Hi there ! So even though I was really (and I mean really) insecure about last chapter, you guys liked it. I'm glad you did though, 'cause I didn't feel like to rewrite it. Anyhow, here is the next chapter.

Disclaimer; I don't own Friends.

Picking Up the Pieces

Chapter 22.

Rachel shot herself into the couch and looked at the card Lucas had given her. She was so insecure about it. She didn't know whether or not it would be a good idea to do it.

It would probably be good for her to talk about it with other people than her friends and daughter, but she would be so nervous talking about it. So scared.

She lay the card at the coffee table, when the door burst open and Ben, Ashley and Ross came in.

Ross and Ashley had just picked him up for the weekend.

"Rachel?!" Ben squealed, jumping into her open arms.

As weird as it may sound, Rachel had really missed him coming over to be with Ashley, since it's been awhile.

"Hello from my mommies." Ben told her.

"Yeah," Rachel smiled, looking lovingly at him, "Hello them back too when you get home." she squeezed him again, "I've really missed you."

"So, how's it going with you scar and all?" Ben asked.

"It's good. Nothing to worry about." Rachel smiled, she looked at both him and Ashley and smiled, "Now, you two go play!"

They nodded and ran off.

"Wow." Ross shot himself into the couch next to her, "Well then. We have two kids this weekend. Maybe we could take them somewhere, maybe?"

"Yeah." Rachel nodded and smiled at him, "Maybe we could. Nothing big though, 'cause I'm still a little spaced out because of these last days. Maybe we can have a picnic in the park?"

"Yes." Ross said, "That would be okay. Tomorrow maybe?"

"That's a deal." Rachel said, "But I was thinking… Instead of Ben sleeping at this couch tonight, he could get my bed, and then maybe I could… Squeeze myself into your bed with you?"

Quickly, a big smile covered Ross' face, and that told her so much, "That could be arranged."

"Great, 'cause I really want to." Rachel said, "But stay here. I have to go to the bathroom."

"Great." Ross said, he watched her leave and then leaned back in the couch.

He couldn't believe how happy they were, already. They were taking things slow, getting used to being together all the time. But he was already loving it. He could feel that this was the real thing, and that they would be together forever.

He was so sure they would.

Suddenly his eyes caught a piece of paper on the table.

It wasn't there before, he noticed.

He bend forward to pick it up.

When he realized what it was, he was confused as to why it was there.

Lucas Smith, it said.

When Rachel came back and sat – no, not actually sat, but kinda snuggled – next to him, he turned to her.

"Rach?"

She looked up at him, with questions in her eyes, "What, honey?"

"What is this?" he waved the card in front of her.

"Oh," Rachel realized that he'd seen the card, "I met this guy the other day when Ash and I were eating at McDonald's. He heard Ash and I talk about Barry and all… Then he asked if I wanted to do like a lecture or something. To tell my story."

"Hmm," Ross said, "And what did you answer?"

"I didn't have time to." Rachel giggled, "He kept talking and talking and talking and then he just gave me my card, kissed my cheek and left." she paused, "He was really sweet."

"He-he… Hrmh, he kissed your cheek?"

"Yeah." Rachel laughed, "And called me darling."

"He, he called you darling?"

"Yeah." Rachel said. She couldn't see that Ross was jealous and that he was getting uncomfortable, 'cause she wasn't used to know him like that. And she wasn't used to men being jealous of her, for real. All Barry had ever done was protecting his pride if men made a pass at her.

"But… You're with me." Ross said.

"Yes, what's the big deal?" Rachel asked, "He just wanted to help me."

"Yeah, right." Ross said, "Men never do that with no intentions at all."

"Ross, what is the matter with you?" Rachel exclaimed, not getting it at all.

"He gave you his card!" Ross said.

"Oh…" Rachel finally realized what it was about, "So you're jealous. Like I'm gonna cheat on you?"

"Well, you cheated on Barry, didn't you?"

"Wow." Rachel said, standing up, "I can't believe that you're throwing that in my face! It was so different from what we have! I love you, Ross. I would never do that to you!"

"Really, what makes me different from Barry?"

"Do you have a week, it's what it takes to list the things that make you different from Barry?"

Ross paused and looked at her. She had tears in her eyes, but he could tell that she meant the words she was saying, "Alright," he sighed, "I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't."

"Thank you." Rachel said.

He embraced her in a hug.

When it was done, she kissed him, "So, do you think I should do this?"

"I don't know." Ross said, his mind still spinning about Lucas, "If you want to, I think you should."

"Hmm…" Rachel looked thoughtful, "I think I'm gonna do it."

--

Two months later.

"Oh my God," Rachel whispered, "There's really many people out there. God, my parents are there too!"

"Yeah, and so are mine." Ross told her, closing the door they were looking out from. He gave her a kiss, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah." Rachel smiled, "I think I'm gonna feel so good after this."

