnant.' Ross stared.

'No.'

'Is it impossible?' Monica countered.

'Well, no, it's not impossible but, but wouldn't she have said so before?'

'You can only tell someone you're pregnant once you know you're pregnant,' Monica pointed out. 'If she's only just found out, then she wouldn't have told you before.'

'We don't know that she's pregnant,' Chandler said.

'Okay, but what if she is?' Monica asked, 'We have to think about that.'

'Why?' Joey asked.

'Joey if she's pregnant it changes everything,' Monica said. 'She and Ross will have so much to work out. They'll have to get back together no matter what issues they've got between them. They'll have to work them out not - ' she was going to say "give up" but continued instead, 'She can't go back home to have the baby on her own. Ross will never see the baby. That just can't happen.' It was bad enough that Ben didn't live with him.

'Where am I going to put a wife and baby?' Ross asked. He hardly had a place to put himself. They all looked at each other.

'If she wins a million dollars it won't be a problem,' Joey said.

'If?' Ross demanded, 'It had better not be if Joey. I've just told her a whole lot of stuff that isn't true. If she's out here because that and pregnant-'

'Ross it's a cert,' Joey said, 'No problem, no problem at all.'

'We're glad to hear it. If she finds out Ross has been telling lies,' Chandler said, avoiding Ross's sudden glare, 'and there's no money either, she might jump on the next plane to London.'

'That wouldn't be a problem if she wasn't pregnant,' Joey said with a shrug.

'But if she is,' Monica said, 'Then Ross won't be able to see his child.' There was no way they could allow that to happen.

'So what do we do? I mean if we knew she was pregnant we could make plans,' Chandler said. 'Your parents would help you out with somewhere to live.' Monica and Ross looked at each other. If a grandchild was at stake, that would be true, but they could not ask their parents for help on something that might not even exist. 'You're going to have to have some back up plan.'

'I'm afraid this is going to turn out to be expensive,' Ross said, 'And I've got no more money. I used the last of my money to buy Emily's ticket.'

'She made you pay for her ticket? She bargains hard,' Rachel said. 'What's she like when she arm wrestles you?' Ross shrugged.

'We're both short of money.'

'Well, we can think of something. I can help you out with a deposit,' Monica said, 'Especially if Rachel and Phoebe help me out.' Rachel and Phoebe were both startled.

'Hey Moniica my savings are down at the moment.

'Pregnancy wasn't cheap,' Phoebe nodded, but seeing Monica look desperate she said, 'I might have something I can sell.'

'Me too,' Rachel.

'No, I can't let you sell your things,' Ross said.

'It doesn't matter Ross, we're your friends, we want to help you. And if you're going to get some money out of this you'll be able to pay us back,' Rachel said.