A/N: And the second chapter is finally here! Sorry about the long wait, I made quite a few changes to this so it's taken a while. I was overwhelmed with the response to the first chapter; I've never had that many reviews for one update! So please give this chapter just as much feedback, I would verily appreciate it This carries off from the end of the wedding and we meet Joey and Phoebe.

X-X

Chandler was almost halfway home when he remembered 'home' wasn't his home anymore. He groaned, banging his head against the window, immediately triggering a throbbing headache.

How do I get lost going to my own apartment? Seriously, do other people make these mistakes? Or is it just a unique Chandlerism I'm gifted with?

By the time he'd dug out his new address and redirected the confused cab driver, his wallet was twice as light as it should have been and his head was pounding even more.

Yep. This is something that could only happen to me.

Sluggishly, he climbed the stairs to his new apartment and shoved at the worn out door, halting abruptly when it swung open.

Oh god.

Boxes, bubbles wrap and cardboard littered the apartment floor, DVD's were scattered haphazardly in the corner, clothes laid draped over the couch and 'Rosita' – Joey's barcalounger – was plonked in the middle of the room.

Recovering from the sight, he dragged his gaze over to the kitchen counter to find his two friends gorging on a pile of Chinese food.

"Heb Chander!" Phoebe waved, not glancing up. "How wad der wedding?"

Her words were muffled by the chopstick clenched between her teeth, which she was determinedly poking at Joey. Joey jabbed back with his own stick, successfully knocking Phoebe's out of her mouth.

"HA! Take that woman!" He yelled, spitting his own stick out and pumping his fist. "Victory!" Easily, he swung around on the stool to face Chandler. "Hey man, how was your day?"

"Fantastic." Chandler said, still eyeing the messy room. "How's the unpacking going? Or should I say, the chopstick wars?"

"Great! This is our ninth round! Do you wanna play? You can use my stick, I'll wipe the slobber off!"

"Yeah. I guess you'll wipe it off with the paper towels and groceries you were buying today?"

Joey grimaced, his bright, boyish expression suddenly clouding over. "Ah...about that..."

"I'll go shopping after work tomorrow."

"Thanks man! Do you want some food?"

"Nah." Chandler shook his head quietly. "I'm just going to...head to bed. Early start in the morning...Please tell me you'll finish unpacking tomorrow."

"Absolutely man. You can count on me...This time."

"And me!" Phoebe piped up. "I'll help...again."

"That reassures me." Chandler said dryly. "Good night."

"Night!"

Staggering into his bedroom, he plopped face first onto his bed, massaging his temples.

We're lucky to find this place. He reminded himself, trying to stay positive. It's a great apartment.

After he and Joey's last landlord had suddenly evicted them, apparently wanting to sell the apartment on to some new buyers, they'd had a mad, stressed rush finding another place in their price range. This new apartment was perfect: It was closer to work, closer to Phoebe, they'd discovered a great coffee place across the street...Ok, there was a known crack den below them but that wasn't a deal breaker...

Chandler groaned and rolled onto his back: Trite musings about his new apartment couldn't distract him from what he was really miserable about.

Monica. Doug.

Monica and Doug. The two of them together, dancing, only minutes after he'd summoned the courage to ask if she'd like to go out sometime...Oh god.

He punched his pillow, drowning out echoes of her soft laughter. It figured the rare woman he could actually talk to would immediately get snatched up by his boss. The universe was clearly a fan of irony. Did he look like some cosmic plaything, screaming 'pick me!' 'screw up my life!' Really?

If things were different he'd ask Monica out anyway and to hell with Doug, but given their 'situation' and Doug's deal...Chandler punched the pillow again, his gut twisting bitterly. There was nothing he could do.

Then again, would fighting make much difference? Why would Monica be interested in him, when she could have a man like Doug? A Senator, rich, influential, confident...Competing would just humiliate Chandler more.

Somehow that thought didn't make him feel better.

