Epilogue
June 23rd, 1997
When Julien left, Monica and Rachel's heads turned to each other, immediately locking eyes and feeling the exact same thing. He had given them their keys and he had shown them around in their apartment. The moment their eyes connected, their mouths formed big, happy smiles. Rachel's hands came up, pressing against each other and with her fingers under her mouth. Her shoulders came up from excitement. Monica nodded, knowing exactly what she meant.
„This is our apartment", Rachel gushed and turned towards Monica, spreading her arms.
„I know", Monica said in her typical manner.
Rachel couldn't help herself. She was beyond happy and couldn't believe how great life had suddenly become. She wrapped her arms around Monica's lower waist and picked her up. Monica wrapped her arms and legs around Rachel and her right hand stroked Rachel's hair. Her hand went further down and stopped on Rachel's left cheek. Monica leaned in and kissed Rachel hard, but gently on her lips.
Even though they had been living together for quite some time in New York, this was still very different. Now, they were living together as a couple. Not as roommates anymore. And even though the apartment was a bit smaller than the one in New York, they still loved it. It's a pity they would have to move soon. This one only had one bedroom, but the baby would need one too.
September 18th, 1997
„Honey, I'm home", Rach announced while she dropped her keys on the table next to their apartment door. They moved in two weeks ago and they couldn't be happier with it. It had two bedrooms and a spacious living room. They even had a small terrace. It was what made them decide that this was the apartment they wanted. The terrace was almost identical to the one they had in New York. They entered by going through the window and you could look out over the street.
Lucky for them, Rachel got paid an insane amount of money per month because of her high position and all her hard work. The rent was high, but it was manageable. They were still figuring out the balance between working and being there for each other and soon their daughter.
Monica stood in the kitchen making dinner. „Hi, sweetie. How was work?", she asked, while turning her head for a kiss. Before answering, Rachel kissed her girlfriend. It was one of her favourite things to do. To kiss Monica. „Good, they accepted one of my designs today", she said proudly.
„That's great! The one that I loved so much?", Monica asked.
„Yep, exactly this one", Rachel smiled while putting her arms around Monica. Her hands came to rest on Monica's belly. It had grown quite a lot already. She softly rubbed her thumbs over her belly.
„Wow, someone's hungry", she said when she felt the baby kick her.
„I think she's just excited to see her mama", Monica said, „She's been still all day and you hug her for a minute and she's all active."
„Oh, is that true? Did you miss mama?", Rachel talked to the baby, „I also missed you. You and your mommy."
Monica had dreamed all her life of being called ‚mommy' by her children. Rachel was more than happy to let her have ‚mommy', and probably ‚mom' in the future. Meanwhile, she had heard the French people say ‚maman' to their children, so she thought it would be nice to be called ‚mama' by their daughter.
14th of January, 1998
„Oh, god, it hurts", Monica squinted her eyes closed.
„I'm sorry, honey. It's not going to be long anymore. Keep pushing. Come on, you can do it", Rachel encouraged her.
„Ahhh", Monica pushed with everything she could. She was holding Rachel's right hand. Or at least what was left of it when she was squeezing it so much.
After a few more screams and a lot more pain, their daughter was born. Monica and Rachel were a crying mess. Tears of pure happiness. And probably also some of the pain for Monica.
They had made lists of names, but as soon as Monica had shared her number one name, Rachel had clasped her hand in front of her mouth, nodding her head. „That's it. That's her name", she said. She had shared her own list too, but both their hearts were already set on that one name.
„Hi, little Emma", Monica cooed when she finally held her daughter in her arms. Rachel was leaning with her head on Monica's upper arm, looking lovingly at her daughter and her incredible girlfriend. She didn't think that she would ever be able to push a human being out of her. But Monica just did. She was like a superwoman.
After the routine check-ups, they found out that Emma was perfectly healthy.
„You're going to be so loved by your mommies", Rachel whispered to her daughter when she held her in her arms. She was swinging from side to side next to the hospital bed.
„Come here", Monica said softly when she had scooted over to the left side of the bed, making enough space for Rachel and their daughter. Rachel sat down and Monica put the blanket back in its place, over Rachel's legs. Exhausted, Monica let her head rest against Rachel's shoulder. Rachel gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. „I'm so proud of you."
Monica smiled at her, grateful to have such an amazing girlfriend. Looking back down, she saw Emma's lips squint together a bit. She couldn't keep her eyes off of their daughter. She was so beautiful. And she loved her so much already. She had never experienced this feeling before. It was a more intense love than she had ever felt.
21st of January, 1998
Monica was leaning back in Rachel's arms, which were wrapped around her. They were looking at their friends standing in their apartment, looking out over Emma in her basket. They had flown out as soon as they could when they heard the news.
„You guys, she is so precious", Phoebe said.
„She's so small", Joey said, admiring the little girl.
