The One With The Transporter
Chapter ten
By: Jana~
***
--She laid her head against his chest, the taxi lulling her to sleep as the day's events caught up with her.
Ross was against Monica taking a cab with Chandler, going to his apartment instead of to her own, but Monica insisted.
*~*
--"You barely know him, Mon! You're not thinking! If you go over there tonight… no good will come of it! I thought you were saving yourself until marriage!"
"Just because I go over there, doesn't mean we're going to sleep together, Ross!" she countered with a huff. "He happens to be a perfect gentleman, I'll have you know!"
He shook his head, "You don't know men like I do, ok?! You'll be on 'his turf'! He'll be all smooth and convince you, and you'll regret it in the morning, but by then it'll be too late!"
"You're such a drama queen," she snipped back, causing him to scowl in response. "I don't expect you to understand this, Ross, but I need to be with Chandler tonight. I need to know where we stand."
"Where you stand?! You've only known him 2 days!"
"Two days, two weeks, who decides the length of time before you can start falling?"
"Monica," Ross sighed, "I don't think this is a good idea. You're vulnerable. You've just been through this horrific experience--"
"And because of that I don't have enough common sense to say 'no'? Believe me, Ross, if I don't want to have sex, I can still say 'no'. Being kidnapped hasn't changed my ability to speak my mind."
"If?" he asked, focusing solely on that one word.
"Yeah," she confirmed, staring back pointedly. "If. If I don't want to have sex, I'll say 'no', but if I do--"
"Monica," he interrupted, "You've waited too long to give your flower to a man you barely know."
"How old am I Ross?" It was a rhetorical question, and she continued without waiting for his response. "Old enough to make my own decisions at least, right?"
"I suppose, but--"
"No 'buts', Ross. I'm going over to Chandler's tonight, and you'll just have to learn to accept that."
*~*
--She didn't expect her brother to understand, but Chandler had been her sole source of comfort for the better part of the past 2 days, and she felt the inexplicable need to be with him.
Besides, she wasn't up to answering Ross or Rachel's inevitable questions right away. She just wanted to curl up in Chandler's arms and sleep for a century.
--"Monica," Chandler whispered, kissing the top of her head. "We're here."
She sat up and blinked rapidly a few times to clear her vision and foggy mind. "K," she answered, sliding over and pushing out the door while Chandler paid the cabby.
Putting his arm around her he pulled her close as he led her into his apartment building, apologizing for the amount of stairs they needed to climb in order to get to his floor.
His apartment was decorated in typical bachelor fashion. The livingroom furniture simply consisting of a well-worn sofa and recliner, an end table with a lamp atop it, an entertainment center with a TV and stereo, and a few barstools at the counter that faced the kitchen.
"You have a nice apartment," she complemented cordially, hugging herself as she looked around. "You live alone?"
"Depends on whether or not Joey needs a place to crash," he chuckled. "I pay the rent alone, so, technically, yeah." He paused a moment before offering, "Would you like the not-so-grand tour?"
She smiled, "Sure."
The apartment was small, and since the bathroom was most likely less than spectacular, and probably not on the tour, that left his bedroom. The significance of that wasn't lost on her.
His smile was so sweet, it set her heart instantly aflutter. He was thinking the same thing, she was sure of it.
"There's the kitchen, the livingroom, the bathroom…" He gestured to each room as he announced them. "And this…" he crossed the room, "Is my bedroom."
She followed him to the door, peeking in as he opened it. "It's, nice," she said softly, unsure if she should walk in, or wait for an invitation to do so.
"You can, go in…" he suggested hesitantly. "If you want to."
She took one timid step inside, followed closely by Chandler, who placed his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to reassure her that all was fine.
He sat on the bed, then patted the mattress, asking her to join him. He could tell by her slow hesitant movements that she was reluctant to be there.
"It's been a long, crazy few days, huh?"
She nodded, "Yeah it has."
"Want to, talk about it?"
She shrugged.
"Can I ask, why did you want to come with me, to my apartment?"
Her brow furrowed. "Do you not want me here?"
He smirked, "You know I do. Why did you want to come?"
"I wanted to be with you tonight."
"Just tonight?"
"No," she returned, "Not just tonight."
"I know you've been through hell, and even though I've been through shit too, what you've been through is worse. I don't want you to rush into anything you're, uncomfortable with."
"I'm not uncomfortable being with you," she told him. "I just-- I don't know exactly where we go from here. I mean, there was a definite connection between us, but, was that just cause of the situation?"
"What do you mean?"
