Disclaimer; I don't own Friends, but it is okay to wish I do?
Picking Up the Pieces
Chapter 2.
"Okay, so the next guest I have here today, is Denise Anders, who have been living in an abusive relationship with her husband for 3 years, until he died in a car accident, just 2 weeks ago. She's here to tell us her story. Keep on this channel."
"Ew," Monica said, "I don't wanna watch some crazy woman babbling about her husband, can't you turn Oprah off for just 5 minutes!?"
"I happen to know..." Chandler begun, "That Oprah is a fine, sweet lady. And I love watching her show!"
"Yeah Monica," Phoebe said, "Let's watch something which is not starring Jude Law for once!"
"Okay, okay." Monica said, giving in, "But if it get's too pathetic, I'm gonna go clean the bathroom."
"When does Ross get here?" Joey asked, looking up from his chips.
"He had to drop Emily off at her work. There is some kind of party tonight, but Ross didn't feel like going." Monica answered, not bothering to look away from the Snuggles commercial, "Wow, I think I'm gonna buy that!" she exclaimed.
"Are they still having troubles?" Phoebe asked.
"Yeah, it's been quite some time now." Monica said.
"What?" Joey asked, "Are they having troubles? About what?"
"They haven't been able to get along." Monica said, "I'm sure he's gonna divorce her, I'm just glad that they don't have any kids to share."
"But it's weird that they don't have kids." Phoebe said, "I mean, they've been married more than 5 years!"
"I don't know." Monica said, "Emily have never wanted them, I know Ross does though. He's so happy with Ben."
"Yeah." Chandler said, "That's really good, but could you shut up please, Oprah is on!"
"Aw." Phoebe exclaimed.
They kept quiet for some time, listening to the woman, telling her story.
"It's so pathetic." Monica then said, "Why don't they just get out of it? I mean, it can't be that hard! The man is beating the crap out of you woman, run away for the love of God!" she yelled at the TV.
"Maybe it's harder than that." Phoebe suggested, "Could you possibly think, that they do love the guy?"
"No." Monica said, "If Chandler was beating the crap out of me, I would just kick his ass!"
"Yeah Monica," Phoebe said, "But it's not all women who have strength like that. There's some women who'll let everyone just walk all over them. And it's most actually them who's unlucky to marry those bastards!"
"I just don't see how a man can beat a woman." Joey said, "That's so low."
"Says the man who has slept with every woman in the town without calling them back." Chandler sarcastically shot back.
"Hey!" Joey said, "I know I'm a womaniser and all that… But I would never beat a woman like that! It's so… I could just kill guys like that! They're the worst scum in the world!"
"Wow!" Monica said, "I never knew you were feeling like that, Joe."
"Feeling like it's wrong to beat women?" Joey said.
"No, just…" she trailed off, "You know…"
"Just that you really thought about stuff like that." Phoebe finished.
"Oh… okay."
"It's actually a quite interesting subject to talk about..." Chandler said, annoyed, "While I'm watching Oprah!"
"Sorry honey." Monica said, padding his knee, "We'll be quiet now."
In that second, Ross walked through the door, "Hi guys." he sad replied.
"What's wrong Ross?" Phoebe asked.
"I think my marriage is over."
"What?" Monica said, "What happened?"
"Emily have been seeing one of her co-workers..." Ross said, "For about 4 months now… She's wanted to end it a long time, but she hasn't been able to tell me."
"I'm so sorry." Phoebe said, getting up to hug him, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's gonna be all right." Ross said, "It wasn't working anyway."
"Of course it wasn't working!" Joey said, "When she's been screwing some other dude, it's pretty clear that it can't work!"
Monica shot Joey a look and turned to Ross; "Will you like some coffee, sweetie?"
Ross just nodded and looked at the TV, "What are you watching?"
"Oh," Chandler said, turning off the TV, "Just something about husbands beating up their wives. It was on Oprah first, but then they are gonna show this documentary after. I don't think I'm gonna watch it."
"It's so sad to think about women like that." Ross said, taking the coffee Monica handed him, "I mean, they love their husband, but they're still beaten up by him everyday."
"I know," Phoebe said, looking at Monica, "Not all are as tough as Monica, that they'd just kick his ass!"
--
"Can you have a good day, sweetie?" Rachel asked, giving her daughter her backpack in front of the classroom.
"Yes, of course mom." Ashley smiled, "And sorry about last night."
"It's totally okay, honey." Rachel said, "You live in that apartment too, you can listen as much as you want."
"I love you mom." Ashley said, giving her mom a hug.
"Love you too." Rachel said.
She turned around, and walked right into Steve O'Neal's mom – Mrs. O'Neal.
