Chandler followed the sound of the running water all the way to a large wall, deep within the cavern.
"Dammit", he muttered. His eyes scanned the wall, looking for any means of escape. He noticed that the water seemed to flow
underneath the wall. He crouched down to get a better look. He could see what looked like daylight on the other side.
Chandler sat down and tried to analyze the situation. He couldn't climb the other wall, and this seemed to be the only way out.
The question was, could he swim that far?
*
"Pheebs, we can't even get Monica out of the apartment. What makes you think we can get her on an airplane?"
"C'mon Ross, we can be creative!"
"What do you suggest we do, kidnap her?" Joey laughed.
"OH! Good idea! Lets do that!" Pheobe said.
"Okay," Rachel said, entering Ross' apartment. "I booked 5 tickets to Tokyo!"
"Tokyo?" Ross asked, stunned.
"Well, the only tickets I could book for that price were for Tokyo or London," Rachel explained.
"And obviously we can't go to London."
"Tokyo it is then." Ross sighed.
*
It took everything Monica had to get out of bed. She decided she should really take a shower. Not that it mattered.
She hadn't left the apartment for weeks. She closed the bathroom door and started the shower.
While Monica showered, Rachel and Pheobe snuck into the apartment and packed Monica's bags. Rachel still wasn't sure that taking
Monica to some foreign country would help her, but she was running out of ideas herself.
Monica finished getting dressed. She pulled on an old pair of jeans, and one of Chandler's work shirts. She looked at herself
in the mirror. She looked terrible. She was too thin, and very pale. She started crying again. She couldn't control it anymore.
Her friends thought that losing Chandler was what sent her into this cocoon of depression. In a way it was, but what her friends
didn't know was that she had found out that she was pregnant before the crash. They also didn't know that she had lost the baby three
weeks ago. It was like losing Chandler twice. The baby was the only thing she really had left. And now that was gone too.
Monica just wanted to die. She couldn't see how things could possibly get any worse.
*
The water was a lot colder than Chandler was expecting. He shivered and took several deep breaths. He had come this far,
and there was no turning back now. He turned, and looked at the opening under the wall. The daylight on the other end suddenly
seemed so much further away. He took one more deep breath, and started swimming. He kicked his legs as quickly as he could,
but his body was in so much pain. His broken arm was useless, and it really slowed him down. He wasn't sure how much longer he
could hold his breath.
"Don't panic", he told himself. "Panicking will only get you killed."
He looked up, and saw only solid rock. He felt like he was getting nowhere, and he was quickly running out of time.
*
Monica exited her bedroom, and was startled to see her friends standing at her door.
"Monica," Ross said firmly, "Let's go."
"What? Where?"
Without another word, Ross and Joey took Monica's hands, and led her to the door. She was too weak to fight them.
She suddenly didn't care where they were taking her. Nothing mattered anymore anyway.
*
Chandler emerged from the water, and gasped for every bit of air he could get. He had actually made it! He looked around,
thankful to finally be out in the daylight again. He pulled is aching body out of the water, and collapsed onto the ground.
A few yards away, something was shuffling through the dried leaves. Chandler opened his eyes, lifted his head, and tried to find
the source of the noise. He prayed that he wouldn't have to run from another bear.
*
Monica wandered through Shinjuku Park, taking in the beauty of the Cherry Blossom trees. This certainly was not where she had planned to
spend her birthday. She thought that it was sweet of her friends, bringing her to Japan for her birthday. But as soon as they landed,
everyone started arguing over what to do. Ross and Joey wanted to go electronics shopping, Pheobe wanted to see Meiji Shrine,
and Rachel wanted to go shopping in Ginza. Monica told the others she was tired, but promised to meet them later. She sighed, and sat
down on a nearby bench. She was in the middle of one of the world's most crowded cities, and she was totally alone.
*
Ralph finished unloading the truck, eager to get some fishing in before sundown. It was his first camping trip with his son Travis, and
he couldn't wait to teach him all that he knew about the great outdoors.
"Travis, let's set up the tent over there." Ralph suggested.
Travis lugged the pile of aluminum poles over to the clearing, and dropped them onto the ground.
"What do I do now, Dad?" the 12 year old asked.
Ralph laughed. "I guess I'd better show you how to do that, huh?"
*
The gang had been sitting at Narita airport for 2 hours. Their flight had been delayed due to rain, and now that Rachel
had hit all of the shops in the terminal, she was beginning to get a little whiny and restless.
