Okay, I need to not post five different fic series' at the same time, cuz I swear...I'm starting to lose track of what the heck I'm supposed to be writing. Are they Rock stars in this one? No, wait, they hate each other. No, they love each other. Ah, I am so confused. Are you? LOL.
~*~
The One With The Bachelor Party, Part Six
"Like Time Standing Still"
~Where we left off...
"Wow, Pete, you look like you've seen a ghost," Phoebe commented, without realizing the gravity of her statement.
The rest of the gang looked at Phoebe strangely, while Pete and Monica stared at each other, and Chandler stared at Monica.
"I think we all need to talk," Monica said quietly.
Monica, Pete and Chandler took a seat at the kitchen table, as the others left the apartment, only to turn and lean their curious ears against the door.
"Pete, I--" Monica began.
"Wait, Mon, I just--Chandler, where have you been for the last two years?"
"Thailand, I think," was all that Chandler would say.
"You look like hell, man."
"Thanks," Chandler chuckled, all the while trying desperately to avoid looking at Monica.
"Pete," Monica began again, "You know that this...it changes everything."
Chandler looked over at Monica, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Look, I'm not here to break up your marriage. I just...I mean, I've only been back a day--I want you guys to be happy, and I swear, I will be okay with this. You just gotta give me some time--"
"Chandler, I know you aren't here to hurt anyone. Especially Monica," Pete turned to Monica, "Look, sweetheart," Pete took Monica's hands in his, causing Chandler to tense up involuntarily. As much as he hated the idea, he knew that he needed to either get used to it, or get the hell away from them.
"Mon," Pete continued, "I love you. And when we got married, I promised you that I would do anything and everything to make you happy. I made the same promise to Chandler--who I thought was dead at the time, so it didn't seem so weird to make that promise--but now this feels a little weird," Pete laughed uncomfortably, before continuing. "But the thing is--I know that you never got over Chandler. I saw how upset you were when we walked into Caesar's on our wedding night. I know you didn't think I knew, but I did. I've heard you crying in your sleep, and I know you still think about him. You wanted Chandler back--and now he's here. I am not gonna stand in the way of your happiness just because I happened to be married to you," Pete sighed.
"Pete--" Monica started.
"C'mon, Mon. I'm making it easy for you," Pete said, his eyes glistening with impending tears.
"You are the sweetest man," Monica said softly, placing her hand on Pete's cheek.
"Well, I try," Pete said, a crooked grin on his face. "The divorce should run pretty smoothly. I hope...I hope we can stay friends after this," Pete said softly.
"Of course," Monica whispered, before kissing him on the cheek.
Pete stood up to leave, and Chandler stood with him, wearing a very confused expression.
"Hey, take care of her, okay?" Pete said, extending his hand.
Chandler took his hand, and shook it. "Pete, I don't know what to--thank you."
"Well, I hate it, but I knew the second I saw you that it was the only right decision."
Chandler nodded silently.
Pete opened the door, and looked back at Monica and Chandler.
"You have to name your first kid after me," a knowing smile pursing his lips.
"Absolutely," Monica said, as Pete walked out into the hallway, tripping over the rest of the eavesdropping group on his way out.
Monica looked over at Chandler, who seemed a bit shocked. That was almost too easy. She walked over to him, and tentatively took his hand in hers.
"Are you okay?" Monica asked softly.
"I can't believe he just did that," Chandler whispered.
"Well, I told him everything Chandler. He knew that I wasn't over you."
"Then why did you marry him?"
"I don't know. I guess I just felt like...I needed to. Even if it was for all the wrong reasons."
Chandler sighed, and pulled away from Monica. The reality of everything was beginning to set in, and he suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"I...I am so sorry, Monica," he said hoarsely.
"Why?"
"I feel like...this is my fault." Chandler walked toward the large picture window, turning away from Monica.
"Chandler," Monica walked toward Chandler, and turned him toward her, "You didn't do anything wrong."
"But I feel like--I don't know," Chandler shook his head.
"Chandler," Monica pulled his face toward her, "Talk to me. Please."
Chandler looked at Monica, and was suddenly at a loss for words, He sank down into the window seat, his eyes glazing over as memories of the past two years filled his head. He didn't even know where to begin.
