April 26th, it was hard to believe that it was a whole year ago since they had gotten together again, not only that, but a year since Monica and Chandler had the twins and had moved to their new house, 'oh, do you have to go to work today?' Rachel moaned as Ross picked up his briefcase and began to put on his blazer. 'I do sweetie, man I wish I didn't have to but I have 2 classes to teach today, but I promise to come home early so we can spend time together before we go out with the parents..' he laughed, tonight was going to be quite comical, both of their parents in the same room together, but it was all for their engagement, so they wanted to celebrate it. They were supposed to have the celebration a few months back, but they never quite got round to it, and plus, now they had a wedding date to tell their parents. 'Double promise?' she asked him, getting up to give him a kiss before work,' Double promise…' he told her, before they kissed for a few moments, 'will that do you for the day?' she asked him. He nodded, 'sure will, but if not. I'm sure I can just go and get a sugar from one of the female lecturers…' he joked, 'you dare…' she threatened him. He laughed, 'I wouldn't think about it, I have everything right here…' looking at her then at their 2 year old daughter who was busy eating her breakfast in her high chair. 'Bye Emma…' he said, kissing her on the head, before saying goodbye to Rachel before heading off to work. 'Ring me if you need me…' he told her, one more kiss, and he was out of the house, leaving Rachel and Emma on their own for the day. Rachel still had a job, but had decided to work at home from now on as it was easier with Emma and her workplace was so far from the new house, it worked better for everyone, plus, she got more work done at home surprisingly. 'Right, we'll get you in the bath Emma, then mummy has to do some work, you can watch a film if you want sweetie..' she told her daughter, 'and mummy is going to ring auntie Monica today, I'll have to put you on the phone to her, she'll love to hear from you Emma'. Emma squealed, 'Monica!' Emma yelled, she had a habit of repeating everything they said lately, they had to be careful of any swear words in the house at the moment, 'that's right, Monica, you haven't seen her since you were one year old sweetie.' Rachel explained to her. As she lifted her daughter from the high chair, the phone began to ring. 'Oh…' She wasn't expecting any calls, but she had an idea that maybe it was Monica.

'Hello.' Rachel answered, the phone in one hand and her daughter in the other who was now pulling at her mother's hair.

'Rach! Its me, Monica.' she heard her friend say, 'Do you have time to talk sweetie?' she asked her, sounding a little stressed.

'Sure thing Mon, I have Emma with me so I'll do my best to concentrate on the conversation…' she joked. 'How are you?' she asked, the last time they had spoken on the phone was 3 weeks ago when Rachel had shared the news of the wedding with them, it was only then when herself and Ross had decided on a definite date. 'I'm good Rach, a lot on at the moment, probably like yourself huh?'

Rachel laughed. 'Just a bit… but I'm getting used to life in Scarsdale now!' She told her, 'Its beautiful here, you should come visit…' She suggested.

'I was actually going to suggest something like that, we all need to meet up one time, Its hard to believe we haven't all seen each other in such a long time…oh hey, I spoke to Phoebe the other day, she told me about her mom…' Monica told her.

Rachel let out a big sigh, 'I hope she pulls through, Phoebe was broken hearted when she told me, I think if she pulls through it will make Pheebs want to keep in touch, things like this happen for a reason…'

'Yeah, I know what you mean. I just hope everything gets better for her, and her and Mike have had to put off having children again because they're not finding enough time for each other with Mike's new job…'

'Oh, she didn't mention that to me…' Rachel was distracted by Emma tugging at her hair again, 'Mon, can you hold on a moment? Emma is wanting attention…' She put the phone down and saw to her daughter, 'You sit in your pen sweetie while I talk to your aunt Monica…' Emma did as she was told, 'That's a good girl…' Rachel praised her, before getting back to Monica who was probably getting a little impatient now for a good chat with her best friend. 'Right…I'm all yours now' Rachel told her, 'so where were we?'

Rachel carried out the washing basket in her right arm, Emma was asleep in her crib so now was the time to do the washing then hopefully get on with her work which was more important. The phone call with Monica reminded her how much she actually missed her, and everyone else for that matter, they hadn't seen each other in such a long time and Rachel certainly wanted to see them soon, all together.

'Lovely day huh?' she heard somebody say from behind her, she turned around to see a woman perhaps in her 50's, dark brown hair with a young child in her arms. Rachel put the basket of clothes on the floor and made her way over to the friendly lady who she had only laid eyes on a few times before, 'It is lovely…' She agreed.

'Marie Burke, nice to meet you…' the lady introduced herself, holding out her hand to shake Rachel's, 'and this is my grandson, Joshua.' The child couldn't have been more than 2 years old, maybe Emma's age exactly. 'Nice to meet you Marie, my name is Rachel Greene… I've seen you a few times before but never really got the chance to say hello so I'm glad to meet you today, we don't know many people around here…'

'Well, feel free to come round to see me anytime, myself and my husband Richard would love to have visitors, we don't have children in the home much these days, or anybody for that matter…'

'Richard you say? I used to know a Richard Burke…' Rachel told her, 'Probably coincidence though…' She figured, 'myself and my fiancé would be more than happy to get to know you, maybe come round for a cuppa one day, who knows…' Rachel said.

'Fiancé? Oh congratulations dear, and you have a little one am I correct?'

Rachel nodded, 'A little girl yes, her names Emma' she told her proudly, 'she's asleep at the moment, gives me a bit of time to get my work done, and Ross, my fiancé is busy at work…. we're going out tonight so we've hired a nanny to look after Emma for this evening…'

'I'm looking after this little one this weekend, my daughter has gone away with her husband for the weekend, so I offered to look after him…'

Rachel smiled, 'Well, I hope you don't mind but I should get back to work, it was lovely meeting you'. The woman smiled, 'Yes dear, lovely meeting you too, I'll tell my husband your name and see if he knows your name, it mightn't be a coincidence after all…' Rachel laughed, 'Would be very strange if it were the Richard I knew, but let me know Marie…' she went back over to the washing line to put up the clothes, not being able to stop wondering whether it was the Richard she knew those years ago, the same Richard who used to be the love of Monica's life. Anyhow, the woman seemed very friendly; there was nothing nicer than to have friendly neighbours.