THE ONE WITH ZARA'S RETURN.

♡

In a short few weeks, Zara's life had dramatically changed: the first being that she was officially a best-selling author; and secondly, for the first time in her life, Zara was related to someone. Of course, when Zara first found out about Tobias Malone, she had been suspicious, unable to trust that she had a family.

After all these years of it being just Zara, she wasn't ready to believe she wasn't alone.

But Toby had a birth certificate to prove that they shared the same birth father.

Yet, even if she had an older brother, Zara still couldn't accept the truth. It made no sense why Toby was only just popping up in her life. Toby, though, had all the answers: recently, Toby had made the decision to look into his birth parents, where he found out his birth father was in jail for murder, which led to the discovery that his partner at the time had been pregnant.

"So, I spoke to my mom," Toby explained. "Asked her about what happened to the baby, but she wasn't sure — all she knew was your name: Zara Ellison."

"Your mom knew I existed?" Zara questioned.

"My parents were given the choice to adopt you when you were born," Toby said, finally realising where Zara's mind had already fallen.

Zara's heartbeat thudded loudly, the following words so quiet. "They didn't want me?"

"I don't know," said Toby, staying honest, which she respected. "My mom never said why she didn't adopt you, Zara. Just that it was complicated."

Complicated because Zara hadn't been born as a normal, healthy baby.

"Babe, does it really matter?" Derek questioned.

Toby's eyes slid to Derek, but he remained silent. Even Zara was quiet, letting the words sink in as she wasn't sure if it mattered or not. Zara was so used to never being enough for someone to pick her, so the reality of her half-brother's family not wanting her wasn't surprising. But, of course, there was no mistaking how much it hurt.

"How did you find me?" Zara asked instead, changing the conversation.

"Do you know someone called Ross Geller?"

"Yeah, he's my friend," said Zara, surprised. "I live with his sister."

"Oh, Monica. I used to go to school with them," Toby explained. "Well, I met up with Ross recently, and he was telling me about one of his closest friends was publishing a book, so he mentioned your name. It stuck, of course, but it seemed too much of a coincidence. I asked Ross to tell me a bit more about you, and it seemed more likely that you could be my lost sister. And I guess, in the end, I was right: you're my sister."

Sister. The word still echoed in Zara's head come to the end of her tour.

Zara felt a strange kind of giddy when she returned to New York a couple of weeks later. Derek had gone home with Zara deciding it would be best if he wasn't around for the first night she was home, but Zara's brother was joining her (though, he was oblivious to the chaos of Zara's life).

"So, anything I should know about these friends?" Toby questioned.

"Uh," said Zara. "Maybe we should get that out of the way."

"Get what out of the way?"

"So, Chandler is kind of my ex-boyfriend," Zara explained. "And then, Joey, well, I sort of have a complicated past with him too."

"Oh," said Toby. "But you're all friends?"

"I hope so," Zara said. "But they might hate me now."

Toby looked a little frightened now with Zara feeling bad. Maybe, a small part of her was using Toby as a shield to hide behind for when she saw them again, but she was also excited to show off her new brother.

As Zara opened the front door, she was relieved to see that everyone was home. They were all quick to welcome Zara home, acting as if nothing had happened when they had left.

"Here comes the New York Times bestseller!" Monica cheered.

Zara smiled at that. "That still doesn't feel real."

"That's not Derek," Phoebe commented, spotting the nervous man lingering at the door. "Did you ditch Derek?"

"No, I didn't ditch Derek," said Zara, making that known now. "Derek's still around, he's coming by later."

At the mention of Derek, Zara stole a quick glance at Chandler and Joey, who were both far too silent, standing awkwardly together without a clue what to do. Joey was like a sad puppy, which only made Zara feel worse. But Chandler... seeing that pained smile on his face only made it harder to face him. Knowing Chandler, he was trying to ignore whatever he was feeling.

And so was Zara.

"Oh, I know you," Rachel said, eyes focused on Toby, who had stepped further into the room with all attention falling on him now. "I've seen you somewhere before."

"Toby?" Ross noticed his friend, finally seeing who it was now that he knew it wasn't Derek. "What are you doing here?"

Rachel pointed at him. "Toby Malone! Ross's friend!"

"That's me," Toby agreed. "Ross, Zara can answer your question."

"You guys won't believe it," said Zara. "But this is Toby — my brother."

