This is my first ever fan fic! I hope you enjoy it!
2005
Los Angeles
Chandler walked into the church and looked around for familiar faces. He couldn't believe his best friend, Joey, was actually getting married. Joey was the last person Chandler ever expected to tie the knot, but he was still happy for him. As Chandler continued to look around, he noticed Monica walk into the church. He takes a deep breath, and as he reminds himself to stay calm, he begins to walk towards her. Monica notices Chandler, and smiles at him once he approaches. There is an awkwardness between them, but Chandler leans in anyway and softly kisses her on the cheek. Monica looks down at her shoes, trying to avoid eye contact with him. He notices this, but decides to talk to her anyway.
"Mon, I didn't know if you would be able to make it. How have you been?" he asks. She looks up at him again, and their eyes meet.
"I'm okay," she pauses, but then continues, "I'm sorry I haven't returned your calls. I just need some time."
Wanting desperately to wrap her up in his arms, or even just touch her hand, Chandler quickly puts his hands in his pockets to be on the safe side. The two continue to stand in silence, as the awkwardness continues. From across the room, Rachel notices her two friends and walks over to them. She can see things are strained, so she quickly hugs and kisses Monica and Chandler.
"You look great, Rach." Monica smiles.
"Thanks, so do you." Rachel replies.
"So, can you believe Joey is actually the next one of us to get married?" Chandler asks, trying to break the tension a bit.
"I know. Phoebe and I were just saying the same thing last night." Rachel agrees.
Chandler and Rachel continue to chat, mostly about Joey and the others, who have yet to arrive. Rachel looks around the church and notices some friends. "I hate to leave, but I just saw someone" - she starts, but is cut off by Chandler.
"It's okay. We'll catch up with you later." Chandler says.
"Great." Rachel smiles. She hugs Monica again, who had remained silent throughout the entire conversation. Once Rachel is out of sight, Chandler decides he has to talk to Monica about the "situation".
"You look really well." He finally says, as he put his hand lightly on her shoulder.
Looking as though she is on the verge of tears, Monica half smiles, and as she points to her arm replies, "You can hardly see the scar anymore."
Cut to 8 months earlier.
New York
Chandler and Monica are asleep with their arms wrapped around each other. As Monica begins stir, Chandler wakes up, smiles and kisses her forehead.
"Good morning, Mrs. Bing," he smiles.
Monica kisses him on the lips and smiles. "Can you believe I've been Mrs. Bing for five years now?"
"I know. The time has just flown by. I guess because we've been having so much fun!" Chandler says, as he climbs out of bed. "If you want, I can pick up everything for the anniversary dinner. I know you will probably want to clean up the house before everyone gets here tonight."
Monica makes her way over to Chandler and kisses him again. "You are so sweet, but I have a few errands to run this morning anyway. So I can pick everything up."
"Okay, but if you change your mind, just let me know, honey." Chandler kisses her forehead before adding, "I'm taking my shower now."
"Okay, sweetie. I'll see you downstairs."
An hour later, Chandler is dressed for work and headed into the kitchen, where Monica has prepared breakfast. Sitting at the kitchen table is a little boy eating pancakes. Monica is at the stove preparing another batch for Chandler.
"Hi daddy," the little boy says, as he smiles up at his father.
Chandler laughs when he sees the maple syrup all over his son's face. "Have you seen this yet?" he asks Monica.
"Oh yeah." She smiles, as she brings Chandler over a plate of pancakes. She looks at her son and says, "Ryan, I think we need to get you cleaned up." As she takes his hand, a baby is heard crying in the next room.
"Want me to get him?" Chandler asks, as he begins to stand up.
"No, its okay. You stay here with Ryan. I'll be right back." Monica runs into the next room, and moments later she returns carrying an infant.
Chandler stands up and kisses the baby. Monica places the baby in a little bouncy chair, as she sits down next to Chandler at the table. "He just wanted to be in here with us." She says. Ryan climbs down from his chair and into Chandler's lap. "Mommy said that Jake will be able to crawl soon," Ryan announces.
"That's right," Chandler says.
"Want to see how many money I got?" Ryan asks, as he pulls some coins out of his pocket.
Monica and Chandler laugh. Chandler stands up and picks Ryan up with him. "You show me that when I get home from work. Right now I have to get going."
"If you give me a minute, we'll just leave now too." Monica says.
Moments later, Chandler is helping Monica get the kids into their car-seats in the back of her Ford Explorer. After they are safely buckled in, Monica gives Chandler one more kiss.
"I love you." She says, as she gets into the front seat.
