Between Us~Chapter 8~A New World of Deceit

Hey people. I don't have anything stupid to say for once. I've had a hard week. Damn history paper's been driving me crazy. I've definitely been lacking in inspiration lately. Not just for this fic, but for everything I have to write. Like, I have a play for my creative writing class and so far, including stage directions, I have one page of my three-scene play! I don't know if it's been stress or what, but my head's feeling extra empty. I just want to warn u guys, 'cause I think this chapter probably reflects how I've been feeling lately. I'm determined to finish this though. I don't want yet another unfinished fic under my name. If I end up not finishing this, then I'd probably remove it from the site, cause unfinished stories drive me bananas (had to sneak in a monkey related word somewheres). But I think I'll finish it. This one's been my most popular one so far. Plus, I like it. :) Also, determination usually makes up for my lack of inspiration. Just if this story turns so bad that I get like one review for a chapter (like the ones that I didn't finish), then I'm digging it its grave. I mean I have other ideas for fics. Just can't work on more than "one" at one time cause of school. Ok, so I did ramble after all…lol, what'dya know? Anyways, please leave me reviews cause I really need something right now, (sorry if it sounds like I'm trying to guilt u's, cause I'm not. I'm just telling the truth) Thanks!

Disclaimer: I own Jill *looks away*…but the other characters…nopers (sorry for stealing "ur word", lyss). Oh and I have a monkey sex slave. He's all mine, although I lend him to Yen once in a while to…ya know…scratch that monkey-lovin' itch of hers. ;)

Chandler waited in Rachel's living room for a few minutes. He wasn't sure exactly what he was going to say to her. How can you tell one friend to be more understanding of another without showing favoritism? He didn't want to have to play peacekeeper, but Rachel's words were hurting Monica, and neither would apologize to the other.  And he sure didn't want Monica to go through anything else. When Monica was crying in his arms, he knew right then and there that he had to do anything he could to help her. Well, this is the first step to helping, I guess. Rachel entered the room and smiled at Chandler.

"So, what's up?"

"Rach…I…hmmm…ok…there's no easy way to say this."

"What? Is everything okay? Is someone hurt? Did Joey fall down the steps chasing the ice cream truck again?"

"No, no, nothing like that," Chandler paused and twisted his hands awkwardly, "I don't want to sound like I'm putting all of this on you…'cause I'm not."

"Putting all of what on me?"

"Well, it's just…the stuff with Monica."

Rachel threw her head back, frustrated. "Oh."

"She's gone through a lot and…"

"Yeah, well I've gone through a lot, too! Do you know what it feels like to lose your best friend?"

Chandler sighed. He sure knew what it felt like. Monica was more than just his best friend. Still, he couldn't tell Rachel that. She wouldn't understand. "Then why lose her now?"

"I—"

"She's really conflicted right now."

"She is?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why?"

"No," Chandler lied, "But I know that when she says she doesn't want to talk about something, she has good reason not to."

"I guess you're right."

"I am right. You should just be there for her, unconditionally. Then, when she's ready, she'll tell you what's been going on."

"Yeah, you're right. I'll go apologize to her."

Chandler smiled. "Good."

"You're a great friend. I'm sure Monica'll be so touched that you came here for her."

Chandler smiled and hugged Rachel thankfully. He knew that things could work out for she and Monica. They just needed someone to help them along a bit.

*~*~*~*

          "You told her?!" Monica screamed after Chandler had told her what he had done that afternoon.

"What? No…I just told her that you had a lot going on."

"You don't have to fight my battles for me, Chandler. I'm not completely useless!"

"But—"

"I don't need your pity help!"

"Monica…"

She was pacing around the room angrily, head darting from side to side in rage. She hated the fact that Chandler was doing all of this out of pity for her. She knew that she shouldn't have told him her story. Chandler grabbed Monica by the shoulders to get her to stop pacing. He looked down at her and sighed.

"I wasn't doing this out of pity. I was doing it because I care about you."

"Yeah, sure…"

Monica tried to squirm out of his grasp, but stopped when she realized he wasn't going to let go of her.

"Please understand that I just did it because I wanted to help you. When I see you miserable…well…it kills me inside."

"Really?"