The words were repeated by Zara's friends in shock as she nodded her head a little enthusiastically, still struggling to come to terms with it herself too. Seeing Zara's reaction was enough for the heartbreak to temporarily crack for Chandler and Joey, knowing this news was too big to ignore.

"I know, it's crazy, isn't it?" Zara said.

"Zara, that's," said Monica, lost for words. "That's incredible. How? I mean, it's Toby."

"Hello to you too, Monica," Toby smiled, though the gesture seemed strained.

Monica's eyes narrowed at him. "I still don't like you."

"Okay, I have so many questions," Chandler said. "But, hi, Toby. Welcome. Now, why doesn't Monica like you and how is any of this happening right now?"

"Yeah," Zara agreed. "I didn't know Monica didn't like you."

"Here we go," Ross said, sighing.

"I like Monica," Toby reassured Zara as his hand rose, scratching the back of his head. "I just might have made a bad joke when we were younger."

Monica scoffed. "That's not all."

"I broke her easy bake oven," said Toby. "And ruined the cookies."

"And," Monica encouraged.

"Told her she'd never get a boyfriend," Toby continued. "That no one would marry her. And if they did, they'd have to be crazy."

Chandler gasped. "You didn't!"

"We were kids," Toby finished. "I've apologised a hundred times."

"And I still don't accept your apology," Monica decided, but Zara saw the hidden smirk on her face. "Even if you're Zara's brother. But I'm so excited for you, Zara, so you gotta tell us everything."

"Yeah," Phoebe agreed. "We've missed so much!"

Zara found another smile, more than happy to share the last few weeks with them.

♡

The front door opened later that night as Chandler returned, seeming torn on whether to be there or not. Monica was quick to leave, making up an excuse about needing to help Rachel, which caused Zara to sigh.

"Please don't do that," Zara told him.

"Do what?" Chandler questioned.

"Linger at the door, sulking like a puppy," said Zara, leaning against the back of the sofa as her eyes remained on him. "Either you're gonna make a joke or shout at me."

"Why Derek?" Chandler asked instead.

"It's complicated," Zara answered.

"No," Chandler shook his head. "What's complicated is what was happening between you, me, and Joey before you left. But, Derek, Zara? Even I know that's a cop-out."

"It's not like that," Zara insisted.

"Then explain it to me, please," Chandler pleaded. "Because I was ready to have my heart broken by you again for Joey. And you know what? I could have lived with that. But this? This is so much worse, Zara. Why choose Derek?"

Because Derek's the safest choice.

Choosing Derek, Zara felt the comfort of a safety net within reach. Plus, he had been there with flowers first, wanting to take Zara back; he had been open with it a safe kind of love that Zara remembered. Maybe this time, it would work out for them.

"And Joey?" Chandler questioned further. "What about him, Zara? You practically broke Joey! I didn't even know that was possible, but you did it."

"I never wanted to hurt Joey," said Zara, hating the tears that prickled behind her eyes, building up as a result of her aching heart. "Or you, Chandler. You know I care about you both."

"You can mess with my heart, Zara, but don't do this to Joey," Chandler pleaded.

"Then I did the right thing, didn't I?" Zara replied, feeling her voice start to rise as she couldn't control the emotions inside her. "Clearly, I've messed up your life so much that you're expecting me to break your heart, but Joey's free now. I spared him from me."

"And who's gonna spare you from Derek when he leaves you again?" Chandler demanded.

At those words, Zara tried not to flinch.

"No one because Derek's the easiest choice for me!" Zara told him.

"How is Derek easy? I don't understand, Zara."

"Because I don't love him this time, so I have nothing to lose."

Chandler fell silent, absorbing the words.

"If I choose you or Joey," said Zara, calming down again. "Then I could lose everything and I love you both too much for that. But maybe it's too late anyway. I don't even have you guys as friends now, so even after all this, I still lost you both."

"You haven't lost us," Chandler reassured her. "You never could."

Zara's hand wiped the tears from her eyes, still feeling like she'd screwed everything up.

"But you both hate me now," Zara cried.

"It's impossible to hate you," Chandler said, finally sitting down on the sofa next to Zara with it being a sign of truce. "Trust me, I know: you've given me every reason to want to hate you."

That caused Zara to laugh, the emotions inside her bubbling.

