Disclaimer – I own nothing to do with Friends.

AN – Just an idea that popped into my head. Hope you like it

XXX

To his surprise, the city looked pretty much the same. He'd imagined huge changes had taken place in the 12 years since he'd been gone, but it barely looked any different. He wandered down streets that he remembered like the back of his hand, lost in his thoughts, until he found himself standing outside a familiar coffee shop.

The same old couch stood empty in the middle of the room and he smiled sadly to himself. He missed his old friends and needed them now more than ever. He took a deep breath before stepping through the door, not sure why his heart was pounding. He ordered a large black coffee and sat at the round table near the couch. Memories came flooding back and a lump rose in his throat.

He took a sip of his coffee, shocked to find it was stone cold. After a quick glance at his watch, he realised that he had been here for 45 minutes. Wiping away the tears that he only now realised had fallen, he got to his feet to leave. As he reached the door, a familiar face stepped through and flashed him a smile that he had missed.

"Chandler?" she said, clearly as pleased to see him as he was to see her. "Oh my god."

"Hi, Monica," he said, smiling back at her. He felt nervous. After what happened 12 years ago, surely she should be angry with him.

"How are you?"

"I'm good." He knew it was a lie and, considering how well she had known him once, he wondered if she knew it too. "How about you?"

"I'm fine. What are you doing back in New York? I thought you moved to Chicago."

"Yeah we did. We're still there, just back in New York for some…stuff."

"Stuff?" She knew there was something on his mind, something he was holding back. They had been the closest of friends once upon a time, and she still cared for him. Even though she couldn't shake the feeling she shouldn't be talking to him, she was determined to help him if she could. "What kind of stuff?"

"It's not important." He felt the tears welling in his eyes again. He just wanted to get away before anyone caught him talking to Monica. The way he felt at the moment, he could barely stand to see her, let alone anyone else.

"Chandler," she said his name in that way that always told him that she wasn't going to let it go and he might as well cooperate and get it over with.

"Okay, fine. It's very important."

She took him by the arm and led him to the couch as he began to cry.

"Come on," she said. "Let's talk."

XXX

"God, Chandler. I don't know what to say," Monica said, wiping away tears of her own.

"No one ever does."

She watched him for a moment as he picked at his shirt cuff. She knew it was irrational, but she felt pangs of guilt for not being there for him before now. He used to be one of the most important people in her life and now he was going through all this without her even knowing it. She took his hand and lifted his chin so he was looking into her eyes.

"I'm here for you. Anything you need, just call me. Okay?"

"Thank you."

He leaned over and hugged her, the past decade melting away and everything feeling the way it used to be. They pulled away from each other and he smiled at her.

"What are you doing for dinner tonight?" she asked.

"We'll get room service at the hotel, I guess. Same as every other night."

"No," she said as she shook her head. "You're coming to mine. You need a good home cooked meal. If you don't take proper care of yourself, you'll be no use to anyone. The whole gang are gonna be there."

"All of them?" That lump was in his throat again.

"Yep. That a problem?"

"Not for me. Probably will be for them though."

"They'll be fine. I'm still in the same apartment. I'll see you there at 7. Right?"

"Is there any point in me arguing?"

"Not really."

"I'll see you at 7 then."

"Good. I've gotta run. But I will see you tonight."

"See you tonight."

She kissed him quickly on the cheek as she stood and headed to the door. As she was about to leave, he called out to her.

"Mon?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you. I mean it. You don't know how much it means to me to see you and talk to you again."

"That's what friends are for."

She smiled at him one last time and left. He hoped that Monica was right about the others being okay with seeing him again. He didn't regret the things he had done. Everything it had brought him far outweighed what it had cost him. But he did regret how much he had hurt those closest to him. He hoped they could forgive him eventually.

XXX

12 years ago

Chandler paced up and down the living room nervously. He knew she was only a couple of minutes late, but his mind was in overdrive. Had she changed her mind? Maybe someone had found out about them. What if she'd been in an accident? His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He opened it and she was standing in front of him, a huge grin on her face. He pulled her into the apartment and shut the door.

"Missed me?" she asked, knowing the answer.

"God yes," he said, kissing her passionately. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer. When the kiss broke, he rested his forehead against hers and breathed in the scent of her perfume.

"You're sure Joey isn't going to come back?"

"Certain. He's at the movies."

"Good. We need to talk."

"What about?" he said, his voice shaky and nervous. He couldn't bear the thought of her saying they were over. They had been seeing each other for almost 8 months and he was more in love with her than he'd ever thought possible. All he wanted was to be with her properly, to walk down the street holding hands, to go out to dinner, to be a real couple. But he was afraid that telling her might scare her. As much as he hated the secrecy that surrounded their relationship, the thought of not being with her at all was worse.

"About us. I'm in love with you, and I think you might be in love with me."

"I am."

"Okay. I want us to be together, for us to stop hiding and let people know. The longer we keep it secret, the more pain we cause in the long run. I know it won't be easy, and we'll probably lose some friends but we'll have each other. What do you think?"

He kissed her again, and for the first time, didn't feel like he shouldn't be kissing her. Soon, she would be his girlfriend, his real, proper girlfriend and they wouldn't have to sneak around and arrange their meetings around other people's schedules so they wouldn't get caught.

"I think I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

He looked her in the eye and inhaled deeply. She could tell he was thinking about something. Her heart was in her throat. What if he was only telling her what he thought she wanted to hear?

"Is something wrong, Chandler?"

"No, it's just…I." He hesitated for a moment, worried it might be too much, too soon. "My firm are opening a new branch in Chicago. They're looking for people from here to transfer. If I asked for a transfer, we could go together. If you want to."

"Okay." She smiled and threw her arms round his neck and he lifted her a few inches off the ground.

"Go home and throw some stuff in a bag. You can stay here till things are organised with the transfer."

She put her feet back on the ground and let go of Chandler. The smile faded and she started chewing her bottom lip, the way she always did when she was nervous. He knew exactly what she was thinking.

"You want me to be there when you tell him?" he said, brushing the hair out of her eyes.

"It's probably better you're not." She smiled sadly. "Are you sure Joey will be okay with me staying here?"

"He'll have to be."

She kissed him again and grabbed her purse.

"Bye, Chandler," she said, blowing him a kiss.

The door closed behind her. Usually when they parted, he was left feeling empty and lonely. This time, he felt neither. All he felt was love and happiness. They were going to leave everything behind and start a new life. Together.

"Bye, Emily."