by Tina
As the weight that had been carried off their backs was loaded back on, both Ross and Rachel were rethinking the previous night. Rachel was in the shower, after coming home from jogging. Ross was in Mike's room, waiting a little longer before he could wake his son up. He'd promised him he would take him to spend the whole morning at the museum. And now, all he could do was stare at him and wonder how the previous night could affect his young life.
Rachel let the water wash away her sweat and thoughtlessness. However, the way the water ran down her body, through the valley between her breats and down her slender legs, she couldn't help but only be reminded of the feeling Ross had stirred on her again. Besides, he made her not only a woman, but also a happy woman, a complete woman.
She ran a hand over her body and shivered.
Oh, Dr. Geller...
Exits irrational.
Enters confused.
Okay, so maybe they had done it on an impulse. If she wasn't so jealous, it could have never happened. But did that take away the importance of it? The meaning? After all, it did mean a lot. You don't jump in bed with someone for pure fun and then spend hours just holding each other, savouring the feeling. If she didn't love him, she would be glad to leave after they were through. But no...
The way they looked at each other, kissed and touched. How she had to force herself to leave.
She didn't want to leave.
'Sure, you love him, big deal! What else is new?' she asked herself. 'Now, how is sleeping with him going to help? Are you willing to make things work out again?'
Well, maybe.
The past week in Rio de Janeiro showed her that living there was something she could get used to, if she finally gave it a chance. But she didn't want to blust that out to him just yet. And neither did she want to tell their kids and get them hopeful on something that could soon go wrong. So Rachel made up her mind. She still had practicly seven whole days untill she was supposed to leave, so she intended to make the best of it and finally decide her future.
After all, this was their family. They were worth another chance. A well thought decision, a compromise.
She would set her heart on making the next few days work. If they did, she could maybe stay for another week. And another. Then she could go back to settle things down, bring her things and... stay. She wouldn't mind. Even though Ross had told her that he wasn't happy in Brazil, how could she say she was happy in the US? And the kids... sure, they were good kids, they would settle anywhere. But there was something about the way Mike ran at the beach, that Ella hugged Ross in the cabe car that touched her.
Just something.
This time, it was her decision, she wouldn't be able to blame Ross. There was no pressure from his part.
This time, it was not about her. Forget the job, forget the friends she didn't even see those days anymore. She also had to think about Ross, Mike and Ella. It was their future too.
This time... not with the sole purpose to hurt Ross. Specially since she learned that by hurting him, she got herself hurt too. By getting distant to him, she also had him distant from her. It was a two way game and now it didn't seem worth being miserable to get him to feel the same. No, she wanted to be happy again. They both to be happy. And maybe there could be a way for it to happen simultaniously again.
Rachel smiled to herself.
Back in Mike's room, Ross still hadn't made the smallest movement to wake him up. He was just watching his son. It was so peaceful to watch him sleep. Ross couldn't help but wonder how amazing things would be if they were a "real" family again. It didn't matter where, really. But then, he shook it off. Sure, Rachel had been really caring and sweet that morning. But as far as he knew, that couldn't asure him anything. As much as he failed to repress his hope, he knew things could so easily change.
Still, no matter what, the previous night had been worth it.
Ross closed his eyes and recalled the look in her eyes. They were so welcoming, again. Her lips, so soft and yet powerful in his skin.
And her magic words...
"No matter what I've said or eventually say... I love you, Ross"
With a smile, he opened his eyes. He believed her. She loved him, she really did. After all this time, after all they'd gone through and time they'd been apart, she loved him. It was enough to keep him hopeful. Hopeful he could once again wake up everyday to find her next to him, while their son and daughter slept under that same roof.
And so, he allowed himself to daydream. Finally.
Mike was having breakfast with his father when Rachel entered with Ella on her arms. The little girl didn't look much healthier, but Ross suspected it was mostly the feeling of having her mommy taking care of her like that. She probably wasn't that much sick, but Rachel was babying her so much she ought to be taking some advantage off the situation.
Ross smiled to himself. With a nurse like that, he couldn't say he wouldn't do the same.
"Good morning"
Ross smiled brighter noticing her still so sweet eyes pointed directly at him.
"Good morning"
Rachel kissed the top of Mike's head and put Ella on a chair.
"Morning, mom" her son replied with a mouth full of toast.
Ross stroked Ella's hair.
"You feeling better, sweetie?"
