Hey everybody! Sorry for the delay, but a mixture of me getting back from vacation, family who I rarely see comes from Oahu and Idaho because of graduation parties, and being too tired to write, was a factor to this chapter being posted later than I would've wanted. Special thanks to those who has read & reviewed my first chapter. Really made my day to know at least one person read this :)
This chapter takes place two weeks after Rachel has gone to Paris and well...that's all you need to know for now and enjoy. BTW, Please leave me a review!!! It is what keeps me motivated to continue.
Disclaimer: No way am I making any profits from this and the Friends characters doesn't belong to me, but to the wonderful creators who had people looking forward to Thursday nights for the past ten years.
The Challenge with Being Miles Away: Chapter 2
One seventy-five over two-hundred, Ross marks down the score on the last test of the finals he had to grade. All he had to do was input the scores in the computer, save it on a floppy to submit to the administration, and then he would be done and have nothing else to do but to enjoy the summer in the city of romance with his loving girlfriend. He knew that it would take less than thirty minutes to input and he couldn't wait to get out of there and finish up packing.
He picks up his coffee mug and notices that he's out. Thinking that he had enough coffee for the day, he stands up and heads to his mini refrigerator for a bottle of water. He grabs a bottle and his cell phone on his desk starts to ring. Noticing the special ring tone he recently assigned, he knew who it was and was happy to hear it.
"Hey babe, I can't wait to see you." Ross answered as he sat back on his chair, reclining back with his feet on the table.
"Me too, sweetie." Rachel said. "Where are you? I called your apartment, but I got the answer machine."
"At my office, grading the papers. I'm almost done and can't wait to be with you tomorrow."
"I know, which brings me for the purpose of this call. I somehow misplaced the paper with your flight information and I don't think that it'll turn up soon."
Ross chuckled as he knew that it was bound to happen. For some reason, Rachel doesn't write down messages and Monica would get mad at her for not using the pad and pen near the phone when they were roommates years ago.
"Got pen and paper ready?" Ross asked as he took out the information from his briefcase.
"Yeah."
"Flight 657, arriving at 8:30 a.m."
"Got it." She pauses as she hears a knock on the door. "Can you hold on for a second Ross, someone's at the door."
"Sure thing." Ross sat straight up and took a sip of his water. He didn't have to wait long as he heard her thank the person and the door being closed.
"Hey, I'm back." Rachel announced as she returned to the phone.
"So what arrived?"
"I don't know, but I'm about to find out."
Ross can hear her opening it and a smile slowly curve up as it sounds like she's getting there. She shrieks and Ross knows that she finally got the laptop he sent a week ago.
"Oh my gosh, Ross. You shouldn't have."
"I know but it's from all of us...Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, and Mike. Just think of it as a late going away gift."
"Yeah, but still." She was just grateful for the gift and Ross knew that she wouldn't return it for store credit.
"Did you read the card?"
"Yes and thanks Ross. Now I can't wait for you to get here so I can thank you properly." She said seductively.
Ross chucked. "I'm looking forward to that, but in order for me to get there quicker, I would need to put these scores in the computer and I promise you can have all the fun with me when I get there."
"It's a deal, but someone else would like to say something."
Ross smiled and couldn't wait to hear from his little girl. He can still remember her first words and he knew that she is going to be a bright kid. After all, she's a Geller! For a kid who is almost two years old, she became a talker lately and he would always hear from her until Rachel has to yank the phone away from her because it was her bedtime. Although it isn't totally proper English, she can easily put two words together to make a simple phrase and it was enough for Ross to understand what she's trying to say.
"Hi Daddy!" Emma enthusiastically shrieked on the phone.
"Hi Emma. Are you being a good girl for mommy?"
"Uh-huh. When see me?" She questioned. Lately, she's been attached to her father recently and always questioned when he was coming.
"Tomorrow sweetie. I can't wait to see how big my little girl has gotten."
"I'm a big girl now." Emma exclaimed proudly.
Ross smiled. "You're getting there."
"Love you daddy."
