Chapter 30: Blame It on September

Disclaimer: I don't own Friends!

A/N: This took me a lot of today to write but I think it was worth it! Enjoy! Also this is based on the song Blame It On September by Allstar Weekend.

The gang were sitting on the window seat staring out the window at the rainy day. They were all thinking the same thing and none of them felt like talking. They were afraid of what Frannie might do to her daughter. Their thoughts drifted to Patricia causing them to look at the door.

I can still see you standing there, summer tangled in your hair. First week of July, first day of my life. My voice shook when I said hello and from that word, we couldn't take it slow. I still can't believe the way you looked at me.

Monica & Rachel's Apartment, 18th of August 1999

Rachel opened the door to a teen girl with long, wavy brown hair and clear blue eyes, resembling Monica. Her eyes darted to the suitcase in the teen's hand making her raise an eyebrow.

"Hi Rachel, is Monica home?" The teen girl asked timidly, raising her head causing her summer tangled hair to reveal her face. From that instant Rachel knew exactly, who she was.

She smiled at her politely. "She won't be back for another half an hour or so, but you're welcome to come in, Patricia." Rachel offered and opened the door a bit more to make it seem more welcoming.

"Thank you Rachel." Patricia replied politely and picked up her bags before walking into the apartment.

Rachel watched her look around her surroundings happily, probably because nothing has changed since the last time she was here. She approached the girl with folded arms and pursed lips. "You can put your suitcase down over by the sofa-" At this point she motioned to the couch. "-then you can explain to me why you have a suitcase and why you aren't in Long Island."

Patricia placed her bags down where Rachel told her before looking back at the blonde. Rachel smiled when she saw the teen girl give her an innocent look. Rachel just sighed and placed a hand on her hip, waiting for an explanation.

Patricia groaned in annoyance and looked at the older girl with pleading blue eyes. "Come on Rach! I just got here!"

"Does Monica know you are here?" She asked in response, raising an eyebrow as she stared the girl down.

"Yup."

"So if I call her she wouldn't be surprised?" Rachel asked motioning to the telephone that was on the small table beside the couch.

Patricia shook her head before replying, "She wouldn't because she knows I'm coming."

"Ok then, I'm going to call her." The blonde replied, her long fingers traced over the phone teasingly before she shot the teen a look. "Unless there's something you want to say."

"No, go ahead." Patricia insisted while smiling happily. Her smile soon faded as she watched Rachel pick up the phone and slowly dial Monica's work number. "Ok Rachel, you've got me." She added, throwing her arms up in surrender. But just before Rachel could open her mouth Chandler walked in to the apartment. "Saved by the Chan Chan Man."

"Hey kiddo." Chandler said happily before walking over to them and ruffled the teen's hair. "What brings you here?"

"I missed you too much Chandler." Patricia replied as she fixed her hair.

Chandler opened his arms wide before enveloping the teen girl in a huge hug. Patricia was more than happy to hug him back. She peered over his shoulder and gave Rachel a look.

"Oh what the hell!" Rachel exclaimed before running over to the two and joining the hug. "Ok so what are you doing here?"

"Em, you know…I was in the neighbourhood and I decided to say hi." Patricia replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Hi."

"She's not telling the truth." Chandler said in a sing song voice.

"Zip it third nipple." The teen girl shot back and she received the 'how did you know' look. "I know everything." She added as she winked at them

"You know what we do to people who hold information that we want." Rachel mused as her and Chandler took a playfully threatening step forward causing Patricia to start to walk backwards.

Patricia's eyes widened open and she shook her head violently. "You wouldn't dare." She said firmly.

"Just like Mon you are very ticklish." Chandler stated before letting out an evil laugh.

Joey came in the door and went straight over to the fridge. He grabbed the tube of butter and headed for the door. He stopped in his tracks and turned around to see Patricia being cornered by Rachel and Chandler.

"Hey Josephine!" Patricia exclaimed happily.

