A/N: Spoiler alert! No flashbacks in this chapter. Well it's not really a spoiler but I enjoy flashbacks more than the actual story. Anyone else feel the same?

Chapter 19

Monica

Present day

"What? Are you sure?" I asked the officers in front of me.

I haven't been able to sleep for the last two days because of what I got to know at the engagement party.

Chandler had been telling the truth and what did I do? I shot him. He literally did nothing wrong and I didn't believe I thought that he deserved to die and that's what I did.

Richard told me that it had been my dad's plan to break us up and he managed to do that. He lost his life in the process but he did manage to do what he set out to do. It took me five years to realize what a horrible man he was and what he had done to me just for the sake of a rivalry.

I couldn't concentrate on my restaurant, I couldn't cook. All I wanted to do was go and talk to Chandler, so the day after the engagement I texted Rachel and asked her for his address.

I was going to go as soon as possible but I didn't have the courage to actually go. I took two days to myself and finally got the courage to go.

I rang his doorbell and there he stood in an old shirt and boxers looking like a truck had run over him.

I did that to him. He probably thinks that Richard and I have been dating.

"Hey" I said, I was nervous but I hope he didn't notice "may I come in?" I asked.

He steps aside and lets me in.

Oh my!

His place is a mess. Actually, the word mess seems like an understatement. There are papers everywhere. There were a couple of drives on the floor and his laptop was lying open but it was faced down.

"Um, I'll change and come, you make yourself comfortable" he said as he went inside.

I picked up a few papers and noticed that they were plans for a new house. He had even made a couple notes here and there about possible options along with a color palette. I was impressed this is some good work.

"I'm sorry about the mess, this is all just work stuff. Do you want something to drink?" he asked me as he started gathering all the paperwork.

Just then I saw one of them slip from his hand. By the looks of it, it was a pool that Chandler was working on. It looked simple but exquisite. He really loves his job. I realized that he asked me a question.

"Water will do" I said as I picked up and handed him the paper about the pool.

That when my eyes drifted towards the end of the couch. I walked over towards it and fished it out. it was his tie. The tie I got him for the engagement dinner. It was wrinkled and the knot looked like it was snagged.

He was mad, was he mad at me? because he saw me with Richard? We were just catching up. there was nothing else going on between us. But he had taken off after he saw me with him.

I saw Chandler coming towards me with a bottle of water in his hand. He placed the bottle in front of me on the coffee table.

"I hope you don't mind that I came to your apartment," I said.

That's when I saw him looking at my hands. I still had his tie in my hands

"You didn't like the tie? I can return it" I asked

"Um, no that's fine, Rachel picks out the best stuff" he said and smiled at me.

"Yeah, she picked out Joey's suit that he wore two days ago"

"Also, this tie, right?" he asked. How obvious do I have to be for him to realize that it was me who got him the tie. Anyway, I don't need to get worked up on this. I was not here for the tie.

"Chandler, I wanted to talk to you," I said in a very serious tone.

"I know, I'm sorry. I know we aren't together. We aren't even friends. I shouldn't have acted the way I did" he started, but that wasn't why I came to his apartment.

"I… I had something else in mind. But yeah, it's okay"

"What did you have in mind?" he asked.

"It's about Richard," I answered.

I saw his expression turn from a playful one to a serious one. The one I rarely ever saw. Usually when he would come home he would either be exhausted from work or a bit serious because things hadn't gone right in his mission. But he had never looked at me in a serious way.

"Umm… If this is about you guys dating. I totally understand you don't-" he did think that Richard and I were dating. Does he not see how I actually feel for him?

I don't want him to think that I want to date anyone but him.

"No, we aren't dating" I said and I saw that the seriousness on his face start to fade, he almost had a smile on his face "he told me about me about what happened that night, he told me everything"

I felt tears stinging my eyes and threatening to fall. I was getting worked up. I was the reason he was in some much pain. I hate myself. I hate myself so much right now.

"I'm so sorry Chandler I should have trusted you" I said and leaned towards him.

I felt him wrap his arms around me as he held me against himself. I felt him stroking my head.

"You were right, you were telling the truth and I didn't believe you" I said and hiccuped as I tried catching my breath. I knew I had soaked his shirt.

I suddenly looked up at him.

"I didn't mean to break down on you" I said and rubbed the tears that were still on my face.

"It's okay" he said and took my face in his hands and rested his head against mine.

