Rachel began to pace in the New York apartment that she shared with Monica, trying as hard she might to get her sister Jill off the phone. "Jill, I swear I never meant to steal your stupid mistletoe pin. I must have mixed it up with my stuff when I was with you guys last week."
Monica waved at Rachel from the kitchen area. They were both supposed to be prepping the food for the New Year's Eve party but Rachel conveniently got on the phone with her family.
"Sis, I will look for the pin I promise, and I will see that you get it in time for Valentine's Day this year. You know that mistletoe stuff only works at Christmas right?" Rachel shot her best friend an apologetic look. "I really have to go, Monica and I are having a ton of people come over for New Year's Eve this year….no, you can't come, you still have some turning 21 to do!"
"Rachel we need to get the scones out of the oven," Monica called out.
Rachel gave her friend a thumbs up sign. "Jill the scones are calling but I will get you your pin back." Rachel hung up the phone. "As soon as I find it," she muttered out loud.
"You lost something of Jill's?" Monica asked, handing Rachel a pair of oven mitts.
Rachel pushed her hands away at the mitts. "I had the pin on all day today."
"But it isn't Christmas anymore," Monica smirked with a raised eyebrow.
"I know, but there is this really cute new customer that's been coming into Central Perk each morning. Sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, tall, muscles."
Monica offered Rachel a tight smile.
"This is weird for you isn't it?" Rachel grimaced.
"It just seems so weird hearing you talk about other guys after you and Ross ended things."
"We barely started," Rachel pointed out. "And I think I'm getting to a point where I don't grit my teeth every time I see him. And I was not the one who made a pro-con list of reasons to be or not be with someone."
"I know," Monica nodded. "But he's my brother, and I really thought you two might have patched things up by now."
"Well I think we could be friends, just like before."
"Pre kiss?"
"We're both adults," Rachel laughed. "And right now I have bigger issues to think about then Ross' feelings."
"Like finding your sister's pin?"
"Apparently it's 'vintage'" Rachel said in air-quotes. "Ugh she is so possessive of her stuff."
"Gee, I wonder if that reminds me of anyone. I know of this roommate who flipped out once when I borrowed her favorite winter gloves for a date in the park and…"
"My favorite pair!" Rachel insisted, knowing exactly which winter gloves Monica was referring to. "I really need to find the mistletoe pin, it's pretty small, ugh it could be anywhere at this point. I may as well head back to work and start looking there."
"Just make sure you're back in time for the party," Monica reminded her as Rachel grabbed her coat and bag, "Good luck!"
Two hours later, the guests were beginning to arrive to ring out 1995. Rachel still hadn't come back yet.
"So she's still at Central Perk?" Ross asked.
Monica nodded her head, handing platters to Phoebe to pass around the room. This time, the six friends had kept their pact and no one brought a date to the party.
Joey stuffed another corn dog in his mouth. "Should someone go help her?" he asked, mouth filled with food.
"Are you volunteering," Chandler snarked, drumming his hands on the counter.
"I'd go anywhere if I could bring his puppies with me," Joey said, gesturing to his very full plate.
"Those are for everyone!" Monica scolded, grabbing a handful off of Joey's plate.
"I think I'll go down to the coffee house," Ross said, slipping out.
Ross headed down the block relieved to see the lights on at the coffee house at 10 at night. Sliding inside, he found the place mostly deserted. He spotted Rachel on her knees digging through the familiar orange couch that the gang utilized on nearly every visit.
"Hey," Ross said quietly. He had been treading gently near Rachel for the past few weeks. The woman he had obsessed over for nine years was nearly in his reach, only to lose her in a moment of stupidity and indecision.
Rachel seemed oblivious to Ross' presence as she continued to dig through cushions and crumbs.
"Ahem" Ross coughed lightly, bending down to her level.
Rachel lifted her head, nearly colliding with Ross in the process. "Hey," Rachel called out, stunned to see Ross in front of her. "I thought you'd be at the party."
Ross coughed once more. "Monica said you were down here looking for something."
