The warm sun came through the hospital's blinds. The sun woke up Rachel as well. She had drifted back to sleep after the nurse checked on her bandage. Today it would be coming off. What was under it , terrified her more than anything in her life. Dr. Cannon said that in time she would be able to have surgery to reconstruct the missing breast. She threw her legs over the bed and started for the bathroom, yes it was going to be a big day.

"Guys I am going to be leaving for the hospital. " Ross announced as there was a whole production going on in his living room, Balloons were being hung and his daughters were at the table as well as his niece and nephew scribbling with a crayon to make welcome signs.

"Daddy, is this pretty?" Emma asked as she handed the picture to Ross and he smiled. "Yes , Mommy will like it. Now can you guys stay out of Aunt Monica's way and just color ? I am going to go get mommy okay? Izzy jumped down from the chair and Emma jumped up and down. Ross gave them each a kiss and then he headed out the door. He started down the familiar expressway into the city that he had now been traveling for a week.

Rachel walked over to the mirror in the bathroom and turned on the florescent light. She stared down at the bandage on her right side. She took her hand and tried to cover it, imagining what it was going to look like when it was gone . At least the doctor was waiting for Ross, before they removed it. Her bag was on the chair as well as a little folder filled with pamphlets and information on her future treatments. Her next round of chemo would be in a few days, and Monica would come and sit with her. After she looked at her chest, she stared at the dark circles under her eyes.

"Honey?" Ross said as the orderly rolled in the wheelchair. She stumbled out of the bathroom and made her way back to her bed. "We can call the doctor now, I 'm here." He announced with a kiss. Rachel sat on the edge of the bed as she pushed the button for the doctor to come in .

"Well now Rachel, are we ready to see?" that had to be a rhetorical question. Of course , she wasn't . The doctor came over with the nurse and a tray . The nurse stood by the waste basket as the doctor started to unwind the gauze. Rachel held Ross' hand as each piece floated to the floor . Ross turned away for fear of what he would see as well. The nurse took a basin and then wiped the wound. Rachel looked down and saw the empty spot. She ran her finger over the bump. She then collapsed on the floor and Ross lifted her back up. In almost like a daze , she went to her suitcase and pulled out a t shirt and a pair of jeans and then got dressed after another dressing was put on the wound. The doctor signed the papers and then handed her discharge instructions to Rachel.

"Ready to get out of here?" Ross asked and Rachel nodded. The orderly pushed her as Ross carried the suitcase. They walked to the elevator in silence. As the elevator dropped, neither one knew what to say to the other. Ross kept looking up , while Rachel looked at the floor. With her hands folded in her lap, Rachel closed her eyes and embraced the sunshine. She was free for now.

"The Porsche?" she said with a surprise. "Yeah Mon let me have it so you could come home in it because she knows how much you like it." Ross said as he pulled it up to the section that was marked Discharges only All others Will be Towed. Ross got out of the car and then helped Rachel from the wheelchair. Seeing that she was secure , he got in and then headed for the Expressway.

"Okay everybody, they are coming." Monica said with excitement. She had always been the organizer of all group functions and the wedding planner of all three weddings. Joey , even though he was now a super star, was still Joey and had his hand in the lasagna.

"Not yet." Monica smacked his hand. Joey went over and stood by Chandler. The kids were all lined up with their pictures for Rachel and even Carol and Ben came over for this homecoming. The door opened as Rachel, peeked in .

"Surprise!" everyone cheered as Rachel smiled.

"We wanted to tell you how much we love you and how we are be with you through this whole thing." Monica said as she embraced her sister in law.

"You have always been like a sister to me." Hugged Chandler.

"Yeah a hot sister." Agreed Joey as he stuffed his mouth with food.

Carol came over. "I was so upset when I heard, but I was glad that you met our dear friend , Sarah." The two women embraced as Carol rubbed her back and let her emotions show. All Ben could mumble is "Get well soon "and give his stepmother a hug. The three kids ran over and swarmed all over Rachel. She looked down at the drawings and gave her daughter and the other kids a kiss. As she walked around , she felt like she was underwater and couldn't breathe. She wasn't even there , she was going through the motions and taking the hugs , but she felt invisible. Suddenly she knew a way to escape the gathering.

Her feet fell out from under her , and Ross immediately swept her up into his arms. In another time, it reminded her how terribly romantic he was. She was now even lighter and she was not a strain on his back "Bed." He smiled . Rachel nodded and apologized. "I am sorry. I really appreciate everyone , but I am kind of tired." Ross turned toward the stairs . "Be right back , everyone. " He climbed the stairs and looked down at Rachel. She laid her head on his shoulder as he carried her upstairs.

The bed had a down comforter on it and the pillow had been fluffed. Ross laid her on the soft bed and she eyed the new robe on the foot of the bed. "I know I usually am not a good shopper, but Mon helped me with it." She picked it up and ran it across her skin. "It feels so nice. Thank you." She turned to him and gave him a peck. He was finally feeling like he could be the man for her again. She smiled at him and then started to undress. He stood there and then she turned to him. "Would you mind?" she asked.

He thought he couldn't take it anymore. "Yes, I do , Rachel. I am not your ex boyfriend or your ex lover, I am your husband. It is my legal right to be here. I know this has been hard, but I feel like you have just been pushing me away.and I can't be quiet anymore. "

Rachel turned to him. "I am just saving you the trouble of pushing me away later. I know how you are , you like a girl for the way she looks. You are around little coeds all day, girls who are younger than me and have two perky little breasts. They sit and they have these fantasies about their professor going on these digs and sweating."

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Ross yelled since he didn't understand any of it. "Is this because of the drugs?"

"Ross I remember Bonnie, and I remember how you didn't like her because she had no hair . You were appalled at the site of her and said that the moonlight bounced off her skull and you could feel the bones of it. Ross, I want you to look at me. In just a few short weeks, I might look like that. I am no longer that perfect Rachel that you fell in love with when you were teenager. I am damaged goods. I have a left breast and a hollowed out lump. " She screamed .

Melting into tears, he walked over and held his nearly naked wife and let her cry into his arms. He ran his hands over her back and just cradled her. Wrapping her in her new robe, he laid her on the clean Egyptian sheets and tucked her in like she was a little girl. His little girl. Rachel went back in her mind to when her daddy would come home from work and tuck her in. Ross looked at her and then he crawled in the bed with her . "Come here." He said as he cuddled her in his arms. Finally the two of them closed their eyes, oblivious to everyone down stairs . Maybe this would bring them together after all.