Seasons Greetings Friends Fans..It is time for my annual story. This years is also an entry to the Friends Board contest for Everlasting Love.. I dedicate it to Ross and Rachel fans everywhere…and to you Steve..Oliver , my loyal critic and Jen my sis…
These characters are the property of BKC Productions… except two and Jen , guess who that is…the one is mine…
The revelers stood along Columbus Circle as the grand parade passed by. Macy's had been having a Thanksgiving parade ever since anyone could remember. Bands would have sandwich sales and slave days to save their money for a chance to march in the traditional event. They would travel in buses, in vans or on planes , they would come from the North and South, small towns and big cities for that chance to perform for an international viewing audience . Huge balloons would fill the skies of Manhattan in the shape of cartoon characters as traditional as Mickey Mouse and as modern as Bart Simpson. Colorful floats would skirt down the people lined streets as kids and celebrities would smile and wave to the crowds attending the event. Of course, the star of the whole show was Santa as the crowning glory of the parade. It was now officially the Christmas season in New York.
"This is so exciting!" screamed Monica as she jumped up and down to stay warm on the brisk day. The wind was blowing, yet the sun was still shining. The parade had always been exciting to her growing up, but this year it was more special. Joey had landed a role on an NBC sitcom and he was in the parade. Alex and him would be spending Thanksgiving with the gang. Joey was riding on a float and he wanted the family that supported him to be there in the special VIP section. Even as a youngster, Monica would sit by the television with Ross and her parents and watch the parade annually. A smile crossed her lips as her little boy tugged on her mitten clad hand. She looked down at his crooked smile and tasseled sandy hair. Despite being adopted, Jackie, as he was called, had inherited his father's hair and his uncle's love for dinosaurs. Chandler cursed that. Monica did love her little boy, but made a vow that unlike her mother, she would not favor one child over the other.
"Look Daddy!" cried Erica as she pointed with her tiny mittened hand. "It's a horsie!" Chandler looked with excitement as his little girl who was perched on his shoulders viewed the parade. Monica felt so content , she had everything she ever wanted , a loving husband and two wonderful children.
Rachel tried to hide the watery eyes behind the Prada sunglasses. She scanned over to see her friends, each of them had someone to hold on to , but her. Emma was perched on Mike's shoulders, and next to him was Phoebe, holding their little girl. Sophie Lily., who had just been born that spring.
The words echoed in Rachel's head. "It won't be forever, just eight months. I 'll email you every day and try to call you and Emma when I can. This is a fantastic opportunity for me. I have always wanted to work with some of the world's foremost paleontologists and finding this new species is so exciting." Rachel grinned. It had always been so cute to see him get excited about dinosaurs in his own little way. It is what made him what he was , her man. Emma had stood next to Rachel as they watched him walk through the security gates to the waiting plane. She knew if she followed him, she would burst into tears. Careers would come second in their marriage, but both vowed that neither one of them would stand in the way of their jobs. They would not make that same mistake again. She swore as he walked away, a small tear was dripping down his face as well. Ross and Rachel had finally gotten married that summer. This was to be their first holiday season as a real family, officially. The China expedition fixed that. Rachel then stared down at the platinum solitaire that rested on her hand. It had truly been worth the wait.
"Look there he is , Hi Big Daddy!" screamed Phoebe as she awoke her baby. Sophie started to cry and wave her tiny arms. Strangers around her looked at her. Rachel broke from her reverie. Joey saw his friends and waved fasted and had a wide grin on his face. He was wearing a red sweater and a black scarf around his neck. Alex, bundled in her down jacket was usually not used to the cold. She was after all from California, but did attend Northwestern for college. She thoughtfully turned to Joey and blew him a kiss then screamed. "Love you honey." Joey gave her a sweet look and returned the kiss. "It's Uncle Joey!" screamed Emma as she waved furiously. Rachel waved as well, at least she was given a temporary retrieve from her thoughts. Still she wondered , what was her husband doing so far away in China this Thanksgving?
