"Come on, Jack, buddy, calm down," Chandler pleaded as he tried to calm down the wailing baby. It was past midnight, and Jackson had awoken screaming, and had continued for over twenty minutes. Chandler gently rocked him in his arms, walking around the apartment, but the baby refused to be pacified. He looked down at him helplessly. "I don't know want you want, Jack," Chandler said sadly. "You're fed, you're dry... what more is there in a baby's life?" He grabbed a tissue and tried to wipe the baby's face, pausing when his hand brushed against Jack's skin. "Whoa," he said, slightly alarmed. "You feel really warm." He felt a wave of panic wash over him as he realized that his son might be sick. He looked helplessly around the apartment, wondering what on earth he should do. What could he do? He wasn't a doctor. He tried to fight the urge to ask Monica, but in the end desperation and panic emerged victorious and he timidly walked across the hall and into their apartment. He tried to at least quiet Jack's cries, knowing what an hostile person Rachel was when woken before dawn, but that worry was pushed to the back of his mind as he nervously rapped on Monica's bedroom door. "Mon?" She opened the door rather quickly, and Chandler guessed that she'd been awakened by Jack's cries. "I... He's burning up," he said in a scared voice. "I think he's sick or something. He won't stop crying. And I don't know what to do." Monica cut him off by gently taking Jack from his arms and feeling his forehead.
"You're right," she said nodding. "He is burning up. Have you taken his temperature?" Chandler shook his head.
"I don't have a thermometer."
"We bought a baby thermometer," she reminded him. "It's in the medicine cabinet in your bathroom. Come on, I'll help." She followed Chandler back into his apartment and waited while he retrieved the thermometer, nodding as he held it toward her. "Okay, stick it in his ear," she directed.
"His ear?"
"Yeah. It's the easiest way to take a baby's temperature," she explained. He simply nodded and did as he was told. When it beeped, he removed it and read the reading.
"100.8," he said, looking up with a panicked look. "What do we do?"
"Calm down, it's probably just an ear infection or something," she told him gently. "We'll just call a pediatrician or someone," she decided.
"It's almost one in the morning," he protested. "How are we going to get a hold of a pediatrician at one in the morning?"
"Emergency Room," she replied simply. "There are always on-call pediatric residents. We can just call the ER and ask what we should do." Chandler nodded obediently and grabbed the phone. After calling information for the number, he dialed and listened to the woman who answered paging one of the on-call doctors. When the guy eventually picked up the phone, Chandler began screeching into the phone, on the verge of hysterics. Noticing his angst, Monica gently took the phone from him as she handed Jack over. Chandler allowed her to take over, and simply held his son, who was still crying and whose face was noticeably flushed.
"It's going to be okay," he assured the baby, rocking him gently. "Daddy's here, everything's going to be just fine." He half-listened to Monica's calm voice as she talked to the doctor, and he felt partially guilty for waking her up in the middle of the night, but at the same time he felt relieved and glad that she was there. He'd missed her the past couple of days, and he had wondered when he'd get to talk to her again.
"Okay," she said, hanging up the phone. "He said it's probably just a short fever, almost like a 24-hour bug or something, and that there's no need to take him to the ER unless his fever breaks 103, so he just said we should give him some baby Tylenol and put a cool cloth on his forehead until he falls asleep." Chandler nodded, still rocking Jackson nervously. "I'll get the Tylenol and the cloth," Monica said, disappearing into the bathroom and emerging a minute later. She gently made Jackson swallow the syrup as Chandler held onto him tightly, and then she placed the cool cloth over his head as he laid in his father's arms. Within ten minutes he had calmed down, and within fifteen he was asleep. Chandler was almost afraid to put him in his crib, but Monica's reassuring hand on his shoulder comforted him. "He's going to be just fine," she told him sincerely. "Babies get little fevers all the time. It's nothing serious." He simply nodded and walked into his room, carefully placing Jackson into his crib. He looked at him for a moment, and then returned to the living area, both relieved and tense to find Monica still there. "Just thought I'd stick around to say goodnight," she explained, feeling as though she needed to justify why she was still there. Chandler looked at her evenly, and after a moment she stood up from the barcalounger. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," she said awkwardly, and turned to leave.
