Beautiful Release
by Tina

- - -

Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

-

It was past midnight when Monica returned to her apartment. She was trying her best not to make any noise, inserting the key carefully into the hole and turning the doorknob slowly. For Ross, of course, since Chandler had the sleeping capacity of a rock. All in vain, however, as she was surprised to find her brother sitting by himself on the arm chair, reading a book. Monica smiled at him when their eyes met.

"Good night. Wasn't expecting to find anyone up at this time."

"Hey, Mon."

By the tone of his voice and the look he wore, she got it all figured out.

"You've heard, haven't you?"

"Chandler sorta told me..."

"Yeah..."

Monica set the keys on the kitchen table and kept looking at Ross.

"So... How is she?"

"As good as she could be."

He nodded, silently. She walked up to him and took a seat on the couch.

"Yes, she did ask about you, Ross."

"I- I didn't say anything."

"I'm assuming you didn't stay up waiting for me to simply look at me like that."

Ross took a deep breath.

"And I think you were right the other day when you said some time apart would be the best for you guys." She continued.

"You do?"

Now Monica could sense a hint of confusion in his voice, as if he was no longer convinced of that. After all, now there was nothing standing in their way, so it seemed, so there was no need for him to use that as a mere excuse.

"I really do."

Ross was silent for a few seconds.

"She's getting a job, you know?"

"What, really?"

"Yeah. I'll try getting her as a hostess at the restaurant, I think it'll be really good for her."

Ross smiled weakly.

"Yeah. Me too."

Monica smiled back at him, admiring the way his eyes glimmered. She patted him on the knee, stood up and walked up to her room.

"She misses you a lot too. Goodnight, honey."

Ross sighed contentedly. She was near - in so many ways, closer than even. Getting her life together, being everything he knew she could be. And quite possibly dreaming of him that very second.

Dreaming a little dream of him.

---

A couple of days later, Megan Bello scanned Rachel's short resumé as they sat across from each other in the cozy office. Rachel crossed her legs and tucked some hair behind her ear, trying to ease the nervousness of her first job interview.

"I understand I don't have much experience, but I want you to know that I am very good with people and I'm a very fast learner."

Megan looked up at Rachel.

"I believe you. Monica's spoken wonders of you. You two were friends in high school, right?"

"Since before that, actually." Rachel smiled. "We met when we were kids, around eight or so, our parents were friends at the country club, we both grew up in Long Island."

"Sounds like a good childhood."

"It was the best." Again, Rachel stretched her smile, just as Monica had instructed her to. "But then, you know, came college we sort of drifted apart. We ran into each other about five months ago though and now I would say we're possibly closer than ever."

Megan smiled back.

"So you got married right after college?"

"That's correct. My husband, hm, soon to be ex-husband, didn't want me to work. Well, it was actually never discussed, it was always sort of implicit, you know? I was hoping to change that though, now that we're no longer together I wanna be able to stand on my own feet."

"Right, I understand."

Rachel kept nervously smiling at Megan, who watched her for a few silent seconds.

"Well, I hope you don't get sick of Monica now, with the two of you working together and all."

Rachel smiled genuinely this time.

"Really!"

Megan smiled back.

"Yes. I don't usually hire people on the spot, but you seem to be exactly what we're looking for. As for experience, I'm sure you'll gain some with time, that's the way it goes. Monica's got a good eye, I trust her. So congratulations."

"Oh, thank you so much!"

They stood up and shook hands.

"My pleasure."

-

Rachel almost skipped her way out of the office. She stopped by the kitchen to tell Monica the news. They shrieked, hugged and jumped up and down together.

"Welcome to the real world! It sucks, you're gonna love it!" Monica said to her, earning a chuckle.

When she left the restaurant, with a smile that wouldn't fade stamped onto her face, she picked up her phone and dialed a number.

"Mom? Hi, it's Rachel."

"Good morning, dear, how are you today?"

"Better than ever! I got a job, mom!"

"You what?"

"I got a job as a hostess at the restaurant where Monica works, Alessandro's."

"Oh, sweetie...! That's... That's wonderful!"

Rachel smiled even more, surprised.

"Really? You think so?"

"I really do, Rachel. Oh... How could I not? You're making it happen for yourself."

Rachel watched her feet, truly happy and proud of herself.

"How's daddy doing?"

"Better."

"That's good..."

"Oh, and I have good news! Jimmy woke up."

"Really? Wow, that is wonderful, mom!"

"Yeah, he'll be home in a couple of days, it seems."

"That's great, I'm really happy for him and his family."

"Are you gonna call Barry now?"