X-X

"Let me get this right," Rachel's voice travelled through the phone. "You met this amazing guy, had an 'electrifying' connection...and agreed to date his boss?"

"Agreed?" Monica spat. "I didn't agree! My mother forced me into it. She flat out told him I could go! Just because my dad needs his support!"

"Well, Ross says Doug is really important for instigating this new bill. Doug is the other Senator of New York State, so they need his agreement."

"Fine! Buy him some wine; take him to our summer house, offer a bribe! Don't drag me into it!"

"Look." Rachel said placating. "Go on this date. Make your parent's happy. And after that, you never have to see him again."

"I guess." Monica sighed, dropping dejectedly onto her bed. "Chandler was just so sweet you know? We had so much fun and now it's ruined. And I'm going on a date with his boss, so he thinks I don't like him."

"Maybe you could explain things to Doug."

"Oh yeah, that would go down great: 'Hey Senator, thanks for the date, here's my number. Oh no, it's not for you! It's for the guy who brings you coffee! Would do you mean that's not normal dating protocol?'"

"You paint quite a picture Mon."

"Seriously, can you imagine any of the snotty guys our parents set us up with, being ok with that?"

"Yeah, ok. Barry definitely didn't take rejection well."

"Exactly. Plus, Chandler wouldn't even tell Doug we'd met. He freaked out when I mentioned it, what's up with that?"

"I don't know. Maybe he was intimidated about hanging out with a politician's daughter when he was just an aide." Rachel suggested.

"Maybe."

"But I have to go Mon. Ross wants to see some boring archaeology site. Ugh, this honeymoon is like some school trip. Why did I marry him again?"

"Uh uh, I'm staying out of you and my brother's dramas. See you Rach."

"Bye."

Monica disconnected with a click and flopped back on the bed, clutching the phone to her chest.

Just calm down.She told herself. This shouldn't be such a big deal. You only met this guy once. Get over it.

X-X

The restaurant was unusually busy for a Monday, orders flooding into the kitchen, keeping Monica busy. She welcomed the distraction, snapping orders at the waiters and stirring every pot vehemently. By the end of the day both her arms and throat were aching.

Before getting home, she ducked inside her favourite coffee house: 'Washington Perk' was at the bottom of her apartment block and open almost all hours.

"Hey Gunther." She said wearily, reaching the counter.

"Hi Monica. The usual?"

"Yes please."

Weirdly enough Gunther had only recently become her caffeine supplier. Before opening a coffee house, he'd been Jack Geller's Head of Security and on several occasions, Monica's personal body guard. He'd quit while she was at culinary school, apparently searching for a 'simpler life' and Monica helped him find the premises that became Washington Perk.

They kept their identities of former body guard and (sadly, current) Senator's daughter quiet though. She wanted to avoid the paparazzi and he was almost as secretive about his career as his natural hair colour. (Apparently it hadn't always been white-blonde. Who knew?)

Monica settled down at the window seat, idly watching the other customers chattering and suddenly glimpsed a figure heading into the men's room. She could only see him from the back... Pretty non-descript, average height, messy brown hair, dressed in slacks. But still...maybe...

The guy vanished into the toilets and she shook herself up irritably, scowling. God, what was she doing? Suddenly every brown haired guy could be him?

Chastising herself for her stupidity, Monica finished and left quickly, refusing the look back.

X-X

On Tuesday morning Chandler overslept, Phoebe and Joey's Disney movie marathon ("because we never watched them in our childhood!") having kept him up half the night.

He dashed down the stairs, shrugging his jacket over one arm and hanging onto his briefcase with the other. No time for breakfast but there was a coffeehouse opposite the apartment block. He hurried inside, breathlessly ordering a coffee to go from the peroxide haired manager (seriously, blonde? He looked even wimpier than Chandler).

As he drummed his fingers impatiently on the counter, he caught sight of a slender, dark-haired woman sitting on a nearby couch, facing away from him. For a second, his breath caught. No way, it couldn't be...