"Go out with me," Chandler blurted out, a touch of almost desperation evident in his voice. Monica turned to face him, confused.
"What?" He cleared his throat nervously.
"Go out with me," he repeated in a softer voice. "On a date. Let me take you out," he requested, gazing into her eyes once again. "Dinner or something." Monica was surprised by his invitation. Regardless of what had happened a few days earlier, Chandler actually asking her out on a date was something for which she was very unprepared. He began to get nervous when she didn't answer, and she recognized the uncomfortable way he shifted his weight, which she suddenly found endearing. She smiled, and noticed how his tension seemed to ease slightly when she did.
"Okay. When?"
"Uh... tomorrow?" She smiled.
"Okay," she agreed again. He grinned.
"Okay," he repeated. Still smiling, she turned and headed back to bed, her mind racing and her heart thumping.
"Hi. It's me."
"Hi, me."
Pause. "I just wanted to ask about tonight."
Chandler felt his heart leap into his throat. "She's going to cancel on me," he thought, panicked. "Yes?" he asked, trying to sound relatively normal.
"I was just wondering... where are we going? I mean, I only ask so that I know what to wear... I don't want to be overdressed or underdressed or... well, wrongly dressed." She blushed, glad that he couldn't see her doing so.
Chandler smiled as he pictured her blushing on the other end of the phone. "Dinner at Sorrentino's and then afterward, if you're up to it, a walk in Central Park." Monica smiled, liking this new side of him.
"That sounds wonderful," she said, meaning every word. There was a pause on the other end of the phone.
"You know what I just realized?"
"What?" she asked.
"I don't think we've ever spoken on the phone before." She grinned.
"No, I don't think we have."
"A week of firsts," he said, surprising even himself by saying it. She began to feel as though her face would crack if she didn't stop smiling, and she knew the only way to do so would be to get off the phone.
"Okay, well... I had better go," she said quickly. "I'll see you at seven?"
"Yep, you sure will," he agreed, and she could hear the excitement in his voice, glad that she wasn't the only one looking forward to tonight. She hung up the phone and headed toward the bathroom to take a bath.
"Okay... diapers, bottles, baby food, wipes, change of clothes, bib, blanket... are you sure you're going to be okay?" Chandler asked nervously as he packed Jack's stuff into the baby bag.
"Uh, well, I do know how to take care of a child," Ross answered sarcastically. "You know, I think I might even have one of my own lying around somewhere." Chandler nodded as he continued stuffing things into the sack. "Chill, dude, we'll be fine."
"And you're sure you don't mind keeping him overnight? I just don't know what time we'll be back."
"Of course I don't mind," Ross insisted. "Plus, it'd be stupid to wake him up just to take him home. Just come and pick him up in the morning," he said. "I don't have anywhere to be until one." Chandler nodded again.
"Thanks again, man, for doing this."
"Don't mention it," he replied. "What are friends for?" Chandler picked Jack up out of his playpen and kissed him lightly on the forehead.
"Now you be good for Uncle Ross, okay? I don't want to hear that you've been giving him any lip." He paused. "Now, say goodbye to 'da-da.' Come on, Jack... I know it's in there. Da-da."
"Da," Jackson answered dutifully, and Chandler grinned. He didn't know why he melted every time he heard it, being that Jackson had been saying it for almost a week already. He smiled again, pecked the baby on the forehead one more time, and handed him to Ross.
"Okay, have fun, man. Don't do anything I'll have to kill you for," he warned jokingly, and Chandler grinned. He was surprised that Ross was taking this so well, but he was relieved and wasn't about to question it. He waved to the baby and sighed as they disappeared down the stairs. He went into his room and checked his reflection in his mirror once more before heading across the hall.
