May 1998

Landing in London, she every intention of telling Ross she loved him. She had every intention of letting him know, of stopping the wedding. She had to, she just needed to let Ross know he was making a mistake. This was not right but then she saw them. She saw Emily and Ross kiss and she backed down. She couldn't do it. She could not tell him that she loved him so instead, she just said it was a surprise. She was there because she changed her mind and immediately after seeing him, she went in search of Monica. As she walked towards the room Ross had said Monica was staying in, she noticed Monica walking towards her room. She appeared to almost be floating down the hall, with a grin plastered on her face. Rachel knew that look. Why was Monica so happy? Had Monica hooked up with someone? Who?

"Monica," Rachel said as she approached her. Monica jumped as she looked at her.

"Rach, there you are. What are you doing here?"

"Thought I'd surprise Ross...I….are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'm good."

"You seem very happy."

"I'm a happy person."

"Did you hook up with someone?" Rachel asked.

"No, no, no...why...no."

"I've known for almost twenty-two years. I know that smile."

"I'm just happy. That's all….why are you here?"

Rachel let out a sigh as the smile vanished from Monica's face. Monica opened her room and Rachel followed her in.

"I didn't do anything. I couldn't do it."

"Do what?" Monica asked.

"Tell Ross I still I love him."

"Are you joking?"

"I didn't though."

"But you were going to."

"I thought-"

"No, you cannot-Rachel, you missed your chance. Okay, Ross is getting married today. It's over."

"I know. I'm not going to say anything. I'm not going to do anything. I-"

"It's over."

"I know."

"I'm gonna go get ready," Monica sighed as she walked towards her bathroom.

"I'm gonna call Phoebe."

"You're paying for that phone call."

"I will," Rachel said as she plopped herself down on the bed. As soon as Monica shut the bathroom door behind her, Rachel reached for the phone and dialed. She felt a twinge of sadness hearing Phoebe's voice and wished at once she could teleport herself back to New York.

"Did you say anything?" Phoebe asked.

"No, no...I said nothing. It's really over. The Ross and Rachel story is officially over and it makes me sad. Ever since we began this drama, there was always part of me that wanted to….that didn't want to end. Even when it ended, I thought…."

"Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe it's important and now you'll both move on."

"I thought you said Ross and I were each other's lobsters."

"Maybe not, I mean….you two are very dramatic."

"Yeah. I'm gonna watch him get married. Why am I here? Why didn't you stop me?"

"I tried, but I can only move so far, and, by the way, you abandoned me. You're supposed to be here with me."

"I'm sorry," Rachel said, feeling a little guilty.

"So you know, get over yourself and you better buy me a present."

"I will….I am so sorry. You're totally right, I should be there with you. I'm stupid."

"Well, you're not bright," Phoebe retorted.

"Pregnancy has made you mean."

"I prefer honest."

"I miss you…how about I get some super expensive fabric here and design you something."

"Maybe. I just...Rachel-"

Rachel let out another sigh as she and Phoebe talked for a few more moments before hanging up. She knew she should leave, maybe fly back to New York but then Ross had seen her already. He was expecting her.

She didn't have time to change, so she ended wearing the clothes she wore on the airplane to the ceremony. It was in a beautiful area. She could feel her heart break a little as it began. She watched intently as her friends walked down the aisle. Joey walked arm in arm with a bridesmaid and he looked so handsome. She could not stop grinning when Monica and Chandler walked down the aisle together. They seemed nervous. Monica had told her that she and Chandler had walked down the aisle at Ross' first wedding and it was sweet they were doing it again. Ross looked handsome as well, she always loved when the three boys wore suits. No one could ever call those three boys unattractive, but when they wore suits and looked all nice and fancy, her breath would stop in her throat a bit. They looked almost dreamy,

As the ceremony began, Rachel wanted to crawl out of her skin. She wanted to slither off somewhere. None of this seemed right. She was watching Ross get married. She could feel the tears fill her eyes when suddenly she heard her name. She shook her head. Monica, Joey, and Chandler looked stunned, Ross looked guilty and Emily looked pissed. It soon dawned on Rachel what had happened. Instead of saying Emily's name, Ross had said her name.