"Please don't cry," said Chandler, opening his arms as Zara found it too hard to resist as she rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the gentle brush of his lips against her head and his fingers gentle on her upper arm. "If this is what you want, then it's done, right?"

"I'm sorry," Zara whispered.

"Yeah," said Chandler, sighing. "So am I."

Zara pressed her lips together, feeling the words deepen the crack deep inside her chest.

♡

The following night, Zara was a little grateful that the drama hadn't come between the group. Everyone wanted to celebrate Zara's success, as well as welcome her brother, so they found themselves out for dinner.

Even Joey came, where Zara had thought he would ditch on the night.

"You came," Zara told him.

Joey's head turned, meeting her gaze as Zara held her breath, hoping that her face didn't betray her. Maybe Joey was doing the same too, but Zara could still see the fragile cracks.

"Of course, I came," said Joey, offering a small smile. "You made it, Zara. You're the highest best-selling author in the country right now."

Zara found her cheeks warms, still finding the news crazy to believe.

"And," Joey added. "You're here with your brother, so I want to get to know him."

"I do too," Zara said. "I'm just scared if he gets to know the real me, then he'll regret ever finding me."

"That's not possible," Joey decided. "Toby's going to love you. Just like the world does now."

Zara smiled at that, remembering Joey's words, and his belief in it being easy to love Zara. Maybe now she had more positives to her life to offer than the dark beginning of her life.

"I'm really sorry, Joey," Zara told him. "I hate that I hurt you."

Joey's eyes fell downwards to his shoes as he shrugged. "I'll be okay," he told Zara, but the words didn't sound believable. "As long as you're happy, then it'll be okay."

"I'm happy," Zara reassured him, hoping she sounded believable.

An arm wrapped around Zara's waist, pulling her towards Derek's chest. "Did I hear that you're happy?" Derek questioned, placing a kiss on Zara's cheek as she had a forced smile on her face. "With the last few weeks we've had, of course, you're happy."

"Derek," said Zara, moving slightly so the two being together wasn't so in Joey's face. "You remember Joey, right?"

"Ah, the irises guy," Derek said with a cocky grin. "Of course, I remember you."

"Derek," Joey forced a smile. "It's so good to see you again."

"Likewise," Derek replied.

Zara sighed, knowing the three would never be friends.

But, maybe everything was working out for the best, as Zara took her seat at the table. All her friends were there, she had her brother sitting next to her, and Derek too. So, Zara felt hopeful that she had made the right decision as it had led to this.

Zara refused to admit she had made a mistake.

Derek clinked his glass, starting to stand with all eyes on him. Even Zara's eyes fell on her boyfriend, wide with concern.

"I'll keep this quick," said Derek, offering Zara a reassuring wink. "After all, it's been endless toasts and celebrations for Zara lately, so she must be bored now."

"Keep talking," Zara told him.

"Yes, Ma'am," Derek replied with a grin. "A month ago, I was a lost man, full of regrets and a sudden desperate need to be loved. Then, I hear my ex-girlfiend's about to publish a book. And, well, it's published, and she's smashing records as she should be. I'm incredibly proud of you, Zara, but I guess I'm more thankful that I didn't just get the courage to get my girl back, but to also have a second chance to love her. Zara Ellison, I will always love you."

Zara hated how she felt from the words — it was everything Zara wanted to hear and more, but there was still that nagging feeling that it was coming from the wrong person.

Still, as Zara's friends toasted her, Derek's head lowered to meet her halfway for a kiss, which Zara preferred to saying anything back. Right now, she could not bring herself to share her feelings with Derek, especially in front of her friends.

"So," said Chandler later on, watching Zara laugh with Derek, completely oblivious to the two watching her across the table. "I guess we've really lost her."

"How did you get over her again?" Joey asked.

"I didn't," Chandler answered. "I guess I gotta figure that out now."

"Zara, tell us about your book tour," Rachel suggested.

"I've already told you everything," Zara said. "It's seriously been the best few weeks of my life, but I want to hear about something different. Tell me: what happened at the beach?"

That caused everyone to divert their gazes, not wanting to bring up the most recent break up for Ross and Rachel, or the jellyfish incident. But, fortunately, there was Phoebe with the discovery of a new family member too.

♡

EPISODE TWO.

♡

"So, this is what you do all day: sit around and drink coffee?"

