A/N - thanks for all of you that have reviewed this story - each have been a great motivator. Please continue to let me know what you think :o)

The door to the honeymoon suite suddenly opened, causing four pairs of eyes to snap to it. A lone figure emerged. Emily. It was clear she'd been crying, possibly still was. Her whole demeanor was one of sadness and instantly Chandler's heart went out to her. What was meant to have been the happiest time in her life clearly wasn't.

She wheeled her suitcase out and then froze, looking up and seeing them all for the first time as they scrambled to their feet. She took a deep breath and walked closer to them.

"I guess it's good he has you all to look after him," she murmured. She sounded weak and exhausted, a different person to who they'd met back in America. "I suppose this is goodbye," she continued, confirming their fears.

He felt Monica tense and he offered a reassuring hand on her back as she stepped around him to face her 'soon to be a stranger' sister-in-law.

"I'm sorry," Monica offered and pulled her into a brief hug. Emily stayed fairly rigid in her embrace but her face showed she was grateful for the small attempt at comfort.

"Thank you," Emily almost tried to smile before turning her gaze to all of them. "Thank you for letting me into your little group for a short while. Take care of yourselves."

They all offered her similar sentiments as she turned and left. They watched her roll her suitcase until she disappeared around the corner and out of their lives.

Chandler turned to look at Rachel, trying to decipher the emotions on her face. Sadness tainted with hope. Love. He tried to think of something to say but was pulled from his attempts as Monica headed determinedly into her brother's room. As much as he wanted to comfort Rachel, to make up for yesterday, his priority had to be Monica right now. She was upset and needed to be there for her brother. And he needed to be there for her.

As he turned to follow he saw Rachel and Joey also heading in. He decided to hang back for just a second.

"You ok?" he whispered as Rachel came close to him.

"Yeah," she whispered back, pausing slightly so Joey could enter the room first, leaving her outside with Chandler. "I'm not gonna jump the guy straight after this…but this gives me my bit of hope. I can talk to him, I can offer to wait, let him know what I feel...I don't know...there's hope for the future and that's enough right now."

He smiled and pulled her into a brief hug. He knew from experience how much difference that little piece of hope could make. No matter what happened between his two friends, this way they would have a chance, if they both wanted it.

"Come on," he murmured pulling her through the door way.

They had to help Ross right now and try to find a way for him to find his little piece of hope in this moment of darkness.

The man in question was sitting on the large couch, looking the exact opposite of hopeful. He looked completely in despair as Monica sat next to him, a hand on his back and arm, trying to comfort him. Why couldn't this weekend offer just one moment when all the friends were happy together? It felt so cruel the way it kept offering hope to one of them whilst ripping it from another. It was horrible that one of the best things to ever happen to Chandler in his life, happened in the middle of all this pain and anguish. Some silver-lining.

"It's over," Ross announced, as they all gathered around the couch, forming a small half circle, a protective bubble against the world. "My marriage is over."

They all murmured their condolences.

"She wants a divorce?" Rachel asked. To her credit she sounded only concerned for her friend, no traces of excitement or happiness leaking through.

"We're going to look into whether we can get an annulment," Ross informed them, pain evident in his voice. "We talked and talked but the bottom line is the trust is gone. She can't trust me and doesn't want our marriage to be like that and I agree. Neither of us want her to be one of those wives that has to know where her husband is 24/7 and know who he's hanging out with. She doesn't want to be controlling and doesn't want to be married with no trust. It would never have worked. We haven't really known each other long enough to have the strength to move past this, so we both agreed it's for the best. There's no point trying to drag it out if the foundations aren't there. It would just make it harder, more painful."

He sighed heavily and Monica squeezed his arm as a sadness settled over the room.

"I'm sorry, Ross," she offered.

"Thanks," he sighed. "It's all just so surreal...I can't actually believe this is happening."

"Is there anything we can do, buddy?" Joey asked, clearly gutted for their friend.

"No, I don't think so," he shook his head glumly. "I just want to go home, you know. Go back to New York and see Ben and spend some time with him. See Phoebe and mom and dad and just try to remind myself that what I have is pretty good."

They all nodded in agreement until Ross' face changed suddenly. Uh huh.

"Man, I can't even do that!" he realized, sadness merging into frustration, "I don't have a plane ticket home. I'm gonna have to go to the airport and change my ticket and then be put on some standby list, probably for hours. Who knows how long it will be until I get a seat? I just want to be home. I don't want to be in this stupid country anymore."