"Here you go." The waiter interrupted his thought. "One coffee to go."

He tore his gaze away from the woman and smiled distractedly. "Thanks."

X-X

Unusually for Monica, she was still getting ready when Doug's chauffeur buzzed for her. She'd procrastinated for hours, colour coding every flannel she owned, before finally throwing on a random dress and running a brush through her dark hair. Glancing in the mirror at her unmade up face, she shrugged and headed for the door.

She reached the limo at the bottom of her apartment block and slid in with an experienced manoeuvre.

"Ah, Monica." Doug smiled, as she settled onto the leather seat. "You look stunning."

"Thank you Senator."

"Now before we start I want to apologize for something." He said, as the limo drew away. "My work is currently rather intense and I need to be available. So I've brought one of my staff along."

Monica's stomach lurched. "Y- your, your staff?"

"My assistant's secretary's aide. He's a long way down the food chain and not particularly capable But he can at least field my calls...Hopefully. In fact, he was the incompetent drone you met at the wedding. Chandler Bing."

He reached over Monica, pressing a small button on the arm of her seat, and the opaque barrier separating them and the driver inched slowly down, leaving a narrow window between the two compartments.

"Bing!" He said smoothly. "Please greet our guest."

Monica swallowed and looked over: Sitting on the other side of the barrier and blinking uncomfortably – was Chandler.

"G – Good evening Miss Geller." He said, avoiding her gaze.

"Good evening." Monica echoed weakly, suddenly wishing she'd put make up on after all.

Before they could say more, Doug pressed the button again and the barrier retracted, separating them again. Monica stared down at her lap.

"I promise he won't affect our date," Doug continued. "It's just in case something urgent comes up. I'm sure you understand."

Monica forced herself to smile at him. "Of course."

X-X

If Phoebe's karma crap was true then Chandler must have done something unbelievably shitty in his past life to deserve this.

He sat alone in the corner booth, moodily pushing his over-priced meal around his plate and watching Monica and Doug. Doug talked a lot, Monica nodding along and giggling uproariously at his jokes. Doug leaned across the table to pour her some wine, gently brushing her arm.

Chandler's stomach clenched. He remembered Monica's face pressing into his shoulder, her soft hair tickling his chin, their hands entwined...

Doug squeezed her shoulder. Chandler looked away, trembling.

This wasn't karma. This was hell.

Well get used to it. He reminded himself bitterly. Because they'll do this again. They'll go on dates and appear to the public and you'll have to watch. And she'll visit the office and you'll buzz her in while she pretends she never met you. Then you'll write all Doug's dates with her in the planner and remind him to see her and you can never leave your job because –

He cut off his rambling before the imagery could go any further. He was overreacting: This was only their first date and Doug rarely had time for girlfriends. Maybe Monica would say goodbye tonight and never be seen again.

Yeah, because your life is just that kind.

For the thousandth time that evening, he pulled out Doug's phone and checked it for messages. So far there'd been zero calls, why the hell was he even here?

Come on. He begged, glaring fiercely at the mobile. Let the President call. Or even the Vice-President. I'm not fussy!

Then, as if the universe finally realized it owed him, the cell phone rung. He grabbed at it, stuttering.

"Good evening. You've reached Senator Doug's phone."

X-X

Burning alive. Monica mused. Trapped in Ross' closet. 10th Grade Math Class.

She smiled vaguely at another of Doug's 'jokes' and continued listing places she'd rather be than this restaurant.

Suffocating. Bottom of the ocean. Lincoln High Toilets.

Doug launched into how he became New York State's younger Senator EVER and she reached for her fork, considering ramming it into his thigh. As a Senator's daughter, she'd met a lot of arrogant men but he was quickly moving to the top of the list. He hadn't asked a single question about her all night.

"Sir?" Monica jumped as Chandler approached their table.

"What is it Bing?" Doug snapped, not looking at him.

