Hi lovelies. Thank you so much for the reviews. I know I say it all the time, but I just can't help it :p And thanks to all of them who supports my work, you don't know how much it means to me. It keep me going, really.

Disclaimer; I do not own Friends, but can I wish I did?


What Love Can Do

Chapter 6.

--

Friends are like balloons.

Once you let them go, you'll never get them back.

--

Ross looked at his watch again.

It was 10:12.

More than a half an hour since the time Rachel usually showed up.

Maybe she'd actually been serious the day before? Maybe she'd actually meant it when she told him that she wouldn't show up? He couldn't believe if that was the truth. Was that all he meant to her?

But then he tried to convince himself that it was his own fault, that he did mean more, and that she did wanted to come, but didn't, because he had told her not to.

He didn't know which one of the things he should believe.

In many ways, it had been wonderful yesterday.

Emma had been there and they'd talked like father and daughter. He didn't get many visitors, ironically. And one of the only faithful ones, he brushed off.

Monica and Chandler hadn't even been there.

His mom and dad stepped by one day, but he had treated them the way he was treating Rachel, so they didn't show again.

All he could do was actually wait, until the clock was 12:30., 'cause that was the time when Phoebe had promised him she'd show up again.

--

"Thank you so much for this, Chandler, I really needed it" Rachel said, taking a sip of her fancy wine. She looked at him from across the table, "I rarely have fun these days. When do you have to go back to work?"

"I an hour" Chandler said. He took a bite of his lobster ravioli, and smiled at her.

She smiled right back.

"Y'know," she began, "What is Monica saying to all of this? Have she even been to the hospital yet?"

Chandler shook his head, "No" he said, "I think she's scared, but y'know… She made up with Erica and she'll try to be more down to Earth now"

"Made up with Erica?" Rachel questioned.

"Oh, you don't know…" Chandler trailed off, "They've been arguing a lot. You wouldn't actually believe that Erica is only 4., but you know… It was about some shirt, or something". He didn't really make it clear that he knew exactly what it was about, he didn't want to tell her everything.

"Oh…" Rachel smiled like the devil, "A little birdie told me about that, and I think her name was Erica… Hmm, what exactly did she say to Mon?"

"A lot of stuff…"

"Alright" Rachel said, "I may be quit guilty in that area"

"What do you mean?"

"Hmm, she asked me what I thought she should do about it, and I said to her that she should try and let her mother know that she made her own mind, and that she wanted to choose clothes for herself. Maybe she used the words that I did, I don't know if that's it, but it could happen". She giggled.

"I understand everything so much more clearer now" Chandler said, laughing along with her. Suddenly he paused and looked at her, "You seem so much more happy now, Rach. I like it"

Her eyes lit up and she gave him an insecure smile, "Really?"

"Yeah" Chandler said, "It fits you better than the Rachel I've been talking to the last three days"

"Thank you, Chandler"

"So…" he took another bite of his lobster, "How is the apartment treating you? Good enough?"

"Hmm, it's okay…" she trailed off, "I don't know. I think I'm gonna go home for the weekend, and maybe Monday and Tuesday. He doesn't want me there anyway, so there's no reason to stay there. But would it be okay if I just sometimes stayed there… A few nights?"

"That's totally okay" Chandler said, "My mom is happy to help you, you know that"

"I'm gonna call her one day and say thank you"

"That would make her happy"

--

"So, here I am, once again" Phoebe muttered, smiling happily at Ross.

"Yeah, here you are" Ross confirmed, "How's everything going?"

"Shouldn't I ask you that?"

"Maybe, but now I'm asking you"

"Joey's coming tomorrow" Phoebe told him.

"Joey?" Ross was surprised, "Why?"

"He wants to see you, he said, but I suspect something else. I think life down there wasn't exactly what he wanted it to be"

"Oh… Is he moving back?"

"I don't know" Phoebe sighed, "Maybe"

"Hmm…" Ross looked thoughtful for awhile.

"What's troubling you?" Phoebe asked, concerned.

"It's just… Rachel and I…"

"Hmm…"

"I mean, I whished she would understand that I do this for her. Did I choose to push her away? Would I do it voluntarily? No! I wouldn't! I'm doing this because she deserves someone who's not an invalid!"

"Ross, I don't actually think, that Rachel thinks that's what you are…" Phoebe begun, but Ross continued his speech.

"I mean, is she blind? I love her, but it's a waste of her precious time to be with me. It's a waste to visit me? Can't she see that?"

"Have you told her…?" Phoebe asked, "How you feel?"

"Yes!" Ross said.

"Not yelled, told?"

