A/N. So here it is, the opening chapter of the fourth installment of my Mondler series. Sorry it took so long, and sorry that it got so long. I honestly couldn't help either.

But first, since today is her birthday, and I've been wanting to do that for ages anyway, here goes:

I hereby officially dedicate this story to Starbuckmeggie. Because. And because she was always there for me, almost religiously reviewing just about every single one of my chapters, always helping me out when I needed it – and last but not least because she did such an amazing job of writing up the same section of the canon I'm going to tackle now (shaking in my shoes all the while too.) Check out the stories, if you haven't already, they're soo worth reading!

And you, dude, have a fun day, and many happy returns!

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Monica thought it was pretty ironic really. Exactly one year ago Chandler and she had faced a major life change and, when they found that they couldn't go on as before, as friends instead of lovers, had kept their relationship a secret. Now that they had decided to live together and were facing another major change in their lives, they actually wanted to tell their friends, but were both finding it quite impossible to do. Almost as impossible as dealing with the thing itself, realizing that it was really happening.

Chandler and she were going to live together.

Live together. As a couple, always together, sharing everything. Here, in her apartment which had seen so many changes already. Chandler would evolve from a more or less permanent guest to the joint tenant. He would share the rent and the utilities, the same four walls, her rooms, her furniture, her appliances, inhabit the same space she did. He would share everything in her life. Granted, he was doing that already all the time, but now it would become official. Well, as soon as they told everyone.

She still couldn't believe it. Oh, she could believe that they both wanted it alright. It was the next logical step in their relationship after all. And it would work, she was quite sure of that. But could they really make it happen? And soon too?

Well, not unless they managed all the hurdles and obstacles that loomed ahead. The first of which was to tell their friends.

When they had discussed it, Chandler had opted for making a big announcement when they were all gathered together, thus getting it over quickly and, as he imagined, painlessly too (and with the least amount of fuss involved). But she had disagreed.

"It'll hurt too much," she'd argued. "It's a big deal, especially for Rachel and Joey, and they'll be hurt if we tell them at the same time as Phoebe and Ross. We have to tell each of them separately. And alone. Cushion the blow. It's the best way."

"You're making it sound as if we want to abandon them to their fate and go live upstate," Chandler had remarked dryly, but agreed with her eventually. As she'd known he would.

That had been last week on Thursday and now it was Monday afternoon. One week already after their return from Vegas and they still hadn't managed to tell anybody about their plans, least of all Rachel and Joey. It was quite maddening, but she just hadn't been able to get Rachel alone even once over the whole weekend. Monica had never before realized how much they all used to hang out together, especially on the weekends. From Friday afternoon to Sunday night it had been pizza and TV, hanging out at the Perk, going to the movies, shopping, visiting, games night, breakfast-brunch … and never a single chance in between for a quiet talk with Rachel alone. Or for Chandler to talk to Joey. It was almost as if everything had conspired against them to stop them from carrying out their plan. Their beautiful wonderful plan to move in together.

But not for much longer. Today was it. Today they would tell them. Get it over with and move on.

Actually she had decided that this was the day, the day they told everyone, this very morning when she'd still been in bed with Chandler. Because Monday was her day off, it usually was the one day of the week when Chandler would get up before her – that is if she nagged, urged, pushed or even kicked him long enough to get him out of bed and into the bathroom before Rachel would drag herself from her room. It didn't always work. This morning he had actually succeeded to sidetrack her simply by extending their good morning cuddle into a quite wonderful belly rub and massage and when his fingertips had started to stray past her mount and between her labia, feeling for and finding her clit, she had completely lost herself in the moment, even almost giving in to his gentle urging when she felt his erection pressing against her buttocks although she was still officially on her period. But then they'd heard Rachel's alarm going off, reminding them that he only had about fifteen minutes left before Rachel, never her best on most mornings and a perfect dragon on Monday mornings, would finally crawl out of bed and block the bathroom for at least an hour. Then he'd be forced to use his own bathroom and risk walking in on Joey's date of the weekend, or worse, having to evict the birds and clean the tub first, and then have Joey's date walk in on him.

Yes, it was high time for changing their living situations. They really, really, needed to make it happen – and today would mark the start.