"Good." Ross said, "'Cause that's kinda like the whole point of everything. You feeling better."

"I already feel much better than I did two months ago." Rachel admitted, "And that's thanks to you."

Ross smiled and hugged her.

"I'm gonna talk to some of them after." Rachel said.

"What do you mean?"

"I want to talk to those of them who have a life like I had. Those of them who came because of the lecture tonight was about abusing and not food. Those who came because they want advises."

"But how can you tell who's in an abusive marriage and who's just interested?" Ross asked, opening door.

"Easily." Rachel laughed, "Do you see the woman with the black eye. She's one of them. The one with the crying boy? One of them too. The one with the crutch…?"

"One of them also." Ross finished.

"Bingo was his name." Rachel said.

"Wow," Ross mused, "You've really spent too much time with Chandler lately, haven't you?"

Rachel shrugged her shoulders, and that moment, Lucas came to talk to them.

"Are you ready?" he asked, "It's now."

Rachel nodded, "Yeah, I'm ready."

Lucas opened the door and pushed her into the ´stage´. She was a bit overwhelmed by all the people who had showed up. There were really many! She went to the microphone and hit it a couple of times with her finger to make sure it was on. When she was certain, she leaned forward and introduced herself; "Hi everyone. My name is Rachel Green, thanks for coming."

She caught her mom's eyes. They'd finally made up. Her parents had finally believed her, and they could both tell that she was very happy now.

"I'm here to talk about a marriage which was filled with love, but also anger, abuse, adultery, mistrust and hospital visits. I'm here to talk about my marriage with Barry Farber." she took a deep breath and begun, "The first time he hit me, I froze. The first time he hit me, I believed that he had a weak moment. The first time he hit me, I thought he would apologize and make it up with a kiss. But even when I thought all that, I still thought, that the first time he hit me, wasn't gonna be the only time. An abusive marriage is hard to imagine for people who have never been in one. It's hard to put yourself in the woman's place and feel the feeling she's feeling. Everyone are always saying and thinking that she's so weak, and why doesn't she just get out of it? But the only answer to that is: Love. Most often, in situations like that, the woman is actually hopelessly devoted to her husband. It was not like that in my case, however, what Barry and I had was never really love, but we had something. I just didn't know that things would end this badly…"

Time lapse.

"…and that's why, even though you believe that you have nothing to live for, and that you wont make it on your own, you have to do it anyways. You deserve so much better than that. You are so much more worth than that. You can get out. The road is hard and long, but it's better than the marriage, that's for sure. Because in the marriage you have to live with the abusing everyday, but on your own, you only have your memories, and they will eventually fade away. Believe it girls, you can make it through. I did, and trust me, I'm not usually a strong person. My tears are easily coming, and I've been close at giving up, but you can't. You will get through."

--

"Hey, excuse me?"

Rachel turned around the come face to face with the woman with crutches. "Hi." Rachel smiled, "How can I help you?"

"First of all;" the woman said, "Good lecture. It was really sad. And second, I need to talk to you in private."

"All right." Rachel said, her eyes running down the woman's leg, "Come with me."

They went into a private room and Rachel shot the woman her best smile.

"I can't believe you managed to get through that." the woman said, "My name is Tania by the way."

"Hi." Rachel shook her hand, "Rachel Green."

"Yeah," Tania smiled, "I think you can guess why I'm here, right?"

"Yeah," Rachel said, "The crutch pretty much speaks for itself."

"I just can't believe you got through. I wished I had the strength."

"I did not have the strength," Rachel smiled, "But I had friends who at some point figured everything out. They helped me out of it for real. They supported me. And you know, when I was certain that Barry was gonna kill me, I don't know, I suddenly got my act together and got out of there, y'know?"

"Hmm-mm." Tania smiled, "I shouldn't be taking all your time though, 'cause I have a feeling that more people will be wanting to talk to you. You should go out there, I'll wait in here."

"Okay." Rachel smiled, "I'm back soon."

"Fine." Tania said.

--

Rachel poked a redhead in the back, "Hello?"

"Oh, hey. Good lecture!" the woman exclaimed.

"Will you please go into that room over there?" Rachel pointed, "I need to talk to you."

"Hmm, okay…?" the woman trailed off, "That room?"

"That room right over there."

--

When Rachel entered the room she'd send people into the last half hour, she was surprised. She hadn't realized that she'd been sending so many women in there, but she knew they were all there for one reason. They were seeking help.

She had to give them that.

She looked at all the women in there.

They all looked so different, but on the bottom, they were all the same.

"Hi," she smiled, "Ehm, I know why you all are here… Well, because I told you so, but y'know, in the first place… You all have a problem, and I know I can't make decisions for you girls, but I… I want to help."

Well then, this was this chapter. I hope you still are enjoying this story, it's over soon anyway. Leave me a review. Thanks, Stessa. ;p