Hey guys, so, um I guess I lied. I got a little bored studying and had this on my mind. This chapter is kind of just filler though, explaining some things that happened, still I hope you enjoy it =)
And thanks again for all the great reviews (and well wishes for my finals!!) they really are my favorite!! And good luck to everyone else who said they had finals.
Just some feedback, to the feedback haha! 'RachelGreen' Thanks for noticing the change in Ross, I felt like the Ross of this time maybe would not have freaked out, since they were obviously still in love, and he would have done anything to get her back at the time (well except accepting full responsibility for their breakup as we learned haha) and thanks 'dmtennis and Shan, Im working really hard to try and keep them someone realistic, and my favorite part is writing what they must have been thinking.
Ross entered apartment 20 to find a sleeping Rachel on the couch. As he glanced around the apartment he noted that No one else appeared to be home.
It had been a few months since Ross had found out about the pregnancy, about two to be exact, today marked the day of Rachel's 17th week, and they were going to find out what sex the baby was.
Everyday this was one step closer to being more and more real.
He has never been more excited, well except when Ben was being born. Still something about this was so different, even if he and Rachel weren't together…this made them concrete, something they would always have and share together.
It had been difficult to deal with in the beginning, for both of them.
When Ross went to his and Bonnie's room that night after Rachel had told him, he had a lot on his mind. He wondered what fate had in store for the two ex lovers, and if this all was right. The entire time Bonnie tried to get his attention, to do anything to reaffirm his interests in her. She knew something was up immediately and questioned him. He couldn't lie to her, she had done nothing wrong.
And so he told her.
"Bonnie, somethings come up with Rachel" He began uneasily, avoiding her eye contact
"What do you mean somethings come up?" She questioned follow by a confused laugh…"Are you two back together or something?"
"Well no--" Ross began looking down
"Well whats the problem then?" Bonnie asked concerned
Poor Bonnie, she was a victim to all of this. She had no idea what she was getting into when she had first agreed to go out with Ross Geller.
"Uhm" Ross cleared his throat uncomfortably " Bonnie, I just, I hm, I cant be with anyone right now, I have to be there for her" He paused "I hope you can understand that"
Bonnie sat on the bed they were sharing speachless "Ross, I think I need to leave"
"No, really you don't have to" Ross protested
"No..No I need to go"
With that she was gone, Ross hadn't seen her since…and to this day, 2 months later he still felt bad, but what could you do? He knew that he and Rachel weren't back together, but he also knew the Bonnie situation would make things extremely complicated. Well, more so than they already were, if that were even possible.
After they returned home from the beach they spent the entire day together talking about the new baby. The two of them even had a play date with Ben. Ross thought that it would be good for her to take care of Ben some more and help boost her confidence. If you didn't know any better you would have thought they were a couple again.
That's what one would think anyway, and thought and reality were certainly not the same things.
It didn't take Ross too long to realize that he was still in love with Rachel. Perhaps he thought that it occurred the second she told him that she was carrying his child. Whatever had happened over the past few months had him looking at Rachel in a new light,…well, different than he had seen her in the months after their break up.
She was beautiful, sure that hadn't changed, but she now had this glow about her. One that Ross was finding increasingly harder to resist.
Countless times he had wanted to tell her how he truly felt, but he just couldn't bring himself to doing so. Shortly after they returned home Rachel had told him that maybe it was best they weren't together still…she knew how difficult a break up could be on a child. How could he possibly bring up the thought of them getting back together.
Still, things had changed between he and Rachel, and he could feel it in the air, for some reason he sensed that maybe she still had feelings for him too. Her words said one thing, but her body language and actions always seemed to speak differently to him.
Or maybe it was just wishful thinking.
Nonetheless one conversation in particular was forever present in the back of his mind. They had been home a week or so and talking about the possibility of having this baby.
"Ugh Ross How am I going to raise a baby!" Rachel let out aggravated "I KNOW NOTHING"
Ross tried to ease the mood "Youre telling me" he said seriously, trying to catch her off guard.
Rachel smirked at him before swatting him on the arm "Shut up!" she laughed. "Ohh Ross, we always get ourselves into the most interesting situations don't we?"
Ross nodded his head
"Well" Rachel began thoughtfully "If Im having this baby, Im glad its with you…because well…I mean, its you"
Ross looked at her and smiled before patting her on the leg "Me too Rach, me too"
That one lingering conversation had left him feeling some sort of hope that this would all work out okay. Or she just could have been being nice, and even if she was sincere, it didn't necessarily mean that she still had feeling for him.
As he glanced over her sleeping figure his eyes were drawn to her now visible baby bump. She had been sleeping in his Frankie Says Relax shirt, it hugging her belly tightly. This gave Ross the chills, he was glad she still slept in it, even if they weren't together..it was a part of him…a part of him that she had kept.
His mind then drifted back to the day that they arrive home from the beach. The day they told everyone the news.
The six were all in Monicas apartment hanging out. Ross and Rachel had been noticeably close that evening, going to different corners of the room…to be alone, they didn't realize at the time that this was nothing more than talking about their situation of course.
