Chapter XIV

"The One Where Joey Tells Rachel"

"Do you guys realize this might be the last time the seven of us going to a trip together?" Monica asked.

"I'm so going to miss this." Phoebe added

Rachel grabbed Joey's hands as she looked at him in the eyes, "Joey, promise us you will not going to forget about us after you become rich and famous."

Joey then squeezed her hands as he said, "Of course I won't. Well it's not like it's easy to forget you. I mean.. Hello? Here I am, still trying to get over you." Joey giggled, still haven't realized what he just said.

Reality hit him when he started to feel her hands slowly pulling away from his. The moods become dark in seconds. Joey started to blame the amount of wine he just drank, and regretted everything he just said. Rachel was frozen, not sure how to react. Chandler covered his eyes with his hands, not wanting to believe what he just heard. While Monica, Phoebe, and Mike just stared blankly, trying to process what they just heard. And lastly, Ross, his heart started to beat faster as he can feel his entire body heated. He cannot believe the thing he just heard. After he few seconds of silence, he finally snapped.

He stood up as he started to yell at Joey, "What do you mean by 'still trying to get over you'? You still in love with Rachel? As in My WIFE? RACHEL?"

"Look Ross.. It's not, it's just..." Joey shuttered as he tried to find a perfect word to explain everything, but of course he couldn't. There are no words that could make up from the thing he accidentally confessed.

"I cannot believe you did this to me! In fact I don't think I can look at you right now." Ross quickly stormed out from their table and headed to his room.

You can see veins popped out from his skin. The gang never had seen him this mad before. Rachel quickly stood up as she saw her husband's rage, and went to follow him as she yelled his name, "Ross!"

"Well this is awkward." Phoebe blurted as she sipped her drink.

As soon as Rachel entered their room, she saw Ross was sitting in the bed with both hands placed on his face, looking down as he stared at the floor. She walked closer slowly towards him, unsure how he will react, she hesitated a bit, but finally decided to sat next to him. They sat next to each other, not even making a single noise for minutes that felt like hours. She mustered up all the courage she has left and finally decided to talk.

"Ross." She said with a small voice, almost like a whisper.

"Not now, Rach."

"Ross.. Please.." She begged him as he tried to reach his hands.

But before she can even touch his skin, he suddenly stood up, catching her off guard.

"I just can't do this right now. I cannot talk to you. Not now." He said as he placed both of his hands on his forehead and he started to pace in front of her.

"Ross, listen to me! It's doesn't even matter how he feels about me. I love you. I don't want to be with anyone but you, Ross. Please!" She explained as her voice started to break.

"Well, I am SURE you are pretty much HAPPY to have a famous actor gushes over you. Guess what? I AM NOT." He started to yell at her exasperatedly.

She cannot hold her tears any longer, she burst into tears and desperately begged him to listen.

"Ross. You are not listening! I'm in love with YOU. NOT him."

"I don't think I can do this right now, I need to go to get some fresh air."

As he about to leave the room, she yelled, "Ross! You can't just go!" She stopped a bit, lowered her tone as she said the words she knew he would listen, "You cannot just be mad and leave your pregnant wife alone!"

Tears were flowing uncontrollably from her face as she looked at him with a desperate look. He turned around and saw his wife genuine upset and desperate look. All of sudden his rage and jealousy started to vanish as he started to feel a sense of guilt coming up to his heart. He immediately regretted his action. He knew none of this was her fault, yet he vented his anger towards her. He knelled down in front of her, and as their eyes leveled, he began to gently wipe the tears off from her cheeks. He gave her a hug and gently brushed the back side of her hair.

"I'm sorry I yelled. Please stop crying." He said softly.

She could sense the guilt coming from his voice. She placed her both hands on his back and pull him closer to her.

"Promise me you won't do that again? You do know I only want to be with you, right?" She asked him with a sobbing voice

He planted a kiss to her forehead and said, "I know. I promise I won't do that again and I'm sorry for being so stupid and stubborn."

She gently stroked his hair as she whispered, "I love you."

"I love you more." He replied

...

A few minutes later they found themselves cuddling in the bed. Rachel put her head to rest at Ross' chest as he placed his arms around her and gently stroked her hair.

"Ross?"

"Hmm?"

She sat up straight and looked at him with her puppy eyes, "I'm hungry."

He cannot help but chuckled as he brushed aside her hair that covered most of her face.

"What do you want to eat?" He asked nicely.

"Uhm.. I want a vanilla milkshake, a cheeseburger, onion rings." She paused a bit then shouted, "Oh And some curly fries!"

He chuckled as he playfully messed with her hair and asked, "Are sure you can finish all of that?"

She placed her hands on her belly and replied, "I am starving."

"Alright, your wish is my command." He joked as he stood up, lift his right arms to the sky, bowed to her, and then swing his arms towards his stomach.

She laughed at his silly gesture.

He then grabbed his coat and walked towards the door.

Rachel stood up, walked over Ross, pulling his body closer to her, and kissed his lips.

"Thank you." She muttered and smiled from ear to ear.

He patted the top of her head lovingly as he said, "You're welcome. I'll be back in a bit. Wait here."

He kissed her and left.

Ross walked across the hall and entered the elevator. He pushed the button that leads him to the hotel's lobby. As the elevator began to move, he sunk deep in his thoughts. Even though he wasn't mad at Rachel anymore, well to be exact, he wasn't exactly mad at her, but he is still mad at Joey. In fact, 'mad' would be a generous description of what he really felt about Joey right now. He's not only mad at him, he feels betrayed and truthfully he is hurting. He never would have guess that Joey is still in love with Rachel. I mean he and Rachel have been together for almost a year now, and she even carries his baby. And Joey was one of his closest friend, he just couldn't believe he did that to him, to them. Reality started to hit him when the elevator door opened. He walked out towards the hotel's front door and saw Joey was standing near the exit. Their eyes met. At first he wanted to avoid him, because he couldn't deal with him right now. He hasn't exactly done processing his feeling. But Joey didn't think he can wait any longer.

Joey walked toward Ross and immediately apologize to him.

"Look Ross I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it out loud. It's just I think I drank too much wine." Joey tried to explained to him

"Just.. Not now, Joe. I have to buy some food for Rachel." Ross replied coldly.

Ross quickly walked over Joey and left him behind.

Joey was stunned, unsure what to do. He even wished he was dead. He still found it hard to believe he said it out loud in front of Ross and Rachel.

This is it. Ross will never forget me. I will never going to hang out with them again. This is all my fault. How I can be this stupid? We were just doing fine a few hours ago, and I ruined everything.Joey silently cursed himself under his breath.

Joey was slightly alarmed when he suddenly felt a touch in his shoulder. It was Chandler. He's been worried for him ever since Joey left them at the bar an hour ago.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Chandler asked him worriedly.

"I don't know." Joey paused before continued, "I just cannot believe I said that out loud. I mean what kind an idiot am I? It's not like she's going to leave Ross. Ross doesn't even want to talk to me. This is all because of the stupid stupid wine! And my stupid stupid head!" Joey started to hit his head with his own hands.

"Just give him some time. He need time to calm himself down." Chandler tried to calm him

"Do you think he's ever going to forgive me?" Joey asked.

"I'm sure he'll come around. He is Ross." Chandler smiled at him and patted Joey's back

"How do I face Rachel now?" Joey asked Chandler for an advice

"Well.. I think. I can't help you with that. You see. I'm not good at giving people advice." Chandler replied.