Monica kneeled down on the floor in front of Chandler, and looked into his lost eyes. She wanted so badly to take away the pain and emptiness in them. And she wanted to hurt the people who had done this.
"What did they do to you?" she whispered sadly.
"They took me away from you," Chandler replied. He closed his eyes, and prayed that this wasn't all a dream. He was so afraid that he was going to wake up, and find himself in that...that place.
Monica watched Chandler for a long minute, not really sure what to say or do. So she simply sat there, holding his hand, hoping that the man she loved would come back to her.
****
~One Month Later~
The rain was coming down hard, pelting the windows like tiny transparent pebbles. Monica awoke suddenly, and shivered as she realized that she was cold. She sat up, and saw that Chandler wasn't in bed. She pulled herself up and out of bed, and padded into the living room. When she didn't see him there, she walked into the guest room, and then the bathroom. There was no sign of Chandler.
"Chandler?" she called out, hoping that she had simply missed him, sitting silently, in the shadows of the autumn night. When there was no reply, she walked out into the hallway, and into Joey and Rachel's apartment. Joey, as per ususal, was asleep in his chair, with the television on. Conan O'Brien flickered across the glowing screen, indicating to her that it was around one in the morning.
"Joey," Monica shook Joey, in a near-futile attempt to wake him.
"Uh, not now Pheebs, I'm wiped," Joey moaned, and turned in the chair.
Monica wiped the puzzled look off her face, before shaking Joey again. He finally jerked his eyes open, looking at Monica blankly.
"Hey...what's up, Mon?" Joey yawned.
"Have you seen Chandler?"
"Last time I saw him, he was following you into the bedroom," Joey said suggestively.
"Would you stop it!" Monica slapped Joey on the arm.
"Ow!"
"Shh. He didn't stop by or anything?"
"No. He's not in the apartment?"
"Joey, why would I be here if Chandler was in my apartment?"
"Maybe we should call Ross," Joey said solomnly. He jumped up, and grabbed the phone, as Monica headed back to her apartment, hoping to find Chandler there waiting.
An hour later, Chandler walked back into the apartment, and was startled to see all of his friends sitting in the living room.
"What are you guys doing?" Chandler asked.
"What are WE doing? What are YOU doing? You scared us to death, Chandler," Monica was aggitated by Chandler's seemingly nonchalant attitude. She had been worried sick, couldn't he see that?
"What are you talking about?" Chandler asked, shaking off his jacket, and walking into the living room.
"Where have you been?" Monica yelled, though she wasn't quite sure why she was yelling. She silently attributed it to nerves, and continued to stare at Chandler, awaiting an answer.
"I went for a walk," Chandler said crossly. He was getting tired of their attitude towards him.
"Are you trying to kill me? You don't just go walking out in the rain without telling people where you're going!"
"Why? Look, Mon, I left you a note, okay? It's probably right where I left it," Chandler walked to the refridgerator and pulled off a piece of paper. "But that's beside the point. I am NOT a child, okay? You guys need to stop treating me like some kind of-of idiot, who can't do things for himself! I am an adult, I can take care of myself."
"Chandler, we're just worried, that's all. You can't go disappearing on us like that!" Ross said, trying to defend Monica's actions.
"What do you want me to do, just stay in the apartment all the time?"
"No, of course not, but we just--maybe you are pushing yourself too hard, ya know? Maybe you aren't ready--"
"Ready for what? To work? To get my life back? To get my freinds to stop looking at me like I'm helpless?"
"We don't look at it like that. You've got to realize Chandler, that things aren't going to be just like they were before...you were gone. It's gonna take time." Joey reasoned.
"Time for who? For me, or for you guys?" Chandler said flatly.
The group looked at Chandler, trying to figure out exactly what was going on.
"I just...I just want everything to be the way it was," Chandler said quietly.
"Chandler, it's gonna take time," Ross reasoned, "You have got to slow down a little. After all you've been through--"
"The thing is, Ross, you have no idea what I've been through. So, isn't it entirely possible that what I need is to get back to normal? Maybe getting my life back will help me more than treating me like a victim!"
