Disclaimer: I don't own Friends.

A/N: So the POV's are gonna go back and forth between Ross and Rachel, depending on who they're with. Thanks for the review(s).

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Ross rang the doorbell outside his sister and brother-in-law's house, while Rachel bounced Emma in her arms. He couldn't remember the last time he hadn't just walked into Monica and Chandler's home. But, he reminded himself, they were living in this nice house now, no longer apartment number 20 in The Village in New York City.

Chandler came to the door with a smile on his face and a child in one arm. "Hey, guys," he said, sounding tired.

"Hey, man. Baby duty?" Ross entered along with Rachel and their daughter.

He sighed. "Well, Monica's working in the kitchen, and when I started to play a drum solo with chopsticks on a pot, she kicked me out." Chandler shook his head. "This time off from the restaurant has made her even crazier when it comes to meals."

"Chandler, you can come back in!" Ross grinned when he heard his sister yell from the other room, and followed his best friend to the kitchen to greet Monica.

Twenty minutes (and a very enthusiastic greeting between Rachel and Monica) later, the foursome sat to what seemed a feast.

Ross noticed Rachel admiring the room as they began eating. "Mon, I love this house," she said with a grin.

"It is nice, huh?" Monica replied, now also looking around. "Are-are you guys thinking of buying a house?"

Ross had not expected this. He spluttered slightly as he wondered what Rachel was thinking. "Uh-I-uh." He glanced at his girlfriend. "Um, I don't really know. Do you mean... together?"

"Well, Ross, we didn't think you had a girl on the side," Chandler said teasingly.

Rachel just shrugged and smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I guess we'll see," she acknowledged casually.

Monica was almost bouncing she was so happy. "So you guys- you're official? You're really serious? 'Cause you know, we never know how it's gonna work out between you two!"

At this, Ross nodded. "Yeah, we're really serious." He knew he meant it; that he wanted this to be it.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you two!" Monica was near bursting, and turned to Rachel. "You're gonna be my sister-in-law!"

Rachel looked overwhelmed suddenly, which was how Ross felt at those words. "Okay, wait, uh..." she fumbled out.

A silence descended for a fleeting moment, before Chandler broke it. "Well, this isn't at all awkward."

Monica looked apologetic. "Sorry, I got excited. But uh, I can't help it."

"We know," Ross said, annoyed.

Yet another stillness rested between them, and the only sound Ross heard was clinking silverware. Never one for uncomfortable quiet, Chandler once again started talking. "So, have you heard the one about the Priest, the duck, and the newspaper?" At the questioning looks he got, he shrugged. "No?"

XXX

Rachel eased Emma's bedroom door shut as quietly as she could, but still managed on stepping on one of her toys that squeaked when you pressed it. She winced, then continued over to where Ross was sitting on the couch, using his laptop.

"I finally got Emma down," she mumbled as she lied back against the couch. Rachel felt exhausted from the day.

"Man, that took awhile," Ross said, not taking his eyes off the screen.

"Well, she was extremely fussy tonight. It must've been from going to Monica's." At this Ross looked at her, almost timidly.

"Yeah, Monica's..." he began slowly. "Listen, Rach, what she said about us..."

Not wanting to make a big deal about it, Rachel just waved a hand and laughed her best fake laugh. "Pretty funny, huh?"

"Yeah, heh," Ross joined in. Rachel could tell he was also forcing the chuckle. "But, uh, you know, a-a house wouldn't be too bad," he added, losing the laugh.

Rachel hadn't been anticipating this. She thought they'd just brush past it, as they used to always do. "Uh...huh?" She sat up quickly, so they were facing each other.

Ross became shy again. "Well, you know, if we're being all, uh, serious and stuff about 'us'..." He trailed off.

"You want to buy a house?" Rachel wasn't thinking straight, she knew. "To live in?" After it had come out, she wanted to smack herself on the forehead for saying that.

"Well, that's usually why people buy houses," Ross chuckled for real this time. "And I don't mean right now, but maybe as Emma gets older..."

Considering now, Rachel nodded sincerely. "A house could be nice." She thought about it some more, beginning to get more excited about the prospect. "Oh! And I could have a garden that I could take care of!" At Ross's eye roll and guffaw, she shrugged. "Or, you know, hire people to take care of."