"Patrick!" He screamed and dropped the butter before running over to the trio and pushed Rachel and Chandler aside. Joey smiled and pulled her into a bone crushingly tight hug.

"C-can't b-breathe." The teen girl replied, her eyes wide as if they would pop out of her head.

Joey let go, smiling sheepishly. "Oh sorry. Hey now that you are here you can make me a sandwich because Monica isn't home."

"Of course I will, Joe! Let's go!" Patricia said and the two started to head for the door but was stopped when Chandler put his hand on her shoulder.

"Ugh fine." She exclaimed and sat down on the sofa as they all took a seat

"Would you like juice before you start?" Rachel asked kindly.

"Juice would be nice." The teen girl admitted and Rachel went to the fridge to get the orange juice. "Do you think I would need a coaster?" Patricia asked when Rachel handed her the glass with the orange liquid.

"She's not here, is she?" Rachel joked dryly. "I'm not using one so you're ok." She added motioning to her glass of water that was resting on the table.

"I want my sandwich!" Joey blurted causing the youngest member to give him a look. "Just like Mon."

Some people said Patricia looked just like Monica and they often got confused as sisters. Patricia had her facial features, her clear blue eyes, the only thing that was a little bit different was their hair. Patricia's hair was a slightly lighter shade of brown that was longer and she had a side fringe.

Monica walked in the door. "Work was brilliant today." She exclaimed happily and put her jacket on the coat hanger. "Oh my God." Monica gasped. "Who didn't use a coaster?" She asked from the door causing Patricia to duck down. She walked over to the table and noticed the teen girl.

"Patricia! Oh my God." She said with joy as the girl stood up before Monica pulled her into a hug.

"Hey Mon." Patricia replied as she hugged back happily.

"What are you doing here?" Monica asked, looking down happily. There was a sad glint in her Goddaughter's eyes that made her say, "That doesn't matter we will talk about that later. How about we make cookies?"

"Sure."

"Let's order pizza tonight. I'll call Ross and Phoebe they'd want to see you." Monica said excitedly and quickly, making tons of lists in her mind of what she needed to do as she grabbed the phone and headed to her room.

"Does she always talk fast these days?" Patricia asked with a chuckle as she sat down on the couch.

"No she's happy you're here." Rachel replied, smiling. "She thinks of you as a sister."

"Yeah, she's like my older sister." The teen girl admitted happily. She could talk to Monica about everything and anything.

Phoebe burst through the door. "My child friend is back!" The blonde shrieked holding her arms out for a hug, which she received within seconds.

"Hey Guitar Lady!" Patricia replied as she gave the Weird One a hug.

"Is this battle of the worst nicknames?" Chandler asked making everyone shake their heads.

"Dude not your best work." Patricia remarked making the Funny One frown and she headed over to sit in his lap.

Ross opened the door and came over to his Goddaughter. "It's true you're really here. It's true."

"You make it sound like I rose from the dead or something." Patricia admitted with an added chuckle.

"Come here." Ross said happily as he pulled her into a hug.

Now the nights turn colder your head's on my shoulder. We do our best to pretend. Waves get louder. I'm lost without her as summer starts to end. Let's blame it on September cause it hurts to remember her. We can fight to hold on but August is gone.

Joey & Chandler's Apartment, 5th of September 1999

The whole gang were chatting happily as they ate breakfast and talked about the day ahead of them. They were going on a tour of New York today.

Patricia smiled at the gang. "You really didn't have to take your Friday off just to bring me around New York."

"Hey it's our pleasure." Ross insisted, placing his hands on his Goddaughter's shoulders and smiled down at her.

"You guys just wanted the day of, didn't ye?" Patricia remarked dryly and they all responded with a 'yes' making her chuckle.

"So where would you like to go first?" Phoebe asked looking down at the confusing map of New York.

"Central Perk!" Patricia exclaimed happily making Chandler roll his eyes.

