~A Very Good Year~
Chapter Ten: Under the Starry Night
November
"I'm fine, Mon," Chandler smiled bravely, as Monica straightened his tie.
"You look pale," Monica said softly.
"I always look pale," Chandler chuckled. He was silent for a minute, then sighed heavily.
"What?"
"I just...I'm sorry, that I can't give you your dream wedding."
"Chandler," Monica placed her hands on Chandler's shoulders gently, "this may not be the wedding I planned for, but it IS the happiest day of my life," she smiled.
"Mine too," Chandler grinned, and kissed Monica softly.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Hey, uh, Phoebe is here with the flowers," Joey smiled.
"Oh, okay, I'm uh, I'm gonna leave so Monica can change," Chandler stood slowly, and was led out of the room by Joey.
The door closed, and for the first time that day, Monica was alone. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of activity, following The Announcement. Monica almost felt guilty, for spending so much time with Rachel and Phoebe planning the wedding. She sighed heavily, and looked at her dress, which was hanging loosely from the armoire in the corner. It was very simple, floor length, butter cream silk, with tiny spaghetti straps and a matching wool wrap. She was thrilled that she and Chandler were getting married---but the dark cloud of death was hovering, and Monica knew that these were her last moments of solitude, before she was totally surrounded by the celebration. She sunk onto her bed, and let herself really and truly cry.
~*~
"Daddy, look at my dwess!!" Sadie giggled and bounced happily.
"Wow, you look so beautiful, Pumpkin!" Chandler said proudly.
"Today I get a Mommy!" Sadie announced to Joey and Phoebe, who were seated on the sofa.
"Yeah you do!" Joey smiled, and Phoebe laughed.
"Hey, you guys ready?" Rachel poked her head through the front door.
"Yeah," Joey stood, and helped Chandler to stand. The two men walked toward the front door.
"Daddy, I am coming too!"
"Oh no sweetie, you come up with Aunt Rachel and Aunt Phoebe and Monica, okay?"
"Okay," Sadie grinned, and clasped onto Rachel's leg.
~*~
It was a relatively warm night, for November in New York. There was no snow, and very little wind. But, just to be safe, Joey bundled him and Chandler up in long wool coats, and midnight blue scarves. They stepped out onto the roof. The sky was clear, and a thousand diamond-like stars dotted the sky. On the roof, Ross, Ben, Isabelle, Jack, Judy, Charles and Nora were all seated in a small half-circle around an altar accented with tall white candles and white orchids. Ross approached Joey and Chandler as they walked onto the roof, and helped guide Chandler to one of chairs that stood in front of the alter (Chandler was unable to stand, so everyone was going to sit). Ross took his place at Chandler's side, and Joey, who had gotten himself ordained on the internet a week earlier, took his place at the alter.
Ben started the pre-recorded music, and Sadie made her way toward the center quickly, as she tossed flower petals everywhere. She took a seat next to Ben, and began swinging her legs under her. Chandler smiled at her, and she waved enthusiastically.
Rachel and Phoebe walked onto the roof together, and took their places behind the chair where Monica would be.
Monica appeared seconds later. She smiled bravely, and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. She locked eyes with Chandler, and let herself believe that this was a beginning, and not an end. She took a seat next to Chandler, and Ross, Rachel and Ross took their seats in the semi-circle that surrounded the couple.
"Hi everyone," Joey started nervously, and smiled. He cleared his throat, and started over.
"I uh, just want to start by saying that I love these two----Monica and Chandler. They are two of my best friends. And I know that their relationship may seem unusual for some, but to me---it seems only natural. They belong together--ya know? And I know, that, no matter what their future holds, they will be together forever," Joey smiled, and Chandler took Monica's hands in his.
"Chandler, do you take Monica to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love and cherish, to honor and hold her, for as long as you both shall---for, uh..for all eternity?"
"I will."
"Monica, do you take Chandler to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish, and honor and hold him, for all eternity?"
"I will."
"Do you guys, uh, have rings?"
Chandler and Monica nodded, and quietly exchanged platinum bands.
"You are bonded, forever! You are husband and wife! Chandler, you may kiss your bride!"
"Chandler smiled, and kissed Monica softly, as the small crowd applauded.
"I love you," Chandler whispered.
"I love you too," Monica smiled.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Chandler and Monica Bing!"
"And Sadie too!" Sadie said, and hopped into Chandler's lap.
"And Sadie, too," Chandler laughed, as Monica straightened Sadie's dress. "And I have a Mommy!" Sadie exclaimed.
"Yes, you do," Monica smiled, tears lining her eyes.
If only she could have both parents-If only life weren't so cruel, and so beautiful, all at once.
Hold on
Hold on to yourself
for this is gonna hurt like hell.
Hold on
Hold on to yourself.
You know that only time can tell
what is it in me that refuses to believe
this isn't easier than the real thing.
My love
you know that you're my best friend.
You know that I'd do anything for you
and my love
let nothing come between us
my love for you is strong and true.
Am I in heaven here or
am I...
At the crossroads I am standing.
So now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
that you'll be strong tomorrow
and will see another day
and we will praise it
and love the light that brings a smile
across your face.
Oh god
if you're out there won't you hear me.
I know we're never talked before
and oh god
the man I love is leaving
won't you take him when he comes to your door.
Am I in heaven here or
am I in hell
at the crossroads I am standing.
So now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
that you'll be strong tomorrow
and we will see another day
and we will praise it
and love the light that brings a smile
across your face
Hold on
hold on to yourself
for this is gonna hurt like hell.
