Okay, this update took really long. Sorry for that! I'm in a stitch once again,I honestly don't know how Ross and Rachel will work things out. A million ideas are in my head... but it would be easier if they don't. But of course, I won't do that:) Or will I? Haha Read on...

Chapter 11

Months passed since Ross and Rachel had their 'last night' together, and they just saw less and less of each other. Catherine, Ross's fiancée, had an obvious feeling of insecurity towards her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend. Knowing why Catherine and Ross often fought, Rachel decided for herself to stay away from them. Why else should she still follow her heart when it was over between them?

The one person most affected by the turnout of events was Emma. Ross and Rachel did the complete opposite of what she wanted... the Saturdays they had altogether decreased as well, and that just made things worse. Rachel just reasoned out that either she or Ross were busy on the nights they were supposed to be together. And every time Rachel would see her daughter sad because of that, she would run to her room and cry, regretting everything she had done.

Monica noticed how Emma changed the past few months. She wasn't the child she used to be when she and Rachel returned from Paris. Although Emma was still the polite and thoughtful darling Ross and Rachel had, she was no longer ever so bubbly and spirited little girl who was always in a hyperactively happy mood. It was a difficult situation for them all, but she knew that her goddaughter found solace if not with both her parents, with her cousins' family. Known to Rachel as well, Monica often found them over at their home.

"I don't know what to do, Mon… I mean, her grades are going down and – " Rachel began to cry.

Monica hugged her best friend, "Aw Rach, kids really go through that." "But not Emma."

Rachel took a deep breath,"She was always an A student, even in Paris! I know how smart she is, Mon. But this whole fucking situation with me and her father is making her lose her concentration!"

Being a Sunday afternoon, it was a date with the gang. Until recently, Ross occasionally joined them and Catherine always tagged along.

Monica rubbed Rachel's back as she cried on her shoulder. The kids were playing at the lawn up front, while the two women were preparing the food. Chandler was setting up the grill for the barbecue, waiting for Ross, Phoebe and Mike who were on their way.

"Have you talked to him about this?" Monica asked. She shook her head and sobbed.

"Mommy, why are you crying?" Emma said, as she slowly entered the kitchen, carrying her cousin's teddy bear.

Rachel sat up and recollected herself, wiping her tears, "Nothing honey, I was just telling Aunt Mon how nice the movie was last night," she lied.

Monica went back to the kitchen counter and pretended to tear, "I know! Now I wanna see it!"

Emma looked up at them funnily and climbed onto Rachel's lap, hugging her really tight, "It's okay mommy."

Rachel kissed Emma's head, "Are you hungry already?"

Emma shook her head, "No, I just wanted to stay with you."

Rachel smiled at her daughter and kissed her head once more. Emma whispered to her ear, "I love you mommy."

"I love you too sweetie," she gratifyingly replied.

Monica smiled at them both… it was a heart-warming scene. Tears literally fell down her cheeks.

Seeing her Aunt crying, Emma sat up, "Why are you crying aunt Mon?"

Monica started fanning her eyes, "I just really want to see that movie!"

Phoebe and Mike finally arrived. They had a wonderful lunch prepared at Monica and Chandler's garden.

Chandler, handing Mike the plate of corn, smirked and said, "I'll bet you they'll still be corn tomorrow!"

"Eeew, Chandler!" Monica squealed.

Mike simply laughed, "Fine. I'll give them to you for proof!"

"Mike!" Rachel and Phoebe screamed, completely grossed out.

Emma came running to her mom and sat on her lap. "What do you want, sweetie?"

Emma buried her face on Rachel's chest and shook her head.

A few seconds later, Ross came in holding Catherine's hand. "Hey guys!"

All heads on the table turn to them. "Hey!" "Hi Ross," they greeted. Rachel looked back at Emma who refused to look at her father.

"Hi Ems!" he went near her, releasing Catherine's hand… yet that didn't stop her from following him. She trailed behind with a smile plastered on her face.

"Baby what's wrong?" he patted her back. Noticing no response, he turned to Rachel, "Is she feeling okay?"

"Honey, are you okay?" Rachel asked Emma but had no reply either. Rachel felt her daughter's hug tighten, "I think she's just sleepy."

Ross nodded his head and kissed Emma's hair.

Rachel then excused herself and carried Emma inside the house. She sat on the couch and cupped her daughter's face to look at her as she still hugged her mother tight. "Sweetie, are you feeling okay?"

Emma finally looked up with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Hey, why are you crying?" Rachel suddenly felt sorry for her little one.

Emma buried her face on her mother's chest once more, muffling an answer.

Rachel sighed, "Ems mommy can't understand you. I want you to tell me what's wrong so that we can fix it."

Emma looked back up, while Rachel wiped the tears that have stained her face. "Is daddy getting married to her?" she asked.

Uh-oh…

Rachel sadly smiled, "Did daddy tell you that?" She shook her head, "Erica did. Catherine -"

"Aunt Catherine," Rachel corrected.

"Aunt Catherine told Erica that she and I are gonna be her flower girls."

"When?" Rachel asked, although she already knew about the wedding that was being planned.

"Erica saw them when they entered but Aunt Catherine went to the bathroom first so she ran to me and told me."

