Chapter II
"The One Where The Gang Reunited"
It has been a week since Monica and Chandler moved out to their house in the Westchester. It has been a week to adjust for all of the six friends. A lot of things had change in the past few weeks. Babies, moving to suburbs, saying goodbye to their home, almost moving to the different continent, airport chasing, getting back together, everything brought them back to a new chapter of their life. It affects everyone on its own way. It was hard but they had to move on.
Living on the suburban, wasn't as easy as Monica thought. She couldn't just walk downstairs for a cup of coffee, or walk a few blocks away to her favorite lunch cafe, or simply enjoying the bustling and busy New York streets. It was all in her past, now she's a mother of two beautiful twins. Yes, a mother. Something she'd dreamed of since she was a little kid. Meanwhile, Chandler surprisingly handled the entire fatherhood thing perfectly, it even surprised himself. He did miss his friends back in the city, but somewhat having the twins, preoccupied his mind, and for now his family is enough for him.
However, in the city things were also quite hard for Rachel and Ross, especially Rachel. Ross was doing fine as long as Rachel and their little daughter, Emma were there every time he went home from work. It was like a miracle, a dream come true for him to see his favorite girls waiting for him at his apartment. Something he'd cherish for a long time, something he almost lost just a few days ago, something he'd eternally grateful at the fact that she had chosen to stay. He'd be on his cloud nine every day, his coworkers might noticed his sudden change of mood. He'd found himself humming and musing, he couldn't care less if any of his students sleep through the entire class or even left the class early. He didn't care, because these past few days he finally has everything he'd ever dream of since he was fifteen. Well, everything but one, to make it official, a ring.
Meanwhile, things weren't as easy as Ross for Rachel. For the few first days, she wasn't thinking about it because she was preoccupied by Ross, Emma, and her moving. She'd busy herself making calls to a lot of people, apologizing, explaining the reason why she wasn't in Paris. She'd make a phone call to the shipping company, to reship all of her stuff that had just arrived in her apartment in Paris and sent it back to New York. That has been draining her energy. On top of that, she only had a few clothes left, while all her clothes were all still somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, so she needed to do a quick shopping, making sure she had enough clothes for the week.
She'd done all of that things in just a couple days, all left was to find a job or talk to Mr. Zelner to give her job back, but she decided do that next week. She wanted to have the rest of her week for her family. Family. Yes, she'd call them a family now. Not that they weren't a family before, they did, but now it seemed content and right. She'd spent the day with Emma, does a little shopping, and then went to Ross' NYU office to grab a lunch with him. It was her routine the past few days, and as much as she missed her job, she had to admit she actually enjoyed this part of domestic life.
After lunch, she'd visit Central Perk where she occasionally ran into Joey or Phoebe, spends an hour or so with them and then headed back to her apartment. Of course, a couple times when she'd go to the coffee house, no one was there but Gunther. She'd make a small talk with him and ordered a coffee to go and went straight home. On those kinds of days, she'd find herself missing her best friend, Monica. Before Monica and Chandler left, at the coffee house, a week ago they made a promise to each other to always make time at least once every two weeks to see each other. Today they've made plan to meet at Monica and Chandler's house to celebrate their house warming dinner. Today was the day the friends of six had been waiting for.
It was Friday evening, Ross had left work early today to spend more time with his family. He took Emma for her bath and then put on some clothes to her. Rachel had prepared a simple yellow tee with a flower pattern on it, a light denim legging for Emma to use, and a pair of pastel yellow jelly sandals. Something simple and comfortable for their one and a half years old daughter to wear.
It was now 6 pm, they needed to go now if they want to make it to Westchester on time.
"Hey Rach, are you done? We're going to be late." Ross asked as he prepared Emma's diaper bag.
One thing Ross was sure is that they can't be late on their first reunion dinner because it will pissed Monica off.
"In a minute!", She yelled from inside their bedroom.
She can be grumpy sometimes, especially when someone is rushing up her intricate process of getting ready. He'd find it annoying when they weren't together, but now he'd more than glad to have her yelling at him than to have her on the other side of the world. Something he'd learnt to accept.
"O-okay take your time", he stammered.
Ross held Emma in his arms and greeted her, "Hello little princess, we're going to meet your cousin, Erica and Jack. Are you excited?"
"Yayyy!" Emma yelled with the biggest smile in her face.
Rachel finally done and she rushed to the living room.
"Okay I'm ready." She said
"Okay let's go. Don't forget the key, Emma's diaper bag, and also the present. I'll drive." Ross said.
They've bought a brand new white SUV a few days ago to make it easier for them to commute with Emma. Rachel and Ross would occasionally use it when they needed to visit Rachel's parents and Ross' parents in Long Island, or to visit Monica and Chandler in Westchester. Buying a car is one of the first decisions they'd make together as a couple.
"But we're already late Ross. Let me drive." She insisted.
They clearly didn't have much time to spare for arguing.
Ross sighed and finally gave in, "O-okay, but be careful."
"Geez Ross, We're driving with Emma of course I'll be careful." She said, mocked offended.
"Okay then."
An hour later..
They had finally arrived at Monica's house miraculously just in time. Ross took Emma from her car seat and held her in his arm. They arrived at the doorstep and Rachel rang the bell. Something they'd rarely do before, ringing a bell instead of barged inside Monica and Chandler's place like they used to do.
To their surprise, Joey opened the door, and greeted them with a silly smile of his.