"Well, hello, Chandler," Rachel said goofily as she opened the door. "Monica will be ready in just a moment. I'm her roommate, Rachel." Chandler rolled his eyes and entered the apartment.
"Come on, Rach, gimme a break," he pleaded. She smiled.
"Okay, okay, sorry, just had to get at least one in there."
"Well, thank you so much," he said dryly. At that moment, Monica emerged from her bedroom and Chandler's sharp intake of breath was almost audible. He'd always known she was gorgeous, but somehow it was different when she was dressing up for him. When he realized that he was the one who would get to pull her chair out for her and hold the doors open for her, she suddenly looked somehow even more beautiful. Her short, deep blue dress fit her perfectly, and he could tell even from where he was standing that it made her eyes sparkle even bluer. While he was gazing at her, Monica was busy doing her own staring. She knew he was cute, but tonight, dressed up in a black suit, a deep blue shirt, and a black tie, he looked more than cute. He looked hot. She almost blushed as she thought of him as "hot" and quickly averted her gaze. He cleared his throat and held out the single white rose that he'd brought for her. She smiled and thanked him, and he looked pleased. They were both suddenly aware that Rachel was watching all of this with an eager look on her face, and Monica turned to Chandler.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes we shall," he replied smiling, and offered her his arm. She took it and turned to say goodnight to Rachel.
"'Night guys," Rach responded, and couldn't resist adding to it: "Don't worry, I won't wait up!" Monica blushed and shot her a look as she walked out of the apartment. Rachel aimed a suggestive glance at Chandler as he exited behind her, and he, too, blushed as he closed the door behind him.
As they walked through Central Park a few hours later, Monica shivered slightly as a cool breeze danced around them. Having noticed, Chandler quickly removed his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. She smiled up at him gratefully, and he grinned easily back down at her. Both of them were almost afraid to speak, not wanting to disturb the magic that seemed to surround them. The cool breeze carried with it the sweet smell that lingered of a warm spring day, and the grass around them was damp with the evening dew. The night sky was clear, and a blanket of stars were scattered carelessly throughout the sky, as though someone had sprinkled salt over a sheet of black velvet. Chandler nervously put his arm around her shoulder, and felt relieved when she looked up and smiled at him again, placing hers around his waist. They walked on in silence, simply basking in the comfort that surrounded them. They were both thinking, as they walked through the peaceful park, how oddly easy it seemed. Both had been apprehensive about what was in store for them, being that they'd been friends for so long, but that seemed only to help the situation. There was no need, as was often the case on first dates, for pointless small-talk, or comments to fill the silences. They were familiar enough with each other to allow the silence to linger, and that alone delighted both of them. As they reached the spot in the park where they decided to turn around, Chandler stopped Monica and stood facing her, still silent. They gazed at each other as they had before, although this time all apprehension had vanished. There was, in its place, only a look of contentment and relief that seemed to say, "finally." As Chandler gently tucked a wisp of hair behind Monica's ear, she felt herself shiver, not at the cold but at the energy that had surged through her at his touch. He looked at her intently, almost as though he was giving her the opportunity to back away -- a ridiculous notion and both of them knew it. He looked at her tenderly, his eyes glistening in the moonlight, and he smiled slightly as hers shone back up at him. He stroked her cheek, and she was pleased to find that the sensation that she had felt last time once again surged through her body, and she gazed at him expectantly. He leaned in toward her and she closed her eyes, anticipating the moment when his lips would meet hers again. Instead, she felt his lips against her forehead as he murmured into her skin, "I'm crazy about you, ya know." She felt her heart flutter as she sighed. His words were genuine and adorable, and she could feel her stomach churning in anticipation as he pulled away from her forehead to gaze at her once again.
