Joey was sitting alone that night, learning lines for his latest movie, when Chandler burst into the apartment. Joey turned and put down the script. "Whoa, what's the matter?"

"Monica's cheating on me."

"What?!" Joey jumped up in shock. He sat Chandler down with him and asked if he was sure about this. "Did she actually admit that when you asked her?"

"I didn't have to ask her!" Chandler explained about catching them together and the shouting match afterward.

Joey could hardly believe it. "Man, I knew you guys were having problems, but I never thought she'd cheat. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault. I was so stupid! I thought she was just avoiding me by working all the time. No wonder she kept smelling like cheese!"

"Come on, you couldn't expect something like this! I mean, trying for a baby, it should be a happy time for you guys."

"It should be, but it just seems like we keep having more fights than ever, and nothing makes her happy! Like when I tell her the doctor wants her to she gain some weight to help her fertility, but she thinks I'm trying to make her fat and insecure again!"

After ranting about their fights for a while, Chandler broke down miserably and asked if he had somehow driven Monica into this, like he had with Kathy years ago.

"Hey, no, it's not your fault! You're a great husband. You don't deserve this."

"Then what? What is it? Why is she sleeping with another guy? Am I not good enough for her? Am I so ugly compared to perfect hunks like Richard and Don?"

"No, no! She's lucky to have you, Chandler. You're the best." Joey hugged him and rubbed his back comfortingly.

Chandler shook his head. "I should've known we couldn't last! I mean, me with somebody like her? Who was I kidding?"

"Hey, hey!" Joey protested. "Stop that! There's nothing wrong with you."

"Then why is she cheating on me? How could she do this?"

"I don't know!" Joey still found the betrayal shocking. "Maybe Monica's gone crazy or something. I don't know how this happened, but I do know there's gonna be hell to pay. You want me to go kick that guy's ass?"

Chandler was too heartbroken to think about revenge. "I thought she loved me," he cried.

"I thought so too," Joey whispered, holding him closer and hating to see him so hurt.

All the insecurities of Chandler's younger years were returning to him in full force. "First I thought Janice was my soul mate, then Mon, but now--" he choked up, "now I'm gonna die alone!"

"No way! Don't talk like that."

"How should I talk, huh? This was my last chance for love!"

"Stop it!" Joey shook him forcibly and met his eyes. "Come on, you're always too hard on yourself, Chandler. You think everything's doomed because of your parents' divorce, and with every girlfriend before Monica, you'd find stupid reasons to break up. I mean, you could've kept any one of them if you'd really wanted to, just like me."

"Yeah, right! You said I repel women."

"I was only joking!" Joey regretted going along with the gang's running joke that Chandler was a loser. "You know what I really think? I think you're funny and smart, and anybody would be lucky to have you. Ross is the dude who can't flirt, not you. I mean, you stole Kathy right from me, remember? And, and that Dutch girl picked you, and Janice kept coming back to you over and over."

"And Monica only slept with me because you weren't there in London!"

Joey had no answer for that.

Chandler sobbed wretchedly, and Joey held him tight again. He caressed his hair and kept murmuring all the reassurances that Monica wasn't there to give him anymore. But, while touching Chandler and gazing into his eyes, Joey somehow forgot himself. His comforting suddenly turned into a kiss, and so much more.