"Love you too, now put mommy back on the phone."
"Okay. Remember, a gift for me."
Ross smiled at his daughters wishes as he knew she would ask that and planned to go to the toy store before heading home. "Of course."
"I'm telling you Ross, we spoil her too much sometimes." Rachel said as she got the phone back.
"I know, she must take it from her mother." Ross joked.
"Ha, ha, ha, Geller. So, what are you getting me?"
"A card with unlimited credits for some Ross loving."
She chuckled. "Seriously Ross, with Chandler no longer five minutes away, you've been hanging with Joey too much."
It was Ross' turn to laugh and he noticed that he's been talking to Rachel a little longer than he was supposed to.
"Sweetie, I hate to stop from hearing your heavenly voice, but I want to get this done so I could get out of here."
She sighed. "All right, all right, and kudos for your compliment."
Ross grinned. "I know, I'm sly."
Rachel chuckled. "Love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
Ross finally hung up his cell phone and had a huge smile on his face. He couldn't wait to see her and he started to get cracking at inputting the grades in the computer.
Working in fashion certainly have their perks and having the opportunity to work away from home with a completely furnished, two bed and two bath apartment and a leased car just makes her decision to take the job even better. The interior was already beautiful to her eyes and she decided to leave it as it is. The color of the drapes and the design of the wallpaper in the bedrooms weren't disasters and it didn't need to have any work at all.
Rachel sat down on a maroon, comfy couch in the living room with a smile on her face as she can't wait until Ross comes. She missed him terribly and the phone calls wasn't enough. She looks at her daughter who has the same happy expression on her face as her mother and Emma holds up a book. Rachel picks up Emma and sits her on her lap as she begins to read one of Emma's favorite book, Love You Forever.
Ding, dong. Ross stood out of a burgundy colored door of a house in the suburbs and shoves his hands in his pockets. Whenever he would go to his sister and best-friend apartment, he would just enter like the rest of his friends, but now he felt weird to just open the door to their new residence. The door opens and he is greeted by his sister.
"Hey Ross." She greeted as she gave him a hug.
"Hey Mon. Did you wrap Emma's gift yet?"
With Emma's second birthday coming up next week, Ross been going around and collecting gifts to bring with him to Paris since everyone won't be able to get together for different reasons. The original idea was for Rachel and Ross to return to the States, but Rachel wasn't able to get the desirable days off and the people in the States wouldn't be able to go to Paris because of different reasons and prior commitments. He already collected from Joey, Phoebe & Mike, Grandpa & Grandma Geller, and Grandma & Grandpa Green, and Monica & Chandler was last on the list.
"I'm about to do it after I give the twins a bath." Monica replied.
"Okay, I have to leave for the airport in thirty minutes and I wouldn't mind hanging out here until then."
"It's settled. Get your things out of the cab and pay the driver, Chandler will take you to the airport."
Ross agreed and did the things that Monica suggested. Ross took his only rolling suitcase while Chandler carried the box with Emma's gifts inside. Ross puts his things in a corner and sits on the couch while Chandler goes to the kitchen.
"Hey man, want a beer?" Chandler called out in the kitchen.
"No thanks. I'll go see if Mon needs any help."
Chandler came back with a beer in hand as Ross stood up. "She's in the bathroom upstairs."
Ross thanked Chandler and headed up to the stairs while Chandler sat on the couch and turned on the t.v.
"I swear, in two weeks, these kids have grown." Ross was in Monica and Chandler's room, carrying Jack while Monica sat on her bed, finishing up to wrap Emma's gift. Erica fell asleep quickly after her bath and is sleeping peacefully in her crib, in the room across the hall. Erica is easy to put to sleep, but Jack takes a little bit longer.
"I know." Monica replied. "Since we moved, it seemed like we haven't talked in a while."
"I know what you mean." Ross looks back at Jack and he still wasn't sleeping. Ross continues to rock side to side, back and forth in hopes that Jack will start to close his eyes.
"So what's new with you?" Monica asked.
