Disclaimer: Nope.
A/N: Delays suck, I know, and I'm sorry but my next update is not going to be a loooong time. School just started and everything has just piled up all at once and I'm really going to have zero time to write for quitea while. I appreciate those who have stuck with me through my zany update-schedule and have so kindly reviewed.
Warning: mushy-ish ending.
XXX
Three days later, the gang of six came together at Joey and Chandler's apartment on the night of Christmas Eve. Joey had finally gotten his way, and the two roommates had bought a small tree that only took up a corner of the apartment near the door to Chandler's bedroom (the downside was that Chandler could barely get into his room). Since no one's schedule had permitted the six to be together at one time, each person had added a few new decorations to the tree every time they were visiting their friends.
"Okay, so, for the top of the tree: Angel? Or star?" Chandler asked the group as he held up in one hand a doll-like angel, and in the other a plastic yellow star.
"Star," Phoebe said immediately, looking up from her examination of a homemade ornament. "The angel will just stare at us with those big, black eyes of hers."
"The star?" Joey whined as he searched the radio for some Christmas tunes. "But when I was growing up we always had an angel!"
"Phoebe's right, that angel is sort of creepy," Monica interjected, taking the small figure from her boyfriend and looking it over. "Where did you guys get it?"
"My Dad sent it," Chandler said. "If you look closely, you can tell that it's actually a drag queen."
Rachel and Ross both moved forward so they could stare at the angel over Monica's shoulders. After a moment, all three made noises of recognition.
"Let's use the star," Ross advised as Joey pouted by the radio, and Chandler placed the plastic star on top of the tree while Phoebe hung the ornament she'd been looking at on one of the branches.
"The last ornament is on!" she exclaimed to the other five.
"Hey, there we go," Joey said to himself as he landed on a radio station that had someone singing 'Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire'. He stood and walked over to the rest of the group, who were all admiring the tree.
"It looks nice," Rachel said softly.
"Aren't you glad we got a tree now?" Joey asked Chandler with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess," Chandler admitted. "But getting the damn thing up two flights of stairs was a bitch."
"Chandler, you didn't even help us carry it!" Monica said. "You 'directed' us up the stairs!"
Chandler sent his girlfriend a winning smile, which she swatted away with an eye roll.
"Hey, didn't you say you had an announcement or something to make?" Ross asked his sister.
"Oh! Yeah," Monica said, exchanging glances with Rachel, who nodded subtly. "Actually, Rachel and I have some pretty big news."
"Are you two running away together?" Phoebe questioned immediately.
"No."
"But if you two were to run away together," Joey started with a smirk, "What might you guys do after you've left?"
Rachel and Monica stared at their friend, before Rachel shook her head. "Anyways, uh… Mon and I are moving in across the hall."
"Well, we know that," Phoebe said with a laugh. "Seriously, what's the news?"
"No, we're moving in sooner than after graduation," Monica clarified.
"Oh? When?" Chandler asked.
"The 26th."
"Whoa, that's like… really soon!" Joey said.
"We were hoping you guys would help us start moving our stuff out of the dorm," Rachel admitted.
Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe all agreed readily and went about admiring the tree and drinking eggnog.
Ross, however, was looking at his sister and girlfriend with a puzzled expression. "When did you guys decide this?"
"A few days ago," Monica answered.
"And, uh, what are you doing about housing at school? I mean, they're expecting you to pay for another whole semester for your dorm."
"Yeah, we already talked to the head of the housing department," Rachel said. "We're not going to be able to get out of paying everything, since it's so late in the year, but they're already planning on giving our dorm to some exchange kids."
Ross was still frowning. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"Ross, what's the issue? You should be happy for us!" Monica said, giving her brother a punch on the arm before joining the other three.
"Are you… mad?" Rachel asked softly, stepping closer to her boyfriend and widening her eyes in that way that she knew he couldn't resist.
"No," Ross finally said. "Just sort of surprised. I mean, you guys moving into Nana's apartment before you've graduated… the fact that this building is much farther away from my apartment than your dorm…"
Rachel smiled lightly. "Well, you know, there are two bedrooms in your grandmother's apartment," she reminded him coyly.
