Thanks for the reviews guys

Im sad to see this fic come to an end. Its one I was enjoying writing.

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Chapter 8

Coming Home.

Rachel sat on the outside steps of her apartment building just thinking about the things that had occurred in the past few week. How had her life gotten so...messy? No, messy wasn't the right word...she couldn't even describe how her life was anymore. It was confusing to say the least.

She had been there for nearly an hour already and the first few droplets of rain had just begun to fall out of the sky. Normally Rachel would panic and run inside, knowing that her hair would end up being frizzy, and her clothes a mess, even if it was a little after nine she guessed. Although this time was different, there was by far too much on her mind to worry about petty things like that. She just sat unaffected by the light droplets that were now beginning to hit her.

Rachel sighed as she looked at her hands, since when had things gotten so hard. A year ago today Rachel was happy, and now- now she was far from it.

Had she done the right thing. All along the walk home from Matthews she thought of turning around. She thought that maybe she should give another chance with their relationship. He was a sweet guy after all, and he cared about her so much. It crushed her to see the look on his face when she told him it was over. But something kept her from going back to this sweet guy-

Her sweet guy. Her Ross...if he was still willing to have her. Rachel's only problem was...forgiving him. She still wasn't sure how or if she was going to do that, she wanted to though, but it was easier said that done.

Rachel chuckled to herself, for a split second she had thought of sorting out her ideas by making a list. It reminded her of when Ross made that list of reasons not to be with her, although she still thought of it being a horrible thing...it also made her realize what lengths he would go through to make things work with them, hell he climbed up a fire escape and stood in the rain after all.

It was things like that, that made Rachel think she could forgive him. Had she given up too easy on him? She never wanted to break up with him...but was it her fault he slept with Chloe anyway? If she had never called that break, than if he was telling the truth, he would have never slept with her in the first place, thinking that she had broken up with him. But still, what pained her the most was the fact that Ross would have been able to move on so soon.

She shook her and got up. She went to step onto the steps of the apartment building where she had just been sitting, but then turned around and began walking down the rain soaked streets.

XXx

Ross stared out his window just watching the rain pour down almost as if in a trance

His thoughts kept going back to Rachel. What was she doing right now? Ross checked his watch..11:30. He had thought about calling his sister to see if she had gotten home yet, but then his mind got the better of him. It was Rachel's birthday after all, they had probably just gotten back from some nice dinner, and he was probably looking to sleep with her.

"Asshole" Ross mumbled. He hated what he had become. In reality Ross knew that Matthew was a nice guy, and obviously didn't care about forcing Rachel into sex, since they hadn't don't that yet. Still knowing Rachel, and what an ass he acted like tonight, she was probably willing to do anything to get back at him.

On some levels it was much similar to when he slept with Chloe. He had felt hurt, and bad. He didn't know what to do or where to turn, so he went out with Joey and Chandler. Stupid. When he had called her, his girlfriend who he cared about she was with him, on their night. Ross' jealousy had gotten the worst of him yet again, and he felt they were done for sure. He couldn't believe that he thought Rachel would sleep with Mark- but he did. He didn't trust her- that was his big mistake, he had no reason not to. He got drunk and was hurting…so he slept with Chloe.

Copy Slut.

Ross shook his head. How could he ever be so stupid? "Your not married are you? Because that's okay." He should have realized right there that this was making a mistake. But he didn't he went through with it anyway, and broke Rachel's heart. It was the night that changed history.

Their history.

And nothing could ever be the same again. Rachel had told him that already hadn't she? "No. I can't, you're a totally different person to me now-Ross. It's just changed, everything. Forever."

It had changed things forever, and yes Ross was a different person. One who now realized that he was wrong. Sure it took a while for him to admit it to himself, but he had done that. Thinking of that night brought tears to his eyes, such a horrible memory to have. Now, he only wished he had a chance to tell Rachel again just how he felt, how sorry he was. To have another chance talking because after all he did tell her he wasn't don't. Didn't he? Whatever the hell that meant.

Ross heard fumbling keys at his door.

'Probably Monica' he thought, coming to check up on him…after all he hadn't been answering his calls all night.

