Author's Note - Ok so I have finally updated this story. I am soo sorry about the really long wait but I hope that this long chapter makes up for it!

Anyway this chapter skips back in time to explain how Rachel and Chandler got together. Things might not make sense yet but they will lol :)

The story picks up from Season 5 Episode 1, but everything is AU from this point onwards. So Monica and Chandler have slept together, Rachel has come to Ross and Emily's wedding and Ross has said the wrong name at the altar. Have you got that! Lol :)

Anyway… if that hasn't confused you I urge you to read on and hopefully you'll enjoy this latest offering.

Please review!

I own nothing… but I am officially in love with Matthew Perry, he is looking hot in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip hehe!

NOTE:

I have reposted and revised this chapter to correct the mistakes Exintaris pointed out to me – cheers for that! Thank you for all of the reviews I appreciate every single one of them and I'm glad you are enjoying the story. Expect Chapter Three soon.

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'Friends, family. We're gathered to celebrate here today the joyous union of Ross and Emily.'

Rachel sighed sadly as the words of the registrar sunk in, it was really happening, Ross was getting married and she'd officially lost him for good.

'May the happiness we share with them today be with them always.' The registrar continued.

Monica smiled. She truly hoped Ross and Emily would be happy together forever. She looked around at Montgomery Hall, several hours earlier it had been a total wreck, but it now looked beautiful. She smiled again pleased with the great job she had done of turning the place into something out of a fairytale. It seemed fitting as Ross and Emily's romance had been somewhat like one.

The registrar turned to Emily in order to begin the vows.

'Now Emily repeat after me. I Emily.' He instructed.

'I Emily.' She repeated.

Ross looked at her and was mesmerized. She looked stunning. Everything was perfect…

As Emily finished her vows, Joey smiled at Chandler who smiled back in return. They were both pleased for Ross, he had finally gotten over Rachel and the trip to London had been incredible… especially for Chandler! He never imagined he would ever hook up with someone as unbelievable as Monica.

As Emily finished her vows the registrar turned to Ross.

'Now Ross repeat after me.' The registrar said. 'I Ross.'

'I Ross.' He repeated.

'Take thee Emily.'

'Take thee Rachel.'

The congregation gasped in shock and Ross' eyebrows widened as he realised his mistake. Emily who had, until that point been beaming, now had a look of pure horror on her face.

'Emily.' Ross corrected quickly, laughing nervously. 'Emily.' He stated again firmly. The registrar shook his head not really knowing what to do.

'Er… shall I go on?' He asked dazed.

Emily looked heartbroken, she looked at the faces of the congregation and then at the registrar. She shook her head sadly and fought hard to regain her composure. She took a deep breath and then turned back to face the congregation.

'Thank you all for coming.' She started. 'I know a lot of you have had to come a long way to be here today and that's why I'm really sorry to have to do this. I'm afraid there isn't going to be a wedding.'

With her statement hanging in the air and tears streaming down her face she fled the Hall with Ross running desperately after her.

Back in New York Phoebe, having heard all of this over the phone raised her eyebrows. She knew after this, things for the six of them would never be the same again…

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Two hours later with Ross and Emily still missing; Rachel, Monica, Chandler and Joey had gone back to the hotel where they were sat in the boy's room wondering what had happened.

'Is this completely my fault?' Rachel asked. 'I can't believe how stupid I was to do this. What was I thinking flying to London like this!'

Monica sighed. 'Sweetie, it's not your fault.' She said sympathetically.

'Of course not.' Joey said. 'If it's anybody it's got to be Ross'.'

'I can't believe he said the wrong name. Emily looked pissed.' Chandler joked. He and Joey cracked up until their laughter was curtailed by Monica death staring at them. Chandler cleared his throat.

'I mean do you think they'll be able to work things out?' He asked seriously.

'I don't know.' Monica shrugged. 'He humiliated her in front of her entire family and friends. That's got to be pretty hard to forget.'

'Boy I wouldn't want to be in Ross' shoes right now.' Joey said.

Rachel looked mortified. 'I should never have come.' She lamented. 'I'm such an idiot.'

At this point Ross entered the room.

'Hi.' He greeted depressed.

'I'm guessing things didn't go too well with Emily then.' Chandler said.

Ross shook his head. 'It's over.' He answered sadly.

'Oh sweetie.' Monica said.

The rest of the group offered their sympathy and they all then hugged him to try and offer some comfort.

'Maybe you can work things out with her.' Joey offered.

'I don't think so; she said there was no way she would ever forgive me. I think her exact words were: I hate you, I don't want to see you ever again and why don't you just jump off a cliff and die.'

'Oh that is over.' Chandler said. 'Sorry man.'

'She probably just said that because she was upset.' Monica rationalized. 'Did she actually give you a reason?' She asked.

'Me saying the wrong name at our wedding had something to do with it.' Ross said bitterly. 'Her main reason was that she couldn't trust me anymore. She said I obviously still have issues with my ex.'

Rachel backed away from the group hug and looked at Ross guiltily.

'It's ok.' He said reassuring her. 'It's not your fault. It's mine I'm the one who screwed up.'

