A/N: I know, I know… this took forever to post! My life is just so incredibly hectic, from friends to the big C. I can barely find time to sit down! Well, anyway… I apologize for the delay. I tried writing this as soon as I could, really. And if half of this chapter doesn't make sense… it's because I'm half-asleep. Oh, and thank you all for the wonderful reviews for the last chapter! They mean a lot, they really do. I'll try to get the next chapter up sooner… if I could. Maybe in less than a month! ;)

Chapter Five

It worried her when Chandler didn't come to school the next day. They talked on the phone two days before, and he sounded fine. She saw him in school yesterday, and he looked fine. No signs of a fever or cold. But she didn't see him or talk to him after school, and that's what worried her the most.

There was talk about a fight after school yesterday floating around the sea of students, but as usual, Monica didn't believe it. The teens of Lincoln High always tried to mix up things, especially when it meant getting a few of their peers into trouble. But then she heard that Chandler was part of it, and the fact that he was absent made sense. It made sense, but it didn't ease her a bit.

Hard, cold looks came by her way more than usual that day, too. She figured it was because of a stupid rumor someone brewed up. Never did she think that the rumor would actually be true this time.

* * *

Lunch was the only period Monica shared with Rachel. Although Rachel sat with her cheerleading squad almost every day, whenever Monica requested to sit with her, Rachel would ditch the preps and sit with her best friend at a far corner, where no one would bother to glance. Monica didn't usually bother to ask Rachel, though, since she knew she was an embarrassment to Lincoln High's prom queen. But this day, her and Rachel sat at the same table Monica sat alone in every day, quietly whispering. Rachel nibbled at her food as Monica merely stared at her own, too twisted on the insides to want to eat anything. She looked at Rachel, and Rachel stopped chewing her food when she noticed her friend's mixed look. Monica simply sighed and put her right elbow up on the table, resting her cheek on her palm. Her face was pale, here eyes afraid and dark, while her breathing was heavy and forced. She stared at the empty space on the table, oblivious to Rachel's stare.

"Mon?" Rachel inquired softly, reaching her hand out towards her friend's. Monica looked up from her vacant gaze and into Rachel's concerned look. "Is there a reason that you wanted to have lunch together?" She paused. "To… maybe to tell me something?"

"K-kind of. I have two… two things to ask you," she delicately replied, almost afraid. Rachel smiled.

"That's what friends are for."

Monica forced a smile back. "Um… well… you're kind of the gossip queen, aren't you?" she asked, smiling. Rachel let out a small chuckle.

"Sure, you could say that."

"Well… you know that rumor… about the fight?"

"Yeah…"

Monica took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Is it true?"

Rachel looked at Monica and pursed her lips. "You mean… did Chandler and Joey really get into a fight?"

Monica shot her eyes open. "Joey?"

"Yeah… well, it's true. They got into this huge fight… knocked each other silly." Rachel darted her eyes, question and confusion shown. "Um… Mon? That – that kind of leads me to a question…"

"Are they okay?" Monica asked, ignoring her friend's question without realizing it. Worry burst through her, fear that Chandler was hurt made her ache. "Why aren't they here today? Are they hurt badly?" She rambled her questions, startling Rachel.

"Monica, calm down!" Rachel practically yelled. She shrugged off the few glances she received from people passing by and looked straight into Monica's eyes. Monica stopped asking questions and sighed. "Monica… you… well, Chandler's pretty bruised up and cut up. Joey knocked him unconscious, then attacked him when he was lying down. Joey was going insane. 'Cause… well, Chandler kind of said something that really spooked him…"

"Wh-what… what made them so mad at each other?" she whispered, her heart dropping. She was glad he wasn't too hurt, but Monica was sure he just lost one of his best friends. Monica was clueless when Rachel stared her down, suspiciously.

"You mean you don't know?" was Rachel's answer. Monica shook her head and shrugged.

"About what?"

"Monica… Chandler… he was defending…"

Monica looked at Rachel. "Defending what?"

"You," she whispered.

Monica stared at Rachel, not sure if she heard her right. She shook her head. "What… what do you mean he defended me?"

"Joey… he was… kind of bad-mouthing you. He was saying really nasty things about you… which I'm sure doesn't surprise you, cause, well he could be a real jerk sometimes. And… Chandler got angry, balled up his fists, and hit Joey square in the jaw. Joey was really shocked. From all he knew, Chandler could care less about you. But… that's not what Chandler said."

Monica gaped at her friend, the news not quite sinking in yet. She looked around the cafeteria and noticed groups whispering, then looking at her, then whispering again. Some shook their heads, others had wide eyes, eyes of shock. Some laughed. She looked around, confused. What did this all mean? Why?

And then it hit her.

