My Heart Won't Let Me

Leap

Chapter 15

‘Leap’

Rachel knew Ross came from a big family, but she sometimes forgot how big it was - until today. She was a little bit overwhelmed, she wasn't going to lie. The Gellers clans were huge. It wouldn't be the first time she met them – having to grow up as Monica's best friend, but it never ceased to amaze her how many relatives Monica and Ross' family had.

Emma was a huge hit amongst the family, Rachel hadn't even surprised - not to be biased, but her baby daughter was indeed beautiful. People had come and gone, talking and gushing over their little 'family'. Ross and Rachel certainly acted like they were no more than an ordinary married couple - who were pretty much in love, it fooled everyone else in the family. Ross had his hands glued to her waist the entire time and she played along by smiling and leaning toward him - albeit a little awkward than they usually did, thanks to those three words he had let slip out his tongue merely an hour ago. She couldn't seem to shake off the nagging feeling on the back of her mind whenever she thought about what he had said earlier that night.

"I love you", he had finally said to her for the first time in six years.

He loved her.

He said those three words she always wanted to hear.

He had said it and she knew she should be ecstatic, but instead, she panicked and ran away from him. She spent the next half hour in the restroom, trying to get herself together again and when she came back, she pretended nothing had happened between them and he acted along with her, though she certainly couldn't ignore the hint of hurt in his eyes.

"Well.. Look how famous our daughter is." Ross' voice interrupted her thoughts, gesturing to Judy Geller who had Emma in her arms, showing her off to other relatives.

She knew he was trying hard not to make things awkward between them and she really appreciated him. She wanted to talk, they needed to talk. She wasn't avoiding it. She just needed a little bit more time to really decide what she wanted.

"I barely saw my baby today, your mom is hogging her. She's really beautiful though and such a charmer, I wonder where she got those." Rachel said half-jokingly.

"You.." Ross murmured, looking at her with that look in his eyes and Rachel could feel her heart beating faster just by the way he was looking at her. "She's beautiful, just like you.. She's charming, and cheerful like you.. She's all you and everyday I'm thankful for that."

"Ross.." Rachel shook her head and sighed.

It was getting hard to control her feelings every time he touched her or when he spoke those sweet nothings to her ears - and especially harder after his confession earlier tonight. He had done that a lot today with his family watching them closely. He even almost kissed her on the lips once just yesterday during the rehearsal dinner, but eventually managed to dodge them after he realized what he was trying to do. But it was too late, a part of her was already disappointed by the kiss that didn't happen and she could've sworn her heart never beat this fast before. It seemed like her heart already made a decision for her, the only thing left to do was for her head to get aboard on this. She had to make a decision soon or else she might end up driving herself crazy.

"I'm just stating a fact.." Ross murmured almost audibly, looking away from her gaze.

Truthfully, this day had been particularly hard for Ross. Every time his family members mentioned how happy their little family looked, Ross couldn't help but feel a stab in his heart knowing they weren't real family - at least not like the way his entire extended family thought they were. He hated having to fake things when he was awfully aware how much in love he was with Rachel and that they could be a family they pretended today if she agreed to get back together and start a relationship with him again.