AN: Wowsers, thanks again for the reviews! All I'm gonna tell you about what's to come is this; expect the unexpected.
Oh, and Jenni, I think you spelled poobrain correctly, LOL!
The Theory
Chapter XV
And there's no mountain too high, no river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather, and stars may collide
But I love you…until the end of time
Come What May, Come What May
I will love you until my dying day
("Come What May" David Baerwald)
Joey sat slumped in a cold vinyl waiting room chair, gnawing on his fingernails. He wondered if he should call the others; but he didn't want Chandler to be uncomfortable, and besides, his family really didn't know any of them besides Chandler. He sighed, and decided that it would be best to wait until he got back to Manhattan to tell the others. Joey was pulled from his thoughts when the elevator door, just a few feet away, dinged, and the doors slid open with a whoosh.
"Hey," Chandler walked into the waiting room, a small bouquet of flowers and a white and pink teddy bear in his hands, "how is she?"
Joey stood to greet his friend, "She's doing well. And the baby is…tiny and red," Joey shrugged as Chandler laughed, "You brought a lot of stuff," Joey said, gesturing to Chandler's hands.
"Well, actually, I thought Uncle Joey probably needed a gift to," Chandler smiled.
"Good thinking," Joey smiled, "what would I do without you?"
Chandler's smile faltered, for just a moment, "I guess you'd be gift-less," he laughed.
"Hey, you wanna see her?" Joey asked excitedly.
"Yeah," Chandler said, and followed Joey to the nursery.
They stood in front of the long Plexiglas window in silence, both watching Joey's tiny new niece squirm in her bassinet. The card in the front pocket read, Fiona Josephine Gardner, 6lbs 4 oz. 6:45pm, November 24.
Fiona was the daughter of Joey's sister Veronica, and her husband, Edward. Chandler had gotten to know much of the Tribianni clan over the holidays a year ago, when Joey had insisted that he join them for Christmas dinner. Chandler had been reluctant, at first, but finally decided that if he was really intent on salvaging his friendship with Joey, then he should at least try. Ironically, Chandler had not spent a great deal of time with Joey that evening, as it turned out that Chandler had gone to high school with Veronica's husband, and the two hit it off.
Chandler had been awoken by Joey's frantic phone call about two hours ago, telling him to come meet his new niece. Chandler was touched that Joey had even thought to call him, and made his way out to Brooklyn as quickly as he could.
"She's so…tiny," Chandler whispered, his voice filled with a child-like awe.
"Yeah…do you think we were ever that small?" Joey asked.
"Probably…though with as much as you eat, I doubt you were tiny very long," Chandler smiled.
"Very funny," Joey laughed, and then sobered quickly. "Uh, Chandler, I—I talked to Monica this morning."
Chandler's smile faded, and he placed a hand gingerly on the glass in front of him. He continued to stare forward, but it was clear that he was no longer focused on the infants in the nursery.
"Oh? What, uh, what did she say?"
"She just said you guys were having some trouble…"
"Yeah, you could say that," Chandler laughed bitterly.
"Chandler I—it's none of my business, I know, but…I mean if she is causing you so much pain, then maybe—"
"Joey, I know that you have my best interests at heart, but…but I do love her. And some of what she said this morning is true. I just need to…let it all go."
"You need to do what's best for you," Joey argued.
"I don't think…. I don't know that I would be better off without her. I mean, even when I was really upset…I could never picture my life without her."
Joey nodded, then sighed. "I was afraid of that," he smiled ruefully.
"Joey," Chandler turned to him, and leaned up against the window with his shoulder, "I really don't want you guys to take sides when Monica and I fight…because we will, there's no getting around that. She's a very passionate woman, and she is stubborn as a damn bull sometimes…and I have a lot of issues…perhaps too many to be in a relationship…but I don't want what happens between me and Monica come between the rest of you. Please, promise me you won't let it."
Joey sighed, and looked at Chandler, absorbing the determination that filled his sea-blue eyes. His first instinct had been to argue, but he knew he had to do this.
"Fine," he finally relented, "I promise."
A broad smile lit up Chandler's face, and caused Joey to grin as well.
"Okay…let's go say hi to the proud parents, and head back to Manhattan, okay?"
