Third Chapter. The wedding gets closer...
The guys had finished watching their movie, and they were now talking about Ross and Rachel's wedding.
"So she doesnt know you have booked the plaza instead now? Man, she's gonna be totally shocked..." Chandler said. "Monica told me about it yesterday...I think she's gonna love it, but I wouldnt have done anything like that for our wedding...Monica would possibly have killed me if I had rearranged anything without her permission" he joked.
"Rachel's gonna love the idea, and the only change is the place...so it's no problem, I rang the caters and band and everything today to tell them the change of place...and the time has also pushed back a little to a later time of 7pm, so..."
Joey smiled. "I cant believe your finally getting married to her dude, after all those years..." he said, and Ross could have sworn he saw his eyes glaze with a small tear.
"I'm just going to be so happy, and...ok...there's something else you should probably know".
"What is it?" Chandler asked.
"Well...Rachel told me before she went out with the girls that she's pregnant".
"Whoah. Were you planning on it?" Joey asked.
Ross shook his head. "No, we didnt plan it...but I'm still ecstatic with the news, and look at Emma...she's almost 3 years old and we never planned her, but now everything is about her you know? I love her so much, and Rachel means the world to me...there's room for another ". he said.
"Congratulations then.." Chandler said, hugging him. "You must have some terrific sperm my man.." he joked.
Ross laughed, and the guys clinked their bottles of beers together, "cheers" they all chorused before downing their beers.
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17th April
The sun was shining brightly through their bedroom window as they lay in bed, they were both resting on their side, his arms had been around her all night, with his face tucked in the back of her neck. They were both awake, but the lovely and calm feeling of an April morning was an excuse to stay in bed a little bit longer.
Everything was quiet, they could only hear eachother's breathing and Emma's quiet snoring across the room, Rachel turned over to face Ross, "Ross..." she whispered, unsure of whether he was awake yet. "uh?" he replied, his eyes half open. She smiled, "Do you realise we're getting married tomorow?" She told him, "and it's been a whole year since we got together...I feel so...so.."
He touched her lips with his finger, then stroked her cheeks. "I love you so much".
"I love you too. And I cant believe how lucky we are, everything we have before us now...".
He bent his head down, lifting her top up and kissed her stomach softly, "your the only man i've ever loved, do you know?" she told him, as he sat up again. He wished he could say the same to her, but he would be lying if he said he hadnt loved Carol, or maybe even Emily. "Your the woman I've ever loved this long...and much", he said, hoping what he said would be almost equal to what she had said to him.
She cupped his face in her hand, and kissed him. "I knew all along you were the man for me. But I was too afraid and selfish to admit it..."
He brushed her fringe away from her eyes, "we're both guilty of that. but we're here now...arent we?" he smiled, kissing her back.
Ross had decided to tell Rachel about the plaza the night before, so today they had planned to get everything finalised. "So are you sure everything is ok? The caterers and everybody know the change of plan?" she checked with him as she ticked off the list of people to call about the wedding. "what about people we've invited? do they know?"
Ross nodded. "Everybody knows. You were the last..." he laughed, "the only thing I havent done is call the photographer about it all...but we can do that today".
"ok, I'll do that now. can you bath emma while I do all this? I'm taking her to get her bridesmaid dress later on..."
"sure, I'll get her ready..." he said. Rachel was on the phone then to the photographer, "Hi, this is Rachel Greene...there's a change of plan for the gellar greene wedding, it's on the same day but we're now having the ceromony at the Plaza, and it's at a later time of 7...we thought we'd better let you know".
Rachel put down the notepad and pen, and lay back on the sofa. "All done".
She had spent the morning making sure everybody involved in the wedding was sure about the change of plans, there wasnt that many guests coming really, they had decided to keep it minimum, aslong as their close family and friends were there, that was all that mattered.
"Rach. Emma's all ready...where's her clothes?" Ross called from the bedroom.
"Uh. I'll come in now...I think there's some on the bed already though...".
"Yeah, got it. There's a pile of clothes on here..." Ross called back.
Rachel remained on the sofa, the only thing she had to do now was pick up Emma's bridesmaid dress, aswell as Ben's pageboy outfit, then all she would have to do was wait till tomorow came, the day of their wedding.
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Rachel felt so proud as she dressed her daughter in her bridesmaid dress, a lilac coloured dress that had tiny ribbons sewed on it, with shoes and a beautiful hat to match. "You look just like a princess Emma" she told her, "you wanna see in the mirror sweetie?".
"Ya!" Emma shouted.
She picked up her daughter, and walked over to the mirror on the wall. "Look at you...arent you pretty?".
"Where's your dress Mommy?" Emma asked her.
"Oh, Mummy's dress is safely away in the closet...I'll be wearing that tomorow. You'll see me then..."
"Mummy not put it on now?".
Rachel laughed, "Well...I could do". The temptation wasnt easy, it would be fun putting it on again as she loved it so much, and it would make Emma happy. "Ok, mummy will put it on, but we'll have to be quick because daddy will be back from work soon and we dont want him seeing us in our wedding dresses do we?".
Emma shook her head. "Daddy see tomorow!".
"Yes. Daddy will see tomorow...".
