"Merci, yes merci" Ross said into the phone. Emma had been home for a week now. He had decided to turn this into an extended vacation. At the same time, while Rachel was at work, he had been making a lot of phone calls.
"Well Em, how would you like to go see a museum with Daddy?" he said as he lifted her from her playpen. Emma clapped her hands together. "We are going to get you a bath and dress you pretty, because this might be Daddy's new job."
All of this had been done secretly in the hopes that if one of his offers didn't work, Rachel wouldn't be crushed. If this museum was the one, he would hand in his letter of resignation at NYU and be the new head of the paleontology department.
Walking around with the head curator, Ross was impressed at the collection . It reminded him of when he worked for the Museum of Natural History before he was let go.
"Well Doctor, what do you think?" the curator asked.
"I am very impressed. Some of these artifacts are even older than when I worked in the museum in NY before." Ross said. Emma just contently played with her toy in the stroller.
"Well we have done our research with you Dr. Geller , and we are quite impressed with someone so young who came along so fast.
We have read some of your papers that you had published and a friend of mine heard you speak in Barbados at that conference a year ago." the curator said as he extended his hand. "We would be more than happy to have you come on board as head of our paleontology department."
"Dr. Phillips, thank you so much. I have to talk this over with someone , but I think I can give you an answer by the end of the week." Ross said. He happily strolled out of the museum and walked down the boulevard. Walking past a store window, he looked in and saw the most beautiful diamond ring ever. It gave him an idea.
"Emma, I have got two rings at home in my desk. I need to get one to bring back or maybe just get a new one. But that ring is the most gorgeous one I have ever seen. It is probably way too expensive for me, but it is the kind of ring that your mother deserves."
"So my transfer, went through, that's great!" exclaimed Rachel as she talked on the phone. "No let's say, I have family in New York that I would miss." she said. "Effective Friday. Thanks you are a doll. No I am not going to need an apartment in NY , I already have one ." she smiled. "Thanks again. Bye." Rachel had did it. She had Louis Vuitton transfer her back to NY. She could have her career, her child, and her man.
Ross walked out of the jewelry store. He couldn't afford the one in the window , but found a beautiful ring that was just as elegant. It had a square cut diamond that was three karats. Holding it up to the light made it sparkle.
"Pretty." cooed Emma as she looked at the ring. Ross held it down to the carriage.
"I should have done this eight years ago Emma, but your mommy had to work. Actually on our first date, I had to work. We are finally going to be a family." Ross said as he pushed the carriage down the street. The midday sun was getting in his eyes , so he put on his sunglasses .
"What a beautiful baby." an older lady said as she peaked into the carriage. "Are you her papa?" Ross proudly answered, "Oui." He was starting to like Paris. He smiled to the lady and said . "Au revior." as she walked away.
Ross sat at one of the sidewalk cafes and ordered a coffee. Sipping it , he looked over at the Eiffel Tower. Rachel's Paris would now be his Paris. Emma sipped a hot chocolate sitting at the tiny table. Well tried, was more like it.
"Emma , you are getting more of it, on you than in you." Ross said as he laughed. He picked up a napkin and dabbed at her face. "You are taking a bath before Mommy gets home." he said.
"Cause Mommy will kill Daddy." said Rachel as she walked down the row of café's. Ross took the ring box and immediately put it in his pocket. "What are we doing, out for a little stroll?" she said surprised to see him. Rachel leaned down to kiss Ross. "This is a nice surprise." she smiled as she sat down.
"Well I was out shopping and doing some errands." he said . "And I decided to take my girl out for a ride." Emma popped up and said "Hi Mommy." Rachel looked at her chocolate stained clothes and shook her head. "This is your mess, so you get to clean her up." Rachel said sternly. "Emma, you are my messy girl." she had to laugh. Rachel decided to spring her news. "Ross, how would like some company on the trip home?" said Rachel excitedly.
"What are you saying Rach?" he asked curiously.
"I called Louis Vuitton in NY and they said I could transfer to the States, same salary, same expense account, same everything. Except I will be in New York." she smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "And we will be together."
"Rach, I was at Le Museum de Naural History this afternoon and talking to the curator. You are looking at the head of the Paleontology department. I was going to surprise you, when I went home to put in my resignation and then move here." Ross said.
Rachel put her hand to her mouth in awe. This man was going to give up everything for her.
"Ross, your tenure at the university." she said. "Are you sure?" she said , the memory fresh in her mind of him receiving it.
"I actually enjoyed working at the museum more." he exclaimed. "Plus we can live together, I can have this great job, you can have your great job and Emma can have her family."
"I already put in the transfer, that is the only problem. They are going out of their way for me. Do you have the job yet and we haven't even talked about where we both are?" Rachel started to panic. Things were moving way too fast.
"We have just been getting along so well, I just assumed that I would move over here. I told you before I love you." he said sincerely. "And I am not letting you go again.'
"Ross, we need to talk about this." she said. "Are we ready for this?" He took off his sunglasses and looked right at her. "I thought we were."
"You have been over here for two weeks. We haven't discussed anything and then you go off behind my back making plans. "Rachel ranted.
"Well you didn't talk about transferring back to NY with me?" he countered.
"I thought I would go back to NY, move back in with Joey and then we could see where everything goes." Rachel said.
"You still don't trust me?" he yelled. " I am willing to give up everything for you , and you still don't trust me."
"Okay , if you were going to move over here. Where were you going to live?" Rachel asked point blank.
"That's easy with you." he said.
"Did I ask you to move in with me? " Rachel said. "Of course not, it's always Ross jump the gun Geller who has his own agenda and doesn't care what anyone wants as long as he gets his way."
Ross got up frustrated and walked away. Rachel still was there with Emma. He was fed up with the way that she continued to treat him.
"You don't have to worry about me, I'll get a flight home." he said .
"Why do you have to be such an ass?" screamed Rachel.
"Because I have had thirty six years of practice." he screamed.
"This is never going to work." she screamed. "I knew it.'
"It will never work because you won't let it." he yelled. He came back and put his arms around her shoulders. "I am asking you to take the biggest gamble of your life. Trust me. Forget everything I have said or did up until this point. We can't let this slip away again." he said as he looked into her eyes.
"Well then what am I supposed to do?" Rachel asked sincerely.
He looked soulfully into her aqua eyes. "Marry me!"