Disclaimer: Something wittily sarcastic about how the characters don't belong to me and how I'm not making a profit off them, but how they belong to Bright, Kauffman and Crane Productions.
A/N: Wrote a little Ross-Rachel anniversary story for an Everlasting Love contest over at Friends Boards. As for Emma's age, I'm going with her birthday being May 16 since that's when her birth episode aired (because May kids are "cooler," plus its a few days before mine). I've sort of also decided to merge (um, unintended "Mondler" reference) this story with By Your Side, since I like this a lot better than that one. Yeah, I'm fickle like that…
Five Words
"Sixth"
It's interesting and sardonic how life can change in a matter of minutes (seconds, really) – as if the sole purpose of living is so life could fuck you over and over. Yet, it's amazing how someone could go from one extreme to the polar opposite in a second or two – from a sense of depression and desperation to a euphoric state of mind.
Normally, any "I love you" would be enough to satisfy any conventional relationship. However, Ross Geller and Rachel Green were anything and everything but that. Besides, it's easy to say those words, but not necessarily mean them. Of course, when they did exchange them, it wasn't like they were nonchalantly tossed around like a father and son playing catch in the backyard.
However, he never thought five words would have more of an impact than any "I love you" he said to or heard from anyone – how these five words could affect him more. Ironically, a set of five words best described the tumultuous relationship which encompassed them: "on again and off again." Sure, they had their share of heated arguments every once in awhile – what couple doesn't? However, these days: there was a lot less of the off again.
The second the words were stated: it had easily supplanted yet another set of five words which he used as a defense mechanism whenever accused for his infidelity or the time that he had idiotically uttered the wrong phrase – actually, the wrong name – at the wrong wedding, which quickly turned it into the wedding from Hell. But none of that mattered now when their lives drastically changed for the better. When she received an offer she couldn't refuse, she declined anyway – though if he had gotten there a second later, she could've been cut out from his daily life… possibly forever.
So he'd never let her forget how much she would change his life by simply answering his rhetorical question, "I got off the plane."
XXX
He stirred sluggishly while she mumbled something incoherent into the pillow. She blanketed herself in the warm embrace of the comforter as it had been an unusually cold day in May.
The alarm clock blared, starting what become almost a routine for the past year. He put on a pair of boxers that had somehow established its residence to the floor the night before. Even to this day, it still seemed surreal that he would find himself in this situation again. Ross kissed his girlfriend of one year on her forehead, causing her to budge a bit, as he grabbed a towel on his way to the bathroom.
He also picked up her pajamas and his Frankie Say Relax shirt, which also lay randomly on the floor – a shirt that he'd given to her during their first go-round of dating. To say he was surprised she actually still kept the shirt, even after all these years, would be a huge underestimation. She truly did keep the things that mattered most to her. He put down some clothes next to her figure before checking on his – no, their – almost three-year old daughter. He wouldn't wake her up since she'd inherited from her mother among several things: the trait of not being a morning person although both had become better about that.
Opening her eyes, Rachel wrapped the blanket around her naked body, and then changed into the clothes next to her. She walked into the kitchen where she brewed coffee for the both of them – a talent she had undoubtedly become better at since running into and working for, ironically, a coffee shop. Wet wedding dress and all. She drew a slight gasp, seeing him walk out of the bathroom with towel wrapped firmly around his waist. How he could still have that effect on her after all these years, she didn't know – not that she's complaining or anything.
"I got kind of lonely," she said seductively, slightly above a whisper as she walked up to him. Her hands started on his hips, working their way up his chiseled chest, and eventually settling around his neck as their lips met and locked a passionate kiss, "but morning, Doctor Geller."
"You too," he replied simply, yet saying it with the utmost sincerity in his voice. "You do know what day it is today, right?"
"How could I forget? You've only reminded me every day since then…" she declared jokingly and smiled. "You think I would eventually get tired of it – or that it'd get old, but it doesn't."
