CHAPTER 10 – TOW Everyone Finds Out

Joey immediately stood up as Ross entered the room. He looked at Ross, slowly nodded, tapped him at the back and went for the door.

"Joe..." Joey stopped and looked at him. "Th-thank you..." Joey just smiled and then he went out.

When Joey was out, Ross looked at Rachel and he started to well up. Monica already told him everything. At first, he didn't want to believe her. It was something he knew would never ever happen. But now, as he was looking at Rachel, it couldn't be more real.

He slowly went to her then without realizing it, he was already crying. "Rachel..." He kissed her forehead then sat next to her bed. He held her had so tight and kissed it. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm so sorry." He suddenly felt movement. Rachel was awake.

"R-ross?"

"Rach..." Rachel started to talk but Ross felt like she was having a hard time doing it so he stopped her. "Sssshhh... it's okay." Ross kissed her again.

"Honey, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for not telling you about this. I just... I couldn't do it to you." Rachel was already crying.

"Hey, don't be, okay? I'm here now. I won't leave you ever again. God, I missed you so much." Ross hugged her wanting to make things better. He was more scared than he had ever been but he had to be strong for Rachel. "Everything's going to be okay, Rachel. We're gonna go through this together. You are gonna overcome this. I know you are."

Meanwhile, when Joey got out of the room, he wanted to immediately get away from it as fast as he could but all he could ever do was lean on the door, bow and put his hands all over his face. He never thought that there would come a time when he would feel this. All those times when Rachel was with him and wanted to make everyone think they were a couple, all he wanted was for everyone to know what's really going on. But now, he didn't have the slightest idea on why he was so hurt about the fact that Ross already knew the truth. He hated himself for feeling this. He was the one who told her that Ross needed to know the truth. And now...

After about a minute or so, Joey decided to go down and see the other three. But when he arrived at the lobby, it was only Chandler who was there.

"Hey..."

"Where are Monica and Phoebe?"

"They went home to tell the kids they wouldn't be home for a while. We didn't know if this is the right time to tell them about Rachel so they'd just tell them we're hangin' out."

Joey didn't know what else to say. "Oh, okay..."

"So, Ross already there?"

"Yeah..."

"Are you okay?" Chandler knew he wasn't. They all weren't. But he had to ask.

Joey took a deep breath. He didn't want to tell Chandler but it was only him who understood him more than he understood himself so he figured it'd be better if he told him. "I just... I feel bad..."

"We all do, Joe..."

"No... I mean, I know, everyone's worried about Rachel. But... it's... it's not that..."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, man. It's just... You know how much I care for Rach, and I'm happy that at least now, she can have Ross by her side but... I know I shouldn't be feeling this but I feel like I feel j-jealous somehow..." He looked down as if embarrassed by what he felt.

Chandler tapped Joey's Chandler as if telling him that he understood and he did. "You know, I don't think you should feel bad, Joe. You've gone through a lot for Rachel. And it's not like you want what you're feeling right now. You just... love her so much."

Maybe they were too preoccupied with what they were talking about that they didn't notice who just got behind them. It was Joey who noticed him first. "R-Ross?" Ross didn't say anything. Joey didn't know what to say. All he could do was look at Ross who seemed like it made the newly-found truth whatever was already happening even worse. "I'm sorry."

Ross shook his head. "Don't." Both Joey and Chandler were surprised by this but decided to wait for Ross to say something more. "If it weren't for you, I don't know what would've happened to Rachel by now. Maybe... maybe if this had happened years ago, I'd flip out like an idiot but... it's just not the right thing to do. So... don't be sorry, okay? I should be the one apologizing f—"

"Hey, you know that there's no need for that."

All of a sudden Ross bowed and Joey and Chandler both knew he was just trying all he could to pull himself together. "I... I just... I don't know what to do. I don't wanna lose her. I just can't..."

Rachel had been in the hospital for a few days and all those times, she wasn't left alone. Mostly, Ross was there for her doing everything he could to make it easier for her. When he wasn't there, any of her four other friends were the ones who would take care of her and Rachel knew she couldn't ask for anything more.

But a moment she was dreading suddenly came right into her face when Ross decided to talk to her about their kids. "Honey?"

"Yeah?" She didn't know if it was possible but she felt like whenever Ross was around, she felt a whole lot better than if he wasn't.

"O-our kids... They have been asking for you for quite some time now..." Rachel didn't say anything. "I know you don't want them to know yet but... they're starting to sense something is wrong and I'm just left with nothing else to say." Still, Rachel didn't say anything. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't be bothering you with this with all that you're already going through but—"

"Bring them here."

"What?"

"The three of them. I think you're right. It's time for them to know."

Ross went home to finally tell his kids about Rachel. Monica and the gang offered to come with him but he knew he had to do it alone. Ben was about to leave few days ago but he managed to make him stay a little longer. When he had gathered all three of them, he knew they were all wondering why.

"Dad, are we all here to finally know what's going on?" It was Emma. Ross had the idea that she would be the one who would be most affected by this and he didn't know yet how to handle how she would react.

"You know, these kinds of things scare me a bit." This time, it was Ella who had spoken. Ben had been quiet the whole time.

"First of all, I'm sorry. For whatever has been happening for the past few weeks now. I know it's been really hard for you and I wish I could make it better but I just can't." Ross was starting to lose it with just the thought of Rachel not beside him by now. But he knew better. His kids didn't need that right now. "This is about your Mom."

He looked at all of them. They were listening very intently. He didn't understand why this had to happen to them. They were all too young to be hearing this but he had no other choice. "We're not getting a divorce. We're still very much together." Their expressions all lit up and it was too painful for Ross to look at because he knew that any second by now, they might not be able to have the same expression again. "But... sh-she's not okay. She's in the hospital right now. Your mother is very sick. And we're not sure how she can make it through for another year."