Zara frowned, feeling a little exposed as if she didn't do much with her life. "Well, not all the time," she insisted. "Sometimes, we hang out at the apartment or the guy's place. I tend to write a lot while we're hanging too."

"Hey, it's cool," Toby reassured her. "It's better than what I spend my weekends doing."

"What's that?" Zara asked, wanting to get to know her brother.

"I'm into a lot of sport," Toby confessed. "Badminton or cycling mainly."

"Oh," said Zara, really trying to find something in common. "Well, I like basketball, I suppose. Or football. If the guys are seeing a game, I tend to tag along."

"That's cool," Toby said, where it became awkward with the moment stretching between them. "So, uh, your friends seem really nice."

"I guess some of them are kind of your friends too," Zara pointed out.

"What, Ross? Yeah, he's been a good friend all these years," said Toby. "Monica... well, she's a tough one, but I think we're okay? Rachel, I remember her from school, but she was too cool for someone like me."

"Well, you were friends with Ross," Zara reminded him.

Toby laughed at that. "We were cooler than you think."

"I don't know about that," Zara's nose screwed up.

"Okay, then what about you," said Toby. "At school, what were you like?"

"Um..." Zara looked away, shrugging slightly, trying to give the impression that high school wasn't that big of a deal for Zara. "I was complicated."

"Complicated?" Toby questioned. "I'm getting that a lot with you."

"Yeah, well, that's me," Zara said with a grin. "I guess, at the start of high school, I was a bit of a troublemaker — got caught up in the wrong crowds, I suppose. It's hard fitting in at school when you've never had somewhere to fit in in your whole life, but I gave everyone other things to remember me by, so they forgot I was a foster kid. But, then, I had this one teacher, who kind of set me straight, and I owe her so much. I got into college on a scholarship because of her."

"Wow," said Toby. "And then you met Monica."

"Yeah," Zara's smile softened. "I owe Monica a lot too."

The English teacher might have been the reason Zara found a way to live through teaching and writing, but it was Monica who found her a place where she fit in. If Zara hadn't met Monica at college, then she never would have the friends she did now.

And, even though it was Ross who had helped bring them together, maybe Toby never would have found her.

Everyone but Monica came to the coffee house to join them shortly later, where Phoebe was performing. Of course, Zara had forewarned her brother about Phoebe's talent for singing.

"Thanks," Phoebe said after, appreciating the applause.

"Now, here's a question," said Ross, who was sitting next to Toby with Zara close by and Rachel at the end. "Where'd you guys get the finest oak east of the Mississippi?"

"Uh-huh," Chandler said. "First, you tell us where you got the prettiest lace in all the land."

"I'm reading your ad," Ross told him.

"Looks good, huh?" Joey said.

"Yeah," Ross agreed.

"Stunning entertainment centre," read Chandler. "Fine... Fine Italian craftsmanship."

"Oh my God," said Phoebe. "You guys are selling the entertainment centre?"

"Why?" Rachel questioned. "I love that thing."

"Yeah, you worked so hard on that, Joey," Zara reminded him.

"You want it?" Chandler suggested.

All three were quick to change their mind. "Ew! No!"

"Toby?" Chandler questioned. "You want it?"

"No," Zara pointed an accusing finger at Chandler. "Toby's not gonna be persuaded."

"I think I'm all set at my place," said Toby. "My roommate is very particular with his entertainment set-up. Thanks, though."

"As he should be," Joey replied.

"Uh, Geppeto?" Chandler caught Joey's attention. "$5,000? Are you insane?"

"Hey, the ad alone cost 300 bucks," Joey told him.

"All right, look," said Chandler. "I'm changing it to $50 or your best offer."

"What kind of profit is that?" Joey questioned. "And you call yourself an accountant?"

Chandler looked at Joey. "No."

"Oh," Joey said. "What do you do?"

"I can't believe you don't know what I do for a living," Chandler complained.

"I actually don't," Phoebe realised.

The longer Zara looked at Chandler, the more she realised that she was completely clueless about what he did for a living too. Even Ross and Rachel were clueless too.

"Zara?" Chandler questioned, eyes falling on her as she tried to smile, acting like she wasn't as confused as everyone else. "You must know."

"Uh..." Zara said.

"Didn't you guys date for like a year?" Toby asked.

