"Tell me…please," Monica pouted.

"No," Chandler chuckled, eyes remaining fixed on the task at hand.

"Oh, come on, baby," she teased, running her naked foot under his open button-down shirt, rubbing her big toe in figure eights on his chest. "I'll make it worth your while…"

"No," he groaned, trying to make his body stay in control. "You keep buggin' me and I won't do this anymore."

"Chandler…" she tried again, propping herself up on her elbows at the other end of the bed, batting her eyes.

He smirked.

"You can bat those baby blues at me all day," he said, though he felt his resolve melting. "I'm serious, I'll stop..."

"Oh, don't say that," she breathed. "I can't have you stop doing this…"

He gave her his lopsided grin then kissed her foot. He placed it on his chest and picked up the other one.

Monica moaned. She crossed her arms behind her head and laid back on the bed again - nothing beat coming home to this after a 10-hour day.

"You know, if you ever get sick of the museum you can get a job as a foot masseuse," she said, pleasure coursing through her.

"Then maybe I can be a waiter," he quipped, taking great care of to rub her aching feet, "and I can try acting while I do that, ya know, round out the circle."

She giggled.

"You're going to be a famous author, remember?" she said, her sparkling eyes peeking up at him.

Surrounded by some of the most inspirational beauty in the world, and being completely in love himself, Chandler had started writing a novel a few months ago. He called it "historical fiction" she called it "historical romance" - and she thought it was really, really good.

If only he'd tell her if the main couple got together in the end - information he was refusing to give up despite her best efforts.

"I doubt that…"

"I don't," she said, definitively, with a smile on her lips.

He blushed a little, then reached under the pillow with one hand. He pulled out the manuscript and placed it on her stomach.

"You're done?!" she said, picking it up and starting to flip through it. "Oh, Chandler!"

"Yep," he smiled.

"Ah!" she squealed, starting to read. "This is so exciting!"

"Save it for your trip, missy," he said, taking the book from her and placing it on the bed.

"Chandler," she said seriously, propping herself up again. "If you don't send this to your mother's publisher like she asked you to, I will send it myself, I swear…"

"Done."

"Seriously?" she said, shocked and excited, a big smile breaking across her face.

"Mailed it today," he said, tickling her foot. "Can't fight both my bossy women."

She giggled and wiggled her toes.

"They're so gonna miss you at the museum," she smiled, laying down once again.

Chandler chuckled. He'd been a docent at one of the largest art museums in Florence for about three months now. It was part time - his savings remaining pretty robust since he still lived with Monica and Vanessa. The arrangement had worked out well. They worked long and hard at the academy and he didn't mind picking up the slack at the house. He'd even learned to cook a little, so the Twinkie supply would last longer. It was beneficial to everyone, and it gave him time lots of time to write.

Monica had started traveling for the academy. They'd both gone home to New York right after the new year for a week, and it had been wonderful. Everyone, it seemed, was happy for them. The Gellers even had them over to their house during the visit. It didn't escape the notice of Monica's parents that she was happier than they'd ever seen her. Judy's heart absolutely melted when she heard the whole story of Chandler leaving everything and going to Italy to be with Monica. Jack was happy to see a non-stop smile plastered on his little girl's face.

Joey and Ross shared Apartment 19 now and it worked out well. Joey was still out - a lot, and Ross was at Rachel's - a lot. Ross and Rachel were taking things slow, but they seemed happy, too. Phoebe was loving being an aunt. She was dating again and seemed to completely be back to her old self.

They all missed Chandler and Monica, but seeing them together for that week had been eye-opening, to say the least. Even Ross noted that he didn't think he'd ever seen two people more in love than his sister and his best friend.

After they got back from that trip Monica had traveled for the academy about every other week for the last several months. She was headed to Paris for two nights the next day. It wasn't easy, but the fact that Chandler was waiting for her in Florence made all the difference in the world.

"Hummm," she sighed.

Chandler smiled as he watched her face. He loved making her relax, loved that he was the one who made her feel the way she did - so happy. So loved.

So loved - exactly the way she made him feel. He could never recall a time when he was remotely as happy as he had been since he'd stepped off the plane and into this fairytale almost five months before. They'd settled into a very real routine, but some days it still felt like nothing but a dream…

"Maybe you're right," he mused with a mischievous grin while he finished up her right foot. "I could probably make some good money massaging other women's tootsies…"

Her head shot up.

"Yeah," she said, looking sternly at him. "I've changed my mind about that…"

"Have you?" he grinned, placing both her feet next to him and crawling to her.

