A/N: Welcome back to yet another chapter! I guess the theme of this story is spontaneity because just like Phoebe and Joey, I have no idea what I'm getting myself into, and I have no clear plan, yay me! Oh well haha, I'll figure it out, I just hope people like this story, that's all that matters :) Oh, and thanks to FictionWriter91 for being my first reviewer! enjoy my little lobsters, and don't forget to leave me a review, they help me a lot.
Shortly after Monica and Phoebe went back inside, Rachel opened the door and greeted her friends. "Hey guys, what's up?"
Phoebe turned to Rachel. "Oh y'know, same old. Watched some TV, helped Monica open some wedding presents, got engaged, that kind of thing." Phoebe said nonchalantly.
"Ah nice. Wait, isn't Mon supposed to open the presents with Chan-," Rachel stopped mid-sentence and the others looked at her expectantly. "Woah, back up Pheebs, did you say engaged? To who?!" Rachel could hardly contain her shock.
All it took was Phoebe quickly glancing at Joey for Rachel to figure it all out. Rachel gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
"Wh-when, why, how?" She managed to splutter.
"Care to explain?" Phoebe asked, batting her eyelashes at Joey, who was stroking her hand.
"Of course, come sit Rach." Joey said, scooching over to the left of the couch so Rachel had room.
"Alright, lemme just get a bottle of water first." Rachel said as she made her way over to the fridge. She didn't tell the others, but the water was to try to help with the morning sickness that just started to kick in. She grabbed a bottle and then came to sit next to Joey.
"Ok, I'm ready. Spill the beans!" Rachel said excitedly. She'd always loved gossip, even if she didn't always like to admit it.
"Well, Phoebe and I have always had a strong connection that neither me or her can explain, but it's always been there. Just looking into her eyes makes my heart race. Whenever I'm around her I feel more happy and free-spirited. She brings out the best in me, and I hope I do the same for her. I think I've always secretly loved her, even if it's never been said out loud." Joey gushed, then he concluded his speech by giving Phoebe a cute little peck on the cheek.
"Awh, you guyyyss! This is so unexpected, but so sweet!" Rachel said smiling brightly.
Sometimes the greatest things in life are unexpected, she thought to herself, then she placed a hand on her stomach, which went unnoticed by everyone but Monica. Monica always picked up on everything, she was very observant. Rachel could tell that Monica desperately wanted to tell everyone the news, but Rachel planned on waiting a bit longer. She wasn't sure when she'd be ready to announce it, but she hoped it would be sooner than later so she could just get it over with. Expected or not, I'm gonna love this baby so much, and that's the only thing I know for certain, Rachel thought, and she meant every word of it.
"I agree! Sure this was kinda spontaneous, but it feels right. I've never been happier." Phoebe told her friends with a smile, and Joey nodded his head in agreement, showing that he felt the exact same way.
"Alright you guys, I gotta go, I'll catch up with you later. Bye babe." Joey said as he got up from the couch. Phoebe stood up to give him a kiss, then she sat back down when Joey left.
Now that it was just the three girls, Monica took the opportunity to talk about the secret that only they knew.
"So Rach, how have you been feeling lately, any morning sickness?" Monica asked, showing concern for her friend.
Rachel nodded her head wearily. "Yeah a little bit, but it hasn't been too bad." She replied, then took a sip of her water.
"That's good!" Phoebe said with a grin, earning a small smile back from Rachel. Even though Rachel seemed to be doing okay on the outside, her aura was definitely off, and Phoebe sensed it.
"Are you okay Rach? You seem a little distracted." Phoebe asked her.
Rachel let out a small sigh. "I guess I'm pretty good, I'm just a little bit nervous about telling people y'know? Especially the father."
Phoebe nodded knowingly. "I know from personal experience that it can be scary to tell people, but you have very supportive friends! I don't know too much about your family though, but I'm sure they'll be happy too." Phoebe explained in attempts to console Rachel, who looked just as anxious as before.
"That's true…" Rachel said halfheartedly.
After a few seconds of silence, Monica asked Rachel something that she and Phoebe were absolutely dying to know.
"Rach… I was wondering… If you could… Well, uh…" Monica couldn't seem to get the words out. This was a pretty sensitive topic for Rachel, and bringing it up could make her more stressed, which was not at all ideal.
"It's okay, Mon, you can ask me anything. What is it?" Rachel told her meaningfully, looking into Monica's bright blue eyes.
"Well," Monica continued, then started anxiously playing with her black hair, "I was wondering if you could maybe tell us who the father is…" She implored quietly.
Rachel took a breath and then took a moment to think. Think about this Rach. Are you mentally prepared to tell her? Are you comfortable with having it out the open yet? It didn't take much thought before she ultimately came to a conclusion. No, I'm not ready. But I could give them a hint, they are obviously really eager to know.
"I'm sorry Mon, I don't think I'm ready yet." Rachel declared.
Monica nodded her head to show that she understood. It was Rachel's decision after all.
"But," Rachel continued, as a slow smile began to spread across her face.
"But? Did I hear a but?!" Phoebe asked, her excitement clear. She sat up and scooted forward, readying herself for whatever Rachel was going to say, and Monica did the same.
"I can give you two a hint since you're desperate to know. The father left a little something at my place when we, well, you know." Rachel said, grinning from ear to ear. She got up and left, then crossed the hall to get to her apartment.
"Was that story over?" Phoebe asked Monica, and Monica shrugged.
Just then, Rachel returned holding a crimson sweater. Monica and Phoebe exchanged a glance, neither of them knew who that mysterious sweater belonged to.
"Is this the hint?" Monica asked, slightly disappointed.
"Mhm, and that's all ya' get. If you can figure out who the father is in the next minute I'll go tell everybody the news. Do we have a bet?" Rachel offered.
"Hell yeah we do!" Monica shouted without thinking.
"Alright," Rachel said, looking down at her watch, "your time starts… Now!"
For the next 30 or so seconds, all that could be heard was Phoebe and Monica frantically guessing the name of every single guy they knew. At one point, Monica even asked if it was Chandler, but they somehow missed the name of the father himself.
"26 seconds left guys!" Rachel said, grinning smugly. She won, and she knew it.
Suddenly, it hit Phoebe like a soccer ball to the head.
"OOH OOH I KNOW, I KNOW WHO IT IS!" Phoebe screamed excitedly, which made Rachel freeze in her spot.
"OH MY GOD WHO, WHO IS IT PHEEBS?!" Monica yelled frantically. Time was running out.
"I THINK IT'S-" Just before Phoebe could finish speaking, Ross walked in.
Thank God! Rachel said internally. If it wasn't for Ross' excellent timing, they would've figured it out and I would've been toast.
"Hey guys! What's all the screaming about? I could hear you from the stairwell." Ross asked the group of girls.
"Oh, it's nothing, don't worry Ross." Rachel assured him, followed by a beep from her watch.
"Aha, times up you guys, I win!" Rachel exclaimed gleefully.
Monica sulked, she was so close to knowing, and then Ross just had to barge in.
"Damn!" Monica cried angrily, throwing the sweater to the kitchen table near where Ross was standing.
"Oh hey, my sweater! I've been looking for this for like a month! Thanks for finding it you guys." Ross said.
Only silence could be heard when he walked out the door with his red sweater in hand.