!A/n: Hopefully this chapter will pick up a bit more. I've not had much inspiration to write since the show ended last week. Anyway, please review, and as always, I do not own them. You think I'd be writing fanfiction if I did?

Chapter Two

Meanwhile, Monica wasn't even out of her bathrobe yet when Ross was poking his head in the door. She sighed as she heard the door open, and heard his exhausted, "Hi." This was the standard Ross behavior after any break-up. First with Carol, then Julie, and now, Rachel. She looked up at him as he stood in the open doorway.
"Is Rachel here?" he asked, before coming all the way inside.
"No, she went to work," Monica replied, "even though I told her not to. Want some coffee?" Ross nodded as he closed the door and walked inside, sitting down at the kitchen table. Monica poured him a cup and sat down next to him. "How you doing?" she asked.
"Oh, great," he replied. "Wonderful. I'm just peachy." He took a sip of his coffee and looked at his sister. "Mon, how do you think I am? The woman I love...the one who I've been in love with for years dumped me last night." Monica nodded as she sipped her coffee, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't hurt his feelings and send him storming out of the apartment.
"Well, sweetie," she began, "I understand how devastated you must be feeling right now, but...I think I have to side with Rachel." Ross's eyes widened.
"What?!"
"Ross, you slept with another woman!"
"Yeah, well...it's a technicality."
"A technicality? Ross. Come on." Ross sighed and sipped his coffee, nodding.
"I know, Mon. But...just...damn. I miss her so much." He lowered his eyes to his cup. Monica placed a comforting hand on her brother's shoulder.
"I know, sweetie. I know," she said.

