Chapter 1:

I'm Joey, I don't get deep feelings.

It had become a mantra lately. A continuous reminder to himself that what he was feeling for his friend was just a crush. But those words weren't exactly true, were they? Sure it had been a while now since Kate and Ursula - the closest being Janine - but what he had felt for them was real. It was just that for all his bravado, it was clear Joey didn't handle rejection well. Not when it came to his feelings.

So he'd lost himself more in the game these last few years. A woman here or there, fake names, never more than a fun weekend before moving on to the next.

Which is why this thing with Rachel had blindsided him so much. Sure, he'd found her attractive, who wouldn't. But when they started living together he got to see who Rachel really was. Walls down, fully herself.

And it was wonderful.

Her heart really was that big. And she really was scary when she felt protective. She was going to be an amazing mother. Even that didn't dissuade him from his feelings for her. She was going to have a baby. Ross' baby. But he wanted to do that with her too. Be there for her, for the baby, for every moment.

"I never should have suggested she move in with Ross," he grumbled to himself. The apartment felt empty now. And he felt awkward. That dinner last night definitely had not gone the way he wanted - but it went about as well as he expected.

A knock on his door drew him out of his brooding, and he turned to look at it just in time to see it swing open. Rachel striding through looking thoroughly frazzled.

"Whoa, Rache," Joey said. "Everything okay? Are you," he stood, panicked. "Is the baby?"

For a moment that intensity faded as she reassured him. "The baby is fine, Joey. But we," she gestured widely between where they stood. "We are not okay. How could you keep that from me, Joey?"

He walked over to the door and closed it gently. "It was really hard," he admitted. "I… I thought it would go away."

"Go away?" Rachel spun to look at him incredulously. "Joey love doesn't just -"

"Well I know that now," he huffed. Striding past her once more. He needed space. Being in the small kitchen area was too close. Too tempting. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. And it really is okay that you don't return my feelings. You're my friend. We'll always be friends."

A repeat of last night, almost word for word. The silence drew out even longer as Rachel's anger quieted. "I didn't say," she whispered, sniffling, holding back tears.

And just like that, he didn't need space any more. He moved quickly, pulling her into his arms and then onto his lap on the lounger. Hands smoothing her hair calmingly, he remembered Cujo. Remembered wishing the movie would never end. Just so he could keep holding her. She turned her head into him, pressing close to his neck and sighing.

"I hate living at Ross'," she admitted. "I'm never allowed to throw pasta on the floor." He felt her lips quirk upward where they met his skin, even if he felt the wetness of tears at the same time, it made him smile. "I thought, when you suggested it, that you… and then you tell me you love-" Her voice became tight and the words cut off. "It's not fair, Joe."

"Believe me," he grumbled. "I am aware of exactly how unfair this is." He nosed into her hair and pressed a kiss.

"I'm not where you are," Rachel admitted, sniffling once more. Joey squeezed her gently, rubbing her arms.

"I know Rache," he started, but she cut him off.

"Shut up," she barked. "Let me talk. You did all the talking and now I get to talk." Joey stiffened in the chair but nodded to let her know he'd understood.

"You take me on an amazing date," Rachel said. "Take care of me when I have to go to the hospital. Make space for my baby in your life and apartment. And then you take me to this, this dinner last night." She was getting worked up again and he wanted to comfort her, but he was legitimately concerned she'd start smacking him if he tried to talk now. "And you tried to leave. How could you do that to me? Just stood up and were going to leave after dropping this huge bomb. After not even giving me time to think?" He felt his cheeks heat with something like shame. He was realizing now how self-centered the whole thing had been.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. She did not hit him. Her hand came up to rest on the curve of his neck where shoulder met it. Her thumb stroked the skin there in lazy sweeps.

"You weren't kidding, were you?" She'd said the same last night, but this time it sounded different. Less shocked, less confused. More… more like she hoped he'd say he wasn't. His chest felt tight.

"No," he admitted, barely a whisper.

"I'm not," she said.

"Yeah, I know," he managed, voice breaking a bit. "You're not where I am."

"Yet."

Yet. The word reverberated in his head. Making him dizzy. "Wha-what does that mean?" Somehow he felt he was clutching at her desperately and forced himself to loosen his grip. But she didn't try to leave or pull away. She just sat there until he moved to look at her face. "Rache, what does that mean?"

She looked at her hands, laying in her lap, fingers picking at her cuticles. "It means I'm not in love with you, Joey, but… I mean, I feel…"

"You're killing me Rachel," Joey exclaimed. "But what? You feel what?"

More silence, and then, "Not… nothing."

"Not nothing," Joey blinked, his mouth hanging open. "Well, that- that's something." It wasn't much of a smile, but it was genuine, and when she looked up at him she returned it.

"Take me out again. Tonight. A real date." Her smile grew. "Besides, I know all your moves now."

Laughing, Joey wrapped her up in his arms again. "You haven't even begun to see my moves. I gave you a teaser of my moves, Rachel Green."

Regretfully, she pulled from his embrace and stood. "I'll be here at seven," she said before pressing a kiss to his cheek. "For our second date."

"Seven," he echoed, feeling euphoric as she crossed to the kitchen to grab her bag, and then to the door. He stared after it for a long while, just a closed door now.

"Not nothing." It was already four and he had to get ready. He stood and headed for the shower, grinning.

AN: I was rewatching Friends and after all these years I still think Rachel and Joey would have been good together. I wasn't finding much FF to read with the pairing so I decided to write some! Enjoy!