Hello there, friends. Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews, you give me :D
Disclaimer; I don't own Friends.

We've Had Our Story…

- But What Happened Then?

Chapter 22.

Trust Me

"Mom, I don't even know what to do." Erica sobbed, "How could he do this to me?"

"I don't know honey…" Monica said, rubbing her back, "It was an accident you know."

"But it just seems so planned!"

"What do you mean?" Monica asked, cooking an eyebrow.

"He wanted to take like a breather or a break or something, and then the minute he goes off to another city, he's in bed with someone else! I mean, you're not supposed to do that!" Erica exclaimed.

"No, not at all." Monica said, "When you're in a relationship you don't do that."

"That's not what I meant!" Erica said, "When you're on a break, you don't sleep with someone else. It's not a break-up, now is it…"

Monica looked into space, a weird idea entering her mind.

"Mom?" Erica said, "Mo-om!?"

"Oh sorry, sweetie." Monica said, "No, you're not aloud to sleep with someone else on a break."

"Then what should I do? Break up with him?"

"Before you do that." Monica said, taking her hand, "I have someone you should talk to about this."

"Who?"

"Your aunt Rachel."

--

"I'm so glad we finally made up!" Shelly said, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Yeah, me too." Emma said, "We were really stupid, huh?"

"Tell me about it." Shelly said, "It's like… I don't know, just stupid."

"So, how are you and Ben doing?"

"Looking forward to this one." Shelly said, padding her big belly, "It's getting closer, you know."

"Yeah…" Emma smiled, "You are so lucky you're about to have one more."

"What do you mean?"

"Well…" Emma trailed off, "I've been asking Jack if he could think about having another baby in a year or something, but he don't want more kids."

"And you do?"

"Yeah, I feel like we have the time and the money. We're still young." Emma said, "And I would really like a boy."

"Okay, can't you convince him?"

"No, every time I start on that conversation he leaves the room." Emma said, "I'm getting pretty tired of it, I mean, we're grownups. We're supposed to be able to communicate, you know? And he's just… We're not on very good terms right now. I hope it's just a phase."

"Yeah," Shelly said, "But you can help me out with this one."

"I would love to." Emma smiled.

"And I would love to have you help me."

--

"Hey Mikey." Gracie smiled, hugging him, "Are you ready to do this?"

"Yeah," Mike said, "Come in. Sandy isn't home. She's shopping with Philip, so we'll have space and time to do this."

"Okay." Gracie said, throwing her backpack at the couch, "Do you have any ideas for the song theme? Or do we simply jump to mine?"

"Yeah, let's do that. But did you get the first script they sent you?"

"Yeah, it was a little inspiration, you know. It has to fit the show. ´Crazy World´. What kinda name is that anyway?"

"It's about this guy who's funny, and have a crazy life and a lot of friends." Mike said.

"Kinda could be you or me." Gracie said, laughing.

"Yeah, but do you have anything already, that we maybe could use some of?"

"I brought all my old lyrics." Gracie smiled, "I guess ´Ultimate´ wont be any help here?"

"Nah, I doubt it." Mike laughed, "Let me take a look."

--

"Come on, get in there and ask her what to do." Monica said, opening the car for Erica to get out.

"I don't understand why Rach will be able to help me." Erica said.

"Just go in there. Tell your story, and everything will work out."

"But I don't understand…"

Monica interrupted her, "Trust me!"

--

"What are we gonna do for dinner, honey?" Sophie asked, looking at Matthew.

"We have plans with my parents, remember?" Matthew said, slipping on his coat.

"Oh," Sophie said, "What time?"

"In two hours, I'll just stop by the grocery store and buy some things."

"A few hours?" Sophie smiled, looking thoughtful, "Do you think that that's enough time for me to kill myself?"

"Please, Soph!" Matthew said, "My parents do not hate you!"

"They so do!" Sophie exclaimed.

"No." Matthew said, "In fact, I think my mom is becoming a lesbian, 'cause she's falling in love with you!"

"Stop teasing me!" Sophie said, slapping him, "And go buy food!"

--

When Rachel opened the door, she was surprised to find Erica out there; "Erica? Hi honey!"

"Hi aunt Rachel." Erica smiled, hugging her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came because I have something to tell you."

"Is it a longer story?" Rachel asked, "'Cause then I should make some coffee?"

"Do that." Erica said.

Rachel smiled and went into the kitchen, and 20 minutes later they were sitting by the kitchen table.

"So, what is it honey?" Rachel asked, "You seem a little out of it?"

"Andrew and I are kinda broken up."

"What?" Rachel exclaimed, "I'm sorry honey. Why?"

"Well…" Erica trailed off, not knowing what she should say and not knowing why she should say it to her aunt, and how she could help her, "Andrew kinda slept with someone else."

"What!?" Rachel almost choked in her coffee, "Ah… I don't understand."

"Hmm…" Erica said, getting tears in her eyes again, "He told me he wanted like a break from me, and then he went off to Miami where it happened."

Erica hadn't noticed how Rachel flinched at the word ´break´.

"I don't know what to do, and my mom thought I should talk to you and I don't know why!"

"Oh…" Rachel said, "First of all; I'm sorry for you." she gave her a hug, "And I think I know why she wanted us to talk."

"Why?"

"First; tell me what he told you?"

"It was a one time thing, he said that." Erica said, "But I just don't think I can forgive him like that."

Rachel decided to break the news for her, "I know exactly how you feel." she said.

"You do?" Erica didn't understand.

"I've been there." Rachel said, "Exactly there. Your uncle Ross pulled that on me on our FIRST one year anniversary."

"What!?"

"He did."

"But…" Erica trailed off, "What did you do?"

"My choice?" Rachel asked, "What did I do?"

"Yes?"

"I broke up with him."

"Oh…" Erica begun, "But then I guess I should…"

"And I've regretted it ever since." Rachel finished.

Erica was in chock.

Silence.

"What do you mean?" she finally asked.

"´Technically´ he did nothing wrong." Rachel said, "He believed we were on a break. Which we weren't."

"How did it happen?"

"Well then… He didn't tell me himself, which really would have giving him some forgiveness… What about Andrew, did he…?"

"He told me." Erica said, "That's a good thing, right?"

"Yeah, that's a wonderful things, sweetie. That means he can admit his mistakes."

"Okay, Ross couldn't?" Erica looked thoughtful.

"No." Rachel said.

"But what did you mean before when you said that you've regretted it ever since."

"If Ross and I hadn't broken up back then, we'd have been together for around 30 years now." Rachel said, "I'd never regret having Gracie and Emma, which is something I wouldn't have if Ross and I'd been together, but… It would have been a lot more easier. And also, I loved him. Look at us, we're married now. I've always loved him. He is my soul mate."

"But if Claude haven't died, you wouldn't have been together now." Erica said.

"No." Rachel said, "Claude was my soul mate in another way. But look, the question you need to ask yourself is just… Do you think you and Andrew will be together forever? Do you see a future? Don't do something you'll regret, honey."

"I guess so…" Erica said, "I mean, I love him, but… He slept with someone else!"

"Maybe you need to get over that fact, and then swallow your pride and take him back? Maybe you can work on a deal?

"Yeah…" Erica said, "Maybe we can."

Could they?

Leave a review. Thanks, Stessa.