Hey thanks for the reviews. This is a M&C fic but its set when no one knows about them. Please Review.
Father and Son
"Hey, you ready?" Joey asked, as Chandler walked out of his bedroom.
"Yeah, I guess.." He replied, nervous about going to dinner with his father but he had managed to convince the others into going to.
"Right, lets go.." Joey opened and they walked over to apartment 20 and joined the others.
"Hi, we're just waiting for Rach, then we can go…" Monica informed them, giving Chandler a small smile of encouragement as they entered.
"Take your time…" He muttered back, pulling open the fridge and grabbed a can beer.
"Dude, you've already had like 3 of them!" Joey watched him take a huge gulp of the beer.
"Yeah, I'm going to need it to get through tonight!"
"What's the worst that can happen?" Ross asked.
"I dunno…" Chandler sighed, "that's the thing, I don't know what to expect."
"It'll be alright." Monica assured him, hugging him.
Chandler put the can down and looked at Ross. "No kissing him!"
"What?" Ross frowned, "Why would I?"
"The same reason you kissed my Mom!" Chandler countered.
"Oh come on, that's different…." Ross started but then stopped when he saw Chandler around nervously, not paying attention to him, "Chandler, calm down!"
"Yeah, yeah…"
"Right, I'm ready…lets go!" Rachel emerged from her room a few minutes after.
"You sure?" Chandler asked, desperate to stay as long as possible, "I mean, those shoe don't really match that dress…."
"What?" Rachel panicked, looking down at her outfit. "Really?"
"Rach, you look fine…" Monica told her, "Chandler just doesn't want to go."
"Oh good…" She sighed in relief.
"Come on, Chandler," Joey wondered over to him, "you gotta face him sometime."
"Do I?"
"You know you do…" Ross added.
"No, I don't," he responded stubbornly.
"Everything will be fine." Phoebe started to pull him towards the door.
"You don't know that." He pulled his hand out of hers and rubbed his eyes.
"Look, the guy made one mistake," Joey said, "give him a chance to make up for it."
"You don't understand…" Chandler told him, quietly.
"I know how you must have felt when he left…" Joey said, softly.
"No! You don't know!" Chandler snapped, "You don't have a clue what it was like to have to hear your own Mother crying herself every night and not being able to do anything about….you don't know what it was like to be the only kid at school not to go to the father and son days…"
"Chandler…" Monica tried to interrupt but he ignored and carried on.
"You don't know what it's like to have someone there your whole life then one day, they just leave!"
"Chandler, I'm sorry…" Joey said quickly, not knowing how badly Chandler was affected by his parents' divorce.
"When I was a kid, he was my hero…" Chandler lowered his voice slightly, "we did everything together…and then he just left without looking back!!"
"You going to be okay?" Monica asked gently, placing a hand on his shoulder in concern.
"Yeah, I'll be fine…" He said quickly and started to walk towards the door, "let's get this over with."
They all exchanged worried looks as he walked out, wondering if it was a good idea to have told him to meet his father.
XxXxX
Charles stood up when he saw the 6 of them approaching the table.
"Hi.." He smiled at Chandler, "I was being to wonder if you'd come…"
"I keep my promises…" He muttered quietly, taking a seat as far away from he father as possible.
"Ermm, yeah sorry we're late…" Rachel started, trying to ease the tension after a couple seconds of silence, "it was my fault..I wasn't ready on time."
"Hey, no problem.." Charles told her, laughing slightly "I know what its like to have to fix your hair and make up."
The others all laughed polity except Chandler.
"Why aren't you all dressed up then?" Chandler questioned, "Where's all your make up and dresses…"
"Well, I knew you didn't like it…" His father shrugged, "I thought it'd be easier without it all…"
"Oh, well I'm really grateful for that!" Chandler replied, sarcastically as the others looked away uncomfortably.
"See you still hide behind sarcasm and jokes…" Charles laughed uncertainly.
"You say that as if you were there when it started!" Chandler countered.
"I guess I deserve that.."
"Like hell you do!"
"Chandler!!" Monica hissed, she knew all this was hard on him but he could be a little bit more civil.
Chandler rolled his eyes and picked up a menu, pretending to be interested in it and trying not to comment back. If it had been anyone else then he would've done but he couldn't when it was Monica.
"So..umm…" Charles tried to think of someway to start a conversation and when looked around at his son's friends, he realised he didn't know any of their names. "I'm sorry, I don't know any of you…"
"Oh right…I'm Monica…" She spoke up first before introducing everyone else.
"Well, its nice to meet you all.." He smiled warmly at them all, "So, how do you all know each other…"
"Well, Monica's my sister," Ross started to explain, "and me and Chandler were roommates in college."
"Oh really?" Charles looked over at Chandler, who was still studying his menu but his next question made him look up, "Which College was that?"
The others looked at each other in disbelief that he didn't even know what college his son went to.
"NYU." Chandler stared at him.
"NYU?" Charles raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a problem?" Chandler asked calmly.
