TOW Chandler Knows The Future (Part One)
Okay, I know several people have done stories where Chandler wakes up and everything has been a dream, but I've had this idea for the final episode (or six-hour "Friends" movie special) for awhile, so I decided to write it anyway. Oh, and needless to say, this is going to be primarily about Chandler and Monica...but I've tried to give the other characters some time and a storyline of some sort as well...
I don't own the characters, and I didn't write any of the lines that are taken from the show itself.
Chandler Bing moaned as the sun on his face woke him up, and he rolled over, reaching out instinctively for his wife. He draped his arm over her stomach and buried his face against her shoulder, shutting out the early morning sunlight. Then with a sigh, he tightened his arm around Monica, pulling her up against him, and kissed her on the cheek, knowing they would have to get out of the bed soon or they'd be late.
"Good Morning, Mon."
Her only response was some incoherent mumbling. He smiled to himself, kissing her jaw line and whispering in her ear.
"Mmmhmmm...I love you, too."
He tried not to think about how much he would love to follow her lead and stay in bed all day. Instead, he kissed the side of her head and sat up slowly, running his hands over his unshaven face and shaking his head in an effort to clear the grogginess.
His eyes fell on his best friend Joey, lying at the foot of the bed, fully clothed. Chandler rubbed his eyes and looked again, sure he must still be dreaming. What was Joey doing in their bedroom? In their BED, no less? He started to pinch himself, then thought better of it and kicked Joey with one foot - hard. He had to be dreaming, and if it was a dream, then it wouldn't hurt him.
Wrong. Apparently his theory about dreams was off. Or it wasn't a dream, because Joey yelped loudly and rolled off the end of the bed. Which of course woke up Monica, as well as Phoebe, who cushioned Joey's fall.
Wait, Phoebe too? What the... So, if everyone had decided to sleep with them, where were Ross and Rachel? Chandler glanced around the room, then at Monica, who was yawning sleepily, hoping she'd tell them all to get out and leave them alone. But Monica didn't seem bothered. She just gazed at Joey and Phoebe, who had curled up together on the floor and were back asleep, then looked toward Chandler warily.
"Morning."
Morning? No sweetie, no honey, no special smile, no suggestive comment about showers? Huh. And she looks different. Well, her hair's shorter for one thing. Wait - when did she cut her hair?
"Morning." Chandler sat silently for a minute - his head spinning - wondering what was wrong with the world this morning and how to make it go back to normal.
"Rough night, huh?" Chandler stared at her, puzzled by the comment, then at Phoebe and Joey on the floor.
"Um...okay. So, uh, what happened last night, anyway? Why are they here?"
Monica gave him an odd look and started to brush her hair.
"What do you mean, what happened?"
Chandler glared at her, exasperated. "I MEAN, what happened? Why are Phoebe and Joey in the room with us?"
"Well, where did you expect them to go, Chandler? Out the window? In that case, wouldn't you have gone too?"
"Huh?"
Monica put down the brush and turned to look at him, her face confused.
"What's wrong with you?"
"NOTHING. What's wrong with YOU? You haven't even kissed me good morning."
Monica raised her eyebrows, her expression a cross between amusement and irritation.
"Chandler, this is not a time for jokes. Not after what happened last night..."
"Jokes? Who's joking? And what happened last night?" He paused, then rushed on, worried. "Oh, honey, did I fall asleep in the middle of it again? I'm sorry, I just had a really long day..."
"Chandler, stop it. I can't believe you're teasing when Ross and Rachel just broke up."
"They broke up? How can-" Chandler stopped himself, wondering why he got the feeling that Monica would throw something at him if he finished the question. But how could they break up if they weren't together? What in the world was going on and who had planned this elaborate hoax?
"Uh...yeah, they broke up. Don't you remember all the yelling and screaming and crying and pleading?"
Suddenly, Chandler felt a cold chill. He remembered it all right, but it hadn't been yesterday. It had, in fact, been years since the last time they had gone through the repetitive drama affectionately known as "Ross and Rachel". He looked up at Monica, who was watching him like he was going to explode any second. Her hair was short. He couldn't have been so tired that he wouldn't have noticed it last night... And the sweater she was holding - didn't Rachel lose that last year? He glanced around the room, suddenly realizing that none of his things were scattered around. Finally, he forced himself to look back at Monica, his eyes falling to her left hand.
Nothing.
Chandler felt all the air leave his lungs, and wondered vaguely how Monica could stand so still when the whole room was jerking and spinning.
"It was a dream..." He heard himself mumble, just before Monica disappeared from view and he felt his head hit the mattress.
"Chandler? Sweetie, are you okay? Chandler?" Her voice faded in and out, sounding like she was far away and on a bad telephone connection. Ugh, headache! He struggled to open his eyes, hoping that when he did, his life would be back to normal. Please have long hair, please have long hair, please have long hair... Oh man, something's wrong with the world when it all revolves on the length of Monica's hair. Please, oh please let it be long.
Damn. Guess that was asking a bit much. Okay, she's worried. And well she should be! Her husband just woke up and found out that everything we had together was a dream! Okay, no, that would be why I'm worried. Not worried - catatonic. Yeah. Say something, Chandler. She's getting that look...
