The One With or Without The Moving

AN: Sorry for the delay, I had exams, then my computer broke… anyway, it's here now… Oh and yes, the title is a little pun on With or Without You by U2, which I don't own by the way.

………………………………..

Chandler arrived home after a long day at work and smiled at Monica as he entered the living room, "Hey hon."

"Hey," said Monica. She watched him go to the twins crib and look down at them sleeping.

"Hey babies," he said. He grinned and at once Jack began to cry. "Oh, hey what's up little man." He picked up Jack.

Monica gave a deep breath, "Uh, Chandler can you come and sit down. I kinda need to talk to you about something." She held her belly tight.

"Sure," said Chandler, but he wasn't really listening. He just bounced Jack up and down. But jack continued to cry. "You know hon, I don't think Jacky likes me today." He gave a smile. As Jack's cries got a little louder Erika started to cry too. "Ah man. What's up with you Angel, huh?" he lifted Erika up as well, one baby in each arm. "Hey, it's lucky we only have the two, huh?" he laughed.

Monica smiled, "Yeah two… not three."

"Huh?"

"Or one." Monica looked around anxiously. "You know what, I think the chicken's done." She left for the kitchen leaving Chandler frowning after her.

Starting Credits

Chandler and Rachel were helping Joey move back into his old apartment. Chandler carried a heavy box into the apartment, gasping. "What the hell is in here Joey? It weighs like a tonne of bricks." He dropped it in the kitchen."

"Just a few magazines," replied Joey as he took a few boxes of pillows in.

"Magazines?" Chandler stared at him. "Porno magazines?"

Joey stared at back at him, "What's your point?"

Rachel came in slightly after carrying a phone and placing it on the kitchen work surface. Chandler sighed, "Am I gonna be the one carrying all the heavy stuff?"

"What you talking about?" Joey said. "I just carried a load of boxes up!"

"Yes, all of which marked either pillows or sheet covers," Chandler said.

Joey just shrugged and at that moment Ross walked in with a box in hand. "Sorry I'm late." Rachel caught sight of him immediately and their eyes locked. They stared at each other for a moment; neither knew the other would be there. "Hi," said Ross quietly.

"Hi," replied Rachel.

Joey and Chandler glanced at one another; the air around had suddenly gotten very awkward; there was a lot of tension. Ross walked over to the other two men, "Um, where do you want this?"

Joey pointed to the living room then muttered to Chandler, "Do you also feel like you wanna yell at them to get together?"

"Yeah," Chandler muttered back. "But it's probably better we don't."

Rachel cleared her throat, "Um, I'm gonna go get some more of your stuff, okay Joe?"

Joey nodded, "Sure." When she left the tension had gone and Ross let out a huge sigh.

"God," said Chandler. "Talk about your awkward moments."

Ross nodded, "I know, I know. I don't know what to do."

"I guess you just need time."

"Yeah… it's just… it's been like this for over a week now. We're living together yet it's so hard…" Ross leaned back against the kitchen surface and shook his head. "I just wish things could go back to normal… whatever that is," he said thinking of him and Rachel as friends and then of them as dating.

"Come on Ross, don't worry about it," said Joey. "You know what might help?"

"What?"

"Helping me unpack some of this stuff," replied Joey, opening one of the boxes.

Just then there was a knock at the door. The men stared at each other; everyone Joey knew wouldn't knock before entering. Joey went over and opened the door. A man of average height and dark hair was stood there, "Hi, uh I'm Nick, I live across the hall. I just wanted to welcome you to the building."

"Oh," Joey was surprised. "Well, thanks man. I actually lived here a couple of months ago. You, uh, live across the hall, did you say?"

"That's right, with my wife Dana. We moved in a few weeks ago. So anyway, it's good to see you. I'd better get back."

"Oh, okay, thanks again Nick," he shut the door. "Someone got your place man." He looked a little down.

"You alright?" asked Chandler. "Did you not like him?"

"No, no he seems okay, I just…." He looked at Chandler for a moment. "Ah, it doesn't matter."

"No, what?" persisted Chandler. "What?"

Joey shook his head, "You know what? I think I left some pillows back at the other apartment."

"What? But Joe -" Chandler began but Joey was already out the door. Chandler looked back at Ross, "What do you think that was about?" Ross didn't seem to be paying attention though. Chandler frowned, "Ross? … Ross!?"

Ross looked up sharply, "Huh?"

"Are you still thinking about Rachel?"

Ross shrugged.

Chandler sighed, "God man, just talk to her!"

"I can't."

"You're miserable! Just say you don't mind not getting married! Then you can get back together."

"No! I can't."

"Why, because you're too stubborn to realise what you're missing out on? At least think about it."

"Chandler…"

"Come on man, just do it. Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!"

"Okay, okay," said Ross. "I'll think about it."

………………………………………………….

Joey was at his apartment a little later. Boxes littered the floor; it wasn't quite ready but it was getting there. It almost looked like home again. He settled himself in front of the TV with a beer when Phoebe walked in, "Hey!"

"Hi," said Joey, spinning around on the chair to greet her.

"Wow, nice boxes," she said. Joey tried a smile, but it didn't really feel like much. Phoebe frowned, "Hey, you okay?"