"I'm crazy about you, too," she replied, and smiled slightly when he grinned in relief. His smile faded as he looked at her intently, taking her face in his hands. She faced him eagerly.
"No interruptions this time," he said, causing her to laugh slightly. He smiled briefly and their lips met again in a much-awaited kiss.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Chandler," she said with a smile as they stood between the apartments. He grinned.
"Bet you never thought my name would be tacked on the end of that statement, huh?" She smiled and looked away, embarrassed.
"Well, maybe once or twice." He looked at her, surprised, and then looked away, equally embarrassed. After a moment, he turned to face her.
"You want to come over for coffee?" She turned and looked at him, and smiled when she saw his anxious expression. "After all," he added, "it's been awhile since I haven't been on bottle or diaper duty." She laughed and nodded, following him into his apartment.
She entered and sat in his barcalounger, watching as he bent over to look in the fridge. "Where's Joey?" she asked, trying not to sound as though there was any implication in her words.
"Date," he replied simply. "You'd be surprised how rarely he actually sleeps here. This is more like a simple resting place in between dates." Monica laughed and watched as he stood up, looking slightly put out. "Okay, this is going to sound kind of pathetic," he warned, "but the only milk I have is Jack's milk. So... we can either try that," he said grimacing, "or we can drink something else." She grinned.
"I'm actually not that thirsty," she confessed.
"Really?" he asked, slightly surprised as he shut the fridge door. "Me either." They remained where they were for an awkward moment before Monica rose from where she was sitting. She moved toward the door, and Chandler's hopes fell as he thought she was leaving. He was surprised, therefore, when she stopped directly in front of him. She looked up at him for a moment, and then calmly reached up and kissed him gently. He was momentarily surprised, being that it was the first kiss that she had initiated, but he got over it as he wrapped his arms around her waist. They stood there, in the kitchen, kissing hungrily for what must have been ten minutes, simply enjoying the feeling of being together. Then, finally, she pulled away and looked up into his eyes, in which the yearning mirrored what she was feeling. Slowly, shyly, she played with his tie. Then, after a moment of deliberation, she slowly backed away from him, pulling him along with her by his tie. He was again surprised, but again he didn't hesitate to follow her lead. She timidly backed up, pulling her with him, until she was standing outside his bedroom door, where she stopped. He then took the initiative, leaning in to kiss her again, sighing into her mouth as he felt her tongue entwine with his own, a sensation that was becoming pleasingly familiar to him. He gently led her into his room, where they stood next to his bed, kissing heatedly. She loosened his tie and once again found herself unbuttoning his shirt, this time pushing it off his shoulders and onto the floor. She ran her hands over his shoulders and she felt his roaming over her back, eventually finding her zipper. The teeth separated as he slowly unzipped it, and before he slid the dress off, he broke the kiss and looked down at her, his face serious. She looked back up at him, worried that he was going to stop and say that it was a mistake. As he looked at her thoughtfully, she silently pleaded with her eyes for him to tell her what he was thinking. After a moment, his husky voice filled the room.
"You know I'm going to make love to you, right?" She nodded, feeling energized by the fact that he'd said it out loud. He looked at her for a moment longer before speaking again. "Tell me it's what you want, Monica. Tell me you want this." Her heart melted as she saw the pleading and concerned look in his eyes, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, drawing her body up to his.
"I want this," she whispered softly into his ear. "I want you." That was all he needed, and his mouth captured hers again as he slid her dress off her shoulders and lowered her onto the bed.
As he woke the next morning, he smiled when he realized that Monica was still asleep in his arms. He looked lovingly at the way her dark hair fanned out on the pillow behind her and the small smile that played upon her lips, and he wondered what she was dreaming about. He realized with satisfaction that he could spend hours just watching her sleep. The opportunity to do so wasn't granted, however, when she stirred and opened her eyes, blinking in the sunlight that seeped through his window. She turned to see whether or not he was still asleep, and smiled when she saw him gazing down at her. "Haven't slept this late in awhile, I bet," she mused as she saw Jackson's crib in the corner of the room. He grinned.
