May 1998-October 1998

She lay on a beach chair by the pool in Greece. She sipped her fourth Ouza as she stared longingly out at the pool behind her dark glasses that were hiding puffy eyes. She was prolonging her stay in Greece. Briefly, she had contemplated making her stay permanent. She did have some distant Greek relatives and knew some Greek. Her favorite word, "malaka" was a curse word meaning, "jerk" and that was exactly what she called Ross when she told Monica where she was, that and a schmuck….she just wanted to have all the cuss words from both of her cultures covered.

She could possibly stay in Greece. There were plenty of fashion houses in Greece and there were places she could get work. She was far more experienced now but then again, she wasn't sure she knew enough Greek to ace an interview at any of those places and she was just getting good at acing an interview in English. Maybe she could be a beach bum and do nothing all day. Of course, the more she thought of this plan, the more flaws there were and as she lay there, it dawned on her that 28th birthday had come and gone and she had spent her twenty-eighth birthday on a plane to London to stop a wedding.

"Geia Sas," came a voice right beside her. She looked up and saw a very handsome Greek man with a bright white smile, tan skin, and dark hair. He was saying hello.

"Geia sas," Rachel replied.

"Poio eínai to ónomá sou?" He was asking her name.

"To ónomá mou eínai Rachel , kai i̱ dikí̱ sas?"

He sat next to her and responded with telling her his name, which was Adonis. This made her grin, he definitely looked like a Greek god but then he began talking quickly in Greek. Words she did not know. She had been impressed with herself so far. She could ask his name and say hello...and ask if he spoke English which would be her next question.

"Miláte angliká?" She asked which made him stop.

"Yes. I do….I know some English," Adonis said, that grin making her melt. "Your Greek is….is good."

"Thank you. I'm part Greek and also part Jewish. I know some stuff. Not as much as you obviously because you're from her," Rachel tried, not entirely sure she made sense.

"Hmmm, you here on vacation?"

"Yeah…..kinda. Unplanned."

"Unplanned?"

"Long story."

"Well, have you ever been to Greece?"

"No….no, I haven't."

"You want me to show you Greece?" Adonis asked.

"Oh, that's sweet….but you know, I'm probably leaving tomorrow."

"Well, then we don't have much time."

Rachel opened her mouth to protest but quickly shut it. She was alone in Greece. Alone. Monica wasn't there to judge her. Ross had abandoned her….and she had spent her twenty- eighth birthday alone on a plane.

"You know, it's my birthday."

"Really?" Adonis asked.

"Well, actually, it was a couple day ago but it sucked. Horrible."

"You're alone on your birthday, still. Not good."

"Yeah, I could use a do-over."

"Then let's go," he said as he stood and reached his hand towards her. She finished the rest of her drink and grabbed his hand, wobbling a little. She would not feel sorry for herself. She would not let Ross destroy her last day in Greece, she was in Greece. It had been a long time since she had really just gone wild. Ever since she had moved to the city, she really had put that time behind her. She had been wild because she was bored but with Monica, Chandler, Ross, Phoebe, and Joey, she was never bored. She felt enveloped by them with an amazing sense of warmth and loveliness….so there was no need to go back to her wild days, but they weren't there at the moment and she deserved it.

He led her out of the hotel and towards a motorcycle which was his. He handed her a helmet and got on, looking back at her.

"I'm a little drunk," Rachel said.

"Hold tight. I'll go slow."

"Okay," Rachel said as she put on her helmet and got on, holding on to Adonis for dear life as they rode through the streets of Greece.

It was twenty-four hours, only twenty-four hours, but those hours were amazing. She felt better than she had in months. Sure, she knew she would never see this man again but didn't matter, not when she was surrounded by so much beauty. There were the monasteries in Mount Athos and laying out on the beaches of Myrtos. Every part of the day was packed and of course, there was Adonis. He had these piercing blue eyes that made Rachel melt under him. He was perfect. He took her everywhere and that night, they danced in one of the many clubs in Greece, their bodies close together and she gave into him completely, let herself be completely taken over by this strange, wonderful man. His strong arms held her and his kisses practically melted her. She wondered if she could tell anyone or if she should keep it secret like she did so many of her past crazy nights. She could possibly tell Phoebe and maybe Joey. Chandler, perhaps. She wouldn't tell Ross or Monica….she definitely would never tell Ross.

