"I owe him that much, Chandler," Monica said, stroking his hand with her thumb.

Chandler looked from her to the closed door in front of him. Richard was on the other side with Monica's father. After Rachel had helped Monica change out of her wedding dress and into the simple dress she'd worn to the museum, Monica was determined to talk to Richard.

At the very least, she said, she owed him an apology.

Chandler wasn't happy about it, but he knew she was right.

"OK…" he said, reluctantly. "Alright, but I'm going in there with you."

"No, Chandler…" she started, and just then Jack came out of the room, alone.

"Dad?" Monica asked anxiously.

"It's OK," Jack said, smiling a little. "Go ahead..."

Monica looked at Chandler a moment, her eyes pleading with him to stay out in the hall.

He looked at her, a little panicked, but gave her a short nod. She stepped inside and closed the door.

Chandler shot a worried look to Jack.

"It's OK, Chandler," he said, patting him on the arm and smiling at him. "It really is OK…"

###

Monica took a deep breath as she looked at Richard. His back was to her.

When he turned around he had a curious look on his face. He wasn't crying - he wasn't really angry.

He was sad, but that wasn't it.

What was odd was that he didn't look at all surprised.

She took a small step toward him and took another deep breath.

"I…I am sorry," she said quietly, meeting his eyes.

He gave her a sad smile.

"So am I," he said. He sat down in one of the folding chairs in the room and gestured for her do the same. She took the seat across from him.

Then he sighed heavily, folding his hands in front of him and shaking his head.

"I'm especially sorry I couldn't just get you 'past the wedding,'" he said, with a small smile.

Monica just looked at him, not understanding what he meant.

"I was Chandler and Kathy's biggest fan," he explained quietly, looking away from her. "But when that ended I…I was pretty sure we wouldn't be far behind."

Monica was taken aback. This wasn't the confrontation she was expecting in the least.

"What?!"

He studied her for a moment and realized that she wasn't trying to fool him. She really was surprised.

He sighed.

"There was always…something between you and…him," he said. "Something I couldn't…break into. I knew you were close when we met, but I didn't know how close…until the last year or so."

Monica's mind was racing. What did he know? When did he know?

"We…we were…friends…" Monica started, struggling to put the pieces together.

"I know," he said, looking at her sharply, a touch of anger in his voice. "And I know you didn't see it, and he didn't see it, but I saw it. I don't know when you stopped loving me, but you did, and…and a part of you always…you care about him more…I felt that you cared about him more."

Monica closed her eyes.

"I do care about you, Richard, I truly do," she said. "I just…I didn't know…I didn't realize…"

"That you're in love with him?" he snapped, finishing the sentence for her. Then he hesitated.

She nodded.

"Yeah, I know," he sighed. "I was hoping it would stay that way."

She stared at him, her eyes wide, letting his words sink in. God, he knew. How did he know before she knew, before they knew?

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"You were never happier than on Thursdays, when you saw him," he said, calmly. "You both light up whenever you are around each other…it was obvious, to me anyway."

Despite everything her heart went out to him. She opened her mouth to respond but no words came out.

"But then just last week he took that job in LA and you were so…upset… you were such a wreak," he continued, running his hand over his chin. "I thought maybe I was wrong, about…him. How he…felt. l thought there might…still might be a chance for us. I thought if he would just…leave…and we could get married, and maybe move away, then I hoped…I…I could make you fall in love with me again."

Monica wrapped her arms around herself and started to speak, "Richard…"

He quickly put his hand up to stop her from saying anything else.

"I should have let you go long before today," he said, clearing his throat. "It was selfish, I know that, but I didn't want to lose you."

He put both hands on his knees and pushed himself up off the chair.

"But…" he said, letting out a deep breath, "the truth is, I lost you a long time ago and once he was free, I was never really going to get you back."

She stood then and looked at him, shaking her head.

"You are a good man and I never meant to hurt you," she said sincerely, looking at him once again. "I hope you know that. I'm just…I really am sorry."

He stepped toward her, putting his hands in his pockets.

"I know, but thank you for saying it," he said.