Ross shrugged. "Nothing much. Ben's meeting me at the airport with Carol and he would spend ten days with me in Paris."
Monica looked quizzically at him. "Just ten days?"
"Yeah. He signed up for soccer this summer and the season starts in the end of the month."
"That's cool." She smiled. "So, do you know who's the new tenants at the old apartment?" She questioned as she was curious to know who the new residents of the apartment she called home for more than ten years.
Ross nodded and smiled at her. "I've seen them a lot of times in Central Perk. Get this, they're two females, best of friends since childhood, in their mid twenties, and both just got out of college. Three guys and three girls always meet at Central Perk and Gunther tells me that it's a new generation of us."
Monica chuckled. "I guess he's right."
Ross smiled. "Yeah."
"Well, here you go." Monica stood up and picked up the finish-wrapped gift.
Ross looks down and sees that Jack has finally fallen asleep.
"I'll put him down." Monica offered as she put the gift back on the bed.
Ross kissed his forehead and passed him to Mon. "Goodnight Jack." Ross cooed and Monica head toward the twins room with Ross following from behind with the final gift in hand.
"Mommy, wake up!" Emma yelled as she stood on the side of the bed. "Daddy coming today." She happily announced.
Rachel's eyes open suddenly as she looks at the clock. 8:15. She cursed under her breath because she was sure she set the alarm up at 7:30. She wanted to wait for him at the baggage claim at 8:30 on the dot, but now it seems like that's not going to happen. She picks up Emma and puts her on the bed.
"Sweetie, when did you wake up and why didn't you wake me up sooner?"
Emma looked at her mom with the puppy eyes she inherited from her father. "I sorry."
Rachel couldn't help but smile. "It's okay sweetie, it's my fault for not setting the alarm. But when daddy gets here, you actually have to sleep in your room. It's been two weeks and you need to sleep in your room."
"But, I like sleeping with you." Emma said as she innocently looked at Rachel.
Rachel smile grew wide with the innocent and cuteness that her daughter is displaying at that moment. She had to admit that Emma's technique to try to sway things her way reminded her of herself when she was a kid and would use that card especially on her father to get toys. "I know you do, but there's a bed waiting for you in your room, wanting to get sleep in. You don't want that to go to waste, do you?"
Emma looked down. "No mommy."
Rachel lifted her chin and starts to rub her cheek with her thumb. "Now, let's get ready and pick up daddy and Ben."
Emma smiled. "Okay."
Rachel gets up and picks up Emma, heading to the bathroom to get ready.
It was bad enough that she overslept, but the traffic was the icing on the cake. Worse yet, Rachel forgot her cell phone on her dresser and she knew that Ross was probably calling her, wondering why she wasn't there yet.
By the time she finally got to the airport, it was 9:15 and she ran towards baggage claim to see if he was there. She circled the airport twice, but had no sign of Ross around. She parks the car to look over the arrivals and she doesn't see his plane on the screen. She goes to the information desk to ask the lady worker if she knew the reason why.
"Bonjour!" Emma happily said as they reached the counter.
The worker smiled. "Bonjour."
"Excuse me, did flight 657 from JFK, New York arrive?" Rachel asked.
"Oui, madam. They just arrive and should be down here shortly." The worker said in a distinct French accent.
Rachel smiled and was happy that she wasn't late after all.
Rachel thanked and headed towards a bench where she can sit and see the flow of people entering the baggage claim. Emma was getting bigger by the day and Rachel felt like she can no longer stand and carry Emma for too long anymore.
"Let mommy take a rest okay big girl. They should be here shortly." Rachel sits down on a bench and Emma squirms on her lap.
"Down please." Emma asked as she still tried to maneuver down.
"Sorry sweetie, but we're in a busy airport and I don't want to risk you getting lost."
"Please mommy." Emma tried to pull the puppy-eye look again but Rachel wasn't going for it. She usually would melt and give in, but she knew she can't this time because Emma could really get lost.
