Babies having Babies
Ross' eyes got big for a moment. He had never seen Rachel so serious. He bit his lip. "Yea?" he asked? Rachel looked unusually pale and a bit green too. She took in a deep breath and grabbed her coat.
"Let's go on a walk, shall we?" she asked quickly. With that, she grabbed his arm and led him outside.
They walked in silence for many long moments. Ross soon grew impatient with worry. He took her hands and gave her a long, gentle and sweet hug. She smiled as he held her tight. She loved him so much. What she was about to tell him could ruin everything for him. She pulled away from the hug and stared at him. He weakly smiled and made a nervous noise. She swallowed hard, and then took his hands again.
"Ross, I love you, I have never felt this way about anyone. You mean the world to me." she began. Ross gulped.
"Rach, you're, you're scaring me." he said shakily. He felt like this was the end; all that he had been hoping would never happen was about to.
"Ross, you can handle this anyway and I won't be mad. Um."
"Yes?"
"I-I'm."
"You're what? Moving? That's okay, with me going to college." he began Rachel looked down, gripping his hands trying to breath in and out. Ross kept rambling on, and she finally took his face into her hands. She looked into his eyes, and he understood. "You're not moving are you?" He asked sadly. Rachel shook her head.
"Ross I'm pregnant." She said slowly. She looked at Ross' expression, which was not what she had pictured. He almost seemed happy. What Rachel didn't know, was that he was. Ross was happy. Now, no matter what happened between Rachel and him, there would be one thing that they had in common, a baby.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Monica is too." she said smiling little bit. Monica and she had always said when they were younger that they would have little girls and that they would be best friends just like Monica and Rachel.
"What?" he chuckled. Both began to giggle uncontrollably. Sure, it wasn't the time to be laughing, but Rachel was happy about how Ross took it and Ross was happy that he would have Rachel forever.
"Rach, no one will ever love you like I do, and I think.Let's get married." he finally said. Rachel looked up at him, he was totally serious. Her first impression was, 'hell no,' but he looked at her, the look that made her melt. She saw all of the love and strength that he applied towards her every single day, and she smiled simply.
"Okay." She whispered. "Okay, let's get married." They stood in more silence, before Ross jumped up into the air.
"WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!" He yelled joyously. Rachel started to laugh and both of them continued on their walk.
Rachel entered her house a few hours later. Dinner had already been served, but Rachel was too nervous to eat. She was going over in her head what she and Ross had just decided on. They decided that they would get married within four months, before he baby really began to show, and then tell their parents. It would be hard to keep it a secret, since she had already told her sisters and Monica knew. She ran upstairs and crawled into bed. It had finally hit her. She was going to have to drop out of school; she would have to work a low wedge job until she could go to a community college, she would loose every one of her friends. Her life as she knew it was over. She would never be able to live out on her own, have her own apartment, nothing.
She began thinking of all of the options she had. Maybe she should retest. Or, adoption, or even abortion. No, this was her responsibility, and she had no right to chicken out of this, or did she? People make mistakes, they mess up, was it entirely her fault that she became pregnant? Suddenly she became too exhausted to worry, and she drifted off.
The next few days were hard. Ross, Monica, Rachel and Chandler walked around with guilty looks on their face. Chandler hadn't taken it as well as Ross. Actually, he ran out of his house into an orchard, where he climbed up an orange tree. When Rachel heard this story, she loved Ross even more. The Gellers and the Greenes knew about Rachel and Ross' wedding. Rachel's parents didn't take it too well, for Rachel still had another year of school to go, but Ross' parents couldn't have been happier. Their son was getting married. Sadly, none of them knew the real reason why they were getting married. But the Geller's DID know about Monica's pregnancy.
Rachel and Ross watched Mr. and Mrs. Geller scold Monica and tell her how disappointed they were in her, and that made them uncomfortable. How would they pull this off? How would they have this baby? Well, Monica was to get an abortion. Chandler had freaked out with the baby news, and now his mom was making him pay for half of it. Of course, Monica objected. She wanted to have the baby. It would be a solid reminder of her first true love, although she knew the hard responsibilities with having it.
