Everytime
Chapter Nine: No More Cry
Disclaimer: Well, it's ended.... does that mean I get them now? No? Not until it's finished airing? Oh, I think I can wait until then.... ;) (That was all a lie, btw. I don't own the characters in this fic. Not even the mentioned Jake, because he's just appearing 3 seasons earlier than he actually did. Whatever happened to him, anyway?)
A/N: As promised, a speedy update. The only reason for this is that chapters 8 and 9 were originally one, but I was getting to the ending of this chapter faster than I meant to, so I added LOADS in and split it in two.
Something I forgot to mention before.... there is an alternate, "adult" chapter 7 available on the courteney-fan.net fanfic page. For those who would like to read it, the link can be found in my profile. But if you shouldn't read it.... don't. ;) Oh, and you can blame (or congratulate) Monnie for it's existence. She blackmailed me! Okay, that's a lie.
Akemi.... your mind is so tragic... it's tragic. :p Ah, I love your torturing nature. ;)
And Rachna... enough with the threatening. I get enough of that kind of stuff from Monnie, thanks. ;) But you get this chapter anyway, 'cause you rule. ;)
Oh, and sorry if the girlie part is way off.... I'm a guy, see? I don't know this stuff.
*~*~*
Monica looked up as she heard the doorbell, letting the maid answer it. She heard friendly voices, and, expecting Rachel, stood up and walked to the door.
It swung open, and the maid stepped back to let him walk in, a serious look on his face.
"Chandler," she said softly.
The maid left, looking down at her feet in embarrassment.
Monica turned around and walked back to her chair. "What are you doing here?" she asked tentatively.
"I need to talk to you," he said simply.
She turned on her heel, trying to not to show her nervousness. "About what?" she asked.
He walked over to her. "Sit down," he said, kneeling down beside the chair. She sat, trying not to look at him directly.
"Monica," he started, "I- I need to let you go."
She frowned, still not looking at him, not into his deep brown eyes. "What do you mean?"
"You don't have to choose anything anymore. You should be with Pete. He can give you more than I can," he said.
Monica let her eyes wander, and found them staring into his.
She forced herself to look away. "No," she said. "I know."
Chandler stood up, turning away, but she caught a glimpse of the tears in his eyes.
"I gotta go," he said to the wall, and walked out the door calmly, but she heard him running the rest of the way.
*~*~*
"So," said Phoebe, spitting her gum into its wrapper, and throwing it into the trashcan, "What happened?"
Chandler took out his own gum and followed suit, putting a fresh stick straight into his mouth. It was almost as though he was using it as a distraction.
"Well, I went there, and told her everything we talked about... and then I left. I ran, actually," he said sadly.
Phoebe rubbed his arm, watching his shoe scuff the sidewalk. "Are you gonna be okay?" she asked, looking around at his face.
He smiled at her. "Yeah, I'll be okay," he said slowly. "I just... it was so wonderful, Phoebe. And for a second, one stupid, idiotic second.... I thought it might come true."
She smiled at him, tightening her hold on his arm, which was linked to hers at the elbow. "Chandler...."
"Pretty dumb of me, huh?" he said, watching a cab drive past, and a cyclist zoom across the road when the road went quiet.
Phoebe stopped and turned Chandler's face to her. "Chandler, listen. You are NOT dumb, and you are NOT stupid," she insisted, and her expression softened. "You're just in love," she said. "And there's nothing wrong in that."
He smiled at her. She pointed to the bench behind them, and he sat down next to her.
"Chandler.... I know we were never that close before, but I know you well enough to tell you that you're smart, funny, and a great guy to be with. And you're going to find someone who appreciates that. And Monica does. But you're going to find someone who doesn't have a husband that she is with. And when you do...you'll be so happy, words won't be able to describe it."
Chandler smiled at her. "Thanks, Pheebs," he said. "I just- I just wish that that woman could be Monica."
Phoebe rubbed his arm again, smiling. "I know," she said softly. "Look, I gotta go, Jake and I are having lunch... I'll see you tonight, okay?"
He nodded. "Thanks, Phoebe," he said again. She smiled, and hopped into the cab with drew up at her signal. She waved at him, and he waved meekly back, leaning back in exhaustion against the chair.
*~*~*
"Hello?"
Monica sighed as she picked up the phone, not wanting it to ever ring again.
"Monica, why weren't you answering?" asked Rachel anxiously.
Monica rolled her eyes. "I just- I don't feel very good, and I didn't want to talk," she answered truthfully.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?"
Monica sniffed falsely. "Oh, just a cold," she lied. "A-choo!" she said loudly down the phone.
Rachel sighed. "Well, it sounds like you need cheering up!" she said enthusiastically, the grin obvious in her voice.