She looked into the floor, smoothing her hair down her cheek, trying to hide the hand shaped mark across it.
But she saw it.
That woman saw everything.
"Mrs. Farber?" she tried.
But Rachel just ignored her, and hurried out of the school and home.
Back was Mrs. O'Neal, looking with a sympathetic look at Ashley.
--
"Oh, so now you're home." Rachel replied, looking at her husband.
"Yes." he said, not bothering to look up from the TV.
"Shouldn't you be at work?"
"I decide when I want to be there Rachel." Barry said.
"I know." Rachel said, sitting down next to him, "Were where you yesterday when you walked out?"
"I just went to a bar." Barry said, "Got a few beers, nothing big."
"But you didn't come home." Rachel said.
"No, I spend the night at my co-worker's house. He lives close by."
"Who?"
"Oh, just Martin." Barry replied, sounding annoyed.
"Martin who? The big fat Martin, or Martin Demarco?"
"Martin Demarco."
"But he lives in the other end of town!" Rachel said, "Why did you go all the way over there?"
"Will you stop with the third degree, Rachel!" Barry yelled, slamming his hand into the table, and picking up the remote – ready to throw it at her.
"Well excuse me for wanting to know where my husband spend the night!" Rachel exclaimed, and stood up.
"You could at least sound like you're not accusing me for sleeping around."
"Well you are, aren't you?" Rachel asked.
"No, I'm not." he said.
"So you tell me…" Rachel begun, "That if I pick up the phone now, and dial Martin Demarco's number, he'll confirm that you've spend the night?"
She walked towards the cordless and picked it up.
"Rachel, I'm telling you…" Barry threaded, "If you know what's best for you, you put that phone right back where you took it!"
"Oh…" Rachel said, "You're really desperate to not make me call, huh?" she pressed a few buttons.
"Rachel!" Barry yelled.
Rachel finished the number and placed the phone against her right ear.
Barry saw red, (as always) and did what Rachel had expected him to do – threw the remote control at her.
And of course it hit her and she dropped the phone at the floor where it shattered into pieces.
"Look what you've done, Barry!" she yelled.
She knew as well as he did, that she'd made her own bed. But sometimes she just couldn't resist annoying him, even though she always knew what would happen after.
"It's your FUCKING fault!" Barry yelled, getting closer.
"Barry look," Rachel said, trying to get herself out of it, "I didn't mean it. Of course I know you're not sleeping around, you were just tired and you-"
But Barry cut her off, by giving her a fist, right in the nose.
Rachel fell backwards, stumbling into the television.
"I've TOLD you Rachel!" Barry yelled, "Never talk to me like that!"
"Barry, I'm sorry, I just-"
Barry slapped her across the face and she closed her eyes, feeling the stream of fits and knuckles hitting and damaging her face. She tried to fight back, but as always, she failed.
She'd tried to kick him away, tried to bite him, but nothing worked.
He always ended up breaking something.
He jagged a foot into her stomach, leaving her breathless and kicked her already bad hip.
Then he cursed and left the room.
Rachel breathed in and out, waiting for the silence to overtake the apartment.
When she was sure that he was gone, she tried to stand up, but her hip really hurt.
Eventually she got up and went downstairs to hail a cab.
She was going to the hospital.
--
"Are you gonna cry, again baby-girl!?" Steve mocked.
Ashley turned her head away so he wouldn't notice her eyes filling with tears, "You have no right to speak of my mom like that!" she said, calmly, "You don't know her at all!"
"No, but it's clear to everyone, my mom says!" Steve continued, feeling secure, because the whole class was backing him up.
"Yeah, but things aren't as easy as that!" Ashley yelled, turning to face him, tears streaming down her face, "My mom loves my dad. And my dad loves me and her!"
"Then how come he's never home?" a girl, called Carina asked.
"He is busy!" Ashley screamed and started to run away.
She knew they wouldn't follow her anyway.
She sat down on a bench in the school yard, and cried.
Suddenly a boy come up next to her and sat down, "You okay?" he asked.
"Are you coming to mock me?" Ashley rudely asked.
"No." the boy pouted, and she turned to look at him.
"Oh… sorry." she apologised.
"It's okay." the boy said, "I saw Steve O'Neal teasing you. I feel bad. I've been there."
"Aren't you older than him?" Ashley asked, swallowing a lump.
"Yes, but that doesn't stop him." the boy smiled.
"Why did he tease you?" Ashley asked.
"Let's introduce ourselves first." the boy smiled and handed her his hand, "My name is Ben."
Okay, next chapter will be up soon, of course if you still want me to continue this,… I have a feeling that there aren't many people reading this? Anyway, leave a review, thanks, Stessa.