Chapter Six: Unwanted Interruptions


I want to try and make this chapter last a little while longer than the others-I have to deal with Rachels feelings, Ross' problems with Emily, Chandler and Monica's growing love for each other and Phoebe's pregnancy! Also I want to try and get Joey into it a little more-I'm starting to miss him. All in a days work, eh? Please keep reviewing! ^^


Silence fell in the apartment. Rachel, staring at the ring, seemed hypnotised by Ross' words. Chandler and Monica clung to each other, not realising what they were doing. Their best friends were seconds away from happiness, if Rachel did what they thought she should, and wanted to, do.


The sudden silence was broken by the shrill ring of the phone. Monica sighed, but realised she had to answer it, and left Rachel stunned into silence, Chandler watching and Ross looking hopeful as she went into her bedroom to respond to the call. "Hullo?" she muttered, pushing back the hair which had fallen in front of her face.


"Monica? It's Joey. Phoebe's in hopsital. I've been trying to get you guys for ages. Her waters broke earlier and she's comfortable, but she kinda wants us all with her. Can you get the others to come?" Joey asked, putting a little more money into the phone box, realising he was running out.


"Oh my god," Monica murmured. "Yes, Joey, everyone's here. We'll be there as soon as possible," she said, and put the phone down. She went back into the main room, and found the scene almost exactly as she had left it.


"Guys," she said cautiously, not wanting to ruin the moment but knowing that Phoebe needed them. "Pheebs is in hospital. We need to get to there now, really."


Rachel was the first to respond to Monica's "order." She turned to look at Monica. "Really?" she asked. "Let's go then... Ross, I... I have to think about it, ok? But right now, we have to get to Phoebe."


Ross nodded, understanding. At least Rachel hadn't said no, as he had suspected she might do. He knew his proposal would shock her. At least she hadn't turned him down. He got up from the floor and took Rachel's arm as she put her coat on. They left the building to try and find a cab, leaving Monica and Chandler in the apartment together, as Monica searched frantically for her shoes.


"Chandler... what are the chances... the one time I desperately need to find something and I can't find it!" she complained loudly. Chandler grinned. She was right. She was the one who normally knew where everything was, yet in this instance, no matter where she looked, she couldn't find her shoes. She eventually settled for an old pair of trainers.


"I look such an idiot," she said, looking down at herself mournfully. "But it's Phoebe who everyone's gonne be watching, not me, so for once I don't care what I look like." She looked up at Chandler. "Shall we try and find another cab?" she asked.


"Wait a minute, Mon," Chandler said, grabbing her arm. "We need to talk."


Monica breathed in sharply. "What? What's wrong? Aren't you happy? Do you want to finish what we..."


"Hey hey, calm down," Chandler said. "Nothing like that. It's... it's something good, hopefully," he tried to explain.


"Well, if it's not bad news, can we talk later? We've kinda got a crisis going on here," Monica said.


"Mon, it's not a crisis, Phoebe's giving birth. A lot of women do that, you know," Chandler said. "It will only take a few seconds, I think."


"OK, ok, but make it quick," Monica said hurriedly, sitting down awkwardly on a chair. "I don't want to miss this, you know."


Chandler nodded, and sat beside her, taking her hand in his. "Monica, I've never felt this way about anyone before," he said honestly. "You make me laugh, smile, and I can't stop thinking about you. You're the best person in the world... my best friend. I can tell you anything."


Monica nodded, unable to stop herself from smiling. "That's really sweet Chandler," she said. "But, we've really got to get-"


"I love you," Chandler blurted out, unable to keep it in much longer. "Monica, I love you, and I don't care whether you don't feel it back, but I had to tell you. I love you so much. I'm in love with you. I've never felt this way before."


Monica stared at him, stunned, and Chandler was afraid that he'd said the wrong thing. She wasn't moving. She just kept staring at him, staring into his eyes. But then a smile crept over her face, and she stood up, pulling him up too.


"You, you what?" she asked, amazed. Had she really heard correctly? Chandler Bing, the one who hated commitment, saying he loved her... without her saying it first?


He put one arm round her waist and pushed another stray bit of hair from her eyes. "I love you Monica," he practically whispered.


"I love you too, Chandler," she said, with certainty in her voice. As they moved in to kiss, neither of them could believe how lucky they were, to finally have found each other.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


"Where WERE you?" Joey yelled as soon as Monica and Chandler came into the waiting room. "The others got here a half hour ago. They said you were right behind them. What..." he stopped, and a huge grin spread over his face. "What's going on?"he asked, pointing at Chandler. "Are you two..."


They were interrupted by Ross' entrance into the room. "Where the hell were you guys?" Ross asked, annoyed. "You were right behind us, when we left, then... you disappeared!"


"I bet you did," Joey said. Monica motioned at him, not wanting to create an argument between Ross and Chandler, but Ross had picked up on what Joey had implied.


"Wait a..." Ross paused, surveying the scene. Chandler-arm round Monica. Monica-leaning against Chandler. Chandler-lipstick on cheek. Monica-wearing faded lipstick. He glared at Chandler. "You son of a-"


"Hey!" Rachel said, entering the room. "Finally, you guys made it! Guess you're lucky Phoebe's not..." she stopped, watching Ross, who was glaring at Chandler. "Have I... what have I missed?" she asked Joey hesitantly.


