Thanks for the reviews on my last fic, here's the new one, please review this one as well! The first part of this may seem a little intense and harsh on Chandler's part, and Joey seems more selfish than usual, but....well, I'll explain later why I did that. The song is by Save Ferris.
Disclaimer: Ah, yes, they are not mine after all
Monica placed the key in the lock and kissed her fiance. He kissed her neck as she fumbled trying to get the door open.
"Chandler," she breathed. "Let me at least get the door open." He let up and she managed to swing the door open.
"That took way too long," he told her and she giggled and they continued what they had been doing. Once her bedroom door was shut she smiled at him.
"Thanks for tonight," she said sincerely.
"Anything for you," he replied. He kissed her again. This is how life should always be, he thought before falling onto the bed with her in his arms.
"What about the daffodils for the centerpieces?" Monica asked showing Chandler.
"They're very nice," Chandler replied bored.
"You don't have to be here," Monica told him for the fifth time.
"I want to be a part of the wedding," he assured her.
"Then act like it," she admonished holding up the picture that looked like the first three that Chandler had seen.
"I like that one the best," he lied. She made a face at him and shut the book.
"Are we done?" He asked a little too excitedly.
"Yes," she sighed again. "We are."
"Yes, I mean...oh too bad, I was enjoying this immensely."
"Chandler? Don't lie, you suck at it."
"Right, no more lying," he promised and kissed her cheek. She smiled and went into their bedroom to lie down. The door opened and Joey came in.
"Want to go get something to eat?" He asked.
"No thanks," Chandler said. "Monica wasn't feeling well, so I thought I better stay home with her."
"Come on man," Joey begged. "It'll be one of our last hurrahs! You have to come!" Chandler looked at his begging best friend and then at the door with Monica. She hadn't been feeling very well lately. She had gotten extremely bad stomach pains the night before. He didn't want to leave her.
"Please?" Joey pleaded. "She'll be fine. She'll probably sleep all night anyway." Chandler sighed.
"Joe, I don't know," he told him once more hoping that he would let the subject drop.
"Monica!" Joey called out.
"Let her rest," Chandler admonished. But it was too late as the door swung open and Monica, with her hair all over her face, emerged and rubbed her eyes.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Can Chandler come out with me?"
"I guess so," she replied.
"See?"
"Honey are you sure?"
"Yeah, Chandler go have fun," Monica said and Chandler wavered slightly before agreeing to go out for a couple of hours, and only a couple of hours with Joey. He kissed Monica goodbye.
"If you aren't feeling well, call my cell," he reminded her before he left. Joey clapped his hands in happiness and smiled at Chandler.
"It'll be like old times. Just Joey and the Chan-man," he said.
"I'm going to need for you not to call me that," Chandler said as he shut the door. Something told him not to go, but Joey was too excited for Chandler to think of going back now.
"Come on Joey," Chandler said a few hours later. He'd already been out longer than he had meant to stay, and now his best friend was drunk and all Chandler wanted to do was get home to Monica and get Joey home.
"I'm having fun!" Joey replied and downed another shot.
"We've got to get you home," Chandler said again.
"Not yet, one more hour," Joey slurred. "Just one more. Monica is fine. She would have called your phone if she wasn't."
"You're right," Chandler sighed and sat back down on the barstool. "One more hour and then you and I go home."
"Fine by me," Joey said. He looked at Chandler's cell phone which was laying next to him and noticed that it was turned off. Joey had turned it off by accident when he was trying to put a girl's number in the phone book to remember it. He wondered if he should mention it to Chandler, which would without a doubt result in their going home. He decided Chandler wouldn't stay out for longer than an hour at tops anyway and Monica was fine. He was sure of it. It might have been the vodka talking, but Joey was positive he was doing the right thing. Chandler needed to get out and blow off some steam. All these wedding plans had to be getting to him, Joey knew that they were certainly getting to him. No, it wasn't worth mentioning it to Chandler, he would just make Joey go home. And that was not suitable for Joey.
"My phone's turned off?" Chandler asked as they were heading out to the cab. "How long has it been turned off?"
"Don't know," Joey lied. Chandler hurriedly checked to see if anyone had called.
"Monica called, five times! Joey! What if she's in trouble and needed to get a hold of me?"
"Relax," Joey replied grabbing the phone off of Chandler. "She hasn't called in like a half hour. She probably was just wondering where you were." Chandler sighed and hoped the they got home and Joey was right. Monica just was wondering where he was. He had only said he would be out for a couple hours. Now it was four. They parked in front of the building and Chandler practically sprinted up the stairs.
"Monica?" He called out softly when he entered their apartment. He saw the bathroom light was on and he made his way over to it. The door was opened slightly and he gave it a nudge to open it. He gasped when he saw the dark hair sprawled over the floor and dropped to his knees and stroked Monica's cheek.
"Monica? Wake up!" He grabbed his cell phone and called an ambulance. She stirred a little.
"Chandler?"
"Monica? What happened?"
"My stomach, oh God, Chandler, it hurts," she began to cry. "I guess I passed out from the pain."
"I called an ambulance," he told her and kissed her.
