Authors Note: I am so sorry that I have not updated for a while, but unfortunately, I was very sick.  When I thought that I was getting better, the illness that I had took the best of me.  Thankfully, I am slowly getting better.  Hopefully, I will be able to supply you with regular updates.  Thank you for being so patient.  I hope that you enjoy the rest of the story.  Please read and review!

Chapter 3

The sun warmly beamed in on Chandler's face as he slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to his new surroundings.  He looked down at Sadie, who was sleeping peacefully, sprawled across his chest.  A smile spread across face whenever he saw her.  Carefully Chandler lifted her tiny body off of his, and laid her down softly next to him.  Yawning, Chandler let his feet touch the cool wood.  He pulled the bunched up covers at the bottom of the bed over his daughter's body.  Then, he put on a pair of blue jeans and pulled a dark blue t-shirt over his head.  He rummaged through the suitcase and retrieved a pair of Sadie's denim overalls and a pink shirt, placing them over the chair for when she woke up.  He took one last look at her, making sure that she was soundly asleep, before leaving the room, carefully closing the door behind him.

When Chandler entered the hallway, he couldn't help but overhear the not so hushed conversation that Ross and Rachel were having in the kitchen.

"Did Monica tell you what happened between her and Chandler?" Ross inquired.

"No, I could get nothing out of her.  I still wonder what happened, it must have been pretty horrible for Chandler to leave like that.  He told me that day that he was going to propose!  Monica even has the ring!" Rachel replied.  Even with the sensitive topic of the conversation, Chandler could not help but slightly chuckle at the fact that Rachel was still a gossip.  He knew that she would never be able to keep that New Years resolution that she made at the brink of the millennium.

"Rach, do you think that Monica cheated--" with hearing Ross say that, Chandler entered the kitchen.  Ross and Rachel's conversation quickly took on a new topic, "You'll have the pancakes?" Ross quickly questioned Rachel.

Rachel gave him a perplexed glance, "Yea, thanks," She replied, "Chandler, do you like pancakes?" Rachel looked over at Chandler who sat down in the chair across from her. 

"Of course." Chandler replied, grabbing the daily newspaper that was sitting on the table.  He thumbed through the paper, acting as if he did not hear a word that they said before his entry.

A comfortable silence fell upon the three friends.  Even though Chandler left New York, he still kept in contact with Ross and Rachel, and considered them his friends.  If anything, the trip back to New York was for them.  They needed answers, and when the time was right, Chandler was going to tell them.  "Is Sadie still sleeping?" Rachel inquired looking around the kitchen for the energetic toddler.

Chandler gazed up from the paper and at Rachel, "Yea, she's still on California time, and was wiped out from the trip."  Chandler sighed putting the paper down and glancing at the clock.  9:54.  It had been over three years since he had actually slept past 7.  He actually didn't mind waking up early, but was glad that he was able to sleep late today.  Ross took Chandler out his reminiscent thoughts when he put a plate filled with the warm buttermilk pancakes in the middle of the table.  Chandler glanced at the clock before he even touched his plate.  He knew that Sadie would either be up already or waking up shortly, so he excused himself to check up on her. 

"Daddy!" Sadie gleefully shouted her arms stretched out towards him.  Chandler smiled at her, and gently picked her up, embracing her in his arms.  The smell of sleep was still on her, so he knew that she had just woken up.

"Good morning, sweetie." Chandler lovingly said giving her a kiss.  As Chandler changed Sadie into the outfit that he had set out, he could hear a persistent loud knocking on the door.   He could hear either Rachel or Ross get the door and then angry hushed voices, telling the apparently unwelcome visitor to leave now.

Sadie looked up at Chandler confused, "What's dat daddy?" She asked.

"I don't know baby, let's go check it out." Chandler replied as he hooked Sadie's overalls.  He took her in her arms, as he went to check out what all of the commotion was.

~*~*~*~

Monica woke up, just like she did every morning, alone.  When she got out of bed, she instinctively looked at herself in the mirror.  She looked horrible.  Last night was one of the worst nights that she had had in a long time.  The thoughts and feelings that she had for Chandler were in her head and unlike most nights, they never left. 

"You are going to right the mistake that I made five years ago, today." Monica forcefully told herself, trying to muster up some courage.  She looked over at her nightstand.  The blank velvet box stared at her.  It was an eerie reminder of what she had lost.  Five years of her life had been wasted, and she didn't intend on wasting five more.  Monica didn't care what Rachel had said to her.  She was going to go over to her apartment, no matter what.  Nothing could keep her from going over there, from seeing Chandler.  She needed to talk to him.  She needed to explain everything to him.  He had a right to know what happened that night, and no matter how much Rachel and Ross told her that Chandler did not care, Monica knew that he did.  He did care.  And she knew that Chandler still loved her.  If he did not care about her, then he would have moved on.  He would have found a new woman, he would have gotten marred, and he would have had children.  From the letters that Rachel had secretly shown her, none of that had happened.  Monica did wonder whom that little girl that she saw there last night was, though.  She didn't see her there this morning, so it was probably just only one of the neighbor's children that Rachel sometime watches.

Monica sighed to herself.  She put on a kaki floor length skirt and a peasant top.  Her make-up and hair looked exquisite, she was determined to look amazing for Chandler.  She wanted him to see the love in her eyes, and know that she was truly sorry for hurting him.  She wanted to make love to him again, all night long, like they used to do. 

Grabbing the velvet box from her nightstand, Monica exited the apartment.   She practically ran out of her building and into the building across the street.  She could not get to that apartment fast enough.  Running up the flights of stairs, Monica was breathless when she came to Ross and Rachel's apartment.  She began banging furiously on the door.  "Come on answer!" Monica's small voice shouted out.

A rush of warm air flew over Monica, when Rachel opened the door.  Ross was behind her with a not to pleased expression on his face.

"Monica you have to leave!" Rachel angrily whispered through clenched teeth.  She did not want Chandler to hear this.  It would infuriate him if he saw Monica.

Monica pushed past Rachel and firmly stated, "No I am not leaving!  I need to tell Chandler something!   I have to tell him."

Ross shook his head, "Things have changed, Monica.  Please, do what's best and leave.  Leave now!" Ross angrily declared trying to push his sister out of his apartment.  He couldn't imagine what Chandler would do if he saw Monica standing in the living room.

"The only thing that has changed is that Chandler is here in New York, and I can finally talk to him.  You two can't hide how I can contact him anymore!" Monica shouted, her voice rose with every word that came out of her mouth.

"Monica…" Ross started but stopped when Chandler appeared carrying Sadie in his arms. 

Monica froze, her heart fluttered at the sight of Chandler, but then sunk when she saw the little girl in his arms.  It couldn't be!  But Monica's worst fears were confirmed with what was spoken next, "Daddy, what's wrong?"

No one spoke, the room was silent.