Thanks for the reviews guys, I really appreciate them :) This is Part 3, and I am sorry for the delay between chapters, I compleatly forgot I hadn't updated, sorry! Please read and review, it always makes my day to have the little e-mails telling me I've got a review.

Ninaxxx

Walk Away And I Stumble

Part 3

Monica ran around the unfamiliar apartment trying desperately to make herself look presentable in the limited clothes she had brought with her. Just because she was spending her evening with what could possibly turn out to be the most boring married couple to ever walk the earth didn't mean she couldn't look her best. She guessed Ross had probably already told them all about her and Jake, and she didn't want to indulge this fantasy by coming dressed as a complete tramp.

"Mon? You almost ready?" Rachel asked, already looking immaculate, as she emerged from the small single bedroom they were sharing for the duration of the trip. Monica shot her a withering glance before resuming the struggle against her appearance. Rachel laughed as she watched her friends performance, before gently grabbing hold of her wrist as she spun around the room, forcing her to be still if only for a minute, "You look amazing. Besides, who are you hoping to meet tonight? It's dinner with me, a woman, your brother and a nice, dull married man. It's hardly dateline." Monica couldn't help but crack a smile, and soon Rachel joined her. They were still laughing when Ross walked in to pick them up almost ten minutes later.

XXX

Chandler glanced around the busy restaurant, keeping a close eye out for Ross. Since they were now adding an extra two seats to their regular table of three, the waiter had moved them to an unfamiliar area at the back of the crowded establishment. Chandler knew as well as Molly did that Ross wouldn't even bother looking for them anymore, he'd simply walk right over to their usual table and be stunned to find three strangers having a very pleasant evening staring back at him. Just then he caught a glimpse of a dark head, accompanied by two smaller ones, definitely Ross, the copious amounts of hair gel gave him away every time. He raised a hand and gave his perfected 'we're over here' wave. No longer to awkward fumble it had been during his college days, now it was a wave to be proud of, and in a strange sort of way, Chandler was.

"You can stop waving now" Molly whispered, a smile already wide across her face, "I think they see us"

Chandler flushed slightly, he hadn't even been aware that he was still waving. He turned to apologise, but then caught her grin and instead kissed her lightly on her lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Sorry to interrupt" a voice Chandler didn't recognise, called out, "Do you want us to come back later?"

Chandler turned, expecting to find an impatient waiter but was instead greeted by the one of the most beautiful faces he had ever seen, a face that was smiling at him, not teasing as had often been the case throughout his life, but actually smiling at him, and he had to admit, it felt kinda nice. He found the woman's gaze and smiled back at her, unable to conjure up any kind of comeback. It was Ross who saved him, "Hey guys, sorry we're late." He bent low to kiss Molly's cheek, allowing Chandler a few more precious seconds of looking at the woman, whomever she was, "Chandler, Molly, this is my sister Monica. I do apologise for her, and her friend Rachel".

The group exchanged pleasantries and were seated, but Chandler still couldn't take his eyes of her, more out of curiosity now. Monica Geller. No way, Monica Geller was … well for want of a nice description, fat and ugly. With matted curly dark hair and too much body fat. Not this person, he was about to ask to see the woman's drivers licence when she leaned over and whispered to him, "I know. I dieted for a year. And bought some hair straighteners". He turned quickly, a red flush creeping across his face when he saw her smile and was immediately at ease, he leaned in towards her, "And may I say, it was money well spent". They grinned together, any ice now officially broken.

XXX

"No way! Archie and Jughead?"

"I know it's kinda lame, but I can't help myself sometimes!"

"I know! I drive Molly mad, I have some many comics lying around"

"You're kidding! Wow, I only have a few, you're a proper fan huh?"

Chandler smiled and nodded, happy that for once he could be proud to be a 30 year old man with a passion for children's comics. The evening had flown by in a blur of forgotten summers and newly discovered passions, and Chandler couldn't believe he'd never realised just how much he and Monica Geller had in common during all those summers, Christmases and Thanksgivings he'd spent with the Gellers. He'd spent most of the meal talking to Monica about various things, things he'd never have been able to talk to Molly about, and he'd had a great time. It felt like he'd found a best friend, no matter how ridiculous that sounded. It was only when he heard Molly yawning loudly besides him that he actually looked around at the rest of the table. Molly was practically falling asleep next to him and Ross and Rachel were still talking, but neither seemed especially thrilled with the conversation. He glanced at his watch and was stunned at the time. He turned to Monica, his eyes wide.

"You know we've been talking for almost four hours?"

She opened her mouth wide, "You're kidding!" she exclaimed as she leaned across him slightly and turned his wrist to face her so she could see his watch, "Oh my God!" she began to laugh slightly but Chandler couldn't join her. His wrist still burned from where her fingers had grazed it, conjuring up feelings and emotions that he had long since forgotten. He shook his head, hoping against hope that the motion would remove them from his head, before attempting to join in with Monica's carefree laughter. But it wasn't the same, how could it be?

"I'll get the bill" he suddenly announced, jumping to his feet and walking quickly towards the waiters station, it was only when he heard the footsteps behind him that he realised Monica must have followed him, the one face he was hoping to avoid.

"Chandler?" she asked gently, placing her hand on the small of his back, "Are you OK?"

He turned to face her, fully prepared to smile and say yes, he was fine, he just needed to go because the babysitter would need a ride home, but then he saw her face. Her blue eyes wide with concern and her rose red lips seemed to be calling out to him. "I … I don't know"

She smiled faintly at him, apparently reading his mind, "I know, and you probably wanted to be alone but … well I just thought you could use a hug" she opened her arms wide and he fell into them, enveloping her in his own. She rested her head in the crook of his neck and he gently rested his head on hers, catching the faintest hint of almonds as he did so. They remained that way for as long as it took for all the tension surging through Chandler's body to fall silently to his feet. It was only then that Monica pulled apart from him slowly and leaned in to kiss his cheek, a simple and everyday act, but somewhere in the mix of raw feelings and emotions it went wrong and before he even knew what he was doing, his lips were on hers and it felt … it felt right. It felt the way kissing should. Gentle, yet passionate, soft yet hard all at the same time. They remained entwined for what felt like an eternity, before Monica pulled away breathless and looked deep into his eyes.

"What was that?"

Chandler couldn't answer, but whatever it was, he wished he didn't feel it.