Hey readers!

This is my first time writing a fanfic, so I don't know how it's going to come out, hopefully you guys will still enjoy it. I've been reading fanfics for a while and thought it could be a way for me to practice writing and to expand my English vocabulary, even though English is my mother tongue. It's been about two weeks since Matthew Perry died and I still can't deal with it, maybe Ross and Rachel will offer me some comfort. So, here goes with the story. BTW it takes place in season 10, "The one where Joey speaks French." Enjoy!

Obviously, these characters don't belong to me, I could never create the masterpieces that Kauffman, Crane and Bright invented.

Chapter 1

[Scene: The morning after Rachel tried to sleep with Ross in her childhood bedroom and he rejected her. Rachel is standing at the coffee stand, pouring herself a cup of coffee, when Ross walks up to her]

Ross: Hey, Rach, can you grab me a cup of coffee?

Rachel: (She turns around, looks at Ross and turns back to her coffee) Sure. (she hands the cup she was pouring for herself and starts pouring another one).

Ross: You've been quiet all morning. Is everything okay?

Rachel: Hmm-hmm (and pours herself another coffee)

Ross: You sure you're alright?

Rachel: (coldly) Yep.

Ross: (knowing she's not alright) Okay. Um. Well, I'm gonna go, uh, grab us some breakfast (he starts to leave)

Rachel: FYI...

Ross: (knew it was coming) There it is... (and turns around).

Rachel: In the future, when a girl asks for some ill-advised sympathy sex, just do it.

Ross: Wait, wait, (looks around a bit) you're uh, mad at me about last night? I was just trying to do the right thing.

Rachel: (sarcastically) Really? If you had done the right thing... I wouldn't have woken up feeling stupid and embarrassed. I would've woken up feeling comforted and satisfied.

Ross: (acknowledging the last part of her sentence) Well...

Rachel: Oh, stop that!

Ross: I can't believe this! I was just being a good guy. I treated you with respect and understanding.

Rachel: (sarcastic) Oh, that is so hot (she walks around him, to the other side).

Ross: Hey, I was looking out for you.

Rachel: Oh, really? Well, you know what? I am a big girl. I don't need someone telling me what is best for me.

Ross: I gotta say, I've not had sex a lot of times before. This is the worst ever!

Rachel: Oh, oh, really? Really? Well, it wasn't very good for me either (she turns to leave, and Ross overtakes her and stands in front of her, his back to the door to Dr. Green's hospital room)

Ross: Oh, okay, you know...? Hey, hey, you know what? To avoid this little thing in the future... let's just say, you and me? Never having sex again.

Rachel: What?

Ross: That's right! Sex is off the table! I am never having sex with you again!

[Dr. Green walks out of his hospital still wearing his gown and holding his IV pole, stunned at what he had just overheard.

Rachel stays quiet, looking behind Ross, embarrassed. Ross suspects what's wrong by Rachel's face expressions and shamefully turns around.]

Ross: Dr. Green, are you feeling better?

Rachel was reading a Vogue magazine that she found on a pile in the waiting room. Ross was sitting across from her, focused on today's newspaper, they hadn't said a word to each other since Dr. Green overheard their "awkward" fight.

Rachel still couldn't believe he had said that they'd never have sex again, that it was off the table. How could he say that? I mean it was "them", how could he just discard something so intimate between them so easily. It hurt her, she didn't exactly know why, because they hadn't even kissed since that day in the hospital. Nothing else had happened between them, well, other than moments of eye contact, the accident with Gavin, that girl Ross brought home to make Rachel jealous and then of course there was Joey, but we're not even going to mention that again. Thinking about it now, Rachel didn't know what she was thinking, Joey! It was crazy! He's great, but how could she ever have seen him as more than just a friend. That whole time she was just wasting time, fooling around, Joey could never be permanent, and she could've spent that time strengthening her relationship with Ross.

Why was he so unbothered, Ross looked so calm, not thinking twice about their earlier conversation. It annoyed Rachel, why wouldn't he just talk to her. What was he thinking? Did he really mean what he said?