"Sorry sweetie, but I can't." Rachel tried to reason with her daughter, but for some reason, Emma didn't want to take "no" for an answer this time and started to get a bit fussy.
"Mommy, down please." Emma begged again as tears threatened to fall.
'Oh my god, not know.' Rachel begged in her thoughts. 'Ross, where are you?'
"Please Mommy." Emma continued to beg as little tears started to flow down her baby cheeks.
Rachel hated to see her daughter cry, but she knew that she had to put her foot down on this one.
"Aw, Emma-Wemma. You don't need to cry, Daddy's here." Ross spotted them as he entered baggage claim, but Rachel was busy trying to coax Emma that she didn't see Ross and Ben eight feet away from her.
All the tears disappeared and she excitedly ran toward Ross after Rachel put her down.
"Daddy, I miss you."
Ross bent down and picked up Emma, kissing her on her cheeks. "Me too and it's missed, sweetie, not miss. Past tense." Emma looked at Ross confused and he chuckled. "It's okay sweetie, you'll learn."
"Hi Ben." Rachel greeted the boy she knew since he was in diapers, the boy who Ross would always talk about when he did his "firsts", the boy she would try to assist Ross with whenever Ben was over at his place.
Ben returned the greeting to his "Fun Aunt" Rachel. He always liked Rachel and was thrilled to know that she and his father got back together because from what he has heard from his aunt Monica, she really made him happy and if Ross was happy, then he was too. He started to wonder if she knew any more practical jokes because he was running out of material. He tried to ask his Uncle Chandler, but he was always preoccupied with the twins that he didn't have time to answer him.
Ross looks at Rachel and smiles. Two weeks seems like an eternity and Rachel still had the effect to take his breath away, always will. He slowly walks towards her with Emma still in his arms and he sweetly kisses her. The kiss started to become a bit more passionate as he starts to hold her with his free arm. Time stood still for those two and it was Emma that had to bring them back to reality.
"Mommy...Daddy...I'm squished." Emma announced as Ben covered his eyes with the thought that kissing a girl is icky at the age of nine.
Ross and Rachel realized that Emma was in the middle and they pulled away, laughing at the comment Emma made.
"Sorry sweetie." Ross and Rachel said in unison as they continued to laugh.
Ross grabs Rachel's hand as they head toward the carousel to get his luggage.
Laying down one minute on a fully reclined La Z-Boy and you could find yourself drifting to sleep. As soon as they reached Rachel's apartment, Ross saw the black chair near the main door and realized that it is pretty much the same as Joey's one back in New York. While Rachel was getting him a bottle of water that he requested, Ross sat down and fully reclined the chair back to test the comfy level of that bad boy.
He looks around the living room and nods in approval. The room surely had some nice furniture: a new-looking maroon sofa on his right, a matching comfy chair across from him, a black coffee table in the middle, and an entertainment unit with a decent size television and DVD system, to name a few.
He sees Emma on his left side, with her arms up, wanting to be picked up, so he did and laid her on his chest. Ross held onto her with one arm and his eyes started to become heavy. He would always have difficulty sleeping on airplanes and now it was catching up on him as he felt his eyes slowly closing.
Rachel walks through the swinging door, into the living room from the kitchen and sees Emma lightly smacking Ross's left cheek. She wonders why Emma is doing that and realizes the reason behind it all. Rachel knew that it was a Kodak moment and she took a picture. She smiles and lightly grabs Emma off of Ross, hoping not to disturb him in his deep slumber.
7:45. Huh? Ross quickly sat back up and discovered that it wasn't wise to do that as he felt a little headache coming on while the blood rushed in his head. He puts his hand on his forehead and remembers that he forgot to set his watch to Paris time. He stands up and walks a few steps, in between the coffee table and couch. He stretches and looks around the room for a clock so he could fix his watch with the proper time.
"Good afternoon." Rachel greeted as she walked out of her bedroom and towards him in the middle of the living room.
"For me, it's more like good morning."
She smiled. "Hungry?"
"As a matter of face, starving. It's like breakfast."
"Well, let's go make you a sandwich."
