Meant to Be
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I know relationships are never this perfect in real life as I portray it in my story and I know everything seems so perfect for Ross and Rachel. That is just how I wanted to make it. I know drama and angst is what makes Ross and Rachel's relationship what it is in the show and why they are so great and special but I didn't want to write that. That's just not me. I don't really like drama and many stories written about them have it and Ross and Rachel just end up together in the end anyway. I don't know, I just love the sweet moments shared between them during the show and that's how my story is going to be. There might be a few problems here and there but for the most part it is going to be a love story. Hope you like this chapter.
The next morning Ross was woken up by the movement of the mattress as Rachel was getting back into bed. She saw that he was starting to wake up so she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a few light kisses on his chest and then on his lips.
"Mhmmm, good morning sleeping beauty." He smiled at her and kissed her on her nose and once more on the lips and said while yawning, "Good morning. What time is it?"
"It's almost 9:30. I just fed and changed Emma. She just went back to sleep."
"I can't believe she stayed asleep the whole night."
"She didn't. She woke up around 4 so I got up and fed her."
"I would have gotten up. I'm surprised I didn't hear her."
"Yeah, me too with all your snoring and all."
"Excuse me, I do not snore."
"Oh, please Ross. You so do. You were so loud I'm surprised I fell back to sleep."
"You are so making this up."
"Are you calling me a liar?" Ross rolled on top of her and began to trace her lips with his thumb.
"yes, do you have a problem with that?" She gave him a smile and said, "yes, actually I do."
"well that's too bad." He then pulled her lips to his. They began kissing lightly on the lips, just exploring each others mouths with gentle pecks. Rachel started to rub her hands up and down his back and then into his hair. He moved to kissing her neck and moved his hand down her body to the bottom of her shirt and slipped his hand underneath. Her skin was so soft he was surprised he could actually feel it. He started to move his hand up her body to her breasts as she let out a soft moan. He began kissing down her neck to her chest when the phone rang. Rachel closed her eyes in frustration.
"Who the hell could that be?" Ross was still occupied with kissing her and mumbled into her neck. "Don't answer it."
"I have to answer it Ross. It could be important."
"It's probably Monica calling to see if you want to do something with her today." Rachel got up to answer the phone with much disappointment from Ross.
"Hello" She climbed back into bed next to him sending him a apologetic look. Rachel's eyes widened when she heard the voice on the other end. "oh, hi mom…. I'm fine. How are you?...Really, your home, but your back so soon….you want to come over today? Sure why not. Emma can't wait to meet her grandma. I actually have someone I would like you to meet. She looked over at Ross and smiled….okay we'll see you then… I love you too. Bye." She hung up the phone and threw it on the bed and just looked at Ross. "Well, it looks like my mother is coming over today."
"What is she doing home? I thought she wasn't coming back for like another week."
"That's what I thought too but she wanted to cut the trip short. She wanted to see me and Emma and make sure we are okay. So are you ready to meet my mother?"
"Rach, I'm sorry but I'm not going to be able to be here. I have something really important to do today and I can't miss it."
"Oh my god Ross. Are you serious? But you said you would be here when she came over. I can't believe you're not going to be here." She started to get really upset and began to cry. Ross rubbed the tears away with his thumb.
"oh, sweetie. Don't cry. I was only kidding. Of course I'm going to be here."
"I'm sorry. My hormones are still a little crazy from having Emma. I don't even know why I'm crying really."
"Sweetie, come here." He pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm really sorry. I didn't think you were going to get this upset."
"It's okay. I just really want you to be here with me."
"I'm going be here. Don't worry and again I am really sorry."
"It's okay." He gave her a gentle peck. He then started to laugh a little bit "Wow you get upset really easily." She threw a pillow at him.
"Shut up. It's just that you're really important to me and I want her to meet you."
"well your important to me too and I cant wait to meet her."
"good, because she'll be here in about 2 hours."
"Are you kidding? 2 hours. I wanted to stay in bed for a while since Emma was asleep."
"I know. I wanted that too honey, but come on. We need to get up and I'll go make us breakfast. Then you need to go home and get ready." She got out of bed and tossed him his shirt. He put on his shirt and followed her into the kitchen.
"Ross where are you? My mother is going to be here any minute." Just then there was a knock at the door and she knew it wasn't Ross. She opened the door and to no surprise it was her mother. "Hi mom" she greeted her mom with a warm hug.
"Rachel darling, how is my baby girl?"
"I'm great. Wait, where is Jill and Amy?"
"oh, sweetie they wished they could've came but Jill said something about buying a boat and Amy is planning on decorating your father's office so she needed to go shopping, but they said they'll visit soon."
"well, I'm not surprised. If it's not about them they could care less, right?"
"Don't worry about them sweetie. Anyway, look at you. You look fantastic for just giving birth. Were is my granddaughter?"
"She's in her bassinet." They walked over to were Emma was and Mrs. Green picked her up. "Oh, Rachel she's beautiful. She looks so much like you."
"Thanks mom." Mrs. Green rocked Emma back and forth. "Hello Emma. I'm your grandma. I am going to spoil you so much. So Rachel, where is this someone you want me to meet?"
