A/N: yes, I finally have an update. I already started on the next one so the next chapter should be up sooner than my past ones. So thanks again for all of you who continue to read this story.
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The bright morning sun shining through her bedroom window complemented with the relentless honking of horns and the ceaseless yelling of the fellow city-goers soon brought Rachel out of her peaceful slumber. A slight groan emanated from her mouth as she slipped out of her unconsciousness
She was never really a morning person.
Like every morning she started to bury her face into her pillow not ready to face the world yet but what she felt against her face this morning was not the soft fabric of her pillow cushion. She slowly opened her eyes still in a minor daze and began to focus. She stared at her hand and watched as it rose and fell in a rhythmic manner still not fully aware of what was going on. She lifted her head slightly and looked up only to find Ross looking down at her as the corner of his lips soon curved up into a smile. She returned the smile weakly and looked back at her hand as she began gathering her thoughts in her head. A look of confusion spread across her face when she realized her hand was resting on Ross' chest and that her body was cuddled to his side pressed up against his body. She quickly distanced herself from his body and looked at him.
"wow, I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was sleeping on you," she said a bit embarrassed.
"it's okay Rach. It's not big deal," he said smiling at her.
"how long have you been up?" she asked as she ran her fingers though her hair.
"umm….like 20 minutes."
"20 minutes!!! I was sleeping on you for 20 minutes! Why didn't you move me over? That must have been so uncomfortable for you with me just laying on you."
"Rach, you laying on me is never uncomfortable. It never was."
She smiled and looked down at the mattress so he couldn't see her blush.
"and you just looked so peaceful, I didn't want to move you."
"well I didn't hurt you or anything from laying on you like that, did I?" she asked slightly worried about causing him any sort of pain.
"no Rach you were fine. Although, I think you did drool on my shirt a little bit."
"oh my god, I did not," she said, sounding horrified.
She soon looked down at his shirt and began rubbing her hand over his stomach and chest trying to feel for any wetness.
"I'm just kidding, but now I think you are trying to feel me up," he said laughing at her.
"oh shut up," she said slapping his arm.
He soon retaliated and gave her a slight shove as they both started laughing.
"don't start with me, it's too early in the morning," she said still laughing.
"fine, I'll just do it later then."
She started laughing, shaking her head at him.
"and it looks like your feet warmed up throughout the night."
Rachel looked at him and then realized what he was referring too. She soon took notice that her one leg was draped and now resting in between his with her foot touching his. In one swift motion she detangled her leg from in between his and looked down embarrassed.
"wow, I really was sleeping all over you wasn't I," she said laughing slightly out of nervousness.
"yeah you were. I guess I was pretty comfortable," he said joining in on her nervous laughter.
She looked at him and a hint of a smile emerged on her face.
"you were. I was really out. I didn't even hear Emma. Wait, is Emma up yet?" she asked suddenly, her eyes darting to her daughter's crib.
"yeah, I heard her and Ben in the living room. I guess he took her while we were sleeping because I didn't hear her get up either."
"well that was very sweet of him. I hope you don't mind, but I think I am going to take advantage of Ben keeping Emma entertained and just lay down a bit longer," she said smiling at him, laying back down on her pillow.
"no I'm with you there," he agreed laying back down next to her.
She turned on her side so she can look at him and pulled the blankets up closer to her body. As she did this he tried to make himself comfortable while laying on his back and then turned his head to the side to look at her.
"so do you have any plans today?" he asked.
"yeah my day is pretty much booked, you know with me just staying home with Emma and taking care of you," she said teasing him.
"hey, I am getting better with the taking care of myself thing."
"I know, I am only kidding. I really don't mind taking care of you. You're not that bad to be around."
"well you're not that bad to be around either. To be honest, it feels nice. I mean, we haven't really spent time together just us in a long time."
"yeah…." she said softly staring right at him.
"and it's great for Emma. It's almost like were a real family."
"Ross, we are a real family," she said reaching out to touch his arm
"yeah," he said quietly, then turning his head to look away from her.
Rachel knew by how he spoke that he didn't believe it and that broke her heart. She wanted to be the traditional family with the whole marriage and then babies but things just weren't that way with her and Ross. But she knew they were a family and always will be no matter what happened between them. They will forever be bonded because of Emma and that put Rachel a little bit at piece because she knew she would always have a piece of Ross with her.
"hey, how about me, you and Emma all do something together today instead of staying in this apartment all day long."
"okay," he said looking back at her with a big smile on his face.
He loved doing things with all three of them together. It made him believe for just a moment that they were a conventional family.
"well I was thinking, Emma was too young to remember when we got a Christmas tree last year, how about we do that today? And we can invite the guys as well."
"Ross, that's a great idea. Emma will love it."
All of a sudden they heard a bang and then the loud sounds of Emma crying. Ross and Rachel's eyes both widened.