She was in a haze, a drunk wonderful haze as he kissed her. Hard and soft kisses, wonderful kisses as he wouldn't let her go and she took him back to the honeymoon suite, the honeymoon suite that was supposed to be for Ross and Emily. There was something almost gratifying about the sex with Adonis in that honeymoon suite. It felt almost like revenge and Adonis ravaged her, made her feel as if she was on fire. She would never tell a soul.

"Chrónia Pollá Rachel," he said, wishing her a happy birthday in Greek. He kissed her neck as they lay in that huge, wonderful bed.

"Sas ef̱charistó̱", Rachel grinning, thanking him and once again was very impressed with her abilities.

"You know Jewish words too?"

"Schmuck."

"What?"

"Jerk….but you're a mensch. That's good. Oh, that's so very good," she said as he kissed her and they went again. It was a night that could only be described using every cliche she could find and that next morning, she awoke in his arms still but with a grin on her face until she realized, she needed to go home.

"Crap," she whispered.

"What?" Adonis asked.

"I have to go home."

"Where do you live?"

"New York. I have to...go."

"Why? Stay."

"Oh, honey….you're sweet but….I have to go. I have a job I have to get back to and friends and a roommate and….I have a lot of stuff I have to deal with at home. This isn't even my suite."

"What?"

"It's a really long and complicated story and…..yeah, it just is. How do say, 'we were not on a break' in Greek?"

"What?" Adonis asked.

"Never mind….but I do have to go home and I don't want to but I do have to. I have to go home. I have to face my life….."

"Do you have to go right now?" Adonis asked, kissing her again.

"Hmmm, I can wait a bit longer," Rachel grinned as she turned towards him and they shared another kiss. She would have to leave eventually but maybe one more passion filled moment wouldn't hurt.

A ten hour flight later and she was back in New York. Monica had offered to pick her up, but she declined, she was still smiling though. She didn't want to think about the drama, the craziness that awaited her as she walked into apartment 20. Ross was there when she got back. He was waiting for her along with everyone else. Everyone surrounded her when she walked in, hugging her.

"Rachel, I am so, so sorry," Ross said, practically pleading with her.

"It's okay, Ross," Rachel said.

"Really?"

"Yeah….I mean, I went to Greece. It was fun. A lot of fun," Rachel said.

"It's just-I mean-" Ross said.

"It's okay….I'm going to go unpack," Rachel said as she hugged Ross and walked into her room. As her back was turned, she heard her door open and shut.

"You got laid," Phoebe said behind her.

Rachel turned and looked at her, her mouth dropping. Phoebe was very pregnant and stared at her with a knowing look.

"I did not."

"You are such a liar. This is me, I know these things. You got laid," Phoebe said as she walked towards Rachel's bed and plopped herself down.

"I bought you fabric from London that I think you'll like. I also found a fabric store in Greece, so I'm making you an international outfit."

"You had sex. Who was he?" Phoebe asked.

Rachel gave Phoebe a look. How the hell did Phoebe know these things? Rachel let out a groan and pushed her bags onto the floor and sat with Phoebe.

"You cannot tell Monica…or anyone You and me, babe."

"I won't."

"Okay, most of my trip….I spent sobbing by the pool but the day before I left, this guy….Adonis-"

"Are you kidding?"

"Nope."

"Oh G-d."

"In more ways than you'll ever know."

"Go, Rach."

"I mean, don't you think I deserved that? I spent my twenty-eighth birthday on a plane to London….alone."

"That was your choice."

"Okay, but the flight to Greece? By the way, ….we did it in the honeymoon suite."

"Well, someone had to."

"You're not gonna tell Monica or Chandler or Joey?"

"No, I won't."

"You can't tell Ross either."

"I won't. He's calling London."

"Really?"

"He's trying to track down Emily."

"Hmmm," Rachel said as there was a knock on the door. Monica slowly opened the door and walked in.

"You alright?" Monica asked.