"Okay, but where's your bathroom?"
Rachel pointed to a room to the right of him and Ross wondered how he could have missed it. It's right behind the maroon couch and you can easily see it from the living room. He guess he missed it because his eyes went straight to the chair and he practically fell asleep on it seconds later.
He shrugged it off and went to the bathroom as Rachel giggled and went to the kitchen that was right beside the bathroom she pointed out.
She dug in the refrigerator, looking for something to snack on and couldn't decide what she wanted. She starts to remember about the fresh cantaloupe that she just purchased and took the container out with the precut slices. She closes the refrigerator door and pops a slice in her mouth as Ross entered.
"Funny thing, I couldn't find any clock in the living room." Ross said.
"Yeah, I keep on forgetting to get one in there."
"How long have I been sleeping?"
"Well, seeing that you started as soon as you got here, I would say about five hours."
The right of Ross's eye brow arched up quizzically. "Really? What time is it now?" He asked.
"It's 1:45." She cooly answered
"Where's Emma?"
"It's nap time. I just put her down fifteen minutes ago."
"How about Ben?"
"Down and out for the count about the same time as Emma."
Ross grinned as he approached her and wrapper his arms around her waist. "Well, what do you say we take advantage of this situation."
Rachel put her hands on his chest as she arched a brow. "What do you have in mind Dr. Geller?"
Ross shrugged. "Whatever the lady wants, the lady gets."
"Well, don't you want to eat? Aren't you starving?"
"Don't you remember, Rach. If I had to choose between food or sex, what would I choose." Ross grinned mischievously as he remembered the time when the topic was brought up in Central Perk.
Rachel took Ross's hand and walked out of the kitchen. "You know, we can't make this a habit. Might not be too good for our child's psychologic if she walks in on us or even Ben's."
Ross chuckled. "I'll take the chance this time."
The cool wind sweeps through the room and the only sounds that can be heard is the sound of the city. Ross opened his eyes and he sees that he's still laying on the couch, in the exact position that he was the previous night. The time difference definitely screwed up his schedule and he practically stayed up the whole night. He thought taking a bath would make him refresh and comfortable enough to make himself tired, but that proved to have no effect. He also tried reading a book, thinking it would help him, but that proved to be a big mistake as he got into it and didn't want to stop reading. Ben on the other hand, had no problem sleeping despite the nap he had earlier and slept as if he's been there for weeks. He recall that he slept at four and now it was 11:30.
He stands up and went towards the kids room to see what they were up to. He peeked through the door and notice that both of their beds are nicely made and they were no where in sight. He called out their names but got no response.
Ross heads back to the living room and he only now notices a note that he presumed was from Rachel.
Ross,
Hey Hun. I figured that you needed your sleep and don't worry about the kids. They're at the company's daycare at the building and out of your hair for now. For now, enjoy your time by yourself and the kids and I will be home by five. The refrigerator is fully stocked and eat whatever you want, the choice is up to you. I gotta go before I'm late and I'll see you later.
Love you always,
Rachel
P.S. Can you please manage to sleep in bed tonight? I miss waking up next to you.
Ross smiled and headed towards his and Rachel's bedroom for his clothes so he could take a bath.
Smiles was all over Rachel's face and a fellow co-worker noticed it since she arrived at work. Rachel was in her office, doing some paperwork when Claudia entered to give her more papers. Claudia is a 23 year old from New Jersey and moved to Paris after graduating from college months ago. Despite the noticeable age difference, she immediately clicked with Rachel and they would always talk about different types of topics.
"I take it that someone got some last night." Claudia smirked as she hand the folder over to Rachel. "Ever since you got here, I felt like you were all depressed and hated it here and now, all of a sudden, you smile as if you got a hanger in your mouth. So spill, what happened?" She smiled and sat down in a chair in front of Rachel.
Rachel stopped from what she was doing and smiled. "My boyfriend, Ross, who I told you all about, got in yesterday."
Claudia grinned and nodded. "So, I was right, you did get some?"
