Chapter Text
You're On Your Own
A Friends Fan Fiction
Notes: This focuses on Rachel raising Emma on her own. In my own headcanon I did not see Rachel and Ross getting married. I never enjoyed them as a couple. I own no Friends characters.
"Honey, You two are on your own."
Janice's words hit Rachel like a tidal wave. She started to cry mostly because she had come to the realization that she was right.
She loved Ross but deep down inside she was worried the relationship would not last despite the fact that they had just had a child together.
A few minutes later Monica came in the room. When she saw her best friend crying she immediately got worried.
"Rach, what's wrong?"
"Well, Janice and I were just talking."
Monica rolled her eyes. "What trouble is she causing now? She drives Chandler so crazy."
Rachel grabbed a tissue from the box on her bedside table and dabbed at her eyes. "We were just having a conversation about raising our children and she was just telling me that since she is single she'll be raising the child on her own. She said the same thing will happen with me and Emma."
Monica couldn't believe that Janice had the nerve to say something like that to Rachel. She also couldn't believe that she was actually agreeing with Janice given her brother's relationship record and how especially rocky Ross's relationship with Rachel had been.
"Mon?" Rachel looked at Monica expectantly.
Monica sighed. "I agree with Janice actually. And you know who else would probably also agree?"
"No, who?"
Monica went to the doorway to make sure no one else was coming down the hall. She shut the door so that way no one could overheard their conversation.
"Carol and Susan."
"You talked to them?"
"I just hung up with Carol. She called to congratulate you and Ross. She is really worried for the two of you actually. When I hung up with her I told Chandler what she said and he agrees."
Rachel was shocked. "Are they going to let Ben come to the hospital to see Emma?
Monica shook her head. "I think they want to wait for them to meet until they are a little bit older if that's okay with you."
Rachel nodded. "That is fine with me Monica but shouldn't Ross be part of this conversation too?"
Monica shook her head. "No Rachel. Due to the child custody agreement Carol and Susan would prefer that you and Emma meet with them on your own without Ross."
"Why do you think Carol and Susan agree with Janice?" Rachel whispered.
Monica drew in a deep breath and took Rachel's hand in hers."
"I love my brother Rachel I really do but I think the reason Carol and Susan agree with Janice is because they have seen a side to Ross that they don't particularly like..you know with his temper issues and everything like that. That's why they had to get full custody of Ben in the first place. They didn't feel Ben was in a safe situation living with Ross. I do think that eventually Carol and Susan would like Ben and Emma to have a relationship."
"Don't you think his behavior will change now that we have a child?"
" I hope so. I've seen a darker side of him I did not like throughout your whole relationship especially when you were dating Mark. He was really possessive of you"
"That was a long time ago Monica."
"Do you think that you will be safe and happy with Ross Rachel?"
"I'm not really sure and I think that's why what Janice said upset me so much. I don't want to raise Emma totally on my own."
Monica smiled. "You won't be totally on your own. You have me and Chandler, you have Phoebe & Mike and Joey, you have your family and you have my parents. We're all here for you Rachel."
" I love you Mon." Rachel squeezed her hand tightly."
Monica stood up and kissed Rachel's cheek. "I love you too Rach."
There was a knock at the door.
"Am I interrupting anything?" It was Ross.
Monica sent her brother an uncomfortable glance and excused herself.
"What's up with her?" Ross asked.
Rachel was quiet for ten minutes.
"She told me Carol and Susan called to congratulate us."
Ross bristled. "That was nice of them. Is Ben coming to see Emma?"
" No Ross. He isn't. It's part of the custody agreement."
"That's so dumb. Ben should have the chance to meet his sister."
" Carol told Monica on the phone that she is worried about us Ross. I am worried about us too."
Ross searched Rachel's eyes in concern. "What's wrong Rachel? "
". I guess when Janice....
Ross's eyes suddenly grew angry. "What kind of ideas did Janice put in your head?"
Rachel gulped. "Well we were talking about raising our children and she basically eluded to the fact that I will mostly be raising Emma by myself."
"She has a lot of nerve!"
Rachel could sense that Ross was about to lose his temper.
"Ross......."
"What?!"
"Did you ever consider that your temper is the reason why Carol and Susan have full custody of Ben?"
"What does that have anything you do with what Janice said to you?"
Rachel inhaled deeply.
"It has everything to do with it don't you see?"
"How? Explain to me how everything is connected!"
Rachel's eyes met Ross's for the first time since their conversation began.
"It's your temper Ross. The child custody agreement has everything to do with your emotional control and your temper."
Ross was silent.
Rachel's eyes started to water again.
"I'm scared Ross, okay?"
"What are you scared of?"
"You Ross!!"
Ross's face fell. "Me?"
Rachel looked away. Fresh tears were starting to fall down her cheeks.
"Rachel?"
"Yes. That's why Carol Susan and Monica are so worried about us. I want this to work Ross but I'm not sure it can. I think Janice sees that too which is why she said that I will be raising Emma by myself."
"Rachel, I am capable of change. I would never hurt you or Emma and Carol or Susan should know that I'd never hurt Ben either."
"Then why did Carol and Susan decide to get full custody of Ben?"
"I hope they will change their minds sooner or later about that."
"Well you'll have to work that out with them."
" I love you Rachel Green... I always have." Ross whispered.
Rachel reached over for another tissue in the box on the bedside table.
"I love you too Ross.. but that's the problem.
"What's the problem?"
Rachel looked at Ross sadly/
" I really want to trust that you will change your behavior but I am having trouble believing it." she whispered.