"Yeah, like you haven't been there before." He replied dryly.

"Ok so maybe we do some shopping then some sightseeing and then we grab a bite to eat and then we do it all over again." Monica said simply and everyone happily agree.

There was banging on the door and Monica went to the peephole to see Frannie angrily knocking her apartment door. Her blue eyes widened as she gasped and took a few steps backwards. She looked at Patricia and pointed to Joey's room. "Quick Patricia, go to Joey's room." Monica told her.

"Do I have to?" Patricia replied. She really didn't want to go into the womaniser's room where porn magazines were stashed along with random ladies' underwear.

"Your mom is here." Monica told her causing Patricia to dart to Joey's room, leaving a beeline behind and Rachel and Joey went with her. They closed the door. Monica opened the door and went out into the hallway. "Em Frannie?"

Frannie stopped her outrageous knocking and turned around. "Hello Monica."

The coldness of Frannie's tone sent shivers running up and down Monica's spine. She looked down at Frannie's hand to see there was speckles of blood on her finger nails which made Monica cringe and instantly made her fear for Derek.

"Hey Frannie!" Monica said happily, forcing a warm smile.

"Where is she?" Frannie asked, gritting her teeth.

Monica raised an eyebrow and a confused expression replaced her happy one. "Where is who?"

"Don't play dumb with me Monica!" She snapped, pointing her finger at her younger cousin, who took a step back.

"Huh?"

Frannie looked at apartment 19 to see the door was left open. "She's in there isn't she?"

Frannie pushed passed Monica and entered Joey and Chandler's apartment to see Phoebe and Chandler on the couch and Ross on one of the stools.

Ross stopped eating his bagel and let a fake smile play on his lips. "Hi Frannie! What a love-"

"Cut the crap Ross! Where is Patricia?!" Frannie cut him off, in a raised tone of voice, startling him.

"I'm not getting friendly vibes." Phoebe whispered to Chandler, who nodded in agreement.

Phoebe and Chandler sat there fearing for Patricia. They both knew the story of Patricia's runaway but they knew there was more to it and the both hoped it wasn't what they thought.

Patricia lay in between Joey and Rachel on Joey's bed. Patricia was snuggled into Joey's chest and he had his arms around her tightly and secure which made Patricia feel safe. Rachel lay on her side, gently stroking Patricia's arm in a comforting manner.

Patricia was frightened for her life. She had never felt fear so strongly before except for a few times when she did something wrong and she'd be left anxious wondering what would her mother do.

The word mother was starting to lose all meaning to her. The word mother meant a woman who provided love and care for their children which her mother did not.

It made her felt sick in her stomach to think of what her mother would do if she found her. Sometimes punishments could be more physical and could leave Patricia with bruises for weeks.

"Oh it's going to be ok." Rachel whispered and wiped away Patricia's tears. Rachel was on the verge of breaking down, she couldn't think of losing Patricia.

"How can you say that Rachel?!" Patricia whispered angrily. "This isn't a fairy tale, there isn't always going to a happy ending!"

"I know." Rachel mused. "But there isn't always a bad one."

"I can't imagine losing you guys." Patricia admitted, more tears streaming down her cheeks.

"We can't imagine losing you." Joey whispered, wiping her tears and he kissed her temple.

"Monica will you just give it up!" They heard Frannie's voice boom.

Monica rolled her eyes at her cousin and stood her ground alongside Ross. They were practically fighting for their rights for Patricia with pretending they had no idea where she was.

"Give what up?" Monica questioned, folding her arms and staring straight into Frannie's cold-hearted eyes.

"Where is she?!" Frannie roared, her face turning red from her rage.

"We don't know." Ross replied. "We'll help you find her."

"But right now I think its best you leave." Monica told her, getting straight to it.

"Yeah, you're right." Frannie nodded and picked up her bag and headed for the door. "Bye and I'm sorry."

