wowie. i honestly wasn't expecting this many reviews. anyway, i'm hoping that whoever is reading this is a bit of a chander/rachel fan too, because i'm going to go back in time a little in the story. i just wrote the first chapter as a one shot, but decided it might be a good story if i continued it. well, we'll see.


Two Months Earlier

Chandler sat in the local bar that was on his way home from work. The TVs were humming something about football that he didn't understand, the bartender was hitting on a young girl who was underage, and the lights kept flickering, most likely due to an unpaid electricity bill. As he downed his second beer, he wondered how much longer he could stay here before Monica would begin to call him asking him where he was.

Glancing at the cell phone he never wanted but Monica insisted he have in case of emergency, he saw that it was going on 7. Monica was going to kill him.

What else was new about that? Ever since they adopted the twins, she had changed. They were basically her life. She was being the mother and the father at the same time. When he wanted to be with her, he couldn't. She needed to be with them. She was their mother (as if he didn't know that). She needed to spend time with them, every single moment. And when he wanted to see Jack and Erica, he couldn't. She was their mommy. They wanted and needed spend the time with their mommy, not their daddy.

It was just so frustrating. There were two things that he loved in his life, and she was taking away both of them. There were a lot of days where he didn't look forward to going home like many dads with little kids. He felt like a mean father, but that was the truth.

Placing the empty mug on the counter, he sighed, knowing he'd have to face it sooner or later. What had happened? What had caused everything to go so wrong? How had she stayed so in check before?

"Chandler," a voice said quietly as he began to turn around. He knew that voice.

"Rachel? What are you doing here?" he muttered, staring at the blond in front of him.

"Your wife sent me out to look for you. If you haven't remembered, Ross and I were supposed to come over with Emma tonight. It's Jack and Erica's birthday…Are you drunk?" she asked bluntly, placing her hands on her hips and staring at him.

"No!" he defended, raising his arms in defense. As she still remained in that position, he realized she wasn't kidding. "Why would you say something like that?" his voice becoming all high-pitched, like it usually did when he was nervous.

"Chandler, it's your kids' birthday. You don't remember it?" she said as she sat down on the stool next to him and ordered a rum and diet coke.

His head dropped. "I know. I'm a terrible father. I-I just don't connect with them in the way I should."

"Well, sitting in a bar when you should be at home isn't going to help that problem, is it?" she replied as she took a sip of her drink. He smiled. "You know I'm right," she continued, with a small chuckle.

"So how are you? I haven't seen you in such a long time," Chandler said to her.

She placed her beverage back on the counter and played with the straw. "Work is pretty good. Emma is as wonderful as ever. And Ross is…Ross," Rachel said, rolling her eyes at the last part.

Chandler chuckled at the last part. "That's a good term to describe him as. 'Yes, that's Ross. Oh, he's a paleontologist. What do I think of him? He's very…Ross."

Rachel, hit him slightly. "You know what I mean. But enough about me. How are you? How's Monica and the twins?"

As Rachel saw Chandler's features begin to fade, she knew that the answers to come were not going to be good.

"Chandler, what's going on? What's wrong?"

He was silent for a moment, not sure if he should tell Rachel what was truly happening. Not sure who's side she would take.

"I love Monica and I always will. You of all people should know that. But I guess what it is is that that's a bit of a rift forming between us. I hate to say it, but I think we're drifting apart," Chandler sighed, avoiding Rachel's eyes in case she was upset by this.

Rachel didn't say anything as she twirled the straw in her drink. "What makes you say this?" she asked quietly.

Chandler glanced at her. The look in her eyes was extremely upset. "She isn't my Monica anymore. She's changed The other day, I put a drink down on the table, no coaster. She was sitting right next to me holding Jack, and she didn't say a word. It didn't bother her in the least bit. It made me feel like I'm living with a different woman than I married. Especially- especially the other day, I picked up the phone to call Joey. Monica was on the phone in the other room. Well, I didn't know this. As I picked it up I heard another man's voice on the line…She was talking to Richard."

Rachel gasped at the last part. "Are you postivie?" she whispered.

Chandler rolled his eyes. "Unless she knows someone else named Richard, I think it was him."

Rachel looked at him in awe. "I don't believe it. I just don't believe it."

Chandler nodded in agreement. The two sat there in silence before Rachel jumped, making Chandler jump as well. "Oh my God, I totally forgot. Monica's waiting for us to come back. We have to get back or she'll flip out on us!" Rachel squealed as threw some money down on the counter.

Grabbing Chandler's hand, she pulled him off the bar stool and out of the bar. Chandler hated to admit it, but he hadn't had this much fun in a long time.

As they attempt to tag down a taxi, Chandler muttered "How are we going to explain this to Monica?"

Rachel chuckled as she looked over her shoulder at him. "She's your wife. It's your job…"