"And she can't make the ceremony." Rachel moaned to Monica. "My mother went on and on about how she wanted my sisters in , and
now Jill can't do it." Monica had called Phoebe when she heard that Jill was now stuck in Europe. "It was going to be so perfect, you would be with Chandler, and you would be with Mike, and Joey would be with Jill and Amy would be with Ben, now it is uneven again. Alex didn't know these people that well, but felt that she should speak up.
"Rachel, I know this isn't my place or anything, but if you need someone to take Jill's place, I could do it." She said unsure. Rachel ran over and gave her a great big hug. "Oh my God Alex that would be soo great, if you wouldn't mind, I mean I am going to have to call the dress lady and get one for you." Alex had the warmest feeling. "Rachel, it would make me so happy to be part of my Joey's best friends special day. You two mean so much to him." Rachel thought secretly of the special bond she once shared with this man and it made her happy that he had quite possibly found the right one. They broke their hug . "Okay people, we're back on track. We've got a wedding to pull together. " Monica said as the girls gathered their purses.
The wedding rehearsal went off without a hitch. Everyone smiled as the planner was trying to work with the tiny tots. Ben now had to walk his step aunt Amy down the aisle , but as Joey escorted Alex she looked over into his dark eyes , he had something on his mind. Joey could only gaze at her beauty. Following the rehearsal, the wedding party gathered at Javu for the rehearsal dinner and then off to the Plaza. By tradition , the girls slept in one suite and the guys in another.
Children it was more fun to be children
Life would go on as it happened
Run through the day don't look behind
Over wink of an eye and its over
What a surprise to discover
We were people ourselves , what kind of people did we want to be
No answer ever came from me
I couldn't sleep at all last night,
Rachel laid as she counted the bumps on the ceiling. How was she expected to sleep ? For the past year and half , she had laid in bed with the same man. She had gotten used to the way her body felt next to his. The hum of the air purifier now lulled her to sleep. What was once a nuisance to help with his sinuses, was now a comfort . It reminded her of him. Now just as their friends did when they got married, the two of them were forced apart for traditions sake. Rachel walked over to the other little bed in the room. Emma's little eyes were tightly shut. She smiled as she looked down at her little girl. She wanted to give her everything she had, she could now give her something that she herself had lacked., a mother and father who loved each other very much. Emma snored as her tiny hands clutched her stuffed giraffe. The three of them went to see Madagascar and Emma fell instantly in love with the silly giraffe Melman. The next day , Ross surprised her with her own stuffed Melman , that now replaced the dinosaurs and the fake Hugsy. Emma was finally going to have a family.
Ross couldn't sleep either. He stood up and stretched in the lounge pants and NYU t shirt . He looked at the travel clock. No he couldn't fit anymore shampoos or lotions in his suitcase. He decided to put on his slippers and go for a walk in the hall. He tiptoed past the bodies on the couch and the other beds. Joey had some sick look on his face as he slept and Chandler slept next to him with his arm over him. The whole thing reminded him of the nap that he took with Joey. He opened the door and silently shut it. He was pleasantly surprised as he noticed the figure walking down the hall.
"Rach?' he said as he walked toward her. Rachel turned around with a smile on her face. He immediately found his way to her lips. "Oh I missed you in bed tonight." She said as she broke away. Crazy Monica was liable to find them together. "Me too . " he smiled. "Stupid tradition anyway." He mumbled.
"You do realize if Monica finds us together , she is going to kill us." Laughed Rachel. Her laugh was the sound that whole religions were based on. For a sound that was that sweet couldn't be nothing but pure joy. "Besides isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony?" Rachel asked as she moved her fingers across his face.
"I think we have had all the bad luck we can have." Ross said. Then a little voice in his head said."Hey isn't that what you said before you married Emily?" Ross just took her hand and led her to the elevator of the hotel. He wanted to cherish these moments before the chaos of their wedding day. He just wanted to be with her and only her. They rode the elevator to the rooftop garden where they ran out like two young kids. Her robe was blowing with the wind and then her blondish hair was covering her face. With his hands, he brushed it away and then began to kiss her again. The winter snow was chilling both of them as the cold wind blew through causing her to wrap her flimsy robe even tighter as he shivered. He was cold, but her love was the one thing that warmed his frozen body.