"I, uh, Mon...Well, see...I don't...hmmm..." Yeah, that went well. And here it comes.
"Chandler, do I need to call a doctor? Are you okay? Do you have a fever? Let me get you some aspirin. Lie back down."
Chandler smiled slightly at her take-over nature, but managed to put his hand out to grab her arm as she turned toward the door. Deep breath, lick your lips, now try again.
"Mon, I'm fine. I...I, uh, just...got up too fast." Much better. She looks like she might even decide to believe you. You were never this good at lying to her before.
"Are you sure? You're acting really strange, and you did faint, Chandler."
"Yeah, Mon, I'm fine. Just give me a minute, and I'll be out of your way."
"You're not in my way, Chandler. Just stay there. I'll make you breakfast."
"You don't-"
"No arguments. Besides," She paused and cast a glance at their sleeping friends. "Joey will wake up soon and demand food anyway."
"Okay," he agreed quietly, trying desperately to avoid eye contact. But instead of leaving the room, Monica walked over and sat next to him on the bed. She stroked the side of his face worriedly, and Chandler flinched at the all-too-familiar touch. He shifted away from her, knowing that one more second and he wouldn't be able to control himself. Monica watched him carefully, hurt by his reaction.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Chandler forced himself to look at her, drawn immediately into the depth of her blue eyes. He stared at her, swallowing hard in an effort to hold his emotions at bay. Finally he nodded and closed his eyes to break the spell.
"Fine, Mon. Really. Do you want me to help you cook?"
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, before she finally kissed his cheek and stood up, giving him a tiny smile.
"No, I think I can manage." She opened the door, oblivious of how the simple kiss affected him, and paused, looking out. "Will you take care of Rachel while I'm getting it ready, though?"
Chandler followed her to the doorway, and stood behind her as he, too, looked out. Rachel was lying on the couch in a fetal position, her face tear-stained and her hair a mess. Without thinking, Chandler put his hands on Monica's shoulders, pulling her back against him in a comforting gesture. His face mirrored Monica's concern as they looked out at their friend.
"Yeah, I'll take care of Rachel."
Monica turned to him, her eyes thanking him. He watched her move into the kitchen, wondering if he'd ever really noticed how beautiful she was in the morning before. He shook his head sadly, and moved over to lift Rachel into his arms. This would be a long day for everyone, and he feared that he wouldn't be able to get Monica out of his mind all day. Not that he really wanted to.
Chandler walked into Central Perk, trying to sort through his thoughts. His friends looked up, startled at the strange look on his face. He ignored their questions and sank onto the couch, running his hands through his hair. Silence reigned as the others watched him, wondering what was wrong. Finally, Chandler looked up and seemed to see them for the first time. He snapped to attention, sitting up straight and giving them a confused look.
"What?"
"What? You look like you just saw a ghost or something. You okay, Chandler?" Joey looked genuinely worried, and Chandler registered the varying comments accompanying Joey's question. He looked around the small circle, noting Rachel's absence and Ross's glum face, and finally meeting Monica's questioning eyes. He gave her a tight smile and turned away, not wanting to bring on more questions.
"I'm, I'm fine, guys. I've just had the strangest day, like, ever. Everything that happened was just déjà vu, you know? And I just have the weirdest feeling..."
"Yeah, that's because déjà vu is a message from another you in an alternate universe. I call mine Phoebetta. But, you know, she's kind of flaky. And she's constantly bragging about how great Joey is in bed. That gets on my nerves."
Joey's face brightened as he looked up, suddenly interested in the conversation, but everyone else just stared at Phoebe, amused and slightly shocked. Chandler glanced at Monica, then down at the floor.
"Well, it's weird. And I don't think I like it."
"Sweetie, maybe you need to get some rest. You've been a little out of it all day, and after this morning..." Monica put her hand on his leg as she leaned over to feel his forehead. Chandler froze, counting to five before he tried to subtly move away. He didn't understand why he felt dizzy every time she touched him. But he didn't want to hurt her feelings by shrugging away. Monica dropped her hand, giving him an inquisitive look as she sat back. Chandler shot her a brief glance of apology, but was relieved when she dropped the subject and turned to her brother.
"Have you talked to Rachel?"
Ross shrugged and replied in his "kill-me-now" voice. "No, she won't answer the phone. And every time I call her at work, MARK answers. Man, I hate that guy. This is all his fault."
Monica looked like she wanted to object, but just coughed and looked away. Ross flushed, and quickly changed the subject.
"So, um, what are you guys doing Thursday night?"
As the group responded with various "Nothing"s and shakes of their heads, Chandler got that unusual feeling again. He glanced at Ross, then over at Joey, an idea forming. Before he lost his nerve, he gambled on instinct and spoke up.
"Joey and I are going to a fashion show."
Joey shot him a "what the hell" look, and spoke up quickly.
"No, we're not."