Joey shrugged, "I dunno. Just been thinking about stuff."

"What stuff?"

"Jill…"

Phoebe sighed, "Oh Joe, I'm sorry." She sat on one of the stools. "It'll get better."

Joey shrugged, "I guess. What you been doing today?"

"Well, me and Mike have been thinking up names."

"Really, got any good ones?"

"No really," said Phoebe honestly. "Mike suggested Damian like our child is some kinda satan's minion."

Joey smiled, "Well, at least you have a baby to name. They'll be no Joey jr's at this rate, that's for sure."

"Oh, don't say that," said Phoebe. Joey shrugged miserably. Then an idea struck her, "Maybe there will."

"Huh?" Joey looked up at her.

"I was thinking, maybe I'll name my baby Joe."

Joey frowned, "But… that's my name."

Phoebe nodded, "Ya huh."

Joey's eyes went wide, "Really?"

"Yeah," Phoebe grinned. "I can't think of anything better."

……………………………………

Chandler got home that afternoon after helping Joey move and kissed his wife in greeting before sitting back on the couch and picking up a newspaper.

"Uh, honey," began Monica as she sat next to him. "Um, I need to talk to you about something."

"Okay, what's up?" Chandler said, looking at his wife as he set down the paper.

"Um okay, well… this is kinda big, but…."

"You're leaving me?" Chandler looked terrified.

Monica laughed, "No, no, not that kind of big."

He relaxed considerably and gave a smile, "What is it then?"

"Um," Monica stared at Chandler. Here it goes, she thought to herself. "Well… okay, here it is. I –" Right then though she was interrupted by Phoebe walking in.

"Hey guys!"

"Son of a bitch!" Monica hissed.

…………………………

Ross got home that afternoon to find Rachel asleep on the couch. He stared at her sleeping for a moment; so peaceful and beautiful. That's when he made up his mind. His choice was made. Taking a breath, he sat at the end of the couch and decided to wait for her to wake up.

Rachel groaned softly and raised her head. She was quite shocked when she saw Ross sitting there, reading one of his dinosaur magazines. She cleared her throat and sat up, "Hey."

"Hi, Rach, you're up," Ross said.

"Hi Ross," she looked down nervously.

"Rachel, um, I've been thinking about…. You know, stuff…" began Ross.

"What kinda stuff?" Rachel asked.

"Well, uh… just us, you know. I mean it's been kind of awkward lately, so I was just thinking…"

"Oh, actually I've been, uh, thinking a little about that too," Rachel put in.

"Oh yeah?" Ross questioned.

"Well, um… I was thinking maybe it would be better if, uh… I moved out."

Ross stared at her, "What?"

"Well, I think it's just gonna be too hard if we're around each other like this you know… maybe it'd be better."

Ross stared at her; she had taken him totally by surprise. It wasn't what he expected or wanted. But he couldn't say that now. He couldn't tell her how he wanted to get back together and he didn't care if they got married or not. He couldn't tell her how much he loved her and wanted to live together even if it meant not marrying. He couldn't tell her how much he loved her… because now he knew she wanted out, she couldn't even live with him anymore. He looked down at the floor. "Right."

Rachel frowned, "I'm sorry Ross. I think it's best. Otherwise it might… you know. What if we start to argue or the awkward stuff gets worse… think of what that would do to Emma." She wiped a tear from her eye as she watched his venerable face.

Ross gave a nod. "No, it's fine… it's…" he looked at her. "It's better. And we'll… we'll be fine."

Rachel nodded, "Absolutely."

Ross looked down at the floor, "So um, who's, uh, going where?"

"Oh, don't I'll move. I mean think I can move back in with Joey or… you know." They stared at each other for moment and as their eyes locked they both felt a lump in their throat.

Just then Emma began crying from the next room. "Um, I'll get that," said Ross, leaving quickly.

……………………………………

Chandler came home from work the next day and strolled into the living room where Monica greeted him by pulling onto the sofa quickly, "Get here."

"Whoa, hey what's up? Mon!" exclaimed Chandler as she sat him down and grabbed hold of his hands.

"Chandler, I've been meaning to tell you for a while and think I should just get it out, you know otherwise I never will and it'll just drive me crazy!" said Monica in a rush.

"Uh, okay." Chandler waited patiently as Monica took a deep breath.

She stared at him for a moment, "I'm pregnant."

She bit her lip, as Chandler's eyes wennt wide in disbelief and his lips made a perfect o shape.

Ending Credits

Mike entered Joey's apartment to find Phoebe and Joey in there. He grinned at them, "Phoebes, I've been looking for you."

Phoebe grinned and got up to give him kiss, "Guess what?"

"What?"

"We're naming the baby Joe!"

Mike raised his eyebrows, "We are?" Phoebe then gave him a look and he quickly nodded, "We are!"

She grinned, "Yeah, after Joey!"

Mike gave a slow nod, "After Joey? Never have guessed."

…………………………………..

AN: Review pretty please with a cherry on top lol. I know, I'm the worst writer for RnR ever! Lol. Will the lobster angst ever end? Hmm, possibly...