"You'd win that bet," he replied. "Speaking of which," he said, looking over at his bedside clock, "I have to pick him up in an hour or less." She stretched.
"You know," she said thoughtfully, "one of these days we're going to have to thank that kid."
"For what?" Chandler asked absently as he stroked her hair.
"For getting us together," she answered. He smiled.
"Yeah... I guess we will."
*LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD CONTINUE IT... I HAVE A FEW IDEAS ON HOW I COULD TAKE IT IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS... GIVE ME YOUR OPINION! THANKS!*
"You're right," she said nodding. "He is burning up. Have you taken his temperature?" Chandler shook his head.
"I don't have a thermometer."
"We bought a baby thermometer," she reminded him. "It's in the medicine cabinet in your bathroom. Come on, I'll help." She followed Chandler back into his apartment and waited while he retrieved the thermometer, nodding as he held it toward her. "Okay, stick it in his ear," she directed.
"His ear?"
"Yeah. It's the easiest way to take a baby's temperature," she explained. He simply nodded and did as he was told. When it beeped, he removed it and read the reading.
"100.8," he said, looking up with a panicked look. "What do we do?"
"Calm down, it's probably just an ear infection or something," she told him gently. "We'll just call a pediatrician or someone," she decided.
"It's almost one in the morning," he protested. "How are we going to get a hold of a pediatrician at one in the morning?"
"Emergency Room," she replied simply. "There are always on-call pediatric residents. We can just call the ER and ask what we should do." Chandler nodded obediently and grabbed the phone. After calling information for the number, he dialed and listened to the woman who answered paging one of the on-call doctors. When the guy eventually picked up the phone, Chandler began screeching into the phone, on the verge of hysterics. Noticing his angst, Monica gently took the phone from him as she handed Jack over. Chandler allowed her to take over, and simply held his son, who was still crying and whose face was noticeably flushed.
"It's going to be okay," he assured the baby, rocking him gently. "Daddy's here, everything's going to be just fine." He half-listened to Monica's calm voice as she talked to the doctor, and he felt partially guilty for waking her up in the middle of the night, but at the same time he felt relieved and glad that she was there. He'd missed her the past couple of days, and he had wondered when he'd get to talk to her again.
"Okay," she said, hanging up the phone. "He said it's probably just a short fever, almost like a 24-hour bug or something, and that there's no need to take him to the ER unless his fever breaks 103, so he just said we should give him some baby Tylenol and put a cool cloth on his forehead until he falls asleep." Chandler nodded, still rocking Jackson nervously. "I'll get the Tylenol and the cloth," Monica said, disappearing into the bathroom and emerging a minute later. She gently made Jackson swallow the syrup as Chandler held onto him tightly, and then she placed the cool cloth over his head as he laid in his father's arms. Within ten minutes he had calmed down, and within fifteen he was asleep. Chandler was almost afraid to put him in his crib, but Monica's reassuring hand on his shoulder comforted him. "He's going to be just fine," she told him sincerely. "Babies get little fevers all the time. It's nothing serious." He simply nodded and walked into his room, carefully placing Jackson into his crib. He looked at him for a moment, and then returned to the living area, both relieved and tense to find Monica still there. "Just thought I'd stick around to say goodnight," she explained, feeling as though she needed to justify why she was still there. Chandler looked at her evenly, and after a moment she stood up from the barcalounger. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," she said awkwardly, and turned to leave.
"Go out with me," Chandler blurted out, a touch of almost desperation evident in his voice. Monica turned to face him, confused.
"What?" He cleared his throat nervously.
