True Love Really Doesn't Run Smoothly
Part 3: Lilies
Author's Note: I know I said this was ready, but it wasn't. I'm a little put off by the comfirmation of the Joey spinoff, which leaves little hope for us Joey and Rachel fans, but I will continue this fanfic to the end. This will become the only place for J&R fans to be happy and I will continue to please, as long as you like this chapter. So, I need you to review it. The song is Forever And For Always by Shania Twain, I thought it fitted really well.
**********
Joey stood, as Rachel's lips carressed his, silently thinking.
Well, not exactly thinking. He felt more like he was trying to glue his head back together.
He couldn't understand anything right now. How was it possible for Rachel to want him? Joey, the womanising, stupid, childish one. He knew that was what people thought of him, even his friends made it no secret sometimes. He didn't like those labels, but he knew they were true. So what did Rachel see in him?
That baby had come from a mistake. He'd always liked Rachel: she was pretty, sexy and confident, and when he finally settled down, that was what he wanted in his woman. But Rachel?
He thought of all the complications. First, there was Ross to think about. Joey knew they were over years ago, but, like eveyone else, Joey had always thought they would eventually work it out. Was Joey a complication to them, or was Ross a complication to him and Rachel? Was Rachel meant to be with him or Ross?
He didn't know. But what he did know was that if he turned her down now, there would be no problem. But then there would be no him and Rachel.
And, he realised suddenly, he kind of liked the idea of him and Rachel.
So he started to kiss her back.
**********
She started to take off his shirt.
He stopped kissing her almost as suddenly as he'd started.
"No," he said.
She stared at him in bewilderment. "What?"
"We can't do it like this." At her blank look, he continued. "I don't want us to start in a hotel room. I want our first time to be special, to be romantic, y'know?"
She nodded slowly, still looking rather blank. Joey Tribbiani, refusing a woman what he usually took so readily?
He saw her blank expression. "I know I don't sound like me, but you're way too special to treat like those other girls. I - I really like you, Rachel, and if this is going to last, which it should, then I want to do things properly."
She smiled, and that told him all he needed to know.
**********
Rachel was asleep. Her hair lay on the pillow, glittering, as she smiled in her sleep.
Sunlight was beginning to shine in through the window. A warm breeze blew in, fluttering Rachel's hair and making her stir.
She looked up at Joey. "Hey," she said softly.
"Hi," he replied, smiling.
She moved her head so that it rested on his chest. He twirled strands of her hair around his finger. They hadn't actually done anything last night, just fallen asleep next to each other. They still wore the clothes they had worn at the reception.
They looked at each other for a minute, smiling, taking each other in.
Joey sighed.
"What is it?" Rachel asked in concern.
He looked at her. "It's just, y'know - how do we tell everyone? Does anyone else know you're pregnant?"
Rachel lifted her head, sat up, and kissed him lightly on the mouth before replying. "Monica, Phoebe and Ross know, but I didn't tell them who the father is. And - and I know you're gonna hate this - I think we should keep us a secret for now."
Joey frowned.
"Please, Joey. I know you hate secrets, but it's better this way. Just for now. I mean, do you really want everyone watching us all the time?"
"I guess not....... Okay then," he said. "I'll go get changed, and I'll see you at breakfast."
"Wait," said Rachel, and she pulled him close for a deep kiss.
When she let him go, he smiled. "How you doin'?"
She giggled.
**********
The next evening, Joey was back at home. The television was on, but he wasn't watching it. He was waiting.
Waiting for Rachel.
They hadn't been alone together since the morning at the hotel. Last night Phoebe had come over to watch a movie, and she had fallen asleep on the couch. Not wanting to disturb her, they had decided they could wait a night.
But now he was alone. And she was coming.
As he'd promised, he'd done as much as he could to make the evening special. Candles flickered all over the apartment, illuminating the many white lilies in various vases. In place of the foosball table, he had borrowed a table from across the hall (they were on their honeymoon), and on it lay two plates of fresh spaghetti.
Joey had never had this before. He had someone he really cared about, and who cared about him, to spoil. And that was exactly what he was going to do.
Suddenly, Rachel walked in. She had a smile of anticipation on her face, but she gasped when she saw the apartment.
"Oh!" she said. "It's beautiful!"
Joey moved towards her. She looked at him, eyes brimming with tears of happiness.
"May I take your coat?" asked Joey politely.
Rachel, instead of giving him her coat, kissed him deeply on the mouth. His eyes closed in pleasure.