He looked straight into her eyes and informed her, "Yes. I mean if I could, I would hold you in my arms forever and never let anything bad ever happen to you ever again."

Monica's voice softened dramatically. "Really?"

"Really."

Chandler then leaned in to plant a friendly kiss softly on her lips, just to assure her that he meant his words. However, what he didn't think of was the effect it would have on them. Once their lips brushed, passion overtook them once more. The same feelings that they had locked up inside for the past few weeks, which was allowing them live together in a semi normal fashion, were all released in one single moment. Then, next thing they knew, their clothes were sprawled out all over the living room and Monica was on top of Chandler on the barcalounger.

"We shouldn't be doing this," Chandler panted.

"I know," Monica replied distractingly.

"I want you."

"I know."

"Keep this between us?"

"Of course."

After that agreement, they stopped talking and completely concentrated on each other and the short time they had to be together.

*~*~*~*

          Monica lay on top of Chandler as they attempted to catch their breath. He held her close to him, relishing in the feel of her soft skin against his own. He kissed her neck gently, wanting to remember this moment forever.

"Chandler?" she mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"I—I can't do this."

"Do what?"

"A relationship."

"I know."

"So then we shouldn't do," she gestured to their naked bodies, "This."

"Yeah, I know."

"But I want to so much."

"Me too."

"Every time I see you, it takes all my willpower not to jump you."

"Same for me."

Monica sat up with sudden inspiration. Chandler looked at her expectantly, hoping she had found the strength to attempt at a relationship.

"What if we…" she trailed off, ashamed at her request.

"What if we…what?"

"What if we did that, ya know, friends with privileges thing?"

"Monica, I dunno…those don't always work out so well."

"It's either that, or we'll have to live with each other and never be able to do this again."

"I…"

"Just until I get some things sorted out."

"I have a girlfriend."

Monica looked away. "I know."

"I'll break up with her."

"Don't."

"But—"

"And try to work on things with her. And if they turn out to become better, then we'll stop the privileges thing."

"It's so dishonest."

Monica looked down at their entwined hands. She couldn't look Chandler in the eyes, while telling him to, ultimately, cheat on his girlfriend. "I know. But she doesn't give you the attention that she should. She needs to learn a lesson."

"I guess you're right."

Monica kissed his lips softly and began to trace patterns over his torso. She needed to convince him that it was okay just as much as she needed to convince herself. "Just take some time to think about it," She kissed him again, "Remember, it'll just be between us."

Chandler rested his head on the back of the chair and closed his eyes. How could he turn down Monica? She had the power to make him grovel at her feet. He was pretty sure that Monica knew that, too. One look into those desperate, blue eyes was all it took to convince him. Even if he wasn't doing this for himself, he had to do it to help Monica. 

*~*~*~*

          A few nights later, Chandler was on a date with Jill. He was staring at the wall opposite her, deep in thought. Everything he was doing, it was so wrong. He had never done anything like that before…ever. Not that he usually had the chance to. He couldn't remember the last time he had more than one woman pinning after him. Well, pinning in some way or another.

Jill's superior-toned voice cut through his thoughts. "Chandler? What's wrong?"

"Huh?"

"You've been out of it all night."

"I'm sorry. I've just been really…tired."

Jill nodded and he looked away guiltily. She was completely oblivious to his 'secret life'. Of course, it didn't really surprise him. How often did she pay attention to what was going on with him, anyway?

"This is a great restaurant!"

"Yeah? I'm glad you like it."

In fact, it was quite the expensive restaurant. Chandler had decided to take Jill there because he thought that, if she appreciated the fancy gifts that he showered upon her, he would feel less guilty for his actions, in return. If he was keeping her happy in one respect, he concentrated less on the unfaithful side of him. To Chandler, their relationship was like a scale. The heavier side of the scale was the disloyal side. The other, lighter side, was the side of her happiness. If he added more to the lighter side, eventually it would outweigh the other one.

"This place is so expensive," she smiled, "I love it!"

Chandler couldn't help but reciprocate her smile. Her enthusiasm was contagious. "I'm glad you like it."

She leaned over and kissed him on the lips. It was just a short, peck on the lips, but it was enough to shock Chandler. After he got over the initial surprise, grinned at her. She rarely ever showered affection upon him, especially not in public. For a moment, he forgot about Monica, and felt happy about the personal battle that he had conquered. After over a year of dating, he had finally made Jill happy. Maybe there's some kind of reward for that or something.

