Chapter 10

Rachel is still in the hospital and is emotionally exhausted. It was all of a sudden that Ross had a heart attack. She was emotionally exhausted and lost in her thoughts. She knew that Ross was healthy and never really had any health issues except his allergies to peanuts, lobsters, and kiwis. She closed her eyes and let a few tears run out freely. She had to be strong for him. If they wouldn't broken up on that fateful night, they would have been together. And those moments on their trip to Corpus Christi where they had some moments where he gave her his jacket while he froze or the moment when he saved her from those goons who tried to harass her. Later, a doctor comes toward her.

"You can visit him. Just it was a mild arrhythmia. He should be better but should rest well." The doctor suggested him

"Are you sure doc?" Rachel asked the doctor.

"Yes and don't worry. He is still sedated from anesthesia. He is still unconscious but can understand everything." The doctor tells them.

"Thanks, doctor." Rachel thanked him and proceeded to his room.

...

Ross was peacefully sleeping with all the saline and IV dripping from those bottles. He was heavily sedated under anesthesia and was still unconscious from his heart attack. Rachel slowly opened the door and entered his room. She looked at him. She was crying so badly within. She felt bad for her actions toward him and all the blames and coldness that she made him in high school. She needed him so badly and she loved him a sat on the stool and held his hand.

"Ross" She started emotionally. "I missed you so bad. And to be honest, you were right about Mark. I wasn't agreeing with you. I just opened up my mind to the actions that I committed after the day you left for Dallas. Then on, Mark started hitting on me. He tried to hit on me until the moment he took it too far by kissing me and harassing me. I tried to complain to HR but he didn't buy it. I just can't live without you." Rachel choked. She regained her composure. "You were right about my nature. I just feel so bad that I wish I could take back everything that happened that night and I know that we both had our part in our break up." Rachel emotionally told him. "I know the reason why you left for Dallas. Even though we were having a tough time without each other and we broke up, you wanted me to have a guy to propose to me with the ring you bought. You care about me so much that you left me to go to Dallas for my well-being. Why do you love me so much Ross? Why?." Rachel cried

"I don't love you Rachel anymore," Ross whispered. He regained consciousness and was feeling a bit hazy. Rachel had full-blown tears and I fell on his chest.

"Why do you love me so much" Rachel cried into his chest.

"Na huh. I don't love you, Rach. I don't" Ross denied even in pain. They both hugged each other while the others were about to come and visit him in his room. Just then a nurse entered the room to see a conscious Ross. Just then, Rachel wiped her tears and got off him. She knew that he needed to rest and relax. After the nurse left, Ross was left with all the thoughts that he felt about Rachel.

...

Flashback:

"Ross, why did you reject the girl that we set you up with a few months ago," Theodore asked him

"I think I'm not ready to date anyone, Ted," Ross replied

"Why?" Theodore asked him

"See, I had a very bad breakup with my girlfriend back in New York. And she was a cold, manipulative bitch. I just don't think I'm ready to trust anyone or to get in the dating pool" Ross replied.

"Is this why you used to be depressed?" Theodore asked him

"Please, just leave me." Ross pleaded.

"Okay man, take your own time. I think you need to think and relax. I just was trying to set you up." He replied.

...

Ross fell asleep again in his thoughts. He wasn't clear with his feelings since he set the record straight with Rachel when the guys were all having the heart attack he suffered after ranting with Monica. He needed to survive for his son, his parents, his sister, and his well-wishers whom he made a deep impact in their lives. He was lucky enough that he escaped the jaws of death. Just then, a doctor entered the room to ask Ross about his health.

"Hi Mr. Geller, I suppose you look fine." The doctor asked him

"Yeah Doc, I suppose I'm good" Ross replied.

"Do you have any history of bad health like smoking or anyone with coronary diseases in your family?" Doctor Speckerman asks him

"Nothing and no history of coronary diseases in my family," Ross replied.

"Did you ever go overboard with your exercises?" Dr. Speckerman asked him

"Yeah, I used to and I did before I ended up in this situation," Ross replied.