Rachel nodded, running her fingers through her hair. "A piece of jewelry that belongs to my little sister Jill – can't believe she noticed it was gone," she laughed nervously.
"Want any help looking?" Ross offered.
"Really?" Rachel's eyes lit up at the thought of help. "I started out here and I have been here for over an hour retracing all of my steps and having no luck."
"Well an extra set of eyes can't hurt," Ross offered, digging under a set of tables in the corner.
"Thanks," Rachel said quietly, moving over to the bar area. "It didn't help any that Terry the manager tried to get me to finish a shift for one of the servers who called out." They continued to look in silence, rummaging through the facility. When the final closing notice came, at 11:00, they had no choice but to leave, without the pin.
Ross helped Rachel with her coat. "We really don't have to give up looking," he offered.
"It's getting late," Rachel said glumly. "We're already missing the party."
Ross opened the door. "Why don't we swing by the museum for a minute?" he suggested, lifting his hand for a taxi.
"What in the world is at the museum?" Rachel asked, wrinkling her nose.
Ross opened the first available cab and gave directions to the driver.
"I don't even know why you came to the coffee shop," Rachel muttered, feeling disgruntled and let down.
"I think you know why," Ross said gently.
"For the one millionth time, there is no us," Rachel declared, raising her hands in the air.
"Consider it penance, for the past month then," Ross suggested. "I wouldn't enjoy the party knowing you were roaming through the city alone."
Rachel looked at Ross for a hard minute. He had done so much lately to make up for the list around Thanksgiving. There were gifts, song dedications, pleas, food. She had found his Christmas gift to her discreetly placed on her bed last week, a pony figurine that looked remarkably like one that she rode growing up with her family. "Well I guess that's your choice then," Rachel said as the driver took off.
Within twenty minutes, they were at the museum. Ross instructed the cab driver to wait for them outside of the building, with the promise of an extra tip for the effort.
"I don't even like being in these places during the day," Rachel whined, feeling petulant and frustrated over missing a bulk of the party.
"I just wanted to grab an extra tool," Ross said, coming out with a heavy-duty headlamp. "It may help us find the pin."
Rachel struggled to hide a laugh at Ross looking like a stiff construction worker.
"I can make this look work, right?" Ross asked sheepishly.
Rachel lowered her head. "Everyone's going to find us when you're dressed like that."
"Eh," Ross muttered, guiding Rachel out the door. "If we hurry we might make it back to the party before midnight. I figure we'll retrace your steps."
Rachel pulled her coat tighter against her chest, watching the remaining holiday lights as they flew by. "We can start Central Perk," she suggested. "I was wearing it all day, or at least I thought I was."
"Did it go with your uniform?" Ross asked jokingly.
"Actually, there was someone I was hoping to meet and make an impression with," Rachel responded.
Ross waited a beat. "A male someone?"
Rachel tapped her chin. "As a matter of fact, he was."
Ross clenched his right hand, not wanting to show his hand. "Did you meet him?"
Rachel took a moment of silence. "No," she admitted. "Every time I thought there was a good opportunity, this customer wanted this, that customer wanted that, and Terry kept micromanaging everyone."
"Hmm, I guess it wasn't meant to be," Ross concluded as they pulled in front of the coffee house. Ross wished the cab driver a happy New Year with an extra tip for their trouble. He extended his hand for Rachel, who after a moment's hesitation took it.
"There's always Valentine's Day right?" she asked. "I have a month to think of a way to introduce myself." Rachel fumbled with her key to unlock the coffee house, now closed for the night.
"My advice, try spilling a coffee in his lap – that'll get his attention," Ross suggested, securing the door behind them.
"Very funny," Rachel sniffed. "I want to get a date with him after, not scare him away."
Ross flipped the headlamp on. "Well best of luck with – what's his name?"
"I don't even know," Rachel admitted, trying hard not to laugh at Ross's headgear ensemble.
Ross started on the north tables, getting on his knees. "You're going to an awful lot of trouble for someone you haven't met yet."
