AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the first chapter of this story. And thank you especially to Prof-the F.R.I.E.N.D.S fanatic. Your kind words really made my day. It is sometimes hard to stick firmly to my personal beliefs while trying to still be open-minded about other things. If that made any sense.
Anyway PLZ R&R!
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Chapter 2
Chandler watched Monica pull out of his driveway and drive down the street before he went back into the house. His dad and Terry were still talking to their police officer friend as he spotted Phoebe sitting in the den flipping through the TV channels. Terry gestured with his head towards the den and Chandler went in to join Phoebe as she looked over at him.
"There are some weird shows on now." She told him. "Everything is practically all reality shows."
"Yeah." He took the remote from her and turned the TV off. "So where have you been all these years?"
"Living on the streets." She told him.
"What?"
"They couldn't find my grandmother. They were going to put me and Ursula in foster care. I didn't want that."
"So you would rather live on the streets?"
"Yes, I would." She told him.
"What about Ursula? Have you seen her?"
"Nope."
"Do you think you will now?"
"Nope," she shook her head. "So…you and Monica?"
"Yep." He smiled at her. "She's great."
"How long has it been going on?"
"A few months. We went to the Spring Fling dance together at the end of the last school year."
"So tell me how it went from her being Ross' annoying little sister to you guys dating. What changed?"
"I guess it all started when Rachel abandoned her…." He started to tell her how they got together. "I guess I never gave her much of a chance before. She has so many levels to her."
"And how do her parents feel about your relationship?" Phoebe looked at him. "I remember how they were whenever they got around you and your dads."
"They told her last night that they don't want her to spend so much time with me. However they don't mind me and Ross hanging out so often."
"So what do you think will happen?"
"Monica's rebelling." He smiled. "I have to admit that it's a little entertaining watching their faces turn purple whenever they have to confront my dads."
"All right," Charles and Terry came into them. "Phoebe, you can stay here for the night. We'll figure everything out in the morning. Chandler will show you to one of the guest rooms and get you some extra blankets and pillows."
"Thank you." Phoebe told them. "I'm sorry for all the trouble that I caused for you tonight."
"It's no trouble." Terry assured her. "We'll talk in the morning."
"Can I do Facetime with Joey?" Chandler asked. "Just to let him know that Phoebe's ok?"
"You might not be able to get through to him," Charles told him.
"How do you know that?"
"It's nothing," Terry spoke up.
"No more than ten minutes." Charles told him. "I'll be timing you."
"Come on, Pheebs." Chandler led her up the massive grand staircase and into his room.
"What was that all about?" Phoebe asked.
"Don't know," Chandler shrugged.
"Do you have enough electronics?" she questioned as she glanced around his room.
"They like to spoil me." He shrugged. "To make up for my mom not coming to see me."
"But you don't want to see her, do you? Not after what happened to have you live with your dad?"
"No, I don't want to see her." He stated firmly.
"But still, all this…" Phoebe looked around as he rummaged in his bedside table.
There was a flat screen TV hooked up to a WII system and a Blu-Ray player. There were two media stands filled with both DVDs and Blu-Ray disks. His desk was set up in the corner with various papers and miscellaneous items strewn all over it. There were about five things plugged in and charging.
"Here we go," Chandler powered up his I Pad and touched one of the icons on the home screen. "I just hope he answers."
"He's not answering?" Phoebe asked after a few minutes.
"Hold on," Chandler tried again. "I guess he's not going to answer."
"Why would he not answer?" she asked him.
"Well, he's been getting into a lot of trouble lately." He looked at her.
"What kind of trouble?"
"Pulling pranks and things."
"Why?"
"He's not liking Queens. He doesn't have a lot of friends. He keeps trying to get his parents to move back to town."
"So what do we do now?"
"I'll text him," Chandler took out his I Phone.
"All right, you guys." Terry knocked on the door before sticking his head into the room. "Your dad says your time is up."
"Ok," Chandler put his phone down and led Phoebe out of the room and down the hall into one of the spare rooms. "I'll show you the guest room."
