Ross: It's our first morning while living together.

Rachel: I know. To tell you the truth, I never thought I'd be here with you.

Ross: Me either. I'm really glad we are, though.

Rachel: Yeah.

(Someone knocks on the door. Rachel gets up to answer it. It's Joey.)

Rachel: Hey again, Joey.

Joey: Hi! What's up?

Ross: Everything's the same as it was five minutes ago, Joey.

Joey: Oh, okay. Well, I'll talk to you guys later then.

Rachel: Bye, Joey.

(Joey leaves.)

[Scene: Monica and Chandler's. Monica, Rachel, Ross, and Phoebe are there.]

Ross: Hey, Rach, are you gonna be home tomorrow?

Rachel: Do you really have to ask that?

Ross: Right, well, we've got Ben, and I was wondering if you'd spend the day with him. I have a lecture.

Rachel: Oh, yeah, I can do that.

Monica: Yeah, you can teach him some more practical jokes.

Ross: (Pause.) Monica, are you gonna be home?

Rachel: I won't teach him anything! Don't worry.

Monica: Chandler and I won't be here anyway. We are going to the art museum.

Phoebe: Chandler? An art museum? (Laughs.)

Rachel: I'll be fine, Ross. You said yourself that Ben has fun with me.

Ross: Maybe, maybe it's not such a good idea.

Phoebe: Geez, Ross, you're changing your mind over the jokes?

Ross: No, no, I mean, Ben's a lot of work to keep entertained. Maybe you shouldn't be handling that right now.

Rachel: Ross, I'm fine. Joey can help me out.

Ross: Okay. But I want to make sure he can help first.

Phoebe: Why so worried?

Ross: I, I'm not, I just, Ben is a lot of work...

(Phoebe looks at Rachel, who shrugs.)

Ross: What about you, Pheebs? You wanna help out with Ben?

Phoebe: Oh, I can't, I have a massage convention all day tomorrow.

Rachel: Massage convention?

Phoebe: Oh, don't even ask.

[Scene: Central Perk. Ross, Rachel, and Monica are there. Chandler and Joey enter.]

Monica: Hey, guys, how was the game?

Joey: Great!

Chandler: Knicks won, of course.

Ross: Why wasn't I invited?

Joey: (Pause.) So, uh, what's up with you guys?

Rachel: I get to spend tomorrow with Ben!

Chandler: Wow, really? That's a big job. Are you sure you can handle it? I mean, Ben's a wild seven-year-old.

Ross: He's a kid, not a monkey.

Monica: Chandler! Be supportive of Rachel! Otherwise you have to watch Ben.

Chandler: Of course you can handle it! You're great! You, you're gonna have your own kid in a few months. It'll be practice for seven years from then.

Joey: Hey, I can help. Can I help? Do you want me to help?

Rachel: Oh, yeah, I was actually going to ask you to. Thanks, Joey.

Joey: No problem, kids love me.

Ross: Seriously, why wasn't I invited to the game?

[Scene: Ross and Rachel's. Rachel and Joey are there waiting for Carol and Susan to drop off Ben. Ross is already gone.]

Joey: So, are you having a good time living with Ross? 'Cause if you're not, you could always move back in with me. Joey's door is always open for you.

Rachel: That's really sweet, Joey, and I appreciate it, but things are going great with Ross. The only thing that bugs me a little is that he cares too much. He's always asking how I'm doing and he's always taking time off of work if I'm not feeling well...

Joey: That doesn't sound bad.

Rachel: I know, I know. All the attention is nice. I just don't want him going out of his way just because I have a little morning sickness.

Joey: He's just worried about you. He didn't go through this with Carol.

Rachel: Yeah, you're right.

Joey: And you're happy with Ross, right?

Rachel: Yes. Since when did you get so protective of me?

Joey: I don't know. You're my friend. I don't want you to get hurt again.

Rachel: That means a lot to me, Joey. I'm lucky to have a friend like you.

(Someone knocks.)

Rachel: Oh, there's Carol.