Their tongues met, trying to establish positioning in the other's mouth. Like almost every kiss before this, it grew even more intensified, which would normally result in sex, but…
"Mommy!" the little girl screamed emphatically from inside her bedroom as both of her parents broke the kiss to simultaneously cock their heads in that direction. As he looking into and reading her gorgeously piercing blue eyes, he whispered, "Guess this'll have to wait until later tonight, Rach."
She nodded wordlessly before walking into their daughter's room, "What's wrong, Em?"
The three-year old pointed at the spider situated in the corner of her room. Rachel stifled a giggle, knowing why the little girl had specifically called her – and not her father to help. She reached for a tissue and dabbed at the corner, throwing the tissue in the garbage. "Go back to sleep, sweetie."
"Thank you, Mommy," she articulated politely, one of the traits she'd picked up from her father: the enunciation of every syllable.
"You're welcome, princess," her mother replied before closing the door.
She eyed Ross, who was already dressed and ready for a day of work. No matter how boring dinosaurs and paleontology (fine, science in general) were to her and the rest of the group: he was always incredibly passionate about and fascinated with the subject – but that became one of the many quirks she loved about him.
Ross dressed rather casually in a pastel-colored, long-sleeved shirt over a black argyle sweater and brown slacks. For awhile, he let his hair grow out a bit, but eventually cut it after several times she'd insisted (nagged, really). His hair slightly gelled in front just the way she liked.
Sharp, she thought. Then again, Ross had, for the most part, always been one of the sharpest dressed guys and not within their close group of friends – hideous Colonel Sanders' suit aside.
She observed him, "So, what are you and Emma doing today?"
"Well, nothing. I'm off from work this entire weekend – I've already discussed with my mom about dropping Emma off at her place for tonight, but we'll pick her up before going to Monica and Chandler's. So, tonight, it's just us – no interruptions," she divulged, walking up to him and taking in the aroma of his cologne, "which means I need the keys to the car."
XXX
Oh, right about that.
After turning down Louis Vuitton and Paris, Rachel decided that sure it would've been the opportunity of a lifetime, but it wouldn't have been a job she had necessarily earned. It had been, more or less, a job was handed to her from Mark's silver platter, which was the way things were most of her life – of course, she didn't mind the gesture of having a friend helping her out. She wanted a job that she could procure on her own merits and skills.
In fact, during the time off from work to take care of Emma, she questioned whether or not she actually "deserved" the jobs. She wondered about whether or not she got the Central Perk job because Gunther's feelings for her, the Bloomingdale job because Mark had eventually developed feelings for her but picked his spot to tell her – and she became weary about why Mr. Zelner hadn't fired her after all the incidents she'd encountered with him at Ralph Lauren.
Ross insisted she should get her job back at Ralph Lauren, but she'd told him that she'd already accomplished all she could there, causing them to teeter on having a fight. However, they both backed down and let her decide, knowing that this was the main reason for their break-up several years ago.
Anyway, she shopped around for a job – and received several offers from the more distinguishable fashion companies such as Saks, Prada, Donna Karan, Neiman Marcus and Dolce and Gabbana to namedrop a few. Shockingly, Gucci showed a renewed interest in her. However, she absolutely loved the Donna Karan job the most – and Ross, being the best boyfriend he could possibly be, supported her every step of the way, which even caught her off-guard.
XXX
"Sounds perfect," he chimed, echoing the same intonation as the day after their first date. "But what's for breakfast?"
Something they still weren't accustomed to – even after a year Monica and Chandler had moved to Westchester. They couldn't just simply barge into Apartment 20 nowadays. Well, they could – but their friends wouldn't be there anymore. And the current residents of the apartment had no sympathy or tolerance for it – as illustrated when they had called the cops after Joey had simply forgotten that the Geller-Bings no longer lived there.