Rachel shook her head. "Not exactly. We were making out on the bed and was about to go there, but Emma started crying because of a dream and our fun was over."
Claudia was shaking her head. "Goes to show you that time is limited, especially if you have kids. I guess what I hear is true...once you have kids, your sex life becomes less because you always get interrupted when you're almost getting to the good stuff."
"Hey, our sex life is...You know what, I'm not having this conversation with you." Rachel retorted back. "Besides, when are you going to get a boyfriend that you're serious about?"
Claudia giggled. "At this point, not now. It'll be years before that happens. I'm just twenty-three and there's more to see out there, if you know what I mean." Claudia winked and Rachel shook her head.
"Well don't wait too long to find Mister Right. Look at me, I'm thirty-four and I'm still not married." Rachel said in a somewhat of a depressing tone.
Claudia rolled her eyes. "Oh please, at least you found someone who you know you'll want to spend the rest of your life with. It's not like you still have to go out to look for him. And besides, you already have a beautiful daughter and I think that marriage will come quicker than you think."
Rachel shrugged as she wondered if what Claudia said is true. "We'll see."
"So when will I meet this Ross guy?"
Rachel raised an eyebrow and looked at her suspiciously. "Don't you have to go back to work or something?" She questioned.
Claudia took a quick glance at her watch. "Nah, I'm just going to take my lunch break now. Wanna come?"
Rachel glance around her desk with mountains of files and shook her head. "I don't think I have time for a quick bite to eat outside."
Claudia stood up. "Come on you workaholic. Join me for lunch, it'll still be there when you get back."
Rachel shook her head. "That's okay. If I go, the pile would probably grow and besides, I have an apple."
Claudia finally decided to give up and headed towards the door. "Fine, suit yourself."
Claudia just stepped out of the room, just as a man with dark hair and brown eyes entered. She's intrigued with this unknown man and stands in the doorway with the speculation that this may be that "Ross" guy Rachel been talking about non-stop.
"Hey Rach." Ross greeted. "I was wondering if you would join me for lunch."
Rachel looked around her desk and knew that she really shouldn't, but it was with Ross, so she couldn't turn him down. She smiled and nodded her head. "Sounds good."
"Ah ha, so you must be Ross." Claudia stated as she walked towards him. "Only you would be able to pry her away from work when she's worried about the load to be done."
Ross smiled as he shook her hand. "I guess I'm a popular topic around the office."
Claudia smiled. "Yes, you are. Nice to meet you Ross and I'm sure I'll see you at the office often." Claudia winked at him before finally exiting and had Rachel shaking her head at that girl.
"She seems nice." Ross said as Rachel walks around the desk to meet him, smiling and giving him a quick peck on the lips.
"She is, but sometimes, too much of a slacker."
Ross entwined his hand with hers and sweetly smiled. "I liked the note."
Rachel grinned. "Really?"
"Yeah and I promise to sleep in bed this time."
Rachel giggled at the tone of his voice as it seemed to be a bit boyish in her mind. She smiles as she looks at him in his deep brown eyes that she would always get easily lost in years ago and still would until this day forward. "So where to you want to go for lunch?" She sweetly asked.
Ross smiled. "I've got an idea."
It was a beautiful, cool day in the park as Ross and Rachel enjoyed their sandwiches on a bench in a nearby park. Ross just took his last bite and continues to drink his soda. He looks ahead and sees his two children on the playground. Emma is on the swing for toddlers and Ben is pushing her, having fun with his little sis. Ross smiles widely at the sight and Rachel is still a little bit unease about the whole thing.
"Ross, can you please get Emma away from swings? Her hair is getting too long for her to ride it." Rachel asked, worried.
Ross looked at her, trying to see if she's really serious. "Are you still not over being scared of the swings?"
"Well, are you still scared of spiders?" She retorted back.
Ross pondered that question for a while, then stood up, defeated. "Fair enough."
Ross picks up Emma from the swings as Ben heads towards the jungle gym after getting approval from his father. Ross sits next to Rachel on the bench and sits Emma in her stroller as Rachel throws her rubbish in a paper bag.