Joey: Oh, hey, don't get up, I'll get it.

Rachel: Now that's something Ross would do.

Joey: (Getting the door for them.) Hey, guys! (To Ben.) Hey Ben!

Ben: Hi.

(They enter.)

Carol: Hi! I want to thank you again for doing this.

Rachel: Oh, it's fine, really. We have fun, right Ben?

Ben: Uh huh.

Susan: Okay, we gotta go. Thanks again.

Carol: Bye!

Joey and Rachel: Bye.

(They exit.)

Joey: Okay! Hi Ben! (To Rachel.) What now?

Rachel: Um, well, Ben, what do you wanna do?

Ben: I don't know.

Rachel: Okay.

Joey: Huh. Wanna watch TV and eat pizza?

Ben: Okay.

Rachel: That was easy.

Joey: Hey, I can teach him my "how you doin'!"

Rachel: (Pause.) Go home.

[Scene: Monica and Chandler's. Monica and Chandler are there.]

Monica: Chandler, hurry up!

Chandler: Mon, I don't wanna go.

Monica: Come on! This will be fun.

Chandler: Come on, an art museum? How boring is that?

Monica: It'll be fun. I promise.

Chandler: Yeah, well. I guess I can find something to do.

Monica: I already told you, there's no bar, Chandler.

Chandler: What kind of a museum doesn't have a bar?!

[Scene: Ross and Rachel's. Joey, Rachel, and Ben are watching TV.]

Ross: (Entering.) Hey!

Joey and Rachel: Hi.

Ross: Hey, Ben!

Ben: Hi, Dad.

Rachel: You're early.

Ross: Yeah, the lecture went well. Having fun?

Joey: We've been watching TV for an hour.

Ross: Huh.

Rachel: That's what he wanted to do.

Ross: No, no, it's good, I'm glad you didn't leave. You shouldn't be out and chasing after Ben. (Goes into another room, and then returns a few minutes later.) What happened to all the milk?

Rachel: Oh, uh, that was me. I was craving chocolate and all we had was chocolate milk mix. I'll go out and get some.

Ross: Oh, no, you stay here, I'll get it.

Rachel: No, no. I'll do it. I'm fine, Ross.

Ross: Are you sure?

Rachel: Yes. I haven't left the house all day. You stay here with Ben. He can tell you all about how I didn't teach him anything.

Ross: Okay. Okay. You're feeling okay?

Rachel: I'm fine.

Ross: Okay. Be careful.

Rachel: I'll be fine.

Joey: (To Rachel.) Now I know what you were talking about.

(Rachel nods.)

Ross: Okay, here's your coat. (Gives Rachel her coat.) And don't forget your cell phone. (Gives her the cell phone.)

Rachel: Okay, Ross. It's fine. (Gets her purse.) I'll be back soon.

Ross: Okay, bye! Be careful! I love you!

Rachel: Bye Ross, bye Joey. Bye Ben.

Ben: Bye.

Joey: Later.

(Rachel leaves.)

Ben: Dad, does Rachel live here too?

Ross: Yes, yes she does.

Ben: Why?

Ross: Well, you remember that little "we were on a break" thing that I told you about?

Ben: Yeah. Rachel said you weren't on a break, though.

Ross: Wh- okay, nevermind. Rachel and I decided that we had put that behind us and...

Joey: You're pretty bad at this.

Ross: Shh! And, um, we are back together now. Get it?

Ben: Yeah.

Ross: And, and Rachel is going to have a baby, which means you're going to have a new step-brother or sister.

Ben: Cool. Can I get some water?

Ross: Uh, yeah, sure. You know where it is, right?

Ben: Yeah. (Goes into the kitchen.)

(Short pause.)

Ross: (To Joey.) Rachel's fine. She's fine. She'll be fine. It's just milk. She's fine, right?

Joey: Ross, relax! She's fine!

Ross: Right. You're right. (Sits down.)

Joey: How are things going with you two?

Ross: Oh, great. It's going great. I love her so much.

Joey: Yeah, I know. That's good.

(Short pause.)

