Okay, first off I'd just like to thank everyone for reviewing-I did break
100, and then some! So thank you, thank you, thank you! Thanks especially
to all those who have reviewed every chapter since the beginning (there are
too many to name individually-but you know who you are!) You guys have
really kept me going when this got tough to write. Anyway, every review I
got asked for an epilogue, so here it is! Oh, but I did get one review that
said "This is based on the silly TV show isn't it? If it is you really
missed the mark, if its not based on the TV show then you are guilt of
stealing anothers intellectual property." And okay, maybe some people would
be insulted by that, but you know what? I just laughed! Okay, why would
they be reading fanfiction if they didn't like things to be based on TV
shows....I mean, duh! Lol....anyway, just thought id share that, it's truly
the funniest review I've ever gotten! Anyway, hope you enjoy the epilogue!
Dedicated to all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. This chapter is also dedicated to John Ritter, who brought us many laughs. (I know these are a few days old, but I felt they were still appropriate)
disclaimer: the song "hear you me" is not mine, it's jimmy eat world's. and the characters belong to bright, kaufmann and crane.
Epilogue
Six Months Later:
"I'd like to welcome our speaker today," the priest said, "Mr. Chandler Bing, Joseph's best friend."
Chandler took a deep breath and stood up. The last time he'd done this, it'd been one year ago, at Joey's funeral. Now, at Joey's one year memorial service, Chandler wasn't quite sure he was ready to speak again, but he knew he had to. For Joey, looking down from Heaven, for his wife, for his friends, and for little Joey, his son.
"Good afternoon," Chandler said slowly, "One year ago, I stood up here and told you all I didn't know if I was ever going to get over Joey's death. Well, it's a year later, and I'm still trying. I think we all are. It doesn't just take a couple of a months, or even a year to get over someone-that much I've learned. I think....I think those people who say they're over their dead loved ones are lying. Beacause you never 'get over it'. But you can move on, and live life the way you know they'd want you to.
"I'm not particulary proud of some things I've done in the past year, and I know Joey wouldn't be either. But I also know that just because he doesn't approve doesn't mean he doesn't love me, because he does-he still loves all of us. And if there's one thing I've learned in the past year, it's that all of us sitting in this room, all the people on the Earth who knew and loved Joey Tribbiani have got a permanent gaurdian angel. And he never stops protecting us.
"One of the things I've struggled with this past year is all of the things I never got to say to Joey. All of the thank yous, the I'm sorrys, and the I love yous, all of that. I always kept those words in, always thinking I'd have another chance. But if there's anything I've learned from Joey's death, it's that you don't necessarily get another chance. So I was devastated, thinking I'd let Joey die without knowing those things. But a few months ago, my wife said to me that she was pretty sure Joey already knew all of those things. And you know what?" Chandler smiled, "I think he did. So for all of you who, like me, were hurting because Joey didn't hear that you loved him before he died......well, he probably knew it. Why else would he be our gaurdian angel?
"I've been told there's a difference between trying to keep a person alive, and trying to keep a person's memory alive. I've spoken to many people who've struggled to keep Joey alive for the past year, and realized that they can't. You can't keep someone alive by trying to pretent they're still here. Much as it is in our human insticnt to try, it's impossible, that much I've learned. But I think, by coming together today, we can all say we're making an effort to keep Joey's memory alive. I hope, most sincerely, that all of us continue to make that effort, always.
"So, today, remember Joey as you loved to think of him. Remember him for his acting skills, for the way he played Dr. Drake Ramoray, for the way he played all of his roles-with true effort. Remember him for the great family man he was-for the way he loved his parents with all his heart, and the way he protected his sisters. Remember him for the amazing friend he was-the way he was willing to go out of his way to make his friends happy, for the way he was willing to risk his own heart to save one of his friend's. Remember him for the wonderful person he was. And most of all, remember that he's up there, waiting for all of us to join him. And what a party it'll be when we all do."
Chandler took a deep breath and his speech ended. He returned to his seat, and took Monica's hand as the service continued. "That was perfect," she said, squeezing his hand.
Chandler smiled, and looked around him, at all he had. His friends were sitting-smiling. They knew Joey was at peace. And they all, including Chandler had come to accept that. There would be no crying today. Today was a day to celebrate Joey. And then there was his wife.....Chandler knew he had the perfect wife, and couldn't ask for more. Finally, of course, there was his son. Chandler smiled and took tiny, six month old Joey's hand in his. He turned to Monica. "What would Joey think of me now?" he whispered, "A dad? A public speaker?" he joked.
Monica smiled, "I bet he'd be proud," she whispered.
Chandler's voice turned sad, "He made me the man I am. I never said thank you for that."
"He knew it anyway," Monica said softly, "He knew it anyway."
And Chandler knew, with full confidence, that she was right.
There's no one in town I know
You gave us some place to go
I never said thank you for that
I thought I might get
One more chance
What would you
Think of me now
So lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that
now I'll never have a chance
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
So what would you
Think of me now
So lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that
now I'll never have a chance
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
May angels lead you in
May angels lead you in
And if you were
With me tonight
I'd sing to you just
One more time
A song for a heart so big
God wouldn't let it live
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
May angels lead you in
last a/n (*sob*): lol, anyway, wut did you think? Let me know....this was kind of a different epilogue, I know, but I just had this idea and I ran with it. Anyway, id like to know if I should continue writing angsty stuff or if I should stick with the romancey, general stuff. Let me know in your reviews. I do have a fic in the works right now that is kind of both categories, but im hesitant to post it. Let me know if I should. Anyway, thanks for sticking with this. It's been a great experience for me, at least. Anyway, one last request: please review! Answer all my above questions, please! Thanxs, hugs and kisses to everyone!
