It's storming bad, so a quick A/N. Thanks for the reviews, and I hope you all like this chapter. I think you may. :)

"I have some news..."

Dr. Clemens continued, "Everything seems to be okay."

Ross and Rachel both breathed heavy sighs of relief at the news. Neither of them knew that five words could change their lives so much, but both felt amazingly blessed to have their child be healthy.

"We have a clear heartbeat on the sonogram, and the baby's blood pressure and heart rate are normal. You both are quite lucky to have survived that. Rarely does this happen, I must say. Someone up there must think that you three deserve a second chance," Dr. Clemens smiled.

Rachel buried her face deeper into Ross's comforting shoulder and let her tears release the agony that had been trapped within her. Tears melted into his shirt and soaked her hair, but neither cared. "Oh thank you so much," she managed to whisper gratefully.

Looking up at the nurse, Ross agreed. "Thank you so very much for giving us that news. You've definitely made our...lives."

Tapping her clipboard nervously, Dr. Clemens frowned. "Well, there IS more to it. You see, now that the baby has been through such trauma, there is a greater risk for the child being mentally ill or having some sort of problem."

Their hearts plummeted.

"But on the bright side, a child with special problems isn't unhealthy. All the tests we ran were very good, but there is just a slight chance that something may have happened to the baby on impact. Honestly, I don't know how everything here was fine, but...well, there are miracles. There are some tests we can run to tell you if the child will have any special needs, but we strongly recommend against it."

It only took one powerful look for both Ross and Rachel to know what they wanted to do.

"No," Ross spoke up. "We'll love the baby no matter what it's like. We're just happy that the baby will be born healthy...won't it?"

"God-willing," Dr. Clemens replied. "Again, a baby with special needs isn't unhealthy. Just different and wonderful in their own way. You made the right choice."

"I'm just so happy the baby is okay," sniffed Rachel. "I just couldn't...couldn't do this." Her voice trailed off as she cast her eyes downward, studying the far-from-intricate patterns crisscrossing the scratchy beige material of the comforter.

"I know," whispered Ross, rubbing circles with his hand soothingly across her back.

"No you don't...we need to talk."

Dr. Clemens sensed that she needed to make her departure. "Well, Ms. Green, I'll check in with you tomorrow. Press the button by your bedside if you need anything. Anything," she stressed. "If you two have any more questions, just let me know." She headed towards the door.

Just when they thought she was gone, Dr. Clemens peeked her head back in. "And by the way, congratulations. In a few months, you'll both be the proud parents of a very blessed, beautiful little girl. The sonogram told all," she smiled. Finally, she exited.

Excitedly, Ross grabbed Rachel's hand. "Did you hear that? We're having a girl!"

She simply stared blankly out the window and watched the smoke from the roof swirl around the thick night sky and get entangled somewhere between the few dusty stars and heavy clouds. Opaque blackness surrounded everything else.

"Aren't you excited? Everything's great! We have each other, a healthy baby girl...what more could we possibly want? ...Rach?"

"She would be two now," murmured Rachel.

"Who," Ross asked, confused. "Who would be two, sweetie?"

"My daughter."

Jaw dropping, Ross felt his mouth go dry. "Your...who?"

"My daughter, Ross," she explained, as if it were so obvious.

"Since when do you have a daughter?"

"Since about three years ago when my fiancee and I found out we were going to have a baby. A girl." She smiled off into the distance, eyes misting in sweet remembrance. "Her name was going to be Jenna."

"What...what happened? What about the father...What?" Ross was at a loss for words.

"His name was Dave," she cringed. "And I don't know what happened to him. I hope to God he is burning in Hell."

He kissed the top of her head and smoothed her golden hair. "Why don't you tell me what happened?"

"I don't want to tell you."

"How come?"

"You may think less of me if I do..."

He watched her brush her golden hair away from her face. Softly, she rubbed her stomach and stared at the blank wall, face tearful.

Her mere presence lit up his life for the few days he'd known her. She was a glowing angel. His angel.

"That's not possible."

"Alright," she sounded unsure. "About four years ago, I met Dave. I was just out of high school. Stupid...vulnerable...insecure and wanting to be loved. He seemed sweet at the time, always bringing me flowers and stuff. I thought it was fate, you know?" She shook her head in dismay. "I was so stupid."

"No you weren't. You were young," Ross whispered softly. "We've all been there."

"Not like I have, though. Nothing like I have."

Ross wondered what could have happened to her, and wished that there was some way to reverse things, but it wasn't possible. All he could do was be her shoulder to cry on.

"It wasn't long before we moved in together. I grew up in Beverly Hills, he lived in a dingy L.A. apartment...needless to say my family thought I was crazy for moving in with him, but I didn't listen. Love is blind, they said. And apparently, so was I. Before long, the pressures of a young relationship took its toll, and he began drinking a lot...and beating me."

Ross gasped as Rachel started to cry from the painful memories that ripped at her heart.

"I know...it's terrible to hear, and to live...trust me on that one. It was like the first real relationship I'd been in, and I didn't really know that was abnormal or anything. Looking back, it was so obvious. He had a dead end job, I was a waitress...we were hopeless kids. And the next thing I knew, I was pregnant at 21. I thought it'd be okay, you know? Fun, in a way. Well, I was about five months along when Dave came home, rip-roaring drunk. He had lost his job, and was so mad...so mad. He started beating me...saying that...saying that if I didn't get knocked up then we wouldn't need the money as bad and he could just leave..." Rachel started sobbing. "And he hit me in the stomach...the baby was too much trouble...but I loved her. I tried to leave, but the more I resisted, the harder he hit me. The next thing I knew, I miscarried."

"Oh my God...that's awful," Ross choked as he felt tears identical to hers spring to his own eyes.

"And the worst part is, it was my fault!" She buried her head in her fragile hands.

"What?! Sweetie, how on EARTH is that YOUR fault?"

"Well, I WAS the one who got pregnant, and I WAS the one who lost the baby. And I DID leave him after that."

"But it's NOT your fault! You should in NO way struggle with guilt over something this horrific. He beat YOU. You both took part in making the baby. I can't do anything now but tell you not to blame yourself. You are the most wonderful, kind, giving woman I've ever met, and nothing- NOTHING- could ever change my views on that. I- I love you."

Her head titled up, lips parting wide. "You...what?"

"I love you," he said more confidently. "It's NOT too soon, and these feelings are real. I don't care what you say now. This IS fate, and nothing will stop us now. You were right."

"Oh...oh my God...I love you, too!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on his lips.

As his skin grazed hers, they realized something- they felt complete.

----

After a few moments of realizations, Ross pulled away, realizing that a few pieces of the puzzle were scattered. "What ever happened after you left Dave?"

"I don't know where he is...but I moved back with my parents. I left last December because I knew I needed a change of scenery. There were too many painful memories of what could have, and should have, been. They don't even know I'm pregnant now, or how I'm doing."

"You probably need to talk to them, Rach."

"I know."

"If you ever see Dave again, you could press charges."

"Yeah...but I'm afraid of what he would do to me now. I can't lose another baby, Ross. I just can't deal with it again."

"I understand," he kissed her fluttering eyelashes.

"I'm just so scared of being hurt again, Ross. That's why I was so reluctant to be with you."

"I'll never ever hurt you. This much I can promise. As long as you're with me, I promise to give you my all...and nothing less."

She smiled and ran her fingertip gently across his chin. "Promise?"

"You're all I've waited for my whole life, and I'm not about to lose you now."

More to come soon, please review!

Mel