Woo! Thanks for the great reviews! Do you really seriously think I can write 100 chapters? You'll be lucky if you get 10! Oh... wait....
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One Year Later
Monica smiled sadly to herself as she was enveloped in a tight hug from her mother. Six years. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Six years away from other people, and he would be on the sex offenders register for life. Her parents couldn't apologise enough. But she still wasn't completely happy.
Why hadn't he been there to see what she had accomplished?
-----
"Two new messages?" he muttered to himself, flopping down on the sofa. Tired, he pressed the play button. He'd had a tiring day, and he needed to rest.
"Message One. Received at two-thirty-three pm." Chandler checked his watch. Nearly seven. His eyes were drifting shut, but opened quickly as he heard the voice.
"Chandler? It's me.. Monica. Look, I know we haven't spoken for a while.. I guess that's my fault really, we've drifted apart. Being this far apart is killing me, Chandler. But anyway. The point. I-"
It was cut out. Chandler leapt up, wanting to know what she had wanted to say. He had been distraught when, after writing to her countless times, she had seemed to give up, and didn't return his calls or write to him much. All she seemed to say was "See you soon." He'd given up. He hadn't wanted to, but what was the point?
The next message continued. "Sorry, cut off. Chandler, I did it. I told you I was going to tell Mom.. I did. I told her, told dad... I'm sorry I haven't been contacting you much recently, but I've been so caught up in stuff. Police, wanting to talk to me, court. I had to be brave, Chandler. I found it difficult without you. But I told them. He got six years, Chandler. Six Years! I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I had better go before this phone cuts out again. I'll ring you again later."
She hung up, and Chandler grinned to himself. She hadn't forgotten about him. She'd been sorting out her own life. She had taken his advice. She'd listened to him. Maybe...
His thoughts were halted as a dark haired girl popped her head around the door. "Chandler?" she said. "I've made us some tea. You thirsty?"
Chandler looked up. He smiled weakly at the girl.
"Yeh, thanks, Emily."
-----
Monica stared at the phone. She'd promised to ring him back, but she hadn't. Her mother, in her own wisdom, had held a celebration party, and Monica had completely forgotten about Chandler, and her promise to phone him back. Only when she had woken up did she remember her promise from the day before.
10am. What time would it be in London now? She screwed up her face, trying to think. Plus five hours... it would be 15... 24 hour clock... three o'clock, she decided on. A perfect time to phone him.
Hesitantly, she dialled the number he had scrawled down for her on a piece of paper, just hours before his mother had come to collect him. He had spent his last few hours in America with Monica. For that, she was eternally grateful. He could have chosen anyone.. but he had picked her.
She didn't care that it had been a year. She still loved him. She couldn't help it. They had decided, over the phone, that it wasn't fair for them to stay totally faithful. Who knew if they would see each other again? But Monica hadn't been happy with this decision, and deep down, she knew Chandler hadn't either. Chandler had been thinking of Monica. He wanted her to have a life. But she could never forget him.
He answered on the third ring. "Hello?" he said. God, Monica thought to herself. He sounds more British by the day.
"Hey," she said quietly, toying with the phone cord.
"Monica? Hey!" he said, sounded excited. "I got your news.. I'm so happy for you, Mon."
Monica smiled. "Thanks. I'm sorry I didn't phone back last night.. there was a party, it all got very emotional. Everyone telling me how sorry they were but how happy they were that he was finally behind bars. Quite distasteful, really."
Chandler chuckled, and his voice caught as he tried to tell her how proud he was of her. But he couldn't. He breathed sharply, hearing Emily in the next room. He didn't understand what he was feeling at that minute. It had been such a long time since he had spoken to Monica, but now he had heard her voice again, he missed her just as much as he knew he would the day that he said goodbye to New York.
"Chandler," Monica said slowly. "I really miss you."
"I miss you too, Mon," he said honestly. "We'll see each other real soon, I promise."
Monica sighed. "No we won't," she said quietly. "You always say that. I always say that. We promise to meet up but we never do. Chandler, I can't live like this much longer."
Chandler didn't know what to say. It was difficult over the phone. "Well.. I ... uhh.."
"I think we should move on. Completely. My life has turned a corner. That bastard got what he deserved and he's behind bars now. And you... You're starting a new life, in England. I think... we should just..."
"Forget?" Chandler asked. "Monica... I'll never forget..."
Monica shook her head, not realising that Chandler couldn't see. "No, not forget," she said. "Just.. remember fondly, I guess. Look back every now and again, remember what we had, and move on."
Chandler paused, not sure what to tell her. He decided the truth would be best.
"Mon... I kind of have," he said, stuttering a little. "She's called Emily. She... we've kinda been... seeing each other."
There was silence on the other end. "Oh," Monica said finally.
"But..." Chandler groped for the right words. How could he tell her that what he wanted more than anything was to go back to New York, to be with her, to marry her? Why had he got with Emily? He knew that if he tried hard enough, he would be with Monica. Hell, he loved her more than he loved anyone. Emily was lovely and sweet, but she just wasn't Monica.
"I'm sorry," he said. But there was no reply. He stared dismally at the phone. Monica had hung up on him.
-----
Sometimes I get to feeling I was back in the old days, long ago
When we were kids when we were young
Things seemed so perfect, you know
The days were endless we were crazy we were young
The sun was always shining, we just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately, I just don't know
The rest of my life's been just a show
----
Rachel stroked her friends hair, not really knowing what to say. She looked to Ross for help, but all he could do was shrug. Neither of them knew what to say to the sobbing Monica.
"Mon, he does still love you," Rachel attempted. "I know he does. I mean, if I were in his position, I might be quietly seeing someone... but it wouldn't necessarily mean anything."
