Thanks so much for the reviews so far, I just hope I can do these characters justice!
Chapter Two – Happy Families
When Ross awoke the next day, he felt happy and at peace after a good night's sleep. But as he got out of bed, the events of the day before drifted back to him like a bad dream with the realisation that he had another child he never knew about, hitting him like a tonne of bricks.
He didn't know how he'd managed to keep it together for the rest of the day. After seeing Chloe and Rachel announcing that she was pregnant, his thoughts and emotions were all over the place.
He showered and dressed slowly, while constantly reliving yesterday's events in his mind. He couldn't get that little girl out of his head. Her eyes were his eyes. The colour and the shape; every last detail. He was, undoubtedly, her father, but how? And why didn't Chloe tell him. So many questions…
He finally finished dressing and went through to the kitchen to find Rachel singing nursery rhymes with Emma over breakfast.
Ross always beamed with love and pride inside whenever he saw his girls together, but today those feelings were tainted with trepidation. He was petrified that he was going to lose Emma and Rachel, once they found out about Chloe and Aimee. He was even more terrified about having to spring this news on Rachel now that she was carrying their unborn child.
Looking up and seeing Ross in the doorway, Rachel smiled broadly "Hey you"
"Hey" he said, smiling, almost relieved that Rachel couldn't read his mind and work out what was going on in his head.
"Daddy!" Emma leapt out of her chair and into Ross's arms. He scooped her up and, pushing aside a strand of her light brown hair, kissed her on the cheek.
"Morning angel" said Ross brightly as he squeezed his daughter tightly.
"Want some juice?" asked Rachel
"Sure" he replied plonking Emma back onto her chair. She pouted briefly before going back to scribbled on her colouring book.
"What are you doing for lunch?" Rachel asked as she handed him the juice
"Nothing. Why, do you wanna grab some food together?"
Rachel grinned "No, I have a doctors appointment, do you want to come with me?"
Putting down his glass, Ross smiled "Of course I want to!"
Emma looked up curiously "mommy, are you sick?"
Ross and Rachel looked at each other and smiled. "No baby" Rachel began between sips of juice "you remember what we told you last night?"
The four year old looked confused for a second and put down her crayon. "You mean, why I can't have pizza for breakfast, lunch and supper like Uncle Joey?" She asked questioningly
"No!" Rachel chuckled "About you having a new little brother or sister"
"Oh yeah" Emma said with an understanding smile "Daddy gave you a baby, and you ate it, so now it's growing in your tummy"
Rachel and Ross exchanged entertained yet bemused glances.
"Mommy ate the baby!" Ross said, stifling a laugh unsuccessfully
"Yes!" Emma said firmly, her little face set with a serious expression as she looked at her father "How else would it get her tummy, silly?"
The amused parents laughed quietly to themselves and looked at each other knowingly. She wasn't quite old enough to be told about the birds and the bees, so this explanation would do for now.
Rachel cleared her throat "So yeah, we're going to check that the baby's growing properly in there" she said patting her stomach
"Ok" replied Emma, who, satisfied with the answer and that her mom wasn't sick, went back to scribbling with a red crayon
Ross was glad of the moment he had just shared with his daughter. It took his mind off his predicament and continued to until after breakfast.
"So 1pm outside the clinic?" Rachel asked her husband as she fastened up Emma's jacket
"Sure sweetie" Ross said as he pulled her to him for a hug before she left for work. It was her turn to take Emma to kindergarten so she was leaving earlier than him today.
He picked his daughter up and cuddled her "you be a good girl today" he told her as they rubbed noses in an Eskimo style kiss
He put her down and she skipped off down the hall. Rachel pulled him close in for a final hug before she left
"I love you" whispered Ross
"Love you too" she replied smiling. They exchanged one last, lingering kiss before Rachel left shutting the door behind her.
He stood looking at the closed door, desperately hoping that someone would burst through and tell him that what had happened was one big joke. After ten minutes and with his wife's moist kiss still on his lips, he turned and pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket, picked up the phone. He dialled slowly and took a deep breath as it began to ring. All the time he was secretly hoping that no one would answer. But they did.
"Hi" he started "It's me"