I Now Declare You Man And Wife Chapter 9, a friends fanfic

CHAPTER NINE

When Rachel woke up the next morning, she could hardly process what was happening. The rehearsal dinner had been a success. Her parents had made an effort just to ignore each other. Even the Geller parents had managed not to be too embarrassing or awkward. Emma had charmed everyone and Ben was now 12, so he had managed to behave well.

Still, that wasn't the point. She woke up and skipped into the living room. Phoebe was still in bed and Monica was just getting up. There they all were, like they would be after a high school girlfriend's sleepover. Just like old times.

Except now she was getting married.

Monica squealed excitedly as she walked in. 'I have all our dresses up there,' she said excitedly. 'They're in pristine condition.'

Rachel hugged her tightly. She felt a surge of affection for her best friend. 'This time tomorrow we'll be sisters in law,' she said.

'Wow,' breathed Monica, hugging Rachel tightly. After all these years, they were still the best of friends, and, as Rachel thought, that had to be quite rare. They were lucky, really.

Phoebe ran out of her room about ten minutes later, grinning and squealing. 'I just can't believe you're marrying Ross!'

'As in, Ross specifically, or what?' asked Rachel.

'Both! I mean, you're one of my best friends, I'm so happy for you!' said Pheobe, pulling Rachel into a hug. She felt another burst of affection for Phoebe. 'But you know, thinking about it, I can't understand either of your tastes in guys.'

They laughed and sat down for fruit salad for breakfast before heading over to St Margaret's. They were welcomed there.

'Congratulations and good luck!' said the assistant. 'A member of staff will escort you to your dressing rooms shortly.'

Monica called the guys to check they were on schedule. Apparently Ross was "showing his Geller colours" that morning by obsessively checking everyone's every move and they would be there in a few minutes.

'Well, let's hurry then, we can't let Ross see Rachel before the wedding!' said Phoebe, and the three girls were escorted over to the dressing rooms. They were interlinking, with the most grand being for Rachel. It had gold handles on the furniture and everything was shiny and beautiful. A tall mirror with silver swirls as a pattern stood in the corner with a one armed sofa with gold flowers sewn in.

The assistant who had brought them over left after congratulating Rachel and wishing her luck.

'Well, come on then,' said Monica quietly.

Rachel changed into the dress alone. They decided to put on makeup and jewellery afterwards, so they didn't mess it up with their tears. She put on her high heeled shoes and got out her bouquet. She stood and stared at herself in the mirror. She was going to be Mrs Geller, and she couldn't wait. Her and Ross would finally be bonded. She couldn't even process everything she was feeling. It was golden and infinite, though. Suddenly she was laughing, and crying too. Monica and Pheobe crept in and took one look at her until they were in a tight group hug.

'I just c-can't believe w-we'll be f-f-family,' cried Monica.

'S-s-sisters,' said Rachel through her tears.

'Y-y-you and R-Ross are j-just perfect,' Phoebe stuttered. 'A-and you l-look so b-b-beautiful, Rachel.'

This brought on even more tears until finally, the whimpering girls split so the other two could change into their dresses. They fitted their makeup and jewellery and did their hair in side plaits. Rachel gasped when she saw them.

'I love it,' she said. 'This is perfect.'

Monica did Rachel's hair. It was in an up do with curls. She put in her two pearl earrings which had jewelled flowers dangling from them, and a necklace that had belonged to her mother with jewels. Her makeup was flawless once they were done with it, and soon the three girls were stood in the mirror with their arms around each other.

'Soon enough, we'll be three married women,' said Monica, just as the door burst open.

'Hey,' said Joey. 'What's up here?'

'We're just admiring Rachel,' said Phoebe grumpily. 'Where's Ross?'

'Sorting out his suit and everything. Mine's already sorted,' he said. 'I have to go soon, I am the minister, y'know.'

'Ok. Well, we need to stay here and cry,' said Monica.

'How come you lot are getting so emotional this time round? I don't remember this at the other weddings we've had.'

They took a moment to think about it. 'Well, Rachel and Ross have had history since high school. This is like closing up all the problems for around 15 years. And she's the last of us girls to get married,' Monica told him.

'Ok,' said Joey, looking as though he understood, but he muttered something on his way out that sounded distinctly like, 'mental'.

It struck 3pm and it was time for them to proceed to the actual wedding. Guests were flooding in and as Rachel watched from a top window, she recognised a few faces. The rest went too fast to be able to make them out.

She caught a glimpse of Ross going in and walking up to the front with Chandler. Monica put her hand on Rachel's shoulder and Phoebe rested her head on the other shoulder.

'Wait, hang on!' said Monica suddenly, sounding very alarmed. 'Who's walking you down the aisle?'

'Nobody, I'm going on my own,' said Rachel. 'My parents would just have a massive argument over it, and I'm not having them both. I was never that close to them, anyway. I'm going on my own.'

'Don't you want someone to give you away?' asked Monica, sounding horrified.

'At the end of the aisle is Ross, and that's all I need,' said Rachel.

They were silent. Then the hall was silent, and everyone stood up and turned around. They were looking at the door, for Rachel ...

She stepped in. She could never have foreseen how perfect this was going to be. Everyone she knew was grouped in a room together. Literally, everyone – she had never seen so many familiar faces all at once. There were her parents, her sisters, her high school friends, her cousins, her aunts and uncles, family friends, her mother's friends, her father's friends. Then she looked over to the Geller side of the room. She was going to be one of them, too. She was going to be a cousin-in-law to all those people ... there was Ross's cousin Cassie, smiling at her. Richard was there, and Rachel didn't even have to stop and look to know that Monica was determinedly avoiding his gaze. All those Geller friends and family were going to be hers, too ... and there were Carol and Susan, smiling encouragingly. They were sat with Ben and Emma.

