by Tina
Keep those reviews coming, puh-lease :)
After a long day of work, there was nothing like sipping a cup of hot cappuchino during a nice uncompromised conversation with her best friends. Rachel had the whole arm chair to herself and enjoyed every inch of it, her back placticly reaching the botton cushion as she was amost lying down. It was then she realised just how tired she really was. The past few days had worn her out completely, perhaps not just physically.
Melissa had stayed up almost every night. She wouldn't cry, but she'd seem upset enough to keep Ross up, worried. Rachel would wake up with his sudden movements on the bed. The nervous tossing and turning or the getting up and lying back down.
Fortunately, today was friday. Ross had promised to take her out and leave Monica babysitting Melissa. However, as she watched Joey and Chandler discuss bathing suits she realised she'd rather stay there than go through the whole process of going out on a date. And that sure meant a lot, considering the topic being discussed.
But the whole outfit picking, applying make up, going all the way to the restaurant, the apetizers, the wine drinking, small talking,... God, she was tired for that.
She shook it off. She had to go. She hadn't been able to be alone with her fiancé in quite a while. She missed it. Maybe they should just go to this little romantic café they'd been to a few months ago. That was nice, she remembered.
Satisfied with her idea, Rachel finished her drink as Joey and Chandler now discussed underwear, much to Monica ad Phoebe's displeasure. With a smile on her face, she said her goodbyes and went up to her apartment.
Just as she was climbing up the stairs, her cellphone rang. Seeing Ross' name flashing on the screen, Rachel smiled wider.
"Hey, honey, I was just about to call you"
"Really? How are you?"
"Fine, I just had a better idea for something for us to do tonight" she said as she pushed her apartment door open.
"Right, about that... unless that idea is staying over here, I'm gonna have to let you down."
"Oh"
The clear disapointment in her voice stung him.
"I'm sorry, Melissa's caught the flu."
Silence.
"But hey, come over, we can watch a movie or something"
"No, actually, it's better this way. I was gonna tell you that maybe we should call it off 'cause I got a lot of work to do"
He could tell she was lying.
"Right"
"But hey, tell Melissa I hope she gets better soon"
"Okay, thanks. We'll drop by in the morning"
"Sure"
"Maybe we can do something tomorrow night"
"Yeah, okay. Listen, I gotta go now then. See ya"
"Okay, I love you"
"Love you too"
Rachel hung up and set her cell on the table, next to her keys. So much for wanting to use that new tank top...!
It's a shame the things you hide behind it
Let 'em go
Give it up for a while
Let 'em free and we will both go find it
I know there's nowhere you can hide it
I know the feeling of alone
I know that you do not feel invited
But, come back, come back in from the cold...
The sound of Jude's "I know" was soft and echoed around the hard walls surrounding Rachel. She was in the tub and had to remind herself every five minutes not to let herself fall asleep in there. But ten minutes passed this time and Rachel surrendered to the warm athmosphere she had created in the bathroom for herself. The stereo was just loud enough for her to hear it through the perfect silence that surrounded her. The scented clandles replaced electricity and she was merged into a mix of oils, bath salts and bubbles.
She was quickly awaken, however, by the sudden sound of a door swinging open.
"Rachel?"
"I'm in here. You can come in"
The bathroom door opened and Monica looked in.
"Oh, hey. Aren't you going out with Ross? I just came up so I could be home when he picked you up and dropped Melissa"
She entered the bathroom.
"Slight change of plans...!"
"Man, you could've told me. I just had to skip going out with this really cute guy just so you guys could go out!"
"Hey, he cancelled on me, go complain to him"
Monica noticed more than just annoyance in Rachel tone and sighed. Over the past few days she'd thought a lot about just how much Rachel must love Ross to be so cool over everything. Slowly, she knelt down next to the tub.
"Is everything okay, Rach?"
"Why does everyone keep asking this?" she snapped.
"Geez, Rachel, I don't know, because we care about you?"
Rachel looked down.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Mon. And I'm sorry about the cute guy"
Monica smiled comfortingly at Rachel.
"Don't worry, we're going out tomorrow night."
Rachel smiled sadly at Monica and then lowered her sight.
