Hey here's my new chapter thanks for your reviews. Anyway enjoy and if you have any suggestions don't hesitate to ask.
Chapter 7
Family Get Togethers
It was morning and the whole gang were at Central Perk drinking coffee just talking about whatever. Ross was going over some stuff in his briefcase to make sure he had what he needed. Monica looks at Ross and says "Hey Ross." He looks over "Yeah Mon."
Monica the responds "Mom and Dad called today they want all of us to go to a party at the house." Ross looks at her questionably "What do you mean?" Chandler says "Unless she was talking in some sort of code I'd assume she would want you to go to Massapequa."
Ross says "I know but why." Monica shrugs "Don't know but they said dress nice." Phoebe jumps in "Hey Maybe it's a party for Ross." Ross looks at her confused and Phoebe responds "Think about it makes sense Ross comeback from the army they have to throw a party."
Ross throws his head back and groans "Well count me out guys." Joey says "Come on Ross think about seeing your family again and the food plus the only time you go out is well never." Rachel jumps in "Come on Ross it could be fun."
Ross groans "Fine but if I'm uncomfortable with something that I know will happen I'm leaving." Phoebe claps her hands "Great can't wait." Ross looks at his watch and gets up "Gotta go." Chandler looks over "Gotta get ready for work?" Ross looks at him confused "I am ready this is how I go to work."
They look at Ross and see he's a black shirt with his camouflage jacket, jeans and combat. Rachel says. "This is what you've been wearing to work." Ross nods "Yeah." Chandler jumps in "What about your James Bond outfit you know a suit. How come you don't wear it?"
Ross shrugs "Don't want to." Monica cuts in "And they're fine with it." Ross nods "As long as I do my job they don't care. Which I'm gonna be late for see ya." He leaves and the scene fades into the forests Kosovo.
Ross and Shadow are walking through the woods trying to find a town or something. They notice that it's starting to get dark. Ross sees a small cave big enough for him and Shadow and looks inside "This should be good for a night huh." Shadow only barks as his response.
Ross nods "I'll take that as a yes." Sets his backpack full of supplies and rifle down and sits down himself. He goes through his backpack and pulls out a canteen or water and drinks it. Then he offers some to Shadow which he accepts.
Ross then looks around then breathes deeply "This is a beautiful place huh Shadow. Too bad it's at war." They then hear a shot from a distance and both turn to that direction. "What was that? Whatever it is I'm gonna go find out." He gets up and picks up his rifle and backpack. "Come on." He starts running and Shadow follows. Scene fades to Monica's apartment all are ready and are just waiting for Ross.
Monica looked at her watch and sighed in frustration "Where is he isn't he supposed to be mister punctual."
Chandler then comes over to comfort her "Don't worry honey he probably just got caught in traffic." She looks over "From across the street." "Well hallways nowadays can get very crowded." Chandler tries to joke.
Phoebe then suddenly remembers something "Wait has anyone actually given thought to why he didn't wanna go." They all shake their heads wondering why. Joey then responds "I got it." They all turn to him seeing him eat a sandwich and when he sees them staring at him. "What?" He asks. Chandler then responds "You've got what?" He then holds up his sandwich "This I've been looking for it I forgot it was in Mons fridge."
Just then Ross walks in wearing a suit with his hair gelled. Monica then goes and starts poking him. "What took you so long?" He says "Sorry I had to convince Shadow he couldn't come along." Monica the responds "That shouldn't take to long." Ross then looks at her "It's like convincing Joey he can't eat pizza for a week." Chandler nods "Oh that makes more sense."
Monica then gets her bag "Ok now let's go come on move it." All groan and start to walk slowly Ross goes to Monica "Try like this." He then starts to shout vigorously "MOVE IT MAGETS OR YOU'LL BE RUNNING TWENTY LAPS." They all start to leave quickly. Ross then smirks "That's how it's done." They start to leave and the scene fades back to the forests of Kosovo.
Ross and Shadow are walking trying to find the source of the gun shot. He is walking until he hears some chatter he can't quite understand so he crouches and turns to see on one side uniformed soldiers getting their rifles ready to shoot. And on the other side more uniformed men only their uniforms were dirtier along with women and children all looked scared to death.
Ross looked closer at what appeared to be prisoners of some sort and saw they had KLA patches on their arms. Ross suddenly realized this was an execution so he fired some shots at the soldiers to get their attention. Some were hit and fell down others cried out in pain they all turned their attention to the woods trying to find the source.
Some of the civilians decided to take the chance and run as well as the men. So the soldiers turned to shoot them but before they could Ross pops out and fires more shots to distract them. They all decide to run Ross tells Shadow to follow them so he takes off then after Ross empty's a clip he runs off in the same direction. The screen then fades out.
The gang are walking up to the house the house and already notice the valley of cars. Rachel then turns to Ross and she notices he seems upset and asks "Ross are you ok?" He nods "Yeah I'm fine." She doesn't believe him "You sure cause you don't look like it." He takes a deep breath "Just want this to be over." Rachel was about to pursue this more but the door open revealing a happy Jack and Judy.
Judy goes to hug Ross "Oh Ross sweetie it's been too long." Ross responds "Good and I came the other Mom."
