CHAPTER NINE: FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS

Monica was sipping coffee in the breakfast room by her kitchen. This was her favorite spot because her breakfast table was close to the French doors that opened into the well-manicured lawn of her backyard.

She was feeling quite content. She didn't know if it was because the morning was a sunny one or because last night, the twins' chicken pox had finally subsided. They still had the scabs, but the itching was gone and they had at last slept through the night. And so had she.

Feeling so well rested had a way of putting things into perspective. She had been on edge for the past week and a half, ever since she'd noticed the kids coming down with a fever that wouldn't go away. Seeing their little bodies covered in spots had her freaking out. Having to cancel their long-awaited vacation to L.A. hadn't helped matters and neither had the fact that the illness that was usually gone within 10 days had lasted a few extra for them.

That, along with the lack of sleep and her having to be isolated, had made her overreact just a tad to the news that she and Chandler weren't really married. She made herself cringe just remembering how loud she'd been when letting Chandler know they were not to be Joey's friends anymore. Not until he fixed this mess.

Chandler had taken the news more in stride, because, since he got to leave the house every day and interact with people, he wasn't feeling as isolated. Or as tired for that matter, since because he was now the breadwinner and had to get up early to go to work, he got to sleep through the night, while she was sleeping with the kids.

Now that she was more herself, she was only slightly annoyed with Joey, and could see the humor in the situation. She knew it was just a matter of going to City Hall and doing it over. Rachel had tried to tell her that last night, but she'd been in no mood to listen. She needed to vent and vent she had.

She heard Chandler in the monitor go into the kids' room and softly whispering to them.

"Daddy's leaving" and imagined more than saw his softly kissing their little sleeping heads.

She got up to pour him a cup of coffee and put some bagels in the toaster.

"Morning" he said cautiously

She bestowed him with a bright smile that still had the power to turn his insides into butter and he approached her with a similar smile, one that told her she was going to get kissed.

The ringing of the phone interrupted their passionate kiss.

"Damn" he said, before picking up. "Hello?"

"..."

"Hi, Pheebs. How was... are you this fine morning?" He caught himself before bringing up L.A. or anything to do with Joey. Monica hadn't kissed him like that in a while and he didn't want to spoil the mood.

"..."

"Oh, yeah. She's right here. Hold on" Resigned, Chandler gave the phone to Monica, who, placing her hand over the receiver, gave him another big kiss and whispered: "We'll have fun tonight", and started talking to Phoebe.

Chandler looked for his Starbucks thermo mug, poured his coffee, got his bagel and quickly left for work with a quick "See you this evening".

Monica had just waved while still on the phone.

"... so I decided to play hooky and come see you guys."

"That would be great, Pheebs. I feel like I've been in a cave for 2 weeks. What time will you be here?"

"I just need to shower and change. I'll be there in 2 hours tops. Is Chandler working today?"

"Yes. He just left. Why?"

"Well... I kinda wanna talk to you about something personal"

"He's gone and won't be back till 6 or 7. Are you ok, Phoebe?"

"Yes... well, no... I mean... I will be. I'll see you soon ok?"

"Ok, Pheebs. Bye"

Monica went to finish her breakfast with a pensive look. Phoebe had sounded weird on the phone. With a mental shrug, she finished her coffee and started straightening up her kitchen. She figured she would know soon enough.

She wasn't as curious as Rachel, who would have probably spent the morning racking her brain for an answer or pestered Phoebe on the phone until she told her what was wrong. She smiled when she thought of Rachel. Monica had a feeling that pretty soon she was gonna be planning Rachel and Ross's wedding. They hadn't actually set a date or asked for her help, for that matter, but damn it, planning was her thing, Ross was her brother and Rachel her best friend, so this baby was in the bag.

She went to check on Jack and Erica, making sure they were still sleeping before she went to get a shower and to change before Phoebe got there. She was looking forward to tonight with Chandler. They hadn't had time for themselves since the kids got sick.

By the time Phoebe got there, Monica had already bathed and fed the children and they were in the backyard where they could run free, without her having to worry that they might hurt themselves when they fell down.