"No. I'll call Sarah though, I wanna see how she and the kids are doing. I didn't even get to say goodbye to them."

"What, did you just slip out of there in the middle of the night?"

"Something like that."

"Oh, Rachel..."

"Mom, can I ask you a favor?"

"What?"

"Come and meet me at my new place and bring Daddy. I wanna talk to you guys about this whole thing, I know you're both upset, I know how much you liked Barry."

"Oh, sweetie... I've thought about it and don't worry, I understand. I know exactly where you're coming from."

"Mom..."

"But your dad..." Sandra cut her daughter. "Well, your dad is a whole other story."

"That's why I want you to bring him. I want to talk to him, I want him to see how happy I am now. I want him to meet my new place."

"So is this a definitive thing?"

"As far as I can see, yes, mom. It's gonna take me some time before I can afford to live on my own and Phoebe's been so great about the whole thing. She said she was thinking about getting a roommate anyway, so..."

"You can afford to live on your own, Rachel! Do you think you'll walk out limp from this marriage?"

"I don't want his money, mom."

"But you need to think of your future. I'm proud of you for going after your things, but we need to be realistic here."

"OK, OK, mom, we can discuss that later. Now, just promise me you and Dad will come over for dinner on sunday."

"Rachel, I'll talk to him. But you know your father..."

"I do, mom. Just bring him, OK? I'll work the old man."

---

About a week later, Monica woke up to find many boxes sitting on the living room, the same boxes Ross had brought with himself a few weeks ago and that had been storaged in the guest room among the rest of his things. Ross was by the fridge, drinking from a bottle of water.

"Hey. What's going on? Why aren't you at work?"

"Good morning, sis. Well, I'm moving out today, Donald gave me the day off. I'm already having a bed delivered today, along with a fridge, a microwave, a TV and one couch."

Monica smiled weakly, picturing how weird the apartment would look.

"Oh, honey... You know you don't have to move now, you can stay here as long as you need."

"I know, but I figure the sooner I leave the sooner I'll get things together, you know?"

"I'm gonna miss you."

They hugged.

"No, you won't. Specially in the morning when you won't have to yell at me for taking so long in the bathroom."

"Fifteen minutes, Ross! It was agreed we each got 15 minutes in the mornings!" She snapped, breaking the hug.

Ross chuckled at his sister's mood swings when it came to those things.

"Yeah, I wish I could say I will miss you back."

Monica smiled weakly and punched him playfully.

"Shut up..."

Ross chuckled and went back to getting his things together, as Monica started fixing herself breakfast. A few seconds later, the door opened and Rachel walked in.

"Hey, Mon." However, she stopped abruptly by the doorway when she saw Ross. He turned around, surprised by the sound of her voice and they looked at each other for a couple of seconds, though it felt like a couple of hours. "Oh, hey Ross." She failed to hold back her smile.

It was OK, he smiled back just as widely.

"Hi, Rachel."

And Monica smiled to herself.

"I- I thought you'd be at work." Rachel said without thinking.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I got the day off to move out." He joked.

"Oh, nice."

"Yeah, I figured it was about time...! I got some stuff arriving today, enough to let me move in, so..."

"Well, good luck with that..."

"Hm, congratulations on the job. Monica told me and I think that's really great."

She smiled even wider now.

"Thank you. I'm very happy about that, everything's been going really well there."

"That's good..."

"Yeah..."

It wasn't as awkward and she'd think. Even though they'd run out of small talk, the silence that rose seduced Rachel, it was so intimate and comfortable somehow. His eyes on her, his softness that didn't require a touch. She'd missed him so much. Yet, there was something different about this encounter. They were both unattached. Somehow, they were completely different people.

Beep-Beep.

Ross looked down and checked his beeper.

"I gotta go, my things have arrived."

"Oh, OK."

"It was really good seeing you, Rachel."

"Yeah, yo-you too."

"Bye."

She almost shivered in contentment at the look he gave her as he walked out the apartment. As soon as the door closed, she let out a long and well drawn out sigh. Monica smiled at her.

"Could I be more invisible?"

"Huh?" Rachel snapped out of it, confused.

"Never mind." Monica said, with a chuckle. Rachel took a seat next to her. "Breakfast?" Monica offered.

"Just some coffee, Phoebe made me oatmeal cookies today and I ate too many."

"Oh, aren't those the best?"

"They really are!"

Monica kept smiling at Rachel, proud of her and Ross. They hadn't surrendered to their instincts. Despite the clear attraction they felt for each other and the present circumstances, both had apparently remembered her advice. Maybe they had seen just how well the other was responding to this little time for themselves and, out of love, had decided to post pone the reunion. It was only a little while. A little while that would be very important for the rest of their lives, which they would possibly get to share with each another anyway.