"I wanna go hooome!" Joey whined, making matters that much worse.
"Would you guys SHUT UP!" Ross said.
They started bickering back and forth.
Monica returned fromt he bathroom to this chaotic scene, and couldn't help but to laugh. The group turned to her.
"Hey!" Pheobe said, "We finally got a smile out of you!"
Monica looked at her friends, and flet a lump forming in her throat.
"I just want to thank you guys for doing this," Monica said. "I am feeling a little better...."
Before she could continue, Joey walked over and pulled her into a giant hug. The others followed suit.
Monica had managed to convince her friends that she was doing better. Inside, she was screaming.
*
It took Ralph and Travis 20 minutes to erect the tent. Once they'd finished, they stood back to marvel at their accomplishment.
"Hey Dad," Travis said, "Is there supposed to be an extra pole?"
Ralph looked at his son, then the aluminum pole. "Uh...."
Suddenly, Ralph heard a noise eminating from the nearby trees.
"Stay here," Ralph said, as he grabbed his rifle and headed into the woods.
He leaned up against a large tree, and poked his head around each side. He walked slowly, checking to make sure his gun was loaded.
Suddenly, Ralph felt movement behind him. He swung around, and pointed his rifle into the face of a very terrified man.
*
After spending 12 hours in Narita airport, and another 15 on the plane coming home, the gang finally landed at JFK.
Monica could not wait to take a shower, and go straight back to bed, where she planned on staying for a very long time.
She walked into her apartment, and dropped her bags. She hit the play button on the answering machine, and pulled a bottle
of juice from the refrigerator.
"You have 12 new messages" the machine told her.
Monica rolled her eyes when the first message played. It was her mother. Monica walked over and hit the 'skip' button.
The next message was from Gloria.
"Monica, it's Gloria Lither, from the airline. I just wanted to let you know that the search has been officially halted.
I am very sorry, but they are declaring your husband dead. If you have any questions, please call me at...."
Monica didn't hear the rest of the message. It was over. Chandler was dead. She was numb, unable to even cry anymore.
She walked into the bathroom, and turned on the shower, ignoring the next 10 calls.
*
Chandler layed on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. He never actually thought that he would see a ceiling again.
It felt strange, being indoors. He sat up and studied the cast on his arm. He chuckled when he thought about the makeshift
splint he had been using for so long. He decided to try to call Monica again. He had already called 6 times, but he didn't care.
He longed to hear her voice, to see her face, to hold her in his arms. He was flying back to New York in three hours.
The woman from the airline was surprised that he was willing to fly again. But he just wanted to get home as soon as possible.
He had survived the crash, a fall, near drowning, a bear, and a guy with a gun. He felt like he could handle almost anthing.
*
Monica was sitting at the table, trying to concentrate. She needed to get past this. She sighed, and looked around the
empty apartment. She looked at the answering machine, and realized that she never finished listening to her messages.
She was about to hit 'repeat' when Ross, Rachel, and Joey walked in.
"Hey Mon," They all said.
"Hey."
"We are gonna go see a movie, and was wondering if you wanted to go."
This was it. This was the test. She had to take that first step, and start living her life again.
She decided not to let her friends down anymore.
"Just let me get a sweater," she said, and walked back into her bedroom.
"Hey guys," Pheobe said, appearing in the doorway, "Look what I found."
They all turned to look at Pheobe, as Chandler appeared behind her.
*
Monica was startled by the sudden screaming and carrying on that was coming from her living room.
"What the hell," she said to herself, as she walked out of her bedroom.
At first, she thought she was dreaming again. The room started to spin, and her heart lept into her throat.
"Chandler?" She croaked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Chandler looked up, as his wife exited the bedroom. She stood in the doorway of their bedroom, in a state of
shock. She was more beautiful than he remembered. He started shaking, unable to control the wealth of emotions that
consumed him. He walked over to Monica, and pulled her into his arms.
"You're alive," she cried into his shoulder.
"I take it you didn't get my multiple messages?" Chandler said, gesturing towards the answeing machine.
"Oh. I..."
Chandler cut off her explaination with the long passionate kiss that he had been dreaming about for weeks.
He never thought coming home would taste so sweet.
Monica fell into the kiss, still in shock that she was even in Chandler's arms. The others snuck out quietly.
"He's really here", she thought, "I'm really in his arms."
She was finally home.