I felt his thumbs circling my cheeks, it felt wonderful to feel him on me. I could feel his breath on me. I could tell that he had been drinking. But I didn't mind. I loved the intimacy between us.

I leaned further into him and raised my hand and traced my thumb onto his lips. His lips felt the same, they were soft and pink. I felt him kissing my thumb. That's when I knew that I wanted to feel his lips against my own. I smiled and leaned up and pressed his lips to mine.

I wanted to feel him completely against myself, so I pulled him closer to me and deepened the kiss.

But that all went to hell when the police showed up. Chandler told me to stay put but Rachel was my friend too. Moreover, she was family now she was supposed to be my sister in law. But Chandler told me to sit inside as he led the officers outside.

What was I supposed to do here alone? That's when my eyes drifted towards his television. There was a brown bear sitting on the table. The same one he had gifted me on our anniversary but he wasn't wearing the 'Happy 6 months!' shirt anymore.

"Hey" Chandler said as he returned and closed the door behind him.

"So, what did they say?" I asked.

"They have no leads at the moment" Chandler said as he walked towards me and took the bear from my hands and placed it back beside the television, "You should leave" I heard him say.

"What, why?" I asked.

We just made up and now he wants me to leave. What's wrong now?

"Chandler? What happened?" I asked him. I turned around and out my arms on his shoulders forcing him to look at me "We lost five years I don't want to lose any more years" I said

"I cannot depend on the police to find her" I watch as his eyes briefly move away from my face "So, I'm going to go look for her"

"I'm coming with you," I said.

"What? There is no way you are coming with me!" he said and he moved away from me.

"Chandler, I was in the Mafia too, besides I already have a theory. So, instead of doing two different missions, let's do one together" I said

I see Chandler thinking for a while before he turned around and faced me.

"Two different missions?" he asked.

"You really think I'm going to stay put while my brother's fiance is missing?" I said as I crossed my arms. If he wouldn't let me in, I would still find a way to find her. Chandler was pacing around the room. He did that when he was deep in thought.

"What theory do you have?" he asked as he suddenly turned around and looked at me.

"Tell me that I'm a part of your mission and I'll tell you my theory" I challenged him.

"Alright fine! But you will go to Ross and find out what he knows, go to Joey's as well and let him know that we're going to MIA for a few days and yes tell me your theory" he said.

I squeal as I run towards him and hug him tightly. He returns the hug and pulls me closer to his chest. That's when I realize that I'm standing too close to him.

He then leaned and closed his eyes as our foreheads touched. I put my hands on his chest and gently pushed him away.

"Chandler, I'm sorry but I can't do this right now. Not when Rachel is missing" I said.

Wait, I don't want him to think that I was rejecting him. But he just quietly walked away from me and took a seat on the couch without putting up a fight.

"Yeah… umm we have to find Rachel. We will have plenty of time for that later" he said but he made no efforts to move further away from me.

So, I walked away from him. I needed some physical distance between us otherwise I wouldn't be able to think straight.

"So here's my theory. Yesterday when Richard told me about what my father did to you and your dad" I paused and looked at him, I wasn't really sure how he was dealing with his father's death. I didn't know if it still hurt him or he was over it. but he waited for me to continue "Richard warned me that my family might do something to Rachel because they think that Rachel is part of the Tribbiani crime family" I said.

"What! That's crazy, she knows about the mafia as much as your brother knows about the mafia" he said.

"Yeah, I told him that but he said that they didn't care," I said.

"Alright, lets start there. I'll dig up everything I have on your family" he said but didn't bother moving from the couch.

What is with the fact that attracts the both of us to his couch. I started walking towards his main door when he grabbed my arm and turned me around.

"Where are you going?" he asked as he got up with me.

"I have to check on Ross and you told me to go to Joey's as well" I said as I made my way towards his main door.

"You're spending the night here" he said as he looked into my eyes. He was being serious and it was wildly attractive. His eyes, his beard, his bare chest painted a very rich tapestry.

"Chandler, I'm not sleeping with you" I said but I couldn't help but smile at his worried face.

"That's not what I meant. Stay the night, we will leave early tomorrow for some recon work" he said and leaned in for a brief hug before he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "I have been wanting to do that for a week now"

I wanted to lean and peck him once more on his lips, but I had a commitment to my brother and my sister in law. My personal life can wait. Besides, Chandler isn't going anywhere. I looked at him, one last time before I made my way out.

A/N: Thoughts? Comments? Threatening notes?