Harder to Breathe – Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, though it'd be fun if I did! ;)

The six sat in Monica & Chandler's living room as they usually had every New Years Ever for as long as they could remember. It was tradition and they all knew how much this meant to be with each other on New Years Eve. As they sat watching the festivities of the New Years Eve celebration in Times Square, it was in Monica's mind that this was one of the most picturesque moments there had been in the past few months. She sat nestled in Chandler's arms. Ross and Rachel were snuggling together in the big chair, gentling caressing each other's faces with their fingers. Phoebe and Joey were without someone special but that didn't matter to them. They were having a ball of fun watching the festivities. And in the midst of Monica's tranquil thoughts, Joey burst out screeching.

"Hey, no one else finished their resolutions."

Monica realized he was right. Since she had asked Ross first, she had just stopped there because everyone had been eagerly intrigued by Ross's resolution. She decided she'd reveal hers next. "Okay, my New Year's Resolution is to not be so bossy."

Everyone starred at her. Chandler sarcastically laughed at his wife. This was her resolution every year. And every year she failed in trying to accomplish this within the first month of the New Year.

"What? Why are you all looking at me like I have six heads?" She couldn't stand it when they did that.

"It's just that…um…Mon, you've had that every year as your resolution," Ross said. "And every year, you don't go through with it."

"Yes I do!" she screeched.

Chandler shook his head and said, "No you don't. You promised me last New Years Eve you wouldn't be so bossy about how I leave the bathroom after I use it and take a shower. Within a month of the New Year, you were flipping out and telling me which way to hang the towel, which towel set was to go into the bathroom that week, complaining that I never refill the soap dispenser. Or that I don't put down the toilet seat."

"Well, how hard is it to remember to put down the toilet seat after you've used the bathroom?! Honestly, every time you forget and I fall in, I fell like I'm using a bidet in a hotel in Spain."

Phoebe laughed. She could just imagine Monica doing that.

Chandler smiled at Monica. He knew all those things were true. Sometimes he just did it to drive her crazy. Other times, he just frankly forgot. "Sweetie, you could be a little nicer about it sometimes."

Monica thought about it. "Okay, this year I will stop being bossy. AND I will PROVE you guys wrong and be able to keep this resolution. Enough of me. Chandler, yours would be?"

"I plan on planning more romantic getaways for my wife and I to enjoy in the most romantic spots I can think of. Maybe I'll surprise you when I least expect it."

She smiled. She loved when Chandler was such a romantic.

Joey spoke up. "My resolution is to find myself someone who I can have a long term relationship with."

"Aww Joey, that's so sweet," Phoebe replied. "Mine is to play my guitar more and get more massage clients."

During the whole time everyone was telling their resolutions, Rachel continued to caress Ross's face. She loved his face. It was the face of her Prince Charming. She simply couldn't get enough. All she could think was she could eat him up in his adorableness. She was so entranced that she didn't hear Phoebe calling her name.

"Rach. Rach." Still no answer. "RACHEL KAREN GREEN!"

A little taken aback by the volume articulated in Phoebe's voice, Rachel twitched. "I'm sorry, Pheebs. What'd you ask me?"

"I said, what's your resolution?"

"Oh. Well, that's simple enough. My resolution….is to not screw up this current relationship I've got going."

"I like that one!" Ross exclaimed.

Joey was beginning to get impatient to see the ball drop. He always enjoyed watching the ball drop on New Year's. It was tradition. "Does anyone know what time this stupid ball is going to drop?! I'm too excited I don't think I can wait anymore."

Monica glanced at Joey, who had a look on his face that perceived him to look as ecstatic as a monkey does when someone gives them a banana. She looked at her wrist at the brand new watch Chandler had given her for Christmas. "It's 11:58. We better all pay attention to the TV."

The gang all turned to the celebration they had been watching on TV. As the announcer on the TV began to do the countdown, Joey and Phoebe chimed in.

"Ten….nine….eight….seven….six….five…four…three…two…one! Happy New Year!" they both yelled. They genuinely kissed each other on the cheeks and blew their party horns. Chandler and Monica kissed passionately. Ross and Rachel were still stuffed in the little chair, blissfully kissing. After a while, they broke away. They looked around as Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, and Joey were all in the kitchen drinking champagne and having a little toast.

"Rach, I truly, madly, deeply, love you," as he intimately pecked her cheek with a kiss. "I'm so glad you believed in your heart that we could work things out and give this relationship a try again. It means the world to me, as do you."

Quietly wiping away any tears that began to slip from hey eyelids from those sweet words from Ross, Rachel shook her head in agreement. "I couldn't agree more. I love you. It just feels so good to say this to your face without a cringe after all these months. But, as of this moment, I don't think I'd want to be starting a relationship with anyone but you."

 When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love
You'll understand what I mean when I say
There's no way we're gonna give up
And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe

Smiling, Ross began to get up from the chair. Once he was up, he pulled her up from the chair. "Come on, let's go get some champagne with the rest of them"

The lovebirds walked over to the kitchen. Each was given a glass of champagne by Monica. The six put their glasses together for a toast.

"To the New Year and many great things to come," Chandler professed.

"To the New Year!" Everyone's glasses clinked together and they all sipped. Ross and Rachel decided to have their own little toast to each other. Slinking back a few steps from the other four, they put their glasses together.

"To us. May this relationship last a lifetime," they both said in unison. Their glasses clinked and they kissed. The New Year was beginning to look very promising.