Beautiful Release
by Tina
- - -
The alarm clock on the bedside table woke him up that sunday morning. He opened his eyes and turned to his side to turn it off. It read 8a.m.. He looked over and saw her, still sound asleep. Circumstances had been keeping her like that lately, constantly sleepy and tired. He wished he could let her rest some more, but they both had promised Monica and Chandler they would go have lunch with them in their new house in Westchester and see the twins. It had been three months since the moving and they still had trouble getting used to the idea that their best friends weren't living across the street anymore.
He kissed her shoulder lovingly.
"Rach, wake up, honey."
She only acknowledged him with a sigh, though not very enthusiastic. He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her. He knew she wasn't exactly a morning person, but even that seemed like a charming quality at that moment.
"Come on, we still need to go and pick Ben up." Still nothing. He kissed her again, this time on the neck, and stroked her hair. "Alright, I'll go and take a shower first, but then your time's up."
He got out of bed and Rachel finally moved. She opened her eyes and let them lazily wander around the room, with no rush to snap out of sleep so suddenly. They reached a beautiful black and white photograph, very tastefully framed and set on her bedside table. She smiled at it. Their wedding day, quite possibly the best day of her life. She looked down and smiled, for an approaching day might just beat that one at the title.
She turned to the other side and saw Ross undressing in their bathroom, the door was wide open. She smiled to herself. After three years together, he still stirred the rawest most physical feelings in her as much as the deepest most profound loving ones. Specially, hm, well, under the circumstances, which put her under so much hormone attack.
"Sweetie..." She purred softly.
He looked at her, pulling his t-shirt over his head.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty."
"Come to bed..." She suggestively invited.
"We're gonna be late, Rach."
"So? They'll understand."
Ross chuckled, remembering Monica was far from being understanding of their never ending excuses for always being the last ones to arrive.
"Sure, 'cause the past taught us that lesson, huh?"
Rachel sat up, letting the sheets slide down her body and uncover her small bump. She rested against the headboard and put a hand on her enlarged belly, while the other played with her hair sensually. Her pale pink nightie was getting small for her and it barely contained her swollen breasts. She knew he wouldn't resist that scenario.
He stared, a mix of real love and lust in his eyes. She smiled at him and looked down at her hand going up and down her stomach.
"This is all your fault, really."
Ross smiled at her and started approaching.
"Oh, God, Rach... You've never looked more beautiful than you do now. And, whoa, believe me, that really says something..."
She smiled back, believing him. Funny how some women tend to feel unpretty and everything during pregnancy. Sure, it was all very understandable, she thought. But the way she and Ross were handling the whole thing, God, it was perfect and made her feel perfect. She was creating life, their little daughter's life. And a very wanted child it would be. After getting together, Ross and Rachel made sure to take things slow, to have their own pace and do things in their own time. A year after being together he'd proposed and a year after that they got married, on a cliff at sunset in Barbados. The baby plans came some time after it, mostly because of Rachel.
After the divorce, she invested a big part of the money she'd gotten out of it in herself. She started taking fashion classes, started working in the field, humbly and effectively working her way up. They decided it was time for kids after she was promoted at Ralph Lauren - with an assistant and everything! - and it came as a surprise how little time it took them to conceive, specially after being there for Monica and Chandler's infertility drama. Two weeks off the pill and bam, their little baby had been created.
"Thanks..." She stretched her arms towards him, inviting him to come and join her again. He took them and sat beside her, kissing her neck while she wrapped her arms tightly around him, adoringly.
"How do you feel today?" He tenderly asked.
"Fine. Just a little, you know..."
"What?" He pulled away, worried.
She grinned.
"Horny."
He smiled.
"Alright, I think we need to remedy that then, don't we?"
"Yeah, I didn't wanna say anything, but I read somewhere that kids whose mother don't get a lot, and I mean a lot, of lovin' during the pregnancy don't get to like science..." She joked.
He chuckled and kissed her.
"God, I love you." He said.
"I love you too, honey."
