When they get to the hospital, Rachel is panicking. She knows that Phoebe will be okay. The doctors here know what they're doing and Phoebe has given birth before. But at the same time she's terrified for Phoebe.
It's probably because this is so much sooner than they expected. Rachel feels like she just found out that Phoebe was pregnant and now she's giving birth. Maybe that's because Rachel has barely seen Phoebe during the pregnancy. But also the baby is coming two months early.
Rachel doesn't know much about premature births. Emma was born late and by the time she was born Rachel couldn't wait to get her out. But Phoebe's baby is very early. Rachel knows that sometimes babies born that early don't make it or have problems that stay with them their whole lives. She just wants Phoebe's baby to be okay.
And then there's the whole situation with Ross. Rachel came here to talk to Ross. She needs to talk to Ross. She came here to tell him, in person, that she doesn't want to ruin their friendship and that she can't be with him.
But she doesn't want to. She doesn't want to close that door. She doesn't like the idea that once she and Ross have that conversation, it's over between them. She can't change her mind after this. Once she tells him they can't be together, they really can't be together. She's not sure that she wants that. She just doesn't know what else to do.
She and Ross sit in the waiting room in silence. The doctors won't let them into the room with Phoebe until the baby is born. Because the baby is coming so early, the risks are higher and they want to limit the number of people in the room. Monica is in there with Phoebe until Mike gets to the hospital. Joey is on his way and Chandler is going to come after the baby is born since he has to watch the twins. This leaves Ross and Rachel alone in an uncomfortable silence. Rachel knows it's going to be a while. She knows that she should take advantage of this time sitting alone with Ross and they should talk about this. But she really doesn't know how to start. And so they both stay quiet.
Hours later, everyone is gathered in Phoebe's hospital room looking at the new baby. He's the smallest baby Rachel has ever seen. He has Mike's eyes and Rachel thinks his face looks a little like Phoebe.
Phoebe is exhausted but clearly happy. She can't stop looking at her baby.
"What are you gonna name him?" Joey asks.
Phoebe looks at Mike and then back at the baby "I have no idea." She says.
Mike laughs. "We thought we had two more months to decide."
After a while, Phoebe gets hungry and Joey, Mike, and Ross go to the cafeteria to get everyone some food while Monica and Rachel stay with Phoebe and the baby.
"He's so perfect." Rachel says.
Phoebe smiles. "I've known him an hour and I already love him so much."
"I'm so glad I was here to meet him." Rachel says.
"That reminds me," Monica says, "Why are you here? You didn't tell me you were coming. And why were you at Ross's?"
"Oh my god!" Phoebe squeals, then remembers she has a sleeping baby in her arms and makes sure she didn't scare him. She lowers her voice and continues. "You're here to tell Ross you love him!"
Monica and Phoebe look at Rachel expectantly. She sighs. "I came to talk to Ross, but I really don't know what to say."
"Why not?" Phoebe says, "I thought you decided that you have feelings for him."
"I do." Rachel says, "But the odds seem so much against us. We live so far away from each other and we're both so busy. What would happen if we broke up? Would we be able to still be friends?"
"But do you love him?" Monica asks.
"Yes! But—"
"Then you should try to be with him!" Phoebe says.
"But what if we break up and it's so awkward that we can't be around each other anymore?!"
"But won't it be just as awkward if you tell him you can't be together now?" Monica asks.
"Yeah." Phoebe says, "You should take a chance. If things worked out with Ross you know you'd be so happy! You guys can visit each other all the time. Isn't your company paying for some of the travel so you could make things work with Emma? Why not just try it?"
"You'll always regret it if you don't try it." Monica adds.
Before Rachel can answer, the guys come back in with the food and their conversation is over.
Rachel half listens while everybody talks and eats their food. She knows that Monica and Phoebe are right. She knows she has to talk to Ross.
