A/N: thanks you guys for the reviews!!!!

Exintaris: I always thought Rachel was Jewish too but they never really said at least I can't remember them saying it. They were always celebrating Christmas together anyway so for the sake of the story let's just say she is part Jewish and part Catholic :)

Later in the evening Ross and Rachel told the group about their idea about taking Emma to get a Christmas tree. Ben was a little bummed that he couldn't go too, but he soon got over it when his mother told him about going to the movies with his friends. They decided they were all going to meet at the 6:30 and surprisingly Ross and Rachel were ready to leave on time.

"okay, just let me grab Emma's diaper bag and we're all set."

"ok, take your time," he said as both he and Emma were waiting patiently in front of the door.

"oh shoot I need to get an empty bottle," she said rushing into the kitchen

"Rach, don't rush, we are actually right on time," he shouted almost laughing at this fact

"I know, how did that even happen," she pondered as she walked through the swinging door back into the living room.

"it's a mystery to me as well. Ok, you got everything?"

"yeah I think so. Sweetie, let mommy zipper up your coat"

Rachel kneeled down so she was eye level with Emma and zipped up the toddler's winter jacket. She made sure her hat was firmly on her head before giving her a loving kiss on the forehead

"are you ready to get our Christmas tree Em?"

"yay," Emma squealed, jumping up and down.

"Alright, is mother and child ready?" he asked smiling at them

Rachel starting laughing as she picked Emma up, balancing her on her hip

"we are all set."

"go, daddy, do," Emma shouted pointing in the direction of the outside hallway

Ross smiled at his daughter and kissed her tiny finger.

"let's go."

"so is everyone ready to pick out their Christmas tree?" Monica asked, already showing that take charge attitude in her voice.

"yeah, but Mon relax. We all just got here," Phoebe soon reminded her

"yeah, yeah I know. But I want to get the best and biggest one."

"and I'm sure you won't let anyone get in your way to make that happen. I mean, you did bring your whistle, right?" Phoebe said laughing at herself

Rachel immediately broke into giggles as she remembered Monica whole whistle idea when they were shopping for her wedding dress. Monica soon looked right at them and Rachel stopped laughing, unlike Phoebe who couldn't stop laughing. Mike felt it would be best to bring up something else. He was starting to fear of that vein in Monica's forehead.

"so uh….Ross how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Everything seems to be healing properly and I'm actually getting my stitches out in a few days."

"and what about the cast?"

"I'm hoping it's off by your wedding. So what, that's gives me a month and a half, two months. I think it will be off by then."

"oh, I hope it's off by then too. It wont be any fun for you too be at a wedding with crutches," Rachel told him.

"I know."

Monica was just standing there looking at them, not believing they were talking like this, something they all did every single day of their lives. It was time to get a tree.

"are we done yet? Can we look for a tree now?"

Suddenly a very hot young blonde walked passed the group, immediately catching Joey's attention

"yeah, Ill see you guys later," he said chasing after her.

"Come on Mike, let's look for a tree that is dying," she said dragging him by the hand, leaving Mike in complete bewilderment.

"mommy!!!" Emma soon whined, tugging on her hand, "I want tee."

"oh I'm sorry baby. We are all ready now, okay."

A big smiled emerged on her face and she held onto Rachel's hand and started dragging her in the direction of all the green trees.

"Come on Ross,"

"I'm right behind you."

"daddy, I wan big tee."

"you pick out whatever one you want princess," he said as the three off them walked off into the distance.

"would you look at them" Monica said quietly as she watched her brother and best friend with their daughter.

"yeah, they both look really happy," Chandler said.

Monica smiled to herself as she gazed at the family of three. Emma was holding onto Rachel's hand and with her free hand she touched each passing tree while Ross and Rachel were talking and laughing with one another.

"Mon…..Mon…..MONICA!!!"

"what?"

"the tree,"

"right" she said shaking her head, " let's find our tree."

"so I'm guessing you wont be teaching Emma about the miracle of Hanukkah and the Maccabees ?"

They both started laughing.

"no, my son didn't even want to listen to me. I don't think my one year daughter wants to listen to it either"

"yeah, I think your right on that one."

"I'll tell her the story when she is a little older."

"ok, but when we get home we should take out your menorah. She should know she celebrates both holidays."