"Yes!" Ross said, "I mean, I think I have… I just wished that I could do something and that'd show her what I wanted… Then I wouldn't have to confront her… Isn't there something I can do…?"

Phoebe looked straight at him, "Maybe…" she trailed off, "I'm not gonna give you any ideas, because I don't have any, but if you can figure something out, then tell me. Maybe it's a good idea"

Suddenly Ross' eyes lit up and he got a dangerous smile on his face, "I know it…" he whispered.

--

Rachel dialled doctor Evans' number and waited patiently for him to pick up.

"Doctor Evans?"

"Hi, this is Rachel Green, Ross Geller's fiancé. I was just wondering… How is he doing today?"

"He's okay" doctor Evans told her, "He is actually having company right now. I thought it was you"

"No" Rachel said.

"Well, okay. Should I tell him you called?"

"Do whatever you want" Rachel said, and slammed the phone down.

He was having company!

She couldn't believe it. He was okay with other people visiting him, but not her… Never her. He didn't want her there. It was so clear to her right now, he could at least have broken up with her in a regular way, but he had to do it in a way that made her feel embarrassed. He was such a jerk sometimes.

It was like the whole ´we were on a break´-thing all over again.

It hurt so much.

She sobbed and pressed her legs tight into stomach.

She really needed something… No, she didn't need something.

She needed someone.

--

Phoebe didn't know why she'd helped him.

She didn't know why she supported the idea.

She didn't know why she supported him.

Him more than Rachel.

What justified Ross' actions? His wishes? His dreams for the future? What made him the one in charge, when he was the one lying in that bed all day? Why had she done it??

Why? Why? Why?

She knew why.

It wasn't because she loved Ross more than she loved Rachel. It wasn't because she felt sorry for him. And it definitely wasn't because he had the right to do this.

But she just had to help him.

He'd begged her. He'd told her he would love her for ever if she just did this one thing for him.

So she'd done it.

The only problem was… How was she ever gonna look into Rachel's eyes again without feeling like such a traitor?

--

"Rachel don't worry" Chandler said, "It's just phase, I think it's perfectly normal"

"But you don't get it, Chandler!" Rachel said, once again in tears in front of him, "He was having company! And he wont even have me there! It's probably his lover or something…"

Chandler couldn't help but laugh by that, "Lover? Rach; which world are you living in?"

"What do I know?" she whined.

"You two will work it out" Chandler assured her, "Don't worry!"

"All right"

Rachel looked out of the car window and they drove in silence for awhile, until Chandler parked his car against the pavement on the same street as the pre school.

"Thank you" Rachel stepped out of the car, "Are you picking up Jack and Erica?"

"No, Monica picked them up around 2." Chandler smiled.

"I guess I'll see you then" she was about to close the door, when he stopped her;

"Shall I drive you and Emma home?"

"No…" she paused for a moment and looked down the street to find their car, "We'll take our own car" she said.

"Are you gonna handle that on your own?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

The car had been there since the accident, she hadn't been able to move it, and he'd felt like it was none of his business.

"Yeah, don't worry" she assured him, "I'll call you later… Or tomorrow, who knows?"

Once again she was about to close the door when he spoke; "Um, Rach?"

"Yeah?"

"Take care, okay?"

"Okay" she said, "You too"

With those final words, she closed the door and turned to go inside. However, she stopped by the door and waved at him.

He shot her a smile and waved right back.

--

"Hey Rachel!" Lisa smiled, embracing her in a hug, "How is everything going? I heard about the accident, I'm so sorry. Y'know I wasn't here this morning, 'cause I had the day off, but everyone told me about it, and I just feel so sorry for you. How's Emma taking it?"

Rachel sighed and let the woman talk. It was one of the teachers whom Rachel always got along great with. They'd gone to lunch a few times, and Emma and Lisa's daughter, Joan, got along great.

Sometimes Lisa just had too much to say.

Like today.

"Hmm, excuse me, Lisa?" Rachel interrupted, "Lisa? I have to go find Emma, we need to go home"

"Oh, yeah, I think she's down the hall"

"Thank you" Rachel said, and went to look for her.

It didn't take long though, 2 seconds later, Emma rushed into her arms and gave her big hug, "Mommy!"

"Hi sweetie" Rachel whispered, kissing her hair, "Guess where we're going?"

"Home?"

Emma's eyes were so hopeful and Rachel was happy, she didn't have to disappoint her only child.

"Yeah, Ems, we're going home"

--

Rachel stood with Emma's hand in hers and looked at the car.

She could still see everything clearly in her head.

The crash. The car stopping. Ross lying on the street. Monica running for a cell phone. And Erica's knuckles turning with at the door handle.

She took her key out of her jacket and placed it in the door.