"You don't say," Ross said charmingly, wrapping an arm around her waist. "We may just have to start trading off where we stay overnight…"
"Fine by me," Rachel interjected in a low voice, and they moved in for a kiss. As their lips were about to meet, Joey rushed over to them and yelled excitedly, "Eight minutes till Christmas!", ruining the moment.
"Are all the gifts under the tree?" Monica asked the room.
"Yes. Oh, wait, no!" Phoebe said desperately, and rushed over to her purse that was across the apartment. She put her hand in it and fished around, finally coming up with a newspaper-wrapped present. "Okay, we're good," she affirmed once the gift was under the tree.
"And… let the countdown begin!" Chandler shouted, his eyes on his watch.
"Ten… nine… eight… seven," everyone counted out loud, "… six… five… four… three… two… one… Merry Christmas!"
They had barely gotten through the word 'Christmas' before Joey shouted, "Let's open the presents!"
Rachel smiled to herself as everyone took a seat around the coffee table that was placed in between the TV and armchairs. She plopped down onto the floor and rested herself against Ross' legs, the owner of said legs having claimed an armchair for himself. She blushed slightly as his hands involuntarily made their way to her hair, playing with the strands in the same familiar way he did every time they sat like this.
As Joey unwrapped the first gift of Christmas '91 (which, coincidentally, was the newspaper-wrapped one Phoebe had nearly forgotten), Ross leaned forward in the chair and whispered, "Do you want to sit up here with me? The floor is uncomfortable."
Rachel leaned her head back so she could partially see his face above hers. "I'm perfectly comfortable where I am," she said contently, watching Joey wave around a Knicks t-shirt.
She idly wondered what her mother was doing at that moment in that big, empty house on Long Island. Probably sleeping.
She wondered what Jill and Amy were doing; if they were also home for the holidays. Probably not.
Rachel gazed at the people in front of her, and realized quite suddenly, that this was her new family. When she was with them, it didn't matter that her parents hadn't had a happy marriage, that her sisters didn't give a crap about anyone but themselves, that she herself had only narrowly escaped the same future as her mother before her with help from Monica and Ross. All they wanted was her, Rachel Karen Green, just as she was.
She couldn't have asked for anything more.
XXX
As luck would have it, the gang had taken the hint from Monica and Rachel that they wanted furniture for Christmas, and Chandler, Joey, Phoebe and Ross had all pitched in some money and had bought the two a white couch and matching armchair, telling them that the furniture also counted as both their birthday presents. (Ross, however, had also given Rachel a necklace on the sly, and Monica had later confided in her best friend that Chandler had also given her jewelry, though not the type both girls daydreamed over that involved the words, 'Will you marry me?'.) The two women had felt slightly guilty when their friends had told them they'd had to return their original gifts last minute, but that springing for really comfortable furniture just meant they'd have to go to their apartment more often.
The day after Christmas, after dropping Nana off at the airport for her flight to Florida, Ross and Monica had returned to the building to find Rachel standing inside the sparse apartment, spinning around slowly in the center of the room with her arms stretched out.
"Practicing your ballet?" Monica asked cheekily as she and Ross deposited their coats on the coat hanger beside the door.
"I can't believe this is our new home," Rachel said in awe. "And that we have our own bedrooms!"
"I know!" Monica said happily. "Oh, by the way, I call the one on the left."
"Why do you get that one?" Rachel asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Uh, because I cared enough to call it?"
"…Fine. Eh, I wanted the right one anyway."
Monica sighed as she walked over to the small table her grandmother had left her in the middle of the kitchen area, where two boxes rested. "Just the beginning," she said tiredly. "We've got a lot to move. At least we don't have to pay for two new bed frames."
"Yeah, thank God for storage facilities and the fact that my mother has about five different frames she'll never use," Rachel said.
"Are you ever gonna tell her you took them?" Ross asked.
"Like she'll notice. She hasn't stepped foot in the thing since…" Rachel stared into space. "Never, actually."
"Too bad they're not coming until tomorrow," Monica sighed. She lifted a yellow picture frame up out of one of the boxes. "Hey, check this out."