"okay," he said smiling at her. "Sweetie, do you like this tree?"

Emma made a face and shook her head no. She wanted something bigger. She continued walking throughout the lot holding onto her mother's hand searching for her tree. When she saw a really big one she smiled.

"daddy, this tee, this tee."

"I think we found a winner," he said

Rachel lifted her up into her arms as they admired the chosen tree

"oh Emma, it's so pretty. You picked out the best one in here," Rachel said in a very excited voice trying to please her daughter.

Emma just smiled widely very proud of herself

"Ross is that going to fit in the apartment?" she whispered over to Ross hoping Emma wouldn't hear her.

He looked at it up and down and smiled

"yeah it should. I guess we need to get a worker to tie it up for us."

Ross soon got a worker and the three of them stood back and watched as their Christmas tree was being tied up for them. They were told to head towards the front of the lot so they can pay and when they were ready to leave they would have to tie it to the car or cab in this case.

"Ross why didn't you let me for pay half of it?"

"because I wanted to buy the tree for my daughter and you, okay."

"okay fine, but you have to let me pay for things sometimes."

"no I don't."

"Ross!"

"okay, fine you can pay for things, just not that tree."

"fine," she said giving up the argument. "Man, my feet are killing me."

"well Rach, who told you to wear heels to go Christmas tree shopping?"

"but these are my favorite pair."

"but they hurt your feet!"

"so!"

"you know, what? Let's take a seat on the bench over there while we wait for everyone else."

"good idea."

She walked over to the nearby bench and the two of them took a seat with Emma on Rachel's lap. Emma was facing her mother with her legs around Rachel's waist and she soon leaned forward to rest her head on Rachel's chest. She stuck her thumb in her mouth and closed her eyes as Rachel held her close to her body.

"looks like someone is getting sleepy," Ross said as he brushed Emma's bangs that were sticking out from under her hat away from her eyes.

"yeah, she didn't take a nap today."

"I'm sure she'll be out during the car ride home."

"yeah, probably."

Rachel's body suddenly shook out of nowhere as she got a chill.

"are you cold?"

"a little. I should have worn my heavier jacket. I'm glad I put Emma in this one."

Ross began to inch closer to her as he brought an arm around her shoulder pulling her closer to his body, moving his hand up and down her arm trying to create warmth. She looked at him and smiled

"don't want you girls to be cold," he said smiling back at her

"thank you."

She pulled her baby closer to her and closed her eyes leaning her cheek on the top of Emma's head. It wasn't long until the warmth entered back into her body as Ross continued to rub her arm. They stayed like that for quite some time both being very comfortable in each others close presence. Rachel still had her eyes closed, resting her cheek on Emma as Ross watched his princess beginning to fall asleep. The rest of the group soon joined them.

"hey guys, did you find a tree?"

Rachel lifted her head when she heard Ross speak and saw her 5 friends standing before her.

"well there are so many green ones, buy luckily we found this small brown one."

Monica just closed her eyes and shook her head laughing over Phoebe's statement. She was really one of a kind. She then directed her attention to Ross and Rachel

"yeah we got ours too. We just have to pay for it and then tie it to a cab. What are you guys doing?" she questioned, eyeing the closeness of the two.

Ross and Rachel looked at each other and he realized his arm was still around her body. He slowly removed it and placed it back at his side as he adjusted his body on the bench

"we uh were just waiting for you guys. We already got our tree so I guess we can head home."

Everyone nodded and decided they would meet back here in a few minutes as the rest of the group paid for their tree. Ross took a hold of his crutches before lifting himself to his feet and Rachel stood with Emma still in her arms. Emma looked around for a bit before resting her head on her mother's shoulders and closing her eyes once again.

"She's almost out."

"I know, she's like a dead weight in my arms."

"Come on, I'll get a cab."

"Ross I can't do this!"

"Rach, come on. It's not that hard. Joey and Chandler already put it in the stand for us. I would do it but I can't bend down"

"yeah but they put it in crooked and this tree weighs a friggin' ton."

"All you have to do is just loosen the screws in the stand and adjust the tree so it's not crooked."

"yeah easier said then done Ross," she huffed as she sat on her knees looking up at him

She bent over so she can look under the tree and began loosening the screws from the stand. She sat back up and began moving the tree to the left to try and straighten it up.

