Several hours later, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, and Mike left for the wake. Ross and Rachel rode together in a cab while the other three took the taxi behind the one they had hailed. Monica and Chandler were to meet them there.

Throughout the short trip, Ross was silent. Rachel reached over and took his had, holding it the rest of the excursion. When both cabs finally stopped in front of the funeral home, Ross got out with Rachel, who had paid the driver, right behind him. He immediately saw his sister and apparent brother-in-law standing by the entrance.

Monica also saw them and met them halfway, immediately drawing her brother into a hug. The siblings stood in the middle of the parking lot, holding each other, with their friends surrounding them. Rachel and Chandler each stood behind their rightful lover for supplementary support.

Finally, Ross and Monica broke their hug. Ross turned around and took Rachel's hand. She squeezed it in reassurance and together, in silence, all seven of them walked in through the entrance of the funeral home.

Once he had crossed the threshold, Ross felt more panicky and unnerved than he ever had in his life. But Rachel's supportive hand and the willpower within him motivated him to continue. Almost at first glance, he saw Carol, whose arm was in a sling from the accident that killed her son and left her alive. She saw him as well, and came over.

"Ross," she almost inaudibly whispered, and also hugged him. She appeared composed, which even now wasn't a shocker to Ross. From the time he had first met her in college, Carol had been exceedingly strong internally. He was no such complement, at least not at the moment. They broke the hug and looked at each other with mutual suffering and awareness.

"Have you seen him yet?" Ross asked, trying hard to not let his voice crack but no such avail. He felt Rachel's hand leave his and her arm slide around his waist.

"Yes. It was so hard. Are you going to be okay?" she asked, placing a hand on the side of his arm.

Ross wanted to scream "What do you think?!", but he was able to tell that this was her way of trying to cover up her own hurt, by making it obscure. Instead, he placed his hand on hers. "I'll be fine, Carol," he replied and smiled at her with false reassurance. Then he walked, with Rachel by his side, into the main area where his son had been laid. At first sight of Ben lying ever-so still in the casket nearly froze his mind and body movements. As they got a little closer, Ross couldn't look at the waxen shell that once contained his son's lively spirit. He felt his stomach heave, and pulled free of Rachel to run into the hallway for the bathroom.

"Honey!" he heard Rachel call, but he didn't stop, even though he knew she was after him. He made it through the restroom door, into one of the stalls, and bent over the toilet bowl, unable to get rid of the appalling image of Ben's corpse or the stifling scent that poorly concealed the essence of death in the place.

He heard the door swing open, and was immediately sure that it was Rachel.

"Ross, honey, it's me. Where are you?" Rachel was able to find the answer her self by following the gagging sounds coming from inside the stall. She let her self in and knelt beside Ross, enclosing his shaking form in her arms. When he managed to finally stop retching, he was panting and bathed in sweat. He leaned against Rachel until he was able to breathe sufficiently again.

"Are you okay?" she asked in concern, brushing sweat off of his face with her fingertips. He didn't answer, but managed to stand up with her help. They navigated their way over to the sink, where Ross splashed cold water on his face to get rid of the residual beads of sweat. He felt Rachel place a cool, damp paper towel on his neck and also her hand massage his back.

"Sweetie, you don't have to do this." She whispered soothingly.

"Yes, yes I do, Rachel," he asserted. "As hard as it is, I will never be able to live with myself in the future if I can't even say goodbye to my dead son…who I'm never going to see again…what kind of father am I…" he trailed off, his voice cracking, but he stifled any tears.

Rachel pulled him down beside her and held him against her. He rested his head on her, taking deep cleansing breaths once again.

"Ross, honey, this would be hard for anyone, especially a parent. The fact that you're scared proves even more what a compassionate person, let alone father you are. Don't criticize yourself because this is so difficult, sweetie. I couldn't live with myself if I let you think that, because it is absolutely not true," Rachel said resolutely, and kissed his temple gently.

A few minutes later, Ross said determinedly "I can do this." Rachel smiled and slowly pulled him off the floor with her hands. They made there way back into the hallway, where Phoebe and Joey were waiting, looking concerned.

"Is everything okay?" Joey asked. "We saw you both run in there."

"Yeah, yeah," Ross responded quickly. "I just felt sick. But I'm fine now."

"Ross, it's going to be okay," Phoebe reassured, taking his hand that Rachel wasn't holding. "We're all here for you. Don't ever think you're alone."

Ross smiled slightly. "Thanks, Pheebs. That means a lot." He took a deep breath and stared into the room labeled WILLICK. With Rachel and his friends right beside him he slowly made his way in and toward the small casket. When they got there, all were silent and entranced as they gazed solemnly upon the little boy who looked so peaceful he might as well be sleeping. All bruises and evidence of the horrible accident that had caused this were gone.

Ross began speaking. "Hey, Ben. I just want you to know that I'll always miss you and never forget you. There will be a huge void in me for the rest of my life. I know that Emma, your little sister, would have loved you and looked up to you greatly. Now all she'll have is the memories I tell her of. I love you, son, and not a day will go by that I won't think of or miss you." There he stopped unable to say anymore. Rachel squeezed him and whispered "You did great, sweetie." Behind them, Phoebe and Joey's eyes filled with tears.

Rachel took it upon herself to speak as well, for Ross' sake and also because it felt right. "Hey there, Ben. I just want to tell you don't worry about your Daddy or your sister, your aunt Rachel will take care of both of them. I'll always remember what a precious, special child you were, always full of life. I'll never forget the day you said your first word when I was holding you, or that other wacky day when I taught you those practical jokes. Goodbye, sweetie, none of us will ever forget you." Rachel swallowed past a lump in her throat, and next to her Ross was silently sobbing. She led him away to sit on a cushioned bench. She reached into her pocket for some tissues and handed them to him, which he wiped his face with.

Some time later near the end of the wake, after having spoken to Ross' parents, Susan, and Monica and Chandler again, Ross and Rachel decided to leave. It was dark outside when they summoned the cab to take them home.

They were inside and moving when Rachel said to Ross "You look so tired, honey." Ross didn't bother to stifle a yawn and nodded. She slid an arm around him and coaxed his head against her shoulder. He closed his eyes and stayed in that position for the whole ride home.

Ross felt himself drifting off when Rachel whispered audibly enough "We're back, sweetie." He lifted himself off of her and got out behind her. They walked hand in hand up the steps to his building and down the hallway to the apartment.

They silently entered and took off their coats. Ross sat on the couch with Rachel immediately following suit. She took his hand in both of hers.

"You did it, honey. I know that wasn't easy, and you made it."

Ross started to cry. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he apologized, but seemed unable to stop.

"Hey, sweetheart, it's okay, don't be," she said comfortingly, hugging him to her. "You're exhausted, and you need some rest. Come on, let's get you into bed." She slowly helped him off the couch and led him into his bedroom. There, she got him under the covers and stood over him, still holding his hand.

"Do you want me to stay with you?"

"Of course I do," he responded gratefully, sounding less upset. "I need you."

Rachel willingly complied, and pulled him on her so his head rested underneath her chin. She soothingly massaged his tense back, arms, and shoulders, which prompted relaxed sighs to escape him.

"I love you," he whispered before drifting off completely in her arms.

Rachel kissed him on his forehead. "And I love you, sweetie. I'll always be here," she added, even though he was already asleep.