She scurried down the hallway, pushing Emma in her pram and struggling to keep the two bags on her shoulders. 'Almost there...' She said, as they reached the right floor. It was a little later than she had hoped to arrive, but she knew that Ross would be still waiting for her. 'Oh Emma...You've been such a good girl for me today and we'll get you straight to bed when we get to Daddy's apartment ok?' She said to her daughter who was already half asleep with her thumb inside her mouth.
She reached the caramel coloured door, the last time she was at Ross' apartment was the night when they slept together, the day before she went to Paris. Thinking back, it felt like only yesterday she was arguing with Ross when he had accused her of not saying goodbye to him because she didnt care. She had contemplated the thought of not leaving for Paris, but the idea of working in Paris always blocked the doubts in her mind that she should stay and work things out with Ross.
She knocked at the door very lightly, but loud enough for Ross to know she was there. He was probably stood right by the door anyway, just waiting for her to knock. A few seconds passed, so she knocked again. Still no answer. So she reached for her key, after dropping the bags from her shoulders and inserted the key into the lock before the door swung open. She looked inside to see that nobody was there, Ross wasnt on the sofa with the letter in his hands and a ready opened bottle of champagne for them to celebrate with, instead she saw the letter on the floor infront of the door, unopened. 'Wonder where Daddy is huh Emma...' She said, knowing that her daughter wasnt listening to her. She pushed Emma inside first before dragging the two bags into the room and closing the door behind her. Just then, her phone began to ring. It was Monica.
'Rach?' She heard Monica say. 'Where are you?' She asked again, not giving her a chance to reply the first time.
'Well...I'm at Ross's but hes not here...'. She told her.
'Thats why I'm ringing you Rach, your in a bit of a pickle...well both of you are really' She told her.
'What do you mean? Wheres Ross?' She asked.
'I'll be honest with you...but dont flip out!'. Monica began. 'Hes...hes probably on his way to Paris right now Rach, because he...-'.
'Paris? Hes in Paris?' Rachel asked, interupting her friend.
'He mightnt be there right now, but hes definately either on the way to the airport or waiting for his flight right now...Ive tried to call him but hes not answering...' Monica explained.
Rachel slumped herself down on the sofa and closed her eyes. 'This is just typical Mon...' Rachel said, half laughing. 'But...why was he even thinking of going to Paris?' She asked.
'I didnt know until just before otherwise I would have told you to stay put! But Ross told Chandler last night that he wanted to come see you...and Ross obviously didnt know you were coming, and I chose not to tell Chandler because he could have told Ross...'.
'What a mess' Rachel said. 'I'm going to have to hope that he'll answer his phone...or...I'll go to the airport...'. She decided.
'Keep trying his cell, theres a good chance that he hasnt left yet...' Monica told her.
'Lets hope so Mon...' Rachel said before ending the call and dialling Ross' cell phone number straight away.
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Ross reached the departure lounge, the same one he set off from a few weeks back. His flight was in just under an hour, so he decided to go and get Rachel a little surprise for when he arrived in Paris. Flowers, or maybe chocolates. He had thought all the previous night and all morning and afternoon about when he saw Rachel, he was sure that when he saw her he would just be able to say what he wanted to say and do what he wanted to do. He wanted to ask her for her hand in marriage, something he had wanted to do for years, but he knew if he didnt do it now, he never would.
One thing he hadnt done yet was buy an engagement ring, but he figured that if she accepted his proposal, they would have time to go together and get her a ring as beautiful as her, and a diamond as big as her heart. 'Can I just have these chocolates please...' He said to the man at the counter, 'Oh and also some of those sweets for the flight please...' He added. He always bought the same sweets everytime he flew, just to take away the feeling of his ears popping when they took off.
'Sure...' The man said, putting the chocolates and sweets in a bag for him before taking the money from Ross' hand. 'Thanks...' Ross said before walking out of the shop, out into the lounge where another dozen people were sat reading magazines and the new york times.
As he sat down, he heard his phone ringing from his jacket pocket. He realised that he already had over ten missed calls, off both Monica and Rachel. 'Hey Mon...' He answered, 'Whats up?'. He asked.
'Ross!' She shouted. 'Why the hell havent you been answering your phone!' She asked him.
'I'm in the airport Mon, I mustnt have heard it...but whats wrong?' He asked, slightly concerned.
'Ok...' She paused. 'Let me get my breath...' She said to him, 'Ok...'.
'Are you ok Mon?' He asked again.
'Im fine...but right...you have to listen, you wont understand anything that I tell you now but please...please tell me that your still in New york...' She asked him.
He started to laugh. 'Whats this all about Mon?'. He asked.
'Just tell me Ross...are you at New York for christs sake!' She yelled again.
'Geez...Chill Mon! Yes..I'm at New York airport...I'm just waiting for my flight...so has Chandler told you about my surprise visit to Rachel then?' He asked cheerily. 'My flights in just 40 minutes...' He told her.
'Your not getting on the flight Ross! Dont ask why...dont ask anything just get your butt back home!' She told him.
'Come back home?'.
'Yes...Come back home. Go to your apartment...' She told him again.
'I need an explanation...' He asked her. 'I cant come home because I need to go and see Rachel...' he continued.
'Your explanation will be there when you get home Bro...Just do as I say please...' She told him once again before ending the call.
He scratched his head and put his phone back in his pocket. He knew that he better had take his sisters advise. He would go home.
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