Ross knew he couldn't postpone the inevitable. He stood in front of apartment 20, and took a big breath. Rachel had come home from work , a band aid reminded her of the glass she broke yesterday. She walked to the refrigerator and poured a glass of juice. Picking up her latest copy of Vogue, she plopped onto the white couch.

"Hey." Ross said as he peeked through the door. Rachel turned her head and then turned it back. "I wish you would go away." She said as she averted her eyes back to her magazine. "I wanted to see my sister anyway" Ross said as he turned to leave. "Wait." Rachel said. Ross stopped with a shocked look on his face. Rachel put the magazine down and got up to confront her ex lover.

"I saw her today, Ross." She said slowly and deliberately. Ross moved closer to her. He couldn't believe he was this close to her. Her perfume was the poison to draw him. He pretended that her smile was the same one she used to have for him. Her aqua eyes seemed lifeless now.

And who was that , Rachel.?" He felt nervous to call her Rach, that was his pet name for her. Just as she used to yell out his name in the middle of an orgasm, she would address him as "Doctor ."

"That woman." Rachel looked at him with the look of hatred. "That woman that you fucked two nights ago , that I had to find out from Gunther, because you were too damned chicken to tell me."

At that moment, Monica came in the door. Chandler came in with her and carried her groceries. They stopped when they saw that for the first time in two days , Ross and Rachel were actually communicating with each other.

"I told you , I thought you were sleeping with Mark." Ross said to her . "And besides, you were the one who wanted to break up." He turned to her with a deliberate look in his eyes. "We were on a …." Rachel tuned away when he started his endless tirade. "Don't" she said with a look that if she had a gun in her hand , she would aim it right at his brown eyes. "I have heard this now for the last time. " she said and then turned away.

Ross went over to the kitchen where he had a couple allies. He could feel the hatred coming off of Rachel. Opening the refrigerator, he took out a bottle of beer and took a sip. "Well you won't have to worry about me too much longer." He said almost inaudibly into the lip of the bottle as he sipped. Seeing Monica and Chandler there, he decided this would be the perfect time to tell them.

Straightening up, he put the bottle down and cleared his throat. "Mon, I have to tell you something." Rachel said from behind her magazine."Monica, could you please tell your brother to leave. He is annoying me and I had a hard day at work." Ross walked over in front of Rachel and then said."Monica, will you tell your roommate , I am only here because I have some news." Ross said in front of her face.

"And what is that? You and the copy slut are dating?" Rachel said from her magazine again.

"For your information, I was in Boston yesterday and I have been offered a job at Boston College , they are hiring me as a new faculty member . They want me to start next week." Ross said looking down at the ground.

There was absolute silence as everyone looked at Ross. Monica was the first to speak. "Ross, what about your job?" she asked curiously.

"Donald was actually the one who recommended me. The school has a fantastic department , and I might actually get to go on some digs ." Ross tried to be excited, but he knew deep down he would doing some damage to those he cared about the most. "I need a change. I have been in the same job since Carol and I were together. Boston is an exciting city and it is only an hour by plane. Ben can come and see me."

Rachel stopped . She laid down her magazine as she tried to grasp what was going on. "It's me." She thought. "I am the reason he is leaving" She knew she was mad at Ross, but she also knew that deep down she still loved him. She tried to picture what life would be like without him . In an almost daze, she asked ."How soon are you going to leave?"

Ross said angrily. "Oh don't worry. I have to tell Carol and Susan and find a sublet for my apartment, and then I am gone." Rachel looked at him again. "I told them it would probably be as early as next week." He said and then it finally dawned on him. Rachel went white as she looked at him. The two sets of eyes locked on each other. With one final look, she turned away and ran toward her room and then slammed the door. Throwing herself on the bed, she held her pillow and cried into it. She heard a door open and close . "Monica , I really want to be left alone." She said muffled into the pillow.

"I'm not Monica." The masculine voice said. Rachel lifted her head from the pillow to see Ross standing over her. "Now would you tell me what is going on?" he asked with his arms folded.

"Nothing ",she said as she turned back to the pillow. Ross took his hand and lifted her chin. "This is me, remember?" he said softly. Ross came up with a thought. "You still love me, don't you?" he asked inquisitively.

"No I don't." Rachel turned her head away again. He took her chin again and looked into her eyes. "You can't fool me , Rachel Green. I know you still have feelings for me." He said softly.

"I have no feelings for you, except contempt and hatred. I hope you move far away from New York so I never have to see your cheating face again. " Rachel said angrily. "Now get the hell out of my room."

Ross sighed and then walked to the door. "Are you sure about this Rachel?" he said sympathetically. "Because once I go to Boston , I am never coming back here. This door is shut and there will be closure finally." Rachel lifted her head again."There was closure the day you fucked that slut." She said softly. "Get out Ross." She whispered. All he could do was close the door. Rachel started to cry silently into her pillow.

A few nights later, Ross had said his goodbyes to Ben and a colleague at the museum was taking over his apartment. Rather than going through the pain of a goodbye party and saying goodbye to his friends. He decided to just leave one night. He saw Rachel asleep on the couch like he had heard about from Monica that night of the fight. She was tired, he was tired of hurting her and that she even had to be reminded of him. That was the main reason of leaving, he couldn't face her anymore.

Ross looked down at her. It was like she was an angel asleep on a cloud. He had always loved to watch her sleep when they were together. The rhythmic breathing of her chest as it moved up and down. She looked as peaceful as a little baby. Watching her brought a tear to his own eye. He saw the afghan laying on the back of the couch and slowly and lovingly covered her body. He knelt down and left an envelope on the table , then he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm sorry, Rach." He said.

Waking up in the morning, Rachel stretched and then she noticed the familiar childish scrawl on the envelope. Her first instinct was to throw it away, but something told her it was important. She proceeded to read it.

Dear Rachel,

I have done something so unspeakable that I do not blame you for hating me at all Right now I hate me. I have been unfaithful to the one person I never thought I would ever hurt. I know you can't even stand the sight of me. Well you won't. I am leaving for Boston early this morning , so I won't have to remind you what a jerk I am. I am staying there and will probably never ever see you again. You are so kind and sweet, and you deserve so much better than me. Go on with your life and please oh please keep the good memories alive , but please also forget me. I wish you luck and love.

Sincerely Dr. Ross E Geller…

Rachel took the letter and then she laid back down. Sleep would allow her to escape.

Next: Ross and his new life.