Thanks for all the reviews. I really love them! Sorry if Rachel seemed a little harsh but it's explained in this chapter.

Disclaimer: Friends does not belong to me. Or else I'd be rolling in cash now, instead of writing fanfiction.

Emma's Fairytale

"…you're the same womanizing jerk!" She couldn't believe she'd said that to him. But he deserved it, right? But that anguished look in his eyes…it was painful to realize that she had caused it. She felt her heart contract at the memory.

Joey's kissing her had invoked feelings she hadn't experienced in years. Feelings she had buried inside. She had lost herself in that one special moment. And then reality struck. The cheerless reality that was hers. How could she have let her walls down? She was incensed. Probably more at herself than him, she thought ruefully. And she had lashed out at him. The one man who made her feel alive again. She was a heartless bitch.

"Rachel? What are you doing home?"

Rachel cringed at Ross' words. It really said something for their marriage when her husband didn't even expect her to come home.

"I live here. Why? Did you want to be alone?"

"No…I …I'm sorry but …you're wet."

Rachel looked down in some confusion. She was dripping. When had it started raining? She walked to the bedroom and slammed the door.

Ross looked at the puddles on the floor. He had sounded so rude. But what else was he supposed to be? She had spent almost the whole week at 'the enemy's'. He rolled his eyes. That sounded so childish. And truth be told, she had seemed happier this last week than she had in a long time. Except for today. Well, that would probably be because he had turned up early. He had come home at 8 instead of the expected 9.

He had to talk to her. And tell her what? That he was beginning to doubt his love for her? That they might be trapped in a loveless marriage? What good would that be? He knew that, no matter what, they were going to stay together. They had to. Emma deserved that. Better to just keep up this charade.

He could feel the sadness well up in him. Life was never supposed to be this way. Rachel was never supposed to hate him.

****

Rachel looked at her reflection. She was soaking wet. Little rivulets of water ran down her face, mingling with her tears. The tears she had cried over her marriage, over Joey. She had wept all the way from Central Perk to home. She had never even noticed the rain. She looked out her window. It was raining heavily. It brought out the wretchedness of the night, her life.

She sat at the edge of her bed and sobbed. Sobbed for the peace, which would never come.

****

"Chandler? This is Amanda. Joey still hasn't come home. I'm getting worried."

Chandler glanced at his watch. 1a.m. What was Joey doing out so late?

He decided to check out Central Perk, first. The lights were on. And on the couch was Joey.

Chandler swallowed his unfounded fears. He stomped up to Joey.

"What do you think you're doing? Do you know how worried Amanda is? She's so ter…" The words died on his lips.

Joey seemed distraught over something. The only time Chandler had ever seen Joey this way was when …

"Rachel?"

Joey slowly nodded. "I kissed her."

Chandler didn't know what to say. Joey kissed Rachel. This was bigger than big. He'd wanted to that for so long. And now he finally did…but she was married. He was with Amanda. The Amanda, who Chandler had thought, helped Joey get over Rachel. Guess he was wrong.

Chandler hugged him. Words could never convey how sorry he was.

****

The next morning, Rachel woke up to find a tray of food on the bedside table. A note was placed on the coffee mug.

Dear Rachel,

I wasn't sure if you had dinner yesterday. I figured you might have filled up on junk food. So here's a nice healthy breakfast. Enjoy.

Ross.

P.S. I have some work to do. I'll see you in the evening.

Rachel smiled. Life had taken such a spiral downward that she had forgotten how considerate Ross could be. She had had only junk food, last night. She started on the toast.

A half hour later, Rachel placed the last dish on the rack. Yesterday, at this time, she had rushed out to meet with the others in Central Perk. They had decided to work on it every weekend. She had gone a little overboard. Going there every chance she could. Every lunch break was spent pouring over catalogues with Joey. She had had fun. And now it was over. Damn Joey for ruining it. She sighed. She really had to stop blaming him.

Ross came around 8pm, carrying Emma. She threw herself at her mother.

"Emma! I've missed you, baby."

Ross smiled. She really was good mother. "She was waiting by the door. I think your mom was a bit upset over the fact that she broke some vase."

"Did you do that Emma?"

Emma looked up at her with puppy dog eyes. "I didn't mean to. Honest. I touched it and it fell."

Rachel didn't have the energy to argue. She sighed. "You're a naughty girl."

Emma giggled. She knew she'd won. "But you're not mad, right?"

Rachel shook her head. She could never stay mad at Emma for long. "C'mon sweetie, why don't we have some food?"

An hour later, Emma was safely in bed, demanding a story. Rachel picked a book at random.

"No. We read that, already. Make one up, mommy. Please?"

"Alright."

"Once upon a time, there lived a princess, who lived in a big castle. She had everything her heart could desire. Except true love. Her dad decided that it was time the princess was wedded. So he chose a prince. On her wedding day, as she stood next to him, in the aisle, she realized what a fathead he was." Emma giggled. "So she ran away and decided to live with her best friend who was a commoner."

Ross smiled from the doorway.

"Her best friend gave her a home. She made new friends. Her parents tried convincing her to come back. But she refused. She was happy. For the first time, she was living the way she wanted to."

Rachel paused, remembering the past. Emma tugged on her arm. "Is that it?"

"No, it gets better. She met a boy there, her best friend's brother. And they fell in love. They were very happy together but…but then one day he did something wrong and she left him."

"That's sad."

"Yeah, it is. But they stayed friends. She found other boys. But she never felt the way she had when she was with that boy. After a few years, he asked her to marry him. She said yes. They had a beautiful wedding. But one of her friends tried to stop it. He changed his mind though and left. She didn't see him for many years after that. Anyway, so the princess and the boy made a life together, and had a beautiful baby."

Emma smiled. "And lived happily ever after?"

Rachel hesitated. "Sweetie, not everyone has happy ending."

"But they should. Why did she marry him then?" She paused. "What about the friend who tried to stop the wedding?"

Rachel grinned ruefully. "I think she married the boy because she thought her life would be like it was before. When they were in love. As for the friend, she didn't know why he did that."

Emma beamed. " I know! He didn't want her to marry the boy. He wanted to marry her."

Rachel started. That was something new.

Ross stared at Emma. God, his baby was right. That was it. Joey was in love with Rachel. How had he never noticed it before?

He walked in. Rachel looked up in surprise. She'd thought Ross had given their nightly ritual a miss.

They tucked her in. Rachel tweaked her nose. "You have a wild imagination, angel."

Emma pouted. "I'm right. She should go find that friend."

"Honey, she was married to the boy and they had a baby. Now go to sleep."

Ross rushed outside. He needed some air. Everything was so clear. Joey loved Rachel. Did he still? What about Rachel? What did she feel for him? Ross didn't know that. But he was going to find out.

****

Rachel lay on the bed, thinking. Emma's words had opened up a whole new line of thought. Joey in love with her? No, that was impossible. But…that image of him crying came to her mind. And what he said after that kiss- "I've wanted to that for the longest time." She had only been back in his life for a week or so. That wasn't a long time. Was Emma right? Had he felt something for her? And had she been too blind to notice?

****

Ross looked up. Central perk. He was so lost in his thoughts; he hadn't even noticed where he was headed. He walked in.

Joey heard the door open and turned around. Ross. Oh God, he was here to kill him.

And we come to the end of yet another chapter. Only 1 or 2 more left. So give me your reviews and make me happy!