"Yes, we are. A lingerie show. With Rachel. Remember?" He questioned, stressing the last word in hopes that Joey would get the idea to play along. He was surprised that he even remembered this after all those years - eh, well, all those hours...of sleep...What was wrong with him? This was just going to lead to trouble. But Joey's attention had been caught by "lingerie" - and Ross's by "Rachel".
"You're, um, going with Rachel?"
Joey caught Chandler's eye, and nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah, man. Models in their underwear!"
Ross nodded dejectedly and looked down. Phoebe, who was watching Chandler carefully, caught his wink to Joey and leaned in.
"Rachel hasn't mentioned anything to me."
"No, but she will soon. But why don't you and Mon go with Ross and keep him company, and Joey and I will go with Rachel?"
Phoebe still looked unconvinced, but Monica nodded and reached over to pat Ross's hand.
"Of course we will. What did you have in mind?"
Ross was looking at Chandler and had to jerk himself back to attention.
"Oh, um...Well, I got a new entertainment system. I thought we could watch movies and stuff."
Chandler relaxed as Monica started making plans for the evening. Joey was nudging him excitedly, forgetting already that he had known nothing about the plans. Chandler wasn't really sure why he said they had been invited. They hadn't, of course - yet. But after the day he'd had, he fully expected Rachel to walk into their apartment and announce that she did indeed have tickets. He wondered if he was tempting fate, but decided he didn't care. He would just have to wait and see what the afternoon would hold.
Chandler glanced up warily from his bowl as he heard the door opened, then wasn't sure if he was relieved or apprehensive to see that it was Monica.
"Hey, Chandler."
"Hey, Mon. Want some ice cream?"
Monica glanced into his bowl, then shrugged and finally nodded. "Okay, but I'll get it."
Chandler nodded as Monica went to the freezer, then sat down next to him and absentmindedly smushed the ice cream around in her bowl. Chandler watched her, thinking about how many times he had watched her do the same thing.
"What's wrong?"
Monica didn't even look up. "My brother cheated on my best friend. Isn't that bad enough?"
Chandler paused, suddenly appreciating the position Monica was in. They were all caught in the middle, but her relationship with both Ross and Rachel had to make all of this a hundred times harder for her.
"Yeah, that's bad enough. I'm sorry, Mon."
"It's not your fault. You didn't cheat on anyone..."
"Nooo...but still. You shouldn't be in this position."
"Well, what's done is done. Can't change it now. I just...Well, I don't want Rachel to hold it against ME because I'm a Geller."
"Why would she do that? Rach knows you can't make Ross's choices for him."
"I know that. But, she asked you and Joey to go to that lingerie show with her. Why didn't she ask me? I'm her ROOMMATE!"
Chandler froze, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him.
"Well...maybe she just...saw us first?"
"I saw her after I left Central Perk, and she didn't even mention it."
"Oh...Well, you never know. She'll probably come running in her in a couple of minutes screaming about it." Man, oh man, if she only knew...
"Maybe." Monica's voice was doubtful, and Chandler felt his heart twist in sympathy. He had no idea how to respond next. To his relief, Joey chose that moment to walk in with Phoebe, saving Chandler from the conversation.
"Hey, hey guys!" Chandler was aware that he sounded just a little too excited, but didn't care. "Where have you been?" He could feel Monica's eyes on him, and suddenly realized how she might interpret his relief at the arrival of their friends.
"I mean, uh, whatcha been doing?"
Joey gave him a strange look, and flopped into his chair, smirking at Chandler knowingly.
"We were talking about Phoebe's alternate universe."
"No, YOU were bragging about alternate-universe-Joey, and I was trying to tell you that Phoebetta is a hooker!"
Joey's grin grew bigger, then he sat up straight in his chair, his face indignant.
"Hey, I DO NOT pay for sex!"
"Maybe not, but alternate-universe-Joey does. That's what I'm TRYING to tell you! You are not the same person!"
The words hit Chandler like a brick, and he could almost feel himself falling backward. You are not the same person. It echoed through his mind, leaving him dazed. He couldn't keep his gaze from falling on Monica, who was laughing at the relief on Joey's face, and thought he could literally feel his heart break.
Luckily, the door opened before the others could register the panic on his face, and Rachel opened the door, looking surprisingly happy. She lowered her voice confidentially.
"Is he here?"
As soon as the others shook their heads, Rachel pranced on in, a smile on her face.
"You guys are gonna love meee! Okay, check it out, Thursday night, five tickets, Calvin Klein lingerie show, and you guys are coming with me."
Monica glanced at Chandler, who looked a bit shell-shocked, then back at Rachel.
"Chandler already told us about it. And I'm so glad you asked him and Joey before you asked me," Monica added, her tone slightly bitter.
"What are you talking about? I just got these tickets thirty minutes ago. So are you coming?"
Chandler cleared his throat and stood up.
"Joey and I are."
"Okay. Mon? Phoebs?"
Monica looked at Chandler, confused, then back at Rachel. "You just got them?" Her gaze switched back to Chandler. "How did you know?"
Chandler backed away from the counter, at a loss. "I, um...instinct?"
Rachel clapped her hands to get their attention. "Hello? Tickets, are you coming? What's going on, guys?"
