As always, these characters do not belong to me. This story is for entertainment purposes only.
Who Could Have Imagined? Part Three
Rachel couldn't sleep that night. She kept reliving the proposal from Chandler over and over in her head. It was a beautiful proposal. Everything about it was perfect. Everything about their relationship was perfect. Why did she walk away from him? Is that what she really wanted? After hours of agonizing over the scene from earlier Rachel finally fell into a fitful sleep. About two in the morning the feeling that someone was staring at her awakened Rachel. She groggily opened her eyes, and gasped at the image in front of her.
"Oh my God! Ross?!"
"Hey, Rach." His familiar voice spoke quietly into the darkened room, in her direction. "You have got to be the most beautiful thing that I have ever laid my eyes on."
Rachel's eyes filled with tears, "Oh my God, is it really you? Am I seeing things? Are you really standing in front of me right now?"
Ross never came any closer he just stood where he was. "Rach, do you love me?" he asked.
"You know I do, so, so much." She was crying now. She didn't know if this was a dream or her eyes playing tricks on her. It certainly was cruel of her dreams to bring all these memories of Ross flooding back to her when she was trying to decide her future with Chandler.
"Rachel Karen Geller I love you too. I always have, I always will. I wish I wouldn't have had to leave you so suddenly, so unexpectedly. I never wanted to go you know that."
"I know, Ross, I know."
"Do you love Chandler?"
Rachel paused for a moment, carefully considering how she should answer the question that Ross had posed to her, finally she spoke, "Yes, yes I do."
"Then marry him. He will make you happy. I am gone forever, but he is here Rachel, and he will love you forever. Don't give up that chance for happiness and love to preserve the love you have for me. The love that we had was special, so deep, so all encompassing that it will never die. Never." He looked at her lovingly, "Always remember that I love you, Rachel." And with that said he was gone as quickly as he came.
Rachel stared into the blackness, where the image of her dearly parted Ross had been. She realized now that Ross, of course, was still dead and that she had just dreamed his image. But she couldn't help but think that he was sending her a sign from beyond the grave, that he wanted the best things for her. He wanted for her to be happy, to build a new life, a new love with Chandler. Rachel suddenly realized what she wanted. She jumped out of bed, threw on the first clothes that she could find, and ran to her car.
Several minutes later, she found herself knocking on Chandler's door. It took him several moments to answer, but when he finally did he was delighted to see the woman he loved standing on his doorstep. She looked beautiful, more beautiful than he had ever seen her look.
"Hey, Rach. Why don't you come in?"
Rachel stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. Chandler could see that she had something to say so he waited in silence for a few moments before she began to speak, "Chandler, something happened tonight. Something that made me realize what I want from my life. I realized that while I will always love Ross, that's it not abandoning that love to be with you. I realized that I love you Chandler, I have for a long time now. Nothing would make me happier at this moment, than to be your wife."
Chandler smiled broadly at her, "That's the best news I've heard in a long time. Wait right here." He retreated into his bedroom and came out carrying the ring box. He went to slip the ring on Rachel's finger and then they both noticed it. She was still wearing Ross' wedding ring.
Rachel resisted the urge to run out of the room. She slipped Ross' ring off and placed it on her other hand. "I believe your ring belongs here now." She said quietly. She was fighting back tears. Chandler had tears in his eyes too, as he gently placed his ring on her finger.
"I love you." He whispered into her ear.
"I love you too." She whispered back, and then she leaned in and kissed him.
They set their wedding date for New Years Day. They wanted their wedding date to be as far away from the date of the accident, and their anniversaries with Monica and Ross. Rachel's girls were very excited and helped Rachel with the simple wedding plans. Sam was still having a hard time accepting the fact that her Dad was gone, but she knew that her Mom needed to be happy. Julie had started college at NYU where her Dad used to teach, and she had made the decision to live on campus so that Rachel and Chandler would have less to worry about. She came over every night for dinner though, and on the weekends to do her laundry.
Daniel was extremely unhappy about the wedding. He refused to accept the fact that his Dad was getting married again. He hated the fact even more that it was to Rachel. Anyone else would have been hard enough to accept. But Rachel was like a slap in his Mom's face. Daniel was stunned one day to come out of school and see Rachel standing on the steps waiting for him. "Hey Danny."
"What are you doing here?" he hissed. "Haven't you done enough to make my life a living hell?"
"I thought we could go somewhere and talk."
"No! I don't want to talk to you ever again."
"You know Daniel, whether you like it or not, I am going to be living with you soon. Your Dad and I are getting married. Don't you think it would be better if we were on good terms? It would make life so much easier for all of us."
"Fine! We can talk. But it's not going to change my mind. I don't want you marrying my Dad." He reluctantly got into the car with Rachel.
They drove to an ice cream store. They ordered double scoops cones and sat down at a table next to the window. Daniel avoided talking as long as possible watching the people walk by on the street. At last Rachel started the conversation, "Danny, I thought perhaps you and I could look past our differences and try to get along. I want your Dad to be happy. I want us all to be a family. I love you; you know that. And I love your Dad."
"You don't love me, or Dad. You didn't love Uncle Ross and you didn't love my Mom." Danny was crying now, "If you did love them you would never betray them this way. You were Mom's best friend. She loved you. She loved my Dad."
"You're right Danny. She did your love Dad, very, very much. I know that. And I loved your Uncle Ross, in fact I still do. But your Mom and Ross are gone and they are not coming back. We have to move on with life. We have to give ourselves a chance to be happy again. We have to try to pick up the pieces of our lives and make them whole again. That is what your Dad and I are trying to. Daniel, we didn't intend to fall in love. In fact at first, I think we both tried to avoid it, deny it even. But we can't deny it anymore. We make each other happy. Being with your Dad makes me happy, and it makes him happy. Your Mom loved all of us so much; she would want us to be happy more than anything. I am not going to try and take your Mom's place because no one could ever do that. I would just like you to give me the chance to love you. Give me the chance to be part of your family. I won't let you down, Danny, I promise."