Around this same time, Chandler and Rachel were walking up the stairs to his apartment. Chandler peeked his head around the corner to make sure Monica's door was closed, and then signaled to Rachel that it was clear for her to come around the corner. He quietly unlocked his door and led Rachel inside, then followed her and shut the door behind him. She walked inside, slipped her shoes off, set her briefcase down, and padded across the floor to the Barcoloungers, where she plopped down and put her feet up. Chandler followed suit and sat down in the vacant chair, and turned to face her, studying her face as she stared at the blank television screen. He nudged her chair with his foot until she turned to face him. Rachel attempted to smile at him.
"How you doing, kiddo?" he asked her. She shrugged.
"I don't know," she replied. "I'm...I'm not sad, but I'm not happy, either. I feel like I'm just kind of existing. You know?" He nodded slowly.
"I know," he said, reaching forward to stroke her cheek. "But things will get better, Rach. They have to." She reached up to touch his hand and offered him a small smile.
"I know they do," she said. "I just wish they would be better now." As she said this, a tear began to roll down her cheek. Chandler wiped the tear away, then grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him, onto his lap and into a hug. She tightened her grip around his neck and sobbed onto his shoulder, soaking his collar with hot tears. He cradled the back of her head as she cried, and with his other arm he pulled her close to him, crushing her against him.
"Rachel," he began, "I...I really don't know what to say that would be of any consolation to you. But I hate to see you hurting like this, it kills me to see you hurting like this. If there's anything I can do...and I mean anything...to make you feel the least bit better, tell me. Alright?" Rachel stopped crying for a moment and lifted her head.
"Anything?" she asked.
"Anything," he replied. Rachel took a breath and pulled back far enough to look at him, then ever so slowly, leaned her face close to his, closed her eyes, and softly brushed her lips against his. It took him a minute to realize what was happening, and quickly pulled away from her, searching her face for some sort of an explanation. "Rach, what...what are you doing?" Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned a deep pink. She slowly stood up and backed away from his chair, her hands covering her face.
"Oh, God," she said, "I am...I'm so sorry. I didn't..I don't know what that was...oh God..." Rachel trailed off and hid her face with her hands. What happened next was totally unexpected. Chandler, without saying a word, stood up, walked toward her, and grabbed her around her waist, pulling her to him and crushing his lips to hers. It took her a minute to react, and then she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him. He pulled away and looked into her eyes.
"Don't be sorry," he whispered. He offered her a small smile and reluctantly dropped his hands from her waist, and took a step backwards.Rachel stood there, momentarily stunned at this unexpected turn of events.Unsure of what to do or what to say, she let her heart guide her, and before she could stop herself, she was taking a step towards him and wrapping her hands around his neck, her lips finding his in a heated kiss. Dumfounded, Chandler stood there and let her kiss him for a few good seconds before placing his hands on her hips and pulling her to him, at the same time walking backwards and falling into the chair, pulling her down with him. She straddled his waist, placing a knee on either side of him, as she slightly parted her lips and began to probe his mouth with her tongue. It was at this time Chandler realized that things could get out of hand, so he gently pushed her off of him, and looked up at her, panting. "Rach...what...what are we doing?" She studied his face for a moment, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't make her look like more of an idiot.
"I don't...I don't know, Chandler," she said, slightly smiling at him. "It just kind of happened." Chandler brushed a strand of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear, waiting for her to continue. "God, I knew nothing good would come of this," she continued. "Ross is your best friend...and we did just break up...God! I am an awful person. I came to you all upset about Ross, and now here I am, kissing you. I'm going to hell." Chandler couldn't help but smile at her. She noticed it and narrowed her eyes at him. "It's not funny, Chandler." He cleared his throat and cupped her cheek with his hand.
"Rachel," he began, "first of all, you are not going to hell. Alright? Second of all, yes, Ross is my best friend, and yes you two did just break up...but..." he trailed off, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't offend her and wouldn't make himself look like an ass.
"But what?"
"Rachel, I don't know if you know this, but I have been wanting this to happen between us for years now. And it finally did, and I couldn't be happier....but I don't want it to continue under these circumstances. You're on the rebound from Ross, and if anything is going to happen between us, I want it to be because you want it to." He stopped, took a breath, and looked into her eyes. She was nodding, studying his face as he talked, and, if he wasn't mistaken, there was the hint of a smile on her lips. She leaned down and lightly brushed her lips against his, then pulled away and stood up. Without a word, she slipped her shoes back on, grabbed her purse and her briefcase, and began to walk towards the door. She opened the door and turned around, a huge grin on her face.
"Thank you, Chandler," she said. "I just want you to know that....I do want this. But you're right, I have to let this Ross thing die down some." She sighed and glanced over her shoulder toward her apartment. "I think I'd better go home now. I need to get some sleep. See you later, okay? And thank you for everything." With that, she turned and walked out into the hallway, closing the door behind her. She leaned up against the door and sighed happily, then made her way across the hall and opened the door.
Chandler sat in his chair, his mouth gaping open, at what had just happened. He let it sink in for a moment, then stood up and made his way to the kitchen, smiling. He poured himself a glass of water and walked into his bedroom to change out of his work clothes, whistling happily.

The door to Monica and Rachel's apartment opened. Monica and Ross looked up to see Rachel standing there, a smile on her face. A smile which soon dissapated as soon as she saw Ross. Without a word, she quickly set her briefcase and purse down by the door, hung up her jacket, and backed out into the hallway.
"What was that about?" Ross wondered out loud. Monica simply shrugged her shoulders before picking up Rachel's stuff and carrying it to her bedroom.

Chandler heard the door slam. Figuring it was Joey, he paid it no attention and went back to fiddling around his bedroom. Just then, the bedroom door flew open, and there was Rachel, looking as if she was about to cry again. Concerned, Chandler walked toward her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong?"Rachel looked from his hand to his face, and without saying anything, grabbed him and pulled him down to her, planting her lips on his. No resistance came from Chandler, who wrapped his arms around her waist and held her, kissing her back with just as much force as she was kissing him. After a minute or two she pulled back. "Oh," was all that Chandler could say. Rachel kissed him again and then began to speak.
"I don't want to wait," she said. "I thought about what you said and I realized that I've wanted this for as long as I can remember. Fuck Ross, fuck what everyone else thinks. I just want..."Chandler placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. A smile ghosted his lips as he went to speak.
"You're sure?" She simply nodded, leaning forward to kiss him again. Chandler placed his hand on her ass and lifted her up, and, still kissing her, carried her over to the bed and gently tossing her down onto it, crawling on top of her.

A/n: Dun dun dun! Now you have to wait! I love leaving you in suspense. It gives me such joy. Don't forget to review.