Chapter 15

Within three days, Rachel had packed all her belongings and had the apartment up for lease. She handed the key to Phoebe, who promised to take care of the negotiations with the new tenant. In those three days, Emma neither laughed nor smiled. She and Rachel had been in bad terms since Rachel told her they were going back to Paris… and that Wednesday, she hadn't uttered a word since she woke up.

Rachel double-checked everything she had. Their passports, their tickets, their money, snacks, Emma's bear and extra clothes… She made sure all their boxes had her name and address in Paris on them before the shipping company took them away. She looked around the apartment they lived in for almost a year… she suddenly felt turmoil in her stomach, remembering the thought she had when she first arrived… that Paris would be the last place she'd ever live in again.

Emma peacefully sat on one of their luggage, having no other furniture to decently sit on. She played with her bear, trying everything else to amuse herself. Leaving New York was far from her thoughts… she didn't want to go back to Paris. She didn't want to leave her daddy, her cousins, and her aunts and uncles whom she had grown to love. Most of all, she didn't want to see her mommy alone again in a country she never really liked.

"Ems?" Rachel's heart broke seeing her daughter that way. The situation went out of hand and since the beginning, neither Ross nor Rachel had the intention of hurting her.

She heard her mom's sad voice. After much hesitation, Emma finally responded and looked up.

Rachel sighed in relief, smiled apologetically and approached her. "Come here," she hugged Emma tight.

Emma wrapped her arms around her mother in return.

"I'm so sorry, sweetie." Rachel began to cry. "I know you don't want to leave… but we have to. Daddy will still come and visit you, I promise. Your cousins will be with Uncle Chandler and Auntie Monica too, and with gramps and poppy and nana-"

"Why do we have to go back?" Emma asked.

Rachel broke the hug and brushed away Emma's hair on her face. "I told you... Because if we don't, mommy won't have a job anymore..."The reason wasn't enough, it was too shallow… and Rachel knew Emma wouldn't be satisfied with that.

"But I thought your work was transferred here forever?"

Forever… the word echoed a thousand times in her head. "I thought so too, sweetie." She reminded herself never to say that word again to anyone… not even to herself. So many times she mentioned that to the people she loved, both in a positive and negative way… but somehow, 'forever' never happened.

"What about daddy?" Emma's tears started to fall.

Rachel wiped them with her hands, "Daddy will be visiting us there, like before!"

"But I want daddy to be with us… can he come too?"

"Sweetie, daddy's getting married to Aunt Catherine remember? He can't just leave her."

"But you and daddy were married… why did he leave you?"

Her smart daughter was asking every possible question she could and Rachel was running out of answers. "Emma, that was different." She took her face in her hands, "Listen, we'll visit daddy here as often as we can. Daddy, too, will visit us there whenever he can. I'm sure daddy can't stand that long not seeing his princess, he loves you too much."

Emma smiled a little at the thought, but sadness still overwhelmed her. She turned away from Rachel as soon as she heard the doorknob twist. "Daddy!" she squealed, running to Ross as he entered.

Ross looked terrible. His eyes were worn out from both lack of sleep and crying. The past few days were hell. "Hi sweetie!" he sadly grinned, trying his best not to cry once more as he hugged his baby girl.

Rachel slowly stood up. She couldn't look at them.

Emma gripped tight, afraid to let him go. "Daddy," she began to cry, "please come with us?"

If only Ross could, he would… "I'll see you as soon as you and mommy are settled there, I promise!"

"But I want you to go now. Please? Go pack your bags now!" Harder and harder she sobbed, while her father tried to be a pillar of strength.

Ross' eyes slowly spotted Rachel silently crying at the far end of the room.

She refused to look at him, but she had no choice but to. She could see the sorrow, the misery in him. In return, he could see them in her too. Her tears freely fell. He hugged his daughter tighter. It was too much… she let out a soft scream of pain then entered Emma's empty room, wanting to compose herself.

The moving finally guys came and took away Rachel and Emma's boxes. Ross stayed and helped, spending the last few hours with them.

He and Rachel remained silent towards one another as they made use of what was left of the apartment… they sat on the floor, comforting their little girl while avoiding each other's sight.

Inevitably, the hour came when Rachel and Emma had to leave. As planned, Ross took them to the airport while the rest of the gang promised to meet them there.

Rachel gave her building one last glance and Ross hailed a cab. Whatever happened and would happen, there was only one place she could call home. The cab came and they placed the luggage at the back and then entered the cab.

"Newark," Ross told the driver. Then he felt Emma wrap her arms around her daddy as he hugged her in return.

