The One With The Indecent Proposal

By: Jana~

Chapter Eight

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--Her heart rate climbed as they neared the door that led to the dungeon, and for a moment, she almost considered pulling away and telling him to never mind, but she was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Trying to believe that her first impression of him was right. Trying not to offend him by assuming the worst.

In actuality, he had done nothing to deserve that assumption. He had been a perfect gentleman the entire time she was in his company, but after seeing something like that, like that dungeon, it was hard not to assume the worst.

At the door, he removed his arm from hers, then clicked and pushed open the large door, cueing her to enter. With a slight hesitation, she stepped inside, hugging herself defensively, her eyes wide and avoiding his.

With a smile that was meant to put her at ease, he moved past her, to the other side of the room, then, once again, located a secret panel that led to a new room.

"This," he announced as he gestured towards the room, "Is why I bought the place."

Slowly, she inched forward, peeking past the door and into the new room he'd unveiled, her jaw dropping open.

Audibly, she gasped, wandering in as she took in its grandeur.

"Oh my God," she whispered, and he smiled as he stood beside her.

"I know," he said with a sigh. "Amazing, isn't it?"

Nodding, she seemed to forget all about the room they'd just left and what it contained. "This is, unbelievable!"

The room was huge, and appeared to have something of an ancient Roman influence. Elaborate pillars and columns were throughout, with a small waterfall that emptied out into a large pool that looked almost like an ancient Roman or Egyptian bathhouse, like royalty would've used.

There were majestic paintings on the walls and ceiling, reminiscent of something from the Sistine Chapel, with several fountains, ranging in size, near the pool and on the walls.

Several fruit trees and different kinds of plants and bushes gave the feeling of being outside, even though there was no obvious exit to the outside.

It was literally breathtaking.

"Yeah," she chuckled slightly, "The kitchen definitely pales in comparison to this."

"Maybe later," he suggested, "We can go swimming. I mean, if you want to."

"I saw the bathing suit in the bag and wondered," she said with a smile. "Maybe we could go now," she added. "You know, swimming."

"Really?" he asked, somewhat surprised, and she nodded in response.

"If that's ok," she said softly, noting his tone.

"No, yeah, that's fine! I guess I'm just a little surprised, that you would want to. You know, cause of the whole, dungeon/passing out thing."

Smiling sheepishly, she muttered, "Yeah, sorry about acting so weird before. It's not every day you see a dungeon."

"Unless you're me," he joked. "I'm down here pretty much every day, but I know what you mean."

"I'm usually a pretty trusting person, and that has gotten me burned many times, unfortunately."

"Yeah," he said with understanding. "Been there, done that."

"Hey, I know what we should do!" she exclaimed, continuing without waiting for his response. "We should play foosball first, then, come down here, with maybe that bottle of wine you were talking about, and take our swim then. Then, maybe relax a bit in the spa before bed. What'cha think?"

With a wide smile, he nodded. "Yeah, that sounds perfect."

***

--Without really even trying, Monica kicked Chandler's butt, easily, laughing and gloating as she did a little victory dance.

"You suck at this game!" she told him. "I didn't even break a sweat beating you!"

Shaking his head, he chuckled as he replied, "Yeah, well, I did break a sweat losing to you, so, how about that swim now?"

"Yeah," she nodded in agreement, "Just need to go get into my swimsuit."

"Me too," he said as he gestured towards his room. "I'll meet'cha back here, k?"

*

--The water was the perfect temperature, and Monica slid in gracefully as Chandler hurled himself into the deep end, dramatic and playful, causing her to laugh.

"You are quite the character, you know that?"

Running his hand through his hair to brush it back, he smiled. "Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?"

"Depends on whom you ask," she coyly replied.

"And if I were asking you?" he countered.

"I would say it was a good thing."

He swore he saw her blush, but didn't draw attention to it. They were making a definite connection. He was sure of it.

"Hey, I thought I heard voices!"