"What?" Rachel asked, a little freaked out by Monica's look.

"Nothing, nothing. So, how was it with your mom and dad last night?"

"Oh, it was really great! Dad came around with the idea of the divorce, specially after what he's seen...! It seems Barry's come back from San Francisco and Daddy dropped by unannounced yesterday only to find Barry in there with another woman... Oh, you know her! Mindy, you remember, my old childhood friend?"

Monica made a shocked face.

"Whoa, really?"

"Hmhum."

Rachel took a sip of her coffee, unaffected. Monica watched her, amazed.

"OK, I was expecting a little more reaction from you..."

"Monica, please... It's not like I haven't always known Barry did that sort of thing to me. Was I betrayed and hurt and surprised? Sure, I guess. I don't mean to sound cold or anything, but it's just that..." She shook her head. "In a way, it's only a relief. It's a relief I know I won't have to live with that anymore and now that Dad got to see it he said he'll hire a lawyer for me and that I should not worry about anything." Rachel sighed, contentedly. "I know I said I wanted to take care of some things myself, but I'll leave that up to him. I think I got better things to worry about now..."

Monica smiled at her.

"Right, right..."

"Besides, I haven't exactly been a faithful little saint myself...! Oh, but anyway, enough about me, honey. Lately I feel like this is all we can talk about, maybe now it's time to change the subject. Oh, the wedding! Tell me how that's coming. How much time left now?"

"Only about a month."

"Oh, wow...! You must be getting really excited."

"Terrified would be a better word...!"

"Aw, Monica...!" Rachel grabbed her hand. "It's going to be great, you guys are gonna be so happy."

Monica smiled back.

"Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well... after much consideration, I... I talked to Phoebe and she understood our situation here..."

"What situation?"

"I would like you to be my maid of honor."

Rachel gasped softly.

"What, really?"

Monica nodded.

"You know, we've been friends for longer, we're closer than ever now, you're like... like a sister to me. In so many ways..."

Rachel chuckled, teary eyed.

"Oh, Mon...! Is Phoebe really OK with it?"

"Of course. She said it made sense... and she's going to be a bride's maid now, she's still going to be up there with us."

Rachel brushed happy tears away.

"Then yes, of course. I am so honored, I love you so much, honey."

They hugged.

---

"Good evening, welcome to Alessandro's!" She greeted them with a warm smile. "Do you guys have a reservation?"

"Yes, Andersen, party of six."

"Oh, yes, the Novaks have already arrived. Would you follow me, please?"

Rachel showed them to their table, made a little small talk and walked back to her post. So it wasn't much, but she'd never felt so productive before. Now, there was only one thing missing... It had been two weeks since she'd last seen him that morning at Monica's. After that, nothing, nada. She sighed. Was it just her who thought maybe it was time for a new approach?

"Hey."

The voice snapped her out of it. She looked up and met his eyes, surprised.

"Oh, hey."

Silence followed.

"Oh, sorry, would you like a table?"

He smiled.

"Hm, yeah, sure."

She smiled back.

"Should I bother asking if you have a reservation? It's standard procedure..."

He chuckled.

"Go ahead."

"Do you have a reservation, Sir?"

"No. No, I don't."

"Will someone be joining you for the evening?"

"No, it's just me."

She smiled.

"Well, OK, we may have something to suit you. Follow me, please."

As she walked in front of him, he admired her neck, perfectly bare as her hair shook from one side to another on an elegant pony tail.

"Here you go. Your waiter will be with you in just a second. Have a good evening, Sir."

She winked at him and turned to leave.

"Hey, Rach."

She turned back.

"Yes?"

"Hm, there's something I wanna ask you."

"Sure, what is it?" She asked, anticipation building up inside her.

"Hm, OK, I'm just gonna say it..."

She chuckle.

"Yes, Ross...?"

"Would you like to go to Monica and Chandler's wedding with me?"

She smiled.

"Hm, yeah. Yeah, that would be great."

He smiled back, satisfied.

"Good."

She chuckled again.

"Bon apetit."

With that, she left. So happy she thought she would burst any second and spread good energy throughout the entire neighborhood.

---

Please review. I don't wanna sound like a baby, but it's the only thing I'm asking. And it's for you guys. Because I want to improve, seeing what you like or don't like. When you don't review, I always assume you don't like it...! Or that you didn't think anything of it, which is even worse. Anyway, see you next chapter, which may be the last. We'll see.

P.S. Who else is hating ffnet today? Omg...!