And then she saw Ross. He had actually chosen a very good suit and done his hair almost perfectly. They smiled at each other as they had never done before ... it was magical.

She reached the front and everybody sat down. She saw Emma and Ben in the front row. Ben was holding Emma's hand and she let out a tiny laugh. It was beautiful.

'Friends and family,' said Joey loudly, pulling Rachel out of her trance. 'We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Ross Geller and Rachel Greene.'

They smiled again.

'I have known these two for a very long time and we have all been waiting for them to get together. And when Emma was born, we all totally hoped they would. And now it is a truly beautiful occasion, and they are getting married.'

Chandler gave Rachel a good luck nod. Rachel had never realised just how much she loved each of her friends.

'Um ... I have again left my speech in my dressing room, so does anybody have a reason why they shouldn't be together?'

Nobody spoke. Emily hadn't shown up, then.

'Awesome!' said Joey, causing a few members of the congregation to laugh. 'Of course, I don't see any reasons why anybody would object. But you get weirdos everywhere. Now, let's proceed to the speeches.'

Ross went first. 'Rachel, I've known you since you were a high school cheerleader and I was your best friend's geeky older brother. I don't know how long I loved you for but I love you now, and I always will, I promise you.'

A few people wiped tears from their eyes.

'Ross, for all these years I've known you, I again don't know how long I loved you but I have never felt so complete as I do now. We've been through so much together, whether it's just us or the whole lot of us. And everything is beautiful now. I love you.'

A few more people wiped tears from their eyes, Rachel's mother included.

'So, repeat after me,' said Joey. 'Ross first. I, Ross Geller.'

'I, Ross Geller.'

'Take you, Rachel Greene.'

'To be my lawfully wedded wife.'

'In sickness and in health.'

'And ... um ... the coffee house being out of coffee and it having full stock.'

The congregation laughed. 'The coffee house being out of coffee and it having full stock.'

'And Rachel. I, Rachel Greene.'

'I, Rachel Greene.'

'Take you, Ross Geller.'

'To be my lawfully wedded husband.'

'In sickness and in health.'

'The coffee house being out of coffee and it having full stock.'

'I now declare you,' said Joey, pausing for effect, 'man and wife!'

The congregation cheered. Monica and Phoebe clapped and squealed.

'You may now kiss the bride!'

Ross and Rachel kissed as they never had before. It felt infinite and amazing, beyond words. The congregation cheered, clapped and probably cried. A few laughed. Rachel heard Emma squealing with excitement and Ben cheering in the crowd somewhere as she pulled away. Ross took her hand and they walked down the aisle together, Monica, Pheobe, Joey and Chandler following them.

'We finally did it. We got married,' said Rachel as they sat in the wedding car to go to the reception.

'I love you so much, Rach,' said Ross.

'I love you too,' she said, and they kissed again.

They arrived and everyone else showed up too. When Monica arrived, her and Rachel ran at each other. 'WE'RE SISTERS IN LAW!' they screamed. Chandler and Ross rolled their eyes.

Ross and Rachel entered the party room together, with the band playing entrance music. She talked to everyone; people she'd not spoken to in years, and her family, and all her new family. Even her sisters had scraped up some happiness for her and Ross.

Her favourite part, besides the time she spent dancing with Ross, was talking to Emma and Ben.

'You're married!' said Emma, grinning.

'Yeah, Mommy and Daddy are married!' said Rachel, taking her in her arms. 'And Ben, thank you for coming, you've been great!'

'Congratulations, Rachel,' he said. 'Does this mean you're my stepmom?'

'Well – I don't know,' said Rachel. 'Ask your dad, he'll know.'

'If you are, I have three moms,' said Ben. Rachel laughed.

'Thank you for taking care of Emma, too,' said Rachel.

'I like her. She's a good stepsister,' said Ben.

Rachel brought him into the hug, too.

Then she went for the dance with Ross. She could see happy faces in the crowd until others joined in.

'I need to go to the bathroom,' Rachel whispered, sneaking off.

Later in the evening, Rachel was in the bathroom again. Monica and Phoebe came over to where the guys were sitting, joking with each other.

'What's up? You look worried,' said Ross.

'Nobody's got pregnant at this wedding, have they?' joked Chandler. The other guys laughed.

'Actually, somebody has,' said Monica.

'Who?' they all asked.

'We don't know. Yet again, it's the mystery case of a random pregnancy test and we don't know whose it is,' sighed Phoebe.

'So it could be anyone here?' asked Joey.

'That's helpful. There's only about 300 people,' said Ross sulkily.

'Only 150 women, though,' Chandler shrugged.

'Well, it can't be Rachel, she'd have told us already,' said Ross. 'We're left with the others now.'

'Actually, it is me,' said Rachel, coming in from the crowd. All five stood up and Ross put an arm around her.

'You're pregnant?' said Joey.

'Rachel! Wow!' said both the girls.

'Emma will have a sister,' breathed Monica.

Once they were done getting excited, Ross took her aside.

'Aren't you a little ... scared?'

'Yeah, I guess.'

'There's no need to worry this time,' he said. 'I promise. There's no need to worry. I'll be there for you.'

~THE END~

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