"Well, I think that Ross is a bit mad because he's just found out that Monica and Chandler have been sleeping together," Joey said accurately. "Hey, is Monica the one you were with in London?" he asked eagerly.


"LONDON?" Ross yelled, but in an undertone. It still came out as angry, but despite how mad he was, he didn't want to cause a scene in a hospital.


"Uh...oh," Joey said. "Hey, look at this vending machine over here!"


"London?" Ross repeated. "Is that when it started? When I was supposed to be getting married, you were "shacked up" with my sister? My little sister? You're supposed to be my best friend!"


"Ross," Rachel said warningly. "Don't get het up. Remember, I'm still making a decision about us-"


Ross ignored Rachel and carried on. "My best friend seduces my sister, behind my back? How could you do this?"


"Ross, we're in love!" Monica said desperately. "I love Chandler."


"And I love Monica," Chandler said defiantly. "We love each other Ross. I'm so lucky. I have two best friends. You... and Monica."


Ross was stunned. He never would have thought that the two of them were actually in love. That changed everything.


"You're in love?" he repeated, trying to understand how this could possibly happen. "But... you're Chandler. You don't fall in love..."


Chandler was a little hurt by that statement. He had thought he loved Janice at the time that he dated her, and he had told Ross. "I do. I have done," he said, trying not to show his annoyance. "Ross, please be happy for us. It would mean the world to us."


Ross looked from Monica to Chandler. "I... I guess," he said. The more he thought about it, the more he almost liked the idea. Chandler was a good guy. Monica couldn't do much better. "I guess it's... kinda sweet," he admitted grudgingly.


Monica breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," she said, hugging Ross. "I'm so glad you're not mad, Ross. I love you." She kissed him on the cheek, and Ross grinned.


"Ahh, happy families," Joey said, returning to the group. "See, I kinda helped you, didn't I? Bringing it out in the open like I did." He grinned at Chandler and Monica, and they had to agree, in a way, he had helped them.


"Yeah, thanks man, this is exactly where we wanted to break it to them," Chandler joked. "Hey, how's Phoebe?"


Frank and Alice entered the room at that point, and Alice had tears running down her face. "Are we too late? Have we missed the birth?" Frank asked.


"No," Joey said, reassuring them. "Phoebe's not dilated enough yet, I don't think. Last time I checked it was 7 centimetres."


Monica looked impressed. "You seem to know what you're talking about, Joe," she said. "Can we go in and see her?"


Joey shrugged. "I guess so. Why don't we go in together?" he asked, looking to Ross and Rachel.


"Erm, we'll be in in a minute," Rachel said, and grabbed Ross' arm. "We need to talk."


Ross looked at Rachel. She didn't look upset, or angry, or worried. In fact, he couldn't tell from her face what her response was going to be, but he was guessing that she'd decided. Why else would she want to talk to him?


Joey, Monica and Chandler left the room with Frank and Alice to go and see Phoebe, and Ross sat down with Rachel in a corner of the room. "So," he said, as they sat and stared at each other. "What do you want to say?"


Rachel looked at him, and Ross immediately saw sadness in her eyes. He was worried, but prepared himself for the worst, and took her hand. She didn't mind, and she opened her mouth to speak, but wasn't sure exactly what to say.


"Look," Ross said, breaking the silence. "I understand if you're not ready. I just... I want you to know that I meant it. I love you so much. I want to marry you. I want to have children with you. But if you're not ready, or if you don't want that, it really doesn't matter. I-"


"Ross, shut up just for one minute," she interrupted him suddenly, and before Ross knew what was happening, their lips were pressed together and they were kissing, passionately, with feeling. They stopped and Ross stared at her, not knowing what it meant.


"Ross, I love you too," she said softly. "I want nothing more than to be with you, to share the rest of my life with you. But doesn't marriage seem a little... rushed?"


Ross smiled. "If you don't want to get married right now, we don't have to," he replied, stroking her hand gently. "I just wanted to prove to you how much I love you, by showing you that I am ready to marry you. The ultimate commitment. And I won't let any past girlfriends come and ruin the day either," he said jokingly. Rachel laughed, and pulled him in for another kiss, lasting longer than the other.


"Then I accept," she said slowly, gazing up at him.


Ross looked at her. "You... you what?" he said, amazed.


"Yes Ross, I will marry you," she said, smiling. "It feels right, somehow. I mean, the others might think we're rushing into it, but I've loved you for so many years now. It's just-"


They were interrupted by Joey, poking his head round the door. "Phoebe's ready. She's going to give birth any minute now," he said, and disappeared again. Ross and Rachel jumped up, ready to welcome the new babies into the world.


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There you go, a happy ending! I haven't quite finished it though, and I'll try and make it a little more interesting... maybe a "Five Years Later" type thing at the end too. Anyway, this is the main bulk of the story over, although, as I said, it's not quite finished. I hope you've enjoyed it so far. Lilian xXx