The One With London

Chapter 5

Ross hurriedly made his way down the sidewalk attempting to get as far away from the church as possible. He wasn't sure where Rachel was, but he knew if he made it back to New York he could at least escape the wrath of Emily's parents for running out on their wedding. Rachel entered his mind again. He felt terrible for leaving his wedding and not telling anyone. He thought about Emily in her wedding dress finding out that her future husband was no longer there. Maybe he should have handled it differently. To be honest, he should have handled many things differently - the first being that he shouldn't have proposed in the first place. He knew deep down he was using Emily as a means to get over Rachel. Emily was an incredible woman and he knew she'd find someone to make her very happy. It just wasn't supposed to be him. Ross's mind traveled back to Rachel. He was nervous about what she would say when he saw her. He welcomed the thoughts of their past that enveloped his mind. He could still remember the sensation on his lips from the first time she kissed him in that laundromat. That kiss was quick and innocent compared to thousands of others they had later shared, but it hit differently because it was the first one. It changed him. This is when the glimmer of hope that the unattainable Rachel Green might actually give him a chance after all. He thought about her drunken phone message and the whirlwind that was stirred up when he found out she actually had feelings for him. His mind then wandered to the passionate kiss they shared after watching the prom video from their past. Well, she sure was right about the grand gestures! As he looked up ahead, a green building caught his eye. It was a coffee house, reminiscent of the one back at home that was a staple in his everyday life. The coffee house struck something inside of him. There was something so familiar about it that he wanted to go inside. Besides, he needed time to call the airport and arrange a flight and this would be a great place to do that.

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Rachel stared at her empty cup of coffee as she sat at the table in the coffee house. Many of the customers had since come and gone. She could feel the hole that was forming in her heart. Ross certainly had a large piece of it, and he was now married to someone else. She wondered why life was so unfair. Why did he have to cheat on her? If that had not happened, who knows, would she be the one getting married to him right now? She thought of him marrying Emily and, all of a sudden, she was brought to a humbling realization. For the first time, she was seeing the situation in a different light. Ross was the kindest, most thoughtful man that she knew. He wasn't the type of guy to just be unfaithful. She had pushed Ross away. She had hurt him too. She knew how much he had loved her. He was just trying to salvage their relationship. She hadn't been thinking clearly at that point in her life when her career finally became a priority. She had selfishly allowed that mess to happen. She loved her job, but she should have been better about balancing her personal and professional lives. She suddenly felt a sense of guilt and remorse for being so blind to his feelings about their break-up this entire time. Her entire perspective shifted in that moment. She was just as much at fault. She used Mark to get back at Ross. The clarity of the situation was something she had been seeking for such a long time. They had both been so stupid. Instead of talking about it, they played games for more than a year. And now here they were. She had done too little, too late. She tucked her thoughts away, thinking that maybe someday, when it was the right time, they could have a rational conversation and she would apologize to him, just to put it in the past and move on. She took a deep breath and let it out. She needed to get home. There was no use staying in this city. Besides, Pheebs was super pregnant and she had left her there all alone. She collected herself and rose from the table as she prepared to hail a cab and head to the airport. She approached the entryway of the coffee house and looked up. Her insides jolted as her hand covered her mouth and she gasped.

Ross was standing in the doorway, looking somewhat disheveled in his tuxedo. His expression showed that he was just as surprised to see her. His dark brown eyes pierced into her soul and she was overcome with emotion. Neither of them moved for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Ross stepped towards her without hesitation, never breaking their gaze, and he gently took her face in his hands as his lips met hers. Rachel, unable to process what was happening, couldn't help but give into the moment as she completely melted into him. Her arms wrapped around his neck as their mouths moved together in perfect rhythm. Her heart was beating through her chest as they stopped to gasp for air.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered. Ross looked around, suddenly realizing the novelty of the kiss in the coffee house doorway, but also noticing the numerous eyes that witnessed it this time. He grabbed her hands. "Come with me", he said quickly, as he guided her out the door. He led Rachel by the hand as he looked left and right. He noticed an area between the coffee house and the neighboring building and pulled her into it.

"I couldn't do it."

Rachel cleared her throat. "You couldn't do what?" Rachel asked innocently. She hoped she knew the answer.

"I couldn't get married. I couldn't stop thinking about you after I saw you there and I realized that even though I have no idea if you and I are in a place to have something right now, I couldn't give up the chance of knowing that someday maybe we could.

"What are you saying?" Rachel asked, as tears began to pool in her eyes.

"I don't know why it took me this long to say it. But I'm saying it now. I love you, Rachel. Even marrying someone else isn't enough to keep me from loving you. I love you so damn much, and I always will. " His voice cracked as he filled with emotion. Holding each others' hands between their beating hearts, they looked into each other's eyes.

"There could be a thousand women in a room, and I would still only see you, Rach."

Rachel closed her eyes and let out a soft chuckle. "Ross..."

He leaned his forehead against hers. "How's this for a grand gesture?" He asked with a shy smile.

His smile suddenly transitioned to a look of urgency as he realized how badly he needed her in that moment. He moved his hands down to her waist and pressed his lips against hers firmly. The weight of the kiss pushed them back against the wall behind them. Rachel sighed into his mouth as she wrapped her arms around him. As their tongues danced around each others', Ross moved his hands all around her upper body slowly as if he were memorizing every part of her. He gently grazed her cheeks and then he ran his hands through her silky dark blonde hair.

Rachel had since longed for the feeling of Ross's arms to be wrapped around her again, to feel his lips against hers. She gave into the moment, completely forgetting about the doubts she had been pouring over previously. Ross had always loved so fiercely. Here he was, sweeping her off her feet again, and this time, she was certain they would work out. It took nearly losing each other to realize how much she needed him.