To the guest who keeps calling my story weird or keeps thinking it's weird that I'm leaving out scenes. I'm making those choices because even though I'm trying to line the story up to the show, I'm still adding my own things. I can't possibly fit in every episode, it would take years. It's also fiction and I'm taking my own license. There are a lot of things that are happening in the story that did not happen in the show.

To the other reviewers: thank you! I hope people read and review more!

May 2002

She hated herself. Okay, that wasn't true. She normally was quite fond of herself, but as she was nearing her due date, it was was hating herself. She was huge and uncomfortable and in pain. Ross was trying, he was definitely trying, rubbing her feet and being sweet to her, very sweet.

"I'm dying," Rachel groaned as she placed her feet on Ross and he gently began massaging her legs.

"You are not dying."

"Uh-huh. You don't know."

"I know."

"I'm going to explode."

"Then I'll get Mon to clean up."

"You know Joey has mob ties."

"I know."

"You know, Joey's sister had a hit on Chandler," Rachel grinned.

"Excuse me?"

"Yep. When Chandler slept with Joey's sister, she apparently got super pissed."

"Is this something you're not supposed to be telling me?" Ross asked.

"Yeah. Don't tell Chandler."

"I won't."

It was actually surprisingly wonderful living with Ross. They had been enjoying themselves as roommates, buying stuff for the baby and setting up their home. It was going to be their home.

"I can't believe we're gonna be parents."

"Me neither."

"Am I gonna be a good mom?"

"You kidding? The best. She's gonna be gorgeous 'cause she'll take after you and she'll be a fashionista."

"A fashionista?" Rachel asked.

"I know words."

"Impressive."

"And she'll be very smart and popular. You know, straight A's and Homecoming Queen," Ross said.

"She'll be amazing. Beauty and brains."

"Perfection."

"Hmmm….but….okay, what about us?" Rachel asked.

"What about us?" Ross asked.

"Do you think there will ever be an us? Again?"

"I don't know. I hope so."

"Would you do that proposal?" Rachel asked. A few months earlier at an anniversary party for Ross and Monica's parents, she and Ross had pretended to be married and through the pretending, he had revealed how he would propose. It would be at the planetarium and he'd have the stars spell out, "will you marry me?" It had melted her, thinking of that proposal. It was an amazing moment, one she had not stopped thinking about.

"No."

"No?"

"I think it would be different. We have a daughter….so I'd probably get her involved. Maybe she could bring you the ring?"

"What is wrong with us? Why can we make us work?" Rachel asked, loving that proposal idea as well.

"I ask myself that all the time."

"How come they make it work? Monica and Chandler? I mean, they work and….why can't we….I mean, fuck, even Joey and Phoebe work better than we do."

"I don't think so."

"You don't?"

"No. I mean, they're different. Different people, you know."

"Chandler never gets crazy jealous," Rachel said.

"Ask him what he thinks about Richard," Ross said, "and if he'd be okay with Monica ever being friends with him?"

"Okay, that is true….and he has addiction issues-"

"And she's nuts. I love her, she's my sister but she's nuts," Ross said. "And Phoebe and Joey? Please."

Rachel gave him a look, the tone of his voice when he mentioned Phoebe and Joey sounded arrogant.

"You're not better than them," Rachel said.

"I didn't say I was."

"'Cause Joey knows people who can kill you."

"I know….you really think I'm that arrogant, don't you?"

"Uh-huh. It's just who you are. Arrogant and jealous."

"Hmmm, okay."

"What?" Rachel asked, giving him small grin. He just kept looking at her, but she stuck with her belief. Ross was arrogant. He just was. They had been through enough for Rachel to just accept that as is.

She got a call from him a few nights later telling her to meet him at the museum. She wasn't sure what the reason was and she wasn't sure she wanted to go. She could barely get off the couch but Ross pleaded with her, telling her he needed her and she went. It was dark when she got there and he immediately ran down the steps to help her up. He wouldn't say anything despite her pressuring him. He walked into the empty museum and walked her towards the planetarium. The memories of the past her hit her, this was where they had been intimate, their first time together. He walked her towards a blanket and helped her make herself comfortable before turning on the stars above them and turning off the narration. He plopped himself down next to her and handed her a juicebox. She smiled.

