Disclaimer: I don't own Friends.

A/N: Updates will be whenever I can get them up, because I'm juggling this story, another story (not Friends), school starting, a job, and...well, real life in general.

XXX

"I love this," Monica said happily as she pushed the twin's stroller down the pleasant street, only a block away from the Bing's home.

Rachel walked beside her, pushing Emma in her own stroller. She looked at her best friend. "Love what?"

"You and me, walking like this," she replied as she nodded to their surroundings. "Just two moms, taking their kids for a walk in a friendly neighborhood. You could never do this in the city."

"It is nice," Rachel concurred. "And you can do it in the city, it's just much noisier, and there's a higher chance of someone yelling, "Get your lazy ass the hell outta my way," than here."

"I miss the apartment, but living here in our house has been such a good change." Monica sighed contentedly.

Rachel nodded. "Speaking of your apartment, I met the people who bought it a few days ago."

"Really?" Monica asked. "Are they clean?" She quickly changed the wording, "I mean, nice?"

Reflecting, Rachel thought of the new owners. "It's a couple in their late 40's, good people. They have a son who just went off to college. Oh, and, they're painting the place dark green."

"Wow," her friend said slowly. "It's, it's kind of hard to imagine someone else living there."

"I know." Rachel had been thinking of that exact same thing, except she did it at least once a day. It was still hard to get used to not having her best friends live a building away. "Sometimes," she began, "I look out the window thinking I'll see you and Chandler watching TV or something. And instead I get Bud and Laura, reading the paper."

Monica looked ahead silently, thinking. "Bud and Laura," she repeated. "The people living a life in my apartment have names."

"And they read the paper a lot," Rachel added, trying to help her friend feel better. Even though it was no longer their apartment, she herself had such ties and memories from it, that she still sometimes considered it Monica's.

They continued in silence for a short while, before Monica broke it by stopping. "I don't know why anyone would want to move out of this house, it's really cute."

Rachel stopped also and looked at what her friend was talking about. She glanced over the nice house; it's light-blue door, white shutters and cream-colored outside. It was a good size, too. What she really noticed, however, was the 'For Sale' sign in the front lawn.

"Yeah," Rachel agreed. "It's only a few blocks from your house, too."

The two began again at a leisurely pace. "Now, I know it's none of my business," Monica started, immediately tipping off to Rachel that she was going to ask something personal, "But how are you and Ross doing?"

Smiling involuntarily at the thought of her boyfriend, Rachel didn't mind talking about it at all. "We're great. At first it was weird, trying to get back into the groove of things, but somehow it all just comes together."

She looked back upon the first week of being back with Ross, and how different, and yet the same, everything was. When they had first gotten together all those years ago, neither had realized how bumpy their road would be. But after getting off the plane, Rachel knew that she wanted to stay with Ross forever, and that it had really always been that way; it had just taken the prospect of a whole ocean between them for her to realize it. It hadn't been hard to get used to sharing a home again with Ross, but it was different to share a bedroom, not to mention a bed. Once they had sorted things out and talked, the 'together' part of them just came naturally, like they hadn't only dated for a year, broken up, gotten drunk, married and divorced, had a baby, and fallen back in love, all in the space of ten years.

"I really love him," Rachel concluded.

"Good," Monica said. "Maybe soon you'll be able to rip up those divorce papers."

"What?"

"You know," Monica teased. Rachel was confused. "You and Ross are back together for good, from the way you guys say it, so aren't you planning on... marriage?"

Taken aback, and not sure herself, Rachel stuttered, "Well, uh, I guess, in a way, uh... maybe?"

"Maybe?" Monica shook her head. "'Maybe' is too vague! Are you thinking about it?"

Once again thrown into thinking about the past decade, Rachel sighed. "Uh...sort of, kinda. I mean, before we broke up I definitely thought, I thought that that was it. But then we did break up, but then we got married...and after that I guess I toyed with the idea. I thought about how nice it would've been if things hadn't been so complicated. Then when Emma was born I thought that maybe we were finally gonna get it all together, but then that got messed up too." Reflecting on these events made Rachel almost want to tear up. Had she really considered having a future with Ross that many times, only to not have it work out?

"But now...," she went on, "it's so real, you know? It could really happen."

"Do you want it to happen?"

The million-dollar question, Rachel thought. She left her best friend hanging for a minute while she contemplated. Was there a definite future to look forward to with him? Well, they were almost there already, since they were in love and had a child, and knew almost everything about each other. Marriage would just be the last piece of the puzzle she'd been searching for since she left Barry at the altar.

