The One With The Money Trouble

AN: Here's episode 6. Sorry there's not much Mondler in this but I was tired and it was already a full episode.

Ep6 Summary: Ross makes a huge suggestion. Joey makes his own desision, with Phoebe on his back. Whilst Chandler pressures Joey himself.

……………

"I don't get it," Rachel complained as she and Ross sat on the couch together, papers lettered their laps as they sorted through various bills and bank statements. "I mean, how did this happen? When did we get into dept?"

"Probably around the same time you spent three months wages on a pair of shoes," Ross replied, looking at the piece of paper in his hand and shaking his head.

"Hey, they were on sale!" Rachel defended.

Ross sighed, "Look, I guess that we're just spending more than we're earning these days. I mean Emma's costing more now she's getting older, Joey and Jill are living here and… well, you have a very expensive taste."

"Oh, come on, I do not!" Rachel insisted. Ross raised his eyebrows. Rachel sighed, "Okay, I do a little. What are we going to do about this?"

"I don't know," Ross admitted. "I guess we should hold a few things off for a while…"

Rachel frowned, "What things?"

"Oh, uh…" Ross looked at Rachel, realising now was the time to discuss the thing he had meaning to share for a while now. "Well, uh, I've been thinking about maybe… family kind of things."

"We are a family."

"Yes! Yes, I know but I was actually thinking about you know… marriage."

"Marriage?"

"Yeah, you know; tying the knot, announcing our bond, big wedding with…"

"Yeah, yeah, I know what marriage is! I, I don't know Ross, I mean I gotta think about this," Rachel said, more than a little scared.

"Well, okay but think quick 'cause you know the big wedding sell out is in the summer so we gotta book fast."

"Right, right, of course a summer wedding, you know like I always wanted…" Rachel gave a huge exasperated sigh and with Ross' calm face staring at her, began to panic slightly. "Okay, just give me a minute to… pick out clothes for it…" she said, getting up and heading to their room.

"But Rach, what about a wedding -"

"No, no, not now Ross!" she yelled, running into the bedroom.

Starting Credits

Meanwhile Joey and Jill were talking in Central Perk as they drank coffee. Joey was having the hardest time searching for the right words to tell Jill what she needed to hear. " Uh, Jill I really gotta tell you something."

"Oh yeah! I gotta tell you something too, can I go first?"

"Um, sure…"

"Okay, well I have to say, before I met you I was just, you know, like one of those incredibly pretty girls who guys just want one night stands with… but you, Joey, you make me so much more… and I really like you, a lot." She smiled at Joey, who suddenly had the biggest desire not to do the thing he had convinced himself he really needed to do… right now. "You go," she said.

"Oh, uh, well thanks for that. I, uh… I like you too... but…" he felt his stomach plummet as he saw her face fall at the word 'but'. "But I, I don't know if we should… carry on because Rachel…"

"Rachel! What is it with you and my sister? Why do you want to ruin this!?"

"No, no Jill, I don't want to, I swear!"

"Then why are you?"

"Rachel's my friend and I'm the one always wanting to stick by the rules, and here I am - breaking one of the biggest ones!"

"Joey, Rachel won't mind."

"Huh, you think? What about when you an Ross went out?"

"That was different."

"How?" Joey insisted.

"I don't know; I have trouble remembering dating him." Jill admitted as Joey sighed, exasperated. "Look, I thought Ross was an ex, they had history, you and Rachel don't – well, not much. Anyway, you know if you dump me, you won't get the surprise I have for you tonight…"

"Surprise?" Joey couldn't help grinning. "Like a… dirty surprise?"

"Well, let's just say when you've snuck over from the couch this evening, I have a good feeling I can make you forget all about those 'rules' of yours in a very filthy way," Jill said with a smile.

"Oh yeah?" Joey grinned.

"Yeah, but you can't dump me or tell Rachel, okay?"

Joey thought about that for a moment, he knew he should - as Phoebe said – 'do the right thing', but he was having trouble refusing such a great offer. "Okay, I wont tell Rachel… or dump you."

"Great!" Jill grinned.

……………………………

"You what!?" Chandler stared at Ross with a mixture of disbelief and horror on his face after Ross had told him what he'd asked Rachel. Him, Ross and Joey were sat in Central Perk.

"I told Rachel I think we should get married when we were sorting through papers yesterday," said Ross calmly.

"And what did she say?" Chandler exclaimed.

"Well," Ross thought about that for a moment. "I guess I didn't really get a firm answer from her but I think she's gonna think about it."

