by Tina
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Rachel moaned his name as quietly as she could one last time and finally colapsed on top of him. Beads of sweat were led by gravity, running down a very inviting path down her body. He kissed the saltiness off her shoulder and moved his hands from the retreat they'd found on her ass protectively up around her waist. Their breathing took a long time to be recomposed. They were physically exausted.
Never had she been so active in the love making act before. It now amazed her how much she craved for him, participated and wanted him to feel good too. It seemed only fair after all the wonderful things he'd make her feel.
"Wow" she whispered into his ear.
He smiled and kissed her shoulder again.
"I know..."
She kept lying on top of him. Looking up, she smiled.
"Glad you took that thing from up there now, huh?" she said refering to his dinosaur replica that used to hang above his bed and which she refused to have sex in front of.
He laughed and she kissed his chest.
"Lucy will just have to get used to her new home at the closet"
They laid like that for a while longer, enjoying the oportunity to be alone like that. Naked, shamelessly spread around his bed after amazing sex. Just recomposing and trying to deal with just how much they loved each other.
Monica was out with Chandler, Rachel didn't ask for more information. Judy was playing bridge with her housewive friends and Jack was still out on his "business" trip. It was the 30th and Ross and Rachel had not much else to worry about.
"So, have you decided on the New Years?" he questioned her.
"I don't know... What's Chandler doing, by the way?"
"Party down at 'Aloha'" he said distantly, more concerned with stroking her hair.
"Really?" Rachel smiled. "That's where Monica's going"
She felt as he ceased his actions.
"Is it just me or have they been spending an awful lot of time together?"
Rachel chuckled and promped herself up to softly kiss him.
"You're so cute!" she cooed, refering to his naivety.
Before he could protest, she kissed him again, deeper.
"Ok, I have to make a call" she informed after they broke. "May I?" she motioned over to the phone.
"Go ahead"
She dialed Mindy's number and laid back above her boyfriend. While she waited for Mindy to pick up, she found entertainment in the well perfumed curves of his neck. She loved them so much.
"Hey, Min? Hi, it's Rachel" she replaced her lips with her hands as she talked to Mindy, but still with her eyes fixated on Ross'. "I'm fine and you? ... Oh, Good. Listen, New Years, what party do you recommend? ... Yeah, Ross and me." she smiled even more. "He's good too. In fact, he's lying beneath me as we speak"
Ross got a panicked look on his face and Rachel giggled.
"Yeah, now he's blushing, he's so adorable" she quickly leaned foward and kissed his lips softly. "Alright, focus, where are you girls going? ... Ben's, really? ... Oh yeah, that was pretty cool. ... Yeah, ok, so I guess that will be it. ... Ok, I'll see you there then. ... Ok, bye, see ya!"
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Ross and Rachel stepped into the party at 10:30. It was a large house on the edge of a lake, Rachel informed Ross it must've been rented. Everything was well decorated, white and golden baloons filled every room. Waiters passed by every second with galons of champaign. Much too fancy, but Ross thought he could get used to it as long as he had Rachel by his side.
The minute they entered, Mindy approached with a guy by her side. Rachel well knew him. Barry. Their parents had been hoping to set them up for a while, but it never seemed like a good time for both. Rachel was glad for that now.
"Rach, hi, you look gorgeous!"
They hugged.
"Thank you, so do you"
They broke.
"Oh, Barry, you remember Rachel"
"Yeah, hey Rach"
They merely shook hands.
"And this is Ross" Rachel took over. "Mindy, you remember Ross"
Rachel smiled at the clear surprise on Mindy's eyes as she greeted him.
"Barely" she managed to say, awestruck.
Ross placed his arm back around Rachel's waist. She covered his hand with hers.
"I'm gonna go get some drinks with the guys" Barry informed Mindy, who nodded. "You wanna come, Ross?" Barry's tone was rather careless, but either way they all knew he was just asking it out of politeness.
Ross tightened his grasp on Rachel's hand.
"No, thanks, I'm good."
"Well, okay, then"
Barry left. Ross, Rachel and Mindy stood together for a while, in silence.
"So, tell me! How did this happen?" Mindy suddenly sounded upbeat.
Ross and Rachel looked at each other, smiling.
"I don't know, it just... did" she replied.
"But how? I mean... I don't wanna sound offensive or anything, it's just that it seemed sudden to us all. Was there like a process or did he do something that made you look at him differently, or...?"
Rachel smiled and turned to look at Ross again. She could read in his eyes that he was curious himself. He too was aching for that answer.
"Well..." Rachel began. "It was a process, I think... I guess with time I just started paying more atention to things and I realised I wasn't happy with what I had. And that realisation made me wonder what should be my priorities in order to get what I'd really be happy with. And... I started getting closer to Monica again and Ross was there and... you know" Ross nuzzled his nose against Rachel's neck and she giggled.
