A/N: Here's the last chapter! It's not an epilogue, but it IS the end! And I just heard - tenth season of Friends! Yay!!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Friends or Avril Lavigne's song "Losing Grip."

CHAPTER EIGHT - Love

A month later

Monica walked home through the rain, scowling viciously. She was cold and drenched, and as far as she knew, she was going home to an empty apartment. She wished she could go home to Chandler, but as far as she knew, he was working late. Monica knew her boyfriend could make her feel warm even when it was 30 below.

Finally, she reached the relative warmth of her building's lobby. She got the mail and found only bills and junk, including one bill that proclaimed her credit card would be taken away if she did not pay the bills for the last three months.

Could this day get any better? she thought, and walked upstairs, grumbling. She opened her apartment door and found Chandler sitting at the kitchen table. Sudden warmth spread through her, and a smile lit up both of their faces.

"Hi," he said, standing up and coming over to her.

"Hi," she whispered back. She closed her eyes as Chandler put her arms around her and kissed her deeply. "Ooh," she moaned, "I'm getting you all wet."

"I don't mind," he whispered, holding her even closer. She shivered in his arms.

"Listen, I'm going to go take a shower, and then maybe..." she raised her eyebrows seductively and let the rest of the statement trail off. Chandler smiled demurely and let her go. Shivering from cold and nervousness now, Monica slipped away into the bathroom. She turned the water on to the hottest it could go.

Did I just suggest sex? she asked herself. She took her wet clothes off and stepped into the boiling shower. As the spray warmed her all over, creating little goose bumps of pleasure on her arms and legs, she smiled. Maybe that's not such a bad idea.

Her eyes were closed and she was bathing in the warmth of the shower when the door clicked open. She opened her eyes, startled, and, through the transparent shower curtain, saw Chandler standing there. Her first instinct was the cover herself - he'd never seen her naked. But she just grinned at him and beckoned him forward. It was now or never.

She watched as his eyes took in her whole body, her luscious curves. Finally, their eyes met, and he began to undress slowly. Monica found herself nervous again. She'd never seen him naked; they'd never had sex - what if it wasn't good?

Then Chandler was stepping into the shower with her, and both of their bodies were enveloped and comforted by the warm mist. Their lips met, and they kissed, hard and passionately. Then Chandler trailed his lips down her neck, down her body - he kissed her all over until she shivered with pleasure.

They made love in the shower, and then he lifted her up and, as she kissed him, carried her into the bedroom, where they made love again.

A while later, as they lay together in the bed, silent and just happy to be together, Monica whispered, "I love you."

He turned to her, and smiled, his eyes half shut. He had said those three words to her before, on the day they decided to go out, but he had never uttered them.

"I love you too."

As they kissed again, Monica thought back through the past months. They had been the most confusing of her life, and she hoped she would never experience any like that again. She had discovered her husband cheating on her with her best friend. She had run away and been lonely for weeks, taking comfort only in Chandler. And she had heard the most horrifying news - that he friend had attempted suicide.

But Monica had made it through it all. She had Phoebe back; she had all her friends back. And she had Chandler, in a way she never thought she would. She was in love, truly, earnestly, madly in love with a man she knew would never hurt her like Richard had. Because he was Chandler. Her best friend in the entire world, who she trusted more than anything, who she new would love her until the end of time.

A sudden knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Exchanging a glance with Chandler, she got out of bed, pulled on a robe, and went to the front door, Chandler trailing behind her. She opened the door and gasped.

Richard was standing here.

"Richard?" Monica cried.

"Hi, Monica," he said. He looked behind her and saw Chandler, his mouth wide open. "Chandler." Chandler made a strange noise in response.

"What do you want, Richard?" Monica asked sharply, staring up into the face of the man she thought she once loved.

"I want - can I come in?" Richard asked, eyeing Chandler.

"No," Monica and Chandler said together. Chandler took another step towards the doorway, and Monica suppressed a smile at the semi-menacing look on his face. Threatening just doesn't work on you, baby.

"Okay. Monica, I - I just wanted to say I'm sorry," Richard said.

"Oh, really?" Monica asked casually. "What about?" Richard furrowed his brow. Yeah, I'm not letting you off easy, she thought.

"For... umm..."

"For cheating on me with my best friend? Or for running away like a wuss and not even caring about me? Or for not coming back until months later? Which one are you sorry for, Richard, huh?" Monica spat.

"All of them!" Richard cried. "Monica, listen, I know that you probably hate me, but I still love you. I want you back."

Monica's stomach flopped and for a second she was afraid she might pass out. Was he serious? She felt Chandler's hand on her shoulder and opened her eyes.

"Okay..." Monica said. "I can't... I have nothing to say to that."

"Just think about it. Think about us," Richard said.

"No!" Monica cried. "I'm - no. Richard, I'm with Chandler now." She put her arms around him, and he held her protectively. Monica watched as Richard's face turned a pale, sallow color. He swallowed hard.

"I see," he said, nodding ever so slightly. "I see."

"You left me, Richard. I can't ever forgive you for what you did," Monica said quietly.

He nodded again. "Okay. Well, I - I hope you two are happy." He forced a smile, then turned and left. Once he was out of sight, Monica relaxed into Chandler's arms, trying not to cry.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into his shirt. "I'm not crying over him, I swear to God - "

"It's okay, baby," Chandler soothed her. "I know." Monica pulled away, her eyes still shining with tears, and smiled at Chandler. This was the man she loved. This was the man she deserved.

"I love you so much," she murmured again.

"I love you too."

She had almost lost everything that was important to her, almost lost grip on her entire life. But now, she thought as she lay in Chandler's arms, now she was right back where she belonged.

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! I hope you liked the last chapter. And thank you to Jenni (not me, lol) for helping me out with this chapter! Everybody give her some credit! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Thanks again -

Jen