Beyond Friends Episode Eleven - "Dirty Laundry"
Guest stars
CC - Monica
MLB - Joey
DS - Ross

"I wanna be part of the news"

Rachel looks out the window at the New York skyline as the plane neared the airpot. As much as she hated it she tuned out most of Joeys boasting about how he won an emmy award for his show. No sooner than he had won it the network announced that the show would be given a sceond chance. This time the trial would be for sixth months instead of the initial one year it ran when "Days of our restless children" debuted. Whatever the news really meant to Joey, Rachel would never know. But Joey was ecstatic at working again. The plane started to circle waiting for clearance to land.

Ross hopped in his newly bought black bmw and headed for the airport. He could hardly wait to see his Rachel again. After so much turmoil about being together and being thrown apart it was great that their replationship was finally taken a turn for the positive.

Chandler sat next to his window with his telescope. He looked up and looked for Rachels plane. He knew she was coming back today arond this time. She had called last night after he had gotten home from helping Phoebe with her kids. Phoebe knew he had feelings for Rachel, possibly Monica but so far Rachel hadn't picked up any kind of vibe from him. This he was glad for. If it was any other time he would go for it. But Ross was in the way. Funny, for the first time Ross was actually a problem.

No.

Ross isn't the problem.

You are. He told himself. You know her for years and you discover these "Feelings" when shes already taken. Get over it.
But I should meet her at the airport. A simple airport meeting! Who could misinterpret that? He grabbed his coat, satisfied with his decision and headed out the door.

Rachel deboarded the plane and went into the luggage carrier area. Her face immdiately lit up.
"Ross!" She said and ran toward him.
"Rachel!" He ran toward him.
She jumped up into his arms and kissed him.
"Hey you two, get a room!" Rachel heard and saw Joey getting his suitcases off the revolving luggage carrier.
"Hey Joey!" Ross said and shook his hand."Congrats on the emmy."
"Thanks man." Joey beamed. "You wanna see it?"
"Maybe some other time." Ross said as Rachel hugged him again. "I missed you too most of all!" Rachel closed her eyes and smiled. She then opened her eyes and saw something.
"Hey Chandler!" She said and broke free of Ross. Chandler walked over and she hugged him. "How are you?" Chandler paused for a second when a few strands of her hair brushed against his face. He was careful no one saw the look on his face he was sure he had at that moment.
"Great!" Chandler said. "Hey Joey great job on getting the emmy!"
"Thanks dude!" Joey said.
"It means the establishment notices you now, and big things are gonna happen." Rachel said.
"Oh, Ok!" Joey said. Chandler smiled to himself, certain that Joey didn't understand a word of what Rachel had said.
"I gotta go!" Rachel said. "Monica is expecting me at work and I still have to go back to the apartment and change."
"Well I'll take you." Ross said. "I have a new car."
"Cool! Let's take it for a spin. Then maybe after work I can take you for a spin." Rachel said getting close to Ross."
"All right." Ross said getting Rachels things. "The faster we get you to work the faster we an take that spin." Ross takes Rachels hand with a spare hand of his.
"You guys have a ride?" Ross said to Joey and Chandler.
"Nah, I'm fine. I took my own car here. I'll give Joey a lift to where ever he wants to be." Chandler said waving.
"See you later!" Rachel called.
Chandler watched Rachel and Ross walk away. He started to go when something caught him.
"Hey." He said and turned to Joey who had a rare look of total seriousness on his face.
"Whats with you and Rachel?"
Chandler, for the first time, did not know what to say to his best buddy and looked at the ground.

Rachel walked into the restaurant back entrance. She put all of her gear into her locker when she heard some sobbing in the ladies bathroom. She paused a second. "Hello?"
No response. Aparently someone wanted to be alone in whatever grief they were experiencing. But Rachel had to know who was in there and what they were crying about. Monica would have to wait.
She carefully opened the door. She found the sound of the crying.
"Monica!" She said. Monica looked up and wiped her eyes clear of any tears or ruined make-up.
"Hi Rachel!" She said trying to perk herself up. "How was the awards cermony? Joey was something wasnt he?"
"Mon, honey, whats wrong?" Rachel said giving Monica a roll of toliet paper. She gladly accepted.
"Who says anything is wrong?"
"Well I know I dont hide in a resturant bathroom when I'm upset. Or is that something just you do?"
"Ok. Ok! I'll tell you whats wrong." Monica said. "One of the citys biggest restuarant critics is in town and he says he's gonna give my restaurant a bad review." Monica said changing from profound grief into anger. "Rach, this guy makes and breaks careers. If that review gets into the paper tomorrow I'm gonna be ruined! I might as well set the place on fire, at least I will have insurance off of that."
"Monica stop talking like that! Snap out of it!" Rachel said putting Monica on her feet." There has to be something I can do."
"I dont know." Monica said going out the door. "The dinner course is almost over so any salvation has to in the dessert course."
"Let me do it! People love me." Rachel said.
"Rachel, there is a reason they call him the diner shark."
"Why? Cause he has one as a pet?"
"Actually yeah."
"Well Ross had marcel and they didnt call him monkey boy, well maybe Chandler but he doesnt really count cause hes a friend."
"Yeah."
"I'll get your place back in good grace."
"Rachel stop poetry and do the best you can do."
"All right!" Rachel said. "I will not let you down chief. After all, I do owe you one." She saluted and ran to the dining area.

Chandler looked back up, a bit perflexed.
"What do mean?"
Joey took Chandler to the old stomping ground, Central Perk to talk.
"I mean the way you act around Rachel is very different than you used to. Everyone can see it."
"Everyone but Ross and Rachel." Chandler said.
"Are you in love with Rachel?" Joey said. "Cause if you are you need to tell her and let her know."
"Shes with Ross now!" Chandler said. "I may ruin our friendship forever."
"Thats the risk I guess you have to take, Chandler. But remember, I will be here for you if you need to talk again."
"Thanks." Chandler said getting up. "But I dont know. I mean Rachel is so happy with Ross, what would I give her?"
"Besides a lot of jokes? I dont think you know that with the right woman, youd be the right man for her. Who knows, it might be Rachel."
"I gotta go now."
"Okay." Joey said. "Promise you will tell her soon."
"I'll do the best I can...."
"Promise me!"
"Okay, all right. I promise you."
Chandler smiled at Joey then he left.

Rachel approached the table of the critic carefully.
"And how is your dinner sir." Rachel said politely.
The man turned. "Awful. I want to leave this place as soon as possible."
"Are you sure you dont want dessert?" Rachel said. "Theres always room for a little of our famous cherrys jubilee." Rachel smiled. "It's divine and makes our Veal Du jaineoave worth while."
"Okay." He said.
Rachel brought the order to the back and hit a "step on it" order. In no time she brought the dish out and did the appropriate lighting of it which really impressed the critic.
"Thats nice." He said a couple of bites inot the meal. "I think I changed my mind about this place. Its not a cesspool of hell after all." "We do our best sir." Rachel said. She then turned and saw Monica flash a thumbs up sign. Rachel sighed and went on to her next order with renewed confidence in her customers.