"Ross, it's freezing." She said as she shivered. "You don't have to say it again." He made a hasty retreat through the doors of the skytop bar . They looked down at their attire and the bartender walked over. He was quite used to this from the hotel guests.
"Two glasses of white wine." Ross said as he began to pull out his wallet realizing he didn't have it with him. "I am sorry, I don't have my credit card in my pajamas." He laughed. The bartender just smiled and said sign here. Ross picked up a pen and the drinks were charged to his room. He handed Rachel a glass. "To us, the best is yet to come." He said as he clinked it to hers. "Guess we'll be doing a lot of that tomorrow." She said. "Did you ever think we would get this far?" Rachel asked
"A long time ago , I remember saying that we would. But you got scared and then we had a fight. If I remember , it was the first time I said I love you to you." Ross said tenderly as he put his hand through her hair.
"You said we would have a boy and a girl and live in Scarsdale because they had good schools." Giggled Rachel.
"Well we have a little girl, guess we'll have to work on that little boy." Ross bent over and started to kiss her. Rachel smiled. "Not tonight we won't ." Ross looked at his watch. "Do you realize in five hours we are getting married? I think we need to get some sleep." He helped her off the chair and then put his arm around her and walked her back to the elevator. The two of them looked at each other and then kissed one last time.
"Good night ," she whispered as she blew him a parting kiss. He could only stand there with the most loving look as she walked into her room. He couldn't believe that the girl he had dreamed of since forever was soon going to be his. He opened his door and laughed at the sight of Chandler curled up to Joey , then he went into his own room and pulled the covers around him. He did need some rest.
The morning sun glistened on the snow capped buildings and pushed its way through to slowly wake Rachel Green. She picked up the covers and then crawled out of bed. Emma and everyone was already up and eating breakfast. "Good morning sleepy head." Called Monica as she came from the bathroom. "I let you sleep , but I think you need to be getting ready." Emma stood with her hands over her head as she reached up. "Mommy." She smiled. Rachel picked her up, "Today is the day that Daddy marries Mommy." She walked to the table where an envelope sat with very recognizable scrawl. Rachel picked it up and opened it.
February 14, 2006
My darling Rachel,
Even with all my published papers, I have never had to write something as important as this . I awoke this morning and realized to day my dream was coming true, today we would become one. No more dates , or obstacles or breaks.
You already know I have loved you forever. Even when you didn't even know I was alive, I was in love with you. It is just then , I was in love with your beauty. I never really knew the real Rachel until we were reunited that day you came in to start a new life. That Rachel was even more beautiful , because she learned to be her own woman. I have watched you grow from a spoiled , little daddy's girl to a competent mother and executive. You have been my friend, you have been my lover, but most of all you have made me a better man because of it.
As we continue on this road, there may be twists and turns, but do know this. I will always be with you and I will never leave you as rough as that road gets. For you are my love, my soulmate, and as Phoebe put it so long ago, my lobster. For the rest of my life , you will always have my love.
Happy Wedding Day , with all my love Ross
Rachel put the letter to her chest and then sighed. How could someone who had spent their whole life dedicated to science be so passionate? But that was one of the things that she loved about him , was his passion. His passion for life and his passion for his work. Monica couldn't help but have a few tears. "This is it. Time to be married." Monica hugged her as hard as she could. The two women had shared so much , and now Rachel could truly call Monica her sister. Rachel wiped her eyes. "I know I am going to cry.' She whispered. Phoebe and Alex came over and joined the hug . "That's what weddings are for." Phoebe smiled. Monica looked at her watch. "Okay ladies we all have hair appointments ,let's go." Rachel grabbed her veil and took off with the girls and Emma.
