As promised here's the next chapter. There's only one chapter left to the story. Thanks again for all of the feedback. :)
The morning sun broke in through the window, stirring Ross and Rachel from their slumber. Rachel strained her ear for voices from Joey's room and heard nothing, assuming that they did indeed spend the night at Charlie's.
"Good morning," Ross said, rolling over.
"Good morning to you too," Rachel commented, sprawled on the bed.
"Did you sleep well?" Ross asked.
"We didn't get much sleeping done," Rachel winked as she reached for her bathrobe. She reached for a headband from her bedside table.
"I'm picking Emma up from my mother's this afternoon, would you like to come along?" Ross offered.
"I'd love to," Rachel nodded, sliding her feet into her slippers. "Tell you what, I will make us some pancakes to start the morning off."
"Sounds great," Ross grinned as he reached for his shirt and pants.
Rachel sauntered into the kitchen, amazed at how well last night had gone. She was convinced that she and Ross were at the same place at the same time, which was unusual for them given that their relationship had often consisted of bad timing on both sides. Ross spent his teenage years chasing an oblivious Rachel, and when Rachel finally found out about Ross' feelings, he had rediscovered an old friend from grad school. It took them years to get it right and be in a committed relationship, which last for around a year before they broke up. Since their breakup, they had both flirted with getting back together with one another – going so far as to get married in Las Vegas. Their most recent romantic interlude resulted in Emma Gellar Green, the baby that they shared together. After Rachel gave birth, Ross had asked if she wanted to get back together, but his plan had been spoiled by Joey, who had found the ring that Ross' mother Judy had given to Ross to propose to Rachel with. After that instance, the two had stayed platonic but close friends. And right now they were both in the same place when they were ready for more.
Rachel stirred the ingredients in a bowl as she turned the stove on, not noticing the front door to the apartment opening. Rachel looked up and found Joey and Charlie laughing in the front entryway.
Rachel shrank behind the counter, wishing she was wearing something more sophisticated than a bathrobe and a headband. She peered at Charlie's outfit which consisted of a black miniskirt and bright red tank top. Rachel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, refusing to let Charlie ruin her morning.
"Hey Rach," Joey grinned. "Pancakes!" He quickly pulled up a stool and Charlie did the same.
"Guess I'll need to make more batter," Rachel joked.
"Were you cooking by yourself?" Charlie asked.
Rachel opened her mouth to speak when Ross came out, surprised to see that Joey and Charlie were at the apartment. "Hi guys," he said.
Charlie and Joey stared at Ross who came out of Rachel's bedroom. "Hi Ross," Charlie said tentatively, chiding herself inwardly for feeling a slight pang of jealousy as she saw Ross help Rachel with breakfast. She had just had a great date with Joey, a guy that she could really like, but she also wondered if she had feelings for Ross, who never bothered to tell her last night that he was seeing Rachel.
Joey remained oblivious to the awkward situation as he reached for a box of his favorite cereal. Rachel served the first batch of pancakes as she began to make more batter.
"Did you two have a nice time last night?" Ross asked, breaking the ice.
Joey looked up and nodded his head, swinging his hand around Charlie's waist. "It was incredible – we actually stayed out all night."
"There is so much to do in the city," Charlie added. "I really think that I am going to like it here."
Ross was surprised that Joey didn't make an attempt to sleep with Charlie last night. "Rachel and I are going to pick up Emma today."
"I'd love to meet her someday," Charlie offered with genuine interest.
Rachel swallowed her food, masking her slight disgust at Charlie showing interest in her child. She was no longer jealous of Charlie being with Joey, but with Charlie showing potential interest in Ross and working with him five days a week.
"I'll bring her by the school," Ross offered. "She is cute as a button – she looks exactly like Rachel."
Charlie grinned, resting her body against Joey's. "Sounds great."
Rachel politely excused herself to get dressed for the day, no longer able to look at Charlie talking with who she considered to be two of her best friends.
Ross noted Rachel's absence and walked back to her bedroom to get the rest of this things. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Rachel turned to Ross, slipping into a grey pencil skirt and blue blouse. "I am just fine," she promised. "Not as fine as Charlie is," she muttered under her breath in a voice so low she was sure that Ross couldn't hear.
"What?" Ross asked, "What about Charlie?"
Rachel frowned as she reached for a pair of silver earrings. "I was just commenting on the fact that she seemed to have had a great night with Joey."
"Yeah," Ross said, looking for Rachel's angle. "They seemed to hit it off at the party."
"But she came as your date," Rachel pointed out, getting a clip for her hair.
"What's your point?" Ross asked, becoming slightly weary of the topic.
"It doesn't bother you that she wound up with Joey instead of you?" Rachel turned to Ross, expecting him to answer.
"Women flock to Joey all the time, what else is new?" Ross commented, hoping that it would end the conversation.
Rachel shook her head as she searched for the perfect makeup for the day. "I guess what I'm wondering is, if you are still interested in her."
Ross eyed Rachel up and down as she stood up, facing herself in the mirror. "Are you still interested in that guy from work?"
"What guy," Rachel asked, raising her hands in the air. She had completely forgotten about her convenient little lie from Joey's party.
"The guy that you invited to the roof party who works with you in Ralph Lauren," Ross said frustratedly, turning to go. "I'll see you at noon to get Emma."
Rachel stood in her room dumbfounded. One simple crush that she was trying to hide was standing in the way of her starting things up again with Ross. She felt her ears burn as she listened to Joey and Charlie laughing in the kitchen. Sitting on her bed, she mentally went through her different options. I could lie and tell him that I'm just not interested in the Ralph Lauren guy anymore, or that he's seeing someone else….or I could tell Ross the truth, that there was no guy from work at the party…but then I would need to tell him about Joey in order to explain why I was upset in the first place….
Rachel covered her head in her hands. She wanted to lie; it would be easier to lie. She was honestly no longer interested in Joey Tribbiani, and no one would benefit from her confessing her little former crush to Ross. Lying had never truly worked for Rachel in the past – it always blew up at some point; whether she was lying to Monica about an outfit, or at work about her progress, it only got her into more trouble. I'm going to tell him the truth in the car and he'll understand, Rachel said firmly, wondering if there was one more person that she had to tell in the kitchen.