Ross stepped back, taking in Chandler's words. He still felt somewhat responsible for what happened to Chandler, and he was having trouble figuring out how to deal with that, and how to treat Chandler. He was beginning to realize that it was a no-win situation. Chandler's moods were often erratic, and he would sometimes drift off in mid-sentence, as though he was trying to recall something. But most of the time, Chandler would keep himself so busy with job-hunting, that Ross wondered how he had not landed four jobs, let alone one.
"Chandler, we just want to you get better. If you think that acting like nothing happened will do that, then we can do that," Joey said, trying to smooth everything over. All he wanted was to have his best friend back.
"Why do I feel like I'm at a God-damned intervention," Chandler exclaimed.
"Chandler, just tell us what you want, and we'll do it!" Monica said.
"Stop doing THIS! Stop walking around on egg shells around me! Stop asking me how YOU should act! Stop looking at me like THAT! I can't...I can't take this, I really can't," Chandler began pacing the room frantically, a look of panic filling his eyes.
"Chandler, sweetie, maybe you need professional help," Monica whispered, though she immediately regretted it.
Chandler looked at Monica, his hidden pain evident in his shadowed eyes. "Maybe YOU need professional help," he said icicly, and stormed out of the apartment.
"I...I can't get through to him," Monica sighed, after Chandler slammed the door.
"What do you want to do?" Ross asked softly.
"I don't know, I really don't. But I know we can't live like this."
"Maybe we should just ride this out...see what happens," Joey said.
"Joey, I can't. I can't take this anymore. It's like he's a totally different person. Take tonight for example. Why the hell would he go out for a walk in this downpour? He never talks to me anymore. I have no idea what he's thinking, what he's going through. I just--" Monica hesitated, not sure she should reveal her true feelings to her friends, "I am finding it hard to love him like I used to."
"Ditto, Monica," Chandler said, startling everyone in the room.
"Chandler, I--"
"I forgot my jacket," Chandler said, grabbing his jacket and turning to walk out the door again.
"Chandler, wait!"
Chandler turned, and looked at Monica intently. He felt his confusion and frusteration overwhelm him.
"It's never going to be the same," he said, before walking out the door.
~*~
What will happen next? Will Chandler leave? Will Monica be able to get through to him? Do you care?
Then you must TELL me!!
~*~
The One With The Bachelor Party, Part Six
"Like Time Standing Still"
~Where we left off...
"Wow, Pete, you look like you've seen a ghost," Phoebe commented, without realizing the gravity of her statement.
The rest of the gang looked at Phoebe strangely, while Pete and Monica stared at each other, and Chandler stared at Monica.
"I think we all need to talk," Monica said quietly.
Monica, Pete and Chandler took a seat at the kitchen table, as the others left the apartment, only to turn and lean their curious ears against the door.
"Pete, I--" Monica began.
"Wait, Mon, I just--Chandler, where have you been for the last two years?"
"Thailand, I think," was all that Chandler would say.
"You look like hell, man."
"Thanks," Chandler chuckled, all the while trying desperately to avoid looking at Monica.
"Pete," Monica began again, "You know that this...it changes everything."
Chandler looked over at Monica, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Look, I'm not here to break up your marriage. I just...I mean, I've only been back a day--I want you guys to be happy, and I swear, I will be okay with this. You just gotta give me some time--"
"Chandler, I know you aren't here to hurt anyone. Especially Monica," Pete turned to Monica, "Look, sweetheart," Pete took Monica's hands in his, causing Chandler to tense up involuntarily. As much as he hated the idea, he knew that he needed to either get used to it, or get the hell away from them.
"Mon," Pete continued, "I love you. And when we got married, I promised you that I would do anything and everything to make you happy. I made the same promise to Chandler--who I thought was dead at the time, so it didn't seem so weird to make that promise--but now this feels a little weird," Pete laughed uncomfortably, before continuing. "But the thing is--I know that you never got over Chandler. I saw how upset you were when we walked into Caesar's on our wedding night. I know you didn't think I knew, but I did. I've heard you crying in your sleep, and I know you still think about him. You wanted Chandler back--and now he's here. I am not gonna stand in the way of your happiness just because I happened to be married to you," Pete sighed.
"Pete--" Monica started.
