A perfect fit

TOW the surprise

"...and you won't believe how warm the water was, it was like in a hot tub."

The newly wed Bings had come home a day early from their honeymoon and were sitting with all their friends in their living room, telling stories about their holidays. They obviously had had a lot of fun and even met a nice married couple they wanted to have dinner with sometime.

"Aww, really? I am so jealous. I would have nothing against lying on a sunny beach instead of suffering through this dreadful weather we're having here," Rachel said dreamily.

"Come on, Rach, if it's cold, you're complaining, if it's warm, you're complaining too. You just don't know what you want."

This comment earned Ross a warning glare from Rachel, but she didn't remark on it further. Instead she turned to Monica.

"And how was the food?"

"Oh, don't ask. That was actually the not so great part of this vacation."

"That is so not true, Monica," Chandler retorted, "You're just way too picky."

"I'm not picky, I have a fine sense of taste."

"You're picky."

"I am no..."

"Hey guys," Phoebe exclaimed very loudly, bolting out of the bathroom holding something up.

"Look what I just found! Someone is having a BABY! Oh Monica, I am so happy for you two."

Everyone's gazes went to Chandler and Monica. Chandler looked terrified. Monica looked as if someone had just told her a very bad joke.

"I am not having a baby, Phoebe. What makes you say that?"

"Here, I found a positive pregnancy test in the trash."

"That is not mine."

"So then whose is it?"

All five pair of eyes suddenly fixed on the only remaining woman in the room, since it was obviously not Phoebe's.

Rachel had buried her face in her hands, shaking her head.

"Rach, what ..." Ross started, but Rachel got up in a hurry and stormed out of the room.

Now everyone looked at Ross. Everyone but Joey, who just stared right ahead.

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that? I don't have anything ..." Ross said defensively.

"Oh my God."

Joey's almost whispered words turned the friends' attention to him.

"Joey, do you know anything about that? I didn't even know Rachel had gone out with someone lately," Monica asked concerned and still shocked.

"Rachel, wait," Joey suddenly hollered, jumped up and headed for the door. When he was at the door he paused and turned around to his friends, smiling wistfully. "We're gonna have a baby."

...

No one said anything for the longest time.

Monica was the first one to get her wits back. "Phoebe, what exactly were you looking for in the trash?"

"Certainly not Rachel's pregnancy test, that's for sure."

"Why is Rachel throwing her pregnancy tests into our trash anyway?" asked Chandler.

This was something Phoebe had already figured out. "I suppose she hadn't wanted Joey to know, so she thought throwing it in her own trash would be too risky."

"Why would that be risky?" Monica cut in. "I don't think Joey would go through his own trash."

"Stranger things have happened," Chandler said with a face that indicated that he wouldn't put that past Joey.