"Hey you guys made it!", He said, and then he hugged both of them.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Rachel said as she gave him a hug.
"Come on in." Joey said.
"Well, it sounds like you own the house, Joe." Ross joked.
"I do have my own room in this house you know..", Joey stated matter-of-factly.
As they entered the house they could smell a familiar scent coming out from the kitchen. It is Monica's home cooked food that they had not eat in a while. One of the thing Rachel missed the most for not having Monica living just across the hall. Eventhough Ross is an underrated cook in the group, his cooking is surprisingly amazing. But of course, Monica is still way a head of him in terms of cooking skills.
"Oh my god, it's smell so good Mon", Rachel said to Monica who was still busy platting the food. Monica had prepared a feast for the gang. A lasagna, their favorite, ceasar salad, grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and other side dishes the other five didn't even know the name.
"Rachel! Oh my god, I miss you so much!", Monica said and then gave her best friend a hug.
"I miss you too. The Village isn't the same without you, y'know?" Rachel said in a rather sad voice.
"I know!" Monica said.
Rachel then smiled and handed her a present, "Well, this is a little something for your house."
Rachel and Ross had bought them a set of china porcelain dinnerware set, similar to the one she and Chandler broke on one particular Thanksgiving.
"Aww that's sweet. Thank you guys.. " Monica said.
"You're welcome." Ross replied with a smile.
"Where's the twin? I want to see them." Rachel asked.
"They're sleeping in their room upstairs." Monica replied.
"Ross, I'll take Emma to sleep upstairs with the twins." Rachel said to Ross as she gestured him to move Emma to her arms.
"Okay, I'll be in the dining room with the guys if you need me." He kissed her and left.
"Mon, can I have warm water for Emma's formula?" Rachel said as she handed her Emma's bottle.
"Sure" Monica took the bottle away then poured some warm water and shook it for her then said, "Here you go."
"Thank you Mon." Rachel said with a smile.
"So Rach, how is it going between you and my brother?"
"It is going great actually. We talked about things that bothered us in the past and decided to start fresh." Rachel smiled.
"Really?" Monica asked and Rachel nodded happily, "Well, that's good. I'm so happy for you two." Monica replied.
"Thank you.. Okay I'll go upstairs to put Emma to sleep and then we'll talk more after the dinner." Rachel gave her a wink and went upstairs.
...
It has been a week since they gathered and having a meal together. They were enjoying each other company and talking about their days.
"Mike and I have an announcement." Phoebe suddenly said giddily.
"Are you pregnant?" Rachel gasped.
Phoebe shook her head, still smiling, "Not yet. But yeah! We're trying!"
"I didn't know you need to make an announcement for that." Chandler said sarcastically which earned him a slap from Monica.
"Aww.. I'm so happy for you guys." Monica said wholeheartedly.
"Thank you guys." Mike said with a smile on his face.
"Hey, Mon. Now that you're happy for us, I was thinking if we can start trying in one of your room." Phoebe said and smiled naughtily.
"No! No! No!" Monica and Chandler both yelled in unison which made the rest of the gang giggled.
"I need to use the rest room" Rachel said as she stood up and left the dining room.
"So Ross, when do you plan to propose?", Phoebe asked after she was sure Rachel had left.
"Well it is only been a week since we get back together, don't you guys think it is too soon?" Ross answered as he looked at all of them, searching for an answer.
It'd be a lie if Ross wasn't thinking about marrying Rachel for this entire week. Of course he did, perhaps more than a hundred times. On one side he wasn't sure if it's not too soon for them and he was beyond petrified to ruin everything they had now. On the other side, he couldn't wait to make it official. He even bought an engagement ring, just in case.
"Well, technically you guys have loved each other for the past seven years, and even have a daughter together, I don't think it is too early to finally getting married..." Chandler paused and continued, "for the second time"
"Well I'm with Chandler on this. I mean, don't you want to spend the rest of your life with her?", Monica added.
"You were supposed to propose to her that day Rachel gave birth to Emma." Phoebe chipped in.
"That didn't go well, didn't it?" Ross said, a little bit irritated at the certain topic he'd rather to forget.
"Sorry.." Joey who was listening the whole time muttered.
"It's okay Joe. That was in the past. Just make sure you weren't near us when I finally propose to her." Ross said half-jokingly and Joey nodded.
"Don't you want to marry her?" Mike asked. Phoebe had told him everything about Rachel and Ross relationship and how Phoebe always says they're lobsters.
"Of course I want to marry her. It is all I ever want to do since 9th grade. You all know it.", Ross replied a sighed.
"Then.. What are you waiting for? It is unlike you Ross, You love marriage!", Joey said.
Ross gave Joey a glare and answered, "I just don't want to rush everything and mess this up, you know.."
"I know, but I honestly think, if you going to marry her anyway isn't it better to do it sooner? I mean you both now are more mature than before so I don't think that is a problem.", Phoebe said.
"You know what? You are right Pheebs. I don't want to waste another day not marry to Rachel. I'm going to propose to her." Ross said confidently. He has the answer he was looking for the entire week.
They then all cheered and just like a cue, Rachel came back from the bathroom.
"Hey, what are you guys celebrating?", Rachel asked.
"Oh uh, uhmm.. I got an audition in a movie,", Joey quickly replied.
"Aww.. That is good, congratulation Joe.." Rachel said as she hugged him.
The other five secretly smiled as they knew what's about to come.