Things were changing for Gina Tribbiani quite fast. She came back home to New York for a christening and a friend of her brother's wedding. She never dreamed that she would be engaged to be married to a man she hardly knew. She looked over at the man who sat next to her. He was attractive and he seemed to be very nice.
"Well Gina." Ross softly said. "I think that we should tell everyone. " He was unsure of what people's reactions would be. He had fond memories of when he married a girl he knew for six weeks. He was sure there would be mixed reactions. Putting his arm around Gina's bare shoulders, they walked out of the coffee shop. He watched her eyes as they strolled the sidewalk . He tried to share the enthusiasm she shared.
"Well who should we tell first?" he asked. Gina smiled. "I think we need to tell my family, especially Michael . He needs to know the truth anyway. " Ross was happy in that respect, he had a son that was following in his academic footsteps.
The subway was dark and had a pungent smell as the train traveled from the safety of Manhattan to the small neighborhoods of Queens. Ross watched as the houses passed by , row by row, the borough was in its own little world , family owned businesses with ethnic names. Gina felt good to be home. Whenever she came back, she was always made to find that her family was ashamed of her. This would make them so proud of her. Her son would learn to love the man she was going to be married to. She couldn't wait for the look on her mother and father's faces with this announcement.
"I always wondered what Joey's house was like." Ross tried to start a conversation, his nerves were getting the best of him. He wished for a bottle right now so bad, any one would do.
"Where are you from Ross?" Gina asked. "Well I grew up in Long Island and then I went to school in the city. I have lived in Manhattan for almost twenty years." He answered. Holding hands, they got off the subway. Gina was walking around like a young girl in love. A neighbor spotted Gina and then waved.
"Mrs. Torabini, this is my fiancé." She smiled. Ross waved uneasily. "I am very happy for you. Congratulations, it's so nice to see a young couple in love. " the neighbor smiled. Ross then smiled at the irony of the wishes. That was the last thing he was .
"And that's the story." Rachel said as she sat on the couch holding Huggy. Joey couldn't believe his ears. Rachel was going to have Ross' baby. He had done all that he could to make things right with his sister and Ross. Now he felt so bad, hearing the phone ring, he ran to answer it. Nodding he kept looking at Rachel, she was so upset and he wanted to leave and then find Ross. "I'm sorry Rachel, that was my mother , she said that Gina called and the family is supposed to meet at her house. Some kind of an announcement." He said.
"That's okay Joey, Monica and Chandler are coming back today, so I thought I would go over and wait for them. " Rachel sighed. She put the penguin down and then Joey picked it up and put it in her arms. "No you can hold him for a while." He smiled and then gave her a hug.
"Yeah I might as well get used to it." Rachel took the stuffed animal and walked to her bedroom. She cradled the animal and held it in her arms. Walking to her bed, she sat down and began to rock the animal back and fourth and quietly sing to it.
"Rock a bye baby on the tree top
and as she started the next verse. She laid her head down on her pillow and silently sobbed herself to sleep. She hoped that everything would work out.
Gloria was making another pot of sauce as her daughter Deena helped her. Deena was the baby of all the girls. Joey had always been the most protective of her and Gina. People were filling up the house when they heard that Gina had some news.
"Hey ma." Screamed Gina as she pulled open the ancient screen door. The old kitchen smelled of garlic and tomatoes . An ancient lady peered into the pot and mumbled something in Italian.
"Hey Nonnie." Gina said as she kissed the cheek of the elderly lady. "Smells good. Ross come over and taste this. It is a piece of heaven." Gina said as she held the spoon in her hand. Ross opened his mouth and then Gina put the spoon in it. Fanning his mouth, he screamed, "Hot! Too hot!" Gina put the spoon down and grabbed a water glass from the cupboard and turned on the iron faucet. "Drink darling." She said as she poured the water down his throat.
"Hey Mah." She yelled as she walked to her mother. "Where's Pop? I hope he isn't at Ronnie's." she said .
