AN: I am dreadfully sorry I haven't been updating.
I promise that will all change, now that my first year of college is done and I have nothing else in my life.

Enjoy.

It was a good thing Phoebe kept an extra pair of sunglasses in her cab.

It was also good that she didn't get stopped by the police with her speeding.

When Joey pulled Chandler out of the cab, his unconscious head clunked against the sidewalk in a fashion that would only suit a corpse. Luckily, no one seemed to notice - or care. Softly, with grace, he propped his friend up into the wheelchair Phoebe had borrowed from her grandmother. Carefully, they guided him through the hospital and upstairs. It wasn't that much of a challenge, although they did receive a couple of strange looks. It wasn't as if anyone could understand, though; Phoebe's style was always an unorthodox one.

However, she did get results.

As they reached Ross's room, they didn't notice his company until it was almost too late. Glancing at his ex-wife and her wife, they sped by them into the bedroom, only greeting with a hard 'we'll explain later' and almost crashing through the glass door. Like tempests, the duo threw Chandler onto the bed, and proceeded to wake him in every possible way from his very uncomfortable slumber. What they didn't see was that he was already awake; all of the slapping, punching, and shaking was unnecessary, but he couldn't vocalize any of it. Instead, he painfully grunted in a way that told Joey and Phoebe that he was fine, at least for now.

Although, he was a little miffed.

Phoebe picked him up by his ragged shirt and looked directly into him; Chandler could not have been more shocked or terrified. For only a couple seconds, it seemed as if she was crying, but Chandler couldn't make out any tears. Instead, Phoebe spoke, her voice coarse with rage.

"You and Monica... Now!"

He shook his head, his face limp from the chloroform. While he did comprehend what Phoebe was trying to say, he was much too disoriented to agree with something so absurd after being drugged and then kidnapped. It was just not going to happen; not now, not ever.

"Listen to me, Chandler Bing. You and Monica are going to make up and be together. We're sick of you two moping around like it's the end of the world. You don't even have any reason to, but no, once again you blame yourself instead of doing what's right. Don't you see that you love each other? Why can't you work this out? Why can't you be a man?" The words came out like punches, fast and true. The vicious tone Phoebe had taken proved that this was no longer going to be tolerated, and things were going to get worse if Chandler didn't obey. Breathless, she held Chandler closer to her.

"Because being a kid is fun?" He wanted to play it serious, but he couldn't. It wasn't him. The red in Phoebe's face intensified, and for a moment, he was sure he was about to be smacked. Flinching, he kept one eye open, but never felt the hand of his friend. Instead came a hearty and childish tone that he had come to love.

"Well, duh! But you have to grow up sometime, Chandler. Especially when it comes to love." Her tongue rolled at the last word; Phoebe wanted to make sure that Chandler understood. Saying he did and actually doing are two different things.

"No! I like being small and lonely and depressed." Again, he used comedy, which helped alleviate the tension that was slowly being taken out of the room. But it was for much more than that; Chandler wanted to be himself once more.

"It's simple."

"Are you joking? Since when is any of this simple?"

"The affairs of the heart are never simple... but as we commit ourselves to the journey, we learn the meaning of life itself..." Joey interrupted, lost in his own little world, trailing off as he looked upward towards the ceiling, as Phoebe and Chandler sat there, stunned. They never expected to hear something like that come out of Joey's sex-riddled mind, let alone believe that he actually said it.

After a quiet and tense moment, the three of them snapped back to the situation, hoping to forget what had just happened.

"Just do it, Chandler." Phoebe released him from her vice, hoping to fulfill her duty as both the good and bad cop, all in one role. It had been a personal goal of hers for quite some time, and what better person to try it on that Chandler? He would crack soon enough.

"Why should I?"

"'Cause if you don't, I'll tell everyone what your favorite Clint Eastwood movie is. Hey, Pheebs. You ever been to Madison County?" Joey crossed his arms and looked at Phoebe, who's mouth was agape at what he had just said. Out of all movies starring Clint Eastwood, Chandler's favorite happened to be a love story with Meryl Streep.

"Agh, no!"

"So do it."