"It's something to do with numbers," Zara replied, trying desperately to remember.

"Unbelievable," Chandler muttered. "And I bet you know what Derek's job is."

"Oh, Derek works in real estate," Zara told him.

Joey scoffed. "Of course he does."

"Good for Derek," Chandler replied at the same time, screwing up his face.

Zara frowned at them both, unable to act blind to their jealousy when they were so obvious about it. Next to Zara, Toby tried to hide his laughter, where he could clearly see it too.

"Yeah," said Ross to his friend. "Surprisingly, this is normal now."

"Ross," Zara warned. "Shut up."

There was a tiny meow then that caught everyone's attention as they spotted a cat by Phoebe's guitar. Zara couldn't help but feel relieved that the cat's appearance was enough of a distraction from any drama.

"Oh my God!" Phoebe started to react, heading over to the cat. "No! Shoo! Kitty! No! No, no, no! Shoo! Come on, you," she continued, bending down to pick up the cat. "Come on. You're crazy. Oh my God."

"What?" Rachel questioned.

"Nothing," said Phoebe. "Nothing."

"What?" Joey replied. "What's wrong?"

"Yeah, clearly there's something, Pheebs," Zara said.

"I just..." Phoebe started, looking down at the cat from the armchair she now sat in. "I just have this really strong feeling that... this cat is my mother."

"You mean the mom you met in Montauk?" Rachel questioned. "She was a cat?"

"No, no, no," said Phoebe. "She was a human lady. This is the spirit of my mom, Lily. The one that killed herself."

"I'll explain later," Zara reassured Toby, who was silent, but Zara could see his concern.

"Are you sure she's in the cat or have you been taking your grandma's glaucoma medicine again?" Ross replied.

"No, Dr Skeptismo," Phoebe said. "I'm sure. First of all, okay, there's the feeling. Okay, and for another, how 'bout the fact that she went into my guitar case? Which is lined with orange felt."

"Oh, 'cause that makes complete sense," Zara said.

"My mother's favourite fish was orange roughy," Phoebe explained, but it didn't make sense to any of them. "Cats like fish." No one had anything to say as they watched Phoebe, who smiled at her cat (mom). "Hi, mommy."

Zara couldn't look at Toby, hoping that he wasn't about to vanish on her now because of her friends.

"Oh!" Phoebe continued. "I haven't seen this smile in seventeen years."

Joey patted Chandler's arm. "Dude, Phoebe's mom's got a huge pair—"

"Let it go," Chandler cut Joey off, not wanting to ruin it for Phoebe.

Even if it was bizarre, Phoebe looked happy.

♡

As much as Zara was enjoying having Derek back around again, she was very conscious about having him around her friends, who didn't particularly like him. So, when Derek stayed, Zara was rather eager to get him out.

"They're round here a lot, aren't they?" Derek said.

"What? My friends?" Zara replied.

Derek scoffed. "You know who I mean."

"They're my friends," said Zara.

"You know they want to be more than friends," Derek told her. "Knowing you, you probably love the fact that you have multiple guys falling to their knees for you."

"They're not falling to their knees for me," Zara argued.

Derek smirked. "Oh, they're, and you know it. It's quite amusing to see, you know. They hate me."

Zara sighed. "Can't you guys just get on?"

Derek laughed at that, which didn't make Zara feel any better.

"They're my friends," Zara reminded him.

"I'm not being friends with your exes, Zara," Derek told her. "I'm not even happy with you being friends with them."

"Well, then you best get used to it," Zara replied.

"I'm trying," Derek said.

But, by trying, Derek made no effort to stay (with Zara more relieved). As she closed the front door, no one else seemed that bothered to see Derek go.

"You know, you guys could try too," Zara told them.

"I said hi," Rachel said.

"I said bye," Monica said with a smile.

Zara frowned at that.

"Sorry, Zara," Monica replied. "I just don't trust Derek. All he's ever done is hurt you."

"This time is different," Zara insisted.

At the table, the three guys were keeping themselves busy, having nothing else to add to the conversation. For two, they had plenty of thoughts and opinions about Derek, but they stayed silent.

"What makes you think that?" Phoebe asked, where the cat was still on her lap.

"Derek's serious now," said Zara. "It might not seem like it, but he came back to me because he regretted leaving me. Derek doesn't do that."