Sappy, yes, I know. Oh well. Let me know what you think!!!!
"Dammit", he muttered. His eyes scanned the wall, looking for any means of escape. He noticed that the water seemed to flow
underneath the wall. He crouched down to get a better look. He could see what looked like daylight on the other side.
Chandler sat down and tried to analyze the situation. He couldn't climb the other wall, and this seemed to be the only way out.
The question was, could he swim that far?
*
"Pheebs, we can't even get Monica out of the apartment. What makes you think we can get her on an airplane?"
"C'mon Ross, we can be creative!"
"What do you suggest we do, kidnap her?" Joey laughed.
"OH! Good idea! Lets do that!" Pheobe said.
"Okay," Rachel said, entering Ross' apartment. "I booked 5 tickets to Tokyo!"
"Tokyo?" Ross asked, stunned.
"Well, the only tickets I could book for that price were for Tokyo or London," Rachel explained.
"And obviously we can't go to London."
"Tokyo it is then." Ross sighed.
*
It took everything Monica had to get out of bed. She decided she should really take a shower. Not that it mattered.
She hadn't left the apartment for weeks. She closed the bathroom door and started the shower.
While Monica showered, Rachel and Pheobe snuck into the apartment and packed Monica's bags. Rachel still wasn't sure that taking
Monica to some foreign country would help her, but she was running out of ideas herself.
Monica finished getting dressed. She pulled on an old pair of jeans, and one of Chandler's work shirts. She looked at herself
in the mirror. She looked terrible. She was too thin, and very pale. She started crying again. She couldn't control it anymore.
Her friends thought that losing Chandler was what sent her into this cocoon of depression. In a way it was, but what her friends
didn't know was that she had found out that she was pregnant before the crash. They also didn't know that she had lost the baby three
weeks ago. It was like losing Chandler twice. The baby was the only thing she really had left. And now that was gone too.
Monica just wanted to die. She couldn't see how things could possibly get any worse.
*
The water was a lot colder than Chandler was expecting. He shivered and took several deep breaths. He had come this far,
and there was no turning back now. He turned, and looked at the opening under the wall. The daylight on the other end suddenly
seemed so much further away. He took one more deep breath, and started swimming. He kicked his legs as quickly as he could,
but his body was in so much pain. His broken arm was useless, and it really slowed him down. He wasn't sure how much longer he
could hold his breath.
"Don't panic", he told himself. "Panicking will only get you killed."
He looked up, and saw only solid rock. He felt like he was getting nowhere, and he was quickly running out of time.
*
Monica exited her bedroom, and was startled to see her friends standing at her door.
"Monica," Ross said firmly, "Let's go."
"What? Where?"
Without another word, Ross and Joey took Monica's hands, and led her to the door. She was too weak to fight them.
She suddenly didn't care where they were taking her. Nothing mattered anymore anyway.
*
Chandler emerged from the water, and gasped for every bit of air he could get. He had actually made it! He looked around,
thankful to finally be out in the daylight again. He pulled is aching body out of the water, and collapsed onto the ground.
A few yards away, something was shuffling through the dried leaves. Chandler opened his eyes, lifted his head, and tried to find
the source of the noise. He prayed that he wouldn't have to run from another bear.
*
Monica wandered through Shinjuku Park, taking in the beauty of the Cherry Blossom trees. This certainly was not where she had planned to
spend her birthday. She thought that it was sweet of her friends, bringing her to Japan for her birthday. But as soon as they landed,
everyone started arguing over what to do. Ross and Joey wanted to go electronics shopping, Pheobe wanted to see Meiji Shrine,
and Rachel wanted to go shopping in Ginza. Monica told the others she was tired, but promised to meet them later. She sighed, and sat
down on a nearby bench. She was in the middle of one of the world's most crowded cities, and she was totally alone.
*
Ralph finished unloading the truck, eager to get some fishing in before sundown. It was his first camping trip with his son Travis, and
he couldn't wait to teach him all that he knew about the great outdoors.
"Travis, let's set up the tent over there." Ralph suggested.
Travis lugged the pile of aluminum poles over to the clearing, and dropped them onto the ground.
"What do I do now, Dad?" the 12 year old asked.
Ralph laughed. "I guess I'd better show you how to do that, huh?"
*
The gang had been sitting at Narita airport for 2 hours. Their flight had been delayed due to rain, and now that Rachel
had hit all of the shops in the terminal, she was beginning to get a little whiny and restless.