"I've just been going through a lot, I didn't mean to take it out on you"
"That's fine, Rachel. Just keep in mind that you can tell me anything, okay?"
Rachel nodded.
"Thanks, Mon."
Monica got up.
"So it's dinner for two then?"
"Sounds like it"
"What do you wanna eat? C'mon, enjoy my temporary wish to please you"
Rachel chuckled.
"Then can we have some junk food?"
"Junk food? I was thinking maybe some salmon with" watching Rachel's look, she quickly stopped. "Okay, fries and burger it is"
Monica reached for the doorknob.
"Hey, Mon" she turned around "in a way, I'm glad we both got blown up tonight"
Monica smiled at Rachel.
"Well, actually, I was the one who called it off" Rachel shot her a look "-but that's not the point! Let me get back to your special dinner"
"Thank you, Monica"
Hey voice was filled with sincerity. Monica nodded and left the bathroom.
Rachel woke up the next day feeling a set of lips on her cheek. She smiled and opened her eyes. It was not what she was expecting. At all. Not only she was not expecting to see Melissa leaning over her as she also did not expect to feel so good about it. She smiled and Melissa giggled, backing away from Rachel for a bit, holding her tiny hands over her mouth. Rachel chuckled and sat up, spotting Ross watching them.
"Good morning" she said.
He joined the two girls on the bed and kissed Rachel's lips softly.
"Good morning"
"Is she feeling better?"
"Why don't you ask her?"
Rachel looked back at Melissa.
"You feeling better, Melissa?"
"Boo-boo!" Melissa kept repeating, using different entonations for each time.
Rachel smiled and looked at Ross.
"Okay, what's that supposed to mean?"
"Beats me!" They chuckled "But she's better. Her fever came down and she ate well during breakfast"
"That's good."
They watched her explore Rachel's bed, with all it's blankets and pillows.
"You sure are curious, Missy"
"Missy!" she repeated, indignant. But then giggled to herself. Ross and Rachel couldn't help but chuckle again.
"She's such a happy little baby, isn't she?" he commented.
"She is"
"Did she sleep okay?"
"Oh yeah, good news. Whole night through. It was probably the effect of the medication I gave her, but still, it's a good start"
Rachel smiled.
"It is"
"So... what should we do tonight?"
"I don't know. But Monica won't be able to take Melissa, she's got plans"
"Oh..."
A short silence filled the room.
"I'm sorry Rach, I know you wanted us to do something together, just us"
"It's okay, it's not your fault"
Or... was it? Sometimes that little questions insisted on popping up on the back of Rachel's head.
The t.v. was on, but Ross and Rachel were busier playing with Melissa. They were sitting on the floor, a little far apart. Ross was holding Melissa's hands and she was standing up.
"Alright, go Melissa, go"
"Come here, Mellie, come here" Rachel called with her arms streched out.
Melissa looked at Rachel and smiled, quickly letting go of Ross' hands and making her way over to Rachel in quick steps. Rachel pulled her into a hug as soon as the little toddler reached her.
"Yay, Melissa!"
The baby giggled in Rachel's arms, pulling away to show them her pretty smile.
"You should have the apartment baby proofed again, you know? Since Ben grew up a bit more we sort of became more relaxed over these things"
"Nah, I don't think we need to worry about that. I mean, we should be looking for a new apartment, so I'm not gonna waste more money with this one"
"What?" Rachel looked up at him, confused.
"Well, we are gonna get ourselves a new apartment, right?"
Rachel still looked lost.
"Rachel, the wedding, remember?"
"Oh. Right"
She felt stupid for not getting it right away. She looked at Melissa and pulled her up to stand on her feet.
"C'mon Melissa, back to Mr. Dino Guy now"
Ross chuckled and accepted Melissa happily as she approached him. Rachel looked at the t.v. and saw the show she was waiting for being announced. She quickly got up and approached the couch.
"Oh, it was about time"
Ross watched Rachel on the couch, somewhat disapointed. So that was priority?
Okay, hate me for posting such small chapters... I've seem worst out here! lol! And this one was a tad longer than the rest. Again, I think I might add a new one later on today...! I'm pretty bored... Leave me a review again, will ya? :)