Her name. He had said, "Rachel" and not "Emily". She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do next. Should she go up there? She looked towards the front and watched as the awkward ceremony continued until the end where Ross and Emily were now married.

During the reception, she found him pacing back and forth. He was angry, pissed, worried. When he saw her approach him, he stopped as they stared each other in a silence that was broken by the loud snorting sounds coming from his nose.

"It meant nothing," Ross said, staring at her.

"I know," Rachel said.

"Ross-"

"Why are you here?"

"What?"

"Why are you really here?" Ross asked.

"For your wedding."

"Bullshit."

"Excuse me?"

"If-this-it's your fault. This-"

"What is my fault? You said my name! I did not hold a gun to your head and tell you to do that," Rachel said, getting angry. How could he possibly be blaming her?

"It meant nothing."

"I know."

"I am not-I don't have any feelings for you," Ross said.

"Neither do I."

"Then why are you here?" Ross asked.

"You invited me asshole."

"You said no."

Rachel let out a snort, she didn't want to say anything more. If she did, she knew she would regret it.

"Meanwhile, you're standing here arguing with me while your new wife is locked in the bathroom," Rachel said. Ross opened his mouth and quickly closed it. He shook his head and stomped off towards the closed bathroom door. Rachel stayed frozen to her spot.

"Want a crab cake? These are awesome," Joey said, approaching her. She looked at him.

"Am I a horrible person?"

"I just asked if you wanted crab cake."

"Alright, never mind," Rachel said, she should have known better than to ask Joey.

"Wait, Rach….look, I get why you came and I don't know why you and Ross couldn't make it work and I'm sorry it didn't but maybe this is good."

"What is good? What could possibly be good about this?"

"Now, you can move on," Joey said.

"I have moved on."

"Really?" Joey asked, giving her a look. She wanted to argue but he kept looking on her. She couldn't lie to him.

"I hate you," she whispered.

"You know I'm right."

"I hate it when you do this."

"Do what?"

"It was just easier to dismiss your opinions when I thought you were a pig."

"I hooked up with a bridesmaid last night."

"What was her name?"

"Not a clue."

"I'm not over him. I-why am I here? Why am I here? Why….I can't...I just….he's married, Joey. He's actually married and…maybe I should call Joshua."

"No, don't do that."

"I won't. I'm a crazy person. I abandoned my best friend who is about ready to explode with triplets….and she's going to give them away….and I fly here to do what? Phoebe is all alone and….I'm...I'm a horrible person. I'm…" Rachel said as tears filled her eyes. Joey stuffed the remainder of his crab cake in his mouth and moved into envelope her in his arms. She smiled as he hugged her. He smelled a bit like fish and steak mixed with aftershave. "Were you eating meat?" Rachel asked looking up at him. He wasn't supposed to be eating meat now as a promise to Phoebe who craving meat while pregnant, He looked at Rachel.

"You left her alone in New York," Joey grinned.

"Fine, you win."

Joey kept hugging her until she was ready to step back. He grabbed her hand and the two walked towards Ross who was pounding on the door, yelling for Emily. As she stood there, listening to Ross, her heart dropped. She had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. There were no sounds coming from behind the door.

"She ran out," Rachel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" Ross asked.

"Open the door. She ran out," Rachel said.

"She did not run out, she's not you," Ross said.

"Dude, not cool," Joey said. She looked up at Joey and mouthed a 'thanks" to him. He let go of her hand and gently wrapped his arm around her. For as bad as she felt, she felt a little a bit lighter. For as crazy as both Joey and Chandler could drive her, she felt so protected by them and it was truly wonderful.

Ross said nothing as he quickly bust open the door and sure enough, Rachel's intuition was correct. Emily was gone. Ross simply looked at her and walked off. Rachel could feel herself starting to cry again. Joey tried to hug her, but she shook her head.