The bathroom in the men's suite was filled with activity as four men prepared for the wedding. "Look at this , I'm sweating." Ross said as he wiped his forehead. Chandler looked at him , he wanted to say it so bad , it had been four days. "You'll be fine." Chandler moaned. "I on the other hand , will be having a stroke, but you'll be fine." He said with gritted teeth. "Why Chandler? You mean since I sweated so much when I married Carol?" Ross said vindictively. "It could be all over. All you have to do is make one crack. Then you can say whatever you want." Chandler sat on the couch and pounded the table and then started to whine. Joey came over and put his arm around him. "You're breaking him man. Let it go." Joey yelled. "I am not going to let him ruin this most important day of my life with his wisecracks." Ross said loudly. Ben and Mike could only stand by and watch helplessly. "You guys are best friends, and more than that you are family." Joey said softly. "Now I came out here to be with my friends, my BEST friends and to share in my buddies joy, we shouldn't be fighting or competing." Chandler opened up his wallet. "Here it's your wedding present." He handed it to Ross . "Happy wedding." Ross opened up the envelope and saw there was a thousand dollars in it. He was so touched. "And as for the girls, it was a tie." Ross had an idea to fix his overly competitive sister."Not necessarily." He said smiling."How would you like to fix my sister of betting for good?" Chandler smiled."I like the way you think my friend."
The girls sat around the mirrors in the suite . Monica pulled out a small box. Rachel pulled out a small blue garter. "I remember you gave me one when I married Chandler , that you said you would have wore. I thought I should get you one." Rachel started to cry again."My make up .' she moaned as she wiped her eyes. "I am not going to have any by the time of the ceremony." Phoebe came forward and handed her a pair of earrings. "I know you love these , so I am letting you borrow them." She smiled. "Hey those are mine." Monica yelled."But you can use them." She sighed. Sandra stepped up next and put a string of pearls around her neck. "These were your grandmothers." Sandra kissed her on the neck and stepped away. "My dress is new, so that is everything." Alex walked over. "I am sorry I don't have anything for you." Rachel smiled. "That's okay, just the fact that Joey has found someone and you are here , is enough." Rachel remembered something in her bag. "Actually I also have something old," she ran to get it. She opened the small jewelry box and pulled out an antique cameo and pinned it to her dress. "Is that?" Monica said astounded. "Yep it's the pin Ross gave me when he went to China. The first time I knew he was in love with me." Rachel looked in the mirror as her friends looked on with smiling faces. "I am getting married." She whispered. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Sandra came in and smiled. "Rachel , there is someone here to see you." "Ross , so help me."Rachel gritted through her teeth. Her father was standing in front of her . "It's me , pumpkin." He said with tears in his voice. "Rachel , I swear you look more beautiful than you did when you were going to marry Barry." Rachel said sweetly. "That's because I wasn't in love with Barry. I am in love Daddy." She sniffed as she hugged him. "Thank you.' She smiled to him. At that moment , the wedding planner and photographer came in the door. "Okay people , it's go time." The photographer came in. "I want to get a few shots of the bridal party before the ceremony." Rachel put her arm around Monica and Phoebe immediately. "I want this one the most." Linking arms the three girls smiled for the photographer. Phoebe with her very pregnant stomach, Monica in her pink gown, and Rachel as the radiant bride.
The room was a sea of pink and white. A white chuppah covered with lilies and pink sweetheart roses sat at the front . The floor had a white runner down the center. In the back of the room was a string quartet, with a violin, a cello , and a viola. Carol wearing a pink suit walked Erica and Jack down the aisle . Erica was wearing a little pale pink dress with flowers in her hair and Jack was wearing a small tux like the men wore. Emma came next. She had on a long white taffeta dress with a tiny tiara with little rhinestones on it. She slowly walked along with her stepbrother holding her hand, he would reach in her basket and help her throw out the pink rose petals. Amy walked down the aisle next. She was in a strapless gown and carrying a bouquet of pink sweetheart roses. Alex was on the arm of Joey as he walked her proudly down the aisle. Mike pushed Phoebe along as she waddled down the aisle in her gown with her huge stomach. Next came Monica on the arm of Chandler. "I will be strong sweetie." He whispered as he walked her down. "Don't break now, we are almost home free." She whispered back to her. Ross and his parents started down the aisle next as he couldn't keep the tears from his own eyes. As they passed , the flashbulbs and the video cameras captured the whole thing. Suddenly the music came up and everyone rose up, the sun was shining through the back of the room. The glare came off the diamond tiara that sparkled on her head. She shone like an angel. Ross was turned around at the front, and then Chandler tapped him on the shoulder. Turning around , he saw her.
