So, yaay, new fic from me! Don't worry, I'm still working on Expect The Unexpected and TOW The Beach Weekend, but I wanted to post this as soon as possible.

For those of you that read the author's note on the last chapter of Promises, this is the fic I was talking about. I wasn't sure if I should post it or not, but I decided to, and I really hope you guys like it! If you could leave a review when you're done reading, I would really appreciate it.

Chapter One

Monica ran up the stairs two at a time. On her way home from work, she had seen four of her friends in the coffeehouse, which meant one thing: He was home alone.

She reached his apartment and knocked softly. The door quickly opened, almost as if he was expecting her.

"Hey," He whispered. She just shook her head, wrapping her arms around him and capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. "I was hoping you would come," He said when they parted.

Monica nodded. "I tried to get off work early, but I couldn't," She said, blushing a little.

He softly massaged her shoulder and led her over to one of the barcaloungers, where she collapsed into his lap. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent.

She, in turn, closed her eyes and leaned up against him, just glad to be in his arms again.

It wasn't long until Chandler noticed that she was asleep. He sighed happily; he loved watching her sleep. It wasn't something he would usually do, but with Monica it was different.

Chandler realized something. He was in love. And when the time was right, he was going to tell her.

"Mon, Mon, you have to wake up," Chandler said about fifteen minutes later, lightly shaking her shoulder as he spoke.

"Mmm," Monica mumbled in her sleep.

"Monica, I'm serious. I can hear them,"

Monica strained her ears and realized that there were, in fact, footsteps that could be heard not far away. "The door's locked," She simply said.

"So?"

"So, there's no chance of them catching us, and, therefore, I am not getting up,"

"Mon…,"

"We'll just tell them we're watching a movie," Monica said, silently pleading with her eyes.

Chandler found that he couldn't object. "Oh, all right,"

They heard voices. "What the…," It sounded like Ross.

"Oh my God," Rachel cut in.

"What happened?" Joey asked.

Phoebe somehow knew that Monica was in Chandler's apartment. They heard a knock on the door. "Mon, Chandler, open up,"

Monica hesitantly went over to the door. "Hey guys, we were just watching a…oh, God," Monica paused when she saw what was happening.

Apartment 20 was on fire.

"Oh my God," Monica muttered, leaning up against Chandler, who, thankfully, was right behind her. "What…what-,"

"I'm calling the fire department," Ross declared, brushing past Monica and Chandler into the apartment.

"Rachel, what did you, how did you," Monica began.

"Hey, it might not be her fault," Phoebe said.

"No, Mon was gone all day," Rachel said quietly. "Mon, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry; I think I left the stove on,"

"Why were you using the stove?" Joey asked.

"I was making tea…Mon, I'm so, so-,"

"It's okay," Monica interrupted. Ross reappeared, looking slightly pale.

Chandler noticed at once that Monica was shaking slightly. He wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

Everyone noticed Monica and Chandler's closeness, but no one said anything.

The firemen arrived a few minutes later, and insisted everyone stay out of the way. The six were in Chandler and Joey's living room.

"God, Mon, I never thought-," Rachel began apologizing again.

"Rach, it's okay. It was an accident," Monica said. "It was an accident," She said again, probably more for her sake than anyone else's.

Chandler hugged her again. Phoebe opened her mouth to say something, but the others shushed her. Now was not the time.

About five minutes later, the firemen invited them over to look at the damage. The fire had been pretty bad; practically the entire apartment was affected.

"Oh, God, where are we going to live?" Rachel asked after the firemen had left.

"Well, hey, one of you can live with me for awhile," Phoebe offered.

"And the other with me," Ross added.

"Oh, that's so sweet," Rachel said. "Mon, would you mind if I stayed with Phoebe? It's just so much closer to work and all that,"

Monica just nodded, still in looking around the apartment in shock.

About ten minutes later, Rachel had left with Phoebe, and Joey and Ross had gone over to Ross's apartment to get it ready for Monica.

