It was a great relief to know that someone was there for her, that someone cared, but still, she felt awful. Her children would never know their real father,and she had lost her best friend. She was so cruel to Ross, and she wished there was something she could do to change it, but she was so afraid. Afraid that he would hate her for what she had put him through. She wanted more than anything to be able to call him, and tell him how truly sorry she was, and that she wanted him back in her and her children's life, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Somehow she thought if he really cared, he wouldn't have signed those documents.
"Rach, you threatened to take him to court if he didn't", Monica would explain, trying to hold back her anger. It was hardest on her, it seemed, torn between her best friend and her brother. No matter what she said to comfort the one of them, it felt like she was betraying the other. She loved htem both dearly, and it hurt her so to see them like this. There wasn't a night go by in the last five months that she didn't cry herself to sleep, hoping and praying she would wake up and it would all be a dream. "Sweetie, I know it hurts and that you're scared, but you have to talk to Ross, I know you miss him, but no matter what happens, it's the right thing to do", she pleaded.
"I just can't ,Monica, I just can't."
"Then let me do it. Ross would never do anything to hurt you, so you don't have to be scared. Please, Rachel, let me talk to him."
"Maybe I really don't want him in my life anymore", she yelled angrily.
"Then why haven't you signed the papers yet?"
She just looked at her in astonishment, and with the first tear that streamed down her face, she shot out of the chair and hastily ran out of the coffee house.
She entered the apartment screaming. "Rachel, whta the matter", Joey questioned frantically.
"We have to go to the hospital now, Joey, it's time to have these babies", she grunted in between shrieks.
"That's impossible, it's six weeks early", he said.
"Joey, there's not much I can do about that now, we have to get to the hospital", she cried.
"Alright, I'll go get a cab, do you think you can get your bag packed in time", he said in a panic.
"Yeah, that's fine", she said, holdng back the screams of agony.
"I'll be right back up to help you down the steps. Don't come down yourself, you might fall, just saty here", he explained just before jolting down the steps.
While waiting for Joey, Rachel hobbled across the hall to tell Chandler and Monica she was having the baby. Only Chandler was there, who thoughtfully helped her down the steps as Hoey tried desperately to hail a cab in the pouring rain. Sfter that screaming session, or as it is technically referred to, contraction, ended, Rachel started sobbing.. "Why are the babies so early? Is there something wrong with them? Did I do soemthing wrong? I don't have anything for the baby. I have been so busy and I just wasn't expecting this to happen. I don't have diapers or a crib", she cried.
"Hey, it's okay, the babies are going to be just fine. Don't worry about it", Chandler's consolation seech was ended prematurely as the arrived at the hospital.
"Chandler, please call everyone for me", she requested as she was wheeled into her room. "Joey, I need you here with me", she yelled as another contraction came on.
After Chandler got Phoebe's confirmation that she was on her way, he called the Central Perk, knowing that's where Monica was. "Thank-you for calling Central Perk, this is Gunther speaking how may I help you", a voice recited.
"Gunther, this is Chandler. Is Monica there, I really need to speak to her", he explained.
"Monica, Chandler's on the line for you", he said monotonely.
Monica who was deep in thought barely heard him. "Oh, thanks", she said, coming out of her trance.
"Hello", she asked, concerned, knowing Chandler wouldn't call under normal cicumstances.
"Mon, Rachel is having the twins", he said.
"What, they're not due for six weeks", she said, beginning to panic.
"I know. You need to get down here. You;re her best friend and I think she really needs you here right now. She's really scared."
"Oh, my God, I'm on my way", she said and rushe out of the coffe house.
"Chandler!", she yelled as she found him. "Is she alright? Where is she?", she panted,out of breath.
"The babies are very small, they gave her some drug to selay the labor for as long as possible, but they're not sure if they're going to make it. They say the premature birth can be caused by prolonged stress and depression, considering they have no other solution", he said with deep concern in his tone.
"Oh, my God", she whimpered with tears falling rapidly fdown her face as rushed into the delivery room. "Rachel!", she cried. She ran to her friend and hugged her tightly.
"Oh, God , Monica, my babies might die, I'm so scared, I don't know what's going on", she screamed desperately, trying to catch her breath between tears as Phoebe held her hand, trying not to cry.
After about an hour, the nurse gave Rachel a drug to put her to sleep. "She needs the rest, for the babies", she explained. When she finally fell asleep, Monica slipped out into the lobby and picked up the phone.
"Ross, it's Monica", she sobbed.
"Monica, why are you crying", he inquired.
"I'm at the hospital. Rachel is having the twins. They're premature and we're not sure if the babies are going to make it. They stopped the labor and put her to sleep, but I think you should be here. I know you think she wants you out of her life, but the truth is she was about to call you the day she recieved those documents and she just couldn't do it. But she really is sorry, and she needs you, those kids need you", she cried, trying to convince him to come.
"Oh, God", he said in horror. "I'll be there as soon as I can", he hung up the phone and sped to the airport. Eight hours later, he dashed into the hospital, sprinting down the halls until found Phoebe.
"Is she okay, what's going on", she shouted, wide-eyed.
"She's gone into labor again.The babies are doing a lot better. They've had her on an I.V. for a while which has helped a lot. She doesn't know you're coming. You'd better get in there.
"Ross", she said just above a whisper.
"Rach, I am so sorry for everything, and I want to be a part of these kid's lives..and yours. I've really missed you"
"I missed you too." He wrapped his arms around her and suddenly, she felt better just knowing her children had a father again.