They were in the hospital about a week before they could go home. Rachel needed time to recover from her C-section and the doctors had to monitor the twins, which is just a precautionary measure for premature babies, or so Rachel was told, something she was extremely relieved to hear.
"Hey, Rach", Joey greeted cheerfully. "Ready to get out of here and go home?" I "I've been ready for a week", she sighed as she packed a few things into her bag. She gently placed each child in a car seat, being careful so as not to wake them from their peaceful slumber.
"Ross had to work again", he said. "I guess they're giving him a lot of trouble about this transfer."
"Yeah…" She tried to hide her disappointment. She didn't want her and Ross to be over, she missed him. But she had to let him go. "Well, I guess we can go."
As they came to the apartment door, Rachel set down Sydney's car seat to catch her breath. Joy opened the door excitedly looked back at Rachel, awaiting a reaction. "Oh, my God, Joey! Thank-you so much! You are so wonderful!", she exclaimed as she peered into the apartment which was filled with bottles, blankets, clothes, toys, bassinets, every baby product imaginable. The whole room was a sea of blue and pink. "I…you…how…why…" She was speechless.
"It was pretty uneventful without you around so I thought I'd save you the trouble of shopping", he grinned.
"No one has ever done anything like this for me before, ever. I don't know what to say", she whispered almost inaudibly, trying to hold back the tears as she embraced him gratefully. He smiled gently and she knew she didn't have to say anything. Just then, Cole began to cry and Joey ran to him. The child immediately calmed form his fit as Joey rocked him soothingly in his arms. Rachel took immediate notice to this and smiled . The phone woke her from her pensive daydream. She answer it, not wanting to interrupt Joey who was baby talking Cole as the baby giggled blissfully.
"Hello?"
"Rach, it's Ross", he stuttered eagerly. "I am so sorry I couldn't be there for you today. I really wanted to pick you up but if I want to keep my job I'm going to have to do a lot of sucking up and taking off my second day back isn't going to help. I am sorry, Rachel", he pleaded sincerely.
"I know. It's okay, I understand" , she said, trying to comfort him, although the disappointment was obvious in her tone. "Hey I have to go. Sydney just woke up and Joey's bust with Cole. I'll talk to you later." She hung up the phone hoping that ending the conversation would end the heartbreak. She tried to get over him. She tried so hard. Years of telling herself they weren't meant to be together but deep down cringing at the thought of never waking up next to him again. She just couldn't forget. She was almost over him a year ago. But hen she got pregnant. She was sure that would bring them back together, but all it did was remind her of how much she missed him. Now she wasn't sure if she could ever love someone as much as she loved him. That was it…loved, not love. She was in love with the idea of them.
After the kids had eaten, been changed, bathed, played, and changed again, they were finally asleep. "Wow, that was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be", she said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"You think so now?" Wait until they start walking", he joked.
"You are really great with kids, you know that?"
"Thanks. I practically raised two of my sisters and they're still alive." They smiled at one another as now came the awkward silence. "You must pretty tired, you've had a rough first day at being a mother", he said.
"No, not really. I'm actually energized just from being out of that hospital bed", she laughed.
"Well, do you want to go out for dinner?", he asked reluctantly. She looked at him, confused. "While you were gone, I didn't get around to grocery shopping so there's not much here for dinner so…"
"A date", she asked. She tried to hide the excitement, yet hoped she was not completely off.
"Well…if you want to put it like that…I…Uhhh…well…yeah." He stuttered afraid of rejection.
"I would love to", she interrupted.
"Really?", he asked completely shocked.
"Yeah, just give me a few minutes to get ready and we can go", she hopped up and ran towards her room. She whipped around and headed back to the living room. "I can't go out to dinner, I have two kids" she remembered, plopping back down on the chair.
"Oh, Uhhh, Chandler and Monica said they'd love to watch the kids for a few hours. Mon loves kids so they'll be fine", he quickly retorted.
"Great!", she shouted, running back into her room. As soon as she was out of sight, Joey picked up the phone and hastily began to dial.
"Hello?"
"Chandler, it's Joey", he whispered so Rachel couldn't hear.
"Hey, Joe, what's up?"
"I just got a date with Rachel!", he shouted.
"That is so great! I can't believe you finally asked her out! One question though."
"Yeah?"
"Just how may drinks has she had", he laughed sarcastically.
"Haha", he mocked. "But seriously, I need a favor."
"Sure, what is it?"
"I need you and Monica to baby-sit for a few hours", he asked hoping he would agree.
"Tonight? Mon and I were supposed to go out tonight!"
"Please, Chandler, I have working up the courage to ask Rachel out for like a year, you have to help me!"
"Okay, fine.", he reluctantly agreed.
"Thanks so much! Did I ever tell you you're my best friend?"
"Nice try. Let me clear it with Monica and we'll be over."