Authors Note

So here is the second chapter, still not a huge amount of action, but it is coming! I just had to set the scene first, plus I kind of like the mushy stuff. Hope you all enjoy. Thanks to those who read and reviewed. It is very much appreciated.

You Were Mine

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: The characters featured in this story do not belong to me, but to Bright, Kaufmann and Crane.

Ross and Rachel left for their honeymoon the following day, leaving Emma with Monica and Chandler. They were only going away for a week as Rachel didn't want to leave Emma for too long even though she knew she would be well looked after by her friends. Also it would be Christmas in only ten days time. The newlyweds were headed for Florida to enjoy some winter sun, returning a few days before Christmas which as usual they would celebrate at Chandler and Monica's.

On Christmas morning Rachel woke early and climbed out of bed to look out of the window. Snow was falling gently covering the normally busy streets in a thick white carpet. As she watched from the window the sun began to rise in the east in a great ball of fire reflecting dazzlingly off the snow. She heard a movement behind her as Ross woke. She whispered to him and he quickly joined her at the window where they watched the beautiful sunrise together. Presently they heard noises coming from Emma's room and together they went to wish her a happy Christmas, even though she didn't really know what was going on. Rachel lifted her daughter out of her crib and carried her through to their bedroom. There they quickly climbed back in bed and helped their daughter open her stocking. She was only ten months old and seemed far more interested in the wrapping paper than the actual presents but nothing seemed to matter on this perfect morning. Their daughter's first Christmas and their first together as a married couple.

Later in the morning the family went to Chandler and Monica's apartment where as usual Monica was freaking out about the dinner and Chandler was making it worse by cracking jokes and winding her up. Everyone knew by now that this was part of their Christmas traditions and took no notice. As usual dinner was excellent thanks to Monica's cooking skills. This year, Monica had let Phoebe make the dessert and it was far more successful than Rachel's English trifle had been all those years ago. They laughed now over that memory and the many other funny things that had happened to them over the years, while Steve wanted to know all their stories. After dinner, when the washing up had been done and everyone was settled on the couch or on the floor the serious business of present opening began. Emma babbled excitedly as Rachel helped her open her presents and Monica and Chandler shared a secret smile that next year they too would be helping their child open their presents. When Emma had opened all her presents Rachel put her down for her nap and the adults opened their presents.

Joey watched Rachel longingly as she cuddled in the big armchair with Ross as they opened their presents. He had wanted to get her something really special for Christmas as he wanted to every year, but he realised he couldn't for fear of arousing suspicion. The others would think it strange. Instead he got her a pretty silver necklace that he knew she would like. She seemed pleased with his present and he hoped she wouldn't swap it for something else. Later she came over to him. "Joey, thanks for the necklace, it's gorgeous. I love it."

"You won't swap it then?" he asked anxiously.

"No, never."

"Good, I wanted to get you something you would like, and that you would wear often."

"Yeah, I'll wear it all the time. Did you like your present?" she asked. Rachel had gotten Joey the DVD set of all three Die Hard films.

"Oh yeah, you know Die Hard is my favourite film, I'll have to have a marathon day and watch all three." He grinned.

"Oh good, well I better go fetch Emma, she'll probably want her nappy changing." As Rachel left him, Joey looked after her. It seemed that everyday it got harder to keep his feelings secret. Each day he wanted to tell her how he felt, but he knew he never would. He loved her but he wouldn't spoil her happiness with Ross. He couldn't hurt her or Ross like that. They were like his family and he would never do that to family. She was a great mother to Emma as well. She had taken to the role like a duck to water and he knew that in the not too distant future she and Ross would probably want to have more children. Oh well he would have to get used to it and get through it the best he could just like everything else. As he looked around the room, it seemed he was the only one without anyone special by his side. However Joey wasn't one for moping around so he determined to make the best of a bad situation.

