Friends Imagines

Joey Tribbiani {Leaving ~ Part 2}

- Joey Tribbiani & Y/N -
Synopsis: Two years later, Y/N arrives back in New York. She doesn't plan on leaving again and is set on getting her old life back.

A/N - Hi guys:) I was going to do a part two to the 'leaving' imagine at a later date but since it was highly requested I decided to do it as soon as possible. Thank you for continuing to read my imagines, it means a lot.

*Two years later*
You stepped out of the cab, putting your bag on your shoulder. You stared up at the familiar apartment building in front of you and a smile formed on your face. The cabbie gave you your suitcases and drove off into the busy streets of New York. You had bought one of the apartments in Monica's building that was on the floor below. About two months ago, you had been offered the role of publishing director  back at the New York office since your old boss had retired. You accepted straight away, excited to get back to New York. "Y/N? Is that you?" A familiar voice asked.
You spun round and saw Chandler stood there, a big smile on his face. You ran over to him and pulled him into a tight hug. "I've missed you Chandler," you grinned as you pulled away from the hug.
"I've missed you too. How long are you back for?" He asked.
"Hopefully for good," you said, a big smile resting on your face," and I bought an apartment under yours and Monica's."
"Monica's missed you so much, she'll be really happy to see you," Chandler said," here let me help you with your bags."
Chandler helped you bring your stuff up to your new apartment as you told him about San Francisco. "Come up to the apartment when you're ready, I think all the girls are up there," Chandler said.
"I will do. Don't tell Mon I'm here, I want it to be a surprise," you grinned.
He nodded and headed up to his home. You dumped your bags and freshened up before heading up to Monica and Chandlers place. You knocked on the door and hid out of view. "I got it," you heard Monica yell.
The door swung open so you jumped out and yelled "Surprise!"
Monica jumped back and screamed. "Oh my god Y/N," she squealed pulling you into a hug," I can't believe you're here."
After squeezing the life out of you, Monica stepped aside and let you into the apartment. "Look who's here," Monica grinned.
Rachel and Phoebe, who had been sat at the kitchen table, jumped up and each engulfed you in a hug. "I've missed you so much, how was San Fran?" Rachel asked.
"It was really good, but I missed you all so much," you said.
"So where are you staying?" Phoebe asked.
"I actually have an apartment downstairs," you replied," but I have to stay in a hotel tonight because the bed I ordered won't be here until tomorrow."
"Don't be silly, you can stay in our spare room," Monica said.
"Are you sure?" You asked.
"Of course I'm sure," Monica smiled.
Before you could say anything else, the door swung open and two familiar voices filled the apartment. "Joey she was so hot and just as I was about to ask her out, her boyfriend shows up so I'm stood there looking like a right idiot," Ross explained.
You couldn't believe that you were about to come face to face with the man you still loved. You hadn't prepared yourself to see Joey just yet and you knew this was going to feel really weird. Joey stopped when he saw you, completely taken back by the sight of you. "Hey Y/N, good to see you," Ross grinned pulling you into a hug.
"You too Ross, looks like I came back just in time, sounds like you need your wing woman back," you chuckled.
You turned back to Joey who was still stood there staring at you. "Hey Joey," you said, a small smile on your face.
"Hey," he said.
Joey didn't know what to say. The love of his life, who he thought he would never see again, was stood before him and he wasn't prepared for that at all. "How about we order in some pizza and have a good catch up," Monica suggested.
"I'm down for that," you replied.
Monica ordered the pizza whilst you all got yourselves situated around the coffee table. On the sofa it was Ross, Phoebe, Joey and yourself, Rachel sat on the arm chair and Monica grabbed to chairs from the kitchen table for herself and Chandler to sit on. "So Y/N tell us all about San Francisco," Phoebe said.
"It was okay, the job was great but I really missed New York so as soon as I heard of the job opening here I applied straight away," you replied.
"Did you meet any hot guys?" Rachel asked.
Monica gave her a stern look and nodded towards Joey who looked very uncomfortable. "Oh sorry, you don't have to answer that," Rachel apologised, looking fairly embarrassed.
"No it's fine, I didn't meet anyone whilst I was there, I didn't really want to date anyone if I'm being honest," you responded.
The truth was that you couldn't get over Joey. You went on a couple of first dates but you never went on any second dates. When the pizza finally arrived you all dug in. It felt just like old times and part of you was strongly regretting leaving New York in the first place. "How about we watch a film, I rented a really good horror the other day," Monica suggested.
You all agreed and Chandler got up to turn the lights off. Rain started to fall outside which made it a little difficult to hear the film but it made the atmosphere feel a little bit more eerie. Just as a jump scare occurred in the film, a crack of thunder boomed outside causing you to scream and huddle into the person next to you, which was Joey. "Sorry," you mumbled.
"It's okay, I know thunder scares you," Joey whispered.