"No, Rachel-" said Monica desperately.
"Right, I'm coming over, and I'm bringing magazines and cookies," she said excitedly. "We are gonna have one girlie night!" she exclaimed.
"No!" shouted Monica, but the phone had been put down.
Monica banged her head against the wall and slumped to the floor in frustration.
"Some thing wrong, ma'am?" asked the maid in her heavy Spanish accent.
Monica groaned.
*~*~*
"So," said Rachel, her voice muffled by the cookie in her mouth, "how are you lately?"
Monica sat up on the bed, reluctantly taking the cookie Rachel offered her. "I'm okay," she lied, flipping the page in her magazine. "Ooh, look, Cameron Diaz got a new haircut!" she exclaimed, staring at the magazine a little too intently.
Rachel shut her magazine. "Okay, Monica, out with it," she demanded. "What's wrong?"
Monica bit on her cookie and turned the page again. "Nothing," she denied. "Oh, these cookies are delicious!" she said enthusiastically. "Who made them?"
"Me!" smiled Rachel. Monica cocked her head. "Alright, Chandler did. But I found the recipe!" she said, taking another one.
Monica felt her heartbeat quicken, and looked down again. "Oh, okay," she said quietly. "Well, tell him they're really good," she said.
Rachel frowned. "Tell him yourself!" she said. "Don't you guys have lunch like, every two days or something?" she asked.
Monica didn't look up. "Well, yeah..."
Rachel frowned. "Is this something to do with Chandler?" she asked.
Monica didn't answer.
"It is!" exclaimed Rachel. "Oh my god, that explains it!"
"Explains what?" mumbled Monica, still not looking up, resigned to the fact that Rachel was going to find out.
"When I went into the coffeehouse earlier, Phoebe, Joey and Kathy were all gathered around Chandler, and then they saw me and stopped talking!" she said.
Monica frowned. "You mean.... they know?" she whispered to herself.
"Know what?" said Rachel impatiently, bouncing on the bed.
Monica stared at her. "Fine!" she yelled upward, before looking back at Rachel. "I guess you'll find out anyway...."
She cleared her throat. "Okay.... now, don't talk until I've finished, okay? I won't tell you otherwise." Rachel nodded eagerly. "Okay..." said Monica again, "last night, Chandler was over helping me get ready for my dinner with Pete. But Pete didn't show up, so Chandler ate with me. And we had a great time, like normal. It was all great, just like normal. But then Pete called, and I got all upset... and, well, I'm not really sure what happened next."
Rachel was staring intently, looking deeply interested, but she kept her mouth shut.
"And, well... he kissed me." She heard Rachel intake her breath. "Or I kissed him. I'm not sure. Maybe it was both of us. But anyway.... well, he broke away and ran outside."
Rachel frowned.
"And I ran after him- I don't know why. I knew I shouldn't have, but I.... did. And then... well, we almost..."
Rachel took this as the end, and let out her breath.
"Monica... are you serious? You and Chandler kissed?!" she exclaimed. "What about Pete?" she asked.
Monica groaned. "I don't know!" she whined. "Chandler 'let me go' earlier... he said I should be with Pete."
"And should you?" asked Rachel.
Monica sighed. "I'm not sure anymore," she said honestly. "But I'm married to him... Rach, I have to make it work."
Rachel smiled. "I know," she said, rubbing Monica's arm. "Do you wanna talk about it now?" she asked. Monica shook her head. "That's fine," said Rachel, smiling. "Now, let's watch some TV and get your mind off this, okay?"
Monica smiled as the TV flickered on, and Rachel lay down to watch it. Monica took a cookie, and forgot her problems for a few hours, lost in a world of trashy TV and cookies with her best friend.
*~*~*
Monica heard the door slam, and sat up. She wiped her eyes quickly, and stuffed the ruined shirt into her pocket.
"Monica?" called Pete.
"I'm in here," she called back, staring at the floor.
She heard his footsteps draw nearer, and plastered a fake smile onto her face as he entered.
"Hey," he said, holding out a bunch of flowers.
Her fake smile took on a hint of a real one as she looked at the flowers, inhlaing their soft scent. "Pete... that's so sweet," she said, smiling up at him.
He smiled back, and dragged a chair to sit next to her. "I'm sorry I didn't get back here last night, sweetie," he said, smiling. "But I had a big break-through yesterday," he said excitedly.
Feigning excitement, Monica leaned forward. "Really?" she asked, smiling.
"Yep," he said happily. "It's gonna open loads of new doors for us. Lots of money, celebrities, fame.... this is gonna be wonderful."
She smiled, kissing him lightly before hugging him, trying to get her mind off Chandler.
He kissed her head. "You always wanted to move to Paris," he said, smiling.
