The darkened apartment looked different tonight as a Pottery Barn sheet covered the table in the living room. Some of the larger dinosaur knick knacks were stashed under the bed. Emma had been packed up and sent to her YaYa s house. Everything had to be perfect.

The shower glass was steamed up as he sang , though not well.

Girl you're every woman in the world to me

You're my fantasy , you're my reality

Girl you're every woman in the world to me

You're everything I need , you're everything to me , oh girl.

Stepping from the shower, he wrapped a large towel around his waist and shook his dark brown hair. Running his hands through the wet mass of hair, he started for his closet. Looking through the racks of shirts, he pulled a salmon shirt and a pair of khaki slacks. When dressed, he walked over to the floor length mirror on the back of the door. "Not bad, he thought. Not bad at all for 37 and two kids." It almost seemed with Ross that his looks improved with age. He listened carefully as the door opened and he could hear that Rachel was home.

She was so exhausted, boy could that distributor make up excuses why the pants weren't in Milan. Then on the subway home, she was next to a homeless guy who wouldn't stop talking to himself. Ah life in New York, she laughed to herself. She slowly opened the door and saw the dark apartment illuminated by candlelight. "Great another blackout." she immediately thought.

Looking to the side, she saw Ross standing up against the door of the kitchen. He held two glasses of wine and handed one to her.

"No lights, what 's going on Geller?" she said as she started to take a sip.

"Oh no, Rach, first a toast." he said as he moved the glass from her lips. "To getting off the plane." he said as he smiled.

"Ross that isn't for five more days. Besides I told you we weren't going to make that big of a deal. It's Jack and Erica's day." Rachel said as she sipped her wine. "Now I needed that." she said as she plopped onto the brown leather couch.

"Rachel that was one of the happiest nights of my life. I can remember being exactly where you were on that couch and listening to my answering machine. I remember hearing your voice say I love you and wanting to pack a bag and get the next flight to Paris." Ross said with tears in his voice.

"But you didn't need to , did you?" she said softly as she put her hand on his.

"No everything I have wanted since I was fifteen came back to me . Rachel it may not be special to you, but it is to me. I wanted to give you this tonight." he said as he gave her a small box with a red ribbon on it.

"This is so sweet of you." Rachel smiled as she pulled the ribbon off the box.

"And you can't exchange it." he laughed.

"Oh come on Ross I haven't done that for years, well maybe the scarf you got me for Christmas, but paisley is so out." she said as she pulled out the airline tickets.. "Barbados?" she said surpised.

"You need a vacation and I thought it would be nice for just the two of us to go away for our one year anniversary. Emma will be with Monica and Chandler for the party." Ross said as he put his arm around Rachel.

"Barbados, but that is where we went with everyone and you and Charlie and me and ….." Rachel said. Anxiously

"This is just about us. A way to start over and make our own memories there. I remember how you wanted to go outside and lay in the sun and couldn't because of the rain. I happen to know the next week the Weather Channel said that the temperature is going to be in the eighties and sunny in Barbados. We can cuddle on the beach and go swimming , dine in the tropical moonlight and go dancing, maybe even go snorkeling." Ross said .

Rachel started to giggle, "Snorkeling, you?"

"Hey there was a lot of mineral deposits down in the ocean that I learned about and I am not as big of a coward as you think." said Ross defensively. Turning away from the discussion , he cleared his throat. "Besides that isn't the only thing I want to give you tonight." he said softly. "Provided that you want it, that is."

"You know I love presents." she squealed. Looking around her, she couldn't see it. "Where is it?" she asked.

He slowly got up from the couch and walked over to her. Sinking to his knees , she gasped.

"Ross." she whispered.

He took her dainty hand and held it like she was the lifeline he needed. Twenty years passed like light years as she waited for that special moment. A moment he had imagined a million times in his head. He wanted there to be stars in the sky, but her eyes were filled with enough stars for a lifetime. He reached up to gently brush a tear from her lash.

"Why are you crying Rach?" he asked in that way of his.

"I don't know." she smiled.

"Rachel, you came into my life when I had given up on love. You were the friend I needed, the woman I loved, the lover who made me a man again, it tore my heart apart when I realized how much I had hurt you. Even though I tried to forget you and tried to love another woman, I couldn't . You were the woman I measured all others from.

You are the mother of my child and you are my heart and my soul, and my lobster. I can't imagine you not being there when I get up in the morning and I can't imagine you not being in my arms when we go to sleep at night. . .Rachel Karen Green , will you do me the honor this evening and say you will be my wife…" he said as his voice shook.

Rachel took her hands from his and wiped her eyes. "Oh my God, yes Ross, I will." she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Slowly they stood up still kissing. His hands flowed through her golden brown hair and her arms wrapped themselves tighter around his neck. He bent down and threw her into his arms as she squealed.

Carrying her into their bedroom, she noticed the candles on the floor and on the dresser. He laid her on the red satin sheets as a small pile of rose petals cushioned her landing.

Pouring her a glass of champagne, he took the ring from the box in his pants and placed it on her finger. That wasn't even the real surprise and it would such a lovely way to celebrate her getting off the plane.