Ain't No Mountain High

Author: stargirl*

Author's Note: This one's for Monica and Chandler fans mainly, but also for Rachel baby fans. What the hell, everyone will enjoy this. Please read and review. Oh yeah, and I don't own them, I only Matthew Perry in my dreams.

Okay, and I know, it took me forever and a day to update, but I was waiting until fanfiction got its issues sorted out.

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Chapter Seven: I Made A Vow
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"Monica?" There was a loud knock at the door. "Monica!" The loud rap came again. "I'm coming..." A groggy voice came from the other room. Hauling herself out of bed, Monica made her way to her apartment door, opening it to reveal Rachel.

"Oh god, sweetie, have you been sleeping all day again?" Rachel stepped into Monica's apartment, holding Andrea, who was sleeping, in her arms. Monica didn't look like her usual self. Still in her nightclothes, her hair was matted and her eyes puffy. In the month since Chandler had left from the hospital, Monica's daily regimen consisted of eating and sleeping. After what happened last time, she had stayed away from alcohol. Monica had scoured the city with the help of the others, but there was no sign of him. His parents didn't even know where he was. When Monica had arrived at their apartment that night, there was no note, but Monica saw that a suitcase was gone, as well as some of Chandler's clothes. Monica wasn't quite sure she blamed him. She had, after all, betrayed his trust.

But that didn't help the pain she felt when he was gone.

"Monica, I can't claim to know how you feel," Rachel said softly, rubbing the back of Monica's shoulder like she always did to comfort her friend, "but you need to do something other than sleep all day."

"You don't understand, Rachel!" Monica cried out. "It was my fault. I made him leave. I pushed him away." It seemed that she was going to break down in tears, but she had no more tears to cry. She had no idea where her husband was. Or if he was ever coming back.

That was what scared Monica the most.

The idea that she might never see Chandler again.

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The next night, Monica was once again awoken by a loud knocking at her door. Grudgingly, she slunk over to the door and opened it.

"Hey!"

Rachel, Phoebe, Ross and Joey were all crowded around the doorframe, wearing idiotic smiles on their faces. Their intent was obviously to cheer Monica up.

"Monica," Phoebe began, as the four walked into the apartment, "get dressed. We're taking you out whether you like it or not. We'll have a friends night on the town. You can't stay here forever."

'But not all of my friends are here,' Monica thought sadly. But she put on a weak smile as Phoebe and Rachel ushered her to her room to pick out her clothes. She knew that Chandler's departure was hard on the others too. They too, had lost a dear friend. It was a rather strange situation. They were putting on a strong face for Monica, and now she was putting on a strong face for them. They were all lying to themselves.

But what could be done? Nobody knew how to get Chandler back.

And so Monica let her friends dress her up and cart her off to dinner.
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"See, this is nice, Mon," Ross showed his sister into the restaurant. "We haven't really had a chance to all hang out together since the baby." They had arranged for a babysitter to watch Andrea that night.

She nodded, but she obviously didn't agree. The waiter came and took their orders, as the piano player tinkled the keys in the background. The other four made an effort to keep up cheerful conversation, and Monica acted as though she was in the discussion, but she didn't hear what was being said.

"You guys, I think I'm going to go ahead and take off. I'm a bit tired," Monica lied as she stood to leave.

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End Chapter Seven. Please review!

P.S. I'm throwing in a surprise soon! (VERY soon)