They said their byes and Frannie left. Monica let her tears of relief flow from her eyes and sighed happily.

Rachel, Joey and Patricia emerged from Joey's bedroom and Patricia ran into Monica's open arms. Monica cradled her like she was a three year old instead of a fourteen year old. They're silent for a while, lost in their own thoughts but it's warm, familiar, comfortable. Patricia can feel the body heat radiating off of Monica and she likes that, carves it even.

They whole gang join in the hug and they all smile, laugh and even shed a few tears that are wiped away by someone else.

"Looks like you get to keep living her Patricia." Joey smiled and the door flung open revealing Frannie looking pissed of big time.

"Get your hands off of her!" Frannie roared and marched over to them. Monica and Patricia held onto each other with great grip and held on tighter when Frannie tried to tear them apart.

"You can't take her away from me!" Monica cried.

"I wanna stay with Monica." Patricia yelled as she gripped tightly onto Monica's shirt.

"You'll do what I say!" Frannie bellowed and give one finally tug and got Patricia out of Monica's grip. Frannie clutched her daughter to her chest and started to back away slowly there was a struggle with her daughter's protests and the gang's pleads. Frannie won and brought her daughter back to Long Island.

Monica bawled her eyes out and screamed out 'no' repeatedly and Chandler pulled her into a hug.

"I never thought it be this hard." Monica whispered into the crook of his neck.

And even if the sun falls I hope we don't lose it all. Cause no summer lasts forever. Just blame it on September.

Patricia lay on her bed listening to the rain lashing outside. It was another storm and thunder and lightning was on its way along with dangerous winds. It was one o'clock but it looked like it was midnight because it was so dark outside. The day just reflected her mood. The brunette was still unharmed from her mother but she knew Satan's bitch had something planned and Patricia was not looking forward to that.

Her stomach grumbled for the fourth time and instead of ignoring it like the last four times, Patricia got off her bed. She walked over to the white door and opened it revealing the top of the stairs that led down stairs. Patricia walked over to it but as her right foot landed on the first step, she stopped.

A smile graced her lips when she saw Derek holding the front door open for her best friend Jessica. She missed her gossip lover best friend. Their eyes locked causing Jessica to stop talking to her best friend's geeky older brother, who looked at her confused. He then looked towards to the top of the stairs to see his sister and then understood.

Derek stood out of Jessica's way and let her in before closing the door. Patricia rushed down the stairs as she called out her best friend's name. Jessica did the same as Patricia and they shared a hug.

"Aww." Derek cooed playfully when he saw the smile on his sister's face. "Happy moment." Derek's smile slowly turned into a frown when his best friend Kendall walked in from the living room to see what all the commotion was about.

Patricia stopped jumping up and down as she locked eyes with Kendall. Jessica moved over to Derek and the two felt awkward from the atmosphere their two best friends set.

Being the girl she was Jessica knew that the two needed to talk. "Come on Derek, these two need to talk."

Derek raised an eyebrow. He didn't want to leave a guy alone with his baby sister. He knew boys were trouble cause he knew exactly what went through their minds. "What does 'talk' mean? Does it mean for Kendall to stick his tongue down my sister's mouth?!"

Jessica looked at him outraged and knew it would take a lot for him to leave the two alone. But to her surprise Derek came with her. Must be the crush he has me, she thought.

We drew hearts there in the sand, laughed when waves erased our plans. No, we never knew but they told the truth.

"I heard about Caleb." Kendall started softly, his green eyes searching in her blue eyes. "And I can't believe it." He added as he sat down on the stairs, soon followed by Patricia.

"Well…it happened." She whispered in response, not sure of what else to say.

"I'm sorry for acting the way I did." The blonde said meaningfully, turning his head to the side to look at Patricia. "Y'know kissing you and then yelling at you because you had a boyfriend. I had no right to do that."

"It's ok." Patricia replied instantly, placing a hand on the boy's thigh. "I forgive you. Now I don't have a boyfriend and I'm gonna die an old maid."