"No, no…" His father said quickly, "No problem, I just thought you would have gone to one of the others you got accepted into…"
"What's wrong with NYU?" Ross questioned.
"Nothing wrong with it!" Charles told him smiling, "Just not Yale or Princeton or anything…"
"Like Chandler could get into a college like that!" Rachel laughed, with the others joining in, while Chandler kept his eyes on the menu.
"Yeah, I couldn't even get into Princeton!" Ross stated but he stopped laughing and looked at Chandler. "You got accepted into Princeton?!"
"You didn't know?" Charles looked around at them confused.
"No!" Ross told him, slightly annoyed about the fact someone else in the gang got into a better college then him.
"Wow, you really got accepted into Princeton?" Monica asked, impressed.
"And Yale.." He muttered, still refusing to look up."Why didn't you tell us?" Phoebe queried.
"What would be the point?" He quickly glanced up.
"Well for starters, we wouldn't have given Ross the role of the intellectual…" Rachel quipped causing Ross to glare at her.
Chandler opened his mouth to reply but couldn't thing of a come back so instead he rolled his eyes and looked back down at his menu.
"So, how come you didn't go then?" Phoebe questioned.
"It wasn't what I wanted…" He shrugged, honestly, " I mean I didn't even now what I wanted to do, so what's the point…"
"I thought you wanted to be a doctor?" Charles looked over at his son.
"Yeah for a few years…" Chandler suddenly become hostile again and averted his eyes.
"You wanted to be a doctor?" Joey asked, "How cool would that have been? I would have lived with Doctor Chandler!!"
"So…" Charles started when everyone fell silent, he turned to Chandler again, determined to have a conversation. "How's your mom doing?"
"What would you care!?" Chandler said, standing up and throwing his menu down on the table, "Excuse me, for a minute…"
They all watched him as he headed over to the bathrooms, none of them knowing what to say or do.
"I'll be right back…" Monica excused herself to and went in the same direction as Chandler.
Charles sighed and leaned back in his chair. This was not going well, he had come all the way to New York to make up with his son but he hated him. He knew Chandler wouldn't have completely forgive him for what he had done all those years ago but he thought it might have been a little bit easier.
He scanned around the table to see all his friends, looking uncomfortably. He was glad his son had made such good and close friends, who obviously cared about him.
"I'm sorry about all this…" Charles said, "I guess I shouldn't have come back…"
"Hey, I wouldn't worry about it…" Ross told him, "He's pretty upset about everything that's happened but I'm sure he'll come around…"
"You think?"
"Oh yeah, for sure…" Joey added, "Plus, Monica's probably talking some sense into at the moment…"
"Are Chandler and Monica…" Charles stuttered, hating the fact he had to ask them about his own child's love life. "Y'know…together."
"What Monica and Chandler?!" Rachel let out a small laugh, "No they're just friends."
"Yeah, they're close but not that close.." Ross told him.
"Oh right…" Charles frowned, he would have put money on them being a couple by the way they looked at each other but if anyone would know, it would their closest friends.
Chandler stared at himself in the mirror as he leaned over one of the sinks. He couldn't believe he was sat at the same table as his father. He declared he would never see or forgive him for what he had put him and his mom through and here he was eating dinner with the man.
He took a deep breath before standing up straight and heading back out, knowing the others would be wondering where he was. When the door swung shut behind him, he felt someone place a hand on his arm.
"Hey," Monica gave him a small smile, "You okay?"
"I guess…" He muttered, not really knowing what else to say.
"Look, I know it's hard but couldn't you just give him another chance?"
"I'm trying Mon, I really am…" He ran a hand through his hair frustrated, "I just dunno if I can forgive him."
"Come here…" She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Thanks…" He whispered, closing his eyes, as a few tears threatened to fall. He wanted nothing more to go and sit back down and forgive his father for everything but every time he looked at him, everything came flooding back.
"What for?" Monica pulled back slightly to look at him.
"For being here and understanding…"
"Ah, what are girlfriends for?"
Chandler smiled for the first time that night.
"Don't you mean, Secrete girlfriend…" He whispered, teasingly.
"Alright…what are Secrete girlfriends for?" She corrected herself, rolling her eyes at him.
Chandler grinned at her again, already feeling at ease with her. He knew from the start of their relationship that they had something special but he was still a bit scared of admitting that but he was beginning to accept the fact that he was falling in love with her.
"So, what do you wanna do?" Monica asked, breaking his thoughts, "want me to distract them while you make an escape…"
Chandler thought about his options for a second before replying.
"As much as I would like that.. I didn't think I should.." He told her, "Joey was right, I've gotta face him one day…"
"You sure?"
"Yeah, for years I've missed having father…" He stated, "even if it doesn't work out or I can't forgive him, at least I can say I tried."
"I think, that's a good idea." She smiled at him.
"Come on, we'd better get back before they send out a search party.." Chandler started to walk back towards the table.
"Hold on a second…" She grabbed his arm and pulled him back, looking around making sure none of them could see them before leaning him and kissing him softly on the lips.