"How is it now?"

"uh…..move it a little more to the left," he said as he inspected the view from a far.

"now?"

"yeah, that good."

She tightened the screws back in place and stood back up next to Ross, crossing her arms over her chest as they both admired the tree.

"hmmm….I think it needs to be a little more to the right."

She looked at him giving him an 'are you kidding me look'. Ross started laughing

"I'm just kidding."

She finally broke into a smile and gave him a gentle shove.

"you better be kidding because I'm not going to fix it."

"well you did very good."

"why thank you," she said bending over towards him in a cute little way while smiling "Emma, sweetie come look at our tree."

At the mention of her name Emma looked up from her pile of toys and walked over to her parents. She stood in between them and wrapped an arm around one of Rachel's legs and looked at the tree. She smiled widely and looked up at her mother.

"pitty tee."

"I know, didn't mommy do a good job Em?"

She turned her head so she was now facing her father. She looked at him and shook her head up and down

"good tob mommy," she said as she kissed her mothers leg

"thank you baby," Rachel said smiling as she ran her fingers through the top of Emma's hair

Emma got bored rather quickly just looking at the tree so she soon walked away to turn her attention back to her toys on the floor. Ross and Rachel let their eyes wander away from the tree as their eyes traveled to their daughter. They both had smiles on their faces when they watched Emma as she played with her baby Ariel doll. They finally looked back at each other and Rachel noticed an odd expression on his face

"what?"

"I think you just have some pine needles in your hair."

"I do, where?" she asked as she ran her hands through her honey colored hair.

"here, let me."

Rachel stepped closer to him and watched as he brought his hand up to his face. He looked her in the eyes as he pulled out the tiny pieces of pine needle that were stuck in her hair. They never broke eye contact as he finally got the last piece that was stuck in her bangs right above her eye.

"thanks," she said softly

He let his hand travel down the side of her face as he brushed away her bangs with his fingers before resting his hand on her cheek. She smiled as she leaned her head slightly into his hand. When the air around them turned serious Ross removed his hand from her face and cleared his throat

"I uh…I should take the menorah out of the box."

Rachel nodded her head as they both tried avoiding one another's eyes. He maneuvered his way around her with his crutches as she stepped back a bit so he could pass her. When he walked right in front of her his one crutch got stuck in one of Emma's toys that was on the floor causing him to become unsteady. He began to shake as he couldn't catch his balance causing him to fall onto Rachel with his crutches falling to the ground. Rachel wasn't prepared for all this weight to fall against her and she stumbled backwards onto the couch with Ross on top of her. The moment her back hit the cushion of the couch, they both rolled over as they fell on the floor with Rachel now on top of Ross.

Even though Ross was in an incredible amount of pain he couldn't stop laughing. The way they just rolled off the couch and onto the floor made him laugh even harder as he though about it and Rachel joined in on the hysterics.

"Are…you…okay?" she tried asking in between her laughter.

"I'm not sure yet," he said as his laughter began to subside.

Once the laughing dwindled down they both left laying on the floor with Rachel laying on top of his body. His hands were on her lower back as one of her legs fell in between his. They looked at one another still smiling thinking about the hilarity that just occurred.

"are you okay Ross?"

"yeah I think so. You didn't land on my leg and you weigh as light as a feather so I'm fine," he said smiling at her

"Ok good"

"yeah."

There was that moment of silence where all they could do was look at each other. The sexual tension was thick and they didn't dare look away. Chills were sent down her spine when she felt Ross slip his hand underneath the fabric of her shirt to feel her smooth skin of her lower back beneath his fingertips. She eyed his bottom lips a bit and then locked gazes with him once again. With his other hand he brushed some hair away from her face that had fallen into her eyes. At that moment in time all she wanted to do was lean in and kiss the lips that she missed so much and that's exactly what she felt her self doing. They both closed their eyes as she leaned her head down waiting to feel the soft ness of his lips against hers. She could almost feel his lips, taste him when…..

"mommy, bottle."

They both immediately opened their eyes and they can just see the disappointment in the other eyes. Emma had the most unfortunate timing.

"ok baby, I will get you a bottle in a second," she said as she gazed at Ross' lips.

She looked in his eyes once more before she slowly got off of his body. He sat up and she helped him off the ground as he sat on the couch. She got his crutches that fell on the floor and leaned them against the arm of the couch.

