Big had finally checked out of the hotel and was on his way back to NY and Carrie. He got into the limo and then it sped toward the airport. He tried to tell Carrie he was a comin home, but all he got was her familiar voice. "Hi this is Carrie and I 'm shoe shopping , so leave a message." He turned off his cell and sighed. She was no where to be found.
"Okay this is the plan. " Carrie said as she was sitting on the leather couch. "I am going to write these terribly romantic notes and we are going to send her on a romantic scavenger hunt. At the end of the trail , will be you guys most romantic place. Monica will prepare the meal and then you will be there." Carrie said confidentally.
"Are you sure this is going to work? It all sounds kind of hokey." Ross said unsure of the plan.
"Girls like Rachel love romantic gestures." Carrie said sweetly. "I know I do when John does them to me."
"Carrie when we were dating. I spend an awful lot of money to show Rachel how much I loved her. I bought her a musical love bug and I even sent her a barber shop quartet. She did not like it." Ross said adamantly. Carrie came over and put her arm around Ross in a camaderie type of way. "That was a long time ago, Ross, and I know she is going to love this. Let's get started." She rubbed her hands together and then began to type on her treasured laptop. "So tell me, where some of those romantic places were." Ross closed his eyes and he could almost picture them…. "Well of course there is Central Perk, the planetarium, my apartment, Mon and Chandler's but that can't be possible anymore, Joey's apartment…" Carrie put her hand up , "Joey's apartment?" Ross let out a childish giggle. "Yeah, well Rachel lived there for a year or more, That is also where we conceived Emma. She totally was coming on to me by telling me a story that Joey told me would get women in bed. It turns out it does really work.It worked on me." He smiled when he said that. Carrie remembered when she didn't believe in love. Now even her own life was becoming like the fairy tale.She was the Cinderella and Big was her Prince Charming, taking her away from the terrible life of singleness. Rachel had found hers as well, she had taken this toad and kissed him , now he was her own Prince.
"Oh and of course, the airport." Ross said. "We have actually had a few moments, good and bad in airports." Carrie continued to type .
Monica went into the guest room. Rachel had finally fallen asleep. The exhaustion in her eyes reminded her of the night of the fight. Emma slept soundly in her own little bed, unaware of how bad things really were. Peaking in, Emma slowly opened her eyes and screamed. "Aunt Monky." Monica shushed her and then Emma asked. "Am I going to see Daddy?"
Monica didn't know how to answer the little angel. She lifted her from the crib and then said. "Honey, right now Mommy is very mad at Daddy. Sometimes before people get married, they get all scared and say things that hurt the other one. Mommy just wants to make sure that Daddy loves her." Emma had a pondering look on her little toddler face. She had actually an inquisitive look, like she was trying to think some great thought. Maybe that idiot brother of hers was right, she had the look of a person who would be a scientist someday. "Aunt Monky, can I have a drink?" Then she became the adorable toddler again. "Of course you can sweetie, but be quiet cause Mommy is tired." Monica took her niece by the hand and they walked into the kitchen. At the breakfast nook was Chandler feeding Jack and Erica. It turned out they had gotten more on his suit then in their mouths. Emma ran into the arms of her favorite uncle, getting some peaches on herself as well.
"Still asleep?" he asked as he took the cloth to wipe his tie. "Yep, she was exhausted from crying. Was I this bad before we got married?" Monica asked puzzled. "Honey, things were so bad , but it was me, I don't know if anyone ever told you, but I ran away before we got married and everyone kept it from you." Chandler felt confident that he could actually tell the story now. "I had always been such a screw up with relationships , and you know I didn't have the best teachers. So I started to panic when I heard someone call us the Bings. Finally I went to my office and hid. Your brother and Phoebe found me and brought me back and then we got married. " Chandler smiled. ""And you know what, I am very glad they did." Emma returned holding the glass of water. "Now young lady, back to bed." Monica said firmly. "But it is light out." Emma whined. Monica realized yes it was the start of a new day. "Okay you can stay up , but don't wake Mommy." Emma nodded her little head and obediently sat down .
Big was now on the plane and on his way home. He looked out the window and yawned. Now as he sipped his scotch, he laid his head on the pillow and pulled the blanket around him. He drifted into a peaceful sleep knowing that he would soon be seeing the woman he loved.
Harry looked in the bag as he walked from the toystore. He was going to make all his little girls happy this valentines day. He had stopped at the local Pet Smart for a chewie and a new collar for Elizabeth Taylor. The collar had brilliant rhinestones on it. For baby Taylor, he had bought her an expensive mink teddy bear, since he was her little princess. For his beautiful Charlotte, he had seen something in the Tiffany's window about a month back, It was a beautiful mother's ring that took his breath away. He remembered it and knew it was the perfect gift for Charlotte , now that she had everything.
