Thanks again for the reviews, it's interesting to read your opinions :)

I don't like them unhappy either but it's for the best... we all know it'll end well :p I tried another approach in this chapter, so Chandler at least can be in peace with the situation. I don't want to torture him too much :p

If the writers did what they intented to do (making London a one night thing) I don't think they would have gotten them back together just a few episodes after London, so I'm not gonna do that either. Don't worry, I'm not gonna make you wait until (virtually) season 6 !

Chapter 3 : Monica's date

* CHANDLER *

I'm in one of the waiting rooms of the hospital, alone, I needed to think. Joey is still lying on a bed with his kidney stones and Ross is with him. Rachel is with Phoebe and the triplets. Maybe Monica is with them, I don't know. I'm pretty pissed off at her, to be honest. Joey told me that she accepted going on a date with a nurse. I acted like I didn't care but it was hard, because it's a clear sign : she's moving on. I wish I could do the same, but I think of her all the time, and I don't want at all going out with some other girl.

Or... What if I call Janice and tell her that I'm back from Yemen ? No, come on, I couldn't stand her the last time, and she's definitely not the one I need, not the one I want. I see Monica coming out of Phoebe's room and she's coming here. OK, be casual.

"Hey Mon, how's Phoebe doing ?"

" A little bit sad because she carried the babies and now she have to give them away, but... she'll be okay. She still can see them, which is great. Anyway... I... I wanted to see you. Alone."

She scratches her nose and looks down, seeming uncomfortable, but all I can think is how gorgeous she is. I keep looking at her, her eyes, her lips, her hands... I'm so attracted to her that it's hard to listen what she's trying to say. And, by the way, what I already know. But I can't cut her, I don't have the courage.

"See, Rachel... Well... It's not easy... But... Rachel wants to move on. Actually, that was my idea. And, um... She got a date, for her. With a nurse. A male nurse, obviously. And, um... God, how to say this ? Um... She wants me to come with her. So she got ME a date too. But, I don't know, I... I- What do you think ?"

She's now looking at me, and it's my turn to look down. At least she's being honest and she cares about what I could feel, I appreciate a lot. But... If I say that she shouldn't go, then what would it mean ? And if I say that she should go, what would she think ? I don't know what to say and she's expecting an answer. For the first time since we came back from London, I do what I really want to do : I wrap my right arm around her shoulder and kiss her temple. I then whisper to her ear : "Do what you want to do. We're not in London anymore."

And I feel so stupid. Why ? Why ? Why did I have to say that ? But I'm relieved to see that it seems a good answer to her. She nods slowly, passes her left arm around my hips and kisses me on the cheek. I can tell you : it was not just a friendly kiss. It was not quick and sharp. It was soft, and she had her eyes closed. She let her lips longer than two seconds on my cheek, and I think my face must have turned red. She then replies to my right ear : "OK, so I'll go to please Rachel, but... Just so you know... You'll always be my favourite lover."

I'm stunned, my heart is beating really fast... and that's the moment that Ross and Joey choose to exit the elevator and waving at us. Joey is hysterical and explains to us what his kidney stones looked like, but I can't listen. After what just happened, I'm on cloud nine. Thank God I'm sitting on a couch. Did I hear it right ? I wanna dance around the room. Wait... Did she say that to (sort of) apologize of going out with the nurse ? I don't think so... She seemed sincere. She's still right next to me, I look at her and she smiles at me. I'm smiling back and – it's weird – there's no more awkwardness between us. It's like before, when we were just friends. Except that what I feel for her is stronger than friendship, but she doesn't have to know. Maybe it'll pass. I'm so glad we're not uneasy anymore, it's like a chapter is closed. The same chapter that I couldn't close the day when we returned from England because all was too fresh.

Now I know what I have to do : staying his friend and waiting. And I'm really okay with that.

* MONICA *

"I'm really doing it for you, you know... I'm not in the mood of going out." I let Rachel know how much I don't want to go with her on this double date. Okay, the nurse seems great, good-looking, nice, and all, but... But he's not the one I want to be with. In a way, I'm glad that Chandler confirmed to me that he's okay with "the New-York rule" and I feel really good about telling him (again) how much I loved being with him that night. But, in the other way, I'm even more confused now. I thought that Chandler was attracted to me, and yet he leaves me going out with a guy ? Maybe that's just the way he is, he doesn't fight for girls.