Phoebe and Joey didn't know about the baby news, but they were also going to college, making a life for each other. Monica and Rachel may never have that. No, they will never have that.
Rachel, Ross and the Greene family all sat quietly at dinner. Rachel had invited Ross over for dinner that night, so afterwards they could all go over the final plans for the wedding. It would be small, only close friends and family would attend, and it would be quick. Rachel sat back and watched. It wasn't right. Not at all. She was supposed to have a huge, happy wedding, not a forced one. She looked down and noticed that she was just barley beginning to show. No one else would notice it, but she would. She hated hiding her pregnancy. She also knew that the reason for her wedding being to pitiful was due to her father's feeling towards the wedding.
The night Rachel and Ross told their parents about the wedding, Rachel's dad told her that he would disown her. She knew there was no chance in that because to her, her daddy was a big ol' teddy bear. But he hadn't spoken more than two words to her ever since. She knew that it was killing him to have to let his daughter go, but he didn't understand why this wedding was such an important thing to them. Yes, seventeen was a little too young to be getting married, but when there is a baby's future at stake, age doesn't matter.
Rachel ate more than she had in a long time. Sandra watched her daughter in awe as Rachel grabbed fourths.
"Sweetie, if you eat like this, it will all go to your waist. You don't want to look like Monica's did do you? Especially a week from your big day." she said in a motherly tone. Rachel began to scoop the food off of her plate and back into the pot. "What is wrong Rachel?"
"Rach, did you pick up your dress?" Ross asked changing the subject. Rachel looked at him as if to say 'thanks,' then nodded.
"It is in my room." She said softly. Even her dress was pathetic. Her mother promised that the first one married out of the girls would get to wear her wedding dress, but Dr. Greene rejected the thought of Rachel wearing the dress for HER wedding. She was declined her right to wear her mothers heirloom. The dress that she would wear was shorter, with badly sewn on sequins, and a god-awful veil that looks more like it should be used in a funeral rather than a wedding.
Everyone sat quietly as their eyes shifted from one another. Dr.Greene glared at Rachel when she smiled at him. Finally he stood up, pounding his fists upon the table. Rachel, and everyone in that room, jumped with the sudden sound.
"I DON'T THINK YOU TWO HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING! I WANT AN EXPLAINATION AS TO OF WHY YOU TWO COULDN'T HAVE WAITED FIVE MORE YEARS!!!" He yelled with all of his strength. Rachel closed her eyes. She was not about to tell him. If he couldn't handle the wedding news, how would he handle baby news?
"We are in love." she choked.
"WHAT IS LOVE? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT LOVE IS RAC HEL? DO YOU? LOVE IS NOT SOME LITTLE, BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR STOMACH, SHOW OFF ACT! LOVE IS WORK, LOVE IS COMMITMENT!"
"AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER, AND WE ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR IT!" She shot back.
"HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT EACH OTHER? WORKING AT THE LOCAL BURGER KING?"
"WE CAN FIND A WAY! I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF NOW!" She screamed. Her dad just looked at her. She could almost see sadness in his face beyond his angry exterior. He took a deep breath.
"If you can take care of yourself, then you can forget about being in the family name. I will not allow my seventeen year old to be married, and if you go against this, you are out." He pushed his plate to the center of the table and stomped upstairs. Rachel collapsed into her chair in full sobs. Ross really didn't know what to do or say. What to you say at a moment like this? Especially when you can't find the words to tell it like it is. It was a very long, helpless moment.
"I will not let you out of this family. Your father may think that he has every say so, but he doesn't, you know that Rachel. It's just hard for him. He doesn't want you to grow up. I have to say, seventeen is very young, but he'll come around, you'll see." Sandra comforted her daughter. Rachel hugged her mom tightly and cried like a child. Sandra stroked Rachel's light hair.
"Thank you mom." She whispered. Sandra pushed Rachel away from her and looked at her in the eyes.
