Can I just say sorry that I haven't updated in a while but you know, some times, real life gets in my way... but like I said, I won't forget it.
Thanks to all the reviews by the way, they're greatly appreciated. Really, they are!
Now, this isn't the best of chapters... I'm not too pleased with it, but it's a filler chapter because, the story that I've got in my head needs to be set up. It isn't 'brilliant'.
Enjoy (if you can)
Since Daniel's birth, Monica hadn't had a decent nights sleep... her ears were always strained to hear if Daniel needed help... if he had an attack... or even a nightmare. She'd be there for him...
Monica got even littler sleep night Chandler had kissed her. She couldn't help but think about the days events. She really, genuinely did have fun with Chandler today, and so did Daniel.
As first, she'd been overcome with joy and happiness but now... she wasn't so sure how to feel. She felt, sad. What would happen now? Nothing... She'd gotten used to the fact that she'd be alone for a long time now.
Who would want to be with someone like her anyway? She didn't just come with 'baggage' but with a whole lorry full of suitcases. She was messed up, bitchy, argumentative, mouthy... And she had a kid.
Even if a guy was prepared to put up with her and her 'issues'... they wouldn't want to become a young boys father... Besides, Monica found it hard to trust other people with Daniel. The only one's she'd trusted with him for any length of time is Ross and Rachel. Ross was her older brother, Daniel's uncle and the two siblings were very close, they held a tight bond over their childhood. And Rachel, Daniel's god mother, cared for Daniel so much that he thought of her as his 'aunt'... and who knew, the way that Ross and Rachel were going, she'd probably be his aunt soon. Why couldn't she find happiness like them?
Chandler wouldn't want her anyway. It was a spur of the moment thing, he's probably banging his head against the wall right now... or laughing with one of his friends about the poor girl he'd kissed. She couldn't let herself get hurt... not by Chandler, not by anyone. It wasn't just her at stake anymore... she had Daniel to look after...
She went to sleep promising herself that she wouldn't fall for this guy; she wouldn't get hurt again... even if that meant that she'd be alone.
~/~
"I'm telling you Pheebs, he's acting... weird" Joey said to his girlfriend, Phoebe.
"Well... it is Chandler" Phoebe shrugged matter-of-factly.
"I'm talking even weirder" Joey said, ignoring Phoebe's comment "I think that he's in love"
"In love" Phoebe exclaimed loudly, getting some weird looks from other students in the cafeteria.
"Who with?" she asked after calming down.
"Monica" Joey said, as if was obvious.
"Right" Phoebe scoffed loudly "I've heard what he says about her and from that, she seems like a pain in the arse if you ask me... besides, I thought he was gay"
"Who's gay?" Chandler asked, coming up behind them, carrying a tray of food.
"Urm..." Joey and Phoebe stammered uncomfortably.
"You were talking about me again weren't you...?" Chandler said dryly.
Phoebe and Joey nodded and Chandler rolled his eyes.
"I'm not gay" Chandler said defensively.
"What ever you say" Phoebe said.
"I'm. Not. Gay" Chandler said loudly, earning more looks from the other students. Chandler sat down next to Phoebe, opposite Joey and began to open his crisps.
"Oh yeah, Chandler, your mum called yesterday" Joey told Chandler.
"Oh, what did she want?" Chandler asked.
"Well, your dads having a party at the 'county club' Sunday, and you're going" Joey explained.
"What, she didn't ask... just told you" Chandler said shocked.
"Not exactly, I told her you'd be there" Joey said, Chandler gasped and Phoebe suddenly became very interested in a spot on the table.
"So you just assumed that I don't have plans?" Chandler asked irritably.
"Well, to be fair, you never have plans" Joey said.
"I do" Chandler argued.
"Apart from college work or stuff that we invite you to" Joey said, raising his eyebrows.
"Well, I'll have you know, I have plans for Sunday but now, thanks to you, I have to cancel them" Chandler said, rolling his eyes.
