Joey's POV-the evening after the doctor's appointment.

I never understood why people had to leave. Dying is stupid. I wish that things could stay the way they were forever;

I walk home to my apartment, wondering why Rachel is the one dying? Who chose her? Why didn't they choose Monica, or Chandler, or Phoebe, or Ross? And for that matter why didn't they choose me?

When I get home, Ross is sitting at my kitchen counter eating my olives and playing with Rachel's straightening iron. He has a sad look in his eyes. And I can't help but be angry at him for not showing up at the consultation.

"Hey Joe," he says.

"Ross." I say stiffly.

"What did the doctor say?"

"He said that Rachel is going to die."

"Oh, oh my God," Ross says.

"Yeah,"

"Joe, I can't, I can't deal with this right now…"

"You're never going to want to deal with this…" I say, wondering when I had become so smart.

"Yeah, yeah you're right."

"And Emma knows…"

"What! Joey!" he yells.

"Yeah, um Chandler told her."

"Why?"

"Because she asked…"

"I mean, she's three years old, she doesn't understand…" Ross says gently.

"Do any of us really understand why this happened to Rachel?" I remark.

"No. I can't believe it did…"

"Let me ask you this Ross," I say, "Do you still love Rachel?"

"Yeah." He looks me straight in the eye and doesn't blink.

"Would you trade places with her if you could?"

"In a heart beat."

"So, no matter how painful it is, you'd do anything to save her."

"Yeah."

"What if I told you she needed a heart transplant?."

"Joey, if it was a guaranteed cure. I'd do it. I would give her my heart. Why are you asking me this Joey?"

"I just wanted to see if you still had that undying love for Rachel?" I say.

"I do."

"Are you going to propose?"

"Joey, I don't know if I can marry her."

"Why." I raise my voice a little.

"I just don't know if I love her when she's on the other side of the universe."

"Isn't she always going to be with you?"

"I don't know, I'm just afraid one day I'll wakeup and forget she was ever here."

"That won't happen Man," I say and hug him, "We can't let that happen."

"You know what, Joey? This is not over. No one is giving up on my Rachel."