Chapter Three

For some reason, Rachel felt slightly awkward around Chandler for a while. Mainly because as she sat watching her daytime soaps her mind kept drifting to Chandler. Despite the awkwardness she wanted to spend more time with him. He seemed to get on with Emma so much that Rachel thought that she could initiate things for this reason. Chandler was in Tulsa at the moment, it was Thursday night and Chandler usually returned home on Fridays. Rachel picked up the telephone, being the daytime she realised he was at work so she left a message on his cell phone:
"BEEP...Hi, Chandler, its Rachel." She said in a jolly tone. "I'm just calling to ask if you'd perhaps like to take Emma out with me to the park or something on Sunday. I'm only asking because it seemed you enjoyed being in her company last week and also to warn you not to make plans. Let me know if you're up for it. Bye!"
As she hung up the phone, Rachel wondered why she had done that and if it would seem weird to Chandler.

~ ~ ~

It was Friday and Rachel was at Monica and Chandler's apartment. The whole gang was there waiting for Chandler's return, like they did every Friday evening. She had never got a reply from Chandler and she was slightly worried that he was avoiding spending time with her and Emma because he did not enjoy their company.
They were all sitting around chatting when the door to the apartment opened and Chandler struggled through the door with a suitcase. Monica rushed to greet him and they kissed passionately. For some reason, Rachel felt a sickly feeling in her stomach which shocked her. Rachel was unusually quiet and sat thinking about why she was feeling differently.
"Do I not even get a 'hello'?" Chandler joked as he walked over to where Rachel was sitting. She stood up. "Hey!" she beamed and gave him a hug. "How was Tulsa?"
"Sinfully boring," he replied. "Oh and by the way, I'd love take Emma to the park on Sunday with you." He said with a smile.
"That's great! Emma will be so pleased to see you, I know it sounds unbelievable but I'm sure she missed you!"
Chandler smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah, I can tell she's just storing the jokes up ready for when she sees you," she japed.
"Dinner is ready," Monica shouted to Rachel and Chandler from the kitchen.
"Okay, so anyway on Sunday I'll call around at yours around eleven?" Chandler suggested.
"Yeah, that sounds good to me," Rachel smiled and they both went to sit over at the dining table.

~ ~ ~

"Hey, sexy," Monica said in a sensuous tone as she stood seductively in a revealing nightgown in the bedroom doorway.
Chandler was sitting on the sofa, turning his attention away from the television and towards Monica his mouth fell open in awe. "Wow, you look...incredible!" He said and stood up. Monica walked up to him and embarrassed him with a enthusiastic kiss. He wrapped his arms around her body and held her tightly.

Across the street Rachel put Emma in her cot and as she glanced out of the window she saw Monica and Chandler. Usually something like that would not bother her and she would go about her life without even thinking about it. However, this time it was different. She turned her focus away from the window as watching it was making her feel strange.
Ross walked out of his bedroom and saw Rachel looking befuddled. "Everything okay?" he asked.
Rachel nodded. "Uh-hum, fine." But everything was not fine. Rachel was scared to admit her new feelings for her friend, and not only was he her friend but also her best friend's husband. 'Don't be stupid, Rach,' she thought, 'you don't have feelings for Chandler...do you?'