"Nope I told your father that you had a big announcement, so he went to get some wine. Gloria said . "So who's your guy Gina?" Gloria walked over and looked Ross over.
"Ma, this is Ross. He's a friend of Joey's And that's part of the announcement ."
"Now I remember , you were the best man at Chandler's wedding. You are the brother of his wife." Gloria smiled and put her hands around Ross' head. "You are always welcome here." Then she gave him a great big kiss on the cheek. She took him by the hand and then took him into the living room. A group of women were all standing together .
"These are my daughters. Mary Angela, Mary Theresa, Cookie, Deena…and then seven girls came up and hugged Ross. Gloria smiled with pride for each one. Michael and his grandfather opened the screen in the kitchen. "Yo Gloria, the kid came with me. Here's the wine, now what's the big announcement?" Joseph Sr. yelled. Michael stared at his mother and her friend. "Maybe we should talk to Michael first?" Ross whispered to Gina. Gina put her arm around her son's shoulders. "Sweetie, Mommy would like to talk to you about something." She said as she lead him into the guest bedroom. Michael looked around. "What is he doing here?" he said referring to Ross. Gina went over and shut the door.
"Michael , I want you to sit down." Michael walked slowly over to the bed and then Gina sat next to him. Ross kept a very careful distance from the mother and son. Gina took a deep breath and then started to speak.
"Remember when I told you that your father was dead? Michael nodded his head. "Yeah you said he was killed in a car wreck." Gina looked over at Ross very cautiously."Michael, he isn't dead. He is right over there." Michael turned his head slowly and then saw Ross. His wide eyes told the story. Gina sighed. "I went to a dorm party at NYU about sixteen years ago with my friend. We loved sneaking into college parties . I had a little too much and then I spent the night with Ross. About a few weeks later, I found out I was pregnant with you." Gina 's voice shook with fear. Michael was terrified. He pointed at Ross and said not a word. "Michael , this is your father." She said as she wrapped her arms around Ross. "And we are getting married." Michael got up and ran from the room.
"He took it better than I thought." Said Ross. Gina planted a kiss on his lips softly. "It'll be alright baby. He'll accept you. It has been a big shock." Ross turned to watch the figure leave the room. Gina took his hand. "Come on, sweetie, time to tell the family. They are going to love you because you are going to be the father that Michael never had. And they will really love you cause you are a doctor." She squealed pulling him from the room.
"Gina I don't think you have a grasp of the meaning of what kind of a doctor I am." Ross said."I have a degree like a doctor, but it is a doctor of paleontology. "
"Paleon …what?" Gina asked confused.
"Paleontology, I study and teach about prehistoric life , fossils and dinosaurs." He said.
"Well that 'll be good enough for this crowd. Come on. Everyone is waiting." Gina said as she took his hand. "By the way, doctor when I am getting my ring?" she smiled at him. Ross kept wondering what he was getting himself into. "I guess after we tell your family and then my friends and family. We'll go buy your ring." He smiled , at least he put it off a little longer. She kissed him again. "I just keep loving you more and more everytime I see you.' She sweetly said."Now I know what I saw in you years ago."
Joey Sr. came out. "Everyone's here , except Joey, so sweetheart what is the big announcement?" he said as he held a beer in his hand.
"Daddy, you guys, Mom , Nonnie, I am getting married." Gina squealed. "Now my Michael is going to have a father. Everyone, this is the man I am going to marry. Doctor Ross Geller." Ross smiled uneasily.
"You bastard." Came from the doorway. Joey came over and punched Ross knocking him down. Gina caught him and then gave him a dirty look. "What the hell was that for?" she yelled angrily.
"First you knock up my sister, now you knock up Rachel." Joey screamed. "What the hell is your problem Geller?"
Ross looked at him , completely shocked and stunned. He had no idea .
"Rachel's pregnant?" he said softly.
A note to all my fans, now you people know me better than that.Of course it is Ross and Rachel all the way, don't be frightened or hate me , this was just an idea I have had cooking for a while. If you guys really like it….please leave me the little reviews … they make me so happy…