Monica opened her eyes instinctively -- her inner alarm clock waking her up
at precisely five-thirty. She felt Chandler's warm arms around her and
smiled when she felt a blanket on top of them both. It didn't surprise her
one bit at how . . . natural this felt; waking up with him.

Somehow, from finally seeing and talking to him for the first time in six
years to talking with him about going to London last night she had fallen in
love. With certainty, she decided that it happened when she saw the look in
his eyes when he first saw Matt and put together everything until he realized
that he was a father and Matt was his son.

Something inside was telling Monica she was walking dangerous grounds, but
she ignored it. Every mother always has a special bond with the father of
their children, and Monica wasn't surprised one bit how easy it was for her
to fall in love.

Monica moved off of Chandler, trying not to wake him up, but his eyes opened
groggily anyways and he smiled at her. "Morning."

"Good morning," Monica replied. She moved in and gave him a quick kiss on the
lips before she could think about it and moved quietly from the couch to her
bedroom with the words 'I'm gonna take a shower' to Chandler.

Chandler sat up on the couch and looked around. "Monica, it's barely
sunrise."

"I wake up early. Get used to it," Monica said. She felt unbelievable
happiness at the last four words; that she was able to say them.

"I'm gonna go back over to Joe's and my apartment," Chandler said awkwardly.

"You can stay," Monica offered, stopping at the door of her bedroom to turn
around and face him. "If you want to, I mean."

Chandler looked at her questioningly, wanting to ask her if she meant what he
thought she meant but not wanting to risk it. He finally sighed and ran a
hand through his hair. "Mon, as much as I want to . . . it's not right. Not
yet, anyways."

Monica leaned against the doorframe. "I know. I want it to be right though."

"So do I," Chandler said. "I'll see you at breakfast."

"Wait," Monica commanded. She walked to the couch and he stood up. She put
her arms around his neck and kissed him with built up emotions she'd needed
to get out for awhile. When the parted she whispered breathlessly, "Does that
make it anymore right?"

Chandler nodded, panting as well. "It does. But it's still not right enough
and you know it. We'll work things out, Mon, but I only have today before I'm
working between fourteen and twenty four hours a day."

"Spend it with me," Monica suggested. "I can get somebody to take care of
Matt." She added quickly: "I mean, I know you want to get to know Matt better
and today's probably the longest chance you'll get, but I want to get to know
you again too."

Chandler closed his eyes and kissed her again. "After lunch," he decided. "Go
ahead and get somebody to watch Matt after lunch and then I'll spend the rest
of the day alone with you. But I've got Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, and even Joey
that I have to at least spend some time with."

"Deal," Monica said, smiling as she looked up into his eyes. "Just so long as
after noon you're all mine."

"I'm all yours," Chandler said. He kissed her hair affectionately. "But after
noon we'll make it official."

Monica smiled to herself as Chandler left the apartment, feeling giddy like
she'd never felt before. And to think that it was Chandler of all people
making her feel this way!

* * * * *

Chandler walked into his apartment to see Joey on the couch and he nudged him
harshly to get him to wake up.

Joey's eyes popped open and a smile slowly crept over his face. "Where you
been, Mr. Bing?"

Chandler rolled his eyes, realizing what Joey was going to do to him all
morning. "Monica's."

Joey did his little 'hee hee' laugh. "What were you doing over at Monica's at
this hour?"

"Sleeping," Chandler replied.

"Really? Did Monica happen to be pressed up against your side?" Joey asked
mischievously.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Chandler said before going into his bedroom and
shutting the door firmly. He knew that this would upset Joe big time -- he
had been joking about Monica and Chandler sleeping together, but Chandler had
made it sound as if they did and Joey, knowing Joey, would be intrigued and
shocked.

Sure enough a second later there was a knock at the door and Joey's voice
rang through: "You slept with Monica?"

Chandler opened the door. "Yeah. Nothing happened though."

"But you slept with her?"

"On the couch," Chandler said.

"Man, you don't realize what this means do you? Monica wants you," Joey said
as though Chandler were clueless.

Chandler pretended to think about it. "Hmm . . . maybe *that's* why she
invited me over after lunch to spend the rest of the day alone with her."

Joey's eyes bulged out. "*Monica*? I can't believe this!"

"I know," Chandler said, a truly happy look on his face. "I've decided that
after my London movie I'm going to quit my film career and spend the rest of
my life with Monica and Matt. It's the only way I'll ever be happy."

"But, dude, aren't you mad at her? I mean, she's been lying to you for six
years," Joey pointed out.

"I'm mad, sure. But it's not going to help anything. I'm just glad that she
finally told me," Chandler said, shrugging.

Joey stared at Chandler for a minute. "I don't get you."

* * * * *

Meanwhile, Ross had come over with Ben so that he and Matt could play
together, and the rest of the gang had come over for breakfast and just . . .
hadn't left.

"Hey, Mon, I've been meaning to ask you, but Matt has been around, how did
you and Chandler end up together?" Rachel asked.

"Rach, how long have you been wanting to ask that question?"

"Ever since I found out who Matt's father was," Rachel said. "You have to
tell me!"

Monica looked up at Chandler whom she'd been leaning on and he shrugged,
giving her the go-ahead to tell them.

"All right, Ross, you may not like this story," Monica warned.

Ross made a face like 'who cares'.