She froze.
Chapter Nine: No More Cry
Disclaimer: Well, it's ended.... does that mean I get them now? No? Not until it's finished airing? Oh, I think I can wait until then.... ;) (That was all a lie, btw. I don't own the characters in this fic. Not even the mentioned Jake, because he's just appearing 3 seasons earlier than he actually did. Whatever happened to him, anyway?)
A/N: As promised, a speedy update. The only reason for this is that chapters 8 and 9 were originally one, but I was getting to the ending of this chapter faster than I meant to, so I added LOADS in and split it in two.
Something I forgot to mention before.... there is an alternate, "adult" chapter 7 available on the courteney-fan.net fanfic page. For those who would like to read it, the link can be found in my profile. But if you shouldn't read it.... don't. ;) Oh, and you can blame (or congratulate) Monnie for it's existence. She blackmailed me! Okay, that's a lie.
Akemi.... your mind is so tragic... it's tragic. :p Ah, I love your torturing nature. ;)
And Rachna... enough with the threatening. I get enough of that kind of stuff from Monnie, thanks. ;) But you get this chapter anyway, 'cause you rule. ;)
Oh, and sorry if the girlie part is way off.... I'm a guy, see? I don't know this stuff.
*~*~*
Monica looked up as she heard the doorbell, letting the maid answer it. She heard friendly voices, and, expecting Rachel, stood up and walked to the door.
It swung open, and the maid stepped back to let him walk in, a serious look on his face.
"Chandler," she said softly.
The maid left, looking down at her feet in embarrassment.
Monica turned around and walked back to her chair. "What are you doing here?" she asked tentatively.
"I need to talk to you," he said simply.
She turned on her heel, trying to not to show her nervousness. "About what?" she asked.
He walked over to her. "Sit down," he said, kneeling down beside the chair. She sat, trying not to look at him directly.
"Monica," he started, "I- I need to let you go."
She frowned, still not looking at him, not into his deep brown eyes. "What do you mean?"
"You don't have to choose anything anymore. You should be with Pete. He can give you more than I can," he said.
Monica let her eyes wander, and found them staring into his.
She forced herself to look away. "No," she said. "I know."
Chandler stood up, turning away, but she caught a glimpse of the tears in his eyes.
"I gotta go," he said to the wall, and walked out the door calmly, but she heard him running the rest of the way.
*~*~*
"So," said Phoebe, spitting her gum into its wrapper, and throwing it into the trashcan, "What happened?"
Chandler took out his own gum and followed suit, putting a fresh stick straight into his mouth. It was almost as though he was using it as a distraction.
"Well, I went there, and told her everything we talked about... and then I left. I ran, actually," he said sadly.
Phoebe rubbed his arm, watching his shoe scuff the sidewalk. "Are you gonna be okay?" she asked, looking around at his face.
He smiled at her. "Yeah, I'll be okay," he said slowly. "I just... it was so wonderful, Phoebe. And for a second, one stupid, idiotic second.... I thought it might come true."
She smiled at him, tightening her hold on his arm, which was linked to hers at the elbow. "Chandler...."
"Pretty dumb of me, huh?" he said, watching a cab drive past, and a cyclist zoom across the road when the road went quiet.
Phoebe stopped and turned Chandler's face to her. "Chandler, listen. You are NOT dumb, and you are NOT stupid," she insisted, and her expression softened. "You're just in love," she said. "And there's nothing wrong in that."
He smiled at her. She pointed to the bench behind them, and he sat down next to her.
"Chandler.... I know we were never that close before, but I know you well enough to tell you that you're smart, funny, and a great guy to be with. And you're going to find someone who appreciates that. And Monica does. But you're going to find someone who doesn't have a husband that she is with. And when you do...you'll be so happy, words won't be able to describe it."
Chandler smiled at her. "Thanks, Pheebs," he said. "I just- I just wish that that woman could be Monica."
Phoebe rubbed his arm again, smiling. "I know," she said softly. "Look, I gotta go, Jake and I are having lunch... I'll see you tonight, okay?"
He nodded. "Thanks, Phoebe," he said again. She smiled, and hopped into the cab with drew up at her signal. She waved at him, and he waved meekly back, leaning back in exhaustion against the chair.
*~*~*
"Hello?"
Monica sighed as she picked up the phone, not wanting it to ever ring again.
"Monica, why weren't you answering?" asked Rachel anxiously.
Monica rolled her eyes. "I just- I don't feel very good, and I didn't want to talk," she answered truthfully.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?"
Monica sniffed falsely. "Oh, just a cold," she lied. "A-choo!" she said loudly down the phone.
Rachel sighed. "Well, it sounds like you need cheering up!" she said enthusiastically, the grin obvious in her voice.