"Wow! Where's that from?" Rachel questioned as she and Ross stepped closer to inspect.
"It was in one of the boxes Nana left for us." Monica smiled as she examined it, and then scanned the apartment walls for a spot for it, before her eyes rested on the door. She looked back and forth from the frame in her hand to the door for a time, until she said, "I've got an idea."
"Finally. Here I thought college was a waste on your mind," Ross quipped.
"We can put the picture frame around the peep hole!"
"Oh!" Rachel gushed, clapping her hands. "That's so artsy! I love it!"
"We'll do that last," Monica suggested. "Sort of like a… ceremonial thing."
The apartment door flew open and Phoebe stepped inside. "Make way, people! Couch coming through!"
Following her words, Chandler and Joey lugged in the white couch, whacking Ross in the back with it as they set it down in the area Monica had earlier specified.
"Thanks for all the help," Chandler panted, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders and resting his weight against her.
"Dude, all you did was carry it across the hallway," Ross reminded him.
Joey frowned. "It's a big hallway! And Pheebs decided to tell a knock-knock joke before she opened the door!"
"Oh, come on, it was a funny joke!" Phoebe defended.
"I'll help with the chair," Ross volunteered, and the three guys exited the apartment to go across the hall.
"So, have you decided who gets which bedroom yet?" Phoebe asked.
"I'm getting the one on the left," Monica replied.
"I'm on the right," Rachel added.
Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, I see that," she said positively.
After exchanging an "Oooookay" look with Monica, Rachel sighed and fell onto the couch. "This couch is so comfortable."
"Yeah, we tested a lot of them out before we picked it," Phoebe said, sitting beside her.
Monica sat on Phoebe's right side. "I think the TV should go there, against the wall." She indicated the spot directly across from where the couch was. "It'll be evenly between the bedroom doors."
"Chair coming through!" Joey announced as the guys entered the apartment again, all three hefting the white armchair at an awkward angle. Monica specified the spot where it should go, and the three men placed it there.
"You know, it would've been more help if you had brought the couch in with us," Chandler pointed out to Ross.
"So what do you guys think about having a New Years party?" Rachel asked as the guys sat down with them.
"Just the six of us?" Joey asked.
"No, we'd invite some other friends," Monica said.
Chandler stared at her. "We have other friends?" he questioned mock-seriously.
"Sounds good," Ross agreed. "But will the apartment be all ready by then?"
"Well, we're getting some chairs from Mom and Dad's tomorrow," Monica said, "though they're mismatched, but they're free so I can't complain. We're getting bed frames, and we've both got bedroom stuff and a TV with a stand from the dorm room. Nana left us an oven, stove, and refrigerator…"
"We've got just about everything," Rachel nodded.
"Mattresses," Phoebe said suddenly. Everyone stared at her. "You guys don't have mattresses."
Monica and Rachel turned to each other. "Crap!" Rachel shouted, as Monica yelled, "Shoot!"
"Those things cost a fortune!" Rachel whined.
"Nobody has two spare mattresses lying around, do they?" Monica asked the rest of the group, who shook their heads in the negative. "Guess we'll have to… sleep on the couch and armchair until we can afford mattresses."
Rachel sighed to herself. She and Monica had honestly gone over everything, but somehow they had forgotten mattresses! She considered where she could get two. Asking her mother was out of the question, and she was already taking those bed frames…
An idea struck her. "I know how we can get them. Two new ones," she added.
"How?"
"The money my dad left me!" Rachel explained. "I definitely have enough to pay for two mattresses."
"But… Rachel, that's not fair… I mean, I really should buy my own-"
"No. You're letting me move in with you, this is my gift to you," Rachel decided firmly. She caught Ross's eye. He was sending her a smile that she knew meant he was proud of her.
"All right," Monica said. "So we have everything."
"Let's talk party," Joey said. "Now, I was thinking Monica could make the food, Phoebe could bring plates and cups, I can supply hot girls…"
XXX
By New Years Eve Monica and Rachel were all moved into apartment twenty. The party they threw was a hit, with guests ranging from classmates at NYU to a few of Joey's actor-friends to some of Phoebe's masseuse clients to Ross's buddies at the museum and the two people who Chandler could stand from his office. 1992 rang in with style, and the year seemed to look even brighter than the one before.
