Ross's Future:

"As you can see, the evidence is indisputable.  The recently discovered Gellersaurus was undoubtedly the strongest, fastest, largest, and most ferocious dinosaur that walked on this planet."

With a final smile and a confident thump of his notecards on the podium, Dr. Ross Geller gave the gathering of his colleagues, students, and the media a nod and stepped away from his microphone.  Immediately, he was accosted by flashing cameras, eager reporters, and congratulatory friends and acquaintances. 

"I'm sorry," he told them all with a charming smile.  "But I really must get home.  I promised my son I would help him with his science project.  Only six, and already a contestant in the national contest," Ross exulted, hoping the numerous newspapers and magazines present would quote him on that.

The people surrounding him, even the disappointed media personnel, nodded in understanding, then fell back to allow the brilliant paleontologist – and dedicated husband and father - to pass through.  Ross turned at the door for one last wave and smile, then headed quickly for the limo waiting for him outside. 

"Home, Dr. Geller?" the driver asked, glancing at Ross in the rearview mirror.

"To Scarsdale," Ross confirmed with a smile as he settled into the luxurious leather seats.  He sighed as he reviewed the speech he had just given, deciding that he had done well.  Stardom had been forced on him when he discovered the evidence of this new dinosaur – which had been appropriately named after him – but he felt that he had adjusted well.  And of course he never allowed his job to take precedence over his family.

His wife Michelle met him at the door with a kiss, and they both waved as the limousine rounded the circular driveway in front of their home and headed back down the road. 

"I'm glad you're here," Michelle stated as she helped him out of his coat.  "The boys have been anxious to get started on the project."

"Have they?" Ross asked with a smile, pleased with his offspring's interest in all things scientific.  "Are they upstairs?"

Michelle nodded, and Ross walked over to the bottom of the stairs.  "Ty!  Rex!" he called up to them.   "I'm home, boys."

Six-year-old Tyler and four-year-old Rex came thundering down the stairs and threw themselves at their father. 

"Daddy, I finished building my solar-powered airplane," Ty announced proudly, holding the toy plane up for Ross to appraise. 

"I helped!" Rex chirped, hanging on Ross's leg.  "Can we go try it, Daddy?"

"In a little while," Ross assured them, taking the plane from Ty and inspecting it.  "Let's have dinner first, then we'll go outside before we start working on Ty's project."

"Whoo-hoo, the robot!" Rex cheered, as he took off running for the dining room.  "Let's eat quick, Ty."

"We need to wash our hands first, Rex," Ty reminded his younger brother, loping after him.  "Come on, I'll help you."

Ross shook his head as he watched his sons head down the hallway, a goofy grin of contentment on his face.  When he heard the water running in the bathroom, he turned to follow Michelle into the dining room.

"I didn't want to say anything in front of the boys," Ross began as they took their seats, "but the guy from Disney World called again today.  They want to know if I'll be a consultant for a new ride they're thinking of doing.  They want to feature the Gellersaurus, but there would be other dinosaurs in it too."

"Disney World?  Wow," Michelle commented, suitably impressed.  "That would be fun.  Hey, speaking of Disney World, have you decided about the Dino-Planet movie yet?"
            "Not yet," Ross told her.  "I think it would be fun to play a paleontologist that manages to bring dinosaurs back to life for a theme park, but I don't want to spend so much time away from you and the kids.  Especially with the twins coming."

"We'll be fine," Michelle assured him, placing a hand on her stomach, which was just beginning to swell.  "Don't hold back on our account."

"But the most important thing in my life is you and the kids.  I don't want to put anything ahead of you."

The conversation was put on hold when Tyler and Rex arrived at the table, and Ross busied himself helping his sons serve themselves and cut up their meat.  He smiled to himself as the chatter at the table rose several decibels, knowing he wouldn't want it any other way.

The sound of not-so-quiet whispers woke Ross the next morning, and he rolled over to look into his younger son's mischievous eyes.

"Morning, Daddy," Rex said, taking his father's open eyes as an invitation to leap on top of him.  "Time to get up!"

"Quiet, Rex," came a voice from the other side of the bed.  Ross turned to find Ty sitting on the other side of Michelle.  "Mom's still asleep."

"Not anymore," Michelle commented dryly as she raised herself to a sitting position and reached out to pull Tyler onto her lap.  "Typical Sunday morning," she said softly, turning to Ross with a smile.

"I brought the paper upstairs," Ty announced importantly, holding up the New York Times.  "I get the Science section first!"

"No, me!" Rex objected, putting his hands on his hips.

"You can't read," Ty reminded his brother, sounding more like a sixteen-year-old than a six-year-old. 

"I can so," Rex claimed, then paused to think that over.  "Daddy can tell me the big words."

"I want it first," Ty maintained, looking at his mother for support.  Michelle just shook her head. 

"Give me the front page – the three of you can fight over the rest," she told them, smiling as Ross grabbed the pages out of Tyler's unsuspecting hands.  Ty looked like he was considering a rebuttal, but finally climbed over Michelle and settled down next to Ross as Rex climbed into his father's lap. 

Michelle took her pages and shook her head as she watched her husband and sons sharing the Science section.  Rex was pointing excitedly, while Ty read carefully, absorbing everything.  Their father was reading and explaining, grinning like a madman.

He had the perfect life.

End "Ross's Future" – Back to the Present:

            Ross stared down at the paper in his hand, then slowly folded it.  His gaze fell on Rachel's stomach, where his child still lay hidden from unknowing eyes, and swallowed hard.  His life wasn't exactly the way he had once imagined it, and his severely dysfunctional family was far from the "Leave It To Beaver" ideal he had always hoped for.   

            "Ty and Rex?  Really, Ross?" Rachel was saying skeptically, her face lit with a teasing smile. 

            "What's wrong with Ty and Rex?" Ross countered, his eyes narrowing.  "They're good names."

            "What I'd like to know is what he planned on naming the 'twins'," Chandler commented sarcastically, leaning against the wall.  "Stego and Saurus?"

            "No…" Ross said defensively.  "Rhona and Sara," he continued quietly, amazed that he even remembered the names that went with those of his imaginary sons, dreamed up so many years ago…and more than a little embarrassed about sharing them with his friends.  The others looked at each other, mulling over those names and trying to figure out how they could use them to humiliate Ross further.  When inspiration hit, Chandler suddenly started to laugh, choking in his eagerness to share his discovery with Rachel and Monica.

            "TyRhonaSara Rex?" he finally managed to gasp out.  "You've got to be kidding me!" 

            "I was twelve," Ross defended himself, his face reddening as he realized that, at 32, he still thought the names were clever.  "You know what though?" he continued, his face taking on a thoughtfully faraway expression as he purposely led the conversation in another direction.  "This proves I had the idea for "Jurassic Park" first…"

            "Yeah, created by, directed by, produced by, and starring Dr. Ross Geller, SuperPaleontologist ," Monica teased. 

            Ross blushed.  "Yeah, well…maybe you shouldn't laugh until we've heard your letters, too," he warned them, satisfied when all three sobered immediately and directed their gazes elsewhere.  "So come on.  Who's next?"

            "I'll go," Chandler said with a casual shrug, sliding a finger under the edge of the envelope to open it and retrieving his letter.  "Here goes…When I grow up…"