The Beginning of a New Era: The Sequel

Affection & Defection

a/n: To answer someone's question in the reviews, "Gladys" is a character I made up in The Beginning of a New Era. I think the story is going to end really soon. I am definitely not going to have 24 chapters. Well, here's chapter seven on The Sequel

"Rachel. Do we really need to go to 'Family-Fun Night' at your dad's place?" Ross asked.

"Yes! We do it every year." Rachel said.

"Then how come I have never heard of it before?" Ross asked.

"Well. The first time I moved to the city, I didn't want to go back. And then my parents split up, y'know. But…my mom and my dad have promised to behave this year." Rachel defended.

"Wait. They're both going to be there? Both of your separated parents? In one room?"

"Yes. They can be civil."

"Remember your birthday?"

"Look, Ross. We are going, and we are going to have fun. And you are going to be civil. Because – because."

"Because….?"

"Because damn it, I said so!"

So no one told you life was gonna be this way…

CLAP

You're job's a joke, you're broke, you're love-life's DOA.

It's like you're always stuck in second gear.

When it hasn't been your day,

Your week,

Your month,

Or even your year….

But,

I'll be there for you…

When the rain starts to poor.

I'll be there for you…

Like I've been there before.

I'll be there for you…

'Cause you're there for me too.

PREVIOUSLY WITH JOEY & GLADYS:

Joey walked into his home. There was Gladys sitting on the barcalounger.

"Where have you been?" She asked in a rough tone.

"Look, I don't need this right now! Okay, take your claws off my back and let me breathe, woman!"

"Are you having an affair, Joey. Please, just tell me now."

"What? You know I would never do anything like that to you. I think – I think I need to spend the night with someone who trusts me." He walked out the door. And there was Kassandra. The French 30-something girl that moved into Monica and Chandler's old apartment.

"I awoke from the screaming. Are you okay?" she asked. "You want to, uh, come in for some juice or something?"

"Huh. Like you wouldn't believe." Joey said, following her into the apartment.

PRESENTLY:

"So then she asked me if I was having an affair, or something. And I just walked into the hall to get the hell out of there..." Joey was completing the story. Joey and Kassandra had finished drinking apple juice and had just begun eating butter pecan ice cream.

"I'm so sorry." Kassandra said.

"Yeah me too." Joey said. They just sat there eating the ice cream.

"Oh…" Kassandra gestured her hand towards Joey's face. "You've got some ice cream on your lip there." She took index finger and wiped it off and then put her finger in her mouth and licking it off. She leaned in closer to Joey until he can feel the heat of her body. She came in closer until their lips almost met.

"Y'know, Kassandra. I-I-I, uh, just can't. I'm engaged…and…I'm sorry." Joey stood up and left the apartment.

ROSS & RACHEL'S APARTMENT

"You ready, Rach?" Ross asked.

"Yeah. You?" She responded.

"Rachel, I'll never be ready. Let's just get going." Ross joked.

DR. GREENE'S HOUSE

"Hey daddy," Rachel said as she entered her father's house. "How's everything…you feeling okay?"

"Hi sweetie. Yeah, I'm fine." He said as he grabbed her coat and put it on the coat-rack.

"Hey Dr. Greene." Ross said.

"Oh, Emma looks tired. I'm going to go lay her on my old bed. I'll be right back." Rachel said as she walked up the stairs.

"Rach! No, no. Rach. RACH!!!" Ross screamed after her.

"What's the matter, Ross? Huh, do I scare you a little bit wet-head?" Dr. Greene asked.

"No, no sir."

"Damn, Ross, if I would've known you were going to come with such greasy hair I wouldn't have used so much cooking oil."

What does that even mean? Ross thought to himself, it doesn't make sense.

"So, is Rachel knocked-up again?" he asked.

"Okay, sir, you're coming on a little strong. I think you should just calm down." Ross said.

"That's not a 'no.'"

"No. It's not. But, no." Ross said confidently.

"Good. 'Cause you made a promise that you were never going to have sex with my Rachel again." He said.

"What? When did I say that?!"

"My last heart attack. In the hall, when I walked in."

"Yeah, but that's back when we were not going out. And when we weren't married." Ross told him.

"I don't like you, Ross…" he was cut-off by Rachel walking down the stairs.

"Rach! Rachel, Rachel's here! Come here, Rachel." Ross was yelling at the top of his lungs.

JOEY, PHOEBE, MONICA, & CHANDLER

Monica, Chandler, and Joey were in Central Perk sipping coffee. Just then, Phoebe walked in and sat in the love seat.

"Hey," she greeted. "What's up?"

"Well, I spent the night at Monica and Chandler's." Joey said.

"Oh, why?" Phoebe asked with concern.

"Gladys and I had our first fight. It was horrible, you guys, and she thinks I'm cheating on her."

"Why would she think that?" Chandler asked.

"Well, I come home late a lot, lately. And this one time, I hung up the phone right when she came into the room. A girl called my phone and when she asked who it was I blew it off…then she later saw that it was a girl's name."

"…and she thinks you're cheating. She's crazy!" Monica said sarcastically.

"What, why?" Joey asked, confused.

"Sweetie, did you hear yourself. You come home late a lot, you lied to her about some calls, and you hung up the phone as soon as she entered the room." Monica told her.

"Oh, my God!" Joey said.

"Exactly." Chandler responded.

"No. The hanging up thing happened twice!"

"Joey…" Phoebe began.

"No. I only hung up twice because I'm planning a surprise party. That woman was my new agent, and I didn't want her to get all upset that it was a woman, because of the hanging up thing. And I'm only hanging out with the guys late at night." He said.

"The Guys, what other guys do you know other than me and Ross?" Chandler asked.

"Some guys from DOOL" Joey defended.

"You mean Days of Our Lives?" Phoebe asked.

"Again with the corrections!?" Joey said as he stormed out of the coffee house.

THE END.