The gang gathers at Central Perk coffee shop and are looking at photo’s of Ben, Ross’s son. Rachel is leaning all over Ross and seems completely oblivious to the fact that he’s in love with her. Joey announces to the group that he’s participating in a fertility study in order to earn some extra cash.

Later, everyone has gathered at Monica’s apartment to have a barbecue to celebrate Rachel’ birthday. Ross stops by to wish Rachel a happy birthday, but she hasn’t arrived yet. He announces to the girls that he has to go to China for his museum job, and he gives Monica his itinerary for the trip. The trip has something to do with dinosaur bones but Ross chooses not to explain it.

Ross joins the guys out on the balcony where they are barbecuing. He mentions to them that Rachel has a date tonight with a guy named Carl. Joey and Chandler both tell him it’s time to move on and forget about Rachel. Ross asks the guys to give his birthday gift to Rachel.

Later Rachel opens the gift from Ross and sees that it is an expensive piece of jewelry (a cameo). Rachel had seen the cameo at a store and mentioned to Ross that she liked it. She was surprised that he remembered it. At this point, Chandler let it slip that Ross was in love with Rachel. Needless to say, she was stunned. Chandler starts acting nervous because Ross told him to keep it a secret.

Rachel thinks this is a big thing, so she rushes to the airport to try and talk with Ross. Rachel arrives at the departure gate. She calls out to Ross but he is wearing headphones and can’t hear her. He boards the plane.

In the meantime, Joey has learned to put his girlfriend’s needs above his own. He makes her happy so she keeps sending him fruit baskets.

Back at Monica’s, Rachel discusses her feelings about Ross. She wants to try with Ross but it seems complicated because he is everyone’s friend and Monica’s brother. Phoebe warns Rachel that people could get hurt if things don’t work out.

Rachel has another date with Carl, but she finds herself daydreaming about Ross the whole time. She suddenly decides she has to go to the airport to meet Ross at the arrival gate, so she leaves Carl in the middle of their date.

At the airport, Ross gets off the plane with a new girlfriend.