"What is this?" Rachel asked.

"I don't like that you think I'm this arrogant, jealous…..asshat."

"Ross."

"No."

"Well, we are at your favorite place," she teased.

"Because I can legally get in here after hours. We could have done it at the mall but in order to do that, we'd have to break in and quite honestly, neither one of us would survive prison."

"True."

"But you still think I'm an asshat," Ross said.

"No, not always," Rachel said, feeling a little guilty. Maybe she was being too hard on him, "How did it start?"

"How did what start?"

"Your crush on me. How did it start? You just woke up one morning and thought, 'whoa, that Rachel chick who eats Twinkies with my sister in the pantry is kinda hot?'" Rachel asked. She had never really asked and she always thought she should.

"How did you know? By the way, what did you two talk about in there? You were always in there," Ross said.

"Life. We called them our pantry sessions, even when we'd have those moments at the abandoned drive in when we could drive. They were pantry sessions, we were completely vulnerable and real with each other. I told her once that I didn't think you were ugly."

"Really. Well, that's sweet."

"She thought it was gross."

"Of course."

"We also talked about how you got away with everything. You burnt down Monica's Easy Bake oven by putting the halogen lights in there and you let her take the fall. Admit it," Rachel said.

"I'll admit it. You have to admit now that it was an awesome prank," Ross smiled.

"Well, that's why I put dental floss and honey and stuff in your desk at school. Revenge."

"You showed me….but was it not the best prank? Was it better than Chandler's?"

"Well, Chandler's prank was because he was pissed off and….okay, okay, yes, your prank was awesome," Rachel reluctantly admitted.

"I know and well to answer your question as to when I fell in love with you. Monica's Bat Mitzvah. Dancing with you. The song, "I've Been Waiting for a Girl Like You" was playing and you asked me to dance and I knew you either made a bet or lost one but you told me the truth and I kinda knew, dancing with you….you weren't who you were trying to be. You could've said nothing. You could've kept the money. But you let me in on the bet and gave me half. You didn't need to do that."

"Of course I did."

"I'm sure there are girls that wouldn't have. The fact that you did, the fact that you even told me that as soon as the song ended you would have to act disgusted as soon as we finished….it proved that you had a heart, that you weren't this awful girl. I felt for you. I felt sad for you, that you felt you needed to put on this act and I was happy that I….that well, Monica and I….got to see who you really were and I love being with you whether we're together or not. I've loved watching you become exactly who you want to become. I love you, Rach."

Rachel felt tears fill her eyes as she leaned into kiss him. She took a deep breath and struggled to get up. She looked at Ross and held her hand out. He took it as she pulled him up. He wrapped his arms around her, although with her stomach being as big as it currently was, they couldn't get that close.

"Dance with me, Geller," Rachel whispered.

They slowly began swaying from side to side and in her head, she could hear the Foreigners lyrics in her head. "I've been looking too hard, I've waited too long…..I've been waiting for a girl like you…." those lyrics rang far more true now than they had when she was thirteen. He leaned close towards her and they kissed. She felt herself melting into the ground as he kissed her. She loved him, truly loved him. Loved every part of him and as they continued to kiss, she felt something. She felt something break. She backed off and let out a gasp as she looked at him.

"My water broke."

"It did," Ross said, looking down and back up at her.

"Oh my G-d…..it's time. It's happening."

"Yeah. It's happening."

"I'm scared."

"You'll be fine. You're the strongest person I know."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

They shared a kiss before grabbing each other's hands and slowly walking out of the planetarium. Ross hailed a cab and soon they were off to the hospital. Rachel stared out the window as she listened to Ross give directions to Monica. He was asking her to call everyone and tell them to meet at the hospital and asking her to get stuff from the apartment. She wasn't paying a whole lot of attention. She kept thinking about this next step. Her life had been filled with unexpected changes so far. In her 32 years, she had started a career, left a wedding, gotten married, divorced-thanks to Ross-and was now becoming a mother. What kind of mother would she be? She would soon find out.