"I need you to cut down your exercise and rest a lot. You have a lot of depression and I feel that exercising was your coping mechanism. Ross, you need to lessen your exercise you are a very healthy individual it's the first time in my case history that a healthy person can have a heart attack. You'll be under observation for the next 36 hours and mostly after that, we discharge you. Until then, you have to take a break from work for at least say 1 month and that is essential for you." The doctor replied.

"Thanks, doc. I just don't want to rest. I just am passionate about my work as I am with anyone but I don't know doc." Ross replied

"Think about it Ross, you just need to rest for at least 4 weeks." The doctor replied and left.

Ross was left in his room with his thoughts. He needed to rest from all the fiasco that happened nine months ago

..

The very next morning all of them came to visit Ross in the hospital. Monica was visibly disturbed by all the revelations his friends made about Ross. She was shocked that he was suffering from depression and also chose to shrug off his internal demons.

"Hi Mon" Ross greeted them casually.

"Hey," Monica replied

"Ross, are you okay?" Monica asked him

"Mon, believe me, I'm fine. Will get better soon." Ross sounded positive

"Ross, I know. Just be calm." Monica tried to get him. He started to break down for once letting his tears down."You'll be fine "

"I'll stay with you." Monica decided

"I still love Rachel. Can't just live without her. She is my everything." Ross finally got rid of his hard exterior

"That's okay" Monica knew her brother well.

...

Ross was discharged from the hospital after a few days. He just decided to rest for the next few days

"Rachel, I'm sorry." Ross accepted his mistake

"Ross, I know. I love you so much, Ross." Rachel replied. They both hugged each other after a long time. It just felt like they were two missing pieces of a puzzle after a long time.

"I love you too Rach. Sorry for what I said about you." Ross told her

"I know Ross, we are fine," Rachel replied.

"Rachel, you go to work. I'll get better." Ross replied

"Ross?" Rachel was bewildered

"Rachel, that is absolutely fine. Your career has started. Just focus on getting better

...

They both closed the gap between them. Eyes were closed and their faces were mere inches apart.

"3...2...1... Happy new year!" The ball dropped and Ross and Rachel kissed each other with passion.

"I love you " Rachel whispered

"I love you too," Ross replied. It was a new beginning for them, which was more like a rebirth of their relationship. For the past few weeks, Ross and Rachel were pretty much inseparable. They both loved rediscovering themselves. A week after his discharge, all of them had to report to their jobs while he recuperated with Monica staying with him. Rachel wanted to stay to help him recuperate but Ross insisted she reports to her job while Monica took a part-time job in Dallas to assist her brother while he asked her to return to New York.

At least, every other weekend, Rachel tried to come to Dallas and spend time with he signed the contract of 18 months, and Ross wanted to honor his commitment to the university, and depending on that, he would think about taking a transfer back home. Since it was the week of Christmas and New Year, they all flew to Dallas to be with Ross and Monica.

...

After a couple of days, they all left back to New York while Rachel decided to stay back with him for a couple more days. Ross wanted to take her on a biking trip to a secret place. He knew that Rachel loved surprises. So they both went on a biking trip to Grand Canyon.

"Ross, where are you taking me?" Rachel asked him as

"We are in Grand Canyon. Let us go to the skywalk." Ross replied

"The sunset is really awesome you know." Rachel quipped

"I know" Ross replied. "Rachel, I have a question for you." Ross got down on one knee."Rachel, you have been a part of my life for a long time and I always loved you. I know we will have our ups and downs and I believe that this would get us going better. Knowing that being a part of my life would make be helping me to know that we would face anything." Ross stated." Will you marry me?" Ross popped the question.

"Ross.." Rachel was constricted

"Rachel, my knees are hurting." Ross joked

"Yes. A hundred times yes." Rachel cried. They both kissed each other passionately with no one to separate.

They both informed their families. Rachel's father was a bit apprehensive about it but he knew that Rachel loved him and knew that he would keep his oldest daughter happy.