Danny ate a few more bites of his ice cream, "I'll think about." He blurted out. "Can we go now? I have lots of homework."
"Sure come on." All the way home in the car Danny still didn't talk to Rachel. She tried hard to hide her disappointment. She really loved the kid; like he was her own and she wanted them all to be happy.
At last New Year's Eve came. Rachel and Sam were rushing around their house trying to pack the rest of their stuff. Chandler and Rachel had agreed to move into a different house so that their marriage would begin fresh. Not that either of them were trying to forget their departed spouses, they just wanted a chance to make new memories together. As Rachel was taping up the boxes, there was a knock on the door.
Sam opened it and it was Danny. "Hey Sam."
"Hey Danny. Come in, it's cold outside."
"I was hoping to talk to your Mom. Is she here?"
"Yeah." Sam closed the door and they came into the living room where Rachel was.
"Hi Danny." Rachel stood up to greet him, "What a surprise."
Without saying a word, Danny came up to Rachel and hugged her. Rachel was so surprised that she was speechless. "Welcome to the family," he said and turned around and walked out.
Sam stood there staring at the door, she turned to Rachel and smiled broadly, "I think Danny is going to be okay, Mom."
Rachel hugged her, "Me too, Sammie, me too."
At exactly 3 p.m. on New Years Day Rachel and Chandler stood in front of the judge at their new home. They had decided to have a very small ceremony in the living room of the home that they would share together.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together to join this man, Chandler Muriel Bing and this woman Rachel Karen Geller in holy matrimony. If anyone sees just cause why these two should not be joined together let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
Julie and Sam stood directly behind their Mother; they clutched hands and waited for Daniel to say something. Daniel stood behind Chandler and remained silent. There were tears running down his face, but he said nothing.
"It is my understanding that the two of you have written your own vows. Chandler please give your vows to Rachel."
Chandler grasped Rachel's hand in his own, "Rachel, I never thought I would fall in love again. I thought I was destined to be alone for the rest of my life. I never thought that I would be blessed twice. I have loved and been loved by the two most incredible women I've ever met. I am so thankful that I have you. I love you, and I promise to love you for the rest of my life."
Rachel smiled at Chandler, her eyes shown with love and tears, "Chandler, on this day I stand here ready to become your wife. I am ready to love you for better or for worse, through whatever life brings us. Because I know that together we can conquer all things, we have proven it. I love you."
The Judge continued, "May I have the rings. These rings are the outward expression of the inward love that will encircle your hearts forever. Place the rings on each other's fingers and say, 'With this ring I thee wed.'" Chandler and Rachel did so.
"Now that Chandler and Rachel have expressed through love and commitment through their vows and by the giving and receiving of rings, I now pronounce that they are husband and wife. What God has joined together let no one separate. You may kiss the bride." All three of the kids clapped as they kissed, and then Chandler and Rachel gave them all hugs.
They decided to skip a honeymoon because of the time of the year and all the adjustments that needed to be made. They settled down into the normal routine of life. They were very happy, and while they both still missed Monica and Ross time was beginning to heal their wounds. Daniel was still taking things the hardest but even his hardened heart was beginning to soften as time wore on. He was finally accepting the finality of death and the need of the living to move on with life.
Chandler's arms going around her waist brought Rachel out of her memories. "Hey you." He said, "You ordered Chinese I see."
"Yeah, I didn't feel like cooking."
Chandler chuckled, "And how is that different from any other day?"
Rachel hit him playfully, "You better stop while you are ahead."
"Why? Will you try and make me?"
"I might." She raised her eyebrows at him, "Was that a challenge?"
He bent down to kiss her, "That depends on if you wanted it to be."
"Oh yeah," she said as she sunk into eh kiss. It grew more passionate and they just stood there in the kitchen kissing and enjoying being in each other's arms.
Samantha broke their moment, "That is so gross! Can't you guys do that somewhere else? This is everyone's kitchen you know." She grinned at them, she was really okay with it, she was glad that her Mom was happy. She was glad that they were all happy. They had all been through enough hell. It was time now for them all to rebuild and enjoy the wonderful moments that life could bring.
Samantha went back into her room and left her Mom and Chandler alone again. She looked at the picture that sat on her desk of her Dad. She fingered the edges of it lovingly and smiled, "Dad, she's happy. I know that is what you would want." She sat down at her desk and begun working on her homework.
Several minutes later there was a brief knock and then Daniel stuck his head in the door. "Hey Sam, Dad and Rach are going to watch a movie? You want to watch it."
"I really should work on my biology report."
"Stop being a science geek and come on. Julie's even coming back over."
Sam closed the book and smiled, "Okay. I guess I can work on this later."
"Trust me you can." Daniel groaned.
They ventured into the living room where Chandler and Rachel already sat snuggled on the couch. "Hey kids." Chandler said, "We popped popcorn. Oh and Rachel picked the movie, so sit at your own risk." For that Chandler got hit over the head with a couch pillow.
Julie came in right as the movie was starting. She hurried to find a seat on the floor next to her sister. Rachel smiled at the scene in front of her. Daniel was in the armchair with his feet propped up. Julie and Sam were sprawled on the floor right in front of the TV. She was snuggled next to her husband. What a family portrait this would make. In this very room were all the people she cared about who were living and pieces of those who were departed. Who could have imagined that life would work itself out the way it did? This was her life. And she was, at last, happy with it.