("Hold On" Sarah McLachlan)
Chapter Ten: Under the Starry Night
November
"I'm fine, Mon," Chandler smiled bravely, as Monica straightened his tie.
"You look pale," Monica said softly.
"I always look pale," Chandler chuckled. He was silent for a minute, then sighed heavily.
"What?"
"I just...I'm sorry, that I can't give you your dream wedding."
"Chandler," Monica placed her hands on Chandler's shoulders gently, "this may not be the wedding I planned for, but it IS the happiest day of my life," she smiled.
"Mine too," Chandler grinned, and kissed Monica softly.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Hey, uh, Phoebe is here with the flowers," Joey smiled.
"Oh, okay, I'm uh, I'm gonna leave so Monica can change," Chandler stood slowly, and was led out of the room by Joey.
The door closed, and for the first time that day, Monica was alone. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of activity, following The Announcement. Monica almost felt guilty, for spending so much time with Rachel and Phoebe planning the wedding. She sighed heavily, and looked at her dress, which was hanging loosely from the armoire in the corner. It was very simple, floor length, butter cream silk, with tiny spaghetti straps and a matching wool wrap. She was thrilled that she and Chandler were getting married---but the dark cloud of death was hovering, and Monica knew that these were her last moments of solitude, before she was totally surrounded by the celebration. She sunk onto her bed, and let herself really and truly cry.
~*~
"Daddy, look at my dwess!!" Sadie giggled and bounced happily.
"Wow, you look so beautiful, Pumpkin!" Chandler said proudly.
"Today I get a Mommy!" Sadie announced to Joey and Phoebe, who were seated on the sofa.
"Yeah you do!" Joey smiled, and Phoebe laughed.
"Hey, you guys ready?" Rachel poked her head through the front door.
"Yeah," Joey stood, and helped Chandler to stand. The two men walked toward the front door.
"Daddy, I am coming too!"
"Oh no sweetie, you come up with Aunt Rachel and Aunt Phoebe and Monica, okay?"
"Okay," Sadie grinned, and clasped onto Rachel's leg.
~*~
It was a relatively warm night, for November in New York. There was no snow, and very little wind. But, just to be safe, Joey bundled him and Chandler up in long wool coats, and midnight blue scarves. They stepped out onto the roof. The sky was clear, and a thousand diamond-like stars dotted the sky. On the roof, Ross, Ben, Isabelle, Jack, Judy, Charles and Nora were all seated in a small half-circle around an altar accented with tall white candles and white orchids. Ross approached Joey and Chandler as they walked onto the roof, and helped guide Chandler to one of chairs that stood in front of the alter (Chandler was unable to stand, so everyone was going to sit). Ross took his place at Chandler's side, and Joey, who had gotten himself ordained on the internet a week earlier, took his place at the alter.
Ben started the pre-recorded music, and Sadie made her way toward the center quickly, as she tossed flower petals everywhere. She took a seat next to Ben, and began swinging her legs under her. Chandler smiled at her, and she waved enthusiastically.
Rachel and Phoebe walked onto the roof together, and took their places behind the chair where Monica would be.
Monica appeared seconds later. She smiled bravely, and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. She locked eyes with Chandler, and let herself believe that this was a beginning, and not an end. She took a seat next to Chandler, and Ross, Rachel and Ross took their seats in the semi-circle that surrounded the couple.
"Hi everyone," Joey started nervously, and smiled. He cleared his throat, and started over.
"I uh, just want to start by saying that I love these two----Monica and Chandler. They are two of my best friends. And I know that their relationship may seem unusual for some, but to me---it seems only natural. They belong together--ya know? And I know, that, no matter what their future holds, they will be together forever," Joey smiled, and Chandler took Monica's hands in his.
"Chandler, do you take Monica to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love and cherish, to honor and hold her, for as long as you both shall---for, uh..for all eternity?"
"I will."
"Monica, do you take Chandler to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish, and honor and hold him, for all eternity?"
"I will."
"Do you guys, uh, have rings?"
Chandler and Monica nodded, and quietly exchanged platinum bands.
"You are bonded, forever! You are husband and wife! Chandler, you may kiss your bride!"
"Chandler smiled, and kissed Monica softly, as the small crowd applauded.
"I love you," Chandler whispered.
"I love you too," Monica smiled.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Chandler and Monica Bing!"
"And Sadie too!" Sadie said, and hopped into Chandler's lap.
"And Sadie, too," Chandler laughed, as Monica straightened Sadie's dress. "And I have a Mommy!" Sadie exclaimed.
"Yes, you do," Monica smiled, tears lining her eyes.
If only she could have both parents-If only life weren't so cruel, and so beautiful, all at once.
Hold on
Hold on to yourself
for this is gonna hurt like hell.
Hold on
Hold on to yourself.
You know that only time can tell
what is it in me that refuses to believe
this isn't easier than the real thing.
My love
you know that you're my best friend.
You know that I'd do anything for you
and my love
let nothing come between us
my love for you is strong and true.
Am I in heaven here or
am I...
At the crossroads I am standing.
So now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
that you'll be strong tomorrow
and will see another day
and we will praise it
and love the light that brings a smile
across your face.
Oh god
if you're out there won't you hear me.
I know we're never talked before
and oh god
the man I love is leaving
won't you take him when he comes to your door.
Am I in heaven here or
am I in hell
at the crossroads I am standing.
So now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
that you'll be strong tomorrow
and we will see another day
and we will praise it
and love the light that brings a smile
across your face
Hold on
hold on to yourself
for this is gonna hurt like hell.
("Hold On" Sarah McLachlan)