My first friends fanfic. C&M and R&R. Please r&r, and be nice!
A man got out the cab, and looked round. New York City. He'd been so many times, when he was younger. It hadn't changed. He thanked the driver, paid him, and walked along, pulling a wheely-suitcase behind him. It was going to be a long day.
'Claustrophobia?'
'No. I am not scared of Father Christmas.'
Chandler sighed. 'Phoebe, claustrophobia means you don't like being in small, shut up places. Say, if you were locked in my appartment for a night.'
Phoebe nodded. 'Yes, that's what I have. I don't like your appartment.'
'Charming!' said Chandler. He walked over to his dark-haired fianceé, who was in the kitchen, and gave her a kiss. 'Right, I have to go,' said Chandler. 'See you all later.'
Monica waved, and then went and sat next to Phoebe, who was doing a crossword puzzle. 'A fear of insects,' read Phoebe. She was silent for a minute, then gasped. 'Antphobia! No, that doesn't fit.'
Monica shrugged. 'For once, I'm stumped,' she said. 'Do you want to get some coffee?'
'What about Siobhan?' asked Phoebe.
Monica went into her room and brought out a little two year old child, who was giggling. 'Where's Daddy?' she asked.
'At work,' said Monica. 'You were asleep when he went.'
The little girl moaned. 'Can we go sopping?' she asked brightly.
Phoebe laughed. 'Shopping, not sopping,' she said. 'If you want. But first we're going to get a little drink downstairs, 'k?'
''K,' said Siobhan, copying Phoebe.
She toddled into her room to get her shoes. Monica sat down. Phoebe put her arm round her. 'Mon, when's Chandler moving in?' she asked.
'Tomorrow,' said Monica. 'God, I was thinking the other day: if I hadn't got pregnant in London, would he have stayed with me?'
'Monica, that's a horrible thing to think!' said Phoebe. 'He loves you, and you know it. He didn't have to proprose to you, and you know how scared of commitment he was. He would only proprose if he was sure he was only going to do it once.'
Monica smiled. 'You really think that?' she asked.
'He proprosed so romantically!' exclaimed Phoebe. 'I'm surprised he hasn't already moved in with you. Couples should, you know.'
'We didn't want to make it hard on Sivvy,' said Monica, using Siobhan's nickname. "Sivvy" came out her room, wearing her shoes on the wrong feet, and falling over because of it. Monica laughed, and picked her up as she started to cry.
Rachel came bursting in, the happiest grin on her face. 'Guess what?' she said. 'Ross and I are going to Australia!'
Monica gave Rachel a hug. 'Wow,' she said. 'Why?'
'He asked me if I wanted to, to celebrate us being together for a year.'
'Wow, a whole year,' said Monica.
'Mon, when you'd been with Chandler for a year, you went to Las Vegas,' she said. 'Give Chandler a break. He's saving up for your wedding-Sivvy! Give Aunty Rachel a kiss!'
Siobhan gave Rachel a hug, but didn't kiss her, as she got embarrassed. 'When you get maweed, I gonna 'av a white 'ress!' she said. 'Jus' like mommy.'
'Really?' asked Rachel. 'Are we going to the coffee house then?'
Monica nodded, and picked Siobhan up. She opened the door, carrying Siobhan, and the "man" was standing there, obviously about to knock on the door.
'Hello,' said Monica, wondering where she'd seen this man before.
'Hello. Do you know where Chandler Bing is? I've knocked on his door, and a dark haired man said he lived here.' The man smiled at Siobhan. 'So?'
'Well, I'm Chandler's fianceé, Monica Geller,' said Monica.
The man smiled weakly. 'And I'm guessing this is your daughter?' he asked. 'What's her name?'
'Siobhan,' said Monica warily. 'Who are you? Who shall I tell called?'
'An old man,' he said. 'Tell him I'll be in Central Perk at 8 tonight.'
He smiled at Rachel and walked off. Monica glanced after him, then her mouth dropped open. 'Rachel!' she exclaimed. 'That's Chandler's Dad!'
'What?' asked Chandler, as Monica explained who had called in. 'I'm not going to meet him.'
'Chandler, you must,' pleaded Monica. 'I want your dad to know who his grandchildren are.'
'You mean there'll be more?' he asked, as a smile played upon his lips.
'Who knows?' she asked. They kissed, but pulled away when they heard a giggling. 'Mummy and Daddy are kissin'!' said Siobhan.
'And you should be asleep,' said Chandler, picking up his daughter and giving her a kiss. 'It's nearly 8.'
'I want a story!' she said. Monica glanced at Chandler. 'Well, I'm going to read the story tonight,' said Monica, taking Siobhan from Chandler, and taking her into her room. 'And it's going to be all about...'
Chandler listened for a few minutes, then got his coat. He shut the front door softly and went downstairs.
'But sir, we don't sell alcohol.' A desperate Gunther tried to explain to the man.
Chandler gasped. It was definitely his dad. 'Dad,' he whispered. 'Dad.'
It's not time to make a change
Just sit down and take it slowly
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to go through.
Chandler woke up from his amazement, as he felt a hand on his shoulder. 'Hi dad,' he said.
Chandler's dad looked like any other man (ie. Not a woman) but Chandler knew that his dad was still...well, gay. 'Hi son,' he said. Chandler just stared at him. Then he saw it. There had been something different and he knew it.
On his dad's finger was a large, albeit, womans wedding ring. Chandler sat down. 'You got married?' he asked.
'That's what I wanted to tell you,' said his dad. 'I didn't marry the house boy, don't worry. His name's Richard.'
'Richard?' asked Chandler. 'Richard who?'
'Burke.'
Chandler tried not to burst out laughing, so he pulled a face, which made him look like he was killing himself, and looked at his dad. 'Richard...Burke,' he said.
'Why? What's so funny?' asked his dad.
'Nothing. So, what do you want?' asked Chandler. 'If you want to be happy families again I can't arrange that.'
'All I'm asking for is to see my, obviously, grandaughter. Siobhan, is it?' he asked. Chandler nodded. 'She's often asked about her "daddy's dad,'" he admitted.
'Well, why don't you tell her?' he asked. 'I have to go now. But I will come back.'
Chandler nodded again.
I was once like you are now,
And I know that it's not easy,
To become, when you've found,
Something going on,
Take your time, think alot,
Think of everything you've got,
For you will still be here tomorrow,
But your dreams may not.
Chandler sighed as he paused on the landing. He opened his door, and saw Monica making hot chocolate. 'So, how did it go?' she asked.
'He can't see my daughter,' he exclaimed. 'I won't have it!'
How can I try to explain,
When I do he turns away,
Yeah it's always been the same,
Same old story.
From the moment i could talk,
I was old enough to listen,
Now ther's a way, and I know,
That I have to go away,
I know I have to go.
Chandler went in and kissed Siobhan goodnight. Her hair was spread across her pillow, and she started whispering in her sleep. Chandler listened carefully.
'Daddy...mommy...grandma...grandpa...grandma...'
She stopped. She'd named everyone in her family. Everyone she knew. And she'd only said grandpa once...and that was Jack. Chandler held her hand as she slept.
'You won't see him,' he wept. 'I won't let him hurt you.'
What did Chandler mean by the last sentence? Watch out for the next chapter.