A/N So here it is, my version of TOW All the Kissing's opening scene. That's still one of my absolute favorites and I can only hope I did it justice. This chapter got a little longer than usual, because somehow it only seems to work with Chandler's POV - go figure. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it, and will read on - I've now decided to take this to at least to TOW all the Kips and maybe - probably - further. We'll see.

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Chandler sneaked back into the apartment at 5.30 a.m. shortly after he and Monica had gotten up.

Monica wanted to leave for the airport at six latest, still fretting that she might not be there on time, and he knew better than to try and delay her. Not when she was still upset over oversleeping the day before, and meeting her parents later that day. As it turned out his timing couldn't have been better. Just 10 minutes after he had returned to his room and slumped on his bed, he heard the door of Joey's room open and someone tiptoeing to the bathroom. Joey's date of course, the majority of them were usually up long before his roommate, and often shared their breakfast with him instead of Joey. Which was fine because he liked company for breakfast and Joey wasn't exactly a morning person. It would have been awkward though, to say the least, if Tanya had caught him coming into the apartment in his bathrobe.

He heard her fumbling for the lightswitch, and then there came some squawking from the duck and a soft startled scream from her, so he decided to check and opened the upper part of his door. Tanya in one of Joey's t-shirts and nothing else stood just outside the bathroom door staring at the duck who stretched his neck and stared back, flapping his wings at her. When she heard his door open she jumped.

"Need some help?" he asked, pretending to have just woken up and trying not to stare at her too openly.

"Oh, um, hi, no, it's just, I don't know, I think the duck doesn't want me to use the bathroom –"

"I'll get him. He's just curious, but he shouldn't be there anyway." Chandler picked up the duck and petted him a little to calm him, then he put it in the chest in the corner between the couch and the wall. Tanya smiled gratefully at him and darted into the bathroom, only to put out her head again one second later.

"Um – the chick's in here too … Oh, thank you, you're a real life saver! I don't really mind them, but I hate it when they're in the bathroom while I – you know …"

"Yes I know, rather offputting, isn't it? There you go."

"Thank you. Sorry for waking you up."

"That's okay …" but she was already in the bathroom and locked the door. Chandler returned to his room, shut the two halves of his door and lay down on his bed again. He turned out the light and tried to relax, knowing that he wouldn't be able to sleep for some time yet. After a while he heard Tanya return to Joey's room and some scuffling noises and creaking of bedsprings which told him that Joey had rolled over her space in her absence and she had had to get him to roll back again. Then they settled again and for a while there were just the usual early morning noises of the apartments around them – toilets flushing, water pipes, some TVs and radios, and footsteps on the stair. Then just before six the door of no. 20 being opened and then shut and locked – Monica leaving for the airport. He listened for her steps down the hallway and the stairs until all was silent again. Then he shut his eyes and sighed.

Things kept getting weirder and weirder for them. Last night that hot session in the shower and in her bed had been overwhelming, to say the least, almost scary. Every time they had sex it kept getting hotter, more intense, more exhilarating than the last time. There seemed to be no end in sight to this and yet he had that persistent nagging fear niggling at him that it was too good to last, that something was bound to break the spell. When they were together, he felt the connection between them, the understanding that needed no words, but as soon as they were apart, the doubts and worries returned. How did she feel about him? Did she actually want more than sex from him? Was it just a physical relationship for her or had she developed feelings for him? Was she afraid that he had developed feelings and remained silent because she didn't want to hurt him?

True, there had been all those little signals. That romantic dinner especially. But she had said herself that it was 'too romantic for them' so that too could be interpreted both ways. And they had held hands on the way home, but that too was ambiguous, it could be that she just enjoyed the loving companionship. After all she had been alone a long time and they were still friends as well as lovers. They had held hands before and never thought about it. He really needed a clearer signal than that.

He could ask her of course, probably should do so soon, but he knew he couldn't bring himself to it. Not as long as he wasn't sure about his own feelings. Did HE want more than a physical relationship? Was he ready for something more serious? Was he?

Strangely enough, the two guys in his head had nothing to say to that and remained silent. Like they always would when he actually needed their input.

He decided that he would wait for a signal from her. Something that told him how she felt. Then he could decide. He hoped.

