This is another story I just felt a need to update…those who are still following …hope you enjoy it..
Rachel stared at the walls. So much was going through her head. Mark had called with the offer and she was still wanted by Prada. She laid on the bed and cradled the pillow. Her eyes were glazed with tears. It may have only been a figment of her imagination , but he had given her his blessing. His only wish was for her to go on and to be happy. If only if she could feel his warmth again, but in her mind, she did.
"Mommy." Emma broke Rachel from her reverie. "Mommy, you aren't going to leave me too are you?" Rachel looked down into the toddler's eyes. She put her arms around her and then knelt to the floor. "No baby girl, I am never going to leave you." She said her voice tinged with tears. "Mommy is right here." She said rubbing her tiny head.
Monica had thought how ironic life could be. She now had her picture perfect life as she dusted her furniture. Her children were asleep upstairs and her loving husband was at work. After the funeral, her and Chandler talked and she expressed her wish that she could stay at home and take care of the kids. She was now starting her own catering business. All of her life, she had only wanted to have that one person to love and to make a home with him. Her and Rachel as little girls expressed that to each other. A tear came to her eye. Rachel was on the brink of getting everything she wanted too.
Rachel knew she had a decision to make. She picked up the phone and made the call. "Mon, hi , are you doing anything today? I really need to talk to you. Okay, I will get Emma ready and I will see you , okay?" Hanging up the phone, she knew her friend would be there for her. Friend, no Monica had always been more like a sister to her. She had been more of a sister , than Jill or Amy. Monica had been the mother when she left her old life and Monica was the one she spilled her guts to in the painful days following the break up. Just as sisters, her and Monica had their arguments too, silly ones like Jean Claude Van Damme and heart felt ones like when Rachel wanted to tell Ross she was still in love with him and when she wanted to see if her feelings for Joey were real.
The cab started to drive down the freeway toward Westchester. Rachel looked back as the city disappeared in the distance. Suddenly, she was not alone again. Emma was unaware of this because she was asleep in her car seat. Rachel blinked her eyes and then he was there again.
"You have got to stop doing this." Rachel protested to the apparition.
"I meant what I said before. I want you to take this job." Ross said as he held her hand.
"I am not doing anything until I discuss it first. You are not the boss of me , Ross." Rachel declared angrily. The loudness of her voice startled the cab driver who turned around to see who the lady he picked up was talking to . Rachel turned a shade of crimson when she realized she was yelling at thin air. "I just lost my boyfriend and I am in mourning." She stuttered and looked down.
Emma was now awake. She blinked her eyes and then the apparition almost got in her face. "Ah Rach, she is so beautiful and I miss her already. " Ross said with a shaky voice. "Hi Baby Girl." He said as he touched her. "Daddy?" Emma said. Rachel looked up and was scared. "She can't see me. She can feel me though. Rachel, I am not going to leave you until I know you are taken care of." Ross said. "So I am stuck with you permanently? This is worse than being married to you." Rachel said sarcastically. Ross looked dejected. "No, I didn't mean that. See I don't know what I mean now. How am I supposed to make any decisions or go to Paris when I am talking like a crazy woman and seeing things?" Rachel rambled on as the cab turned into the driveway. "Okay Ross, do you think you can go to the coffee shop in heaven and sit for a while. I am visiting your sister and I really don't need you hanging around now. Or better yet, go jump into Phoebe , I am sure she would love to see you. " Rachel said as she grabbed the stroller from the trunk. Ross then disappeared.
Monica pushed the stroller out to meet Rachel. She embraced her and Emma. "And how are you doing ? "Monica asked earnestly. "You are with me now. You don't have to be brave. Tell me how you are feeling." Rachel burst into tears. "I am losing my mind. There isn't a place I don't see him and now I am even imagining that he is still here." Monica gave a look. "Hon, I miss him too. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of Ross." Rachel tore away. "No I mean I keep thinking that I see him and we have arguments. I mean , it is like he never died. I half expect his ghost to pop up and start declaring we were on a break."
Monica knew it was the stress of everything. "Anyway, it is so good to see you. Now what is on your mind sweetie?" Monica patted her hand. Rachel knew she had to tell her. "I got a phone call from Mark. He wanted to tell me that Prada was still interested in me." Monica 's face lit up. "Oh my God that is great." She hugged her. Rachel tore away again. "I just don't know. Things are so different now."