A\N: Right after TOW Ross's wedding, Ross didn't say Rachel's name.

It was two weeks after the wedding, and Ross and Emily were still glowing. They made their way out of the airport, and Ross hailed a taxi. He opened the door and helped Emily in.

"Where to?" The driver asked. Ross gave him the address, and couldn't help feeling a bit excited. After all, he hadn't seen his friends in two weeks. He grinned slightly.

"What's so funny?" Emily asked.

"Nothing."

"I saw you smiling. Why?"

"I'm just so happy we're married, that's all." Ross leaned across the seat and kissed Emily lightly on the lips. She smiled.

The cab pulled up in front of the apartment, and while Ross paid the driver, Emily began unloading the suitcases. The two carried their heavy bags to their new home, which was actually Ross's old home.

Once everything was unpacked, about an hour later, Ross and Emily left their little home, and headed down to Central Perk for a cup of coffee, and to see the gang.

"Ross! Welcome back! How was Egypt?" Chandler was the first to notice their returning friend.

"Hi, everyone! We missed you, but Egypt was loads of fun!" Ross and Emily glanced at each other, smiling secretively.

Monica and Phoebe walked in. Monica grinned. "Oh, Ross! Welcome back! How was Egypt?"

"Great, it was really fun."

They sat around and talked for a while. They showed around pictures of their trip, and the others filled Ross in on what was going on.

Suddenly, Ross noticed someone was missing. "Where's Rachel?" He asked Joey curiously. Emily glanced at his face, trying to read his expression.

Joey shrugged. 'At work, I guess."

Ross's face fell. "Oh," he said, sounding very disappointed. Emily scowled.

It was the new couple's first supper in their own apartment. As they ate, they reviewed the day together.

"Oh, and remember that old lady who sat in front of us."

"Yeah, remember what she said to you?"

"Oh, that was a riot!" Emily laughed as she remembered the little Egyptian lady who sat ahead of them on the plane. Then, she recalled something else that she wanted to talk to him about.

"So," she began slyly, "don't you think it was nice of your friends to get us that wedding gift?"

"Yeah." Ross grew thoughtful. "I was kind of upset that Rachel wasn't there, though."

"Mmm." Emily nodded noncommittally.

"I mean, she's supposed to be one of my best friends. I know it may have been a little uncomfortable for her, you know, to see us all happy and together, but she should have said something. At least she could have passed a message on to us."

Emily nodded again. "So, you wish she could have been there? I mean, it wasn't enough that she came to our wedding?"

"Oh, I thought that was so nice. I didn't expect her to show up, you know."

"Yeah, I know. But, why are you so upset?"

"I don't know, I guess I'm a little hurt."

"Because you love her! You still do! Even after we're married, you still wish it was her!"

"Emily!" Ross gasped. "You know that's not true! I am so over Rachel."

"No you're not! You still love her! I see how you look every time you hear her name."

Ross stood up. "Emily,-" The phone interrupted his sentence, and he snatched it up.

"Hello?" He grunted into the phone. Then, his frown became a grin, and his voice changed to sound cheerful.

"No. no, it's fine. No, it was really okay! Rachel, it was okay!" Suddenly, he realized what he said. Emily's head popped up. She stood up, tossing her napkin onto the table.

"Alright! If that's the way you want it, that's the way it'll be!" And with those words, she snatched up her purse and dashed out of the apartment.

"Emily!" Ross called after her hopelessly. He put the phone to his ear.

"Hello? Yeah, sorry about that. Listen, Rachel, I gotta go. I'll speak to you some other time. Okay. Alright. Bye."

Ross slowly placed the phone down on its hook and sat down. 'Why me?" he thought. "Why is it always me?"

TBC…