Or she would later find out. Once in the hospital, she just waited. She lay there, waiting and waiting more. She was bored, tired and grumpy. Monica, Phoebe, Joey and Chandler were there as well and she was grateful for them, grateful they were there to help keep her occupied.

"Are you feeling you okay, sweetie?" Monica asked, making sure Rachel's pillow was fluffed a little.

"No. I am so uncomfortable."

"Well, at least you get to keep this one," Phoebe said.

"It's the upside. I want her out of me but then….what if I suck at this?" Rachel asked.

"You aren't gonna suck," Monica stressed.

"I have no idea how to be a mother. I love my mother but I don't wanna be like her. I don't know how to discipline a child or….well, I'll tell her she doesn't have to go to college in Long Island but what if she wants to go to college in Long Island."

"Rach, you are not going to screw up my niece. Not on my watch."

"You're not doing this alone," Phoebe said.

Rachel let out a groan as Monica and Phoebe continued to comfort her. Soon, she was joined by Ross, Joey and Chandler. She was grateful they were there but there was part of her that wanted them to leave. She wanted to be alone or with Ross. She kept remembering all that had been happening lately with them, their moments. Could this be a new chapter in their relationship? She hoped so.

Labor was the most difficult and most painful thing she had ever experienced. She had been waiting forever, she had lost track of the time, just that it was painful. Ross would not leave her side, he held her hand, kissed her, encouraged her. He was there. She kept pushing, kept screaming, kept crying.

"I can't do this," she cried, as Ross held her hand.

"You can do anything."

"I can't, can't."

"Hey, come on Green….you're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not. Shut up," she said, angrily.

"Okay….yes you are," Ross said.

"You're ugly," Rachel said.

"I know, yes you are."

"I hate you. Dumbass," Rachel groaned.

Ross laughed but still kept encouraging and she kept pushing and when that moment came, that moment, that wonderful sound of her baby crying….it felt like everything was coming together at that moment. After they cleaned the newborn and moved Rachel into a private room, she finally got hold her in her arms and could not stop crying. She looked up at Ross, smiling as he leaned in to give her a kiss. Everything about her new baby was perfect.

"Look what we did," Rachel said.

"She's gorgeous," Ross said.

"We need to name her."

"I know."

"Oh, G-d….I'm someone's mom," Rachel cried.

"She's the luckiest girl in the world," Ross said.

"With parents like us."

"We will figure it out."

"I hope so."

"Hey," Monica knocked at the door as Rachel and Ross looked up towards the door, "can we come in?"

"Yeah," Rachel said as the others walked in and surrounded them.

"She looks so beautiful. Ross, you sure this kid is yours," Joey teased.

"What's her name?" Phoebe asked.

"We still don't know. I don't know….Ross, what are we going to do?" Rachel asked. "I wanted Brian for a boy but we never landed on a girl's name."

"You'll think of something," Monica said.

"Easy for you to say, you've had your kids names picked out when you were like four," Ross said.

"Really?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah….I told you," Monica said.

"I don't remember," Rachel said.

Monica let out a sigh as she looked at Chandler and back at Rachel, "for a girl...I had wanted the name, Emma."

"Oh," Rachel said and looked back down at her baby and it hit her. Her baby was an Emma. She was an Emma but it was Monica's name, she couldn't take it. She couldn't….but-

"Take it," Monica said.

"What?" Rachel asked and looked at Monica who seemed to have read her mind.

"She's clearly an Emma."

"But you love that name," Rachel said.

"I love you more."

"Thank you, Mon," Rachel said.

"So…..everyone meet, Emma Green," Ross said.

"No, Ross….Emma Geller-Green," Rachel said, giving him a look. He gave her a look she had not seen in sometime, a look of love that he had given her when they had first dated.

"Thank you," Ross whispered.

"Can we hold her?" Joey asked. Rachel nodded and Ross took Emma from Rachel and handed her to Joey. Rachel watched as the little girl was passed along, from Joey to Monica to Phoebe and finally, Chandler. Each friend taking their moment with her and Rachel watching them closely as they gazed at Emma.

