Hey, guys, sorry for the MAJOR delay. :) But here's an update of a story everyone thought I forgot about, lol. I'm very sorry for not updating this sooner, and sorry this chapter isn't longer.

I've just been so busy (I know, the standard excuse!) and this has been in the back of my mind. I've been meaning to update this forever, and now I finally have.

Enjoy, and please, please, please leave me a review so I know people are still reading this and I should still continue. :)

1 Month Later...

"Ross?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you could help me here?"

He rushed into the freshly painted nursery in their new apartment where Rachel was attempting to lift a bucket of baby toys and place it on the shelf.

Grabbing the bucket from her and putting it on the floor, he gently admonished her. "Sweetie, you know you're not supposed to lift anything. Go lay down on the couch and I'll bring you something to drink."

"Alright," Rachel gave in. "But I'll have you know that I feel bad for not helping. You've done so much for me."

"No," he planted a kiss on top of her nose." You've done so much for me."

Ambling over to the couch, Rachel couldn't believe her luck. Here she was, a new apartment, a loving boyfriend, and a baby on the way.

She eased herself down on the couch and gazed out the window, marveling at the good luck she now had in her life.

'It's almost too good to be true,' she wistfully sighed.

"Here, Rach, have some water," Ross handed her a glass as he entered the living room.

"Thanks, honey."

Some people thought it strange when they discovered the two had only been dating- truly together- for about one month. Between their actions, the way they addressed one another, and the way they could gaze into each others eyes without speaking, and know exactly what the other was thinking...it seemed as if the two had shared a lifetime of memories.

"Yeah, no problem," he patted her on the knee while gently massaging her swollen feet. "Wow, Rach, don't you think you should prop these up or something? I mean, they're pretty swollen."

She grinned at the small things he did...those little things that showed her how much he cared. "Well, I hate feeling like I need all this extra attention. I'm pregnant, not dying!"

Still, Ross clucked his tongue and reached for a pillow in a box labeled, conveniently pillows. They had lived in their new apartment for a grand total of four days and were nowhere near unpacked yet.

"Here you go, maybe this will help."

"Thanks."

He propped her feet up on the soft pillow, and something in the box caught his eye. It was her box, and inside it was a frame.

The picture gracing the frame was the very first one taken of them, about a couple of weeks ago. Monica's apartment served as the background, and the two were simply smiling, holding on to one another with a look that promised to never let go.

But the picture wasn't what disturbed Ross; evidently, the frame had broken in the move, displaying several other not so welcome memories.

"Uh, Rach?" Ross picked up the spare pieces of shattered glass and the remaining pictures. "What's this?"

"Oh my God," she gasped. "I thought I got rid of those..."

In the palm of his hand lay her troubled past: Rachel and a man, his arm was around her but she was clearly unhappy; a family portrait taken years ago when she was just fifteen; a faded sonogram, the only memory she had of her first child; and a picture of the ocean...its mounting tide captured forever in a snapshot that couldn't be taken back, much like her memories.

"Rach...is this the guy...who I think he is?"

Rachel bit her lip and buried her head into the couch.

"It's okay, you don't have to say anything."

It had been an entire month since they talked about what they had discussed in the hospital. Since then, life had gone on in a generally carefree fashion.

But now, the demons of Rachel's past were trying to claw their way back in to her semi-perfect existence.

"No," Rachel sniffed as she sat up. "I'm okay...and yes, that was who you think."

"Dave?" he cringed. It was hard to say his name.

"Yeah...and the other pictures..."

Gratefully, he handed them back to her.

"...this was...supposed to be my daughter..." she trailed of, subsconciously rubbing her stomach.

Without thinking, Ross grabbed her other hand and took it in his own, offering any comfort he could provide.

"Is this your family?" he asked, trying to steer her thoughts towards some hopefully more pleasant memories.

"Yeah," she gave the slightest hint of a smile. "That's them all right. God, I look so young! I must have been not even sixteen."

"Not even sixteen, and still a knockout."

"Aw, that's sweet, but I know you're lying."

"I'd never lie to you," he insisted, amazed at how quickly her mood had shifted.

"Thanks...it's good to know."

"Are these your sisters?"

She smiled wistfully. "Amy is the older one, Jill's the baby. And my parents are behind them." She sat up so they were both upright on the couch, examining her past.

"I like this picture of the ocean," commented Ross. "I mean, how incredible is it that the ocean keeps rolling in those waves, keeps turning the tide...and you got a picture of it when it's doing neither. It's like an eternal freeze-frame that you captured in the palm of your hand."

"Wow...I've never thought of it like that...I wish I could get another shot of it."

He noticed the wistfulness in her voice as she reminisced about her family and the ocean.

"You really miss it there, huh?"

"I guess so. I mean, I've never been happier..."

"But..."

"But somehow, I feel like I'm still on a vacation away from home, Ross. I've only lived here for about five months. I guess it'll just take awhile for me to be able to call New York my home."

"I understand completely." 'And it probably doesn't help that she hasn't been home since then.' "You know," Ross continued, "why don't we go there?"

"California?"

"Yeah, think about it. We both really need a vacation. I mean, you've spent five months now, pregnant, in the hospital, moving in with complete strangers-"

She smiled as she interrupted, "Complete strangers that have changed our lives."

"Yes, complete strangers that have changed both of our lives. But, you've also been in the hospital again, moved in with me, and...I just think we could both use a break."

Slowly, she slid her arm around him. "You know what? I think you're right."

All other thoughts of importance fled their minds. The unpacked boxes would still be there when they got back...and so would their messy apartment.

Neither one of them had particularly great jobs, but somehow, they knew that something better would come along when the time was right. After all, it always did.

They had the burdens of the past, and the potential sorrows of tomorrow. But for now, they had the moment, and in the moment, they were kissing, not thinking about anything except how perfectly her hand fit inside of his.
----

Yeah, I know, it seems happy enough...for now. This actually seemed like an ideal place to actually end the fic, so I may just do that if I don't get enough response. (Wow, that was mean!) I just don't know how much more I should, or even can, drag this one out. (It's been almost a year since I've started this...wow...and to think it was going to be a Christmas story, lol. Maybe it'll be done by Christmas 2004. :)) There's basically only three more- at most- chapters left to write. But the next chapter ends with a cliffhanger that's one of the biggest I've had, so there's still plenty left to resolve. ;)

Have a great night, guys, and please take thirty seconds out of your day to review for me. (And some other people, too. I'm guilty of the speed-read and no-review as much as the next person, but I'm promising to review more, too. There's some great fics out there with hardly any reviews...they really need some recognition, you know? ;))

Mel