She picked up the phone, to only put it down..again. Why couldn't she just leave it, she said no to chandler and he was okay with it.

Then she decided she wasn't okay with it. She felt bad, It was Chandler, he did almost everything she asked for and some part of her wanted to go….. But she would never admit that.

And like the complete idiot she is, she's been trying to pluck enough courage to call him to tell him she'll come as his date for the past half hour. "Hi"

She mentally slapped herself, "Hey Mon" he greeted in his usual cheerful voice. "What's up?"

"Um about this morning," She started biting her lip, thinking of a way in which she could subtly tell him that she'd go as his girlfriend while sounding completely uninterested.

"Oh yeah, I'll call Janice this afternoon." He cleared his throat. "Or just move to Canada"

she smiled softly, " Don't " She closed her eyes. "It's one date,and it's all pretend. How bad could it go?" She opened her eyes, and she could practically see him grinning on the other side.

"What changed your mind?" he asked, trying to keep the bordering excitement to a level. "Unless you got a vision on how amazing it would be to be my girlfriend, I mean it is a very popular spot…. I mean people fight over―

" Fake" She emphasised. "Fake girlfriend, and I'm sure people would fight over who gets to be known as chandler bing's fake girlfriend for the night" she chuckled.

~.~

Surprisingly a smile took over her face for the rest of the day, in some way she knew exactly why she was feeling so happy but she would never admit it. She couldn't―it would ruin everything. So she stuck to the excuse that it was nothing but a beautiful day.

But Rachel didn't believe it one bit.

"So Mon" Rachel started. "I was wondering if you could help me find a dress for tomorrow afternoon- I have a date"

"Sure" Monica saw herself agreeing. "We can go right now"

"Why not later?" Rachel pressed. "Around seven or eight?"

"I've got plans" Monica didn't meet her eyes and started scrubbing the kitchen counter. "Sorry Rach"

"Ooo like a date?"

" Well not an actual date" She sprayed some disinfectant. "In some way it could be but then again it's a complete fake one" she smiled mainly to herself.

"With who?" Rachel grinned, she knew it had to be someone from her past or someone that she knew since Monica was being so secretive about it. "And how can anyone have a fake date?" Rachel laughed.

Monica was having an internal battle in her own head, she could tell her best friend. It wasn't anything to hide-she was just helping a friend out…..but that friend just had to be chandler. And knowing Rachel she'd make some stupid theory up about the both of them having feelings for each other, she had already once mistaken them for dating when she first moved into their apartment― but they had both brushed it off and never talked about it again.

" It's actually-

"It's Chandler isn't it?" Rachel squealed. "I knew it! We went out to lunch together after work and he couldn't stop smiling and he told me he scored a date with one of the prettiest girls he knew!"

"He said that?" Monica asked, the air being knocked out of her lungs. Trying to hide to smile that crept up onto her face. He was joking around, she told herself, he called Phoebe and Rachel gorgeous multiple times as a joke and sometimes even called Joey. This was strictly fake too, just another ruse for him to show Janice up again.

"Oh my- Monica Geller and Chandler Bing" Rachel jumped up and down. " I mean I really don't know what anyone would see in chandler- but he is funny and sweet I guess...but you two together is crazy! I mean who would have thought….actually sometimes you both do-

"Rachel, It's a fake date" Monica put her spray bottle away. "Chandler accidentally told Janice he had a girlfriend and that it was me- We're going as a couple to this party so he could show Janice up― that's it."

"Oh" Rachel's excitement disappeared, and so did Monica's smile. This was bad, really bad she told herself. Plastering a smile onto her face. " Anyways, who are you going on a date with?" She asked, desperately wanted to change the subject and Rachel took the hint.

~.~

"Mon, Hurry up" Chandler yelled, checking his watch.

Monica entered the room and Chandler tried hiding the absolute awe on how gorgeous she was but she noticed and smiled shyly meeting his eyes. And for a moment they just stood there before Ross slammed the door open.

"Wow Mon, You look great" Ross smiled. "You too Chandler, What's going on"

A sly smile appeared on Monica's face. "Oh just your best friend taking your si-

"Ex girlfriend" Chandler corrected, clearing his throat. "Taking your Ex girlfriend out tonight"

Ross had a half confused half hurt look in his eyes, but nodded nevertheless and guilt washed over Chandler. "Why is Monica dressed up though?"

"I'm going to a fancy event" Monica flattened out her dress. "Chandler's coming too he was kidding about-

"Yeah Ross, come on man. I would never do that to you" Chandler patted his shoulder. "Plus I prefer brunettes"

At that moment Rachel came out in a simple dress and wiggled her eyebrows at the pair before noticing Ross's presence. "Um wanna catch a movie?" she asked, trying to divert Ross's attention.

"They're going out," Ross stated and flipped through the channels.

"I was talking about us two" Rachel awkwardly shifted her weight using her feet and Ross stared at her in disbelief. "It's fine if you have other things to do"

"No no, I'm free like completely utterly free" He stood up. "Free like a bird"

Monica and Chandler burst out laughing after exiting the apartment a safe distance away from where Ross could hear them. "Why would you say that?!" Chandler asked laughing. "Do you want me dead? Ross would kill me if I asked his sister on a date"

"Uh huh and asking out is ex-girlfriend was fine" Monica laughed again, leaning against him as he grumbled a 'shut up'

~.~

Funnily enough, Monica enjoyed the party. It was a quiet gathering and she and Chandler didn't need to pull any stunts to prove anything to Janice yet. They were simply enjoying each other's company.

"We should do this more" He stated as they were dancing.

"What? Dancing?" She smiled, clearly knowing what he meant.

"Funny" He deadpanned, smiling still. "When was the last time we both hung out, just the both of us"

"I actually don't know" Monica tried thinking, not able to come up with a sufficient answer.

"Let me think," Chandler mocked. "Let's see the fourth of neverary"

She laughed softly, "Your not as bad of a dancer as you say you are"

"Yeah cause we're just swaying" He grinned. "You'd run if you saw me dance"

She smiled but buried her face into his chest enjoying the moment, before the music stopped and Chandler was pushed aside to speak to someone else.

She went to the refreshments table and grabbed a glass of champagne idly sipping on it once a while before the corners of her mouth turned up at the sight of Chandler, her smile falling as the look on his face was unreadable and before she knew it..

and kissed her.

And she kissed back as he pulled her closer, their lips moving in sync before they broke apart and the embarrassment and fear washed over her as she saw Janice standing behind them looking crestfallen.

There it was, the silver lining.

A/N: Finally we're going to have the plot move forward now, I knew this was one hell of a long chapter but i feel like i need to add all the 'necessary' bits in as well just to make it come together. I'm actually excited about this so expect frequent updates. Thank you for the sweet reviews, they really help!