Bound Together By Tragedy

The sunshine fell down upon Monica's eyelids. They fluttered, and then opened revealing her blue, icy corneas and adjusting pupils. A smile crossed her lips, because she was at a blissful moment when she really didn't know where she was, until she heard breathing beside her. Monica strained her neck and looked to see Chandler, still peacefully sleeping, beside her.

Monica felt sudden anger with herself. She was ashamed that she was back in his bed, because she was that pathetic. She slipped out from under the covers and began dressing quickly, hoping to get out of the hotel before he was awake. While she fumbled with her shoe, however, Chandler stirred and soon opened his eyes.

"Hey......" he smiled. Monica stood silently, looking at her hands. "Where are you going?" Chandler asked, suddenly feeling a slight panic. Monica opened her mouth, but nothing came out. "Come on, come back to bed," he said climbing out of bed and over to her. He leaned in and tried to kiss her lips, but she turned her head, and he ended up kissing her cheek. "What's going on?"

"I need to go." Monica whispered. Chandler stepped back.

"What? Why?"

"I just need to!" she yelled. Chandler sat on the end of the bed.

"Monica, don't do this again. Don't-"

"Stop it Chandler!" Monica said loudly. "It's NOT going to work between us. Thank you for being there for me last night, but I'm very comforted. I don't need you anymore." She let her words trail into a whisper. Chandler just stared.

"I'm going to California today." Chandler added. "JFK Airport, 12:45"

"Well, maybe it's batter that way."

"So you're just leaving me now?" He asked. Monica shrugged.

"I thought I'd give it a try this time." She said putting on her coat and grabbing her purse. She was gone before he could say anything more.

Oh it's been too many times and I can't go back

Night bars, guitars, ran down motels like shacks

What it amounts to I don't want it at all

I lost you and I want you today

Misty green and blue

Love to love to love you

Misty green and blue

Love to love to love you

Don't say that you'll never know

Love to love to love you

Misty green and blue

Love to love to love you

Misty green and blue

Love to love to love you

Monica was scared of her feelings, and the fact that deep down she still loved Chandler with every inch of her heart. She regretted leaving that hotel room; she may never see him again as long as she lived! It never really struck her until she was driving away.

Losing Hayley was only one of the hardest things in her life. She knew that her heart had been broken too many times. Was Chandler just going to do it again? Was she even willing to take that chance?

Monica pulled into her driveway to see Phoebe and Joey's car outside along with Ross and Rachel's. She sighed, knowing that Phoebe and Joey were leaving today and she should have been there, but she was just pulling in at noon, while they were leaving in half an hour. She got out of her car and walked up the steps. Phoebe and Joey met her at the door.

"Thank GOD!" Phoebe laughed.

"We thought we were going to have to leave without saying goodbye!" Joey added. Ross and Rachel came out front as well.

"Where were you?" Ross asked. Monica shrugged.

"I needed some time to myself." She concluded.

"So, you really can't go with us to the airport?" Phoebe begged. Monica shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I have stuff I need to do around here. It's about time life got back to normal. Plus, I have some packing to do. There's a little apartment in New York I'm looking into. It's really nice."

"Okay." Joey said sadly. A light bulb went on above Monica's head.

"Oh, quick, come with me into Hayley's room, I want to give you guys something."

Monica hurried inside the house and down to her room, Phoebe Joey and the rest right behind her. Once Monica was inside, she began thumbing through stuffed animals. She moved over to the desk and opened a drawer when something caught her eye. Monica reached down and pulled out a piece of paper with Hayley's drawing on it. She could tell it was Hayley's by the way the people in the picture didn't have a torso, only a head with limps coming out.

There was a little drawing with three people: Mommy, Hayley, and Daddy. Hayley drew a family portrait of the family that never truly existed for her. There they were, all three of them holding hands. Monica's eyes welled up with tears and she looked at Joey and Phoebe.

"Uh, are you going to JFK airport?" Monica asked. Phoebe and Joey nodded. "Well, we'd better get you there in time, let's go!" She was going to get Chandler back.

Monica explained the whole story to all of them in the car on the way there.

"So, you're going to do it?" Rachel shrieked. "You're going to get him back?"

"If this cab would move a little faster!" Monica said obviously sending a message to the driver, and the speed increased.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Ross asked, being the usual skeptic. Monica shrugged.

"All I know is that I'm going to give it my best shot. Hayley would have wanted it."

"What changed you mind?" Joey asked.

"Just a little help from Hayley." Monica said, gripping on to the drawing. "Everything's going to be just fine!"

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((

Monica rushed through the busy airport, pushing people out of her way. It was 12:35, and she had just said her final goodbyes to Joey and Phoebe, and now she was praying she didn't have to say another.

"California, California........." Monica said to herself, checking the departure TV. It was there. She ran up to the ticket dealer.

"I need a flight to California boarding now, please..." Monica said, pulling out her credit card. The lady typed into her computer before shaking her head.

"Unfortunately-"she began.

"No! Listen, I need a flight to California, NOW!" Monica stressed. The lady took Monica's credit card.

"All I was going to say was there are only seats available in first class." The lady smirked. Monica rolled her eyes and bought her ticket, rushing to make the plane before departure.

Getting on the plane was no problem, finding Chandler was. She had to peel through screaming babies and old people just to spot him towards the back of the plane, eyes closed and listening to a CD Walkman. She inched over to the rotund woman sitting next to him.

"Hi." Monica whispered. The lady looked at Monica oddly. "I know this is a weird question, but will you switch me seats?" Monica begged. The lady began mumbling, 'I don't know-"when Monica showed her her ticket. All the lady read was the first class seat and she agreed. Monica took a seat right next to Chandler, who had yet to realize Monica was even there.

Monica gazed at him, and smiled before dropping the drawing onto his hands. He flinched and looked up to see Monica and a giant smile broke across his lips. Before he could say anything, Monica put her hand to his mouth.

"I just had to give you that." She said, pointing to the picture. "It's from Hayley." She added. Chandler stared at the drawing, eyes welling up.

"Is that it?" he asked. Monica stared deep into his eyes.

"And this." She said, pressing her lips to his. Chandler smiled and embraced the kiss happily.

"Are you sure?" He asked . Monica nodded.

"Hayley would have wanted this."

Sometimes in life, love equals loss. At least now, Hayley's loss created a love that needed to be found. Monica and Chandler remarried and had more children, living happily ever after. Chandler stayed faithful, but no one forgot of the gifts Hayley brought to them. Monica and Chandler were bound together by tragedy.

XOXOELIZABETHXOXO

"Love to Love" by the Djali Zwan. BEAUTIFUL SONG.