A Week Later

Ross was getting a coffee at Central Perk before heading home. Things at his place were considerably stable for now. Jill and Rachel were actually enjoying each other's company. As far as Ross could tell, it seemed genuine, which made him happy.

"Here you go," Gunther said, sliding his coffee over. He did not smile. Ross never really understood why Gunther didn't like him, and it was noticeable.

"Thanks," Ross said, taking it after handing over his change. He was heading to the door when it happened. A man burst in looking a bit wild and very pissed off. He saw Ross and pointed his finger at him.

"Are you Ross?!" he asked loudly. Ross froze.

"N-No," he lied weakly. The man moved towards him until he was in his face.

"Oh yes you are," he said. His breath smelled like peppermints. Ross blinked.

"Okay, you got me," Ross laughed nervously. "What's this about?" His voice gave out on him a little.

"You're sleeping with my daughter! You sick bastard!" the man yelled. There was a hush in the cafe now. Everyone was watching. Ross felt sweat go down the back of his neck.

"I think you've got the wrong guy," he said. "I'm happily married, see?" He held up his ring finger to show him.

"Oh yea? Then explain to me why my daughter has doodles of your name all over her school book? Huh?" the guy said, poking Ross in the chest.

"Um, ow," Ross said, rubbing the spot. "I'm sorry. I think you've been misinformed. I do not sleep with students. Did I mention I'm married?" He showed his finger again. Was this guy nuts? Since when did someone doodling another person's name mean they had sex?!

"That means nothing to men like you," the guy sneered. "And my Lizzie is not the kind of girl you're gonna cheat on your wife with."

"Whoa!" Ross yelped. "I'm telling you, I did not sleep with your Lizzie!" He could see Gunther watching and looking intrigued. Oh God.

"I'm watching you," the guy said. "The next time you touch or even think about touching my Lizzie again, you can remember that Paul Stevens will kill you." He gave Ross one last shove before going to order a coffee. Ross stared at him for a moment before rushing out the door. He ran all the way to Chandler's apartment where he found his friend looking at a cook book. Joey and Phoebe were sitting together on the couch.

"Where's the fire?" Chandler asked Ross when he stumbled inside.

"Too soon!" Phoebe yelped, glaring at him.

"Oh, sorry. I mean, what's up, Ross?" Chandler corrected. It was indeed too early for fire jokes. He chastised himself inwardly at this.

"I just got accosted by some guy down at the coffee shop saying that I slept with his daughter!" Ross cried. Everyone froze and turned to look at him. Ross looked back and forth between them.

"Come on, you don't believe him do you? I didn't! I DIDN'T!" Ross insisted, his voice getting more shrill and high pitched at the last "didn't."

"Okay! We believe you," Chandler said. "But why is he accusing you of doing it?"

"Because apparently this girl wrote my name all over her book. He thinks I slept with her!" Ross said again.

"Who is the girl?"

"He said her name was Lizzie," Ross said. Then he realized, and he went white.

"Uh oh," Joey said. "I recognize that 'oh shit' look."

"Do you know her?" Phoebe asked him, feeling worried suddenly.

"You remember that evaluation where someone called me a hottie?" Ross asked them. They all nodded.

"Yea. You didn't know who it was, though," Chandler added.

"Well, last week this girl approached me and apologized for writing it. She said her name was Elizabeth and then she asked me on a date. I told her I was married, and she got all embarrassed and apologized again before taking off."

"But the guy said his daughter's name was Lizzie," Joey interrupted, confused.

"Lizzie is short for Elizabeth," Ross said impatiently.

"Oohhh," Joey said, getting it. "So that's the girl!"

"Anyway," Ross went on, ignoring Joey. "Her father thinks I slept with her!"

"Okay, calm down. You know you didn't do it, so what's the problem?" Phoebe asked.

"I don't know how to tell Rachel all this without her thinking I did," Ross answered. "I...I thought of telling her when it happened, but I felt guilty about it."

"Why would you feel guilty?" Chandler asked.

"Because I noticed how attractive she was," Ross replied, wincing. "You don't do that when you're with someone else!"