"Okay, what is it?" Chandler exclaimed "You guys have been keeping to yourselves all night…"
"Lobsters" Phoebe mouthed to Monica, getting a joking glance in return. Monica herself was eager to see if they would break the news.
Rachel eyed Ross in a knowing way. She reached over and squeezed his hand nervously "Now or never" she whispered. That seemed to be a common phrase she had told herself often over the past week.
Ross squeezed her hand reassuringly , and led her to the center of Monicas spotless apartment. The two then stood in front of the familiar coffee table in front of each other.
"Guys…" Ross began "Rachel and I need to tell you something"
"Did you build a big hole too?!" Joey exclaimed "Because if you did…and yours was bigger than mine--"
Joey was shut up as he felt a hand smack the back of his head "Keep it to yourself Joe" Chandler stated causing Joey to turn around.
Ross just smirked "Anyway…" He looked down at Rachel one last time before he continued to speak. She was of course, glowing already. "We uh, We're…we're having a baby" a boyish grin came to his face as he wrapped his arm around Rachels shoulder. He felt a soft hand wrap around his waist.
The room was silent for a few moments before Joey's eyes grew large "Wait! When did you guys get back together"
Rachel laughed "We um, we didn't" she cleared her throat. She knew in the back of her head that this was the question on everyone's mind. "But, Im pregnant, and we*re having this baby together" She said softly, feeling Ross begin to rub her arm up and down.
"Wow" Phoebe said amazed, and shocked. " So are you guys, like, is this a good thing?" she asked innocently unsure of how to word her question.
Rachel then glanced up at Ross and slowly began to nod her head until she was able to do this manner in a more normal pace. "I, well, we think so" she replied "I mean, its terrifying, but ummm…" she had lost her words.
"Sweetie we know" Monica replied coming over to hug her friend, causing Ross to drop his embrace.
"Well, congratulations man" Chandler followed suit, padding Ross on the shoulder.
The minutes to follow had been tense, as no one really knew what to say. They each had too many questions that they were afraid to ask with both Ross and Rachel in the room.
After some time Rachel left to take a shower, it was then that their friends opened up more.
"So a baby, wow" Phoebe said out of no where once she had heard the water running in the bathroom.
"I know" Ross couldn't help but let a small smile out. "Mine and Rachels baby"
"How do you feel?" Monica asked concerned.
"Nervous": Ross replied sheepishly
"No, about Rachel" Monica corrected
"Nervous" he replied the same, before smiling " I mean, whats there to say…I don't I don't think we're getting back together any time soon…but I mean its Rachel, and its our baby, so it has to be right…right?"
Monica smiled at her brother "Do you want to get back together."
Ross tilted his head "I mean, its Rachel…you know?"
That was all he needed to say before everyone got it.
"Wow, Rachel and a baby" Phoebe said as she shook her head "Cant picture it…I mean this is a baby…one of us is having a baby!"
"Uhh Pheebs" Ross laughed uneasily "I already have a baby"
"Yeah a baby with Carol, but not with one of us!" she rolled her eyes at him in a 'duh' manner.
"Phoebes right though" Monica began "This baby is going to be around all the time now" A grin spread across her face "Man, Im going to be the best Aunt EVER"
"So these babies…do they…do they eat a lot?" Joey asked concerned
"Joe, you have like a million little sisters…its not like you've never seen a baby before" Chandler replied.
"Im just askin'!" Joey whined.
"Don't worry I*ll still make sure theres plenty of food for you" Monica whispered into his ear before shooting the others a silly look.
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Ross was shaken from his thoughts as he heard Rachel stir from her spot, though not completely awake yet. He stared at her for a few more minutes as she fell back into her slumber. She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. He would be lying if he said he didn't miss moments like this. He loved to watch her sleep.
When then were together he would spent countless moments watching her inhale and exhale. Sometimes in her slumber she would smile suddenly, and Ross couldn't help but hope she was dreaming about him. Now when he looked at her he felt those same feelings, he hoped that someone deep within Rachel she was still thinking about him.
Sure they had their problems, but they were Ross and Rachel, and it would be worth it in the end.
Ross checked his watch, Rachels appointment was in a half an hour. He knew he better get her up now or else they wouldn't make it in time.
He sat down next to where she was laying, and placed his hands on her baby bump, rubbing it gently. He then leaned down to kiss her stomach sweetly, as he pulled up he noticed that Rachel was looking at him sleepily.
"I didn't know you were up" he whispered bashful.
"I didn't want to interrupt your moment" she smiled, her voice cracking as she just woke up "Im excited" she admitted remembering what they would be doing today.
Ross grinned that dopish grin that always made her smile "Me too" he paused "We better get going though, Your appointment is soon"
Rachel nodded her head "Okay, I just need to change my shirt first…" She paused running her fingers through her hair "…Annd fix my hair"
Ross laughed. Typical Rachel Green.
As always please review =) I should have another update sometime on Saturday Im thinking!