So another year passed and Ross and Rachel's love seemed to grow stronger everyday. Rachel realised that she was happier than she had ever been and her and Ross were getting along wonderfully. After that first Christmas they had settled into a steady routine. Rachel was only working part time in order to spend more time with her daughter, so it was usually Ross who got up first to shower and get breakfast ready. While he was doing this, Rachel would attend to Emma's needs and get her ready for the day. If she was going to be working she would drop her off at Ross's parents on her way to work. If she had the day off she would often take Emma to the park or go shopping. She and Monica spent a lot of time together especially as Monica's pregnancy progressed, but Rachel always made sure to be home before Ross so she could make him dinner and spend as much time with him as possible.

Monica and Chandler's baby was born on 2 June. They decided to call their daughter Katy, and so another addition to the friends' family had arrived. After the baby was born and Monica was on maternity leave Rachel, Monica and often Phoebe as well would spend at least part of each day together. They went shopping, to the park, or just sat at home and gossiped. The only problem was that even though Monica had always wanted to be a mother she didn't take to the role as well as Rachel had done, and though she loved her daughter totally she didn't want to spend all her time stuck at home with her and when her maternity leave was up she was quite happy to go back to full time work while Rachel looked after both Emma and Katy on her days off.

Rachel realised that she was enjoying her work less and less and just wanted to be at home with the children, she had also started to think that she would like to have another child. One day she mentioned this to Ross when they were relaxing after dinner. "Ross, could we talk about something?"

"Yeah course, you don't have to ask you know," he said teasingly "what's up?"

"Well, lately when I'm at work I've felt that I really don't want to be there, I just want to be here with Emma and Katy, and I was wondering, do you think we could manage if I gave up work?"

"Are you sure you want to give up work?" he questioned "You used to love it so much."

"Yeah I know, but I just don't care anymore, I mean I'm still interested in fashion, but I'm not really bothered if Ralph Lauren has a certain sweater on their shelves or if I should order more halternecks in lemon yellow. It seems like a fantasy world and the real world is here with the children. What do you think?"

"We could probably manage without your wage, but things would be a bit tighter around here. I don't mind if you don't and it would save Mom and Dad looking after the kids all the time."

"Yeah, I'd love to, you know my heart's just not in it any more Ross, and well there is something else, I, um, kinda…"

"What?"

"I want another baby."

"I'm so glad you said that, I was hoping you might. I want another baby too."

"So, are we trying to get pregnant?"

"Yeah, I guess. Wanna start now?"

"Of course!"

So Ross and Rachel began trying for another baby although they didn't tell their friends that's what they were doing. At the same time she also gave up her job and began looking after Emma and Katy full time. Emma was now just over one and a half years old, while Katy was just four months. While Ross and Rachel's relationship went from strength to strength, so did Phoebe and Steve's. They had moved in together just after Christmas and for both of them it was the most serious relationship they had ever been in. They had both decided to take it slowly and they found themselves growing closer all the time. The only problem between them was that Steve had confessed to Phoebe that he was infertile and so they could never have children of their own. At first Phoebe had been quite upset about this, but being a level headed person she had come around to the idea of adoption and she now felt that they could offer a home to a child who had no parents like herself. However this was further in the future as they felt they needed more time together before they launched themselves into that challenge.

By the time Ross and Rachel's first wedding anniversary came around Rachel had discovered she was pregnant. She kept the news to herself at first, hugging her precious secret. On the morning of their anniversary Ross woke first. He untangled himself from the still sleeping Rachel and went to make them a pot of tea. When he returned to the room, she was still sleeping and as he looked at her, arms and legs flung out across the bed it hit him again how beautiful she was and how lucky he was to have her. He leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. She stirred and opened her eyes looking up at him. Once she was awake they kissed more passionately before they broke apart and just lay together savouring each other's company. Ross reached over to his bedside table and handed her a flat package. She tore off the wrapping to reveal a silver ring with tiny little gems dotted around it. She smiled at Ross and then kissed him again. "It's perfect. Thank you." He slipped it onto her finger and she gazed at it sparkling. Then she reached over a brought out his present. He unwrapped it eagerly and found a new book that he had wanted and a tie with a dinosaur pattern on it. "Do you like it?" Rachel asked him anxiously.

"Yeah, thanks Rach. I can wear this to work."

"Well that's not really your main present, this is." Rachel said mysteriously as she grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. She smiled up at him, her eyes full of happiness. "I'm pregnant!"