"Um, there's an urgent call for you."

Doug scowled. "Sorry about this." He said to her, jerking his head at Chandler, as if the interruption was his fault. "I'll just be a minute."

He snatched the phone from Chandler's grasp and strode off, leaving the two of them alone. Chandler hovered opposite her, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. Monica stared at her plate, wondering if she should say something. Maybe explain that this so-called 'date' wasn't her idea? Apologize for ditching him at the wedding? Ask him how he was?

"Chandler..."

"God dammit!" Doug returned to their table. "So sorry, Monica we're going to have to cut this short."

"What's happened?"

"Oh, nothing serious. Maintenance workers going on strike, demanding more pay and so on. It's ridiculous but we need to do some damage control. I have to go."

"Oh no. And so soon?"

"Yeah, it's a pain in the ass." Doug replied, missing her sarcasm. "But I won't spoil your evening as well. Stay here; finish your meal, order dessert. Bing will stay with you...The first and last time he has dinner with a pretty woman." Doug chuckled at the joke and Chandler laughed brittley. Monica managed a thin smile.

"I have to take the limo though." He continued. "I can order another one if you want. I have connections with all the limo companies."

"Oh, I can just take a cab. It's no problem."

"Great." He grabbed his jacket. "And we must do this again. Say, Wednesday next week?"

"Oh, I can't –"

"Great, I'll pick you up at 7. See you then." He marched away, pushing past a waitress.

"But I'm busy!" Monica called. "I can't make it. I'm –" Doug slammed the restaurant door behind him. She groaned and buried her head in her hands.

Jerkass.

She heard Chandler asking the waiter to bring his food over, and suddenly smiled. Why was she depressed? She'd got rid of Doug and had another chance to talk to Chandler. Focus on that! She could cancel her date later!

Raising her head from her arms, she looked over at the anxious man still hovering by Doug's chair.

"You can sit down you know." She said, smiling lightly. "Unless you want to stand there all night."

"Well, I've heard it's good for the calf muscles." He quipped. "And seeing as I've missed my last uh, 3027 gym sessions I kinda need the exercise."

Monica laughed."Fair enough. But if you abandon that plan, this seats open."

He shuffled awkwardly into the chair, carefully avoiding eye contact. Monica gazed at him as he picked at his food, shocked at the change in him. At the wedding he'd been relaxed: A wide smile on his face and his eyes crinkling. Now he looked horribly tense, his jaw was clenched and arms moving jerkily. Why did his boss have such an effect on him?

Monica scraped the remains of her food around her plate, wondering how to break the silence. Surprisingly, he spoke first.

"So, uh you and the Senator looked like you were having fun."

"Seriously?" She frowned. "What gave you that idea?"

"You know..." He gestured vaguely with his knife. "The laughing, smiling, constant conversation. You seemed to be enjoying yourself."

She smiled grimly. "I'm a Senator's daughter – I've learnt to fake these things. Honestly he was so boring, I'm surprised I didn't impale him with a fork." She suddenly realized who she was talking to and slapped her hand over her mouth. "Oh my god, Chandler I'm so sorry I shouldn't have said that about your boss! Can you – can you just – wipe that from your memory?"

"No, no it's fine." Chandler laughed, his jaw relaxing a little. "I know the feeling. Only I usually resist stapling his hand to his desk. Um, so you...uh, weren't having fun?"

Wow, she must be a better actress than she'd realized...or Chandler was oblivious to the social niceties of political circles. Monica knew she shouldn't blab details to him, but somehow his naivety made her forget about what she should and shouldn't do.

"No I wasn't." She said firmly. "I didn't even want to come tonight, but my Mom insisted. Dad wants Doug's allegiance in a new bill and figured us dating would help."

"You're kidding."

"I wish." Monica said. "But you get used it. They've done it before...set me up with businessmen, politicians...sometimes to make 'connections' and sometimes because I 'need a man'. " She rolled her eyes. "I'd prefer to die alone than date the guys my Mom throws at me. God, every single one's been rich and boring and unbelievably arrogant. I want to be talked to, not talked at, y'know?"