"You can get lost in this place." She told him as he got some extra blankets and pillows from the linen closet.
"I used to leave a trail of breadcrumbs." He smirked at her. "The bathroom is right through that door."
"There's a connecting bathroom?"
"Yep." He smiled at her. "You should be all right until the morning, but if you need anything just come get me."
"Thanks, Chandler."
"See you in the morning. Hopefully Joey will text me back by then." He smiled as he walked out of her room and back down the hall into his room.
Chandler awoke the next morning when he heard the doorbell going off. He sat up and glanced at the clock and saw that it was only seven am. He moaned as he slowly climbed out of bed when the ringing became incessant. He walked out into the hall and saw that Phoebe was coming out of the guest room.
"Hey. How'd you sleep?" he asked her.
"Fine, but who is here this early?"
"Don't know. Let's go check it out." They both started down the stairs as they saw Charles and Terry talking to a group of people.
"Dad, what's going on?" Chandler asked.
"Guys, I believe you remember our guests." Charles gestured to the friend that they haven't seen since he moved away.
"Joey?" Phoebe stared shocked.
"Hey," Joey turned around to face them. "Phoebe?!"
"Why don't you guys take Joey to get settled in the room next to yours, Son?" Terry told him. "We need to talk with his parents."
"Joey's staying here?" Phoebe asked.
"Just take him upstairs." Charles told them. "We'll explain everything later."
"Come on," Chandler led him upstairs and into the room next door to his. "So what'd you do to make your parents mad enough to send you here?"
"It was a harmless prank," Joey threw his things down and lay back on the bed.
"Joe-" Chandler looked at him.
"That involved the principal's car and a lot of water." Joey added. "My dad woke me up at five this morning and told me to pack some bags."
"No wonder we couldn't get a response from you last night." Chandler stated. "We tried Facetiming and texting you. So you're going to be staying here?"
"I guess so," he looked over at Phoebe. "So tell me what you've been up to these last few years."
Chandler sat in the bean bag chair in the shape of an actual chair as he listened to Joey and Phoebe tell each other their stories. There was a knock on the door as it slowly opened and Joey's dad came into the room.
"Your mother and I are leaving now," he told his son.
"Great," Joey mumbled, not bothering to look at him. "See ya."
"You're not going to say goodbye? We won't be able to come back for months." Chandler watched as Joey remained silent and his dad eventually left and descended the stairs.
"Man," Chandler glanced at him. "That was awkward."
"You three are wanted down in the kitchen," Terry arrived in the doorway. "Mandatory family meeting."
"Family meeting?" Phoebe asked.
"We'll explain downstairs." Terry told them.
"Let's go," Chandler stood up and started out of the room. "It's in your best interest to do what they ask of you."
The three of them followed Terry downstairs and into the kitchen. Charles was setting a bottle of orange juice and a basket of bagels on the island in the middle of the kitchen.
"Is there coffee?" Chandler asked. "It's early."
"Help yourself," Charles gestured to the full coffee pot.
"You guys want some?" Chandler asked the room.
"I'll take some." Terry told him and he brought two mugs over to the counter as he smeared a bagel with cream cheese.
"Ok, so here's the deal." Charles started. "Joey and Phoebe will be staying here. Phoebe does have a choice on this, but Joey this is your only choice unless you would like to go to military school. According to your mother, your dad was toying with the idea."
"Your parents have tried to figure out how to help you for months now," Terry spoke up. "We've been communicating with them for the past several weeks and we decided that you would be better off here."
"But what does that mean exactly?" Joey asked.
"It means that you will be enrolled in school when it starts up again, you will get involved in school activities and attend functions, and you both will be responsible for doing chores around here." Charles looked at them. "You don't have to get a part-time job, but you can if you wish."
"So what happens now?" Phoebe asked.
"What happens now is that we're going to finish breakfast here," Terry told them. "Then we're going to get dressed and go to the mall to get you guys some necessities and things that you'll need for your rooms."
"By the way," Charles looked at them. "There will be no dating while you're living under our roof. Do you understand?"
"Got it," they all finished their breakfasts and went up to their designated rooms to get ready for the day.