The rest of the winter moved by slowly as Rachel and Monica threw themselves into their work, putting extra effort into their very last semester of college as the rest of the group kept working. As March came to a close, Jack and Judy Geller's wedding anniversary approached rapidly.
The couple had decided that for their anniversary they wanted to have dinner with their two children- and their two children's significant others.
What seemed to be for the first time, Rachel found that she and Chandler had something in common: both were terribly nervous about spending an evening with Ross and Monica's parents.
Rachel knew this was silly; Jack and Judy were like second parents to her. She'd known them for as long as she'd known Monica, which by now seemed like a lifetime. She knew it was downright crazy for her to be worried over a simple dinner-and-dessert with her boyfriend's parents, but she couldn't help it; this was the first time she would be spending longer than five minutes with Judy and Jack since she and Ross had gotten together.
Chandler seemed equally as nervous as Rachel, which was quite understandable. Neither elder Geller had favored him ever since Ross had brought him home for Thanksgiving during freshman year. He'd also somehow managed to go well over a year without coming in real contact with Jack or Judy, but it seemed the days of avoidance were over.
"Seriously, Rachel, just pick a dress," Monica commanded as she attempted to hook up a second-hand VCR she'd gotten from Joey (who had gotten it from his parents) to the TV in the living room of the apartment.
Rachel exited her bedroom, holding up two dresses, which looked nearly entirely similar except for the color. "Okay, you decide then. Blue? Or red?"
Monica glanced over at her choices. "Um… blue."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. It's my mom's favorite color," Monica responded in a placating tone. "Ha ha! I got the VCR to work!" she exclaimed a moment later as the video she had popped in began to play.
"Good for you," Rachel called out from her room.
Monica glared at the door. "You'll appreciate it more when you're less stressed out." She was beginning to find the whole situation funny; it was just dinner with her parents, why was her friend so nervous?
Rachel reappeared in the living room, this time wearing the blue dress with a little jacket over it, her purse swinging wildly around her arm. "Okay, okay, shoes, shoes…" she muttered to herself, lurching forward to the pile of shoes she'd thrown from her bedroom earlier in annoyance.
"You really need to calm down," Monica pointed out as Rachel dug like a woman on a mission through the shoe pile. "What are you worried about?"
"Um… dinner with your parents?" Rachel responded in a 'duh' tone as she stood upright again, a pair of shoes in hand.
"You've had dinner with my parents. Multiple times, I might add. I mean, they both like you more than me already, what's there to worry about?"
Rachel placed her hands on her hips after slipping her feet into the black heels she'd chosen to wear. "I know, but they liked the old me. The Rachel: Monica and Ross's Best Friend. Now I'm seeing them as Rachel: Ross's Serious Girlfriend. They've seen me go through so many failed relationships… I just don't want them to doubt Ross and I."
Monica shook her head. "Rach, they wanted you guys to get together. They were thrilled when they found out. Really, I promise. My mom even called after Ross told her and went on and on for like, forty minutes about how good-looking your children will be."
The thought of children with Ross wasn't as tremendously scary as expected, but Rachel decided she'd dwell on that later when she wasn't so busy freaking out.
Chandler and Ross entered the apartment just a few minutes later, and the four left for Long Island in Rachel's car. The ride over was nearly silent, each passenger lost in their own thoughts.
It was completely dark out by the time they reached the Geller's home (Rachel purposely checked her make-up in a small compact from her purse as they passed by the Green's house), and Jack and Judy both appeared at the door to enthusiastically welcome their guests inside.
"Your mother has been cooking up a storm!" Jack informed his two children and their dates as everyone headed into the living room for a cocktail. "We were so glad all four of you kids could come!"
"Well, thank you for having us, sir," Chandler responded immediately as he sat down on the couch beside Monica. "It was so nice of you to invite all four of us over for dinner. You know, living on your own, you don't get many home-cooked meals anymore, and Mrs. Geller's are absolutely-"
"Well, you don't have to suck up," Jack cut in with a smile, and the other three laughed at Chandler's embarrassed expression.
