The One With The Door To The Past

Continued from: 'TOW We Got Soaking Wet'

By: Jana~

*****~*****

"And now you're here, saying these words," she muttered almost sadly, "And, well, I just have one thing to say."

She looked at me, and I felt myself hold my breath as I waited for her to finish. I don't know exactly what happened, but without warning, she burst into tears.

God, I hate seeing her cry. And she was whimpering as she sobbed. I couldn't stop myself. I had to at least offer, so I held my arms out to her, offering her comfort.

She took it, and I was glad she did, falling into my arms and burying her face in my chest. It felt so natural, to have her in my arms, and I stroked her hair as I rocked with her, offering her comfort the only way I knew how at that moment.

I was so caught up in the feel of her in my arms again, I didn't realize I was losing my balance. By the time I did realize it, struggling to regain it was futile. I tried to break away from Monica, so that she didn't fall with me, but I didn't release her fast enough, and we both hit the water with a splash.

She kinda squealed, surprised, and I couldn't help but chuckle. I got to my feet as fast as I could, then helped her to her feet. I saw a tiny smile cross her face as we hopped out, and I knew she was none the worse for wear.

"Sorry," I apologized, certain she wasn't thrilled by getting dumped into the fountain, "Are you ok?"

She flipped her wet hair out of her face and nodded. "We need to get out of these wet clothes," she added, looking down at her wet self before swiping at my clothes.

She's such a neat freak, I reminded myself with a smile, then stopped her hand with mine. "I'm an hour away by train," I reminded her, hoping she would invite me back to her place.

"Come to my place, then," she offered, and I inwardly grinned at my tiny victory. "I'm sure Joey will let you borrow some sweats or something."

"Are you sure?" I asked, hoping she realized I wasn't asking in reference to Joey and his clothes. I gave her hand a small squeeze, hoping she understood the context of the question.

She just nodded, so I nodded in response.

Our hands were still intertwined as we headed for the exit of the park, heading for Monica's apartment. When I felt her shiver, I realized she was wearing a very short sleeved shirt, and therefore must be cold. Instinctively, I offered her my suit jacket.

"My jacket is wet, but you can wear it. If you want."

I didn't even wait for her answer. I just immediately took it off and draped it over her shoulders. It reminded me of old times, when I used to do that for her on chilly nights, and she smiled so sweetly at me, it made my heart skip a beat.

--When we arrived at her apartment, Monica handed me back my wet jacket, then immediately knocked on Joey's door. I briefly wondered what he would say when he saw me standing there, but the situation never presented itself. He wasn't home.

"So much for that," I chuckled as I tried to hide my frustration, gesturing to my wet clothes. I did NOT want to go home to change. I wanted to stay with Monica.

"How quickly we forget," she said with a smile, then walked into her unlocked apartment.

She really needs to lock her apartment. She returned a second later with a key, holding it up for me to see before keying in to Joey's apartment.

I followed her in, watching as she at first knocked, then let herself into Joey's bedroom. I looked around my old apartment, noticing that even though Rachel lived there, not much had changed.

"It sure hasn't changed much," I called out to her, stating it more for my own benefit than hers.

"Yeah," I heard her agree from the other room, appearing a few moments later with some of Joey's clothes.

--"I'm just gonna, go change," she said, pointing at her bedroom door, and I gestured for her to go ahead, watching as she disappeared into the room we once shared as a couple.

When she shut the door, I took a moment to look around the apartment. Everything was pretty much as I remembered it, with just a few differences that caught my eye right away. The drapes in the bay window had been changed, and the kitchen shelves were organized differently.

I shivered, the goosebumps reminding me that I was still in wet clothes, so I snapped out of my daze and headed for the bathroom. I wasn't in there very long when I heard her bedroom door open.

As quick as I could, I finished stripping out of my drenched work clothes, setting then neatly on the edge of the tub, cause I knew Monica would appreciate that, then I grabbed for the sweat pants. I had just slipped one leg in when I heard Monica call my name.

"Chandler?"

Her voice sounded funny to me, and I yanked on the pants before abruptly opening the bathroom door. "Just changing," I told her, and she smiled, with a slight blush following.

It was then that I realized… I was shirtless. I thought, maybe my half-nakedness was making her uncomfortable, so I turned around and pulled on the borrowed t-shirt.

When I turned back around, she was out of my line of vision, but a second later I heard her in the kitchen. I turned the corner and watched as she set her teakettle on the stove.

"I thought, maybe some tea…" she trailed off, and I nodded.

"Sounds good."

There was an awkwardness between us, and I knew it was because she never got to finish what she wanted to say from back at the park. I wondered, should I say something? Remind her that she never finished? Or wait for her to say something?

Almost as quickly as I thought it, she spoke up.

"Before? At the park?"

I nodded.

"I was going to say, before we got wet…"

She trailed off again, and I could tell she was struggling with how to start.

"Maybe we should, sit down?" I suggested, and she nodded and gestured towards the couch.

We both sat, her first, me after, but then she inched away from me.

"I have missed you so much, Chandler," she began, and my heart soared, "But…"

But. My heart sank. There was a but. Oh, God, she's going to turn me down, isn't she?

If she does, you'll just have to fight for her.

How? How do I do that?

Prove your love. Prove your willingness to commit.

"If we get back together," she continued, "I'm gonna need you to give one hundred percent. No bailing cause you're scared," she added. "If you're scared, we work on it together."

She wasn't saying no, she was saying yes!

She's saying yes, right?

Sounds like it.

"Does… that mean…?" I asked, needing clarification.

She nodded, then smiled. "I want to try again," she whispered. "For us."

I inched closer, and this time, she inched towards me, instead of away from me. I meant to go slow, but excitement got the better of me, and before I knew what was happening, I had gathered her into my arms and was kissing her with a passion that had been bottled up for way too long.

God, how I've missed her. Her lips. Her passion. Her touch.

I felt like I was drowning, but I didn't want to be saved. I just wanted to continue to drown in her. To taste her and touch her. And make love to her.

Am I moving too fast?

She doesn't seem to mind.

I don't want to blow this with her by moving too fast.

Then, slow down.

I don't know if I can.

I left her lips, nuzzling in to kiss her neck. The sounds she was making… I was on fire.

Ask her now, before this goes any further and you can't stop.

Just a few more minutes.

Who are you kidding? You're already at critical. Ask her now.

"Monica? Is this too much too fast?"

"Probably," she breathed, "But I don't care."

Blood coursed through me at an unbelievable speed, and I was grateful at that moment that Joey's sweat pants were a bit on the baggy side.

I inched my hands inside her tight fitting shirt, her body warming my cold hands, anxious about my destination, when all of the sudden…

"Oh, I'm sorry. Apparently, I've opened the door to the past!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

**Author's Note: Yes, I realize that last line was from 'TOW Monica's Thunder', but it works really well there! :-D