Derek was arrogant, wanting someone to boast about to make himself look good. With Zara's success, she knew how it looked, but he wanted a future now — the kind of future that Zara could now be in control of.

"Honey," Monica sympathised. "I hope you're right, but I'm just worried. If this is what you want, then we're happy for you."

Zara knew they meant well, but she didn't want them pointing out the truth. Now, Monica was saying the same words as Joey had, as well as Chandler, who had accepted that Derek was in Zara's life now.

"This is what I want," Zara told them all.

And with that, Derek was accepted, but Zara knew it wouldn't be easy. Though, for now, the conversation was dropped, sparing the three guys from any more awkward girl talk. But, as Zara headed over to the table to help herself for breakfast, she could feel two pairs of eyes on her, so Zara forced a smile on her face in the hope to prove that she was happy.

Because, at some point, Zara would be happy and it wouldn't be a lie.

"So, you guys having any luck getting rid of the entertainment centre?" Ross asked, eager to change the conversation.

"There were a couple of calls last night," Joey said. "But I don't think any of them are going to work out."

"Yes, Joey has a very careful screening process," Chandler explained. "Apparently, not everyone is qualified to own wood and nails."

"Stop it," Phoebe told her cat as Zara sat down on the sofa next to her. "Stop it. She keeps squirming and trying to get away — just like when she was alive."

"So, Pheebs, how long is your mom going to be with us?" Ross asked.

"Well, I'm not sure," Phoebe replied. "I mean, I guess until she, you know, gets used to the fact that there's, you know, a new mom."

The last word was mouthed as if the cat would understand what mom meant.

"You know, I think she's worried that she's going to... she's going to be replaced," continued Phoebe. "Well, that's not going to happen, is it? No. Okay, I have to return a call in the other room."

"Why can't you use the phone in here?" Monica asked, taking the cat from Phoebe.

"Well, I'm returning a call from a certain mom at the b-e-a-c-h," said Phoebe. "I just spelt the wrong word."

"You spelt it right, though," Zara said. "So good job, Pheebs."

"So, guys, am I going crazy or does Phoebe's mom remind anyone else of a cat?" Ross questioned once Phoebe had disappeared.

Monica stroked the cat. "Ross, don't start."

"If Phoebe's happy, then we should be happy for her," Zara said.

"Come on," said Ross. "You can't tell me you actually believe that there's a woman inside that cat."

"I didn't have a brother a month ago," Zara pointed out. "And now I do, so who knows? It could be true."

"I believe it," Rachel insisted.

"No, you don't," Ross replied.

"Yes, I do," said Rachel, standing up as she headed over to the three guys.

"No, you do—" Ross stopped himself. "You know what? You're not going to suck me into this."

"Oh, sure I am," Rachel said, pouring herself a drink. "Because you always have to be right."

"I do not always have—"

Again, Ross stopped himself as Zara grinned, relieved to not be the only one causing drama.

"Okay, okay," said Ross, realising what he was doing as he moved to leave.

Rachel raised her glass at him. "Jurrasic Park could happen."

Ross struggled to leave in silence, but he miraculously managed to close the front door without uttering a single word.

♡

Later that day, they all headed down to the coffee house as Zara was tempted to start working again, but she had given herself a little break to settle with her new life as an author. However, from the armchair, Joey caught her attention as Zara looked over at him with a smile appearing.

"There's a kid reading your book," Joey told her.

Zara's heart swelled. "There is?"

"Yeah," said Joey, nodding his head in the direction as Zara turned, spotting the young boy reading Zara's book. "Looks like he's halfway through it."

"Do you think he likes it?" Zara questioned.

"Zara, you've seen the reviews," Chandler told her.

Yes, Zara had seen all the reviews: the good and the bad.

"You should go over," Monica suggested.

"I don't have a pen," Zara realised.

There was a scramble among Chandler, Joey, Ross and Monica for a pen before a few were offered to her. Unable to hide her smile, Zara accepted the pen from Chandler, who blossomed with joy too upon seeing her reaction.

"Look at you," said Chandler. "All famous now."

It was still surreal to Zara, but she adored these moments. As she headed over, she introduced herself to the mom first before witnessing the boy's face light up, where he checked the author's portrait at the back of the book.

"It's really you!" The boy cried out.