She put Emma on the bed, and reached into the closet where her wedding dress was hanging, it was so beautiful. "Ok, Mommy's gonna put this on now...", she took out the dress off the hanger and began to undress. Emma was giggling happily on the bed, watching her mother put on her wedding dress.
18th April.
Wedding Bells.
Rachel awoke with butterflies in her stomach, she opened her eyelids slowly and turned to look outside the window, it must have been early as the sun wasnt yet out, she could hear the birds on the roof singing away, she smiled to herself as she thought about the day to come. She had always looked forward to this day, being the bride after playing the bridesmaid so many times, well she did get to play the bride role one time, but she didnt want to think about that, that was in the past.
Ross had decided to stay over at Chandler's, and Monica had stayed with Rachel at the apartment, Rachel knew that today would be so manic, so many things to do and make sure were perfect, so she rested her eyes for another five minutes, making the most of the silence. Even Emma wasnt at home this morning, because the Gellar's had offered to look after her, "theres so many things to think about, you dont need a crying baby on top of all that", Judy Gellar had said.
Rachel heard a knocking at the door, "Yeah?", she sat up now expecting to see Monica standing there possibly with the wedding file to check everything off, but to her surprise standing there was Ross.
"Oh my god...what.."
"Am I doing here?" he smirked, he looked like he hadnt slept at all, still in last night's clothes. "I couldnt get my mind off you, us..everything last night, so I lay awake all night, and I thought I would come and see you early before anyone was here..."
"But Monica's here..." Rachel reminded him.
"She's fast asleep...listen, Rach..." He walked over to the bed where she was now kneeling. "I love you so so much...and even though I am so looking forward to actually getting to the wedding and everything...I cant wait till we can just be husband and wife...atlast, you know?".
She smiled, as he took hold of her hand. "I love you too. And I'm going to be the happiest girl alive today..." She beamed.
He kissed her hand. "I better go. I dont wanna be caught out...Chandler's still in bed too, I jumped on the bus here.." He laughed.
She giggled. "God, I feel like a naughty teenager...".
He nodded. "I'm gonna try and catch some sleep at Chandlers before 7...then I'll get ready, see you later.." He smiled, knowing that the next time they would see eachother would be at the wedding.
She smiled. "I'll see you later...".
"Meet you at the alter". He grinned, creeping out of the room, careful not to wake Monica.
Rachel and the girls all arrived at the Plaza a few hours early, carrying their dresses very carefully and their overnight suitcases behind them, "You'd think we were staying a week..." Phoebe joked, as she pulled her bulging suitcase behind her, following Rachel who seemed to be storming ahead. "Cmon guys...the sooner we're in our rooms, the quicker I get ready...".
Ofcourse both Phoebe and Monica knew and understood how Rachel felt, "do you think guys go through the same stress as we do on the wedding day?" Monica asked.
"I guess Ross does, he's a bit of a drama queen anyway.." she joked.
Rachel's mother was also with the girls, keeping Rachel calm. "I'm Rachel Greene...and we all have a booking here for a wedding today, we have a party staying overnight...".
"Ok. Let me check the computer...ah...yes, the wedding is at 7 and you are going to need quite a few rooms?" The lady checked.
Rachel nodded. "I think that's right, yes".
"Ok, if you could just pay with your credit card?". The woman asked.
Rachel cleared her throat, "Um. My fiance took care of all that...he paid over the phone, he told me to give this reference...". she handed over a sheet of paper with the payment details on, "Oh ok...excuse me while I check this" the lady said.
Rachel rolled her eyes, "She does know I have a wedding to be at in just 3 hours?".
"Dont worry sweetheart. We'll be up in our rooms before we know it...". Sandra comforted her daughter.
Just then, Rachel's cellphone began to ring. "Oh, I swear...if this is a call from one of the caterers or the band...I really am going to scream". she cursed, she walked away from the counter to see who was on the call whilst the other girls remained at the reception, waiting patiently for their room keys.
"Oh Hi Judy". She was pleased it was Ross' mum, and not somebody calling saying there was a slight problem with something.
"Rachel dear, just to let you know that me, Jack and Emma will be at the hotel in about an hour.."
"Is Emma ok? Is she all ready?...God, I feel so bad leaving it all on you to get her ready".
"Oh dont be silly...she's been as good as gold, well I'll see you soon...".
"See you soon Judy..".
She put the phone down, and finally the woman at the desk was done checking the details. "Ok, all I need you to do is sign this...then you can all have your room keys. So how many rooms are you wanting for now?".
"Um, well there's me and Chandler...Phoebe and Mike...Rachel and Ross' honeymoon suite then Sandra's...so just four". monica told the receptionist.
"Oh, no dear...I'm not staying overnight, I'm taking Emma home with me tonight..." Sandra told her.
Rachel finished signing the document and handed it over, "I really appreciate you doing that Mom, Ross' parents had her overnight last night...they'll be here soon".
"Who's taking care of Erica and Jack?" Phoebe asked.
"My parents are taking care of them...they'll be coming to the wedding obviously but then my mom and dad will be taking them home with them...so me and Chandler are finally getting a break together aswell...which is nice" she smiled.
"So just the three rooms for now then..." The lady confirmed, passing over the room keys.
"Thank you". Rachel said, and they all went quickly upstairs to their located rooms.
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