The ring

Ross and Rachel were at their first Family dinner since getting engaged. It was yet another seal of approval on their plans. Finally, everyone seemed to be saying. What took you two so long? Why the years of mistakes and misunderstandings? But most people put those awful questions aside and congratulated them. Judy was prepared to welcome Rachel as a second daughter.

Now, at dinner, their wedding plans were being discussed. Ross and Rachel had had a few discussions. It was going to be Vegas, sober this time, or it was going to be in Central Park, or they were going to hire the Planetarium. No plan was yet fixed – they were having too much fun thinking about it, with the unexpressed agenda that their wedding would out do every other wedding – not other people's, only their own.

This time, it was going to work. No last minute running away, no lesbianism, no wrong names and no drunkeness. Ross was aware that his father was talking, but he was too busy daydreaming about Rachel to be aware of the topic of conversation until:

'Hopefully you got the ring back from Emily,' Jack finished, jolting Ross out of his mood. His father noticed his alarm and said more severely, 'You did get it back didn't you Ross?'

'Uh, what ring?' What did Emily have to do with anything? He stared at his father in consternation.

'Your grandmother's wedding ring,' Jack said, as though he was mentally subnormal, 'The only ring I've been talking about for the last ten minutes. That ring. I let you have it for your London wedding, the one that was supposed to work out all right until you messed up your lines. That ring.'

'Oh.' Ross searched his memory. Out of all the thoughts he'd had about that episode of his life, that was one thing that had never crossed his mind.

'So, you got it back,' his father prompted. She didn't give it back to him in person, because they never saw each other again and he'd remember if she posted it back, wouldn't he?

'Uh – uh, no, I didn't.' He frowned. He really couldn't remember anything about it. Had he even asked for it back?

'I don't know that Brit chick's family ripped off I don't know how much from this family and she's kept the ring at well,' Jack snapped.

'I think you're entitled to if you divorce because it's a gift,' Chandler said without thinking.

'Shut up, this was a family heirloom,' Jack snarled at him. To Ross he said, 'Your grandmother came to this country with nothing but the clothes on her back and that ring. We gave it to you to give your wife – she was supposed to be your one and only except you, the genius, messed it up – '

'Jack – ' Judy said.

'He messed it up,' he turned to her briefly before addressing his son again, 'And you just let her keep the ring, knowing that it was an important family heirloom.'

'Maybe she refused to give it back,' Rachel said, not liking this attack on Ross. She looked at him. That would be like Emily, wanting everything her own way.

'Ah.' Ross said. He'd remembered.

'What?' Jack demanded. But his father wasn't going to like the truth.

'I er remember now.' He was looking very sheepish, but it was too late, he was going to have to tell.

'What?'

'Well I told her to keep it.'

'What did you do that for it's a family heirloom!' his father exploded. Both Ross and Monica sat back suddenly in their chairs while Rachel and Chandler looked surprised.

'I didn't exactly say keep it, it was more – well she'd just told me she was getting married again and she said she'd send the ring back and I said don't bother since she was going to need it again.' He'd thought he was being really smart, saying that. It had certainly annoyed Emily at the time, making her hang up on him. It had never crossed his mind that he would need it again. Then, he was never going to get married again, unlike certain other people. Now, his idea for Rachel had been something new.

'Oh Ross,' his mother said.

'So she's got it,' Ross finished.

'You don't think she actually used it did you?' Monica asked with distaste. 'That would be so, so Tacky.'

'I don't know,' Ross said. It would definitely be weird.

'Well you never know with that family,' Jack said. 'Maybe she sold it.'

'If she did, there won't be much I can do about it,' Ross said.

'You'll have to find out,' Jack said.

'What?' Ross asked in shock.

'Find out. Call her or write to her and ask what she did with it and if she's still got it get her to send it back,' Jack said, as if it was as easy as all that.

'I can't do that,' Ross said, appalled. Rachel was equally appalled. There was no way he'd ever be communicating with Emily again, no way. How could anyone suggest it? After last time, it had all been so traumatic. And Ross hadn't heard her voice on the answermachine like Rachel had. Sure, it was years and years ago, but what if she felt the same way? What if she tried to inveigle Ross? What if…

'Why not?' Jack demanded.

'Well I – I don't want to speak to her again,' Ross said. Rachel was relieved that Ross so clearly felt the same way. They had come a long way to be where they were now, but years of insecurities didn't just go away because she had been given an engagement ring. His being divorced three times, and her being divorced once and a wedding escapee once left scars.

'It shouldn't make any difference to you after all this time,' his father said. Rachel looked at Ross sharply. Perhaps she shouldn't be relieved that he was so obviously reluctant. Maybe he was protesting too much… 'If you don't, the ring is gone for good.'

'It could still be gone for good,' Ross said. 'She might have sold it, she might have lost it, she might just refuse.'

'We'll worry about that when the time comes,' his father said.

'I wanted to get Rachel a new ring,' Ross said in a last ditch effort. 'A new ring, a new start.' The less baggage from the past, the better.

'Even if you don't want it back for yourself you should get it back. That was my mother's ring and I expect you to make the effort. It's the least you could do after just giving it away like that, and letting me in for the whole cost of that wedding. It was only going to be half and then you had to get the names wrong. I couldn't stand that Waltham guy but after what you did to his daughter – I hope you don't plan to do the same thing this time.' Jack shot a look at Rachel, 'That'd be something, if he said 'Emily' this time around.' Rachel suppressed a shudder. It would be awful! But unlike Emily, she'd forgive Ross… probably.

'Yeah okay Dad, I'll ask her what she did with the ring,' Ross said.

'And if she's still got it, ask for it back,' Jack emphasised.

'Yes Dad.' An oppressive weight had descended on Ross. He wasn't looking forward to it.