And now, finally, things seemed to actually shape up in their favor. Chandler had come home early as promised, right on time for coffee, and looking so neat and handsome too in his nice dark grey suit and blue shirt, with his tie complementing her lavender shirt; and she'd been so happy to see him and excited about what they were going to do she had nearly strangled him with her welcome. Now they were cuddling on the sofa, after he'd hung his jacket on a kitchen chair and taken his shoes off too (she just couldn't help feeling smug about how unthinkingly and naturally he now adhered to her rules, and nearly always too). As she nestled close to him, fitting herself against his chest, she suddenly remembered that after five days her period was as good as finished. They could have sex again tonight, and it would be their well-earned reward for finally telling their friends and getting to move on. The thought alone sent a warm shiver down her back and sides. Oh, it was going to be so, so good…

Chandler stretched out luxuriously and drew her closer with one arm around her, his hand casually resting on the curve of her hip.

"You know, when we move in together, can I get a gumball machine?"

Well that felt a bit out of left field, but no matter. "Of course! Joey wouldn't let you have one?"

"No. When it comes to sweets, he's surprisingly strict." Chandler mused. Yeah, figured. Anything even slightly related to food would always fall under Joey's personal and strict cognizance, for him to control and dispose of as he saw fit – regardless of who had provided it in the first place. Or where it had originated. Even if it was from her fridge. Especially if it was from her fridge.

"Hey, have you figured out a way to tell him you're moving out?"

"No, no, I keep trying, you know? I can get out, 'Joey, I have too…' but then I lose my nerve and I always finish with, '… go to the bathroom.'" Chandler looked thoughtful. "He may think I'm sick."

So, it was just the same for him. High time then to deal with it, or they'd never find a good time and would dance around it, forever stalling and delaying until five months had gone by and their friends found out on their own.

"You know, I really hate to have to tell Rachel, but I … We just have to get it over with! You know, the next time we see them we're just gonna tell them. Okay? That's it!"

He grinned wryly at her determination. "Oh, so that's how this is gonna work now? You're just gonna order me around all the time?"

If this had been anyone else, she would – probably - have tried to mitigate, but she knew he'd understand, take it the right way, so she didn't even blink. "Pretty much...!"

"All right." Philosophically and not in the least perturbed at the prospect, even shrugging it off. Her man. Her wonderful future live-in boyfriend.

Then Joey came in, heying them casually as he made a bee-line for her fridge, and only then acknowledging Chandler who already looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Hey man, you feeling any better?" Chandler put on his silently suffering martyr's look, shrugging and grunting Joey's concerns away. Monica instantly realized two things – first that here was the chance, the perfect chance they'd been waiting for, and second that Chandler was about to chicken out - again.

But not on her watch. So she jumped up and dragged him up with her and to his credit he followed her lead immediately as she seized upon the golden chance. She would have preferred Chandler telling Joey on his own, but if they told him together, maybe he would help her with telling Rachel? But first things first.

"Joey, we have something to tell you."

"Oh my God!" Joey's face lit up joyfully and she realized that they were standing close together with solemn expressions, for all the world like a couple expecting a blessing. "You're pregnant!"

Or just expecting?

"No-o-o!" Chandler looked shocked to the core. He even checked with her to make sure. "Um, no?"

For god's sake, she'd just finished her period, how could he have forgotten? She shook her head emphatically and couldn't help feeling a slight sting when he seemed to breathe easier immediately.

"No-o-o!"

Now Joey sat down at the kitchen table, looking a little confused, and they walked up to him together, Chandler visibly steeling himself.

"Look Joey, here's the thing. Monica and I have decided to live together, here." He swallowed heavily. "So, I'm gonna be moving out, man..." and his voice died away at Joey's frozen expression and for a moment Monica thought he would turn and run. Chandler had never been able to face Joey with bad news.

There was a short pause while Joey digested the news and she sensed Chandler holding his breath. She was holding hers too. Then - "Wow!" Joey made a visible though futile effort to pull himself together, getting up from his seat. "Well, uh… Hey! I'm really happy for you guys! Congratulations!" He even took hold of her to smack her hurriedly on the cheek and then turned around abruptly, heading for the door. She managed to catch him just as he wanted to rush out blindly.

"Wait! Joey! Joey! Are you okay?!"

He tried to fob her off. "Yeah, I gotta go! I, um, got an acting job." Then he paused with his back to them, his shoulders slumping dejectedly. "Like you'd believe that … This sucks!"

