Okay, here's chapter eleven! Thanks for reviewing! I love getting so many,
so please keep it up! And did anyone catch friends on Thursday? Was
fantastic......as usual! Lol, anyways, ENJOY!
Disclaimer: not mine. Get it? Got it? Good.
Chapter Eleven
Monica woke up the next morning in a strange bed. It took her a few moments to comprehend that it was Chandler's bed and that he was in there next to her, his arms wrapped lightly around her. She turned around and saw that he was already awake, staring at her.
"Hey gorgeous," he murmured, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Hey," she smiled, "How'd you sleep?"
"Wonderfully," he said softly, "And last night was pretty wonderful, too."
"Yeah," she grinned, "It was. Listen, I'm sorry about turning you down so man-"
He didn't let her finished. Instead, he pressed a finger to her lips, "It's all in the past now," he said gently, "What matters is that you didn't turn me down last night."
"Yeah," she smiled, "But I want you to know why I did it. Please just let me explain," he nodded, and she continued, "It's just.....Chandler, I was so scared. I'd already lost the one person in my life who I'd ever loved. Losing him was so hard, and I just.....I know I could never go through it again, losing somebody I love. So I was scared. Scared to let you in because I knew the more I got involved with you, the greater the chance I'd loose you. Not just that you'd die, but that we'd break up, or something. But then I realized that we......we work. We're perfect for each other. And I finally decided that the benefits of being with you outweighed the disadvantages by a million."
As she finished, he smiled, leaned over and kissed her. "You're right," he whispered, "We are perfect. We do work. And I promise, with all my heart, that I will do everything in my power to keep from hurting you."
She smiled and snuggled up against his chest, enjoying the comfortable silence and warmth.
"Hey," he said after a few minutes, breaking the silence, "Can I ask a question?"
"Sure," she said.
"Uh, where are Ryan and Micaela?"
She laughed, "They're both at sleep-overs. I knew we'd wind up or talking all night or....." she smiled mischievously, "doing other stuff."
He laughed. "You know, I wouldn't mind doing some more stuff if you're up to it?"
She smiled, "Most definitely."
***
"You little slut!" Rachel said cheerily as Monica told her about the previous night, "Sleeping together before the first date! Shame on you."
Monica laughed. She knew very well that Rachel was downright thrilled. "All right, I'm a slut," she said, "But you've wanted this to happen for months."
Rachel grinned, "Oh, I know. So, how was he?"
Monica shook her head, and hit Rachel lightly. But in spite of Rachel, she smiled.
It felt good to smile again.
***
A few days later, as Ryan and Chandler walked home from the playground after playing a game of basketball, Ryan spoke up, "Hey, Chandler?'
"Yeah, bud?"
"Did something happen between you and my mom?"
Chandler laughed. For a seven-year-old, he certainly was intuitive. "How'd you figure that out?" he asked.
Ryan smiled slyly, "Uncle Ross told me to ask you," he said, "He said Aunt Rachel hinted at it, but wouldn't tell him."
Chandler laughed, "That sounds like your uncle, all right."
"So," Ryan asked, "DID something happen?"
Chandler ruffled the boy's hair, "Ry, I think if your mom wanted to tell you something, she'd tell you. And if she wanted to tell your uncle, she'd probably tell him, too."
"Naw," said Ryan, "She says Uncle Ross can't hear anything without puttin' his two cents in," he stopped, "Chandler, why does Uncle Ross gotta put in money? And where does he put it?"
Chandler laughed at Ryan's confusion, "Let me explain, bud,"
Anyone walking down the street would've thought they were staring at happy father and son, and as Chandler thought about, he realized something.
Those people would've been right. Maybe not by blood, no. But by heart?
Most definitely.
***
"Hey, little sis!" Ross said happily into the phone, "How're things going?"
"Well, good. Listen, I was, uh, wondering if maybe you could watch the kids for me tonight."
"How come?" Ross said suspiciously.
