Kind of Blue
All Blues
It was one of those wonderful, golden, Sunday morning dreams; the kind you never want to wake from—at least not yet.
But something was tickling her nose. She tried to swat it away, and drift back into a peaceful slumber, but whatever-it-was was being persistent.
She swatted at it again—but this time she picked up a faintly sweet scent…
Monica crinkled her nose and furrowed her brow, but still stubbornly refused to open her eyes. Chandler let out a short, silent laugh, and continued his assault.
He ran the rose down her face again, pausing ever so slightly at her nose. Third time being a charm, she took a deep breath, and opened her eyes slowly.
"'Bout time," he whispered, a monstrous grin lighting up his face.
"Mmmm, I was having the most wonderful dream…" she moaned through a long, lazy stretch.
"Yeah? What was it about," he laid down fully on his side, and propped himself up on his elbow, careful not to put his shoes on her white comforter.
"This guy I met at a coffee shop a few months ago," Monica smiled, and picked up the red rose Chandler had laid on her chest.
"Oh yeah? What's he like?"
"Well he's tall, and relatively handsome…but he has a horrible sense of humor," Monica grinned.
"He sounds…great!" Chandler smiled.
"He's pretty great," Monica combed her free hand through Chandler's hair, and pulled him toward her for a kiss.
"Happy four month anniversary," Chandler whispered, as he pulled away.
"Is that what this is?" Monica smiled, and brought the rose up to her nose.
"Maybe," Chandler smiled.
"When did you get this, anyway?" Monica inquired softly.
"While you were snoring away," Chandler laughed, and sat up, "I also bought some breakfast, but I know how you are about food in bed, so…"
"Food is not meant to be eaten in bed," Monica said with mock-sternness.
"Yeah, yeah," Chandler sighed playfully, and stood up, "c'mon, get up lazy bones…your 'relatively handsome' boyfriend wants to eat."
"Okay," Monica climbed out of bed, and slipped into her robe.
"Hey Chandler?"
"Yeah?" Chandler turned in the doorway to look at her.
"You know you are actually really damn handsome," Monica smiled, as she approaching him, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Yeah, I know," Chandler joked, "And you know that you…have got some serious morning breath going on," Chandler choked, and ducked before Monica could smack him.
***
"Dude, you are killing me here! Could you not be so freaking happy for two seconds?" Joey was pacing around the living room, but stopped when Chandler emerged from the bathroom slowly.
"You don't like my version of Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" Chandler smiled, and started to whistle the tune again.
"Dude!"
"Ya know," Chandler said, as he crossed the room and picked up his midnight blue silk tie, "You were getting on my ass for being so miserable about Phoebe, and now you are all pissed off that I'm happy. What's your deal?"
"I didn't realize you were this annoying when you were happy," Joey grumbled, and plopped into his chocolate leather recliner.
"What's going on," Chandler sobered, and sat in the adjacent chair, concern lining his eyes.
"It's nothing," Joey pouted sourly.
"Joe, c'mon, you know you can talk to me."
"Alright, but you can't tell anyone, okay?"
"Yeah, I swear," Chandler nodded.
"Not even Monica," Joey added.
"I promise Joe, now what's up?"
"Okay. See, there's this girl…I met her at a bar a couple months ago…she was really hot, and she seemed kind of down. She started talking about some friend of hers or something…anyway I told her she was beautiful and all that, and then I brought her here and we had sex on the…uh, never mind. Anyway, when we woke up the next morning, she was all crying and she said she felt really cheap, and I felt bad, so I told her I'd never had a one night stand, and that I really liked her—"
"You did what?" Chandler asked incredulously.
"Can I finish?"
"Sorry."
"Anyway, she said she really liked me too, and so, ya know, we did it again and—"
"Joe, I don't need to know every detail."
"Anyway, I said I'd call her, and she freaked and said no-no she would call me. And she did, and we kinda started seeing each other…but it was weird because we never went to her place, ya know? So this morning I asked her why we always had se—why we always slept here, and guess what she said?"
"She lives in a really small studio? In Brooklyn? She has cats? Kids? I dunno Joey, tell me," Chandler sighed.
"She's married."