Did she really want to commit to Ross forever?

"Yeah," Rachel finally grinned. "I think I do."

Monica seemed to be ready to jump up and down. "This is just...amazing! And so great! You and Ross getting married would be incredible! Oh, I'd actually get to help plan another wedding! I mean you know how much I love those, and it's even better since it's you and my brother..."

Becoming a bit uncomfortable, Rachel nervously chuckled. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though. He and I have barely talked about how we're going to split apartment costs, let alone marriage. But I do love him," she added at the end.

"Just promise me you'll let me know if anything big happens."

"I promise." Rachel felt horrible for lying, since she and Ross had decided not to tell anyone about them looking for a house. She still wasn't sure about the whole thing anyway.

"So what do you think Phoebe wants to talk to us about at lunch on Thursday?" she asked, trying to change the subject as the two women came upon the Bing's house.

XXX

Rachel looked around the table to her best friends as they talked and joked. It was so different to not see Monica and Phoebe every day.

"It's nice to be out with you girls again," Monica said. "All I seem to do these days are hang with babies. I'm loving the mom thing, of course, it's just good to be with people who I can have an actual conversation with."

Phoebe cocked her head. "What about Chandler?"

Rolling her eyes, Monica pressed, "Like I said, an actual conversation."

The three women chuckled. They had been there for ten minutes, but the reasoning behind the small reunion had yet to present itself.

Rachel glanced at Phoebe, and asked interestedly, "Pheebs, you've kept us in suspense long enough. What's your news?"

Giving a shy smile and becoming nervous, Phoebe cleared her throat and set down her glass. "Okay, well, you know how Mike and I decided to try and have a baby?"

"Oh my God!" Monica nearly yelled. "You're pregnant!"

Shocked, and wanting confirmation from the source, Rachel turned eagerly to her friend. "You are?"

Sighing, Phoebe shook her head. "Well, thanks for ruining the announcement, Mon. But yes! I am!"

After composing herself from the giddy laughs all three had let out, Rachel grinned. "Oh sweetie this is great!" Her eyebrows rose. "And a bit quick. I mean, didn't you two like, just decide to have kids?"

"Yeah, it is fast," Phoebe agreed, still beaming. "But I'm so happy, and so is Mike."

Monica nodded. "We're happy for you too! Oh!" she said loudly. "Our kids can be great friends! We can set up play-dates once a week, and throw little birthday parties, and go shopping for toys together..."

Rachel chuckled and shook her head at Monica. "Okay, Mon, Phoebe just got pregnant. I think we have awhile before we start setting up weekly trips to the park."

"Trips to the park!" Phoebe said excitedly. "Oh, yay!"

"Okay, okay," Monica commanded, raising her glass. "Here's to Phoebe!"

Phoebe lifted her drink. "And motherhood!"

Rachel followed the other two. "And...uh...," she tried to think of another. "What you two said!"

They clinked glasses, and began laughing and talking animatedly. Rachel had to smile; now all three of them were really grown up with jobs, and kids, and husbands. Husbands, she thought carefully.

XXX

Ross smiled when he saw Rachel enter the apartment as he shut Emma's door. She threw her purse down and sat beside him on the couch.

"Hey, how was the lunch?" he asked as she kissed his cheek. He still could hardly believe he'd gotten another chance with this amazing woman.

"Lots of fun," Rachel informed him, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, guess who's pregnant?"

His eyes widening and his stomach dropping, Ross felt his mouth go dry. "It's not, it's not you, is it?"

Shaking her head incredulously, Rachel waved it off. "No! It's Phoebe!"

Feeling extremely relieved, Ross grinned again. "Oh! Well, that's great!" He wondered what the children of Phoebe, an out-there woman from a dysfunctional home, and Mike, an ex-lawyer from a rich and proper family, would be like.

"Yeah," Rachel agreed. "Man, we're all really growing up, huh? We all suddenly have these new responsibilities, and things to look forward to."

Ross took her hand. "Speaking of things to look forward to...," he started, wanting to share his good news. "I saw an ad for a house in the paper. It's great, and it's right near Monica and Chandler."

"Hey, that's funny," Rachel said as she stroked his palm with her thumb. "I think Monica and I passed by that same house when we were walking the kids."

"Huh," Ross said. "It's like fate!"