"I've been better. We may have to have a Twinkie and Slow Death Smoothie night. Pheebs, can you spend the night?"

"Of course….I can't move….or have the smoothies," Phoebe said.

"I'll buy you a box of Twinkies that you don't need to share with us," Monica said.

"Perfect," Phoebe said as Rachel hugged her and soon Monica joined in the hug. As she sat with the two women she considered more her sisters than her actual biological ones, she made a choice. She would for the first time…..try to be single, maybe for a year

Meanwhile, something strange was happening with Monica and Chandler. Rachel began to take note. First, there was Chandler and his kissing. Chandler kept kissing all three of the girls and it was very bizarre and weird. A few days after she got back from Greece, she decided to bring it up with Chandler over a sushi lunch.

"Okay, but what about the kissing?" Rachel asked. It was something bizarre. He just being way too kissy. Chandler was always gentle and sweet with the girls, giving them pecks on the head or hugging them, but this was a little too much.

"I was being friendly and trying to bring culture into group."

"Chandler, you and Joey once videotaped yourselves belching the alphabet."

"And?"

"What's going on with you and Monica?" Rachel asked.

"Nothing. Although...can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

Chandler looked uncomfortable as he kept taking deep breaths and twirling his chopsticks around his fingers.

"Back in...1987 when I first met Monica...did she like me? Did she say anything about me when-"

"Why do you wanna know?" Rachel asked, grinning. She knew the truth, of course. She knew Monica had liked him even back then, but she thought the question was strange.

"Just curious."

"She liked you...she thought you were cute. She thought it was insulting that you liked her more when she was thinner, but she thought you were cute."

"I liked her when she was heavier," Chandler said.

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did," Chandler said

Rachel gave him a look as she ate another piece of sushi. Did he really not remember calling Monica fat? Maybe he thought that she didn't know?

"Hey...do you...Monica lost a lot of weight in a year, didn't she?" Chandler asked.

That question threw her for a loop. She remembered that moment when she saw Monica for the first time after graduating high school, when she had suddenly gotten thin. Monica thought Rachel was jealous, she wasn't jealous. Far from it….that whole Thanksgiving sucked.

"She did," Rachel said.

"Impressive."

"I guess."

"You know, don't you," Chandler said.

"Know what?" Rachel asked although she knew what he was asking. He was trying to get information, but she did not want to give it to him. She didn't know for sure that was how Monica lost the weight and she didn't know how much Chandler knew.

"Know how she lost two hundred and forty pounds in a year."

"I-I-well-tell me what's going on between you and Monica?"

"No...nothing...not-"

"Fine. Then I won't tell you what I know...just...don't hurt her and take care of her. She's not as strong as she'd like us all to believe," Rachel said. There was part of her that did want to push more. Monica had fainted when she was in college. Rachel had gone to the hospital and then drove off. She wanted to know. Had Monica kept doing…..that?

"I agree...I won't. She's...I like her a lot, Rachel. I mean when I'm around her...I...I wanna work harder and-and-...I feel different with her than I did with Lizzie or Janice or Kathy. I feel-"

"Home?"

"Yeah...like, it's where I'm supposed to be."

"So are you admitting that something happened in London."

"No."

"You kinda just did."

"No, I didn't...I just...I like her a lot."

Rachel smiled as she patted his hand. He had revealed a bit too much, but she wouldn't say anything. Her mind was still stuck though on Monica and that weight loss.

"You know, Monica fainted in college, right?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah, the day after my 21st birthday. That's when I took her to the frat party and she stole my car."

"Weren't you wasted and left her alone?"

"Technicality," Chandler said.

"I called her at the hospital and I even I went and visited or was going to but I got scared and drove off….I figured she wouldn't have wanted to see me."

"Yeah, she would've. She was always on your side, Rach. Even when Pheebs and I would just eviscerate you…..she would always stick up for you. She never bad mouthed you."

"I'm sure she didn't. But….can I ask you something? Has she done….is she….."

"She's fine and I will always take care of her."

"Good."

Rachel and Chandler continued to eat and chat about other things. She kept thinking about Monica, about everything. She wondered about Monica and Chandler, about her and Ross and wondered when things started getting so complicated.