XXx

Rachel stood outside the door trying to jam the key into its place. She had still kept her key to his apartment after all this time. She had to see him now and tell him how she felt, she couldn't live with herself if she didn't. This time it wouldn't be a drunken mistake. From head to toe she was soaked for walking around the streets of new York. But she didn't care, for once in her life she didn't care just how she looked. This was much different- it was all about the feeling.

As soon as she opened the door her heart broke. Seeing Ross sitting there just staring out the window motionless made her ache inside. Slowly a few tears began to fall off of her already tear stricken face.

Ross sat at his kitchen table unable to move, he had heard someone walk into the room but just couldn't find the energy to turn around and see just who it was.

"Ross" He heard a faint whisper. It couldn't be her, not now…could it?

He then felt a moist hand gripping his shoulder dampening his shirt. "Ross" the voice spoke again- it was her.

Ross turned around to see her in shock. She looked beautiful right now, to say the least. Her hair was drenched and wavy from the rain, and her make up running down her face, but he didn't care. It was Rachel. Words couldn't even describe how it felt to feel for her.

"Rach?" He asked in the form of a question, almost as if making sure she was really there, even though he knew she was standing right in front of him.

Rachel nodded her head and gave him a weak smile.

"What-What are you doing here" He asked puzzled "Shouldn't you be- I thought you were out with Matthew?"

Rachel hadn't given thought to how this might sound to him "I don't know. We- I- we almost slept together."

Ross put his head down and frowned his voice turned cold and resentful. "Go" he said.

"What?" Rachel asked softly from in front how him. How could he ask her to go, she had walked all this way in the rain to tell him how she felt, she couldn't turn back now. She couldn't leave.

"Rachel, why are you telling me this?" He said aggravated turning his head away from her.

"I couldn't do it." Rachel replied softy. Getting no reply from Ross, she put her hand on his cheek and made him look at her. "Ross your not listening to me. I couldn't do it- I couldn't sleep with him. I cant do that to you." She said firmly.

Ross just looked at her confused. "Why?" He asked

Rachel couldn't help but adore how cute Ross was sometimes, he really didn't understand. She then bent down and kissed him softly on the lips in hopes that he would understand what she was trying to explain to him.

Ross looked confused but smiled a little. "So what does this mean-"

"Ross for a while now, Ive been fighting all of these…feelings for you and I just cant do it anymore" Rachel paused and Ross gave her his full attention. "I- I cant fight it. Tonight what you said, it really made me think. And I still want everything that I wanted before, it just took me getting involved with Matthew to figure it out. Look Matthew was great and all, it just I couldn't do it. I couldn't…commit…to him knowing how I feel about you now."

Rachel then reached into her small handbag, and pulled out a small folded paper. She opened it up and revealed it to be the picture Ben drew not so long ago. "Ross this- This is what I want, I want to be a family."

Ross smiled widely. His dream had come true. Was she coming back to him?

Rachel kept going "Ive been thinking about this for a while now, and I know its going to be -hard but-"

Ross replied "Yeah it will be but I know we can make it through everything and let go of the past because I L-"

Rachel put a finger to his lips. "Stop. Me first. Ross, you said that all I had to do was tell you something and it could make everything better." Rachel paused and put a loose strand of wet hair behind her ear. "Well I didn't believe that could happen then- But I, I do now." Rachel sighed and looked down "I love you Ross."

Ross smiled and stood up, kissing her passionately. Rachel felt Ross in his kiss, nothing else seemed to matter anymore. No one could ever make her feel as good as Ross them.

As the kiss broke Rachel smiled and laughed softly "I missed those lips" she said with a smile then got a bit more serious. "Honestly though Ive missed you- not missed you…missed loving you, and being loved by you"

They would be able to get through this after all. Rachel though, they were lobsters holding onto each other forever weren't they?

Ross then leaned in to hug her, kissing the top of her head he whispered "I love you to Rach…always Ive never stopped.".

Rachel smiled. She was home. In Ross' arms she would always be home.

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I really hope you liked it. Thanks to everyone who kept reviewing this fic, it really kept me going with it.

Hope your happy with it turned out.

IF you are, please review for one last time lol.