"...Fine. Just don't tell anyone else. You know I have to keep up my reputation as the 'tough guy'." He popped his shirt while he said that, hoping to regain footing and showing off that he was okay. It wasn't the blackmail that made him relent, but the gnawing guilt to do the right thing.

"Only in your head, dude." Joey laughed.

"Yeah, yeah. So what am I supposed to do?"

"You tell Monica you love her. Then, you kiss her. Then, wedding bells will ring!" Phoebe threw her arms up into the air, lost in her own world, where things could happen at her own speed - on a whim.

"What? No!" Chandler was personally offended by this; telling someone you love them is a much different ballpark than marrying them. For Chandler, these specific parks were light years away from each other.

"Y'know, Ross said he'd personally kick your ass." Joey knew that Ross never actually said that, and meant it even less. However, the balance of the scales was tipping towards the dark pit that Chandler was in, and there wasn't much time before Monica arrived.

"He said he wouldn't."

"Things change. Roll with them. Don't you love her?" Phoebe slammed her hands on her sides, hoping to get through to him. She didn't want to follow Joey's lead, God forbid, but it seemed like the only hope now.

"...I do..."

"I now pronounce you man and wife. Now kiss the bride, or else." She had used his word choice to her advantage. It much easier to push someone than to pull, and Phoebe proved that.

Chandler just rolled his eyes, determined to get this over with. However, he was also very nervous, with good reason. If he messed this up, he would lose Monica, as a lover and a friend. The rest of his friends would probably hate him, too. He could barely handle losing one of them; but all of them? Impossible.

In truth, however, he did love Monica. More than he had ever loved anyone else. And yet, he chose not to pursue her out of his guilt.

Being a man was pretty hard.

But, he knew it was the right thing to do. After he confessed to Ross, he had such a spark, so much hope, but all of that was drained away. Chandler was never one to fall dismal under these conditions, but love can turn even the cheeriest people into gloom slaves. It was like a dream, still, that all of this was happening.

So, for the next several minutes, which seemed like hours, the six of them, including Ross, Carol, and Susan, who helped prepare the ambiance, talked to Chandler in hopes of getting up his spirit to complete a daunting task like this. Ross assured both Chandler and Joey that he wouldn't hurt anyone.

While the rest of them talked, he devised a little plan of his own.

So many things happened on the night of his accident. Him and Rachel got into a huge fight, which resulted in their breakup. As he walked down the Manhattan streets, bent upon trying to pick up the pieces of his life, they were swept away once again. He could still hear the explosion of gunpowder ringing in his head. As much as he tried, he would never forget it. Once he laid in the hospital, motionless and cold, he bent over to cradle the one piece of fragile glass that was left behind.

Rachel.

Now, he would make sure to never let go.

But it was much too brittle. It could not hold the weight of the world, not like Rachel herself could. He admired how strong she was, helping everyone through these times of trouble. Ross had no idea how she did it, though. Was love really that strong? Or was it just in her nature? It had to have been both. She was just that perfect.

Ross owed her his life. Without Rachel, his life had no meaning. He realized that long ago. Thirteen years he had been in love with Rachel. He watched her whenever he could. He wrote her name in his books. He had been so badly lovestruck that whenever he had a girlfriend, he would pretend it was Rachel without even knowing it.

He almost called out her name during his first time with Carol.

Like most things, however, his obsession soon faded away. While his love for her remained true, he pushed it to the far depths of his heart, never letting it compromise his actions ever again. He knew he had to move on. But that didn't mean he had to stop loving her.

And three years ago, she was thrust back into his life, and he had fallen for her again. He too knew what had to be done.

So, once Carol and Susan took Ben back into the living room, Ross asked to be alone with his best friend, after persuading Joey that he was also his best friend. However, he entrusted only Chandler with this task, as he also used it as leverage to get him to make up with Monica. The two of them whispered together, and while Chandler was shocked at what Ross had told him, he was also very happy. They shook on it, like brothers should, and Ross left, allowing whomever to come back in and harass Chandler about it. He said nothing, just like he promised Ross. After several unsuccessful tries, they stopped pestering him, and he raised his head back up to look back into the living room.

There sat the raven-black hair that he had grown to love, cascading down the shoulders he held in his arms during each friendly and thoughtful hug.

