A/N- Wow! Thanks guys so much for all your feedback. I'm in utter shock at the response to this story. I hope you all enjoy this next part.

"Oh my god," she looked up at Ross in shock, "this is…I..." she shot up from her seat and started to pace, her hands gesturing wildly as she tried to take this in. "He loves me? Chandler? Since when? Why?"

"Mon," Ross interrupted her gently, "I don't have any answers as I only found out myself a couple of hours ago, ok?"

"This is huge," she murmured unfocussed, "this is huge."

"Do you like him?" Ross asked softly, trying to judge her reaction. He never liked to think too much about his little sister's love life but he had to push those feelings down. He wanted to see her and his best friend happy. He was very aware that that happiness probably rested in how he handled this conversation.

"I…I don't know," she collapsed back into her chair, her mind spinning.

"Look, it's a lot to take in," Ross comforted, "and it's late. I just thought you should know about this. I know it's big but just think about it for now. There's no pressure -if you like him let him know, if you don't, just be there for him as a friend until he manages to move past this. He doesn't know you even know and…I won't tell him for now."

If Chandler didn't know she knew his true feelings it would make things easier on him, Ross decided. There wouldn't be any awkwardness and Monica could have time to really think it all through before she talked to him.

Monica nodded slowly, still thinking. She knew she didn't like the thought of Chandler moving on; that had to mean something. She loved him, of course she did but could she see them as more? Could she see them as a couple? Being his girlfriend? Kissing him? Having –

"Mon?" Ross pulled her back to reality, "you ok?"

"Sure," she swallowed, "just thinking."

He nodded understandingly as he stood up suspecting his sister had a long night of thinking ahead of her. It would be worth it though, he was sure of that. "Take your time and if you need to talk I'm here," he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Monica nodded and watched as he left the apartment, letting out a breath; this was crazy. How had her life changed so quickly? Just half an hour ago everything was normal and now everything was different…uncertain. This was huge.

Chandler was her best friend, she couldn't afford to screw this up – that wouldn't be fair to either of them. She had decisions to make that could potentially change both their lives forever.

With a determined sigh, she stood up and headed to the apartment across the hall. Joey still hadn't returned so she was able to enter Chandler's bedroom with no awkward questions. She perched on the edge of his bed, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkened room. His presence always helped to calm her and she really needed that right now. She listened to his steady breathing and allowed it to relax her slightly.

Eyes adjusted, she was able to look at his outline and study him in a way she wouldn't be able to if he was awake. He looked so peaceful now, so relaxed but with an air of vulnerability around him. It crushed her to think of him suffering in silence. Of hurting so much that he felt drinking was his only escape. How long had he felt this way?

Part of her wished that he'd told her, had shared his feelings instead of keeping them inside and letting them tear him apart. Yet another part of her was glad he hadn't. At least now she had some time to think about it without accidently hurting him deeper. If she'd given Chandler the reaction she'd given Ross it would have hurt him. At least now she had some time to prepare.

Unconsciously, she reached out a hand to gently run through his hair, the lightest of touches. It was soft and she smiled slightly remembering his comments once about leave-in conditioner. The moment felt intimate, especially knowing what she did now.

Her eyes traced the contours of his face as she contemplated the idea of 'them'. Could she see herself in a relationship with Chandler? That was the question. The guy was gorgeous, she could easily admit that and he had amazing eyes…when they were open. She'd had a major crush on him when they'd first met, years ago, but once they became friends, neighbors, best friends she'd never let herself or her thoughts go back there, she couldn't. She hadn't let herself consider being attracted to him and now suddenly she could...it was lot to take in.

She loved him. She knew that. How easy was it to cross the barrier and become 'in-love', especially after all this time? He was always so caring and kind towards her, even if he often hid it with sarcasm. Whenever the world (or her mother) was against her, it was always him who sought her out and made it his personal mission to cheer her up. He was always there for her and whatever happened she didn't want to lose that.

Would any potential relationship be worth the risk of losing her best friend?

She heard the apartment door open and keys being thrown onto the counter. There were no voices so Joey must have come back alone or be in a heavy make-out session. Once the tv was switched on she realized it was the first scenario so she had to emerge now or face being stuck here all night with some embarrassing questions in the morning.

Leaning forward, she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. Wrinkling her nose slightly at the alcohol she could smell on his breath – a reminder of what he'd gone through tonight. She suddenly felt very protective of him and vowed that she wouldn't hurt him; wouldn't let anyone hurt him.

Knowing she couldn't put it off much longer, she stood up, having one last look at the sleeping man before she pushed open his bedroom door, closing it quietly behind her.

"Monica?" Joey asked confused, "what's going on?"

"Chandler passed out from drinking – I just wanted to check he was alright before I went to bed." It wasn't a complete lie and she was grateful when Joey accepted her excuse.

"Chandler got wasted?" he asked surprised, "what was the occasion?"

"I'm not sure," unconsciously she tucked a loose piece of dark hair behind her ear, "I ran into Ross carrying him back."

"Huh," Joey shrugged, "he's not gonna be pretty in the morning."

"Keep an eye on him Joe," Monica ordered softly, "make sure he's ok."

Joey frowned slightly, trying to work out if there was something behind Monica's request but she was already out of the door. She entered her apartment quietly hoping that Rachel was still out.

"Hey!" She wasn't. "How was your date? Didn't I tell you he was cute?"

Monica shrugged non-committedly her thoughts still on Chandler. It was hard to wrench her mind away from something so important and onto that failed date that now seemed so long ago. Yes, the date guy had been cute but then so was Chandler; she pictured Chandler's face, blue eyes and tousled hair…

"Monica?"

"Huh?" Monica blinked, focusing on Rachel at the table, "oh right, yeah, he was cute but he isn't quite right."

"What?" Rachel asked surprised; she'd thought her matchmaking skills had flourished this time, "what do you mean?"

Monica winced trying to find a way to tell Rachel her date sucked, without hurting her feelings. "He was nice," Monica ventured although her mind brought the image of Chandler to the front of her mind. He was nice too. Very nice.

"Just nice? Where did he take you?"

"That new Italian place that just opened."

"Ooh lovely."

It should have been; it was an upmarket place. The lights had been low, romantic music in the background and there'd been a candle at the table bathing them in a flickering light. With the right man it would have been very romantic. With Ted, it really hadn't been. She couldn't stop her mind replacing the memory with an image of Chandler sitting there across the table from her. Could she imagine going to nice restaurants with him? Would he be romantic? She pictured his smiling face being lit by a flickering flame, herself smiling back, holding his hand; the two of them being lost in their own little world, just the two of them.

"What's with you tonight?" Rachel's annoyed voice broke her out of her musings.

"Nothing," she lied. She couldn't tell this to Rachel, it wouldn't be fair to Chandler. No, this was between him and her….and Ross. "I'm just very tired. Think I'm gonna head off to bed."

"O-k," she could tell Rachel didn't believe her but thankfully she didn't ask any further questions.

Monica made it into her bedroom, closing the door and leaning back against it heavily.

She couldn't believe what she'd found out tonight. Her head was a whirl of thousands of different thoughts and images and what ifs. Her and Chandler. Chandler and her.

With a sigh she started getting ready for bed. She suspected she wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight. It promised to be a long confusing night ahead of her...

TBC...