The one to give

by Tina

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That sunny December 31st Rachel woke up with a soft kiss on her forehead. Opening her eyes, she smiled at the sight of Ross. Though his face was the first thing she saw when she woke up many times before, it never failed to amaze her. Specially after everything they went through.

"Hey you" she whispered.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up"

"That's fine, I have to be up early today anyway" He smiled and they kissed. "Morning"

He kissed her neck affectionately.

"Good morning"

"No jogging today?"

"Not after last night"

Rachel chuckled.

"Thought you'd be too tired aswell" Ross continued.

"Hmmm" Rachel just hugged him and finally noticed they had company. Recently complete three years old Ella was sleeping on the couch, hoding her security blanket. "Look who's here"

Ross got up and carefully picked Ella up, carrying the still sleeping child to bed.

"So what's the plan for today?"

"Well, you know... probably going to the beach before finishing the preparations for the party. I still can't get used to the fact it's summer here during the hollidays!"

"Yeah, did you see the clothes Joey brought?"

"And I did warn him a thousand times it wasn't snowing here!"

"Boy, was he disapointed he couldn't ski at the Sugar Loaf...!"

Rachel laughed.

"Should we let Ella sleep?"

Rachel looked at Ella and noticed a sneaky smile on her face. She always used to pretend to be sleeping to pull a joke at her parents.

"Yeah, she must be tired." Rachel began. "Let her sleep. Meanwhile, we can take Mike and the rest of the kids out for ice cream!"

Sure enough, the little girl quickly opened her chocolate brown eyes.

"No, mommy, I'm awake, take me!"

Ross and Rachel laughed.

"Boy, you sure are a light sleeper, aren't you?"

Ella shrugged, smiling brightly.

"What time did you come here?" Ross asked planting a kiss on Ella's hair.

"Not long...! Aunt Phoebe and Uncle Joey wanted to play in my room!"

Rachel laughed. Her little girl's bedroom seemed to have become a litte playground in the house. It was quite expected it would happen among the kids, but it was actually the adults who were found to have more fun in there.

"The guys are really having a blast here, aren't they?"

Rachel smiled at Ross.

"Well, who wouldn't? This is a great place"

Ross smiled back and they kissed softly.

"Ew!!"

They looked at Ella and the little girl covered her mouth and giggled.

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Rachel finished applying sun lotion in her skin and laid down on the sand next to Phoebe. They watched as Monica rubbed sunscreen in Jack and Erica, who seemed much more concerned on builting sandcastles with cousins Mike and Ella and Phoebe's daughter, Rain.

After she was done, Monica joined them.

"Who'd say I'd be tanning on New Years Eve?"

"Sit back and enjoy" Rachel smiled at Monica.

"This is so nice. Just the girls, again." Phoebe commented.

They all smiled at one another.

"Listen, hm, girls... I just wanna say again that hm... I'm sorry"

Monica rubbed her forearm and Phoebe hugged her gently.

"We know" Monica said.

"And thanks for coming"

"Yeah, coming over to this wonderful city to spend great times with our close friends? Yeah, you owe us big time, Rachel Geller!"

Rachel laughed. Specially at the Geller part...!

"Just so you know, sweetie" Monica began "we'll always be here for you, okay? Even if we're, well, not exactly here! But we..." Monica trailed off, not knowing how to put it.

"I know"

"You do?"

Rachel nodded and hugged both her friends at the same time.

"I love you girls"

"We love you too"

They finally let go.

"So are you guys having a good time?"

"Very much. Rain can't get enough of Ella's toys"

"Rain, huh?"

Rachel shot Phoebe a look and chuckled.

"Hey Rach, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Mon"

"How are things between you and my brother? I mean, how reeeally are things now?"

Rachel looked at her sister-in-law and smiled truthfully.

"Amazing"

"Really?"

Monica's smile was so genuine.

"Yeah. The past is behind and we got a life here now. I got a life here now."

"How's the job?"

"Really-really good! Never thought I'd have great oportunities here too, but you know what? I was wrong. It feels good to be wrong now! I got good friends here, a nice job, my happy family...!"

"Good friends, huh?"

Phoebe's joking jealous tone was endearing.

"You guys know you're irreplaceable, right?"

"Well, of course!"

Again, Phoebe's tone made Rachel laugh.

"Hello, ladies!" Chandler's greeting anounced the arrival of the rest of the guys. Joey was carrying a lot of visibly recently bought acessories, like sunglasses, hats, underwater equipment and lots and lots of toys. A true tourist.

"Looking good, Tribbiani"

Joey beamed at Rachel, missing the sarcasm in her voice.

"Thanks! Now if you excuse me, I'll go and give these to the kids!"

Phoebe got up.

"I'll go and make sure they get to play with them!"

Mike watched his wife.

"Who wants to bet the kids won't even get to look at those?"

Ross chuckled and sat down next to Rachel, embracing her. She kissed his cheek and his lips, keeping her face glued to his neck afterwards. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Monica, Chandler and Mike talking, aswell as Mike, Ella, Rain, Jack and Erica playing with Joey and Phoebe.

Perfection.

At night, at the big New Years party they were throwing, Rachel's two worlds colided. And it was not a bad thing. Flávia gave Phoebe a few practical Portuguese classes for Monica, while Joey begged for dirty words. As the fireworks started, Ross and Rachel had to pull away from their kiss to pay atention to Ella, who looked rather scared.

"Why is it so loud??"

Ross picked her up and the little girl held on to him as if to dear life. Rachel's tummy tingled at the sight of Ross' devotion to their daughter. Mike approached and looked as if he didn't want to look startled by the fireworks, but didn't apreciate them either. The rest of the guests were divided between those who went to the balcony to watch the fireworks at the beach or those who had to watch their startled kids.

Rachel took Mike's hand and they approached the balcony.

"It's just noise, sweetie. Look, isn't it pretty?"

"Yeah"

Ross aproached and put his free arm around Rachel, while Ella still refused to calm down. Rachel smiled at them and ran a hand up Ella's back.

"You know what they say..." she began, looking at Ross "if you start a year doing something, you'll do it for the rest of it"

With that, she leaned closer and kissed him one more time. When they broke, Ross smiled at her.

"I hope Ella won't have to be present for the other times, though"

Rachel laughed and Ella turned to face them.

"Daddy!"

Both of them laughed and kissed Ella. Mike approached again, completing their picture perfect family.

The rest of the gang joined them aswell, wishing their "Happy New Years" and assuring Rachel distance meant nothing. As she hugged Monica, she accepted the fact her life had indeed once again changed. And that wasn't a bad thing. She hadn't lost anything.

The memories... they were still there to be savoured. And the future ready to be lived.

She hugged Ross again and whispered.

"You're my home"

Kiss.

THE END!

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Extremely sappy, I know! I might change that in the future, but for now I have to post this and get it over with! I got exams coming up and I know I won't be able to study unless I have no fics on progress! So yeah, might take me a few weeks to start a new story! Specially since I have absolutely NO idea what fic I should write next! But don't worry, I probably will start one soon )
Reviews, please? Let's give this a golden end? ;) Just wanna thank you guys again for reading this and being such amazing reviewers! Mwah! This is all for you! And, well, for me, yes! haha! THANK YOU! I'm gonna miss Ella... :(