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He finished work early in the afternoon – Wednesdays almost always were a breeze – and decided to check in at Central Perk's before returning to his apartment. When he entered the place was pretty crowded and he almost changed his mind to a coffee to go, but then he spotted Joey and Phoebe in their usual place on the couch and the big chair, and they waved him over excitedly.

"Hey Chandler! Check it out, the triplets are kicking!"

"Actually, they're boxing. Ooooh, that one was mean. Hey, keep it clean! Not below the beltline, you hear me?"

"Was that little Chandler again?" Chandler deposited his briefcase and his coat on the backrest.

"Nah, he doesn't box, he just hits. I think this was Leslie. Joey, what are you doing?"

Joey had put his head against her bulge and seemed to be listening raptly.

"What's the score, my man?" Joey just shook his head.

"Can't tell, but boy, they're really going at it in there!" Chandler laughed and went to the bar to get coffee. Just when he was leaning against the counter waiting for Gunther who was busy with other customers, the door flew open and Monica came running in, out of breath and flushed with excitement. Chandler started and grinned goofily, then caught himself just in time. For one hot moment their eyes met and he actually felt something wrench deep inside him, a strange tightening. Then Gunther tipped him on the shoulder to get his attention and Monica rushed to the couch, and the moment was lost.

"Guys! Guess what! I've got the rest of the week off!" And she and Joey high-fived.

"Wow, Monica, that's great, what happened?"

"Oh my boss decided to have some Lebanese family thing at the restaurant and he's going to cook himself, so he doesn't need me. I just have to help him with the shopping tomorrow, then I'm free until Tuesday."

"Oh, that sounds great! I'm so happy for you!" Phoebe skipped up and down on her seat only to fall back and grimace when the triplets reminded her once again of their presence.

"So, what are you going to do with all your free time?" Chandler asked as he took his coffee from Gunther and then went to the couch to stand as close to Monica as he dared. She smiled brilliantly at him which caused another wrench in his guts.

"Oh, I don't know yet, but I'm sure something will come up." She grinned mischievously and he nearly choked on his coffee.

"Oh, Mon, is Ross back yet?" Joey asked.

"Yes, I picked him up this morning. He's in his apartment on the phone trying to locate Emily. So far no luck. They keep giving him phone numbers and when he calls them, they give him different numbers and so on. I don't think we'll see him for a while."

"Oh, that's too bad. I wanted to ask him about that beer."

"He'll probably be in tomorrow. Oh, I almost forgot, he wanted me to ask you if you could call Felicity."

"Who?"

"The bridesmaid!" the three of them chorused and Joey flinched.

"The one with the strawberries ..?" Chandler added helpfully.

"Oh yeah … but I really don't know if I have her number …"

"That's okay, Ross has it. He just wants you to call her, since she's Emily's friend and probably wouldn't want to help him."

"What makes you think I can …? Oh, alright." Joey sighed.

"Maybe he'll find Emily before you have to call her." Phoebe offered and Joey cheered up again. Chandler took a sip of his coffee and slowly moved a little closer to Monica, until he was standing next to her behind the couch and rested his free hand on the backrest. She casually put her hand next to his and extended her little finger until it lay on his, carefully avoiding to look at him. The small contact made him tingle all over again.

"Any news from Rachel?" Phoebe asked and Monica put her hand to her mouth.

"Oh yes, I completely forgot! She said there was a chance of getting a flight out today. She'd have to change flights twice in Athens and in Frankfurt, but if it worked out she'd be here tomorrow morning."

"Oh yay! Then we'll all be together again! That's so great! Good thing too, I don't want to be waiting for her when the triplets come out."

"You need all of us to be there when you give birth?" Chandler asked and Phoebe frowned.

"Of course I do! Especially you Chandler. You need to help me with little Chandler, because he's got your name. You're his name parent!"

Chandler looked baffled. "Name … parent?!"

"YES! You have to take him and hold him right after he's born, and then talk to him, maybe spank him a little for kicking the other two …"

Chandler actually stepped back and only then noticed Monica and Joey smirking and grinning at his discomfort and realized that he was being wound up. Phoebe giggled and then laughed outright.

"But if I'm the first thing he sees, he'll want to get right back in" he argued weakly and they laughed some more. Monica gathered up her bag again.

"Right, I have some more things to do. Phoebe, will you be by later?"

"No, Alice is leaving early tomorrow, so I have to be with them tonight."