"One more thing. . . . . I REFUSE to make you wear that HIDEOUS dress for your wedding day. As I promised before, you are the first one to be married, you get my dress. I love you sweetie." She pulled Rachel back into her arms.
"I love you too, mom."
THE WEDDING DAY. . . . .
Rachel stood in front of the mirror. Hadn't it all started out like this? Looking at herself for the first time? She didn't look the same. She looked tired, years beyond her age. She looked down at her hands. They where shaking rapidly. She was nervous. She knew he wouldn't come, but there was always that hope inside of her. He turned around to Monica who had entered the room. She looked white. She had gone through with it, the abortion that is. She didn't want to, but her family made her. She and Chandler hadn't spoken ever since. Phoebe entered the room after her with a make up box. She was in charge of Rachel's make up.
"Is he, is he, here?" she asked knowing the answer. Phoebe shook her head sadly.
"No, but your grandfather and Grandmother have just arrived."
Rachel turned to the mirror again, wiping the tears from her eyes. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life and she couldn't feel more miserable.
"Can I have the room to myself please?" she said, her voice cracking. Together, Monica and Phoebe peeled out of the room. She stood looking blankly at her reflection. She couldn't hold the tears anymore. She had never wanted to cry more than she did at this moment. She felt no shame, she cried and cried and didn't care who heard her. She heard the door open behind her and footsteps filling the room.
"I SAID GO AWAY!" She shouted not looking up. But the man stayed there. She finally looked up both shocked and amazed to see her dad standing there in front of her. He was wearing a tux. Her jaw dropped as her mind raced with thoughts. Had he forgiven her? Was he still mad? He walked over to her and kneeled beside her.
"Rachel, I am sorry about this. I didn't think about what I was saying. I just didn't want you to make the same mistakes your mother and I did. We got married when she was eighteen. We haven't ever had a time in our relationship where I could even consider us as a happy couple. I know that you love Ross, and that that kid adores you, but is it enough?" Rachel looked at her dad. It was as if he where trying one last time to change her mind, but she knew that this is what she needed to do.
"Daddy, I have my reasons for marrying Ross. I know none of it makes any since now, but it will soon. You need to let me grow. I love him and I have learned from yours and mom's mistakes. I need Ross. I do, and it is important that you let me go through with this." Rachel looked at her dad who knew he had lost. He looked down then back up at her.
"You sound as if you know what you are doing Rachel, but your missing one thing for this wedding..." He said as he pulled out a little blue box. "....This was your grandmother's pearl necklace. Her mother wore it, she wore it, your mother wore it, and now, it's your turn." He said softly as he placed the chain around Rachel's neck. Tears of joy rained down her face. "Rachel Karen Greene, may I give you away today?" Rachel nodded enthusiastically as she embraced her father. Maybe this could still be the happiest day of her life.
Rachel, arm and arm with her dad, stood at the end of the aisle. It was an outdoor wedding, and actually very pretty. Rachel looked gorgeous in her mother's dress and pearls, and the day was bright and sunny. She smiled as the wedding march began and her dad walked her down the aisle. She waved at friends and family members. Ross stood, next to Joey and Chandler, with sweaty palms at the other end of the aisle. He was scared to death, yet so excited. He watched Rachel near the end of the aisle and turn to face her dad.
"Who gives this woman to be wed?" the minister asked.
"Her family and I do." Dr.Greene said proudly. Rachel kissed her dad's cheek, and then fell into place right next to Ross. The ceremony was lovely. Everything went perfectly all the way up to the I do's. Rachel smiled broadly at her almost husband. Finally, the priest said the magical word, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Ross and Rachel walked hand in hand down the aisle. Mrs. Geller and Mrs. Greene had tissues in hand, wiping their tears. Dr. Greene and Mr. Geller simply nodded in agreement.