There was a little step in Stanford's walk as he realized that Valentines Day was not going to be a Hallmark holiday. He had Anthony now, and he knew he had to make it the perfect day for him and his lover. Anthony loved the movie , Breakfast at Tiffany's , so he had spied a beautiful picture of Audrey Hepburn in a shop and decided that he would be that for his little Tony.
Carrie had typed up a bunch of little clues and then she wrote them on pieces of white parchment. After some conspiring from quite a few people, she had only one place left to arrange Rachel's surprise.
There was now someone else occupying apartment 20, and it was two giggling girls who had just came from New York. One was a writer like Carrie and the other was an actress. Denise was from Illinois and had graduated from Northwestern and Melanie was from Ohio and graduated from Carnegie Mellon. Carrie and Ross went to the door and knocked. "Hello." Said Melanie as she carefully opened the door. She had been warned by her parents about NYC. "Hi there, I 'm Carrie Bradshaw. This is going to sound a little strange, but can we ask if we can use your apartment." Carrie took it upon herself to ask the girls because Ross was a little nervous. "He can explain it a little better."Melanie now knew they were friendly people so she asked them in. Ross couldn't believe his eyes. The apartment looked almost the same as it did before, except theatre posters and a skyline of New York poster hung where the French poster once did.
"Please excuse the mess. We had a party last night . One of our friends turned twenty . "Melanie explained. Both Ross and Carrie remembered being young like this. "Hi I am Denise, " the other one said. "Oh my God, your Carrie Bradshaw , the writer of my favorite column , Sex and the City." She gushed. Carrie beamed. "Yes I am, and my friend and I want to borrow your apartment for valentines day. You see he wants to surprise his fiancé. This is where she used to live when they were dating and it would be a special valentines if they could relive it. I would appreciate it, so I could write it up for my column." She said. "This is my friend , Ross." It dawned on Denise. "Oh my God, you're Dr. Dino. " she said. "You have got to be the most romantic guy ever. I want to go out and find someone just like you. Miss Fashion is so lucky." She smiled. "Hey Mel, get out here. This is the guy in the paper. Dream man." Melanie wrapped the towel around her hair and ran out garbed in a terry cloth robe. "You are so sweet." She squealed. "And I love the part about how you said her name at the altar. That should have been in a movie." Ross began to blush when he realized he was a pretty sweet guy and any girl was lucky to have him. Now all he had to do was show that to his girl. Carrie and Ross explained what they wanted to do. The girls gladly said they could and then they also mentioned the guy across the hall who kept hitting on them in the basement and the coffee shop around the corner.
"You mean Joey. Girls if you give him a chance, he can be a pretty sweet guy too." Ross said.
It finally dawned on Ross what he could give Rachel for valentines day. She had mentioned something about wanting to have more room for Emma and possibly other children to come. Also it would be nice if they had a room that Ben could stay in when he came to stay with his father. He remembered glancing at the newspaper and seeing there was a lovely house out in Westchester down the block from Monica and Chandler's. He had Chandler call their realtor and arrange a time to see it. He fell in love with it because it reminded him of the house he grew up in. They were no longer twenty somethings, he was headed toward forty and Rachel was now in her mid thirties. The city was still exciting, but it was time they had some roots.In the back was a swimming pool with a little patio. Ross made an offer and then waited for the phone call. It came and then Ross had his valentine gift for Rachel. A brand new house for their new life together.
Finally it was Valentines Day and Rachel awoke with a sad look on her face. She was alone and it was Valentines Day, the day for lovers.She walked to the kitchen , and everyone was gone including her baby. She took a few more steps and then saw on the table a red rose and a ribbon around a piece of paper…she eyed it and then unwrapped it.
My dearest Rachel, we have been through so much, yet we still keep coming back to each other. On our first valentines in seven years, I am letting you remember special times in our lives together by sending you on a journey of love…..here is a clue to your first place…
You always served me something special and I couldn't wait to get your sweet kisses there. In fact, it was the first place we kissed. Rachel knew the note meant Central Perk. She hurried to get dressed and put on a t shirt and capris. The tee had a red heart on it. It was a very warm day for February, so she knew she should be comfortable in her Ralph Lauren capris. Pulling out her Gucci bag , she took the keys to her car and then drove toward the city.
Two houses down, preparations were being made for her Valentines present. Monica had the twins and Emma around as she cooked a luscious lobster for dinner. Rachel had always loved lobster, but she also was working on chicken marsala for Ross. He couldn't eat it. Chandler came in as he had scattered the notes for Rachel, including their old apartment. "Those girls were really nice and they understood me wanting to see their apartment. If they are this understanding , do you think we could borrow it for a night. I think there is a promise that you made to me that we haven't done yet." He started to nuzzle her.