Phoebe rang the doorbell, but let herself in when no one came to the door. She followed the sounds of laughter and through the open French doors, saw Monica chasing her twins. She dropped her handbag on a chair and went outside.

"Hey Phoebe! You're here! Look guys, it's aunt Phoebe!"

Soon, Phoebe too had joined the chasing and the four of them played until it was time for the kids to have lunch. She helped Monica feed them and put them down for a nap.

"Whew! They are a handful aren't they?" Phoebe said when they returned from the children's room.

"It's a full time job, but I'm not complaining" she said tongue-in-cheek

"You could've fooled Rachel last night" Phoebe teased.

"I know. It's just that I had hardly had any sleep, our trip to L.A. was cancelled, I hadn't seen an adult except for Chandler in over a week and to top it all off, I found out I'm not married. I guess, it was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I overreacted a tiny little bit."

"So you're not mad at Joey anymore?" Phoebe asked, her tone hopeful.

"No, I'm not. Like I said..." She stopped and gave Phoebe a strange look. "and just how did you know I was mad at Joey? I just found out two days ago about the marriage, and you weren't here. I didn't say anything to Rachel last night and this is the first time you and I speak"

Phoebe blushed, avoided Monica's eyes and quietly said: "Joey told me."

"That must have been some conversation you two had for you to blush like that..." Monica teased. Seeing Phoebe's face turn redder, her curiosity was pricked.

"Phoebe" she said smiling worriedly, "What's going on? Is this the 'something personal' you needed to talk to me about?" then with a gasp... "Oh my God! What happened in L.A.?" then with louder gasp "Oh my God!!!"

"Monica, I..." was all she got out before the lump in her throat got so big that she couldn't speak. The weight of everything that had happened finally took its toll and she started crying.

Monica got up and went to hug her friend.

"Do you feel better?" she asked Phoebe when she had stopped crying.

Phoebe sighed and gave Monica a sad smile. "A little bit, but I have a favor to ask..."

"Anything, Phoebe"

It took Phoebe most of the afternoon to tell Monica everything that had gone on in L.A. How devastated she'd felt when she left Joey, the awkwardness with Mike and the sad position she was in now wanting nothing more than to be with Joey, but having to hurt Mike to do it.

"Honey, I'd hate to be in your shoes, but if you feel that strongly about Joey, and I know you do, you have to tell Mike you're not gonna marry him again."

"I know, Monica, but it's hard. He's so sweet, and it just kills me that I've been avoiding him since I got back."

"I understand, but how long do you think you can avoid him? You live with him!"

"Well, that's kind of why I need to ask you a favor..."

"I am NOT gonna tell Mike that you don't wanna marry him... not after I made him go all the way to Barbados for you!!!"

"No, no, no... that's not it. It's just that...well... you know... with the twins being sick and all... I thought you might... MIGHT, mind you, need me to stay with you to help you for a couple of 3 weeks or, you know a month."

"What? Phoebe, the kids are better I don't..."

"Mike is a musician, Monica, not a doctor. He doesn't need to know all the details."

"How is that gonna help you? I mean, you're welcome to stay with us as long as you want, but..." Monica started to tell her that it'd be better if she just came clean with Mike. That the longer she waited that harder it'd be, but Phoebe's pitiful "Please, Monica" held her tongue, and she agreed.

"Thanks, Mon" she said, giving her a hug. "I owe you"

"About that..." Monica said with a naughty grin, remembering the promise she'd made to Chandler that morning. If Phoebe were to stay with them starting tonight, she wouldn't have to worry about the twins getting in the way, and she and Chandler could have the time alone they so richly deserved. She for caring for the twins almost on her own and Chandler... well, Chandler deserved it just for still wanting to marry her in spite of her many quirks, and because he'd been wonderfully patient with her in the past two weeks.

"I'll be back after I talk to Mike" Phoebe's mood was lighter because she felt now that she wasn't lying. She'd be indeed helping Monica, Joey wouldn't be jealous since she wouldn't be living with Mike and she'd bought some time to figure out a way out of this mess without anybody getting hurt. Win-win all around. She just hoped Mike saw it that way.