"Sorry," he said in a small voice, and retreated further into the couch as Monica patted his knee gently.
"So, Rachel, what is new with you?" Jack asked as he sat with a drink in an armchair. "We haven't seen your mother all that much lately."
Rachel froze momentarily as she was handing Chandler and Monica their drinks as Ross poured something for himself and Rachel. She down on the couch slowly. "Oh, um, she's… fine."
"Well that's a relief," Jack said pleasantly as he sipped his drink. "The gossip going around- it's been getting worse every day!"
Resisting the urge to ask what exactly the gossip entailed, Rachel just nodded. "Yes, she's… well, she's fine," she repeated again.
"Dad, um, how's Nana?" Ross quickly asked, smoothly taking the heat off of his girlfriend.
Jack discussed their grandmother for quite a while, seeming to be in a very chatty mood, until Judy announced that dinner was nearly ready and enlisted Monica and Rachel to help her finish up and bring the food to the table.
When Judy wasn't looking, Monica observed the food and added a few ingredients she thought things needed. Rachel hid a smile as she watched her friend do this.
"So, only a few months left until you're finished with school!" Judy said as she moved the peas and carrots into separate serving dishes. "Rachel, dear, do you have any plans for after graduation?"
"Oh, well, um, I might be getting an internship with Bloomingdales," Rachel answered, hoping Ross's mother found this appropriate.
"That's lovely," Judy responded, and Rachel sighed with relief. The older woman eyed the student. "You seem nervous, dear, is something wrong?"
"Rachel's been worrying about this dinner for a while," Monica said absently as she chopped up lettuce for the salad. Rachel glared at her roommate.
Judy, however, didn't seem to find this odd in the slightest. She merely let out a short laugh and waved a hand. "Dear, there's nothing to worry about," she assured.
Rachel felt her cheeks grow hotter than ever before and silently decided that she'd get revenge on Monica later. "I, um… well, I was just… well, I haven't really seen you guys since I started dating Ross… and…"
"You were worried we suddenly wouldn't like you anymore?" Judy asked knowingly. At Rachel's nod, she shook her head, bemused. "Rachel, darling, you can rest easy. Jack and I have always liked you, that isn't going to change just because you're finally dating our son. Besides, I know a thing or two about dealing with cruel parents."
Monica was eyeing her mother. "Hey, Mom, you seem to be speaking from experience. Care to share?"
Judy set down the dish she was lifting and looked at the two young women in front of her. "Well, when I first began dating your father, his mother hated me."
"Really? But whenever she's come at holidays… you guys have always seemed to get along," Monica said.
"It's an act, dear," Judy said simply.
"So you and Grandma Geller have never actually liked each other?" Rachel asked, surprised. Using the name 'Grandma Geller' didn't even phase her now; she'd been to so many parties thrown by this family that she was practically an honorary member. And if things went well… maybe a true member, last name and all… but it wasn't the time to consider that.
"Technically… no," Judy nodded. "But enough about the past. This evening is about all of us coming together."
"Oh, speaking of… Mom, could you and Dad please try to be a little nicer to Chandler?" Monica requested with raised eyebrows. "He's my boyfriend, and Ross's best friend, and a really good guy… he's in no different a situation than Rachel here."
Rachel held up her hands and said, "Hey, don't drag me into this."
Judy sighed, but her eyes twinkled. "Yes, dear, I suppose we can be civil. Now help me carry all of this food out to the table."
Dinner passed by uneventfully for the most part, and Rachel found herself much more comfortable with the entire situation after Judy's reassurance in the kitchen. Both elder Geller's also eased off Chandler for the most part, and the young man had even been able to crack a few jokes without getting some sort of reprimand or odd look.
However, when dessert came, the uncomfortable subjects arose.
"How's that apartment doing? Still standing?" Jack asked, simple enough. "We know a few of the neighbors from over the years, and they'd let us know if you girls were throwing wild parties every night…"
"Uh, no, no wild parties," Monica said after sipping her coffee. "We've both been so busy with schoolwork…"
"How's your job hunt coming, dear?" Judy was looking at her daughter with a scrutinizing gaze, which Monica tried not to shy away from.