"Uh.....work thing," Monica said, "Yeah, work thing."
"Mon, you are a horrible liar. What are you REALLY doing?"
"All right, so I have a date," Monica said.
"With...." Ross started.
"Chandler," Monica sighed, "I'm actually surprised your wife hasn't told you already."
"So am I," laughed Ross, "but guess who did?"
"Who?"
"Your son," Ross said, laughing uncontrollably.
Monica shook her head, "How the heck did he even know," she screeched.
"Apparently you're not as good at the sneaking around thing as you thought," Ross said.
"Oh my gosh, he didn't......."
"He just saw you kiss Chandler good-bye one night," Ross laughed as he heard Monica breathe a huge sigh of relief, "But he's a smart kid," he continued, "He picked up the rest."
Monica laughed, "That's my boy," she said, "Anyway, back to the reason I called. Can you watch them?"
"Nope, sorry," Ross said, "Rachel and I have some thing for her work. We're leaving Olivia with Mom and Dad, though. Why don't you do the same?"
"Yeah, uh, not such a good idea," Monica said quickly.
"You haven't told them about Chandler, yet?"
"Well, they know he exists, but not much else."
"Well, not better time than the present to tell them," Ross suggested, "Unless you can cancel your date?"
"Not exactly," Monica said, "It's some company party at Chandler's office. He told me days ago.......I don't know why I waited this long to get a sitter."
"Well, then, guess you're stuck with Mom and Dad."
Monica sighed. This was going to be interesting.
***
"So, Monica, why do we have the pleasure of watching our grandchildren tonight?" Judy Geller quizzed that night when Monica dropped off Micaela and Ryan.
"Why?"
"Yes, why," said Judy, "You haven't used us as babysitters in so very long. What's come up tonight?"
Monica sighed. There really was no getting out of it. She could lie, but Judy would eventually find out and not only berate her for dating, but also for lying. At least if she told the truth now, she could get out of one of them. "I, uh, have a date, Mom," she said softly, checking to see that Ryan and Micaela were safely out of earshot.
Judy made a rude choking sound, "Excuse me? I believe I just heard you had a date. But that cannot be true."
Monica put her hands on her hips, "And why not?"
Judy raised her eyebrows, "Well, for one thing, you're a widow. In my experience, it's best for widows to stay widows, otherwise it is disrespectful to the deceased, which in this case, happens also to be your father's best friend!"
"Mom-"
"Don't interrupt me, Monica. I know what's best here. And further more, have you even taken a second to consider your children? You can't just start dating some stranger. How would you know how he would react to Ryan and Micaela?"
"MOM-"
"I said, don't interrupt me! Wait until I'm finished, darling. Now, this man, even though he is probably just out there to get some, could pose a threat to your children, not to mention the fact that your father will probably have a heart attack when he finds out you're trying to replace Richard, and......"
But Monica couldn't take it any more. "MOM!" she screamed, "Do you think I'm stupid? Of course I wouldn't just date some random guy. Ryan and Micaela happen to absolutely love the man I'm dating."
"And how would they know him?"
Monica looked Judy straight in the eye, "Remember how you said you hadn't been babysitting lately? My boyfriend's been babysitting them, and he started out as their babysitter, NOT my boyfriend. He doesn't have kids of his own, and he's been doing all the dad stuff with Ryan and Micaela. They love him. I wouldn't do anything to put my children at risk. Geez, Mom, how stupid do you think I am?"
"Well," Judy said coldly, "I still don't think it's appropriate for you to be dating this soon!"
"Mom, have you ever thought that maybe Richard would've wanted me to be happy? And for that matter, would've wanted Ryan and Micaela to be happy as well? He would have. I know he would have. And Chandler makes me happy, he makes the kids happy. Richard would've wanted that. We're not replacing Richard, Mom, we're moving on. Maybe it's time you and Dad do that, too."
With those words, Monica walked out the door.