"Joey?"

"Got a date tonight." Joey said smugly.

"Tanya? Again? Is this getting serious?"

"Na, not Tanya. Someone else. Her name's … um-"

"Her name is Um?! Oh that's pretty. Umm. UUUUMMMMM."

While Joey and Phoebe were bantering back and forth, Chandler caught one last meaningful glance from Monica before she turned around and left the café. He wanted nothing more than to rush after her, but was painfully aware how suspicious that would look, and he still had his coffee to finish too. So he forced himself to stay for another five minutes, fidgeting and only half listening to his friends' heated discussion of girl's names, and with great relief took his leave as soon as he dared.

Once outside the door he started walking faster and faster and almost ended up running until he arrived at no. 90, let himself in and rushed up the stairs taking two at a time. He left his coat and briefcase in no. 19 and eagerly entered no. 20, still out of breath.

"I'm in Rachel's room!" Monica called out, and sure enough, there she was, at Rachel's bed, taking the case off one of her pillows. When he came in and shut the door she turned and held out her arms and he wrapped his arms around her and pressed her close, swinging her around and kissing her hungrily. She responded eagerly and laughed breathlessly when they tottered and swayed in their urgency, and kissed some more. She opened her mouth wider and their tongues met and teased, and Chandler tried to pull her even closer. He slipped a hand under her t-shirt and rubbed her back, then pushed his fingers under the edge of her skirt and panties down to her buttocks. Monica panted and pressed against his hips and he realized that he had an enormous, almost painful erection, and tried to relieve the pressure by rubbing it against her belly. Monica held her head back for a moment and opened her eyes, and they stared at each other. Her pupils had dilated so much her eyes were almost black and her mouth hung half-open. Then she swallowed and pulled him urgently towards her, stepping backwards at the same time up to the edge of the bed.

"Come on … now … oh god … No, no time for that-"

"Mmmh … here? … Mmmmh …. Oh, god, Monica … mmmmh .."

They fell on the bed together. She didn't even let him get out of his jacket, just fumbled and clawed at his belt, squirming and thrashing. He couldn't figure out her skirt and just pushed it up, then tugged her panties down her thighs and over her knees. She hooked one leg around his waist, wrenched at his zipper, then grabbed his penis as soon as it came free and almost rammed it inside herself, moaning and shuddering. He held her against him and pushed it even deeper blindly, and then they went at it like animals, panting and screaming and almost delirious with lust and heat. Monica clenched her hands around his butt cheeks and he burrowed his hand in her hair while he kept the other at the small of her back. They couldn't get enough of each other and just went on and on. Monica stiffened and arched her back as she climaxed and then just shuddered and pushed on regardless. Chandler soon felt as if he was caught up in a neverending spiral of lust that he couldn't get out of and didn't want to. He kept on thrusting, occasionally shifting and changing the angle and then pressing on. His tie kept tangling up between their faces and his jacket was rucked upward over his shoulders.

After what seemed like hours Monica climaxed for the third time and he actually saw her eyes roll back in their sockets until only the white showed. She screamed and bore up hard and then he felt her tightening all around him until he felt like he was stuck inside her and could only spasm and twitch while his orgasm finally built up. The release felt incredibly good. He collapsed on her with his face buried in her shoulder, gasping and panting, while she held him and rocked him soothingly. For a while neither of them moved, and then just raised their heads a bit to kiss a little more and brush their lips over each other's faces and necks.

"I needed that …" she whispered finally. "So badly …"

"Me too."

"Oh god, this is so crazy, it was all I could think of-"

"I know –"

Suddenly there was a noise somewhere and they froze, listening breathlessly. Someone had knocked on the apartment door. He saw Monica's eyes widen and her mouth open for a scream and his heart sped up until he could feel it hammering in his ears. This couldn't be happening, not like this …

"Monica? Are you there?" It was Ross and his voice broke the spell. Monica heaved violently under him and he scrambled frantically off her while she pushed herself up and got off the bed. Ross opened the apartment door and they stared wild-eyed at each other while they heard his footsteps approach.

"Coming, Ross! Just a moment!" Monica shook out her hair and pulled up her panties in the same movement, then rushed to the door and opened it for just a crack. Chandler desperately tore up his pants, stuffing his shirt in anyhow and mercifully just avoided snagging the zipper. He was aware of how rumpled and mussed he must be looking, and fervently hoped that Ross wouldn't notice.