"I'll be right back," she said quietly

"oh..okay."

She soon disappeared into the kitchen and Ross leaned back onto the couch closing his eyes. What was that and why was he so disappointed that it stopped? Well, of course he knew why. He was so disappointed because all he wanted to do for the past couple of months was kiss those lips again. He missed her so much, not only did he miss her he missed being loved by her and all their intimate moments that had once shared. He continued to think about the moment that had just came and went when she reentered into the living room.

"here you go baby girl."

Rachel handed her daughter a bottle of milk and she took it eagerly. As she drank her bottle she began rubbing her eyes with her tiny fist.

"it's past your bedtime little girl. Time to go to sleep."

Rachel bent over and lifted Emma into her arms as she continued to drink her bottle.

"I'm going to take her to bed."

"yeah, I think I'm going to head off to bed too. My ribs are starting to hurt from the fall" he told her as he grabbed his crutches and both walked their way to the back of the apartment

"are you sure your alright?"

"yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"okay."

"goodnight. Goodnight princess," he said as he kissed her head and headed towards his bedroom.

Emma took the bottle out of her mouth and looked at him

"daddy, seep with me and mommy," she said pointing at Rachel's bedroom.

Ross and Rachel both looked at each other.

"I guess she's used to us all in the same room since it's been like that the past two nights."

"Emma sweetie, I'm going to sleep in my room okay."

"seep with daddy," she said as she tried reaching for her father

"ok, do you want to sleep with daddy tonight Emma?"

Emma looked at her mother and nodded her head up and down. Ross just smiled and the three of them walked into his bedroom. Emma was already in her pajamas so Rachel placed her on the bed and tucked her in under the covers. Ross got situated on his side of the bed as Emma laid her head on the pillow. Rachel bent over to give her a kiss on the forehead and brushed some of the hair away from her face.

"good night baby."

"nite mommy," she said before sticking her bottle back into her mouth

"I'll see you two in the morning," she said looking over at Ross.

"ok."

She smiled at him as she left the room leaving the door slightly opened.

"okay Emma you want me to read you a bedtime story"

Emma shook her head yes and Ross could see her smiling through her bottle. He opened the drawer in his nightstand and took out one of Emma's favorite stories "I'll Love you Forever. " He began reading it softly to her as she stared at the pictures in the book and tugged on her hair twirling it around her finger as she listened intently. Rachel was getting out of the bathroom, heading back to her room when she heard Ross talking to Emma as he passed by. She walked to the door and peeked in through the crack and smiled when she saw Ross reading to her. She stayed there for quite some time and just watched as Ross finished the story as Emma began to doze off. She dropped her bottle from her mouth and snuggled up close to her father's side. When he knew she was asleep he put the book away and secured the blankets more tightly around her tiny body. He shut off the light and laid on his back and closed his eyes with a smile on his face. Rachel continued to look at the two of them sleeping for a few more minutes before heading back to her bedroom

A few hours later she woke up from her sleep with the annoying sensation that she had to pee. She dragged her feet from the bed and went into the bathroom. When she exited the room she once again passed by Ross bedroom and couldn't help but look at the two of them once more. When she peeked in the room she saw that the covers were at the foot of the bed. She walked further in and smiled when she saw his arm around Emma as she cuddled into her father's side. She pulled the covers up around Emma and kissed the side of her head. She then walked around to the other side of the bed to pull the covers back onto Ross' body. She just stared at him. As much as she tried to deny it and how afraid she was to admit it she never stopped loving the man lying before her. She ran her hand through his thick hair and touched his forehead lightly with her fingers. She smiled remembering all the times she used to do the exact same movements in the past whenever he fell asleep before her. She would then remove her hand from he face and then give him a kiss on the forehead and a soft kiss on the lips as he slept. But now it was different. They weren't a couple and she couldn't give him her goodnight kiss. She sighed slightly and made her way over to the door.

"good night Rachel."

She stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned around. Looking back at him, she saw his eyes were already closed. She smiled at him knowing he wasn't really asleep but she didn't say anything. She left the room, closing the door behind her. She looked back at the closed door and lightly pressed her hand up against it as she closed her eyes briefly.

"good night Ross," she whispered and then headed towards her bedroom