When Rachel burst through the door, Chandler could swear that he saw Ross look over his shoulder and wink at him. While he appreciated all the help he had given him, he also wondered as to why Ross wasn't hounding him for all the pain he caused Monica. Usually, that's what he would do. But Chandler wasn't just some guy.

Not even so much as a shout came from Ross, except in his dreams.

"So, are you ready?" Rachel clapped, her eyes filled with hope. She so desperately wanted this to work, more so than everyone else, apparently. When it came down it, she was exhausted. She was tired of being the glue that held everyone together; that was Monica's job.

"To get down? Sure."

"No-" Rachel was taken aback by his humor.

"Boogie? Alright."

"Chandler." Her patience was running thin, already hanging by a thread.

"At least he's back to his old self." Phoebe interjected, hoping to lighten the mood even further. She didn't want to ruin anything, though, so she just sat on the end of the bed and twiddled her thumbs, letting Rachel take the reins.

"I guess. But seriously, are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

As he said that, he sat up, a fire lighting up in his heart. However, it was aflame not for Monica; but for himself. He was ready. He was ready to face his fears, because he didn't have a choice anymore. The only thing he could think about was how he would soon have what Ross and Rachel have.

He felt the eyes of his friends pry into him as he reached for the door, but, to everyone's surprise, the door opened by itself. Chandler just walked through, without even thinking about it, as he knew that it would only mess him up.

There she stood, pale and gaunt, but still as beautiful as ever. Her white long-sleeve shirt did nothing to hide the stitches on her arm. The small bumps were laid upon her like a railroad track. Chandler was sad, but he was also curious. However, it was not the time. Perhaps, later, when they would cuddle, he would trace them as a reminder of the trials they had gotten past. He would not treat them as scars, but as memories. It would not be easy to get past his guilt, but with Monica, it would make life so much easier.

Her eyes were bluer than ever; they gleamed before, but now they were shining like diamonds in the sea. It reminded them of how happy she looked whenever she was with Richard. If he wanted children, they would probably be together right now. It hurt, but it was the truth. The truth always hurts.

However, Chandler was not Richard. He wanted everything that Monica wanted, albeit not as much. But he still wanted it, just like he wanted her. So, as he looked into her eyes, she mimicked the gesture. In them, he saw an unusual image. It was not him or Monica, but instead Ross and Rachel. The Lobsters embraced into a kiss, one sweet and genuine. Their hearts thumped through their chest, and like tides, they ebbed and flowed with each other.

Seeing this, Chandler knew what to do.

Without another thought, he placed his hands on Monica's shoulders, and pulled her into him. They melted into each other with the warmest and most tender kiss, and it only took seconds before Monica wrapped her arms around Chandler. She felt the ultimate bliss, with his lips crushing on hers. They were softer than she had ever imagined, which was quite often since that day in the park.

It was perfect.

The sparks that set their hearts ablaze were not short in number or flare; they spewed out of their kiss, igniting the entire room with a heat that could only be the result of love. Ross felt it. Rachel felt it. Even Joey could feel it. It was as evident as it was warm. That's when they knew.

So, they cheered for the newest couple, despite them not paying any attention. They were focused on each other. Their eyes were closed, savoring every second of what would become the best kiss of their lives. In an instant, their fear dissipated and they were carried away to their own world. A comfort unbeknownst to them engulfed their feeble bodies, and they found each other, after searching for so long.

Chandler knew it was time. he pulled away, reluctantly, and spoke to her in the deepest voice he could muster.

"I love you, Monica."

She was speechless. It was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard, like wind breezing through the Elysium fields or the gentle spatter of rain on her own window. The three words that made her heart pump faster than it ever had before rung through her mind like the gentle chimes of a tambourine. A heart attack was almost certain now. But, before she allowed that to happen, she fell into his arms once more, and her entire body drifted through phases of cool space that only Chandler could provide.

He didn't speak after that. Chandler just held her in his arms, hoping to every deity that all of this was actually happening. While her eyes remained shut, he opened his, and saw the bright faces of his friends whom, despite his stubbornness, stuck by him through all of this. Ross especially seemed happy. As he looked at his best friend, he looked at Rachel too, who was cradled in his lap. Chandler smiled, almost crying, as he nodded to them both.

This is what love felt like; it was the greatest feeling in the world.