A set of stairs gave way to a small and crowded loft among the rafters that overlooked the set of stage 24. The space was used mainly for the storage of props and scenery. Against the far wall sat a black leather couch. Over the past year, the loft had become their escape - their safe haven. It wasn't much to look at but it was their special place that belonged just to them. After long rehearsals or shoots when everyone else went home, they would sneak up the stairs and spend hours lying on the couch in each other's arms, cuddling, laughing, talking about life, and just enjoying each other's company. This particular night's meeting held a much different tone though.

She sat on the couch staring blankly. He didn't know what exactly she was looking at. All he knew was that she wasn't looking at him.

"Jen, please say something."

It was the silence that bothered him the most. As she finally looked up at him, he found himself in the dark corners of her eyes that sparkled like a thousand stars on a clear night. Her face glowed in the otherwise dim room, rendering him helpless. He fought like hell to keep his rationality in check.

"What do you want me to say, David? What am I supposed to say that makes this any better?"

In an attempt to console her, he repositioned himself on the couch to face her. His knee brushed her leg but that was the only part of him that touched her. The intensity of the moment weighed him down as he noticed a tear begin to well up in the corner of her eye.

"Jen, look at me."

He lifted his hand and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her bright blue eyes held his gaze as a tear rolled down her cheek. He reached for her hands and held them tightly as they intertwined with his own.

"You know how much you mean to me… how much you will always mean to me. You know things would be different if time were on our side. If we were anybody else or in any other situation, I wouldn't think twice about making you mine forever."

Her face softened and she smiled at him, closing her eyes in a fleeting moment of surrender.

"I know, Schwim. This is just so unfair."

She paused and looked away, as if she was recalling a distant memory.

"The past year has been one of the best years of my life. Obviously because of the show and becoming so close with all of you guys, but mostly…because of you."

Her words melted his heart. How could such a perfect woman like Jen be saying these words to him?

"I know everything had to be kept a secret, but it was kinda fun that way, ya know? It was like an escape from reality. I don't want to go back to a reality that you aren't a part of."

He took a deep breath. It took every fiber of his being to not kiss her.

He had kissed her many times before but now he knew that it was off limits and always would be, which made him want it even more.

This beautiful woman sitting right beside him, staring back at him, required him to find all of the strength he could muster to be professional and put the job first. After all, he had no choice. Jimmy Burrows, one of the directors, told him that if he cared about the show at all, it had to stop. Apparently their interactions were less than inconspicuous around the cast and crew and people had started to figure it out. They had always been playful and flirty with each other, but once their characters started developing feelings for each other, they couldn't help but to continue the show once the cameras stopped rolling. They tried to be careful but they both admitted they were a bit too obvious at times.

He thought back to his conversation with Jimmy from the previous day. He had pulled David aside after the table read for that week's show and asked him to get some coffee. David was excited and slightly terrified, as Jimmy was someone he greatly admired and respected and it seemed a little odd that he was asking only him to meet up. It had to be something important.

Turns out, he was right. Jimmy explained to him that the writers had decided it was time to finally ramp up the Ross and Rachel story arc because of the obvious chemistry the two possessed.

David attempted to mask his smile to no avail. The thought of finally getting to be with Jen on camera excited him to no end.

Jimmy continued to tell him that they had noticed that there was more than just chemistry between the two of them. He warned David against starting any sort of relationship with a co-star. He had seen it fail nearly every time. The show had enormous potential and a failed relationship would certainly ruin the onscreen chemistry of not just the two of them, but the entire cast.

"Is that something you're willing to fall on the sword for?"

He knew Jim wasn't asking him to call it quits with her… he was telling him to. And he understood why, because the show didn't just affect himself, or Jen.. or even his other castmates - but Jim, and the EP's, and the writers, and everyone else. He felt guilty, and a little ashamed, mainly because he didn't want to disappoint Jim, who he respected so much. He should have known better - he was a professional. But he had certainly lost his sense of logic and control when Jen took his heart captive. Regardless, as long as the show was running, they could never be more than friends, as much as that reality stung him.

"How am I supposed to just forget everything that happened between us when I have to see you every single day? And oh, God, now our characters are getting together and…" she trailed off and looked at him longingly. The sadness in her eyes nearly broke him. "I'm a decent actor, but I'm not that good.

He couldn't fathom the thought of not going to work everyday and waiting for those secret glances… making excuses for hidden touches… sneaking into each other's dressing rooms… spending secret all-nighters in each other's arms on that very couch.

"I know. I guess we'll just have to go back to how it used to be."

She looked at him with a confused look.

"I don't know how it used to be, David. I can't even remember how it was before. You felt familiar the moment I met you - you and I were instant."

He knew she was right. The past year had turned his life upside in the best way possible. Jen had stolen his heart the moment she first spoke to him. He couldn't even remember a time when they were strangers. The day he first saw her, there was something between them, though he didn't know what at the time. He wondered if an element of time even existed that was capable of allowing him to describe the spark between them.

He closed his eyes as he let out a sigh. He had an overwhelming desire to be strong for her, even though it was everything he could do to hold his own weight.

"Yeah, I know. This sucks. But we have to put the show first right now. We can't do anything to jeopardize what we have. We owe it to ourselves, and the other guys too. I promise you, right now.. I'll be waiting for you at the end. That's all I've got, Jen. That's all I can tell you… is that I'll wait. Please, wait for me too."

She looked at him sweetly, with a smile twisted so beautifully with love and pain. She squeezed his hand as she nodded her head.

"Okay."

He was so relieved to see that smile. The very first time he saw it, he knew he wanted to see it for the rest of his life. This feeling… or whatever it was between them - he knew he'd never find anything like it anywhere else. It wasn't that no one else wanted him. There were plenty of women who had shown interest in him, but the truth was that he and the woman sitting next to him were born to spark... to run the same course. Whether he liked it or not, he knew that his heart could only beat for her. Jen was just different. Who wouldn't want someone like her? She possessed a deadly combination of intelligence, humor, and beauty. He marveled at how she always made him smile uncontrollable when he thought about her. She was the kind of woman who turned every head when she walked in a room without even trying. He loved how she found humor in the most inappropriate situations, and all he could do was laugh because she truly 'got him'. He loved how they would stay up until 2:00am talking about their dreams of taking over the world, even when he found himself fighting off sleep to keep his eyes on her a little longer.

He leaned in and wrapped his arms around her. He was quickly comforted to feel her hugging him back.

"Hey, at least we still have our characters. That really is going to be fun.

He felt the heat of her breath against his skin as she released a sigh. "Yeah, it will…

His hands slid from her back to her upper arms as he pulled back slightly so he could see her. "Hey, let's make a deal. If Ross and Rachel are finally becoming something on the show, there are going to be plenty of times where we will get to be close..."

He gently squeezed her arm two times.

"If you feel that when we're shooting, know that it's from me to you… not from Ross to Rachel."

She chuckled softly as she gently placed her hands on the sides of his face.

He loved it when she did that. If only he could freeze this moment in time so he could never forget what her hands felt like against his skin - it was electric. He hoped someday she would understand what it took for him to walk away from this.

They peered into each other's eyes so deeply, so longingly, as if they were speaking thousands of words that only they understood. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly and they continued to hold each other, knowing that as soon as they let go, everything would become a memory.

"This is mine", she said softly.

A huge smile spread across his face when he suddenly felt two light squeezes on his neck.