(A/N) Okay, first off - can I just say how awesome my reviewers are? You all have been so kind and motivating, really! Each review I read gives me an idea for the next chapter, then it kind of snowballs into a plot from there. So I really can't thank you guys enough for being so nice :) Thank yous to elizzabethavary, friendsfan101, BluEyes (thanks so much! haha, your words make me feel like your protege or something - which is pretty much an honor, seeing as your fics are some of my all-time favorites!), missdory, Champers, say what now, Laurie M, and BundyShoes!

Now some words about the chapter - towards the end, you'll see that the plot's heading in the direction of the season 9 finale. And a big blemish on the face of Season 9's end (imo, haha), was Rachel/Joey. I love both of them, but not together, you know? Haha. I always wished it was Chandler in Joey's place :) Anyways, onwardssss!


Neither Rachel nor Chandler broached the topic of what had happened in Central Park when they returned back to reality. For the next few weeks, they went back to being the friends of the friends who happened to be a couple, the friends on opposite sides of the armchair couch.

That wasn't to say that they flat out forgot about The Incident. It had happened, despite all they did to treat it like it hadn't. That meant, they still smiled sheepishly when they brushed past each other in a given apartment, still gave appreciative looks when the other was wearing a sharp tie or schoolgirl skirt, still exchanged loaded glances whenever Monica would kiss or hug Chandler in front of the group. Was it guilt? Regret? Something else entirely?

They didn't have time to think about it, in any case, as Chandler and Monica soon had their own troubles to deal with. The doctor had called with the news about their fertility problems just a few days ago. This tragedy dealt a huge blow to Chandler and Monica's relationship – knowing how badly Monica had wanted a child her entire life. As a result, Monica spent most of her days crying to herself or picking fights about the tiniest things with Chandler to hide her pain. And in characteristic Monica fashion, the latter occurred more often.


"Honey, I'm home!" Chandler called bitterly into the room, before slamming the door shut and tossing his briefcase haphazardly onto the counter.

Ross, Joey, and Rachel looked up from the loungers where they had been watching TV.

"I hope you weren't assuming I'd be the only one home when you said that," Joey said, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, or that you forgot which apartment you lived in," Ross added.

Chandler didn't respond, but only mumbled something and loosened his tie in frustration. Rachel climbed out of her chair and slowly walked to the counter. She rubbed Chandler's shoulder sympathetically. "Oh sweetie, is Mon still giving you a hard time?"

"Yeah," Chandler grumbled. "Get this – before I left for work this morning, she lectured me for seven straight minutes because my shoes weren't lined up. Seven! It was like listening to a monologue."

Rachel scrunched up her nose in thought. "Well, are you sure that means she's mad at you? I mean, it's probably just a Mon thing. She used to get mad at me when my shoes weren't in the closet too."

"That's the thing," he replied, waving his hands in exasperation. "Mine were in the closet. She was mad because they weren't hanging on their hooks all perfectly straight!"

"Oh wow, okay," Rachel conceded.

"I know what you mean," Ross said, as Rachel returned to her chair. "When we were younger, Mon used to yell at me if I moved the Twinkies to the shelf below the Twix because they wouldn't be in alphabetical order."

Chandler nodded acerbically. "Yeah, that's kind of the same thing. Except for the part where she's unreasonably taking out on you because you can't help her fulfill the one dream she's had her entire life and help put life into her womb."

There was a silence, in which Ross looked slightly hurt, Rachel looked slightly awkward, and Joey looked slightly confused.

"I'm sorry." Chandler let out a deep sigh and walked over to drop onto the arm of Rachel's lounger. "I know I shouldn't be mad at you guys. It's just – this whole thing's been putting me on edge too."

"It's okay, honey." Rachel was the first to speak. She took his hand and gave it a reassuring pat. "Here, why don't you sit – " she stood up to give him her seat " - and just have a beer with the guys or something? You've had a long day. I'll have dinner with Mon tonight."

"Thanks, Rach," Chandler replied gratefully. "Why are you so great? You see, you're never high maintenance and anal and ... I don't know, shrilly and stuff. Why can't all women be like you?" He laughed, half-jokingly.

But at the same time, Chandler realized, he was half-serious. Every time he hung out with Rachel, there was always a comforting, laid-back sort of air about it. There were never any expectations to act a certain way, no predispositions towards certain attitudes, no stress. And he never had to walk around on eggshells, worrying if, at any given time, he would say or do something wrong to set off the female time bomb.

