The one with the secret

Chapter 4

The following days seemed to fly past, with Rachel knowing things had become easier for Monica and chandler to work at their relationship, although there wasn't really much to 'work on' as such. Unlike Joey, Rachel was happy to see the couple's public displays of affection and so, didn't mind them cozying up on the sofa or anything else.

One evening, chandler lay across the sofa talking to Rachel, waiting for Monica to come home.

"Hey guys." Monica said as she peeped her head through the door. Immediately, chandler sprung up from his position and headed over to meet her with a welcoming kiss.

"I missed you, how come you were late?" Chandler asked while holding his arms around her waist.

"I'm sorry, I was running late in the kitchen."

An understanding smile swept across chandlers face as he leant in for a kiss once again. Rachel had learnt to accept their PDA now and continued her viewing of the television while Monica and chandler stood by the front door, lost in their passionate kiss.

Without realising, someone had started pushing open the door behind them,

"Hello?! Something's blocking the door here!"

"One second!" Rachel replied, while running towards the door and pulling Monica and chandler apart in the process. "Hey Ross." She emphasised the Ross part so the other two had time to compose themselves. Both decided it was best to head for the sofa.

"Are you gonna let me in?" Ross asked with a tone of both annoyance and confusion.

"Oh right, yeah." Rachel replied while checking the couple were ok behind her. Knowing they were, she opened the door further letting Ross in.

"What was with that rach? First you block the door then you don't want to let me in?!"

"No! No!" Rachel started clearly deciding upon her lie in her head. "I was um," oh crap she thought.

"She was in her bedroom!" Monica interrupted.

"But what about the door?"

"Well that was this chair!" Ross looked at chandler confused. "That chair even! I was standing on a kitchen chair so that I could catch the... Spider that was on the ceiling. We know how much you hate spiders so I didn't want to let you in until it was gone."

"Awwwww! That is so nice of you! But you do realise I don't actually hate spiders." Ross smiled.

"Well now we do! Ha ha ha." Chandler did his best fake laugh and turned away from the Ross.

"So," Ross said as he sat down, "Where are the others?"

"Well Joey went to and audition," chandler started, "but he should be back by now. And I'm pretty sure Phoebe is on a date."

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Some time later, the six friends were back at apartment 20 watching a film. As the film finished Phoebe headed home after yet another terrible date. At the same time, Ross decided to head to bed after a long day at work and crossed the hallway. Fortunately, this left only those who knew.

Monica's PoV
I love him don't I? I really do. It's been over three months and I feel like I've been with him forever. Usually in relationships you don't see it going on forever, in your head you imagine scenarios where you break up, but I can't do that with chandler. Whenever we argue, after barely an hour we make up again. Then there's the make up sex but... That's a whole other matter. And even though we have known each other a long time, he does things everyday that surprise me. Of course he has his flaws, but doesn't everyone? The important thing is that I don't care about them. They make him who he is and I love that person. He's pretty great.

"Hey sweetie, I think I'm gonna go to bed. I had a long day today and I'm meant to be at work by 8:00 tomorrow." I said walking over to chandler. During the film we'd decided not to sit with each other as the temptation was a little too much sometimes.

"Aww, ok. Do you want me to stay a while or should I head back?" Chandler replied.

"Can you stay with me until I drift off?" I ask.

Since we got together I've become used to chandler sleeping by my side, now I sometimes find it hard to do it without him.

"Sure. Come on then." He said, standing up so he was looking right into my eyes. His fingers found mine as we turned and headed to my bedroom.

"Hey!" Joey called. "Are you guys gonna do it?!"

"No Joey! I'll be over in about half an hour!" Chandler said back before closing the door behind him.

I lay in bed, under the covers with chandler next to me. My head rested on his chest as we both watched our own hands chasing each other round. Every now and then chandler would lay kisses on the top of my head and each time he did so, a smile spread across my face.

I rolled over slightly so I was leaning on my elbow, facing chandler. Something had been bothering me.

"Chandler, what is this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I mean we've been together for 3 months now and we haven't even told our friends yet."

"I thought we agreed on that." His expression became worried.

"Oh no! We do! I love everything about our relationship it's just, I feel like right now, we're not moving anywhere. And don't get me wrong! I love where we are, it's amazing just," before I could finish chandler interrupted,

"You're ready to take the next step." Without thinking, I looked away, concerned about what his reaction was going to be.

"It's ok Mon. I've been thinking too." Oh my gosh, he's been thinking too?!

"And I really really care about you and, I want to commit to this." He wants to commit?! Is this really chandler?!

"You do? I mean you? Chandler? The commitment phobe?" I asked in shock.

"Yeah. I mean this is going so great I just think that if we are really serious then we need to test if our relationship can hold strong even under the scrutiny of our friends."

"Wow." I murmured. "You are so great." I grinned and met his lips. It was only a momentary kiss but it meant the world.

"So are we telling the others?" He asked.

"I think so. But can we talk about it in the morning hunny?" I was tired and needed time to think.

"Anything you want." With this chandler began to stand up but I don't let go of his hand. "I'll see you in the morning." He said.

"Bye." Chandler leant over once more, left a lasting gift for me and left the room.

How, without realising have I fallen so head over heels in love with this man?

Chandler returned to his apartment and went straight to his room, he changed into his pyjamas, got ready for bed, and slid under the covers.

Chandler's PoV
This is it. I'm committing to a serious relationship. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I love Monica but, am I the one for her? I mean, this is Monica Geller, the most beautiful woman on the planet, why would she pick me when she can have men like Richard or Pete?! I'm just me. Chandler Muriel Bing. The funny guy who can't hold onto a woman for more than a week. Well, there was Janice but aargh!

You know what, Monica wants this too. She wouldn't lie to me, I know that at least. I can trust her with all my heart... I love her with all my heart. That's something I don't think I'll ever be able to truly believe, I'm in love with Monica and she makes me happier than I ever thought I could be.

Whenever she's ready, I'm ready to tell the others. I don't care what they think, I do love them too, but in a very different way to Monica. She's the most important thing in the world to me right now.