"Alright, how do I look?" Monica was wearing her favorite dress, well technically it was her second favorite dress, but as much as she wanted to she knew she would never get to wear her wedding dress again.

"Gorgeous, what about me?"

"Absolutely stunning."

"Good. Wait a sec, what do you mean, stunning?"

"I mean you look very nice, Rach, what else would I mean?"

"Well, I don't want to look too nice, I don't want Ross to think that I want to get back together, I just don't want him to kill me when he finds out I'm pregnant."

"Rachel, stop worrying, you look fine, and he's not going to kill you."

"I know, I know. I'm just so nervous and with that, on top of the mourning sickness, there's not a second of the day that I don't feel like throwing up."

"Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry. Are you really getting mourning sickness already?"

"Yeah, the doctor said it's normal, but it su-ucks. But enough about me being nauseous, did Chandler say why he wanted to take you out tonight?"

"No, he wouldn't tell me. I honestly can't imagine what he has planned."

"Maybe he's gonna tell you he's pregnant."

"Very funny."

"Maybe he just wants to tell you how much he loves you."

"Maybe. I don't know, but I'm hoping it will turn into the perfect opportunity to tell him he's going to be a father."

"Honey, I'm home." No matter how hard he tried Chandler could not do a decent impression of Ricky Ricardo.

"I'll be right there sweetie. Okay Rach, I gotta go now, are you gonna be okay?"

"No. But I'll manage."

"It's gonna be fine, I mean, it's Ross. Of all the people in the world that could be the father of your baby Ross is probably the best."

"No, the best person to be the father of my baby would be my husband, my non existent husband."

"Rachel, listen to me. I am so proud of you and I admire you so much. Look at how far you've come. Eight years ago you were about to enter into a marriage where you would never have to worry about money, but you did the hard thing, you left because you didn't love him. And look at you now, you are living your dream, you work for a top designer, you support yourself, and now you're having a baby and you are being so brave. I'm terrified and looking at how strong you are gives me so much comfort and convinces me that I can do this."

"That's sweet Mon, but I'm not brave, I'm so scared."

"It's not being brave if you're not scared."

Rachel wiped a tear from her eye. "Okay Monica, you need to get going, you're husband is out there waiting for you, and I need to go talk to Ross."

"Okay sweetie, good luck."

"You too."

"And remember, I'm here for you, everybody is here for you."

"Thanks Mon. I know."

Monica left her bedroom to be greeted by the bright blues and warm smile of her husband. "Wow. Mrs. Bing, does your husband know you dress like this when you go out with other men."

"My husband doesn't know doesn't have to worry because I'm madly in love with him."

"Well, your husband is a lucky man."

"Okay guys, I'm going to go now, have fun."

"Okay Rach, we'll see you soon. Call me when you get back, okay? And remember, we're all here for you."

"Thanks, Mon. I will. Bye Chandler"

"Bye Rach. Well, now, shall we?"

"We shall."

***

"Oh my God, I'm sorry, is this a bad time?" Rachel had just walked into Ross' apartment without waiting for answer. It hadn't occurred to her that Ross might have a date; he hadn't had one in so long the thought didn't even cross her mind.

"Well, yeah Rach, kind of. What do you want?"

"Nothing, nothing. I'm sorry, I'll come back later." Her voice got high as she spoke and tears began to stream down her face as she turned to leave. Ross wouldn't let her go.

"Wait, Rachel, come back. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, really, I just wanted to talk to you. It's not important though, it can wait."

"No, something is obviously on your mind, now tell me what's wrong."

"Ross, really, it's okay, it can wait."

At that moment the woman on the couch who Rachel didn't recognize, or rather couldn't actually see when she entered the apartment, stood, the shock of being "caught in the act" having warn off. "I just remembered, Ross, I'm supposed to be somewhere tonight anyway."

"Where?"

"Anywhere but here. So, I'll just leave and you can talk to your girlfriend."

"No. Wait! Mona! She's not my girlfriend! She's just…" There was no point in finishing the sentence, she was gone. "Oh man, there goes the first woman that's liked me in like a year. This better be good Rachel."

"Look, Ross, I'm sorry. You can probably still go catch her if you try. We can do this another time." Rachel tried hard to hide her tears and just act annoyed but she was failing miserably.

"No, Rachel, it's okay. Come sit down and tell me what's wrong."

"Okay." Rachel wiped the tears from her eyes and spoke in her confident, serious voice. "Ross, I need you to look at me and really listen to what I am about to tell you."

"Rachel, what's going on?"

"Just promise me that you will just take a minute and think about what I tell you before you say anything."

"Rachel, you're kinda freakin' me out here."

"Just promise, Ross."

"Okay, I promise."

"And I want you to know that I don't expect you to do anything, I can handle this on my own."

"Rachel, just tell me what is going on."

"Okay, well, you see, the thing is…"

"Rachel, are you sick."

"No. No, God no. Well, actually yeah, a little, but that's not the point."

"I'm so confused right now, can you please just tell me whatever it is you came to tell me."

"I'm pregnant."

"You, you, you're what?"

"I'm pregnant."

"I, I, I, I…is, is, is it…"

"Yours?"

"Yes, um, yes. Is it mine?"

"Yes."

"Oh, oh, oh, oh my God. How, how, how is that possible?"

"Please Ross, don't make me spell this out for you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm very sure. You're the only one I've been with in the last two months."

"Wow. This is big. This is huge. I mean, I don't know what to say. This is…I don't know what this is."

"Listen Ross, I'm telling you because I thought you might want to be a part of this child's life, but you are by no means obligated to. I am perfectly capable of raising this child on my own."

"No, I want to be a part of this child's life. I was hoping to have at least one child in wedlock, but I guess things don't always happen the way you plan them."

"You're telling me."

"So, do you think we should get married?"

Before Rachel had a chance to respond the phone rang.

"Well, do you?"

"No, I don't know, Ross, aren't you going to answer that?

"No, the machine can get it, we need to talk." *Hello, you've reached Ross Geller…* "You don't want to get married?" *…Leave a message after the beep*

"Ross, I don't think marriage is going to make things better." *Ross, it's Joey, are you there? Look, come down to the hospital as soon as you can. It's Monica and Chandler…they've been in an accident.*



So, what do you think? More to come.