Joey nodded, and led Chandler out of the nursery.
~*~
"This just isn't like him," Phoebe said, as she paced through Monica's kitchen, worriedly.
"Pheebs, I'm sure everything is fine. He's probably with Chandler," Rachel reasoned, as Ross nodded.
"This is my fault, I'm sure," Monica mumbled miserably, as she sunk lower into her white reading chair.
"Mon, don't do this, okay? They're probably just walking around talking. I—"
Ross was interrupted when the front door opened, and Joey and Chandler walked in.
"Where the hell have you two been?" Phoebe screeched, as she moved toward them.
"Whoa there, Pheebs, calm down, okay? Veronica had her baby!"
"Oh! Yay! Congratulations, Uncle—hey, why didn't you call us?"
Joey and Phoebe continued to argue, but Chandler had tuned them out. He had locked eyed with Monica, who was looking at him sadly from her seat in the living room. He struggled to read her eyes, but found that he couldn't decide if she was still mad, or if she was just sad. He bit his lip nervously, and looked at the ground.
"Hey, you guys wanna go get some coffee?" Rachel asked, suddenly pulling Chandler from his thoughts.
The others shrugged or nodded their approvals, and the group began moving toward the door.
"Mon, you coming?" Ross asked, and the other four turned to look at her.
"No, I…I think I'll stay here," she replied quietly.
"Oh, come on, Mon," Rachel and Phoebe both said.
"I don't think—"
"Mon, you should come," Chandler said quietly.
Monica sighed, and stared at the floor for a long minute. She was torn, because she really didn't want to venture down to the coffee house…but Chandler was reaching out, and making an effort. While she knew that she should reach back, she still felt that her and Chandler had so much to work out. Could they really just sit in the coffee house and pretend that everything was okay between her and Chandler, and her and Joey? She looked up, and was surprised to see that Joey was not looking at her. He was looking at the floor, and seemed to be struggling to keep a neutral look on his face.
"I…I can't," Monica finally said, and slowly looked at Chandler. He looked crestfallen, and a bit angry with her for making the decision to stay. She momentarily wondered if he would stay behind to talk to her.
"Fine," Chandler said shortly, and turned to leave.
"Chandler, wait," Monica stood up, and stared at Chandler's back.
Chandler stopped and straightened, then glanced at the others, who took the hint and walked out of the apartment, only to put their ears to the door after they left.
"I—about this morning," Monica started.
"Mon—I'm sorry about that. You were right, I need to let go," Chandler turned and stared at the back of Monica's couch.
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have pushed you to do what you didn't want to do…"
"I will try harder, I just—"
"Why didn't you tell me you were seeing a therapist?"
Chandler's head shot up, and he looked at Monica, surprised. He swallowed, and took a deep breath before continuing.
"I…I wanted to. But I didn't want you to think that you had done something to cause me to…I mean, I didn't want you to blame yourself for my messed up head," Chandler laughed.
"Chandler, I—"
"And…I was embarrassed, too, I guess. I just figured if you knew that I was…I figured you wouldn't want me anymore," Chandler ran his hand through his hair nervously.
Monica felt a lump form in her throat, and she moved toward Chandler.
"Well, I'm not going anywhere," she whispered hoarsely.
Chandler nodded, and looked into Monica's eyes.
"I love you," he whispered softly.
Monica smiled, and let out a sob. "I know," she said quietly.
Chandler grinned, and moved in to kiss Monica, but was stopped by a sharp, unbearable pain in his abdomen.
"Ahhh," he doubled over in pain.
"Chandler, what's wrong?"
"I don't know…oh, God!" Chandler felt his knees buckle, as he collapsed to the floor.
"I'm calling an ambulance," Monica said hurriedly, and moved to the phone.
But Chandler couldn't hear her. The pain had become too intense, and his ears were ringing. He was vaguely aware that the other four had flown into the apartment, (proof that they had been eavesdropping) before losing consciousness completely.
AN: okay, yeah, you all probably saw that coming, lol. Wow, I didn't think I'd get this one done this week, but as it turns out, my boss and I went out and got really drunk last night, so I am home sick today, praying to the porcelain gods. Um, if this doesn't make sense…blame the fierce hangover.