Meant To Be

A/N: This is my first fic so it probably isn't that good but I just had this idea in my head so I decided to write it. It is an AU about Ross and Rachel. Some of the stuff is the same like Monica being Ross' sister and stuff like that, but you don't really need to know any background information. It is pretty much going to be explained throughout the story, but basically Ross and Rachel meet on a train and find themselves very atrracted to one another. I have pretty much the whole story planned out and it is not a short story. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, but to Bright, Kauffman and Crane Productions and Warner Bros.

Ross was waiting on the platform for the train to arrive any minute. He was coming home from his parents house in Massapequa, Long Island after attending their 35th wedding anniversary. He decided to stay overnight because he didn't feel like taking the train in over night. Now, he couldn't wait to get home and just relax. The train arrived and luckily he found a seat right next to the door. The train was packed and he got stuck sitting next to a sleeping guy with three shopping bags covering his lap. There was absolutely no room. However, he took the seat and closed his eyes. He overheard the train loudspeaker saying this was the train to Penn Station, next stop Seaford . Right when the doors were about to close he heard a woman screaming. He opened his eyes to see where it was coming from.

"Wait, Wait, Please Wait," the woman yelled. She made it just in time and stood at the door of the train out of breathe. She was carrying a suitcase and three shopping bags all while being pregnant. When she looked around for a seat she locked eyes with Ross and she just couldn't look away. He just looked so familiar. When the train started to move she lost her balance. Ross saw this and quickly got to his feet and grabbed her arm just before she could fall.

She locked eyes with this familiar stranger once more and again was caught in a trance. Where has she seen those eyes before? They were the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes she had ever seen, and reminded her almost like a puppy. Ross could'nt help but stare at this beautiful woman. She was so gorgeous with these sparkling blue eyes staring back at him but he could'nt help but think he has seen them before. They were so familiar. He was brought out of his trance she had over him when he heard her speak.

"Thanks" It took him a few seconds to realize she was talking to him but he was finally able to respond. "No problem. Here take my seat." She took the seat he offered. Extending his hand to shake hers he said, "I'm Ross" She galdy accepted his hand and responded, "I'm Rachel" Ross then said, "You look so familiar. Have we met before?" "I was going to ask the same thing. I feel like I met you before but I can't remember."

Why could'nt he remember? Ross had to figure out where he had met her before. He had to find out. He asked, "Well, do you live in Massapequa ?" "No, my parents do, but I visit often." "My parents live there too.Maybe we saw each other somewhere there." Rachel didnt seem to convinced. She could not remember where she met him before, but she didnt think she met him while visiting her parents. "I don't know. Maybe."

They just kept staring at eachother trying to remember but nothing came to either of them. Ross decided there was no need dwelling over it. If he could'nt remember now he probably wasn't going to. It doesn't really matter anyway, he met her now. He needed to say something to her, "Here, let me take your bags."

"Oh no that's alright. I can hold them," she politely responded.

"Are you kidding me? You have no room to sit with this guy next to you. Some people are just so rude."

"Okay. Thanks." She handed him her bags and gave him a smile that made his heart beat faster. He took her suitcase and put it in the overhead compartment but there was no more room for her shopping bags. He decided to hold them in his hands but it was getting difficult since they where filled to capacity.

"You sure did a lot of shopping."

Rachel started to laugh, "yeah, I know. I'm kind of addicted. I work in fashion and I couldn't help but buy all of these cute clothes for my baby girl." She placed her hands on her very large belly. As she did this Ross noticed she had no wedding ring on.

"Oh, you work in fashion?"

"Yeah, I'm the divisional head of men's sportswear for Ralph Lauren in the city," she said proudly. Ross was very impressed. He has never met anyone who worked in fashion "Wow, that's great." .

"Yeah, it is. I love my job so much." Enough about her, Rachel needed to know more about this mysterious stranger. She was growing more attracted to him by the second. "So what do you do?"

"I'm a professor at NYU so right now I'm doing absolutely nothing since its summer," Ross said cracking a smile. Rachel thought he was so cute. She needed to know more. "Well what do you teach?"

"Oh, your probably going to think its boring, but I teach paleontology."

"That doesn't sound boring. Um, what exactly is paleontology?" Ross and Rachel shared a laugh. Ross could'nt get enough of her. Everything about her was just adorable. "Well, it's the teaching of dinosaurs.Some people think it's incredibly boring but I love it. I've only been teaching for a few months though. I used to work at the Museam of Natural History."

"Wow you must really love dinosaurs."