Chandler studied his friend for a moment before his gaze fell and settled on Monica. He had been looking forward to the 6 hour flight, being next to her and getting to hold hands; to be able to get to spend some alone time before they got back to the chaos of every day life. Then they'd get to start the new chapter in their lives and he'd get to experience being her boyfriend. Spoiling her rotten and reaping the rewards.

He couldn't wait to begin his life with her.

But, he knew Ross' need to escape, he understood it only too well. He had felt it a couple of nights ago, the need to be comforted by home. He'd majorly let Ross down this weekend and this was the one thing he could do to try and help. He didn't hesitate.

"Take my ticket," he said, causing everyone to look at him.

"What?" Ross asked after a beat.

"Take my ticket," Chandler repeated, "that way you'll be on a flight to New York within a couple of hours."

Silence.

"Really?" Ross eventually asked, still unsure. "You're serious?"

"Sure," he shrugged easily, "I've got the rest of the week off work anyhow, so I can wait around. Hey, I can keep Rachel company at the airport...it feels like ages since we've hung out and talked," he joked lamely, before turning to look seriously at Ross,"just take the ticket Ross, you should be at home, with your family."

Another moment went by and Chandler watched his friend and waited.

He didn't have to wait long. The first genuine smile, in what felt like days, slowly spread across his slightly-stubbed face.

"Thanks man, that's so...I can't believe you'd do that for me," Ross stood up and enthusiastically clapped his shoulder.

"It's no problem," Chandler promised smiling, his eyes shooting to the other Geller.

She was looking at him with gratitude but also with a small hint of regret mixed in. He offered her a small smile and a nod of understanding; she must have been looking forward to starting this thing too. Still, a few hours or days wouldn't make that much difference. He'd waited a long time for this to happen. He could wait a little longer. He was a patient man.

"Why don't you swap with me, Mon?" Rachel suddenly suggested, her eyes communicating all kind of things that she wasn't verbally. "I'll go back with Ross and comfort him and then you can hang around with Chandler. Hell, you don't even have to stay in the airport, you could always spend a couple more nights in romantic London before heading back."

Chandler rolled his eyes, well aware of what Rachel was trying to do. Just because she wanted to spend some time with Ross didn't mean Monica had to be pushed aside. Monica was great at giving advice and would be a rock for her brother. He also resisted pointing out that he'd already paid for 2 hotel rooms this trip, his and Joey's flights, no doubt a hefty phonebill courtesy of Phoebe and now, on top of all that, he had to pay for changing his flight. He could do without paying for extra holiday days.

"Hey," Ross suddenly said looking between Chandler and Monica, "why don't you guys go to Greece?"

Huh. He hadn't expected that.

"What?" they asked in unison.

"Why Greece?" Joey asked confused. Opps, looks like neither of them had paid much attention to Ross' wedding plans.

"What was meant to be my honeymoon," Ross clarified. "It's all paid for."

"What?" Rachel asked, pissed that she was missing out on a free trip to Greece.

"What are you talking about?" Monica asked confused.

Chandler decided to stay quiet and let the siblings sort this out between them for the moment. It would be safer that way.

"I think you should use my tickets, both of you," he insisted.

"Are you serious? It's your honeymoon, Ross."

"Was my honeymoon, Monica," he corrected, "Look, I'm happy that you guys have got together, I am, but right now I could do without it being in my face. Go to Greece and be all lovey-dovey as much as you wanna be...without me having to see it."

That certainly held some appeal.

"But don't you want to go and clear your head and take a break?" Monica asked gently.

"No," Ross shook his head adamantly, "I just wanna go home."

Chandler watched as Ross' eyes fell to Rachel for a moment before settling back on Monica. He was sure there was something there in that look. Maybe Rachel was Ross' little bit of hope? Sure, it would take Ross time to heal from all this but if he had Rachel, maybe, just maybe, he had a chance at his own silver-lining.

"But don't you want us with you?" Monica asked softly. "I don't want to leave you when you're going through something like this."

"I'm a big boy and it's just a week. Besides, I've got the others," again his eyes flicked over to Rachel for a fleeting second. "Honestly, go, have your honeymoon stage in Athens. Please? It seems a shame for it to go to waste and it can be a thank you for letting me and Rachel have your plane tickets."

Chandler watched as Monica worried her lip before looking over at him with a raised eyebrow. He gestured towards the bedroom and the privacy door and she nodded.

"Two minutes," she told the others as they entered the bedroom, closing the doors as firmly as they could, given their fliminess.

"So?" she asked as she turned to face him. "What do you think?"

Chandler shrugged slightly.

