Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You

Chapter 9: November 2007

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Just throwing it out there, one last time, that you should totally listen to the song while you read this… :)

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Rachel followed Ross out the front door, sitting down beside him on the front steps. Ross remained silent, looking down at the ground. Rachel wrapped her arms around herself, the feeling of winter starting to creep into the late autumn air. She looked over at Ross, studying his face, having learned to read all of his looks years and years ago.

"Where's Michelle?" Rachel finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Picking up Jackson from his dad's," Ross replied. "They'll be here later."

"So, you-you wanted to talk about something?" Rachel tried again after Ross slipped back into silence.

Ross nodded, still staring straight ahead for a moment, before turning toward her. "I-uh-I," he paused, laughing at himself as he shook his head. "I bought a ring," he finally said quietly.

"Oh," Rachel said, for some reason caught off guard by that. "Oh."

"Actually, I bought it about seven months ago."

"Oh?"

"But the thing is," Ross turned towards here. "The thing is, if that-if that happens…" he trailed off, again shaking his head. "This sounds so stupid, because it seems like all we do is fight lately, but," he took a deep breath, looking her in the eyes, "the thing is, if that happens…I feel like I'm taking us off the table for good."

Rachel's breath caught in her throat at that, though she wouldn't have known how to reply had she been able to speak.

"And, I know this sounds ridiculous, because we haven't been 'us' for years, but, god, I feel like-I feel like…I feel like, no matter how many year or-or miles or fights are between us, I feel like…I'm just never going to get over you, Rachel," he continued on softly.

"Ross," Rachel replied, softly through teary eyes. "Ross," she repeated, taking a deep breath in and blowing it out slowly. "I know," she nodded, touching his cheek with her fingertips. "Believe me, I know," she laughed slightly, dropping her hand. "But I think-I think…I think we-us, I think we've been off the table for a while now."

"Rachel…."

Rachel shook her head. "And I know-I know that I will never get over you, and there will always be a part of me that loves you so, so much, but, Ross," she paused, holding eye contact, "we've been at this for, god, what, thirteen, fourteen years now? I think-I think it might be time to take us off the table."

Ross took a deep, shaky breath. "I love Michelle, don't get me wrong. And it works with her. And I love my life with her. But…we're Ross and Rachel."

Rachel bit her lip at that, pausing for a moment, staring straight ahead as Ross laced his fingers between hers. "I will always love you, you know that," she finally began quietly, giving his hand a squeeze. "You will always be one of the most important people in my life, and you will always be the father of my child, and-and I will always love you. But, Ross," she shook her head. "We never work. We are great at not being together. We fight, and neither one of us is short on the ability to hold a grudge." Ross laughed at that. "And if you found someone who you love, who loves you and makes you happy, and your kids get along, and it works…."

"It's time to take us off the table," Ross finished in a whisper. Rachel nodded, again squeezing his hand. She leaned in, kissing his cheek, before standing up.

"What about you, Rach?"

Rachel brushed off his concern. "Don't worry about me. You know, for all of the time I've been alone, I don't think I've once been lonely," she smiled as he stood up. "Maybe I'm just too selfish to be in a relationship," she mused with a smile. "I want what I want."

Ross shook his head. "Doesn't make you selfish."

"Does make me a handful."

"No arguments here."

Rachel laughed. "Are we done fighting, at least?"

Ross nodded. "Yea. I'm kind of tired of fighting about the past few years…feels a bit belabored."

"Thank god!" Rachel exclaimed, Ross nudging her at that. "Shall we go eat?" she asked, motioning towards the door.

Ross nodded, placing his hand on her back as he reached for the doorknob. "Think we at least missed Chandler's Worst Thanksgiving Ever story yet?"

Rachel laughed. "Hopefully."

They both paused, smiling and laughing as they looked into each other's eyes, dragging the moment out.

It was Rachel who finally spoke. "Irregardless…we will always be Ross and Rachel."

"Regardless."

"What?"

"Regardless already means 'without regard.' There's no need for the prefix. It's just regardless."

"Why do you do that?"

Ross shook his head. "I don't know." They both paused. "Moment ruined?"

"A little bit, yea," Rachel nodded, now reaching to open the door.

"Rach," he reached out for her arm. "I know we are," he said softly, referring to her earlier sentiment.

"Irregardless?"

Ross laughed, shaking his head. "Irregardless."

Rachel nodded towards the door, wanting to end this moment on that note. "C'mon, let's go eat."

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And that, ladies and gentlemen, is it! Thank you very much to everyone who has read and reviewed! And, if it's not too much to ask, final reviews are very much appreciated, especially considering this was my first stab at the whole Ross/Rachel thing. This story has gotten an insane amount of hits/alert adds, so if some of you could let me know what you thought since you've come this far, I would be very grateful. :)