Phoebe glared at Chandler as she responded. "Chandler and Joey are going, because Chandler somehow knew that you were going to ask us to go before you asked. And Monica and I are not going, because we did NOT know about it, and told Ross we would come over and watch movies on Thursday night."
Rachel frowned, confused, then shrugged. "Okay. So, guys, seven o'clock on Thursday, okay?"
Chandler nodded, still looking sheepish, and Joey gave Rachel a thumbs-up, already imagining the show he was going to receive. Rachel shook her head and waved one hand as she walked back out the door. As soon as she was gone, Chandler made a break for his room, but Phoebe managed to grab his hand.
"Okay, Chandler, if Rachel just got the tickets thirty minutes ago, how did YOU know about it three hours ago?"
Chandler looked from Phoebe to Monica and back again, then what had just happened hit him fully and the now-familiar blackness swarmed over him again. Joey jumped up from his chair, catching Chandler just before he hit the floor.
This can't really be happening. It's just impossible. A ski trip, too? Note to self: Make sure Phoebe gets gas.
Chandler was in his bed, at Monica's insistence. He had to admit he didn't blame her for being worried. Fainting was not a common occurrence - at least not for him - and she had observed both of his spells today. Frankly, he was surprised she let him off this easy. But then, she was making soup. He had a feeling he was in for some pampering. Not that he minded...He'd always liked having her fuss over him.
He hadn't even been surprised when Rachel walked back in as Chandler was "waking up" and announced that they were going skiing this weekend. In fact, he had a sinking feeling that his lack of emotion had been noted, and that Phoebe would be asking more questions. Maybe he could chalk it up to his recent unconsciousness.
And now...what was happening? He had lived all of this before. Sure, there were minor differences - like the fact that he kept passing out. And it was only a dream, right? But, still, it was uncanny. And one coherent thought kept running constantly through his head.
Had he seen the future?
And if he had...did that mean that everything that had happened in the dream was going to come true?
Monica walked in, balancing a bowl of soup on a tray, and sat it down carefully on the table beside him. Then she sat down next to him on the bed, and absentmindedly rearranged the covers as she asked him how he was feeling. Chandler found that he couldn't move his eyes from her face as his recent thoughts overcame him again, making him wonder if Phoebe had been wrong when she said that their alternate universe counterparts weren't the same. Or maybe it didn't matter. Maybe, just maybe, he and Monica were destined to be together in every parallel universe that existed.
Monica's hand brushed against his cheek, and Chandler jerked out of his reverie, meeting her eyes. He wondered if she could read his thoughts, but Monica just looked at him, then stretched out next to him, cuddling up against his arm. Chandler exhaled, hoping she wouldn't be able to feel the tenseness in his muscles. Then he relaxed, forcing himself to act like he felt nothing with her so close to him.
"Chandler," she began, her voice hesitant.
"Yeah?"
"What's going on?"
He tensed again, wondering how he was going to respond to that. Hey, Mon, I had a dream and guess what! You and I were madly in love and we got married and were so, so happy, and so now I think that I love you. How weird is that?
"What do you mean?"
She sighed, and lifted her head so that she could look at him. There was something different in his eyes, something she had never noticed before this morning. For some reason, his simple gaze made her heart race and gave her goose bumps all up and down her arms. She couldn't explain it, but it made her feel...
"Chandler, you've passed out TWICE today. And you've been acting strangely... And then there's the whole fashion show thing. Rachel swore up and down she hadn't told you about that. What's going on?"
"It's nothing, Mon. I just, um, heard about the fashion show and knew Rachel would probably get tickets...and I thought it would be fun to go. So I just blurted it out to keep from making plans with Ross. You know, models in their underwear..." He tried a smile, but Monica didn't look convinced. "And the fainting...well, I guess after Ross and Rachel last night, I was just...tired or something."
She definitely didn't look like she believed him, but she nodded quietly. After a moment's pause, she turned to look at him again.
"Okay, then. Are you mad at me?"
"What? No, no of course not. Why would I be mad at you?" He slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her a little closer, hoping the simple gesture would help convince her...and tried to ignore his wildly beating heart. She snuggled up to him, relieved at the confidence of his answer.
"I don't know...But every time I've been anywhere near you all day, you get all tense and move away. Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. I'm not mad, Monica, I'm just...Today's been really weird."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Chandler sighed, wondering what it was he really wanted. For a split second, he wanted to just take a deep breath and tell her all about it...then kiss her before she could object and make her feel whatever it was she had felt that first night in London that allowed her to see him as more than just "Chandler". Then he realized just how stupid that would be, and shrugged despondently as he looked down at the bed covers. Monica just sighed and stood up.
"Okay, but if you need me, you know where I am. Meanwhile, eat your soup. If you're going to go skiing this weekend, you need to get your strength back."
Yeah, right. Like we're actually going to do any skiing. Well, if I have anything to do with it, we'll actually make it to the ski lodge this time...
"Yeah, Mon. Thanks."
"You're welcome." She paused and looked back at him, as if contemplating whether she wanted to continue the conversation. He tried his best to look sick and innocent, so he wouldn't have to come up with any more answers.
It worked. She gave him one last smile, then left the room, closing the door behind her.
