Rachel exited the bathroom, almost ready to go out for their dinner reservation for 6oclock, 'Hunny, how do I look?' she asked Ross, who was sat with Emma on the sofa. She was wearing a strapless black dress; her hair was pushed to the side with a slide.
'You look amazing Rach…' he told her, his eyes fixed on her sexy figure. 'You really do…'.
Rachel checked herself in the mirror, 'I'll just do my makeup and then we can go yeah sweetie? When is Phoebe coming over to mind Emma?' she asked him, applying her lipstick.
'She said 5.30, and I think she's bringing mike too, they're back together…'
'Finally she made a decision…'
'So you knew? I didn't even knew Mike was back on the scene.' Ross told her, 'Last to know huh?' He stood up from the chair, Emma over his shoulder as he continued to wind her, 'Do you think they'll be able to handle this one?' Ross asked her.
Rachel finished off her makeup, 'I'm sure they will, I mean…I can do it' she joked, 'you'll be good wont you sweetheart?' she said to Emma who was now reaching out for her mother. 'Come to mummy?' she said, taking her from Ross's hands. Emma wrapped her chubby arms around her mother's neck, pulling onto her hair.
'I'll just go and…'
The door knocked.
'That will be phoebe…' Rachel realised, 'I'll get it…'
Ross finished off his sentence, 'I'll just go and get our coats, before trailing off to the bedroom.
Phoebe and Mike were indeed together, and looking very happy indeed. 'Come in you guys…' Rachel said, 'So I take it you took my advice?' she said to Phoebe.
The couple nodded, 'Yes, we had our talk…'
Phoebe was holding onto Mike's arm, squeezing his hand affectionately.
'Oh look at you two…just like teenagers!' Rachel joked, 'You don't mind looking after Emma do you?'
Phoebe shook her head, 'Of course not, I love taking care of Emma, and mike loves children…'
'I do love children…' Mike admitted, 'You guys have fun…' he told Rachel, as Phoebe took hold of Emma.
Ross came in from the bedroom, he and Rachel's coats in his hand. 'Hey Pheebs, Mike…' he said, walking over to Rachel to help her with her coat, 'we better go sweetie, don't want to be late for your dad huh?' he reminded her. 'He's such a nice man when he's angry.' He joked.
They were out of the apartment in seconds, Ross had to drag Rachel out as she was worried about leaving Emma once again, but if she knew what was in store for her tonight, she would have been more eager to get out. Unfortunately, she had no idea.
The restaurant was the same restaurant where they had came the last time, those years ago when they were dating. 'Brings back memories huh?' Ross reminded her, before pulling out her chair for her like the true gentlemen he always was. 'Sure does.' was all Rachel could say back to him. When she had sat down, Ross pulled his chair out to sit down too, he made sure that he was sitting opposite to her as he knew her father always wanted to be beside her, he wanted to be closer to his daughter, like he was proving some sort of point.
'He should be here soon, he promised not to be late.' Rachel said.
'Believe me Rach, I'm counting down the minutes till we leave this place…'
'Ross, don't worry about him, he's my father but he sure doesn't hate you sweetie….'
'But you know…'
'Please, for me…' she begged. She always got like this, she had an urgency for Ross to get on with her father, he put it down to the way her parents split up, she hated bad feelings between people or any type of awkwardness.
He reached out to her hand and squeezed it, 'Sorry sweetie, of course I'll make an effort…'. They shared a quick kiss before they heard a familiar voice behind them, 'Princess.' Mr Gellar greeted his daughter with a kiss on the cheek and a tight squeeze, 'how is my baby?' he asked, taking off his jacket and sitting down to the table, not yet acknowledging Ross's presence.
'I'm fine Daddy…'
'Good…'
'Hello Ross…' he said, finally taking notice of him, 'taking good care of my Rachel?' he asked, like he always would ask.
'Like always…'
'That's what I like to hear Gellar…right shall we order?'. Ross nodded, slightly surprised that he hadn't yet made a joke against him.
'I've decided on the chicken Daddy…' Rachel told me, 'Didn't you say you wanted the steak sweetie?' she asked Ross.
'I'll be having the lobster as usual…' Dr Gellar told them, 'You don't have lobster do you Gellar?'.
Ross shook his head, not yet being able to answer Rachel's question about his order, 'No lobster for me, I'll be having the steak as Rachel already said just now…'
'Right…. waiter'. He clicked his fingers, which was something Ross always saw as a rude gesture, but he always chose to keep his mouth shut, 'We'd like to order now…' he told the waiter now who was standing with a notepad and pen, waiting to take down the order. 'Yes Sir'.
Ross exchanged a look with Rachel, she could tell he was uncomfortable around her father and she really wished he would loosen up, she thought about making a conversation that both of them could discuss together as men, but everything she considered was somehow an opening for one of her fathers jokes. 'I'm just running to the ladies, Ross…why don't you tell dad about Emma walking the other day huh?' she asked him, hoping that the subject of their daughter and his granddaughter would only open up a positive atmosphere. She hurried off to the bathroom, leaving Ross with her father, hoping that they would get on while she was gone.