"I need to...I need a moment."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Joey asked.

"No, no, thank you….that's sweet. You have your bridesmaid," Rachel said.

"You're more important, Rach."

"Thanks."

She stepped back and walked out of the reception. She began walking, walking quickly with tears streaming down her face. She kept walking until she found a cafe and realized that she did not have any money with her. She had left everything in Monica's room. She wondered if Monica was back in her room. She probably wasn't, but she needed her money. She needed it so she could go somewhere or shop. She could shop, but first she needed to go back.

She was let in and it did not surprise her that Monica was not there. She saw her purse and grabbed it and then stared at the phone. She immediately lay back down and called Phoebe.

"He said my name," Rachel said.

"I don't think it means anything," Phoebe said.

"But he...and Ross is being an asshole."

"I can see that. Rach, you crashed the wedding."

"Emily ran out."

"'Cause he said your name….and it means nothing."

"Yeah, everyone keeps saying that and-"

Suddenly, the door opened and Monica walked in with Chandler closely behind her. Rachel could have sworn she noticed a flash of something between them but she wasn't sure. They both looked nervous.

"Rachel, what are you doing here?" Monica asked.

"Calling Phoebe."

"You're paying for those calls," Monica said.

"I know and I will...and I also know it would have been cheaper had I stayed home and talked to Phoebe," Rachel said.

"I told you that," Phoebe said.

"Monica, you wanna go….I-forgot something in my room," Chandler said.

"Let's go there."

"Yeah, let's do that," Chandler said and quickly they both ran out of the room. Rachel looked at the now closed door very confused.

"Monica and Chandler are acting strange," Rachel said.

"Maybe they hooked up."

"Doubt it…."

Rachel let out another sigh as she continued to talk to Phoebe. She talked until Phoebe declared she needed to use the restroom. After hanging up, Rachel grabbed her purse and roamed the streets of London alone. She shopped, she ate. She did everything she could to just clear her head.

She was grateful when it was finally time to leave although another crisis when she realized she had no clue how she would be getting home. Joey, Monica, and Chandler had offered to change their flights so she could go with them, but she found that dumb. They left and she waited. She wasn't sure how long she had been waiting but soon she heard Ross' voice asking if the seat next to her was taken.

"Sit," Rachel motioned, grabbing one of her bags off the chair.

"How long were you planning on staying in London?" Ross asked, sitting by her and noticing how many bags she had with her.

"I went shopping."

"Oh….what do you get?"

"Clothes, shoes, accessories….fabric.'

"Fabric?"

"I owe Phoebe a Rachel Karen Green design for abandoning her."

"Hmmm….look, Rach….I'm sorry about what I said and-"

"No, no, Ross….I'm sorry."

"I-I want this to work. I do...and...I'm supposed to go on my honeymoon and-she's not here. She's not-fuck."

"Ross...maybe this was a sign."

"What?"

"No….you guys moved so fast and….okay, I am here and maybe I should not have come but I am not over you yet and it killed me to watch you two move so fast and….are you really over me?"

"I don't think I will ever be over you."

"So, then…."

"I don't know."

"Well, I gotta go find a ticket back home. Hopefully."

"You wanna come with me," Ross said.

"Come with you?" Rachel asked, a little stunned.

"To Greece….on...well, on my honeymoon. It looks like I'll have an extra ticket."

"Ross."

"Please, maybe it'll be good for us. We can talk and be away from the others for a little and just focus on us and decide once and for all what we'll do. We can also sit on the beach and drink all day."

"I would enjoy that."

"So...you wanna come with me?"

"Well...but don't I need ID? Doesn't it say-"

"Come on," Ross said, almost pleading with her. She smiled, maybe it would be good. They walked towards the ticketing agent and Rachel listened as Ross explained what was happening and surprisingly, she was let on to the plane. She sat comfortably and waited for Ross when suddenly moved. She began looking around and realized Ross was not on this plane and she was indeed headed to Greece on Ross' honeymoon…..alone.