"I tried your phone, but I...I couldn't get a hold of you," she said crying again.
"I know, damn Joey. I knew I shouldn't have gone out. I should have stayed here with you. Or at least came home when I told you I would. Oh Monica, I'm so sorry." She smiled weakly at him.
"It's not your fault," she reassured him. "I think my appendix. I think that it's my appendix." He kissed her.
"You'll be okay, that happens all the time. They'll just remove it and you'll be as good as new," he kept kissing her forehead. The door opened and he hoped it was the paramedics. Instead it was Joey.
"So I was right, right? Monica's fine and you could have stayed out all night!"
"No Joey! Her appendix might have burst and I was out drinking with you and I didn't know because my phone was turned off!" Chandler was getting angry with his friend. If anything happened to her, Chandler would never forgive Joey. It was easiest to blame him. The paramedics came in and Joey stood back in shock and guilt. He had kept Chandler out longer than he had wanted. He had turned off his phone so that Monica couldn't call him. Chandler was right. It was his fault.
I wrote this song for you to say I'm sorry
I know that I was wrong and you don't like me
Why, why, why
Must you feel this way?
I wish I had the words
I needed to say
"Is she okay?" Rachel and Ross came running into the emergency room where Chandler was pacing.
"They think her appendix might have burst, she's in surgery now," Chandler said sighing and finally sitting down on one of the chairs.
"What does that mean?" Rachel asked. Chandler shrugged. He didn't really feel like repeating what the doctor had said, because in truth, it had scared the crap out of him.
"It's not good," Ross replied for him. "It means she would be on heavy antibiotics and she would be sick for awhile or..."
"Or what?" Rachel demanded.
"She could die," Chandler finished. Rachel covered her mouth and sank down to the seat below her.
"What happened?" Ross asked. Chandler repeated the story of going out with Joey.
"It's not Joey's fault," Ross said and Chandler glared angrily at him.
"She tried to call me, Ross. Five times. Five times your sister, who was in unbelievable pain tried to reach me because she was scared and she wanted me and five times she couldn't because Joey had turned off my phone because he wanted to stay out and drink a little longer." Ross had never seen that unforgiving, cold look in Chandler's eyes. Chandler was mad. Because Monica was involved. She was the one that was hurt. Everything in Chandler just wanted to protect her and he hadn't. The reality of it was that more than he blamed Joey, he blamed himself. But Joey was easier to take it out on. Joey came into the waiting room and stood back hoping that he could find out if his friend was okay before Chandler yelled at him again to leave.
"Mr. Bing?" The doctor came out and Chandler jumped out of the plastic seat and hurried over.
"Is she okay?" They all demanded before he could even open his mouth .
"Unfortunately, Ms. Geller's appendix had ruptured. Luckily we got to her shortly after and removed it."
"What does that mean?" Joey spoke up. Chandler glared at him but wanted to know the answer so didn't speak his mind.
"That means she'll be sick for awhile and she'll be on heavy antibiotics," the doctor explained.
"Can I go see her?" Chandler asked. All he wanted to do was see her. Make sure she was okay.
"Sure, one at a time." The doctor led Chandler down the hall to Monica's room and Joey sighed.
"He's pretty mad?" He asked.
"He'll get over it," Ross told Joey. Joey shook his head.
"I've never seen him this mad Ross," Joey said. "This is not something he's going to easily forgive me for."
"Hey, you didn't do anything wrong, okay?" Rachel said. "You didn't make her have an appendicitis."
"But I kept him out when he kept telling me that she wasn't feeling well, that he wanted to go home. What did I do? I turned off his cell phone so that he couldn't hear it ring. She would have been fine. She would have had her appendix removed and wouldn't be sick like she is now." Ross and Rachel could both see there was no point discussing this with him now. Monica would be fine and Chandler would forgive Joey. He had to.
'Cause you and me
We disagree
On everything and everyone
I only want to be your friend again
I hear you're blaming me for all your problems
Well if you'd quit complaining you might solve 'em
Joey held the flowers tightly in his hand waiting to see Monica. He took a deep breath and walked in. She was lying in the bed and she looked so pale and fragile in comparison to the white bed. Chandler was fast asleep by her side holding her hand. Joey placed the flowers on the table next to her and kissed her forehead and turned to leave.
"Joey?" She asked weakly.
"Hey Monica! How are you feeling?"
"Horrible," she commented and he smiled slightly. "No, I take that back, I feel great! I could run a marathon." He smiled widely at this.
"Still being sarcastic I see. Living with Chandler has rubbed off on you."
"I know, shame isn't it?" She joked. Joey relaxed. Monica didn't blame him. If Monica didn't blame him than she could talk Chandler out of being mad. She as stubborn enough to make Chandler do whatever she wanted him to do. Chandler stirred and woke up and kissed Monica's hand. He saw Joey on the other side of the bed.
"Please leave," he said.
"But Chandler..." Joey started.
"I want you to leave," he repeated.
"He can stay," Monica said trying to referee between the two of them. They hardly ever fought, but when they did, it tended to get ugly.
"Then I'll leave," Chandler said. "I'll be back sweetheart." He gave Monica a kiss on the forehead and left the room.