PLEASE REVIEW! It's my birthday on wednesday........so consider it a present, kk? THANKS!
Disclaimer: not mine. Get it? Got it? Good.
Chapter Eleven
Monica woke up the next morning in a strange bed. It took her a few moments to comprehend that it was Chandler's bed and that he was in there next to her, his arms wrapped lightly around her. She turned around and saw that he was already awake, staring at her.
"Hey gorgeous," he murmured, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Hey," she smiled, "How'd you sleep?"
"Wonderfully," he said softly, "And last night was pretty wonderful, too."
"Yeah," she grinned, "It was. Listen, I'm sorry about turning you down so man-"
He didn't let her finished. Instead, he pressed a finger to her lips, "It's all in the past now," he said gently, "What matters is that you didn't turn me down last night."
"Yeah," she smiled, "But I want you to know why I did it. Please just let me explain," he nodded, and she continued, "It's just.....Chandler, I was so scared. I'd already lost the one person in my life who I'd ever loved. Losing him was so hard, and I just.....I know I could never go through it again, losing somebody I love. So I was scared. Scared to let you in because I knew the more I got involved with you, the greater the chance I'd loose you. Not just that you'd die, but that we'd break up, or something. But then I realized that we......we work. We're perfect for each other. And I finally decided that the benefits of being with you outweighed the disadvantages by a million."
As she finished, he smiled, leaned over and kissed her. "You're right," he whispered, "We are perfect. We do work. And I promise, with all my heart, that I will do everything in my power to keep from hurting you."
She smiled and snuggled up against his chest, enjoying the comfortable silence and warmth.
"Hey," he said after a few minutes, breaking the silence, "Can I ask a question?"
"Sure," she said.
"Uh, where are Ryan and Micaela?"
She laughed, "They're both at sleep-overs. I knew we'd wind up or talking all night or....." she smiled mischievously, "doing other stuff."
He laughed. "You know, I wouldn't mind doing some more stuff if you're up to it?"
She smiled, "Most definitely."
***
"You little slut!" Rachel said cheerily as Monica told her about the previous night, "Sleeping together before the first date! Shame on you."
Monica laughed. She knew very well that Rachel was downright thrilled. "All right, I'm a slut," she said, "But you've wanted this to happen for months."
Rachel grinned, "Oh, I know. So, how was he?"
Monica shook her head, and hit Rachel lightly. But in spite of Rachel, she smiled.
It felt good to smile again.
***
A few days later, as Ryan and Chandler walked home from the playground after playing a game of basketball, Ryan spoke up, "Hey, Chandler?'
"Yeah, bud?"
"Did something happen between you and my mom?"
Chandler laughed. For a seven-year-old, he certainly was intuitive. "How'd you figure that out?" he asked.
Ryan smiled slyly, "Uncle Ross told me to ask you," he said, "He said Aunt Rachel hinted at it, but wouldn't tell him."
Chandler laughed, "That sounds like your uncle, all right."
"So," Ryan asked, "DID something happen?"
Chandler ruffled the boy's hair, "Ry, I think if your mom wanted to tell you something, she'd tell you. And if she wanted to tell your uncle, she'd probably tell him, too."
"Naw," said Ryan, "She says Uncle Ross can't hear anything without puttin' his two cents in," he stopped, "Chandler, why does Uncle Ross gotta put in money? And where does he put it?"
Chandler laughed at Ryan's confusion, "Let me explain, bud,"
Anyone walking down the street would've thought they were staring at happy father and son, and as Chandler thought about, he realized something.
Those people would've been right. Maybe not by blood, no. But by heart?
Most definitely.
***
"Hey, little sis!" Ross said happily into the phone, "How're things going?"
"Well, good. Listen, I was, uh, wondering if maybe you could watch the kids for me tonight."
"How come?" Ross said suspiciously.
"Uh.....work thing," Monica said, "Yeah, work thing."