Tears sprang to her eyes when she realized that her one fear came true. Chandler's life could be ruined. Rachel was shocked when she saw the tears in Monica's eyes, but Monica didn't care what Rachel thought or saw right then.

She only had one thought on her mind:

They knew.

* * *

"Please don't tell Mom."

"I… I won't."

Monica smiled half-heartedly at her brother. "Thanks. I – I just can't deal with her knowing… not now, not yet. Maybe not ever. I mean, the town… I think right now, they're enough. I don't want-"

"Monica!" Ross cut her off. Monica stopped and looked at him apologetically.

"Um, sorry." She shook her head and continued to walk, one strap of her loaded book-bag dangling to the side, the other hanging over her slumped shoulder. She took her hand and rubbed her forehead, trying to ease the small pain that was building up. Other students stared as Monica walked away, whispering as she passed them up. Monica tried to ignore them and their harsh words as she also tried to gather all of her thoughts in her head. The entire day, she had to endure stares, glances, whispers, rumors, jokes, comments. She tried to ignore them, but it was hard for her. Hard for her to accept that this was the beginning of many hard, long days ahead of her. The entire school knew by now, and most of them believed it… although none of them knew why. News traveled fast in that school. Especially news about Monica Gellar, Judy's daughter.

"Hey, Monica, how much are you paying him?" a football jock called out to her as she and Ross passed him up. The group formed around him laughed as Monica and Ross merely continued to walk.

They quickened their pace, trying to leave school grounds as quickly as possible, trying to get as far away from the students that the school held.

* * *

"I'm going for a walk," Monica said to Ross quietly after she dumped her book-bag onto her bed. She walked out of the house before he could reply and silently shut the door behind her. Instantly, her feet lead her to the nearby street in which Chandler's house stood. She climbed up the ladder and knocked her fist on the glass when she saw the shutters of Chandler's room window were closed. When Chandler didn't come to open the window, she knocked the glass harder.

"Chandler… it's me," she muttered, now pounding on the glass. "I know you're most likely in there, please let me in."

There was a pause, but the window remained closed. She sighed. "If you don't open the window this instant, it means you don't love me!" Monica threatened.

Instantly, the window opened, revealing a reluctant, bruised Chandler. Monica gasped when she saw him, and tears sprang to her eyes.

"Come on, you made me open the window, now you have to come in," Chandler said, smiling. He helped her climb through the opening and placed her feet on the ground. Monica shook her head and looked up at Chandler with hurt, teary eyes. Chandler took his hand and ran his fingers through her hair, then kissed her forehead. Monica shook her head once more.

"Why?" she managed through her scratchy throat. "Why would you put yourself… through so much… pain?"

"Believe me, Mon, it hurt ten times worse when he said those nasty things about you. I just – I wanted to protect you," he whispered, his voice cracking slightly.

Suddenly, Monica opened her arms and tightly hugged Chandler, her head buried in his shoulder, her eyes flooding with tears. Chandler returned the hug, resting his chin on her head, closing his eyes. Chandler rocked Monica back and forth, trying to ease the pain he knew she felt, trying to calm the desperate tears that fell from her face and soaked into his shirt. Both of their hearts beat rapidly, their minds caught up with confusion, their souls still filled with hopeless love. They continued rocking with each other, Monica silently crying, Chandler gripping Monica tighter every second, shutting his eyes tighter every moment. In each other's arms they stayed until Monica slowly stopped the rocking, but still held onto him. They kept their position, this time still, their grips loosing just a bit.

"What now?" Monica murmured, the side of her head resting on Chandler's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. There was a moment's pause.

"What else?" He stopped and looked down at Monica, a small smile on his face. She looked up at him with her glassy, red eyes, waiting for his answer. They let go of each other but remained in their spots, and Chandler took his hand and put it on Monica's cheek. "We let our love be our shield."

Monica smiled up at Chandler as he took his finger and wiped her eyes, drying away her tears. "Of course, why didn't I think of that?"

Their smiles widened, and Chandler leaned down and gave Monica a sweet kiss. When they parted, Monica fell into Chandler's arms once more. "Remember, Mon," he whispered to her, "the love we have… it's bigger than the anger they have."

Without saying another word, they stood in the middle of his room, holding onto each other, holding onto the hope that would get them through.

To Be Continued…

I'm really sorry for two things… one, that this chapter is short, and two, that it took so long to post. I'm really going to try to update a lot sooner for the following chapters, but it's been really hectic. Also, the chapters are gonna get longer… this chapter I just kinda wanted Monica's reaction and Chandler's reaction to Monica's reaction… if that makes sense at all :p Please review to tell me what you think… your reviews are always appreciated. Also, any questions, comments, or suggestions are greatly appreciated… you could either put them in your reviews or e-mail me. And thank you for my other chapter's reviews!