"No sex on the balcony." She screamed. "I thought you gave that up." He started to mock pout. He had his own little surprise for her.
Rachel walked into Central Perk looking for her next clue, on the table in front of the orange sofa was another note , this time the clue was with a muffin, blueberry her favorite…
I see that you have found our place… where you came back into my life…I'll never forget the day that you became independent of your father….here is your next clue… we find our comfort in our friends… that is where you will find it… Rachel thought for a minute, friends? She ran out of the coffee shop eating her muffin and then walked up the stairs of the familiar apartment…..Joey greeted her with a smile. "I was hoping you were coming soon. I was going to spend the day with Samantha. She has to be the most unusual woman I have ever been with."
"So things are going well then?" Rachel smiled. "Yep. They sure are." He nodded. "That on the table is for you." Rachel saw the third note…
how you doin? That's right and maybe you and your former roomie can share a pizza or watch Cujo… this was special to me because it is where our little angel was conceived. Who would have ever guessed that a bad sex story and a bottle of merlot would create such a little princess. She is just like you….. beautiful… now on to your next clue… you were worth the wait……Rachel grabbed her bag and ran out the door , she kept the note in her purse as she drove down to a very familiar place…she saw the big stone building that said Museum of Natural History… walking through these doors brought back the memories of when her and Ross were starting to date each other. Then she walked past the prehistoric man where she looked under his loincloth. There was a door that led to another section and Rachel opened it. The auditorium was empty with the exception of a fur skin rug and a small box of Ocean Spray Cran Grape… then was another note…well this probably brought back some good memories. I know for me it was the most special night of my life , the night that we made love for the first time and when I woke up for the first time with you by my side. …now to your next to last clue…. It is a place that you will always call home. Rachel was unsure whether it was Ross ' apartment or Number 20 …. Denise and Melanie had put a candle in the window to lead her to the next to the last place….and there on the table was a jewelry box… Rachel walked up the stairs once again and then looked at her old apartment. A tear came to her eye as she knocked and thought back to the times that she would go in and see her friends there. Denise opened the door. "Hi Rachel, we have been expecting you." Rachel was shocked that these girls knew her name. "This is for you." Melanie said as she handed her the small package and the note.. Rachel took it from the young girls. They reminded her so much of her and Monica when they were young. The note said……here is the first place you called home , and if these walls could talk the stories they could tell., this was where we shared so much , we loved , we broke up , we ate and had fun, this place will always be a part of us , no matter where we go… and now the last part of my surprise… is where I will be … these two sweet girls have the directions to it… and they also have another present for you. Rachel opened the box and there was a locket with two lobsters engraved on it. When she opened it up, there was a picture of ross and one of emma…Tears came streaming down her eyes. "Damn you Geller." She cursed with a smile. Denise handed her the last paper and she hugged each of them. "This is the best time of your lives. Enjoy every minute. I know I did." She smiled and promised to come back some afternoon soon.
As she followed the last directions, she saw a mailbox and on the front of it was the name Geller. "That's odd. Maybe they are relations of Ross'?" she thought as she parked her car. She looked to see if there was any kind of life at all. She peaked into the window and saw on a coffee table a vase of lilies , then on an end table was a framed picture of the gang at Central Perk. Someone came up to her and then said. "Happy Valentines Day Rach." She turned around to see Ross holding Emma. "Ross Eustace Geller , what in the hell is going on?" she asked. Ross just smiled and then handed her the keys. "This is your new house, welcome to scarsdale."He smiled as she remembered what he said a long time ago. Rachel hugged Ross and then kissed him. She walked inside as she noticed several pages from the pottery barn catalog in her new living room. She gasped as she saw the new king size bed with the coral colored sheets that she fell in love with at their last visit to the barn. Their bathroom was peach with a gray wall and Emma's room was painted pink with little ponies and dinosaurs on the walls as a border. Ben 's room was blue and had a racing car bed. "And this is a room for anyone else who might come along." Ross said as he opened it and Rachel saw in her mind where a crib could go. They went back downstairs and there were two small offices. One was very chic with a desk and computer terminal all in white . A reproduction of an old fashion magazine was framed and covered the one lavender wall. The other room was painted beige and on it's walls were pictures of dinosaurs and there was a whole book shelf and a black computer on a black desk. The book shelf had books about paleontology and also some relics from various digs.
"So what do you think?" Ross asked . Rachel sighed. "I think I am the luckiest woman in the world . Happy Valentines Day, Dr. Dino." She exclaimed.
Thanks for all the great feedback and there is only a couple more chapters… please review it makes me smile…..