Chapter Six: Finding A Way Back To You
Rachel woke up in Monica's bed, after a wild night of sex. She wasn't seeing Chandler anymore, and even though she wanted to, she and Monica couldn't stay away from each other. She missed Chandler. He hadn't been hanging with him the past couple of days, since he wasn't sure what to do about her. She got up and put on a robe. Monica moaned in her sleep. Rachel left the room and went into the kitchen to make some coffee. She was still torn inside. She didn't want to stop sleeping with Monica, obviously, but she missed Chandler so much it hurt.
The door opened, and it brung Phoebe. ''I think I might forgive Joey! I'm just, I'm so miserable without him.'' She announced to her friend. She stopped at the look on Rachel's face. ''I'm so sorry that you and Chandler aren't together, but you're getting help from Monica. You guys are like bunnies.'' Phoebe said.
This made Rachel laugh. ''I know. Monica's great. I just, I still love Chandler. Anyway, enough about me. So, you're going to fix things with Joey?'' She asked, smiling.
Phoebe smiled back. ''Yeah, I want to take it as slow as I can, but I do want to fix things. He's the sweetest guy I've ever dated.''
Speaking of Joey, he entered the room. ''Hey, guys.'' He smiled at Phoebe. ''Hi, Pheebs. How's the baby?''
Phoebe said, ''I'm ready to take you back, if you'll still have me, Joey.'' She couldn't contain her excitement. She and Joey were going to be able to be together, and take it as slow as they wanted.
Joey laughed and smiled wider. ''I'm so happy, Pheebs!'' He wrapped her in the tightest hug he could. He was so happy. They twirled around the living room and kitchen, a tangle of limbs and giggles.
In her room, Monica was writing in her diary. She was very confused, and knew Rachel was, too.
Dear Journal, Saturday, 9:30 am
Hi, it's me. I told you about fooling around with Rachel. At first, I was just doing it because I wanted to get over Chandler. And I was drunk. That, too. She is incredible. The best sex I have ever had in my life. She is very conflicted. She likes having sex with me, but she wants to be with Chandler. He and she have been in love a very long time. I feel like I messed that up, even though the first time we kissed, she kissed me. I just don't know what to do. I'm not strong enough to break up with her. I need her. There's nothing else good going on in my life. I need this. I need her. Oh, what do I do?
Monica
Monica closed her journal and sighed. She didn't like what was happening. She hated herself. She loved the sex, but this relationship wasn't making her feel good. It really wasn't. She may have split up two people who could be destined to be together. How could she live with herself if she didn't help them get back together? She had to. She didn't know where to start, but she was totally going to. She picked up the phone and called Chandler. It wasn't much, but it was a start. At least she was doing something.
Chandler answered his phone, hoping that it wasn't Rachel. He wasn't ready to forgive her yet. He wasn't sure if he could completely trust her. She had apparently gotten drunk and had sex with Monica a lot. Speaking of Monica, she was hollering his name. Chandler sighed. ''Hi, Mon. What's up?''
Monica sighed back. ''I want to talk to you about fixing this stuff with Rachel. I want you to find some way to forgive her. She was drunk, and was sad about the fight you guys had. We were both drunk. She didn't want to hurt you, but she liked what we did. I'm sorry, it was my fault that we kept doing it. I couldn't keep my hands off of her. I don't love her or anything, but it was amazing. I won't bore you with the details.''
Chandler found himself really wanting to know the details. ''Um, no, that's OK.'' He tried to keep his voice normal.
Monica shook her head. ''No way, uh uh. I'm not telling you. By the tone of your voice, you're probably like, getting all turned on.'' She couldn't help but giggle.
Chandler stopped wanting to hear the details with her giggle. ''Don't, Monica. It's only been a few days since I found out. I can't take it lightly yet.''
Monica immediately apologized. She knew how hard this was for him, and she didn't mean to hurt him. ''Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Look, I'm trying to do the right thing here. I'm the one who has Rachel. It shouldn't be this way. You should have her. Please forgive her. I can live without the sex.''