"Oh Rach that's fantastic, are you sure?"

"Yeah I took a test, but I'll do another one if you want."

"No I believe you. We'll have to get you to the doctor."

"Yeah, but that can wait 'til tomorrow. Ross, we don't have to tell everyone yet do we?"

"No of course not, we can keep it our secret for a while."

The next day Rachel visited the doctor with Ross by her side. Her pregnancy was confirmed and her due date calculated to be 22 July. She also got an appointment to have an ultrasound the following week to which Ross once again accompanied her. As she climbed up on the bed at the hospital where she would have her scan, Rachel voiced the question that had been worrying her ever since she had discovered she was pregnant. "Ross will we have enough money for this new baby?"

"Yeah, don't worry honey, we've got some saved up, and we've still got all Emma's old stuff, so we won't have to buy all new like we did before. Everything's gonna be okay, you'll see."

Even with Ross's assurances, Rachel still had a funny niggling feeling that all would not be well. She just couldn't put her finger on it, so she decided to stop worrying about it for the time being. Just then, the doctor entered to do the scan. Rachel lay very still as the gel was spread over her tummy, holding tightly to Ross's hand. Suddenly they heard the baby's heartbeat pulsing on the monitor and saw the movement of the baby, but it sounded different to before when she had had the scan for Emma. The doctor looked closely at the screen before looking at the expectant couple before her. "Is everything alright?" Ross questioned worriedly.

"Yes everything's fine," the doctor assured them, "In fact this scan shows that you are expecting twins! Congratulations."

"What are you sure? Twins? Really?" asked Rachel.

"Yes, definitely twins, now if you listen carefully you can hear the two heartbeats quite separately and if you look at the monitor, there's one baby and there's the other." She pointed out the babies on the monitor while Ross and Rachel looked in amazement and shock. "Now I realise this will probably be a shock to you, but there's no reason to foresee any problems. The only thing is that twins tend to be born slightly prematurely, but it's nothing to worry about at the moment."

Rachel and Ross left the hospital in a daze, they still couldn't quite get their heads around the fact that there would be two babies, but they knew that together they would be fine. "When do you wanna tell everyone?" Ross asked Rachel.

"I think we should leave it until after Christmas, get that over and done with first." Rachel answered "Now I'd better go and collect Emma and Katy from your parents and you'd better get off to work."

"Are you gonna be okay looking after them both by yourself all day?"

"Of course I am. Ross, I'm not ill, I'm just pregnant and I expect Phoebe will come over later anyway. We're taking the kids to see Santa at Macy's."

"What about Monica?"

"Oh she has to work this evening, but she's got this afternoon off, we're meeting her from the restaurant at 2.30."

"Right well look after yourself, and I'll see you later, give my love to Emma."

"Will do."

They kissed goodbye before Ross headed off to the university and Rachel headed for home where she found Judy playing with Emma on the couch while Katy slept in her cot.

"Oh hello Rachel dear, we were just wondering when you'd be back. They've both been very good all morning haven't you precious?"

"Hey mummy, pick me up, Katy been crying, grandma play bricks with me."

"Hey darling, you've been good then have you, that makes a change. Come on lets get you some lunch and then we're going with Auntie Phoebe and Auntie Monica to visit Santa."

"Well I must get going Rachel, see you soon. Bye precious."

Soon Phoebe arrived, bringing Joey with her and they all set off to collect Monica from the restaurant, Rachel pushing Emma's pushchair and Phoebe carrying Katy in the baby sling. As they walked along the pavement laughing and chattering, Joey thought how well motherhood suited Rachel and she seemed even happier than usual today. He wondered what it would be like if she was the mother of his children rather than Ross's, it was something he often thought about and as he watched her with her daughter and her niece that familiar longing hit him once again. He wondered if anyone knew the pain that it caused him to see her so happy with Ross. However he didn't begrudge her happiness and he was grateful that if he couldn't be with her then there was no-one better than Ross to look after her. He also valued the strong and trusting friendship that had developed between himself and Rachel over the years. He would never do anything to jeopardise that. If he couldn't have her love at least he could have her friendship.