Monica sniffed. "Yeh, but he never told me about her. That means he didn't want to. If it was just some fling he wouldn't mind telling me. But he kept it hidden. Don't you see?"
"I guess it makes sense," Ross began, and got a kick from Rachel.
Monica just sniffed more. "See? Even you agree." She tried to smile but failed miserably. "Isn't it an anniversary for you two or something today?"
"Yeh, 15 months," Rachel said, smiling. "Not really something most people celebrate but hey, I've kept a relationship going for over a year."
"Miracle," Ross said teasingly, ruffling her hair. Rachel squealed and Monica grinned, happy for her best friend and her boyfriend.
"Monica, I'm really sorry to have to do this, but we have dinner reservations," Ross said. Rachel grinned at him, amazed at how grown up and mature he sounded. "If you want we could stay a little longer..."
"No, no, you go," Monica said. "I'll just clear up a little and then do some work. I need to occupy myself somehow, don't I?"
Rachel smiled and stroked Monica's hair again. "You'll be fine, Mon. We love you, ok? And Chandler does too."
Monica nodded and hugged her best friend. When they left the room, Monica sighed to herself. She knew it had to happen. Why WOULDN'T Chandler have met someone? She was stupid to believe him when he said that he would always wait for her. But she couldn't blame him either. Try as she might, she couldn't just forget.
She glanced at a photo she had on her bedside cabinet. He had his arms wrapped around her, and she was staring into the camera. He said she looked wonderfully exotic in the photo, she looked almost sultry. She had laughed when he said that, but now she couldn't bear to look at the photo. They looked so happy. Angrily, she turned the photo frame around so it faced her wall, and she buried her head into her pillow.
Those were the days of our lives, the bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now but one thing is true
When I look and I find, I still love you
----
"She obviously misses him," Judy said, stating the obvious as she chatted to Richard. "But she's trying to be strong. Our brave little girl."
Richard smiled to himself. Suddenly Monica was the "girl" wonder, and luckily Ross didn't seem to mind. Judy was trying to make up for all the times she had put Monica down, spoilt Ross over her, and Richard didn't think it would hurt too much.
"Little? She's nearly 18 isn't she?" he mused.
Judy nodded. "In a month," she confirmed.
"Eighteen, huh," Richard said. "They sure grow up fast."
Judy laughed. "I know, it's sad. They are going to leave me soon. Ross will go back to university in September, Monica will go to college I expect... and it'll just be Jack and I left."
"Oh Judy, don't think like that. Soon you'll have beautiful grandchildren," Richard teased. "You'll feel older than ever by then."
"I wonder if Ross intends to marry Rachel," Judy wondered aloud.
"Would that be a problem?" he asked her, interested.
"No, not a problem... they seem very happy together," Judy said, smiling. "And her parents are really nice people. Quite well off too," she added in an undertone. Richard laughed heartily.
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Chandler shut the door and leaned against it, weary from the days events. Why had Monica hung up on him? Why did it matter that he was with Emily? It had annoyed him a lot. She had suggested they forget, move on, and he had. So why was she so angry?
He shook his head, glad that Emily had finally gone, leaving him to clear his head. She practically lived at his house now. It didn't help that she got on so well with his mother. Chandler suspected that his mother was part of the reason why she was with him. She was star struck when she had met Nora. Chandler's mother had returned to writing childrens books and had made a fortune. They lived in a beautiful London townhouse and they had everything they could ever need. But Chandler still wasn't happy. Despite the fact that he was annoyed with Monica at that moment, he still missed her... still needed her.
But over the past couple of weeks he had grown closer to Emily. He had started to open up to her more, and she had turned out to be a wonderfully deep person, and not the air head that he had first thought she was. He could do a lot worse than Emily Walthom, as he had been reminded by Nora a few times.
You can't turn back the clock you can't turn back the tide... Ain't that a shame
I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride, when life was just a game
No use in sitting and thinking on what you did
When you can lay back and enjoy it through your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately, I just don't know
Better sit back and go with the flow
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Dear Chandler,
I can't bear to talk to you on the phone anymore. I can't get across what I truly feel over the phone. I wish I could see you again, be near to you, but I know that's not going to happen. I just want you to know that I'm not angry with you. I still love you Chandler. If there was any way that it was possible, I'd wish that we could be together. But obviously that isn't what you want. I tried to tell myself that one day we'd be together again, but that just isn't going to happen anymore. You brightened up my life for that year or so that we were friends. You changed my life for the better, Chandler. I just want you to know how grateful I am. If it weren't for you, I'd still be hiding that horrible secret. I love you.
Monica.
Monica closed her eyes, and pushed the letter into the postbox. It wouldn't hurt, she reasoned with herself. He needed to know that she hadn't just given up on him. He meant more to her than anyone.
Because these are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now but some things remain
When I look and I find no change
As she turned around, she found herself buried in someones coat. She struggled free and mumbled her apologies, only to look up into a pair of kindly brown eyes. She smiled slightly.
"Hi, Richard."
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He tried to call. He couldn't bring himself to do it. Feeling tears in his eyes for the first time in ages, he sat down heavily in the study, as Nora called it. Why were they living in England anyway? Why did fate decide it was right for him to leave New York and Monica? It made no sense. They had been so perfect together. Now he'd ruined it, and he would probably never see Monica again.
He would have to get used to it, he supposed. His heart heavy, he dialled the number, and put the phone to his ear, listening to the ringing.
Those were the days of our lives, yeah
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now but one thing's still true
When I look and I find... I still love you
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Not much to say really... just, to let you know, next chapter will be called "Too Much Love Will Kill You." I also want to say sorry, as I know anhonestmoose has used this song in a fanfic before. I hope you don't mind? Please read and review. xXx