Rachel's Choice

Ross' Jealousy

Joey and Rachel needed a lot of time to be able to get used to the idea of being more than just friends. Now That Ross knew about them, there was no one else in the gang to tell. Joey was ecstatic now that he finally had the only girl he ever loved. Right now, with Rachel cuddling up to him on the Central Perc's sofa he had the biggest smile his face had ever held. Little Emma was fast asleep in her pushchair, content with being in her mother's presence.

"Gunther! Can I have a blueberry muffin please?" Joey called out.

"Oh sure." Gunther muttered under his breath. "You got Rachel, a blueberry muffin ... you want a coffee as well?"

"Oh, and a coffee for Rachel please." Joey added.

Gunther disappeared into the kitchen evidently furious, but emerged a few moments later carrying Joey's order.

Chandler, Monica, Phoebe and Ross walked into the coffee shop laughing over something they saw outside.

"I ... I've got a convention to go to." Ross muttered.

Joey took his arm from around Rachel and got up to stop Ross.

"Is this a real conven – thing, or are you going because of us." He asked

"Convention" Ross corrected.

Joey urged him to forget about his 'conven-thing' and stay. Ross grudgingly agreed and went to buy everyone a drink.

"So are you two ... like... official?" Phoebe asked.

Joey and Rachel nodded, smiling. Ross returned, handing out what he bought.

It was Phoebe's slot to sing in the coffee shop, so she got up with her guitar and proclaimed that her latest song was about a new love.

"Step over Chandler and Monica,

Joey and Rachel have shacked up too,

When friends get together,

It's always Ross who doesn't have a clue."

Ross' glaring look made Phoebe quickly change the song. She began to sing her favourite, "Smelly Cat."

When you fall in love you can never keep your hands off each other, but every time Joey and Rachel cuddled up closer or held each other's hands tighter, Ross almost turned green with pure envy. He wanted Charlie here. He needed Charlie here. It was so typical that she was working right now. Sure, Joey and Rachel weren't making it blindly obvious and hadn't kissed once in Ross' presence but Ross knew Rachel. He knew how Rachel buried herself further into her loved-one's chest when she particularly happy, he'd seen her smile that way at his jokes once. Ross couldn't deny that it hurt, she was meant to be his Rachel not Joey's. He knew that he'd have to put all his efforts into Charlie, and yes, of course he liked Charlie, he liked her very much. He'd never seen Joey this happy before, so anything making his best friend this happy surely should make him happy too. Even to Ross, Joey and Rachel seemed an almost perfect match.

A while later the coffee shop's door opened. Charlie entered and walked up to Ross and sat on his lap.

"Hey." Ross said kissing her lightly. He couldn't remember ever being this glad to see someone.



Rachel, watching Ross cuddle up to Charlie found a green monster of her own start to creep up. Rachel had seen many of Ross' girlfriends come and go, but none had been so compatible with him than Charlie. She'd thought that Ross would always hold a place in his heart for her, but maybe, with Charlie now on the scene, she'd be faded out of the picture. At least she still had Joey, she thought, kissing him passionately in a bid to get rid of the jealousy emerging inside her.