Ross: She's okay, right?

[Scene: The art museum. Monica and Chandler are on a tour.]

Chandler: Mon, this is so boring.

Monica: Well, maybe if you'd listen to the guide and actually look at the paintings.

Chandler: But they're so...hey, look at that one. Look at all the colors!

[Scene: Ross and Rachel's. Time lapse. Joey and Ben are watching TV, Ross is watching the door. Rachel enters.]

Ross: Hi! Hey! Are you okay?

Rachel: Ross, I'm fine.

Ross: Okay, good, good.

Rachel: Here's your milk. And Ben, I got you a candy bar.

Ben: Thanks!

(Joey clears his throat.)

Rachel: I got you one too, Joey. Your favorite.

Joey: Hey, thanks, Rach. Three Musketeers! How did you know this was my favorite?

Rachel: You told me.

Joey: Right.

[Scene: Monica and Chandler's. Monica and Chandler enter.]

Chandler: Wow! That Monet is amazing!

Monica: Didn't I tell you that the museum would be fun?

Chandler: You were right! I loved it! Those paintings from Van Gough were great!

Monica: I didn't think you'd get so into it.

Chandler: We have to go back again soon!

Monica: I guess so. I thought it was a little boring.

Chandler: Boring?! It was the opposite of boring!

Joey: (Entering.) Ah! You guys are home.

Chandler: Looking for something to eat?

Joey: Well, actually I was gonna take some money.

Monica: Weren't you just at Ross and Rachel's?

Joey: Yeah, but I can't take money from them while they're there.

Monica: Is Ben still there?

Joey: Yep.

Chandler: Hey, Joey, are you into art at all?

Joey: Art? Are you kidding me?

Chandler: Hey, art it great!

Joey: Well, that's the kind of thing you would like.

Monica: Okay! Come on, Chandler, I wanna say hello to Ben.

Chandler: Do we have to?

Monica: What?

Chandler: Me too!

[Scene: Ross and Rachel's. Everyone except Phoebe is there.]

Monica: Hey, Ben!

Ben: Hey, Monica.

Monica: Oh, I can't wait till I have my own baby!

Chandler: (To Joey.) I can.

Monica: What?

Chandler: Neither can I!

(The phone rings.)

Rachel: Oh, I'll get that.

Ross: Oh, no, no, you stay there, I'll get it. (Runs over to answer the phone.)

Monica: Whoa, what's all that about?

(Rachel shrugs.)

Ross: (On phone.) Alright. Okay. I'll see you in a few hours. (To the others.) That was Carol and Susan. They're running a little late.

Ben: I'm hungry.

Rachel: What do you want to eat?

Ben: Pizza!

Rachel: (Looks at Ross, who nods.) Okay, pizza it is.

Monica: Chandler, we're gonna be late to dinner.

Chandler: Oh, yeah. Dinner at...

Monica: That Italian caf� you like so much. I thought you'd hate the museum, so I made reservations there to make up for it.

Chandler: Oh, yeah! Cool museum, nice restaurant, what a great day. See you guys later.

(Monica and Chandler leave.)

Joey: Can I get in on that pizza?

Rachel: Can we go out? I'm so sick of staying here all day...

Ross: Uh, yeah, we can go.

Ben: Let's go!

Ross: Alright. Okay. Pizza sounds safe.

Rachel: I'm fine!

Joey: She's fine.

[Time lapse. They're eating pizza, still at the apartment.]

Joey: I can't believe how protective you are.

Ross: Well, pizza restaurants can be dangerous!

Joey: How?!

Ross: I don't know! There's...meat.

Rachel: Okay. Anyone want anything to drink? (Starts to get up.)

Ross: Oh, wait, no, I'll get it. What do you want?

Rachel: Ross, it's just to the kitchen.

Ross: Right, okay. Sorry.

(Rachel leaves. Ross and Joey converse quietly.)

Joey: Ross, dude, Rachel's fine. She can take care of herself. What is with you?