So, Zara signed the book, personalising it for him before she answered half a dozen questions that the child had. As she headed back over to her friends after, Rachel had now joined them as she showed Zara the missing cat poster.

"Oh no," said Zara.

When Phoebe came in to join them with the cat still in her arms, they all felt awkward, unknowing how to tell their friend. Zara hoped someone else would break the news as she didn't want to be the one to upset Phoebe.

"Uh, Pheebs," Joey started. "About your mom..."

"Yeah?" Phoebe questioned all smiley.

Joey looked over to Zara as she offered him an encouraging nod of her head.

"How's that going?" Joey asked instead of telling her.

"So great," Phoebe replied. "Oh, we took a nap together today. My mom fell asleep on my tummy and purred."

"That's so sweet," Joey said. "I'm going to get some coffee."

Joey was quick to leave and it was just the four of them left to tell Phoebe. Monica shuffled along the sofa closer to Phoebe with a forced smile on her face.

"Huh? What'd you say, Joe?" Monica started. "I'll be right there."

"Cowards," Zara mumbled.

"Pheebs..." Rachel tried.

"I just feel so... oh..."

"All right, already," said Rachel, standing. "Geez!"

Chandler was quick to leave too. "I'm coming already!"

"What?" Zara questioned, starting to scramble as she was alone, where her eyes fell on Phoebe again, seeing her pure joy. "Oh, I left my pen with the kid!"

Then, Zara too, was quick to flee.

♡

Zara couldn't believe it, but the guys had been robbed. If they didn't look so sad, she would be laughing at them, but, right now, Zara was furious.

"Wow," said Rachel, closing the cabinet door to where the duck and chick were. "They really got you guys. Your TV. The chairs."

"Yeah," Phoebe continued. "Your microwave, the stereo..."

"They took everything," Zara summarised, folding her arms across her chest. "Give me names and I'll go get your stuff back."

Despite being angry, Chandler let out a small chuckle. "As much as I'd love to see that, we have no clue to who they're."

"Oh, man!" Joey cried out, looking through his deck of cards. "They took the five of spades! Oh, no, no, here it is."

Chandler laid down on the floor, unable to cope with Joey at the moment. Standing above him, Zara smiled down at him.

"Stop doing that," Chandler told her.

"I do want to laugh," said Zara honestly. "But, I'm being serious, Chandler. The guys that did this can't get away with this."

"Oh my God?" Monica questioned upon opening the door to join them. "What happened?"

"Oh, um, Joey was born," Chandler said, standing again along with Joey. "And then twenty-eight years later, I was robbed."

Chandler hopped onto the counter to sit as Zara and Rachel moved closer to Monica, wanting to know all about her date.

"So, how was your date?" Rachel asked.

"Well, you know how I always wanted to go out with Chip Matthews in high school?" Monica replied, not seeming that thrilled. "Well, tonight, I actually went out with Chip Matthews from high school."

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry," Rachel said.

"That sucks," Zara agreed.

"No, it's okay," said Monica. "Not only did I get to go out with Chip Matthews, I got to dump Chip Matthews."

"Oh, that's so great!" Rachel responded.

"I know," Monica agreed, hugging Rachel.

"Hey," Ross came in to greet them then. "So, uh, what did the insurance company say?"

"Oh, they said, you don't have insurance here, so stop calling us," Chandler replied.

That wasn't good news as Zara felt for the two, hating how sad they looked. But, at least this time, it wasn't because of Zara (that was a positive).

Ross spotted that cat Phoebe still had. "You didn't tell her?"

They all turned away from Ross, where they were all too much of a coward to upset Phoebe like that.

"Okay, fine," Ross realised, stepping forward to do it himself as he joined Phobe on the floor. "Pheebs."

"Yeah, hi."

"Hi," said Ross. "Listen, uh... this cat belongs to a little girl. All right? There are flyers all over the place."

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Rachel joined them, showing Phoebe the poster as they all walked over in support.

"Hey, we can take her back with you if you want," Monica offered.

"Oh, um..." Phoebe said, staring down at the cat. "But you know, she chose to find me. I mean, I have to respect her decision, right?"

There was a chorus of agreement with everyone hating how sad Phoebe looked.

"No, no!" Ross didn't give in. "Hey! Enough is enough! Look, I am sorry that you feel guilty or whatever about spending time with your new mom but this is not your old mom. This is a cat, okay? Julio the cat. Not mom. Cat."

