Let Her Cry part 3
Thank y'all for reviewing and taking a guess, sadly none of you were right. Some of did get within spitting distance (ewww), whilst others (you know who you are!) didn't even try to get close, as this review shows….
'Oh, maybe Monica was really sleeping with Spakle Back Larry, and then she didn't want me to kick her ass so she ran away. That, or she got vomit stains on the furniture from drinking too much, although then she would have called aunt Courteney, and auntie would have told her how to get them out'
Sadly, nope. I'll consider that storyline for my next fic :)
Disclaimer: Does anyone actually read these? Does anyone actually care!
Authors Note: In this flashback Chan and Mon are pretty much newlyweds and Rach isn't pregnant. So what did Monica do? Lets find out…..
~* Flashback – 2002 *~
Chandler stood in the bedroom doorway, observing Monica silently as she nervously paced the kitchen. The beginning of a smile played at the corner of his lips. She looked so beautiful, dark strands of hair brushing tentatively against her face, cute wrinkles appearing when she scrunched up her nose.
Walking over, he gathered her in his arms and held her tightly,
"Relax Mon, it's just dinner with your parents and Ross," she sighed into his shoulder as he continued,
"I mean what's the worst that could happen," he stopped for a second, "Other than your mom telling you that your Dad has been sleeping with the pool boy and has now run of to Vegas to star in a gay burlesque show."
Monica lifted her head and smiled wryly at Chandler,
"I know this seems crazy and neurotic and well, a little..…me. But whenever these dinners come around, I dread them cause I just know I'm gonna spend the whole evening being told how fantastic Ross is." She told him, biting her nails in anticipation of the evening ahead.
" Well he is a pretty neat guy," Chandler replied, barely able to repressive the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"Uhhhh," Monica groaned in false annoyance, "Why do I even bother trying to have grown up conversations with you?!!"
" Because you love me," he stated simply, kissing her on the nose and then firmly on the lips,
"Seriously Mon," he continued, " What can your Mom possibly find to criticise? You look great, you have a great job, great friends and are in a great place in your life."
Monica smiled gratefully at him,
"Besides you're married to me!" Chandler added.
"And that'll give her enough ammunition for the whole evening" she stated teasingly, before playfully kissing him, grabbing her coat and heading out the door.
" Don't expect me to come home tonight in a good mood!" she warned him.
"Have Fun!" Chandler grinned at the already closed door.
Outside her parent's new house Monica nervously hopped from foot to foot, waiting for someone to open the door.
"Would you stop it Mon?" Ross asked, his breath hanging as crystallized fog in the cool winter's air, " You look as though you need to pee."
She turned around and gave him a death stare, " Well I'm sorry for bothering you, Mr Prince of everything"
Ross stood back, momentarily affronted. Seeing his face Monica apologised,
"Sorry Ross, it's just you know how much I hate these family dinners, I feel…"
She was interrupted as the front door creaked open.
"Hey," said Jack, observing how frozen his two children looked.
"Hey Dad," they both replied in unison, smiling identical smiles.
"Come on in out of the cold," he told them, opening the door further to allow them into the warm house.
Monica and Ross shed their coats and followed Jack into the spacious dining room. Monica looked around at the familiar furniture placed in a new setting, the lamp in the corner of the room casting ominous shadows on her figure as she moved. She peeked through the doorway into the adjoining living room,
"Nice house Dad." She complimented.
"Thanks sweetie, it was your Mom's choice."
As if on cue Judy emerged from the kitchen,
"Hello darling," she said, pecking Ross on the cheek, then turning to Monica. She pecked her on the cheek then held her at arms length,
"You look pretty, Monica," Monica smiled warmly at this unexpected compliment, Judy continued, " But you would look so much better without that ghastly red lipstick" Monica sighed, unsurprised at her mother's return to form.
"Are you alright Monica?" Judy asked, noticing the sigh.
"I'm fine" she replied through a clenched smile knowing it was going to be a long night.
Later that evening, Monica sat, unconsciously twirling her uneaten food on its plate, as her parents listened to Ross' 'thrilling' stories on teaching. Her mother's voice cut through her absent daze,
"Monica dear, don't play with your food. It's unladylike."
Monica put her fork down testily and tried to join in the conversation,
"Chandler sends his love,"
"How is he? Is he treating our little harmonica well?" Jack asked, causing Monica to wince at the familiar and unwanted nickname. Non-the less she smiled at the comforting thought of Chandler and was about to answer when her mother cut her off,
"I was hoping he would have you pregnant by now."
Monica grimaced, "Well actually Mom we're not trying."
Sensing the warning tone in his sister's voice Ross tried to change the subject,
"So anyways, this student of mine…." But Judy continued,
"I mean Ross isn't even married and he has a son…"
Ross tried again, valiantly, "This student of mine said to me…" but this time it was Monica who cut him off, anger rising in her voice,
"Yes Ross isn't married and he has a son. But the mother of his son is a lesbian!"
