A/N 1 - Thank you 'Ross Geller' for beta reading this one!

A/N 2 - update of 'Before you walked in' coming soon...for those who were asking :P


Rachel's POV contd. from last chapter -

Time passed by even faster than I imagined and now Angie was three years old. Emma and my two boys took really good care of her. For some time I almost forgot Angel was a special child or needed special attention. Everything was that normal.

Ross was slowly climbing the ladder of success in his career and I was going through the same in mine. His name was appearing in many science magazines, his papers getting published in several journals and he was invited as a guest lecturer to many reputed universities. He was on the judging panel for science Olympiad this year and we all went there with him. Ryan and Chris were rooting for the road trip with our new Porsche, and eventually we gave in. Once we reached there, Ross was completely busy with his colleagues and people from his world that lived and loved science! Even Emma was so smitten by the overall atmosphere there which left me in no doubt that she will be following her father's footsteps. Angel was however cranky all the time, and it was something so unusual for my baby. I noticed her breathing would get shallow during her naps and even during nights. I started getting panicked but Ross was too busy to notice it or maybe because he was with us only for few hours in the night to notice anything. I could have taken her to some local physician but then again that doctor would not know her case history. Also, shallow breathing was not new with her as she was born with weak lungs.

After we came back home, we immediately took her to her pediatrician.

"How is my cutest patient?" Dr. Shepherd (A/N yup Grey's anatomy fame) asked Angel. She replied with her best cute smile.

"Our regular appointment is one week later. So what brings you here Mr. and Mrs. Geller?"

That was directed to us, to which I replied.

"Actually we were out of town last week, and since on the trip, Angel is been really sick. She would not even eat her favorite food, would not have her favorite juice or chocolate milk and her breathing, I mean while breathing she is, she can't (I stammered, and choked as I was on the verge of crying)" Ross completed the rest of the sentence.

"Doctor, Angel never had trouble in sleeping but since last week, she wakes up several times in her sleep, complaining about being thirsty, and then would not even drink two sips. Even her breathing is with a noise."

Dr. Shepherd went silent for a brief moment. My heart was already going erratic with all the tension and thinking what he had to say.

"You should have consulted me before planning on a road trip with her, Mr. Geller."

There, he confirmed we were the culprits. We were the reason our daughter was in pain right now.

"Why do you say that doctor?" Ross asked.

"Because she is born with congenital heart and lung problems. I don't think I need to remind you that." His tone was obviously blaming. He continued.

"Exposure to different atmosphere could be dangerous to her. Even pollutants are different when you travel from one city to other these days. You never know what could cause harm, especially when your child is so naive to all this."

His words were like hearing a death sentence to me. In last few months I and Ross completely forgot that our youngest child was not as strong as our other children. She needed special care, special attention and we failed there.

Probably to console me, looking at my devastated face, Dr. Shepherd changed his tune.

"Mrs. Geller I have known both of you over the years and have seen how great you have been with her. It is just we have to be extra careful if we want her to live a long, healthy life. We will run few tests and a chest scan just to be sure everything is normal, and please don't panic; your child will be safe. Just try to not leave the city or at least not take her with you anywhere else. We never know what kind of atmosphere would harm her."


After that day however, I tried to make time for her as much as possible. I knew raising a child with autism is a constant challenge and its mother has to be a constant pillar of support both emotionally as well as physically for the baby. Of course Ross was equally devoted to all his children which made it easier to tackle my less attention towards them.

I did not know what I was doing in the office, and if I concentrated at all, but judging my boss's reactions and appreciations, I guess I was unconsciously managing my work well.


Soon it was the month of November. Another year was about to end. Everyone was gearing up for Christmas and the new years' and of course we were preparing for Hanukkah as well. I went to work as a regular day that day, when I got another challenging situation to face.

"Rachel, Mr. Peterson has called you in the meeting room 622." Maria informed me. Mr. Peterson was our area lead and was on a visit to our office that week.

I saw my boss, Kate, and Mr. Peterson already seated.

"Hello Mr. Peterson."

"Hello Rachel. I must I am impressed with the way you manage your work and the new team we handed to you last year. So I am sure you will do full justice to this new post."

Wait a minute, new post? Looking at my puzzled face, Kate, my boss said,

"Rachel, we are having difficult time at our office in Chicago, as you know. So we were thinking to ask you if you would like to take over the post of office-lead there."

I still did not say anything. What should I say? This was unexpected. Here I thought I might get fired soon because of working so flexibly and here they offered me a promotion? A lucrative one at that?

Judging my silence as a hint of negotiation, Mr. Peterson offered, "In case we did not made it clear, this post will give you 20% salary hike."

I came home and was utterly confused. How was I going to tell Ross? What would we do? What about kids? What about Angel? We were not supposed to leave New York for her sake.

It did not end there though. When Ross got home that evening,

"You will never guess what happened today." He greeted me with a kiss, more lingering one than usual.

"What?" I was still in the trance of that kiss. Seriously, nothing like being in the arms of your love, and when that love is your husband, life is heaven!

"I got a permanent job offer from university of Chicago with a 30% salary hike!"


A/N 3 - so parenting is complicated eh? What would they do? Relocate and take risk with Angel or give up on incredible career opportunity?

Story getting wrapped in next chapter, most likely :) leave reviews, silent readers..