Come crying to me

Chapter 1: Worrying

A/N: what's there to know? This takes place somewhere in season 4, Emily "never happened". Ross and Rachel are in a relationship and it's focusing on Chandler and Monica.

Disclaimer: I don't own them…

It was a cold winters night when I came home from working late. Something I rarely did, but it was a way of escaping things. So many things had been going on lately, not only in my life but also in my friends lives, which effected all of us. I felt tired when I walked up the stairs of the apartment building, just a few more I reminded myself. When I finally reached the door to my apartment I opened it and walked inside, hanging up my coat and leaving my briefcase lingering on the counter for the next morning. In the corner of my eye I saw the red light blinking on my answering machine, I pushed the button to play my messages.

-- Hi sweetie it's your mom, I just wanted to hear your voice! I hope you're doing fine and I'll call you again somewhere next week. I love you, bye bye.

I frowned at her message. There was another message waiting for me. I smiled when I heard her warm voice.

-- Hey Chandler uhm... I know you're not home yet but I just wanted to thank you for last night, that… that really meant a great deal to me. I'm so lucky to have you in my life and I just wish there was something I could do in return. Call me when you get home okay? If you don't want to that's okay, I know have been taking too much of your time already. Okay uhm I'll talk to you later I guess, bye.

That was some night and it meant a lot to me too, we talked till early in the morning and I listened to her and was holding her close. We fell asleep not long after in each others arms, the next morning she was still in my arms with her head on my chest, her breathing was slow. I never imagined myself getting so emotionally involved with my best friend, let alone have a girl as my best friend. It felt great though and smiled at the memory of last night.

I picked up the phone and my fingers pushed the buttons, my ear hearing the phone ringing on the other end. Suddenly I slammed the phone down after just one ring and sighed heavily this effected me so much. Standing up I walked into the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready for bed, tomorrow would be new day with new opportunities. Sleep wouldn't come that night, I was tossing and turning feeling guilty about not calling her back when she asked me too. It was two hours after midnight when I went over to the girls apartment, just to make sure she was okay. When I entered the apartment it was dark and lonely, but I could see a flickering light coming from one of the bedrooms. Slowly I walked up to the door and with a slight crack it opened I could see Monica sitting on the bed with a picture in her hand. I softly called out to her, but she sat motionless. Carefully closing the door behind me, I sat down on the bed and put my arm around her and cuddled up beside her in a cozily way. She cried softly and let her weight fall into my embrace, gently stroking her back I made a futile and pathetic attempt to take the hurt away

"Honey... please don't cry, it's gonna be alright", I murmured tenderly.

She looked up to me with those piercing blue eyes, "how Chandler, it's never going to be the same again" and she broke down crying in my arms, the tears wetting us both.

For the last ten years I had been able to take the hurt away—bandaging scrapes, repairing hurt feelings, comforting, consoling, soothing. Now I could do nothing. Nothing at all. Crying in my arms, her life shattered. I held her, yet I was helpless. I could not take away this hurt. And never in my life had I felt like such a failure.

We stayed in that position for awhile. It was comforting for the both of us I guess. She had someone to lean onto and I knew she was all right for the time being. At least she was not alone.

I heard her softly sniffle and her crying had stopped more or less, "I'm sorry Mon. I…".

"Chandler don't, please you don't have to apologize."

I tightened my grip around her body and kissed her neck behind her ear, whispering a soft "thank you".

She was troubled and silent for a moment and then spoke to me in a whisper. "No thank you for being here, you have no idea how much this means to me."

I smiled and laid her hand within mine. "But what?"

"It's just that I've been pushing you guys away, while I needed you so damn much."

"Honey I'm not mad at you, you know when my parents divorced, I behaved the same way. I never wanted anyone around or share my feelings, afraid someone might hurt me again."

"But you're doing okay now right?"

"Yes because I have you around. I could never lie to you or hide my feelings, I'm like this open book when you look at me." I smirked teasingly and raised my brow waiting for her reply.

"You have no idea how glad I am to have you in my life, you're like the best thing that ever happened to me Chandler."

"Talk about pressure", I jokingly nudged her.

She laughed "I think you can handle that after all you're Chandler Bing."

"That's me, we'll see how well I do, but first things first. Is it okay if I tuck you in now, it's getting pretty late and your leg needs rest."

She took one last look at the picture she was holding and traced the outline of her parents features on the photo.

"I never told them how much I loved them, at least not enough, I can't even remember when I said those words for the last time."

"I know sweetheart, but they knew you loved them. Families always do."

She sighed and I knew she was struggling with that thought. I took the picture from her hand and placed it on the nightstand. "Come on let's get you under the covers." She crawled under the covers, carefully positioning her leg and pulled the covers up to her chin for protection, a few light scratches still visible on her face.

"I'm right across the hall if you need me." I ensured her.

"Is Rachel home yet?"

"No she's still at Ross' place."

"I'm here honey, try to get some sleep now." I kissed her cheek and tucked her further in. Seated on the side of her bed she fell asleep within minutes. "Sleep well", I whispered. When I left her room to go back to my own apartment, she murmured softly and rolled on her favorite side.

Once back in bed I was tossing and turning. It hurt me to see two of my best friends in so much pain over losing both their parents in one crash and not of age. Not that that would soften the pain of course, but this was so unexpected. They went away for the weekend, Monica and her parents. Friends of the Gellers had a cabin they could stay at and they had asked Monica to come along. She agreed, she deserved to get some rest for a few days. I called her on Sunday morning, she was packing her stuff to head back home and told me all about how beautiful it was up there. She definitely wanted to go back sometime with the six of us.

"Hey Chandler why don't we go to this cabin round Christmas time. It's been awhile since the six of us hung out together."

"That's a great idea Mon, we'll talk about it when you get back okay?"

"Yeah okay. I think we will be back round three. It's still snowing, but dad asked someone and they said the roads are still okay."

"Just promise me you will be careful Mon. And if you don't think it's safe, please stay another day", I told her protectively.

She laughed, "nothing's going to happen Chandler, don't worry."

"Yeah well you never know, I just want you home safely."

"What's wrong Chandler?" she suddenly asked.

"Nothing is wrong, why?"

She told me I was worrying too much. "I can read you like a book Chandler, so spill."

"I don't know Mon with all this snow I just… I'm worried.

"I'll be home round three in the afternoon okay? Are you home from work by then?"

"I'm getting off round three", I said solemnly.

"I will call you when they drop me off."

"Yeah okay."

"Chandler cheer up", she mused. "I'll see you in a few hours, bye."

"Bye Mon."

The phone clicked off. I just wanted her home. Snow was falling harder every hour.

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A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. So if you did leave me a few words. Have a nice day.

Feb 2004