AN: I'll try not to keep you waiting too long for the next chapter. I've just been busy lately.
Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: The characters from Friends do not belong to me.
A week later…
Ross held Mona's hand in his, as they strolled down the busy city street. The sun was beginning to set over the skyline, bringing the city into a warm dusk glow. The orange sky and bright sun reflected off the windows of the many tall buildings.
Even with the noisy traffic and the constant bombardment of pedestrians in their path, Ross was in complete bliss.
Mona and Ross had begun dating after the wedding. They had spent every day together for the past week, going out for meals, spending time at each other's apartments. Both were genuinely enjoying their time together.
Ross couldn't fathom the emotions that hit him frequently. There was something about being with Mona made him feel confident; having her by his side elevated him into high spirits. It was a feeling he'd felt while dating Julie, Bonnie, even Emily.
It was a escalating sureness that he could get over Rachel.
Ross could sense that he was beginning to think of Rachel less, with each passing day. In fact, he began to open his mind to cogitate a variety of new thoughts. He thought about Mona, he thought about his other friends, he thought about work. The endless depressing thoughts about Rachel, about the accident, about the mistakes he'd made, were fading.
Of course, he hadn't forgotten about her completely, that was impossible. However, each rise of the sun led him to begin to consider her as only a friend. His memories seemed to only revolve around their friendship, or ways to repair their friendship.
Ross and Mona walked down the sidewalk together, they were both quiet, but it was a comfortable silence in the lively downtown street. Both were feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves as they approached their destination.
They were outside Monica and Chandler, Joey and Rachel's building. Ross had figured it would be a good idea to introduce Mona to his friends. He had run the idea by Monica who had, in turn, invited everyone to dinner. It was a chance for his friends to get to know Mona, as well as a dinner together before Monica and Chandler went on their honeymoon in two days.
Mona felt honored to be accepted into Ross' life in the little time they had known each other. Meeting his friends was a big step; it had the same sensation as meeting his family, since they were as important as family, to Ross. She already knew Monica from work, which made it a little less stressful, but it was still nerve-racking to meet the rest.
Mona really liked Ross, she felt like they clicked, their different personalities fit together. She had agreed to meet his friends for this very reason; she saw this relationship as so much more than a fling.
She just hoped she wasn't intruding on their lives, Ross had explained about their tight-knit group.
When Ross came to a stop in front of an apartment building, her heart began to pound faster. This was her chance to make a good first impression.
"Ready?" Ross asked, watching Mona as she gazed up at the building.
"I'm ready," Mona said with a smile. Ross then led her through the front doors.
…..
Monica had just buzzed Ross and Mona in, before returning to cooking dinner. Everyone was over already; Joey and Chandler were watching TV while Phoebe and Rachel helped set the table. The room was filled with the usual energy.
Monica wondered how Rachel was staying so composed. Undoubtedly, Ross bringing over the woman he was dating couldn't be easy on her. She had dealt with this before, falling for Ross while he was with someone else, but there were very different circumstances this time around.
There was a slight knock on the door, before Ross opened it. Mona followed him through the door; however, Ross pulled her to his side.
Everyone looked to the door to witness their arrival.
"Everybody, this is Mona," Ross introduced. "That's Chandler and Joey," Ross told Mona as he pointed in their direction. "This is Phoebe. And you know Monica and Rachel," Ross finished, acknowledging the women in the kitchen.
A chorus of greetings welcomed Mona as the group gravitated towards the kitchen table to chat with the guest in their group.
Soon, everyone was seated and food was being passed.
Rachel got a strange feeling in her chest. It was a constricting sensation that spread to her throat. Seeing Ross with Mona hurt her more than she expected.
She had prepared to deal with the feelings associated with keeping her secret all night. She had not prepared for dealing with other emotions over the course of this dinner. Before this moment, she hadn't been sure how she felt about Ross. Now it was clear.
Rachel could feel it, the jealousy, the heartbreak, as if it were injected into her veins. It was becoming evident that she wanted to be by his side, not watch him forget about her and be with some girl he met at a wedding reception. She thought she could accept his choice to move on, but something inside her heart told her she never would be satisfied with that concept.
Their conversation at the wedding was constantly in her thoughts. She analysed every word he'd said, every shift in his body language, every expression crossing his face. She tried to figure out his hidden thoughts.