Chandler felt himself starting to fold. ''I do want to forgive her. I could forgive the one time, when you were drunk, but the times since? You guys have been fornicating like bunnies since then. If she loves me, then why does she have to have sex with you?''
Monica said, ''She loves you. She's sad that you broke up with her. She wants to get over you if you're not going to take her back. I guess that I am helping with that.''
Chandler said, ''I just, I don't know if I can forgive her. I love her. I'm hurt that she would do this to me. How can I forgive her when she cheated on me?''
Monica leaned back in her chair. ''Chandler, if you forgive her, and try to work out the kinks in the relationship, she'll take you back. She is just very hurt that you guys had a fight.''
Chandler told Monica he'd think about it and hung up. Phoebe and Joey entered the apartment, laughing and talking. He groaned and sighed.
Joey looked at him. He turned to Phoebe. ''He's still in phase one. There's nothing we can do for him yet.'' He pulled a soda for Phoebe out of the fridge.
Phoebe took it and sat down on one of the Barca loungers and turned to face Chandler. ''Chandler, if I could forgive Joey, you can forgive Rachel. She still loves you. She's really upset since you guys broke up. Go over and see for yourself.''
Chandler got up, and walked across the apartment, left, and walked across the hall. He opened Monica and Rachel's door. They were fighting. Monica was telling Rachel that if she wanted Chandler back, then she was going to have to give her up. Rachel was saying that she did want Chandler back, but she didn't know if she could give Monica up. Monica was telling her that if she wanted Chandler, and really loved him, then she could give Monica up. Then Monica gasped, seeing Chandler by the door.
Rachel turned around, and said, ''Chandler.'' She looked so torn. She wasn't sure what to do, and neither was Chandler. He looked at her. There was a tense silence.
Monica broke it. ''I'm gonna go. You guys can talk this out without me.'' She turned and left the apartment, going across the hall to Joey and Chandler's.
Chandler sat down on the couch, pulling Rachel with him. ''OK. She's right. We do need to talk. Rach, I still love you so much, it hurts. I just, I can understand the onetime drunken thing. Everyone does stupid things when they're drunk. I just, I don't understand why you've been doing it since then.''
Rachel wasn't sure what to say. ''I was sad, and upset. You weren't forgiving me, and Monica was trying to be there for me. But, if you want to work things out, then I can keep from doing it again. I can. I love you so much. We have been through so much to try to be together, and now that we know how we feel, we just can't break up. We have to try to work this out. It was good with you, Chandler. I don't want to be alone.''
She started to cry, and against his better judgement, Chandler held her. He was truly sorry that this had happened. They just sat like that for awhile, Chandler holding her while she cried.
Across the hall, Joey was rubbing Phoebe's belly. ''I can't believe there's a baby I made in there.'' He seemed happy to be rubbing her belly.
Phoebe looked at him. She was ready to marry him, even though they were supposed to be taking things slowly. She had missed him so much when they were broken up. She turned to him. ''Joey, I know we're taking things slow, but I love you. I have for awhile now.''
Joey smiled at her. ''Aw, Pheebs, that's so nice. I love you, too. Let's make some spaghetti and eat it. It'll feel all couply.''
While they were making the spaghetti, Monica came over. She said, ''Chandler and Rachel are in there making up!'' She was bouncy and excited.
Phoebe and Joey glanced at each other. They were tired of hearing about Chandler and Rachel. Joey said, ''Monica, Pheebs and I wanted some alone time.''
Monica made a face. ''Fine, then, I'll leave.'' She left the apartment, and then left the building. She wandered down the sidewalk, feeling all alone. She had been feeling this way since she and Richard had broken up, even though she knew it had been a good idea that they'd ended things. He didn't want children and she did. After about an hour of walking around, she went on back to her apartment. She entered it to find Rachel and Chandler dancing to some music on the radio. She left them alone and went into her room to cry....