Not knowing what else to say she pulled off her engagement ring and handed it back to him without a word.

He nodded, took it from her and put it in his pocket.

###

Chandler was pacing alone outside the room when Ross walked over to him.

"Dude," Ross said, smiling. "You sure know how to shake up a wedding."

"Ross…" he said, not in the mood for jokes at that moment.

Ross took a hotel room key out of his pocket and handed it to Chandler.

"Listen, take this tonight," he said, glancing over his shoulder. "You guys need some…time…and my Mom…"

He shuddered, and Chandler understood.

"You've checked in already?" Chandler said, recognizing the name on the key as the hotel where the reception was supposed to take place.

"Yeah, and I got the late checkout, too," Ross said proudly. "Just send our luggage to the front desk. After we're finished canceling everything we can pick it up and go home."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Ross said, glancing over his shoulder again.

"Ross," Chandler said, looking at Monica's brother. "Are you sure?"

Ross put his hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"Are you going to stay and make her happy?" Ross asked him seriously.

Chandler looked him in the eye. "Yes."

"Then, yes," he said, as the door opened and Richard exited the room.

Ross moved behind his friend as Chandler came face-to-face with Monica's now-former fiancé.

As he studied Chandler, Richard pictured the wisecracking, insecure boy he'd met just a few years ago and compared him to the man who stood gazing so steadily at him now - a man who appeared ready to fight for the woman they both loved.

But Richard knew fighting at this point would do absolutely no good - Chandler had already won.

"Take good care of her," he said, looking him directly in the eye.

Chandler nodded, staring right back at him. Richard looked at him another moment before walking past him and disappearing around a corner down the hall.

Monica walked out of the room and immediately into Chandler's arms.

"Are you OK?" he asked, holding her close.

She smiled up at him.

"Yes, yes…"

He held her for another moment until they heard voices getting closer and closer from the other direction of the museum.

Ross looked at Chandler, a little worried. One of the voices belonged to Judy Geller.

"Let's get out of here," Chandler said to Monica. He took her hand in his and pulled her hurriedly toward the exit. She turned, smiled and blew a kiss to her brother as they left. He waved and smiled back.

###

"Thank you," Chandler said as he handed the bellman Ross and Rachel's luggage to take downstairs to the front desk.

Then he closed the door and turned to Monica.

"Oh my God…" she whispered watching him move as he came to her, put his hands on her hips and looked into her eyes.

He bent down and quickly captured her lips in a searing kiss that had been building since the moment they left the museum. She ran her hands up his arms and along his chest to push his suit jacket off of him, her lips staying locked with his.

As she pushed off his jacket she felt something fall out of the inside pocket and to the ground.

When they broke their kiss she bent down to pick up whatever fell. Chandler winced when he saw what it was.

Monica picked up the airplane ticket and read it. She immediately sat at the bottom edge of the bed, her knees buckling beneath her.

She looked up at Chandler with big, sad eyes.

"You were going to leave tonight?" she asked, quietly.

He swallowed hard and nodded.

"Actually…I was going to leave last night," he said quietly, looking down at her.

She gasped as her hands fell into her lap.

He gently took the ticket from her grasp as she looked at him again. His eyes never left hers as he tore it up in little pieces. He turned and threw it into the small garbage can behind him.

Then he knelt down in front of her.

She grinned slightly.

"How much did that ticket cost?"

He looked up at her with his lopsided grin and brushed some hair away from her eyes.

"Too much," he said softly, searching her face. "It would have cost way too much…"

She grabbed his hands in hers, and furrowed her brow.

"Last night?"

He cleared his throat.

"I…I didn't want to see you…I didn't think I could watch you marry…him," he said, his eyes watering. "But…but I got to the airport and I couldn't do it…I…I couldn't leave. I had to see it happen. I thought…I thought…."

He paused as he saw tears pooling in her eyes.

"I thought you were happy with him, Mon," he said. "I really thought I'd just screwed it all up for you…"

Monica sighed.

"I was for a while," she said, quietly. "I thought I was. I didn't realize how much I was…compromising. I didn't know how much I was giving up. It all seemed so logical, ya know, like it was the next step in the plan for my life."