"Mon, you are a horrible liar. What are you REALLY doing?"
"All right, so I have a date," Monica said.
"With...." Ross started.
"Chandler," Monica sighed, "I'm actually surprised your wife hasn't told you already."
"So am I," laughed Ross, "but guess who did?"
"Who?"
"Your son," Ross said, laughing uncontrollably.
Monica shook her head, "How the heck did he even know," she screeched.
"Apparently you're not as good at the sneaking around thing as you thought," Ross said.
"Oh my gosh, he didn't......."
"He just saw you kiss Chandler good-bye one night," Ross laughed as he heard Monica breathe a huge sigh of relief, "But he's a smart kid," he continued, "He picked up the rest."
Monica laughed, "That's my boy," she said, "Anyway, back to the reason I called. Can you watch them?"
"Nope, sorry," Ross said, "Rachel and I have some thing for her work. We're leaving Olivia with Mom and Dad, though. Why don't you do the same?"
"Yeah, uh, not such a good idea," Monica said quickly.
"You haven't told them about Chandler, yet?"
"Well, they know he exists, but not much else."
"Well, not better time than the present to tell them," Ross suggested, "Unless you can cancel your date?"
"Not exactly," Monica said, "It's some company party at Chandler's office. He told me days ago.......I don't know why I waited this long to get a sitter."
"Well, then, guess you're stuck with Mom and Dad."
Monica sighed. This was going to be interesting.
***
"So, Monica, why do we have the pleasure of watching our grandchildren tonight?" Judy Geller quizzed that night when Monica dropped off Micaela and Ryan.
"Why?"
"Yes, why," said Judy, "You haven't used us as babysitters in so very long. What's come up tonight?"
Monica sighed. There really was no getting out of it. She could lie, but Judy would eventually find out and not only berate her for dating, but also for lying. At least if she told the truth now, she could get out of one of them. "I, uh, have a date, Mom," she said softly, checking to see that Ryan and Micaela were safely out of earshot.
Judy made a rude choking sound, "Excuse me? I believe I just heard you had a date. But that cannot be true."
Monica put her hands on her hips, "And why not?"
Judy raised her eyebrows, "Well, for one thing, you're a widow. In my experience, it's best for widows to stay widows, otherwise it is disrespectful to the deceased, which in this case, happens also to be your father's best friend!"
"Mom-"
"Don't interrupt me, Monica. I know what's best here. And further more, have you even taken a second to consider your children? You can't just start dating some stranger. How would you know how he would react to Ryan and Micaela?"
"MOM-"
"I said, don't interrupt me! Wait until I'm finished, darling. Now, this man, even though he is probably just out there to get some, could pose a threat to your children, not to mention the fact that your father will probably have a heart attack when he finds out you're trying to replace Richard, and......"
But Monica couldn't take it any more. "MOM!" she screamed, "Do you think I'm stupid? Of course I wouldn't just date some random guy. Ryan and Micaela happen to absolutely love the man I'm dating."
"And how would they know him?"
Monica looked Judy straight in the eye, "Remember how you said you hadn't been babysitting lately? My boyfriend's been babysitting them, and he started out as their babysitter, NOT my boyfriend. He doesn't have kids of his own, and he's been doing all the dad stuff with Ryan and Micaela. They love him. I wouldn't do anything to put my children at risk. Geez, Mom, how stupid do you think I am?"
"Well," Judy said coldly, "I still don't think it's appropriate for you to be dating this soon!"
"Mom, have you ever thought that maybe Richard would've wanted me to be happy? And for that matter, would've wanted Ryan and Micaela to be happy as well? He would have. I know he would have. And Chandler makes me happy, he makes the kids happy. Richard would've wanted that. We're not replacing Richard, Mom, we're moving on. Maybe it's time you and Dad do that, too."
With those words, Monica walked out the door.
PLEASE REVIEW! It's my birthday on wednesday........so consider it a present, kk? THANKS!