Thanks for the reviews everyone

Sorry this took a bit longer to get up…I was pretty busy, and it was kind of hard getting through this chapter, but I hope you all like it

.diehardRRfan- Thanks so much, and no I havent considered it but it means so much to me that you like the way Ive been writing this.

rnrlove Im glad you like it and thanks for always reviewing

TinaChaves1 I really enjoyed reading your review as well, I was a little worried about introducing Matthew to the story, but Im glad that so far I think its working out well.

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Chapter 5

Rachel, who was blowing on her nails to dry them, sat solely at the kitchen table. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon, and she had no where to be but to meet Matthew at six for dinner. She smiled when she though of him.

Matthew. They had been seeing each other for about two weeks now, and Rachel was enjoying every minute of it. Sure things were a little hard at first, but she was slowly getting use to things. That was just it though, the fact that they were taking it slow, which had made things a lot easier on Rachel.

These past two weeks had been a blur. Little dates to the movies, dinner, and sweet kisses goodbye, were often the custom evening for the two. This calmed Rachel down, after being in such a serious Relationship prior to Matthew. Not that she didn't think that this could turn into something, because she did…it just comforted her to know that there was no pressure. Being with Matthew was better for her all around, she wasn't depressed and stressed out anymore, it was healthy, and she had barely thought about Ross in these past two weeks.

Barely.

Still there were moments when Ross would come over late one night when she had a bad day at work, and made her forget about all of that. That was something that she didn't have with Matthew. He would sit there and try to work things out with her, and the two would be 'angry together'. With Ross it use to be different, he would try to make her feel better, and take her mind off of all that was bothering her and just think about them. They were alone in their own world when they were together.

Rachel shook her head and tried to snap out of her thoughts. Your with Matthew now. Your Happy. She told herself, all of which was true, but something still felt empty inside of her. Matthew really was a great guy anyway, he was cute, funny, sweet, and he was interested in her work.

"Hey Rach." Monica said while walking out of her room, heading towards Rachel.

Rachel smiled at her friend. Judging from Monica's cheerfulness you would never had guessed that she just broke up with her boyfriend. It was no secret that Rachel was glad to see it end, although she was happy Monica was in a relationship…she just never really saw her with Pete. She needed someone smart, and quirky like herself that she could just really spend time with and enjoy herself. Pete was too…showy.

Monica opened up a bag of chips and placed them on the table next to Rachel taking a seat. "Did Ross call" she asked casually.

"No." Rachel replied "Why was he supposed to?"

"Yeah hes bringing Ben over remember?" Monica asked excited to see her nephew.

Ben. Rachel had forgot completely about it. How could she? She was the one who asked Ross to bring him sometime wasn't she? "Ugh Dammit." Rachel spat out. Monica looked at her friend confused by her stressed outburst. "Im going out with Matthew tonight, and I really wanted to see Ben."

"Cant you cancel it?" Monica asked placing a chip from the bag into her mouth.

"No its really important to him. He wants his parents to meet me so were going over there for dinner."

Monica laughed "Meeting his parents Rach? You just better make sure you back early tonight to study for the SATS."

"Shut up Mon!" Rachel said with swatting her on the arm laughing along. "I know it is kind of highschool-ish so early on, but I like where were headed…a lot."

Monica looked down and grabbed her friends now dry hand. "So you really like him don't you?"

Rachel paused and thought, then smiled "Yeah…yeah I guess I really do. I mean I didn't think I would, but we're moving along great. Hes the first guy since Ross I have ever felt this comfortable around."

"Im happy for you Rach." Monica said while faking a smile. Truthfully she was happy for her friend…she just wished things could be different. She wished that is was Ross who still made Rachel happy like Matthew was doing now.

"Thanks" Looking up at the clock she stood up. "I should go and get changed really quick.

Minutes later there was a knock at the door, as Ross entered carrying a near two year old Ben in his arms "Hey Mon, sorry I didn't call…Ben's been just such a good boy today." he told her with a fake smile as he shook his head and mouthed no.

