Chapter XXIII
"The One Where They Go To Vermont"
The day after, Ross and Rachel both went to work. Maybe for the first time in years, Ross was feeling reluctant to go to work. He cannot stop thinking about the fight he had with Joey last night. Part of him regretted it, but part of him felt a sense of relieved for letting out things that has burdened in his chest for weeks. For the entire day Ross couldn't keep his focus on his works, his students would sometimes catch him staring blankly throughout the class. He finally relieved when he finally able to go home and see his wife and kid, the two person he needed most today. Ross arrived at their apartment that evening and immediately saw Rachel was playing with Emma in the living room.
"Hi ..." Ross said his infamous greeting in the saddest version ever
"You too, huh?" Rachel stood up and gave him a hug
"Yeah..." he hugged her back
"So, what did they call you?" Rachel asked curiously
"What do you mean?" Ross asked
"I mean, I heard they call me a horny bitch at work. I thought that is why you're sad." Rachel said, slightly puzzled by him
"Oh, that. Yeah, I'm not really listening to them, but I'm pretty sure one of them called me pathetic." He explained
"Really? But you're not pathetic." She said trying to cheer him up
"Yeah, and you're not a horny bitch." Ross said and they were both slightly chuckled.
They both then sat on the couch, cuddled.
"I knew it, I shouldn't brag about Joey in front of my coworkers. I mean I was proud having a famous friend, but I guess that's all just come back and bite me in the face." She sighed
"I know right, I wish I wasn't bragging either." He said
"Uhm, Rach?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you want to go to Vermont this weekend? Just the three of us, with Emma." He asked as he brushed her hair lovingly
"Yeah, that will be great. We could use some fun. These things have bumped us out for the past few days." Rachel replied
"Okay, perfect. I'll make a reservation." He kissed her on her lips
"Thank you. This will be the nice thing to look forward for the entire week. It's been a one hell of a day. I swear I was staring at the clock the entire time, begging it to go faster." She explained
"Well, that make the two of us. I'm pretty sure, some of my students secretly left the class while I was looking at the clock intensely." He chuckled
"Aww.. come here honey, I'll make you feel better." Rachel placed his head on her chest and gently rubbed his hair.
"Thank you." He whispered.
...
The long awaited weekend is finally here. Both Rachel and Ross were having the hardest week of their job. Their coworkers are gossiping behind their back for the entire week. They couldn't wait to finally spend time with their daughter, Emma. Just the three of them, in the place where probably no one recognize them. After a long drive, they finally made it to the ski resort, in Vermont. The whole places were covered in snow, and it was so beautiful.
"Uhh.. finally.." Rachel stretched out her arms as soon as they entered their room.
Ross put down sleeping Emma on her bed, and then gave his wife a hug from the back.
"What do you want to do tomorrow?" He asked
"Uhm.. skiing?." She suggested
"Uhm, honey? I don't think you can do ski when you are twenty two weeks pregnant."
"Oh, right. I forgot. Alright, can we at least take Emma sledding? She would be so happy."
"Okay, that will be perfect." He kissed her
The next morning, the three of them went outside. Emma was so excited as soon as she saw the pile of snow in front of her. Ross and Emma playfully chased each other, while Rachel was standing there, smiling brightly at the sight of her husband and their daughter.
"Be careful!" She yelled at Ross.
A few moments later, Ross carried Emma on his arms while walking toward Rachel.
"Mommy this is FUUNN!" Emma screamed in joy
"Aww.. I'm glad you love it sweetheart." She smiled and gave her daughter a kiss in her cheeks
"Sh.. she's really something." Ross shuttered, he was exhausted and out of breath after chasing Emma the whole time.
Ross then put Emma down
"Emma, honey, let's play with mommy for a while and let's daddy rest. How about we build a snowman?" Rachel asked
"A snowman?" Emma asked
"Yes, a snowman." Rachel smiled as she brushed her hair lovingly
"Can I name it?" Emma asked innocently
"Of course you can. You can name it whatever you want. What do you want to name it?" Rachel asked.
"I will name it Mr. Ross." Emma said excitedly
"Ross? Like, Daddy's name?" Ross raised his eyebrows and Emma nodded.
"Why do you want to name it after daddy, Ems?" Rachel bent down and asked her.
"Because I love daddy so much." Emma said as she ran over to Ross and gave him a hug
"Aww.. that is so sweet, Emma.. Thank you so much, Daddy loves you a lot too." He gently stroked her hair
Rachel cleared her throat before she said, "And I'm invisible."
Ross chuckled
"Alright, Emma, go over mommy and give her the biggest hug ever. Okay?" Ross whispered it to Emma
"Okay daddy." Emma whispered back
Emma ran toward Rachel
"Here mommy, don't be sad. Emma give mommy the biggest hug ever!" Emma yelled in joy as she start hugging Rachel tightly
"Thank you, honey. Now mommy is happy again." Rachel said as she gently brushed her hair
"Alright, let's build a snowman!" Rachel held Emma's hand and they built a snowman together.