She kissed him passionately, winning him over, as she always did. He laid her on the bed and held her down slightly, letting her know that time he was there only to fulfill her needs - his would come from achieving that prior task, anyway. He knew her hormones were driving her nuts, something he had experienced in Carol's pregnancy in a very different and a lot less enjoyable way. In fact, everything about Rachel's pregnancy was much different than Carol's. This time, it wasn't that Rachel was pregnant. They were pregnant. He was involved in all of it, they shared everything - from after hour cravings to fears in the back of their heads on lazy mornings.
He wanted to thank her for all of it; for bearing their child, for being such a wonderful woman, such a wonderful wife. Neither had ever found happiness and satisfaction like that before, and for some time they had simply given up hope and stopped looking for it. Now, they couldn't understand how they had survived so long without it.
He tossed her nightie across the room, his eyes darting quickly to her belly. He kissed it tenderly a few times, thinking if their baby girl developing slowly in there. He looked up at her and saw adoration in her eyes. He moved up and kissed her again, while his hands, his magical hands she so much loved, did some of the work for some time, later being replaced by his mouth. God, his tongue did wonders, she well knew that.
Rachel moaned his name as quietly as she could, but before she could climax she pulled him up and rolled on top of him.
"Oh, baby, I need you." She whispered sweetly.
He smiled widely.
"You have me." He whispered back as she sat onto him slowly, taking him, their gazes locked.
They smiled at each other. She reached down for his lips and they kissed for some time, not moving their bodies just yet, simply enjoying the sensation of being connected as one. When they broke, Rachel took a long and well drawn out breath and started moving her hips slowly at first, trying to find a pace that would be comfortable enough. She smiled as she pictured themselves making love towards the end of the pregnancy. They would have to be creative and opt for some of their unusual positions. It probably wouldn't be as great as it was in their favorites, but she was sure as hell that it wouldn't stop them.
As it usually happened, Rachel climaxed first. Selfless lover he was, Ross always tried his best to last the longest he could, always putting her needs before his. Besides, nothing in the world compared to seeing her that way, to the feeling of her body hugging him, accepting and approving him like that. Plus, they had always been so connected during the act that it wasn't any challenge for him, most days. Sure they had the times when it was mostly for one than the other, but usually both were one hundred per cent in it.
She collapsed on top of him, finding a way to cuddle with him comfortably, suiting herself anatomically. They hugged each other tight, feeling each other's heat under their palms, stroking each other's bodies tenderly. They breathed heavily, hot breath on each other's neck, slowly returning to a normal pace.
"Hmmm..." Rachel moaned, enjoying the moment, the intimate closeness, his sweat mixing with hers, his heartbeat on her own chest. "I think that just owed this kid a PhD."
Ross chuckled, pulling her closer and reaching for her lips, kissing her tenderly. After they broke, they smiled at each other.
"OK, we're officially late." He said.
She smiled wider.
"I'll call Carol and Susan, you call Monica."
And if it wasn't for Ross' uneasiness around his ex-wife lesbian lover - quite a shock he still had some trouble dealing with; not out of anger, but mostly inadequacy - he would have considered complaining, for he knew Monica would most likely take the news very harshly. He would let her have that one though, he always did. He watched her get out of bed naked and grab the phone, quickly giving the message on her way to the bathroom. Once she reached the door, she turned around and threw the phone at him.
"Come and join me once Monica stops yelling, OK?"
Ross chuckled. If things continued that way they would probably never leave the apartment.
---
Ross double parked the car they'd recently bought in front of Carol and Susan's building, the one he used to share with the first. They had called about five minutes before, saying they were getting there, so Carol and Ben were already waiting downstairs for them. Ben ran over, followed by Carol.
"Wait, Ben, where's my kiss?" She demanded.
Ben rolled his eyes as any ten years old boy would and gave her a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. She ruffled his hair.
"Mo-om!" He whined, running his fingers through it, trying to style it back.
"Goodbye, sweetie, have fun."
"Bye, mom."
He entered the car.
"Hey, Ben!" Rachel greeted him.
"Hi, son! How are you?"
"Good! Rachel, I need to show you my new card collection!"
"Cool, sweetie." She said, making a big deal out of it and with that owing herself a smile from her stepson.