She had come so close to revealing the truth. She wanted him to know about their child. She wanted to have it out on the open to see where everything would unfold from there.
She looked on as Ross gazed at Mona, seeming to be completely head-over-heals for her. She remembered the way he used to do the same to her. How she would catch him gazing at her, and he would try to look away, shyly attempting to pretend he wasn't.
Rachel noticed Ross' gaze turn to her. Her eyes met his - they sat across the table from one another. This time Ross didn't look away, his eyes softened and he began to look apologetic.
"How are you?" Ross carefully asked Rachel, as their friends' conversations continued to happen around them. The two hadn't had much time to talk to each other since the wedding.
"I'm okay," Rachel said, honestly.
"How's work been?" Ross asked, wanting to take a chance and make small talk.
"It's been busy. Are you back at work?" Rachel asked.
"Yes. I returned a few days ago," Ross answered.
For the first time in weeks they felt they were talking again as friends. There was tension in the air, but it intermingled with the comfort in being amongst their friends.
Rachel wished there was a way for them to be alone together; she wanted to talk to him about all the topics on her mind.
It became increasingly terrifying the longer she kept this secret from him. It was nice that Monica and Phoebe knew; they had been very calming over the past week. She could talk openly about how she was feeling. Phoebe was there to offer her guidance, after experiencing being pregnant first-hand. Rachel was pleased that her two friends accepted her pregnancy, knowing her family would be angry, to say the least.
Rachel had asked them on several occasions how she should tell Ross. But even Phoebe, who always had creative ideas, was stumped.
This was a very complicated situation that Rachel was beginning to get frustrated with. Ross was the father of her child and dating another woman, while Rachel could identify that her feelings for Ross were returning.
…..
It was getting late and the group decided it was time to part ways.
After saying goodbye, everybody but Rachel left Monica and Chandler's. Monica watched Rachel strangely; her friend seemed to get lost in her thoughts as she observed the door. Ross and Mona had exited the apartment last, and Monica could only guess that was what had Rachel so interested in the doorway.
Ross had said goodbye to Rachel, one on one. The rest of their friends were distracted by sharing final conversations about seeing each other tomorrow, and doing this again when Monica and Chandler returned from their honeymoon.
Ross had approached Rachel, with a smile gracing his face. He broke their eye contact to hug her, without thinking. Rachel was surprised to feel his arms encircle her; she tentatively hugged him in return. Her heart fluttered in her chest, wishing this moment could last forever, that she could stay safely wrapped in his warm embrace.
Ross pulled away, all too soon for Rachel's liking. He stepped back, his confidence slowly fading along with his smile.
"See you soon, Rach," Ross stated, in a serious manner as an odd sensation filled his chest.
"Bye, Ross," Rachel responded, in no more than a whisper.
Rachel would look back on this moment and wish she had been more courageous. She wished she had asked to take him aside to talk, but seeing him take Mona's waiting hand and then exit the apartment, left her without a voice.
…..
Ross invited Mona to his place after they entered the hallway between apartment 19 and 20. Before long, they relaxed in Ross' living room on his leather couch.
He was relieved his friends seemed to accept Mona. He hoped she would mesh well into the group. He was mostly worried about how Rachel would feel about her. Ross really liked Mona, but he didn't want Rachel to be uncomfortable with him dating other people.
Rachel had been difficult to read; he couldn't tell how she was feeling.
As Ross deliberated and settled into the soft couch cushions, he could feel his eyelids grow heavy with exhaustion. Before long, his eyes wouldn't stay open, and he was lulled into a light sleep by the soothing hum of the TV.
The darkness of his closed eyes almost immediately melded into a dream, a dream that he hadn't relived in the past week.
Ross was back living the minutes after the car accident. He couldn't determine he was dreaming it felt so real. Every detail of the setting was the same, down to the dim streetlights shining across the pavement.
Ross' head was spinning violently, his vision was blurred around the edges, his heart pounded at a frightening rate.
He held Rachel in his arms, having just pulled her from the mangled Porsche. Her eyes were closed; she looked restful as if she were only asleep, instead of out cold.
His hot tears rolled down his face, as he willed Rachel's eyes to open.
"Don't leave me, Rachel, please," Ross whispered as his throat constricted with the sobs that threatened to escape his chest.
Rachel did not respond. He caressed her soft cheek with his shaking hand, wiping some of the dirt off her skin.