"Or maybe we could just stay here…" Chandler suggested once they parted after a few seconds.
Monica rolled her eyes again, a small smile playing on her lips and head back to the others, leaving Chandler to follow her.
Everyone was silent as Chandler sat back down, he looked over at Monica when she squeezed his hand, unseen under the table.
"So…" Chandler cleared his throat, nervously, "How's Vegas?"
Charles looked up quickly in surprise, "It's ermm.. Its okay…"
"Good…" Chandler nodded slowly, trying hard to keep the conversation going.
"I'm actually thinking about selling it." His father said.
"What? Why?"
"I want to move back to New York."
Chandler felt a mixture of emotions as he heard the last statement. He didn't know what to say. He wondered if his father's move back had anything to do with him. He wondered if he wanted it to because of him. He looked up to his Dad for so many years and he just abounded him. Would he do that again?
Before Chandler could say anything a waiter appeared and took down their orders. While they waited for the food, the other 5 found themselves starting the conversation, trying to include both Chandler and Charles. They noticed there was still a slight tension between the two but Chandler didn't seem so upset and angry now.
Once they're food arrive, everyone fell silent while they ate. After a few minutes, Chandler couldn't stand the silence any more.
"Mom's okay, by the way…" He said, quietly, only glancing at his father quickly.
"Well, that's good…" He smiled, "Is she seeing anyone at the moment?"
"Probably.." Chandler told him.
"Oh right.." Charles replied, looking back down at his plate.
"What...about you?" Chandler stuttered, asking a question he dreaded.
"I umm, I was with someone for a few years…" Charles told him, noticing how uncomfortable he was, "but that ended a few months back…"
"Oh…" Chandler said quietly.
"And you?" Charles asked, quickly, trying to get the conversation away from himself, "This there anyone special in your life?"
"Yeah, there is someone…" Chandler couldn't but smile slightly.
"What?" Joey cut in, "Who?"
"No one you know…" Chandler informed him.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Rachel frowned.
"Because there's nothing to tell…"
"If you say so…" She muttered.
Silence took hold again and everyone finished off their meals, waiting for someone else to start a conversation.
"You still like Basketball?" The memory of Chandler's love of watching the sport.
"Yeah, of course!" Chandler grinned at him. Charles couldn't feel happier, that was the first time in 15 years that he seen his son smile properly. "The Knicks Rule all!"
"Yeah they do!" Joey cheered.
Charles grinned as the pair did a 'high five.'
"I remember taking you to your first game…" Charles started, everyone turned and listened with interest, none of them really heard about Chandler's childhood before.
"I don't think I do…" Chandler thought carefully.
"No, you wouldn't…" Charles smiled at the fond memory, "You were only 2 years old."
"Wow, that was a long time ago…" Chandler muttered to him.
Charles laughed slightly before continuing his story, "When we got there, your Mom decided that you should fit in with the crowd…so we brought everything with the Knick's on it…tee-shirt, shorts, baseball cap…"
"Aww…" The three girls said at the same time, picturing it.
"Hey, look I've got a picture actually…" Charles searched his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
Chandler looked surprised, not expecting his father to carry a photo of him around in his wallet from when he was baby.
He watched as the picture was passed to Phoebe and Rachel, who both 'Aww-ed' again before giving to Ross.
Joey leaned over to look at it over Ross' shoulder and Chandler waited for the jokes and teasing to come but they both just smiled and handed it Monica.
"Aww, you're so cute!!" Monica stated.
"He was the cutest baby ever!!" Charles grinned modestly before pulling out another picture, "Look, here's when we were at the zoo… remember that?"
Chandler took the photo and looked at it, he was about 6 years old, sitting in between his parents.
"Yeah, I remember…" Chandler nodded, his eyes never leaving the picture, "Mom was scared of the tigers?"
"Oh yeah," Charles laughed, "she wouldn't go near the cage, until you grabbed hold of her hand and dragged her across."
"I was stood with you!" Charles told him.
"If I remember correctly you were busy trying to work out of your new camera worked…" Chandler reminded him.
"Oh yeah…I was never good with new technology!"
"Tell me about…I still can picture Mom's face when you ruined her new computer."
"I was trying to be help and clean it!!" Charles insisted.
"What with water?!" Chandler asked, laughing, "Give you some advice, Dad… water and electricity don't mix!"
"I brought her a new one!"
The other 5 exchanged happy looks, as they watched father and son getting on so well. Monica noticed how alike they looked, Chandler obviously got his smile and eyes from his father.
By the time they had dessert and paid the bill, they heard all about Chandler when he was kid, most of the time causing them to cry with laughter at his embarrassment.
"Right, well, I guess we'd better get going…" Chandler said, slowly standing up.
"Yeah, its pretty late…" His father agreed.
"I'll give you a call tomorrow…" Chandler told him, "maybe we could go and do something…just the two of us…"
"I'd like that." Charles smiled.
After saying goodbye to them all and thanking them all for coming, he sat back down to relax, happy how the evening went. He hoped he'd finally get his second chance with his son.
Please review and let me know what you think!!