The two pondered it longer. "Ross, I mean, do you think we'd be ready for a house?" Rachel continued.

"Well, we have lived together, and are doing so now, and we could use more space. And we love each other," Ross said, with so much heart that Rachel wondered how she could have never not been in love with him.

"A house," she tried saying aloud. It didn't sound bad. "It's a pretty big commitment."

Ross took her hand and smiled at her, making Rachel want to melt. "Rach, we're ready for this. And I know that if I was gonna buy a house with anyone in the world, it'd be with you. I love you."

Completely turning to mush now, Rachel grinned back at him, though still deep down not quiet sure. "We could start checking the real estate page in the paper."

"Is that a yes?" Ross asked eagerly. At her nod, he kissed her. "Sweetie, this is great! We can really begin starting our new lives together."

"Let's not tell Monica yet. You never know what she'll say to this." Rachel loved her best friend, but sometimes the woman got a little...involved.

"I have a few ideas," Ross countered, and the couple laughed slightly, before Ross wrapped his arms around Rachel and kissed her fiercely.

XXX

Ross took a sip of his coffee slowly, relishing in the familiar taste. "Can you believe you guys have already been in your new house for over a month?" He looked to Chandler as the two sat on the orange couch in Central Perk.

Chandler shrugged. "I know, it's weird. Of course, with the twins, it seems like longer. But it still doesn't really feel like home."

Understanding that he missed the apartment, Ross nodded. "It will eventually," he assured.

Sitting in a comfortable silence, the two took this time to take in their surroundings. "Nothing's changed," Chandler said reflectively.

"Well, I did hear that they've added a new type of bagel," Ross informed him.

Chandler turned slightly so he was facing his best friend. "So, has Rachel called about getting her job back yet?"

"No, she wants to spend time with Emma for awhile." Ross had supported Rachel one-hundred percent on this, knowing she needed a break from working.

"Ah."

He waited a moment, then continued with a smirk. "So, are you guys gonna..." he nodded suggestively.

Ross had no idea what he was talking about. "Gonna...what?"

"You know: ding-a-ling!" Chandler said excitedly.

"Dude, what the hell is ding-a-ling?" Ross asked in confusion. Sometimes Chandler made no sense to him.

"Wedding bells!" Chandler said as if it were obvious. "They make that ringing sound!..." he continued. "Oh, forget it," he finally gave up.

Now getting what Chandler was talking about, Ross almost dreaded answering. "You mean are we gonna get married?" The words sounded weird, even though he had been married three times before, with one of those times being with the woman they both were speaking of.

"Yes. And now I wish I had just said that in the first place," Chandler responded dryly. "So?"

Ross thought about the subject for a moment. "Well, uh, I dunno. Probably, someday. There's just so much going on now already." He knew he just didn't want to rush anything with Rachel.

"That's true," Chandler agreed. "Then, of course, is the looming possibility of another divorce. But wait, you've divorced her once already..." he was chuckling by the end of his sentence.

"Yeah, let's bring up the three divorces now," Ross sniped. "We've only been back together for a month and a half," he added, almost trying to convince himself.

Chandler shook his head and sighed, becoming soft. "And you've loved her since high school. Where's the issue?"

Ross knew his best friend was right, but didn't want to think about marriage now; things were going too well. "I just wanna wait awhile, so we can get used to being... 'us' again," he finished lamely.

Nodding resignedly, Chandler took another sip of his coffee. "Alright, man, but remember what happened the last time you waited too long for something involving Rachel." Ross looked at him questioningly. "Italian guy," he said darkly.

Wanting to find a new topic that didn't bring back memories of that horrible time, Ross thought of their western-coast friend. "Have you heard from Joey lately?"

"Yeah, he called two days ago. I guess he's a news anchor for some small station around L.A."

Ross was a bit shocked at this. Joey had never seemed one for news. "I didn't even know he watched the news."

"He doesn't. But he does read the comics section in the paper." Chandler shrugged. "I think they were pretty desperate."

"Guess so," Ross replied, gulping down the rest of his coffee.

XXX