Monica walked into the restaurant where she worked and greeted her boss as she clocked on. She didn't have the greatest night; as soon as she got home from Chandler's the night before her parents, along with Ross, started in on her about spending the whole day with Chandler. She stormed up to her room and stayed there until morning.
Her morning wasn't starting out that great either. First, she woke up late and had to take a cold shower because Ross had gotten to the bathroom first. Then she got into an argument with her mother about her being home for supper. They got into a screaming match that Ross had to step into and Monica stormed out of the house.
"You look like you're having a great day," Tammy commented as she spotted her walking back. "Your parents again?"
"Just my mom so far today." She sighed. "I'll get started in the back. I don't think I should be around people right now."
"Most of the prep is almost done actually," Tammy told her. "If you would like to take a break until you calm down, that'd be all right."
"For how long?"
"If I don't call you, be back by four."
"Are you sure?"
"We have plenty of people here. You get first dibs since you're covering for someone."
"Thank you," Monica walked back out as she took out her cell phone and started to call Chandler.
"Hey. Where are you at?" she spoke into the phone.
"Right behind you." She turned around and saw his car pulling up to the curb right beside her. She smiled as the passenger door opened and Chandler smiled at her from behind the wheel as he hung up his phone.
"I was just coming to see if you would be getting a break soon." He told her. "I needed a break myself. I've been at the mall since 8:30 this morning."
"Why?"
"Get in and I'll explain on the way back there." She climbed into his car and buckled as he explained what all had happened that morning.
"So both Phoebe and Joey will be staying with you?" she asked as he pulled into a parking space.
"Technically Phoebe can leave if she wants, but Joey's only other choice is military school."
"I had no idea that he was getting into that much trouble."
"Me neither." He took her hand as they walked into the mall. "They're probably in one of the clothing stores."
"Then we should really find Phoebe," she told him. "I'm sure she's a little uncomfortable shopping for clothes with guys."
"More like she's uncomfortable with my dad having to spend money on her," he told her. "I think she's planning on getting a job soon."
Monica suddenly shrieked as she was grabbed from behind and spun around to see Joey smiling at her.
"Don't do that!" she smacked him on his arm.
"Ow," he rubbed his arm. "I hate to imagine how much it would hurt if you actually punched me."
"Bruise for a month." Chandler told him.
"You deserved that." Monica smirked at him.
"So are you all done?" Chandler asked Joey.
"Finally," Joey sighed. "But Phoebe is still in there."
"Monica?" she turned around and spotted her brother with his girlfriend.
"Oh, yay." She mumbled.
"I thought you said that you had to work an open to close today."
"I was put on break since they weren't that busy and had almost all of the prep done." She told him.
"You don't have to answer to him," Chandler glared at Ross.
"But she has to answer to our parents," Ross glared back.
"Ross, lay off." Carol told him.
"I'm going to go help Phoebe," Monica told them. "Want to come with me Carol?"
"Sure." She let go of Ross' hand. "I need some girl time."
"Joey?" Ross looked at him. "Chandler didn't tell me you were in town."
"I'm actually living with Chandler now. As is Phoebe."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ross looked at Chandler.
"Why should I?" Chandler grumbled.
"Last I checked, we were still friends."
"Last I checked, you're being an ass." Chandler retorted.
"What is your problem?" Ross demanded.
"I believe you are." Joey spoke up as he glanced at Chandler's angry expression. "Dude, what's going on?"
"How often do you defend your sister when your parents start to lay into her?" Chandler looked at Ross. "Or do you defend her at all?"
"All siblings fight. They don't always stick up for each other."
"Joey, how often do you stick up for your sisters?" Chandler looked at him.
"All the time; well most of the time."
"And he has seven sisters." Chandler turned back to Ross.
"My parents control everything."
"Yes, they control when to give you a car, a cell phone, a computer, extra allowance money-"
"Ok, I get it."
"Meanwhile, Monica had to earn the money herself to be able to get herself a car, a cell phone, laptop, and to pay for her gas and insurance for her car."