Carol approached the car.
"Hey you guys."
"Hi, Carol, how are you doing?" Rachel politely asked.
"Great, thanks. How's the baby?"
Rachel put a hand on her belly, smiling widely.
"Wonderful, thanks for asking. Where's Susan?"
Ross rolled his eyes much like Ben had just done, but Carol smiled pleased at Rachel's politeness.
"She had to go out of town for a few days for work."
"Oh, send her a hello from me then."
Ross turned the car back on, that was enough. The two women chuckled at his clear discomfort.
"Alright, we better get going." He said.
"Sure. Have fun you guys. Ben, you take care."
"I will."
"Send my love to Monica, Chandler and the twins." Carol said.
"We will."
"Bye."
"Bye."
-
They knocked on the door of the fairly big suburban house and only waited a few short seconds before Monica opened it, holding baby Jack. She had baggy tired eyes, but cracked up a big smile nonetheless.
"Oh, hi, you guys, come in."
"Hey, sweetie, how are you?" Rachel asked as she hugged her friend, a little surprised by her good mood. On an usual day she would have been received with much scolding for being one hour late.
"I'm good. You know, tired and all, you'll see." She motioned to the baby in her arms and to Rachel's bump, while she chuckled. "What about you, are you feeling better?"
Rachel looked confused only for a second, until she looked at Ross and understood everything.
"Oh, yeah." She rested a hand on her belly. "Just a little nausea, which I thought I had moved past by now."
After all the hellos, Rachel painfully poked Ross as they were walking into the living room.
"Ouch." He winced in pain.
"I can't believe you told her I wasn't feeling well."
"It was either that or the lecture. Which one would you choose?"
"How about a better lie?"
Ross pulled her closer from behind quickly, taking her by surprise. He kissed her hair and rested both his hands on her belly. She couldn't help but giggle.
"You know I'm a terrible liar..."
She smiled. She knew that and a million other things about this man. And she loved each and every one of those qualities and flaws, she wouldn't manage to make a better man for herself if she had the means to it.
"So, you know, in a way I didn't lie to her... You weren't feeling so well, so Dr. Geller here had to take really good care of you." He said, rather full of himself.
Rachel laughed.
"Oh, honey, you're adorable."
She put her hands on his cheek and gave him a soft kiss.
They walked into the big kitchen, where Phoebe, her husband Mike, Chandler and Monica were hanging by a small table. Monica set Jack on his baby chair next to Erica's, where the baby girl slept, but the boy wouldn't have it that way. As soon as Monica turned her back and walked away, he started protesting and weeping. Monica sighed and walked back to get him, but Rachel approached before she could reach it.
"That's OK, I'll take care of him."
Monica smiled at her sister-in-law.
"Thanks, honey."
Monica approached the oven on the island in the middle of the room to finish preparing their lunch. Everybody said their hellos and Ross, Rachel and Ben took their seats. Ross looked adoringly at his wife and little Jack and moved his seat closer to hers, throwing one arm around them.
"Hey, guess what." Chandler said.
"What?" Ross asked.
"Joey sent me the tape with the pilot of that TV show he's gonna be on, so we can watch that after lunch."
"Oh really? Wow." Rachel beamed with pride.
"What's it called again, 'Deep something'?" Ross asked again.
"Deep Powder." Monica said from her spot in front of the oven. "It seems like it's gonna be this big thing, he's really excited."
"Oh, this is so great for him. I just hope he doesn't forget about us." Rachel joked.
"Joseph Tribbiani? No, I'd kick his sorry ass." Phoebe said in a serious voice. Rachel chuckled. "I'm not kidding."
"Oh, we know." Rachel said.
"Aunt Monica, can I go and watch some TV?"
"Sure, sweetie."
Ben rushed out of the room, Ross and Rachel's eyes following.
"So, how's Ben doing with the baby news and all?" Phoebe wanted to know.
Ross smiled.
"He has been great through everything, ever since the divorce and then with Rachel and all. He's actually quite excited to be a big brother, I think."
"He is." said Rachel. "He's only a little scared about having to share his room. The other day he came to ask me if we were gonna have to paint it pink."