He just nodded, holding her hands. She leaned forward.

"What I didn't plan on," she said, smiling at him, taking back her hands to run them through his hair, looking down into his bright blue eyes, "was waking up one day completely in love with you."

"So…" he said, smiling back at her. "What you're saying is I did mess up your plan."

"Yes," she said, leaning in to kiss him softly. "In the most amazing, mind-blowing way possible."

She pulled away a little and they looked into each other's eyes for a long moment.

Suddenly she started to stroke his hair quickly with both hands, and her lips started to quiver as her emotions got to her for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

"I didn't want to leave you that night, Chandler," she whispered, her voice thick. "I'm so sorry I did. I…I…it must have made you feel…"

"No…it's okay," he whispered back, running his hands up and down the sides of her legs. "I…I knew…I knew why…"

"But…but you were going to leave…" she started, her voice catching in her throat, then she added softly. "I…I was sure you didn't want to be with me…"

"Oh God, Monica…" he breathed as he looked into her eyes.

"I…I've never wanted anyone or anything more than I want you…than I want 'us,'" he whispered, fiercely, mentally kicking himself for only telling her this now.

She took a deep breath, realizing how close they had come to losing each other, to losing it all, and a chill ran down her spine.

"I would have lost you…" she shuttered.

He cupped the side of her face and ran his thumb gently along her lips, shaking his head slowly from side to side.

Then he took her hands and brought them to his chest.

"You live here," he said softly, pressing her hands against his heart. "Somehow we would have found each other again."

She looked at him with tears in her eyes, marveling at how she could have ever thought anything other than this was love.

"But how much more time would have been wasted…" she started.

"Let's not waste any more time, Mon," he said as he reached up and buried his hand under her hair.

He stood slowly. She scooted back further onto the bed as he leaned down onto her.

His tongue traced her lips and he kissed her possessively, diving into her over and over again.

She arched her back so he could unzip her dress as she tore off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt.

Once free of their clothes he ran his tongue along the valley between her breasts, then kissed his way up to her collarbone as she reached for him. He was hard against her.

He entwined his fingers with hers in one hand and stretched their arms together above them on the pillow.

His face hovered over hers and their eyes locked.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you," she breathed.

He lowered his lips to hers as they moved with each other and became one.

###

Chandler woke with Monica in his arms as the sun peeked around the edges of the heavy drapes in the hotel room.

They'd made love late into the night and day was definitely upon them.

He watched her sleep until she stirred and looked up, smiling at him.

"You're here," he whispered.

She stroked his cheek.

"You're here," she whispered.

He smiled.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said quietly as he leaned in to kiss her softly. She sighed contently as he moved his lips to her neck.

"Chandler?"

"Hummm…"

"I'm kinda hungry," she giggled, as he continued to place kisses on her shoulder.

"Ah, yeah…" he said, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. "Room service?"

"What time is it?"

He craned his neck to look at the clock.

"About 10:30."

"Um…do we have time?" she said, feeling this now familiar heat rise within her as his naked body pressed on hers.

He smirked.

"Ross got the late checkout," he said, his mouth finding her neck again.

"Of course he did," she murmured, her thoughts now otherwise occupied. She grabbed his head and brought his lips to hers.

When their kiss finally broke apart, both trying to catch their breath, he gasped, "I thought you were hungry."

"Oh, I am," she said breathlessly. "I'm starving…"

He grinned, pulling her on top of him and guiding her lips down to his.

And they gave into their passion again, deciding that room service could wait a little while longer.

NOTE: That conversation with Richard and Monica was a long-time coming, I know. He didn't stand a chance once Mondler realized their mutual love and he knew it. I never hated him as a character in the early years, but he was never the right man for Monica, obviously! SpiralnebulaM31, you have very good theories! ;) I love "Last Man Standing" by Will Champlin and thought it fit pretty darn well here. I owed Monica and Chandler's talk, and happy Mondler love, to you guys! :) LOVED writing this chapter. Epilogue is next…