"Dude, come on."
"The only reason that you're not taking her side is because since I started going out with her, I don't have any time to hang out with you. Now you know what it felt like when you started going out with Carol."
"Man, I'm sorry."
"Sooner or later, you're going to have to pick a side." Chandler turned to Joey. "Let's go find the girls."
"Chandler-" Ross started to follow after him.
"I never really paid attention to anything that went on in your house; mostly because I never wanted to be around your bigot parents for too long."
"And now?"
"Now I realize that I was too self-centered back then. Now that I'm dating your sister, I'm going to defend her against anyone that isn't treating her right."
"Chandler, come on." Ross grabbed his arm to try to stop him from walking away with Joey.
"No!" Chandler pulled his arm out of his grasp forcefully. "Do you know how many times she has called me in tears when your mother puts her down so severely that she can't think straight? Or how many times we text each other throughout the night so that I can calm her down enough so that she doesn't do something drastic?"
"Um, they're done in the clothing store." Carol came up to them. "They moved onto the home goods store."
"Thanks," Chandler told her. "Did your parents tell you about the annual beach trip?"
"Yeah, we're planning on going."
"I haven't decided if I want to invite your boyfriend yet." Chandler walked away from them as Joey followed after him.
"That was intense." Joey told him.
"It was a long time coming." Chandler stated. "I don't like seeing Monica so upset. First her best friend abandoned her, then all the drama with her family."
"I'm starting to understand things a little better now."
They found everyone in the new-age store. Charles and Terry were standing near the counter as Monica and Phoebe still browsed the aisles.
"Are we almost done yet?" Joey asked.
"Just about," Terry told them.
"Did you know that Phoebe's into tarot cards and all that?" Charles looked at them.
"Yes, she used to tell us about our past lives when we were younger," Chandler told them.
"How much change can I make to my new room?" Phoebe came up to them with some kind of beading. "I was thinking of putting this in the doorway."
"That's fine," Terry told her. "Are we ready to check out yet?"
"We're all done." Monica told them.
They all went up to the counter with Phoebe's choices as Charles got out his credit card. They all spent the day at the mall until Chandler and Monica had to leave to go to work. He dropped Monica off at the restaurant and went down the street to the pizza place.
Joey and Phoebe spent the night decorating their rooms with some help from Charles and Terry. Without Chandler there as a buffer, they felt a little awkward around his dads since they didn't know them that well yet. They finally decided to watch some TV in the den before heading off to bed for the night. They started downstairs as the door by the kitchen opened and Chandler slowly walked in.
"They kept you late tonight," Charles came from the direction of his home office. "Busy night?"
"You could say that," Chandler removed his shoes. "Two five hundred dollar hours back to back. It seemed like all the factories in town ordered tonight. On the plus side, I made seventy dollars in just tips."
"Want to watch some TV with us?" Joey asked him.
"After I take a shower real quick." Chandler started upstairs as they went into the den and turned on the TV.
Chandler joined them in the den ten minutes later. He collapsed onto the couch next to Phoebe as he saw music videos playing on TV.
"My feet hurt so much," he mumbled.
"Was it that bad tonight?" Joey asked him.
"It was just non-stop from the moment I walked in there," he glanced at his watch. "I only have an hour before I need to go to bed if I'm going to make it up for church in the morning."
"Church?"
"Yes, that's mandatory." Chandler informed them. "Every Sunday morning, and Wednesday night when school is in session."
"But I'm catholic." Joey pointed out. "And I know that you guys aren't."
"Doesn't matter," Chandler mumbled as he glanced at Phoebe. "Have you ever been to church?"
"Not that I can recall; except for at my mom's funeral. I don't mind going with you guys, though."
"That's good," Charles came in. "Because that is non-negotiable."
"Told you," Chandler mumbled as he took the remote and started to change the channel.
"One more hour, then its lights out." Charles informed them.
"Got it," Chandler mumbled as he found a sitcom on Nick at Nite that they all seemed to like.
AN: So what'd you all think of this update? Hope you liked it? Reviews are always appreciated. PLZ R&R!