"Yeah," she whispered, her heart beating wildly when his shirt fell open as he hovered above her. She ran her hands along his chest. "I don't want you touching other 'tootsies'…"

"Think of the deprivation," he said, brushing her cheek with his lips. "It's really not fair, if I'm as good as you say I am…"

"You are and that's too bad for them," she said, tracing his nose with her finger and giving it a gentle poke. "You're all mine…"

Chandler swallowed heavily, looking down into the face of this woman who was radiating love right back to him.

"Forever?" he whispered.

"Forever," she smiled.

His face turned serious as he looked into her eyes. He was silent and she looked back at him, questioning…

"Then," he said quietly, gently kissing her then pulling back just a touch, "marry me..."

Monica stared at him, her breath catching, her heart pounding in her ears. She froze.

"Wh…what?" she breathed, her eyes searching his face.

"Marry me."

"Chandler," she said, breathlessly, scrambling to sit up. He rocked back on his knees and took her hands in his. Her eyes filled with tears. "Are you serious?"

He smiled gently at her.

"'If you like her, if she makes you happy, and if you feel like you know her...then don't let her go,'" he said softly.

"Oh!" she gasped sharply, putting her hands to her cheeks as her tears spilled over. "That's…that's from…"

"'…Message in a Bottle,'" he grinned, "I know."

"Oh my God!" she said, jumping to her knees and hugging him tightly, arms around his neck.

"Really?" she squeaked, tears falling freely now. "Really?!"

He hugged her close then reached back and pulled her arms away from him, taking her hands once more.

"Really," he said, his own eyes misty. "I'm not saying I'm ready for babies and a minivan…yet…but this…"

He wiped her cheek with his thumb - her eyes never looking more blue than they did at that moment.

"… being with you every day, loving you every day, massaging your feet every day," he grinned and she giggled through her tears. "Yeah, I want that to be forever…"

She breathed in a shuddery breath and looked at him, studied him and all the love shining from him and her heart just ached.

Oh, God, did she ever want this to be her "forever."

"Yes," she whispered, tracing his ears then stroking his jaw. "Yes, I will marry you. I will marry you!"

"Yes?!" he asked excitedly, almost to make sure he heard her right, smiling from ear-to-ear.

"Yes!" she said pulling him to her and kissing the breath right out of him as they fell back together on the bed, smiling between kisses - and started making love that they both knew would last a lifetime and then some.

###

"You got it, Monica," Rachel said, smiling, her arms around her best friend, "your rustic Italian wedding."

"Wedding scenario number 6," Monica giggled, hugging her back.

"And it was actually in Italy!" Rachel beamed. "Oh, Mon, it's all so, so beautiful…"

Monica looked out over the cascading green hills of Tuscany that rolled to the sea and sighed happily. Rachel was right, it could not have been more beautiful.

Turrico had insisted on hosting the wedding and preparing all the food, with the help of Vanessa, Kevin and the rest of the original culinary class Monica had been part of. Everyone had flown to Florence for the ceremony - including Chandler's Mom and Dad, her parents and, of course, the whole gang. Rachel, Phoebe and Vanessa all served as bridesmaids while Ross, Joey and Kevin were the groomsmen.

The weather was perfect for a mid-August wedding on the countryside. A huge, white tent was set up for the band and the feast that was to start in just about 20 minutes. Kevin and Vanessa had taken care of every little reception detail so Monica could just concentrate on being a bride - for the most part. She was pretty sure a couple times Vanessa, Kevin and Chandler were plotting to lock her in a room and keep her there until the wedding.

She giggled to herself. This day, she thought, was everything she'd ever dreamed of her whole life - she just never imaged that every single detail would really be completely perfect, up to and including the man she married.

She spotted Chandler across the hillside, deep in conversation with Ross, Nora, Charles and Turrico. He must have said something funny because he was grinning and everyone else had their head thrown back laughing. She felt a jolt of electricity from head to toe when he caught her eye and smiled. He looked so dashing in his tux that she could feel her heart race just looking at him, and she already knew she was smiling back at him.

Really, she hadn't stopped smiling in months.

Chandler said something to the others and walked across the grass to his new bride, picking up another glass of champagne as he came to her. She was an absolute vision. He truly thought he might pass out when he watched her father escort her to him before the minister. She had a simple dress of soft white lace with a lace veil that brought out all her dark, striking features. She looked every inch the Italian princess.

His princess.

"My love," he said to Monica, handing her the flute as Rachel looked on, tears in her eyes.

"Do you two have any idea how sickeningly adorable you are together?" she said, a tease in her voice.

Monica wrapped her arm around her husband's waist and smiled up at him, nodding. He winked at her as Jack and Judy made their way to the happy couple.

"Oh, this was just so lovely, dear," Judy said, kissing her daughter on the cheek as Jack shook Chandler's hand. "Though I don't know why my children insist on getting married in foreign countries."

Monica rolled her eyes and Chandler chuckled.

"At least this one was worth the trip," Jack noted.

