A Different Perspective-Chapter 7

Looks like I don't have much time to work on this since I still have to pack for sleeping over my cousin's house and then I have to go to dinner at 4:00! OMG who eats at 4:00? No wait, I can answer that, my grandparents. See we're meeting them for dinner at this fish restaurant and the early bird ends…well really early…could that me any more exciting? Anyway, I'd better cut to the chase here. Please read and review, thanks.

Disclaimer: I've been through this like a million times already…the only character in this fic I own is Jessica. The rest don't belong to me.

            Things in life got kind of strange once I found out about Chandler and my mother. I mean it wasn't normal. It's not everyday that people in this little group of my mother's gets together. Although Phoebe has sometimes hinted that she and Joey may once have had a fling or wants to have one with him, nothing has happened between them that I know of. And then of course there's Ross and Rachel…that one's a crazy relationship or lack there of. Then there's Chandler and my mother. No one really expected it to happen. Once everyone found out about them, it took a lot of getting used to. It wasn't like Ross and Rachel, where both ended up pining over each other. This was just a, snap your fingers, they're together sort of relationship. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe the fewer problems in the beginning, pave the way for a smooth relationship. It's not that there weren't problems, like both being afraid of ruining their friendship and all. There just weren't any major problems.

            Even though I was the first to find out, I think it took me the longest to get used to their relationship. Even Ross, who was upset that his best friend was with his little sister, adapted to their new relationship better than me. But I mean it was my mother and…well whatever Chandler was to me. I mean Chandler was the world to me. He knew all of my secrets and everything like that. But once he was with my mother, it was like those things were gone for me. I figured that he would end up telling my mother everything, since girlfriend comes before 'little friend'. However, I had learned my lesson and kept my mouth shut. I don't think they would've appreciated my selfish concerns. My biggest fear was that they would break up and hate each other. Then, Chandler would move away, and never speak to me again because of my mother. I didn't want to lose him. Not that it really mattered at the moment, since I refused to confide in him anyway.

            However, it didn't look like they were breaking up any time soon. Things became very serious between them. It was even more serious than my mother's relationship with Richard. Then, they went to Vegas for their anniversary and almost got married. However, both decided not to go through with it because it was too soon. On the other hand, they made another decision—for Chandler to move in with us. Let me rephrase that, for Chandler to move in with my mother. They did sit me down and make sure it was okay with me, but I don't see why. If I had said no, they both would've hated me and done it despite my concerns. So, I just gritted my teeth and agreed. That was probably where I went wrong.

            One day, a few weeks after Chandler moved in, I came home and threw a letter at my mother. Then, I went into my room and slammed the door.

"Jessica!" she called back, irritated that I threw something at her. That was the least of her problems though. After a few moments, I heard her slam down a pot. She had obviously read the letter, expelling me from my school.

She opened my door and stood at the doorway. "Explain yourself."

"I got expelled, big deal. I hate the school anyway."

"Yes, it is a big deal! Where am I supposed to send you now?"

"Public school," I suggested.

She snorted. "Only if I want you to get killed!"

"Would you really care?"

Oh I know those were harsh words, and I didn't believe them at all. I just had to say something to her. I had to get her riled up. After all, it was her fault I was expelled, not mine.

I could tell she was really hurt by those words. "You know I would care."

"No, I don't. I don't know anything anymore."

She didn't know how to convince me, so she just changed the topic instead. "What happened today that made you get so angry in school?"

"Nothing."

She sat down on my bed and tilted her head, showing me that she wanted the real answer.

"Some kids were annoying me."

"Were they making fun of your size?"

"No."

"Then what was it?"

I looked away, ashamed. I couldn't look into my mother's eyes and tell her what they were saying. I was ashamed for her and for myself at the same time.

"They called you a whore."

I could tell my mother was shocked at what I said. She defiantly didn't expect it to be about her.

"Why?"

"Besides for the fact that you had me when you were eighteen years old and out of wedlock?"

"But they've known that before, didn't they?"

"Yes, but if you take that and put it together with the fact that you're now living with a guy that you're not married to, it looks pretty damn bad on your part."

She didn't say anything in response to that, just looked down at her hands. 