"Oh Im sure he was just fine." Monica said with a smile while taking Ben from Ross' arms, and carrying him over to the couch where she sat playing with him.

"you don't mind if make some coffee do you?" He yelled to Monica, as she shook her head.

"Wray Chill!" Ben yelled his new form of Rachel's name for the month as she stepped out of her bedroom causing Ross to turn around.

Rachel made an over exaggerated gasp "Hey Ben!" she said excitedly as Ben ran off the couch into her arms, causing Ross to smile.

"Wow Rach, you look- you look great." Ross had just noticed how plainly beautiful she looked. She was dressed in the same green dressed she had worn the night of his speech, with her hair down and flowing just past her shoulders. It took his breath away. He shook his head trying to erase the thought that plagued his mind right now- remembering the last words that left her mouth as the left the apartment that evening. "Oh Yeah and Ross? Just so you know, Im going commando too."

Rachel smiled at him. "Thanks Ross" Rachel's attention went back to Ben who was sitting on the floor next to the table coloring her a picture. "That looks really good Ben! Where did you learn to color like that?" Rachel said making a fuss, and she kneeled down on the floor next to him, careful not to mess her outfit.

Something new came into Ross' mind, as he walked over and took a seat next to his sister on the couch. "Say Rach," Getting her attention she looked up at him "What are you so dressed up for anyway"

'Here it comes' thought Rachel. "Oh…Um… Im going out with Matthew tonight, he wants to have dinner at his parents." Rachel said looking down.

"Oh Oh alright…It just I thought you wanted to spend some time with Ben not use him as a filler before you have to go and meet your new boyfriend." Ross said in a more than pissed off tone. Honestly, he didn't know if he was even right here, or was just mad because Rachel had other plans.

"I did- I do…its just Matt thinks its really important that I meet then, and tonight is the only night we're all free. Im really sorry Ross, I forgot that you were bringing him today" Rachel looked back down at Ben, and ruffled his blond hair. " I really wish I could stay."

"Yeah I bet" Ross mumbled. Monica shot him a look.

After a few minutes of tension the phone rang. Monica jumped up and raced to the kitchen to answer the phone, eager for some way to excuse herself from the two.

"Hello" she said while fixing her hair. "Yeah just a minute" She brought the phone over to Rachel and whispered "Its Matthew"

A small smile crept across Rachel's face which didn't go un-noticed by Ross. "Hey Matty" she said cheerfully into the phone.

"Matty what is that- is he five?" Ross scoffed

"Shut Up!" Monica whispered while hitting him hard on the knee.

Rachel then stood up and walked into the kitchen.

"So how are you?" asked Matthew

"Great, can't wait for dinner" she said with a smile, playing with a strand of hair.

Ross put his head down in his hands. He felt terrible.

"Well that's good, because Ill be there to pick you up soon"

Rachel looked confused and then eyed the clock on the wall. "But sweetie its only three…you're a little early don't you think?" She said with a smirk.

"Yeah I know…but my parents want to eat earlier- I hope its not a problem."

"No, its fine Ill be waiting" She said as she had then taken a seat on the floor next to Ben once again.

"Okay Bye honey, I love you"

Clearing her throat Rachel replied "Bye You too." She couldn't bring herself to saying those three words yet, let alone in front of Ross.

She hung up the phone and placed it on the table. "I guess he'll be here soon they want to eat earlier…or something…I don't know."

Ross stood up. "Ill be right back" He said while making his way towards the bathroom. Monica made a mental note to ask him how he was later after Rachel was gone, her best guess Ross was in there crying.

"I just wish I didn't have to go so soon" Rachel told Monica, while eyeing Ben.

"Yeah I know, but I mean at least you got to see him." Monica replied

"yeah" Rachel whispered.

Shortly after there was a knock on the door, in which Rachel got up to answer.

"Hey sweetie!" Rachel said as she gave Matthew a quick kiss.