"Or maybe a coincidence?"

"Sure, if you wanna make this experience less mystical," Ross said. "But really, they're having an open house Saturday. Maybe we should go?" He asked more than told her, as he still had doubts as to whether Rachel really wanted this.

"Yeah, we might as well check it out," she said, and from her tone Ross could tell he was correct in his questioning.

"Do you not want to look at the house?" He asked softly.

Rachel sighed. "I don't know, it just seems like we might be doing things too quickly."

Ross was afraid of this. "You really think so? But, but before you had said you had wanted this." He wanted to understand her thoughts.

"I know I did," Rachel replied. "But I think maybe we should have everything planned out before we make a big decision like this."

Well, this was a new concept to him. "Planned out? We can't plan everything, Rach."

"I know, but everything up to now has been so... random. I'd just like to know what to expect for once. Not that I have regrets, especially where Emma is concerned..." Ross could see the emotions battling inside her by her expression.

"Okay, so...I'm confused," Ross said slowly. "Are we looking for a house, or no?"

"Maybe not right now," Rachel replied quietly. She then turned to him and looked him in the eyes, so he was forced to gaze back. "I'm so sorry, Ross."

"It's alright, I understand," he said, still watching her blue eyes watch his. They always mesmerized him. "Did you talk to Monica about this?" He cracked a smile.

"Kinda, but she didn't realize it," Rachel said as she rested her head on Ross's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her as they sat in silence.

"You know," Ross started. "I had the weirdest talk with Chandler awhile ago when we went for coffee. He was talking about uh, wedding bells and marriage." Chuckling slightly, Ross shook his head. "Monica's really starting to rub off on him."

"Yeah, huh, how 'bout that." Ross could tell she had something on her mind.

"I mean, you and me getting married is pretty far away? Right?" Wanting an answer to save him some embarrassment, Ross hoped she would say sooner.

"Oh, yeah, totally," she agreed, which made Ross's heart sink. "Do you ever think about it?"

"Think about what?"

"Us getting...married," Rachel said, and the statement lifted Ross's spirits.

"Well, uh, do you think about it?"

"I, I guess a little bit," she admitted.

"Yeah, me too, a little bit," he nodded, rubbing her arm. "When do you think about it?"

"Whenever we're with Emma. Or taking a walk. Or here, just talking," Rachel mumbled.

Ross blinked. "Wow, uh, that's a lot more often than you originally said."

Rachel nodded into his chest. "Yeah, I guess I think about it more than I realized."

After a short silence, Ross said, "It would be nice. It'd probably be better than our first attempt."

"Well, when we got married then, it was a mistake and we weren't in love. But we are now." Ross could hear the honesty in her voice, and it made him feel like the greatest man in the world.

"Definitely," he confirmed. "So, this conversation has turned kinda weird. I mean, we're both considering marriage already?"

"It does seem kind of fast," Rachel agreed. "We just got back together three months ago."

"I know." Ross would never forget the evening where he had thought he'd lost this woman forever, only to have her show up in his doorway, proclaiming her love to him. "But it's good we talk about this, just so things aren't so... unplanned if something comes up." He'd been thinking about their situation since they had gotten back together.

"Something like what?" Rachel pried, interested.

Not wanting to give anything away, but knowing he would, Ross shrugged. "Just uh, just if one of us has a question for the other one that involves a certain type of jewelry."

It took Rachel a minute, and then she asked, "You are talking about a proposal, right?"

Nervous now, Ross fumbled with his words. "Uh, I uh, guess so. I love you so much, Rach, and I'd love to be married to you. Unless you wanna wait longer. " He turned mock-serious. "I guess I've just been thrown off by not being married in five years."

Rachel laughed, a sound Ross loved to hear, as she sat up and looked at him again. "I think if you want to, you can ask any question you want."

Ross hadn't thought she'd be this forward. "Uh, good to know." He blinked a few times.

He gazed into those blue eyes once more, and this time he just had to kiss her, so he did. It slowly escalated in the passion department, before Rachel broke it.

"Save it for later,"she said, almost seductively. "I'm gonna go check on Emma."

"Okay," Ross replied easily, grinning at her.

After she was gone, Ross stood and made his way over to his desk, opening the bottom drawer. He spotted the small black box and lifted it, opening the top. His grandmother's ring sparkled, and he smiled at it, elated by the fact that Rachel had just basically told him she would accept it if he gave it to her.

XXX