"C'mon, Mon. I'm making it easy for you," Pete said, his eyes glistening with impending tears.
"You are the sweetest man," Monica said softly, placing her hand on Pete's cheek.
"Well, I try," Pete said, a crooked grin on his face. "The divorce should run pretty smoothly. I hope...I hope we can stay friends after this," Pete said softly.
"Of course," Monica whispered, before kissing him on the cheek.
Pete stood up to leave, and Chandler stood with him, wearing a very confused expression.
"Hey, take care of her, okay?" Pete said, extending his hand.
Chandler took his hand, and shook it. "Pete, I don't know what to--thank you."
"Well, I hate it, but I knew the second I saw you that it was the only right decision."
Chandler nodded silently.
Pete opened the door, and looked back at Monica and Chandler.
"You have to name your first kid after me," a knowing smile pursing his lips.
"Absolutely," Monica said, as Pete walked out into the hallway, tripping over the rest of the eavesdropping group on his way out.
Monica looked over at Chandler, who seemed a bit shocked. That was almost too easy. She walked over to him, and tentatively took his hand in hers.
"Are you okay?" Monica asked softly.
"I can't believe he just did that," Chandler whispered.
"Well, I told him everything Chandler. He knew that I wasn't over you."
"Then why did you marry him?"
"I don't know. I guess I just felt like...I needed to. Even if it was for all the wrong reasons."
Chandler sighed, and pulled away from Monica. The reality of everything was beginning to set in, and he suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"I...I am so sorry, Monica," he said hoarsely.
"Why?"
"I feel like...this is my fault." Chandler walked toward the large picture window, turning away from Monica.
"Chandler," Monica walked toward Chandler, and turned him toward her, "You didn't do anything wrong."
"But I feel like--I don't know," Chandler shook his head.
"Chandler," Monica pulled his face toward her, "Talk to me. Please."
Chandler looked at Monica, and was suddenly at a loss for words, He sank down into the window seat, his eyes glazing over as memories of the past two years filled his head. He didn't even know where to begin.
Monica kneeled down on the floor in front of Chandler, and looked into his lost eyes. She wanted so badly to take away the pain and emptiness in them. And she wanted to hurt the people who had done this.
"What did they do to you?" she whispered sadly.
"They took me away from you," Chandler replied. He closed his eyes, and prayed that this wasn't all a dream. He was so afraid that he was going to wake up, and find himself in that...that place.
Monica watched Chandler for a long minute, not really sure what to say or do. So she simply sat there, holding his hand, hoping that the man she loved would come back to her.
****
~One Month Later~
The rain was coming down hard, pelting the windows like tiny transparent pebbles. Monica awoke suddenly, and shivered as she realized that she was cold. She sat up, and saw that Chandler wasn't in bed. She pulled herself up and out of bed, and padded into the living room. When she didn't see him there, she walked into the guest room, and then the bathroom. There was no sign of Chandler.
"Chandler?" she called out, hoping that she had simply missed him, sitting silently, in the shadows of the autumn night. When there was no reply, she walked out into the hallway, and into Joey and Rachel's apartment. Joey, as per ususal, was asleep in his chair, with the television on. Conan O'Brien flickered across the glowing screen, indicating to her that it was around one in the morning.
"Joey," Monica shook Joey, in a near-futile attempt to wake him.
"Uh, not now Pheebs, I'm wiped," Joey moaned, and turned in the chair.
Monica wiped the puzzled look off her face, before shaking Joey again. He finally jerked his eyes open, looking at Monica blankly.
"Hey...what's up, Mon?" Joey yawned.
"Have you seen Chandler?"
"Last time I saw him, he was following you into the bedroom," Joey said suggestively.
"Would you stop it!" Monica slapped Joey on the arm.
"Ow!"
"Shh. He didn't stop by or anything?"
"No. He's not in the apartment?"
"Joey, why would I be here if Chandler was in my apartment?"
"Maybe we should call Ross," Joey said solomnly. He jumped up, and grabbed the phone, as Monica headed back to her apartment, hoping to find Chandler there waiting.
An hour later, Chandler walked back into the apartment, and was startled to see all of his friends sitting in the living room.
"What are you guys doing?" Chandler asked.