The DJ at the reception announced the new Geller's as they stepped into the reception hall. Everyone blew bubbles for the wedding rice was so not original. Ross and Rachel made their way to the dance floor. The music slowly started up as they had their first dance as husband and wife. They swerved casually to the music and smiled lightly at one another. It didn't seem like anything was different. She still felt seventeen. She looked up to see Ross smiling sweetly at her. That when it hit her. She was married. There was no breaking up, finding someone new; it was like this was permanent. Sure if it didn't work out she could get a divorce, but she would never give her parents that satisfaction. She skimmed the room. She could hear the whispering.
"She is so young." one voice whispered.
"Do they have a clue what they are doing?" another rang.
"I wonder why she chose to get married so young, is she pregnant?" Rachel went white. Did they know? Was this huge thing going to come to a head today? The song ended and it was time for the Maid of Honor and Best Man speeches. Chandler stood up.
"Hi everyone. Uh, this is a great day, to people connecting their love for one another in the most permanent way possible. Uh, I know that I envy Ross because I would never be able to make a commitment like this. I am a little to immature as some people would say..." He began to ramble on, making sad attempts at jokes and almost crying. He had been like this ever since Monica had told him she was pregnant, and even worse since Monica got the abortion. Rachel looked at Monica, whom had been drinking. She was still a minor, but still took a whole lot of champagne.
"Are you going to be okay giving your speech, Mon?" Rachel whispered.
"Yea." she answered in a very dazed fashion. She stood up and neared the microphone.
"What a lovely wedding this was." She began. "Not only did I get to see my brother on his happiest day, but also, my best friend. Nothing makes me happier than getting my best friend as a sister in law. Yes, we are happy for all of the reasons these two were married today, and I mean ALL of the reasons. Now, I even get to be an aunt! And I ask myself, if Ross hadn't gotten Rachel pregnant, would this day have still been here?"
The crowd began to murmur, and Ross and Rachel got equal shares of horrified looks. Rachel looked towards her parents, her dad was already gone.
END
Sorry it took so long. I was on Vacation. Uh, I have really been trying to wrap up this story. Any ideas let me know, and also, thank you al for your ideas, as some of you may see, I used some of them. THANKS!
XOXOELIZABETHXOXO
Ross' eyes got big for a moment. He had never seen Rachel so serious. He bit his lip. "Yea?" he asked? Rachel looked unusually pale and a bit green too. She took in a deep breath and grabbed her coat.
"Let's go on a walk, shall we?" she asked quickly. With that, she grabbed his arm and led him outside.
They walked in silence for many long moments. Ross soon grew impatient with worry. He took her hands and gave her a long, gentle and sweet hug. She smiled as he held her tight. She loved him so much. What she was about to tell him could ruin everything for him. She pulled away from the hug and stared at him. He weakly smiled and made a nervous noise. She swallowed hard, and then took his hands again.
"Ross, I love you, I have never felt this way about anyone. You mean the world to me." she began. Ross gulped.
"Rach, you're, you're scaring me." he said shakily. He felt like this was the end; all that he had been hoping would never happen was about to.
"Ross, you can handle this anyway and I won't be mad. Um."
"Yes?"
"I-I'm."
"You're what? Moving? That's okay, with me going to college." he began Rachel looked down, gripping his hands trying to breath in and out. Ross kept rambling on, and she finally took his face into her hands. She looked into his eyes, and he understood. "You're not moving are you?" He asked sadly. Rachel shook her head.
"Ross I'm pregnant." She said slowly. She looked at Ross' expression, which was not what she had pictured. He almost seemed happy. What Rachel didn't know, was that he was. Ross was happy. Now, no matter what happened between Rachel and him, there would be one thing that they had in common, a baby.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Monica is too." she said smiling little bit. Monica and she had always said when they were younger that they would have little girls and that they would be best friends just like Monica and Rachel.
"What?" he chuckled. Both began to giggle uncontrollably. Sure, it wasn't the time to be laughing, but Rachel was happy about how Ross took it and Ross was happy that he would have Rachel forever.
"Rach, no one will ever love you like I do, and I think.Let's get married." he finally said. Rachel looked up at him, he was totally serious. Her first impression was, 'hell no,' but he looked at her, the look that made her melt. She saw all of the love and strength that he applied towards her every single day, and she smiled simply.