"So, what are we doing for Emma's birthday this year?" Ross asked.
Rachel shrugged. "Just have something simple at the apartment. Too bad things didn't work out that we all could be together."
"I know, but this year feels so..." Ross paused as he tried to find the right words to describe what he's feeling.
Rachel smiled sweetly as she knows what he's talking about. "Special." She finished. "I'm bummed that the gang couldn't come or vice-versa, but I kind of like that it's just the parents and her brother celebrating her birthday with her. "
Ross smiled as he held her hand, staring straight in her eyes. "Me too."
In, out. In, out.
Ross could always sit on a chair nearby and watch his daughter peacefully sleep for hours. He would still be in awe that that's really his daughter that he created with his dream girl and always considered himself bless with what he has now. She just turned two today and Ross can't believe how fast she's growing up. He doesn't know what it is, but he would always find watching babies sleep soothing as he always would do whenever he had Ben for a day.
He turns his attention to the object that had Emma holding on tightly as if someone could take it away from her and smiled as he thought about the person who gave her the gift. Emma held on tightly to the original Hugsy that her Uncle Joey was finally willing to give that Rachel could've swore that she did pack that in one of the boxes when she was preparing to move the first time. That gift seemed to be all that mattered and Emma was ecstatic to receive it as she didn't show that much enthusiasm compared to the other gifts. Even with the stuffed animals, the money, or the toys, it was all about the Hugsy.
Ross takes one last moment with Emma and decides to head back to bed. He stands up and gives a kiss to her forehead.
Before heading out of the room completely, he checks up on Ben and also see that he's out like a light bulb. Seeing that his blanket is almost completely off his body, he re-tucks him like he did earlier and gave him a kiss on the forehead as well before leaving.
Walking to the room right next door, he yawns and he knew that he was ready for bed. He enters and he finds Rachel sleeping, sitting up with her back against the headboard. The lamp near her was still on and she had a open file on her lap with the point of the pen still on the legal pad. Ross chuckled. He would usually find her in the same scenario whenever he had his insomnia nights for the past week and would always put her things away to tuck her in bed, not like he mind anyway.
Once he put her work stuff in her briefcase and turned off the lamp, he would put her in a comfortable position and join her on the right side of the bed. Once he slid underneath the covers, it was like she knew he was there and would automatically cuddle. Ross still preferred to have his space when they slept, but he would take the cuddling any day rather than not have her in his arms at all.
After all of the things that happened with Rachel, Ross is happy to be where he's currently at. He knows that this time around, they are going to have to work a bit harder at their relationship because of the distance being a factor, but he have confidence that they have the maturity to handle it. He has to admit that a little bit of fear and doubts still creep in the back of his mind, but he usually shakes it off and use the picture that he painted in his mind years ago as a motivator to help him drive towards the future that he has always envisioned. It took years, a kid, and last minute declarations to have the two love-birds to finally admit that their love never died and he would fight to keep the best thing that happened in his life.
Although they haven't been together for a month yet, he has to admit that he started to think about the future again, especially on the plane over. A boy, a girl, and possibly a dog in front of a house in the suburbs are still in the picture. As well as the kids fighting over the science section in the newspaper and his wife smiling proudly at the life they have. Ross could see it now and he knew that in his picture, his wife was Rachel.
Ross shakes himself out of daydream land and he mentally scolds himself. 'It's too sudden. Not even a month yet,' he always reminded himself before he lets his imagination get the best of him.
Hmm...maybe this time, the picture is closer than he thinks.
So...What you think? I know Emma rarely talks on the show, but I tried to have her speak some dialogue that I hope is believable for a child who is almost two.
I'll check to see how much people are reading and leaving a review, but just to let you know that if I feel that not enough people are reading it, I would probably pull the plug after posting approximately three chapters and not too much time and work would be wasted. Good or bad...review because that's the only way I'll learn. Thanks and I can't stress it enough...Leave a review please (seriously on my knees and begging).