"What are WE doing? What are YOU doing? You scared us to death, Chandler," Monica was aggitated by Chandler's seemingly nonchalant attitude. She had been worried sick, couldn't he see that?
"What are you talking about?" Chandler asked, shaking off his jacket, and walking into the living room.
"Where have you been?" Monica yelled, though she wasn't quite sure why she was yelling. She silently attributed it to nerves, and continued to stare at Chandler, awaiting an answer.
"I went for a walk," Chandler said crossly. He was getting tired of their attitude towards him.
"Are you trying to kill me? You don't just go walking out in the rain without telling people where you're going!"
"Why? Look, Mon, I left you a note, okay? It's probably right where I left it," Chandler walked to the refridgerator and pulled off a piece of paper. "But that's beside the point. I am NOT a child, okay? You guys need to stop treating me like some kind of-of idiot, who can't do things for himself! I am an adult, I can take care of myself."
"Chandler, we're just worried, that's all. You can't go disappearing on us like that!" Ross said, trying to defend Monica's actions.
"What do you want me to do, just stay in the apartment all the time?"
"No, of course not, but we just--maybe you are pushing yourself too hard, ya know? Maybe you aren't ready--"
"Ready for what? To work? To get my life back? To get my freinds to stop looking at me like I'm helpless?"
"We don't look at it like that. You've got to realize Chandler, that things aren't going to be just like they were before...you were gone. It's gonna take time." Joey reasoned.
"Time for who? For me, or for you guys?" Chandler said flatly.
The group looked at Chandler, trying to figure out exactly what was going on.
"I just...I just want everything to be the way it was," Chandler said quietly.
"Chandler, it's gonna take time," Ross reasoned, "You have got to slow down a little. After all you've been through--"
"The thing is, Ross, you have no idea what I've been through. So, isn't it entirely possible that what I need is to get back to normal? Maybe getting my life back will help me more than treating me like a victim!"
Ross stepped back, taking in Chandler's words. He still felt somewhat responsible for what happened to Chandler, and he was having trouble figuring out how to deal with that, and how to treat Chandler. He was beginning to realize that it was a no-win situation. Chandler's moods were often erratic, and he would sometimes drift off in mid-sentence, as though he was trying to recall something. But most of the time, Chandler would keep himself so busy with job-hunting, that Ross wondered how he had not landed four jobs, let alone one.
"Chandler, we just want to you get better. If you think that acting like nothing happened will do that, then we can do that," Joey said, trying to smooth everything over. All he wanted was to have his best friend back.
"Why do I feel like I'm at a God-damned intervention," Chandler exclaimed.
"Chandler, just tell us what you want, and we'll do it!" Monica said.
"Stop doing THIS! Stop walking around on egg shells around me! Stop asking me how YOU should act! Stop looking at me like THAT! I can't...I can't take this, I really can't," Chandler began pacing the room frantically, a look of panic filling his eyes.
"Chandler, sweetie, maybe you need professional help," Monica whispered, though she immediately regretted it.
Chandler looked at Monica, his hidden pain evident in his shadowed eyes. "Maybe YOU need professional help," he said icicly, and stormed out of the apartment.
"I...I can't get through to him," Monica sighed, after Chandler slammed the door.
"What do you want to do?" Ross asked softly.
"I don't know, I really don't. But I know we can't live like this."
"Maybe we should just ride this out...see what happens," Joey said.
"Joey, I can't. I can't take this anymore. It's like he's a totally different person. Take tonight for example. Why the hell would he go out for a walk in this downpour? He never talks to me anymore. I have no idea what he's thinking, what he's going through. I just--" Monica hesitated, not sure she should reveal her true feelings to her friends, "I am finding it hard to love him like I used to."
"Ditto, Monica," Chandler said, startling everyone in the room.
"Chandler, I--"
"I forgot my jacket," Chandler said, grabbing his jacket and turning to walk out the door again.
"Chandler, wait!"
Chandler turned, and looked at Monica intently. He felt his confusion and frusteration overwhelm him.
"It's never going to be the same," he said, before walking out the door.
~*~
What will happen next? Will Chandler leave? Will Monica be able to get through to him? Do you care?
Then you must TELL me!!
