AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I'm glad you are enjoying my story.

Hope you like this next chapter. :)

Disclaimer: The characters from Friends do not belong to me.

Rachel carefully walked out the front doors of the building. She warily ambled down the stairs and saw Barry's car parked in front of the apartment. She opened the car door and eased herself into the passenger seat of Barry's Mercedes. Barry got into the driver side and soon started the car. He pulled away from the curb, leaving the party behind.

Barry and Rachel sat in silence for quite a while. Barry didn't even ask if Rachel was alright, which she was quick to notice. Barry just kept his eyes on the road as they made their way through the city streets.

The air in the car was filled with tension and rigidity. Rachel always felt odd around Barry; that was just how their relationship had always been.

Barry gripped the steering wheel tightly causing his knuckles to turn white. He then let out a deep breath. Rachel could tell something was wrong. After a few more minutes of silence she got her answer.

"So, who was that guy?" Barry asked curiously, as he kept his eyes on the road.

"I, um, knew him from high school. He helped me tonight," Rachel replied. Barry didn't respond, he just continued to focus his eyes on the road. Rachel awkwardly looked away from him. She stared out the car window. Then she looked down at her hurt leg and began to let her mind drift.

She thought back to how she used to treat Ross in high school. She wished she could have taken a second out of her oh-so-important life to notice how kind he was. She remembered the way he treated her a few hours ago and found herself smiling.

She remembered the way he had smiled at her when he realized who she was. But the image that stayed stuck in her mind was when his eyes lit up as they talked. She didn't know why he was so interesting, but for some reason she couldn't get his gentle, brown eyes out of her memory.

Rachel eventually felt the car come to a stop. She realized they were home. She quickly opened the door and carefully followed Barry into the lobby of their apartment building.

Barry began to walk towards the elevators. Rachel followed him but hastily stopped a few feet from the elevator doors.

"Um, Barry, could we maybe take the stairs?" Rachel asked, nervously. She just didn't feel ready to go back in an elevator after what happened the last time.

Barry turned to look at her. He didn't respond. He just nodded before turning and walking towards the stairwell.

…..

After a painful trip up the stairs, Barry and Rachel arrived at their apartment and walked inside. Rachel pulled off her shoes and decided to put them away in her walk-in closet. Rachel decided she needed to get some rest; after all she had had a stress-filled evening.

As Rachel put her shoes away and changed into her pyjamas she wondered why Barry was acting so strange. But, soon Barry entered the room and interrupted her thoughts.

"So, this guy, was he an old boyfriend?" Barry asked, suspiciously. He had just entered their bedroom door.

"No. Why would you say that?" Rachel questioned. She walked to stand on the opposite side of the bed and put her hands on her hips.

"Well, it was just the way you hugged him when we left and how you were smiling while thinking about him in the car," Barry replied.

"I-" Rachel stammered before Barry interrupted her.

"Save it Rach," Barry said, as he held up a hand. Rachel was shocked and infuriated.

"What is wrong with you? I didn't do anything wrong," Rachel shouted.

"That's the problem Rachel. I don't know what you do when you're out at these parties. How do I know that nothing happened? You and that guy were a little too friendly for my liking," Barry explained.

"What do you want me to do Barry?" Rachel all but yelled.

"I don't think you should go to parties alone anymore," Barry said. Rachel looked at him with her mouth agape.

"Well you certainly don't come with me anywhere. What am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait for you to come home?" Rachel argued. "I'm alone all of the time. I need to get out of the house."

"You can't let something like this happen again. What if someone had seen you tonight? Do you know what that would do to me if someone thought you were cheating?" Barry asked. Rachel didn't know how to respond. Barry was being so unreasonable.

Rachel just watched as Barry left the room. She felt angry tears come to her eyes and she quickly wiped them away. Then she walked over to her computer.

Rachel opened up her email and decided to write a message to her email friend. She needed a friend to vent to so she could cool down.