Chandler and Monica both looked up at the sound, a tall blond woman responsible for the exclamation.

"You must be Monica!" she said exuberantly, slipping off a fluffy terrycloth robe to reveal that she was wearing a bathing suit beneath it.

"Yes," Chandler answered, swimming towards Monica. "Phoebe, Monica. Monica, Phoebe."

Phoebe stepped off the edge into the water, then swam over to shake her hand. "Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

Monica scowled. "Really?" she asked. "From who?"

"Joey. He said you were really freaked out over the dungeon."

Feeling her cheeks flush, she looked down at the water as she nodded.

"Hey, ya'know, I can see where it would be weird! You don't know Chandler, he shows you this cage and shackles in a dungeon, where even if you screamed till you were hoarse, no one would ever hear you. It's like something out of a bad horror movie or something."

"Thank you, Pheebs!" Chandler snipped quietly, his tone urging her to cut it out.

"Sorry," she apologized. "Just trying to be helpful. You don't mind if I swim for a bit, do you?" she asked suddenly. "I wouldn't want to interrupt anything."

"No, you're more than welcome to stay," Monica told her, and Chandler begrudgingly nodded along.

"Thanks. I won't stay long. Just been a hard day, ya'know?"

"Why?" he asked his friend. "What happened?"

"Oh, it's Ursula again," she complained. "She keeps hitting me up for money! I keep telling her it's not my money, but she just won't leave it alone."

"Well, how much does she want this time?" he asked, but Phoebe shook her head at him.

"It's not your obligation, and she doesn't deserve any help!" she exclaimed. "She gets herself into these predicaments!"

With a sigh, he asked again, "How much, Pheebs?"

"She wanted $25,000, but she said she would settle for $12,000." Her tone carried much disdain for the woman she called sister.

"She can have it," he told her, "If it'll help get her off your case."

"Yeah, maybe, until next time. I told her no more. I reminded her that the last time you gave her money, we said that was it."

"And what did she say to that?"

"She just whined about how it's unfair that I get to live in the lap of luxury while she has to suffer."

He shook his head, "She's a moocher. There's usually one in every family."

"In my family, it's cousin Frannie," Monica interjected, and Chandler and Phoebe both looked in her direction. "Sorry," she apologized with a sheepish smile.

"It's alright," Chandler assured her with a smile, then turned his attention back to Phoebe. "Tell her I'll give her the $12,000, but this is absolutely the last time."

Again, Phoebe shook her head. "Nope. We said that last time. I won't let you give her any more money."

"You won't let me?" he laughed, and she glared jokingly back at him.

"You know I could kick your ass! Don't push it, Bing!"

He held up his hands in surrender, "Ok, ok, just don't hurt me," he whined, acting scared.

Phoebe chuckled at his antics, then gave him a hug. "I'm gonna leave you guys alone now," she informed, then moved to leave the grand pool.

"Already?" Chandler asked. "You just got here."

"I know," she answered, "But, you know the saying. Three's a crowd."

"Dungeon aside," Phoebe informed Monica quietly as she passed her, "You couldn't find a better guy." Her expression turned serious as she whispered sternly. "Don't hurt him."

Monica only smiled cautiously in response, waiting for the woman to leave the pool and the room before asking Chandler, "Is she your-?"

"Girlfriend?" he finished her question. "No."

"Former?"

He shook his head. "No. She's just protective of me. Both me and Joey, actually. She's harmless, unless you cross her."

"I'll try not to cross her then," she replied with a smile, it widening when he returned the gesture.

He said they weren't an item, and she believed him, but Monica couldn't help but feeling that, even if Chandler didn't, Phoebe wanted more.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Or perhaps it's really not as deep as I've been led to think.

Am I trying much too hard?

Of course! I've been too close to see! The answer's right in front of me!

Right in front of me.

It's simple, really, very clear, like music drifting in the air.

Invisible, but everywhere.

Just because I cannot see it, doesn't mean I can't believe it!

 
 
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