Kendall shook his head and chuckled. "You're not gonna die an old maid, maybe an old spinster cook."

"Thanks!" Patricia replied sarcastically.

"Hey now besides, if worse comes to worst, I'll be your boyfriend." Kendall replied making Patricia burst out laughing.

"Yeah right." She remarked, rolling her eyes.

The blonde, who looked clearly confused, raised an eyebrow. "Why is that so funny?"

"You made a joke right? So I laughed." Patricia explained slowly.

Kendall laughed before getting serious. "A little too hard. What am I not ah, boyfriend material?"

"Well, no. You're Kendall. Y'know, Kendall!" The brunette said and hit him playfully in the arm.

"Okay, so we've established my name, and hit me." Kendall replied bluntly and pointed to his shoulder. "But theoretically y'know, I mean say we weren't friends and we never made out, and say it's a blind date. I show up at your door, and I'm like-" He paused and put on a fake voice. "Hey, nice to meet, ya. Hey, oh-hey."

"Well I'd probably be scared of a guy using a fake voice." Patricia told him with a chuckle before getting up and heading in to the living room followed by Kendall.

I can still hear our laughing friends as we sneak off again and again. No we never cared, too young to be scared.

Jessica and Derek, who were watching TV, turned around to look at the two. Jessica looked at Patricia and Kendall, giving them her 'welllll' look while Derek hit his two clenched fists together, something Ross thought him.

"We're not together." Patricia replied, walking over to them and taking a spot on the couch.

"Yeah, apparently I'm not 'boyfriend material'." Kendall told them disappointedly before sitting down beside Patricia. "All right, there's a nuclear holocaust, I'm the last man on Earth. Would you go out with me?"

"Ehhh…" She teased.

"I've got canned goods." The blonde announced making the younger girl giggle.

"Kendall, you're funny, sweet, smart and I love you." Patricia admitted truthfully looking into his green eyes. "But you're one of my best friends and I don't wanna risk losing that and you'll always be the guy, who ate my last Kit Kat bar."

Your head's on my shoulder as summer starts to end. Let's blame it on September cause it hurts to remember her. We can fight to hold on but August is gone.

Derek held his sister close and let her rest her head on his shoulder. The two were sitting on the couch in the dark because of the storm, the lights went out and some things didn't work but the TV did. The siblings were sitting in fear as their mother told them that she had a 'surprise' for them.

They knew that wasn't a good sign.

And even if the sun falls I hope we don't lose it all cause no summer lasts forever.

"Drive faster!" Monica yelled at a cop her age, who at blonde curly hair and blue eyes and was named Gary aka Phoebe's current boyfriend.

Monica, Ross and Phoebe were sitting in the back of the speeding cop car while Gary and his partner, Antonio Garcia sat in the front. They were being followed by other police cars along with an ambulance or two. Joey, Chandler and Rachel were in another police car close behind.

"Monica, calm down." Gary replied, swivelling around in his seat so he could look at her. "I promise it's going to be alright."

On the beach in the heat, you know I need that sweet ocean air. I'm gonna go where I know we can be alone. I'll wait for you, wait for you there.

Patricia screamed before dropping down on her knees beside her brother. Their mother had pushed him back and fell, hitting his head of the corner of the coffee table. The side of his head was cut and blood slowly poured out as his eyes drifted shut.

"Useless!" Patricia looked up to see the figure of their mother standing just a little bit away. "Now I have a stain on my perfectly good carpet."

Patricia shook her head violently as she got up to her feet. "We gotta call an ambulance!"

"Or bury him in the back garden." Frannie corrected her before she entered the kitchen and came back with a towel and a small bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide.

"He's still breathing!" Patricia yelled, almost in tears from frustration. "We can call an ambulance. I'll say I pushed him! You won't get any blame!" Tears followed down her cheeks when she remembered her younger brother's, Cory, death.

