Thank you all for your patience. Things have been really up and down emotionally in my family right now so I've been spending time with them. Also, I have been working hard core on my house when I'm not at work trying to get it so that we move in before the end of June. I'm trying to keep updating as often as I can. Anyway, enjoy!

Rachel was lying in bed, thinking about baby names. It was something that just popped into her head. She felt indifferent about having a boy or a girl. Either one would be a miracle, and she would love them no matter what. Joey was banging about in the kitchen, getting ready for his day on the job at DOOL.

"Hey, Rach," Joey said now through the door.

"Yea?" she called.

"I've left some pancakes for you."

"Thanks, Joey."

"I'll see you later."
"Knock 'em dead!" she hollered. She could almost see his smile. He sometimes needed the encouragement. Come to think of it, he seemed really edgy the night before. She wondered if he had a really difficult scene coming up.

"Rach? Are you here?" Phoebe called. Rachel sighed. So much for a quiet morning to herself.

"In here!" she yelled. Her door opened in seconds.

"It's almost ten am!" Phoebe exclaimed.

"I know. I'm being lazy today," Rachel shrugged.

"I have BIG news," Phoebe said. "I just got back from my morning yoga class, and I overheard someone talking about Carol possibly having feelings for Ross again!"

"WHAT?!" Rachel exploded, sitting up boltright.

"I know!"

"Who? Who said it?!"

"Well, it was Carol actually. I overheard her talking to her therapist," Phoebe explained.

"Okay, one, how do you know it was her therapist? And two, I somehow doubt she does yoga with her therapist," Rachel said, disgruntled.

"Okay, so I saw her go into the therapist's office across from my yoga class, and I listened at doors," Phoebe caved.

"Phoebe!"

"Well, they shouldn't make it so easy to hear everything being said behind a closed door," Phoebe said defensively.

"Okay, so wait, you heard Carol saying she might have feelings for Ross?!" Rachel asked, bringing it back to the main point.

"Uh huh. What are you gonna do?"

"What do you mean? I'm not with Ross..."

"Yes, but you two are meant to be together! Carol had her turn, and she blew it. Are you just gonna let her swoop back in and take him away again?" Phoebe demanded.

"I..." Rachel trailed off. What could she do? She could drop the bomb, but that would be too much for Ross right now, especially now that he was trying to get to know her again.

"Damn it, Rachel! Don't wait too long," Phoebe ordered.

"I'm thinking," Rachel said. "Although, I'm not sure what I'm thinking for or about. Ross and I haven't dated in a long time."

"You got married," Phoebe pointed out.

"In Vegas when we were drunk. Doesn't count," Rachel dismissed. "And please do not tell Ross about that. It was so embarrassing for both of us."

"So you're saying you're over Ross," Phoebe said pointedly.

"Yes, yes I am," Rachel said.

"Prove it," Phoebe urged.

"What?"

"Go on a date," Phoebe suggested. "If you can't, then you still have feelings for Ross."

"Oh my God are you serious?" Rachel asked.

"Oh yea. Go on a date or prove me right," Phoebe said cheekily.

"Fine," Rachel said. "I'll go on a date. Watch me."

"I will."

"Fine."

"Fine!"

They stared at each other for a moment.

"So I met this guy at Monica's restaurant," Phoebe said.

"Really?"

"Yes. He's gorgeous!"

"Are you going out?"

"Oh, totally!"

"Good for you, Phoebs," Rachel smiled. She sat and listened while Phoebe chatted more about the guy. She was wondering how on Earth she was even going to go on a date. Then she got an idea.

Late Afternoon

Ross wandered in to Chandler's place of work. He seemed to remember where to find it. Perhaps he had come her often? He needed some answers about Rachel, and he knew he and Chandler had gone to college together. Perhaps his friend could help him out.

"Hey," he said, spying Chandler at his desk.

"Oh, hey," Chandler replied. "I'm ready to go. Where did you want to eat?"

"I don't know. Is there a place I really like? I seem to remember The Hard Rock Cafe," Ross answered.

"Damn it," Chandler muttered. "I was hoping you wouldn't remember that place."

"I think it's their food," Ross said thoughtfully.

"More like the Purple Rain display, but whatever," Chandler sighed. They went to the elevator together.

"Have a good night, Toby!" a guy called at them before the doors closed.

"Um, Toby?" Ross asked, confused.

"Oh yea. That's Bob. He thinks my name is Toby," Chandler laughed.

"Why does he think that?"

"I dunno. It started when he called me Toby in passing, and then this one time, he asked me if I, Toby, wanted a donut, and I really did, so now we're five years later and I'm still Toby," Chandler explained.

"Dude, you gotta tell him," Ross chastised.

"Oh it's beyond awkward now," Chandler said. "Besides, he's on the sixth floor. We only see each other in passing. What's the big deal? At least he's not calling me Muriel."

"Why would he call you Muriel?" Ross asked.