"oh, he should be here any minute" As if on cue Ross came through the door. "Sorry I'm late Rach. But Ben called and he was telling me all about his trip."
"It's okay sweetie. Ross, I would like you to meet my mother, Sandra Green. Mom this is Ross, my boyfriend." After Rachel used the word boyfriend both her and Ross smiled. Ross extended his hand in order to shake hers. "It's nice to meet you Mrs. Green."
"Hello Ross. Nice meeting you too. So you are Rachel's boyfriend. That's funny because when I saw Rachel a week ago she didn't mention a boyfriend."
"Mom, that's because I met Ross the day I came back to the city. We met on the train and he was with me when I went into labor and stayed by my side the whole time and we've been together ever since." She stood next to Ross and grabbed his hand lacing their fingers together.
"Well, that's wonderful dear. So Ross tell me about yourself." They all went over to sit on the couch and now Emma was sleeping in Sandra's arms.
"Well, I am a paleontology professor at NYU. Um, I live in the building across the street and I have a son who will be 8 in a few weeks. His name is Ben."
"how lovely." She then turned her attention to Rachel. "Rachel, it looks like you need some furniture. Do you want me to call my decorator and see what she can do?"
"oh no, that's okay mom. My friends Phoebe and Monica are going to take me shopping soon and I will buy everything I need."
"it sounds like you have everything handled and these girls, they are new friends of yours?"
"Yes, they are Ross' friends and he introduced me to them. Actually, Monica is Ross' sister and she lives right across the hall. They are all really great." Rachel placed her hand on Ross' leg and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"well dear, it sounds like you made quite a life here for you and Emma. I am very proud of you."
"Thanks mom." The rest of the evening went very well. Sandra was a little uneasy at first about Ross dating her daughter but after getting to know him she saw how great he was with Emma and how much he cared for Rachel. But more importantly she saw how happy Rachel was with him and that's all that mattered.
"I had a lovely time dear. Call me so we can get together soon and I can see my beautiful granddaughter." She gave Rachel and Emma a kiss. "Ross it was nice meeting you. I see you make my daughter very happy." She also gave Ross a kiss which kind of surprised him.
"Nice meeting you too, Mrs. Green."
"Please, call me Sandra." She gave Rachel one last kiss and left. Rachel turned to Ross with Emma in her arms and said, "well I think that went pretty well."
"yeah, your mom is great. I really liked her."
"I think she liked you too." She gave him a kiss and walked over to the couch. He followed her and took Emma in his arms. She sat next to him with her head on his shoulder. "hey, when you first came in you said Ben called. What did he say?"
"he was just telling me all the things he has been doing and that he misses me and he cant wait to get home. He is getting home this weekend. I am so excited he is coming home. I really miss him"
"I can't wait to meet him. Is he going to stay with you for the weekend"
"yep"
"well, you better bring him here to meet me."
"I will but I promised Monica we will see her first so why don't you meet us over there."
"That's fine with me. I just hope he likes me."
"he is going to love you." He smiled at her and then kissed her. When they broke Rachel kissed Emma, who was sleeping on Ross' chest, and rubbed her baby's back. Soon they both fell asleep.
"Ben! I missed you so much sweetie."
"I missed you too Aunt Monica." He ran over to Monica and gave her a big hug. Phoebe was the next to greet him. "Hey Ben. Welcome back."
"Hey Aunt Phoebe" He gave her a hug also. Joey and Chandler came in from the balcony. "Benny boy. How's our favorite nephew."
"Hey Uncle Chandler. Hey Uncle Joey" He went over to them and they did their special handshake. Monica then spoke up. "So how was England ? Did you have fun?"
"Yep, I had a great time but I am really happy I 'm home. I can finally play Playstation 2. Uncle Chandler? Uncle Joey? Ready to play?"
"you bet buddy. I'll go set it up."
"okay, Uncle Chandler but first I have to go to the bathroom." He ran to the bathroom and went in. Monica looked over at Ross who had a huge grin on his face. "So you happy he is finally home?"
"I really am. I missed him so much. He said he really missed everyone." Just then Rachel came through the door with Emma. She has gotten used to the fact of just coming in unannounced throughout the day because everyone was getting tired of answering the door when she knocked.
"Emma just woke up. Is Ben here yet?" Rachel saw Ross and gave him a quick peck.
"Hey sweetie. Yeah, he's here. He is just in the bathroom. Hello beautiful." He gave Emma a kiss on the forehead.
"Let me hold my girl." Rachel gave Emma to Monica. Whenever Monica was with Rachel she was always holding Emma. She couldn't get enough of her. "hello, beautiful. How is my baby girl today?" Rachel and Ross just smiled at Monica's affection towards Emma.
"okay, boys let the games begin. Get ready to lose." Ben walked out of the bathroom and into the living room to get ready to play his game.
"um, Ben before you start the game, come over here I would like you to meet someone very special." When Rachel saw Ben she just smiled. She couldn't believe she was finally going to meet Ross's son. He was such a gorgeous boy and she could tell right away he was Ross' son. His features just screamed Gellar. Ben walked over to where Ross and Rachel were in the kitchen.
