Thanks so much for your wonderful positive reviews in the last chapter. Hope you enjoy this one as much.

Chapter 7: We All FALL Together

The crew of the Ms. Zuiderdam lifted anchor, started the engines and steered the 80,000T ship out of Ketchikan's harbor. On one of the ship's balconies Rachel Green stood in disbelief. Ross' statement had left her speechless...he was actually in-love with her? Wow! Mixed feelings filtered through her mind. His confession made her feel special in one-way, scared to death in another. To clear her mind she turned and placed her hands on the balcony railing watching as the lights of Ketchikan began to fade in the distance.

Rachel's mind raced back to her previous relationships. Remembering back she soon discovered…she had never truly been in-love…most relationships had revolved around needs in that particular time in her life. Chip, her high-school boyfriend was self-centered. Since that relationship revolved around her popularity she did not notice or deal with his infidelity. Barry Farber, her one and only fiancée, provided comfort and convenience. After those needs disappeared so did those relationships. Ross was different; her feelings towards him filled emotional needs not material or social needs.

Rachel realized she loved him, however; at this stage she was not completely sure she was quite in-love. It was way too soon. Realizing this was the answer she needed to relate, she turned and faced him. "Ross, I want you to realize my feelings towards you have been quite different than any other man I have been involved with." Rachel stopped and gazed out over the ocean, "I guess what I'm trying to tell you is, at this stage our relationship is still in the beginning stages. I'm sure of my love towards you, however; as of yet I'm just not positive of being in-love." Rachel moved closer wrapping her arms tightly around him. As the two warm bodies met, Ross breathed a sigh of relief. Rachel had related that she did love him and for right now that was all he needed to hear.

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Rachel waited impatiently for the elevator to arrive…frustrated she kept pressing the elevator button. The appointment for her massage was scheduled in ten minutes. Frustrated, she began tapping her feet…what's the holdup?

The Greenhouse Spa and Salon was already crowded with clients awaiting massages. The atmosphere enhanced by the smell of herbs mixed with scented perfumes provided a relaxing aura. The Professional Spa staff, attired in white uniforms were thin, well groomed and generally spoke with a British accent. Shortly, an attendant exited from behind the check-in desk making a bee-line towards Rachel. "Miss Green, would you follow me please." Rachel followed the Spa Attendant into the thermal suite. The suite's atmosphere had an ambiance similar to a Turkish bath. Different grottos and chambers released a variety of dry heat, steam, and aromatherapy vapors in the air. Rachel settled back on a heated ceramic lounge, allowing all her pressures to float away.

After Rachel left the relaxing thermal suite, she then went back to the Spa to await her massage. "Are you ready for your massage?"

Rachel looked up. A tall attractive blonde, with a quirky American accent, stood before her. Rachel nodded. "My name is Phoebe Buffay and I will be your massage therapist. Follow me please?"

Rachel followed Phoebe into a small tranquil room. The room appeared simple with a touch of elegance. A massage table sat in the middle, covered by a terry cloth with a white sheet on top. A white wicker chair, provided client's the privacy to change their clothes, sat off in one far corner. A chart of the human body hung on the wall while plants sat periodically around the room.

Phoebe neatly stretched out the sheet on the massage table, "Go ahead and remove your clothing and slip under the sheet. I'll return in oh…about 5 minutes." Rachel removed her clothing and slid under the sheet.

Phoebe first massaged Rachel's feet and then worked her tranquil fingers over other various pressure points in her body. While soothing the muscles she rubbed fragrant oils into her skin. "Where are you from Rachel?"

Rachel falling into a deeper relaxed state, closed her eyes and mumbled, "Greenwich Village in New York City."

"Really? That is where my home base is. I share an apartment with my Grandmother in So Ho. I originally came from upstate New York. My Mother Lily worked on a barge and died when my twin sister Ursula and I were early teenagers. That left us in the care of our stepfather who was later imprisoned. I lived on the streets until I found aromatherapy and later on massage. Last year I became acquainted with some of the British therapists on the ship while they were touring the New York City. They actually helped me get this job."

Rachel fascinated by this persons checkered history opened her eyes and looked at her, "Wow. That is quite a history. I don't know if I could have survived all of that."

Phoebe, the quirky individual she was could not comprehend why she was revealing her uncomfortable past to an individual she barely knew. Usually she tried to cover it her checkered past to her clients.

"So Rachel, what about you?" Phoebe was interested in delving into her clients past. Some had been rather revealing.

"Well, I am an Assistant Buyer for NJB in Greenwich Village. Since this is a business venture, they are the ones that funded this trip."

Phoebe digging deeper inquired about her romantic life, "Are you seeing anyone?"

That question brought Rachel out of her relaxed state, "Well, I actually became reacquainted with someone while in Seattle. His name is Ross Geller."

Phoebe shocked by the familiar name suddenly stopped the massage, "What?" Are you talking about Monica Geller's brother?"