"No, Rachel-" said Monica desperately.
"Right, I'm coming over, and I'm bringing magazines and cookies," she said excitedly. "We are gonna have one girlie night!" she exclaimed.
"No!" shouted Monica, but the phone had been put down.
Monica banged her head against the wall and slumped to the floor in frustration.
"Some thing wrong, ma'am?" asked the maid in her heavy Spanish accent.
Monica groaned.
*~*~*
"So," said Rachel, her voice muffled by the cookie in her mouth, "how are you lately?"
Monica sat up on the bed, reluctantly taking the cookie Rachel offered her. "I'm okay," she lied, flipping the page in her magazine. "Ooh, look, Cameron Diaz got a new haircut!" she exclaimed, staring at the magazine a little too intently.
Rachel shut her magazine. "Okay, Monica, out with it," she demanded. "What's wrong?"
Monica bit on her cookie and turned the page again. "Nothing," she denied. "Oh, these cookies are delicious!" she said enthusiastically. "Who made them?"
"Me!" smiled Rachel. Monica cocked her head. "Alright, Chandler did. But I found the recipe!" she said, taking another one.
Monica felt her heartbeat quicken, and looked down again. "Oh, okay," she said quietly. "Well, tell him they're really good," she said.
Rachel frowned. "Tell him yourself!" she said. "Don't you guys have lunch like, every two days or something?" she asked.
Monica didn't look up. "Well, yeah..."
Rachel frowned. "Is this something to do with Chandler?" she asked.
Monica didn't answer.
"It is!" exclaimed Rachel. "Oh my god, that explains it!"
"Explains what?" mumbled Monica, still not looking up, resigned to the fact that Rachel was going to find out.
"When I went into the coffeehouse earlier, Phoebe, Joey and Kathy were all gathered around Chandler, and then they saw me and stopped talking!" she said.
Monica frowned. "You mean.... they know?" she whispered to herself.
"Know what?" said Rachel impatiently, bouncing on the bed.
Monica stared at her. "Fine!" she yelled upward, before looking back at Rachel. "I guess you'll find out anyway...."
She cleared her throat. "Okay.... now, don't talk until I've finished, okay? I won't tell you otherwise." Rachel nodded eagerly. "Okay..." said Monica again, "last night, Chandler was over helping me get ready for my dinner with Pete. But Pete didn't show up, so Chandler ate with me. And we had a great time, like normal. It was all great, just like normal. But then Pete called, and I got all upset... and, well, I'm not really sure what happened next."
Rachel was staring intently, looking deeply interested, but she kept her mouth shut.
"And, well... he kissed me." She heard Rachel intake her breath. "Or I kissed him. I'm not sure. Maybe it was both of us. But anyway.... well, he broke away and ran outside."
Rachel frowned.
"And I ran after him- I don't know why. I knew I shouldn't have, but I.... did. And then... well, we almost..."
Rachel took this as the end, and let out her breath.
"Monica... are you serious? You and Chandler kissed?!" she exclaimed. "What about Pete?" she asked.
Monica groaned. "I don't know!" she whined. "Chandler 'let me go' earlier... he said I should be with Pete."
"And should you?" asked Rachel.
Monica sighed. "I'm not sure anymore," she said honestly. "But I'm married to him... Rach, I have to make it work."
Rachel smiled. "I know," she said, rubbing Monica's arm. "Do you wanna talk about it now?" she asked. Monica shook her head. "That's fine," said Rachel, smiling. "Now, let's watch some TV and get your mind off this, okay?"
Monica smiled as the TV flickered on, and Rachel lay down to watch it. Monica took a cookie, and forgot her problems for a few hours, lost in a world of trashy TV and cookies with her best friend.
*~*~*
Monica heard the door slam, and sat up. She wiped her eyes quickly, and stuffed the ruined shirt into her pocket.
"Monica?" called Pete.
"I'm in here," she called back, staring at the floor.
She heard his footsteps draw nearer, and plastered a fake smile onto her face as he entered.
"Hey," he said, holding out a bunch of flowers.
Her fake smile took on a hint of a real one as she looked at the flowers, inhlaing their soft scent. "Pete... that's so sweet," she said, smiling up at him.
He smiled back, and dragged a chair to sit next to her. "I'm sorry I didn't get back here last night, sweetie," he said, smiling. "But I had a big break-through yesterday," he said excitedly.
Feigning excitement, Monica leaned forward. "Really?" she asked, smiling.
"Yep," he said happily. "It's gonna open loads of new doors for us. Lots of money, celebrities, fame.... this is gonna be wonderful."
She smiled, kissing him lightly before hugging him, trying to get her mind off Chandler.
He kissed her head. "You always wanted to move to Paris," he said, smiling.
She froze.