"Fair enough." Chandler said grinning. "I wouldn't go out with guys like that either...Not that I date guys," he added quickly, flushing. "I'm totally straight and everything, but if I did date guys I wouldn't want to date guys like that. I wouldn't want to date girls like that either...but I do normally date girls, not guys – I – I mean..."

Monica smirked. "Have you finished digging your hole yet?"

"Digging my grave I think." He groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Can we just pretend I didn't say that?"

"What?" She teased, "That you don't date guys?"

"Haha."

Giggling she returned to her food, the silence much more comfortable than before. Too soon Monica finished her plateful.

"Well," she said dryly, putting down her fork. "That was enough to feed a well-sized squirrel."

"Yeah." Chandler agreed. "Why is it that the more you pay, the less food you get? You're a chef, can you explain it?"

"I specialize in food for humans. My restaurant has big enough portions that my customers don't need to run to McDonalds afterwards."

"Unlike this place." Suddenly his eyes lit up. "Hey, I don't know about McDonalds, but I know a great coffee house if you're still hungry. They do the best pies and muffins. I mean..." He trailed off. "It's nothing fancy, I just found it across the street from my new apartment. There are no complicated French names and we can stay and order dessert here if you want a proper meal but I thought, maybe –"

Monica gently cut him off. "Coffee sound's amazing."

They paid quickly and ducked into the street. Chandler went to flag down a cab but Monica asked if they could walk instead. When he warned her it would take at least half an hour, she shrugged admitting walking with him beat watching reruns of old sitcoms at home. At that, he smiled far too widely.

The two of them dawdled slowly down the street, heading towards the park.

"So...your Dad's the Senator of New York huh?" Chandler said.

Monica flinched, wondering if he was just pumping her for information. "Yeah, though if you only just realized that, then you really are as crappy an Aide as Doug said."

"Oh, I'm much crappier than that." Chandler joked, while looking a little hurt. "But I was just wondering if you grew up in New York, or lived in Washington with your Dad?"

Monica bit the inside of her cheek, flushing a little. He's just being friendly. She reprimanded herself. Stop jumping down his throat: This isn't Doug, he isn't using you.

Or at least she hoped he wasn't. Thanks to growing up with politicians, she could usually read people well and Chandler didn't seem like some grovelling assistant, extracting information for his boss.

Just be yourself, maybe he's really interested in you, not 'Jack Geller's Daughter'. Maybe.

"I grew up in Long Island." She said quickly. "But Dad's career took off in my sophomore year at High School and we all moved to Washington to support him."

"Are you glad you moved?"

Monica frowned as they walked into the clear cut park, glancing around at the pruned flowers beds. "I don't know. Life was a lot simpler in Long Island, there was no paparazzi following 'Jack Geller's daughter', or tonnes of state dinners to go to. We were just like a normal family I guess." She sighed. "But if I hadn't moved to Washington, I wouldn't have the life or job or friends I have now. I wouldn't have Rachel."

"Rachel? She was the one marrying your brother right?"

"Yeah but she was my friend before she was Ross's girlfriend. We've known the Greens forever and when we moved up here I started at her school. Even though she was way prettier and more popular, she still showed me round and looked after me. We were roommates all the way through College and work until she and Ross got engaged." Monica paused, remembering their conversation at the wedding. "What about you? You said your roommate was called Joey right?"

"Yeah." Chandler ducked a low-hanging branch. "But our story isn't very exciting. I'd graduated from NYU, moved here homeless, he advertised for a roommate and ta-da it was meant to be. We've actually just moved into a new apartment together: We've bonded I guess. Though he's pretty much the opposite of me."

"What do you mean?"

"You know: Hot, confident, suave...can actually talk to a girl without stuttering." He rolled his eyes, gesturing comically to himself, and Monica giggled.

