Chandler was brought to consciousness by a knocking sound. He frowned, somewhat confused.

"Hey," he heard seconds later as Joey walked into his room. "Woah, Monica? What's she doing here?"

Chandler's eyes shot open and he looked over at the woman next to him. It hadn't been a dream.

"She couldn't sleep," Monica answered tiredly, "so I hung out with Chandler and must have fallen asleep."

"Oh," Joey shrugged easily. He was well aware of how close the two of them were; they were Monica and Chandler.

"Did you want something, Joe?" Chandler asked with a yawn.

"Yeah," he sounded down. Immediately Chandler was more awake and sharing a glance with Monica.

"You ok?" she asked.

"Kathy dumped me," he sighed sitting on the edge of Chandler's bed; he missed the looks being exchanged by the other occupants of the room.

"When?" Chandler asked.

"This morning," he sighed, "she said she couldn't see this going anywhere."

"I'm sorry," Chandler offered with a wince.

"Are you ok?" Monica asked gently, leaning over to stroke his arm.

"Yeah, I guess," he shrugged. "I mean, it's not like we'd been going out for long but I really liked her."

"Sorry Joey," she sighed, "but look at it this way. You enjoy being single right?"

"I guess," he pouted.

"And you like getting to date lots of different women and sleeping with them?"

"Hell yeh!" He grinned.

"Then don't give that up for just anybody," Monica advised. "I know you wanted a relationship but it has to be with the right person. Don't stop enjoying the benefits of being single and getting to play the field, unless it's for the right woman. Kathy wasn't the right one and it's better to find out now instead of months down the line…think of all the women you'd miss out on."

"Yeah, I guess," he seemed a lot brighter and Chandler swallowed, looking down. He was always amazed at how naturally Monica could give good advice but at the same time he was a little worried that the speech had also been for his benefit. Did she enjoy being single and didn't want to throw that away on him?

"How about you go shower and give me a chance to wake up. I'll go cook your favorite chocolate and syrup pancakes?"

"With cream?" he looked excited.

"Sure, why not?"

"That sounds amazing," he beamed, jumping up from the bed, "thanks guys."

He left quickly, oblivious to the tension he left behind him.

"So…" Chandler offered, wetting his lips and trying to think of how to start this conversation.

"I know I keep asking this," Monica knew exactly how she wanted this conversation to start, "and I promise this is the last time I'll mention her, but with Kathy now being available, does that change anything?"

"No," Chandler answered quickly, confident of the answer. All he'd thought about and dreamt about last night was the woman beside him.

He watched as a smile broke out on her face and he couldn't help but answer with one of his own.

"Thanks," she sounded almost shy, "I won't bring it up again."

"It's ok," he reassured her. "I can understand. So how are you doing? Managed to get some sleep?"

"Yeah," she grinned stretching, not noticing his eyes following the bottom of her sweater as it lifted with her, revealing a flash of skin. "I slept really well, thank you. What about you? Sorry I burst in like that."

"I told you, you're welcome here anytime," he promised, "whatever you decide."

She swallowed, looking down and nodded. She knew she had a decision looming over her but when she was with him like this it was easy to forget.

"Thanks," she smiled, before glancing around his bedroom. "I guess I should be going, those pancakes won't cook themselves."

He offered a tug of a smile as he stood up as well.

"What are you going to tell Rachel?" he asked curiously.

"The truth," she shrugged, "I already told her about our talk yesterday."

"Really?" he asked surprised.

"Of course, she came rushing out the second you left wanting to know what was going on."

"Aren't you worried she'll tell people?" he asked. "I don't want everyone knowing this. I don't want to go down the public entertainment route that she and Ross did."

"I know," she reassured coming around the bed to stand in front of him, placing her hands on his chest. The t-shirt was soft and warm under her fingers, "and it won't. She won't tell anyone," he raised his eyebrows unconvinced so she continued, "when it's an important secret she never tells. She likes gossip and drama but never with the serious stuff. She'll keep it a secret."

"Ok," he swallowed, having stopped listening to her. He wasn't able to concentrate with her so close, her hands on his chest. They were in their sleepwear, in his bedroom and it would be so easy to just claim her lips right now. To kiss her and lead her back to his bed and try to convince her in an entirely different way that they'd be so good together.

Whether it was something in his eyes or if she felt it too, she just stared at him, her gaze dropping down to his lips. He held his breath.

"Can I kiss you?" she whispered softly. She didn't want to risk hurting him further but right now she desperately wanted to see what it would be like to kiss him properly. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest and she wondered if they'd have as much chemistry between them as she suspected.

Unable to speak he simply nodded. He told himself to keep breathing as she leaned closer. He was determined to use all the self-restraint he had to let her lead and set the pace. He felt her breath against his lips and closed his eyes as she started to close the gap between them.

Their lips met and he groaned softly. He'd dreamt of this moment for so long and it was so much better in reality. He felt her press her lips harder, more demanding as her hands moved up his chest and around his neck.

He met her touch for touch, matching her pressure and passion, still desperately trying to let her set the pace. When she deepened the kiss though, he didn't hold back anymore; he couldn't. His arms wrapped around her petite waist pulling her tight against him, her quiet moan doing something to his insides. It was passionate, thrilling and he couldn't get enough of her.

Eventually, the need to breathe caused them to pull apart. He kept his arms around her as he took her in post-kiss. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide and sparkling, hair mussed as she tried to get her breath back. She'd never looked so beautiful.

"Wow," she smiled looking up at him, her eyes sparkling, "that answers that question."

Knowing he was probably crossing a line but not caring, he brought one of his hands up to run through her short-hair, trying to make it slightly less disheveled. With no complaints coming, he let his fingers linger in the soft strands before grazing an ear. His hand then gently moved to trace a flushed cheek before gently caressing her neck.

He felt her swallow before they mutually leant forward and shared another kiss. Their lips crashed together in an explosion of passion. It felt so good and so right, that he needed all his will-power to pull away and not try to take it any further. He knew she didn't want to rush things and he was pretty certain sleeping together before a first date wouldn't be considered 'going slow'.

He stepped away, physical distance helping as he ran a hand through his own mussed hair. "Sorry," he whispered slightly, "you, uh, were saying something about a question?"

She smiled at him tenderly. She loved the bed-head look on him, loved the intimacy of being in his bedroom in casual nightwear at this time in the morning. She loved that none of this felt weird or awkward. That had to be a sign; a good sign. She couldn't imagine being like this with any other guy.

"Mon?"

"Huh?" she realized she'd zoned out.

"Questions? Answers?" he prompted, "What did you mean?"

"Oh," she blushed, "it answered the chemistry question; I think it's safe to say we have that base covered."

Chandler smiled nodding, desperately trying not to think of the other bases he'd love to get to with her.

"Right," she visibly pulled herself together, "I really need to go. I'll see you in a bit?"

"Yeh," he grinned softly, watching as she left his room.

He groaned flopping back onto his bed. He knew she hadn't promised anything and this could still turn into nothing. Getting used to sleeping next to her and sharing kisses would only make her rejection that much harder. He definitely couldn't risk having sex with her, having a glimpse of how perfect it could all be and then have it ripped away.

No, he didn't think he'd be able to rebuild himself after that.

Scrubbing a hand across his face he forced himself to get up and wander into the living room. He saw Joey sitting in one of the patio chairs, the chick and duck next to him. It was then he decided he needed to be honest with his roommate; he didn't want this Kathy-thing ever coming back to haunt him.

His friendship with Joey was too important.

They had to talk.

TBC...

A/N- thank you all so much for the reviews. Each one is much appreciated :o)