Raindrops Keep Falling  - Chapter 3

Hey, update time! Thanks for the great reviews for the last chapter. Ok, am updating during my [very short] break from my English project, so I'll try to make this quick. I didn't procrastinate – quite the opposite, in fact. The problem, however, is the fact that we were given only two days to do this project on top of other work from my English teacher. There was only so much I could do last night, ya know? Bleh, she's gonna be a bundle of joy *rolls eyes*. Well, hopefully, things will start to clear up, in terms of this fic. Pay attention for little clues for the back-story. I'm not gonna come right out and say it 'cuz, well, what's the fun in that?!:p All right, please read and review, thanks!:) (P.S. Yen, I miss u! Damn the computer! Damn all the computers! …wait, I didn't mean that! *hugs her computer* I love u Mr. Computer. Don't be mean and freeze.)

Later that morning, the gang, minus Chandler, gathered in Central Perk. Joey, sitting in the arm chair furthest from the door, was describing Chandler's behavior during the night before to the others, glancing up at the door every once in a while, in order to ensure Chandler never overheard their conversation. Rachel, Phoebe, and Ross sat on the couch, listening to the story, three pairs of incredulous eyes bulging. Monica, however, sat in other armchair, while listening to the story and casually sipping coffee.

 "Wow, he was really that drunk?" Ross wondered, "I mean that isn't like something Chandler would normally do."

"Yeah, but," Phoebe rationalized, "He doesn't normally get divorced, either."

"True."

"Besides," Rachel cut in, "You remember how hard divorces be. I'm sure you got just as, if not more drunk than Chandler did when you got divorced."

"Yeah, you're right," Ross agreed, and then added under his breath, "I never got drunker than him."

"Whatever, I'm still worried about him," said Joey.

"Yeah, we all are. Hey, Ross," Phoebe turned to him, "Have you tried to talk to him about the divorce, since, well, you've been divorced before and all?"

"No, I haven't. I mean I've tried, but he won't talk about anything. It's almost like he's in denial half the time."

"It's not denial," Monica muttered, "It's an inability to accept the present as his own."

"Isn't that denial?" Phoebe wondered.

"No, it's not. Denial is refusing to accept it. He knows the reality – just can't make it his own. It's a lot easier to separate life from reality."

The other four stared back at Monica with baffled looks upon their faces. She sighed, resigning, and went back to sipping her coffee while merely listening to the conversation.

"What do you think we can do for him?" Joey asked.

"Nothing, except be there for him. Take it from someone who knows, the best medicine is time for wounds to heal."

"Yeah, I guess. It's just…it's so hard to see him like this!"

Rachel leaned over and rubbed Joey's arm soothingly. "I know, Honey. But he'll get over it soon, don't worry."

"I hope so."

After that, the four friends turned to a different, lighter topic. Monica, however, could no longer pay attention. Her thoughts continued to focus on Chandler. He had been unwilling to open up about any of his problems to anyone, since the divorce. Instead, all he had done for the past three months was go to work and then come home, change into his sweatpants, and mope around the apartment. Of course, that changed last night, when Chandler finally agreed to go out for some drinks with Joey. Perhaps, they should look at that night as an accomplishment on Chandler's part, instead of something else to worry about. However, it was hard to, given how completely out of his nature it was for him to get that drunk.

"You know what," Monica began, completely oblivious to the fact that she had interrupted a story Phoebe was telling, "I'm gonna go visit Chandler and see how he's doing."

"Okay, but I wouldn't make too many cracks at him 'cause I did and he's mad at me now."

"Joey!" Admonished Rachel.

"What?! I was only kidding!"

"Okay, I won't. I'll see you guys later."

The others said goodbye to Monica, and watched as she left the coffee house. After making sure she was completely gone, Rachel turned back towards the group and sighed.

"Something's been wrong with her lately, too."

"Yeah," Phoebe agreed, "Oh! I bet it's that sleaze bag husband of hers."

The others mumbled in agreement.

"Yeah, I'm really worried about her," Ross explained, "But there's nothing we can do. We have no signs that it's her husband that's made her become so distant. I mean, when someone asks about the marriage, she claims it's going well, but I dunno, there just seems to be something fake about it…"

Joey nodded enthusiastically. "Ya know, I didn't trust that guy from the start, but ever since she forgave him after he –"

 Joey stopped talking when he heard someone clear their throat. He looked up and blushed profusely, upon seeing Monica in front of him.

"Forgot my purse," she muttered.

After grabbing it from its place on the floor next to the coffee table, she looked around at the four of them. They all looked back at her with the same nervous, guilty look. She then turned on her heel sharply and walked back out the door, leaving four sheepish looks behind her.

Monica knocked lightly on the door a few times, but received no answer. Instead, she opened the door to the apartment and slipped in quietly. She looked around the room and noticed Chandler, sitting on the barkalounger and staring at a blank television screen.

"Chandler?"

He mumbled something incoherently, without even turning to face Monica. She walked over to him and sat on the arm of the chair, watching him curiously.