"Oh, he doesn't know about the moving yet?"
"What moving?" Rachel asked.
Phoebe froze and looked at Ross, who wore a defeated expression.
"Oh, the secret moving."
Rachel looked even more confused.
"Huh? Ross, what is she talking about?"
"Well, OK, I wanted to make it a surprise, but uh... I got us a new place."
"What?"
"Three bedrooms, so Ben and the baby each get to have their own room and it's really near your work. Now that Monica, Chandler and Joey have all moved I didn't feel so tied down to the Village anymore... It's really amazing, you're gonna love it."
Rachel smiled weakly.
"When were you gonna tell me? Why make it a surprise?"
"Because, with the baby and all, I didn't want to overwhelm you with the whole apartment hunting thing and stuff. But believe me, I had good company. Your mom came with me, she approved it herself. I was gonna tell you sometime this week, right after we settled all the formalities."
Rachel smiled wider at the way her mother and husband got along so well. After divorcing her father a couple of years ago, she knew sometimes her mom felt lonely and Ross always included her into their lives as often as possible. How could she be upset at the man for being so thoughtful, for wanting to spare her? She leaned closer and kissed him.
"When can I see it?"
"I can make a few calls and see if we can stop by on our way home."
"I would really love that."
They smiled at each other and he picked up his cellphone. She watched him stand up and leave the kitchen, smiling. Then looked down at Jack, who was now sleeping in her arms, put him in his baby chair again, picked up her own phone and started making a call herself.
"Mom?" She talked into it.
-
Ross, Rachel and Ben hopped off the car. Ross pointed out the building and Rachel smiled.
"It's that one, 10th floor."
As they approached the main door, Rachel looked around. It was such a quiet and comfortable neighborhood. She saw a mother pushing twins on a stroller on the sidewalk a few feet in front of them and let her eyes follow, until she noticed a little park down the street. It would be the perfect place to raise their child.
They walked into the building, Ross had managed to get a set of keys for the day. As they walked out of the elevator, Ross lead them to the right direction. They walked up to apartment 1001 and he opened the door.
Ben walked in first, excited. While he made his father a million questions about it, Rachel walked in and let her eyes wander free, a hand ever so gently rubbing her belly. The living room was pretty big, probably two times the size of their current. It didn't have any furniture yet, but Rachel could place where everything would be with her mind, even their child's toys left around the floor. Ross showed Ben where his room would be and left him there for a little while. Rachel barely noticed him, until he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her from behind.
She smiled and put her arms on his, smiling widely.
"So, do I get a tour?"
"That depends, will I get a commission?"
She chuckled and turned around to face him, playing with his hands.
"Only if you get me a good deal."
"It'll be the best, ma'am."
They kissed.
"OK, so this is the living room. We're obviously gonna have to buy more furniture, at least one couch or two, if we wanna fill it up. I was thinking the TV could go there-" He pointed. "-and we should have a playpen right about here for the baby could stay on."
Rachel let her eyes linger, smiling. He took her hand and together they went into the kitchen. It was fairly big and, even though it wasn't Rachel's favorite room in a house, she had to admit this one was pretty charming. She wouldn't say charming enough to have her actually doing something other than eating in it - or, well, "christening" it, hopefully some time later on that week - but she could totally see Ross standing in front of the stove making them dinner, while she took out plates or settled their take-out.
"The kitchen... Not that it would excite you." He said, until he caught her suggestive look, letting him know what was on her mind. "Unless..."
She raised an eyebrow and pushed him closer.
"Definitely."
They started kissing, until he reluctantly pulled way.
"Whoa, not today though... Ben."
"Alright, but you owe it to me, Geller, I'll hold you to it."
"Don't worry, I won't forget to deliver."
She smiled wider and he took her hand again, leading her out and towards the bedrooms hallway. They walked by Ben's room and peeked briefly through the slight gap of the door, only to find him totally engrossed looking out the window, at something they couldn't identify. Then they walked into the main room. Rachel let go of his hand and sighed contentedly. She was one used to luxury, yet nothing she had ever had compared to this, she had never felt so satisfied anywhere else before. And he knew it. He watched her with a wide smile on his face. She turned to face him again.