Okay, I know several people have done stories where Chandler wakes up and everything has been a dream, but I've had this idea for the final episode (or six-hour "Friends" movie special) for awhile, so I decided to write it anyway. Oh, and needless to say, this is going to be primarily about Chandler and Monica...but I've tried to give the other characters some time and a storyline of some sort as well...
I don't own the characters, and I didn't write any of the lines that are taken from the show itself.
Chandler Bing moaned as the sun on his face woke him up, and he rolled over, reaching out instinctively for his wife. He draped his arm over her stomach and buried his face against her shoulder, shutting out the early morning sunlight. Then with a sigh, he tightened his arm around Monica, pulling her up against him, and kissed her on the cheek, knowing they would have to get out of the bed soon or they'd be late.
"Good Morning, Mon."
Her only response was some incoherent mumbling. He smiled to himself, kissing her jaw line and whispering in her ear.
"Mmmhmmm...I love you, too."
He tried not to think about how much he would love to follow her lead and stay in bed all day. Instead, he kissed the side of her head and sat up slowly, running his hands over his unshaven face and shaking his head in an effort to clear the grogginess.
His eyes fell on his best friend Joey, lying at the foot of the bed, fully clothed. Chandler rubbed his eyes and looked again, sure he must still be dreaming. What was Joey doing in their bedroom? In their BED, no less? He started to pinch himself, then thought better of it and kicked Joey with one foot - hard. He had to be dreaming, and if it was a dream, then it wouldn't hurt him.
Wrong. Apparently his theory about dreams was off. Or it wasn't a dream, because Joey yelped loudly and rolled off the end of the bed. Which of course woke up Monica, as well as Phoebe, who cushioned Joey's fall.
Wait, Phoebe too? What the... So, if everyone had decided to sleep with them, where were Ross and Rachel? Chandler glanced around the room, then at Monica, who was yawning sleepily, hoping she'd tell them all to get out and leave them alone. But Monica didn't seem bothered. She just gazed at Joey and Phoebe, who had curled up together on the floor and were back asleep, then looked toward Chandler warily.
"Morning."
Morning? No sweetie, no honey, no special smile, no suggestive comment about showers? Huh. And she looks different. Well, her hair's shorter for one thing. Wait - when did she cut her hair?
"Morning." Chandler sat silently for a minute - his head spinning - wondering what was wrong with the world this morning and how to make it go back to normal.
"Rough night, huh?" Chandler stared at her, puzzled by the comment, then at Phoebe and Joey on the floor.
"Um...okay. So, uh, what happened last night, anyway? Why are they here?"
Monica gave him an odd look and started to brush her hair.
"What do you mean, what happened?"
Chandler glared at her, exasperated. "I MEAN, what happened? Why are Phoebe and Joey in the room with us?"
"Well, where did you expect them to go, Chandler? Out the window? In that case, wouldn't you have gone too?"
"Huh?"
Monica put down the brush and turned to look at him, her face confused.
"What's wrong with you?"
"NOTHING. What's wrong with YOU? You haven't even kissed me good morning."
Monica raised her eyebrows, her expression a cross between amusement and irritation.
"Chandler, this is not a time for jokes. Not after what happened last night..."
"Jokes? Who's joking? And what happened last night?" He paused, then rushed on, worried. "Oh, honey, did I fall asleep in the middle of it again? I'm sorry, I just had a really long day..."
"Chandler, stop it. I can't believe you're teasing when Ross and Rachel just broke up."
"They broke up? How can-" Chandler stopped himself, wondering why he got the feeling that Monica would throw something at him if he finished the question. But how could they break up if they weren't together? What in the world was going on and who had planned this elaborate hoax?
"Uh...yeah, they broke up. Don't you remember all the yelling and screaming and crying and pleading?"
Suddenly, Chandler felt a cold chill. He remembered it all right, but it hadn't been yesterday. It had, in fact, been years since the last time they had gone through the repetitive drama affectionately known as "Ross and Rachel". He looked up at Monica, who was watching him like he was going to explode any second. Her hair was short. He couldn't have been so tired that he wouldn't have noticed it last night... And the sweater she was holding - didn't Rachel lose that last year? He glanced around the room, suddenly realizing that none of his things were scattered around. Finally, he forced himself to look back at Monica, his eyes falling to her left hand.
Nothing.
Chandler felt all the air leave his lungs, and wondered vaguely how Monica could stand so still when the whole room was jerking and spinning.
"It was a dream..." He heard himself mumble, just before Monica disappeared from view and he felt his head hit the mattress.
"Chandler? Sweetie, are you okay? Chandler?" Her voice faded in and out, sounding like she was far away and on a bad telephone connection. Ugh, headache! He struggled to open his eyes, hoping that when he did, his life would be back to normal. Please have long hair, please have long hair, please have long hair... Oh man, something's wrong with the world when it all revolves on the length of Monica's hair. Please, oh please let it be long.
Damn. Guess that was asking a bit much. Okay, she's worried. And well she should be! Her husband just woke up and found out that everything we had together was a dream! Okay, no, that would be why I'm worried. Not worried - catatonic. Yeah. Say something, Chandler. She's getting that look...