Not unlike the real life event, the paramedics arrived. They crouched down to his level and explained something in an urgent manner. Again, Ross couldn't understand what he was hearing, they sounded muffled.
Rachel was taken from his arms by the paramedics, but this time Ross did not pass out.
He watched as Rachel was taken away from where he sat on the cold ground. The medics put her on a gurney, preparing to take her in the ambulance.
Ross stood, feeling drawn to following the paramedics who had taken Rachel. They brought her to a parked ambulance, Ross trailed closely.
"Please let me stay with her," Ross pleaded. Ross was irritated when he realized they couldn't hear him, they didn't respond, they didn't even turn their heads. The paramedics speedily loaded the gurney into the ambulance, closing the back doors behind them with a thud.
Ross would have chased the ambulance but he felt as if his feet were stuck in quicksand. He couldn't move as he watched the emergency vehicle drive down the highway, its siren blaring, its lights flashing brightly against the dark night sky.
Suddenly there was a slight pressure on his shoulder. He turned to see it was Mona's hand, keeping him where he stood.
"Ross?" Mona's voice came from beside him on the couch. Ross opened his eyes, releasing himself into reality. His heart was racing and his breathing was fast, Mona had her hand on his shoulder to wake him from his nightmare.
"I'm sorry. I, uh, must have dozed off," Ross explained, taking a deep breath to calm himself down.
"It's okay... Are you alright?" Mona asked, watching as Ross' panic gradually subsided.
"I-I had a dream about the car accident," Ross admitted.
"Rachel was in it, wasn't she?" Mona questioned, turning her eyes to focus on her clasped hands.
"She was. How, uh, how did you know that?" Ross asked, dumbfounded. He had told Mona he'd broken his leg in a car accident, but he hadn't mentioned Rachel.
"You said her name out loud," Mona admitted. Ross didn't know what to say. But Mona filled the awkward silence, to his relief. "What's the story between you two?" She asked with interest.
"We used to date. Years ago," Ross divulged, hesitantly. Another silence came between the couple.
"It's late and we have work tomorrow. I'll see you in the morning?" Mona suggested.
"Yes. I'll see you tomorrow," Ross confirmed. Mona then leaned in and kissed him goodbye, before leaving the tense atmosphere.
Ross turned off the TV and all the lights then retreated to his bedroom. He got under the blankets, his head on his soft pillow, but he had a difficult time relaxing enough to sleep. He believed that his dream had a hidden meaning.
Was he truly ready to let go of Rachel?
…..
"Would you just tell Ross already?" Monica told Rachel, as soon as Chandler was in the other room. The two women sat together in the living room, winding down before bed by talking.
"I need to find a time where he's alone. I can't do this with Mona around," Rachel retorted, a bitter quality to her voice.
"I'm sorry you have to go through this Rach," Monica said, remembering how hard this must be on Rachel.
"I just need time alone with him. What should I do?" Rachel asked, with an exasperated sigh.
"You have to stop waiting for the perfect moment, because it will never come. That's how it is between you and Ross. This is how your relationship has always been, you've always have the worst timing," Monica explained.
"This isn't just about me liking Ross anymore. This isn't only about a relationship. It's more complicated than that," Rachel stated.
"Of course it is Rach, but I have a feeling Ross will break up with Mona as soon as you tell him the truth," Monica revealed. She had thought about her brother and best friend's relationship a lot lately. She hoped this baby would bring them back together; they all loved seeing Ross and Rachel happy as a couple.
"But what if a relationship between us doesn't work out, like the last times?" Rachel asked.
"How do you know a relationship won't work out? This time you have more to fight for: a family," Monica stated. Rachel got tears in her eyes, Monica had a very good point. Maybe they could have a lasting relationship, for their child.
"Do you really believe that it'll work between us?" Rachel asked, finding Monica's words building her confidence.
"Of course I do. Ross will be so much happier with you," Monica said, looking Rachel directly in the eyes. "Listen. You are going to have a baby. It's time for you to grow up and be courageous, so just tell him the truth and see where it goes from there."
"You're right," Rachel admitted, softly.
"When we get back from our honeymoon I hope to hear every detail about how it went between you two," Monica said.
"The next time I see Ross I'm going to pull him aside and tell him everything," Rachel explained, feeling uplifted and motivated after listening to Monica.