"I'm tempted," he admitted. "A week with you in Greece?" He smiled endearingly, his hands coming to rub her upper arms. "That would be simply amazing."

"It would be nice to have some privacy as we adjust to this," she considered. "A week with no nosey friends, no dramas, just us…" he could tell she was warming to the idea, as her hands came to rest on his chest. "But I don't have anything to wear. I packed for London weather, not Athens."

She always seemed to have her practical head on.

"I wouldn't have a problem with you being naked the whole time," he winked cheekily, leaning in for a kiss, savoring the feeling of her soft lips on his. She returned the kiss, her arms moving around his neck as she pressed herself against him. God, he could get used to this.

"Gross! You're meant to be talking, not doing that."

They broke apart to face Ross. Opps.

"Sorry," Chandler mumbled, though he wasn't at all. He didn't think he could ever be sorry for kissing Monica. It just felt so right, so good..

"Did you talk at all?" Ross questioned.

Um...

"Yep," Monica promised as he nodded, "we're going to Greece!"

Chandler couldn't help but smile. A week in the sun with Monica; this had real potential and he couldn't wait.

"Great," Ross smiled, oviously pleased. "And thanks again for letting us use your tickets home. I really needed this."

Chandler nodded in understanding as Monica pulled her brother into a hug. Moments later Joey and Rachel entered the bedroom.

"So?" Rachel asked coming to stand by Chandler. "What's the verdict?"

"We're going on a little vacation," he confirmed grinning from ear to ear, before lowering his voice, "and you get to have Ross all to yourself to sort out stuff."

She let out a relieved breath, "thank you," she smiled pulling him into a tight hug.

"No worries," he promised in her ear. "I glad it's working out for both of us."

She nodded against his shoulder, glad to have a second chance.

"I wanna hug," Joey suddenly protested loudly.

He came to stand inbetween the two hugging pairs, putting one arm around each, turning it into what could only be described as a weird group hug. They stayed like that for a long moment.

It was Monica who pulled away first.

"Right, well we better all get ready," she suggested. "Is everyone packed?"

"Um…"

"Joey!" she scolded.

"I'm going, I'm going," he muttered, rolling his eyes and throwing a pointed look to Chandler before leaving the room. Chandler just grinned happily. He knew she was going to be high maintenance, but he loved it.

"You've got 15 minutes Tribbiani!" she called after him before turning to her next victim. "Rachel?"

"Don't worry, I'm packed," she promised, "I really didn't come with much, it was sorta spare of the moment."

"I'm glad you came," Ross admitted quietly.

Chandler watched the looks passing between them.

"Wanna help me with the bags?" Rachel asked Ross pointedly and he happily agreed. "See you guys out front in a bit."

He watched them leave before Monica turned to him and he automatically smiled as he embraced her. He leant down so their foreheads were touching.

"I'm packed," he informed her softly and she chuckled just as softly.

"You barely took anything out of your suitcase," she pointed out to which he shrugged slightly, still grinning stupidly. God, he was so happy. He couldn't believe how much could change over one weekend.

"You know," he murmured, almost conversationally, "we have 15 minutes to spare and an empty honeymoon suite..."

"We can't do that!" she laughed, knowing exactly what he was suggesting.

"Why not?" He questioned, pressing forward and capturing her lips with his. His hands seductively started to stroke her back as he deepened the kiss.

She pulled away a fraction.

"What about the others?" she breathed against his lips.

He couldn't resist claiming her lips again in another passionate kiss.

"If they walk in on us, we'll have a week to get over the embarrassment," he pointed out inbetween kisses.

Hearing no further protests, he started walking her back towards the bed. His hands fumbling with her clothing, feeling her doing the same.

As they tumbled onto the unused sheets, Chandler reflected once again about this crazy weekend they'd experienced in London. It had been a rollercoaster with dramatic highs and equally dramatic lows. Tears of sadness combined with tears of happiness and joy. He would never have predicted it would turn out like this. Never.

Monica giggled beneath him and he beamed down at her, knowing instantly that it was all worth it. Every moment of it. Even that night of pure hell that had broken his heart and tortured his soul...he'd voluntarily live through it again, a hundreds times more, if it meant he got to have this; got to have her.

Her. Monica.

Despite everything, his memories of London would be happy ones. Very happy ones.

Now, they just had to make some happy memories in Greece...

TBC...

Well that's the last proper chapter. But the chapter titles wouldn't be complete without a 'My Fair Lady' epilogue. I'm almost finished writing it and can confirm it's pure sappy Mondler mush.