Ross came in the door of his and Rachel's apartment. She had been sitting in her chair with her arms crossed. It was very late and Ross was just getting home."
"Geller can't you pick up a phone?" Rachel said. "I came home and was expecting you to be here. Instead I find an empty apartment with no daughter and no boyfriend." Rachel was not in a good mood.
"Sweetie, there was an emergency so I had to go to Chandler and Monica's. Emma is with them tonight." Ross tried to explain. He was never good at lying.
"Um huh." said Rachel. "Well I am going to take a bath." Rachel announced. Ross's face lit up with that announcement.
"Alone." Rachel said as she walked past him. "Later Ross." she said as she closed the door.
Ross walked over to the bathroom. He made sure that Rachel was running the water. Next, he picked up the phone, "Mon? it's me we've got Central Perk for tomorrow night. All I have to do is call the Plaza and make the reservations. If I make it for 8..will you have enough time? Good. I'll call you.
At that moment the door opened, Rachel walked out in a towel. Ross turned around and hid the phone.
"Ross what are you doing?" she asked suspiciously.
"I was calling ..about …pizza…yeah pizza." he stuttered.
"You are up to something, Ross Geller and I am going to find out what it is." Rachel said as she slammed the bathroom door.
Ross called the Plaza. They had eight o clock reservations.
The next day in Central Perk there was a sign on the door. CLOSING at 8..PRIVATE PARTY. Rachel wanted coffee but Ross ran to Starbucks so she could not see the sign. Gunther sat by the register depressed.
He was a nice guy. At seven forty five, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, and a special surprise Joey came in. Joey was in town for his nephew's confirmation. This was an added bonus and when he heard what was happening, he immediately had to take part. He also wanted to see Phoebe. It came as a shock when her and Mike separated. Monica gave Joey a string of white Christmas lights to hang on the ceiling to simulate the stars in the sky that night. Phoebe carried in several vases of lilies. Gina and Michael Tribbiani proved to be a help as well. Gina draped a white cloth over the coffee table and Chandler brought in a bucket of expensive champagne. "A little gift from us." he said to Monica. Monica emptied a bag and lit little candles from the door to the couch. Emma had a job to do too. Her job was to sprinkle rose petals on the couch where her mommy and daddy would be sitting. Ben helped Joey with the lights. As Monica stood back to admire her handiwork, her cell rang, "Hello, yeah all in place. Fifteen minutes, okay ." she said. "Okay he just paid the check and is on the way. This is code red, code red, operation lobster needs to commence." she yelled.
"Is it my imagination or in a past life was my wife General Patton?" said Chandler.
"After they get here, are we gonna eat?" asked Joey, "I haven't ate in an hour."
"Joey I promise we'll eat. I have lasagna and chicken at Ross's for when they get home. " explained Monica. At that moment , Ross came through the door. "Rachel's in the cab, so is everything ready?" he asked.
"Boy that was fast." commented Monica. Ross looked around and shook his head. "You guys are the best. Everything looks great. I gotta go , so turn off the lights and get out of here." Ross turned around and walked out the door to the cab.
The gang decided to hide in the back. They all scattered when they saw Ross walking a blindfolded Rachel into the coffee shop. Ross opened the door and took off her blindfold. She opened her mouth and gasped. Ben pushed the remote and The Way You Look Tonight was playing.
"Oh my God Ross, it's it's beautiful. " she began to cry.
"Well I have something in mind. Champagne?" he said. He poured them a couple glasses. "Rachel." Do you know what tonight is?" he asked.
"It's …" she couldn't remember.
"It's six months since we have got back together. I remember how upset I was that you got on the plane and when you walked into that door..I felt like I was living a dream. Only one other night compares to that night and that was the night I found out you were pregnant with my baby. That was the happiest night of my life..until tonight…please you are everything I have wanted since I was fifteen. We have such a history …let us have a future."Ross got off the couch and got down on one knee." Rachel Karen Green..will you marry me?"
Rachel put her hands under her chin and tears came from her eyes. "Yes Ross Geller I will marry you." Ross put the ring on her finger and then they began to kiss. The next noise they heard was Joey when he dropped a plate."Damnit."
Ross had a look on his face, Okay you can come out now." he said Suddenly there were about eight people hugging and kissing the newly engaged couple.
"you did it my man, now remember her name is Rachel." said Chandler.
"And no alcohol before the ceremony." added Phoebe.
"Oh and make sure she isn't a lesbian." added Joey. "On second thought I'll take care of that." added Joey.
"Hands off Tribbiani , she 's mine now." laughed Ross. "Ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce you to my fiance Rachel." he said proudly.
"Well Rachel , it looks like you got your doctor after all." laughed Monica. She went over and hugged Rachel. "Welcome to the family, sis."
"Congratulations Daddy and Rachel? Can I call you mom?" asked young Ben.
"Of course," smiled Rachel as she huuged her stepson to be.
"This is all very nice , but can we eat now?" whined Joey.
"Sure , I have a celebratory dinner set up at Ross and Rachel's so we'll go over there and then go to the Plaza for drinks. Oh I and have a little announcement. I'm pregnant." said Monica.
"You are ?" Chandler asked happily.
"No , I warned you on the night we announced our engagement and you two were making out , that I would announce I was pregnant when you announced your engagement. So ha ha." laughed Monica.The gang and Joey's family walked out of Central Perk to the waiting cars to go to the dinner.
Ross slyly turned to Chandler, "And dude me …champagne…no problem."
Chandler exclaimed, "Doesn't anyone keep secrets anymore?"