Ross started to blush and got alittle embarassed. "I know it's lame, but I love them."

"Don't say that. It's not lame. If you love them, then who cares what everyone else thinks, right?"

"Right." They just kept smiling at eachother neither one taking their eyes off the other. Ross finally asked, "ummm, so do you live in the city?"

"Yeah, I live on the corner of Bedford and Grove."

Ross could'nt believe what he just heard. Did he hear her correctly? "Oh my god. I live in the building right across the street. My sister actually lives in your building. I can't believe I never saw you there before. I'm there almost everyday. Maybe that's why you look so familiar."

"I don't think I ever saw you in the building before because I moved in about a month ago but as a present to his granddaughter my father made a nursery in the apartment. I've been staying at my mother's in Massapequa. I haven't actually lived there yet. He wanted it to be ready before I moved in and they just finsihed. It's perfect timing actually, because my whole family is flying to the Carribean today so now I get to move in. So um, what's your sisters name?"

"Monica Gellar"

Rachel mouth almost dropped to the floor. "Your kidding. I moved in right across the hall from her in apartment 19. She lives with Chauncy right?"

Ross started to laugh. "His name is Chandler. He is one of my best friends."

"Right. Sorry."

"I can't believe you live across from my sister. I was wondering who moved in there. You actually moved into my other best friends apartment, Joey Tribianni. He moved to L.A. to get his big break. He's an actor."

"I can't believe my neighbor is your sister. Small world, huh?"

"Yeah, it is." All of a sudden Ross felt Rachel grab his arm when the person sitting next to her got off at the stop. "Ross, quickly, sit next to me so no one else can."

"Oh, okay." Ross was finally able to put her bags down. It was about time because they were starting to hurt his arms. There was just so much stuff. Rachel continued the converstaion they were having about the apartment. "I'm so excited about moving in. I have all the basics like a bed and a couch and a television and the baby's room is practically done. The baby is due in about 2 weeks so I have time to get the stuff I still need."

"Well, if you need any help you know where to find me." She gave him a smile that made his heart melt and replied, "Thanks."

"So do you have a name for the little one yet?" Rachel smiled again. She loved talking about her baby girl. "No, not yet. I mean I still have time, right?" All of a sudden she started to panic. "Oh my god, is it horrible that I don't have a name yet?"

Ross could tell she was nervous and wanted her to calm down. "No not at all. When I had my son it wasn't until the day he was born that we picked a name for him." Rachel looked down and got a little disappointed after he said this. She couldn't believe it. He had a son so does this mean he was married or was seeing someone? She didn't even think about the fact that he might not be single. She finally asked, almost afraid the hear the answer, "Oh, so you're married?"

"NO. No, No, No," Ross almost screamed. "Well I was but I got divorced."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Rachel almost felt guily for feeling so relieved.

"Don't be. I'm not. It really wouldn't have worked out anyway."

"Really?"

"Yeah, well she is...she is...she's a lesbian." Rachel didn't know if she heard him correctly. "She's a lesbian?"

"Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. Anyway, we still have a good relationship and I have my son every weekend."

"That's great. What's your sons name?"

"Ben. He'll be 8 in about a month."

"Wow, he's big."

"I know. I don't know what I am going to do when he is a teenager." They kept their conversation on for the whole hour it took to arrive at Penn Station. However, there converstation was interrupted when the loudspeaker came on saying they arrived at Penn Station. Ross started to gather all of Rachel's things and was disappointed that it was time to go. He still wanted to talk to her. Rachel felt the exact same way. She was having a wonderful time and she felt so comfortable with him. She needed to say something so he can ask her out so she said the first thing that came to her mind, "I'm starving." Ross thought this was the prefect opportunity to ask her out. "Well, if you want we can get some lunch and then I can take you home and you can be properly introduced to your neighbors."

"Um..."

Ross started to panic. She was hesitating. Why was she hesitiating? I shouldnt of done that. She probably is seeing someone. Yeah, doofus, she is probably with the father of her child. Why did I say that? "Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't of said that. The father probably wouldn't like that. I'm sorry."

"No, it's not that. It's...I think my water just broke." Ross was shocked. "Oh my god. Are you serious?"

"Yes, I can't believe this. She's 2 weeks early."

"Do you want me to call someone. Your family or..or the father?"

"Well my family is all out of town and well the father of my baby really wouldn't care. He wants nothing to do with me or my baby." Ross couldn't believe what she was saying. How could a man not want to be with her and his child? He couldn't let her be alone. "Okay, well I'm taking you to a hospital. We'll have to take a cab."

"Okay, but hurry."