Part 3

Emma's 'emergency' call changed their plans for the day. Ross was in sweats, and the vain guy that he was, he refused to leave the house.

"I want pizza!" Mattie exclaimed as soon as he heard his father's decision to stay in.

"Daddy, I want burrito!" Emma objected, "We just had pizza the other night!"

Rachel knew it was going to be another 'war' between her children; she had to think of a solution fast. "Okay, why don't I just cook?"

Ross shot her a look and laughed, soon joined by the kids. Rachel rolled her eyes and plopped down the couch, "Fine Ross, you decide."

"I'm sorry honey, your dishes just aren't what I call sumptuous!" Silence filled the room, which caused Ross to wonder, "What?"

Emma smiled at her father, "you called mommy 'honey!'"

11 years ago...

"Mon, 3 teaspoons of salt and a cup of water?" Rachel asked her best friend on the phone. After dumping the ingredients, she tasted the steaming chicken in the pot. "Monica, are you sure it's supposed to be a bit salty? It so doesn't taste like yours!" She arched her brow and tasted it once again. "No I don't want Greg's help. I can do this on my own!"

A few minutes later, Ross entered the messy kitchen. He spotted Rachel near the stove surrounded with vegetable peels, holding a phone.

"Mon, I gotta go. Ross is here." She turned off the phone and smiled at Ross who was approaching her direction. "Hi honey."

Ross looked around and gave her a peck on the lips, "Hi. What are you doing?"

"Cooking?" she replied, holding a spatula. "It's supposed to be a surprise but I didn't know you'd be home early!"

"Wow, for me?"

"No Ross, for the dogs. Of course it's for you!"

Ross smiled and asked, "Where's Greg?"

"Somewhere. I don't want his help. I can do this on my own."

"What are you cooking anyway?" "Singaporean chicken... Remember when we had dinner at Monica's restaurant and you ordered this really yummy chicken? That's what I'm cooking for you."

"You amaze me." Ross said and leaned in for a kiss. All of a sudden, the covered pot overflowed with water. "Rach- the pot!" he said, immediately breaking the kiss.

"Oh god! Ross, get out of the kitchen first. I'll just have them call you ok?"


Rachel intently watched Ross' reaction as he had his first bite of the chicken. "Well?" Rachel worriedly asked her husband.

Ross forced a smile and replied, "it's different... very...unique!"

Rachel frowned, "does it taste bad? Did you not like it?"

"No, no, no... It's..."

Rachel stood up and pouted, "What's wrong with it? Greg said it was good."

"Did you taste it?" Ross asked.

"No, cause Greg said it was good, and he's a chef so I trusted him on that!"

"Honey, I think you should taste it first." Ross offered and cut off a piece of the chicken.

Rachel accepted Ross' offer and tasted the chicken. She puckered her brow and swallowed. "Okay, that was bad."

Ross pulled Rachel and made her sit on his lap, "Honey it's okay, we can just go and eat somewhere- or have Greg cook us a meal."

She frowned, "I was supposed to cook for you, I'm sorry!" and began to cry.

"Rach, it's fine!" he said, consoling her.

"But Greg said it was delicious so I-"

"Rach, Greg would compliment anything you cook- even if it's a rat- fearing that you'll fire him if he doesn't!"

"Do you still love me even if I can't cook?" she looked at him with tears forming in her eyes.

Ross couldn't help but laugh, "Honey, that's the silliest question I've ever heard from you! Of course I do."

Rachel smiled and looked at the already-leftover-chicken, "Now this really is for the dogs!"

"How about we just cook for ourselves? You can cook the food you want!"

"I want pizza!" Mattie exclaimed.

"Mom, I think Mattie should stop hanging out with Uncle Joey. He's starting to be like him!" Justin suggested.

Rachel laughed, remembering her friend's obsession with pizza. "Where is he by the way?" Rachel asked Ross.

"He left for New York a couple of weeks ago, he said he had a play to star in. But I think he'll be coming back soon."

Joey was originally Rachel's good friend. They used to star in the same soap opera back when they were still starting show business. Ross used to be insanely jealous with him back when they were dating because he knew Joey had a 'thing' for Rachel, and that drove Rachel nuts. But after constantly womanizing and maintaining a completely platonic relationship with Rachel, Ross felt as if he was crazy to be jealous of him. He soon became one of Ross' best friends and the last addition to their group- Ross and Rachel, Monica and Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe. Chandler was Ross' best friend in college. Instead of getting into show business, he pursued advertising. And Phoebe, their hippie friend, whom they met through Monica; they used to be roommates in college. What surprised them all is that, in spite of her craziness as a person, she ended up being a lawyer- and a well-paid lawyer one must say.

