Chapter Two: Ross and Emily's Row
The following morning, Ross went over to Monica and Rachel's, after having seen Emily to the airport. ''I just made sure that Emily got to the airport. It gets harder each time.''
Rachel was pouring cereal into a bowl. She and Chandler had of course come back to her apartment for breakfast. ''Ross, you've been dating her for a couple of weeks. I realize that love can happen quickly, but come on.''
Chandler settled in one of the chairs and pulled Rachel into his lap, nuzzling her neck, making them both laugh. ''Ross, she's only left twice. She's coming back next week, too.'' He and Rachel looked at each other, each wishing that they could tell him about Emily and Joe Somebody.
Ross nodded, going to the fridge and getting a bottle of water. ''I know we haven't been dating that long, but she's totally awesome.'' He sat down next to Chandler and Rachel.
Monica got her own water and put her plate of eggs on the table. ''Ross, don't even tell me that you're getting serious about her.''
Ross said, ''Well, you're getting serious about Pete, and you've only been dating him a week longer than I've been dating Emily.''
Monica said, ''I knew Pete for a couple of months before we began dating. So I was friends with him first. And Rachel and Chandler got together pretty quickly.''
Rachel shook her head. ''Don't bring Chandler and I into it.'' She finished up her cereal and got up. Chandler grabbed her around the waist and held on as she put the bowl in the sink. ''Chandler, let go. I have to get ready for work.''
Chandler asked, ''Can't you call off and play hooky with me? I've got some sick days saved up.'' He pulled her tighter to him.
Rachel giggled. ''Come on, Chandler, let me go.'' She laughed harder as he tickled her sides. Everyone else just groaned. She laughed harder as Chandler tickled her harder.
Everyone finished up their breakfast and Monica started cleaning up the kitchen. Rachel kissed Chandler and headed into her bedroom to begin getting dressed.
She had no sooner closed the door when it was being opened again. Chandler entered the room and slipped his arms around her. He kissed her neck. ''Come on, call off work and stay home with me.'' He said.
Rachel laughed and slipped out of his arms so she could put her bra on. ''Chandler, come on. I can't. It's one of my last days at the coffee house. Gunther will be upset if I don't come in.''
Chandler said, ''Aw, come on, Rach. You're quitting to work at Bloomingdale's. You deserve a day of celebration. And celebration sex.''
Rachel laughed. ''Chandler, it's only for a few hours. It'll be fine. And speaking of sex, what are we going to do about Emily and Ross? Should we tell Ross, before he gets more serious about her? Or let it go? She might decide that it's Ross she wants, and she'll break it off with Joe Blow.''
Chandler said, ''I don't know. She might, she might not. I think we should wait a bit, to see if she does just that, and try in the meantime to keep Ross from getting too serious about her.''
Rachel finished dressing in a short black miniskirt and a blue top. She wore panyhose and cute black heels. She got her jacket and brushed out her hair. ''All right. I'm ready to serve coffee.'' She headed out of her room, Chandler following her, practically drooling.
Monica was dressed for work, too. She had her fake wig on, and was looking for one of her fake boobs. ''Have you guys seen my right boob? I can't find it anywhere. I have to be there in half an hour.''
Rachel shook her head. ''Last place I saw them were in your bedroom when I was borrowing your black leather jacket. Which I put back, by the way.'' She said, grabbing her purse and her keys.
Monica nodded. ''I saw it in the closet. Thanks. Um, Chandler, have you seen my right boob anywhere? I really need it.''
Chandler shook his head, too. ''I haven't. Sorry. Check the bathroom.'' He glanced at Ross, who was still sitting at the kitchen table. ''Ross, don't you have a job to go to?'' He asked.
Ross nodded. ''Yeah, I do. I just was finishing my water.'' He got up and grabbed his briefcase and headed out. He stopped at the door. ''Hey, you guys want to go on a double date with Emily and me this weekend? She'll be in for a couple of days.''
Rachel looked at Chandler. It would be awkward for them because of the whole Emily kissing another guy thing. She wasn't sure what to say. ''Um, yeah, Ross, that would be fun.'' She finally supplied.
Ross smiled. ''Thanks, you guys, it'll be fun. I'll see you later.'' He headed out of the apartment, Rachel and Chandler following.
Rachel stopped Chandler before they started downstairs. ''Are we sure about this? I mean, how are we supposed to hang out with Emily knowing what we know?''
Chandler shrugged. ''I don't know, but we can do it. Ross is our friend, and Emily's still nice to us, even if she's stepping out on Ross.''
Rachel said, ''You're right, I guess it'll be OK.'' She kissed him and they headed on downstairs.
At lunchtime, Rachel was getting off. She only had a four-hour shift. It was fine with her, since it was her last week. She headed on upstairs to her apartment. She played the messages back. One was from Pete. ''Monica, it's Pete. There's something that I have to ask you, and I think I should do it on our date tonight. Call me back, OK? I love you.''
