Disclaimer: I don't own Friends.

A/N: Alrighty, here's an update for you crazy kids. New York was awesome, I saw Wicked and it was just incredible. My mid-terms are over as of three hours ago, which means I can hopefully finish up this story, since I'm almost done anyways. My birthday is in less than two weeks. Yay.

Some of you asked for me to go AU right after Emma is born. I would totally love to, but...I'm not. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing, I'm still gonna be able to stay in the normal Friends universe to do so, and hopefully you'll all be pleased.

Reviewing is wicked awesome, and I'm so glad you guys do it. It makes me feel good. Your input is much considered and appreciated, and if you have any other suggestions, just let me know.

XXX

You know, I've always thought that it was weird that a young woman would want to work in a baby store.

Now I see why.

Ugh, that Katie salesgirl. Total slut. I mean she was trying to pick up Ross. Ross! My Ross! Father of my child Ross! She may have asked if it was okay, sure, but it wasn't! Couldn't they see I was pretending?!

God, she just feeds him a line while we're paying for our stuff. I didn't even realize what she was doing at first. I mean, here I thought she was a nice young girl trying to help us buy baby stuff, and the next thing you know, BAM! She's trying to steal away my daughter's father! I bet that hussy would've run the other way in horror if she heard the story of Ross and Rachel.

So then she was flirting with him, and the only reason I said all that stuff in the store was because she obviously was ignoring the fact that Ross was having a baby. With me. Who was standing right there.

She hits on him and we were there together. Except not together together, but still, you don't flirt with men who are about to become the father of their ex-girlfriend, or ex-wife's, baby! God, what a whore.

I don't know why I have to be so against it when people mistake Ross and I as a couple. It's like I'm trying to outwardly be fine with our situation. When the slut called us Mr. and Mrs. Gellar at the store, it was like a natural reaction to insist that we're not together. I loved hearing it, though; I can't deny that. Mrs. Gellar.

Hm. Mrs. Ross Gellar. Rachel Green-Gellar. Mrs. Rachel Green-Gellar. Mrs. Doctor Ross Gellar.

Oh my God, I'm in seventh grade again. What the hell is wrong with me?

And he actually went out on a date with her. The nerve of that man. I'm carrying his daughter, about to pop, and he's out getting coffee with some horny bitch who probably would be a horrible step-mother to my child.

No one was even around so I could vent. I mean sure I mentioned some stuff to Phoebe, but that was before he went out with the slut. Where the hell was everyone, anyway?

And then he came back, and I told him I don't want him to see anyone. And I said I didn't want to go out with him, which is only a partial lie because I'm not sure what I want. I just know I want him here with me.

And he agreed, which floored me, and also reminded me why he's so great sometimes. I almost feel bad for being so rude to the horny bitch.

Almost.

Then I go and make a fool of myself, which luckily I think he's already forgotten, or else he's avoiding it like I am, in true 'us' fashion. Ugh, I can't believe I thought he was serious when he was saying all those things about 'wanting more'.

And my due date is in only a two days. I'm so nervous and frightened and thrilled and hungry all at the same time.

But Ross said he was going to be here. For real, now. No more girlfriends, or even dates. Just me and him. And our daughter. Like a family. Those daydreams keep coming back to me no matter what. I can, luckily, blame them on the pregnancy. They're definitely not representing my inner-most feelings or anything, like I think me and Ross are soul mates or something.

Oh, God, I need to stop watching Dawson's Creek repeats.

But if we were soul mates…

The door opens before my train of thought can chug any farther. I was just arranging the crazy amount of toys Ross and I bought during my panic-attack.

"What's up?" Ross asks, setting down some coffee and something in a bag from Central Perk.

"Just moving some stuff so we can actually move around in here," I tell him.

"Hey, you shouldn't be on your feet like this," Ross tells me softly, moving towards me and taking the toys from my hands. He takes me by the shoulders and gently forces me onto the couch. "Take a break."

"But there's nothing to do," I whine. I've had nothing waiting for me at work at all the past week.

"I got you a muffin," Ross informs me, skillfully dodging my complaint by offering me food. I smile a secretive smile and look into the bag to make sure it's the right kind.

It is.

"Thanks."

"No problem." He sits beside me and we just take the moment to think to ourselves. Suddenly, Ross turns to face me, taking my hand lightly and grinning like a little boy. "So, two days."

That's all he has to say for me to understand, and one look at his face makes mine break out into a smile. "Yup. Excited?"

"Like you wouldn't believe. You?"

"Kinda worried about the whole pushing another human being out of my body thing, but otherwise I'm excited too."

"It's gonna be great, you know. Being a parent," Ross says, quietly honest.

"I bet it will be," I agree.

He chuckles. "I'd always imagined that you and I would be the first ones of the group to have a baby," he confides.

"Well, we were the first ones to get married, too," I say. "Wait, except for Phoebe, but marrying a gay ice dancer doesn't count. Plus, you already have a son."

"True," he nods with a laugh. "But still, this is different, y'know?"

I know exactly what he means. "It's you and me," I voice for the both of us.

He stays silent, still holding my hand. I long for a bite of my muffin.

"Looks like everyone else will just have to follow in our footsteps, and not make the mistakes we do." I'm surprised at how wise I've become in such a short time. It's hard to believe that soon I'll be giving advice to my own daughter. About hair, and make-up, and clothes, and boys. I'm sure Ross would disagree greatly with the last one.

Ross breathes noticeably, and looks to be gearing up to say something. He scratches his neck. "Listen, Rach, I've been thinking about some things, and, uh, well, some things about us, and, uh-"

His cell phone starts ringing in a loud and annoying way, and if it had been any other moment, I would've made fun of his "Mission Impossible" ring tone. But while he had been speaking my heart had started beating faster than normal, my palms had gained some perspiration, and my stomach had fluttered so much that I thought the baby had some bats to play with in there.

He sighs and checks the caller ID, then looks at me apologetically. "I gotta, uh, take this." He stands quickly and heads for his bedroom.

I sit still, staring at the spot Ross vacated. I'm confused. What just happened?

"Okay," I finally answer.

XXX

A/N II: That college-set fic is gonna be introduced really soon. I'm waiting for the perfect moment so I can surprise you all :). Sadly, though, my laptop (where I write and save the stories) isn't working that well (there's a lot of beeping and shutting off of itself going on), so if my updates take awhile, I blame the computer.