"Whoa," Chandler sat back in the recliner.
"Yeah. We've been going out for months and she never said anything."
"What did you say?"
"I freaked! I don't wanna be like my dad Chandler, you know that! I mean, I know that I get around, but I do have morals! She is a married woman! That is just off limits!"
"Okay, Joey, calm down. Look, you are not like your dad, okay? I mean, technically, you would be Roni in this scenario," Chandler reasoned. Off of Joey's look he said, "But let's not talk about that. Look, you didn't know she was married. You aren't in the wrong here, she is. She's the one who is cheating, not you!"
"But the thing is—" Joey stopped, and ran his hand through his hair, before placing his head in his hands.
"You don't wanna stop seeing her, do you?" Chandler asked quietly.
Joey didn't look up; he simply shook his head silently.
"What does she think? Does she love her husband? Is she gonna stay with him?"
"She's pregnant."
"Wh-what?" Chandler said, shocked.
Joey lifted his head, and looked over at Chandler.
"She's pregnant. And she doesn't know who the father is. But it can't be me, right, because we always used condoms!"
"Joey, condoms aren't one hundred percent effective."
"What are you talking about? They should put that on the package then!"
"They do, Joe. Look, you need to find out what she wants. And you need to tell her what you want. What do you want?"
"I don't know," Joey sighed, "I…I just want her—without all of—this," Joey threw up his hands in exasperation.
Chandler glanced at the clock, and stood up, "I gotta go man. But if you need to talk, I'll be back later, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks, man," Joey sighed, and watched Chandler walk out of the apartment. He stood up slowly, and walked into the kitchen, where he opened one of the drawers, and pulled out a stack of condoms. He studied the package carefully, and shook his head.
"They really do put it on there."
***
"Are you okay?" Monica touched Chandler's arms gently, and brought him back to reality, "You've been really quiet all evening." They were taking a post-dinner stroll through Central Park.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I was just thinking," Chandler mumbled.
"Uh oh," Monica laughed. When Chandler didn't respond, she sobered, and cocked her head to one side.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah I was just…it doesn't matter," he sighed.
"What is it? You can tell me."
"Actually, I can't. I promised Joey I wouldn't. I-it has nothing to do with you, he's just having…problems," Chandler shrugged.
"Oh. I'm sorry sweetie. Is there anything I can do?"
"No…aw, honey, look I'm sorry, I shouldn't be dwelling on this on our four-month anniversary."
"No, it's okay! Look, why don't we cut the evening short, and you go talk to him? I'll bet he needs the company right now."
"No, I don't want to ruin your—"
"Chandler, I insist. He's your friend, and he needs you. We can just make up for it next month," Monica smiled seductively, "I'm not backing down, Mr. Bing."
"Fine," Chandler relented, "but I will make it up to you."
"I know," Monica smiled.
"Thanks babe. You are the best."
"I know that too," Monica laughed.
"I'll walk you home," Chandler said softly, as they made their way out of the park.
"I'll give you a call tomorrow," Chandler said, as he led Monica up the steps to her apartment.
"You'd better. I hope Joey feels better. Give him my best."
"I will. Thanks, Mon."
"Anytime. Oh, hey are you still going to Boston with me next weekend?"
"Yeah. Unless you think your brother is gonna totally hate me…"
"You have nothing to fear honey, Ross is a total wuss. Even I can kick his ass."
"Need I point out that you can also kick my ass?" Chandler grimaced.
"Well then, if Ross hates you…I'll protect you. Now get outta here!"
"Alright, see ya!" Chandler pecked Monica on the lips, and bounded down the concrete steps.
"I love you!" Monica called out to his retreating form.
"Me too!" Chandler called back, without looking in her direction.
And one of these days I'll actually get you to say it, Bing! Monica thought, as she shook her head and walked into her apartment building.
AN: Okay so, a couple of characters aren't coming off so well in this one, but keep in mind that when I am writing about…Janice, for example, it is through Chandler's POV. So if he doesn't like her, she's coming off bad…no matter what she is actually like.
All of the Friends will be making an appearance in the fic…but it will pretty much focus on Chandler and/or Monica, since this is Sal's fic, LOL.
One or two more to go…
A