"I was the damsel in distress, you were the knight in shining armor… is what we feel for each other based on that, or something more?"
"Well," he offered, "I guess the only way to answer that is to spend time with each other now that the chaos is over, and see what happens."
"Which is why I wanted to be here with you tonight. One of the reasons," she added.
"One of them," he repeated. "What were some of the other reasons?"
She didn't answer in words. Instead, she placed her hand on his thigh, timidly, then leaned in, her lips touching his softly. He raked his fingers through her hair, the kiss intensifying… until she pulled away.
"We can't have sex," she informed him abruptly, avoiding his eyes, a spot on the floor her focal point.
"Ever?"
She found his little quips helped put her at ease, and she replied with a hint of a smile, "No. I just meant for right now. I just-- I just think--" She sighed as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say, the words refusing to form easily.
"We don't really know each other all that well," she said finally. "And I think we should before we take that step. Don't you?"
"Yeah."
Smiling, she placed her hand on his face, sensing his disappointment. "I like you, Chandler, and not just because you were my knight in shining armor, but because I see in you a man I would like to get to know better."
He nodded. "I want to get to know you, too."
"So," she suggested, "Maybe I should go."
"You don't have to," he told her. "I think I've proven, I can be a perfect gentleman."
She laughed. "Emphasis on can, huh?"
He laughed in return. "Yeah, well, I'll admit, if you hadn't just put the brakes on, I'd probably be moving towards somewhat ungentlemanly behavior right now."
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head, taking her hand in his. "No need to apologize. None at all."
An uncomfortable silence fell between them for several moments before he spoke up again, asking, "How do you want to work this? I have a semi-comfortable couch…"
"Actually," she interrupted, "I was hoping we could, share, your bed." Her slight stammer caused him to smile.
"We can absolutely do that," he replied, standing. "Would you like some sweats or something to change in to?"
"Sure," she nodded, joining him.
He rummaged through his closet until he found her something she could wear. "I think these will fit you ok," he said as he offered them to her. "Probably a little big, but comfy for sleeping in I'd bet."
"These will be fine, thanks."
He held up a pair of his own. "I usually sleep in the nude, but I won't… this time," he added with a smirk. He pointed at the bedroom door, adding, "I'll just change out in the livingroom."
She watched him leave, waiting for the sound of the door clicking closed before starting to undress.
*~*
--"Are you decent?" he asked through the door several minutes later, wanting to be sure before entering.
"Yeah," she called back, the door opening with a creak as he peeked in.
He entered the room with a smile, gesturing between the two of them. "We match," he said, referring to their sweats.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed, but jumped up when he approached.
"Just pulling the blanket and sheet down," he explained, pointing at the bed before grabbing the edge of the comforter. "You seem a little nervous," he noticed, "Is something wrong? Have you changed your mind about this?" he asked as he jabbed the mattress with his finger.
"No," she said softly in reply, "Just thinking about something my brother said."
"Yeah?" he asked as encouragement for her to continue. He climbed into bed, waiting for her to do the same as she silently stood bedside. He rubbed the striped pattern on the sheet invitingly, and after a moment's pause, she joined him, pulling the blankets up to her neck protectively.
"What did Ross say?" he asked again, more directly, turning on his side to face her.
"He thinks it's a bad idea that I'm here with you tonight," she informed him. "He thinks men just want one thing, and because I'm here, we'll end up sleeping together."
"Well, aren't we?" he asked, and her eyes grew wide as saucers. "No," he chuckled at her expression, "Put your eyes back in your head. I just meant," he went on to explain, "We are going to be sleeping together, but that's all. If you don't want to have sex, then, we won't have sex. I'm not gonna force myself on you!" He partially sat up, his expression turning serious, "Is that what he thinks?!"
"No!" she exclaimed. "Maybe," she added. "I'm not sure what he thinks. He's just over-protective," she explained her brother's actions. "I'm his little sister, and I had this plan that I was going to save myself for marriage--"
"Wait," he interrupted. "What? What are--? What?" he asked, flustered. "Are you saying… that you're, a…"
"Virgin?" she completed his choppy, incomplete question. "Yes. That's what I'm saying."
"Whoa." That was all he could think of to say.
"Is that a problem?" she asked, a bit worried by his reaction.
"No!" he assured her, "I just-- I had no idea."
"Well," she said with sarcasm, "It's not like we wear a sign or something."
He laughed, "No, that's true. I guess I'm just, surprised. I mean, have you seen you?"