"Hey, what's up bro?"

Ross was standing by the couch and now came over, frowning bewildered. "What are you doing in Rachel's room?"

Chandler saw her rolling her eyes. "What do you think? Phoebe slept in here and now I'm making up her bed." She opened the door a little wider so Ross could see him too and Chandler hastily put on what he hoped was a neutral expression and put his hands in his pockets, trying to look as normal and unconcerned as possible. "Chandler helped me flip the mattress."

"Yeah, it's really hard work" he quipped for good measure and felt incredibly relieved when Ross's frown vanished as soon as it had appeared.

"Ah, okay. Hi Chandler. Everything okay?"

"Yup, couldn't be better. Just fine. Breeeezy –" Monica looked at him warningly and he caught himself just in time "Really good. And you? Still couldn't find Emily? Bummer."

Ross's face fell. "No. Mon, listen, can I use your phone?"

"To phone Emily's folks? What's wrong with yours?"

"Nothing, it's just, they know my number by now and won't answer my calls anymore. I thought if I phoned from here-"

"They'll still see that it's a New York number."

Ross grimaced. "But it's worth a shot, come on." Without waiting for her answer he went over to the endtable at the couch and picked up the phone. Monica sighed.

"Will you at least refund me - ?" Ross waved her off impatiently, already dialing a number he had written down in his notebook. Chandler looked at Monica and jerked his head at the apartment door.

"My place?" he whispered. Her face lit up and she nodded.

"Hello? Hello?! Hi, it's me again, I just – NO DON'T HANG UP-"

They stole out of the apartment with Ross screaming and pleading at the phone, and went into no. 19. Chandler shut the door and then clasped Monica in his arms, snuffling in her hair and sighing.

"Oooohh, man, that was close ..."

She giggled and kissed him, then stepped back and looked around her.

"So what do we do now? Wait here?"

"Well, why not? We've got the whole evening. Joey won't be back till late."

"You're sure? What if Ross comes over?"

"We can hang in my room, he won't barge in there. I hope."

They went to his room and he held both halves of the door open for her. Monica just shook her head at it and rolled her eyes.

"When are you going to get that fixed?"

He shrugged sheepishly. "I know. Everytime I see Treeger, I forget." She put her head to the side quizzically. "Well, not forget – okay, I'm afraid to ask him."

"Can't Joey fix it?"

"Yeah, well, he keeps cancelling on me. Look, why didn't you fix it, when you lived here?" As soon as he had said it he was mentally kicking himself for bringing it up and reminding Monica of the infamous apartment-switch.

"Me? It's not my door! I didn't plan on staying here, I hated it!"

"Okay, okay, shhh. I'm sorry, I brought it up. You're right, I should get it fixed. Will get it fixed, I promise."

Somewhat mollified Monica looked around the room and Chandler winced every time her gaze locked on something she didn't approve of until he almost wished they had remained with Ross.

"What's that? Your traveling bag? Oh my god, you still didn't unpack?!"

"Yeah, well, I – there was no time –" he wilted under her gaze "Okay, I hate unpacking."

"Then let's do it now, come on!"

"Oh no … please, no – NO! Monica, wait ..." But she ignored him and just upended his bag over the bed, already sorting through his stuff while he was still protesting.

"Mon, please .."

"Ah, there they are, I really missed them at our laundry date!" And she triumphantly held up his blue cowboy pajamas. "I've been meaning to ask you about them, where did you get them?"

"I don't remember. Okay, they're from my mom. Look, Mon ..."

"Your mom?!"

Chandler breathed out and spread his hands exasperatedly. "Yes, my mom! Monica, stop it. Please. What's the matter with you? We just … I don't get it, 5 minutes ago we were going at it like, like rabbits, and now –"

Her face fell and she turned away, shoulders slumped. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Aww, don't be." He put his arms around her and kissed her on the head. "I'm a bit rattled too, what with Ross almost catching us …" She smiled at that and pressed her face against his shoulder.

"Yeah, that really threw me. It would be so awful if Ross ever caught us. I think I'd kill myself."

"No, don't, please, then he'd kill me and we'd both be dead." She laughed at that.