"Go out with me," he repeated in a softer voice. "On a date. Let me take you out," he requested, gazing into her eyes once again. "Dinner or something." Monica was surprised by his invitation. Regardless of what had happened a few days earlier, Chandler actually asking her out on a date was something for which she was very unprepared. He began to get nervous when she didn't answer, and she recognized the uncomfortable way he shifted his weight, which she suddenly found endearing. She smiled, and noticed how his tension seemed to ease slightly when she did.
"Okay. When?"
"Uh... tomorrow?" She smiled.
"Okay," she agreed again. He grinned.
"Okay," he repeated. Still smiling, she turned and headed back to bed, her mind racing and her heart thumping.
"Hi. It's me."
"Hi, me."
Pause. "I just wanted to ask about tonight."
Chandler felt his heart leap into his throat. "She's going to cancel on me," he thought, panicked. "Yes?" he asked, trying to sound relatively normal.
"I was just wondering... where are we going? I mean, I only ask so that I know what to wear... I don't want to be overdressed or underdressed or... well, wrongly dressed." She blushed, glad that he couldn't see her doing so.
Chandler smiled as he pictured her blushing on the other end of the phone. "Dinner at Sorrentino's and then afterward, if you're up to it, a walk in Central Park." Monica smiled, liking this new side of him.
"That sounds wonderful," she said, meaning every word. There was a pause on the other end of the phone.
"You know what I just realized?"
"What?" she asked.
"I don't think we've ever spoken on the phone before." She grinned.
"No, I don't think we have."
"A week of firsts," he said, surprising even himself by saying it. She began to feel as though her face would crack if she didn't stop smiling, and she knew the only way to do so would be to get off the phone.
"Okay, well... I had better go," she said quickly. "I'll see you at seven?"
"Yep, you sure will," he agreed, and she could hear the excitement in his voice, glad that she wasn't the only one looking forward to tonight. She hung up the phone and headed toward the bathroom to take a bath.
"Okay... diapers, bottles, baby food, wipes, change of clothes, bib, blanket... are you sure you're going to be okay?" Chandler asked nervously as he packed Jack's stuff into the baby bag.
"Uh, well, I do know how to take care of a child," Ross answered sarcastically. "You know, I think I might even have one of my own lying around somewhere." Chandler nodded as he continued stuffing things into the sack. "Chill, dude, we'll be fine."
"And you're sure you don't mind keeping him overnight? I just don't know what time we'll be back."
"Of course I don't mind," Ross insisted. "Plus, it'd be stupid to wake him up just to take him home. Just come and pick him up in the morning," he said. "I don't have anywhere to be until one." Chandler nodded again.
"Thanks again, man, for doing this."
"Don't mention it," he replied. "What are friends for?" Chandler picked Jack up out of his playpen and kissed him lightly on the forehead.
"Now you be good for Uncle Ross, okay? I don't want to hear that you've been giving him any lip." He paused. "Now, say goodbye to 'da-da.' Come on, Jack... I know it's in there. Da-da."
"Da," Jackson answered dutifully, and Chandler grinned. He didn't know why he melted every time he heard it, being that Jackson had been saying it for almost a week already. He smiled again, pecked the baby on the forehead one more time, and handed him to Ross.
"Okay, have fun, man. Don't do anything I'll have to kill you for," he warned jokingly, and Chandler grinned. He was surprised that Ross was taking this so well, but he was relieved and wasn't about to question it. He waved to the baby and sighed as they disappeared down the stairs. He went into his room and checked his reflection in his mirror once more before heading across the hall.
"Well, hello, Chandler," Rachel said goofily as she opened the door. "Monica will be ready in just a moment. I'm her roommate, Rachel." Chandler rolled his eyes and entered the apartment.
"Come on, Rach, gimme a break," he pleaded. She smiled.
"Okay, okay, sorry, just had to get at least one in there."