The End, TBC....
Rachel woke up in Monica's bed, after a wild night of sex. She wasn't seeing Chandler anymore, and even though she wanted to, she and Monica couldn't stay away from each other. She missed Chandler. He hadn't been hanging with him the past couple of days, since he wasn't sure what to do about her. She got up and put on a robe. Monica moaned in her sleep. Rachel left the room and went into the kitchen to make some coffee. She was still torn inside. She didn't want to stop sleeping with Monica, obviously, but she missed Chandler so much it hurt.
The door opened, and it brung Phoebe. ''I think I might forgive Joey! I'm just, I'm so miserable without him.'' She announced to her friend. She stopped at the look on Rachel's face. ''I'm so sorry that you and Chandler aren't together, but you're getting help from Monica. You guys are like bunnies.'' Phoebe said.
This made Rachel laugh. ''I know. Monica's great. I just, I still love Chandler. Anyway, enough about me. So, you're going to fix things with Joey?'' She asked, smiling.
Phoebe smiled back. ''Yeah, I want to take it as slow as I can, but I do want to fix things. He's the sweetest guy I've ever dated.''
Speaking of Joey, he entered the room. ''Hey, guys.'' He smiled at Phoebe. ''Hi, Pheebs. How's the baby?''
Phoebe said, ''I'm ready to take you back, if you'll still have me, Joey.'' She couldn't contain her excitement. She and Joey were going to be able to be together, and take it as slow as they wanted.
Joey laughed and smiled wider. ''I'm so happy, Pheebs!'' He wrapped her in the tightest hug he could. He was so happy. They twirled around the living room and kitchen, a tangle of limbs and giggles.
In her room, Monica was writing in her diary. She was very confused, and knew Rachel was, too.
Dear Journal, Saturday, 9:30 am
Hi, it's me. I told you about fooling around with Rachel. At first, I was just doing it because I wanted to get over Chandler. And I was drunk. That, too. She is incredible. The best sex I have ever had in my life. She is very conflicted. She likes having sex with me, but she wants to be with Chandler. He and she have been in love a very long time. I feel like I messed that up, even though the first time we kissed, she kissed me. I just don't know what to do. I'm not strong enough to break up with her. I need her. There's nothing else good going on in my life. I need this. I need her. Oh, what do I do?
Monica
Monica closed her journal and sighed. She didn't like what was happening. She hated herself. She loved the sex, but this relationship wasn't making her feel good. It really wasn't. She may have split up two people who could be destined to be together. How could she live with herself if she didn't help them get back together? She had to. She didn't know where to start, but she was totally going to. She picked up the phone and called Chandler. It wasn't much, but it was a start. At least she was doing something.
Chandler answered his phone, hoping that it wasn't Rachel. He wasn't ready to forgive her yet. He wasn't sure if he could completely trust her. She had apparently gotten drunk and had sex with Monica a lot. Speaking of Monica, she was hollering his name. Chandler sighed. ''Hi, Mon. What's up?''
Monica sighed back. ''I want to talk to you about fixing this stuff with Rachel. I want you to find some way to forgive her. She was drunk, and was sad about the fight you guys had. We were both drunk. She didn't want to hurt you, but she liked what we did. I'm sorry, it was my fault that we kept doing it. I couldn't keep my hands off of her. I don't love her or anything, but it was amazing. I won't bore you with the details.''
Chandler found himself really wanting to know the details. ''Um, no, that's OK.'' He tried to keep his voice normal.
Monica shook her head. ''No way, uh uh. I'm not telling you. By the tone of your voice, you're probably like, getting all turned on.'' She couldn't help but giggle.
Chandler stopped wanting to hear the details with her giggle. ''Don't, Monica. It's only been a few days since I found out. I can't take it lightly yet.''
Monica immediately apologized. She knew how hard this was for him, and she didn't mean to hurt him. ''Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Look, I'm trying to do the right thing here. I'm the one who has Rachel. It shouldn't be this way. You should have her. Please forgive her. I can live without the sex.''
