"Wow," it was Chandler's turn to swallow, running a hand through his hair, "I had no idea. I'm so sorry man, I wasn't thinking straight. I just…"

"Hey, I understand," Joey promised. "I get it, ok. I just wanted you to know how worried she was. So, uh, where did you go last night?"

That was a good question. His memories were somewhat fuzzy still; he seemed to recall darkened streets, nameless buildings and the river Thames being the backdrop to last night's anguish.

"I walked around a lot," he winced, "don't ask me where as I've no clue. I drank a bit too much, smoked a bit too much and then by some miracle found my way back here and crashed in another hotel room. I just needed space. I didn't even think for a second that you guys would be worrying about me; I hadn't even contemplated it."

"London's not exactly the safest place to be wandering the streets," Joey pointed out. "And in the state you were in… I'm just glad you're ok, man."

"Thanks," he swallowed, looking down for a moment. "Oh, um, apparently I booked my room for two nights so I was thinking of just crashing there again tonight if that's cool? I need an early one and…"

"Yeh! That's awesome!"

Chandler raised an eyebrow at Joey's enthusiasm causing the Italian to look a little sheepish.

"See, originally I was gonna get with Felicity and I saw her this morning and she's still interested. She was telling me about things we could do with strawberries and now that the party has finished early I was thinking…well, that she could teach me to like fruit."

Chandler couldn't help but chuckle. Joey would always be Joey and he was fine with that. More than fine with that.

"I'll get out of your hair then," he grinned standing up.

"You don't have to go now," Joey protested. "Do you see any British chicks or strawberries?"

"It's fine," Chandler promised with a smile. "I kinda wanna talk to Monica anyhow, plus see how Rachel's doing with everything."

Joey nodded as Chandler turned, "hey," Joey called taking a couple of steps towards him and pulling him into a man hug.

Chandler grinned hugging back for a moment, "we're ok," he promised slapping his back. Joey nodded and stepped away.

"See ya later," he promised to which Chandler grinned and nodded before leaving.

Chandler leant back against the door, closing his eyes for a moment. He was so relieved that it had gone ok, but now there was a new guilt. He felt guilty for causing them to suffer; especially her. It was ironic that they'd both had the night from hell yesterday, unknowingly caused by each other.

The time for pain and guilt was over. He was determined to talk to her and find a way that they could forgive and forget last night and move forwards, hopefully together.

Chandler knocked lightly on Monica's door, pleased when she pulled it open and ushered him inside. Rachel was sat in the middle of the bed talking on the phone. His eyes fell back to Monica and noticed that she had changed out of the red dress and into jeans and a more casual top. She still looked beautiful to him.

He smiled at her. She smiled at him.

"Well, I'm telling you, it might have meant something," Rachel argued with whoever was on the other end of the line, "he's been obsessed with me since 9th grade. Who knows exactly when it started but…"

"Phoebe," Monica whispered to him and he nodded. That made sense. "She's already been on for 15 minutes and I'm pretty sure she's using my phone-line."

Chandler couldn't help but let out a little laugh. After everything that had happened this weekend, after everything that was still happening this weekend, he loved that this was what she focused on.

"Don't ever change, Mon," he grinned and she grinned back, unsure if he was just making fun of her.

"No, it's just Chandler," he heard Rachel say and he merely shrugged a little, well used to being 'just Chandler' as far as the girls were concerned. Although, he desperately prayed that he'd paid his dues and luck was going to change for him and he'd be more than 'just Chandler' for one of the girls. "She wants to speak with you."

Chandler frowned as Rachel held out the phone, contemplating for the briefest of moments not taking it from her. He wasn't looking forward to this. Joey had said that Phoebe had been consoling Monica last night. She must know everything and probably wasn't the most pleased with him. Swallowing, he braced himself and took a few steps over to the side of the bed and reluctantly took the receiver, standing somewhat awkwardly.

"Hey Pheebs," he greeted, trying to sound as casual and relaxed as possible. He didn't pull it off. "H-how are you?"

"Stressed from all this drama!" Phoebe complained down the phone. "This is the last time I let the 5 of you go away by yourselves. It's caused me nothing but trouble and believe me the 3 babies are doing enough of that by themselves. And don't even get me started on the Duck's behaviour."

"Sorry Pheebs," he answered automatically.

"You should be," she grumbled. "So how are you?" she questioned. "Have you sorted everything out with Joey and Monica? You aren't gonna go AWOL again right? Cause I swear I will walk to London and –"

"I'm not going anywhere," Chandler promised chastened. "Everything's fine now."

"Really?" She sounded surprised. "So are you sure? You're a known flight risk and-"

"I'm not leaving the hotel tonight. I promise."

"Do you even know how worried we were?" she continued as if he hadn't spoken. "You shouldn't worry a pregnant lady, what if the stress had caused my waters to break and the herd to be born early?"

Herd?

"Um…"

"Who would have got me down the stairs? What if-"

"Pheebs? You're breaking up," he lied interrupting her, "Oh Pheebs? Pheebs? I cant hear...gone." He hung up and turned to face the girls. "Must have been a tunnel," he shrugged with a boyish smile.

"Chandler, I hadn't finished talking to her," Rachel complained unamused, as Monica grinned and silently mouthed a 'thank you' on behalf of her phone bill.

