Alternate Reality
Chandler returned home from work and just sat in the driveway fiddling with the radio dial, but his mind was hardly on the music. He was killing time and stalling, not wanting to go inside and face his wife and best friend. 'I'm the husband, I'm the one who is supposed to be able to provide for his family', he thought to himself. He paused to reach under the seat and pull out a pack of cigarettes he hid, and opened the package and yanked one out.
He told Monica and everybody else that he quit smoking, but in reality he just learned how to hide it better. He always kept a package of breath mints on him, to cover up the smell as well as a can of deodorant. He was off in his own little world and didn't even see Erica skipping over to the car, knocking on the door. 'Hi daddy', she greeted with a peck on the cheek. He quickly tried to hide the cigarette and said 'How are you doing, pumpkin'.
'Daddy, are you smoking', she asked, pointing to the ash try. Chandler smiled sheepishly and said 'Daddy just took one little puff...let's not tell Mommy about that, ok'. She giggled and said 'Ok, daddy' and skipped into the house, whistling a happy tune. He watched as his 6 year old daughter was inside and closed the door, before opening the ash try and retrieving his cigarette. He closed his eyes, wondering how to explain to his best friend and wife, that he lost his job.
He was jolted to his senses by insistent banging on the door, and saw Monica standing outside, with Erica and Jack right next to her. 'You look mad... are you mad, sweetie'. Monica didn't answer and just mumbled 'Mmm-Hmm', forcing a smile. Chandler replied 'On a scale of 1 to 10, how mad are you' as he stepped out of the car. Monica yanked the cigarette from his hand, threw it on the ground and said '15'. She instructed the kids to go inside and do their homework as Jack chuckled to his sister and said 'Man, dad's gonna get it'
Monica waited until the kids were back inside, and saw Jack peek his head out of the window and Monica said 'Homework...now', as he closed the window. She turned to Chandler and said 'So, Old Smoky do I need to remind you that children live here'? She saw the look in Chandler's eyes and knew something was wrong and immediately softened her tone and said 'Chandler, what is it'. Chandler turned away, as Monica walked around to face him and said 'Whatever it is, we'll get thru it, together'.
He sighed and knew there was no way he could keep it from her and simply said 'I...I was fired, today'. Monica smiled and said 'Oh honey, is that all'. Chandler looked at her and said 'What do you mean 'Is that all'. I just lost my job'. Monica asked what happened and Chandler said he failed to impress a new client, and lost a multi-million dollar account. 'I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make light of this. But it's just a job... you can find another one, and in the mean time I can work some extra hours'.
He knew she was only trying to make him feel better, but in reality it made him feel worse. 'I'm the husband. I'm the one who is supposed to be supporting you, not the other way around'. Monica smiled and said 'But we're a team. We're in this thing together and there is no law that says you can't have any help'. Chandler smiled, knowing she was right but would never admit it. He simply kissed her, thanking her for the words of support and opened the door to his car to get in.
'Where are you going, you just got home', she asked and Chandler said he was going to pick up some ice cream for the family, and would be back in a few minutes. Monica waited until he backed out of the driveway, before going inside and helping Jack with his math homework.
Chandler just rounded the corner, on his was to the store when he lost control, and ran head-first into a truck. He had a blinding head-ache and it even hurt to think, and tried as he might, he could not fight the wave of darkness that was covering him.
He heard a voice say 'I think he's coming around, Ms. Bing' as Chandler willed himself to open his eyes, as he felt somebody gently caress his cheek and tenderly kiss him. He opened his eyes, to see Rachel standing by his bed and said 'Oh thank God, I thought we lost you'. Chandler groggily tried to shake the cobwebs out of his head and said 'Where's Monica at'. Rachel looked at him funny and said 'Baby, she's at home with Richard, but they both send their love'.
'Monica...Richard? Whe...what', he stammered as Rachel sat down next to Chandler and said 'Honey, you don't remember? They were married. You remember, right? You were one of the ushers'. Chandler still in shock and dis-belief asked when they were married and Rachel said 'Seven years ago', clearly surprised he did not remember. Chandler shook his head and said 'No, that can't be right. Mon... Monica and I are married'.
Rachel stood up, with a tear in her eye and said 'What are you talking about Chandler? You're not married to Monica, as as far I can recall you never were. Sweetie, I'm your wife' She turned to the doctor clearly distressed and asked why Chandler couldn't remember anything and the doctor said Chandler had a pretty good head-trauma and could possibly have his memories jumbled. She looked at Chandler and said 'Will he ever be able to get his memory back'.
'Every case is different Mrs. Bing some people get it back right away. Some people take longer, and some people...well, some people may never get their full memory back'. He said he was going to keep Chandler in the hospital for a few more days, and left them alone. 'Ross. Where is Ross', Chandler asked and Rachel tried to choke back tears as she was having to explain Chandler's life to him, and said that he and Emily were married and live one apartment over from them.
'What, but what about when Ross said your name at the alter, when they got married'. Rachel took Chandler's hand and said 'Oh poor baby, you must have really took a hard bump. And Ross never said my name at the alter'. Chandler was adamant that he did, and he was there, causing a rift between Ross and Rachel. Rachel said there was no rift, and in fact she and Emily were best friends. Chandler laid back down, trying to get everything to sink in.
'Joey...could you please call him for me'. Rachel said Chandler and Joey haven't spoken in years, and Joey left after he found out about Chandler and Kathy, saying he couldn't be a roommate with somebody who would betray his friendship, and nobody has heard from him since.
'No, none of this makes any sense', he said as Rachel leaned over and said 'I know it seems like that to you, right now. The doctor said the bump you took may have strained your memories, but we're going to make everything better'. She paused and added 'Chandler, do you even know what year it is'. Chandler smirked at such a trivial question and said '2008'. Rachel covered her mouth with her hand, willing herself not to cry, as she took a step back shook her head and replied 'Chandler, it's only 1998'