"You should have seen the night we first got together though" Rachel laughed.
Ross chuckled, embarassed.
"Why, what happened then?"
"Well... I started flirting with him so he'd make a move, but he didn't get my messages" Mindy giggled. "At the end I was practicly spelling it out for him that I wanted him to kiss me"
Mindy giggled harder.
"You don't know the rules of flirting?"
"Is there a manual?" he questioned.
"They're very basic, c'mon" Mindy began. "You know, eye contact" Mindy ponctuated it with a provocative glance "playing with your hair" she played with her hair "touching" Mindy touched his arm. "Uh, someone's been working out" she said, flirty, as if exposing another exemple.
"Okay-okay" Rachel made Mindy let go of him. "I think he got it"
Ross chuckled.
"Sorry" Mindy laughed.
"I'm gonna get a drink, does anybody else want one?" Rachel asked.
"I'll get it for you. What do you want?" he offered.
"Coke, if they have it... If not, wine's fine"
Ross nodded.
"Mindy?"
"No, nothing for me, thanks"
"I'll be right back, ladies"
Ross left and Rachel followed him with her stare.
"Wow, he really has changed!"
"I told you"
"He's funny and cute and-"
"...taken" Rachel shot her a playful look.
Mindy laughed.
"No, yeah, I know what you mean..." Rachel sighed, dreamy. "And can I tell you something else?"
"What?" Mindy curiously asked.
"Best sex I ever had"
Rachel giggled.
"Really?" Mindy doubtfully asked.
"Oh my God...!"
"Better than Pete?!"
"Please!"
"Even better than that Billy guy??"
"Hm, so much"
"Wow... who'd say?"
"Not me" Rachel shook her head. "And you know... it's not just that..." Rachel didn't even care for the fact she was babbling. She just wanted to declare her love for that boy to whoever was willing to hear. "He's my friend too. We talk for hours... He gets me, I get him, I care so much about him..." She sighed. "I love him"
"Aw" was all Mindy managed to say.
"Here it is, Miss"
Ross came back and handed Rachel her drink. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek.
Midnight approached soon. The countdown was cheary, but Rachel couldn't wait till it ended. She'd begin a brand new year, hopefully much better than the previous ones, with the man she loved kissing her. It'd be wonderful.
3... 2... 1...
"Happy N-"
Before Ross could finish wishing her a "Happy New Year", she locked her lips on his. He wasn't about to complain.
They savoured each other lips and tongue for a long time before they broke. When they did, words weren't necessary. She nodded to him and he nodded to her, leaning closer for another slow kiss.
"Happy new year, love birds!"
They broke and faced a large group lead by Mindy. One by one they hugged and shared sweet wishes. If only you could tell which ones were real...
In the midst of the comotion, she spotted Nick on the corner of her eyes, standing in a corner and drinking by himself. She looked to her other side and saw Ross surrounded by her girl friends. They were telling him to watch out for Rachel, to treat her well and how wonderful she was.
Rachel sighed, but thought Ross could handle them for a couple of minutes. She smiled at his will to do this merely to please her and approached Nick.
"Happy New Year!!"
He shifted his glance from the floor and smiled weakly as he saw her.
"Or just New Year"
"C'mon, chear up! Come here!"
They hugged. After a while, they broke.
"So, that's your boyfriend?"
"Yup, that's him... Ross"
They looked at each other for a while, Rachel still smiling.
"Troubles in paradise gone then?"
"Pretty much..."
Nick nodded.
Ross looked around and didn't see Rachel.
"Where did Rachel go?" he asked Mindy.
"Oh, she's just right there talking to Nick"
"Oh"
Ross stood there and watched them. He couldn't help but feel a hint of jealousy at the way he was looking at her. Specially because it wasn't simple atraction and he knew it. 'This guy must really like her.' It was just the way he used to look at her.
Loving. Sweet. Contained.
Just about to burst.
"Who uh, who's that?" Ross tried to ask cooly.
"That's Nick"
"Is he uh, really good friends with Rachel?"
Mindy looked at him and seemed to notice his jealousy.
"Kind of. One would say more than that, though"
Ross turned to look at her.
"What? Why?"
"Just the way they were touching and hugging the other night didn't seem just friendly to me"
Mindy paused and looked at the glass of champaign on her hands.
"Ooopsie, think I might have said too much. I blame it on the drinks"
Mindy left. Ross turned to stare at Rachel and Nick again.
Rachel's eyes met his.
She smiled at him and waved.
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Hm, yeah, I'm back, it seems. Lots of plans for this fic and for a new one I might be beginning soon. Very soon. Just fluff, really. My net's been sucky though, so you never know. You wouldn't believe how we (Vero and I) posted last chapter! hah! Thanks again, girl ;)
Now I should go... reviews???