"I think you're better than you think you are." She said, instantly wondering if that was too flirty. When Chandler's face lit up in delighted surprise, she didn't regret it. "So you went to NYU, huh? I wanted to go to a culinary school in New York."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but my parents wanted me to go to some fancy finishing school here or George Washington like Ross, so I could be and I quote 'closer to the family'. God forbid a legal adult live in a different city from her parents."

"God forbid. So did they put on an ankle bracelet to stop you leaving?"

"Nope, just months of screaming matches and blackmail." She gritted her teeth, frustration seeping into her tone even at the memory. "In the end, they said I could go to culinary school but it had to be in Washington. I was so exhausted I agreed. I meant to move to New York after I'd graduated, but my dream restaurant here offered me a position and I never got round to moving." She gazed pensively at the carefully placed trees either side of the path. "It's a great place and I'm Head chef now, but I've always wondered what would've happened if I'd had the guts to move to New York." She glanced at him. "Maybe we would have met there instead."

Chandler laughed quietly, looking strangely sad. "Maybe we would have done."

"So," she said switching topics quickly, worried he'd think she was a whiny little rich girl. "NYU? What did you Major in?"

"Uh, English."

"Really? What did you want to do?"

Chandler shifted nervously, as they walked out of the wrought iron gates. "I, uh wanted to go into Advertising."

"Really? How'd you go from that to politics?"

"Uh, just random really. I was doing this internship at an advertising agency in New York but it um, didn't work out. Then Doug offered me a position on his staff and I figured I should try it." Chandler explained vaguely.

Monica noticed he was sweating a little and frowned, both at his intense reaction and his situation. "Doug just...offered you a position? Out of nowhere? That's weird. How'd he even know you?"

"He, um, knew my Mom."

"Oh. Is your Mom involved with politics as well?" She asked, her stomach dropping at the idea. Chandler acted like such a normal guy she didn't want him to be just as caught up in politics as everyone else around her.

"Oh god no, nothing like that."

Yay! "What does she do then?"

"Uh, nothing interesting." He said quickly, flushing bright red. Monica smirked, his embarrassment igniting her curiosity.

"Oh come on," She wheedled playfully. "It can't be that bad."

"Trust me," Chandler said seriously, his eyes twinkling under the street lights. "It can. You really don't want to know."

"Ah, but now I have to!"

X-X

Chandler only had half his mind on the route as the streets transitioned from prominent restaurants and wealthy town houses, to dimmer roads with smaller apartment blocks and cramped shops. Most of his attention was fixed on Monica's determined face; she was too busy guessing his Mom's elusive job to notice the change in scenery. Chandler chuckled to himself, elusively answering a round of 20 questions and dodging her elbow as her gestures got more frustrated.

He was hugely relieved at the turn their conversation had taken. Partly because they'd reverted to playful banter they'd shared at the wedding, but also because Monica was so focused on his Mom that she wasn't asking about the rest of his life. Like why he was working for Doug and how he went from Advertising to Politics.

Eventually he led them down a narrow side street and stopped in front of the small coffee house hung with a brightly painted sign declaring 'Washington Perk'.

"Well." He said. "Here we are." He licked his lips, suddenly dry even in the cool night air. God, why had he suggested this place? She was a Senator's daughter for crying out loud! She'd be used to fancy places like the restaurant Doug had taken her too. Not a cheap coffee house across from his dingy apartment. Was he insane?

Monica stared at cosily lit window, the apartment floors above, and then around the narrow street. Her expression was unreadable.

"Is uh, this ok?" He asked, palms beginning to sweat. "I know, it's not much but –"

She glanced sideways at him. "Chandler, when you and Doug picked me up, did you even look at where you were?"

"Uh, I kind of fell asleep...What?" He asked defensively at her raised eyebrow. "I was really tired! Why do you care?"