What supposed to be a family lunch turned out to be a whole day affair... from cooking their own food, watching videos, to ordering in dinner and tucking the kids to bed. Luckily, Ross still had some old clothes in the spare room.

"I miss this..." Ross said, watching Emma slowly drift to sleep. He exited Emma's room together with Rachel, and proceeded to the sitting room. The household was now quiet, and Ross and Rachel were left alone.

"Ross-"

"Shhh.." Ross cut her and intently looked at her. He slowly leaned to her and softly kissed her on the lips. Slowly, Rachel opened her eyes after. She saw him looking at her, she saw the man she married, the man she fell in love with, the man who gave her the reason to breathe... and not the man who broke her heart and made her want to die.

Ross whispered, "Rach, you're the only woman I'll love. Just think about everything, ok? I'll wait. I'll be patient. I've been waiting since what seems like forever, and I'm willing to wait another lifetime for your decision."

Rachel weakly smiled at him, he always had a way with words. "I just- I don't want to get hurt anymore, Ross. It's not that simple."

Ross looked down and said, "I know."

She knew he was sincere, but things aren't that simple. With a few parting words, they concluded the night with a warm hug.

The name 'Ross Geller' never escaped Rachel's mind, not even for a day. He was always in her mind and heart, although his nearness for the past few months brought memories back. His presence once again filled her sense of completeness, and she knew why she was feeling that way... but had no courage to face it. Not now... not yet...

Ross closed his eyes. Guilt rushed over his thoughts after his earlier conversation with Rachel. He remembered her tear-strained face, her pale lips, and her blotched eyes... All these brought him back to the reason why Justin makes up stories for him to stay in their house, why Mattie keeps asking questions, why Emma yearns for attention, why Rachel fears to love again, and why he remains miserable and unhappy... why their family seems to be incomplete.

2 years ago...

Rachel ran her fingers through her hair. It was another stressful day for her, and to make it worse, she read tabloids that seemed so unbelievable. 'Ross Geller- Shacked Up With Co-Star In Hawaii,' 'Hottie Rossy and co-star Jenny, more than friends' 'AWARD WINNING ACTOR, ROSS GELLER, IS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH CO-STAR-----,' all written in red and black bold letters on the tabloids' front pages.

Her mind wandered in bewilderment... Could this be true? Did her husband for 10 years cheat on her? Or was this whole issue just another plot to sabotage their relationship? She had questions... but no answers.

'With you I feel completeness. With you I feel love. With you I feel the reason to live and go on with my life. I love you Rach, you've made me the happiest man in the world... and I want you to make you the happiest woman in the world too. Will you marry me?' Rachel closed her eyes as she remembered Ross' proposal two tears after they started dating. She felt his sincerity that day. She felt his readiness for a lifetime commitment. Could he have cheated on her?

For almost two years, her relationship with her husband slowly drifting apart. He began filming in Hawaii, and she had other projects to do.

'Rach, I love it when you're jealous! I'm just kidding. Sweetie, I'd give my life for you so don't ever wonder if I will cheat on you... cause losing you would be the last thing I'd want to happen!' these words said by Ross before he left for Hawaii echoed through her head.

She knew their busy schedules would affect their marriage yet they'll have time to patch things up... like before... but the thought of Ross cheating on her sent shivers down her spine.

'I promise to love you, take care of you, and remain faithful to you until the day I die. You're my soulmate...' his marriage vow, his words of wisdom, his constant professing of love, his touch, his voice, his smell, his presence, his eyes...

Rachel couldn't stop thinking and wandering... She knew she had one thing to do: She had to go to Hawaii.

Ross' stomach churned the minute he saw Rachel approaching his direction. 'What is she doing here?' he nervously thought to himself. He saw her pale, exhausted face sadly smiling at him. His filming was about to finish in weeks' time, and Rachel knew that... but why was she there? Why didn't she at least call?

He met his wife half way to the cottage. "Rach, what are you- what are you doing here?" he asked.

Rachel wordlessly observed and sensed his nervousness. She slowly caressed his unshaven face. "I wanted to see you," she replied.

"Is everything all right? Are the kids okay?"

She simply smiled and nodded.

The sadness in Rachel's eyes made him worry. His heart was beating fast as he welcomed her to his 'home.' "I missed you," he said, kissing her forehead.

She knew he was uncomfortable, but she feared the reason why. She looked up at him. That face- those pair of brown eyes made her heart melt, those sweet red lips made her mornings delightful... She couldn't stand it anymore. "Ross, you know why I'm here. Is it true?" she blatantly asked him.

He saw her cold stare. The sparkles in her ocean blue eyes were no longer there.

Silence filled every corner of the living room.

"Rach-" he slowly began.

"I want the truth," she frigidly remarked.

The tension of the room worsened as the bedroom door flung wide open.

Rachel looked... she knew she had to leave. "How could you?" she whispered.