Title: The Open Road

Author: Kaitlyn

Summary: "I've got some beer and the highway's free, and I got you and baby you got me."

Rating: PG-13

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"Honey?" she asked, squeezing his bicep to get his attention.

"Heh?" he grunted.

"What do you think about eloping?"

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This got his attention. He lifted his head, meeting her gaze with his. He half expected her to be kidding, but he couldn't remember ever seeing her look more serious. Her eyes widened and she cracked a bit of a smile- not in jest, but in inquiry. His silence was becoming heavy and awkward, and he could tell that she was growing almost embarrassed in her suggestion. He smiled.

"Uh, what made you think of this?" This was obviously not the response she'd been waiting for. She furrowed her brow.

"I'm taking that to mean you don't think it's a good idea." He shook his head, eager to let her know that he just wasn't sure WHAT he thought of it.

"No, no, it's not that. It's just that, uh, that seemed a little out of the blue." He realized after a moment that she was waiting for him to finish.

"I mean, I just thought that you'd always wanted a big wedding." She nodded in agreement.

"Well, I always have. But, I don't know...it just seems right to me."

"Well, yeah, honey, but you've got to ask yourself if this it going to be one of those things that feels right in the moment but that you realize was a big mistake, later on." She nodded, again, in agreement.

"I know that it seems a little impulsive and crazy, but I think we could use some of that! Besides, it's something you can always look back on and remember. It's something to tell the grandkids! Isn't that what you'd want it a marriage- something unforgettable?"

"Well...yes. It's just that...I've always seen you as more of the kind of girl who wants an unforgettable wedding because of it's elaborate ice sculptures and custom-made embroidery on the tablecloths..." She cut him off.

"Hey, why do I have to be a certain 'kind of girl'? Maybe I want to mix things up- throw caution to the wind! But if you're scared..." Ross took this as a blow to his manhood. He playfully smacked her shoulder.

"I am NOT scared! I just want to make sure you get the wedding you deserve! I've waited a long time to marry you, and when it finally happens, I want to make sure you're happy with it! I've already done this once, you know, with all the stops pulled out. This time, it's up to the bride." She smiled, taking in the sentiment and sweetness that had accompanied his speech, but even more endearingly, that had gone completely unnoticed by him.

"Well then...this is what I want. This is what will make me happy." She swallowed, looking at her intently for another few seconds, partly waiting for her to break and admit that she'd been kidding the entire time. But that didn't happen, and so he nodded, kissing her shoulder.

"Okay. If this is what will make you happy, then this is what we'll do." She giggled and ran a hand through his hair, closing her eyes and, being satisfied, allowed herself to become completely relaxed with the anticipation of sleep. Ross was not done yet, however.

"Hey, Rach? What about the guys?"

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It was a Saturday morning at Monica and Chandler's, and everyone except for Ross and Rachel were eating breakfast at the kitchen table. There was not much talking, as everyone was eating quietly and mostly keeping to themselves. Suddenly, drawn to words by something that caught his attention in the paper, Chandler broke the silence.

"Don't you think that people who read these personal adds in here would be suspicious right off the bat of someone who has to pay to beg for dates, and isn't required to submit a picture?" Joey and Phoebe were rendered almost pensive, but this barely phased Monica, who didn't even look up from her bowl of fruit.

"Didn't you write into those things until you were 23?" More than a little offended, Chandler rushed to defend himself.

"Hey, that was an experiment I was doing for my major!" Once again, Monica is not affected, and still doesn't look up from her food.

"You majored in Computer Communications." Finally succumbing to his defeat, he moodily returned his attention to reading the paper, but not before mumbling something about how personal adds would have been the only way for Monica to find a date in high school. Before she had a chance to retaliate, Ross and Rachel entered.

"Hey, guys!" Rachel exclaimed, looking even more fresh and animated than usual. "We've got some news!" She was smiling from ear to ear, and even her walk was more brisk. Everyone turned to face her excitedly, each one sure of what the news are.

"You're pregnant?" asked Monica. Rachel shook her head, still smiling widely.

"You're moving?" Chandler inquired, somewhat anxiously. Again, Rachel shook her head, eager for someone to guess correctly.

"Oh, you finally convinced Ross to stop buying that gross hair gel?" Phoebe yelled. Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Trust me, if it were possible, it would have been done a LONG time ago. But no. Come on, someone, guess!" Ross looked confused, but kept quiet while the others guess. Finally, Rachel couldn't take it any longer.

"Okay, Ross and I are eloping!" Complete shock and confusion filled the room- mouths hanging agape and all. Monica shook her head, almost as if she were trying to clear it of what had just been said.

"Rachel, there are so many things wrong with that sentence, I don't even know where to being." Rachel's face immediately dropped, along with her formerly gesticulating hands. Her voice broke a little and raised an octave, the way it often did when she was whining or inquiring about something.

"What?"

"Well, first of all," Monica continued, "I thought you were already planning on having a big wedding!" Rachel jumped in to defend herself.

"Well, I was, but then -" Monica cut her off.

"I said 'first of all', implying a second! So, SECOND of all, isn't it not eloping if you tell everyone about it?" Rachel crossed her arms protectively over her chest.

"Well, I WAS planning on having a big wedding, but after thinking about it, I thought 'what's really the point'?" Monica cocked an inquisitive eyebrow.

"That doesn't sound like you."

"Why does everybody keep saying that!?" Rachel was not obviously exasperated, causing Ross to join her at her side. He put his hand to the back of her neck, holding it there in a supportive gesture.

"Look, you guys, I know you always thought Rachel would want a big wedding. I thought that, too. But after talking to her last night, I realized that she's right- there's really no point. I mean, after you've been through as much as the two of us have, there's no need for some big fancy ceremony. We know what we mean to each other, and that's all that counts. We don't need a bunch of expensive ornaments and food to make it special. And, as for why we decided to tell you...we wanted you to be there."

Everyone was silent, feeling a little guilty for having passed such premature judgment, especially Monica. She nodded in understanding. She got up from the kitchen table to go stand in front of Rachel.

"I'm sorry, Rach. It's just that, ever since we were little girls, we've always fantasized about what our weddings would be like. I guess I was just a little sad to know that those dreams wouldn't be coming true." Rachel nodded, but then looked around Monica at Chandler. Sensing that she was about to say something, Chandler's eyes widened and he shook his head profusely.

"Don't worry, I wasn't going to say anything about the two of you!" Rachel huffed. Monica whirled around to look at Chandler, who was caught like a dear in the headlights.

"Oh, Rachel, way to be discreet," he quipped, his tone dripping of sarcasm. Monica rolled her eyes and turned back to Rachel.

"I know," Rachel continued, putting a hand on her best friend's shoulder, "but maybe this will be even better. The point is to be somewhat spontaneous, very casual, and to have the ceremony someplace exciting. Oh, and it has to be inexpensive. Also, it would be nice if it were by a beach. Oh, and..." Chandler cut her off.

"Wow, Rach, are you sure you want to do this completely spontaneously? Because, you know, I hear that's hard to do after you've already planned everything out." She narrowed her eyes at him before turning back to Monica and Ross.

"Plus, you know what this means...another road trip."

End Chapter 9. To Be Continued in Chapter 10.