"Oh my god," Rachel said, quickly rushing out of bed afraid to see what had happened to her baby.
She hurried into the living room only to find Emma on the floor crying hysterically with Ben trying to pick her up to console her. Emma saw her mother coming into the room and cried even harder.
"mommy," she cried her bottom lip quivering
Rachel immediately picked her up and rocked her in her arms, kissing her head.
"oh mommy's here sweetheart, shhhh….it's okay…shhhhh."
Ross soon came stumbling into the room with crutches in hand seeing Rachel cradling Emma in her arms trying to calm her down. He walked over to them and began rubbing Emma's back up and down as she continued to cry on Rachel's shoulder.
"oh, princess what happened?"
"we were playing and running around and she tripped on one of her toys and fell on the ground. She didn't hit her head though," Ben answered, "Emma are you ok?"
She looked at her brother and shook her head yes as a few stray tears rolled down her cheeks.
"awww, it's okay baby girl," Rachel cooed to her daughter, wiping the few remaining tears off her face.
"boo boo," Emma whined pointing to her elbow.
"mommy, will make it all better," Rachel comforted as she bent her head down to kiss her baby's arm.
Emma smiled and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, resting her head once again on her shoulder. Rachel took a seat on the couch, with Emma still in her arms and stroked her back.
"uh, Dad? Can you make me and Emma breakfast? We are kind of hungry."
"oh of course. What do you guys want?"
"pancakes!"
"oh Ben, I don't think you father can make…"
"pancakes it is," he quickly interrupted her and giving her a glare.
Rachel laughed at him and kept her mouth shut. She knew he would do anything for his children and if pancakes is what they wanted pancakes is what they were getting.
"daddy, chips," Emma said happily, perking right back up with the mention of food.
"yes daddy will put chocolate chips in them," Ross answered bending over to kiss her forehead.
"how about we keep daddy company in the kitchen?" Rachel suggested.
"yay!!" Emma screamed clapping her hands
The four of them all walked into the kitchen and Ben took a seat at the small table as Rachel placed Emma in her high chair.
"uh, Rach can you give me a hand?"
"oh sure."
She walked over to him and helped him get all the ingredients he needed.
"oh don't forget to get the chocolate chips for Emma."
"you just give her everything she wants, don't you?" she said smiling at him
"of course I do. She's my princess"
"boy, is she going to have you wrapped around her little finger when she gets older,"
"I can't help it. She will always be my baby girl," he said with all honesty.
"I know," she said smiling as she rubbed his back gently up and down.
They finished making everyone's breakfast together and then brought it to the table.
"thanks dad"
"tanks daddy," Emma said copying her brother.
"your welcome."
Rachel attempted to clear her throat signaling them they forgot something or in this case someone. Ben got the hint and started laughing.
"thanks Aunt Rachel"
"your welcome Ben."
"tank you mommy"
"you are very welcome baby girl," she said giving Emma a kiss on the lips.
Rachel fixed Emma her plate and began feeding her pieces of pancake. Emma was just starting to get the hang of feeding herself. She still hasn't mastered the skill and Rachel felt syrup and Emma feeding herself was not a good combination so she was helping her out a bit. While Rachel fed Emma, Ross and Ben dug right in both drenching their pancakes in syrup. Like father, like son Rachel couldn't help but think.
"Ben, what time did you get up?" Rachel asked starting conversation.
"umm…..I guess an hour ago. I was watching TV for a while and then I heard Emma making some noise in your bedroom. I hope it's okay that I went in and got her."
"oh yeah, of course. And thank you for getting her. I didn't even hear her get up."
"yeah you guys were sleeping."
"mommy seeping on daddy," Emma suddenly informed them all.
Ross and Rachel both looked at Emma and saw a big smile on her face.
"yeah. Dad why were you sleeping in Aunt Rachel's room? I thought you were sleeping with me last night?"
They quickly looked at each other kind of embarrassed that Ben and Emma saw them together. It didn't really occur to them earlier that they had in fact saw them sleeping in the same bad, and sleeping rather closely. Ross soon answered his question the best he could.
"your right. I was going to sleep with you Ben but you are a kicker and I didn't want to be kicked in my ribs or leg."
"ohhhhhhh, ok," he said satisfied with that answer.
He resumed eating his pancakes as Ross and Rachel stole another glance at one another. She then turned her attention to Emma who was by now a complete mess. As Rachel was talking to Ben, Emma took it upon herself to feed herself with her hands. She had syrup all over her face and hands as well as chocolate.
"ohh…Emma, look at you. You're a mess sweetie," she said as everyone started to laugh.
"yummyyyyy!!!"
"Rach, you might as well just let her finish eating before you clean her up"
"yeah I guess your right. Do you like mommy and daddy's pancakes honey?"
All Emma did was nod yes with mouthful of food and even more food being squished in her hands. The rest of them soon finished off their own breakfast before getting ready to start the day.