"Um, I notice other guys being attractive all the time," Phoebe scoffed. Joey looked at her, appalled.

"You do?" he asked.

"Oh, like you don't notice other hot women," Phoebe snorted.

"Point taken," Joey nodded, looking down sheepishly.

"It's okay to notice someone is attractive, Ross," Chandler said. "I mean, that's normal. It's human. Acting on it is what gets you in trouble."

"But I shouldn't have even noticed. I love Rachel. I do. You guys know that," Ross said.

"We do. No one loves Rachel more than you. You don't think she hasn't noticed attractive men?" Chandler challenged. Ross thought about this.

"She may have," he agreed eventually.

"I wouldn't even worry about it. Tell her what happened, and I bet you she will laugh it off," Chandler shrugged. "You're making this bigger than it has to be."

"Okay. I'll talk to her," Ross said, exhaling loudly.

"You really look at other men?" Joey asked, turning to Phoebe.

"And women," Phoebe answered. Joey's eyes popped.

Later-Monica & Joey

"Hey," Joey said, entering Monica's apartment. He pulled open her fridge.

"Are you ever not going to steal my food?" Monica asked from the couch, looking up from her magazine.

"I'm not stealing. I'm borrowing," Joey corrected.

"Uh huh, and how are you going to return it?" Monica asked. Joey's brow furrowed, thinking.

"Well, I mean I could...but you wouldn't like that," he answered, shaking his head. "It would be..."

"Please God don't finish that sentence," Monica cut him off. He grabbed himself some left over pie and came to sit down beside her. His fork was halfway to his mouth when he caught her death stare.

"Right, crummies," he said, getting back up and going to the table. Monica went back to her magazine. The sound of Joey chewing and swallowing went on for a bit until he finished. Then he leaned back in his chair.

"I think I'm going to ask Phoebe to marry me," he said. Monica instantly dropped the magazine and leaped to her feet.

"Are you kidding?! You didn't lead with that?!" she yelped.

"I was hungry..." Joey started. She rushed to sit beside him.

"When? How? Where?" she asked eagerly.

"Whoa, whoa," he said, holding out his hands. "I said I was thinking of asking her to marry me. I haven't gotten any further than that."

"This is so exciting!" Monica exclaimed. Joey couldn't help but smile.

"You think she'll say yes?"

"I know she'll say yes," Monica bobbed her head. "You two are made for each other."

"I'm just nervous, you know? What if she says no?"

"I don't think you will, but if she does, then you at least know right?"

"I guess so," Joey agreed.

"Have you guys talked about it before?"

"In passing. She mentioned something about being a soccer mom. I'm not sure what that means unless she is going to make soccer balls..." Joey trailed off. He frowned to himself.

"I can help," Monica offered. "I know a great ring place."

"You do?" he asked, surprised.

"Well...a girl likes to dream," she said, sheepish. "Can I come help pick a ring?"

"I'll let you know when I'm ready for that," Joey agreed. Monica squealed. She couldn't help herself.

Rachel

"Hey, honey," Ross said, coming inside his apartment to see Rachel in the kitchen.

"Hey, you," she smiled. He gave her a kiss then.

"I missed you," he said after.

"I missed you too."

They hugged for a bit. Ross felt nervous, but he knew he had to tell her. It was nothing. They'd laugh and it would be over.

"I, uh, have something I want to talk to you about," he said finally.

"What's that?" she asked. He led her to the living room and sat down beside her. "You're scaring me here, Ross."

"Something really stupid happened a couple of weeks ago, and it's been bothering me. I want to talk to you about it," he said.

"Is it about Elizabeth?" Rachel asked. She couldn't help herself. She had still been thinking about it. Ross was taken aback.

"H-How did you know?"

"I saw the comment on your evaluation, and I noticed you freaked at the name Elizabeth when I suggested it for our baby, so I put two and two together," Rachel admitted.

"Oh, what a relief," Ross sighed, laughing a little.

"You...you're not having an affair are you?" she asked timidly.

"God no! She asked me out, and I said I was married. That was it," Ross explained.