Sorry it's really late, but I don't know what to do! Barry was so rude to me tonight. He's actually telling me I can't go to parties anymore! He wants to keep up this image and yet he doesn't trust me going to parties to do exactly that. I'm so frustrated with him.

Rachel hit send and then leaned back in her desk chair and pressed her fingers to her temples. She was about to log off when her friend sent her a message.

How many times do I have to tell you? You shouldn't be with Barry.

Rachel smiled at her friend's comment. It seemed like nowadays that was all he had to say to her. Rachel knew he was right but she couldn't bring herself to leave Barry. She didn't know what she would do, how would she afford anything? She was trained in nothing, it's not like she could divorce him, move out and get a job.

Rachel decided to answer her friend.

And how many times do I have to tell you that it's too complicated. Not only that, but my dad would flip if I left Barry. I just can't do it. But, enough about me, how did you're night with Carol go?

Rachel almost immediately got a reply after sending her message.

Well we're officially getting a divorce. It's going to be weird not being married anymore!

Rachel smiled as she replied. She had given him the advice to end his relationship with her.

I'm so proud of you! And don't worry, you're a great guy, I'm sure you'll find someone else that any lesbian will be jealous of. ;)

Her friend replied:

I actually met someone tonight that I used to like back in high school.

Rachel didn't have time to reply because Barry came storming back into the room. She quickly exited off of her email to prevent him from seeing the conversation she was having with her friend.

Barry walked to their bed and pulled back the blankets. He got under the covers and looked at Rachel with a confused expression.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" Barry asked.

"Yeah," Rachel replied. She turned off the computer before getting under the covers on her side of the bed.

As she listened to Barry's breaths become slower as he drifted off to sleep she couldn't help but let a tear roll down her face. She was so unhappy in this marriage, but she couldn't do anything about it. Rachel wished more than anything that she could have the nerve to listen to her friend and leave Barry.

She looked at the picture on her nightstand once again, remembering life without being Barry's wife. Rachel wondered if this was how she would feel for the rest of her life. Or maybe she would get the courage to do something to change. But, who was she kidding; she had never taken a risk her whole life.

But maybe that was the reason to change.

…..

Ross was now completely moved out and living in a new apartment. It was a big change; he had been with Carol for so long that it felt weird to be by himself again.

Ross sighed as he unpacked his last box. He was officially moved in to his new apartment. He looked out his window at his sister's apartment, which just happened to be across the street. Even with his sister and friends so close he still felt so alone.

Ross had never lived on his own before. He went from his parents' house, to living with Chandler as his college roommate, to moving in with Carol.

Soon he was shaken from his thoughts by a knock on his door. He walked over and opened it. Standing in his hallway was Carol with Ben, who was in his stroller. Ross smiled at his son.

"Hi Ben!" Ross cooed.

"Daddy!" Ben shouted as he reached a hand out to his father.

"So, I'll come and get him tomorrow?" Carol asked.

"Sure," Ross replied. Then he took the bag that Carol held out to him. The air was filled with tension and awkwardness as the newly divorced couple stood there in the doorway.

"How are you Ross?" Carol asked hesitantly.

"You don't have to do that," Ross said bitterly, and yet he sounded sad. After a few minutes of more awkward silence Carol spoke again.

"I guess I'm going to go," Carol announced before giving Ben a kiss on the forehead.

"Bye," Ross replied. Carol shyly smiled and then turned and left.

Ross exhaled a drained sigh before bringing Ben, and his stroller, into his apartment. He shut the door behind him.

…..

Rachel left her apartment building, walking down the steps. It was a sunny day so she decided to get some fresh air and go for a walk.

The streets were filled with their normal city life. Bright yellow taxis packed the streets, people filled the sidewalks. It seemed like everyone had somewhere to be, except Rachel.

Rachel looked across the road and noticed a magazine stand. She decided to buy herself a fashion magazine. Rachel quickly crossed the street avoiding the oncoming traffic. She approached the stand curiously. After finding the new issue of Vogue that she wanted she gave the man sitting at the stand money and walked away.

