Disclaimer; I don't own Friends, and I don't own the song "Even Angels Fall"
We've Had Our Story…
- But What Happened Then?
Chapter 23.
Being Friends.
"So first chorus (sp?), starts with C, and then D-minor?" Gracie asked.
"Yeah," Mike said, "Like this:"
He played the first line.
"Yes, that'll work." Gracie said.
"I'll try it again and you sing. The whole first part."
Gracie smiled and when Mike had counted to three she sang;
"You found hope, you found faith
Found how fast she could take it away
Found true love, Lost your heart
Now you don't know who you are"
Mike smiled and clapped his hands together, "This is good, Grace. I think we've got something."
"Yeah, me too." Gracie smiled, "We'll just have to convince the producers too. And also talk to them of how much of this song which will be played. We'll probably have to tape everything anyway."
"Yeah, let's call and set up a meeting."
--
"This is Andrew's. I'm not home right now, but leave a message and I'll definitely call you back. Or you could just call Erica's place, I'm probably over there, anyway. Bye!"
Erica got tears in her eyes by the sweet and adorable way he'd made his voice mail, she sighed and said, "Hi Andy, it's me, Erica. I have something to talk to you about. It's about us and our current situation, you should call me back soon. Bye!"
She hung up.
She was doing the right thing, she knew that.
But how was she gonna explain to everyone?
--
"This feels like such a home to me." Shelly said, smiling.
Her and Emma were still at the coffee house. They'd been there all day. They were enjoying each others company more than anything. They'd really missed each other.
"Yeah, it does." Emma said.
Suddenly Shelly gasped.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Emma exclaimed.
"I think my water broke!" Shelly said.
"It's two months early!" Emma said,
"Don't you think I know that?" Shelly said, "Come on. Take me to the hospital, maybe something is wrong?"
"Of course," Emma said, taking her hand, "Wow, you're on fire. Peter was in a hurry and this baby is early. The only thing we can see as positive is that Ben isn't out of town!"
--
"Hi Jack!" Emma said, "It's me!"
"What?"
"Shelly is at the hospital, having the baby. I already called Ben, I was just wondering if maybe you would like to come? I mean, it is your niece or nephew being born."
"How does it get to be that?" Jack asked.
"Ben is my brother!" Emma said.
"Yeah, half brother." Jack said, not sounding very interested.
"I don't even know you!" Emma exclaimed, smashing the phone close.
--
"Is it here yet?" Sophie breathed, after rushing into the hospital.
"No, this isn't in a hurry," Emma said, "And it's going to be okay even thought it's early. The doctors says it's a big baby."
"Where's Ben? With Shelly?"
"Yeah, after not being there at Peter's birth, he's more supportive than anyone has ever been." Emma said, "Now you two," she said, looking at Matthew who was looking kinda mad, "Weren't you supposed to have dinner with Matt's parents?"
"Yes." Sophie said, "But as you said when we talked on the phone." she winked at Emma, "Shelly needs me here. It's my family too. I have to be here, remember?"
"Oh…" Emma said, getting the point, "No, really, Shelly do need you. I'm sorry for ruining dinner for you Matthew, I'm sure your parents can reschedule, don't you?"
"My mom is already not liking Sophie!" Matthew exclaimed, "This is just the kind of thing which will approve her of that!"
"You just told me earlier that she liked me!" Sophie said, turning to him, "That she was falling in love with me."
"I might have been adding a little to the story…" Matthew trailed off.
"A little!" Sophie yelled, attracting every person in the waiting rooms attention, "Saying that your mother likes me, is as crazy as saying ´Hey, I think a mouse is afraid of a cat´! It's like… Fire and water! We're as different as night and day! Why can't you just face it, Matty. It's not going to change!"
Matthew looked to the ground, "Sorry honey," he hugged her, "I love you. I wont take you to dinner with her again, I promise!"
--
"Hi, honey. How are you doing?" Rachel said, padding her stepson's wife's head.
"I'm okay, Rach." Shelly smiled, "And the baby is too."
"Oh, that's good. Ross is just talking to Ben. So I heard you and Ems made up?"
