Okay, thanks for the reviews. Keep them coming, 'cause they keep me going. And thanks to my very supportive readers and reviewers, I'm dedicating this chapter to you guys. I love you :D
Disclaimer; I don't own Friends, but I own Ashley, and I'm damn proud to have created her!
Picking Up the Pieces
Chapter 8.
"Thank you so much that I can stay over." Ben said, smiling at Rachel.
"You know I love to have you here, Ben." Rachel smiled, winking at him.
"I'll pick him up tomorrow at 4 o'clock, is that okay?" Carol asked.
"That's fine." Rachel said.
"Is your husband out of town?" Carol asked.
"Yeah." Rachel smiled, "He had some business in Miami. Really alright with me."
"But can you control these two when you're half a invalid like that?" Carol asked, pointing at Rachel's crutch.
Rachel giggled. The two of them had become really close friends the last couple of months, since her accident. "They're really not that bad."
"Okay then." Carol said, "Have fun."
"We will, say hi to Susan."
--
"Do you want to catch a movie tonight?" Monica asked, looking at the others.
"I can't." Chandler said, "I told you. I have work tonight."
"Me neither." Phoebe said, "I have a date."
"Me too." Ross said.
"What about you then, Joey?" Monica asked, finding it weird that he didn't reply.
"I'm gonna watch some TV."
"Come on, buddy." Chandler said, "Move on! I'm sure she was really hot, but it's been two months now."
"You weren't there." Joey said, "But okay Monica. I'll go with you to the movies."
"That's really all I'm asking."
--
"Where are you taking us, mom?" Ashley said, looking out of the car window.
"You really wanna know?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah." Ben said, "We wanna know."
At that moment, Rachel drove into a parking spot, "We're going to the cinema!"
"Yai!" Ashley smiled, "What are we gonna watch?"
"I don't know, come with me, and we'll find out."
They got out of the car and went to decide for a movie, when Ben suddenly tucked in Rachel's arm, "Rachel?" he said.
"What's the matter Ben?" Rachel asked, looking at him.
"I just saw my aunt, can we go say hi?"
"Your aunt?" Ashley exclaimed, "Monica?"
"Yeah, can we Rachel?" Ben asked again, giving her the puppy-eyes. She was quite familiar with those now.
"Okay then." Rachel said, "Your lead, young man."
"Yai!" Ben and Ashley exclaimed.
They each took one of Rachel's hands and dragged her after them.
"Aunt Monica? Uncle Joey!?" Ben yelled.
And that moment when Monica and Joey turned around, Rachel's heart stopped.
She knew who uncle Joey was.
She looked into the ground and kept in the background when Ben and Ashley approached them.
"What are you two doing here?" Monica exclaimed, hugging them.
"Ashley's mom took us to the movies." Ben said.
"Wow," Monica said, "And where is she?"
"Over there." Ashley smiled, "Mommy, come here!?"
Rachel went to them, and when she caught Joey's eyes, he was surprised, she could tell.
"Hi." Rachel said.
"Hey." Monica said, feeling like she knew the woman from somewhere.
"Hi Joey." Rachel smiled.
"What happened with you?" Joey asked.
"A little of this and a little of that." Rachel smiled.
"How do you know each other?" Monica asked, surprised.
"Eh Mon…?" Joey begun, "She's the one I… you know?"
"Oh," Monica said, "With the note?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, hi." Monica said, "I didn't know Ashley's mom was the one Joey had…"
"Joey had what?" Ashley interrupted.
"Joey went to high school with, sweetie." Rachel said, brushing her off.
"Oh…" Ashley said, finding her mother weird.
"Maybe you two should go pick a movie? I'm just gonna chat with them for a second." Rachel said.
Ben and Ashley nodded and walked away.
"Are you Ashley's mom?" Joey exclaimed.
"Are you related to Ben?"
"No, but I'm good friends with his dad." Joey said, "This is Ben's dad's sister by the way, Monica Geller."
"Oh my God!" Rachel said, "Are you Monica Geller?"
"Yeah…" Monica said, "I feel like I know you from somewhere…"
"Rachel Farber!" Rachel said, "Well, you know me as Rachel Green."
"Oh my God, Rach?" Monica exclaimed, embracing her, "How are you?"
"I'm okay." Rachel smiled, "What about you?"
"Good, I'm married."
"Well, me too." Rachel said.
"Wow, I can't believe that of all people you are Ashley's mom."
"Nah," Rachel smiled, then she thought of something, "Well… If you're Ben's aunt, then he must be your brother's son… Was his name Ross?"
"Yes." Monica smiled, "Wow… He's gonna die when I tell him this."
"Was he really married to Carol? I can't believe that." Rachel said.
"Yeah well…" Monica trailed off.
"Rachel, can I talk to you about something?" Joey then said.
"Sure, what is up?" Rachel asked, acting like she didn't know exactly what he was talking about.
"You're married, huh?" Joey asked.
"Yeah." Rachel smiled apolitically, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you that night, but… I wrote a note for you."
"Yeah, I got that." Joey said, "But why would you sleep with me?"
"Oh," Rachel said, "Well… That's just the deal me and my husband have…" she lied, "Kinda… He's at business trips a lot, and we don't see each other that often so…"
Monica raised an eyebrow, obviously not believing her.
"Okay then." Joey said, "Can I see you again?"
"I don't think it's a very good idea Joey."
"Why not?" Joey asked, "I mean, we had a great night…"
"Sure we had." Rachel said, "But it's just sex… It's not like we're in love or anything. I love my husband."
"Alright…" Joey trailed off, "I just thought maybe… It could be fun to be together again."
"I'm sorry." Rachel smiled, "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"That's okay." Joey said, "I'll live."
"Good." Rachel said, "Well, I'll find Ben and Ashley. I promised them a movie, so I better…"
"Nice to chat." Monica said, "You should call one day?"
"I think maybe I will." Rachel smiled, "Bye."
Monica watched Rachel walk away. Thinking about what she said.
"Oh, well… That's just the deal me and my husband have… Kinda … He's at business trips a lot, and we don't see each other that often so…"
Really?
"I love my husband"Hmm, maybe.
Buy that?
"What happened with you?"
"A little of this and a little of that"
Yeah, right.
Definitely not.
Something was up, and she didn't like it.
Okay, next chapter will be here soon. Leave me a review, please, and I mean it. Why read this and then not review? Thanks, Stessa.