"Did daddy see you?"

Emma shook her head and cried again. "Don't you want daddy to get married?"

Rachel wiped her tears. "I do."

"Then why are you crying?" she sympathetically asked as Emma hugged her again, hiding her face.

"Because I want him to marry you!" she cried louder.

Yet it was a bit muffled, Rachel understood every word she said. She didn't have to hear it because her heart knew it too well.

Ross cleared his throat, making known his presence in the room. Emma suddenly looked up and wiped her tears.

"Hi," he softly greeted them.

"How- how long were you standing there?" Rachel nervously asked.

"Long enough," he sighed.

Emma embraced Rachel and hid her face at the crook of her neck.

"Baby?" Ross stroked his daughter's hair, kneeling beside her and Rachel. He looked up at Rachel who had tears in her eyes as well.

"I think I should leave you two," she said to him.

"No!" Emma suddenly protested, gripping tighter.

"Hey," Ross gently greeted, seeing her face with tears running down her cheeks, "Are you okay?"

She frowned and looked at her mom and dad, "Why can't you two be like Aunt Monica and Uncle Chandler?"

"Baby we talked about this, remember?" Rachel said, recalling the explanation why she and Ross weren't together and why they had Saturdays with all three of them together.

"Yeah but why weren't we together last night? Or last week? Like before?"

Rachel sighed and gestured Ross to reply, "Ems it's just that we're always busy."

"Why don't we spend time today? You're not busy!"

"Baby, that's why I'm here, see? Mommy's here," he pointed to Rachel, "and so am I."

Emma grunted, "But Catherine's here," she replied completely disregarding the term 'aunt.'

"Don't you like her?" Ross sweetly asked, trying not to sound upset.

"I do."

"Then-"

She cut her father, "But I want my mommy with you and me." With that, she buried her face again.

Ross looked up at Rachel sadly. She, in response, mouthed that she would talk to Emma about it.

"Ems," Ross called her. She turned her head, still leaning on Rachel's chest to face him.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, wiping the tears that stained her cheek.

Emma looked up at her mommy, then at Ross and then eventually buried her face again. 'Sorry' was always the case, but this time she learned not to forgive by saying 'it's okay…' because it wasn't.

Rachel mouthed something to Ross again and he left.

She cradled her baby back and forth, whispering to her ear "We're so sorry," and she couldn't help but weep. It was the first time she had seen Emma that way, showing to them both about how upset she was with their situation, and again, Rachel blamed herself.

Less than an hour later, Monica entered and found her goddaughter being cradled by her best friend. No longer was Emma's face buried in Rachel's chest but she was looking down.

"Hi," Monica whispered as she came behind Rachel.

Rachel glanced at her and smiled, "Hey."

"Is Emma okay?"

Rachel checked on Emma, "She's feeling better," whispering in reply.

Monica nodded, "Are you okay?"

Rachel tried her best to smile, and shook her head.

"Emma," Monica knelt down right next to her. The child reacted to her aunt's call and looked up. "Honey would you like to come with me? Jack and Erica are about to watch 'Finding Nemo' in their room and they asked me to call you."

Emma looked up at her mom who nodded her head and smiled, allowing her to go with Monica. "Go on baby, I'll check up on you later."

She finally released the tight grasp she had around her mother's waist. "I love you mommy," she softly told Rachel before going into Monica's arms.

By the time Monica carried Emma out of the room, Rachel fell in tears. She sobbed on the couch, not knowing what to do anymore.

Ross entered the living room and found Rachel on the couch, staring off space. He sat with her, placed his head in his hands and slowly rubbed his face in frustration. "I dropped Catherine home," Ross spoke.

Rachel turned to look at him. "Is," she cleared her throat, "Is she mad?"

"It doesn't matter," he quickly replied.

"I'm sorry," Rachel sobbed once more.

Ross instantly hugged her, "It's my fault too, Rach."

She broke the hug and looked at him intently, holding both his hands, "Ross, I think I should just go back to Paris."

"What?" he stood up.

"I think it's better if I go back with Emma…"

"No-" Ross frowned.

"Things were so much better when we were there, Ross. Emma was happier."

"I wasn't." Ross began to pace around the room, "I can't let you take her away from me."

"I could come back every month if you want," she sobbed, "I just don't want to see Emma like this."

Rachel had a point. Emma was far from how she used to be, and they had themselves to blame. Yes, it was another difficult decision to make… but it wasn't just about them now, it was about Emma.

Minutes passed… none of them said a thing. Ross kept pacing around the room, and Rachel's eyes followed him everywhere.

He sat on the couch beside her again, massaging his temples, "Are you sure about this?"

She sighed, exhaling her frustration and worries. "I don't know what else to do," Rachel wiped her tears away.

He moved closer and cupped her face, "I don't know if I can live without you and Emma here with me, Rachel." Ross took a deep breath, wiped the tears that were threatening to fall down his cheeks and continued, "But if you have to, then I have no choice but to," he paused staring off space, "to let you go."

I don't want to promise that my next chapter will be up very soon because as i've said, i'm in a stitch:) Although feel free to suggest/comment about this fic, because I need all the help and motivation I can get:) Thanks!