"Oh, think about it? Really? God, Ross I don't get it. I mean what did you just slip it in like 'Hey Rachel, want a drink? Yeah, okay then, how about a marriage too?'" Chandler shook his head, making it known he didn't approve at all.

"Well, I think it's great," said Joey from the chair, over the sports column of the paper. He was actually wanting Rachel to get married because he thought that if she was caught up in the wedding, she wouldn't be noting the fact that her sister and best guy friend were off disappearing together.

"Thanks Joe!" Ross said. He turned to Chandler, "You see, at least some appreciate their friends wishes."

Chandler shook his head, "You know what, I think I said before that I think you think of marriage as a kind of sport but you know what… I take that back, it's more like a disease to you. Honestly Ross, do you think a marriage can solve all of life's mysteries?"

Ross shook his head, "You'll never understand married life."

Chandler snorted, "Me never understand? I have been happily married now for over three years with two beautiful children. You are currently planning your forth marriage with your third wife whilst she ponders a wedding to you. I think I stand a little better, if you don't mind me saying."

Ross looked down at the notebook full of the wedding plans he'd been writing, he shook his head, "I know what I'm doing." He go up and left the coffee shop, leaving Chandler knowing full well that he hadn't a clue what he was doing.

Chandler looked at Joey, "So Joe, what's going on with you?"

Joey looked up from his paper again and shrugged, "Not a lot." He went back to his paper.

"Come on man, I'm serious, I feel like we never talk anymore. Really, what's going on with you?"

Joey frowned at Chandler, "When did we ever talk about stuff like that anyway?"

"Fine, we don't talk – full stop. I still wanna know what's going on with you? I mean, still chasing after the ladies?"

Joey's mouth hovered and for a moment he was on the verge of telling Chandler everything, but he resisted and simply shrugged instead, "You know me." He shrugged, then looked up again and decided to take a different approach, "I have an audition tomorrow."

"Really, that's great. But what about the ladies?"

"I have an audition tomorrow," Joey repeated, hoping a change of the subject will get Chandler off of his back.

Chandler shook his head, "What is it with you lately? You're jumpy, you're lying, I don't even feel like I know you anymore."

Joey stared down at the floor, "I can't tell you; you'll think less of me."

"Well, it can't be worse than what I'm thinking now."

Joey sighed and took a deep breath, "Okay, here's the thing, I -"

But right at that moment Monica and Phoebe walked in, cutting Joey short. "Hey," they chimed.

"Hey," greeted Chandler. He looked at Monica, "Where are the twins?"

"I was just on my way to pick them up from my parent's, coming?" Monica said.

"Sure," Chandler said, getting up. "I'll talk to you later," he told Joey.

Monica and Chandler left, leaving Joey with Phoebe. He bit his lip and turned away, trying to not catch her eye. "Well?" she said.

"Well what?" he said, playing dumb.

"Well, have you ended it with Jill!?" she exclaimed.

Joey thought about that, "Yeah… if, by end, you mean have passionate sex with."

"Joey!" Phoebe complained. "Well okay, does this mean you're telling Rachel?"

"Um, I'm thinking… no."

"Joey! You swore! You swore you would do the right thing!" Phoebe exclaimed.

"What? No, I didn't!"

Phoebe frowned as the memory came back to her, "Well damn it, you should have!"

"Come on Phoebe, I don't wanna break up with Jill – at least not yet. And you know if I tell Rachel I'll have to. Look, I will do the right thing eventually, just not yet, I will when I've figured out what it is. Please"

Phoebe looked at Joey's sad face, "Okay, fine. But you still have to do the right thing though. Okay?"

Joey nodded firmly, "Okay."

"In two weeks, on thanksgiving?"

"In two weeks, on thanks- what?" he stared at Phoebe. "So soon?" Phoebe gave him a look and he sighed, nodding grudgingly, "Fine."

……………………………….

That night at Ross and Rachel's apartment Jill and Rachel were hanging out on the sofa. Rachel flicked through Cosmo but found her thoughts wondering to what Ross had suggested earlier. She sighed and addressed Jill, "Uh, Jill have you ever had a boyfriend ask you to, uh… marry him."

Jill's attention turned away from the TV to Rachel, "What? Like… with a wedding and stuff?"

Rachel shrugged, "Yeah… it's just Ross kind of proposed to me whilst we were going through bills yesterday."

"What? You mean your roommate asked you to marry him? That is so inappropriate," Jill said.