"Hey, little Emma. I'm your Uncle Chandler. I will be the best uncle ever. I swear...when your parents and aunt Monica drive you nuts, you find me, kid."

"Oh, G-d...our child is gonna cover our cars with peanut butter," Rachel grinned.

"No, no...I'll start her off small. Little pranks. Like whoopie cushions and stuff. The big pranks will come later," Chandler said, shaking his head.

"She'll be lucky," Rachel said.

"You're gonna be a great uncle," Phoebe said.

"And a fantastic father," Monica said.

"Really?" Rachel asked, looking from Monica to Chandler. She knew Chandler had been wanting kids and Monica had always wanted kids but she didn't know they had made a decision.

"Seriously?" Ross asked.

"Yeah...Mon and I are gonna start trying," Chandler said, "we're gonna give you a cousin, Emma...she's beautiful, Rach. Oh and Emma, we going to have to start watching movies...soon. No niece of mine is going to grow up without knowing Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton."

"Monica's right. You're gonna be an amazing father, Chandler," Rachel said.

"Thanks. Wow, she's gorgeous. Thank G-d, she only takes after Rachel," Chandler grinned as he gently handed Emma back to Rachel. Rachel could not stop staring at her. She could not let her go and she never wanted to.

Soon, the others cleared out and Rachel was alone with Emma. She was exhausted but she could barely sleep. Everytime she closed her eyes, she opened them and kept looking at Emma sleeping soundly next to her. She had Ross' eyes, those huge brown eyes. Rachel loved that, it was simply wonderful.

"Can we come in?"

Rachel lifted her head up and was surprised to see Carol standing by the door, holding Ben's hand. Ben was now seven, small and blonde. He clung to Carol's hand, looking shyly at Rachel.

"Hi, Ben," Rachel said.

"Hi, Rachel," Ben said.

"Ross called and we thought that Ben should meet his new step-sister," Carol said.

"Of course," Rachel said, struggling to get up out of bed.

"Is that her?" Ben asked, pointing at her.

"Yes," Rachel said as Carol lifted Ben onto the bed. Rachel picked up Emma helped Ben hold her, gently moving his hands and guiding him.

"Hi, Emma. She's pretty," Ben said.

"Thank you," Rachel said.

"I can't believe you two have a kid," Carol said.

"I know. Crazy," Rachel said.

"Can I ask you something? Maybe it's none of my business and maybe I'm crossing a line but….why aren't you together? I mean, look, Ross…..you've always been his first choice. Even when we were going out. He had a picture of you on his wall in college. Chandler used to make fun of it, a lot," Carol mused which made Rachel laugh.

"I'm sure he did. Carol, you can ask and I don't know. I mean, when he was with you….did he ever get crazy jealous or arrogant?" Rachel asked.

"I think I may have screwed him up a little. I should have never married him. I knew, obviously….I questioned my sexuality before I walked down the aisle. Monica even asked at my bachelorette party if I was a lesbian. I should have done what you did….well, I should have called it off but don't….I think you two….fit."

"We can't figure it out though and that's the problem and now we have a child and….how is this….how…"

Carol gently patted Rachel's back as she stared at Ben continuing to hold Emma in his arms. She began crying, watching them. She cried because of the sweetness but she also cried because looking at both of them, she saw the complications both sets of their of their parents and laid out for them. They were innocent and it just didn't seem fair or maybe it was. She wasn't sure.

Ross walked in the room and noticed Carol and Rachel standing there and watched Ben holding Emma. He gently wrapped his arms around both women and kissed each of them on the head as they watched Ben still holding Emma and smiling at her.

"You two need to figure it out," Carol whispered.

"Yeah, that we do," Rachel said.

"Thank you," Ross said, "both of you….thank you. For giving me them. They're perfect."

Rachel looked at him and gave him a kiss and they continued to gaze upon Ben and Emma. There would be time to deal with complications later, time to talk about feelings and emotions but right now was not that time. Right now, it was just time to be parents.