"Look, I-I'm just gonna be right across the hall." Chandler's voice sounded quite strained. "And I promise you, the minute Monica and I break up I'm moving right back in with you!"

Really? Using the B-word in vain and in front of Joey too? She'd taught him better than that, surely? "Maybe that's now...!"

Fortunately Joey cut across the sudden tension before Chandler could wither away under her glare.

"Okay! Look-look-look, uh, if you're gonna be moving in with him I feel it's my responsibility to tell you the truth about him! Okay?" He paused dramatically, getting himself quite worked up. "He's a terrible roommate! Terrible! He uh, forgets to umm… Oh-oh he always, he always umm—Oh, who am I kidding! He's the best roommate ever!" And roughly pushing her aside he practically flew into his roommate's arms for a giant bear hug while Chandler manfully stood his ground, tearstained shirt and cracking ribs notwithstanding, even patting Joey's back soothingly. Monica couldn't help marveling at the intensity of their feelings. It felt like separating Siamese twins.

All of a sudden she felt completely superfluous. Those two clearly needed more time – a lot more time, time moreover that she could put to a much better use than watching the bromance anguish and feeling left out. One down, three to go – hey, what if she went down to the Perk to see if Ross and Phoebe were there? Then she could tell them already and she and Chandler could tackle Rachel together as soon as she came home. Yes, that was the way to do it. All in one go. Maybe, if she was extra lucky, Rachel would be in the Perk too?

.

Except she hadn't been and Monica decided to wait for her in her apartment rather than remain in the Perk where either Phoebe or Ross – or both - would be sure to blurt out the news to Rachel as soon as they caught sight of her and thus spoil everything. (Or even let her jump to the same erroneous conclusion that Joey and then Phoebe too had – she still had no clue what exactly could have triggered it. Was it really the shirt?) But no, no matter how hard it would be, it would be much better if she got Rachel alone, here, in the familiar comforting surroundings where the shock could be much better cushioned. Good thing she had made cookies too, just in case more substantial comfort was needed… Oh god, someone was coming down the hallway, was that her already? But no, it was Chandler.

"Ugh, I thought you were Rachel!"

"What gave me away?" Normally this would have made her laugh at herself, but she was just too nervous. Three down, one to go!

"I just have to tell her, I have to get it over with. I told Ross and Phoebe and she's the only one left!" Chandler's face lit up. "Okay, so that's it, everybody knows! Its official, we're moving in together! No turning back." He grinned at her and lowered his voice dramatically. "Are you scared? Are ya?"

"No." Not of that, but she bet he would be scared if he still had to tell Joey.

"Wow that was my scariest voice! You're very brave." He wrapped his arms around her and she was just starting to relax against him when Rachel came in, right on cue.

"Hey! Ugh, I had the worst day!" Monica winced. Of course it had to be like that. "You know, you think you're making progress at work and then your boss calls you Raquel -!"

"Hey listen, for the first four years of my work everybody called me Sha-la-laq." Chandler offered lamely, wincing when Rachel just looked puzzled. And vaguely irritated – Rachel hated to have her thunder stolen. "Seriously."

"I believe you." Rachel hung up her purse and jacket. "So, it was right in the middle of a staff meeting so of course no one else wants to correct her so everyone else is calling me Raquel! By the end of the day, the mailroom guys were calling me Rocky!"

"Well, I-I still think you're very-very nice and very pretty…" You had to hand it to Chandler, at least he tried.

"What?"

Only to give up again, leaving her to it and contenting himself with watching from the sofa. "All yours babe." Typical. Why did she have to do everything herself all the time?! Just because she was the best didn't mean everybody should stop trying …! But now was not the time.

"Have a seat." She urged Rachel to sit at the kitchen table just where Joey had gotten the news (and was that a good omen?) and took a deep breath. "Okay, listen umm, Chandler and I … are going to live together. Here."

There. It was done. Now for the storm to break loose …

"Oh my God!" Rachel's eyes widened. "That's so great! I'm so happy for you guys!"

Wait, what? "Really?!"

"And that was so sweet of you to ask! Oh my God, the three of us are gonna have such a good time living together!" As both hers and Chandler's jaws almost hit the floor, Rachel clapped her hands together in almost childish joy. And all of a sudden Monica's courage left her. It was too much. She just couldn't bring herself to spoil that joy, not after getting Rachel out of her funk so successfully. Much better to do it in stages, giving her time to get used to the idea. And maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to have, say, a transitional period? Surely she couldn't throw Rachel out just like that?

