This story might seem a little awkward at times, because I had the entire thing planned out (it was extremely confusing) and then decided to change the entire plot line. I don't know why I wanted to…I just did. So it's shorter and a lot different compared to my original idea. So…yeah. Smiles! And I also had to find my song for it…I'm thinking Maroon5's "Secret", but I'm not sure.
Chapter 3
Rachel unlocked to the door to her and Ross' apartment. She sighed as she saw the familiar, warm signs of Ross- the fake fossils, the paleontologist magazines, and most of all, the pictures. One or two were of Rachel and Ross together; she picked one up and looked rather longingly at it. Ross had his arm around her and was grinning; she was smiling and looking up at him. Rachel placed the frame back down and closed the door, collapsing on the couch.
She looked down at her stomach and frowned; would she feel this way about Ross if it hadn't been for little Baby Geller?
Baby Green-Geller, she reminded her self. Only Baby Geller if we were married…
She snatched up one of her magazines that was lying on the table; she wouldn't think about that. She'd received advice from her two best friends: don't tell Ross. But she wanted to so bad, and she had a strange feeling that he would feel the same way…
Who else could she ask? Joey was rather biased; he was in love with her, after all. And Chandler…well, he was Chandler. Perhaps she should just listen to Monica and Phoebe…
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Ross tossed his keys onto the coffee table and Rachel jolted awake. Ross cringed as Rachel slowly turned to him, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up, Rach!"
Rachel stared at him for a minute or so and Ross felt one of her lectures on how she-was-carrying-his-baby-and-he-should-respect-that speeches coming up. Instead, she pointed to the chair, "Sit."
Ross sat, nervous. She had never asked him to sit before; this wasn't going to be pretty. The pregnancy had brought a change over her, which Ross knew was normal, having seen both Carol and Phoebe pregnant. But Rachel was much different; sometimes she would yell at him, and then the next moment she'd cry and say that she was sorry.
"Ross, we need to talk."
"Uh…okay," he said, rather startled that she wasn't yelling.
Rachel took a deep breath and looked up at Ross, "OK, so we're having this baby…"
Ross nodded.
"You know how…whenever we try 'us'," she started, using air quotes, "It always turns out…crazy!" she added, waving her arms through the air for effect.
Ross frowned at her strange behavior, "Sure…"
"It was always, 'We were on a break!', 'No, we weren't!', 'Yes, we were!', and then there was Paolo, and Barry, and then there was Emily…but now, we're having a baby together, and I keep thinking about…about…about us. And I really want…no, I need to tell you this…even if Monica and Phoebe think it's the wrong thing to do, who cares? I mean this is us, not them, right?"
Ross was rather taken aback, "Yeah, it is. But…what is it that you have to tell me?"
Rachel pushed a stray hair behind her ear and locked eyes with Ross, "Ross…I think I'm in love with you."
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Chandler Bing entered his apartment, whistling, "Mon?"
Monica appeared from their bedroom, holding a vacuum, "Oh my god, I have to tell you something!"
Chandler frowned worriedly and moved towards her, "What is it?"
"Actually…I can't tell you."
"OK," he shrugged, and flopped down on the couch.
"RACHEL'S IN LOVE WITH ROSS!" Monica shouted, and Chandler jumped up in shock.
"She's…she's what?"
"She told me today, after you left. I told her not to tell him…but who knows if she'll listen to me?" she paused as she looked out the window, aghast, "SHE'S TELLING HIM!"
Both rushed over and stared out the window. After a moment or so, Chandler said quietly, "You know, they do live together, they could just be talking."
Monica hit him lightly over the head and continued to watch the scene across the street.
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"OK, I know…it's big news…You can just think about it and talk to me when you're ready," Rachel added softly to the shocked Ross.
Ross' eyes were wide as he stared straight as the table, but not really seeing it.
Rachel watched Ross in exasperation for five minutes; how could he possibly just sit there and not say anything? For the first time, her heart filled with dread; what if they were right? What if Ross didn't feel the same and they were awkward around each other? She would lose one of her closest friends, for one. The baby's future would be even more screwed up than it was at the current moment, also.
"OK, OK, you gotta say something," Rachel snapped, throwing down the magazine she'd been holding.
Ross broke from his trance and stood, trying to think of what to say, "What the, how did, what the! I thought…what the…" he began to pace across the room, "I thought you…but you were…we were over each other…baby…mistake! How did, when? Why…hell…"
He was now pacing very fast, rubbing his temple, muttering and every once a while an audible word came out. On his ninth time across the living room, he tripped on a shoe and fell face-first on the hard floor. Letting out a yelp of pain, he jumped back up and Rachel stood, "Are you OK?"
"Don't…don't…don't come near me, you lover!" Ross shouted as Rachel approached him. He backed away from her, "How…when?"
"I guess a few months ago I started to…develop those feelings…again," she added. Then she continued, crossing her arms as he continued to back away and trip over his feet, "Look, Ross, I don't need you to… reciprocate the feelings or anything. I just thought…I just thought it was the right thing to do. We're…we're having this baby together…and we need to know where the other stands, right?"
Ross looked at her for a moment, then nodded and stepped forward carefully, "Thanks…for telling me."
He pulled her into a hug, and she fought back tears. He doesn't feel the same…they were right…
"Rach?" he said cautiously as they ended the hug.
"Mmm?" Rachel said, brushing away tears.
"Is it OK…" he began, and then she felt something she'd missed desperately. He took a step forward and lightly put his lips on hers. She kissed him back, and it deepened.
Oh…my…god…she thought, her mind going blank.
He broke the kiss and smiled at her. He finished his sentence, "if I do that?"
She smiled back at the man she loved, "Anytime."
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Chandler blinked. Did Ross and Rachel just…were they…?
"Oh my god," Monica muttered under her breath as she watched the kiss end, "Did they just kiss?"
"You know, you'd think so," Chandler said rather shakily, "But I think those are their evil twins."
"This is one of those times where I'm glad I was wrong," Monica said happily, brushing away the tears of happiness for her brother and best friend.
Chandler turned her with a grin and kissed her. She smiled back at him after the kiss, then they both turned back to the window. Just as soon, they turned away.
"Didn't need to see that!"
"Nope!"
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"So, we're going to start things up again, and hopefully it'll all work out this time," Rachel finished, and smiled at Ross.
The six were seated in Central Perk. Phoebe, Chandler, and Monica were beaming at the new couple; Joey was staring at his coffee mug.
"Joey?" Rachel said softly.
He looked up, "Yep?"
"I know that this is a little hard for you…Are you okay?"
Joey gave her and Ross a reassuring grin, "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." When the other five gave him unsure looks, he continued, "Look, I know, I fell in love with you… but you and Ross…well…everyone thinks you're perfect together, so… I'm just happy for you."
"Thanks, Joe," Ross said, and gave Rachel a kiss.
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Mmmm I think I'm done here. So anyway, please review…R/R forever, yay go lobsters! And I had to sneak a little Mondler in there, I'm even more of a Mondler shipper than R/R…so R/R and Mondler forever, with some P/J on the side:good dinner: Thanks for all reviews…that stupid tree:hates Richard: Anyway, I know i finished it soon, but I'm moving on to a deeper, darker, much longer AU fic...bwahaahaha but there's R/R and Mondler in there too, so hopefully ye will like. When I post it.