*~*~*~*

          Chandler returned to a dark apartment that night. He blindly searched the wall, with the palm of his hand, for the light switch, and, after finding it, flipped it on.

"Monica?"

He saw Monica's bedroom door opened, but she wasn't inside. Although he didn't remember her informing him that she was going out, he decided that perhaps she was down at Central Perk or at Ross' house. He undid his tie as he walked across the living room towards his room. He opened his bedroom door and turned on the light. He jumped when he saw Monica laying on his bed in a red-laced teddie.

"Monica?"

"Hi there Chandler," she greeted in a sultry tone.

"Mon," he whispered harshly, "What if I had taken Jill home with me?!"

"I—I dunno…I figured you wouldn't since you never do." She looked up at him and batted her eyelashes.

"You can't just…do things like this, okay?"

"Why not?"

"Because if we want to keep this just between us, than we have to be careful. There's always a chance that I could be taking Jill home with me…or Joey…or someone. And if they saw you, almost naked, lying on my bed, I think they would get the idea, don't you?"

"I know, you're right. I just wasn't thinking."

Chandler nodded and sat down on his bed. He turned to her and moved in to kiss her. She pulled away and smiled teasingly.

"So, how was the date?"

"Can we not…umm…discuss my date? It makes me feel really sleazy."

"Oh ok…sorry."

"It's all right."

There was an awkward pause for a few moments.

"Did I get you out of the mood?"

He smiled. "I could never get out of the mood."

"Good."

He pushed her down lightly on the bed and then climbed on top of her. He began kissing her with Monica responded hungrily.

"Condom?" she questioned.

"Night table."

Monica reached for the nightstand and searched around for a few moments. She stopped when her hand brushed a soft velvet box. She learned forward and turned on the light on the nightstand, instead.

"What are you doing?"

"What's in the box?"

"Oh," Chandler brushed it off, "It's nothing."

"Nothing? It sure…looks like something," Monica opened the rectangular box and stared at it for a moment, "It's a bracelet."

"Yeah."

"For Jill?"

"Yeah. Something wrong?"

Monica chuckled uncomfortably. "Of course not."

"Okay then."

Chandler moved in to kiss her again, but Monica meandered from his reach.

"Wha—what was that for?"

"Nothing. I'm just not in the mood anymore, that's all."

"What? Not in the mood?!"

"Yeah, not in the mood." Monica gave him a look that warned him not to go any further. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"No, I mean if you're not in the mood…"

"That's right."

Monica got out of his bed and exited the room quickly, attempting to avoid any further questioning. Still, she didn't leave fast enough. Chandler got up right after her and grabbed her gently by the wrist.

"Mon, are you sure everything's okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to…wash my hair."

"Wash your hair?" he chuckled uneasily, "Ya know I've heard that one before."

"Yeah I know. From the woman who you're buying a bracelet for," Monica recalled bitterly.

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

"Are you…jealous?"

"No," off Chandler's incredulous look, Monica relented, "Yeah, a little."

Chandler smiled slightly and caressed her cheek softly. "You have no reason to be jealous. You've got my heart."

"Really…I…" Monica was stunned, "I do?"

"Yeah."

"Oh." Monica looked away harshly.

"What? Isn't that what you wanted to hear?"

"Yeah, I guess. It's just…I can't say it back…not yet…not now…but I will…one day, I swear it's just…"

Chandler leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. "Don't worry about it. I know."

Monica sniffed, at the verge of tears. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously."

After he said that, tears began to stream down Monica's cheeks. Chandler moved in and hugged her tightly. No one had been as understanding of her as Chandler was being. His behavior touched her more than he could ever know. Chandler, aware of exactly what she needed, held Monica in his arms for the entire night. And, for once, Monica felt safe from the world that had been so cruel.

*coughs* What in the world is that smell?! OMG it's horrid, it's *coughs* it's Monica's smelly feet! *giggles* j/k…for now…anyways. Oh before I forget, who saw The West Wing with Matty? Mmmm…he looked so good. *giggles* Ok, time to work on my history paper some more *cries*. Please leave me a review, thanks!