"That bitch Karen found out and started the rumor. I thought she was my friend, but I guess not."

At that point, my mother had tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry baby," she apologized as she hugged me, "I'm so sorry."

I let her put her arms around me, but kept mine to the side. I knew I'd start crying if I hugged her back.

She pulled back from her embrace and looked into my eyes. She smiled slightly and informed me, "I guess it's good that you kicked their asses then."

I smiled back at her, but her joke didn't help to make me feel much better.

            Later that night, Chandler knocked on my door. I figured that my mother must have filled him in on the 'exciting' details of my day.

"Come in," I told him as I laid back on my bed.

"Hey Kid, how's it going?"

"Ehh…so I guess you know what happened today, huh?"

"Yeah, I do. I'm really sorry, Kid."

"Yeah, whatever. Isn't everybody?"

"I never thought that me moving in here would be such a big problem."

"I did."

I hadn't meant to tell him that I thought it was a bad idea; it just kind of slipped from my mouth. But there was no way to take it back now.

"What do you mean? We asked you and you said it was fine."

"Yeah, well even if I hadn't said it was fine, you would've moved in anyway."

"No I wouldn't have!"

"Oh please."

"I wouldn't."

"Whatever. It's in the past."

"Why didn't you tell us you weren't comfortable with it?"

I shrugged, "I dunno."

He studied my face for a moment. "Do you not want your mother and me together?"

"I never said that."

"Yeah, but you're sure acting like you don't right now."

"You can't help who you fall in love with."

"You are upset, aren't you?"

"Yes, okay, I am!"

I didn't want to admit it either, but I knew Chandler wouldn't let it go until I did. Besides, he was getting on my nerves with all of his questions.

"Why do you not want us together?"

"Because, there's just so much that could go wrong."

"What?"

"You two could break up, and then what? Then you never speak to me ever again. I know it's selfish, but…"

He interrupted me, "You really think I would do that?"

"Well yeah. That's the way breakups work."

"They don't have to."

"Yeah, well sometimes I wonder if you're just here—right now—for my mother and not me."

"What?"

"Did you just act all nice to me because it was an easy way to get into my mother's heart?"

"What? No! I love you, okay! And not because of your mother, but because of you. How could you even think that?"

I looked away ashamed. That was why I didn't tell him in the first place.

"I know, I know. But part of me can't shake the feeling."

"Well, be assured now," he told me brushing hair from my face, "I love you because I love you. I love your mother, too, but in a whole other way."

I chuckled, "I know, believe me, I know."

"So, are there are any more concerns?"

"Yeah, one more."

"Yeah?"

"Do you plan on marrying my mother?"

"When the time is right, yes I do."

"Do you plan on having children?"

"Yes, I do."

He was confused by questions, but I had a point in mind.

"Where will I fit in? I mean when you have children and your married and everything. I always wonder about that. I even wondered before you two were dating."

"You're already like my child, Jess, but more so. I love you so much and I will always love you. It doesn't matter that you don't have my DNA. All that matters is that you have my heart."

I looked up at him, still slightly unconvinced.

"Well, I wasn't going to tell you what I planned on asking you until your mother and I are actually engaged, but when I get married to your mother, umm I was going to umm…try to ya know, adopt you. If of course, you were okay with that."

"Really?"

"Really," He assured me, "I mean I already consider you like my, uh, daughter, but this way you're legally mine, as well as emotionally."

"I never really considered you a father," I admitted, "But now I kinda see that that's what you are to me."

He smiled sweetly and looked at the clock. "It's late kid, get some sleep." He kissed me on the forehead and walked towards the door.

"Remember, you're my only 'Kid'."

I smiled at him, and couldn't stop smiling when he left. Now, I was rooting for them to get married. If they did, then I could really have a father. Not that he wasn't already like my father, as he told me before. It was just all so exciting. Now, I legally would have a father. I fell asleep easily that night. I finally had much fewer worries on my mind.

 All right, how was chapter 7? Very sappy, I know. Sorry, but you have to expect that from me. Thanks for the good reviews on previous chapters, btw. Please leave me a review. Thanks for reading!:)