An objective bystander would probably throw their hands up in confusion and say that, if so, he was crazy for willingly wanting to be with Monica instead of Rachel. Chandler realized this. Sure. He did. He even agreed with them. But what he would also tell these people was that he loved Monica. And if you loved someone that much, it was easy to love their imperfections. If that made him crazy, then, so be it.

Rachel blushed and scoffed modestly. "Pft, no." She paused briefly to consider the compliment. "Okay, well, you know – I do ask myself that sometimes."

"Well, thanks." Chandler smiled and tugged Rachel towards him.

Surprisingly, Rachel (almost instinctively) froze and leapt off the chair. "What are you doing?" she asked, voice guarded.

Chandler gave her a strange look. "Giving you a hug." He spoke so hesitantly that his answer sounded like a question. "Uh, I mean – is that okay with you, Sister Green?"

Rachel laughed awkwardly. "Oh, yeah. Yeah, okay." She shook her head in confusion and laughed again. "I don't know – why I – okay." She relented with a nervous smile and took a step into Chandler's arms.

Chandler pulled her in, resting his chin on her shoulder. Slowly, he could feel himself calming down, the anxiety that had inhabited and burdened him that entire day melting away. Time passed imperceptibly – it could've been seconds, minutes, hours. He was almost aware of every bone moving in Rachel's back – from her delicate shoulder blade beneath his right hand to where her spine ended at the curve of her lower back, beneath his left. He felt her chest rise and fall with every breath she took. He felt lighter than he had felt all day. He felt relief. He felt right. He felt-

- amazing.

"Uh, dude?" came Joey's voice, sounding very far away. "You maybe want to save some hugs for Ross and I?"

Chandler let go of Rachel, blinking himself back into reality. There was a brief moment when he met Rachel's gaze, but he looked away immediately, not waiting long enough to gauge her reaction.

"Uh yeah, man. Come here," Chandler sputtered, walking over to both Joey and Ross and pulling them into their usual, rough man-hugs.

"Well, all right then," Rachel exhaled breathily, clasping her hands together. "I'm gonna go check on Mon, maybe buy some dinner for her. You guys are welcome to come over anytime."

"Eh." "Kay." "See ya."

The three men were already moving back into their respective seats, putting their feet up, and switching on the TV.

Two of them didn't even notice when Rachel left, shutting the door behind her.

"Beer?"

"Thanks." Chandler took the bottle from Joey's extended hand and took a long, deep swig. The cold liquid traveled down his throat, permeating his stomach and entire body. It felt comforting. Calming. But when it came down to it, cold beer was only cold beer – paling in comparison to how he had felt when hugging Rachel. That was different.

As Chandler took another gulp and felt the alcohol travel through him, he realized that all of that with Rachel – whatever 'that' was, anyway – had to stop. He had to nip this in the bud, and fast.

All of it was starting to get overwhelming.


"Oh! Aren't you guys just so excited for Barbados?" Phoebe asked excitedly, as she, Rachel, and Monica took their usual seats on the Central Perk couch. "I can't wait!"

"Eh," Rachel shrugged, leaning back in her seat. "I could do without Ross's special VIP pass to Dino Lecture Land, though. I mean, having to attend his speech is enough; did he really have to get us into all the lectures?"

"I agree! It should be less paleontology, more… you know, lay by the beach-ology."

Rachel and Phoebe chatted some more while flagging down Gunther for some drinks.

"Are you all right, Mon?" Rachel asked, leaning towards her concernedly. "You've been kind of quiet."

Monica managed a small smile and said quietly, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just – I've decided that… well, I don't think I'm going to go to Barbados with you guys tomorrow."

"What?" Phoebe and Rachel both broke out in confused protest. "Why?" "Why, Mon?"

"I just – I don't feel like it's a good time." She looked down at her knees. "You know? Like I feel like I deserve some time to be appropriately mournful about all this. A vacation is too soon. I just don't feel like… being happy right now."

Phoebe opened her mouth to disagree, but Monica went on quickly, "Can you guys just respect my decision?" She smiled sadly. "That would be wonderful right now."

Rachel and Phoebe exchanged looks, and both smiled sympathetically at their heartbroken friend. "Oh honey, of course," Rachel insisted softly, embracing her. "Of course we can."


(A/N) How was it? I hope you liked it! As always, everyone is welcome to comment/review/question! Thanks so much for reading, and I'll update soon! :)