'Come on Ross let's go out.' Joey said. 'We'll have a guy's night out and cheer you up.'

'Oh I don't know.' Ross hesitated.

'Come on.' Joey pleaded.

Chandler shot Monica a look, knowing if he went out he wouldn't be hooking up with her tonight.

'Joe, if he says he doesn't want to go out then maybe we should just stay in.' Chandler said.

'No, everybody says that when they're in phase one. Now we are going to go out and we are going to have a good time. I wonder if British strippers are the same as American ones?' Joey asked excitedly.

Chandler rolled his eyes exasperated.

'Ok.' Ross said.

'Great.' Joey said emphasising the word.

'But no strippers.' Ross warned.

'You have to have strippers; that's how you achieve phase two.' Joey stated.

'Joe.' Ross said.

'Fine… we'll just have some beers.' Joey replied disappointed.

Chandler sighed accepting defeat. 'Let's go then.' He said with faked enthusiasm.

'See you girls later.' The boys said as they made their way to Ross' room allowing him to change clothes before leaving for the club.

As the door shut, and they were alone, Monica looked at Rachel.

'Are you gonna be ok?' Monica asked.

Rachel just shrugged.

'I'm going to head back to my room, seeing as how everyone else has got out of their wedding clothes, I'm going to get out of mine.' Monica joked. 'You gonna come with me?' She asked.

At this point Chandler re-entered the room.

'Sorry.' He apologised sensing he'd interrupted something. 'It's just I need to lock the room up, I forget this isn't our apartment back home.' He joked.

'It's fine.' Monica said smiling at him. 'Just give us a minute.'

Chandler nodded and exited the room.

'So are you going to come with me?' Monica asked Rachel again.

'I think I'll just head down to the bar.' She replied.

'Rachel.' Monica chastised.

'No, it's not like that, I'm not going down there to drown my sorrows I'm just going to think.'

'Oh ok.' Monica said warily. 'Well I'll meet you down there after I've got changed if you want.'

'No its ok I just want to be by myself for a while.' Rachel said sadly.

Monica sighed. 'Ok but you know where I'll be if you need me.' She said squeezing Rachel's shoulder.

'Yeah thanks.' Rachel said sincerely.

The girls exited the room and Rachel said goodbye to Monica and Chandler as she made her way to the bar. Chandler then locked the hotel room and took Monica aside in the corridor.

'I guess our plans for tonight are shot.' He joked.

'Yep.' Monica nodded laughing.

'We'll reschedule though right?' Chandler asked seriously.

Monica laughed. 'Go.' She said.

Chandler walked off but turned back to smile at her. She melted.

'Yes we'll reschedule.' She smiled. 'Now go the guys will be wondering where you've got to.'

Chandler ran back to Monica, gave her a kiss on the cheek and then ran back off suddenly feeling much happier...

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Several hours later after a long night in the company of Ross and Joey, Chandler made his way down to the bar of the hotel. He figured he deserved a drink after being ditched by Joey at the club and being left to put a drunken Ross into bed. He walked into the bar and spotted Rachel, alone.

'Hey.' He said gently as he walked over to her.

'Hey.' She replied. 'How's Ross?' She asked.

'He's ok.' He answered sitting down. 'Do you mind if I join you?'

'Well you kind of already have.' She responded rolling her eyes.

'Come on Rach, it's not that bad. You get to be with Ross now – he's single… you're single…' Chandler said attempting to cheer her up.

Rachel snorted. 'He doesn't feel that way about me. That much is pretty obvious given he was about to marry someone else.'

Chandler exhaled frustrated. 'Rachel I have just spent the entire night with the man, yes ok he's upset about Emily but that didn't stop him from getting drunk and telling us about his true feelings for you. He said he loved you and that Emily was just a rebound because you'd moved on and didn't want him anymore.'

Rachel looked at him suspiciously.

'Seriously.' Chandler continued. 'Me and Joe had to listen to him drone on about how you're his lobster, he never should have cheated on you and how he's an idiot for letting you go.'

'He really said that?' Rachel asked surprised.

'Oh yes it was sickening me and Joey threatened to kill him if he didn't shut up.'

Rachel laughed.

'Hey there you go… a smile.' Chandler joked nudging Rachel.

'Things are still complicated though.' Rachel said. 'I mean are you sure he's not just feeling lonely and babbling.'

'Rachel he loves you.' Chandler replied frankly. 'He always has done. From the moment I met him he's never shut up about you.' He laughed. 'College wasn't much fun that first year listening to him whine on abut how much he missed not seeing you everyday.'

Rachel smiled.

'God he wrote so many songs about you.' Chandler exclaimed.

Rachel laughed and rolled her eyes. 'Oh that's right your band – I totally forgot how lame you were.'

'Hey!' Chandler said faking hurt. 'I'll have you know we were the hit of the Asian Student Union. Our gigs were attended by at least two people.' He joked.

'Yeh you and Ross.' Rachel teased, laughing.

'I'm glad you're finally smiling.' Chandler said.

