Thanks everyone for reviewing and reading. I really appreciate it.
"So movie night tonight. What do you want to watch?" Ross held up to held up two movies in his hands as Rachel entered the living room. She shrugged at this and took a seat in the armchair next to her.
"I don't really care."
"A scary movie it is." He grinned as he put in the movie and then squeezed into the same armchair as her. She stared at him for awhile, wondering how Emily would feel if she knew where Ross was. She got the feeling she didn't have a particular liking for her because very time Ross would look at her or touch her Emily would scowl and Rachel would just shrug her shoulders and try to ignore it.
Ross noticed her intense stare and frowned. "Do I have something on my face?"
She smiled and shook her head at him. "No. I'm just thinking."
Ross gave her a smile and pulled her closer to him as the movie started. She tried her best to pay attention, but she couldn't seem to take her eyes off him. She watched as the features in his face change, smiling at he was so focused on the movie. She continued this for 15 minutes before snapping out her daze and turning to the television, peeking at him occasionally. They both jumped as they continued to watch and Rachel buried her face in his chest when they scary part came and refused to let go of him. He felt her tremble in his arms and held on to her tighter.
"Shh it's okay Rach. It's just a movie." He felt her shake her head and her grip on him became tighter. He combed his finger through her hair and kissed her head softly. After the movie credits began to roll she lifted her face up to see him looking at her with worried eyes and she blushed in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry I freaked out on you. I must have had a death grip on you."
"Don't worry about it. I enjoyed it," he said smirking. She slapped his chest lightly as they both began to laugh.
"Geller!"
"I'm hungry."
"When are you not hungry? What's with guys and having to eat all the time," she asked, shaking her head at him.
"Well Rachel I am a man," he bragged, sticking his chest out and she couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"I think we should go out for ice cream." He nodded in agreement and pulled her up from the armchair and left to get their coats. He grabbed her hand and soon enough they were walking hand in hand through the bustling streets.
"So how have things been with you? I feel like we haven't had our little talks in a while."
"Well I guess you've been so busy with Emily," she muttered.
Ross frowned and stopped her and she was forced to meet his gaze. "You don't like her do you?"
"Umm… I don't know..."
"Tell me the truth Rachel," he asked sternly.
"It's not that I don't like her it's just… I don't think she likes me."
"Rach, sweetie that's crazy." She blushes when he says sweetie and she tries to hide it from him as she points out the obvious animosity that Emily shows towards her.
"She's always getting mad when we're together and if she knew you were going with me to get ice cream she would freak out."
"Rach I'm sure she likes you. It's probably just a misunderstanding."
"But Ross I know she doesn't. She tried to trip me," Rachel justified.
"And I'm sure it was an accident. You're over thinking it."
"I'm sorry," she said quietly and she looked up when she felt his grip became tighter.
"Don't be sorry. You're just being honest," he said as he opened the door to the shop.
Since he knew her so well he already knew to order her a banana split with extra whipped cream and a sundae for him. He payed and carefully walked back to their table and handed her the bowl. He grinned as he watched excitement appear her eyes, but their moment was interrupted by the sound of a little girl's shriek.
They both turned to see scoops from an ice cream cone that had splattered on the floor. Ross watched as the little girl's pursed her lips to keep them from trembling as her eyes began to water. Something about seeing her l on the verge of tears seemed to trouble him.
"I'll be just a second Rach."
She nodded and watched as he dashed to the counter and almost instantly they waitress came back with his order which happened to be a ice cream cone. He thanked her and made his way back to the little girl.
He kneeled down to her level and handed the cone to her. "Here you go. Does that help?"
Her mouth curved into a small smile and she nodded. "Thank you," she said quietly. She gave him another nervous smile before walking away.
He stood up and made his way towards Rachel, who was very impressed by his little deed.
"Oh Ross that was so sweet. Look how happy she looks."
He shrugged his shoulders and right then and there she had the certain urge to just kiss him and she frowned. This was her best friend and he just happened to have a girlfriend.
"So what's been going on at work?"
"Well there's this really amazing discovery in…" he said blabbing on about his work, but she couldn't concentrate.
"There you go staring at me. Do I have something on my face?"
"No you look perfect."
He gave her a questioning before continuing their conversation. The rest of their night she shot him beaming smiles and nervous glances.
After they finished with their ice cream the decided to head back home. Rachel was answering a question Ross had asked when they were interrupted by a suspicious looking man.
