Rachel had to pinch herself. Was this all really happening. She looked down at the ring on her finger and then looked to her side. Ross returned the glance and he smiled at her. "Yes, it's true. " he said . He caressed her hand and then he lifted his lips to it and kissed it. At that point the gang came over and started to give hugs and kisses to the happy couple.
"You guys are lobsters." Sang out Phoebe. "And it is all because of me." She announced proudly.
Monica with the tears of joy in her eyes, hugged her brother and his eyes were misty as well. "Well bro, you finally did it." She said smiling. "I only wish you the best , you deserve a little happiness." She went over to Rachel and grinned. "I always knew you liked him. "
"I never stopped loving you." Rachel said to Ross. "I may have ended things , but I never stopped loving you." "Thank you for believing in us." Ross said with a kiss.
"Will you two get a room?" Chandler said. He bent over to Ross and whispered in his ear. "All set." Ross nodded to him. "What are you two planning ?" Monica said. "Nothing dear," Chandler said nonchalantly .
"Okay now I want a picture of the bridal party. " the group all posed to gether on this the happiest day of the Friends lives. The day that Ross and Rachel were finally married. The most precious picture that the photographer took was one where the little tiny Miss Geller had fallen asleep on her father's shoulder while he looked at his beautiful bride. Rachel had it later framed and as a surprise , she had given it to Ross to put on his desk at work.
The band struck up the notes of Here Comes the Bride and then the emcee had the drummer play a drum roll…
"I guess that's us." Ross said as he took Rachel's hand and ran over to the front of the hall.
"Ladies and gentleman, Dr. and Mrs. Ross Geller." Rachel leaned over. "Do you have to use that title, I mean you are not a real doctor." She said.
"Hey I went to school as long as any medical doctor. And I have a paper saying I am a doctor. Besides , isn't that what you always wanted." He gave her a look. She leaned over and kissed him. "I got what I always wanted." She whispered.
"Okay you guys are married , you have kissed. Now can we eat." Whined Joey. Alex kissed him on the cheek. "That's my man." She smiled.
"First of all , the toasts." Ross said . "We'll start with Chandler." He said looking at his buddy who was ready to lose the bet in front of his wife. Chandler stood up and held his glass. He knew that before long , Monica would want to kill him. Taking a sip of water, he held his champagne flute.
"These are two great people and it is great to see them in love. I for one have seen this a long time coming and I just want to say Ross and Rachel , it is about time. " He stumbled and then made his trademark noise. "I can't do this . I can not make a nice toast to a man who was left by his lesbian wife, said another woman's name at the altar , and then got hammered in Vegas and married with ink stains on his face, made love on my wedding invitations , which resulted in the birth of his daughter." Chandler breathed a sigh of relief . Monica had the look of death in her eye. "You did not do that." She said with contempt.
Ross clutched up his fist and then socked Chandler in the chin. Like a theatre punch , but still effective.
"Maybe he was high." Jack said. Judy looked at him. "What I mean." He said .
"Dude." Joey said frightened.
Chandler got up and then walked over to Monica. She wanted to sock him again. Rachel wanted to hurt him as well. "Oh Ross. My wedding is ruined." She sobbed into her new husband's shoulder. "Bing I warned you." He said as he patted Rachel and then he started over to commence a fight with Chandler. The two of them started punching each other. Monica and Rachel were clutching each other. The two men stopped and then just started to laugh.
"What is so damned funny?" Monica said. The two guys embraced each other and got up off the floor. "You bet he wouldn't crack, and he did. We called it a tie two days ago. This was just a show for you girls." Ross laughed. Rachel did not think this was one bit funny. She actually walked away from him.
"Chandler Muriel Bing." Monica said threatingly.
"Get away from me , Ross. You ruined my wedding day, my one and only wedding day. The day I married the man I love." Rachel sobbed. Ross opened the envelope and showed her. "Here sweetie, one thousand dollars. It 's from Chandler and Monica and the kids." Rachel went and hugged Chandler and then gave him a kiss on the cheek. Monica still looked at him. "You are not out of the woods yet, Bing."
After the toasts and the food, it came time for the first dance. Rachel had let Ross keep this a secret from her as well . She had wondered about what he would choose...as their song. They had so many. …Wicked Games , With or Without You … The Way You Look Tonight… Tupelo Honey… The Way we Were and for obvious reasons Viva Las Vegas….
The lights went down and the couple walked to the middle of the floor. The band was on a break…..so the emcee was now a deejay and he put on a cd…
I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do.
But I continue learning.
I never meant to do those things to you.
And so I have to say before I go …
That I just want you to know
I've found a reason for me…to change who I used to be .
A reason to start over new…
And the reason is you.
Rachel laid her head on Ross shoulder as the music played and she could feel his heart beating as now their two hearts were beating as one. He was softly singing to her … I 'm sorry that I hurt you…it's something I must live with everyday… She turned to him and then whispered in his ear. It may not matter now, but we were on a break." She looked up into his dark chocolate eyes and smiled the sweetest smile. "Gotcha." She whispered. He looked into her aqua eyes and then hugged her even tighter. "I love you Rachel Geller." And then in the same voice she told him that faithful night almost thirteen years ago when she had left her wedding to be independent. She whispered to him . "I knew."
This story is an update of a previous one… there is more wedding fun with Phoebe , and a special Jo Lex moment as well. Hope you are enjoying the lobster lovin….needed a break from the heavy drama of The One He Hurt. Oh and once again the song is from The Reason by Hoobestaank… played in the clip show the night of the finale. Can you believe we are going onto two years since the end of Friends.. Great people like us refuse to let it die. It has had such a profound influence on my own life and through it , I have reached for my dreams and found great new friends far away.