"Have you come here to lecture me about moving on, too?" he asked coldly.

"No, I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"So, Joey told you about last night, then?"

"Yeah, he did."

"Oh," Chandler looked away shamefully, "I would never have done something like that, but –"

"I know. You don't have to explain to me. I understand."

Chandler finally turned to look at her. "Really? You – you don't think I'm just some…depressed, worthless…person?"

Monica took Chandler's hand in hers and stroked it with her thumb. "The only person who thinks that is you."

"Yeah, but, I mean, it's been three months."

"Things like that take more than just three months to get over."

"Yeah, I – I guess you're right."

She squeezed the hand she was holding, "Of course I am."

"Thanks. It's just…nothing."

"What is it? Chandler, you can talk to me."

He took in a deep, shaky breath, "I never thought it would end."

"I'm so sorry, sweetie."

"I mean we fought, but…I never thought…she would suggest divorce. I mean…I had to say yes, though. You can't just turn down divorce when you know your wife wants it. It would eat you up inside…"

"One would think," Monica mumbled.

"What?"

Monica blushed and covered up her comment, "I know what you mean."

 "We were in love, or at least I thought we were. But we couldn't have loved each other, if we let those stupid fights get between us, could we?"

"I think you could've. I think you can fall out of love. The divorce doesn't mean you and Kathy never loved each other – it just means it wasn't meant to be."

Chandler nodded blankly.

"Oh, come here," Monica cooed, opening his arms for him.

He allowed himself to be enveloped in her tight embrace. He covered his face on her shoulder, as uncontrollable tears began to flow down his cheeks.  Monica held him closer and rubbed his back soothingly.

After a few minutes, Chandler pulled back, eyes puffy and pink-brimmed. Monica rubbed his arm and offered him an encouraging smile. He smiled back meekly.

"I didn't mean to start crying like that…"

"Don't be embarrassed. It's good for you."

"Yeah, but –"

"Don't worry about what anyone, besides yourself, thinks," she told him, "You're the only one who matters."

Chandler nodded. "Thanks, I – you really helped today."

Monica smiled and blushed, "I'm glad. You have to talk to people more!"

This time, Chandler blushed and looked down at his lap. "It's hard."

"I know."

They sat in silence for a moment, before Chandler continued, "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"You tell me that I need to open up, but…what about you?"

"I talk to people."

Chandler gave her a look of disbelief, but said, "Okay."

"Marriage is just…hard sometimes. I mean, you know."

"Yeah…"

"Bobby and I have a lot to work on sometimes, but it's…it's a good marriage."

"That's good."

She looked into Chandler's eyes for a moment. It was obvious there was no point lying to him. He knew something was wrong. "It's…it's a horrible marriage!"

As soon as she uttered those words, Chandler wrapped his arms her. They remained in their embrace for a few moments, before breaking apart once more.

"I would divorce him, but I can't."

"Why not?"

"He, uh, well, I mean…I can't do that to Alex. He looks up to his father – to us."

"Yeah…"

"I mean, I don't only have my life to look after!"

"That's…that's true. But, he'd understand. He's a smart kid. Plus, divorce isn't the worst thing that could happen to a kid. I've been there as a child, too."

"I know, it's just…I can't."

"All right…just one thing. If you can make your life easier, if you can help yourself and your son, promise me you'll do it?"

"What?"

"If there's a way to make the marriage easier – if you need to say yes to something you want to do or no to something you don't want to do, then say it."

Monica hesitated. "Yeah, okay. I – I promise."

"Thank you."

They fell silent once more, staring at each other.

Monica broke the silence nervously, "You're not gonna…tell anyone about what we talked about, right?"

"Of course not! Unless, you tell them what I told you."

"I wouldn't."

"I know. I - I feel like I can…talk to you," Chandler admitted quietly, "More than I can talk to the rest of the gang."

"Yeah…yeah, me too."

Unconsciously, they both moved in closer to each other, faces only inches apart.

"You're a really good listener," Chandler whispered.

"So are you."

They continued to gaze at each other, until Monica leaned over and placed a timid kiss on Chandler's lips. He kissed back, wrapping his arms around her, and pushing her off of the arm of the chair and onto his lap. They continued to kiss, as the world around them stopped. They were hardly breathing, hardly moving, hardly thinking. The only thing they were aware of was the feel of lips against lips. Then, Monica broke the kiss, still gazing into Chandler's eyes.

"I should get back…I have work."

"Oh yeah, right. Me too."

Monica rose, and Chandler stood up a few moments after her. He followed her to the door, unaware of the foosball table in front of him, until he walked straight into it. He fell backwards in shock.

"Oh my God," Monica said, as she helped Chandler up, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine."

"Oh, okay then…"

"Yeah."           

Monica opened the door, and then turned to Chandler once more. "So…I'll see you."

"Yeah, see you."

She walked out the door and closed it softly. Chandler sank down to the floor.

Okay, thanks for reading! Looks like it's back to work for me *sighs*. TBC soon. Please review, thanks! Hussles and kigges! (whoa, something went majorly wrong there…)