Part 2
Emily screamed again this time clutching at her pregnant belly. Oh my God, Ross thought, alarmed, what's going on now? A small panicked voice piped from the corridor.
Mummy!' Although she was clearly in pain, Emily looked at Ross and was able to order,
Hide!' The only place was under the bed.
From under the bed he saw tiny feet run in.
Mummy mummy!' He saw Emily drop to her knees to embrace the child who seemed to be a little older than Emma. He heard Emily breathe in steadily, as if beating down the pain.
It's all right Ju ju, Mummy's here. Mummy just had a horrible nightmare.' Oh thanks, Ross thought from under the bed. He wasn't enjoying it either.
I don't like nightmares.'
Me neither sweetie. I'd better get you back into bed.'
Pick me up,' said the child.
Oh Ju ju,' Emily said, groaning and struggling up from the floor with her child.
After they had left the room, Ross emerged from under the bed. What would he do if her husband came back? How would he explain this to Rachel? She would never believe this – but the whole thing was totally incredible if not downright impossible. This had to be some kind of a dream. Why he'd have a dream like this was anyone's guess but who knew about dreams? Phoebe might, he'd ask her when he woke up
Emily returned.
She's asleep,' she said. We'd better talk – downstairs.' He had no arguments with the change of venue and he followed Emily downstairs into a sitting room. She closed the door and turned on him.
What have you done with my husband?'
I haven't done anything with your husband,' Ross said.
I went to bed with him and I woke up with you so you must have some idea,' Emily accused.
Well I just went to bed in New York and woke up in London,' Ross retorted, And I didn't buy and airline ticket so don't ask me.'
I do ask you! This is obviously your fault,' she snapped.
It is not my fault, do you think I wanted to end up here?'
I really couldn't say what you wanted Ross. You didn't seem so sure of that when I knew you,' Emily said, tartly.
Oh thanks, we've got an impossible situation here and you're bringing up the past.'
Where you belong!' What are you doing here? Have you decided you haven't messed up my life enough?' Anyone would think she was the one with the problem, Ross thought, he was the one who was in another country. But pregnant women were too hard to argue with. 'Do you want to finish the job just when things are going so well for me?' Emily demanded and then stifled a cry as another contraction started. This baby isn't due for another three weeks,' she said glaring at Ross. Another thing that's your fault,' implying the shock of seeing him had brought it on.
It might be Braxton Hicks contractions,' Ross said, nervous at the prospect of a labouring woman that he just knew he'd end up being responsible for if anything happened.
What do you know about Braxton Hicks?'
Well, I – er.'
Oh let me guess, you've had a baby with Rachel,' Emily said.
Well yes, but it wasn't what you were thinking,' Ross said hotly. There was no way he was letting her think that she was justified in believing that he'd had feelings for Rachel at the time their marriage. Although he didn't want to explore that in detail now.
I wasn't thinking anything. I certainly wasn't surprised.'
Well this isn't getting us anywhere,' Ross said. What the hell were they going to do? He could – but he couldn't anything. He had no wallet, credit card, passport. He didn't even have any clothes, just what he went to bed in.
Why don't you find out what's happening in New York?' Emily suggested.
Well if you're missing from there, maybe Geoff's there. I admit it's a crazy thought but so is this whole situation.' He stared at her. Well go on, ring and find out. I need to know where Geoff is, especially if this is labour.' He needed to find out too. If there had been a switch, that meant Geoff was in bed with Rachel. And looking at Emily's horrified face, he realised that she'd just worked it out too.