Rachel sighed as thoughts of Ross came back into her head. 'It's just if Ross really does love me why did he cheat? Why was he going to marry Emily? Why did he marry Carol?'

Chandler groaned loudly. 'We've already gone over the whole Emily thing.' He whined.

'Ok so she was a rebound but Carol wasn't.' Rachel said.

'No she wasn't.' Chandler said seriously. 'Ross married her because he loved her. I can't take that away from their relationship, but he only ever got together with her because he knew he had to move on from you. When you and Monica lost contact he never thought he'd see you again. Besides he didn't stand a chance with you back then we were lame you wouldn't have looked twice at him.'

Rachel ran her hands through her hair; her relationship with Ross was so complicated.

'Rachel.' Chandler began. 'Ross has always loved you.'

'If he loved me why did he cheat?' She asked.

'Because… well… honestly I don't know why he cheated probably because he's an idiot.' Chandler joked which elicited a smile from Rachel.

'He thought he'd lost you.' Chandler said attempting to explain. 'He thought you were over, he thought Mark was going to take you away from him and he was devastated. He made a mistake, yes a really big one but technically you guys were on a…'

'If you value your life you won't finish that sentence.' Rachel threatened.

'Sorry.' Chandler said sheepishly.

Rachel sighed. 'In a way, and don't you dare tell Ross I ever told you this, I can see where he's coming from with the whole we were on a break thing.'

Chandler laughed loudly he knew how hard it was for Rachel to say that but he quickly put on his serious face when his outburst was greeted with a scowl.

'There was never any reason for him to be jealous or paranoid.' Rachel continued. 'I always loved him I never would have cheated on him and that's why it hurt so much. The problem with Ross is that he's so insecure.'

Chandler raised his eyebrows. 'Yeh but with good reason. He lost Carol and you're hot he probably thought he could lose you too.'

Rachel laughed. 'Thanks.'

'You know what I mean.' Chandler replied.

'Yeah I do.' She shook her head as she recalled what Chandler had said to her. 'Hang on what did you mean by I wouldn't have looked twice at Ross?'

'Oh come on Rach, we both know you were totally shallow in high school. Me and Ross were losers. No way would you have fancied us.'

'I fancied you.' She said.

'What?' Chandler asked taken aback.

'Oh come on, I thought you knew.' Rachel laughed.

'No.' Chandler said shocked.

'Remember that Christmas party we kissed.'

'Yeh but you were hammered.'

Rachel rolled her eyes. 'There was also Thanksgiving, that year Ross introduced us to his roommate and lead singer of his band.' She joked. 'Anyway I was totally checking you out. Yeh you were kind of geeky but I thought you were gorgeous.' She laughed.

Chandler bobbed his head impressed. 'Didn't know that.' He said happily. 'Hey! Does that mean you don't think I'm gorgeous anymore?' He asked teasing her.

'No, I didn't mean that, I mean of course you are…' She stammered.

'Rach I'm kidding.'

Rachel glared at Chandler before hitting him playfully on the arm.

They both smiled at each other.

'My flock of seagull's haircut was always a babe magnet.' Chandler joked.

'Nah. It was your amazing dress sense that struck me.' Rachel joked. 'So…' She enquired. 'Did you fancy me?'

'Obviously.' Chandler said. 'But you were Ross' so it was strictly hands off.'

'That didn't stop you kissing me.' Rachel joked.

'Ah but that was because Ross had kissed someone I liked.'

Rachel laughed. 'So you used me just to try and make Ross jealous.'

'Yep sorry… luckily Ross never found out about that one… but boy did I enjoy that kiss.' Chandler joked.

'It was pretty great.' Rachel agreed.

Chandler sighed. 'So you going to be ok?' He asked.

'Yeh I think so.' She replied.

'Listen I'm going to go to bed then.' Chandler started. 'You know long day tomorrow and…'

'Will you stay with me please?' Rachel asked cutting him off. 'Sorry it's just I don't want to be alone tonight.'

'Sure.' Chandler answered. 'Do you want to come up to my room? We can watch a movie or something. Joey ditched me at the club so it'll be just you and me.'

'That sounds great.' Rachel said. 'Lead the way.'

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As the credits to the movie rolled, Chandler got up to switch the TV off but fell over. Rachel laughed loudly and Chandler, sprawled on his back on the floor, laughed too.

'I guess emptying the contents of the mini bar wasn't a good idea.' He sniggered.

'Nope.' Rachel answered stupidly.

'Man am I going to regret this on a six hour flight back to New York.' Chandler said.

Rachel climbed off the bed and slowly made her way over to Chandler. She held out her hand to try and help pull him up but unfortunately she was as unsteady on her feet as Chandler and she lost her balance falling on top of him. They both burst into more laughter but it suddenly faded as they stared into each other's eyes.

'You know I never really noticed how blue your eyes are before.' Rachel whispered as her lips edged closer to Chandlers.

He gulped nervously.

'You're really great. I don't know why I didn't go after you all those years ago.' She continued breathlessly.

'Things would certainly have been different.' Chandler replied.

'Yeh.' Rachel murmured.

'Yeh.'

They were Chandler's last words as his lips pressed against Rachel's…