Wrapping his arms around her, while kissing the top of her head he stopped Ben. "Awe and whose this" he said gesturing to him.

Rachel loosened from his grip to walk over to Ben. "This is Ben, Ross' son."

Matthew looked down "Oh, Ro- Ross's son, hes a cute kid. Say, where is-"

Ross cut him off walking over to him to shake his hand "Hey, Im Ross, You must be Matthew?" Introducing himself in the most civil way possible. Sometime between now and when Matt first arrived Ross must have reentered the living room.

"Yeah, nice to meet you Ross" Matthew said as he walked over to Rachel, and placed a protective arm around her, making her feel uncomfortable.

"So Are you ready to go honey?" Matt asked her

She smiled "Yeah just a minute, Im going to say goodbye okay?"

Matthew nodded "Alright, Ill catch us a cab." Rachel nodded her head, and Matthew leaned in to kiss her passionately. Ross just looked down and shook his head 'Rachel shouldn't be with him' he though. Rachel, taken by surprise ended the kiss first slowly backed away from him, and gave him a small smile.

"Okay, Ill be down soon."

As Matthew left the apartment Rachel felt somewhat relieved. She still wasn't comfortable with he and Ross being in the same room together. She then looked down at Ben, who was staring at her.

Kneeling down so she was on his level she put her hand on his small shoulder. "Hey Ben, Aunt Rachel's got to' go, but Ill see you again soon okay?" Rachel said kissing him on the head.

She started to stand up and just as she was about to walk away she felt something tugging on the bottom of her dress, looking down she saw that it was Ben holding on to the picture he was coloring.

"Wray-chill" Ben said handing the picture to her.

"Wow, thanks a lot Ben!" Rachel said looking at the picture. It had 3 different color blobs on it all mixed into one, a red, blue and green one.

Monica smiled it was really cute how much Ben cared about Rachel, although she couldn't help but feel slightly jealous.

Ben then pointed to each blob "Me, You, Daddy" was all he said.

Rachel's breath caught in the back of her throat "Oh Ben…" she said and she bent down and hugged him. If only it were that simple…Rachel and Ross would be together.

She turned around to face Monica and Ross and just looked down once she made eye contact with Ross. She cleared her thought and began to head towards the door. "I-I got to go" she said before leaving…obviously a little shook up by Bens picture.

Ross looked at Monica and shook his head "I cant believe she didn't stay here with Ben."

"She couldn't, I guess he had this planned all week, I know she wanted to be here though" Monica said in Rachel's defense.

Ross snapped "You know he doesn't even deserve her!"

"What?" Monica asked started by Ross' outburst.

"You saw it when he walked in, he didn't even tell her how beautiful she looked he didn't even say anything. Rachel deserves better than that. She deserves to be told how gorgeous she really is, and how much she is loved. He- He did none of that. And Now- now she's gone with him." Ross said sitting down on the couch

Monica walked over and sat next to him "Not quite " she said softly.

Ross glanced at her "What are you talking about…she's with him now Mon."

"Didn't you see how she was when Ben gave her the picture…Ross she almost broke down." Monica said while holding up Bens drawing and handing it to Ross as he studied it.

"Do you think it means anything" Ross smiled "I mean Mon, Rachel does cry a lot you know." Ross said with a laugh

"She ALWAYS Cries Ross" Monica said joining her brother laughing "I don't know I just get this vibe from her that…she's not totally happy. Rachel does put on a good show though, remember when she first had feelings for you but never admitted them until she was drunk- but that's a different story all together. Just don't give up yet Ross."

Ross shook his head "How could I give up on her, how could I ever do that? God Monica its just so hard seeing her with him…you know?"

"I know Ross I know" Monica said as she leaned over and embraced her brother in a hug.

XX

There it is once again I hope you all liked it and please Review.

Right now Im at the point where I know how I want it to end…its just getting there that's going to be tough. Im going to try and have the next chapter up by Monday, but I havent begun writing it yet.