She also knew she had to really talk to Ross, she needed to discuss what was going on but that was quickly derailed by Phoebe finally giving birth. Phoebe giving birth brought back so any feelings for Rachel. Phoebe was giving her babies away and Rachel had been pregnant. She remembered being pregnant, seeing that stick with the positive sign on it. She had been sixteen.

"I can't do this," Phoebe said, looking at Rachel. It broke Rachel to look at Phoebe. No one would argue that Rachel was far and away the most emotional of the three girls. Rachel would even agree to that but seeing Phoebe on the verge of tears, broke her.

"Pheebs."

"I can't give them away. I carried them for nine months."

"I understand."

"Please, no you don't. How do you know what it's like to give up a child?"

She opened her mouth, thinking she could say something, but it was different. She had never carried a child, never grew attached to it the way Phoebe had to those triplets.

"I don't know….I'm sorry," Rachel said and reached over to hug Phoebe. Phoebe was crying in her arms. That just destroyed her.

Monica was also being strange. In an attempt to move past Ross, Rachel had decided that she would set herself and Monica up with two very attractive male nurses but when she had, both Monica and Chandler started acting bizarrely. Rachel found the whole thing so strange. It was becoming more and more apparent that something was going on with Monica and Chandler, but neither one would admit to it.

"You set Monica up?" Chandler asked, approaching her by the vending machines as she was getting coffee. She looked at him, curious as to why he was upset about this.

"Yeah, is that a problem?"

"Well, no...it's just-"

"What?" Rachel asked. "Is there a reason I shouldn't set her up?"

"No."

Rachel smiled as she took a sip of her coffee, " I mean...she's single...right? I mean, there's no other guy currently in her life... if there was, Monica would tell me...or maybe the guy would? Don't you think?"

"I'm not-nothing is happening with Monica and I."

"Okay. So it's alright if she goes out on a date?"

"Why wouldn't it be okay?"

"Okay," Rachel said, raising an eyebrow and grinning at him. She walked off towards Phoebe's hospital room. She sat by her, gently stroking her arm as Phoebe smiled at her, sadly.

"Hey," Phoebe said.

"I think…..they've hooked up."

"Who?"

"Monica and Chandler. Chandler just cornered me and asked why I set Monica up with the hot nurse man."

"Really?" Phoebe asked.

"Yep."

"I agree...something is going on."

"You know Pheebs, what you're doing….is amazing and just so strong and just-"

"I don't feel strong."

"I know….but I'll be here for you. I'm not abandoning you this time."

"Thanks….G-d, Rach….you know, it's funny, I really hated you. Probably more than Chandler….I really just thought you were what was wrong in the world, but I've never been more wrong. You're….like a big giant walking heart and that's a compliment and I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"And you and Ross will end up up together."

"Please," Rachel said.

"Where the hell is his wife?" Phoebe asked.

"True and Pheebs, thank you…..thank you for giving me that chance to be your friend."

"Always."

Rachel stayed with Phoebe as long as she could. She stayed until she was forced to leave and Phoebe gave birth to the three babies, two girls and a boy. The boy was Frank Junior Junior and the girls, Leslie, and Chandler. Apparently, Chandler had lied to Phoebe and gotten her to name one of the babies after him but when the boy baby turned out to be a girl, Phoebe refused to change the name.

"You know, Pheebs...we're so proud of you," Monica said as the group surrounded Phoebe after she gave birth.

"Yeah...G-d, the strength you have...I just...I don't know," Rachel said as she gently stroked Phoebe's head.

"I didn't wanna give them up," Phoebe cried, "I mean, I knew it was gonna be hard but I didn't realize it would be this hard. I miss them."

"So...are you going to change Chandler's name because it's a girl?" Chandler asked.

"No," Phoebe shook her head, grinning. "Karma's a bitch, isn't it?

"Because I lied and pretended I hated my name, you're gonna keep it?" Chandler asked.

"Yep."

"That's not fair," Chandler said.

"No, it's perfectly fair," Phoebe said.

"You know, Chandler is a pretty name for a girl," Rachel mused.

