AN: Thanks for all your reviews, I appreciate the feedback! Here's chapter 4!
*Monica's POV*
After getting the twins dressed and dropping them off at preschool, I head to the hospital. When I reach Chandler's room, I see Joey hunched over his bed, grasping Chandler's hands. His shoulders shake slightly, the only sign of him crying.
"Hey Joey," I whisper, his head shooting up to look at me.
He quickly gets up and embraces me in a bear hug. I can't help but start to cry onto his shoulders. I don't know how long we stand there until Ross and Rachel enter the room. I pull back from the hug and I can tell my eyes are already red and my face tear stained.
"Mon, sweetie, how'd you sleep?" Rachel asks me.
"Not great, I had a dream Chandler left us after he never got his memories back. And to top it off, my mother was being judgmental as usual" I say with a sigh.
My friends' eyes fill with sympathy but they don't say anything and I am glad, I don't think anything would have helped me.
The hours tick by as medical personnel and my friends trickle in and out of the room. Later in the afternoon, I find myself alone with Chandler and I decide to give talking to him another shot.
"Chandler, honey can you hear me?" I begin, moving towards his bed, "I miss you so much it hurts. You really have to wake up, you have so many people counting on you. Joey's an absolute mess, I called your parents and they flipped, Phoebe has locked herself in her room and refuses to come out, Ross and Rachel have been here almost the whole time and your babies don't understand what happened. All they know is that daddy is gone, mommy is sad and they get to see Emma more. Chandler, I need to tell you something. I...I...I'm..."
Before I can get the word out, an alarm starts blaring and nurses flood into the room. Medical nonsense that I don't understand gets shouted back and forth. I am pushed towards the back of the room as the doctors work on my husband.
"I'm pregnant" I whisper to myself, desperate to hear the words out loud.
In my head, I imagine I am saying them to an awake Chandler. His face breaks out into a huge smile as he sweeps me into his arms. My illusion gets broken when someone bumps into me, bringing me back to the harsh reality I am facing.
Suddenly, I feel the overwhelming need to be outside of these four walls. I find myself absentmindedly wandering into the maternity section of the hospital. I hear the faint screams of women in labor mixed with the cries of newborn babies. Involuntarily, my hand finds its way to my stomach where my baby is growing. My baby that is half me and half Chandler. One way or another, I will be back here in 9 months; I just hope Chandler will be by my side when it happens.
"Who are you here for?" interrupts a voice from my side.
I turn to see an older woman with greying hair and bright green eyes.
I turn to her, smiling slightly, "I just found out I am pregnant. And, um, one of my family members is in the hospital so I figured I'd check it out."
The woman's face contorts with worry, "Oh dear, if you don't mind me asking, who is in the hospital?"
I pause, trying and failing to keep my emotions in check, "My husband" my voice cracks.
Immediately, the woman puts her arms around me and I turn to cry onto her shoulders. She rubs my back in the mother comforting a child sort of way and I can feel myself relaxing.
"It'll be okay sweetheart" she whispers and I nod.
Pulling away from the embrace I sniffle and ask, "Who are you here for?"
At that, her face brightens and her green eyes shine a little brighter, "My first grandchild is being born. My daughter has been in labor since last night and still no baby! Everyone is going crazy!"
"My friend was in labor for a very long time and we stayed with her the entire time. In hindsight, we were nuts," I laugh at the memory, "That actually was when my husband and I first decided to start trying for a baby" I say smiling wistfully.
The woman smiles at me sympathetically, "Look, my daughter is only three centimeters dilated so we are going to be here a while. If you need anything, come find me, my name is Rose" she says holding out her hand.
I take her hand and shake it lightly, "I might take you up on that offer."
"I hope you do dear, I hope you do."
The woman smiles at me one last time, waves and leaves to head back to her family. Sighing, I turn to head back to Chandler's room, my breath hitching when I see him. This truly is the worst.
A couple days later, Nora and Charles arrive at the hospital. Rachel pulls me out of the room to give the three of them some privacy. I slump against the wall of the corridor, my legs suddenly not able to support me.
"Mon, are you okay?" Rachel asks, holding my arm.
The sarcastic comment dies in my throat and the truth tumbles out, "I don't know if I can do this anymore"
"Do what Mon?"
"Pretend that Chandler is going to be okay! I don't know that Rach. What if the worst happens and I never see him again? I can never tell him I love him or the news of our baby!" I explode and dissolve into tears.
Rachel's arms immediately go around me and catch me as I lean into her. She whispers into my ear but I don't hear anything she is saying, my tears drowning out everything around me.
Suddenly, Nora and Charles burst out of Chandler's room, tears shining in both of their eyes.
"He squeezed my hand! I swear he squeezed my hand! Where the hell are those damn doctors?" Nora exclaims.
Immediately, the doctor and nurses rush past me and pile into Chandler's room. My spirits start to lift but I continue to remind myself that this might not mean anything, it could just be that Nora wanted to feel him so bad she imagined it to be real.
Chandler's doctor comes out of his room with a trace of a smile on his face.
"Monica, I have some good news," he says, "Chandler's brain swelling has decreased and it looks like he is showing signs of waking up!"
For the first time in days, my face breaks out into a genuine, giddy smile. Part of me remains cautious that there is no guarantee but an even bigger part of me can barely see straight from excitement.
"Are...are you serious?" My voice quivers.
The doctor nods and a sob of relief escapes my mouth.
"I suggest you go get something to eat, or run an errand and we will call you when he wakes up."
I nod absentmindedly as the doctor continues down the hallway. I turn to my friends who drag me to my feet and out the hospital door. As if drawn by an unseen force we find ourselves at Central Perk sitting around the orange couch we all love so much. It provides comfort to what has been a tiring week. We chat and laugh, our spirits lifted by the thought of Chandler waking up soon
Hours pass until my phone rings, startling the group. I pause a moment, my friends watching me carefully before I pick up.
"Hello?" I answer.
"Monica Bing?" Comes a nasally voice.
"That's me."
"Your husband, Chandler, is awake and very confused."
"He's awake?" I ask unsure I heard her correctly.
"Yes ma'am, he is awake but disoriented."
"Alright thank you so much, I'll be right there."
I hang up my phone, turn to my friends and my face breaks out into a huge grin, "Chandler's awake!"
The group cheers, drawing attention from the rest of the coffee shop. We all get up and leave and I am on cloud nine. My husband's awake and I get to see him! Is there anything better than that?
AN: Next chapter: Chandler's awake but what does he remember? As always R&R!