Rachel nodded, checking the cash register area once more. "I'm not the only one going to a lot of trouble," she gestured, pointing to his outfit.
"Like I said, I want to make up for everything," Ross said quickly.
Rachel's fingers traced the counter. "We're good," Rachel said quickly to Ross. "Promise. We can even be friends again."
Ross flashed the headlight in acknowledgement, going back to the floor. Friendship was the last thing he wanted with Rachel, but it was the most progress he had made with her all month.
Rachel combed through nooks and crannies, using her compact light for extra guidance. "Maybe we should check outside again," she suggested out of desperation.
"Fine by me," Ross agreed. "Do you mind being seen in public with me with this one," he tapped the lamp for emphasis.
"I'd like to try it on if you don't mind," Rachel suggested. "Who knows, maybe I'll end up wearing it better."
"Let's see." Ross stepped toward Rachel. "Would you like me to attach it for you?" Rachel nodded in consent and Ross buckled the hand around Rachel's forehead, tightening it for her size. He lingered a moment – it was the closest they had been since the kiss at the coffee house in the rain.
"How do I look?" Rachel asked, looking into his eyes.
Ross turned the lamp on with the center button. "Illuminating." He reached for her coat and helped her put it on from the back. "Shall we?"
"My last chance to find it," Rachel said, taking the key out of her pocket and unfastening the door. "We'll stop after this," she promised. "It's 30 minutes till midnight, if we don't find it tonight, I will explain everything to Jill and distract with something shiny," she smirked.
They started down the street, walking around areas of freshly fallen snow. Rachel kept her eyes on the sidewalk, flashing the light, allowing Ross to guide her steps. "These are not walking shoes," Rachel whined as they crossed their fifth block. Ross paused to let Rachel collect herself. "Not that I don't appreciate everything you're doing," Rachel assured him.
"Let's try something different," Ross ventured, squatting. "Hop on."
"A piggy back ride?" Rachel asked dubiously.
"You need to rest your feet, and you're looking so much at the ground, might as well try it from this angle," Ross reasoned, pointing to his back. "Hop on."
"If you insist," Rachel said, unable to hide a smile at a break from walking. "Let me know when we need to stop."
"Will do," Ross acknowledged as he braced himself for Rachel. Within the next minute, they were off once more.
"So much junk on the sidewalk," Rachel commented. "It's a green and red mistletoe pin," she reminded Ross.
"You know Christmas was last week," Ross reminded her, trying to hide his disappointment at her wanting to kiss someone else.
"Monica said the same thing. She'll get a real kick out of the fact that we spent the evening together."
Ross paused at a streetlight, catching his breath. "Five minutes till midnight," he said, checking his wristwatch.
Rachel patted Ross' back, indicating that she wanted down. "A night to remember," she mused.
"Even without the kiss?" Ross asked,
"Well I learned a lesson about taking things from Jill – she remembers everything." Rachel started down the block nearing the apartment building. "Last block." Angling the headlamp, she tentatively walked forward. "Red, green, with an accent of white."
"And a sprinkle of glitter," Ross finished," kneeling on the ground.
Rachel turned around. "How did you know about the…glitter," Rachel finished, resting next to him. In his hand, was the mistletoe pin, surprisingly intact.
"I guess it was closer to the apartment than we thought," Ross said softly, extending the pin toward Rachel.
"Would you mind putting it on me?" Rachel asked, fumbling with her gloves.
Ross turned off the lamp and carefully reached for the collar of Rachel's coat, fastening the pin securely. Horns, bells, and whistles from nearby windows indicated that midnight had finally arrived.
Rachel brought her lips to Ross' brushing them gently. "Thank you for everything," she whispered, slowly pulling her body away.
Ross was frozen in place. "Anytime." He offered her his hand and helped her up.
"This doesn't change anything though," Rachel said gently. "I just don't want you getting any ideas or…"
"We are just friends," Ross promised, pointing to the apartment building. "I am going to walk you back to the apartment, say hello to everyone, and then head out.
"Friends," Rachel echoed.