Summary: Will a secret Rachel has hidden for 15 years finally come out? If so, will her marriage to Ross be able to survive?
This story takes place in the present time. Ross and Rachel have been married almost a year, and Rachel is 7 ½ months pregnant with their second child. Emma is 3 ½ years old. Monica and Chandler still live in Westchester with their almost two year-old twins. Pheobe and Mike have a one-year old daughter named Sky. Joey is in L.A.
Rachel lay in bed that night thinking about the wonderful day she had spent with her two daughters. She then began to think of how Mandy only had three more days left with them. Would she ever get to see her daughter again? From what she had overheard when Mandy was talking to her parents on the phone, they weren't so happy with Mandy coming to see Rachel. She momentarily thought about trying to get custody of Mandy, but quickly decided that would be foolish. From what Mandy had said, she had a great home, parents, and friends. Mandy would probably never even want to leave. Rachel then tried her best to get comfortable and drift off to sleep.
Rachel woke up early the next morning and knew there was no way she would be able to go back to sleep. Her back was killing her! The joys of being eight months pregnant. She knew she had probably overdone it the day before, so they were all going to stay home today, but the gang was coming for dinner tonight. Rachel really wanted them to meet Mandy, but Ross and Rachel had decided to let her be a surprise. She knew they would all be extremely shocked to learn that she had a fifteen year old daughter. Rachel went downstairs and began to get out the ingredients to make Emma's pancakes. Just as she was starting to mix everything in the bowl, she felt a piercing pain shoot through her stomach. She screamed at the shock and the pain. Suddenly, Ross came running down the stairs. "What is it sweetie? Are you okay? Is it the baby?" he asked breathlessly.
"I think I just had a contraction," replied Rachel.
"Well, do we need to go to the hospital? I'll call Dr. Long," said Ross.
"Okay," answered Rachel as she slowly walked into the living room and lowered herself onto the couch. Ross talked on the phone with the doctor, then came and told Rachel, "She said to wait until they were 20-30 minutes apart or your water broke to come to the hospital. She also said not to worry about it being early because last week he was already at 6 pounds, so he should be fine. You are supposed to stay in bed or on the couch and rest until it is time."
"Alright. Well, would you mind finishing breakfast, getting the kids ready, and calling everyone and telling them to be on stand-by?" asked Rachel.
"Sure thing," replied Ross as he gently kissed Rachel on the lips.
After about an hour Rachel's water broke so Ross, Mandy, and Emma helped get her into the car and Ross drove them all to the hospital, calling the rest of the gang on the way. Rachel was excited that the baby was coming but was kind of sad that her visit with Mandy was getting interrupted. Mandy and Emma were both super excited about their new brother coming today! Ross was excited but also a little bit nervous. He just hoped his wife and son would be okay. When they got to the hospital a private labor/delivery room was waiting on them. Ross went in with Rachel as the doctor examined her, started her epidural, etc. Emma was instructed to stay in the waiting room with Mandy for now.
"Mandy," began Emma, "Is mommy going to be okay? Why is she screaming? Does it hurt really bad to have a little brother?"
"Mommy will be just fine," Mandy reassured her little sister. "It does hurt a lot to have a baby, but once our little brother is here, mommy will feel better and she will be so happy." Emma then happily snuggled into Mandy's lap and they began to read a book they found in the waiting room.
Monica and Chandler then enter the waiting room. Emma runs up to them and gives them a huge hug. "Aunty Mon, Uncle Chandy, mommy is having my little brother!" she excitedly informs them. "Where are Jack and Erica?" she asks.
"They're with grandma and grandpa," replied Monica.
"Okay," said Emma as she went and crawled back into Mandy's lap.
Monica and Chandler exchanged a quick glance and then Chandler asked, "Emma, who is this?"
"Oh, this is my sister Mandy," Emma replied matter of factly.
"Your what?" exclaimed Monica.
"My sister, just like Ben is my brother. She lives in Florida," Emma told her aunt.
Mandy, sensing the confusion, decided to speak up. "My name is Mandy Jones. Rachel is my mother. She gave me up for adoption when I was born, and I am here visiting this week."
Monica could now see it. This girl was Rachel when she was about fifteen. Rachel had a lot of explaining to do. Monica sat down in a chair, having a mild panic attack.
"Where are Ross and Rachel," Chandler asked.
"They're in room 2304," replied Mandy.
Chandler took Monica's arm and they went to go find Ross and Rachel and to get a better explanation.
When Monica and Chandler walked into the room they saw Rachel in the middle of a very intense contraction. She was biting her lip to keep from screaming and Ross held her hand and tried to get her to breath through it. When it was over, Rachel fell back on the bed in exhaustion. Suddenly forgetting about the recent revelation, Monica asked, "How are you doing sweetie?"
"Okay," replied Rachel. "I'm at 6 cm already, so hopefully it won't be too long. Did you see Emma? Is she okay?"
"Yeah she's fine. She's with her SISTER," Monica replied.
"Oh yeah, I forgot you guys didn't know about that yet," said Rachel.
"You think?" Monica answered rather loudly.
Ross, seeing his sister was getting frustrated, quickly interrupted and told an abbreviated version of the story Rachel had told him a few days before.
"Wow," said Monica. "So that was why you suddenly broke all ties with me. I think I may understand now." Monica then leaned in and gave her best friend a hug, as she wiped tears from her eyes. She finally understood her best friends absence from her life for almost four years.
This is kind of a two part chapter. The rest will be up soon! Read and Review!