Pouring over his notes, Ross took a bite of the sandwich. A pair of glasses rested on his nose. The gravy dripped from the middle slice of what he called "the moist maker." The other scientists wondered why he was so adamant about that sandwich. If anyone tried to touch it , he would slap them away and exclaim. "my sandwich."
Following the parade, Monica had prepared the usual feast. It was the annual gathering , with old friends and new friends alike. One chair was empty however, this particular year. As they waited, the group reminisced about Thanksgivings past. Alex had never heard these stories before and giggled when she pictured the turkey carcass on her husband's head. Then Chandler reminded Joey about the football game and the competition for the Dutch girl. Everyone now reminded Rachel about the "Trifle." She could at least laugh at that.
"I didn't' mind at all." Smiled Joey. Everyone turned to him and gave him a look. Jack broke the tension when he brought up Ross ' appearance on television. "I thought he looked good on that PBS special. Imagine my son helping to discover a totally new kind of dinosaur." Judy crowed in her usual way. "I always knew he would be a success." Chandler hated when she pitted each child against each other. He knew how much this hurt Monica. Monica was sensitive and nurturing , while Ross wore his heart on his sleeve and was not that bright when it came to common sense things. Monica had proven to be a success at one thing though, she had succeeded in staying married to one person.
"Oh boy!" screamed Joey as Monica paraded the turkey in from the kitchen. The big bird in all its glory took center stage. Chandler eyed it as it sat in front of him as the head of the house. He cautiously moved toward it and acted as if it were about to strike, snagged a piece of meat and then stared at it in his fingers. He just kept staring at it until Phoebe broke the silence and yelled. "Oh for crying out loud, if I can get over my mother killing herself at Christmas , you can get over your dad coming out at Thanksgving."
"You can do it . Daddy." Erica cheered. With his little girls support , he popped it into his mouth. The table cheered and he proceeded to cut meat for everyone but Phoebe.
As Monica cleaned up, Rachel sat on the couch looking forlorn. Emma walked over to her and sat down. With her innocent eyes, she looked up at her and said. "Mommy, what's wrong?" Rachel smiled and gave her a hug. "Nothing sweetie, it 's just that Daddy should be here. I know his work is very important, but I do still miss him." Emma gave her puppy dog look . "I miss him too Mommy, why don't we go home and call him." Rachel nodded and then she went to make her apologies to Monica and everyone.
When they arrived at the door, Rachel could hear the familiar voice on the answering machine. She ran to the phone and grabbed it . "Hello, hello? Ross honey?" she dropped the receiver and then pushed the replay button on the answering machine.
"Rach, Em, are you home? Honey , you there? I guess you aren't . You are probably at Mon and Chandler's eating turkey, tolerating Chandler telling the Thanksgiving story, watching Joey stuff himself. Boy I wish I was there to celebrate our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, oh well, there's always next year. Tell the gang I miss them all and tell Joey thanks for the tapes of his show. I have got to go now. Emma, Daddy loves you and can't wait to see his little girl." Then the voice seemed to get a little more misty. "Rachel , Sweetheart, not a day or a moment goes by that I don't think of you. You are always in my heart and in my mind. I miss you more than you will ever know. I love you so much." Rachel was now in tears. She fast forwarded the machine through the whole message just to hear Ross say I love you over and over again.
"Was she home?" Jessica asked excitedly. Ross sighed sadly and then said ."Nope, probably at my sister's for dinner." He hung up the phone and slowly moved from the desk. Jessica saw the pain in his eyes. "Come here." She commanded him as he walked into her waiting arms. "It's gonna be alright , Bones." Ross smiled down at the red haired woman wearing a tee shirt and jeans. "Yeah it will." Jessica had wondered about this woman who had such a hold on him. When they first arrived in China, she had entertained thoughts of an on site romance with him. That idea was destroyed when she heard him go on and on about his bride and his little girl and son. Jessica wondered why even as a lesbian, why Carol would divorce such a loving man.
"I love you so much." The voice echoed as Rachel listened to it over and over again. She laid her head down on the pillow on the couch and fell asleep with the voice giving her comfort. Ross may have been far away, but his voice suddenly made him seem so close.