"You knew we didn't talk?" Shelly asked, surprised.
"Well of course." Rachel said, "Do you really think that my wonderful stepson wouldn't tell me?"
"Ben is such a tattle tail!" Shelly laughed.
"He told me exactly what happened." Rachel said, taking her hand, "It's the way it works, you know? I can tell you, now, me and the other 5 friends, we seems like we cant fight. Which we still do, occasionally. But it isn't near as much as when we were your age. You should have heard me and Monica when we lived together! You would find it hilarious."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Rachel said, "You and Emma will still have a lot of years to fight in, as well as you and Erica. You and Sophie, you and Gracie and you and Sandy. All of you girls will get in a fight someday, it's just life."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Shelly asked.
"Because I know for a fact that you were very upset, and right now I have some wisdom to pass on. I thought of this the a great opportunity to do that."
Shelly laughed, "Thank you," she said, "Mother-in-law."
--
"You didn't call everyone, did you?" Ross asked Ben.
"No." Ben said, "Emma called you guys, and Sophie and Matthew. She also called Jack, but she said that he was busy. She thought about calling Gracie, but she and Mike had this project. There's no need for all of us to be here."
"You're right." Ross said, "I just can't wait to see if I'll get my third granddaughter or my second grandson."
"I think Rach is excited too." Ben said.
"She'll be as much as a grandma as Susan will." Ross said.
"I know." Ben smiled, "But you'll be the only grandpa. You know how Shelly's dad is death."
"Wow, I never considered that." Ross said, "That makes me kinda special."
Ben laughed by his dad's giddiness, "I love you dad."
With those words he turned around and went into Shelly.
--
"That's an okay piece of work." Sandra said, after listening to Gracie and Mike.
"Really? Do you think they'd use it?" Gracie asked.
"Maybe," Sandra said, "They're pretty tough, but maybe. Or else you'll have to try again. You can't lose this Gracie, this could be your break."
"What do you mean my break?" Gracie said, "I do not want to be a singer."
"No, but I presume that acting is an option? This could lead to something."
"No…" Gracie trailed off, "I don't know what I want to do. But what I do know is that I wont settle for something. Life is too short to do the same all the time. I wanna try stuff. This is a good way too try making a break in TV. Maybe acting will be on my list if I get the chance one time."
"That's a great life philosophy." Mike said, supporting her.
"But what if you someday cant find a job?" Sandra asked.
"Then I'll have JJ." Gracie smiled.
--
"Wow," Shelly smiled, looking at the little baby in her arms, "I can't believe I have a daughter!"
"What's the name?" Emma asked, looking with tears in her eyes at her niece.
Ben and Shelly looked at each other, exchanging glances.
"You say it." Ben said.
"Okay," Shelly smiled, "Her name is Michelle Emma Geller."
--
"Hi, it's me." Andrew said.
"Oh, hi Andy." Erica smiled.
"I got your message."
"Yeah," Erica said, "We need to talk."
"Yeah." Andrew said.
"I love you…" Erica cried, "And I wont give up on us. But… I was going to, but someone convinced me to forgive you, and yeah… I cant say that I forgive you, but I can say that I want this to work."
"Really?" Andrew couldn't believe his luck, "Thank you Erica, I love you."
"I love you too, Andy." Erica said, "But I have a few things…"
"Tell me. I'll do anything."
"First, you have to promise that it wont happen again."
"It wont, I swear!"
"Thought so," Erica giggled, "And… I can't trust you right now as I said, but I know how to start. For a month, you and I will see each other like friends. We wont be having sex. I have to see that you can keep yourself from other women."
"Okay, if that is what it takes." Andrew said.
"And you have to promise me, that you'll take care of me, and never leave me. That we'll always be together."
"We will," Andrew said, "I promise."
"Good, we'll talk tomorrow." Erica smiled, and hung up.
She knew that Andrew would keep himself away from women, that he was able to.
But what about Erica herself?
It was a whole month…
Okay, this chapter didn't get us much further, but the next one will. Leave me a review. Thanks, Stefania :D