"I love you too, honey. I'll see you tonight."
"Have a good day." Monica smiles. Chandler watches as she backs out of the driveway, and waves to Ryan as he watches them drive away.
Later that morning, Chandler is sitting at his desk, concentrating on something when the phone rings. A little annoyed at the interruption, he picks up the phone. "This is Bing." There is a brief pause. Chandler is no longer looking at the important documents in front of him. "Yes, Monica Bing is my wife." He gets a very worried look on his face, drops the phone, and runs out of his office.
Chandler runs frantically into the Emergency Room. He looks around momentarily, and heads straight to the Nurse's station. "My name is Chandler Bing. I'm looking for my wife, Monica," he says, a little out of breath. The nurse has an uneasy look on her face, and tells Chandler to wait for just a moment while she gets a doctor. Moments later, the nurse returns with the doctor.
"Mr. Bing, I'm Dr. Peters," the man says, extending his hand.
"Where is Monica? Is she okay?"
"I think we should go into my office to talk."
Chandler had a very bad feeling about this. He was getting frantic and fearing the worst. He enters the office, and the doctor gestures for Chandler to sit down. Instead of sitting down at the desk in front of Chandler, the doctor sat right next to him. Chandler was starting to get a sick feeling in his stomach.
"Where is Monica? Where are my kids? Just tell me." Chandler said again.
"As we told you on the phone, there was an accident." The doctor started. "Your wife was stopped at a red light. And someone rear-ended her."
"That's it?" Chandler asked, feeling relieved. "That isn't so bad."
The doctor sighed. "The car hit her at such a high speed that it pushed her onto the train tracks."
"What??!" Chandler yelled. "What the hell are you telling me? There was a train coming and some jackass hit my wife's car onto the track? Are you saying she was hit by an on-coming train?"
"Mr. Bing, I know it sounds crazy, but this happens more frequently than you can imagine."
Chandler began to fear the worst again. He put his hands over his face in disbelief. He started to prepare himself for the bad news.
"Luckily your wife only suffered from a broken collar bone and some cuts on her arm from the broken glass."
Chandler looked up at the doctor again. "Would you stop doing this to me? Are you telling me she is okay?"
"Yes, she is going to be fine."
"Thank God." Chandler said sighing relief. "When can I see them?"
The doctor looks down, avoiding eye contact. "This is probably the worst thing I have ever had to tell a parent."
Chandler stared in disbelief. His lower lip began to tremble, as the realization began to set in. "Are you saying - that my kids - they didn't make it?"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Bing."
Chandler was in shock. The only thing he managed to get out was one question. "Does Mon know?"
"No, she doesn't know yet. She was hysterical when the EMTs brought her in, so we had to give her sedative. She's sleeping right now."
"I have to see her."
Chandler walked into her room, feeling totally empty. He couldn't imagine how Monica was going to take this. He wondered if she could handle it at all. He sat down beside her, as she continued to sleep, and took her hand. He kissed it sweetly as his eyes began to fill with tears. He remembered the last time she had been in the hospital four months earlier when Jake was born. He cried even more, and knew that Monica was going to be absolutely devastated.
An hour or so later, she finally woke up and found Chandler still holding her hand. He had passed out next to her with his head leaning against her leg. She looked around the room, and had very little memory of the accident.
"Chandler," she whispered. "Wake up, sweetie."
He lifted his head and looked up at her. She could see his eyes were bloodshot from crying. She could tell just from the look in his eyes that he was about to tell her something she did not want to hear.
"Chandler, what is it? Are the boys okay?"
Chandler just sat there totally silent. He could not bring himself to tell her.
"Chandler," she started again, as her voice cracked. "What is it? Where are Ryan and Jake?"
Chandler brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it tenderly. He leaned in and kissed her cheek and then her mouth, and he began to cry. She was trying to remain calm, but it felt like the entire room was spinning and in slow motion at the same time. She didn't want to hear Chandler's words. She began screaming and crying as Chandler put his arms around her. She cried, he cried - until she finally cried herself to sleep. The tears had dried on her cheeks. Chandler didn't want to leave her side, but he knew he had to call their family and friends. It was supposed to be their anniversary dinner that night, but instead everyone gathered at the hospital to mourn.
Rachel, Ross, and Phoebe came to the hospital that night, along with Monika's parents. They wanted to help in any way they could. Joey was in Los Angeles, and said he would be on the next flight out to New York. Chandler appreciated the support, but he knew their lives were never going to be the same. He was worried about how Monica was ever going to accept this, and he was also worried about himself.
To be Continued? Feedback is welcome. Thanks!