"Okay." She whispered. "Okay, let's get married." They stood in more silence, before Ross jumped up into the air.
"WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!" He yelled joyously. Rachel started to laugh and both of them continued on their walk.
Rachel entered her house a few hours later. Dinner had already been served, but Rachel was too nervous to eat. She was going over in her head what she and Ross had just decided on. They decided that they would get married within four months, before he baby really began to show, and then tell their parents. It would be hard to keep it a secret, since she had already told her sisters and Monica knew. She ran upstairs and crawled into bed. It had finally hit her. She was going to have to drop out of school; she would have to work a low wedge job until she could go to a community college, she would loose every one of her friends. Her life as she knew it was over. She would never be able to live out on her own, have her own apartment, nothing.
She began thinking of all of the options she had. Maybe she should retest. Or, adoption, or even abortion. No, this was her responsibility, and she had no right to chicken out of this, or did she? People make mistakes, they mess up, was it entirely her fault that she became pregnant? Suddenly she became too exhausted to worry, and she drifted off.
The next few days were hard. Ross, Monica, Rachel and Chandler walked around with guilty looks on their face. Chandler hadn't taken it as well as Ross. Actually, he ran out of his house into an orchard, where he climbed up an orange tree. When Rachel heard this story, she loved Ross even more. The Gellers and the Greenes knew about Rachel and Ross' wedding. Rachel's parents didn't take it too well, for Rachel still had another year of school to go, but Ross' parents couldn't have been happier. Their son was getting married. Sadly, none of them knew the real reason why they were getting married. But the Geller's DID know about Monica's pregnancy.
Rachel and Ross watched Mr. and Mrs. Geller scold Monica and tell her how disappointed they were in her, and that made them uncomfortable. How would they pull this off? How would they have this baby? Well, Monica was to get an abortion. Chandler had freaked out with the baby news, and now his mom was making him pay for half of it. Of course, Monica objected. She wanted to have the baby. It would be a solid reminder of her first true love, although she knew the hard responsibilities with having it.
Phoebe and Joey didn't know about the baby news, but they were also going to college, making a life for each other. Monica and Rachel may never have that. No, they will never have that.
Rachel, Ross and the Greene family all sat quietly at dinner. Rachel had invited Ross over for dinner that night, so afterwards they could all go over the final plans for the wedding. It would be small, only close friends and family would attend, and it would be quick. Rachel sat back and watched. It wasn't right. Not at all. She was supposed to have a huge, happy wedding, not a forced one. She looked down and noticed that she was just barley beginning to show. No one else would notice it, but she would. She hated hiding her pregnancy. She also knew that the reason for her wedding being to pitiful was due to her father's feeling towards the wedding.
The night Rachel and Ross told their parents about the wedding, Rachel's dad told her that he would disown her. She knew there was no chance in that because to her, her daddy was a big ol' teddy bear. But he hadn't spoken more than two words to her ever since. She knew that it was killing him to have to let his daughter go, but he didn't understand why this wedding was such an important thing to them. Yes, seventeen was a little too young to be getting married, but when there is a baby's future at stake, age doesn't matter.
Rachel ate more than she had in a long time. Sandra watched her daughter in awe as Rachel grabbed fourths.
"Sweetie, if you eat like this, it will all go to your waist. You don't want to look like Monica's did do you? Especially a week from your big day." she said in a motherly tone. Rachel began to scoop the food off of her plate and back into the pot. "What is wrong Rachel?"
"Rach, did you pick up your dress?" Ross asked changing the subject. Rachel looked at him as if to say 'thanks,' then nodded.
"It is in my room." She said softly. Even her dress was pathetic. Her mother promised that the first one married out of the girls would get to wear her wedding dress, but Dr. Greene rejected the thought of Rachel wearing the dress for HER wedding. She was declined her right to wear her mothers heirloom. The dress that she would wear was shorter, with badly sewn on sequins, and a god-awful veil that looks more like it should be used in a funeral rather than a wedding.
