AN: I tried to update as fast as possible. I really appreciate anyone who is still reading this story. As a treat, this chapter is longer than usual.
The next update will be the last. It'll be an epilogue to wrap up this story.
Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: The characters from Friends do not belong to me.
The colour drained from Rachel's face, as she paused in shock. She was about to knock on Ross' door, her hand was in a fist, when it suddenly opened.
Rachel had gotten home from work, after a long day of constant restlessness. All throughout her day, she wanted to be back with Ross, in his office instead of her own. She didn't want to go a day more with their problems up in the air.
She didn't know if he was home from work yet, but that didn't stop her from making the trek across the street.
She needed to see him again, and she hoped Ross felt the same way, wanting to see her.
Mona and Ross stood in the doorway, causing her heart to sink with defeat. Mona was there, crushing her plans, once again. How could she have been so naïve, thinking she'd get another chance to be alone with Ross?
"I was just leaving," Mona assured, immediately seeing the disappointment in Rachel's expression. She said this as she crossed the threshold. "Congratulations on the baby, by the way," Mona commented sincerely, before smiling at the couple and continuing down the hall.
Rachel stared at Ross, her baffled gaze telling him exactly what she was thinking.
"What was all that about? She knows about the baby?" Rachel asked. She couldn't make sense of the scene that had just transpired before her very eyes.
"Rachel, I broke up with Mona tonight… and I told her about the baby," Ross admitted, as they continued to stand in his doorway.
"Ross, what's going on?" Rachel asked, strictly.
"Come in and we'll talk," Ross countered, finding confidence build due to his previous thoughts. His heart was set on being with Rachel, was it fate she turned up on his doorstep just as Mona left?
Rachel nodded in agreement. She stepped far enough into Ross' apartment so he could close the door behind her. It was her turn to be speechless only, unlike the last instance, Ross had the time to wait for her to speak.
"Why? I mean, what made you break up?" Rachel asked, curiously.
"You, Rach," Ross answered. He exhaled a shaky breath. Nerves and anticipation worked their way into his core.
"I'm sorry I made you lose another girlfriend," Rachel apologised, thinking Ross was upset with her. She remembered back to the other girlfriends he'd left because of her: Julie, Bonnie, Emily could be argued.
Rachel turned her gaze downward, waiting for Ross' response.
"It's okay, because the only one I've ever really wanted is right in front of me," Ross answered, causing Rachel to gradually look up at him.
He didn't realise how truthful his statement was until the words seemed to feel right, rolling off his tongue. He may not have always known he wanted Rachel, but why else would his feelings for her always return?
Rachel melted in the sentiment of his kind-hearted statement. She could see her vision become blurry, as her eyes brimmed with tears.
She couldn't stop herself from kissing him with all the passion within her. She inhaled, reaching up to hold his face in her palms. She drew his lips to hers, with great urgency. Ross didn't hesitate, willingly responding by encircling her in his arms.
It was a moment they had both waited for. As their lips met, they knew this was where they were supposed to be: together. They knew who they were supposed to be: Ross and Rachel.
When they parted, he continued to hold her close. He didn't want to let her go ever again. Ross tenderly kissed her forehead, then hugged her tighter.
"Rach, the way I acted - it was stupid, and I'm truly sorry," Ross announced, knowing there were a few things they needed to address. Rachel angled her head to look up at him.
"Why don't we sit?" she suggested, knowing this was going to turn into a weighty discussion. Ross nodded in approval, following her lead across the living room. When they sat on the couch, Ross kept Rachel so close to him she was practically on his lap.
"I'm sorry for blowing this whole thing out of proportion, for hurting your feelings, I was acting so hostile," Ross continued to apologise.
"How were you so angry?" Rachel asked, hoping he wouldn't take offense.
"I don't know what came over me. I was a jerk to say those things to you. I don't know how I could have ever thought you didn't care about our relationship. I don't know why I brought up problems that were so far in the past. I was out of control and so… harsh. I hope you'll forgive me," Ross explained.
"Of course I'll forgive you Ross. We both made some mistakes in the past. I mean, I made a huge mistake causing that accident…" Rachel said, pausing when she brought up the sensitive point. Luckily, Ross took the chance to finish the thought.
"I just want to put the accident behind us. I reacted wrong," Ross told her.
"How else could you have reacted? You were angry," Rachel mentioned.
"I know it will sound strange, but I was mostly trying to cover my heartache and sadness with anger. I thought it was the easiest way to deal with it. In the beginning, all I could remember was holding you in my arms right after we crashed. I thought I would never see your eyes open again. I thought I lost you, one of the most important people in my life," Ross explained, before his throat constricted with tears.
"I thought I lost you, Ross," Rachel stated, boldly. "I thought I wrecked our friendship, and any chances of getting together."
