A/N: Here's just a short chapter. I'm pleased to say that a plot is starting to develop! I would also like to thank my recent reviewer, "new booty," who has inspired me to write this chapter by commenting. I really appreciated it. Thanks again!

By the way, I'm leaving for Oahu tomorrow with the FHS Marching Band for a week :) :D so I won't be updating again until after I get back on April 23.

In a few minutes, the poker game had become 'Strip Poker,' even though Monica protested because she, Chandler, Ross, and Rachael were all married. After a while, the floor began turning into a large clothing heap. Chandler and Monica were pretty well-clothed; Joey, Ross, and Rachael, however, were down to their underwear because Ross and Rachael just sucked at five-card draw, and Joey just liked to strip. On the contrary, Phoebe was fully clothed. Phoebe always amazed the other five in the fact that she wascleverer than she seemed.

The telephone rang. "Hold the game," Monica said as she answered it. "Hello?"

It was Carol, Ross' ex-wife. "Hey, Monica? It's Carol. Listen, is Ross there? I tried calling his apartment but got the answering machine… I – um – I kind of need to talk to him."

"Oh, sure Carol. Is everything alright? He's here, I'll get him for you."

Ross looked up when he heard that it was Carol. Rachael looked suspiciously from him to the phone and back.

"Hey Carol," Ross said, a bit nervously. After a few seconds, he took the phone into the bedroom with him and closed to door.

"Monica, what was that about? Why is my half-naked husband talking having a private conversation with his ex-wife?" Rachael asked, worried.

"I don't know… she sounded pretty upset."

"Yeah, that is strange," Phoebe said. "If Carol were upset, wouldn't she just talk to Susan?"

"Well, maybe it's about Susan," Chandler said.

"Maybe she and Ross are going to get remarried!" Joey exclaimed. Everybody stared at him.

"Joey, Ross is married to me. He is not going to get remarried to Carol. Got it?"

"Okay, okay, just a thought. Jeesh."

Meanwhile, Ross was talking to Carol on the phone.

"Ross, Susan and I had a really big fight," Carol said. She sounded almost in tears. "I – I accidentally… um… kissed someone… and she saw… and I know this is all my fault, and I don't know what to do. I called you because you cheated on Rachael once, so we're almost in the same boat, except I didn't sleep with him…"

"Whoa, whoa, wait a second… 'him'?" Ross asked. "And by the way, Rachael and I were on a break!"

Carol began crying. "Ross, I thought you of all people would understand the situation I'm in! I just don't know what to do – Susan won't talk to me – and I really need to talk to somebody."

Ross felt bad, although he was shocked that she cheated on Susan – with a man no less, when she divorced him for the reason of being a lesbian. "No, Carol, I'm sorry… listen, why don't you come over to Chandler and Monica's apartment? Rachael and I are over playing poker; Joey and Phoebe are here too… you could probably use some friends right now."

This wasn't what Carol had had in mind. Playing poker with Ross, his wife, and their friends? Well, at least it was better than sitting in a motel, crying over her mistake. "Yeah, okay," she said, sniffing.

"Where's Ben? Is he okay?"

"He's at home with Susan. I… I haven't gotten a chance to see him since this morning before school."

"Okay," Ross said softly. Neither spoke for a few seconds.

"Ross… thank you." She gave a grief-stricken sigh and hung up.

Ross returned to the family room, and seeing his face, Rachael got up and strode over to him, putting her arms around him. "What's wrong? What happened?" she asked quietly.

"I invited Carol over because she needs someone to talk to. She cheated on Susan."

"She did it with another woman?" Rachael asked.

"No, she just kissed someone else. A guy," Ross said angrily.

"Oh. My. God." Chandler said slowly.