Jack jumps in "Well with you in the army we didn't know if your last visit would be the last time we saw ya." Judy smacks her husband on the chest "Jack." "What I'm just saying." He says to defend himself. "Anyway come inside."
They enter and see many of Ross and Monica's relatives. Joey sees a table of food table "Ah yes food I'm starving." Then he goes off to the food after that some of Ross's relatives come over. Ross goes to hug his aunt "Aunt Irene it's good to see you."
The rest of the night goes on with the gang enjoying the party except for Ross.
Throughout the night Ross is getting bombarded with questions such as. "How was the trip?" Or "How many medals do you have?" And even "How many did you kill."
Ross is now currently surrounded by his relatives when the gang sees him and looks irritated. Rachel asks "Does anyone think Ross is I don't know a bit on edge."
Joey looks over and sees Ross coming over "Naw he seems fine."
Ross comes over and passes by them to head to the kitchen and the follow. They see him with a infuriating look and in his hand is an empty glass then suddenly it shatters into a bunch pieces and starts to take angry breaths.
Chandler decides to comment "Well he seems cool as a cucumber." Ross takes a deep huff of air "Chandler make another lame joke or even a good one." Pulls out a knife from the drawer. "This goes in your neck."
Chandler then gulps by the dark tone in Ross's voice. Monica cuts in "R-Ross you're ah j-joking right."
Ross takes a deep breath again "Sorry it's just I'm a little on edge from all the questions. Chandler was about to respond but shut his mouth.
Phoebe asks "What are they asking that's so bad?" Joey nods "Yeah pretty sure it should be easy." Ross then says "You think it's that easy. It's not."
Rachel then goes over and puts a hand on his cheek. "Ross I'm sorry you went through what you did but just tell them and they will stop." Ross nods "Your right." Then goes over Monica "Looks like you'll get to be the favorite." Then walks into the living room.
They all look at each other wondering what he meant then they hear someone tapping a piece of silverware on a glass and check it out. And it's none other than Ross getting everyone's attention.
Ross then holds up a glass with wine in it " Hello I'm Ross and this party is for me because of the banner hanging there." Points to it. "All of you have asked me a bunch of questions like. "How many medals I got" Or "How as my trip." And even how many I killed." Puts the glass down.
Ross takes a deep breath "I got no medals for starters except bullets through skin and bones and knives. And I saw innocent Men fight and die. I also saw women and children either shot, stabbed or even burned to death. People crying out to god or their mommy. I saw kids who witnessed their parents deaths first hand. Parents cradling their dead babies believing they're alive still. Lives were destroyed and a religion persecuted for no reason like uh like lambs for slaughter.
Ross starts to tear up. "I saw a lot of my friends die for what they believed in or those who survived never got acknowledged. And each one of you is a piece a crap to me for asking those questions. You're all celebrating my glorious return from a glorious war well it wasn't. It was the one of the worst experiences of my life. To me this party is disgracing their deaths. THEY'RE ALL DEAD. I'm still here like the punch line of of Chandler's bad jokes. Where is their medals their party their anything showing their sacrifices. Nowhere you're just a bunch of SOB's enjoying the good life."
He starts to leave "Enjoy the party you ignorant fools." Leaves.
Rachel is shocked and has tears in her eyes from what Ross just said about the war. And she somehow feels guilty for he went through that. So then goes after him and the scene fades out and into Kosovo.
(This Flashback is similar to the first one where Ross puts a knife to Chandler's neck)
People are running away from the shots being fired and the dogs being heard. Ross turns around to fire the Serbians and dogs coming at them. And Shouts for people to keep running and picks a little girl up and says I'm Albanian to keep going and so does he.
He eventually stops then hears a crack and sees the same girl behind the tree scared to death. He puts his gun down and calms her down in Albanian and gives her a chocolate bar. He finds out her name is Vlora and she points behind him frightened. He turns with his gun and sees his own dog he immediately puts it down.
He then pets him "Sorry about that boy." He turns back and see's Vlora who is still scared. "Relax he's harmless." Shadow takes a step forward but she takes a step back.
Ross goes to her and takes her hand slowly. "His name is Shadow and he won't hurt you I promise." He slowly brings her hand to Shadow's snout and she starts to smile.
She then starts to pet him "Good doggie." she says and Shadow licks her and she giggles. Ross gets up and takes her hand "Come on we have to find shelter." And they head off. And the scene fades to Ross's apartment he is on the couch just thinking the T.V. is on but he doesn't pay any attention.
Just then the door opens and Rachel comes in and sits down next to him. "Hey" she says.
He looks over with sad eyes "Hey. How was the party?"
She says "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that Ross."
He shrugs. "Ah who cares about a bunch of relatives I barely see."
She shakes her head "Not about that." He looks down tears already in his eyes. "I can't begin to imagine what you went through and if you ever need someone to talk to whether you want to or just a shoulder to cry or lean on I'm here."
He perks up at this and smiles towards her but after that he just breaks down crying. Rachel gives him a hug and hugs her back and despite the pain he's feeling he can't help but feel better to be in her arms like this.
After what felt like hours they break and Ross just leans back but what surprises him is Rachel putting her head on his chest and hugs his torso. She also starts to tear up as well. Ross wraps an arm around her and subconsciously caresses her hair. And they both drift off to sleep after an emotional evening.
Sorry for the long wait had a bit of a writers block review please and thank you.