"Is that a yes?" he said, after they finally broke apart.
She laughed, took off her coat and handed it to him. He put it on a hook by the door, then took Rachel by the hand and led her to the dinner table.
She sat down, while he put on some music.
She smiled at the effort he'd put in. "Oh Joey, everything's so perfect!" she exclaimed.
"Well, you're perfect," he said, brushing her hair gently back and kissing her.
They stared unblinkingly into each others eyes. They both saw deeper than they had ever before.
Joey saw passion, excitement, caring and, once again, that one thing he couldn't place. Whatever it was, it made her eyes sparkle bewitchingly.
Rachel saw caring, dedication, romance, and something she didn't expect. She saw a longing for commitment. Had it always been there, or had she put it there?
***********
In your arms I can still feel the way you
Want me when you hold me
I can still hear the words you whispered
When you told me
I can stay right here forever in your arms
And there ain't no way -
I'm letting you go now -
And there ain't no way -
And there ain't no how
I'll never see that day.....
'Cause I'm keeping you
Forever and for always
We will be together for all our days
Wanna wake up every
Morning to your sweet face - always
Mmmm, baby
In your heart - I can still hear
A beat for every time you kiss me
And when we're apart,
I know how much you miss me
I can feel your love for me in your heart
**********
Phoebe paid the cab driver a little too much and he drove off.
She had intended to stay at her brother's, but they were redecorating and there was no place for her to sleep, so she'd left. Something told her she shouldn't be alone, and so she stumbled upstairs to Rachel and Joey's apartment.
She tried to open the door, but it was locked, so she took out her key.
It was dark inside. Flicking on the lights, she saw that the apartment was filled with burnt out candles and beautiful white lilies.
Joey, she thought. He could be incredibly romantic at times. Not wanting to disturb him and the girl he was with, she tiptoed to Rachel's room and opened the door.
Surprised, she saw that the room was empty. She went back out into the living room.
It was then that it clicked.
Lilies - they were Rachel's favourite flower.
Forgetting completely to be quiet, she ran to Joey's bedroom and burst the door open.
Rachel and Joey stopped mid-kiss and looked at her.
"Hi, Pheebs," they said in unison.
Phoebe frowned.
Part 3: Lilies
Author's Note: I know I said this was ready, but it wasn't. I'm a little put off by the comfirmation of the Joey spinoff, which leaves little hope for us Joey and Rachel fans, but I will continue this fanfic to the end. This will become the only place for J&R fans to be happy and I will continue to please, as long as you like this chapter. So, I need you to review it. The song is Forever And For Always by Shania Twain, I thought it fitted really well.
**********
Joey stood, as Rachel's lips carressed his, silently thinking.
Well, not exactly thinking. He felt more like he was trying to glue his head back together.
He couldn't understand anything right now. How was it possible for Rachel to want him? Joey, the womanising, stupid, childish one. He knew that was what people thought of him, even his friends made it no secret sometimes. He didn't like those labels, but he knew they were true. So what did Rachel see in him?
That baby had come from a mistake. He'd always liked Rachel: she was pretty, sexy and confident, and when he finally settled down, that was what he wanted in his woman. But Rachel?
He thought of all the complications. First, there was Ross to think about. Joey knew they were over years ago, but, like eveyone else, Joey had always thought they would eventually work it out. Was Joey a complication to them, or was Ross a complication to him and Rachel? Was Rachel meant to be with him or Ross?
He didn't know. But what he did know was that if he turned her down now, there would be no problem. But then there would be no him and Rachel.
And, he realised suddenly, he kind of liked the idea of him and Rachel.
So he started to kiss her back.
**********
She started to take off his shirt.
He stopped kissing her almost as suddenly as he'd started.
"No," he said.
She stared at him in bewilderment. "What?"
"We can't do it like this." At her blank look, he continued. "I don't want us to start in a hotel room. I want our first time to be special, to be romantic, y'know?"
She nodded slowly, still looking rather blank. Joey Tribbiani, refusing a woman what he usually took so readily?
He saw her blank expression. "I know I don't sound like me, but you're way too special to treat like those other girls. I - I really like you, Rachel, and if this is going to last, which it should, then I want to do things properly."
She smiled, and that told him all he needed to know.
**********
Rachel was asleep. Her hair lay on the pillow, glittering, as she smiled in her sleep.