"Thanks, Dad," said a dejected Ross, who had just joined the group.

"Well, I mean…" Jack started, flustered.

"Oh, he said the right name," Chandler interjected, trying to diffuse the awkwardness, "just not at the right time, er, to the right woman."

Rachel moved to Ross and gave him a reassuring hug.

"We're still a long way off from all this," Ross said, looking at Chandler. "I still can't believe you were ready for all this."

Chandler just shrugged and kissed Monica's temple as Joey, Vanessa, Phoebe and Kevin walked up to them. Joey had his arm around Vanessa. Monica raised her eyebrows at Vanessa as she took Rachel's vacated spot next to the bride.

"I like a good rodeo once in a while," she whispered in Monica's ear, which made her laugh.

Ross leaned over to Chandler.

"Wouldn't be a wedding…" he started, quietly.

"…unless Joey bagged a bridesmaid," Chandler finished with an eye roll, giving a smirking Ross a knowing grin.

"So, can you please tell us where the honeymoon is?" Phoebe asked.

"Venice," said Nora, smiling, as she walked up between Chandler and Ross, wrapping an arm around her son, sliding it under Monica's. "He needs a little more detail for 'If You're Gone.'"

"Which has yet to make it out of the editing stage," Chandler reminded her.

"Oh, it will, honey," she said, taking a swig from her champagne flute. "Ryan said it'll be a best seller."

"Ryan?" Rachel asked.

"My agent," Nora nodded.

"That's awesome, man," Joey said, looking proudly at his friend.

"You know what's even more awesome?" Chandler deadpanned. "Having your mother plan your honeymoon…"

Everyone laughed at that as Nora quietly reminded him she was also paying for their honeymoon. He looked at her a little sheepishly and she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"When will you come back to New York to visit?" Rachel pouted a little. "You have to come see us."

Monica and Chandler looked at each other, each wearing a soft smile, and Chandler nodded.

"Your Dad should be here, too," Monica whispered to him. Chandler glanced over his shoulder. Charles was otherwise engaged with…Dean Turrico.

He sighed and briefly shook his head, "I'll tell him later."

Monica nodded again and then turned back to the group. Everyone but Kevin and Vanessa had very curious looks on their faces - those two were grinning.

"How about the week after Labor Day?" Monica said, barely containing her smile.

"OK!" "Sure." "Great!" everyone said at the same time.

"Why then?" Phoebe asked, not missing the look that passed between the newlyweds.

Chandler and Monica's smiles grew wider.

"It takes a while to pack up your life and move to another country," Monica said, excitedly.

"Sometimes," Chandler noted.

"Yeah, sometimes," Monica agreed, grinning at him.

"What?" Rachel demanded. "What do you mean?!"

"You're coming back to New York?!" Ross said.

Monica laughed.

"We're coming back to New York!" she said with tears in her eyes.

"Are you serious?!" Joey said, excited as a little boy. "You really mean it - you're coming home?"

Chandler smiled at his friend.

"Yeah, man, we are."

Everyone crowded around the couple as hugs were exchanged and happy tears started to fall.

"Dean Turrico wants to open a small branch of the academy in New York and, well, I'll be the dean there," Monica explained. "The best part is that Kevin and Vanessa will be there, too!"

"Yeah, baby!" Joey said, shooting Vanessa his "how you doin'" grin, which made her giggle.

"Well, that makes things…interesting," Phoebe said, giving Kevin the once over, a look of surprise coming over his face until it shifted to a flirty grin.

"Dean Geller," Ross contemplated. "Not quite…ya know…Doctor Geller, but still…"

"Dean Geller-Bing," Monica corrected, tilting her head back to smile at Chandler, who now stood behind his wife, arms securely wrapped around her, looking happily at his friends and family.

"Oh," Rachel said, giving them a quick hug before she ran to find some tissues in her purse. "I'm so happy you're coming home!"

Monica turned a little in her husband's embrace and looked into his dancing blue eyes, both smiling at each other.

"Wherever we are…" he started.

"…we're home," she finished. "I love you."

He gave her his lopsided grin.

"I love you," he whispered, titling his head and sealing their forever with a kiss.

THE END

NOTE: And there you have it, folks! Big shock, I like proposals - and weddings ;)! This has been a blast to write and I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, don't be shy. Let me know…please :)

Oh, and the working title for this fic was "If You're Gone." Right after I had the idea for it I heard that old Matchbox 20 song three times in one day. But the lyric that always got me thinking of our favorite couple in this story was "there's an awful lot of breathing room, but I can hardly move." That line seemed to nail it for me.

Anyway, thank you so much for your reviews, follows and faves for "Breathing Room." I have no idea when another Mondler story will come out of me and I have decided to no longer attempt to predict it. Thanks for coming along for the ride! 'Til next time… :)