Rachel was getting a water from the fridge. ''I wonder what he wants to ask her. Oh my God. What if he wants to marry her?'' Rachel gasped. The next was from Richard, wanting Monica to call him. Rachel groaned. ''I am so going to have trouble talking her out of calling him back.'' She turned on the television, to watch her soaps.
Chandler popped into the apartment, on his lunch break. He had only wanted to spend it with one person. ''Hey, Rach.'' He said, slipping onto the couch next to her.
Rachel looked up. ''Oh, hey, you. On your lunch break?'' She asked, sipping her water and digging into popcorn she'd popped.
Chandler nodded and kissed her on the neck. ''Yes, and I couldn't stay away. I had to see you. I've only got an hour, and the only thing I'm hungry for is you.'' He said, grinning.
Rachel looked at him. She loved every part of him. She could hardly believe that after all the time she'd spent pining for him, she had him now. ''Oh, you're so sexy.'' She said, and planted one right on his mouth. The popcorn bowl got knocked to the floor, and neither even bothered to care that Monica was going to freak when she came home.
Joey and Phoebe hadn't gone far for their honeymoon, they'd just gone up to Atlantic City for a couple of days. They were enjoying themselves. They were walking up and down the sidewalk, enjoying all the sites and sounds. Joey was holding Phoebe's hand in his own. ''I'm happy, Pheebs. I really am. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me.''
Phoebe said, ''You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Joey Tribbiani. I'm a Tribbiani. I'm Phoebe Tribbiani.'' She laughed.
Joey smiled back at her. ''You're right. You're Mrs. Joey Trib. I'm glad that we did this, Pheebs. I really am. So, what names have you thought of for the baby? Do we know what it is yet?''
Phoebe nodded. She had just entered her fifth month, and she had been to the doctor right before the wedding. ''Yeah, and the doctors think we're having a girl. They aren't a hundred percent sure, but that's what they say we're having.''
Joey grinned. ''Girls are like, my favorite thing in the world besides sandwhiches!'' He said, putting his hand on Phoebe's belly.
They entered the resturant that they were heading to for dinner. It was a fancy French resturant, and Joey had let Phoebe pick it out. ''So, they have good food here?'' Joey asked.
Phoebe nodded. ''I ate here with David. We took a trip up here for an afternoon, and we ate here. It was really good. They have this pasta that is out of this world.''
Joey asked, ''Do they have chicken and stuff?'' He pulled out the menu to look it over.
Phoebe nodded. ''I think so.'' She had just gotten out her own menu to look it over, when she felt the baby kicking. ''Joey, I can feel the baby kicking!'' She said excitedly.
Joey felt her stomach, and smiled. He was happy. Truly happy for the first time in his life. He had a baby, and now a wife. Things couldn't get any better.
When Monica got home, she found the apartment empty, but popcorn all over the floor. ''Oh my God. Rachel!'' She hollered.
Rachel came out of the bedroom, in her robe. ''Hey, Monica. What's the problem?'' She had an after sex glow.
Monica pointed to the floor. ''Look, Rachel, the popcorn is all over the floor!'' She cried. She put her purse on the counter and walked over to the floor and began cleaning.
Rachel said, ''I'm sorry, Mon, I was having some excellent sex, and I forgot about picking it up.'' She leaned down to help Monica pick it up.
Chandler came out of the bathroom. He had never been back to work. He couldn't help it. He hadn't been able to get enough of Rachel. She hadn't been able to get enough of him. ''Hey, Monica.'' He said.
Monica rolled her eyes. ''Hi, Chandler. Why didn't you guys clean up the popcorn off the floor? I don't care how good the sex was, you don't leave popcorn on the floor when you live with me.'' She admonished.
The three of them were joined by Ross and Emily, who came in arguing. ''I don't care if we weren't exclusive officially, it was being assumed that we were. So what you were doing was cheating, Emily.'' Ross was saying.
Rachel, Chandler, and Monica quickly got up and headed into Rachel's bedroom, to listen while Ross and Emily fought.
Emily had put her hands on her hips. ''Look, Ross, I like dating you, but I like Steven, too, and I won't stop seeing him.''
Rachel asked, ''Who's Steven?'' She was shushed. She poked both Monica and Chandler and stuck her ear against the door again.
Ross was saying, ''You were even making out with him at the wedding, Emily. I mean, I was your date for that one. I just can't believe that you've been doing this to me.''
Emily said, ''Ross, how do you think I feel? No matter how much fun we've been having since we began dating, all I've heard is how fabulous Rachel is and why she's dating Chandler and not you. Do you think that's something that a girl you're dating wants to hear? You know what, Ross? I'm leaving you. Steven and I are going to go back to London. Have a nice life.'' She turned and left the apartment, slamming the door behind her.
Rachel, Monica, and Chandler went back into the living room, and Ross stood like a broken man in the kitchen.