Thanks for being patient! I will most likely only update on weekends for now unless I have a burst of creativity ouo
Over the next few days leading up to a week, Rachel would keep to her promise at a constant. She did her best to sleep for a full eight hours at night, just like she'd told Joey she would. Any day she missed a few hours of sleep, he welcomed her with open arms into his apartment and allowed her to nap on his couch or even her old bed. He never seemed to question why she didn't just nap at Ross' apartment, instead choosing to speak nothing of it.
Instead, he is good to her. He refrains from waking her unless he wants to ask if she wants something to eat or drink, usually around lunch or dinner, depending on what day it is. Rachel normally accepts his offers and sits with him in front of the TV in the armchairs and eats with him. They have small talk, consisting of their days, and he turns the tables to express any concerns and worries he has for her, which she tries to explain.
However, one day she stays unusually late, with no heed to the time. He doesn't notice. He fixes spaghetti and meatballs, just like the time they sat together and she spilled some all over the floor, for dinner. She assumes Ross has just come home and is asleep, as always. His job may not mean the universe to him, but it makes up most of it. He has worked his whole life for it. She is finding herself more doubtful about marrying him.
She glances at Joey, who is absorbed in the flickering of the TV channel he is watching as he crams some of the spaghetti in his mouth, and smiles. He seems to notice, catching her eye and smiling back, waiting until he can swallow his food to ask, "What's up, Rach?"
"Oh, nothing. You just seemed to be really interested in..whatever we're watching." Rachel notes halfheartedly, turning her head to the TV.
"Hm, well I haven't watched this show in a while..." he muses and she smiles again.
It is an awfully stormy night, lightning and thunder galore. She should have left a long time ago, when it was only cloudy. She frowns in thought, thinking she will have to go home soon or Ross will start to worry. Silly. He's already asleep. He always goes straight to bed when he gets home.. The depressing thought draws her out. He's only home on weekends. Any other days of the week, she wakes up alone and at night he comes home and goes straight to bed, with only a simple "hello."
She tries not to be happy about staying late. Tries to convince herself to be mad at herself for not leaving earlier. It seems like lately when she knows she should leave, something about her former roommate draws her back in.
She can't do this.
She can't be having feelings for Joey and getting married to Ross.
She loves Ross. Maybe she loves Joey too, if she thinks about it hard enough.
She needs to get a hold of herself. She doesn't want to. She is starting to think maybe Ross and Rachel is not meant to be. Joey is oblivious to her fast-developing feelings, though, and turns a blind eye.
Joey's voice dredges her from her thoughts. "What's wrong?"
She almost jumps out of her skin when she realizes he is standing over her now, flinching and covering her face with her arms when she realizes belatedly it's only him. She can almost feel his guilt and moves her arms away from her face slowly. "I'm sorry, I was lost in thought."
"Oh. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine, Joe..."
He relaxes visibly. "Oh, um, good.."
There is a few moments of silence before she stands up abruptly. "Right, I suppose I should..."
She is cut off by realizing how close she is to his face with her own, and his dark brown eyes have never left hers for a second. She freezes, and she can almost see his breath hitch in his throat. She feels her heart beating erratically in her chest, wanting something she shouldn't. "...leave."
He nods, quiet. He swallows sharply but he can't seem to will himself to step back. Why can't he control himself suddenly? "Okay. Goodnight, then?"
Rachel nods as well. "Goodnight."
He gives her a small smile and starts to turn away and walk to the door, resting his hand on the handle. She follows at an amiable pace. "Would you like me to get the door for you?"
She smiles, giggles a bit. "Yes, that would be great considering you're already there."
He opens the door then, and she starts to walk out, shooting him another smile. But midway through the door, she suddenly stops. Something seems to take over her, a driving urge to get what she wants, just like Rachel.
"Rach?"