Rachel began strolling along the sidewalk casually glancing around her. She admired the tall buildings and shop windows that lined the street. As she continued she noticed a couple not too far ahead of her. She saw them walking hand in hand enjoying the weather. Every so often they would look at each other and Rachel noticed the look in their eyes. She felt envious of their happiness.

Not watching where she was going, Rachel ran into someone; causing them both to drop their magazines.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," Rachel said as she quickly bent down to pick up the magazines. But the other person was too fast beating her to it. They both stood up and looked at each other.

Rachel couldn't believe her eyes. In front of her, holding out her magazine, was none other than Ross Geller.

"Don't mention it, it was my fault too," Ross responded before noticing it was Rachel that stood before him. Rachel smiled as she took her magazine from him. As Ross noticed her he grinned ear to ear.

"Thank you," Rachel said shyly, not knowing what else to say.

"What a small world," Ross commented with a laugh, remembering back to how she had used that exact phrase to describe them meeting in the elevator.

"I didn't know you lived around here," Rachel replied, with an expression of pure joy on her face.

"I just moved to a new apartment, actually," Ross replied.

"That's great," Rachel commented. "Is this your son?" Rachel asked when she finally took her eyes off of Ross. She looked at Ben as he happily sat in his stroller.

"Yeah, this is Ben," Ross responded.

"Hi Ben!" Rachel said to the little boy. Ben gazed up at Rachel and smiled at her. Ross watched as Rachel looked at his son. When Rachel returned her gaze to him he couldn't help but realize how beautiful she was as the sun hit her face and the traffic stirred up wind that blew her hair slightly.

"It's my turn to have him for the weekend," Ross explained, not knowing why he had to disclose that detail.

"So you're separated from his mother?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah we recently got a divorce," Ross explained.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Rachel responded, uncomfortably. She shifted her weight on her leg.

"So, um, how is your leg?" Ross asked changing the topic. He gestured to her calf as he referred to the injury she had sustained the last time they saw each other.

"I'm alright," Rachel answered, her heart pounding in her chest.

There was a moment where they just stood listening to the sounds of honking cars and people hurrying by. It suddenly dawned on Ross that he didn't have to be lonely anymore, now that Rachel was there with him.

"So, Rachel, do you maybe want to get a coffee with me?" Ross asked timidly as he focused on the science magazine in his hands. Rachel tried not to meet his eyes, knowing it would probably be a bad idea.

Rachel just couldn't get Barry's words out of her head.

You can't let something like this happen again. What if someone had seen you tonight? Do you know what that would do to me if someone thought you were cheating?

Rachel didn't want Barry to find out that she had coffee with Ross. She just knew that he would suspect that something was going on between them. She didn't want to anger Barry more than he already was.

"I can't today, I'm sorry," Rachel said quietly. Ross' face dropped in disappointment. He had finally gotten the courage to ask out Rachel Green, his dream woman, and she had turned him down.

"That's alright," Ross said, trying to fake enthusiasm.

"I should go," Rachel said as she began to back away, trying to get away from the awkwardness she had just caused.

"Okay," Ross said. "It was nice talking to you again."

"Yeah it was," Rachel said, sincerely. "Bye." Rachel turned to walk away from Ross.

"Wait," Ross said. Rachel winced in fear of what he had to say. Then she turned around to face him, looking at him curiously. Ross quickly rummaged around in his pockets. He soon pulled out a slip of paper. "Here's my number, um, give me a call if you change your mind about going for a coffee," Ross said quickly.

Rachel smiled as she took the business card from his outstretched hand.

"Thank you," Rachel said softly. "I'll talk to you again sometime," she lied. Rachel knew she wouldn't be able to see him again; she had to keep up Barry's image.

"Bye," Ross said, as he gave her a quick wave.

"Bye," Ben said as well. His little voice warmed her heart. Rachel smiled as she waved to both of them. Then she turned and left, leaving Ross, as well as herself, alone once more.