Disclaimer: I don't own Friends.

A/N: Lovin' the reviews.

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Ross drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove himself, Rachel, and Emma back to their home from Dr. Green's house. He checked the rear-view mirror and saw that his daughter was sleeping peacefully in the backseat. She had woken after her nap, and had been extremely excited to see her grandfather. Ross hadn't exactly shared the same feeling.

He heard Rachel sigh loudly. "Seriously, why do you drive so slow?!" She asked in an annoyed tone that Ross knew wasn't exactly real, as they had just finished having this similar conversation.

"I'm just being careful!" Ross defended, playing along. "There's a young child in the backseat!"

His fiancée rolled her eyes. "You're going so slow you've put her to sleep."

They both knew that wasn't true, and that she was only bringing all this back up to get him to banter with her. He found he didn't quite mind doing it.

"Actually, it's 10 p.m. and she loves the motion of the car, so I think those are some other factors for her tired state." Ross shot her a smug look, knowing that even if they weren't actually arguing, he had still won this time.

"I still don't see why you bought a car now," Rachel said, and now Ross could tell she was just looking for a topic to mention.

Ross sighed, having explained this a few times before. Rachel never seemed to listen. "Because after we get married we're moving, and I'd like to get used to the car before that. And now it'll be easier to get to places out of the city, like Monica and Chandler's."

"Yeah, I guess," she agreed, defeated. After a short silence, she said, "So, this visit wasn't bad."

"Yes, your father only almost poked my eye out with a knife," Ross said mockingly. He shuddered at the thought of Dr. Green threatening him.

Rachel shook her head. "Well, you shouldn't have tried to give him tips on how to cut the tomato!"

"Let's just drop the subject, then."

"Fine."

Rachel let out another big sigh, and started humming. Ross shot her a look, and she stopped.

"We still have to tell my mother when she comes to visit for Emma's birthday next week," she said. "And we'll tell your parents while they're there. Oh, I still can't believe my dad has to miss it," Rachel finished, sounding disappointed.

"At least I can be assured that I won't be threatened with sharp utensils," Ross said quietly, but Rachel still heard him and groaned in disbelief.

XXX

Rachel watched as Ross adjusted the "Happy Birthday" sign they had gotten for Emma. When he was satisfied with the positioning, he sat back down on the floor beside his fiancée and daughter.

"That looks straight, right?" he asked, still staring at the banner.

"Oh, definitely," Rachel agreed. She then tilted her head. "Is it a little crooked on the left?"

"What?" Ross asked in disbelief. "I spent like, twenty minutes making sure it was perfect!"

He stood again and went back to the sign, and Rachel chuckled to herself. Ross was so easy to tease.

A knock at the door made her jump up to answer, as Ross was intently measuring the sign against the wall.

"Hey guys!" Rachel said as she opened the door to find Monica and Chandler with the twins. She hugged both of them. "Thanks for coming!"

"Rach, you know we wouldn't miss Emma's second birthday," Monica said as she pushed the stroller into the apartment.

"The birthday girl is awake this time, right?" Chandler asked in all seriousness.

Rachel glared. "Yes, she is."

Monica had spotted her. "There she is!" She placed their gift down on the table and sat on the floor with Emma, greeting Ross in the process. Chandler did the same as Phoebe and Mike entered.

"Hey!" Phoebe said.

"Pheebs!" Rachel looked at her middle. "Look at you, showin' a bit."

"It's a beautiful thing, isn't it?" Mike said, a smile spread across his face.

"Easy for you to say, you're not getting fat," Phoebe deadpanned, and the couple went to greet the others.

Rachel turned to watch her friends, easing the door shut behind her, not realizing she had just closed the door in her mother's face. The knock made her turn and open it again.

Sandra Green stood on the other side, hands on her hips. "Rachel dear, is closing your door in my face any way to treat your mother?"

Rachel smiled at her mother, having not seen her since the night she and Ross got engaged when she had picked up Emma. "I'm sorry, mom! There's a lot going on right now. It's great to see you."

The two hugged, and Sandra looked around. "You too, honey. And where's my grandchild?"

"Being fawned over by the window," Rachel replied, nodding in the direction of her friends all surrounding her daughter.

Sandra glanced once again around the apartment. "Is your father coming?" She looked uncomfortable.

Rachel wanted to let out a long breath at this. Her parents had been divorced for eight years, and yet they still had a hard time dealing with seeing each other.