"I wanna go hooome!" Joey whined, making matters that much worse.
"Would you guys SHUT UP!" Ross said.
They started bickering back and forth.
Monica returned fromt he bathroom to this chaotic scene, and couldn't help but to laugh. The group turned to her.
"Hey!" Pheobe said, "We finally got a smile out of you!"
Monica looked at her friends, and flet a lump forming in her throat.
"I just want to thank you guys for doing this," Monica said. "I am feeling a little better...."
Before she could continue, Joey walked over and pulled her into a giant hug. The others followed suit.
Monica had managed to convince her friends that she was doing better. Inside, she was screaming.
*
It took Ralph and Travis 20 minutes to erect the tent. Once they'd finished, they stood back to marvel at their accomplishment.
"Hey Dad," Travis said, "Is there supposed to be an extra pole?"
Ralph looked at his son, then the aluminum pole. "Uh...."
Suddenly, Ralph heard a noise eminating from the nearby trees.
"Stay here," Ralph said, as he grabbed his rifle and headed into the woods.
He leaned up against a large tree, and poked his head around each side. He walked slowly, checking to make sure his gun was loaded.
Suddenly, Ralph felt movement behind him. He swung around, and pointed his rifle into the face of a very terrified man.
*
After spending 12 hours in Narita airport, and another 15 on the plane coming home, the gang finally landed at JFK.
Monica could not wait to take a shower, and go straight back to bed, where she planned on staying for a very long time.
She walked into her apartment, and dropped her bags. She hit the play button on the answering machine, and pulled a bottle
of juice from the refrigerator.
"You have 12 new messages" the machine told her.
Monica rolled her eyes when the first message played. It was her mother. Monica walked over and hit the 'skip' button.
The next message was from Gloria.
"Monica, it's Gloria Lither, from the airline. I just wanted to let you know that the search has been officially halted.
I am very sorry, but they are declaring your husband dead. If you have any questions, please call me at...."
Monica didn't hear the rest of the message. It was over. Chandler was dead. She was numb, unable to even cry anymore.
She walked into the bathroom, and turned on the shower, ignoring the next 10 calls.
*
Chandler layed on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. He never actually thought that he would see a ceiling again.
It felt strange, being indoors. He sat up and studied the cast on his arm. He chuckled when he thought about the makeshift
splint he had been using for so long. He decided to try to call Monica again. He had already called 6 times, but he didn't care.
He longed to hear her voice, to see her face, to hold her in his arms. He was flying back to New York in three hours.
The woman from the airline was surprised that he was willing to fly again. But he just wanted to get home as soon as possible.
He had survived the crash, a fall, near drowning, a bear, and a guy with a gun. He felt like he could handle almost anthing.
*
Monica was sitting at the table, trying to concentrate. She needed to get past this. She sighed, and looked around the
empty apartment. She looked at the answering machine, and realized that she never finished listening to her messages.
She was about to hit 'repeat' when Ross, Rachel, and Joey walked in.
"Hey Mon," They all said.
"Hey."
"We are gonna go see a movie, and was wondering if you wanted to go."
This was it. This was the test. She had to take that first step, and start living her life again.
She decided not to let her friends down anymore.
"Just let me get a sweater," she said, and walked back into her bedroom.
"Hey guys," Pheobe said, appearing in the doorway, "Look what I found."
They all turned to look at Pheobe, as Chandler appeared behind her.
*
Monica was startled by the sudden screaming and carrying on that was coming from her living room.
"What the hell," she said to herself, as she walked out of her bedroom.
At first, she thought she was dreaming again. The room started to spin, and her heart lept into her throat.
"Chandler?" She croaked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Chandler looked up, as his wife exited the bedroom. She stood in the doorway of their bedroom, in a state of
shock. She was more beautiful than he remembered. He started shaking, unable to control the wealth of emotions that
consumed him. He walked over to Monica, and pulled her into his arms.
"You're alive," she cried into his shoulder.
"I take it you didn't get my multiple messages?" Chandler said, gesturing towards the answeing machine.
"Oh. I..."
Chandler cut off her explaination with the long passionate kiss that he had been dreaming about for weeks.
He never thought coming home would taste so sweet.
Monica fell into the kiss, still in shock that she was even in Chandler's arms. The others snuck out quietly.
"He's really here", she thought, "I'm really in his arms."
She was finally home.
Sappy, yes, I know. Oh well. Let me know what you think!!!!