"Because," she said, rolling her eyes. "My apartment is right there." She pointed to the window three floors above the coffee place. "I come to this place for breakfast, and during my lunch breaks and every evening I'm free. I practically live here!"

"Oh my god!" Chandler's mouth fell open. "My new apartment is there!" He gestured excitedly to the opposite apartment block. "We're practically neighbours. And god I did see you!"

"What?"

"Tuesday morning, I saw a woman who looked like you, and I thought I was imagining things but obviously not. This is crazy!" Despite feeling incredibly stupid, Chandler grinned goofily at her, thrilled at the connection

"I know!" She agreed enthusiastically. "And I saw you on Monday night! I almost called out but I figured it was wishful thinking." She smiled at him, and his pulse jumped pleasurably at the implications of 'wishful thinking'. She'd wanted to see him again? "Wow, just think, if we hadn't met at the wedding we might've met here instead!"

She shook her head amused and Chandler forced a laugh, stomach squirming regretfully, wishing they could have met in simpler circumstances. Just two people in a coffee shop. Maybe then they'd be on a real date, rather than him escorting her for his boss.

Monica linked arms with him, tugging him through the door. "Come on let's go inside."

At the counter they ordered two coffees and a blueberry muffin each, only to be told there was only one muffin left. After launching into a ten minute battle over who deserved it, and Chandler almost licking it, Monica suggested breaking it in half instead. Which was really was a much smarter idea. They shared a pie as well, because those restaurant portions were crazily small.

He watched her scoff down her half of the muffin and she looked at him sheepishly. "Sorry. I kind of like food.

"I can tell."

"I'm not obsessed or anything honestly. I used to be, in high school I was kind of...fat, I ate like all the time. Kids picked on me a lot. I've got it under control now...but uh, yeah..." She rambled on, blushing. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I mean I wasn't fat but I wasn't popular in high school...I got picked on all the time as well."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I wasn't the um, sportiest of guys, and I was awkward and skinny, and made terrible jokes all the time – "

"Made terrible jokes? As in past tense?" She teased.

"I'll ignore that comment, as you clearly don't appreciate my sophisticated wit. Sadly neither did the guy in my year; they made shoving my head down the toilet a school sport.

"Really? I thought that only happened in movies."

"I wish. It was ok, as long as they flushed it first."

"Ew..." Monica laughed. "Alright, my case wasn't so bad. Toilet shoving isn't really girl's style. They just didn't invite me to their parties."

"That was meant to be a bad thing?"

X-X

"I have eleven categories of towels."

"I have two copies of the Annie soundtrack."

"My favourite possession is my label maker."

"My favourite movie is Miss Congeniality."

Chandler didn't even notice how many hours had passed. He listened to Monica talk about her parents and how they favoured Ross and pushed her to find a 'suitable man', (he quickly pushed Doug's face out of his mind), and her job as Executive Chef. She was open and passionate and funny and so kind he even opened up about his parent's painful divorce and crappy childhood. Now they'd moved onto their most embarrassing secrets.

Joey and Phoebe told him he shouldn't spill details like that on his first date, but he didn't care. Talking to Monica felt natural and he marvelled at how easily she pried information out of him. She didn't judge him for his humiliating stories or steer him away from unsavoury topics or hint he was ruining the date –

Wait. What?! Chandler's stopped himself. This isn't a date! The real date ended hours ago when she said goodbye to your boss, you're just the mediocre fill in! What the hell are you thinking?

But right now, he didn't want to think. After all, Monica had said that she didn't like Doug! The date had been set up by her parents! Maybe he still had a chance...

Slow down. He told himself sternly. Just because she doesn't like Doug, doesn't mean she is interested in you. I mean, god, look at her. How likely is it, that a woman like that would be interested in a loser like you? There are probably tonnes of guys waiting in the wings. And how will Doug react to you moving in on his property?

His stomach thumped dully as he watched her, her dark rush of hair falling over her shoulder and her blue eyes sparkling with laughter.

What the hell are you thinking man?