Sunlight was beginning to shine in through the window. A warm breeze blew in, fluttering Rachel's hair and making her stir.
She looked up at Joey. "Hey," she said softly.
"Hi," he replied, smiling.
She moved her head so that it rested on his chest. He twirled strands of her hair around his finger. They hadn't actually done anything last night, just fallen asleep next to each other. They still wore the clothes they had worn at the reception.
They looked at each other for a minute, smiling, taking each other in.
Joey sighed.
"What is it?" Rachel asked in concern.
He looked at her. "It's just, y'know - how do we tell everyone? Does anyone else know you're pregnant?"
Rachel lifted her head, sat up, and kissed him lightly on the mouth before replying. "Monica, Phoebe and Ross know, but I didn't tell them who the father is. And - and I know you're gonna hate this - I think we should keep us a secret for now."
Joey frowned.
"Please, Joey. I know you hate secrets, but it's better this way. Just for now. I mean, do you really want everyone watching us all the time?"
"I guess not....... Okay then," he said. "I'll go get changed, and I'll see you at breakfast."
"Wait," said Rachel, and she pulled him close for a deep kiss.
When she let him go, he smiled. "How you doin'?"
She giggled.
**********
The next evening, Joey was back at home. The television was on, but he wasn't watching it. He was waiting.
Waiting for Rachel.
They hadn't been alone together since the morning at the hotel. Last night Phoebe had come over to watch a movie, and she had fallen asleep on the couch. Not wanting to disturb her, they had decided they could wait a night.
But now he was alone. And she was coming.
As he'd promised, he'd done as much as he could to make the evening special. Candles flickered all over the apartment, illuminating the many white lilies in various vases. In place of the foosball table, he had borrowed a table from across the hall (they were on their honeymoon), and on it lay two plates of fresh spaghetti.
Joey had never had this before. He had someone he really cared about, and who cared about him, to spoil. And that was exactly what he was going to do.
Suddenly, Rachel walked in. She had a smile of anticipation on her face, but she gasped when she saw the apartment.
"Oh!" she said. "It's beautiful!"
Joey moved towards her. She looked at him, eyes brimming with tears of happiness.
"May I take your coat?" asked Joey politely.
Rachel, instead of giving him her coat, kissed him deeply on the mouth. His eyes closed in pleasure.
"Is that a yes?" he said, after they finally broke apart.
She laughed, took off her coat and handed it to him. He put it on a hook by the door, then took Rachel by the hand and led her to the dinner table.
She sat down, while he put on some music.
She smiled at the effort he'd put in. "Oh Joey, everything's so perfect!" she exclaimed.
"Well, you're perfect," he said, brushing her hair gently back and kissing her.
They stared unblinkingly into each others eyes. They both saw deeper than they had ever before.
Joey saw passion, excitement, caring and, once again, that one thing he couldn't place. Whatever it was, it made her eyes sparkle bewitchingly.
Rachel saw caring, dedication, romance, and something she didn't expect. She saw a longing for commitment. Had it always been there, or had she put it there?
***********
In your arms I can still feel the way you
Want me when you hold me
I can still hear the words you whispered
When you told me
I can stay right here forever in your arms
And there ain't no way -
I'm letting you go now -
And there ain't no way -
And there ain't no how
I'll never see that day.....
'Cause I'm keeping you
Forever and for always
We will be together for all our days
Wanna wake up every
Morning to your sweet face - always
Mmmm, baby
In your heart - I can still hear
A beat for every time you kiss me
And when we're apart,
I know how much you miss me
I can feel your love for me in your heart
**********
Phoebe paid the cab driver a little too much and he drove off.
She had intended to stay at her brother's, but they were redecorating and there was no place for her to sleep, so she'd left. Something told her she shouldn't be alone, and so she stumbled upstairs to Rachel and Joey's apartment.
She tried to open the door, but it was locked, so she took out her key.
It was dark inside. Flicking on the lights, she saw that the apartment was filled with burnt out candles and beautiful white lilies.
Joey, she thought. He could be incredibly romantic at times. Not wanting to disturb him and the girl he was with, she tiptoed to Rachel's room and opened the door.
Surprised, she saw that the room was empty. She went back out into the living room.
It was then that it clicked.
Lilies - they were Rachel's favourite flower.
Forgetting completely to be quiet, she ran to Joey's bedroom and burst the door open.
Rachel and Joey stopped mid-kiss and looked at her.
"Hi, Pheebs," they said in unison.
Phoebe frowned.