Monica was slowly packing a few days' worth of clothes, with Chandler watching her. They were both silent. Monica, still coming to grips with the situation, and Chandler, not sure how to talk to her about it.

When Chandler saw tears spilling out of her eyes, he pulled her into a hug. "Hey, it's going to be okay," He reassured her.

"How? Chandler, this is where I live, I-," She whispered. She didn't finish, just letting him hold her for a few moments. Then she realized something. "Oh, God, we're not going to get to-,"

Chandler put a finger to her lips. "Let's not think about that right now, okay?"

Monica nodded, wondering if he was as nervous as she was.

No matter which way she lay, Monica still couldn't get to sleep. Ross's couch is so uncomfortable! She kept thinking to herself.

But then, she realized that that wasn't why she couldn't sleep.

She needed Chandler, and she knew it. She needed to feel secure in his arms, and she knew she would never be able to get to sleep unless she was lying next to him again.

Silently, she got up, pulled on a jacket, and left a note for Ross, saying she was going on a walk.

That wasn't totally a lie; she would be walking across the street to Chandler's apartment.

As she got up, she saw her apartment out the window. She stopped short when she saw someone sitting on the balcony.

Chandler. He had been watching her the entire time.

Monica smiled in spite of herself, and made a motion that said she was coming over.

Chandler grinned, and she quickly made her way out of the apartment.

"I couldn't sleep without you," Monica admitted shyly. She and Chandler were lying in his bed, barely a centimeter apart. Her head was on his chest, and his arms were around her, pulling her close.

"And you think I could?" Chandler wanted to know. His voice grew softer. "You looked so beautiful, sleeping,"

"I wasn't sleeping," Monica reminded him, unable to stop the grin that spread across her face.

"Oops, my mistake," Chandler said, playing with her hair. "But seriously, Mon, you are so beautiful. I can't tell you how many nights I lie awake, just watching you sleep,"

Monica smiled, genuinely touched by what he had said. "Keep talking,"

"You always look so peaceful when you're sleeping," Chandler said. "I love it. And…and Monica, I love you,"

Monica's heart skipped a beat. "Really?" She asked, her eyes shining.

"Really,"

"I love you too, Chandler,"

He smiled. "I've been wanting to tell you for a long time, but I was afraid,"

"Afraid?" Monica asked, concerned.

"That you weren't going to say it back,"

"Oh, Chandler, I-," Monica began, but she was cut off when he started kissing her.

"What were you saying, now?" Chandler asked mischievously.

"Nothing," Monica murmured.

"I love you," He said softly.

Before she could respond, he kissed her again.

Chandler awoke when he felt Monica trying to get out of his arms. Instinct took over, and he pulled her back.

"Chandler, sweetie, I have to go. Ross is going to be up soon," She said.

His eyes fluttered open and he locked gazes with her. "What? No,"

"I'll see you later," She said unconvincingly.

"Mon, stay," He said, stroking her arm.

"I'm sorry," She said quietly. Then she leaned over and pecked him on the lips. "I love you,"

"I love you too," Chandler said.

Then she was gone.

About an hour later, around the time when normal people would be getting up, Chandler finally got out of bed. It had only been an hour, but he missed Monica. At least he would see her soon.

He stumbled groggily out of his room, and was surprised to see Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey in the living room.

"What's going on? Where's Monica?"

No one seemed to notice that he was there. They all seemed to be looking at a piece of paper.

"…so she just-?" Phoebe asked.

"Yeah," Ross answered.

"And she didn't-," Joey wondered.

"No,"

"What's going on?" Chandler repeated. They all looked up this time.

"Chandler, did you see Monica last night?" Rachel asked him.

"What? N-no," He stuttered. They all looked at him disbelievingly. "Where's Monica?" He tried again. They looked at him, their faces full of emotion. "Where is she?"

"Chandler, she never came home," Ross said quietly.

I already have the next chapter written, and I just need to type it up. Let me know if you want me to post it. And I'm sorry if this was boring, but it will get better.

...Please Review...