„Yeah, well, try pushing her out of you. She doesn't feel so small anymore then", Monica snorted, „But, yeah, it's amazing. All the tiny fingers and toes", she said, her love for her daughter clearly audible in her voice.
„I'm so proud of you", Ross said to both of them, „Moving to Paris and having a baby as a couple all in less than one year. It's quite something", he said, impressed.
„Yeah, but it was the best decision we could have made", Rachel said.
„Absolutely", Monica beamed, „Now, is it time for presents yet?", Monica said excitedly. She may have just become a mother, but she was still a child at heart in all the good ways. Rachel laughed at the excitement in Monica's voice.
9th of June, 1998
„I got it! I got the job", Monica ran to Rachel as soon as she heard the door open.
„Are you serious?", Rachel's eyes were wide and at Monica's enthusiastic nod, she hugged her hard.
„I will be sous-chef for Le Cinq and I will work all the lunch shifts from Tuesday to Saturday. If they like what they see, they will give me one or two dinner shifts later on and they will see where it goes from there."
„That's amazing! I'm so happy for you. You deserve this so much!"
„I start Tuesday, so I will let Louise know when we will need her to babysit Emma."
Louise was the woman living next to them. She was in her late forties and her oldest son had just left to study in Marseille. She still had a 16-year-old daughter living there. Her husband was working in a very high-profile company and was away a lot of the time, but he earned a lot of money. Enough for Louise to be able to stay at home and take care of the kids. Since Jules had left the apartment, Louise had felt it was a bit too empty. Over the past year, she had gotten to know Rachel and Monica quite well and she had offered to take care of Emma when they were both at work. Very happy with this, Monica and Rachel promised to let her know when they would need a babysitter. They were going to pay her, of course, but it would be much more expensive to let Emma go to daycare. And she was also still too young.
26th of February, 1999
They were taking a stroll through the park with Emma in the stroller. It was cold and they were both wearing a thick coat and a bonnet. Rachel pulled her scarf a bit tighter around herself while Monica checked if Emma was still protected from the cold. Monica was pushing the stroller and Rachel had her right arm through Monica's left arm as they walked. Rachel looked sideways and smiled at the adorable red blush Monica had from the cold.
„What?", Monica asked with a confused smile when she noticed Rachel staring at her.
„You're adorable", Rachel answered and Monica giggled and looked shyly away. God, she didn't think she could love Monica more, but in moments like this, her heart exploded from all the love it contained for Monica.
Rachel felt with her left hand in the pockets of her coat. When she felt the small box, she had made her decision. She had been carrying it around for a few weeks now in her coat's pocket, but she kept waiting for the perfect moment. Right now, she was taking a walk with the love of her life and their daughter in a beautiful park. While it wasn't an amazing restaurant or a cute bridge, she just felt like today was the day. The day to ask a question that had been screaming to get out of her for a little more than a year now.
„Mon", she said, putting her gloved hand gently over Monica's to stop her, „I need to tell you something."
„Okay. What is it?", Monica asked, completely in the dark what Rachel could be talking about.
„I love you", Rachel started.
„I love you too, honey", Monica said, smiling and giving her a quick, soft kiss.
„The thing is, I love you so much that sometimes I'm surprised my heart can contain so much love. The fact that it is still beating and hasn't burst yet is really an accomplishment", Rachel said it so seriously that Monica had to laugh, „Which is why I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore."
„What?", Monica had stopped walking and Rachel stopped with her. Before Monica could send her questions, Rachel continued.
„Monica", her right hand grabbed the tiny box in her hand and slowly took it out while slowly lowering down in front of Monica, „I want to be your wife."
Monica's hands let go of the stroller and were instead over her mouth. Her big eyes were already filling with tears.
„Mon, will you marry me?", Rachel asked with equally watery eyes. The box was in her hands, still unopened, too distracted by Monica.
„Yes", Monica whispered through her hands. Removing her hands, she said it again louder. „Yes. Yes, yes, of course I'll marry you!", she exclaimed, extending her hands towards Rachel to pull her up. As soon as Rachel could reach her lips, she kissed her.
„Oh", Rachel suddenly remembered, pulling back, „I also have a ring", she said, opening the little box that was still in her hand. It was a very simple, silver ring. No diamond or sparkly things on top. Just a simple silver band. When Monica took it out to inspect it, she saw that both their names were finely engraved in the ring. It was beautiful. Simple, but in all the best ways of the word.
„Thank you so much, Rach. It's beautiful.", Monica said, hugging her soon-to-be wife tightly.
„I was a bit jealous when I went to pick up the ring that you would have a ring to parade around and I wouldn't, so I just ordered a second one for me", Rachel said as she put her hand once again in her coat to take out a small, deep blue bag. As she took out her ring from the little bag, Monica couldn't help but snicker at her incredible girlfriend. When they both had their rings on, they held their hands next to each other, admiring the rings.