"I felt that way as well," Ross admitted. The pair almost laughed at how similar they felt, neither of them knew the other had been feeling that way.
"I honestly couldn't live without you, Ross," Rachel stated, bringing a serious note to their conversation once more. "I feel like you're slipping away from me."
"That won't happen. I'm here," Ross stated. Rachel held Ross' hand, wrapping her small fingers around his large palm. Her sweet gesture caused Ross to look at her, the dim light casting shadows across her face. He decided it was his turn to make a move, to assure her he was telling the truth.
Ross leaned across the short space between them, sweetly kissing her. This time it was less frantic, but the passion was still there.
He moved unhurriedly, making it seem as if time passed in slow motion. He savoured the moment, enjoying her scent, her taste; enjoying her soft lips against his own.
When they parted, Rachel snuggled against his side. In turn, Ross snaked his arm around her back. He took the opportunity to kiss Rachel's hair before resting his cheek against her head. He smiled at the familiar scent of coconut in her golden hair.
"What happens now?" Ross whispered, gently ending the comfortable silence that had filled the room.
"If we're both sorry, and we both forgive each other, and have no questions, then I guess we start fresh?" Rachel suggested.
"I do have a question," Ross revealed, lifting his head so Rachel could turn and look at him.
"I'll make you a deal: if you ask me a question, I get to ask one in return," Rachel said. Ross smiled at her idea.
"Deal," he replied, with a laugh.
"Ask away," Rachel urged, warmly placing a hand on his knee.
"Okay… Why did you wait to tell me about the baby?" Ross asked, timidly.
"Truthfully, I didn't want you to feel obligated to start a relationship that you didn't want. I figured you would have wanted to get together because of the baby. And after our talk I got the feeling you didn't want to be together. So I waited until things calmed down," Rachel explained.
"I'm sorry I put you through that. It must have been hard," Ross realized. He placed his hand over hers.
"It's okay Ross. Everything worked out," Rachel assured him, turning her hand over to lace her fingers through his.
"You ask me a question now," Ross said, wanting to hear what Rachel had to say.
"First, did Mona do all this for you?" Rachel inquired, gesturing to the room. Seeing the candles and two glasses of wine on the coffee table reminded her to ask this question.
"Yes, she surprised me with it," Ross explained. "That's your question?" He asked, giving her a look of mock disbelief.
"I guess it's part of it," Rachel stated, then she became serious. "I actually wanted to know why you started dating Mona," she said, speaking carefully.
"I was dating her to try to get over you," Ross confessed, timidly. Rachel reacted by fixing her eyes on the floor, causing a piece of hair to fall in her face. Ross let go of her hand to carefully take the blonde strand in his fingers. He then tucked it behind her ear.
"What made you want to get over me?" Rachel asked, softly, as she looked at him. Even though she realized he had changed his mind about moving on, it still hurt her to imagine him with someone else.
"I thought if we ever got back together, we would end up hurting each other again," Ross disclosed.
"I see," Rachel said - it was the only response she could think of.
"But, Rach, I was being silly. I was arguing that if we were together we would hurt each other, when we hadn't even given it a try. And if you really think about it, staying apart was hurting us the most, it was hurting everyone the most," Ross clarified. Rachel loved how Ross did that, how he could uplift her with his words.
"Whose turn is it to ask a question?" Rachel asked, as Ross returned to holding her hand.
"I think it's my turn," Ross said. "But I have a feeling I already know the answer."
"Ask anyway," Rachel said, flirtatiously.
"Are you still in love with me?" Ross asked, sweetly. Rachel smiled, without pausing to think about her answer, it was an impulse.
"Yes," She responded. "My turn again... My question is the same. Are you still in love with me?" Rachel asked. Even though the answer was evident, it still made her heart pound with anticipation.
"No matter what happens to us, my feelings never seem to leave. They may have been hidden from time to time, but they never go away completely," Ross explained.
"It seems like that's what we do, hide our feelings. I've been waiting for you to come around," Rachel said, enthusiastically. Ross imagined how it would have made her feel to see him with Mona.
"Why didn't you just move on as well?" Ross asked. Rachel's excitement immediately faded, she shifted on the leather sofa cushion to give Ross a serious look.
"Well, I couldn't get your words out of my head when you argued you'd been in love with me since we were teenagers-," Rachel began, but Ross was quick to interrupt.
"Rachel, you shouldn't have listened to anything I said that night. It must have been the painkillers or-," Ross justified, speaking fast, but this time Rachel took a turn to interrupt.
"Ross, I'm not angry about it. I didn't move on because this time it was my turn to be patient and wait for you to notice me. In the past you waited for me, it was my turn to wait for you… you were worth the wait," Rachel explained. She finished by flashing Ross a meaningful smile, knowing those were the words she had said under the stars at the planetarium.