"Well, thank you so much," he said dryly. At that moment, Monica emerged from her bedroom and Chandler's sharp intake of breath was almost audible. He'd always known she was gorgeous, but somehow it was different when she was dressing up for him. When he realized that he was the one who would get to pull her chair out for her and hold the doors open for her, she suddenly looked somehow even more beautiful. Her short, deep blue dress fit her perfectly, and he could tell even from where he was standing that it made her eyes sparkle even bluer. While he was gazing at her, Monica was busy doing her own staring. She knew he was cute, but tonight, dressed up in a black suit, a deep blue shirt, and a black tie, he looked more than cute. He looked hot. She almost blushed as she thought of him as "hot" and quickly averted her gaze. He cleared his throat and held out the single white rose that he'd brought for her. She smiled and thanked him, and he looked pleased. They were both suddenly aware that Rachel was watching all of this with an eager look on her face, and Monica turned to Chandler.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes we shall," he replied smiling, and offered her his arm. She took it and turned to say goodnight to Rachel.
"'Night guys," Rach responded, and couldn't resist adding to it: "Don't worry, I won't wait up!" Monica blushed and shot her a look as she walked out of the apartment. Rachel aimed a suggestive glance at Chandler as he exited behind her, and he, too, blushed as he closed the door behind him.
As they walked through Central Park a few hours later, Monica shivered slightly as a cool breeze danced around them. Having noticed, Chandler quickly removed his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. She smiled up at him gratefully, and he grinned easily back down at her. Both of them were almost afraid to speak, not wanting to disturb the magic that seemed to surround them. The cool breeze carried with it the sweet smell that lingered of a warm spring day, and the grass around them was damp with the evening dew. The night sky was clear, and a blanket of stars were scattered carelessly throughout the sky, as though someone had sprinkled salt over a sheet of black velvet. Chandler nervously put his arm around her shoulder, and felt relieved when she looked up and smiled at him again, placing hers around his waist. They walked on in silence, simply basking in the comfort that surrounded them. They were both thinking, as they walked through the peaceful park, how oddly easy it seemed. Both had been apprehensive about what was in store for them, being that they'd been friends for so long, but that seemed only to help the situation. There was no need, as was often the case on first dates, for pointless small-talk, or comments to fill the silences. They were familiar enough with each other to allow the silence to linger, and that alone delighted both of them. As they reached the spot in the park where they decided to turn around, Chandler stopped Monica and stood facing her, still silent. They gazed at each other as they had before, although this time all apprehension had vanished. There was, in its place, only a look of contentment and relief that seemed to say, "finally." As Chandler gently tucked a wisp of hair behind Monica's ear, she felt herself shiver, not at the cold but at the energy that had surged through her at his touch. He looked at her intently, almost as though he was giving her the opportunity to back away -- a ridiculous notion and both of them knew it. He looked at her tenderly, his eyes glistening in the moonlight, and he smiled slightly as hers shone back up at him. He stroked her cheek, and she was pleased to find that the sensation that she had felt last time once again surged through her body, and she gazed at him expectantly. He leaned in toward her and she closed her eyes, anticipating the moment when his lips would meet hers again. Instead, she felt his lips against her forehead as he murmured into her skin, "I'm crazy about you, ya know." She felt her heart flutter as she sighed. His words were genuine and adorable, and she could feel her stomach churning in anticipation as he pulled away from her forehead to gaze at her once again.
"I'm crazy about you, too," she replied, and smiled slightly when he grinned in relief. His smile faded as he looked at her intently, taking her face in his hands. She faced him eagerly.
"No interruptions this time," he said, causing her to laugh slightly. He smiled briefly and their lips met again in a much-awaited kiss.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Chandler," she said with a smile as they stood between the apartments. He grinned.
"Bet you never thought my name would be tacked on the end of that statement, huh?" She smiled and looked away, embarrassed.
"Well, maybe once or twice." He looked at her, surprised, and then looked away, equally embarrassed. After a moment, he turned to face her.
"You want to come over for coffee?" She turned and looked at him, and smiled when she saw his anxious expression. "After all," he added, "it's been awhile since I haven't been on bottle or diaper duty." She laughed and nodded, following him into his apartment.