"He's really mad," Joey said.
"He'll get over it," Monica told him.
"I don't think so," Joey replied. Monica didn't mention the conversation her and Chandler had had that morning. Chandler wasn't just mad, he was fuming. The kind of stuff that feuds begin with. Chandler had even talked to her about him perhaps getting a promotion that would lead to them having to move. Something he would have never even entertained before this.
"He will," Monica said again and forced a smile. "Tell me what's new with you?" Joey tried to make small talk with her, but ended up seeing Chandler outside the room waiting for him to leave, and he ended the conversation short and kissed her goodbye.
"Feel better," he whispered.
"Thanks Joe," she replied quietly. As soon as he was gone, Chandler came bursting back in.
"Forgive him Chandler," she said softly.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because...because...."
"That's a great answer," she told him and turned her head to the other side and closed her eyes to fall asleep. And they called her the stubborn one.
I'll try hard to make amends
But both of us will have to try and give in
'Cause you and me
We disagree
On everything and everyone
I only want to be your friend again
"We have some news," Monica said and bit her lip. She hadn't wanted this, but for once she was too weak to argue and Chandler had been too insistent on the subject. He was letting go of his anger towards Joey anytime soon.
"What?" Rachel, who always loved gossip asked leaning forward. Phoebe closed her eyes.
"You're getting married!" She cried.
"Uh, Pheebs? We're already doing that," Chandler said.
"Right, I knew that," Phoebe replied rolling her eyes.
"Anyway," Monica tried again. "Chandler and I are moving!"
"Please tell me just to the suburbs," Ross said.
"Um...the suburbs of San Diego?" Chandler said.
"You're moving to San Diego?" They all cried out. Monica nodded. She would follow Chandler anywhere and he had insisted. He had told her many times that he needed this promotion and he wanted her with him. He was more important than her job so she had agreed and went with him. But she would miss her friends, she would miss her brother.
"I can't believe this," Rachel said softly. "I'm going to miss you so much." She and Monica hugged for what seemed like an eternity.
"I know, but we can visit and call and we'll keep in touch," Monica whispered. But in her heart, she knew this was it. This was going to end their tight-nit group of friends. It would never be the six of them again. Chandler and her would be on one side of the country and the other four would be in New York. They might even get....replaced. She wiped away the tears and let herself fall into her brother's arms and then Joey's.
"Is this because of me?" He asked her.
"No," she assured him. "He's almost forgiven you."
"Mon, either you're lying, or he's not telling you," Joey said smiling a half smile at her. "He's never been this mad. He's moving you away."
"We're moving away because of his job," Monica said.
"Mon, you're smart, figure it out. You got sick while here, he almost lost you because I wanted to go out. He's not going because of his job, he's going to get you away from here. Away from me. Away from the things that he blames for you getting sick. I know I'm not the smartest, but I can see that." He gave her a kiss on the cheek and knowing Chandler wouldn't want to say any goodbyes to him, slipped out of the apartment.
I'm sorry for the things that turned out this way
I wish I knew the words I needed to say
But you and me we never seem to see eye to eye
But I'm sure that we can get along
If we try
If you want to you can just walk away
But I hope you know apologies
Are okay
"It seems so quiet around here," Rachel commented as the four of them sat on the couch in Rachel and Phoebe's new apartment, formally Chandler and Monica's apartment.
"I miss them," Ross said. They had moved out a month before and the gap that they had left was huge.
"Monica called yesterday," Phoebe said. "She said that Chandler's job is great and she got a head chef position at a restaurant and they have big news that they're going to call and share." The wedding had been done quickly the week before they left in front of all their friends and family. It had been small and gorgeous. Even if it was moved and done quickly, Monica made sure it was lovely. She had found a small church in upstate New York and had the entire thing decked out in flowers and roses. As if on cue, the phone rang and Rachel answered it.
"Hello?" She said into the receiver.
"Rach?"
"Hey Mon! Let me put you on speaker phone," Rachel said.
"Hey guys," Monica's voice filtered through.
"Hey Mon! What's the big news?" Ross asked. Monica cleared her throat.
"I'm pregnant!" She said excitedly.
"That's so great!" They all exclaimed. Chandler rubbed his wife's shoulders. But she suddenly felt lonely. No Rachel to hug her and take her shopping. No Phoebe to try to predict the baby's sex. No Ross all excited about being an uncle. No Joey trying to get them to name the baby Joseph or Josephine. If only Chandler would accept Joey's apologies. It hadn't even really been his fault. Everyone but Chandler could see this. But in his mind he had built it up to the point where Joey had been to blame for everything. Monica smiled at her husband. Things had changed. She just wanted everything to be back how it was before.
'Cause you and me
We disagree
On everything and everyone
I only want to be your friend again
'Cause you and me
We disagree
On everything and everyone
I only want to be your friend again
*~ Like I said, in order for this to work, I needed Joey to have done something and Chandler to have gotten really mad at him, but I was drawing blanks so it may seem totally a stupid reason to hold a grudge and totally out of character, but this was just setting the rest of it up so bare with me. And please review!*~