Rachel couldn't remember the last time a kiss had taught her so off guard. Had it been with Ross when she'd decided to rekindle things with him after not going to Paris? Or perhaps with Tag, back when things had been hot and heavy between them? But this, this kiss with Joey… it was unlike anything else. Rachel definitely knew it hadn't felt like that the last time all those years ago in the apartment. This… this was something entirely different.
"Rach?" she heard Joey say and opened her eyes to see him now staring at her. She hadn't even realized he'd stopped kissing her.
She tried answering, but only managed a little "Mhmm?".
"I shouldn't have… This was wrong of me… I-"
Rachel pressed a finger against Joey's lips, silencing him. She found her voice.
"Don't, Joe. It's okay," she said and laughed a little. "It's more than okay, actually. It's great."
The look on Joey's face told Rachel he hadn't been expecting to hear that from her. He cocked his head a little and screwed up his brow, confused.
"You mean, you feel this too?" he said, reaching to touch the spot on his chest where his heart rested.
Rachel shifted in her chair, causing Joey to pull back from her a little bit. She wished instantly that she hadn't have moved. All she wanted to do was reach out and bring him close to her again. To feel his strong hands against her skin, his warm lips touch hers softly and then harder as they deepen their kisses.
"I do, Joe, but I won't lie to you, it scares me a little."
Joey let out a large sigh, stunning Rachel for a second. She hadn't figured Joey would be as caught up on this as she was, but clearly she'd been wrong.
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that."
A few moments of silence fell between them as both began to realize just how different things were going to be now.
"So now what do we do?" Rachel said quietly, unable to meet Joey's eyes. If she did, well then they wouldn't end up having this conversation and would rather spend the next few hours kissing and pretending like they didn't have a care in the world.
Joey stood up from his kneel and started pacing around the room.
"I don't know, Rach," he said and Rachel could hear the nervousness of his voice. "Last time, things were so different, but why do I get this feeling things are even going to be harder?"
Rachel smiled, standing from her seat on the chair to go join Joey, who'd migrated over to the far side of the room. "Because you're right. It is going to be harder this time. I've just gotten divorced, Joe – just yesterday. And Ross and I are trying to be civil about it all, especially now that Emma's old enough to know what's going on."
"This isn't making me feel any better," Joey said with a slight laugh, though Rachel knew he didn't find any of this funny at all. "But it'll be worth it if you want this to work just as much as I do."
He spoke those last words looking directly at Rachel, face stern. Rachel knew in that exact moment that this wasn't just some fling Joey wanted, it was the real deal. All of those stupid, silly feelings between the two of them which had happened years ago had been pushed away, and all that was left was the raw want and need for each other. Rachel could feel it burning between them as Joey stared into her eyes, waiting for a response.
"I want it too, Joe," she found herself saying and then Joey's face spread into a huge grin. He reached out towards her and the two of their bodies crashed together as they hugged each other tightly.
"Then we'll find some way to make it work, Rach. I promise, things are going to be different this time."