Cory died when he was four years old after swallowing lighter fluid. That's what they told the cops. But her mother made Cory drink lighter fluid after she found a burn on the couch—but that it was actually Patricia who burned the couch. She blamed herself for her baby brother's death. Her Dad came home to see Frannie in tears she really didn't mean it that time.

Blame it on September. We can try to hold on but August is gone.

"That's the house there." Ross said eagerly and tapped on the window.

Antonio Garcia slammed on the brakes and turned sharply towards the house causing the car to skid but mostly because of the weather conditions. The rain was lashing down hard; you could practically see the drops bouncing high when they hit the ground while the wind blew harshly.

Blame it on September cause it hurts to remember her. We can fight to hold on but August is gone.

Frannie shot a dirty at her daughter when she saw the cop cars and ambulances pull outside their house. "Did you call the cops?"

"N-no! I swear!" Patricia replied truthfully, holding her hands up. Her heart was racing and was in her throat, she never saw her mother so mad.

"You're a filthy little liar, Patricia!" She yelled and took a threatening step forward causing her daughter to retract. "And a slut too!" Frannie added bitterly and watched her daughter jump with fright when a loud bang of thunder went off. "Trying to seduce your brother's friend."

Patricia wiped her tears and kept backing away but her back hit the wall behind her. She slid down it until she was sitting on the ground with her legs brought up to her chest and she was hugging them as she bawled her eyes out.

"Long Island Police Department! Open up!" They heard a man yell at the front door with a banging noise.

Frannie's eyes opened wide and she grabbed her daughter's wrist tightly and pulled her with a great force up onto her feet. Patricia put up quite a struggle, which just made it worse. Frannie pushed her daughter into the dining room table. The teen girl shrieked in pain. She knew her back would be bruised in the morning. Frannie took hold of her daughter again and tried to get out of the house but she just kept putting up a fight.

When the sun falls I hope we don't lose it all cause no summer lasts forever. Let's blame it on September.

Gary called in for backup as he watched Garcia with another cop, Stacey Van Camp break down the door. After a few more seconds, the door was down and the team made their way in along with two paramedics. The made a quick turn to the right with their guns ready.

They entered a huge living room, which doubled as a dining room. There was a body of a teenage boy lying unconscious on the floor, in between a coffee table and a couch. The paramedics went straight to him along with one of the cops.

Gary led his team forward and they saw the shadows of a lady and a struggling teen on one of the walls. They looked at the opposite side to see exactly what they saw on the wall. Frannie holding her daughter down.

"Step away from her!" Gary ordered, his voice booming through the house as he pointed his gun at the woman. He quickly examined the girl she had in her clutches. From what he could make out, the girl was in her teens, had long brown hair and pale skin and resembled Monica. This was the girl Pheebs talk so fondly of, he thought. "We'll shoot!" He warned her.

Frannie picked her fragile daughter up as if she was a body shield.

Blame it on September.

Monica and the gang waited outside the house, shoulder to shoulder, Monica and Ross in the middle. The all feared for Patricia and Derek. They would be out by now if something hadn't happened.

Their hearts beat at a million miles per second and rain covered up the fact that they had tears running down their faces. They were looking at the house, so focused, just hoping a little girl would come running out with her older brother following behind.

Monica gasped and broke away from the gang. She ran over to the front gate before bending down to hug a girl that looked very much like her and have her hug her back. The gang came over to them and watched the happy moment.

They all watched as Frannie was taken away with a struggle and Derek was quickly brought out of the house in a gurney. The whole commotion brought out the whole neighbourhood and revealed the truth of Frannie Gellar Taylor, the woman had the perfect life and family…a person who had it all while her children paid the price.

Monica held Patricia in her arms as they watched Frannie being taking away. It felt like a weight had been lifted of her shoulders. She felt completely safe.

I can still see you standing there summer tangled in your hair…

A/N: Guess what? Next chapter is the LAST CHAPTER!

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