"Anyway, I'm sorry for taking it out on you. It's just, when I see something that messy and I'm in that mood, I just need to … you know … deal with it, act on it …" she took a deep breath "I think I really really need to – clean."

Chandler raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Clean? How about we just take a shower?"

She laughed and shook her head. "I'd need to clean your bathroom first. Actually, there's an idea ..!"

Her face brightened and Chandler groaned. "Really?"

"Yes! Come on, we'll do it together, it'll be fun! And afterwards …" she snuggled closer and playfully tugged at his tie "… we could take a bath. In your tub. A bubble bath … with some candles … do you have some wine?"

He opened his mouth to protest, got caught in the expectant gaze of her brilliant blue eyes and shut it again, nodding helplessly. "Alright. A bath. You and me naked – yeah, sounds good. Great in fact. Yeah, let's."

Her face lit up and she pulled his head down to kiss him. "Okay! I'll just get my stuff. You can put your things in the laundry bag and we'll wash them later. Be right back – oh, before I forget, do you have candles?"

"Yup, but better bring some more. And we have no bubble bath. But we have wine – no glasses though."

"Candles, glasses, bubble bath … got it!" And with that she was out the door.

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Later – a long time later actually, when it came to cleaning Monica was pretty much indefatigable – they were indeed sitting facing each other in the hot steamy bubble bath, legs intertwined, smiling at each other blissfully and clinking their glasses every time they sipped. Chandler felt wonderfully relaxed and at peace with the world again. The past two hours had been rather tiring, but it had been so worth it – the bathroom was squeaky clean again, the tiles and the tub shone and the mirror sparkled. They had distributed nearly a dozen candles around the room, on the rim of the tub and the window sill and their soft light shone on Monica's wet skin and in her sparkling eyes as she leaned closer to him and smiled happily.

"You look cute in bubbles" she murmured and grinned widely. He knew she hadn't had more than a glass yet, but she almost seemed tipsy. Maybe it had been all the cleaning.

"Eh, you're all liquored up." He replied grinning and they moved their heads together for a kiss – only to be interrupted by loud noises in the living room. They stared at each other in shock as the awful truth sank in. Joey. Joey had come back, and they were screwed. There was nothing they could do - and now he was already rapping on the door.

"Hey, it's me! I'm comin' in!"

Chandler's mind was in a whirl as he tried frantically to find an explanation, a distraction, anything – and then watched dumbfounded as Monica took a deep breath, held her nose and dove neatly under the water, still holding her glass. He caught at himself and distributed the bubbles more evenly across her end. Joey pushed the door open and raised his brows at the candles and the bubbles. Chandler tried to adopt as weary an expression as he could.

"I've had a very long, hard day …" he said apologetically. Joey nodded agreeably, but continued to look around the bathroom. Chandler was fiercely glad that Monica had left her clothes in his bedroom and then worried that Joey would notice that the bathroom was noticeably cleaner now.

"You're home early!"

"Yeah, my date threw up." Joey replied dismissively. "Ah, I'm gonna get some chicken. Want some?"

Chandler started to sweat. How long would Monica be able to hold her breath? "Ah, no thanks, no chicken, bye-bye then." And, oh god, there was the rim of her glass just visible in all the foam.

"Okay." Joey turned to leave and Chandler began to breathe again, but then his roommate turned around once more.

"You're sure? Some extra crispy? Dirty rice? Beans?"

"For the last time, no! Get out!" Chandler started to panic, seeing Monica already drowning in his mind. "Get out Joe!"

"All right!" Joey shook his head at his outburst and then, thank god and all the angels, he did leave. Chandler heaved a sigh of relief as Monica's head popped up and she drew in air loudly.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry, he wouldn't leave, he kept asking if I wanted chicken!"

"Chicken?" To his surprise she seemed quite unperturbed. "I could eat some chicken."

Ooookaaay … He shrugged and waited until she had filled her lungs again. "Hey Joe!" In perfect timing Monica went under again, just as Joey popped back through the door.

"Yeah, can I get a 3-piece, some coleslaw, some beans … and a coke – Ah, ah! –" he yelped as Monica pinched his leg underwater and almost panicked, until it clicked and he remembered "- Diet Coke!"

Joey gave him a thumbs-up and left, and Chandler leaned back exhausted as Monica re-emerged and sat up again, checking her glass for soapbubbles.

A long hard day indeed.