So - "Yes, we are!" she agreed, impatiently dismissing Chandler's frantic but futile gesturing and eyerolls, as Rachel beamed at him.

"And Chandler, you're gonna have to watch those long showers you take in the morning because you know Raquel can't be late…!"

"Rach…" he protested weakly.

"Yeah, he's gonna work on that." Monica assured her smugly, quite enjoying his silent spluttering now.

"Ohh! This is so exciting! Oh God…" Rachel headed for her room, almost floating above the ground in her happiness. Just short of the door she suddenly gasped and turned around, beaming. "Come and knock on my door…"

Monica caught on immediately, singing "We'll be waiting for you…" out in reply as Rachel shut the door. This was just too sweet. And so true! 'Where the towels are Hers and Hers and His, Three's Company too!' What better way to cheer up Rachel and prepare her for the final blow?

"Mon? Monica!" Seeing as Chandler was close to an apoplexy she reluctantly abandoned her fantasies of emulating a TV show in favor of the reality of here and now.

"What was that all about? I thought you were going to tell her!"

"I did!"

"Right, and now she thinks I'm Jack moving in with Janet and Chrissy!"

Monica sighed. "Alright! I was just trying to break it to her gently."

"Gently, huh? You really think it won't hurt as much if she thinks she's Chrissy?"

She bristled. "Would you rather do it?"

"Me? She's your roommate!"

"I helped you with Joey! And I told Ross and Phoebe! That's three to one and I already prepared the ground!" She folded her arms over her chest. "If I have to do it, you gotta let me do it my way."

Chandler sighed and took off his jacket to hang it on a chair again. "Okay, fine. But just to be clear, I can't be Jack."

She pouted. "Aw, why not? You'd be perfect as Jack!"

"But I'm not a chef! You're the chef!"

"Oh, you want to be Janet then? Or Terri?"

His eyes widened. "I get to choose? Wow!"

Monica sighed. "Okay, fine. You're right. I'll tell her. But I wish we could tell her together. It's so hard!"

"Yeah, I know. Telling Joey really took it out of me too."

"Aw. How is Joey by the way?"

"Well, when I left he was ordering pizza, so I guess he's okay."

"You'd better check on him again, though. He really took it hard!"

"Okay, so when are we gonna tell Rachel what is actually gonna happen?"

"Soon! I-I just couldn't before. You saw how upset Joey got! I couldn't do that to her, she's my best friend!"

"Well, Joey's my best friend."

She simply couldn't resist. "I'm not your best friend?"

Just as she'd hoped it immediately threw him for a loop. "But you - you just said –" And then he caught himself again, much faster than she'd expected. "Of course you're my best friend." Monica basked in her triumph, deeply satisfied with herself. "Would you please tell Rachel though?"

"All right. At least I'm prepared." She took up the tin of cookies she'd made earlier and was relieved to find that Joey hadn't confiscated them yet. Chandler's face lit up as he tried to grab one.

"Oh yes!" When she slapped his hand away, he pouted. "Hey-hey!"

"These aren't for you! Are you upset?"

"I am now!" he retorted. Fortunately Rachel chose that moment to come out of her room and smile conspiratorially at Chandler.

"Hey roomie!"

Chandler didn't even take the time to smile back as he headed to the door. "Okay, bye!"

And then it was just the two of them, finally alone. So this was it. She just had to get it over with.

As soon as Rachel was safely settled on the couch with her book, she sat beside her and just plunged in.

"Rach, there's something uh, important I have to tell you."

Rachel looked at her and then gasped in joyous surprise.

"Are you pregnant?!"

Gah! What was the matter with them all, why did they all have babies on their minds all the time? "No! But, I'm throwing this shirt away! I think there was a little misunderstanding before."

"Um-hmm." Rachel's eyes were already sliding back to her book.

"Umm, when I said that uh, that Chandler and I wanted to umm, live together we meant alone together."

That finally did it. Rachel stared, and then started to laugh at herself.

"Oh my God! Oh, that's funny, I can't believe I did that!"