"She asked you out?!" Rachel exclaimed. Who was this girl?!

"She didn't know I was married. She was so embarrassed when I told her," Ross said hurriedly.

"I see," Rachel said, nodding slowly. Ross panicked.

"You have to believe me. I would never cheat on you, Rachel. I swear."

"I believe you," Rachel said, patting his leg.

"You don't look like you believe me," he pointed out.

"I just don't know why you waited until now to tell me," she said, looking at him.

"I didn't want to add to your stress," Ross said. "I realize now that was wrong."

"You promise me that nothing happened?"

"Nothing happened," Ross swore. "Her father seems to think something happened, but nothing happened."

"What?!"

"Her father verbally attacked me today saying I slept with her because she had doodled my name in her school book," Ross said quickly. "I didn't!"

"Okay," Rachel said, getting up. "This is not helping your case."

"Rach, I swear on the life of our unborn child that I did not sleep with this girl. She's obsessed! Her father is wrong. I didn't do anything," Ross said urgently.

"I need a walk," Rachel said suddenly, getting up.

"Rach..."

"Just let me process," she interrupted, going out the door. Ross felt a sinking feeling in his chest. Why was she doubting him?

Chandler's Apartment

"That smells really good," Phoebe commented.

"You think so?" Chandler asked, looking up from the pot he was stirring. He was nervous as this was his first time cooking something for Monica. She was the chef, so he worried it wouldn't be good enough.

"It does," Phoebe answered.

"You're gonna clear out so we can have some privacy, right?" Chandler asked her.

"Of course! Say no more," Phoebe said, getting up. She pulled open the door to see Monica ready to come in. They laughed and exchanged pleasantries before Monica came inside and shut the door.

"Are you cooking?" she asked Chandler, surprised.

"Yes," he answered. "I hope you like it." She took in the food splatter on him, in his hair, and all over the counter. She smiled. He looked so cute.

"I'm sure it will be amazing," she promised. He gave her his goofy grin, and she kissed him. A half hour later, they were sitting and getting ready to eat when Rachel burst in.

"You guys," she said, oblivious to their date. "You have to help me."

"Now?" Monica asked, gesturing.

"Oh, thanks, I'll have some," Rachel said, getting a plate. Monica and Chandler stared as she sat down on the chair across from them at Chandler's back up card table he set up.

"What's wrong?" Chandler asked finally as she ate.

"I have been wandering around New York driving myself crazy with my own thoughts for the last hour. I have to talk to someone about this. I keep worrying that Ross might have cheated on me," she said after swallowing.

"What?! That's ridiculous," Monica laughed. "Ross can barely maintain one woman let alone two."

"She's right," Chandler agreed. "And I know all about what you're talking about. It was nothing."

"You knew?" Rachel asked, hurt. Did everyone know?

"He didn't know what to do about it. I told him to tell you," Chandler said. Monica knew too, but she kept quiet. Chandler had told her everything right after Ross had left earlier.

"So you guys don't think he did?"

"No," both replied, shaking their heads.

"I think you guys are right," Rachel said, sitting back in her seat. "But then why is the girl's father is going on about her schoolbook and his name being all over it?"

"I did that sort of thing," Monica said. "Didn't you?"

Rachel thought for a moment and then smiled.

"Ah, yes. Billy Wagner," she giggled. "Jake, Nathan, Kevin, Joe, Tim, Harry...I suppose you have a point." Doodles were just that...doodles.

"Ross is innocent here," Chandler said, keeping his eyebrows in check at Rachel's list of crushes. "Trust me."

"You're right. I should go talk to him. I left him kind of freaked out," Rachel chuckled. "This is really good by the way. Good job, Monica."

"Ahem," Chandler coughed. "It was me."

"Really? Wow," Rachel said, re-evaluating it.

"What, you don't think I can cook?" Chandler challenged.

"I won't interrupt your date anymore," Rachel said instead, getting up.

"Whoa, this isn't a date," Monica commented, getting panicky. Ross and Rachel still didn't know about them dating.

"Oh please. Did you really think Phoebe wouldn't tell me?" Rachel asked.