He was obviously drunk and Rachel wanted to vomit after she took a whiff of his breath. He smelled like smoke and cheap liquor.
When he saw how the stranger was ogling Rachel, Ross put an arm around her and glared.
"Can we help you?"
"Yeah you can help me by joining me back at my place for some fun," he said, showing yellow teeth. Rachel cringed, but tried to keep her cool.
"No thanks I'm with my friend," she said as politely as she could and tried to walk away, but he had moved a hand to her shoulder.
"Come on baby get rid of this loser. I can show you a good time," he sneered.
"I said no now leave me alone!" She jerked away from him and Ross moved an arm around her again as they started to walk again when he felt a rough grasp on her arm and the guy forcefully pulled her away from Ross's arms.
"What the hell are you doing!" He clutched her arm, squeezing it until she gasped in pain.
"Stop it. You're hurting me!"
"Don't you ever talk to me like that again! You hear that!"
After he had raised his voice Ross stepped in and pulled Rachel from his arms. He grabbed the guy by his shirt and slammed him into a brick wall. He blacked out for a second, but opened his eyes again to see nothing but anger and fury in Ross's eyes.
"If you ever touch her like that again I'll kill you! And don't you ever raise your voice at her! Got it," he snarled and the guy was frightened enough that he was pretty close to peeing in his pants.
"Ok man just let me go."
"Apologize to her. Now!"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he muttered to Rachel.
Ross glared before he released him and pushed him so that it sent the guy stumbling. When he got his balance he turned away and ran as fast as a drunken person could.
Ross took a deep breath and turned back to Rachel. Her eyes were red and she was trembling. He walked up to her and moved a hand to her cheek.
"He didn't touch you did he Rach?"
"No." A tear fell slipped her cheek and Ross kissed it away.
"Forget about him. Let's go home," he said putting his arms around her protectively and steering them home.
They were in her bed a few hours later.
Ross had been worried about her and said she could talk to him if she wanted too. Rachel stared into his warm and comforting eyes, glad that he was there or who knows what that sick pervert would've done.
"Thanks for doing that for me Ross."
"Rach if you think I would just stand there and let some drunken guy touch you and scream at you like that then…"
"But still I'm glad you were there," she said. She watched as he smiled and once again she felt the urge to kiss him, but her conscience stopped her.
He kissed her forehead and got up to leave, but she pulled him back. "Please don't go. Don't leave me tonight," she begged. He smiled and joined her back in her bed.
"I love you," she whispered as her eyes closed.
"I love you too Rach," he said giving a quick peck on the lips. She smiled and as her eyes started to close she focused on him and his comforting eyes.
The next morning Rachel felt her eyes flutter open. She turned to her side, expecting to find Ross there, but she pouted when she saw the empty spot next to her. She could still smell his cologne on her pillow. She smiled again and clutched the pillow to her chest. She felt so amazing, like she was dreaming and she still hadn't woken up.
The way he had protected her last night made her see him in a completely different light.
She sat up right, stretching out her arms and she sighed happily at the thought of him sitting in the kitchen, waiting up for her like he did every morning. They would talk, laugh, and just eachother's company.
She got up and dashed to the bathroom and quickly washed up before skipping down the hallway where she was it by the smell of fresh coffee.
She didn't know why but she was just extremely excited to see Ross. After last night she felt like something had happened to her. She had finally realized that she was in love with her best friend.
All the years he had been gone made her realize that she loved him. It had always been Ross. Even though he was with Emily she was sure he loved her too. What other reason could explain why he had been so jealous after she and Chip had dated? It made perfect sense.
She slowly made her way to the kitchen, prepared to confess everything to him when she stopped dead in her tracks.
Ross sat in his chair that he sat in every morning, but he was not alone. Emily sat perched in his lap, her hands running through his hair as they continued to kiss passionately. Rachel felt her eyes well up with tears as they finally broke apart, gazing at eachother lovingly.
"He was mine," she said to herself, her voice no more than a whisper. She held on to a wall for support and watched as Emily turned around in Ross's lap, staring directly at her.
"Oh hello Rachel," Emily smirked as she stood up. Ross stood up also and moved an arm around her waist.
"Morning Rach."
"Morning," she replied meekly, her voice cracking a bit and Ross noticed at once.
"You okay?"
"Fine," she replied and before Ross or Emily could say anything else, she darted out the room.
And just like that she felt herself come back to reality. He didn't belong to her and he never would.