"Oh, well, I've got two interviews next month…"
"And Chandler, what is it you do?" Jack turned his attention to his daughter's boyfriend, who looked suddenly nervous.
Chandler cleared his throat awkwardly. "Oh, well, I, um… do data reconfiguration and statistical factoring."
Jack waited a moment before saying, "Are you sure that's a real thing?"
"Well, it's what I've been doing every day for a year, I'd hate to find out that it doesn't actually exist after all this time," Chandler quipped, but it fell flat at the table.
If that wasn't bad enough, Judy then broached upon the subject all four young people had avoided as much as possible. "You know who just got married, Monica? Paula Hines, the girl who used to live on the street? She was only a few years older than you…"
Rachel shifted in her seat as Monica replied, "Oh… that's nice…"
"Weddings are marvelous affairs, aren't they?" Judy asked the room. No one responded.
Jack obviously didn't notice how uncomfortable everyone was feeling, and added in, "You know, I want grandchildren one day!"
Judy looked at her husband. "Jack," she admonished lightly, and then said, "Though… a few of our friends have small grandchildren. They can be such a joy if they aren't terrors. Don't you think so, Ross?"
Ross blinked. "Oh, yeah, children are… great." His stomach was churning a bit as he prayed with all his might that his mother wouldn't single him out again on this subject, and he pushed his cake away from himself.
Not that he didn't want children in the future, but he couldn't believe his parents were discussing this in front of Rachel and Chandler. He had, of course, imagined what marrying and having a family with his girlfriend would be like, but they hadn't even discussed it themselves yet!
"You know, Monica's always wanted children," Jack stated. He then smirked at Chandler. "Not to sound too forward, but you better be up to the task, Chandler!"
Chandler blanched and also pushed his cake away from himself.
Rachel wanted to hide under the table, but decided against it. The rest of dessert passed with Judy and Jack dropping hints of marriage and children at every opportune moment, and only after they were out the door and getting into the car did she breathe a loud sigh of relief.
Monica was trying to pacify her boyfriend. "Chandler, I'm so sorry, they just… that's just how they are…"
"I half-expected one of them to shove a ring in my hand and tell me to ask you right there during dessert!"
Ross glanced over towards Rachel as he got into the driver's seat and she sat in the passenger's. "Look… I'm sorry."
"No, I had sort of been… expecting it," Rachel said. "I've known your parents long enough to prepare myself for something like that."
"But what they were mentioning… it was pretty awkward," Ross said.
"Yeah."
Turning out of the street, Ross began, "But maybe it wouldn't be too…" but he lost his nerve and trailed off quietly, leaving Rachel to stare at him and wonder what, exactly, he was thinking.
XXX
The springtime passed quickly as Monica and Rachel began preparing for finals and graduation. When finally May sprung upon them and school was suddenly done, Rachel found herself in the apartment with Ross, going over their plans for her graduation day.
"Ross, no, you don't have to take me somewhere fancy tomorrow night," Rachel insisted as she and Ross snuggled on the couch.
He shook his head and brushed a stray hair from her face. "No, it's my duty as your loving boyfriend to take you out so we can celebrate. I mean, you took me out for my graduation last year! I'm repaying you."
"Well, what about Monica and Chandler?" Rachel questioned as she disentangled from her boyfriend and stood.
"They're going away for the weekend, which, I might add, was my idea in the first place for us, but I have to work…" Ross stretched his hand out and Rachel placed her own hand in his. "Just let me do this for you."
Rachel smiled. "Fine," she said dramatically with a sigh, and bended over to kiss him quickly as there was a knock at the apartment door. "You're too good to me," she declared as she made her way over to the door.
"Yeah, I know. I think I may need to find a girl who doesn't expect as much," Ross shot back with a grin.
Shaking her head, Rachel called, "Hold on," to whoever was outside and quickly checked the peephole. The sight that met her eye made her take a step backwards. Bracing herself, she slowly twisted the knob and opened the door.
"Mother," she greeted coolly, as Ross whipped his head around to see Sandra standing in the doorway.
