As usual, the characters from the television show FRIENDS do not belong to me.

Previously, in TOW The Letter:

Ross read the contents of the letter and looked at his wife sadly. "I think we need a lawyer now." He went across the hall and asked Monica to watch Travis and Lauren. He didn't tell her anything but Monica knew Ross well enough to know that something was very wrong so she quickly agreed.

Ross and Rachel soon found themselves in an attorney's office. Rachel was grasping the letter in one hand and Ross' hand in the other. Neither of them spoke. A few more minutes passed and finally the lawyer entered the room. "Hello, I'm Mike Clark."

Ross stood, "Hi, I'm Ross Geller and this is my wife Rachel."

Mike sat down behind his large desk and looked at them through the end of his glasses, "So what exactly do you need my help with? My secretary told me this was concerning an adoption-"



And now….

TOW The Disagreement

Ross handed Mr. Clark the letter, "Here is what we received in the mail."

Mr. Clark looked up at them after reading the letter, "Do you wish to contest this adoption?"

`"Well, yeah."

`"May I ask why?"

"Well, it is our 15 year-old son's baby and we just feel really strongly that he should take responsibility for his child."

"You mean raise it himself?"

"Not necessarily that so much as if the baby is put for adoption that Nick should be allowed to be involved. So far the young lady's family has completely left our son and us out of the decisions. They have been rude and spiteful," he gripped Rachel's hand, "We have a five month-old baby at home that is ours so we are not in the position to adopt it ourselves."

"Well, all I can do right now is issue a temporary stay of the adoption process until paternity can be positively identified. Then once that has been established I think we should try to come to an agreement outside of court."

Ross stood up and shook hands with the lawyer, "Thank-you so much for the help. I will be by tomorrow with a check for your retainer fee"

"It was nice to meet you Dr. and Mrs. Geller. We will get this worked out."

Rachel who had remained silent through the whole visit blew up in the car,

"What the hell were you doing in there?"

Ross looked at her stunned, "What did I do wrong, Rach? I got us an attorney."

"You said we don't want to adopt the baby."

"Of course we don't Rachel! In case you've forgotten we have a brand new baby,

an eight year-old, and a very difficult teenager."

"So you would rather your grandchild be raised by strangers so your life isn't inconvenienced?"

"Rachel, you are being ridiculous and irrational about this. Besides, if we take the baby how will that teach Nick a lesson in responsibility?"

"Separating him forever from his child is not the answer either."

"Well, I don't know what else to do Rachel. It's obvious that Jessie doesn't want to keep the baby and I just don't think Nick is in the position to do this alone."

"Isn't that what we are here for Ross? To help him?"

"Yes, honey but it's not fair to our other children to take on this responsibility."

Rachel sighed, "Damnit! I feel like such a failure with him. We didn't teach him enough about safe sex, we just drilled abstinence into him." She was crying now, "and like many teenagers he just couldn't wait and he didn't know how to protect himself."

Ross rested his hand on her knee, "Sweetie, we educated him about AIDS, STDS, and we talked to him about condoms. Yes, we did drill abstinence into him, because we were really hoping that that is the choice that he would make for himself. He just made a mistake. And the like the rest of us, he is going to have to live with the consequences of his decisions. There's just a possibility that his consequences won't be happy for him."

Rachel took his hand off her knee, "It doesn't bother you at all that this is your grandchild? That this child is your flesh and blood? That Jessie has a little Lauren growing inside of her right now?"

"Of course it bothers me, it bothers me a lot. Some days it is all I think about. But I think we have to look at this realistically and understand that ultimately what happens to our grandchild may not be up to us. In fact we may not even get a say in it all."

Rachel snapped at him, "Well I still can't believe you are being this insensitive about this. I am so angry with you right now. And will you please speed the hell what up, what you are going like 20 miles an hour?"

"Well, at least I don't get speeding tickets."

"That's for sure." They drove the rest of the way home in silence. When they got to their apartment building Rachel went over to Monica and Chandler's to pick up Travis and Lauren. She could hear Lauren's screams in the hallway.

"She's starving," Monica explained, "She won't take her bottle." Rachel took her daughter from Monica and sat down on the couch to nurse Lauren. The baby's cries instantly subsided.

"So what's going on Rachel?" The concern was etched on Monica's face,

"Is Nick alright?"

While Lauren nursed Rachel told Monica the whole story, "I am so mad at Ross right now. I can't believe he doesn't want his own grandchild." She burst into tears, "It's like I wake up everyday in someone else's nightmare."

Monica put her arms around Rachel's shoulder, "Oh sweetie, it's all going to work out. I know that Ross loves you so much and that he loves his grandchild. I really think he wants what is best for all of you. Look at you, Rachel, you are exhausted and you want to go back to work soon. However would you manage with another baby? Do you honestly think Nick is at the place in his life where he can be a good, responsible father? He is still just a kid."

"How can I give away my own grandchild? I mean I always imagined the birth of my first grandchild as a joyous, happy occasion. This is almost as bad as a funeral."

"Maybe you and the Moore's will be able to find a family that will give an open adoption so you can still be involved in the baby's life and get pictures and letters."

Rachel looked at Monica, "Do you think you could help Ross with Travis for a few days?'

"Yeah, sure. Why?"

Because before Nick gets home I want to go away for a few days and think this through. I really need to work through this on my own. I'll take Lauren with me."

"Whatever you need. But don't shut Ross out."

Ross tried to talk Rachel out of going away. He was so worried about her being alone to wallow in depression. She had been on an emotional roller coaster ever since she had discovered she was pregnant with Lauren. But as usual, Rachel was stubborn and unrelenting. "Ross, I need to do this. I just need some time to clear my head and really feel right about whatever decision is made. I hope that you will use this time to rethink your position, and your motives behind it." She walked right past him with the suitcase and Lauren's diaper bag and took them to the car. She came back in and took Lauren from Ross, "Travis come give Mommy a kiss." Travis quietly gave her a hug and a kiss. Rachel handed Ross a piece of paper, "This is the hotel where I will be staying. Don't call unless it is an emergency. I will be home in time to go with you to the airport to pick up Nick on Friday. I should be ready to talk then." With that said she left.

Ross just stood there staring at the closed door. "I love you Rach." He said softly.



TO BE CONTINUED…



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