AN: Pure mush, dialogue-centric piece set in Season 5, right after TOW The Thanksgivings.
"About…earlier."
"What about earlier?" Monica asked innocently.
"Er….the turkey. Why'd you put it on your head?" Chandler asked, chickening out (as usual). "I mean, there's plenty of ways to cheer me up that won't get chicken innards stuck in your hair." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Monica rolled her eyes.
"Romantic."
"Answer the question," he insisted, poking her.
"I don't know…I guess I just wanted to get your attention."
"Again…plenty of other ways to do that," Chandler muttered, a smile tugging at his lips. After a few moments just relaxing in the silence, he felt brave enough to try again.
"Whatever I might say, or…not say, I just want you to-to know that I'm glad-"
"Glad? As in the trash bags?"
Chandler swatted her lightly on the arm. "Okay, bad word choice. I'm happy that you're here. With me."
Monica smirked, leaning back against the headrest, ignoring the giddy rush that swept over her at his sincere words. "Just happy? I for one am ecstatic, joyful, delighted…"
"Blissful, rapturous," he continued for her. "And you don't have to worry; you…you're the kind of thing that prompted the Hallelujah chorus."
Monica grinned despite herself. "I'm pretty sure that had a little more to do with Jesus, honey."
He pouted adorably. "Who are you to care; you're Jewish. And you're missing the point."
Monica slid down to curl up against his sprawled figure. "I am not. I love that you're here with me. And I love that you love you're here with me."
Chandler nodded decisively. "Yes, I do love you," he replied automatically, before stiffening in shock at what he'd just said. "I mean- I just was agreeing with what you said…which wasn't- I don't- that is, I didn't mean to say…"
Monica reached up, curling her fingers in the folds of his over-large tee shirt and brushing her lips against his stubbled cheek. "I know- you just stopped talking."
She knew what he had really said, of course (both times) and he knew she knew, but for now she would keep the words that were begging to be said back trapped in her voice box, wings beating furiously for escape.
And after Chandler had gotten over the embarrassment of his second slip of the day, he would jokingly half hum, half sing the hallelujah chorus. And although Monica wasn't particularly religious, her inner voice couldn't help but chime in with a heartfelt, 'Amen.'