She turns toward him, gaze finding his. He frowns in confusion, opening his mouth to say something, but she steps forward and grabs his shoulder, kissing him fervently. He tenses in surprise, and she can tell he's trying to think of what to do, but before he can react, she pulls away and gives him what could be perceived as a sad smile, before turning and walking down the steps.
Upon returning to Ross' apartment, she turns immediately and pulls her key from the door, closing it with a faint squeak. When she turns, she jumps almost sky-high, not expecting what she sees.
Ross, sitting here on the couch, waiting patiently. He looks tired. He watches her silently for a moment as she sighs in relief, placing her keys on the table.
"You scared me." she notes duly, coming around the couch to sit on the opposite end. He says nothing, glancing away. She hesitates, before adding, "You should be in bed."
His gaze locks on her, and it is made of steel. "Where have you been? You've always been gone when I come home lately."
"Oh, that.." Rachel pauses with a nervous laugh. "Just a walk."
"Yeah, because a walk totally lasts hours upon hours at a time. What's going on?"
"Nothing! I went to see Monica and Chandler..and Joey!"
Ross seems to relax slightly but doesn't seem fully convinced. "How come you don't spend any time with me anymore?"
At the question, anger boils up in her unexpectedly, along with bitterness, sadness. "Because! You're never home, you're working all the time except the weekends and when you get home, all you do is sleep! You don't have time for me!" she spits, raising her voice slightly before realizing it could wake up Emma.
Ross looks shocked for a split second before his resolve hardens. "So? We're getting married! I don't have the right to come home and see my wife-to-be before I go to bed now?"
"What difference does that make?! All you say when you get home is 'hi' and 'goodnight'! There's no conversation, no small talk, no pillow talk, nothing! Nothing, Ross. That's all it is!" Her anger has reached a new level than before, and his eyes widen in shock again but then he snorts, in that stubborn way of his. He gets up immediately and turns away from her.
"Goodnight, then." His voice is cold, ice cold. Rachel regrets what she has said. But does she really love him anymore? The lengthening void of nothingness between them is constantly growing, and she feels like she's drifting away from all of it; the love, the passion, the affection. She feels..nothing?
"Ross, wait..."
"Goodnight."
Rachel sighs in defeat and nods.
She takes her time with her bath and combing through her hair with a soft hum. But as she pulls the sheets back and slips into bed beside him, he turns away from her with a grunt and jerks the blankets away from her. She growls, on the brink of furiously snapping at him, but decides better of it. She rolls off the bed.
"I get it. I'll just..go sleep at Joey's tonight."
There's no extra room in Ross' apartment anymore. Well, there was; it had the baby in but after she moved out the first time he moved the bed out, and with them being together, there was no need. The couch in the apartment was always too uncomfortable for her to sleep on. Monica and Chandler would want some alone time.
Surely Joey wouldn't mind.
Ross gives no reply, so she takes her leave, grabbing a change of clothes. She trudges down the spiraling stairs of the apartment and goes across the street to the other half of The Village, climbs some more stairs, and reaches his door. She halfheartedly knocks.
She hears a tired groan from the other side and some grumbling, but the familiar face from earlier opens the door. Surprise flits over his face. He has probably forgotten all about earlier, she assumes.
"...Rach? What's wrong? It's like midnight!" he mumbles worriedly, brown eyes wide.
She crosses her arms as she feels tears forming in her eyes, just like the time she came to ask to move back in. Her voice is a whisper, pleading, "Can I sleep here tonight?"
Joey frowns but nods, pausing to unlatch the door and lets her in. He doesn't ask a single question, just holds her close as she sobs into his shoulder, gripping onto him like a vice.
He gives up his sleep the rest of the night trying to cheer her up and holds her when she cries again until she falls asleep. He decides to stay there in case she wakes up upset again.
He lightly brushes the hair from her face, wiping her eyes, and she smiles faintly in her sleep. He sighs in defeat, kissing the side of her head gently.
Eventually, he falls asleep, too.