"Let's face it, Ross," she paused to grab her purse on the apothecary table, "You and I and Emma know that I can't cook that well, so here's some cash – buy breakfast. Emma and I are probably going to get some McDonald's before going to my mom's."
He shook his head and chuckled, "Rachel Karen Green…"
"Shut up, Geller – you know you'll still love me," she lightheartedly cut him off, "just like you know that I love you – dinosaur knick-knacks and all."
Ross stood a few feet apart from where she was, resisting the increasing urge to simply forget about work and make love to her right then and there – and he would've if the semester weren't coming to a close. He walked up to her, gently lifted her chin and again gazed into her eyes – seeing she wanted the same – before kissing her fervently on the lips, giving her a preview for later tonight. The passion of their kiss deepened – not noticing that he'd picked her up, using his hands to support her ass as they rested on the small of her back and that she'd wrapped her legs around his torso. She instinctively pressed herself over his area. His muscles eventually gave way as they collapsed onto the couch, kissing him with her hands on his face and as she was about to rip off his clothes...
"Mommy, Emma hungry," the little girl shouted from the bedroom.
Not quite wanting to let go just yet, she tenderly bit his lower lip as they stayed in that position for what seemed like forever. He looked at her with his pouting brown eyes, "I'll see you later tonight."
XXX
Before heading to her mom's, she gave Emma a bath. She placed Emma in her highchair, turning on the television to cartoons as she fed her with the scrambled eggs Ross quickly whipped before leaving for work. After feeding Emma and putting her down for a nap, she got in the shower.
It never ceased to amaze Rachel how fast Emma had been growing up. Physically, she had every asset was all Rachel, except Emma's brown eyes. With her third birthday about a little less than two weeks away, Emma was incredibly smart for a toddler her age – both of which obviously, were inherited from Ross. Ah, her thoughts drifted back to, quite possibly, the only man she'd ever truly loved…
Speaking of Ross, Rachel could not have asked for a better father to raise their daughter. It used to tear her apart that she even thought about taking Emma to Paris, especially since she witnessed firsthand what he went through with Ben. However, since Ross was being passive about his feelings, she feared he had finally moved on, which is easier said than done for the both of them – until he showed up at Newark professing something she had subconsciously known for the longest time. As well as something she'd had been in denial about – or had buried deep down, she loved Ross as much as, if not more, he loved her if that was possible.
All the other guys she dated or slept with had been "right now guys," rather than "Mr. Right" – Ross had been the only guy she'd seen a long-term future with. Why not? He'd set the bar so high that every other guy she dated "post-Ross" (as she described it) had some gargantuan shoes to fill.
Another one year anniversary, she still hadn't received a proposal – not that she had been expecting one. On this anniversary, they both mutually agreed that they would not let history repeat itself, which was why she specifically requested the weekend off – and he would be off since he didn't have classes to teach on weekends.
And as much as Ross and Rachel wanted to go on a vacation to some gorgeous and exotic island, they decided that spending time with each other would suffice and that the materialistic things didn't matter. Okay, the latter part had been a lie – of course, they were tempted, but were, more or less, obliged to being at Jack and Erica's first birthday party after Monica and Chandler skipped out on Vermont to attend Emma's. It wouldn't have been fair to them. As long as it was romantic, it didn't matter how they spent their anniversary. Besides, now that they were in fact done being stupid, they would still have the rest of their lives for that – and everything else.
XXX
Since he finished teaching his classes for the day, he sat in his office contemplating about what to do for tonight. Of course, he had waited in case any student needed help with anything on the material he lectured about or on the term-paper due in a couple weeks.
Surprisingly, nothing – so he left earlier than expected. He knew he'd be able to get home and maybe cook something before Rachel got home from dropping Emma off at Sandra's. He decided to pick up some of their favorite movies and several bouquets of flowers, particularly her favorite: lilies.