Phoebe placed the cat on the unit before she turned back to Ross. "Ross, how many parents have you lost?"

"None," Ross answered.

"Okay, then you don't know what it feels like when one of them comes back," Phoebe told him. "Do you? I believe this is my mother. Even if I'm wrong, who cares? Just be a friend, okay? Be supportive."

"I'm sorry," Ross apologised.

"Okay," said Phoebe.

"I don't know what to say," Ross said.

"You could say you're sorry to her mom," Rachel suggested.

Ross turned to look at Rachel as Zara struggled to hide her amusement.

"I think she would like that," Phoebe agreed.

Ross turned back to Phoebe before approaching the cat as they all waited for him to do it. "Come here, here. Come here. Come here. Mrs Buffay? Sorry about what I said. Um, it was — it was insensitive of me to say that you were just a cat when clearly you're also the reincarnated spirit of my friend's mother."

"Thank you," said Phoebe, picking up the cat again. "We both forgive you."

"Honey, what are you going to do about the little girl?" Rachel questioned.

"Yeah, okay," Phoebe realised before she started talking to the cat again. "Listen... um, mom, I hope you know that you still mean a lot to me and you're welcome to come back anytime."

"Pheebs," said Chandler. "If she could come back as a couch, we'd really appreciate it."

"Come on, mom," Phoebe said. "I'm going to take you home."

The girls left with Phoebe, wanting to support her.

♡

Zara returned later that night, ditching her plans with Derek as she found herself in the guy's apartment with a few boxes of pizza. The two were sitting in the canoe, surprised to see that Zara was back.

"I want to tease you both so badly," Zara told them.

But Zara's heart went out to them, knowing they'd had a tough time lately.

"You got us pizza?" Joey perked up.

"Yeah, I did," said Zara, feeling shy, which was so unlike her. "I know there's no TV, but I thought we could hang, but if you guys wanna sit sulking in your canoe, then it's cool..."

"No," they were both quick to reply.

Zara smiled at that, relieved that things were starting to head back on track for them.

So, the three sat on the floor with their back against the counter as they ate pizza, staring at an empty apartment. The duck and chick wandered around the room, completely oblivious to what was going on.

"Toby seems pretty cool," Chandler said.

"Yeah," Joey agreed. "I like him."

"I like him too," Zara admitted. "It's weird, though. I've gone my whole life having no one, but I've always known I've come from somewhere, you know. But a brother? That I never thought was possible. I just... I guess I just don't know what to do now."

"What do you mean?" Chandler questioned.

"Well, I don't know how to be a sibling," Zara confessed. "We're so different. Toby's the one that got adopted and I didn't. A part of me kind of hates him for being the lucky one."

"That's normal, you know," Joey told her. "Siblings love each other, but they hate each other too, so you seem to know what you're doing."

"I guess so," said Zara. "It's not his fault anyway, is it? I just wish I didn't know that his parents had the chance to adopt me and... they didn't want me. If they had, then maybe things could have been different."

Maybe Zara wouldn't be so afraid of love or feel like she wasn't ever good enough.

"I'm sorry, Zara," Chandler told her, seeing how much it had affected her. "You know, to me, it doesn't sound like Toby's the lucky one having parents like that. They must have a few screws loose in the head to not want to adopt you."

"Yeah," Joey agreed. "You're too good to have parents like them."

Zara wanted to smile, knowing their words were more comforting than what Derek had even said, but she couldn't bring herself to.

"But Toby's a good one, right?" Zara replied, trying to trust in the fact that she had someone that would stick. "You don't think it's a cruel trick?"

"Zara, Toby found you," Chandler reminded her. "He found out that he had a sister and did what he could to find you. I think that already tells you everything."

"You just gotta believe in it," Joey encouraged her. "You'll see."

Zara smiled, starting to believe that those in her life weren't going to leave her. No matter what happened, Zara's friends were always there, including the two who were currently mending broken hearts because of her.

And Zara wanted to believe that she had family who chose her too, wanting to stay.

♡

I know we all hate Derek, but we all really want a jealous Chandler and Joey. I do love Toby already and he's going to help with Zara's growth so much. There's so much debate now between Chandler and Joey, so please know that I'm very grateful for all the comments, but I don't want to reply as I'm worried I'm going to give it all away! But I have made my final decision!