"We're gonna be so happy here."
He took her hand.
"Yes, very much. But you know, we would be happy anywhere, really."
She smiled at him and nodded.
"Don't take the fun out of this, though."
They chuckled.
After seeing their closet and bathroom - with a romantic big Jacuzzi which very much turned Rachel on - Ross took her hand again.
"Now come, I wanna show you the baby's room."
He opened the door and Rachel gasped. A beautiful crib was set in the middle of the room, very tastefully designed with first quality wood.
"Oh, honey, you bought a crib!"
She turned to look at him, but met a confused look on his face.
"No, I didn't."
"You didn't?"
"No."
"It's so beautiful..." She commented.
They approached it together. Inside, a tiny Tiffany & Co. bag lied. Rachel looked up at Ross again, but his confused expression was still there.
"Pick it up." He said.
She did so. Inside, there was a tiny box which revealed a fine and beautiful sterling silver moon-shaped rattle. Rachel chuckled and finally noticed an envelope taped to the side of the crib. She picked it up and opened it. Inside, a note read a message congratulating them on the new house and wishing them all the very best with their so wanted grandchild, signed by Nana and Poppi Green. Rachel smiled at Ross with tears in her eyes.
"I guess it's one of the reasons why they like you so much." She wrapped one arm around him and kissed him on the cheek. "You're giving them everything Barry never did, and all the things that mattered, after all."
He smiled and kissed her head.
"Yeah? Like what?" He knew the answer to that very well. In fact, both Sandra and Leonard Green in different occasions had both said that to him out loud before.
"Like a grandchild. And their daughter's happiness."
He smiled wider and hugged her.
"Oh, the things you gotta do to please the in-laws..." He joked.
She chuckled.
"I can't believe they got this together, though. I thought they were hating each other right now."
"You know, a baby can bring people together."
She smiled at him even wider.
"They're grown ups, I'll leave it to them to figure this out."
"Yeah, let's."
His eyes lazily travelled down to her belly, where they lingered, filled with thoughts of their little bundle of joy. She smiled, knowing what he was thinking about, and grabbed his hand, placing it on her belly.
"I bet she's gonna look just like you and grow up to be a heart breaker." He said.
Rachel laughed.
"Well, I'm hoping she'll get your puppy eyes. Although I have to realize that's gonna make it so hard for me to say no to her..."
He smiled at her.
"Really, they have that power?" He asked.
She shot him a playful look.
"Like you don't already know that!"
He gave her an exaggerated puppy look, playing along. She chuckled and kissed him. After they broke, she picked up his hand and they walked around the room.
"God, there's still so much we need to get..." She said.
"There's no rush." His eyes fixated on hers, he continued. "Let's make it a home." He grinned, recalling the words she had once said to him.
She smiled back, remembering it. She wrapped her arms around his waist yet again.
"Put you and me in here and, honey, it is a home already."
He smiled wider, watching her for a long time.
"That has got to be the corniest yet most realistic thing you've ever said to me."
She chuckled and they kissed.
"Oh, ew!"
They broke apart and noticed little Ben by the door, looking at them. They chuckled.
"Come here Benny Boy."
Ben approached them and Rachel threw one arm around him. His little hand went straight to her belly, validating the intimacy he had quickly built with his stepmother. Ross watched it, pleased.
Her eyes met his and then... words weren't necessary anymore.
The three - of four, as you wish - of them cuddled for a while, the picture perfect of a modern family.
---
Sorry it took so long. The beginning had been written for a long time now, but I couldn't figure out what else to write. I'm still not pleased, but I'm never pleased with my endings anyway, so whatever. I just needed to finish this so I can finally concentrate on a new one, I have a few ideas already. However, I've also been very busy and etc... I won't promise anything, but I do wish to have something new out very soon. Anyway, thank you so, so, so much for reading and commenting this story. You have no idea how much that means to me ;) Also, I have a recommendation. If you haven't read "Tell me you love me" by Imaginewhatif yet, what are you waiting for? It's amazing, a must read and it's updated like once a week or so :) Mwah, take care!