"Oh, I'm gonna kill her," Monica growled.

"She only confirmed it when I saw you kiss Chandler on the street," Rachel shrugged. "If you guys wanna keep stuff a secret, then don't make out in public."

"Fair enough," Chandler nodded. Monica was a bit taken aback, but at least Rachel wasn't upset about it. Rachel had known about her feelings for Chandler anyway. It wasn't quite as shocking as it was hearing that Phoebe and Joey liked each other.

"Thanks for your help!" Rachel waved, going out the door. Monica and Chandler just shook their heads and laughed.

Joey

The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to do it. He wanted to marry Phoebe. He had just gotten called to be on the show Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E., so his career was working out great. He wanted to move forward with the other part of his life. Why wait? He would talk to Monica as soon as she was finished her date with Chandler, which he was still pretending he didn't know about. He would get her to help him. He grinned. A new chapter in his life was going to begin!

Ross

He was pacing when Rachel came back. He rushed to her at the door.

"Rach," he started.

"I know you didn't," she cut him off, holding up her hand. "I know. I'm sorry I doubted you."

"Oh, thank God," Ross sighed happily. "It's okay."

"It's not okay," Rachel argued. "I shouldn't be jumping to conclusions that my husband is cheating on me. I don't know why I went there."

"It's okay. I promise. We're human, Rach. We do stupid things and think stupid things."

"I do trust you," Rachel reassured him as he hugged her tightly.

"I know. I trust you too."

"Can we just forget about this?" Rachel asked.

"I'd love to," he agreed. He was so glad Rachel believed him. He didn't know what he would have done if she hadn't.

The Next Day

Monica looked up as Joey came in. His face showed excitement.

"What is it?" she asked. She knew all about his new show. He had talked about it endlessly for days.

"I'm going to ask Phoebe to marry me. Will you help?" he asked.

"Yes!" Monica exclaimed, hugging him. "Yes, I will!"

"Great! When you're free, I'd love to check out that ring place with you."

"You got it," Monica nodded.

"And don't let Phoebe figure it out," Joey said.

"I won't."

"You're the only one I've told."

"Okay."

"Like ever."

"Joey, I won't say anything," Monica promised. If Joey could keep her relationship in confidence even from her, then she could keep his confidence. She had been waiting for him to bring it up that she was dating Chandler, but he didn't. She wondered why.

"You're the best," Joey grinned, hugging her again. His heart was hammering. He was really doing this.

Central Perk

"I met this amazing guy!" Jill squealed, rushing over to where Ross and Rachel were sitting at Central Perk. Rachel looked at her.

"Yea? When?"

"Yesterday! Oh, he's so handsome, and he's funny! I can't wait for you to meet him," Jill went on. "He's coming by to pick me up for our date."

"Glad you met someone," Ross commented.

"It's so sad, though, because he's a widow," Jill said. "He raised his daughter, Lizzie, alone."

Ross had chills suddenly. There was no way...it couldn't be...

"Hey, there you are," a voice said, making them all turn to look.

"Paul!" Jill cried, going to hug him tightly. "This is my sister Rachel and her husband Ross."

Paul's eyes darkened for a moment at Ross, but it went away just as fast.

"Nice to meet you," he said, nodding his head.

"I think it's fair to warn you that my sister can be hard on your wallet," Rachel joked. Jill reached to playfully smack her.

"I'll look after her," Paul promised.

"I'll see you later tonight," Jill told Rachel.

"Have fun," Rachel smiled. As they walked out, Paul gave Ross the "I'm watching you" gesture. Ross squeaked. Rachel frowned at him.

"What was that?" she asked.

"That's Elizabeth's dad!" he gasped.

"What?!"

"Yes! Jill is dating the man who accused me of sleeping with his daughter!"

"Oh no..." Rachel said, watching Paul and Jill walk past the window together. "Oh that's not good."

"I know!"

"Well, just know that I'm team Ross," Rachel said, squeezing his hand. "I know you did nothing wrong."

"Thank you. I just hope he doesn't convince your sister I'm cheating on you," Ross said, worried. Who knew what Jill would do with that information.