"I, uh, Mon...Well, see...I don't...hmmm..." Yeah, that went well. And here it comes.
"Chandler, do I need to call a doctor? Are you okay? Do you have a fever? Let me get you some aspirin. Lie back down."
Chandler smiled slightly at her take-over nature, but managed to put his hand out to grab her arm as she turned toward the door. Deep breath, lick your lips, now try again.
"Mon, I'm fine. I...I, uh, just...got up too fast." Much better. She looks like she might even decide to believe you. You were never this good at lying to her before.
"Are you sure? You're acting really strange, and you did faint, Chandler."
"Yeah, Mon, I'm fine. Just give me a minute, and I'll be out of your way."
"You're not in my way, Chandler. Just stay there. I'll make you breakfast."
"You don't-"
"No arguments. Besides," She paused and cast a glance at their sleeping friends. "Joey will wake up soon and demand food anyway."
"Okay," he agreed quietly, trying desperately to avoid eye contact. But instead of leaving the room, Monica walked over and sat next to him on the bed. She stroked the side of his face worriedly, and Chandler flinched at the all-too-familiar touch. He shifted away from her, knowing that one more second and he wouldn't be able to control himself. Monica watched him carefully, hurt by his reaction.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Chandler forced himself to look at her, drawn immediately into the depth of her blue eyes. He stared at her, swallowing hard in an effort to hold his emotions at bay. Finally he nodded and closed his eyes to break the spell.
"Fine, Mon. Really. Do you want me to help you cook?"
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, before she finally kissed his cheek and stood up, giving him a tiny smile.
"No, I think I can manage." She opened the door, oblivious of how the simple kiss affected him, and paused, looking out. "Will you take care of Rachel while I'm getting it ready, though?"
Chandler followed her to the doorway, and stood behind her as he, too, looked out. Rachel was lying on the couch in a fetal position, her face tear-stained and her hair a mess. Without thinking, Chandler put his hands on Monica's shoulders, pulling her back against him in a comforting gesture. His face mirrored Monica's concern as they looked out at their friend.
"Yeah, I'll take care of Rachel."
Monica turned to him, her eyes thanking him. He watched her move into the kitchen, wondering if he'd ever really noticed how beautiful she was in the morning before. He shook his head sadly, and moved over to lift Rachel into his arms. This would be a long day for everyone, and he feared that he wouldn't be able to get Monica out of his mind all day. Not that he really wanted to.
Chandler walked into Central Perk, trying to sort through his thoughts. His friends looked up, startled at the strange look on his face. He ignored their questions and sank onto the couch, running his hands through his hair. Silence reigned as the others watched him, wondering what was wrong. Finally, Chandler looked up and seemed to see them for the first time. He snapped to attention, sitting up straight and giving them a confused look.
"What?"
"What? You look like you just saw a ghost or something. You okay, Chandler?" Joey looked genuinely worried, and Chandler registered the varying comments accompanying Joey's question. He looked around the small circle, noting Rachel's absence and Ross's glum face, and finally meeting Monica's questioning eyes. He gave her a tight smile and turned away, not wanting to bring on more questions.
"I'm, I'm fine, guys. I've just had the strangest day, like, ever. Everything that happened was just déjà vu, you know? And I just have the weirdest feeling..."
"Yeah, that's because déjà vu is a message from another you in an alternate universe. I call mine Phoebetta. But, you know, she's kind of flaky. And she's constantly bragging about how great Joey is in bed. That gets on my nerves."
Joey's face brightened as he looked up, suddenly interested in the conversation, but everyone else just stared at Phoebe, amused and slightly shocked. Chandler glanced at Monica, then down at the floor.
"Well, it's weird. And I don't think I like it."
"Sweetie, maybe you need to get some rest. You've been a little out of it all day, and after this morning..." Monica put her hand on his leg as she leaned over to feel his forehead. Chandler froze, counting to five before he tried to subtly move away. He didn't understand why he felt dizzy every time she touched him. But he didn't want to hurt her feelings by shrugging away. Monica dropped her hand, giving him an inquisitive look as she sat back. Chandler shot her a brief glance of apology, but was relieved when she dropped the subject and turned to her brother.
"Have you talked to Rachel?"
Ross shrugged and replied in his "kill-me-now" voice. "No, she won't answer the phone. And every time I call her at work, MARK answers. Man, I hate that guy. This is all his fault."
Monica looked like she wanted to object, but just coughed and looked away. Ross flushed, and quickly changed the subject.
"So, um, what are you guys doing Thursday night?"
As the group responded with various "Nothing"s and shakes of their heads, Chandler got that unusual feeling again. He glanced at Ross, then over at Joey, an idea forming. Before he lost his nerve, he gambled on instinct and spoke up.
"Joey and I are going to a fashion show."
Joey shot him a "what the hell" look, and spoke up quickly.
"No, we're not."
"Yes, we are. A lingerie show. With Rachel. Remember?" He questioned, stressing the last word in hopes that Joey would get the idea to play along. He was surprised that he even remembered this after all those years - eh, well, all those hours...of sleep...What was wrong with him? This was just going to lead to trouble. But Joey's attention had been caught by "lingerie" - and Ross's by "Rachel".
