With trembling hands and her heart beating a thousand times a minute, Rachel stood outside Ross' apartment, fumbling for the emergency key he gave her..

With a deep sigh and a moment of hesitation, she inserted the key into the keyhole, slowly turned the knob and stepped inside.

She closed and locked the door and started to pace about the apartment, trying to form and formulate what she will say to him and how she can make all of this somehow easier on him... well, as easy as can be expected, anyway.

Inside her head the dreadful phone call kept playing in her head

There's been an accident... there's been an accident... there's been an accident

She tried to reach Monica on her cell phone, but only to get the voice mail. She thought about leaving a message, but instead turned off the phone. This kind of shocking announcement was something that needed to be delivered in person, she reasoned.

Ross no doubt was still at the University, conducting another boring lecture.

Rachel continued to pace about the apartment, stopping to grab a tissue from her purse and check her face with a compact mirror, as Ross hated it when she was crying and she was the one who needed to be strong right now, and strong for Ross, Monica and everyone else.

She wished that she had a magic wand that could just freeze time and space, or even reverse time itself.

She bit her lips to try and focus and keep her emotions in check. There would be time for that later. Right now, she needed to steel herself and nerves and do whatever she could to help Ross pick up the pieces of a heart that was about to be shattered.

Meanwhile Ross had dismissed his students and went over to Central Perk and walked up to the counter, whistling a happy tune. He and Rachel and just recently gotten back together, as Gunther begrudgingly filled Ross' cup of coffee, glaring his disdain at Ross all the while.

Meanwhile back at the apartment, Rachel's phone began to ring and the caller ID showed it was Monica.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply and reached for the phone to answer it

'I saw that you called, but was driving and couldn't get to it', Monica began

'Where are you', Rachel asked

'Chandler and I are on our way to Vermont', she replied

'Oh I forgot this was your weekend getaway', Rachel apologized

'What's up', Monica asked

'Listen, I think you guy need to come back home', Rachel suggested

'We've been planning this trip for months, but something always came up. Now that we both have a free weekend, we're going to Vermont', her best friend replied

'No, I know. But you need to get back here, right now'. Rachel choked, feeling the lump in her throat getting larger

'Rache, what's going on', Monica inquired

'Not over the phone. I need to tell you in person', she replied

Monica sighed, 'Ok, we're on our way. Give us about 4 or 5 hours'

'One down', Rachel thought to herself as she wondered when Ross would return.

She didn't have to wait long, as she heard footsteps approach the hall, as the door to the apartment slowly turned