Disclaimer: I don't own Friends.

A/N: I know what you're thinking: 'How did I get lucky enough to have two updates in one day?' Well, it's because I'm amazing.

No, I'm kidding. It's because I've really had not much to do today, so I decided to crank out another chapter, since this one is short.

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Ross sat restlessly on the orange couch in Central Perk. Though it was near closing time, he had convinced Gunther to let him stay and wait for Rachel a little longer. The coffee shop owner had agreed reluctantly, and left for the back room. Ross was so nervous his coffee cup shook every time he lifted it.

He looked up when he heard the door open, and watched as Rachel entered as another couple left. She grinned at them, and then sat down beside her boyfriend.

"So my mom finally left with Emma. It's nice of her to watch her for a weekend," she said as she gave Ross a quick kiss.

"Yeah," Ross nodded, flipping through a magazine and trying to act nonchalant.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ross could see Rachel looking around.

"It still seems weird," she said suddenly.

"What does?" Ross asked, setting down the magazine he had been pretending to read.

Rachel sighed. "Not seeing any of our friends here. I mean, it's been almost five months and I'm still not used to it."

"Well, eventually you'll become accustomed to it," he responded.

"Are you?"

Ross considered. "I guess I've come to terms with the fact that everyone's moved away. It's not like we don't hear from them; we have dinner with Monica and Chandler at least twice a month, and we talk to Joey and Phoebe all the time."

Sitting back slowly, Rachel looked forward. "Man, who would have thought ten years ago when we all first sat here together, it would end up like this?"

Taking her hand and hoping his palms weren't noticeably sweating, Ross smiled. "Ten years ago I was in the middle of a divorce with my pregnant, lesbian ex-wife, while balancing the fact that you had just walked back into my life, in a soaking wet wedding dress."

Rachel now looked at their entwined hands. "And I had just run out on my wedding, totally dependant on other people."

As they sat in a comfortable silence, Ross knew he'd have to do it soon, or he'd lose his nerve. "We certainly have grown up," he said.

"Yeah. I mean I never would have guessed in a million years that I would become head of a clothing department at Ralph Lauren, date you, divorce you, and have a baby." Rachel chuckled at the irony.

Ross gave a half-smile. "And I wouldn't believe that I'd have a son, date you for a year, get three divorces before I was 32, and have a baby with you."

"Life has a way of throwing the craziest of predicaments at you, don't it?"Ross couldn't agree with her more.

They once again fell into silence. "Never saw my best friend and sister comin'," Ross said suddenly.

Rachel nodded. "Me either."

Now both reminiscing, Ross heard the last customer leave. This conversation had been the perfect lead-in.

"Rach?"

"Yeah?" she asked as she turned to face him, their hands still together.

Ross had been practicing this for weeks, yet he still couldn't keep the slight tremors out of his voice. "Ten years ago, I had just remembered my feelings for you. Nine years ago, you admitted that you liked me. Then, I had one of the best years of my life with you."

"Ross, what-" Rachel looked extremely confused.

"Just...let me finish," Ross said softly, looking into her eyes. "Eight years ago, I made the stupidest mistake of my life, and lost you, even though we were still in love. That alone was hell for me. Seven years ago I did another stupid thing and got married for the second time, and then said your name at the altar, because, well, it's always been you on my mind, Rach."

Rachel still didn't understand what he was doing, but was beginning to tear up. "Ross, really, what are you-"

He put his free hand up to her mouth to make her stop. "I thought you were gonna let me finish," he said with a small chuckle. "So, where was I? Right, okay, and then six years ago, after I got divorced again, nothing really happened between us, even though you had said you still loved me. And now I look back and wish I had said it back to you." He had been so confused then, he hadn't been thinking straight.