"Yes, yes it is," Phoebe said, glaring at Chandler. Chandler gave Phoebe a sad smile as he looked down at his hands. "I still love you Chandler Bing. Even though you're a liar...although, you aren't lying to me about anything else...are you?" Phoebe asked.

Chandler jerked his head up and suddenly looked at Phoebe and then at Monica. He quickly cleared his throat and stood up.

"I-I-I have to go to the bathroom," Chandler said.

"Me too," Monica said.

The two of them immediately sprinted out of the hospital room, leaving Phoebe, Joey, Rachel and Ross very confused.

"They're acting really weird," Rachel said. "Monica said no to going out with that hot nurse guy."

"They're hooking up," Phoebe said.

"No, they aren't...they would have told us," Rachel said, trying to change the subject. Phoebe gave her a confused look, but Rachel did not want Joey and Ross to think that Monica and Chandler were indeed hooking up, at least not now. If they were indeed keeping it secret, discussing it amongst the four of them might not be a good idea.

"Well...you guys were in London with them. Did anything happen?" Phoebe asked.

"I was little preoccupied," Ross said.

"I had a bridesmaid," Joey said.

"Something is going on," Phoebe said giving Rachel a look. Rachel just shook her head. Yes, she did think Monica and Chandler were hooking up but now was not the time. She kept sending Phoebe telepathic messages to be quiet, messages that Phoebe was clearly not getting.

That night, Rachel decided to get proof. She walked into Monica's room and saw her looking through a book, smiling at the pages and writing notes.

"Why did you cancel with the cute Nurse man?" Rachel asked, appearing in her doorway. Monica jumped and closed her wedding book and placed it over the baby name book. Rachel was looking at her curiously and shook her head.

"Oh, I changed my mind," Monica said.

"Monica, what is going on?"

"Nothing...I was just looking at my old wedding book and laughing at some of my ideas," Monica tried.

"Are you hooking up with Chandler?" Rachel asked.

"No."

Rachel walked into Monica's room and sat on the bed. Why was Monica lying?

"Mon….come on, you're both acting weird and at the hospital today, Chandler got very nervous that I had set you up and…"

"I'm seeing a guy from work," Monica said, immediately.

"Really? What's his name?" Rachel asked.

"Matthew."

"Seriously?"

"Look, it's brand new….all of this is so brand new and I don't want to mess it up and when there is something to tell….I will tell you but right now, I want to enjoy this and I want to keep this close to me. Is that okay?"

Rachel let out a sigh. She didn't believe anything Monica was saying, but Monica was very intent on keeping it secret, so she really had no choice, "yeah, your secret boyfriend won't tell me anything either. Okay, fine. I do approve."

"Thank you."

Monica and Rachel shared a hug and when they were done, Rachel began to glance through Monica's wedding book, looking through each page. She remembered that wedding book. It made her strangely happy, she loved that Monica had kept the book.

"Rachel, how are you?" Monica asked.

Rachel knew what Monica was asking. They hadn't really discussed London or Greece or anything.

"I screwed up, didn't I?" Rachel asked.

"You did."

"Thanks."

"You should not have gone to London and he should have said Emily's name but….Rach-"

"Yeah…..this isn't all my fault."

"No, no but….look, what do you want from Ross?"

"I don't know. Part of me loves your brother so much and I want us to be together but he can be so jealous and he...he still...the we were on a break thing….and maybe….even though you won't admit it, you and your secret boyfriend are doing the right thing. I don't know. I don't know what I want. I love him and I hate him and I don't want him to date anyone else but I don't want to date him."

"You need to figure it out because here's the thing….there are now casualties. Julie, Bonnie...I'll even add Joshua, that actually might have turned into something had you not been so crazed and now Emily...people's feelings are now getting hurt."

"I know. I know. I need to figure it out."

"Quickly. Also, here's the other thing, I love you to death, you know that. You're like my sister….but Ross is my brother and I will always put him above you."

"I know that too."

"So what you pulled….not cool, Rach."

"I know."

Rachel nodded as she looked back at the wedding book and felt herself tearing up and starting to cry. She thought of Greece, thought of flying back to be with Adonis…or someone like him.