They were waiting for the doctors to do their last check up on Rachel's dad, before letting him go home. Ross had decided to stay with Rachel, he wanted to leave, because he was not excited to be around Dr. Green when he was let out. However, he decided to stay, for Rachel, he didn't want to leave her alone, even though he knew she was mad at him. He didn't understand why though, they both knew it would never work between them, he was just suggesting a solution to make things less messy. He thought she would feel the same way, it's not like she's ever showed any interest in him anyway. He didn't want to lose something so special between them, but he accepted that he messed up and there'd never be a "them" again and he couldn't lose her altogether, because of some awkwardness.

Why hasn't she said anything? He needed to know what she was thinking, did she agree with him? It drove him crazy, having her so close to him, but so far away emotionally, they hadn't been this distant in a long time. Why was he even thinking that she was feeling the same, confused way he was, she wasn't thinking about him. Of course not, she was focused on her father, and he has figured out a way to make it about him. What was wrong with him? He needed to focus on this newspaper, he has been staring at the same word since he picked it up, but he couldn't get her out of his head.

He couldn't stop thinking about her.

She couldn't stop thinking about him.

Finally breaking their silence, the doctor came with a nurse pushing Leonard, while he was sitting in a wheelchair, quite annoyed. Rachel quickly got up and Ross followed her movement, finally putting the unread newspaper down.

"Daddy! How are you feeling?" said Rachel

Leonard didn't answer his daughter's question and shot straight to the man behind her.

"What is he still doing here?" and pointed straight to Ross.

Not wanting to look Ross in the eyes, she responded with "He's here for me, I want him here."

She didn't know if she was telling the truth, she wanted him here, but was he here for her or did he feel bad? She didn't know and didn't want to think about it any longer.

Ross felt like adding something to the conversation, but he couldn't get any word out, he didn't know what to say. He was more than just there for her, he was willing to do anything for her, but she didn't know that, and she didn't need to. Ughhh, why couldn't he just say something friendly to Dr. Green and get it over with, but how could he after having told his daughter that he was never having sex with her again. What could he say?

"Let's get you home" said Rachel and Leonard agreed, still giving Ross the death stare. They all just wanted to go home.

A long drive back, and an awkward one, Ross was driving, because they had taken his car to Long Island when Rachel was in no condition to drive. Rachel sat shotgun and Dr. Green in the back seat. Ross and Rachel didn't say a word to each other the whole time, Rachel asked her father how he was and if they treated him ok. Dr. Green, being who he was obviously complained about everything and anything he could come up with.

When it was just the two of them, driving back to Rachel's apartment, the air flowed better, they could breathe better, even though they didn't say a word, everything felt more relaxed, and they were both happy to be with one another.

Rachel thought about what Ross had said almost 4 hours earlier, maybe he was right. If they had done what Rachel wanted, they would've gone down that road again and that isn't such a good idea. Plus, he was just protecting her, he didn't want to take advantage of Rachel when she was vulnerable. Yes, she could take care of herself and yes, she did want to have sex with him that night and no, she wouldn't have regretted it, but that was then. Now she appreciated Ross for not going through with her crazy plan, they're good right now, it would've messed everything up.

She enjoyed the ride more knowing she was at peace with the results of their interaction. Ross on the other side was still going crazy, not knowing if she was still mad. He didn't regret the decision he made; he couldn't do that to her. Yes, a night with her would've been great, every night with her he spent with her was great, but that is over now. He had to think clearly and be responsible when Rachel couldn't. They had a daughter now, he couldn't mess things up, even though he would've loved to just spend one night having her in his arms.

He made the right choice, they both thought.

The rest of the drive was silent, but not awkward.

I know, I know this chapter is a bit boring, I just had to orient myself. I PROMISE next chapter is gonna get gooooooood. Anyway, I hope you guys still enjoyed it. Please review, tell me what I can do better. Thanks to everyone that made it this far, please stay with me, I'm working on it. See you next chapter!