Monica's POV-four months earlier
I held Rachel close, there was no way I would let her go.
"Rach, it's going to be all right"
"Oh hell, Monica. You have no way of knowing that."
"I'm always right."
"Damn, Monica. This is different." Rachel said as she let go of me.
I have to be right. This isn't like winning some bet with Phoebe that Ross will get married and divorced before 2006. Or betting that Rachel would go into labor with Emma before the day is over. This was about my best friend's life.
Rachel looks at me, and I look into her gorgeous blue eyes, lined by thick lashes, "Mon," she says, trying not to cry, "This isn't right."
"No, Sweetie. It's not."
The happy chatters of Joey, Chandler, Ross and Phoebe can be heard coming even nearer. They know nothing yet, and I envy them. But it is my job to tell them as soon they get in the door.
Joey comes it first carrying a brown and gray, noisy dirty Canadian goose;
"I got a goose! I got a goose!" he says, with a proud look on his child like face.
"Get that goose out of my house." I say calmly, and as I watch the corners of Rachel's mouth turn up, I smile at my best friend. The goose is making her smirk. I let the goose stay.
"Honey, I'm home." My husband and brother say simultaneously.
He kisses me on the lips, the one true love of my life. I watch Ross walk over to Rachel, who had curled up on the couch and had this sour look on her face. He tries to kiss her. She turns away, and stares out the window. She won't look him in the eye. She won't tell him the truth. And my heart skips a beat.
Phoebe walks in,
"My psychic said something bad was going to happen to one of my friends." She says, without tears.
I bite my lip harder, because I love them all. And the last thing I want to tell them is, what I'm about to say;
I walk over to Rachel and grab her hand,
"You want me to say it?" I ask her, and the world floats around me.
"No." she nods a little, "I really think I should be the one to do this."
"You sure?" I whisper.
She bares her fangs, and says through clenched teeth;
"Monica…"
"All right, Rach…"
She takes a deep breath, as if is she was speaking in front of a million people;
"I want to Dr. Jones today," she starts, Phoebe, grabs Joey's hand, and Chandler's. I close my eyes, and listen to her voice. "He said that I have breast cancer."
"Oh," Phoebe musters.
The rest of us are silent.
"Rach…" Chandler starts, but does not finish.
And Ross says, "Well, Rachel. There are medications, you know, radiation, chemotherapy."
"I know that Ross. I have a whole regime of medications set up. Two months of chemotherapy."
"Good, perfect." Ross says.
"Rachel, I'm going to cancel all my dates this month, so I can be home with you."
"Will you lose your hair?" Phoebe asks.
"What?" Rachel says, her eyes wide.
"Phoebe!" I want to kill her right now, for bringing up such a sensitive topic to Rachel, I turn to Rachel, who is staring at Phoebe.
"Mon? Is it true?"
"Yeah, Rachel. It is true."
She touches her hair. So do I.
"Rachel, We'll be here for you."
"Yeah, until the end."
"Chandler!" I say, for even hinting death.
"No, no death." I whisper to him
"You're not going to die." Chandler corrects, "I mean you will, but not soon." He stops, "I wish I was dead."
"Guys, I'm scared." Rachel cries. All five of us hug her. And she is not alone