Without looking at you, he slipped his hand into yours in a comforting manner. The small gesture made you feel much safer and comfortable. You were surprised by what he did since you didn't even expect him to talk to you. When the film ended you were a little bit shaken up by the storm that was raging outside but Joey still had his hand in yours which made you feel a little bit better. Chandler got up to turn the lights back on and yourself and Joey immediately got some strange looks. When Joey realised it was because the both of you were holding hands, he pulled his hand away quickly and moved a little bit away from you. "I'll go set the spare room up for you Y/N," Monica said as she disappeared into the spare bedroom.
Yourself and Rachel went into the kitchen to grab something to drink whilst the rest of the group sat and discussed the movie you had just watched. "So did something happen between you and Joey during the movie?" Rachel asked.
"Not really, he knows that I'm scared of thunderstorms so he just held my hand," you said.
"That's so cute," Rachel grinned.
"Not really, he couldn't pull his hand away quick enough when you guys all noticed," you replied.
"Oh no!" You heard Monica yell.
"Everything okay?" Chandler asked.
Monica hurried out of the spare room, a glum look on her face. "Someone left the window open and the rooms covered in water," she huffed," I'm sorry Y/N but I don't think you can stay in there."
"It's fine Mon, I'll just go stay at the hotel," you said.
"Joey still has a spare room, maybe you could stay with him if he's okay with it," Monica responded.
Before you could kindly decline Joey said it was fine for you to stay with him. You bid your goodbyes to the group and headed to Joey's place in silence. He still lived in the exact same apartment and it all still looked the exact same. For you it felt weird to be back in the place you once called home but it gave you a small sense of comfort. "I don't really need to give a tour since you did live here but the spare rooms over there, just shout me if you need me," Joey said before heading into the bathroom.
You trundled into the spare bedroom and sighed when you noticed the little puddle of water on the windowsill. The window has been left slightly open so a bit of rain had come into the room. "Joey do you have any tissues?" You yelled.
"Bedside table!" He shouted back.
You made your way into your old bedroom and you were surprised that it looked exactly the same. You sat on the bed and pulled open the draw on the beside table and rummaged around trying to find some tissues. You stopped looking around in the draw when you noticed a small black box in there. You picked it up and slowly opened it. You gasped when you saw the diamond ring sat inside. "Did you find the tissues?" Joey asked.
You turned around to face him and a sad look spread across his face when he noticed that you were holding the ring. "Who's the lucky girl?" You questioned.
"It was for you," he said.
"What?" You replied, completely confused.
"I was going to propose to you but then you left," he explained.
You looked at him with complete and utter shock. You couldn't believe that he was going to propose to you and you just moved to a completely different state. "Joey I'm so sorry," you mumbled.
"It was two years ago, I'm over it now," he said before walking out of the room.
In all honesty, his words stung. Every part of you regretted leaving at that moment and you realised that it was probably the worst mistake you had ever and will ever make. You placed the ring back in the draw and followed him into the living room. "Joey wait a second," you said when you saw him going to sit down on the sofa.
He stopped and looked at you, waiting for you to speak. Instead, you walked towards him, placed you hand on his cheek and pressed your lips to his. Within seconds he had pushed you away, leaving you feeling very embarrassed. "What do you think you're doing?" He asked.
"I... I don't know," You stuttered.
"Did you really think that you could  just show up and everything would go back to the way it was?" He questioned.
"I didn't expect it to go back to the way it was but I really regret leaving and I thought..." you started.
"What? You thought that you could just kiss me and we'd just get back together," he snapped.
He didn't wait for a reply and just stormed past you. "Joey wait please," you begged.
"There's nothing left to say," he responded.
"There wasn't a single day that I didn't think of you. I hated myself
for ever leaving you. You were more important than that stupid job and if I had just waited two years I would have been able to get the exact same job in New York. I'm so sorry Joey," you cried.
Tears were rolling down your cheeks but you tried to quickly wipe them away. Joey walked over to you and used his thumb to wipe away the tears that were still trickling down your face. "You know I hate it seeing you cry," he mumbled.
He pulled you into a hug and you cried into his chest. He rubbed your back soothingly and once you had calmed down you moved away from him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to start crying, I just feel so stupid," you mumbled.
"How about we go on a date tomorrow night?" He asked.
You looked at him surprised, thinking that you may have misheard him. "Really?" You asked.
"Yeah, I've missed you too and even though we won't get back to where we once we're straight away, we can at least try," Joey said.
"Are you sure?" You questioned.
"Of course I'm sure, I do still love you but I just won't be able to forget the fact that you left for two years," he explained.
"I still love you too Joey," you replied.
He pecked your lips and then disappeared into his room leaving you stood there with a huge smile on your face.