Part 3
"I knew something was wrong. What is it Chandler?." Monica looked concerned yet annoyed he'd kept something obviously important from her.
Chandler, about to confess backed out afraid, "I'll tell you in the morning. Please don't worry Mon."
Monica was worried though, he'd been acting so moody lately and he'd lost his dry wit that Monica had admired and loved about him . Her biggest fear; that he was going to brake up with her, went away though when he hugged her closely and then leaned down to kiss her.
"Chandler, you can't just say you'll tell me in the morning I can't sleep now." Monica half joked. She wasn't exactly in the mood to joke after how shook up she felt from the way he was acting.
"OK, I'll tell you," He took a deep breath and continued, "Monica I don't want to hurt you, I really don't but I can't keep this hidden from you. You have the right to know."
Monica was in a total state of panic, the only thing she could think was that Chandler was going to confess he'd cheated on her. Monica immediately felt guilty for even considering that thought. She knew that Chandler would never have done that. Chandler sat upright in the bed and turned to face her a stern seriousness covered his face.
"OK um basically night before Ross and Carol broke up..." Chandler spoke slowly.
"Yeah?" Monica asked trying to speed him up.
"Well I was totally drunk in fact I was slaughtered, and Carol was all upset cause Ross had refused to stay at home that night. So she asked me to stay. She was really upset and well one thing lead to another..." Chandler scorned himself for using the normal clichés people used when telling a partner they had cheated.
"Oh my God." Monica put her hand to her mouth.
"It was a total mistake. A huge one. We both realised that as soon as we'd sobered up."
"Chandler, does Ross know?"
Chandler searched Monica's face for some hint at her reaction, she was surprised but no anger seemed to show through.
"No."
"I can't believe you done that to Ross. That was his wife Chandler, HIS WIFE." Monica began raising her anger filled voice. Monica had got out of the bed and was standing now facing him.
"I know, I know. But it happened just like it happened with us in London." Chandler joined Monica.
"No Chandler, that was a totally different situation. One of us wasn't MARRIED. Oh my God. Why are you telling me this now?" Monica yelled.
"Cause I don't want us to have any secrets Monica."
"OK, but Chandler I just I cant take it in." There was silence for a few moments.
"I'm sorry Monica."
"No Chandler it's not me you need to be apologising to," Monica continued shouting, "Chandler I just can't believe YOU would do this. I thought you were different from other men, I thought you would never cheat, especially behind you friends back."
"I know but Monica this was a long time ago..." He broke off his sentence.
That's not the whole story Chandler thought swallowing hard knowing he had to continue.
"Monica that's not all."
"What?" Monica had her arms crossed and stared calmly at him.
"Well last week I got a phone call from Carol..."
"No..." Monica thought the worst. Had Chandler slept with her again? No she told herself, she stopped herself from jumping to more conclusions and focused totally on Chandler.
Chandler knew what Monica had thought. "No, no Monica I love you. I would NEVER cheat on you. You got to believe me."
Monica felt guilty for doubting him, even for a second,. "I do. I'm sorry I doubted you its just this is such a shock."
"That's not all. Carol decides now is the time she'll tell me she's having doubts that Ross isn't Ben's dad but that well I might...."
Chandler never got to finish his sentence Monica had ran out the room crying. She ran to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Chandler followed quickly standing outside the bathroom door.
"Monica, please open the door. This isn't my fault. Carol never told me. The thought that Ben might be mine never even crossed my mind. She never told me Mon, you got to believe me," He listened for a second waiting for a reply but he could hear only her sobs. "Monica, please don't shut me out I need you. I really need you. If you knew how hard this is for me and how guilty I feel?"
Monica sat on the floor of the bathroom listening to Chandler's words knowing they were a truthful reflection of Chandler's feelings. She couldn't believe that Carol had done this to Ross and Chandler. Her anger for Chandler faded and she began to focus it totally on Carol. It was her fault after all, Monica told herself. Sure Chandler had cheated but this was far before they had been together and it was Ross that should be angry not Monica. Monica unlocked the door and walked out. Her face was puffy and her makeup had ran slightly.
"This will kill Ross, Chandler." She finally managed to say.
Monica studied Chandler's eyes carefully and saw how much pain they contained. She hugged him tightly trying hard to control her tears.
"Mon, you gotta help me please I don't think I can handle this on my own."
"OK you're right. You won't have to Chandler. I'll stick by you."
Relief filled Chandler, at least no matter what happened he had not lost the most important thing to him; Monica
"Thank you Mon. Hey you really should get waterproof mascara!" He joked wiping her tears. Monica laughed slightly and stared at him.
"Chandler you're right Carol should have told you when she was pregnant." she said, "But Chandler if Ben is yours it's gonna change everything." She held his hands tight.
"I know but Mon I really need your help. What the hell do I do?"
"It's OK sweetie we'll get through it together."
"Monica do I pretend like nothing has happened or do I tell Ross?"
"Chandler no matter how much I want to help you only you can answer that. When you do, I'll be here to support you 100%"
"I know."
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"Monica? Um hi" Carol said as she opened the door. She knew from Monica's look that she knew.
"Carol we need to talk."
"Sure come in." Carol was anxious and began to feel a little intimidated by Monica's rage.
"How could you?" Monica said bitterly unable to control her anger, "What have you done?"
"So you know. Well Monica I can't change the fact that I slept with Chandler."
"You think that's why I'm angry? Carol think about what you have done to my brother. How the hell could you have told Ross he was the dad when you knew that Ben could be Chandler's all along?" She yelled.
"I don't know. I guess I felt guilty. I mean me and Chandler was just a mistake. We didn't want Ross to know it would kill him."
"So why did you tell Chandler now? Do you realise what you've done to him?"
"Well I'm sorry but he slept with me you know he isn't the innocent one around here."
Monica slapped Carol hard.
"How DARE you. Chandler is the sweetest man alive and you have caused his life hell. Do you realise how guilty he feels? He can't eat or sleep from worry that he's destroyed Ross' life."
"I'm sorry." Carols cheek burned she was shocked she never thought Monica had it in her.
"Sorry? Carol this is not gonna go away with an apology."
"Don't you think I know that?."
"Why have you kept this a secret for so long? Why the hell did you bring it up now?"
"I don't know. I guess I couldn't keep it a secret any longer. I didn't want the burden of it to lay on me alone my whole life."
"WHAT? So you thought you just ruin Chandlers life as well."
"No, but if Ben is his he has the right to know."
Monica stormed out she couldn't bare it any longer. Carol's words and motive had made little sense to her and just infuriated Monica further.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Monica walked into her apartment flushed and angry. The feelings faded and were replaced with those of compassion as soon as she saw Chandler with tears running down his face.
"Chandler honey please it'll be OK."
"Monica what have I done? Ross is never gonna forgive me for this."
"He will because you had no idea Ben might be yours."
"Monica I think I should tell Ross."
"No Chandler, we."
Chandler felt so relived he'd told Monica. She had taken it so well and he couldn't ask for more support.
"Thank you Monica, for being here. I don't think I could get through this without you." Telling Monica was easy compared to how hard it would be having to tell Ross.
That's it please review thanx! Next part soon!