I would love to have more time to think about it while Rachel is in the bathroom, but the door opens up and the guys come in. Joey can't help but widening his eyes and yelling : "Whoaaaaaaa ! Mon ! You look great ! Got a date, huh ?"

"Yeah..." I sigh, while Chandler gives me a warm smile and a nod to greet me.

Joey seems puzzled : "You don't sound too happy about that date... The man's got a problem ?"

He's not Chandler, I think, but I reply : "I'm tired... I don't wanna go out tonight."

"Then don't go and stay with us", Chandler quickly suggests innocently.

I look at him and quizzes him with my eyes. He just smiles and I think I can see some mischievousness in his eyes when he mouths "What ?" to me, while Joey is searching for food in the fridge.

Rachel exits the bathroom : "Chandler, would you stop ?! She's coming with me because it was HER idea ! I'm not moving on without her ! Come on Mon, we're gonna be late !"

I get up and give an apologizing look to Chandler who raises his left hand and says : "Bye... Have fun !" I swear, he was ironic with the last two words, but ironic only for me. Because only I could understand what he really meant. I didn't see much of him tonight, but it was full of secret messages from his part and if I thought I was confused earlier, now I'm totally bewildered. What WAS that ?

"You're okay ? You're really quiet tonight..." notices Rachel during our walk.

"I told you I was tired. That's all", I reply. I didn't want to be mean, but I hear that my tone is sharp and abrupt, so I quicky add : "Sorry, it's not against you... I just... I..."

Rachel cuts me : "You know, you're not really yourself since we came back from London. What's wrong ?"

I don't wanna lie to her and I seriously need to talk to someone, so I start : "It's about a guy... A guy that... I... We... In London... I'm attracted to him, but... Nothing is possible. It's really complicated."

Rachel laughs : "It can't be more complicated than between Ross and me ! So listen to your own advice : move on !"

God, she is on fire tonight !

"So, you did the Gulf war ? But you were really young then, weren't you ?" I try really hard to be interested in what Dan says to me. He seems like a good guy, smart, quite fun, and of course he's not bad looking. He has a nice smile and his eyes are expressive, I like that. I draw up the list of all his qualities – and he has a lot – but... But... The truth is I don't care. At all. Chandler's face keeps popping up in my head. It's been more than two weeks and I still can't get him out of my head. Worse : every look, or smile, he gaves me makes me melt. How come my feelings towards him could have changed so quickly, in one night ? Or maybe it all started before ? Maybe I always felt something special for him, but I buried all because we were friends and I was afraid to be rejected ? Let's see... I –

"Are you listening to me ?" Dan asks, clearly perplexed.

"What ?" I'm suddenly back to earth and I can see that Rachel is glaring at me.

"You don't seem to be really there, with me... With us, I mean...", explains Dan, a little bit embarrassed.

I feel the need to justify myself : "I'm sorry, I just have a lot of things on my mind and... To tell you the truth, I don't think I'm ready to see someone... you know, seriously..."

He smiles : "Oh but it doesn't have to be serious !"

Okay, maybe he's not that smart after all. "No... That's definitely not what I meant !"

He looks disappointed as I continue : "I just don't wanna go out with a guy at the moment. I'm sorry."

One hour later, Rachel and I are coming back to our apartment and she's furious : "You ruined everything ! I was having a good time and we had to end it up because you didn't 'feel well'... Yeah, right... Come on ! Mon ! You're single ! I don't care who the guy in England was, he's not here anymore ! He's far far away in London ! Forget him ! You have plenty of guys here ! And this one could have been the one !"

Finally, I find a way to cut her : "He wasn't, I can tell you that." But she doesn't give up : "Monica... You see it with Ross : long-distance relationships don't work. Forget this man. You're in New-York. Not London."

Ooooohhh, yes, New-York, not London... and I know that too well...

I plan to include more connections between Monica and Chandler in the next chapter, so stay tuned :)