Thanks for the encouraging reviews! This is the second, and final part. Ok, I'll shut up and start writing! Please read and review, thanks.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters; you know the drill.
That morning, I awoke to find the entire gang, minus Chandler, hanging out in my apartment. Nothing was very unusual about that, except that Chandler was normally there by the time I got up. I didn't think much of it though. Actually, I was relieved that he hadn't come by yet. I wasn't sure how I would react when I was around him. I knew that, if Chandler had known it was me with him, we would have ended up feeling awkward. I never thought that I would feel awkward, even if he didn't know it was me. It felt almost like I was seeing Chandler in this whole new light. Who knew that he could be so passionate and…good! It made him a lot more appealing to me. But I made sure not to allow myself to think like that, because I knew that it would never happen between us.
Later that morning, Chandler entered the apartment, out of breath.
"Oh my God!" he said as the rest turned to face him, "I think I met the perfect woman."
"What?" everyone asked in shocked.
I was the most surprised, and a bit jealous, too. We had just slept together and there was already another woman!
"What?" Ross repeated, "Who?"
"I…don't know," Chandler looked away, ashamed.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"Well, I met her last night at the party."
Rachel asked, "And you're already in love?"
"Well, yes! It was amazing! I mean everything was amazing. But not only the sex…I mean our conversations. I've never felt so at ease with a woman before."
I gasped, realizing that he was talking about his feelings for me.
"How do you know you're in love with her?" I questioned nervously, "If you've only met her once."
"No, I know. But it just felt like I've known her forever, ya know? I think we totally clicked." He then looked down, dejected, "But she left before I could get the chance to know her real name or anything about her."
"What name did she give you?" Rachel asked, going over to Chandler.
"She told me to call her 'M'."
I racked my mind trying to remember when I told him that. Then I remembered that it was right before he fell asleep, that I told him to call me "M".
"M?" Rachel repeated, confused, "She didn't even give you a real name?"
"No! I mean…uch, I'm so stupid!" he cried.
I felt so bad that I did that to Chandler. But I just couldn't believe that he could feel that way about me, just after one night. It seemed impossible. He didn't even know who I was. I, on the other hand, had definitely begun to feel something for him after that night. But I shook it off, thinking that it was just because of what we had shared.
"I'm so sorry Chandler," I soothed, "But if she left without telling you who she was, then maybe she didn't want you to know."
"Or!" Joey added enthusiastically, "Maybe she's playing some game with you. Ya know, like if you like her enough, you'll figure out how to find her."
The rest agreed with Joey's theory. My heart began to race. He would either find out it was me, or end up with a broken heart, from not being able to find his 'mystery woman'. However, I wasn't going to back down and admit to it being me, especially now that everyone else knew, too. It would be too humiliating to me and to Chandler. He would never forgive me, and I couldn't ruin our friendship over my stupid mistake. At that moment, I wished that someone had warned me that sleeping with Chandler was a terrible idea.
During the days that followed, the gang tried their hardest to track down this 'mystery woman' of Chandler's. To ensure my safety, I volunteered to call Lauren and see who was at the party with a name beginning with an "M" since everyone assumed that she used "M" because of her first name. I realized that, too, had been a stupid thing to do. But there was no way to change the past, only to guarantee the safety of the future. I didn't really call Lauren, though; I just told Chandler I did. All the lying made me feel bad, but there was nothing else for me to do.
Once Chandler found out from me that Lauren could not figure out who this woman was, he began to become depressed. The guilt continued to rise in my heart, but I just couldn't ruin our friendship. That night, we were all gathered in Central Perk, and the discussion turned towards the 'mystery woman' again.
"I just don't understand how you couldn't see her face,' Phoebe admitted to Chandler.
"She was wearing tons of white makeup…she was dressed as a porcelain doll. Plus, she was wearing a wig."
"But then how do you know that this woman is so special?" Ross asked.
The rest of the gang, including me, couldn't figure out how Chandler could just fall in love with a woman he barely knew, after just one night.
"It's hard to explain," he told us, "But there was just something…so familiar about her."
"Perhaps you knew her in a past life," Phoebe suggested.
Chandler rolled his eyes, not believing Phoebe's proposal, "Perhaps. But it was just…the way she sounded and acted was just so familiar. Not to mention her eyes and the way she smelled…"
I was terrified from that confession. If he got close to me, he would know the woman was me! I had to stay away from him, but I couldn't just get up and leave. I had to find a reason to leave.
"So," Joey asked, "Was she good in bed?"
I perked up, interested in his answer.
"Hell yeah! The best ever!"
Inwardly, I smiled, winning a silent competition in my head. I was happy that he called me the best.
"She was just…so sexy and amazing."
I had to keep myself from smiling at his kind words. Instead, I put on an angry façade.
"Do we have to talk about this?" I asked furiously.
"Uhh…no, I guess not…" Chandler answered curiously, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" I answered harshly. Chandler looked at me, worried for a moment, but stopped trying to find out what was wrong. He still wore this depressed frown on his face, and I felt so bad that it was my fault. I decided I couldn't stay there any longer, seeing and listening to Chandler, hurt because of her.
"I…I…I gotta go!" I stuttered as I ran out of the coffee shop to my apartment.
It was just all too difficult to deal with. I didn't know what I was feeling for Chandler, but whatever it was, it was growing. But then, I also thought that whatever he felt for me wasn't real.
To my dismay, Chandler had decided to follow me upstairs. My behavior towards him made him think that I was angry with him. I wanted to tell him that I wasn't angry with him, but angry with myself. I was merely taking it out on him because he was directly connected to the situation. Not to mention, he was making me feel worse about what I did.