Monica grinned and began her story: "All right, it happened a week after we
came back from the beach house -- when Phoebe found out about her
mother . . ."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

6 Years Ago:

Monica and Chandler were sitting looking bored as a movie played across the
TV.

"I'm depressed," Monica finally said after decided to break the silence
between them.

"I know," Chandler said, turning his head to look at her from the other side
of the couch.

"How do you *know*?" Monica asked, frustrated.

"I just do," Chandler answered.

Monica stayed silent for a moment before finally bursting out: "Well, make me
feel better. That's your job."

"It is?" Chandler asked doubtfully.

"Yes."

"Since when? And why wasn't I notified?"

Monica sighed, exasperated. "It's just understood. You appointed yourself the
job after comforting me everytime something wrong happens."

"Oh," Chandler said, shrugging.

There was another pause before Chandler finally said, "Wanna go get drunk?"

* * * * *

Monica sat dejectedly at the bar, swirling the straw in her drink without
thinking about it.

Chandler sat beside her, bored as well.

"Nobody wants me," Monica finally said. "I'm gonna grow old and-and ugly and
childless with nothing accomplished in my life."

"I already offered to be your boyfriend but you declined," Chandler reminded
her.

"I don't want a boyfriend," Monica declared. "I've figured out that when
somebody is your boyfriend everything falls apart. I want . . . meaningless
sex."

"I could give that to you too," Chandler offered in a monotone voice,
expecting her to laugh like she had when he suggested being her boyfriend.

"Okay," Monica said after a moment's thought.

Chandler gave her a double look. "Seriously?"

"Why not?" Monica asked.

"Because . . ." Chandler thought about. Maybe if he hadn't had all of those
thoughts he could have come up with several reasons as to 'why not', but the
alcohol permeating his blood made things all the more complicated. Chandler
finally shrugged.

"Then let's do it," Monica decided. She stood up and took his hand, leading
him to stand up too.

"Let's do it," Chandler agreed.

* * * * *

When the two finally got to Chandler's apartment, neither one moved for the
other, but electricity was sizzling through the air as the tension was rising
to an unbearable level.

Monica finally rolled her eyes and took the few steps between them to kiss
him fiercely on the lips.

With that everything changed.

Both of them seemed to fall into a frenzy, touching and tasting as if this
was their one last lifeline.

Soon they made it to the bedroom, and the frenzied groping turned to slow
love making that was imprinted in their minds as more than a memory, more
than a feeling, but something that needed to be completely. Something that
was more than just the meaningless sex Chandler offered.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

". . . when I woke up the next morning Monica was gone," Chandler finished.
"And then the next day I ended up going to that audition with Joey and only a
week later I was gone."

Rachel's face was scrunched up with emotion and she put a hand over her mouth
as she mumbled, "That is the most romantic thing I've ever heard of that
happened in real life."

"So . . . what are you guys going to do now?" Phoebe asked. "You're auras are
so white it's almost blinding." She gasped. "Oh, you're in love! That's so
cute!"

Monica's eyes shot to Chandler's just as he was turning to look at her. She
had wanted to tell him in private, but Phoebe went ahead and declared it to
the whole group. She would wait to say the words until later. Until noon.

A dreamy smile came to Monica's face as she imagined what after noon would
be like.

"They're gonna do it when we leave," Joey said in his dirty little way.

Ross glared at Joey. "Thank you," he said sarcastically.

Joey put his hands up. "Hey, I'm just stating facts here. If you can't accept
the fact that your little sister is sleeping--"

"We're not sleeping together," Monica interrupted. She paused for
consideration, then added quietly: "Not yet."

"Chandler, you don't even live here!" Ross accused. "You're just going to
end up hurting Monica, Matt, and yourself."

"He's quitting his film career," Joey explained.

"I have one movie," Chandler said quickly. "One more that I already signed a
contract for. In London. I wanted you guys to come with me . . . but Monica
and I haven't worked out the details yet."

"I don't want to expose Matt to the press," Monica explained. "And if we're
seen with Chandler . . . I mean, you guys know how much Matt looks like him.
It'd be pretty apparent that Matt's his son."

"Maybe we could give Matt plastic surgery." At Monica's horrified look
Chandler added quickly: "I was joking!"

Monica's eyes filled with relief and she chuckled lightly. "Sorry, I haven't
been with your sarcastic attitude in so long I kind of got used to not
having it around."

"So, are you going to London or not?" Rachel pressed.

"I want to go," Monica said. "We can work out Matt later. It'd be good for
him . . . only five years old and he'll already have been to another
country. And for more than a vacation as well!"

"You're going?" Chandler asked, happiness filling his voice. He kissed
Monica tenderly. "Thank you."

Monica smiled and her eyes went instinctively to the clock by the couch. She
whispered into his ear 'one hour' and a smile filled his face as well.

"I'm going to start making lunch," Monica declared. "And I want all of you
out of here by twelve."

"Why? What happens at . . ." Ross trailed off as Joey gave him a meaningful
look. "Oh."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Haley's Note: I was gonna wait till I was finished with this whole fic to
post it . . . but I got writer's block. Lol, I'm funny like that. Anyways,
this isn't the end, there's going to be more. How much more depends on my
mood.

This was NOT copied from Queen of Hearts, I think it is . . . This was from
TOW Monica and Chandler Fall in Love, or something like that. And I did get
permission from Joey to rewrite it, because she said she'd most likely
never continue it.

This will probably never be continued because I don't write Friends fanfics
anymore; I'm just putting this up because I want people to be able to read
it.