"I was just making the point, I didn't mean anything of it dear," Judy told her daughter firmly. Monica ran her hands through her hair and made a decision. Standing up, she smiled wanly at her parents,
"I've had a very nice time," she thanked them, "But it's getting late, and Chandler will be waiting up, so me and Ross really should go."
Ross glanced at his watch, "Monica it's only 8.00," glaring at him she stood on his foot firmly. Swallowing down a yelp of pain he turned back to his parents,
"But yeah we really should go," Jack shot him a confused look,
"Man am I tired," he added, as an afterthought, accompanied by a long fake yawn. Judy looked dubious but rose and followed him out to the hallway where Monica was already fastening her coat. Jack trailed behind, looking anxiously out of the window,
"I don't know if leaving is such a good idea, it has started to snow pretty hard."
"It'll be fine Dad, " Monica reassured him, "We've really gotta go," she added, desperate to leave before she lost her temper.
"Well if you insist," said Jack as he leant forward and hugged Ross then Monica.
"Maybe you should let Ross drive, just to be safe." Monica rolled her eyes and remained silent. Glancing at her, Ross knew she was about to blow. Opening the door hurriedly, he bundled Monica out into the icy air and called behind him,
"Okay Mom, Dad thanks for having us. Love you. Bye," as he shut the door with a hollow crash.
Monica breathed a sigh of relief and turned to her brother gratefully,
"Thanks Ross"
"No problem sis." He replied, hugging her tightly. The wind blew strongly, it's icy blast chilling them to the bone and causing them to shiver. Ross looked at the snow falling around him
"You know Mom and Dad are right, it is snowing pretty hard, maybe I should drive."
Monica raised a sceptical eyebrow at him,
"Ross, if you drive we'll end up a moving snow drift cause we're going so slowly!"
"Hey now! Who's just saved your ass in there?"
"You did Ross, but I'm still driving. End of story. Sorry."
Ross shrugged his shoulder's resignedly and got into the Porsche,
"Just don't say I didn't warn you when you get your licence revoked for speeding!"
As they drove on, the snow lashed down more and more violently, perfectly formed flakes, driven by the wind, to come at them in sheets of pristine white. Ross peered through the windshield at the approaching wall of ice, and turned to Monica whose face was locked in concentration.
"Umm, Mon, maybe we should pull over."
Monica continued staring intently out of the windshield, " No Ross I'd rather just get home,"
"But Mon, you can' t possibly see more than 4 feet in front of you…"
"Drop it Ross, we'll be home within an hour. Besides the snow will probably stop soon anyways,"
Ross continued to gaze at the twisting and twirling flakes,
"I don't think so. Look Mon, you've had a hard day and I know you want to get home but this isn't safe,"
Sick of being criticised, her mother's nagging still ringing in her ears, Monica turned to Ross impatiently,
"Look Ross, will you just give it a break. I have…."
Ross however wasn't listening; he'd seen something emerging from the enveloping white curtain to the side of them,
"Oh my God! Monica! BRAKE! "
She whipped her head around violently as Ross grabbed the steering wheel, desperately trying to swerve the car.
It was too late, a truck emerged out of the veil of snow and hit them sideways on. The car skidded out of control, the icy road offering no grip. Monica's screams rang through the air as the car span once, twice, three times. Then everything was silent, the only noise offered by the bitter wind blowing through the skeletal trees.
She opened her eyes slowly and painfully. The dull ache of sirens rang in her ears. Through their wails of confusion, disembodied voices came to her,
"We've gotta get them out of the car now, there's a gas leak and the thing could blow anytime."
"But we don't know the extent of their injuries, we risk causing serious back injuries if we move them now."
"That's a risk we're gonna have to take."
"Fine, but I'm not being held responsible for this decision."
Monica felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist and begin to pull her out of the shattered window of the overturned car. Sharp shards of glass cut her arm spitefully, like little needles of pain. She turned her head towards Ross, causing a sharp, searing flame to shoot through her body as a scream of pain in protest.
He was lying slumped forward, an arm bent under his head. There was a large dent in the passenger door where the truck had hit. He had been thrown sideways, causing a deep, angry gash on his forehead. Blood ran down his face like a small, slithering snake. His eyes were closed and Monica was struck with how innocent and peaceful he looked.
The voices around her were becoming louder and more frantic, the pair of arms around her were tugging more forcefully.
"We think there's a fire in the engine, boys!"
"GET THE WOMAN OUT! QUICKLY!!!"
"RUN!"
She felt herself being dragged across the frozen ground.
"She's gonna blow any second!!!"
"Run for your lives!"
"RUN!!"
Monica scrunched her face up against the raw heat of blast. The fire seemed to taunt and mock her. She watched, a remorseful tear rolling down her face, as the car and Ross' life went up in smoke. Laying her cheek against the cold snow, white against white, she closed her eyes. All she could see were flames.
TBC
Please leave a review and tell me what you think. Should I continue? Should I not bother? Should I get Phoebe to turn into a witch and resurrect Ross? Should I go find my crazy medicine?