Chandler entered my apartment, and knocked on my bedroom door, where I had taken refuse at that time. "Are you mad at me?" he questioned.
"No, not at all," I lied through the door.
"Mon, please open the door."
I relented, knowing that he wouldn't back down until he could be sure that I was not angry with him.
"I'm not angry with you," I told him, looking him straight in the eyes to reassure him. However, all that succeeded in doing was making me feel nervous. I loved his eyes—the kindness and concern in them was so powerful, that it was able to melt my heart.
"Is something else wrong, then?"
"No, nothing's wrong."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"Okay…" he answered, unconvinced.
With that, he left, and I was feeling even more conflicted than before.
Slowly, the next week arrived. The entire time, I was acting very nervous and strange. All of my friends noticed this change, but I refused to divulge anything. It was killing me to see Chandler and not be able to kiss him and feel his arms around me. Instead, I had to distance myself from him, in fear of him recognizing my scent, or my eyes, or anything else about me that would remind him of our night. However, the pressure was getting too much for me. I had to find out if his feelings were genuine.
One night, I entered his apartment, and knocked on his bedroom door. Even though he was in his room, I knew that he was not asleep, because I could see a light from underneath the door.
"What's up?" he asked when he noticed it was me.
I examined him, and it was hard not to smile at how cute he looked in his tee shirt, boxers, and disheveled hair.
"Umm…I…" I hesitated, petrified at what I was about to say.
"Yes?" he questioned, concerned, as he touched my shoulder softly.
Just that simple touch turned me on more than I could have ever imagined. It took me every ounce of energy in my body to not jump him, right then, right there.
"I have a confession."
"What?" he asked, baffled.
"I, uh, know who you're 'mystery woman' is."
"You do?"
"Yeah. And she's really sorry that she left you like that. But she was really scared about the relationship the two of you would have."
"What? Why?"
"I dunno. I guess because she's just apprehensive about ruining things."
"Well, who is she?!"
"Wait Chandler. I promised her I wouldn't give her name. That's for her to do, when she finds the right time."
"Okay…" he agreed sadly.
"But I have a message for you."
Chandler perked up a bit when I told him that.
"Yeah? What did she say?"
"She wants to know…that you're sure you love her and it's not just a false emotion you're feeling."
"I think it's love. I can't get her out of my head, Mon! Everyday I think about this woman—who's almost a complete stranger. If that's not love, then I don't know what is."
I nodded, trying not to jump for joy at his words. I was so excited that he felt it, too. But I was also so scared. What if, when he found out it was me, he decided he hated me? I decided that I couldn't admit to it; at least not yet. I would have to think more about it.
"I'll tell her that," Monica answered softly, "And Chandler?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry about all the pain she put you through."
"It's not your fault," he assured me.
I tensed at his words. It was my fault; he just didn't know it.
"Besides," he continued, "She's worth it."
"She is?"
"Well, yeah. I love this woman. I'd do anything to find her."
"Ok, I'll tell her that, too."
"Thanks Mon."
"No problem, Chandler," I replied and then left the apartment.
Those were the words I needed to hear. He wouldn't be mad at me! He said that he'd do anything for me. Besides, I couldn't stand living like I was anymore. I had to admit to committing the deed. That next night, I dressed in my costume, and covered my face in white makeup, just as I looked the night of the party. I opened my bedroom door slightly, checking to make sure no one was around. I knew that it would be safe at Chandler's, though, because I remembered Joey mentioning that he had a date. That meant that it would only be Chandler at home. Slowly, I made my way across the hall, and knocked lightly on the door. Chandler opened it and gasped when he saw who it was.
"You came back," he stated quietly, as we stared into each other's eyes.
"Yeah," I answered, disguising my voice again.
He took a step towards me, and kissed me. It began hesitantly, but it deepened when Chandler felt more confident. I pulled away from his kiss before getting too carried away.
"Chandler," I began, "I need to reveal my identity."
"Okay," he answered nervously.
"Can I have a washcloth to wash off the makeup?"
He went to fetch the washcloth as I tried to steady my nerves. When he brought the washcloth to me, I grabbed it with a shaky hand. Then I covered my face with it, rubbing all the makeup off. I looked up at him, removed my blond wig, let my hair down, and watched his face for a reaction.
Chandler opened his eyes wide in shock, "Monica?"
I looked away, ashamed. "I'm so sorry! I know that I lied to you and everything, but when I found you, I was just looking for some meaningless sex. I was so scared when I found that there was much more to it, and then I knew that you would be mad that I lied and…"
He cut me off by kissing me on the lips passionately. I returned his kiss, hungrily. I had wanted to feel his lips on mine for over a week now. It felt like it had been forever, since I last touched him, though. He then broke the kiss and carried me into his room. He laid me down on his bed and got on top of me. He began kissing me all over, while I removed his shirt and ran my fingers all over his chest and back.
"I love you Monica," he told me, as he pulled back to look in my eyes.
When I looked into his eyes, I saw absolutely no anger. The only emotion in them was love. That put me at ease and gave me the courage to answer him.
"I love you, too, Chandler."
This memory brings back so many happy tears. Ever since that night, I've been with Chandler. Now, over three years later, we're about to get married. I am so excited for the years that Chandler and I will spend together. Everyday I wake up and thank God that I made that stupid decision. Although, it doesn't seem like that decision was so stupid after all. In fact, I think it was the smartest thing I've ever done in my life.
Ok, that's it! I know that it was only a two parter, but there isn't anything else I could really do with it. Anyway, please review and tell me what u thought of this story. Thanks for reading!