"Yes. How do you know them?" Rachel shocked by the common acquaintance inquired.

"I used to live with Monica. She was way too neurotic about cleanliness, so I moved back in with Grandma."

Rachel quietly chuckling to herself; knew exactly where Phoebe was coming from, "Did you know she is on this ship?"

Phoebe shocked at the revelation stopped the massage, "Really?"

Rachel feeling a sudden bond with Phoebe asked, "Actually, all of us are going on a whale watching tour in Juneau today. Why don't you join us?"

Phoebe fed up with only being around members of the ship's crew, ecstatically accepted the invitation.

Juneau

To burn up time before the ship cruised into Juneau's harbor, Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica and Phoebe shared lattes together in the nautically styled Windstar Cafe. As the ship began arriving at Juneau, the sky began clouding over. Shortly it began sprinkling. Chandler not at all exited about the "Whale Watching" tour offered up his disruptive objection, "Listen, I get colds real easy. Do we really have to go?"

Monica, always on top of things, pulled a poncho out of her bag and dropped it on his lap, "That will keep you dry."

Phoebe and Rachel exchanged comical glances. Monica would never change her take charge manner.

As the crew of the Ms. Zuiderdam lowered the planks, passengers anxiously exited the ship for their scheduled tours and souvenir shopping. Juneau, the capital city and borough, is nestled at the base of Mount Juneau and is across the channel from Douglass Island. As the five friends exited the ship they immediately passed by the Red Dog Saloon. Curious about the interior, they opened the saloon doors and peeked in. The Frontier-themed bar, made famous in several movies had inches of sawdust covering the floor. Alaskan memorabilia such as deer heads and bearskins decorated the wall. Chandler always the comic soon related his sarcastic opinion of the rustic atmosphere, "All we need are guns and holsters and we will all be set?"

The five friends found seats together on the tour bus. Before driving the tour group out to the dock, the driver drove through various well-known spots in the capital city and borough of Juneau. The driver stopped the bus and pointed to an area on a side street, "This is where eighteen year old Robert Stroud, better remembered as The Bird Man of Alcatraz, shot his victim for viciously raping and beating his thirty-six year old live-in girlfriend." The bus progressed farther, turned onto 3rd sheet passing by a theatre. The driver informed the group, "That is Perseverance Theatre, the only known theatre in Alaska.

As the bus progressed farther outside the city, the driver stopped and parked a bus in a desolated area. In the distance Mendenhall Glacier came into full view. Green fur trees surrounded the twelve-mile blue sheet of ice. The glacier originally named Sitaantaagu (the Glacier Behind the Townstood) is a land glacier left over from the "Ice Age" 3000 years ago.

Chandler and Monica walked over to a private area. "What an awesome sight", Chandler remarked moving so close to Monica her could feel her breath.

Monica realized this was their moment, turned and somewhat abruptly threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Chandler returned the kiss, softly at first than passionately. He deeply cared for Monica. She completed him. "Everyone needs to get back on the bus", the driver standing beside the bus ordered. Monica and Chandler, disappointed by the disruption, sadly walked back and got on the bus.

Rachel feeling compassionate towards Ross snuggled up next to him as the jet-sped catamaran sliced through the water. The beauty of the snowcapped mountains was pronounced by the blackened sky. Periodically land glaciers were spotted nestled in mountains crevices.

"Several sights of spouting have been spotted about 200 feet away", the tour guide announced as the ship suddenly came to a full stop. Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica and Phoebe grabbed the tour's provided binoculars and headed up to the top deck for a better view. They excitedly put their binoncular's to their face spotting several Humpbacks as they periodically surfaced, rolled over then slid back underneath the sea. "These Humpbacks migrate to this area in late spring for feeding. In the early fall 60 percent of them return to the South Pacific, mainly the island of Maui." As the tour guide was relating the information a mother and her calf suddenly appeared on the surface. The mother was teaching her calf how to feed.

After about forty-five minutes of whale watching, the tour group began to filter back down to the lower deck. Shortly, the catamaran turned and headed back to the dock. One of the crew members pointed to the kitchen area, "Sandwiches and soft drinks are being offered back at the food bar." After Ross and Rachel feasted on the sandwiches they relaxed by nestling together while watching the awesome outside scenery. Shortly the song "When I Fall In Love from the movie "Sleepless in Seattle came over the sound system:

When I fall in love
It will be forever
Or I'll never fall in love

In a restless world
Like this is
Love is ended before it's begun
And too many
Moonlight kisses
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun

When I give my heart
I give it completely
Or I'll never give my heart

And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I fall in love with you

Rachel moved by the lyrics became so upset she left running up the stairs onto the top deck. Ross noticing her dilema ran after her. He immediately spotted her leaning over a rail sobbing. He walked up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder, "Rachel, what's the matter?"

Rachel barely able to speak through her tears turned to him and spoke, "I just realized what I knew all along…I'm in love with you too.

to be continued