"Rachel," she countered, and the tension mounted. They stood in awkward silence for a long moment, staring each other down, before Sandra finally said with a small sigh, "Well, are you going to invite me in?"
Rachel waited a beat, quickly weighing her options. The angel on her shoulder ended up kicking the devil on the other shoulder's ass, and she stepped back to let her mother into her apartment. Ross was still sitting quietly, watching the scene unfold, his face neutral.
"Why'd you come, Mom?" The question was direct and to-the-point and so unlike her, but Rachel wasn't really in the mood for dodging motives and walking on eggshells. She'd had enough of that to last her for the rest of her lifetime.
Sandra seemed nervous as she retrieved a small box out of her pocketbook before placing it on the table and scanning the apartment. She turned to face her daughter once more and stated honestly, "I wanted to see you."
"Why?" Rachel asked tiredly, just wanting Sandra to leave so she could enjoy a nice evening in with her boyfriend.
"Well, we haven't spoken in over two months, and even then you were just calling to wish me a happy birthday and hung up quickly." Sandra's absently lifted the box off the table and fiddled with it in her hands. "I miss you."
Rachel felt something inside of her tighten at those words, and deep down she had to admit to herself that a part of her had missed her mother also. They'd been in this constant battle for so long she'd practically forgotten why it had even started.
But then it all came back to her: her parent's fighting, her mother ignoring her, her mother judging her, her mother not approving of her boyfriend, finding out about her parent's almost-divorce that hadn't happened because of her father's death…
"Well, you've got my attention now," Rachel finally said.
Sandra shook her head. "So this is how it's going to be from now on? This wall?"
"If I remember correctly, you're the one who established this 'wall' in the first place."
"And you were always so open to me, is that it? Rachel, you were never home! And when you were home, you were shut up in your room doing God knows what. Now you know your father and I were having problems-"
"Oh, yes, because we discussed these 'problems' so often, right, Mom?" Rachel shot back, anger rising inside of her. "God, you and Dad pretended nothing was wrong whenever we were around! And most of the time you didn't even notice if we were there or not anyway!"
Ross stood at this point, looking back and forth between mother and daughter, an unsure expression on his face. "Rach, maybe I should go…" he started as he neared the door.
Before Rachel could respond, Sandra held up her hand to stop him. "No, Ross… don't leave. I actually wanted to say something to you."
Rachel laughed sarcastically and took a step closer to Ross. "Oh, so now you're seeking us out to make snide comments?"
"No," Sandra said with much more calm than people would normally have at this point. "No. I wanted to apologize."
This made Rachel stop. Her mother, apologize to Ross?
Ross seemed as stunned as his girlfriend. "Uh… huh?" he said slowly.
Sandra held herself up a bit more, squared her shoulders, and stuck her hand out towards the young man. "I'm sorry for how I treated you and spoke about you. I've known you and your family since you were too young to even walk, and I can tell you make my daughter happy."
Ross didn't know what to do for a moment, his mouth hanging open slightly as he stared at Sandra Green. He'd never heard this woman apologize to anyone. Ever. "Uh… I… accept?" He shook her hand firmly but when he let go, he was still confused.
Rachel had her head turned to the side and she was scrutinizing her mother seriously. "What brought on this change?" she asked skeptically, still not sure any of this was real. It all seemed too easy.
Sandra turned her eyes on her oldest daughter and once again started fiddling with the box in her hands. "Well, in the months we haven't been speaking, I've done some thinking."
"Thinking… about?"
"About everything. My life, past and present, you girls, your lives. Not seeing you for so long has made me realize just how much I want to be a part of your life. It's made me see things from a different perspective. And I've come to the conclusion… that I admire you." Sandra was standing proudly, no hint of fear or nervousness or sadness or any sort of weakness evident. The words were said simply and held little emotion, and for a split second after she had finished Rachel was convinced this was some elaborate prank.
But no one popped out from behind a door with a camera, and so Rachel prodded further. "You admire me?"
"Yes."