Everyone sat quietly as their eyes shifted from one another. Dr.Greene glared at Rachel when she smiled at him. Finally he stood up, pounding his fists upon the table. Rachel, and everyone in that room, jumped with the sudden sound.
"I DON'T THINK YOU TWO HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING! I WANT AN EXPLAINATION AS TO OF WHY YOU TWO COULDN'T HAVE WAITED FIVE MORE YEARS!!!" He yelled with all of his strength. Rachel closed her eyes. She was not about to tell him. If he couldn't handle the wedding news, how would he handle baby news?
"We are in love." she choked.
"WHAT IS LOVE? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT LOVE IS RAC HEL? DO YOU? LOVE IS NOT SOME LITTLE, BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR STOMACH, SHOW OFF ACT! LOVE IS WORK, LOVE IS COMMITMENT!"
"AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER, AND WE ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR IT!" She shot back.
"HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT EACH OTHER? WORKING AT THE LOCAL BURGER KING?"
"WE CAN FIND A WAY! I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF NOW!" She screamed. Her dad just looked at her. She could almost see sadness in his face beyond his angry exterior. He took a deep breath.
"If you can take care of yourself, then you can forget about being in the family name. I will not allow my seventeen year old to be married, and if you go against this, you are out." He pushed his plate to the center of the table and stomped upstairs. Rachel collapsed into her chair in full sobs. Ross really didn't know what to do or say. What to you say at a moment like this? Especially when you can't find the words to tell it like it is. It was a very long, helpless moment.
"I will not let you out of this family. Your father may think that he has every say so, but he doesn't, you know that Rachel. It's just hard for him. He doesn't want you to grow up. I have to say, seventeen is very young, but he'll come around, you'll see." Sandra comforted her daughter. Rachel hugged her mom tightly and cried like a child. Sandra stroked Rachel's light hair.
"Thank you mom." She whispered. Sandra pushed Rachel away from her and looked at her in the eyes.
"One more thing. . . . . I REFUSE to make you wear that HIDEOUS dress for your wedding day. As I promised before, you are the first one to be married, you get my dress. I love you sweetie." She pulled Rachel back into her arms.
"I love you too, mom."
THE WEDDING DAY. . . . .
Rachel stood in front of the mirror. Hadn't it all started out like this? Looking at herself for the first time? She didn't look the same. She looked tired, years beyond her age. She looked down at her hands. They where shaking rapidly. She was nervous. She knew he wouldn't come, but there was always that hope inside of her. He turned around to Monica who had entered the room. She looked white. She had gone through with it, the abortion that is. She didn't want to, but her family made her. She and Chandler hadn't spoken ever since. Phoebe entered the room after her with a make up box. She was in charge of Rachel's make up.
"Is he, is he, here?" she asked knowing the answer. Phoebe shook her head sadly.
"No, but your grandfather and Grandmother have just arrived."
Rachel turned to the mirror again, wiping the tears from her eyes. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life and she couldn't feel more miserable.
"Can I have the room to myself please?" she said, her voice cracking. Together, Monica and Phoebe peeled out of the room. She stood looking blankly at her reflection. She couldn't hold the tears anymore. She had never wanted to cry more than she did at this moment. She felt no shame, she cried and cried and didn't care who heard her. She heard the door open behind her and footsteps filling the room.
"I SAID GO AWAY!" She shouted not looking up. But the man stayed there. She finally looked up both shocked and amazed to see her dad standing there in front of her. He was wearing a tux. Her jaw dropped as her mind raced with thoughts. Had he forgiven her? Was he still mad? He walked over to her and kneeled beside her.
"Rachel, I am sorry about this. I didn't think about what I was saying. I just didn't want you to make the same mistakes your mother and I did. We got married when she was eighteen. We haven't ever had a time in our relationship where I could even consider us as a happy couple. I know that you love Ross, and that that kid adores you, but is it enough?" Rachel looked at her dad. It was as if he where trying one last time to change her mind, but she knew that this is what she needed to do.