She couldn't get herself to unlock it.

Emma was silently watching everything, not really understanding what was going on. She looked at her mom, and was surprised, when she found silent tears running down her cheeks.

She reached up and was just high enough to whip a tear off Rachel's right cheek.

Rachel looked down at her daughters smiling, innocent face, and determined, turned to key around in the lock.

She opened the door and took a deep breath.

She looked in and found everything the way she'd left it that morning.

Her lipstick was thrown at the back seat. As was the rest of her make-up. She'd brought it with her because they were late and she'd done herself ready in the car.

She bit her lip, and was grateful that Emma had her hand in hers.

She took a step back and locked eyes with Emma.

Rachel slammed the door close and locked it.

"Emma" she said, "We're walking home"

--

The first thing Rachel noticed when she opened the door, was that almost all her furniture weren't there.

She dropped her purse by the door and dragged Emma with her into the living room, where only a sofa was.

She looked around, taking in all her surroundings.

She let go of Emma' hand, and the girl rushed into her room.

She went to the kitchen – nothing there.

Her first thought was rubbery. Thieves taking all their stuff and selling it to other people. However, when she went into the bedroom and the bed was gone too, she found a note taped to the wall.

She slowly picked it up and read it:

"Hi Rachel. I got some friends to take my things. This way the house is yours. We can discuss arrangements about Emma later – Ross"

Suddenly Emma burst into the room; "My stuff isn't gone!"

"No…" Rachel trailed off, "No it's not. Of course it's not"

Ross wouldn't take his daughters things.

"Who did all this? Are we gonna call the police?" Emma asked.

"No" Rachel shook her head, "Your father and I just agreed on something. Don't worry honey, our stuff will be back soon. I promise"

"Okay" Emma whispered, "I'm tired mommy, I'm gonna go sleep"

"Yeah, of course" Rachel just said. She waited patiently until she heard Emma close the door to her room, and just then, she lost her temper.

That fucking idiot!

How could he do this to her?

However, it was clear to her now, that their relationship was out the window.

She pressed the paper into a ball between her fingers and went out to get her cell phone.

She'd had enough.

--

"So Erica and I are going shopping tomorrow" Monica said, taking a bite of the lasagne she'd just made, "And you're picking up Joey at 8 o'clock, okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine, Mon" Chandler said, "So you two girls out together? It's gonna be fun, huh?"

"Yep" Erica smiled, taking a sip of her water, "And mom promised Jack to make pancakes tomorrow morning"

"Really?" Chandler asked, "That's so great honey. Then you'll get it like Emma get's it!"

"Yai" Jack smiled.

They engrossed in their dinner again, until Chandler's cell phone rang.

He ignored it. It was a deal they had when they ate. They didn't answer any calls. However, now, the phone kept on ringing.

"Will you just go answer?" Monica exclaimed, "It's driving me nuts!"

Chandler left the table and was surprised to find Rachel's name flashing across the screen.

"Are you okay?" he asked, walking into the kitchen again.

"No…" she sobbed, "Not at all…"

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Yes" she said, "Will you please come and hold me?"

"We're in the middle of dinner, Rach" he said.

Monica looked up from her plate; ´Is it Rachel?´ she mouthed.

Chandler nodded.

"I just cant take it anymore…" she kept on sobbing.

"Yeah, I understand Rach, but I can't just leave"

Monica nodded at him, making her point clear; "Just go, Chandler" she whispered, "It's my fault! Take care of her!"

Chandler sighed, "On second thoughts, Rach; I'll be right there"

"Thank you"

He hung up and looked at Monica.

"Go" Monica said, "Give her what she wants. She deserves it"

--

The second the door opened, Rachel pulled him into a hug.

He put his arms around her, assuring her that he was always there. She cried against his shoulder and he awkwardly padded her back.

"What happened, Rach?"

She dragged him into the living room.

"Where's all your stuff?"

"I don't know" she said, "Ross took it. I guess it's sorta his way to tell me that there wont be a wedding"

"He moved out?"

"Yeah, and he left a note" Rachel said.

"Where is Emma?"

"She's asleep" Rachel sighed.

Chandler shrugged; "Come here, Rach"

They hugged each other again, long and good.

Chandler was surprised though, when he felt Rachel's lips brushing his own.

She looked at him, questions in her eyes.

Monica's words, from the day before, echoed in his head…

I say, give her what she wants

Chandler took Rachel's face in his hands and kissed her the best he could.


Well there. Finally it happened! What I've been leaning against since the very begging finally happened. I hope this wasn't too… out there, I don't know, but anyway… Leave me a review, and I'll still love you for ever. Thanks, Stefania H.