"The Why"

Show: Friends

Genre: Romance

Rated: K+ some minor cursing, references to sex…nothing that is worse than on the show ;)

Pairing(s): Ross/Rachel

Summary: When Rachel is in her eighth month of pregnancy, she realizes she still has feelings for Ross. Does he feel the same, and how do the other four feel about this delicate situation?

Author's Note: Rachel is eight months pregnant (in the eighth season) with Ross' child. AU fic, un-betaed. Also, I seriously couldn't think of a title for this at all.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with "Friends"…… except for Chandler. Just kidding…though I sure wish I did…

To the Chick and the Duck- they don't get enough dedications, I swear.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 1

Rachel Green sat in her friends' apartment, staring rather glumly at the bagel Monica had given her. It's a sad bagel, she thought to herself, A very sad bagel. It needs someone to be there for it. Like…that English muffin over there. Because it's having the English muffin's baby. And the sad bagel needs the English muffin because it really doesn't want to end up alone…

"Oh, why the hell am I thinking about a bagel?" she muttered. Monica looked up from her magazine.

"All I heard was something about a bagel."

Rachel waved it off, "It's not important."

"You sure? Because when you start talking about breakfast foods, it gets me a little worried," Monica said with a smile. When Rachel said nothing, she continued, "You're sure you're okay? You seem a little…out of it."

Rachel lowered her voice, "I actually…have to talk to you about something."

Monica leaned in, "Ooh, what?"

"I kind of don't want to talk about while Chandler's here," Rachel replied, looking a little uncomfortable.

"You'll never believe what I found!" came Chandler's voice from his and Monica's bedroom; a moment later, he appeared, grinning and holding up a sock bunny, "Remember this? Phoebe gave it to you!"

Monica stood up, "Don't you have to go to work?"

Chandler put the sock bunny on his hand and said in a squeaky voice, "Yes I do," he walked toward Monica, who was looking at him with a half exasperated, half amused look, "But I'd like to kiss you good-bye first," he said in the same voice.

"You are not touching me with that sock."

"Ah, well, now you made him sad," Chandler said in his normal tone.

"I actually think that's a girl," Rachel chimed in.

"And you just made him a lesbian," Chandler said with a slight frown towards Rachel. He then leaned in and gave a quick kiss to Monica, "Bye!" he said in the squeaky voice, and left the apartment.

Monica sat down again, "So what is it you wanted to tell me?"

Rachel bit her lip, "Well…I was just…"

Chandler appeared in the doorway again and tossed the sock onto the couch, "Don't think it's a great idea for me to show up with a gay rabbit."

Rachel waited until Chandler had left again to continue, "I was just thinking…well...why…how the hell do you and Chandler have such a great relationship?"

Monica looked rather taken aback, "What?"

"It's just…whenever I see you two, you're like friends, but yet you're…married. You two are just like you were before London…just…different."

"And I was afraid you wouldn't make sense."

Rachel sighed, "You know? You two just click, you just work, you know what the other person is thinking, what you should do to comfort them, you know how to make each other laugh, and you almost never have big fights, or problems, or issues… How do you do that, especially with Chandler?"

"Uhm… You know, that's the first time someone's ever complimented our relationship…I don't know, Rach, that's just the way we are. Me and Chandler have almost always gotten along…granted, I did chop off his toe once, but that's not important…" she drifted off, "Can I ask why?"

Rachel rubbed her forehead, "Can I say no?"

"Come on, tell me what's going on."

Rachel looked up into Monica's eyes, "I think I'm in love with Ross."

"YOU'RE WHAT!"

"It's just… we're having this baby together, we live together…we've got such a history…everyone thinks we should be together…"

Monica took several deep breaths before replying, "Rach…are you saying you're in love with him because you think you two should be together, or because you really love him?"

"I…I think I really love him…But I need to talk to you about it. Because we're having this baby together, if I tell him…it could mess things up and I can't do that the baby!"

Monica head fell into her hands- was it possible for the Ross and Rachel situation to get more confusing? "Rach, I know you want to tell him, but like you said, I don't think that's a great idea. He probably doesn't feel the same…and look what happened when Joey told you he loved you! You two were awkward around each other for a while, and you can't let that happen with Ross. If you tell him, I really don't think you're going to get what you want. I mean, whenever you fall for Ross, you always get clobbered. Hell, you got knocked up last time…"

Rachel gave her an annoyed look, then banged on the table in frustration, "I don't get it! Everyone thinks we're perfect for each other, he was in love with me since he was 15, and I'm having his kid- why do things never work out for us? They worked out for you and Chandler, and believe me, no one thinks you're perfect for each other, he wasn't in love with you forever, and you weren't having his kid! I just don't get this!"

Rachel began to cry, tears coming down in torrents. She stood and made for the door, "I-I'm going to… going to go…just don't…talk to Chandler or Ross or anyone about this, OK?"

Monica watched her friend leave. She sighed, "Shoot me now."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I know, short, but Chapter 2 will be up soon…until then…hehehe review!