AN: Hey guys, this is my first Mondler fanfic. I absolutely love the pairing - I couldn't resist! Anyway, all praise and criticism is accepted - really, I want to make sure I'm doing the best I can with the story. I hope you enjoy it! Chapter 2 will be up soon.
Chandler was sleeping, snoring quietly, his duvet strewn across the mattress. He'd had some trouble sleeping recently. Every night for the past 2 weeks, he'd been kept up by the thoughts of Monica swimming around in his head. He replayed the night they spent in London together over and over. The way he held her so close, her thick black hair tickling his chin, a rosy smell immersed over her petite, fragile body. The way she smiled at him and snuggled into his chest as he stroked her back and wrapped his arms around her small waist. It was the most romantic night of his life. But their love came to an abrupt end once they'd come back to New York.
"Chandler, we can't carry on with this. It was a wonderful night, and you're a wonderful guy… but things will get too complicated. I think it'd be best for both of us if we stayed as just friends."
He remembered those words. He remembered how he felt when he heard them. His heart ached and his stomach dropped. The words were like piercing daggers. Of course, he didn't want Monica to know this. He nodded his head and spoke words of agreement. Just friends. He wondered how Monica could even bring herself to say that after the night they spent together. It was obviously not as special to her as it was to him. He'd been with a few women, but nothing had ever felt so right. He remembers when Monica finally drifted off whilst lying on his chest; he spent the remainder of the night cuddling her and feeling her body rise and fall with each breath she took. In that moment, he realised he wanted to hold her forever, and never let go. But obviously that would remain a dream. Monica didn't feel the same. And that's how it would always be.
Chandler awoke to a distant shouting coming from the living room. He brought his head from the pillow, his eyes sunken. He blinked them rapidly before wiping them with his hands. The shouting was becoming louder. He glared over to his alarm: 7:50AM. He sighed to himself. All he wanted was a decent night's sleep, but obviously that was too much to ask. He went to push the duvet from him to realise it'd fallen into a pile on the floor. He dismissed this and rose out of bed, reaching for his dressing gown and tying it around himself. He let out a gaping yawn and let himself out of his bedroom. His eyes met with a disgruntled Joey who was now whacking a jar off the counter.
"Godammit, let me have some peanut butter!" He shouted, beginning to whack the jar harder and harder onto the counter.
Chandler flailed and ran over to him. "Wh-what the hell are you doing, you big freak?!" He asked, widening his eyes.
"I want peanut butter!" Joey whined, bringing the beaten jar back up. "I can't get it open."
Chandler fidgeted and took the jar from him. "I do not want to be woken up, on a Saturday, at 8am, because you can't open a jar of peanut butter!" He complained, slamming the jar down onto the counter. "Why can't you have something else?"
Joey fumbled a little as a guilty expression fell across his face. "There's nothing left." He said, laughing nervously.
Chandler eyed him, before sighing deeply. "You forgot to shop, didn't you?"
Joey nodded slowly at him, biting his lip.
"Whatever, I'll go out later. Just let me sleep." Chandler mumbled, taking his hand from the jar and retreating back to his bedroom. Just as he reached for the doorknob, he heard the door swing open.
"Guys, quick! You need to come over right now!" A familiar voice shouted. Chandler turned to see Rachel standing in the doorway.
"What's going on?!" Chandler asked alarmingly, running to Rachel to see tears built up in her eyes.
"Just come on!" Rachel pestered, before running back into her apartment.
Chandler and Joey both quickly ran over to the opposite apartment to see Rachel kneeling on the floor, holding Monica in her arms – her eyes were closed and her body seemed limp. Rachel brought Monica closer to herself, stroking her head and crying softly.
"Monica!" Chandler shouted, running over to the two girls and kneeling beside them, Joey following quickly behind him.
"What's happened?! Is she breathing?" Chandler asked, sliding his arms underneath Monica and bringing her to him. "Monica? Monica can you hear me?!" He pleaded desperately, tears welling up in his eyes.
Rachel stood up, "I-I was getting ready to go meet my Dad when I heard a thump from the kitchen." She started, her voice catching. Joey wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the head. Rachel sniffled, "I ran in there to see her collapsed on the floor. I've called 911 and they said they'll be here as soon as they can." She burst into tears again and Joey cradled her softly. Chandler turned to Monica and observed her expressionless face. This can't be happening, he thought, Not Monica. She can't go. I love her.
Chandler lifted Monica into his arms and placed her on the sofa. He began to unbutton her shirt.
"Dude! What the hell are you doing?! Monica's in trouble! Now's not the time!" Joey shouted at him, furrowing his brows, in utter disbelief at Chandler's actions.
Chandler ignored him and began pressing down on Monica's chest, as Rachel explained to Joey that Chandler wasn't taking this as an opportunity to grope Monica.
Chandler persisted with the chest pressing, before bringing himself to her lips and blowing into her mouth. Monica gave no response. Chandler could no longer hold in his tears as they began rolling down his face. "Please, Monica! Monica, wake up! We need you!" He cried, pushing on her chest quicker and quicker and re-returning to her lips. Just then, the apartment door swung open as two paramedics charged in with a stretcher.
"Who're we looking for?" One paramedic spoke, as Joey pointed over to Monica and Chandler, still holding Rachel closely to him. The paramedics marched over and pulled Monica onto the stretcher. "Now, only one of you can come along in the ambulance, but the rest of you will have to wait." The second paramedic spoke, as they quickly ran out of the apartment.
"I'll go." Chandler said, as he rose up from the sofa and ran into his apartment, swiping the first coat he could see. He pulled it onto himself, "I'll call you guys as soon as I know what's going on." He said, giving one last look to Joey and Rachel.
"She's gunna be okay, man." Joey reassured them, cuddling Rachel and looking back to Chandler.
Chandler nodded to them silently, before running out of the apartment to catch up with the ambulance.