"Okay Jill, do you not live here right now? Because Ross is my boyfriend . And yes, he let slip he wants marry, and he wants me to get back to him… preferably in time for a summer wedding," Rachel sighed.

"What, but that's is so gross… I mean he doesn't even have a car."

"Yep…" Rachel said to herself. "I should have called Monica." She sighed and looked back at Jill, whose attention was now back on the reality programme on TV. It was then that Rachel reminded herself that Jill had been living here now for about two weeks, and was probably the reason they were behind on paying the bills. "Um, Jill can I, uh, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Jill's attention didn't lapse from the TV.

"Um, well I really enjoy living with you and everything but… well how, um, how much longer do you plan on living here?"

Jill wiped round and frowned at Rachel, "I thought you liked having your little sister live with you."

"I do!" Rachel said quickly. "It's just… we're really crowded her. What with you and Joey… and me and Ross."

"So chuck out Ross."

"This is Ross' apartment, and he's my boyfriend ."

"Fine, if you really want to then you can move out."

Rachel shook her head. God, sisters…

……………………….

Joey entered Central Perk the next day and to his delight found Jill on the couch, and no else insight. "Hey," he grinned.

"Hi there," she said, smiling. Then her face fell slightly, "Listen, I got something to tell you. I didn't wanna tell you when we was at it last night because I thought it might ruin the mood, but… well, Rachel told me I might have to move out pretty soon."

Joey's face fell, "Oh no. Do you have to?"

"I guess I might be able to convince her otherwise…"

"Oh yeah, great! How?" Joey said eagerly.

"Same way I convinced you," Jill said happily.

"Um, wouldn't that be illegal?" Joey frowned.

"No! Not that kind of convincing. I mean I can make a deal with her."

"Oh, okay…" Joey nodded. Then his brow furred slightly, "You don't just think I didn't end things because of a deal do you?"

She smiled, "I hope not."

"You don't need to hope baby." Joey grinned and then said, "So this deal, you have anything in mind?"

"Oh yeah! There's these pair of boots she'll just love."

"Great!" Joey grinned.

"Yeah, if I could just borrow like fifty bucks that'd be great…"

Joey face turned gloomy, "Oh, uh Jill, I, I don't have any money… I'm not working, remember."

"Oh," Jill face went cloudy. "Well hey, don't worry, my father will give me it."

"Right…" a thought occurred to Joey; what if Jill doesn't think he could provided? "Oh, but don't' worry though, 'cause I'll get a job… I mean actually have an audition at one today."

"Um Joey…" Jill checked her watch. "It's two right now…"

Eyes wide, Joey checked his watch and, seeing the time, he ran from the coffee shop.

……………………………………….

Rachel entered her and Ross' (and Joey and Jill's) apartment that night to find Ross sat reading a palaeontology magazine. "Hey," he said when he saw her.

"Hi," she said. She remembered Ross' little proposal from before and heaved a gentle sigh, she knew it was now or never. "Ross, can we talk for a minute."

"Sure," he put sown the magazine and motioned Rachel to sit beside him. Part of him already knew what it was about.

"Um, about that little… proposal from before…"

"Yeah, I – I figured it would be about that. Listen, you should, you should just forget I ever mentioned it… I mean it was stupid to put that on you."

Rachel sighed in relief, "Yes! Yes it was stupid to put that on me!"

"Yeah… yeah, and I just want to say it doesn't matter for now… you know, we can – we can put it in a little box for now and, you know, look at marriage another time."

"Another time?" Rachel frowned.

"Yeah, you know, in the future… in the way, way future, right Rach?"

Rachel shook her head, "Ross, no I – I don't think you understand… I love you so much… and I love living with you and Emma, but… I don't ever want to marry you again…"

Ending Credits

Chandler entered Central Perk to find Joey on the sofa, drinking his coffee, "Hey, there you are… I've been looking for you everywhere. You still have to tell me that big thing from before."

"Uh," Joey bit his lip nervously; he wasn't sure telling Chandler would be a good thing to do right about now. "What – what are you talking about?"

"Come on man, you know what I mean. What were you gonna tell me before?"

"You know what Chandler I, uh," Joey mimicked trying to think of something forgotten, "I uh, I cant remember."

"Joey! Seriously, what is it?" Chandler pleaded.

"Seriously man, I forgot, I don't know. But, you know what, I'll tell you the moment it comes screaming back to me."

With that Joey left the coffee house.

……………………………….

AN: Please review. Rachel's reasons for not wanting to marry will be put forth in the next episode by the way. Oh, and I'm sorry this is a little shorter than the others.