"N-no reason," Chandler stuttered.

"Wait," Ross said, figuring it out. "Chandler M Bing. Your middle name is Muriel?!"

"Shhh! It's a family name!" Chandler hissed. Ross started laughing hysterically. "Oh sure, you forget who the hell Rachel is and where you live, but you remember that my middle name starts with an 'M.'"

"It was on your door, dude," Ross said after stopping.

"Crap," Chandler said, realizing it was true. "I should really take that off." They were at the exit by now and went to hail a cab. Ross was quiet on their way to the cafe. Once they were inside and settled with menus, Chandler decided to talk first.

"So what do you want to know?" he asked. "I'm sensing that's what this is about."

"Well, yea," Ross admitted. "I found this tape of Rachel and Monica getting ready for prom..."

"Oh God," Chandler groaned.

"No, no! It's fine. It just...it brought up some old feelings. Feelings of hurt. When we were in college, did I talk to you about Rachel?" Ross asked.

"Only all the time," Chandler snorted. "I originally thought you were dating her you were talking about her so much."

"Was I friends with her?"

"She was Monica's best friend. You hung out a little bit, but I recall you saying she didn't really notice you much," Chandler mused.

"So what happened? I mean, I obviously obsessed about her, and then suddenly I'm with Carol. When did that happen?"

"I don't really know, man. You just came along with Carol one day and introduced her to me, and then you two were inseparable," Chandler said thoughtfully.

"Was it around the same time as the whole prom thing?" Ross asked.

"Ummm. Actually, it might be," Chandler agreed.

"Okay. Then I have to chalk it up to I was so hurt that I decided to move on," Ross said.

"I don't really know. You were happy with Carol, though," Chandler added.

"I know I was," Ross said wistfully. "You know, she admitted her and Susan are fighting right now."

"Oh?" Chandler felt worried.

"Yea. She said she's confused about some things."

"Oh God. No, Ross. Don't do it," Chandler pleaded.

"I'm giving her the space to figure it out like she asked," Ross said defensively.

"No, no, no! Ross! Carol is not the one for you," Chandler said firmly.

"Oh? And who is? Rachel, I suppose?"

"I'm not saying that. I'm just saying Carol hurt you really badly, and who's to say she won't change her mind again? I think you should encourage her to stay with Susan," Chandler finished.

"You're right," Ross sighed, setting the menu down. Almost immediately, the waitress appeared.

"Are you ready to order?" she asked in a chipper voice.

"No, not yet," Ross answered. He held up his menu again to make his point.

"They must have some kind of radar," Chandler said as she left. "To know when the menu is put down."

"Anyway," Ross went on. "About Carol. I will suggest that she make her marriage work if she comes to me with a different idea."

"Thank you," Chandler said, feeling relieved. Monica would kill him if she thought for one second that he encouraged Ross to go back with Carol.

...

"Hey," Joey said, seeing Rachel at the set. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"I wanted to get out," she shrugged. She was eyeing up his coworkers.

"What did you think of the scene?" he asked.

"What happened to Jessica's body?" Rachel demanded.

"I'm not saying a word. You'll have to watch it on TV like everyone else," Joey told her.

"You don't know do you?"

"Nope. Couldn't care less," Joey snorted. A co-star approached him then.

"Nice scene, man," he said.

"Thanks!" Joey replied. "You too."

"All right," the guy laughed and started to walk away. Rachel cleared her throat.

"What? You weren't in it," Joey said. She gave him a meaningful look at the his co-star and back at him.

"Ohhh," he said. "I get it. Hey, Kash!"

"Yea?" Kash said, turning around.

"Meet Rachel. Rachel, Kash."

"Lovely to meet you," Rachel purred.

"How come I haven't seen you here before?" Kash asked.

"Well, Joey thinks I would embarrass him like I'm some soap opera nut, which I'm not. But I do happen to know your favorite flavor of ice cream is butter pecan, and you have a dog named Wally. Oop! I'm touching your arm," she said, finding her fingers on Kash's arm. How did they get there?
"Okay! That's enough," Joey said, grabbing her and tugging.

"Easy, Joey," Rachel scolded.

"What's with the crutches?" Kash asked, curious.

"I was in a car accident," Rachel answered.

"Are you all right?!" Kash asked.

"Yea, Kash, she's fine," Joey answered for her. "Now come on, let's go."

"Bye Kash!" Rachel called as she hobbled away. She really liked Kash. She hoped to come back and see him again. She'd get her date and show Phoebe how moved on she was. No problem.

The Next Day

"I had SUCH a good time with Tim last night!" Phoebe gushed. "He's so sweet! I can't wait to get sous-neath him."

"I have to fire him," Monica blurted out. She winced.

"But...why?!"

"Cos he's terrible! He's slow. He burns things. Last night he set my pastry chef on fire!"

"Maybe he's just nervous. You are intimidating you know. And your pastry chef could stand to be taken down a peg or two."

