A/N-- I hope we still have readers, its been so long since we updated….we're so, so sorry….I've been crazy busy lately, but I guess that's what being a senior in high school really does to you…

Disclaimer- Only in our dreams do we own Friends!

Later that evening, Ross sat alone in his apartment, on his leather couch. His curtains were open and he gazed out into the starry New York sky, brighter than he had seen it in a while. He hoped this was a sign that he'd be able to work things out with Rachel, someday…his mind drifted off as he remembered a time not so very long ago, yet it seemed like forever.

Rachel: You were worth the wait, and I don't just mean tonight.
Ross: You're not laughing.
Rachel: This time it's not so funny

Ross sighed. There was no use dwelling on the past…he had to deal with the present situation that was going on right now. Sure, it wasn't ideal…Rachel had gone through the terrible trauma of being raped, and then had found out that she was pregnant, pregnant with some man's baby she didn't even know. Ross couldn't even imagine the pain and anguish she had gone through and was still going through. All he knew was that he loved Rachel…he had finally admitted this to himself, finally given in to the feelings that for months had been fighting to break through. He finally realized that he had never stopped loving Rachel, not for a minute since he first laid eyes on her, way back those many moons ago in high school.

It was late. In Monica and Rachel's apartment, all was dark and quiet. Monica was asleep in her room with a certain special visitor. Rachel was in bed as well, but she wasn't asleep. She lay awake, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about everything that had happened to her lately.

She'd always thought that when she got pregnant, it would be with a man she loved. A man who she'd probably been married to for at least a year beforehand. Someone who she cared for deeply and wanted to raise a child with.

Instead, what was she left with? She was destined to be a single mother, not married, the father of her child unknown, but still known what kind of a person he was.

Unless…Rachel couldn't shake off a certain thought. She imagined this child being born, and somehow raising it together with someone she really cared for, just like she'd always dreamed of. Someone like…Ross. She swore to herself after their breakup that she couldn't be with him anymore, that he wasn't right for her. But deep in her heart she knew that wasn't right…her and Ross were meant to be together…she had never stopped loving him.

The next morning, Ross sat on the couch in Central Perk with a coffee, reading through some essays he had to mark. He was the only person there, since it was so early, but he hadn't felt like staying cooped up at home marking the essays.

Just then, Ross heard the door open. He looked up and saw Rachel in the doorway.

"Rachel?" he asked, surprised to see her there that early.

"Ross! Hi!", Rachel said. "I went to your apartment but you weren't there…I really need to talk to you."

"Yeah, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about too," Ross said. He put down his essays, and Rachel sat next to him on the couch.

"You go first," they each said at the same time. Rachel laughed, for the first time in days.

"No seriously, you can go first," she said to Ross.

"OK," Ross said. He hesitated before continuing. "Rach…I…I think….I think I still love you." He waited tensely to see how Rachel would react- would she think it was inappropriate, after what she'd gone through.

But Rachel didn't say anything. It was silent for a moment, Ross and Rachel both looking into each other's eyes, each wondering what to say, before Rachel finally leaned forward and kissed Ross.