Disclaimer; I don't own Friends.
We've Had Our Story…
- But What Happened Then?
Chapter 17.
Consequences.
"Oh my God!" Rachel said, when she opened the front door, "JJ are you all right?"
"No." JJ shook his head, tears streaming down his face.
"What happened?"
"Gracie said no." he said.
"Said no to what?" Rachel asked.
"She said no!" JJ cried, kicking off his shoes and going into the kitchen, "Where is Ross?"
"He's with Joey and Chandler." Rachel said, "Gracie said no to what?"
"To marry me!"
Rachel's jaw hit the floor, "You asked Gracie to marry you?"
"Yes!" JJ said, "And she said no!"
"Well…" Rachel didn't know what to say, "Where is she?"
"I don't know." JJ said, "She walked out on me. I was sitting there. On one knee, ring in hand."
"Two seconds." Rachel said, showing him two fingers, "Wait right here."
JJ nodded and Rachel went into the living room to call Alex.
"Yeah?" Alex answered.
"Alex, get over here right now! Your son is a mess!"
"What? Joey is a mess? What happened?"
"I'll explain when you come." Rachel said.
"Okay." Alex said, "Give me two minutes."
"Good."
--
"Wow, look at that!" Erica said, kissing Andrew's cheek, "We should really try that cheese sometime. It looks like it's really tasty."
"How come we're talking about cheese?" Andrew asked.
"I don't know." Erica said, "It's just so couple-y."
"I know." Andrew said.
"Uh, I love you." Erica smiled.
"I love you too, honey."
--
"You did what?" Alex exclaimed, "Asked her to marry you? What were you thinking? Are you crazy?"
"No." JJ said, "I love her."
"Yeah." Rachel said, "Dummy. Maybe you love her, but look… Maybe you should have asked her to move in with you first. She's still living at home."
"But I want to marry her!" JJ said.
"Okay, okay." Alex said, calming down, "In stead of arguing, you should tell us what happened. And… and don't leave out a thing…?"
--
Gracie looked at the building, seriously pondering if she should go in there or not.
She wanted to, but on the other hand, she felt like if she went in there, she was betraying her mom and JJ. And all the other people who loved her and wanted to help her.
Why did she storm out anyway?
She should have stayed there and talked to him. Talked it through.
But now when she'd left, she shouldn't stand in front of Jane's apartment, thinking about telling her about all her problems.
She should be at home, telling her mom.
Suddenly her cell rang, and the display showed mom.
Okay then.
Seemed like her mom wouldn't give her a change to do the wrong thing.
--
"I just don't understand why you said no?" Rachel said, phasing around in front of her.
"It's because I'm me and you're you." Gracie said, looking at her mom.
"Don't start with your psychology phrases now." Rachel said, "I'm very mad at you. And I don't even know why! You probably have a good explanation, so tell me!"
"I cant mom." Gracie said, "You'll hate me."
"Why?" Rachel asked, sitting down next to her daughter, "Is there someone else?"
"No! Mo-om!" Gracie exclaimed, "How can you even think that? I wouldn't do that to JJ."
"But breaking his heart by turning him down at his proposal is okay?"
"Okay, look." Gracie said, taking a deep breath, "I just can't."
"Is it because of us? Are we too involved, was it too much? Was it too fast?"
"No."
"Then why? Why don't you wanna do this? I don't understand!? You love the guy and he loves you! And I've never met a girl your age who doesn't want to get married!"
"I don't wanna disappoint him, mom! I don't wanna let him down."
"Why would you let him down?" Rachel asked.
"I love him, but I'm sure I will." Gracie said, "He deserves so much better then me, mom, so much."
"Yeah… But it's you who he wants Gracie." Rachel said, suddenly getting what was really the problem, "Can't you see that? He wants you, Gracie. It doesn't matter how sick you are. He wants to be with you…"
Gracie began to cry, "Do you remember our talk right before we moved over here mom?" she paused, "The one about dad and marriage…?" she swallowed, "…and kids?"
"Yeah…?"
"I cant do that, mom…" Gracie said, "You know I cant – I've seen the consequences."
So yup, this was this chapter. The next one should be up in a few days. Can I say that I'm happy now? We've come through the fluff which had surely overtaken this story, and is in a stream of true Gracie-drama again! Isn't it great? I love Gracie, she's such a drama-queen :D Anyway, leave me a review. Thanks, Stessa.