We Can Work It Out

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story. I didn't write the lyrics used at the start of the chapter. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Summary: Set after TOW The Jam. A mix up in paperwork leads to an unlikely pair having a baby.

Note: I was afraid Joey was a little OCC in this chapter, but I re-watched the season eight episodes when Rachel was pregnant, and I believe this is how he would behave. I hope everyone is enjoying!

Chapter 3 – At Your Side

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When the daylight's gone and you're on your own
And you need a friend just to be around
I will comfort you, I will take your hand
And I'll pull you through, I will understand

I'll be at your side, there's no need to worry
Together we'll survive through the haste and hurry
I'll be at your side
If you feel like you're alone, and you've nowhere to turn
I'll be at your side

At Your Side – The Corrs

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2 Months Later

"I can't believe this is our last night together," Monica said, laying her head on Rachel's shoulder as they curled up together on the couch.

"I know. I thought we would always live together, you know?" Rachel replied, wrapping her arm around her best friend. "But in seven months that little baby is going to need a place to sleep. And Ross was getting a little jealous that I wanted to live with his sister over him"

"I'm going to miss you," Monica said. "It's going to be weird here alone."

Monica looked into Rachel's empty room as she spoke. Knowing the baby was going to need a place to sleep, Ross had asked Rachel to move in with him. They had finished moving her things to his apartment just this morning and the girls had decided to spend their last night together watching romantic movies and eating too much popcorn.

"Sweetie, you won't be alone. You know Ross and I will still be here everyday. Phoebe practically lives here and Chandler and Joey are just across the hall," Rachel said, suddenly sitting up. "Monica, speaking of Joey…"

"No Rachel," Monica interrupted. "I don't want to talk about it tonight. Not on our last night together, please?"

"Just promise me you will think about telling him Monica. He's so excited about this baby already, he should know it's his biological child," Rachel pushed.

"What color should I paint the baby's room?" Monica asked, changing the subject.

Rachel sighed as she studied her best friend. Monica could be so stubborn when she wanted to be. Rachel understood Monica was terrified, but keeping this from Joey was wrong. But Rachel also knew her best friend needed this last night of fun before everything changed, so she decided to play along for now. She was going to push Monica to be honest with Joey though. "How about yellow?"

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Monica stared at the toast on her plate, wishing her stomach would stop rolling long enough so she could take a bite. Morning sickness had quickly become her least favorite part of being pregnant.

The apartment was oddly quiet, which she discovered she didn't like. The tears she had been holding at bay since Rachel said goodbye this morning threatened to spill over, she was going to miss so many things about living with her best friend.

"Hey Monica, what's for breakfast? I'm starving," Joey asked, walking into the apartment and stopping when he saw her face, "What's wrong?"

Monica looked up him. "Rachel left about an hour ago," she said quietly.

"Oh, right," Joey said quietly. He hated seeing any of his friends upset, and Monica looked so sad and helpless sitting there. "Hey, why don't we go to a movie?" he suggested.

Monica looked up in time to see Joey pull the bacon out of the refrigerator.

"Ohhhhh," she moaned, leaping up and running for the bathroom. 'Apparently the baby doesn't like bacon' Monica thought to herself before her stomach clinched and she was sick.

When the nausea finally subsided Monica realized that someone was holding her hair back and rubbing her shoulder. She looked up to see Joey kneeling beside her on the bathroom floor.

"Are you okay?" he asked her, not looking at all repulsed by what just happened.

"I…I'm thirsty," she muttered, reaching up to flush.

"Ok," he said, releasing her hair to reach up and fill a paper cup with water. "Here, slip slowly," he said, handing it to her.

Monica sat back and sipped the water. She was surprised when Joey moved to sit beside her instead of fleeing the room. "Thanks," she finally said.

"No problem. I remember when Tina's morning sickness was so bad she would spend all day on the bathroom floor," Joey said. "And when Dina was pregnant with the twins she would get sick every time she got in a car."

"Having all sisters you've probably been around a lot of pregnant women, haven't you?" Monica said with a small smile.

"Yeah. And at least now I know not to eat bacon around you," Joey said.

"Don't even say that word," Monica replied with a moan, holding her stomach. "Baby really hates it."

Joey reached over and placed his hand on Monica's stomach. "Well Joey will just have to teach this little guy the finer points of eating pork once he's born."

"What if it's a she?" Monica asked, looking down at Joey's hand on her stomach.

"Girls eat pork too!" Joey exclaimed.

"Yeah…" Monica muttered, still staring at his hand.

"Okay now?" Joey asked gently, noticing the small tremble in her voice.

Monica nodded, knowing if she spoke she would start to cry. What a mess this had become. Joey had no idea that his hand was resting on his baby, and she could never tell him. If it was this hard now, what was she going to do the first time Joey picked up the baby? Could she watch and not say anything? Could Rachel?

She didn't realize she had started to cry until she heard her own sniffles.

"Oh Monica," Joey whispered, gathering her into his arms and hugging her. "It's all going to be okay. The morning sickness will go away. And I know you miss Rachel, but we are all still here. You aren't alone. Anything you need, anything at all, you let me know. Even if all you want is ice-cream at two in the morning, I'll go get it."

"Hello! Is anyone home?" Phoebe called from the kitchen.

Monica pulled away from Joey and stood up, wiping tears from her face. "In the bathroom!" she called back to Phoebe, before turning to look at Joey. "Thank you," she said softly.

Joey leaned over and kissed her forehead. "How about that movie?"

"Oh yay! A movie!" Phoebe exclaimed, walking on the bathroom. "Which one are we going to see?"