"Oh no sweetie, no! This is my fault, I wasn't clear! I'm really sorry. And listen, you take as much time as you need to move out okay? There's absolutely no rush." Of course, knowing Rachel she would start to wail now that Monica was throwing her out right this minute, mercilessly, out into the cold and rain …

"Okay." Unbelievably, instead of bewailing her unfair fate Rachel calmly resumed her reading. Huh. Maybe she was only trying to hide her anguish?

"Okay. Don't you want a cookie?" As a small token comfort in that huge pain she must surely be feeling?

"Sure?" But when Monica handed her one, Rachel barely looked at it. "Thanks."

She really didn't look upset, but Monica knew how easily Rachel cried. So maybe a tissue would get those tears to flow?

"Maybe, do you need a tissue?" If not for tears, then maybe to prevent crummies?

For a split second she thought that had done the trick as Rachel suddenly grimaced. But instead of suddenly gushing tears she only spat the half-eaten cookie on the tissue. "Monica, where did you get these?!"

Nope, still no tears, not a single one. "I made them!"

Rachel promptly put the cookie pieces back into her mouth. "Ooh God, they're so yummy!"

So that was it. No tears, no bawling, no wailing, just calm, matter-of-fact acceptance, bordering on indifference. Just as if this was just another afternoon in their apartment, one of many more instead of the last one.

Just what was wrong with her girlfriends? Both the guys had reacted just as she'd expected them. Joey had almost gone to pieces and Ross had waxed all sentimental and big-brotherly, but the girls - Phoebe for one had seemed more interested in her imaginary child's name and now Rachel didn't seem to care at all. Maybe she needed some more time? If she left her alone for a while, letting her realize the import on her own, the truth would surely dawn on her.

"Um, you know what, I'm just gonna check with the guys …" Monica faltered, suddenly uncertain again, but Rachel didn't even look up from her book as she left.

Over at apartment 19 it looked like the boys were already dividing up their stuff or at least making a half-hearted start. She was pretty sure Chandler was going to leave most of his things behind anyway. Good thing too, since it would only clutter up her apartment.

"So I, I told Rachel it was just gonna be the two of us," she announced offhandedly.

"Oh yeah?" Chandler looked relieved. "Well, how'd she take it?"

"Really well. Yeah. Surprisingly well." Monica sat in the nearest Barcalounger and pursed her lips. "Yeah, she didn't cry. She wasn't angry or sad." The more she chewed on that, the more it rankled her.

"And you're upset because you didn't make your best friend cry?" Chandler commiserated.

"I mean, all I'm asking for is just a little emotion! Is that too much to ask after six years?! I mean what? Are-are-are Rachel and I not as close as you guys?! I mean do we not have as much fun?! Don't I deserve a few tears?!"

Both of the guys quite carefully kept their faces blank.

"I mean when we told Joey, he cried his eyes out!"

"Hey! I did not cry my eyes out!" He had to blink though. Again. "Come on! It's like the end of an era! No more J-man and Channy's!"

Chandler frowned. "Okay, I gotta ask, who calls us that?!"

As Joey just shrugged sullenly, Monica got up again and marched to the door. She had to talk it out with Rachel, no matter how bad it got. Joey was right, it was the end of an era. Six years. Six years in which so many things had happened, so much laughter and tears, so many good and bad times. How could that not mean anything to Rachel? How could it not make her cry? There was no reason she could think of that Rachel would not bawl her eyes out over something huge like this. Not when she was apt to cry when it was her turn to take out the trash. Or if she broke a nail.

But when Monica reentered her apartment, instead of flooding it with her tears her roommate was calmly painting her toe nails. On the sofa too! AND no towel underneath either. It was enough to make her burst into tears herself, but Monica gritted her teeth determinedly. She would get those tears out of Rachel, one way or another.

"Hey. So um, I was thinking that maybe we should start dividing up our stuff."

Rachel shrugged. "Okay!"

"You know, there's no point in dragging it out. Dragging out the long process of you moving out and us not living together anymore...!"

"Okay." Like talking to a rock. It was really maddening. How to get through that wall of indifference? How to get her to crack?

"Hey Rach, what about this?" She blindly grabbed something from the table. Oh, that star thingie that was probably a paper weight. Or a candle holder. Right, now it would serve as tear inducer. "Huh? Who-who gets this? See, I don't know if I want it because it might be, you know, too many memories!"

Rachel grabbed the star. Ah, finally some interest. "What the hell is that?"

