And I Feel Home

by Tina

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Rachel didn't bother asking if his parents were home as they made their way up to his room. Ross closed the door after them and Rachel hesitated whether she should sit down or not. She decided to stand at least untill she knew what this was about. She found herself more nervous than she'd ever been before when he turned around and faced her.

"So..."

"So..." she threw it back to him.

"I just... hm, sit down" she sat down on a chair he kept by his study and he sat down across from her on his bed. "I just thought it would be for the best if we got to talk about this now, Rach. The past few days made me think things through and cool off a bit"

"Yes?" she smiled, hopeful.

"I... I still mean what I said" her smile faded slowly. "Sort of"

"Oh"

"But I want us to talk about it, Rach. I mean... what we had... what we- what we have..." he looked at her for a while before continuing. "you bring up the most intense feelings I've ever felt in my life. Just... they're not usually all good."

"But Ross... I was thinking... we could uh work this out together. Couldn't we? We don't have to break up for this, do we?"

Ross looked down.

"I don't want to break up either, Rach. I love you. But the things I'm feeling right now... this possessiveness... it'll get worse and I'm going to hurt you. I need to work on this and earn you again"

Her heart melted. She wanted to tell him she was okay with his possessiveness, that she was his to claim anyway. But... she understood. It was eating him alive just like her feelings for him once did to her. Eventually it got better. While she took a break from him.

"We should... maybe we should just take a break" she offered.

"What?"

"We don't have to break up for good. If we just take a break, we can think things over, take our time to think without having to actually say goodbye. This just seems too sudden and, and..." her eyes glistened. "I don't wanna say goodbye to you"

Ross took her by surprise when he approached her, took her face on his hands and kissed her. She lost herself in that kiss, it was everything she'd been dreaming of since the break up.

When they parted, they looked at each other. He stroked her hair and she brushed her tears away.

"So.. what are you saying? I leave tomorrow and we just.. don't talk to each other?"

"Not unless you want to... Or have things figured out. I don't know. Even if this doesn't work out, Ross, we can at least say we tried. I love you too and I don't wanna throw this away"

"It could take a long time, Rach"

"I don't care"

"I don't wanna make you hold things back because of this"

"I'll wait, Ross, I don't care"

Ross smiled and kissed her deeply again. When it ended, he kissed her playfully a couple of times.

"You're stupid, you know that?"

She giggled.

"You're worth it"

They looked at each other, the tension fading.

"So... are you gonna tell me what happened when we first got together?"

Rachel looked down.

"What do you mean?"

"I know you, Rach"

She looked up at him. Honesty was the least she could offer that man.

"Ok... I... I think it's safe to say I stated going out with you for the wrong reasons" he looked at her interested. She looked back down to the floor, ashamed. "You know how much I love your family, right? I just... I wanted to be a part of it. One way or another." She looked back at him. "But I fell in love with you." she adoringly shrugged. "And now, honey, I just want you for who you are and that's it."

Ross nodded.

"I've always known if I ever had anything people would envy would be my family..."

"They're terrific..." Rachel said, carefully reaching out for his hand, testing the ground. He squeezed it.

"Thanks for the honesty"

"Are we ok?"

"I guess..."

They kissed again.

"So... now what?"

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Rachel entered her house and threw the keys on a table. She sighed, a huge grin on her face. So life wasn't perfect... In fact, anything was far from being perfect, starting with her relationship with Ross. But she was hopeful. She somehow knew things would eventually work out.

They just needed time to do its job.

Urgh, for now... all she had to worry about was picking up her classes the next day. Damn... she sure didn't miss that.

When she entered the family room, her parents were there with an unknown woman. They rose as she entered.

"Hey" Rachel greeted them, confused.

"Rachel, darling, we've been waiting for you"

"What is it?"

"We've got a surprise for you"

"Good, I hope?"

"The best"

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Another cliffhanger. Damn it, I'm mean. But I update quick, so you can't complain! lol! Reviews are love..!! :D lol, random... anyone here uses LiveJournal? I'm cristina there. Searching for more RR fan friends :P