"No, actually, he had a work thing, or something" Rachel trailed off.

Her mother visibly relaxed, which made Rachel almost angry. "Oh, well, that's too bad," she tried covering her relief with sympathy.

"Yeah. But at least you could make it this time," Rachel said.

"Hey, Rach," Ross said as he approached the two. "The natives are getting restless" He noticed Sandra and smiled at her. "Hey Mrs. Green!" he said as cheerful as possible, and sounding much more real than with Rachel's father.

"Good to see you, Ross," Sandra said as she hugged him briefly.

"Okay, well, Emma's over there if you want to see her," Rachel hinted to her mom, wanting to talk to Ross.

Sandra nodded and walked over to the group. Rachel and Ross watched for a moment.

"So what time are your parents supposed to come?" she asked, turning to face him.

Ross checked his watch. "Pretty soon."

"We'll tell them after everyone gets settled," Rachel decided. "I think Monica is ready to burst from keeping this from my mother."

They both looked at Monica, who was hovering near Sandra, then noticed the couple watching her and walked over to them.

"I'm dying!" Monica squeaked. "I want to start planning things with you! Tell her!"

Rachel lifted her eyebrows at Ross. "Told ya."

The door opening again made everyone turn, and Jack and Judy Gellar entered. Rachel, Ross, and the rest of the group greeted them.

"How wonderful; Emma turning two," Judy said as she set her coat down on a chair.

Jack nodded. "I know. I can't believe it was two years ago today our little granddaughter was born." He glanced at Monica and Chandler, and said, "It was also the day I learned things I'd rather have been oblivious to."

Rachel had no idea what he was talking about, and also looked at her friends, noticing that both of them were blushing slightly. She saw that no one else seemed to know what was going on either. I'm definitely asking later, she thought.

"So, let's move on, shall we?" Chandler prompted.

They decided to have cake, then open gifts. Rachel now sat on the couch beside Ross, helping their daughter rip off the wrapping paper from the present she had received. Emma wasn't so much opening gifts, though, as she was just sitting between her parents, being amused by a stuffed animal.

"Book!" the little girl shouted as Rachel revealed the book that had come in the package.

"Yeah!" Rachel acknowledged, proud of her child's speaking skills. "That's all of them," she said to the group. "Thanks for everything, guys."

"Yeah, these are all great presents. She's so spoiled," Ross said, and Rachel knew he was the one who spoiled Emma the most. The girl had her father wrapped around her finger.

"Of course, dear, only the best for Emma," Judy replied for everyone.

The group dispersed, beginning to talk amongst themselves. Rachel took this opportunity to whisper to Ross, "Let's tell them now."

He nodded, and Rachel smiled at him, the smile she would only give just him, and looked to their parents. "Mom, Jack, Judy, Ross and I, uh, have some news."

All three looked attentive. The other four knew what was coming.

"What is it, honey?" Sandra asked.

Rachel took a deep breath, not understanding why she was so nervous. "Well, Ross and I are engaged." How many times had she said those words?

"Finally!" Monica yelled from behind them.

Sandra, Jack and Judy all rushed to congratulate the young couple. Judy grabbed Rachel's hand to look at the ring.

"Aw, your grandmother's ring. I knew giving it to you was a good idea, Ross. Of course, it took you two years" She examined it.

"Yeah, thanks mom," Ross replied.

"Well, when's the wedding?" Sandra asked excitedly.

Rachel smiled at her mother and future in-laws. "We haven't actually gotten to talk about it yet. We wanted to tell everyone first."

Judy turned to the other four. "You all knew already?" she accused.

Phoebe jumped to cover them. "Yes, but we pulled it out of them. They barely said anything before we pounced!"

Rachel rolled her eyes and noticed that Jack had pulled Ross aside. She listened in on what they were saying.

"Now son, I want you to remember your last three weddings, and realize what went wrong in them before entering this one. I want to see you two kids last," Jack said.

Ross chuckled. "Yeah, I think I've got the name straight, we won't be drunk, and I have a feeling Rach isn't a lesbian."

Jack nodded. "Just making sure," he said seriously, and Rachel wanted to laugh.

She was about to tell her mother the type of dress she had been looking at, when the door opened again. Rachel turned, as did everyone else in the room, and her jaw dropped. She didn't notice her other four closest friends do the same.

"Joey?!" They all said together.

XXX