He walked into the coffee house to find all of his friends there and Richard. They had never actually met in person but Monica had talked about him. Old creep. The second he walked in anger filled inside of him just seeing him sit there, his arm securely around Monica's shoulders.

He still stood on the step by the front door just staring at his group of friends. What was the definition of friends anyway? He sure as hell didn't know. He really only considered Monica a true friend. She was loyal, trusting, and she was there when you needed her. He felt like his other friends only put up with him because he lived next to Monica and Rachel. Just another insecurity he couldn't fight.

He exhaled before he walked over to the counter where he ordered a coffee. His brain still trying to fight emotions. He noticed the other day that he wasn't just physically tired he was emotionally tired. Just a side effect of torment.

When Gunther had gotten him his coffee he had joined the group at the small table next to the orange couch. Joey, Monica, and Richard were on the couch and Ross and Rachel were snuggled together on the green chair next to it. But what pissed him off was that Richard was the one who announced his presence.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Oh that's nice, he thought.

Chandler forced a smile before holding out his hand. "Chandler Bing." He said shaking Richard's hand.

Monica looked at him sympathetically before she spoke up. "Richard, honey, I told you about him. He's the funny one." Richard seemed to nod quickly.

Chandler mentally rolled his eyes his hatred for Richard becoming stronger. Not only was he dating the woman who could possibly be his forever girl, but he had an attitude. An attitude that scared him because of last night's dream.

As his friends got back to the topic that they were previously talking about all Chandler could do was watch in envy as Richard held Monica close to him. His dream depicted Richard as a monster who hit people around who carry his children. He couldn't get over this. It was almost eerie considering what he went through with Susie.

Susie was nice, you would have never known that she would hit people around. If you were just meeting her you would think: "Oh what a nice lady, she so friendly and kind.' When in reality she was a monster.

That what Chandler thought about Richard. At least in his dream. He didn't know if that was what Richard actually did but the situation Chandler was in was terrifying.

He needed to tell someone else about this dream, someone that wasn't dating Richard. But what would happen if he told Ross, or Joey? They would probably laugh in his face. They would most likely be like 'ha ha nice dream.' Then what would he do? None of his friends would believe him. But the problem was they have known Richard longer that he has so they would also tell him that Richard isn't that type of person.

"Chandler?" Rachel said, pulling him from his thoughts.

"What?"

"Ross asked you a question." Rachel stated. Chandler forced a smile trying to cover up the fact that he wasn't listening to them.

"I wanted to know if you were available for dinner tonight." Ross said.

"Umm… I don't know." Chandler replied.

"Why? I mean it's just dinner." Rachel stated as if it was obvious.

"Yea, and were going out to celebrate Joey's big break." Phoebe said.

Chandler swallowed heavily making his discomfort known. "Um… I... uh..." Chandler shuttered not knowing what to say.

"Come on Chandler, it's not like you have anything going on." Phoebe said.

Chandler stressed his bottom lip with his teeth trying to come up with an excuse. Nervously he ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't think I can." He said quietly.

"Bull," Ross scoffed.

Chandler looked down into his hands nervously. He knew that they were staring at him. Their eyes were burning through him for answers.

"Come on Chandler, give us one good reason why you can't go." He heard Rachel say.

His brain was fighting to find an answer. He could either a) say that he wasn't feeling well, or b) say that's one personal question. But neither sounded good enough to him. He could feel the tears stringing to eyes, threating to fall. No he couldn't, if anyone was allowed to see him cry it was Monica.

"Chandler!" Phoebe yelled, to which he snapped his head up.

His friends saw something in his eyes that none of them could comprehend. The mixture of fear, anger, and torment was frightening. They only one of them who seemed to understand was Monica. Monica seemed to understand a lot of things they didn't. But right now all of their anger had drained when they saw a shining film covering his usually shining blue eyes.

It was Phoebe who stood up and walked over to comfort him. She had wrapped her arms around him and rocked him back and forth.

"Chandler, honey, what's going on?" Rachel asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." Chandler said quietly and quickly untangled himself from Phoebe's embrace and bolted out the door.

"What's his problem?" Richard asked.

[-]

Run. That's what his mind told him to do. His natural instincts just told him to run.

It was such a simple question. But why the hell did he overthink it? All of his friends knew he had a special connection with Joey, but after his abduction that connection had kind of lost its spark. It was like it ran out of lighter fluid. It was just now that he was realizing this. Maybe Joey realized it before him, and that's why he moved out. But that doesn't explain why he was pushing the rest of them away. He was being an asshole and he knew it.

He was running aimlessly, not really knowing where he was going. He just chose a direction and ran. He was pretty sure he was running towards the river but he didn't know. He was aware of the life going on around him, the odd stares from the random patrons walking. But he chose to ignore them too. Then suddenly he stopped. He stopped and he took a look around him suddenly realizing where he was. The West Village. The same neighborhood that Susie lived in.

He stood on the concreate, his feet unmoving. He looked around and took in his surroundings. He was on the same road that Susie and he took that dreaded night.

What had knocked him back into action was a voice behind him calling out his name. And he ran, again. Surly one of his friends had followed him. How could they not? But considering how far he had ran, shouldn't they have lost him?

"Chandler!" The voice called out again. This only encouraged him to run faster. That is until something he saw told him to stop. It was something that the average person might consider stupid but he found it helpful. A poster that read:

Don't run away from your fears, confront them, and overcome them.

Overcome, don't run. Overcome.

Automatically his heels turned around began to walk in the direction that he came. He no longer felt lost he felt strong.

"Chandler!" Monica yelled running up to him. As she tried to catch her breath Chandler wrapped his arms around her. "Are you ok?" She asked still trying to catch her breath.

"I'm fine," he said. "I just freaked out."

"I know."

"In answer to Ross' question: yes." She looked up at him shocked.

"Really?" She asked. He nodded his head 'yes'. "Joey's gonna be so happy." She stated.

"I realized that running away from my fears isn't going to help. I have to face them and then overcome them." Monica looked at him as if he was a changed man. "But that being said I'm still going to be tormented by what Susie did to me." He said softly.

Monica nodded and lifted up to kiss his cheek. But she was not prepared for what she saw in his eyes when she pulled away. She took the hint and slowly leaned. A moment in time she would never forget.

In that very moment their lips met. It was captivating, beautiful, and loving. Emotions that she had never felt before came at he like a tidal wave. Her arms linked around his neck and his arms found her waist. His lips were so soft against hers it was like heaven. As he set the pace Monica moaned happily into his mouth. All thoughts of Richard escaping her mind. All she cared about was the man right in front of her who had been through so much and now his lips were against hers. It was the start of something amazing... she could feel it.

TBC….

AN: I know that these updates are quick… but people its summer!