Several skeptics thought Ross and Rachel would never last because they were "too different," yet apart from their occupations and her love for skiing, they weren't that much different. And others – Dr. Green, for instance – felt he should've never gotten another chance because he'd already cheated on her, but it just went to show how forgiving Rachel was and how she really had a good heart. And the rest felt that he was still stuck with the notion that he was still engrossed with this fixated image of Rachel. He wasn't going to lie about that, but his obsession was back in high school. People grow up. After all, if Chandler could overcome his fear of commitment, then why should people still be hung up about and single him out?
Yet, he felt a huge chip on his shoulder from those critics, and that this would eventually be his chance to silence and prove them all wrong…
XXX
Alright, so the cooking thing didn't go so well. Damn it, Ross mentally noted, I should leave most of the cooking up to Monica. Regardless of the cooking, he'd been able to get brand new red and velvety bed sheets with the lily petals scattered across them and bought enough vanilla-scented candles.
Sure, Ross was, at heart, a hopeless romantic – whether he wanted to admit it or not. But this, this was Rachel. And outside of Carol, she would be the woman he always loved. And he couldn't (and hated to) fathom or imagine the bottomless pit his life would've sunken to if Rachel remained on that plane.
It's funny how words can change someone so drastically, but that's exactly what happened to him. When you go through what he went through to get Rachel that night, the little things don't bother you… as much.
Keys jingled and clinked as they struggled to open the apartment door.
Rachel – in a tank-top, pair of tattered jeans and flip-flops – looked as radiant as ever.
"Hey you," she saw him, minus the sweater he'd worn earlier, tossed her purse and keys onto the table, "What time did you get here?"
"Since two," he responded, showing her the pots. "I tried cooking something, but that didn't go so well. So, take out?"
She nodded, "Chinese?"
"Yeah," Ross answered. "I also rented some movies – they're over there on the couch. Did you get a pedicure and manicure?"
"Of course, for tomorrow, honey," she smiled, seeing as how he'd noticed, picking out a different set of pajamas and a shirt from her gigantic closet. "Anyways, I gotta change. Aw, did you spend most of this afternoon, setting all this up? I thought we planned on doing something simple…"
"Right, you know that never would've worked," he playfully joked with her, which in turn was enough to earn him a teasing soft punch in the stomach before she walked into his arms and she planted a kiss on the cheek. "That's better."
"Ooh, Weekend at Bernie's – we're so watching that first… and Dangerous Liaisons," she replied, arching her eyebrow. "Wow, is someone looking to score tonight?"
He innocently shrugged as she picked up the phone to dial the Chinese restaurant.
XXX
Sometime between the end of Weekend at Bernie's and the end of Dangerous Liaisons, Rachel fell asleep on his chest – the two secured warmly in the blanket. He could feel her breathing as he ran his fingers through her hair and also noticed the smell – still coconut. He slowly got up to put one of his favorite movies in the DVD player. He never could understand what Joey saw in Die Hard. Sure, it was a good movie, but it wasn't worthy of multiple viewings and couldn't hold a candle to his favorite film: Pulp Fiction.
The movie continued to play as Rachel resumed laying her head back on his chest although he seemed more distracted this time with other thoughts.
He looked at her. He'd always thought Rachel was pretty – even in high school before her nose job. And when they were dating (and not dating, plus the hours she had been in labor), she was beautiful. There were also times where she'd be all dressed up and looked breathtaking, but it was moments like this where she'd be simplistically dressed and without make-up that he treasured most.
"...And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee," the character decreed through the television screen.
Someday, he hoped to utter the five words that had eluded him in the year dreamlike they were dating. Ross quietly mumbled to himself, "Rachel, will you marry me?" almost as if he had been reciting those words until the day he would eventually use them.
Hopefully, sooner than later… and this time he could use that same exact phrase spoken at the wrong wedding – and this time, not get in trouble for it.
Her lips rounded into a smile.
XXX
A/N II: Okay, so I couldn't resist mentioning a couple of my favorite movies. I'll try to have the next chapter up before the weekend is over, so review you cool people.