"Well, now she has no eyebrows, so mission accomplished!"

"But he loves his job! Can't you give him another chance?" Phoebe pleaded. Monica sighed loudly.

"Fine, but if he sets anyone else on fire, he's out of there," she said.

"That's fair! Thank you, Monica! Oh, it looks like when he got the chef, he got you a little bit too," Phoebe said, looking at Monica's hair.

"I paid to have this done," Monica said indignantly.

"Love it," Phoebe replied quickly.

...

"So, Kash asked me if I thought you'd go out with him," Joey said casually. Rachel perked right up.

"Really? What did you say?"

"I said no," Joey answered.

"What?! Why?"

"What? I figured since you were pregnant you wouldn't be seeing people."

"Okay, first of all, Kash Ford is not people. Second of all, you didn't tell him I was pregnant did you?!"

"No, I did not. That's your business. I know you're not telling people. This was when I thought Kash was people."

"Good, good. Don't tell him. Can you give him my number?"
"I really don't think it's a great idea..."

"Just tell him to call me," Rachel cut him off. Phoebe would never believe this!

"But Rach..."

"I'll come back to that set. I'll go and meet all the actors. I'll meet 'em all!" she threatened.
"Okay, okay," he caved. "I'll tell him to call."

...

"How's your day?" Chandler asked Monica over the phone.

"Ugh. I have to fire Tim. I don't care what Phoebe says, he has to go! He's beyond incompetent. I just got off the phone with the guy who recommended him to me, and he said, 'Ha ha, gotcha!'"

"Ouch. I'm sorry, sweetie," Chandler sympathized.

"How's it going with the whole Toby thing?" Monica asked. She knew it was going on too.

"They wanted to move him from six up to us at eleven," Chandler told her. "I said to leave him where he was."

"Chandler! Isn't that mean? You denied Bob a promotion!"

"I can't have him up here running around and calling me Toby," Chandler argued. "Do you know how ridiculous that would be?"

"Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?" she challenged.

"It's too late now," Chandler huffed.

"I forgot to tell you last night, Phoebe said that Carol might still love Ross?!" Monica said, her voice rising anxiously.

"Yea. Ross mentioned it to me yesterday too. I told him to tell Carol to make her marriage work," Chandler said proudly.

"Oh thank God," Monica breathed. "He doesn't need that again. Especially when he's already so confused."

"He asked me about Rachel," Chandler went on. "About when he moved on from her and moved forward with Carol."

"You didn't remind him of what happened, did you?"

"He knows about the prom...he saw the tape again."

"No, the other thing," Monica said.

"The other...oh," Chandler said, remembering. "Oh God. No. I didn't remind him."

"Good. Let him remember Rachel without that. I think that's what sent him flying into Carol's arms," Monica mused. "Shit. I gotta go. Tim just tripped a waitress."

"Good luck," Chandler said. He hung up the phone and stared at it, thinking. How could he have forgotten the worst night of Ross' life? Maybe it was for the best that Ross had a clean slate with Rachel.

...

So far, the date was going pretty well. Phoebe had been astounded to hear that Rachel had gotten one so quickly, and with a soap opera star! Yes, Kash was charming and funny. They had laughed their way through dinner. Now they were in a cab and heading for the boat. Rachel couldn't help but feel that something was missing. She also felt like she was going to throw up a little.

"Are you all right?" Kash asked, noticing.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine," she smiled.

"Do you not want to go on the boat? Do you get motion sick?"

"Actually, I do," Rachel lied. She honestly didn't think she could handle it right now what with the baby inside of her and all.

"Okay, well, let's just go see a movie then," Kash grinned.

"Sounds great," she responded. They redirected the cabbie. Kash took her hand then, and it felt all wrong. So wrong. She looked at him, and she knew immediately what was wrong. He wasn't Ross. Damn it, Phoebe!

"I hear there's this Ukrainian film that's interesting," Kash said. A Ukrainian film. That would be something Ross would take her to see. Ross. Damn it all to hell anyway.

"Wanna hear something funny?" Rachel said suddenly. It was now or never.

"What's that?"

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out.

"Whoa," Kash said after a moment. "That's heavy."

"Yea. You are the second person outside of my doctor to know about it," she laughed.

"Wow. Um, well, that's...gee," he stammered. "I hear those hemorrhoids are a bitch."

"I wouldn't know," she said. Kash had let go of her hand then. "You know, it's not contagious."

"I know," he said.

"Look, I get it if you want to end the date," she said.

"I remembered I have a meeting anyway," he said quickly. "Cab driver! Stop here, please." They pulled over quickly. He turned to face her. "Nice to have met you, Rachel. Best of luck with...that." He gave an awkward wave and was gone. Rachel felt like crying. So much for proving Phoebe wrong. She still loved Ross, and he was broken right now with no instructions on how to fix him. She gave the driver directions back home. There was a tub of ice cream with her name on it.