Chandler felt himself starting to fold. ''I do want to forgive her. I could forgive the one time, when you were drunk, but the times since? You guys have been fornicating like bunnies since then. If she loves me, then why does she have to have sex with you?''
Monica said, ''She loves you. She's sad that you broke up with her. She wants to get over you if you're not going to take her back. I guess that I am helping with that.''
Chandler said, ''I just, I don't know if I can forgive her. I love her. I'm hurt that she would do this to me. How can I forgive her when she cheated on me?''
Monica leaned back in her chair. ''Chandler, if you forgive her, and try to work out the kinks in the relationship, she'll take you back. She is just very hurt that you guys had a fight.''
Chandler told Monica he'd think about it and hung up. Phoebe and Joey entered the apartment, laughing and talking. He groaned and sighed.
Joey looked at him. He turned to Phoebe. ''He's still in phase one. There's nothing we can do for him yet.'' He pulled a soda for Phoebe out of the fridge.
Phoebe took it and sat down on one of the Barca loungers and turned to face Chandler. ''Chandler, if I could forgive Joey, you can forgive Rachel. She still loves you. She's really upset since you guys broke up. Go over and see for yourself.''
Chandler got up, and walked across the apartment, left, and walked across the hall. He opened Monica and Rachel's door. They were fighting. Monica was telling Rachel that if she wanted Chandler back, then she was going to have to give her up. Rachel was saying that she did want Chandler back, but she didn't know if she could give Monica up. Monica was telling her that if she wanted Chandler, and really loved him, then she could give Monica up. Then Monica gasped, seeing Chandler by the door.
Rachel turned around, and said, ''Chandler.'' She looked so torn. She wasn't sure what to do, and neither was Chandler. He looked at her. There was a tense silence.
Monica broke it. ''I'm gonna go. You guys can talk this out without me.'' She turned and left the apartment, going across the hall to Joey and Chandler's.
Chandler sat down on the couch, pulling Rachel with him. ''OK. She's right. We do need to talk. Rach, I still love you so much, it hurts. I just, I can understand the onetime drunken thing. Everyone does stupid things when they're drunk. I just, I don't understand why you've been doing it since then.''
Rachel wasn't sure what to say. ''I was sad, and upset. You weren't forgiving me, and Monica was trying to be there for me. But, if you want to work things out, then I can keep from doing it again. I can. I love you so much. We have been through so much to try to be together, and now that we know how we feel, we just can't break up. We have to try to work this out. It was good with you, Chandler. I don't want to be alone.''
She started to cry, and against his better judgement, Chandler held her. He was truly sorry that this had happened. They just sat like that for awhile, Chandler holding her while she cried.
Across the hall, Joey was rubbing Phoebe's belly. ''I can't believe there's a baby I made in there.'' He seemed happy to be rubbing her belly.
Phoebe looked at him. She was ready to marry him, even though they were supposed to be taking things slowly. She had missed him so much when they were broken up. She turned to him. ''Joey, I know we're taking things slow, but I love you. I have for awhile now.''
Joey smiled at her. ''Aw, Pheebs, that's so nice. I love you, too. Let's make some spaghetti and eat it. It'll feel all couply.''
While they were making the spaghetti, Monica came over. She said, ''Chandler and Rachel are in there making up!'' She was bouncy and excited.
Phoebe and Joey glanced at each other. They were tired of hearing about Chandler and Rachel. Joey said, ''Monica, Pheebs and I wanted some alone time.''
Monica made a face. ''Fine, then, I'll leave.'' She left the apartment, and then left the building. She wandered down the sidewalk, feeling all alone. She had been feeling this way since she and Richard had broken up, even though she knew it had been a good idea that they'd ended things. He didn't want children and she did. After about an hour of walking around, she went on back to her apartment. She entered it to find Rachel and Chandler dancing to some music on the radio. She left them alone and went into her room to cry....
The End, TBC....