Dedicated to all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. This chapter is also dedicated to John Ritter, who brought us many laughs. (I know these are a few days old, but I felt they were still appropriate)
disclaimer: the song "hear you me" is not mine, it's jimmy eat world's. and the characters belong to bright, kaufmann and crane.
Epilogue
Six Months Later:
"I'd like to welcome our speaker today," the priest said, "Mr. Chandler Bing, Joseph's best friend."
Chandler took a deep breath and stood up. The last time he'd done this, it'd been one year ago, at Joey's funeral. Now, at Joey's one year memorial service, Chandler wasn't quite sure he was ready to speak again, but he knew he had to. For Joey, looking down from Heaven, for his wife, for his friends, and for little Joey, his son.
"Good afternoon," Chandler said slowly, "One year ago, I stood up here and told you all I didn't know if I was ever going to get over Joey's death. Well, it's a year later, and I'm still trying. I think we all are. It doesn't just take a couple of a months, or even a year to get over someone-that much I've learned. I think....I think those people who say they're over their dead loved ones are lying. Beacause you never 'get over it'. But you can move on, and live life the way you know they'd want you to.
"I'm not particulary proud of some things I've done in the past year, and I know Joey wouldn't be either. But I also know that just because he doesn't approve doesn't mean he doesn't love me, because he does-he still loves all of us. And if there's one thing I've learned in the past year, it's that all of us sitting in this room, all the people on the Earth who knew and loved Joey Tribbiani have got a permanent gaurdian angel. And he never stops protecting us.
"One of the things I've struggled with this past year is all of the things I never got to say to Joey. All of the thank yous, the I'm sorrys, and the I love yous, all of that. I always kept those words in, always thinking I'd have another chance. But if there's anything I've learned from Joey's death, it's that you don't necessarily get another chance. So I was devastated, thinking I'd let Joey die without knowing those things. But a few months ago, my wife said to me that she was pretty sure Joey already knew all of those things. And you know what?" Chandler smiled, "I think he did. So for all of you who, like me, were hurting because Joey didn't hear that you loved him before he died......well, he probably knew it. Why else would he be our gaurdian angel?
"I've been told there's a difference between trying to keep a person alive, and trying to keep a person's memory alive. I've spoken to many people who've struggled to keep Joey alive for the past year, and realized that they can't. You can't keep someone alive by trying to pretent they're still here. Much as it is in our human insticnt to try, it's impossible, that much I've learned. But I think, by coming together today, we can all say we're making an effort to keep Joey's memory alive. I hope, most sincerely, that all of us continue to make that effort, always.
"So, today, remember Joey as you loved to think of him. Remember him for his acting skills, for the way he played Dr. Drake Ramoray, for the way he played all of his roles-with true effort. Remember him for the great family man he was-for the way he loved his parents with all his heart, and the way he protected his sisters. Remember him for the amazing friend he was-the way he was willing to go out of his way to make his friends happy, for the way he was willing to risk his own heart to save one of his friend's. Remember him for the wonderful person he was. And most of all, remember that he's up there, waiting for all of us to join him. And what a party it'll be when we all do."
Chandler took a deep breath and his speech ended. He returned to his seat, and took Monica's hand as the service continued. "That was perfect," she said, squeezing his hand.
Chandler smiled, and looked around him, at all he had. His friends were sitting-smiling. They knew Joey was at peace. And they all, including Chandler had come to accept that. There would be no crying today. Today was a day to celebrate Joey. And then there was his wife.....Chandler knew he had the perfect wife, and couldn't ask for more. Finally, of course, there was his son. Chandler smiled and took tiny, six month old Joey's hand in his. He turned to Monica. "What would Joey think of me now?" he whispered, "A dad? A public speaker?" he joked.
Monica smiled, "I bet he'd be proud," she whispered.
Chandler's voice turned sad, "He made me the man I am. I never said thank you for that."
"He knew it anyway," Monica said softly, "He knew it anyway."
And Chandler knew, with full confidence, that she was right.
There's no one in town I know
You gave us some place to go
I never said thank you for that
I thought I might get
One more chance
What would you
Think of me now
So lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that
now I'll never have a chance
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
So what would you
Think of me now
So lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that
now I'll never have a chance
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
May angels lead you in
May angels lead you in
And if you were
With me tonight
I'd sing to you just
One more time
A song for a heart so big
God wouldn't let it live
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
May angels lead you in
last a/n (*sob*): lol, anyway, wut did you think? Let me know....this was kind of a different epilogue, I know, but I just had this idea and I ran with it. Anyway, id like to know if I should continue writing angsty stuff or if I should stick with the romancey, general stuff. Let me know in your reviews. I do have a fic in the works right now that is kind of both categories, but im hesitant to post it. Let me know if I should. Anyway, thanks for sticking with this. It's been a great experience for me, at least. Anyway, one last request: please review! Answer all my above questions, please! Thanxs, hugs and kisses to everyone!