"Ben, this is Rachel. Remember I told you about her on the way over here."
"Hi"
"Hi Ben. It's nice to meet you."
"You're really pretty."
"Thank you. And you're very handsome yourself." Ben noticed his Aunt Monica holding a baby he had never seen before. "Is that your baby?"
"Yes she is. Her name is Emma."
"She's cute. So are you my daddy's girlfriend?" Rachel looked over at Ross because she didn't know what to tell him. She didn't know what he told Ben about her yet. Ross noticed Rachel look over at him and decided to answer the question.
"Yes, Ben. She is my girlfriend." Ben looked at Rachel and then Ross. "Cool. Rachel, do you want to watch me play my video games? Emma could watch too if she wants." Rachel just smiled at him. He was just so cute.
"we would love to Ben."
"Come on." He grabbed her hand and led her over to the couch. Monica followed with Emma and so did Phoebe. Ross stayed in the kitchen just looking at Rachel and Ben. He just knew they were going to get along great.
"You can sit next to me."
"okay" Rachel took a seat next to Ben and looked back at Ross and smiled. He joined them in the living room. The game was going on for awhile between Ben, Chandler and Joey and Rachel loved every minute of it. She kept encouraging Ben that he was doing a great job and he would just smile and laugh. She loved just hanging around with her friends and her boyfriend and her baby. They all have only known each other for a week but everyone felt like a true family, something she had never experienced before. They welcomed into her group from the very beginning and she couldn't be happier. Ross was sitting on the floor with Emma now in his arms playing with her. Ben noticed his dad playing with the baby and wanted to play too.
"I want to play with the baby now."
Joey started to complain. "But we didn't finish our game yet."
"We can finish the game later." Joey reluctantly agreed. "Oh. alright." Ben went on the floor next to Ross and touched the baby's hand. "Can I hold her dad?"
"I don't think so Ben. She is a little to small for you to hold her yet." Ben looked down to the floor. "oh, okay." Rachel saw that he really wanted to hold Emma and she really didn't see a problem in it.
"Ben, it's alright you can hold her if you want." He got really excited and stood up. "Really? Are you sure?"
"Positive" Ross stood up and so did Rachel, who was still sitting on the couch. "Are you sure Rach?"
"Yes, Ross I'm sure. Okay Ben, sit on the couch and just make sure you support her head and try not to move around too much."
"okay" he sat on the couch and Ross placed Emma in his arms. Ben had a huge smile on his face. "She's really tiny. Hi, Emma. I'm Ben. It's nice to meet you." Everyone started to laugh. Ben then started to make funny faces at her and she gave him a big smile. Ross was standing next to Rachel and he wrapped an arm around her and kissed the side of her head. "Emma's really cute Rachel. I like her."
"well, thank you Ben. I think she likes you too."
"you think."
"of course. Look at her smiling at you. She looks very happy." Ben kissed Emma's forehead. "Eww, Uncle Joey did you fart?"
"Don't look at me. I think it's coming from Emma."
"I think it's time for a diaper change." Rachel took Emma out of Ben's arms. "I'll be right back guys. I need to change Emma."
Monica told Rachel, "Rach, why don't you just bring extra diapers and formula and everything else you need over here. Then you won't have to keep going back and forth to your apartment. You can put everything in the guest room. This can kind of be like your second home."
"Are you sure Mon?"
"Of course, I'm sure. Rach, your family now. You can bring anything you want over here for you two."
"Thanks Mon." She made her way over to Monica and hugged her with her free hand. "Ross, can you come to my place with me and help me bring over some of Emma's things."
"Hurry up guys, dinner will be ready soon."
Ross and Rachel and Emma left and went to her apartment. "Sweetie, can you change Emma so I can get her stuff together."
"Sure. Come on Emma." He took Emma from Rachel and made his way to the nursery. Minutes later Ross returned with Emma.
"okay, she's changed and ready to go."
"Great. Now I have diapers, and some clothes, and some formula and bottles and toys. Okay, lets go."
They made there way back over to Monica's and Rachel put everything in the guest room and they all ate dinner. After dinner Monica said, "Ben, how about me and Uncle Chandler take you to get ice cream?"
"YEAH" Joey stood up, "oh, can I come too?!"
"yeah, me too." Monica just looked at Joey and Phoebe and laughed. "Okay, how about me, Uncle Chandler, Uncle Joey and Aunt Phoebe take you to get ice cream."
"can daddy and Rachel come too?"
"sure, go ask them?" Ben made his way over to Rachel. "Rachel do you want to come with us and get ice cream?" Rachel just smiled at him but said, "sorry, Ben I can't. I have to stay with Emma. I don't want her to go outside yet."
Ross spoke up. "Rach, go with them. I'll stay here with Emma."
"Are you sure Ross."
"yes, me and Emma will have fun."
"Thanks sweetie. She went over to Emma and said goodbye. Okay Ben lets get some ice cream."
"YEAH." He grabbed Rachel's hand and everyone was out the door.