"I don't know." Maybe something else – ah yes. The big plate would do admirably. "Hey, Rachel, you want the big plate? I want you to have the big plate."

"Wow! Mon, thanks! I love this plate!" Ah, finally some progress.

"Something to remember me by!" Whenever you're thinking of all the wonderful times here, wherever you will end up once you left …

"Mon, honey, you're not dying. I'm just moving out. Y'know, I mean we're gonna see each other all the time." It seemed to her that now at least a smidgen of uncertainty had crept into Rachel's voice.

"But still, it's a big change. The end of an era, you might say!" Monica put everything in her glare at Rachel, almost making her recoil.

"Are you okay? You're not blinking."

"I'm fine! I just, I'm thinking how much it's an end of an era …!"

"Oh, all right. But you know - I gotta say, I don't, I don't think six years counts as an era." Rachel turned to her toe nails again.

Not just any six years, but six exceedingly meaningful ones. "An era is defined as a significant period of time. Now, it was significant to me, maybe it wasn't significant to you!" She really wanted to shake Rachel now who seemed quite bewildered now.

"What is the matter with you?!"

Monica jumped up, quite openly enraged. "What is the matter with you?! Why aren't you more upset?! Aren't you gonna be sad that we're not gonna be living together anymore?! I mean aren't you gonna miss me at all?!"

That finally seemed to get through – or at least get Rachel to pay attention.

"All right, fine. But don't get mad at me." Rachel even paused here to look at her guilelessly which had Monica clench her fists. "It's - it's just a little hard to believe."

Huh? When had she ever lied about something as important as this? "What's hard to believe?"

"Well you know, it's you guys. You-you do this kind of stuff! You know? I mean, you-you were gonna get married in Vegas and then you backed out!" Wide-eyed and quite earnest now. "I guess I'm not upset because I don't see you guys going through with it. I'm sorry."

For a split second Monica wanted to retaliate, scream at her that they had only backed out because Ross and Rachel had shown them so blatantly what a fool move getting married in Vegas would have been. So yes, she and Chandler were - more quiet. They weren't spontaneous and reckless. They didn't wear their hearts on their sleeves, didn't trash out their feelings in front of the others, letting everyone know where they were at any time, in any phase of their relationship. They tended to keep the important things to themselves, didn't let their emotions cloud their judgement, didn't let their passions rule everything and goad them into crazy schemes. Or at least not too much. They tried their best to be adults in an adult relationship, to build it up, maintain it and move it forward too as well as they could. Theirs had never been a whirlwind romance, or a passionate dream of eternal harmony and bliss in joyful disregard of real life. They had worked hard to get where they were now, fighting for every inch of progress and would keep working at it – forever if needed. And she didn't want it to be any different really. Even if it made them more believable to their friends.

And also because all this wasn't the real issue here anyway.

The truth was that Rachel had so flat out refused to believe her because she dreaded change. Any change, but especially if it involved change of the one thing that had been a steadfast constant support in her life for the past six years. Her. Monica. And her apartment.

Quite suddenly Monica felt herself pitying her roommate and in spite of her efforts to sound as calm and convincing – and adult - as possible, her voice wavered.

"Rachel … it's going to happen. Chandler is gonna move in here."

Rachel looked stricken. "But I …"

"No-no, wait! Just let me finish, okay? This isn't something that we just, we just impulsively decided in-in Vegas, this is something we both really want. And it is going to happen."

Now Rachel's lower lip was starting to tremble.

"It is? Really?"

"Yeah, sweetie." Oh dear, now that she finally got what she wanted, Monica wished she could take it back again. So this was how Chandler had felt. Who could possibly bear this?

"I mean we're not, we're not gonna live together anymore?" Monica winced when she heard Rachel's voice starting to break, and felt her own tears welling up.

"No…"

"What? Oh my God! I'm gonna miss you so much!" Rachel was freely crying now, the waterworks finally turned on full force as she reached out blindly.

"I'm gonna miss you!" It was no less than the truth. All those wonderful times with Rachel here, in her apartment - the girls' apartment throughout, the central haven of their little tightknit group – were coming to an end. Everything was changing.

"I mean it's the end of an era!" Rachel wailed.

Oh the relief. That was what she had needed to hear, the confirmation. It was done, the mission was accomplished, they were on the same page again. At last. It felt so good, despite all the pain and anguish.

"I know!"