Her eyelids were totally shut , but a smile crept upon her face. Beneath her hands was the stuffed dinosaur she had bought when she found out she was having his baby. She cradled it like a mother cradles a baby to her bosom. Maybe Rachel was practicing, she had only some practice when she helped her boyfriend take care of his little boy. She groaned in her sleep as she felt the baby kick and positioned herself in her bed to be comfortable, which was impossible at eight months pregnant.
The door slammed and then she awoke from her slumber. That and the fact that this little baby were making her go pee every half hour. She saw the light from the kitchen and made her way in her stocking feet as she waddled to the counter.
"Look what I have for my little mommy." Ross said as he put the ribs from the Styrofoam container to the plate in the cupboard. Rachel rubbed her hands together and then licked her lips. She took one of the succulent ribs and sucked the meat off of the bone. Her fingers were covered with Jeffrey's secret sauce. "Here let me." Ross leaned over and seductively licked her finger. Rachel was now a bunch of raging hormones , so she attacked her boyfriend by pushing him back toward the wall.
"Easy Rach, I am exhausted." He said . She led him by his tie into their bedroom. "Come here , Doctor Geller." She said huskily as she coaxed him into the bedroom. He tried to fight it , but she was almost as big as his sister was when she was in junior high and she would wrestle him to the ground. He bruised like a peach and could not fight an eight month pregnant woman.
He sat on the edge of the bed. "Alright Rachel , you win, but first could you rub my shoulders for me?" Rachel obliged as she removed his shirt and she could see the muscles bulging out from his upper arms. Somehow he was more muscular then when they went out before. Was it because of Rachel or that woman in Boston?
"My , somebody has been working out." She smiled as she kneaded the skin between his shoulder blades. "Yea, I worked out when I was still in Boston." He admitted with a grin. "I bet she loved that." She said snidely. Ross tore away and then took Rachel by the shoulders . "I told you to forget about her." He said. "You and that baby are the only things that matter now."
Chandler laid with Monica's arm over him. A long time ago , he had been taught by Ross something that he used on Rachel called hug and roll. Basically a couple would cuddle until the woman fell asleep. When the man was sure she wouldn't wake up, he would roll her away from him so he could have a peaceful and comfortable sleep. He used that tactic on Janice, but somehow Monica felt like a perfect fit in his arms. He listened for noise in the other room, but there was no television and there was no Joey.
Monica had the biggest smile on her face as she slept. Chandler wondered what kind of thoughts they were. Was he in those thoughts, and was the last thing on her mind the Chandler love? She sighed and then he looked down on his angel. Rachel knew , but she was the only one . Monica would have to sneak back in the morning so the newest resident of apartment 20 wouldn't know . Rachel had given her blessing when she was so unhappy when she saw the couple in love. At least someone could be happy.
Early in the morning, there was whistling coming from the kitchen as Joey banged around the bottles of milk and juice. Monica woke from her sound sleep. "Chandler. Chandler." She poked . "Joey's home." She said in a panic. "Now how I am going to get out?" Chandler rose from the bed. "Leave that to me." He said with confidence. He walked to the kitchen. "Hey Joe." He said as Monica watched from the door way.
"That Kathy is so hot." He said as he drank the milk from the bottle and a milk mustache was plastered against his face. "And she appreciated the Joey lovin." He nodded. "What are you doin up?" he asked Chandler.
"I wanted to know how your date went." He lied . "And I thought you could tell me while I kick your butt in Astro Invaders." He led Joey toward Stevie the tv. He then motioned Monica when Joey 's back was turned. "And the winner gets to kick Geller's ass tonight." He said. She snuck across the hall and prayed that her brother wouldn't be up yet. She was mistaken when she saw him come out of the shower with a towel around him.
"Mon , what are you doing up?" Ross asked as the wet towel dripped onto the floor. "And what are you doing dripping all over my floor." She asked with her hands on her hips. "I didn't want to say anything to Rach, but a friend of mine at NYU talked to the faculty there and they are interviewing me as a guest lecturer and this could lead to permanent position as a paleontology professor." Monica hugged her brother in his towel "That is great." She smiled. "And I was getting ready for the interview. He said as he combed his hands through his wet hair. "Rach is still in bed."
"I was out for a walk." She lied. "This is so great."
"Yeah and if I get it, then Rach and I can move out into our own place and start getting ready for the baby. Please don't tell her, I want it to be a surprise." He said begging.
"Okay I won't , best of luck." She called to his back as he went back into his and Rachel's bed room. He opened his suitcase and then he pulled out a shirt and tie. From the closet came his brown suit and his dress shoes. The noise stirred Rachel from the bed. "Honey , what are you doing? You don't have to be at the museum for a few hours. Come back to bed.' She then snuggled down into her covers and closed her eyes again as she waited for the man she loved to crawl back into bed. "Sorry Rach, can't today, I have a job interview." He said as he knotted the cashmere tie around his neck. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheeks. "I love you." He said as he grabbed his briefcase and then walked by the mirror. "You paleontologist stud you." He smiled at his full length reflection. Monica was in the kitchen with Joey and Chandler now sitting at the counter waiting for their breakfast.
"Well is it field trip day at the museum?" Chandler said with a laugh.
"No I have an interview at NYU with the paleontology department . They are interviewing for a guest lecturer position that can possibly turn into a permanent one. " Ross explained.
"Oh good luck dude." Chandler said with a handshake .
"Yeah break a leg." Joey added.
"Joe , that's only for actors." Chandler said.
"And I am an actor wishing him luck." He said loudly.
"Please Joey , Rachel is still asleep." Monica reminded him.
"Sorry." He apologized.
"Thanks for the good wishes guys." Ross said as he went out the door.
He ran toward the subway after stopping at Central Perk for a coffee to go. The train took him to New York University right where he needed to go. He looked up at his alma mater proudly as he went into the science building. Seeing the offices he was looking for, Ross went to the department receptionist.
"Dr Geller, to see Dr. Erin ," Ross said nervously. The secretary smiled and got up from her chair. "They are expecting you. " she said as walked down the hall . Ross followed her to a large conference room with a large table and six men and three around it. A man with a beard rose and held out his hand. "So you are Dr. Geller, I have been reading some of your papers and I am very impressed with someone as young as you." Dr. Erin smiled.
"Thank you sir." Ross said humbly.
"The job right now is only guest lecturer and it pays 35, 000 a year. But if we are pleased with you, that will become a permanent teaching position that can be about fifty at least , with promise of tenure in time." Dr. Erin continued.
"I can certainly use the money. I am going to be a father again soon." Ross said proudly.
"Donald speaks highly of you, as well Dr. Shaffer from Boston University, so I don't see any problems at all. " the professor rose from his chair. "Congratulations Ross, welcome aboard.' He smiled and shook his hand. With a happy grin , he returned the handshake.
Confidently he walked out of the building and hailed a taxi. "To Tiffany's" he said. He had a piece of jewelry to buy.
A note to all …once again I do not know about academia so to my friend Oliver, please don't be too critical because I do not know what a college professor really makes. I just thought these were nice round numbers.
mc