"Do you want some more coffee?" Monica asked, interrupting him.

"Uh, um, yeah that would be great."

She stood up, gently touching his shoulder as she passed, her hand lingering a second longer than normal and brushing across his neck. Chandler's skin erupted in goose bumps and his fragile confidence strengthened. This wasn't all in his head. For whatever crazy reason she felt something too, probably a minuscule, insignificant something but something nonetheless.

He'd worry about Doug tomorrow. He told himself, shoving the memory of what happened last time he displeased his boss, into the back of his mind.

X-X

Was is sad that this 'non-date' was better than any proper date Monica had had in years? Within an hour, she was laughing too hard to even think about Doug. Chandler was just as adorable as she remembered, attentively listening to her moan about her parents and cracking her up with his snarky comments.

Obviously nothing could "happen" tonight, but as she had zero intention of ever dating Doug again, she didn't feel guilty about hanging out with Chandler and...seeing where it went.

So she tried to make the night last as long as possible. They stayed at Washington Perk until it closed, the disgruntled Gunther practically pushing them out of the door. Then they'd sat on her steps at the bottom of her apartment block, arguing over whether Batman or James Bond was cooler. (Monica started giggling when Chandler claimed sleeping with Robin beat all the Bond girls, and he'd flushed bright red).

Eventually, in the early hours of the morning, Monica admitted she had to get back. She was working the evening shift the next day but she'd preferred not burning herself. Chandler insisted on walking her home, even though it was only up three flights of stairs, and he lived a street width away. (We're neighbours after all!)

It was only outside her door that things suddenly felt awkward. She rested one hand on the handle, shuffling from foot to foot. Normally this was when she'd invite a guy in (maybe for sex...maybe), or hope he'd ask to do it again but obviously neither one was appropriate tonight.

And what's he thinking? Say something dammit!

"I had a good time tonight." Chandler said hesitantly, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Me too." Monica admitted frankly, dropping her grip on the door handle. "Well at least the second half."

He smiled awkwardly at her, running his hand through his hair. "I ,uh, only wish Doug asked me to take a beautiful woman out every night. My job would be a breeze!"

Instantly, Monica's stomach curled. This was just a job to him, he'd been ordered to come tonight and he'd have been just as nice to any other woman. She was an idiot to think she was anything more than an assignment to be checked off.

"Right." She said quietly. "Well, I hope the next woman works out for you. Goodnight Chandler."

She turned to go, and heard Chandler gasp behind her, his hands grabbing her shoulder, swinging her around. "Oh god, no Monica that wasn't what I meant! I didn't mean take out a different woman every night, I – I just meant I wish I was allowed to take you out every night. That's all." He stared at her with pleading eyes, hands still gripping her shoulders.

She blushed at the intimacy of their position, and as if realizing the same, he dropped his hands, wringing them together nervously.

"Sorry." He said again.

"It's fine." She said quickly, suppressing her blush and smile spreading across her face. "And uh, thanks, that's...that's the sweetest thing a guy has said to me...pretty much ever."

"Really? I thought you'd hear much smoother stuff all the time," He said, looking genuinely surprised. "Being so, y'know..." He gestured up and down her vaguely. "You."

"Thanks." She said her voice barely a whisper, staring into his eyes, Chandler gazed back at her, licking his lips. God, did he have to be so irresistible? They leaned slowly towards each other, all thoughts of how inappropriate this was fleeing.

Then she heard him swallow, and drop a kiss on her cheek instead, lips barely brushing her skin. He pulled back hastily, confliction dancing across his face.

"I –I have to go." He blurted. "Good night."

And he fled.

X-X

A/N: Hmmm, so Chandler's definitely hiding something...more will be revealed soon! Thoughts? Making them neighbours was a late addition, but I wanted to stay close to the show and also places them very close together for developing feelings...The third chapter should be up much quicker, (I won't make you wait another month), the first one was more of a preview. And please review!