Author's Note: I am so incredibly sorry that I haven't written anything in such a long time. I was thinking of stopping because I was so busy, but I watched Friends again and of course it inspired me to keep writing. The long break won't happen again. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review. I really need feedback. No feedback, no story. So here goes...

"It's all in the past. It's all in the past." Rachel whispered to herself as she rocked Emma to sleep. After watching ten years of memories, she was now surer than ever that she loved Ross, but there were still so many obstacles ahead of them that she was unsure about how to approach the situation. There were two things that she did know for sure though. One: she was going to have to talk to Monica. As much as she regretted it, she knew Monica could help. And two: Rachel would have to be the one to fix their relationship. It was Rachel who had decided to 'take a break'. It was Rachel who tried to force Ross to take full responsibility for their problems. It was Rachel who had gone to Ross' wedding in London and ruined his marriage to Emily. And it was Rachel who had suggested they marry in Vegas. She would fix everything. She hoped.

***

"How many times do I have to tell you Joey? The party cannot be at our apartment. I know we pushed the moving date back, but Chandler, Rachel and I move out tomorrow. It's any empty apartment." Monica was getting tired of explaining this simple fact to Joey. This was the fourth time she'd told him, and the fourth time he'd asked the same question.

"But where can we have it then?" Monica smiled when Joey seemed to finally grasp the concept.

"Maybe my, I mean our, house. I mean Rachel will already be there because she's staying with us until she sorts some stuff out, and it can be like a house warming party as well. Won't that be nice?" Monica grinned. She loved playing hostess.

"Ok. But talk to Phoebe, she's got like a whole bunch of stuff already planned." Monica rolled her eyes. Great.

***

It began to rain heavily as Ross walked along the footpath towards his apartment. Trying hard not to think about Rachel, he tried to solve a complicated math problem that he had come across at work yesterday. However, it wasn't working. His mind kept wandering back to the many times he'd spent with Rachel. It was painful he noticed, but not as painful as it had once been. He was glad. He never wanted to lose Rachel or Emma, and this would definitely make it easier to be close to them both.

***

"Monica? Monica? Where are you? MONICA!" yelled Rachel as she banged on the apartment door. She was beginning to get annoyed. Why wasn't Monica at her apartment supervising all the packing? Surely, cleaning and bossing people around would have attracted her. And where was everyone else?

"Calm down, Rach. I'm here." The voice came from behind her and she spun around to see Monica.

She sighed in relief. "Oh Mon, I've been looking everywhere for you. I need to talk to you now. It's about Ross." Monica smiled. She loved being needed. It was always a great day when someone needed her help or wanted her advice.

"I know. I'm sorry, I was with Chandler." Monica rolled her eyes.

Rachel nodded in understanding. "Another panic attack, huh? He still freaked out about moving?"

Monica shook her head. "No, this time he was panicking about where you will be staying. He kept saying 'but that's the baby's room' over and over again. It took a good five minutes before he calmed down enough to realise that we bought a house with a guest bedroom."

"That husband of yours sure is strange." Rachel commented between giggles.

Monica sighed. "Yeah, but I love him."

Rachel smiled. "Then that's all that matters. And speaking of love, now about Ross…" But she was interrupted by Monica.

"Do you Rach, do you really?"

Rachel looked confused. "Do I really what?"

"Love him, silly."

Rach took a moment to think of the right words. "You know what, Mon? I think I do. I really think I do."

Monica began jumping up and down with excitement. "I'm so happy for you Rach. But when? I mean, when did you start loving him again?"

Rachel sighed. It was going to be a long day. She needed Monica's help, but first she needed to straighten a few things out.

"Mon, I never stopped loving him. For some reason, you all have in your heads this idea that I hated Ross."

Monica looked confused. "Of course we did Rach. Have you forgotten the whole 'we were on a break' thing? Do you really not remember it?"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Don't be daft Monica. Of course I haven't forgotten it. How could I?" she paused, remembering. "What I'm trying to say is that I never stopped loving Ross, I was just really mad at him. It's like that time Chandler pissed you off by saying that you were just 'fooling around'."

"Yes Rachel, I suppose it is, except yours was like a thousand times worse."

"Yeah, it was pretty bad. But, I just couldn't stop myself from loving him. I mean, don't get me wrong, I tried. I tried so hard to just, not love him anymore. However, my attempt was only half-hearted. I new the outcome. It wouldn't work. Just like it didn't when…"

"…he was dating Julie." Realisation crossed Monica's face as she finished the sentence. She seemed to finally understand. "So all this time…?" she asked waiting impatiently for an answer.

"Yep, I've loved him all along. Why do you think all those terrible things he did hurt so much? It was because I loved him so much. Too much, in fact."

Monica looked confused again. "But all those times he wanted to get back together, all those times he apologised…if you loved him, why didn't you…?

"What, just move on? Forgive and forget? Mon, it's harder than you can possibly imagine." She paused, thinking. "Do you know why Chandler panics every time Richard is mentioned?" Monica shook her head. "It's because he can't forgive and forget. He can't let go."

"But it's been years since Richard. He knows that…"

"Like I said, it's harder than you think."

Monica sighed. She had never been very sympathetic of Chandler's worrying over Richard, but now she understood. Never would she blame him again for panicking. If it was as hard as Rachel said he deserved more.

"So Mon, can you help?"

"With what?" she asked, still thinking about Chandler and Richard.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" she paused, waiting for a response. When she didn't get one, she continued. "Your brother of course."

"Oh right, sorry Rach. So I was thinking…"

"Hold on a sec Mon. Do you promise not to mention this to Ross? Because I know you have a habit of telling him stuff, or rather telling Chandler stuff, who then tells Joey, who then can't keep quiet and spills everything to Ross, and I do not want that happening. I want it to be a surprise."

"Sure Rach." Monica said as she was pulling out a pen and pad from her handbag. Rachel rolled her eyes. She probably already had everything planned. In fact, written in that tiny pad was probably Ross and Rachel's entire future. And there was no doubt that it would be colour coordinated and cross referenced for easy access.

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What did everyone think? Please, please review. I'm begging you. I LOVE reviews. Love them. Really, I need feedback. Like I said - if there is no feedback, then there is likely to be no story!