A/N: Ahh this took so long for me to post! But that might be because I am in loooooove. Not that I have a boyfriend or anything. Just in love. Question: Is a freshman girl dating a junior guy too much of an age difference? Or maybe it's actually - do I have a chance? Anyway... thanks for sticking with this fic, I will definitely post quicker next time. Read and review, thankies!

Disclaimer: I own Jonathan Carmona. Or, you know, I don't. But I do own Becca! Muahahahaha! *Hugs the heck outta her* Feel better babe!

CHAPTER 4 - Blissful

3 Days Later

"Has anybody seen my Playboy - I mean, USA Today?" Chandler asked, entered Monica and Rachel's apartment.

"Ha, ha - are you ready?" Monica snapped. She glanced at her watch - they had to be at the airport in half an hour for their flight to London.

"Almost, mom," Chandler muttered, reaching into the fridge and helping himself to a glass of orange juice and a muffin from the pantry. Shaking her head, Monica continued to pack things into her purse.

The phone let out a shrill, irritating ring. Sighing heavily, Monica picked it up. "Hello?" she said wearily.

"Hi, honey, it's me," Pete's voice said.

"Hey, what's up?" Monica asked, wondering why Pete was calling her when he should have been on the way to the airport. "You all ready to go?"

"Yeah, uh, that's the thing," Pete said hesitantly. "Look, Mon, I have some bad news. I'm - "

"Not coming," Monica finished dully as realization hit. Tears unexpectedly welled up in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," Pete said immediately. "I really, really am. My press conference in Hong Kong was rescheduled."

Monica's hurt transformed into angry indignation. "So miss it! It's just a press conference!" Chandler looked up at her, his brow furrowed in puzzlement, and she turned away from him quickly.

"It's a press conference that could send my company down the drain if I miss it!" Pete shot back.

"Is that all you care about? Your job?" Monica asked hotly.

"My job is my life!"

Monica paused. The comment stung - but not as much as it should. Slowly, she replied, "So I guess that means I'm not a part of it."

"God, Monica - I didn't mean it that way. You have to understand. Please, try to understand. Can you do that for me?"

"I understand," Monica said hollowly.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise." Pete sighed. "Tell Ross and Emily how sorry I am. Their present has already been shipped. Mon, I'm - "

"I know," Monica said. "Bye." She clicked the phone off, feeling strangely empty. Chandler stood up and took a hesitant step towards her.

"Mon?"

"Pete's not coming," she said.

"Oh, Mon. I'm so sorry," Chandler said, wrapping her in a hug. "God, he sucks."

Monica half-smiled. "Thanks. That helped."

"No problem. Hey, I noticed you've got a bunch of those muffins left... mind if I take one or two or nine?"

************

Monica looked around the room. Ross and Emily's rehearsal dinner was drawing to a close, and somehow, Monica had ended up sitting at her table, alone, coming down from a buzz that was much too short. The Geller's and Walthum's money squabbles had long since ceased to entertain her, Joey had run off with the other bridesmaid, the bar was closing, and Chandler - where was Chandler? Monica hadn't seen him in a while.

Deciding no one would notice if she left, Monica picked up her purse and headed up the stairs to Chandler's hotel room. She knocked on the door, realizing pathetically that Chandler being there was her last hope at salvaging her otherwise hopeless night.

The door swung open, and Chandler, clad in blue pajamas, stood on the threshold.

"Hey," Monica said, leaning against the doorframe.

"Hey," he replied.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Sure," Chandler said, stepping out of her way. Monica entered, unsure of what she was going to say or do. It wasn't as if they were teenagers who could have a slumber party. She turned around and looked at Chandler. A warmth, an inappropriate urge, washed over her.

"So... uh..." Chandler said, swinging his arms from side to side. She grabbed his wrists to stop them. Then she leaned in and kissed him on the lips. She wasn't sure what made her do it - if it was the fact that he was the only friend she had at the moment, or if it was an old longing, or maybe the three sour apple martinis she'd consumed earlier - but it felt right.

"Whoa-oh," Chandler mumbled as she pulled away. "Monica... what was that? Don't you have a boyfriend or something?"

"Barely," Monica said, turning around and flopping down on the edge of the bed. "Dammit, Chandler! All I want is someone who will be there for me, you know? Someone I can always count on! Is that too much to ask?"

"No, not at all," Chandler replied. "But I mean... kissing me isn't gonna fix any of that. You don't want to ruin what you have with Pete."

"But you felt it," Monica whispered. "I just kissed you - Chandler - and it didn't feel weird. It felt right."

"But... but..." Chandler stuttered.

"Chandler? Shut up," Monica said, and covered his mouth with hers. She didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want to think about it. They kissed until nothing mattered anymore, until nothing made sense, until Pete was a distant memory, until the rest of the night faded into a blissful haze.

*Yen*