"You're, um, going with Rachel?"
Joey caught Chandler's eye, and nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah, man. Models in their underwear!"
Ross nodded dejectedly and looked down. Phoebe, who was watching Chandler carefully, caught his wink to Joey and leaned in.
"Rachel hasn't mentioned anything to me."
"No, but she will soon. But why don't you and Mon go with Ross and keep him company, and Joey and I will go with Rachel?"
Phoebe still looked unconvinced, but Monica nodded and reached over to pat Ross's hand.
"Of course we will. What did you have in mind?"
Ross was looking at Chandler and had to jerk himself back to attention.
"Oh, um...Well, I got a new entertainment system. I thought we could watch movies and stuff."
Chandler relaxed as Monica started making plans for the evening. Joey was nudging him excitedly, forgetting already that he had known nothing about the plans. Chandler wasn't really sure why he said they had been invited. They hadn't, of course - yet. But after the day he'd had, he fully expected Rachel to walk into their apartment and announce that she did indeed have tickets. He wondered if he was tempting fate, but decided he didn't care. He would just have to wait and see what the afternoon would hold.
Chandler glanced up warily from his bowl as he heard the door opened, then wasn't sure if he was relieved or apprehensive to see that it was Monica.
"Hey, Chandler."
"Hey, Mon. Want some ice cream?"
Monica glanced into his bowl, then shrugged and finally nodded. "Okay, but I'll get it."
Chandler nodded as Monica went to the freezer, then sat down next to him and absentmindedly smushed the ice cream around in her bowl. Chandler watched her, thinking about how many times he had watched her do the same thing.
"What's wrong?"
Monica didn't even look up. "My brother cheated on my best friend. Isn't that bad enough?"
Chandler paused, suddenly appreciating the position Monica was in. They were all caught in the middle, but her relationship with both Ross and Rachel had to make all of this a hundred times harder for her.
"Yeah, that's bad enough. I'm sorry, Mon."
"It's not your fault. You didn't cheat on anyone..."
"Nooo...but still. You shouldn't be in this position."
"Well, what's done is done. Can't change it now. I just...Well, I don't want Rachel to hold it against ME because I'm a Geller."
"Why would she do that? Rach knows you can't make Ross's choices for him."
"I know that. But, she asked you and Joey to go to that lingerie show with her. Why didn't she ask me? I'm her ROOMMATE!"
Chandler froze, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him.
"Well...maybe she just...saw us first?"
"I saw her after I left Central Perk, and she didn't even mention it."
"Oh...Well, you never know. She'll probably come running in her in a couple of minutes screaming about it." Man, oh man, if she only knew...
"Maybe." Monica's voice was doubtful, and Chandler felt his heart twist in sympathy. He had no idea how to respond next. To his relief, Joey chose that moment to walk in with Phoebe, saving Chandler from the conversation.
"Hey, hey guys!" Chandler was aware that he sounded just a little too excited, but didn't care. "Where have you been?" He could feel Monica's eyes on him, and suddenly realized how she might interpret his relief at the arrival of their friends.
"I mean, uh, whatcha been doing?"
Joey gave him a strange look, and flopped into his chair, smirking at Chandler knowingly.
"We were talking about Phoebe's alternate universe."
"No, YOU were bragging about alternate-universe-Joey, and I was trying to tell you that Phoebetta is a hooker!"
Joey's grin grew bigger, then he sat up straight in his chair, his face indignant.
"Hey, I DO NOT pay for sex!"
"Maybe not, but alternate-universe-Joey does. That's what I'm TRYING to tell you! You are not the same person!"
The words hit Chandler like a brick, and he could almost feel himself falling backward. You are not the same person. It echoed through his mind, leaving him dazed. He couldn't keep his gaze from falling on Monica, who was laughing at the relief on Joey's face, and thought he could literally feel his heart break.
Luckily, the door opened before the others could register the panic on his face, and Rachel opened the door, looking surprisingly happy. She lowered her voice confidentially.
"Is he here?"
As soon as the others shook their heads, Rachel pranced on in, a smile on her face.
"You guys are gonna love meee! Okay, check it out, Thursday night, five tickets, Calvin Klein lingerie show, and you guys are coming with me."
Monica glanced at Chandler, who looked a bit shell-shocked, then back at Rachel.
"Chandler already told us about it. And I'm so glad you asked him and Joey before you asked me," Monica added, her tone slightly bitter.
"What are you talking about? I just got these tickets thirty minutes ago. So are you coming?"
Chandler cleared his throat and stood up.
"Joey and I are."
"Okay. Mon? Phoebs?"
Monica looked at Chandler, confused, then back at Rachel. "You just got them?" Her gaze switched back to Chandler. "How did you know?"
Chandler backed away from the counter, at a loss. "I, um...instinct?"
Rachel clapped her hands to get their attention. "Hello? Tickets, are you coming? What's going on, guys?"