"Daddy, I have my reasons for marrying Ross. I know none of it makes any since now, but it will soon. You need to let me grow. I love him and I have learned from yours and mom's mistakes. I need Ross. I do, and it is important that you let me go through with this." Rachel looked at her dad who knew he had lost. He looked down then back up at her.
"You sound as if you know what you are doing Rachel, but your missing one thing for this wedding..." He said as he pulled out a little blue box. "....This was your grandmother's pearl necklace. Her mother wore it, she wore it, your mother wore it, and now, it's your turn." He said softly as he placed the chain around Rachel's neck. Tears of joy rained down her face. "Rachel Karen Greene, may I give you away today?" Rachel nodded enthusiastically as she embraced her father. Maybe this could still be the happiest day of her life.
Rachel, arm and arm with her dad, stood at the end of the aisle. It was an outdoor wedding, and actually very pretty. Rachel looked gorgeous in her mother's dress and pearls, and the day was bright and sunny. She smiled as the wedding march began and her dad walked her down the aisle. She waved at friends and family members. Ross stood, next to Joey and Chandler, with sweaty palms at the other end of the aisle. He was scared to death, yet so excited. He watched Rachel near the end of the aisle and turn to face her dad.
"Who gives this woman to be wed?" the minister asked.
"Her family and I do." Dr.Greene said proudly. Rachel kissed her dad's cheek, and then fell into place right next to Ross. The ceremony was lovely. Everything went perfectly all the way up to the I do's. Rachel smiled broadly at her almost husband. Finally, the priest said the magical word, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Ross and Rachel walked hand in hand down the aisle. Mrs. Geller and Mrs. Greene had tissues in hand, wiping their tears. Dr. Greene and Mr. Geller simply nodded in agreement.
The DJ at the reception announced the new Geller's as they stepped into the reception hall. Everyone blew bubbles for the wedding rice was so not original. Ross and Rachel made their way to the dance floor. The music slowly started up as they had their first dance as husband and wife. They swerved casually to the music and smiled lightly at one another. It didn't seem like anything was different. She still felt seventeen. She looked up to see Ross smiling sweetly at her. That when it hit her. She was married. There was no breaking up, finding someone new; it was like this was permanent. Sure if it didn't work out she could get a divorce, but she would never give her parents that satisfaction. She skimmed the room. She could hear the whispering.
"She is so young." one voice whispered.
"Do they have a clue what they are doing?" another rang.
"I wonder why she chose to get married so young, is she pregnant?" Rachel went white. Did they know? Was this huge thing going to come to a head today? The song ended and it was time for the Maid of Honor and Best Man speeches. Chandler stood up.
"Hi everyone. Uh, this is a great day, to people connecting their love for one another in the most permanent way possible. Uh, I know that I envy Ross because I would never be able to make a commitment like this. I am a little to immature as some people would say..." He began to ramble on, making sad attempts at jokes and almost crying. He had been like this ever since Monica had told him she was pregnant, and even worse since Monica got the abortion. Rachel looked at Monica, whom had been drinking. She was still a minor, but still took a whole lot of champagne.
"Are you going to be okay giving your speech, Mon?" Rachel whispered.
"Yea." she answered in a very dazed fashion. She stood up and neared the microphone.
"What a lovely wedding this was." She began. "Not only did I get to see my brother on his happiest day, but also, my best friend. Nothing makes me happier than getting my best friend as a sister in law. Yes, we are happy for all of the reasons these two were married today, and I mean ALL of the reasons. Now, I even get to be an aunt! And I ask myself, if Ross hadn't gotten Rachel pregnant, would this day have still been here?"
The crowd began to murmur, and Ross and Rachel got equal shares of horrified looks. Rachel looked towards her parents, her dad was already gone.
END
Sorry it took so long. I was on Vacation. Uh, I have really been trying to wrap up this story. Any ideas let me know, and also, thank you al for your ideas, as some of you may see, I used some of them. THANKS!
XOXOELIZABETHXOXO