A/N: Hey, here's chapter eight and I would really appreciate since I'm trying so hard to finish this that you would read and review because this is really like my first fan fic. I started another one, but only wrote two chapters because I became disinterested. So please just R/R!
Proximity
In Sandra Greene's House
The house is decorated very modernly with furniture and a few art pieces on the walls. It wasn't the biggest house, but it was certainly big enough for a divorced mother. The walls are painted a pretty green and sponged with an off white color, which really made the room come alive. Ross looked around, since he had never been to Sandra's house because she had just recently moved in. On the mantel he saw various pictures of Rachel's family, most of them of her three sisters. He then saw a few pictures of Emma, and one in particular that stood out to him. It was a picture of Rachel, himself and Emma, the day she was born. They both looked like such proud new parents, and like one big happy family. Ross sighed and thought, Why can't it just be that simple?
Rachel came into the living room where Ross stood and realized he was entranced so she followed his eyes to the picture he was lost in of the three of them. Rachel smiled.
"Yeah, it's one of my favorites too," snapping Ross back from his daydream. He gave a small smile.
"Yeah…we really look like a family," and then his smiley slowly faded. Rachel turns Ross to look at her by pulling on his jacket.
"Hey, we are a family okay? Just because it isn't in the most conventional way doesn't mean we aren't family. Families love one another no matter what and are always there for each other...so I'd say were a pretty great family." This made Ross smile again and he thought to himself, What did she mean by "love one another?"
But he dismissed it and simply replied, "Yeah I guess your right."
Sandra Greene entered the room.
"Honey, Emma is upstairs in her room sleeping and there really is no point in waking her because you can't drive in this weather. I just heard the news and they said the roads are covered in snow, and their not clearing them yet because it's supposed to snow all night. One of the biggest snow storms in years." Ross and Rachel looked at each other.
"I guess it's the safest thing to do," Ross said trying to convince Rachel and himself. Rachel pondered for a moment.
"Yeah. Okay Mom we'll stay, but where are we going to sleep?" Sandra smiled warmly.
"Well Dear there are four bedrooms here. One is mine, another I made for Emma and then there are two guest bedrooms." Rachel smiled as if the problem were solved.
"Great, well I guess I'll take one and you can take the other," she said to Ross hoping that this is good new to him. Ross smiled.
"Yeah, sounds good."
Sandra cut in, "Well Rachel, that's the problem. One guest bedroom isn't finished yet. It's full of boxes and doesn't even have a bed. I wanted to get it done before the holidays, but I just haven't had the time."
Rachel looked at Ross for an answer, but there was none there. He just looked back at her with the same uncertainty in his eyes. Rachel exhaled.
"Well, I mean if there is only one bed then I guess we can share it, right? It's not a big deal," she said unconvincingly because to both of them proximity had always been a big deal. Ross replied in a higher pitched voice then his own.
"Yeah. It's no big deal at all," and at the sound of it Rachel thought maybe it would be. So she exhaled and ran her fingers through her hair.
"Do you really think it's a good idea?" Ross's tone came back to normal and he sighed.
"Look, if it's too weird for you then I'll just sleep on the couch. It's really no big deal," he said trying to calm her down. Rachel shook her head.
"No, I'm not gonna make you sleep on the couch. No, it's ridiculous we'll just share the bed and that's the end of it." Ross questioned her sudden conviction.
"Are you sure Rach because it's really no problem for me." Rachel tried to look sure.
"Yes, I'm sure. It's no problem at all Ross."
Sandra stood by watching the two go back and forth over something that to someone who didn't know their long history would think was just a mountain made out of a Moe Hill. But to someone who knew their weakness when it came to one another like she did she just replied wryly.
"Well great, now that that's settled I'm going to head off to bed. I'm very tired and I have to get up early tomorrow for that party." Rachel went to hug her mother.
"Okay Mom. Goodnight and thanks for waiting up." Sandra smiled at her daughter and hugged her warmly.
"It was no problem dear. Goodnight and be careful driving home. Goodnight Ross."
"We will mom," Rachel reassured her."
"Goodnight Sandra," remembering what she said to call her earlier.
"See that's what I want to hear" they all laughed as Sandra retired to her room for the night.
Ross and Rachel were left alone and they both looked at each other unsure of what to do or say next. Rachel smiled and nervously swayed back and forth with her hands on her hips "Sooo…" Ross smiled back.
"Sooo…?" Rachel laughed.
"Well it is getting kind of late so I just was going to check on Emma and then head to bed myself."
"Okay, ugh fine. I guess I'll just follow you up cause I'm kinda tired myself from the drive." (Half-lying, but only trying to ease Rachel's mind).
"Okay, well I guess there's nowhere to go but up," she said trying to lighten the mood but they both laughed nervously.
"Yeah, I guess so." And with that they walked up what seemed like the longest flight of steps they would ever encounter, maybe it was because they just didn't know what to expect.
Rachel turned to Ross when they reached the hallway and whispered.
"Okay, I'm going to go check on Emma."
Ross whispered back, "Okay, well I'm just gonna go to the room."
"Okay," they both laughed at their whispering.
Ross went to the bathroom first to freshen up by brushing his teeth with his finger because he didn't bring a toothbrush and washing his face. He then went to the guest room to find it pretty luxurious. It had a Queen sized bed and mahogany walls, as well as a flat paneled Plasma T.V. on the wall with a built in DVD. Ross smiled to himself as he looked around.
"Well I guess it really is a good thing knowing the Greenes."
Ross then undressed to a T-shirt and boxers and sat on the bed. He was very antsy inside not knowing what to expect, or if he just shouldn't expect anything and go to bed. All he knew was Rachel and him were going to be sharing a foreign bed, and that with them two proximity had always proved a dangerous thing.
End Scene