Ross and Rachel entered and found Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, Mike and the twins at the benches by the check-in counter. Rachel went straight to check-in their luggage and Ross accompanied her. Emma ran to her aunts and uncles, releasing her hand from her mother's grip.

Monica scooped up the child and hugged her tight, whispering, "Everything's gonna be okay, sweetie."

Emma looked down. The grief she possessed saddened them all.

Phoebe took her from Monica and kissed her forehead, "Don't forget the cookies I taught you okay? Nestle Tollhouse, she's an old lady from France and she made those yummy treats."

Emma cracked a small smile, knowing what her aunt believed about the 'French recipe,' and nodded.

Chandler carried her as well, giving her a bear hug. Emma finally squealed and grinned at her uncle. He always had a special way of cheering up people. "Emma Wemma," he began, "if something happens or if you miss us, just call okay?"

Emma nodded.

"But don't tell your mommy cause it costs a lot!" Chandler added, earning a slap on the arm for his wife. Finally, he set her down with Erica and Jack.

"When are you coming back?" five-year-olds Jack and his sister asked the cousin they've grown to love.

Emma squinted and sighed, "I dunno. I'm living in Paris already"

Erica frowned in disbelief. She couldn't grasp the fact that she and Emma would never see each other every weekend, or whenever her mommy and aunt would have impromptu lunches or dinners, or even family reunions. "No, you're living here!" she insisted.

Jack, unable to comprehend what was happening between the two girls, decided to tag his sister and run. "You're it!"

Quickly, the two girls dismissed their situation and joined the more enjoyable game of life.

Ross and Rachel approached the gang, with Ross pulling Rachel's carry-on baggage.

"Are you set?" the tearful Monica asked her best friend.

Rachel showed their boarding passes and replied, "I guess so." With that, they walked to their gate of departure.

Monica hugged Rachel tight as soon as they reached the security checkpoint leading to gate 13. She felt her tears streaming down but she didn't care.

Rachel sobbed too, adding on to the emotional scene in the airport. "Thank you," she mumbled, "You're the bestest friend anyone could ever ask for."

Monica broke the hug and looked at her, "You are so welcome." She hugged Rachel one last time.

Chandler came next, trying his best to maintain composure, avoiding any sarcastic comment similar to what he did the last time she left… and successfully, his woe took away the ability.

Phoebe cried too, hugging her friend which was more like a squeeze. "Come visit in seven months, okay? My child needs her godmother!"

Rachel smiled, "I will. Thank you, Phoebes."

Mike gave her a warm hug, wishing her a great time in Paris.

Both Jack and Erica gave their aunt a kiss on the cheek and sadly smiled, and then adorably begged her to leave Emma behind.

Emma stayed in Ross' arms, crying together with her dad, repeatedly whispering to his ears the words "Come with us."

"Flight 102 to Paris, now boarding seat numbers 10 to 35." The PA said twice.

Ross then let go of his baby.

"I love you," she softly said looking up at him.

"I love you too, sweetie." Ross knelt down and kissed her before turning to Rachel.

There she stood, vulnerable like anything. She gazed at him, sobbing. There were no words, feelings alone spoke for themselves.

Ross approached her and hugged her tight. She responded to his embrace and felt lifeless in his arms. Ross kissed her hair, then her forehead. She looked up at him and looked at his lips nearing hers. For one last time, Ross kissed her…

As they broke, Rachel heard the three words she dreaded he'd say. "I love you," Ross whispered in her ear.

She pressed her lips together, debating on whether or not she should say it too.

"Final boarding call for flight 102, bound for Paris." The lady announced.

Her heart was beating so fast, and his gaze fixated on her, silently begging her to say it back. "I love you too," she replied at last, inaudible not to him but to the rest of the world.

As soon as he heard it, he let her go.

Rachel forced a smile. She took Emma's hand, grabbed her bag and headed to the security check point. After passing the metal detector, Emma ran back to Ross and gave him one last hug.

They took one last look before entering the jet bridge and waved goodbye.

Dying inside, he watched the two people he cared for the most leave; while Monica stood by him and hugged him as he cried.

Ross felt so empty coming home to his apartment. The dreams, visions and goals he had for him and Rachel building a family suddenly shattered into a million pieces. The last four words she said, he felt it like a bullet that fired directly to his heart. It killed him.

He was at the end… and there was no light.

The end? Hehehe not yet! One last chapter, most probably the Epilogue. I really love this fic, although it was a little too dramatic... but then again, what would life be like without drama? )

I honestly hope you enjoyed reading thisas much asI did writing it. Thank you for your support and motivation... the last chapter will be posted ( I hope to say soon but I don't want to promise anything anymore because it's still in the works).

Care to review?