Ross continued on, "Then five years ago we did one of many stupid things we've done: we got married in Vegas. And that was when I realized I was in love with you again. Except, not really again, because I guess in the back of my mind I always knew I loved you, but I didn't do anything about it. So four years ago you and I almost slept together, then a few weeks before Monica and Chandler's wedding, we actually did. Which led to three years ago, with you pregnant with our child. It hurt when I first heard Joey was in love you, and I feel bad for admitting this, but I was so relieved when you didn't reciprocate the feelings. And then when Emma was born, I thought that that might be it. I wanted to get back together, but then some misunderstandings ruined that for us." All these things had hurt him then, but now that he looked back, Ross realized that these events had made finally getting back together with Rachel even better.

"I'm so sorry for that, Ross," Rachel said, who was openly crying now. She seemed to know where this was leading.

Ross shot his best smile at her. "I'm almost done," he said as sweet as could be. "So two years ago there was a new little person that we had created that was depending on us, but then you and I had that blowout and you left to go live with Joey again. After that I tried to convince myself I wasn't in love with you anymore, but then you and Joey got together last year, and I was with Charlie, and I realized that it really hurt me, and that I was definitely still in love with you. And then a few months ago I got what I had always wanted: you."

Now finished with his long reflection over the past ten years of their rocky relationship, Ross let out a long breath. Rachel threw her arms around him, still crying. He held her tightly.

She sat back slowly and wiped at her eyes, then took his hand again and searched his face. "What about now?" Rachel asked cautiously.

This was the most nerve-wracking part yet. "Heh, uh," Ross chuckled as he got down on one knee. He'd done this twice, and yet neither time had compared to this. He heard more than saw Rachel gasp. "I know this isn't the planetarium, and there aren't any lilies or nice music or stars, but this is where we spent so much time that it feels like a second home." He took a deep breath. "So now, at this moment, I want to close the book of us being 'on again, off again'. Forever."

He searched his pocket for the ring, and for a moment thought he'd forgotten it, but let out a sigh of relief when he found it and took it out, flipping it open for his girlfriend.

"Ross..." she said weakly, so he could barely hear her.

"Rachel, I've loved you since the ninth grade. We have such an amazing history, including a beautiful child together. We'd be the perfect family. I know all of this has happened so fast: us getting back together and living with each other, but if you're looking to start planning things, like you said a few months ago, then will you marry me?" He was putting his heart on the line now, and somehow knew he wouldn't be disappointed.

Ross waited as Rachel looked back and forth, from him to the ring, with her hands on her face. Finally, she slowly lowered them, and Ross could see the broad grin on her face.

"I will," she said, and at that moment, Ross thought he'd never felt happier in his life.

He jumped up quickly, nearly dropping the ring in the process. Ross missed Rachel sticking her hand out for him to put the ring on in his excitement. Instead, he kissed her, long and hard, wanting to remember this feeling forever.

"Rachel, this is just, this is so incredible, and great, and everything I've wanted since what seems like forever. I can't, it's so-"

Rachel's eyebrows rose. "Uh, Ross, wanna make it official?"

He noticed her left hand was out again, and realized he'd forgotten to give her the ring. "Oh! Right! Yeah, okay."

He slowly placed the ring on her left ring-finger, and all they could do was beam at each other for a minute. Ross thought he might burst from happiness. Rachel was finally going to be his wife; not because they were drunk, or obligated, but because she loved him as much as he loved her.

They went to kiss at the same time, and Ross thought it couldn't have been better. He wanted to explain how thrilled he was, but couldn't, so he tried to show his feelings in this kiss, which kept going for some time.

The sound of glass breaking finally broke them apart, and they both looked to see Gunther behind the counter, having just dropped a mug on the floor. He shot a glare at Ross, then stormed to the back room.

Ross looked at Rachel, and they both burst out laughing, giddy from the events that had just taken place.

He stood and extended his hand to her. "So, want to go celebrate?"

"Hell yeah!" Rachel said as she took his hand. The two walked to the doors. "Wait till we tell everyone," she commented as they exited Central Perk.

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