Ross can't help but smiling ear to ear at the sight of the two people he love. Because of what have been happening to them for the past few weeks, he sometimes focuses on the problems and forgets on what he actually has. A family. A family he always wanted to have. This year may not be a perfect year for them, but that moment, the moment he saw his wife and daughter playing together reminding him of how lucky he actually is.
...
"Alright, it is done! High five!" Rachel yelled and then she high-fived with Emma
"But mommy.." Emma suddenly looked sad
Rachel then bent down to check on her , "What's wrong, honey?"
"Mr. Ross will be cold if we don't give him a scarf." Emma said innocently
It instantly warmed Rachel and Ross's heart hearing their daughter's innocent kindness.
"I tell you what. Let's give Mr. Ross mommy's scarf, so he wouldn't feel cold." Rachel said as she gently stroked Emma's hair
"But, what about you, mommy? I don't want you get cold." Emma said
"It's okay, mommy have a lot of scarfs in the room." Rachel explained
"Okay." Emma started to smile
Rachel then took off her scarf and put it around Mr. Ross, the snowman.
"Here, take mine." Ross offered her his scarf
"No. It's okay. I think I'm going back to the room, I'm kinda tired." Rachel smiled
"Okay, then we'll come with you." Ross suggested
"No, don't.. Can you please take Emma sledding? We promised her."
"And left you alone?" He raised his eyebrows
"I'm a woman in her 30s, I'll be fine on my own. I'll probably going to take a nap anyway."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm positive."
He then kissed her
"Okay, then, take care." He said
After roughly an hour going up and down the hill, sledding with Emma, they went back to their room. Emma was tired and immediately slept in her bed. After putting Emma to bed, Ross walked around the room looking for Rachel, but she was nowhere to be found. He was a little worried, but he thought Rachel was going downstairs to grab something and he chooses to wait for her.
After half an hour had passed and Rachel wasn't coming back yet, he started to worry. He then put sleeping Emma in her stroller and they went downstairs to look for Rachel. He looked for Rachel everywhere, but he couldn't find her. He started to get even worry, he was afraid something might happen to her again, just like the last time when she fainted. Just when he was about to freak out, he heard a voice calling his name. It was a voice he was looking for the past hour.
"Ross!" Rachel called him as she waving her hands
Ross immediately walked over her and hugged her tightly. Rachel was startled at his sudden move.
"Hey, what's wrong? You're scaring me, Ross." She said worriedly
"I am so glad you're okay." Ross explained in a small voice almost above a whisper
Rachel then placed her hands on his hands.
"I'm sorry, did I worry you? I was just hungry, so I came downstairs for a muffin and a cup of hot chocolate and I must've lost track of time." She explained
"I know.. I'm sorry, I think I overreacted. I couldn't help thinking of what happened a few months ago when I left you and went to Chicago. When I couldn't find you, I started to freak out. I'm scared something might've happened to you." He sighed
She then hugged him tightly.
"It's okay now. I'm here, Okay? I'm not going anywhere." She said as she began gently stroked his hair
"Okay, let me grab you a cup of hot chocolate. I think you need something sweet." She said
"Okay, thank you." He kissed her cheeks.
Rachel then left to grab a cup of hot chocolate and some muffins for him and then sat down next to him. Ross placed his right arms around her shoulder and she rested her head on his chest as they looking outside the window, enjoying the view.
"Ross?"
"Yeah?"
"I wasn't realized you were so scared of that day until after I saw you today. I should've left you a note or something. I'm so sorry I made you worried."
He then gently stroked her hair, "It's okay."
"Ross.. Were you really that scared that day?"
"I am. It might be the scariest day of my life. The thought of not being able to be with you and not seeing your face, it's killing me. I was so afraid of losing you and our baby, I couldn't even think straight."
"Why didn't you just tell me that you were so terrified that day?"
"How can I? When I saw you laying down in the hospital bed, I cannot even begin to explain how I felt that day. I cannot cry in front of you, it's the least thing you need to worry. I just don't want to make you feel bad and worrying about me when you should be focusing on yourself."
She then held her chin up and looked him in the eyes, "Ross.. What did I do to deserve you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You are always so selfless when you're with me, and I'm not just talking about us now, but in the past, even when we're not a couple. I don't know if it's possible, but I think I fell in love with you harder every time."
"I guess because I love you. I love you so much I couldn't just stand still and do nothing whenever I see you upset. You deserve all the happiness in the world."
He kissed her lips softly
"Thank you so much." She smiled at him and hugged him tightly.
"Alright, enough with the sweet talk. Let's head upstairs and get ready for dinner." Ross suggested
...
I know, it's a lot of fluff. I always want to see more of Rachel, Ross, and Emma interaction as a family from the show, but as we all knew we barely get that. That's why I decided to write this chapter. Lots of Rachel and Ross' fluff wouldn't hurt anyone, right? :)