Ella shook her head and rubbed her eyes. Rachel looked at Ross and he looked at her.
"I think we're gonna have to stay home again today"
"No, I wanna go out!!" Mike protested.
"Oh, no, sweetie, I meant your sister and me. You guys are going to the museum, right?"
"Right!"
Mike squeezed the rest of his toast into his mouth and hopped off his chair.
"C'mon, dad" he managed to say while crumbs flew out of his mouth much like his words.
Rachel shot him a look.
"Michael Geller Green"
Ross smiled. He loved hearing both their last names together.
"Sorry, mom" he repeated the mistake, having not yet swallowed. Realising that, he left the kitchen before he could hear more of it.
Ross finally stood up and looked at Rachel.
"We should be home for lunch"
"No" Ross looked at her confused. "I mean, take him out to the zoo or something, he doesn't like staying here" Ross looked down and Rachel realised. "In the house, I mean, not in here as in this city. He loves this city!" Rachel kicked herself for getting so talktive. Slow down, she told herself as she took a deep breath and continued. "He just wants to make the best of it, you know? He misses this. Come back later and we'll do something, all of us. I'm sure Ella will be better, she's just being crabby"
"Mommy!"
Rachel chuckled and kissed Ella's cheek.
"Yes, you're mommy's little crabby girl"
Ella reached for Rachel's chair and she picked her up. Ella simply rested her head on Rachel's chest and closed her eyes. Rachel stroked her hair and kissed it.
"See, you just want a little bit of this, huh?"
Ross smiled and without a warning, leaned closer and also kissed the top of Ella's head. Rachel raised her eyes to look at him.
"I'll see you guys later"
Rachel watched him leave.
"Where's this piece? There's one piece missing, dad!"
Mike looked around the floor for the last piece of the puzzle he was putting together. Looking over at Ella's side, he could see her trying to fit a much smaller piece into her own set.
"Ella, that's mine, give it"
"No, I want this one"
The little girl kept on trying to fit it anywhere she could.
"It's not gonna fit, it's not from yours! Here, look!" he pointed to the one gap in his practicly finished puzzle. "It's mine"
"No, but I want it in mine!"
Mike looked at his parents.
"Mo-om! Dad!"
Ross and Rachel looked at each other and then looked at Ella.
"Ella, c'mon, give it to your brother, it's his"
"But it's got a butterfly, mommy, I want the butterfly"
Rachel could sense Ella was ready to bed.
"Okay, then tomorrow you can try and make the one with the butterfly. Now, do you wanna go to bed?"
"No..."
"I know you're tired"
"I am not!"
Ella imediately gave Mike his piece back, as if making a point. Rachel and Ross chuckled.
"Thank you!" Mike replied, finally placing the last piece. "Ta-da, I'm done!"
"Nice!"
"Bravo!"
Mike smiled proudly at his parents before undoing his work and starting back again. Rachel sighed and looked at her watch. Noticing it, Ross smiled and looked at her. He too couldn't wait untill his kids were asleep so he and Rachel could talk. And, well, maybe something more.
"So, how was your day?"
"Nice..." her smile asured him exactly why it had been nice. "Yours?"
"Great"
"Got any plans for tomorrow?"
"You think Ella will be better?"
"Better enough to do something quiet"
"So that means I should cross bungy jumping from my list?"
Rachel chuckled.
"You know what I mean"
"I was thinking maybe we could just do something with the kids and at night..." Courage. "I could call a babysitter and we could..." he trailed off and she smiled.
"Okay"
"See, there's this bar, sort of, and there's gonna be a show and the museum got tickets, so..."
"That'd be great"
They smiled at each other.
"Ella, get off, give me that!!!"
Having settled it was bedtime for the two of them, it didn't take long untill both kids were tucked in. Exausted from sleep deprivation and a long day, Ross leaned against the hallway wall. But as Rachel came into view, closing the door to Ella's room, he felt as if his disposition was back.
"Sleeping like an angel", she whispered.
Ross smiled. Rachel came closer.
"Hm, any chance we can get into a fight again tonight?" she whispered as she softly pressed herself against him. He protectively wrapped his arms aroun her waist.
"I dropped my t-shirt on the bathroom floor, you know?"
"Oh, you naughty boy!"
Not much to say :) The next few chapters should be very fluffy like this. But stay tunned because we got more then just this. I just gotta balance the story before we take another step!
Hmmm.. reviews?? ;) And thanks Audrey for keeping me hostage! woo :D