It had been hours and hours of false labor. Finally Ross came in the door. Monica was asleep on Chandler's lap. Phoebe was curled up on Joey's shoulder and Rachel laid on the couch stretched out. It was now Christmas morning. Ross came over and put his hand on Rachel's shoulder. "Rach, Rach? Are you alright?" he said softly. Rachel slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes. "Ross?" Merry Christmas darling." He said as he presented her with the flowers. "It's Christmas? My pains started and then they stopped." Rachel said as she tried to get up. "Braxton Hicks."he simply said. "No big …" I am going stop you right there. No uterus , no opinion. Ross." He immediately shut up. "Rachel, you don' t have to do that." Ross said as he took her arm and then he helped her up. Rachel started for the bathroom and then it came. "OWWWWWWWW."she screamed. Ross ran to the bathroom and saw water all over the floor. "What is this?" Rachel cried. Everyone woke up and ran to the bathroom. "Oh that just means her water broke." Phoebe said. "The baby is on it's way."
"Oh okay." Ross said as he started to walk out of the bathroom. "What?" he yelled. "Rachel is it time?" She held her stomach and then started to walk to a chair. "Okay, now this is what we are going to do." Monica said in her take charge voice. "Ross , grab the bag and pillow. " Joey call the doctor, Chandler get the cab, and Phoebe , you help Rachel back up." Monica knew she could keep everyone calm. Phoebe leaned down and helped her up from the chair. Ross came back with the bag and pillow and handed them to Phoebe. He had pulled her coat from the closet and wrapped it around her. "Here you go sweetie. You will be all nice and warm.' Rachel wrapped it around her. "Yeah that 'll keep me warm" she said sarcastically.
Ross knew he had to talk to her before their baby came. He wanted to tell her what the driver made him realize He had hoped they could have a little time alone before they got to the hospital. He would have to tell her in the cab it looked like.
"Cab's here." Chandler yelled. Everyone made a bee line for the door. "You guys, could Rachel and I have a little time on the ride to the hospital to ourselves?" Ross said. "Okay, we'll take the Porsche , come on guys. " Monica said as her and the rest went down the stairs.
"What were you thinking?" Rachel said. "Trust me. We need to talk." Ross assured her. He put his arm around her shoulder and carried everything. Helping her down the stairs, she moved carefully . The driver saw the pregnant woman and opened the door of the apartment as the snow was falling. Ross recognized the driver immediately. "Hello Ross." He said. Ross was amazed that the driver knew his name when he didn't tell him it. "You must be Rachel. Let's get you to the hospital, young lady. " he smiled. After he closed the door of the cab, he sped away from the curb. "So this is your first baby. I bet you are both excited. " the driver said. "Well no this is my second. I have a little boy from my first marriage." Ross said. Rachel turned to Ross and held his hand. "I'm scared, Ross. I mean I am going to be a mommy. " Ross smiled. "You are going to make a great mommy. " He patted her hand. Now the time was right. He cleared his throat. "Uhmm Rach, I wanted to tell you something. " What's that Ross?" Rachel asked unevently.
"I wanted to tell you… I uh love you." He stuttered.
"I love you too Ross, we may not be in love or together, but we are best friends." Rachel said as she patted his hand. "No Rachel, I don't love you as a friend. I love you, just like I did before I married Emily and truth be known, I loved you then too." Rachel stopped and stared at Ross.
"You mean when you said "I Ross , take thee Rachel? You meant ? Rachel's hand went to her mouth. He grabbed her hand. "I meant there wasn't anyone else I loved more than you." He slowly leaned over and kissed her. "Rachel Green, I love you." Tears of happiness came to her brown eyes as she closed them to touch his. The driver just looked back and smiled then he drove along as the two lovers reached back for something they lost and had just found.
"I am so happy that you feel that way because I love you too. " smiled Rachel. "I don't know if it has been this baby or what, but the past couple months, have made me realize that my feelings never did die."
The cab pulled up to the hospital. The kind driver hopped out and opened the door. Pulling his coat around him to protect him from the cold, Ross helped out a very pregnant Rachel. "Good luck, you kids are going to be just fine." the old driver said. "Merry Christmas Ross and Rachel." Then the driver sped away.
Going through a door, Ross spotted a wheelchair and put her in the chair. The lady at the desk was busy talking on the phone. "Excuse me, but my girlfriend is just about to give birth." Ross said. The nurse put the phone down. "I'm sorry but there were a lot of births last night. There isn't a room in the whole hospital." She said. "Something might open up in about a couple hours. Ross started to rant. "The woman I love is going to have a baby. Isn't there anywhere?" Rachel began to hold her stomach again. "Ross?" she said. "I don't care where , just somewhere with a bed." Ross begged. The nurse turned to him with a dirty look. "There is no room in the hospital." The pain hit for a second time. Rachel began to squirm under her blanket. "Ross?" At that moment , the gang showed up.
"We thought you would be in a room by now." Monica said as she saw Rachel in the hallway. "Well, there is no room in the hospital." Ross said disgusted. "Not for a few hours, at least." "Boy there hasn't been that problem since two thousand years ago." Said Chandler. "Yeah, it sounds kind of familiar." Said Joey. Chandler took Joey aside, "There was a baby born then , they couldn't get a room for the mother either." It finally came to Joey. "Yeah, just like Jesus was." Chandler smiled. "There you go."
"We'll find somewhere I am sure." Phoebe said optimistically. "We'll find a stable like they did."
"We are in the middle of Manhattan. Where are we going to find a stable?" At that moment , Rachel doubled over in pain. "Ross, I don't care if you have to put me in a closet. This baby is going to be born."