Ross: I don't know. I mean, with her being pregnant she shouldn't be doing anything too stressful! Walking to the kitchen can be really hard. (Pause.) I guess I just feel guilty. I mean, I hurt her so bad before�I couldn't forgive myself for years. I want her to know that I'll never do anything like that again. I want her to happy.

Joey: She's gotten over that, Ross. She forgave you. She knows you won't do that again and she knows how much you love her.

Ross: I guess you're right.

Joey: Of course I am! I'm always right! Now, have you introduced Ben to Baywatch?

[Scene: A restaurant. Monica and Chandler are having dinner.]

Chandler: I gotta thank you again for taking me to that museum! It was great!

Monica: You are so into this!

Chandler: No, I'm not. But those brush strokes and the vivid colors!

Monica: You said vivid! You are so into this!

Chandler: So? Art is manly. Men painted those pictures! Men!

[Scene: Ross and Rachel's. Joey is gone, Ross, Rachel, and Ben are waiting for Carol and Susan.]

Ross: Did you have fun today, Ben?

Ben: Uh huh.

Ross: Listen, let's keep that Baywatch incident between us, okay?

Ben: Okay.

(Someone knocks.)

Rachel: I'll get it.

Ross: (Quickly getting up.) No, no, I'll get it. (Answers the door for Carol and Susan.) Hi!

Carol: Hi! Hi, Ben!

Ben: Hi.

Susan: Did you have fun?

Ben: Uh huh.

Rachel: I'll get his coat. (Starts to get up.)

Ross: Oh, no, you stay there! I'll get his coat! (Runs off.)

Carol: What's wrong with him?

Rachel: I don't know. Maybe you can find out for me.

Ross: Okay, Ben, here's your coat. (To Carol.) So, I have him again in a few weeks?

Carol: Right. Thanks, Rachel.

Rachel: Any time.

Ben: Bye, Dad! Bye, Rachel!

Ross and Rachel: Bye, Ben.

(Carol, Susan, and Ben leave.)

Ross: (To Rachel.) Do you need anything? Can I get you anything?

Rachel: If I needed anything, I could get it myself, Ross.

Ross: (Sits down next to her.) I, I'm sorry. I just, I know you can take care of yourself, but I want you to know that I'm here to take care of you too.

Rachel: I know.

Ross: I think what hurt me most was watching Ben grow up, but not really being there. Y'know what I mean? Just kind of on the side. I wanted to be there. I wanted to help him grow up.

Rachel: That's what you wanted for us. You always knew that this is the way it would be. After we broke up, after Emily, after everything else, you still knew. You helped me know too.

Ross: I don't want to lose you again. I want you to know how much I love you and how much I care about you.

Rachel: Everything's going to be okay, Ross. You're going to be there to help our baby grow up. And there's no one I would rather have by my side. You just have to trust me when I say that everything is going to be okay.

Ross: Everything is going to be okay.

Rachel: Yes.

Monica: (Entering without knocking.) Hey, do you guys have any Diet Coke?

(They turn and glare at her.)

[Scene: Central Perk. Everyone is there.]

Joey: So, Pheebs, how was your massage thing?

Phoebe: Oh, it was okay.

Chandler: Will you tell us what it was now?

Phoebe: No. So, Rach, how was Ben?

Rachel: Fine. That kid's a real talker.

Joey: Yeah, y'know, I think he said about ten words to me. It's a new record!

Ross: Hey, he's just shy around you guys.

Monica: He's not shy around me. He likes me.

Chandler: When was the last time you talked to him?

Monica: I don't know. Shut up!

Chandler: You shut up.

Monica: You shut up, art lover!

Ross: Art lover?

Rachel: He knows the words and names.

Joey: Hey, Chandler, who's that guy that cut his ear off?

Chandler: Van Gough...I don't know!

Phoebe: And those smears on the canvas...

Chandler: Brush strokes...shut up!

(They laugh.)

Chandler: (Pause, then to Monica.) So, when are we going back?

- End -

I want feedback! E-mail me at [email protected]. Read the continuation of this one, TOW The Pregnancy Book.