Her smile grew wider, taking his statement as a complement. "I don't know," she explained, "I guess I just had this whole romantic thought of how it would all go, ya'know? I would meet a guy, fall in love, get married. Then, on our wedding night, it would be, just, fantastic, and romantic, because I saved myself for my husband."
"That's a very romantic vision," he said with a smile. "Very sweet."
"So," she broached cautiously, "You would be willing to date a girl you may never get to sleep with?"
"Do you want my 'sensitive guy' answer? Or my honest answer?"
Her heart sunk. "Honest," she whispered.
He sighed. "Honestly, that would be very hard for me. To have this incredible woman I couldn't touch, and caress, and make love to. I wouldn't force myself on her. I would never force myself on anyone. But, I think-- I would probably ask a lot. And whine a lot," he added with a grin.
"But you wouldn't dump her?"
"No," he answered confidently, "I wouldn't dump her."
It wasn't the answer she thought it would be, and a relieved smile crossed her face as she asked, "So, this doesn't change anything?"
"No, not as far as how I feel about you is concerned," he assured her.
"So, did you mean what you said, when we were at that motel?"
"What did I say?"
"That some day, you might want to do the whole, marriage and kids thing."
"Yeah," he said, his hand tentatively touching hers. "I meant what I said. Can I ask," he continued, "If you were to get engaged, would you be willing to sleep with your fiancé? Or do you have to have the ceremony first?"
"I don't honestly know," she replied. "Are you proposing?"
He smiled, "If I said yes, would you sleep with me?"
"I am sleeping with you," she quipped. "Remember?"
His elbow dug into the mattress, his head resting against his palm as he drew invisible patterns on her hand and arm. "I remember."
"Is that ok?"
He smiled, "Yeah, Monica, it's ok. I'll be a perfect gentleman, you have my word."
She paused before saying, "Well, you don't have to be a perfect gentleman."
His grin grew wider. "Just how much of a gentleman would you like me to be? You know, on a scale from one to ten."
"Ten being the most gentlemanly?" she established. "Maybe, a six or seven?"
Her sheepish smile caused him to chuckle, but his expression soon changed. Slowly, he leaned in, and when his lips touched hers, she was the one who pulled him closer to her, rubbing against him as the kiss grew hungrier.
"Just so I know," he asked, breathless, his lips brushing against her neck and ear, "Where is a seven in your book?"
Her hand eagerly traveled up under his sweatshirt, caressing his back, and he urgently reciprocated.
Both shirts were whipped off in seconds, and they stared at one another for a revered moment before she finally whispered, "We'll wing it."
*****~*****
~ONE YEAR LATER~
--"I can't believe you guys are getting married tomorrow," Phoebe exclaimed to her friends, plopping down on the chair to the right of the ratty, old orange sofa they were sitting on, at the coffeehouse that had become like a second home to them all.
"I can't believe you guys haven't… you know," Joey added, still amazed after hearing that tidbit of information.
"I knew I shouldn't have told you that," Chandler said, rolling his eyes.
Rachel shook her head, "Why did you?"
He sighed, "Too much to drink at my bachelor party, and it just sorta, came out," he explained.
"I don't think I coulda lasted a year," Joey announced.
"You couldn't have lasted a week," Chandler shot back.
"I think it's romantic," Phoebe said with a smile.
"I do too," Rachel backed her up.
"So do I," Chandler added, smiling at Monica as he gave her hand a squeeze.
"Eh," Joey dismissed them, "That's just cause you're girls."
Chandler cleared his throat, "Dude?" He gestured to himself, reminding his sometimes-dense friend that he wasn't female.
Joey smirked, "Then why do you cry like one?"
Chandler reciprocated with a joking glare.
"I can't believe that tomorrow I'm going to be Mrs. Monica Geller-Bing," she changed the subject.
Chandler cocked an eyebrow, "You're gonna hyphenate?"
"Yeah," she replied, "I told you that."
"You did?" he asked. "When?"
"Uh-oh," Joey interrupted, "Fighting already."
Monica dismissed the comment. "Your folks are coming tonight," she asked Chandler, "Right?"
"Yeah," Chandler answered, rolling his eyes. "Lucky us."
"The smut queen and the drag queen," Joey chuckled, "This is going to be fun!"
"Yeah, if by fun you mean unbearably embarrassing," Chandler complained.
"You know what's neat?" Phoebe changed the subject, everyone's attention turning to her. "The story you will have to tell your children, and grandchildren, about how you met."
Everyone agreed.
"Well, kids, it's like this," Ross pretended to be addressing Chandler and Monica's future children. "It all started when your daddy's best friend's uncle kidnapped your mommy…"
THE END
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