It had now had been three months since Rachel lost Ross. Rachel had decided to stay in the apartment. She completely redecorated it after getting her job back from Mr. Zellner. When she was rehired, she gave his son Ross, all of her Ross' precious artifacts. Mr. Zellner was so touched that he knew Rachel was a good worker, and rehired her with a raise knowing she was supporting a child now. Rachel was now faced with her best friend telling her his big decision.
Joey had decided to take her to lunch to celebrate her promotion at Ralph Lauren. He knew that his life had to move on, so he told Rachel he was moving to California. He had a new agent and she had gotten him a job on a new show called Nurses.
"I don't know Rach, I mean I played a neurosurgeon , won't that be a let down to my fans?" Joey asked confused about whether he should take the role or not.
Rachel smiled. "Joey, we have all got to take chances in this life. I mean I gave up the dream job of a lifetime in Paris for the biggest gamble of all, love. You have got to do this. This show might be the big break we have all been hoping for you. " Rachel took his hands and held them. "We are on your side and we all want the best for you, if this is your break, go for it." Rachel may have been telling him to go , but she secretly wanted him to stay. There had been too much in her own life. "And do you want to know who would be the first person to tell you to go?" Rachel asked earnestly.
Joey got misty eyed. "Ross." He said softly. "If Ross would have lived, and he would have gotten his grant to dig in the Painted Desert , do you think he would just stayed here and taught his classes?" Rachel said . "No, he would have packed up me and Emma and we would have helped him follow his dream." Rachel encouraged Joey. "And that is exactly what you have to do."
"Ross once said that was the one thing he admired about me. That I was living my dream. He said that the day he bought me the porcelain dog." Joey sighed. He took a breath. "You're right. " he got up and kissed Rachel on the cheek. "I have to take my shot in LA and with Nurses." He sat back down and looked thoughtfully at Rachel. The summer wind blew her hair and the sun illuminated the new crop of wrinkles around her eyes. Mourning always ages a person.
"Rach, do you think it would have worked for us?" he asked inquisitively. Rachel looked at him and then sighed. "Joey, you are a sweet guy, and a fun guy, and there isn't another guy on this earth that I love as much as you. But I just think it would have been too complicated, and you know when we tried after Barbados, I think we knew we were kidding ourselves. I think as long as I live , there will never be another man I love as much as Ross Geller."
"Rachel , you're young , never is a long time." Joey said thoughtfully
"Maybe so, " she started to cry . "But right now , I never want to fall in love again. I have spent my life trying to find the most loving and kindest man. And I really don't know if I will ." At that moment, a tall dark haired man passed by, Rachel strained her eyes and then closed them and then opened them.
"Joey?" she said looking over the fence. "That guy, no , the doctor warned me about this. " Rachel started to panic. Joey took her hand . "Rachel, you are scaring me. What is wrong?" he asked concerned."That guy that just walked by, he looked just like Ross. I mean if I hadn't seen him buried, I would say that was Ross." She said confused. Jumping up , she looked around and saw the man. She didn't want to startle him , but she had to find out. She stayed back and then followed him. He got in a cab and then she had her cab follow him.
Maybe this whole thing was nothing more than a bad dream. Yes, just like on that show . Ross wasn't really dead, she would wake up from the nightmare She might even walk into the bathroom and see Ross in the shower. Then she could throw herself into his strong, masculine arms and tell him about her terrible nightmare. He would say that it was just a dream and they would go and get their daughter and have breakfast.
Rachel watched the man, he even walked like him. Finally she walked up to him after getting out of the cab. Her heart was leaping as she saw his dark brown hair and then tapped him on the shoulder. He wondered who had tapped him and curiously turned around. Her eyes sank.
"Russ?" she said surprised. He looked at her with his soulful brown puppy dog eyes. He knew this woman, but her face was now a blurred memory. Then it came to him. "Rachel?" he said surprised. He was now pleasantly surprised. "It has been what, ten years?' he exclaimed and you look as beautiful as you did then. He took her hands and then grabbed both of them. "I will never understand why you broke up with me, you were the perfect girl." He sighed as he looked into her blue eyes.
Rachel looked into the man's eyes. Tears began to form. No it wasn't him . But he just looked so sad and soulful, he had the same qualities as her Ross. She just wanted him back so bad. Even when he was going to marry Emily, he would still be her friend,. She couldn't have even imagined what would have happened if that evil British witch would have gotten her way and she would never seen him again.
"Russ, it is very complicated, but I was in love with someone else. I didn't think it was fair to lead you on when I was still having feelings for him." Rachel said sincerely.
Russ looked thoughtfully at her. "It was that other guy , wasn't it? That Ross guy? " Rachel smiled as she remembered the whole encounter between Russ and Ross. "Yes Russ, it was. Ross and I ended up together. Well until a few months ago, when I lost him." Her words started to fade.
"God Rachel. I 'm sorry." Russ said as he took her hand. Rachel lowered her head. "Thank you Russ." She just couldn't help staring at him right now. Chandler was right , it was like looking in a mirror.
"Rachel , I would like to take you to dinner." Russ asked sincerely. "I think right now. You need more friends than lovers. I would like to be that friend." He smiled. Rachel looked at him tearfully. "I would like that." She smiled sadly.