31st of May, 2005
When Monica got home from the lunch shift, the apartment was quiet. Emma was still at school. Having a day off, Rachel lay on the couch, reading one of her favourite magazines. Rachel greeted Monica and went back to reading. Putting off her coat and shoes, Monica went into the living room and crawled on the couch. She crawled forward until she could rest her head on Rachel's chest, letting her legs intertwine with Rachel's. Lowering her magazine, Rachel rested her hands on Monica's upper back. One thumb gently circled her back in a soothing rhythm. The combination of Rachel's soft and warm body, her breathing, her thumb circling and her magazine pages rustling every few minutes made Monica's eyes feel heavy.
When Monica woke up again, she noticed that she was still in the same position. She must have been lying to Rachel for quite some time, because she saw the magazine lying on the coffee table next to her. Now that she didn't have to hold the magazine anymore, Rachel's arms were around Monica.
„Mon? Are you awake?", Rachel asked, her voice soft.
„Yes", she answered, looking up.
„I think we need to pick up Emma. In half an hour, the school ends."
„Oh, it's that late already?", her nap had made her lose all awareness of time. She slowly sat up, her body still feeling woozy from her nap.
14th of January, 2008
Emma was sick. Not really, though. For school, she was sick. Normally, she was having her first week of school after the Christmas holidays, but her moms had decided that they would take three weeks of vacation. This way, they could go to New York and not only celebrate Christmas and New Year, but also her birthday with her relatives. Even though most of them weren't blood-related, she still had amazing uncles and aunts.
"... Happy birthday toooo Emma", Phoebe ended her brand new song, made especially for Emma. They were sitting in Monica's and Rachel's old apartment. Phoebe had decided to move into it when Monica and Rachel had moved to Paris and for four years, she had been living there with Mike. She was currently pregnant with their first child.
Chandler adored his nine-year-old niece. She had black hair and blue eyes and she looked so much like Monica. It was amazing how strong Monica's genes were in this tiny body. Even though Rachel and Emma had no shared genes, it was more than clear that she was also Emma's mom. The way in which she talked reminded him of her and the way she would express herself when she was angry or excited.
Ross and Julie's children, Oliver and Charlie, were sitting with Emma and Isabella. Isabella was the six-year-old daughter of Kathy and Chandler. They had fallen madly in love shortly after Monica and Rachel had moved to Paris.
All his nephews and nieces were his little angels, but he had come to realize that he would never want kids of his own. Joey didn't want to have his life turn around children. He was finally getting somewhere in his career and he started to realise more and more that his life vision was totally different than the one of his friends. Which was totally okay, but sometimes he got fed up with all the talk about everyone's children. In moments like this, he would move to the children's table and sit with the kids. They could be really funny.
17th of May, 2013
„Did you see the news?", Rachel ran to Monica as soon as she came home from her dinner shift.
„No, why?", Monica asked, looking exhausted from standing on her feet the whole evening.
„It got accepted. The same-sex law. We can finally get really married. And adopt kids!", Rachel said excitedly.
„Are you for real?", Monica's eyes grew big and she grabbed Rachel's hands.
„Yeah! I send Emma to Margot", Rachel started. Margot was Emma's best friend. Since she was a 15-year-old girl now, Rachel had figured she would be responsible enough to get on time to school tomorrow. Margot's parents were there anyway, so she wasn't worried. „And I booked us an appointment at the Registry. We can get officially and legally married tonight", Rachel's smile was so big she was scared her lips would break under the tension. She was squeezing Monica's hand who was registering everything she had just told her.
„You are the best wife ever", Monica said, kissing Rachel.
Putting on their coats, they left for the Registry. A bit before midnight, they were finally legally married.
6th of October, 2015
„Salut, Julien. Moi, je m'appelle Emma. Je suis ta grande soeur."
Emma was squatting in front of the little boy who was going to be her little brother. Julien was four years old and Monica and Rachel immediately fell in love with him when they met him at the adoption centre. Today, they finally got to take their son home.
They walked home with Julien between Emma and Rachel, giving a hand to both of them, and Monica with her arm around Rachel's waist. They loved their family.
This was it. Thank you for sticking with me all the way. I hope you enjoyed reading this story and if you have any feedback or anything, please feel free to write it in the reviews. It's always interesting to read other people's points of view :)
While I was writing this story, I got some inspiration from songs, so I thought I'd share them here in case someone would like to listen to them :)
Fat Funny Friend - Maddie Zahm (part with the diary)
Gay 4 Me - Lauren Sanderson (Monica being unsure about her sexuality)
Drunk text me - Lexi Jayde (Monica calling Rachel drunk)
Press Pause - Laura Tesoro (when they got back together)
I think I want to write some one-chapter stories now, so if you have any suggestions that you would like to see me put my spin on, please let me know :)
Enjoy your weekend 3