"You had plans?" Phoebe said, shocked. Chandler sent her an angry glare before turning back to Joey.
"Yes, I had plans... I was meant to meet Monica again" Chandler told them.
"The same Monica that you claim you don't like... the same Monica who only months ago you called, and I quote, annoying little bitch..." Phoebe said.
"Well she isn't and I..." Chandler trailed off.
"You what..." Joey and Phoebe asked in cannon.
"I... don't... hate her" Chandler said quietly.
"So you do like her then?" Joey asked.
"Yes" Chandler nodded.
"Do you like like her, or just like her?" Phoebe asked.
"Just like" Chandler rolled his eyes.
"Well, you can bring her to your dad's party then" Joey said.
"Why would I do that?" Chandler asked.
"Because, I kinda told her your bringing a date" Joey said quickly.
"What!" Chandler shouted loudly.
"Urm, I've gotta go, do the urm, stuff, that's not here..." Joey said "bye Phoebe" he added, kissing her on the cheek and fleeing the room.
"Did you know about this?" Chandler asked Phoebe.
"Oh, I just remembered, that thing that Joey has to do... I have to do too" Phoebe said and ran out of the room after her boyfriend.
"Great" Chandler mumbled "just great"
~/~
Chandler looked at his phone in his hands, feeling rather nervous... he didn't know why, it wasn't like he was asking her on a date or anything... because he wasn't... was he?
Chandler put the phone down and rubbed his temples, his mind drifting back to last week. He still couldn't believe he'd kissed Monica. He didn't even like her that way... she was Monica, the annoying, irritating Monica, the same girl he claimed that he didn't like.
Anyway, nothing could ever happen between Monica and himself. She didn't or wouldn't want him... she had way too much going on in her life and from what he'd heard, she hadn't dated in years and didn't want to date either... so why would it be any different with him? And then there was Daniel, not that he didn't like the little boy, in fact, Chandler was pretty sure he was one of the greatest kids... but if Monica was to date again, she'd want a 'father figure' and Chandler was far from father-y. But Chandler wanted to stay in her life, in one way or another and it seemed that right now, she needed a friend... and that's what he'd be.
"Suck it up Bing" Chandler whispered to him and reached for his phone, dialling Monica's number quickly before he could have a chance to back out.
The phone rang a few times before Monica answered.
"Hi Chandler" Monica answered; she was expecting a call, him saying that he couldn't see her again. Monica sighed inwardly, knowing that he was doing the right thing, not leading her on.
"Hi" Chandler replied "I'm sorry but I can't make Sunday" he said sadly.
Monica bit her lip sadly, she didn't know why she was so sad... this is what she wanted, wasn't it? "Oh... okay" she said quietly.
"I really am sorry" Chandler said, launching himself into an explanation "my roommate told my mum that I'd be at my dads party..."
"Oh, well have fun" Monica said, ready to hang up the phone.
"No, don't go yet" Chandler said quickly "would you come with me?" he asked.
"Sorry?" Monica said, for a moment is sounded like she was invited.
"Will you come to the party with me?" Chandler asked again, a little slower this time "as friends, obviously" Chandler added hastily.
"As friends right" Monica murmured "I don't know Chandler" she said.
"Please..." Chandler pleaded.
"I don't know, I'll have to find a baby-sitter and I'm really not good at these fancy parties..." Monica said.
"Come on, I'm not good at them either, and I've been to hundreds" Chandler said.
"Okay... I'll come" Monica said reluctantly.
"Thank you so much" Chandler sighed in relief "I'll pick you up at 5"
"See you then" Monica said, as 'up-beatly' as she could. Monica hung up her phone and sighed again.
"What have I done?" she asked herself.
Hmmm, like I said, not the best... the next chapter will be better, I promise! I just needed a chapter where Monica gets invited to Chandlers... hmm.
Well, please tell me what you think. From the looks of things there's about 4 or 5 more chapters left... but you never know... might have epilogues and stuff... I don't know... I'm just gonna shut up now...