"That's it, right there. The start of a new chapter in our lives," Ross stated, as both were practically moved to tears by her words. They could feel it - that all was forgiven, that they could start fresh.
"Yeah, a new chapter called parenthood," Rachel said, she smiled at the thought. She and Ross would be parents in a few months.
"We're going to be a family, aren't we?" Ross asked, but it was a rhetorical question at this point.
"Yes. You, me and our baby," Rachel stated, her smile didn't fade.
"Are you afraid to tell everyone you're pregnant?" Ross asked.
"Our parents, yes, but our friends kind of already know," Rachel replied, cringing for his reaction.
"They know? How did they take it?" Ross questioned. Rachel was astonished that he didn't care he wasn't the first to know. She supposed they were really growing up.
"They were all very supportive. I hope they're excited," Rachel answered.
"I know they'll be excited. They'll be even more excited that we're back together," Ross said. "We are back together aren't we?" Ross asked, jokingly.
"Let me think about it," Rachel retorted, pretending to think deeply. Ross chuckled, he was very happy things were back to normal. In fact, it was all better than normal.
"I love you, Rach," Ross stated, all joking aside. It was clear how much he meant it.
"I love you too," Rachel responded. A warm feeling spread through the living room.
A tranquil silence fell between them. Rachel returned to snuggling against Ross, and Ross returned to resting his cheek against her hair.
They couldn't have asked for a better time together. All the complications were put behind them, all the mistakes didn't matter. All that mattered was the two of them being together. Together, they were ready to concentrate on what was really important: their baby.
Ross sighed when he realized he needed to get up. He had put off cleaning his living room long enough.
"I'm going to clean this mess up," Ross whispered to Rachel.
"Okay," Rachel replied. Ross stood from the sofa. He bent down to kiss her forehead, before clearing off his coffee table.
Rachel watched Ross for a while, until the window caught her attention.
She looked over at Monica and Chandler's apartment. She tried to spot them, before remembering they were on their honeymoon still. So, she shifted her gaze to Joey and her place. The windows were dark, which Rachel assumed was because Joey was either sleeping or entertaining one of his lady friends.
When Ross was done he slouched back onto the sofa. Rachel focused on him, turning away from the window. As she smiled at him, a yawn escaped her lips.
"Maybe I should get going," Rachel suggested. "It's getting late."
"Okay," Ross responded, he said it disappointedly.
They pair got up and strode to the door. An idea popped into Ross' head just as Rachel twisted the doorknob.
"Or you could stay here tonight," Ross proposed, timidly. Rachel turned to face him, closing the door.
"Are you sure?" Rachel asked.
"Of course. You can borrow one of my t-shirts to sleep in, I could spend the night on the couch if you want my bed," Ross planned aloud.
"It sure beats walking back across the street alone. However, I'm not going to kick you out of your bed, you can sleep beside me. But no funny business," Rachel stated firmly.
"I won't use my 'hug and roll' move, I promise," Ross assured, they both broke into uncontainable laughter.
…..
The two were settled under the covers. The lights were off, only the moonlight lit the bedroom. As it shone through the blinds it cast slats of light across the floor.
Ross lay on his back with his arm around Rachel. She lay with her head on his chest, as close to him as possible.
Ross stroked Rachel's soft hair for a while, lost in pleasant thoughts. When he stopped, Rachel could have sworn it was because he had drifted off to sleep. She could feel his chest rise and fall with long, calm breaths.
"Can I ask you one last question?" Ross asked, in a whisper.
"Sure," Rachel murmured, her head still nestled against his chest.
"It's going to sound a little hasty," Ross warned.
"I don't mind," Rachel stated, trying to end the suspense he kept her in.
"I was wondering if you'd like to move in with me," Ross suggested, before he explained his thought process. "I just don't want to miss anything to do with this baby. I can be here for you. We can live together and be a family."
Ross got nervous when Rachel pulled away. She looked at him with a neutral expression, on her hands and knees. Soon, she crawled up only to lean over him to place a lingering kiss on his lips.
"Is that a yes?" Ross questioned when they parted.
"That's a yes," Rachel clarified, unable to stop the smile that lit up her face, identical to Ross'.
She lay back down, and Ross hugged her close, once again.
"It took us a while, overcoming obstacles, putting mistakes and the past behind us. But, I think we're meant to be together," Ross concluded. Rachel found his words soothing, as she closed her eyes.
"I love you," She whispered, it felt good to finally say it freely.
"I love you more," Ross answered in a low voice.
They slept like that the entire night, in each other's arms. It was the best sleep they'd had in a long time. There was not a worry to be found, not a problem that needed to be solved. Their future looked bright; this time everything would work out.