Phoebe glared at Chandler as she responded. "Chandler and Joey are going, because Chandler somehow knew that you were going to ask us to go before you asked. And Monica and I are not going, because we did NOT know about it, and told Ross we would come over and watch movies on Thursday night."
Rachel frowned, confused, then shrugged. "Okay. So, guys, seven o'clock on Thursday, okay?"
Chandler nodded, still looking sheepish, and Joey gave Rachel a thumbs-up, already imagining the show he was going to receive. Rachel shook her head and waved one hand as she walked back out the door. As soon as she was gone, Chandler made a break for his room, but Phoebe managed to grab his hand.
"Okay, Chandler, if Rachel just got the tickets thirty minutes ago, how did YOU know about it three hours ago?"
Chandler looked from Phoebe to Monica and back again, then what had just happened hit him fully and the now-familiar blackness swarmed over him again. Joey jumped up from his chair, catching Chandler just before he hit the floor.
This can't really be happening. It's just impossible. A ski trip, too? Note to self: Make sure Phoebe gets gas.
Chandler was in his bed, at Monica's insistence. He had to admit he didn't blame her for being worried. Fainting was not a common occurrence - at least not for him - and she had observed both of his spells today. Frankly, he was surprised she let him off this easy. But then, she was making soup. He had a feeling he was in for some pampering. Not that he minded...He'd always liked having her fuss over him.
He hadn't even been surprised when Rachel walked back in as Chandler was "waking up" and announced that they were going skiing this weekend. In fact, he had a sinking feeling that his lack of emotion had been noted, and that Phoebe would be asking more questions. Maybe he could chalk it up to his recent unconsciousness.
And now...what was happening? He had lived all of this before. Sure, there were minor differences - like the fact that he kept passing out. And it was only a dream, right? But, still, it was uncanny. And one coherent thought kept running constantly through his head.
Had he seen the future?
And if he had...did that mean that everything that had happened in the dream was going to come true?
Monica walked in, balancing a bowl of soup on a tray, and sat it down carefully on the table beside him. Then she sat down next to him on the bed, and absentmindedly rearranged the covers as she asked him how he was feeling. Chandler found that he couldn't move his eyes from her face as his recent thoughts overcame him again, making him wonder if Phoebe had been wrong when she said that their alternate universe counterparts weren't the same. Or maybe it didn't matter. Maybe, just maybe, he and Monica were destined to be together in every parallel universe that existed.
Monica's hand brushed against his cheek, and Chandler jerked out of his reverie, meeting her eyes. He wondered if she could read his thoughts, but Monica just looked at him, then stretched out next to him, cuddling up against his arm. Chandler exhaled, hoping she wouldn't be able to feel the tenseness in his muscles. Then he relaxed, forcing himself to act like he felt nothing with her so close to him.
"Chandler," she began, her voice hesitant.
"Yeah?"
"What's going on?"
He tensed again, wondering how he was going to respond to that. Hey, Mon, I had a dream and guess what! You and I were madly in love and we got married and were so, so happy, and so now I think that I love you. How weird is that?
"What do you mean?"
She sighed, and lifted her head so that she could look at him. There was something different in his eyes, something she had never noticed before this morning. For some reason, his simple gaze made her heart race and gave her goose bumps all up and down her arms. She couldn't explain it, but it made her feel...
"Chandler, you've passed out TWICE today. And you've been acting strangely... And then there's the whole fashion show thing. Rachel swore up and down she hadn't told you about that. What's going on?"
"It's nothing, Mon. I just, um, heard about the fashion show and knew Rachel would probably get tickets...and I thought it would be fun to go. So I just blurted it out to keep from making plans with Ross. You know, models in their underwear..." He tried a smile, but Monica didn't look convinced. "And the fainting...well, I guess after Ross and Rachel last night, I was just...tired or something."
She definitely didn't look like she believed him, but she nodded quietly. After a moment's pause, she turned to look at him again.
"Okay, then. Are you mad at me?"
"What? No, no of course not. Why would I be mad at you?" He slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her a little closer, hoping the simple gesture would help convince her...and tried to ignore his wildly beating heart. She snuggled up to him, relieved at the confidence of his answer.
"I don't know...But every time I've been anywhere near you all day, you get all tense and move away. Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. I'm not mad, Monica, I'm just...Today's been really weird."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Chandler sighed, wondering what it was he really wanted. For a split second, he wanted to just take a deep breath and tell her all about it...then kiss her before she could object and make her feel whatever it was she had felt that first night in London that allowed her to see him as more than just "Chandler". Then he realized just how stupid that would be, and shrugged despondently as he looked down at the bed covers. Monica just sighed and stood up.
"Okay, but if you need me, you know where I am. Meanwhile, eat your soup. If you're going to go skiing this weekend, you need to get your strength back."
Yeah, right. Like we're actually going to do any skiing. Well, if I have anything to do with it, we'll actually make it to the ski lodge this time...
"Yeah, Mon. Thanks."
"You're welcome." She paused and looked back at him, as if contemplating whether she wanted to continue the conversation. He tried his best to look sick and innocent, so he wouldn't have to come up with any more answers.
It worked. She gave him one last smile, then left the room, closing the door behind her.