Ross was feeling beyond out of place by now, but to slip out of the apartment would involve somehow maneuvering past Rachel, and she'd probably notice and get mad at him or something for 'abandoning' her at her 'time of need'. He silently prayed they would finish up this lovely reunion soon, because he also sort of had to go to the bathroom, and the museum was expecting a call from him about not going in tomorrow…
"Why do you… admire me?" Rachel asked slowly, milking this for all it was worth. Even though she didn't outwardly seem it, Rachel knew her mother was the most vulnerable she'd ever seen her since Leonard had passed away.
Sandra took her time responding. "You didn't take the easy way out," she said simply. "Your sisters, though how dearly I love them, have always taken advantage of having anything they wanted within reach. And, for a time, you did also… but then something changed. You changed. You turned your back on your easy life and went to college independently, and now you're living on your own and are going to get a job to support yourself. Lord knows I haven't worked a day in my life; I just went from the security of my parents' home to your father. I had always expected you girls to follow my example."
Rachel softened, feeling something like… sadness? at the life her mother had led thus far. "But I don't want to follow your example."
"I know you don't. And that's why I admire you," Sandra said. "Here I was, pushing you towards the only thing I knew how to do: become the wife of a successful man. But over these past few months… well, I'm beginning to see all the points you've made. I am sorry, darling."
Feeling a bit misty, Rachel took a step towards her mother, and Sandra closed the small gap between them and before they knew it, they were locked in a tight hug as Ross looked on, still not sure what to do with himself.
"So am I still invited to your graduation?"
Rachel laughed softly and nodded as they pulled apart. "Yes, I'd be very happy if you'd come."
"I assume I'll be seeing you there also?" Sandra asked, turning her attention towards Ross.
Ross nodded with a smile as he glanced at Rachel. "You bet."
"Well, then… I'm glad we've gotten this out of the way," Sandra said business-like, adjusting her top and touching up her hair. However, she realized she was still holding the small box. "Oh! Dear, I almost forgot. This is for you."
She handed over the box to Rachel, who accepted eagerly, always one for gifts. Rachel opened the square package and gasped as she saw what was inside. "Oh, Mom, it's beautiful…" she gushed as she lifted out a gold necklace with a small diamond hanging from the center. Ross moved closer to get a better look.
"It's something of a family heirloom," Sandra informed her. "My mother gave it to me when I graduated from college, her mother gave it to her before she got married… it goes back quite a while. It isn't too flashy, but…"
"Why are you giving it to me?" Rachel questioned as she placed the necklace back in it's box.
Sandra's mouth twitched into a half-smile. "I knew you'd be the one to most appreciate its value."
"Thank you, Mom," Rachel said, and they hugged once more before Sandra reached for her purse and took a few steps for the door. "Where are you going now?"
"Well, now that I've given you that old necklace, I thought I'd take a page out of your book. I'm going to begin to experience… life," Sandra murmured, her voice low and tinted with excitement as her eyes danced in a way Rachel had never noticed before. It made her a little sad that her mother had had to wait all of this time to feel the way she now did.
"Good to see you, Ross! See you both tomorrow!" she called over her shoulder, and exited.
Ross and Rachel stood in a silence for a moment, both digesting what had just transpired. It had been unexpected, yes, but definitely not unpleasant.
"That was a productive visit," Ross said, breaking the quiet with a smile as he wrapped an arm around Rachel's waist.
She leaned into him and stared at the necklace. "I can hardly believe it just happened."
"Well if you ever question if it really happened or not, you can ask me. I'm a witness."
Rachel turned her face up so she could look into his eyes. "Thanks for not bolting."
Ross shrugged. "You'd do the same for me." Seeing Rachel's wistful expression, he tugged her waist a little and she was forced to follow him back to the couch. "So let's spend the night watching a movie and enjoying your final hours as a student before graduating, huh?"
"Sounds great," Rachel nodded, and they settled onto the couch.
And she just knew that at that moment her mother had found her world suddenly wide open, free to do anything, just as her own was. Sandra finally had the chance to explore and experiment and do things she'd never gotten to do before, all to find her real place in the world.
As she snuggled closer to Ross in an apartment she shared with her best friend, Rachel realized she was nearly one-hundred percent sure she'd found exactly where she belonged.
XXX