"Sorry," he lied again. "So, how are you doing, Rachel?" he changed the subject, studying her with a critical eye. She seemed to look a little better than she had this morning, although that may have just been because he was in a better place. The whole world looked just that little bit brighter now he had some hope.

"I'm fine," she shrugged, still obviously a little annoyed by the whole Phoebe thing.

He raised a skeptical eyebrow at her and she sighed in defeat.

"Ok, so it's been a weird day," she admitted, "and Ross got married to the British chippy," Chandler blinked in surprise by the term but remained silent as Rachel continued on, "but he said my name. My name. His current wife isn't talking to him and he said my name at the altar. I think it all means something."

"It might," Chandler shrugged honestly, as he remembered Ross' gaze on her before the ceremony started. He'd thought at the time it might mean something.

"What?" Monica asked surprised. "You honestly think that?"

"I'm just saying it's possible," he held his hands up in defense as he shrugged. "But he did get married and knowing Ross he's going to do everything to try and save his marriage. Sorry Rach."

She nodded, sensing the truth in his words. Her eyes shone with unshed tears and Chandler looked away. This morning they'd both been in the same horrible, miserable place. He felt almost guilty now that he wasn't there anymore; that he had that little bit of hope to hold onto and had abandoned her alone in hell.

"Sorry," he murmured again and she looked up meeting his honest eyes and she understood what he was saying.

"Don't be," Rachel shook her head. "I'm gonna be ok. I know he's married but I don't feel we're over."

"He's married, Rach," Monica insisted.

"I know," Rachel stated, "and I'm not going to do anything while he's married but I'm gonna hold on to my gut feeling that tells me he won't be married for long."

Chandler couldn't disagree with that. It certainly wasn't sounding like the start of a good marriage.

"I-"

The phone started to ring and all three looked at it. Despite being the furthest from the receiver it was Monica that walked over and picked it up.

"Hello? Oh, hi Phoebe."

"Hey," Rachel whispered to Chandler. "I'm glad it's working out for one of us at least."

Chandler offered her a shy smile, "thanks," he nodded in appreciation of her strength. "I wish it could work out for both of us."

"Thanks," she touched his arm briefly, "and thanks for helping me get through this morning. Part of me wasn't even sure I could go through with the ceremony."

This morning. He couldn't believe how much had changed since then. How much everything had changed.

"We helped each other," Chandler promised and she nodded in agreement.

"Go talk to Monica," Rachel insisted. "I'll chat with Phoebe and then get an early night."

Chandler was about to argue when Monica held the phone out to Rachel.

"She's wants to talk to you again."

"Thanks," Rachel took the phone from her, "and Chandler wants to talk to you so I'll see you later."

"Ok," Monica rubbed her arm briefly before turning to face Chandler with a bright smile.

"Aren't you worried about your phone bill?" he whispered as Rachel started up the conversation where she'd left off…at 9th grade.

"Nope," Monica grinned as she started to head out of the room, "she's over at yours with the chick and duck."

Chandler groaned as he followed her out. Just great.

"So," Monica said after a few moments of silence, "do you fancy going for a walk or a drink or-"

"I'm never drinking again," Chandler deadpanned. "I may very well go teetotal after this weekend."

She chuckled, nudging his shoulder with hers, "I'll believe that when I see it."

He smiled back at her, his blue eyes sparkling as he remembered their almost kiss.

"How about we just go back to my room?" he winced as he realized just how that sounded. "I mean, not to do that just to talk and hangout. See, I did enough walking around London last night and I don't know about you but I'm still recovering and London's busy and noisy and-"

"Chandler," she stopped walking to turn and face him. Her hands coming to rest on his arms, her fingers lightly stroking the shirt-covered skin, causing goosebumps in their wake. He looked questioningly at her, trying to ignore the sensations coursing through him. "Your room sounds great."

"Ok," his face broke into a blinding smile as his eyes ran over her face, "great."

He continued to stare at her, her fingers continued to slowly torture him as she stared back. He swallowed, his arms coming to her waist, his fingers at her hips. His thumbs gently returned the favor, brushing lightly against the bare skin that was exposed between her top and jeans. He watched her swallow and memories of their almost kiss filled his mind. His breathing quickened and he tugged her gently bringing her closer. Her hands slid up his arm and around his neck, her fingers teasing his hair. It felt so good. He closed his eyes in anticipation.

But, the moment was broken as some over-hyped up kids came running down the corridor, practically bouncing off the walls and barging past the couple.

"See," Chandler murmured quietly, swallowing hard as he stepped away, "London is busy and noisy."

"Sure," she chuckled, running a hand through her hair, she looked a little flush. After composing herself, she looped her arm in his. He couldn't help but smile at her, loving how comfortable they were with each other. How strong their friendship was. They had a lot to talk about. He knew this was going to be an important conversation, one of the most important in his life. He wanted to apologize for last night, heal both their wounds and then talk about the future.

Their future. He was pretty confident after that, that she wanted the same thing.

He swallowed, butterflies starting to flutter in his stomach as he realized this was it. This was really it.

"Come on," she tugged lightly on his arm, breaking him out of his musings, "we better get to that room of yours before we get interrupted again," she started to walk down the corridor.

"Yes ma'am," he grinned, the butterflies instantly leaving his stomach as he allowed himself to be tugged along.

This may be it, but with Monica, it didn't seem half as scary as it should.

TBC...

A/N- I promise the talk is coming soon! Again, thanks so much for reading and reviewing. Each one is much appreciated.