She entered and sat in his barcalounger, watching as he bent over to look in the fridge. "Where's Joey?" she asked, trying not to sound as though there was any implication in her words.
"Date," he replied simply. "You'd be surprised how rarely he actually sleeps here. This is more like a simple resting place in between dates." Monica laughed and watched as he stood up, looking slightly put out. "Okay, this is going to sound kind of pathetic," he warned, "but the only milk I have is Jack's milk. So... we can either try that," he said grimacing, "or we can drink something else." She grinned.
"I'm actually not that thirsty," she confessed.
"Really?" he asked, slightly surprised as he shut the fridge door. "Me either." They remained where they were for an awkward moment before Monica rose from where she was sitting. She moved toward the door, and Chandler's hopes fell as he thought she was leaving. He was surprised, therefore, when she stopped directly in front of him. She looked up at him for a moment, and then calmly reached up and kissed him gently. He was momentarily surprised, being that it was the first kiss that she had initiated, but he got over it as he wrapped his arms around her waist. They stood there, in the kitchen, kissing hungrily for what must have been ten minutes, simply enjoying the feeling of being together. Then, finally, she pulled away and looked up into his eyes, in which the yearning mirrored what she was feeling. Slowly, shyly, she played with his tie. Then, after a moment of deliberation, she slowly backed away from him, pulling him along with her by his tie. He was again surprised, but again he didn't hesitate to follow her lead. She timidly backed up, pulling her with him, until she was standing outside his bedroom door, where she stopped. He then took the initiative, leaning in to kiss her again, sighing into her mouth as he felt her tongue entwine with his own, a sensation that was becoming pleasingly familiar to him. He gently led her into his room, where they stood next to his bed, kissing heatedly. She loosened his tie and once again found herself unbuttoning his shirt, this time pushing it off his shoulders and onto the floor. She ran her hands over his shoulders and she felt his roaming over her back, eventually finding her zipper. The teeth separated as he slowly unzipped it, and before he slid the dress off, he broke the kiss and looked down at her, his face serious. She looked back up at him, worried that he was going to stop and say that it was a mistake. As he looked at her thoughtfully, she silently pleaded with her eyes for him to tell her what he was thinking. After a moment, his husky voice filled the room.
"You know I'm going to make love to you, right?" She nodded, feeling energized by the fact that he'd said it out loud. He looked at her for a moment longer before speaking again. "Tell me it's what you want, Monica. Tell me you want this." Her heart melted as she saw the pleading and concerned look in his eyes, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, drawing her body up to his.
"I want this," she whispered softly into his ear. "I want you." That was all he needed, and his mouth captured hers again as he slid her dress off her shoulders and lowered her onto the bed.
As he woke the next morning, he smiled when he realized that Monica was still asleep in his arms. He looked lovingly at the way her dark hair fanned out on the pillow behind her and the small smile that played upon her lips, and he wondered what she was dreaming about. He realized with satisfaction that he could spend hours just watching her sleep. The opportunity to do so wasn't granted, however, when she stirred and opened her eyes, blinking in the sunlight that seeped through his window. She turned to see whether or not he was still asleep, and smiled when she saw him gazing down at her. "Haven't slept this late in awhile, I bet," she mused as she saw Jackson's crib in the corner of the room. He grinned.
"You'd win that bet," he replied. "Speaking of which," he said, looking over at his bedside clock, "I have to pick him up in an hour or less." She stretched.
"You know," she said thoughtfully, "one of these days we're going to have to thank that kid."
"For what?" Chandler asked absently as he stroked her hair.
"For getting us together," she answered. He smiled.
"Yeah... I guess we will."
*LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD CONTINUE IT... I HAVE A FEW IDEAS ON HOW I COULD TAKE IT IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS... GIVE ME YOUR OPINION! THANKS!*