Rachel's face was covered by a thin, white veil that draped to the floor. Her face was plastered with a smile and she walked like none of this was real. She looked at the end of the aisle and there he stood, such a part of her history….then the words came back to her……
"I can't believe I ever thought of getting back with you….. Now I 've got closure…. I can't even stand the sight of you….oh and you are the father… you were worth the wait… the job is in paris…. I got off the plane….this is it…..
Rachel 's father turned to kiss her. Then she took her place beside her groom. He held out his hand and she immediately took it. "You have never looked this beautiful." He smiled . Ben took Emma to the couples side as well. Emma held her father's other hand.
"Today is a joyous day in God's eyes. Today we not only join together a couple, but we join together a family. Ross and Rachel were best friends first , then they fell in love, then they created this beautiful little girl. This love has had many chapters, it has gone through many trials , but as the book of Corinthians says there are three things that last , faith , hope and love , and the greatest of these is love. Ross had the faith that he would someday be with Rachel and hope is what kept this relationship alive, and as a result here is the testament of their love.
The rabbi started . "Who gives this woman to this man?" Leonard lifted his hand. "Her mother and I do." At this point , he kissed her and sat down. Next the cantor sang something in Hebrew as the two gazed at each other. There was no one else around , it was just them.
Then it came time for the vows. Ross cleared his throat. "I Ross Eustace Geller take thee Rachel Karen Green as my lawfully wedded wife , in sickness and health , for richer , for poorer, forsaking all others until death parts us." Rachel looked down shyly as he said all this. Then she stared into his brown eyes. Her eyes were misty and she had the shyest smile on her face.
Rachel turned to him and it was almost as if she was singing the words to him. The sweetest words he ever heard. Two other women had made these same promises, but there would never be a more beautiful sound than the vows he was hearing. "I Rachel Karen Green, take you Ross Eustace Geller to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, forsaking all others until death parts us. Ross had never looked at someone with so much love in his heart.
Next Rachel took the gold band from Monica's hand and held it up for the rabbi to bless. Rachel got the biggest shock of all when she saw her ring. She leaned over and whispered . "Isn't that the ring that Emily got?" She was surprised to see it , thinking that Emily never gave it back. He smiled. "This is a ring that my grandmother brought from the old country with only the clothes on her back. It is supposed to be given to the woman that a Geller man loves .I always knew that someday I would be giving it to you." He slid the ring on her finger and she looked down at it. With tears in her eyes, she looked at her husband to be and mouthed the words. "Could I be any more in love with you?"
"As much as Rachel and Ross have pledged their love today, I now pronounce them man and wife." The Rabbi said . Next he handed the chalice to Rachel and she sipped the wine from it and then Ross did the same. He had Chandler wrap the glass and then Joey hand it to him. Putting his foot down on it. It shattered. The whole room yelled "Matzetov." Ross leaned his head over and began to kiss Rachel passionately. Emma tugged on Ross' tuxedo and he leaned down. "Daddy?" she asked curiously. "Yes Emma?" he answered as he hated to interrupt his first kiss to his new wife. "Does this mean you are my daddy now?" Ross had to laugh . "Emma , I have always been your daddy. This just means that Mommy and Daddy will be together all the time and we will be a real family." Ross liked the sound of that. He was finally going to have his family.
The rabbi smiled and turned to the gathering. "Ladies and gentlemen , I would like to present to you for the first time , Dr and Mrs. Ross Geller." The happy couple turned around and Emma said happily"And me." Everyone laughed and then applauded.
I finally updated this one but there is still one chapter to go since this was my valentine's day story… and there is still some unfinished parts.
by the way the song lyrics are from the beautiful wedding song Because We Are In Love written by Richard Carpenter...for his sister's wedding
