Thanks for all the reviews!!

Rachna- I'm glad my fic made you all 'grinny and happy and 'whe'.'

A Goodbye

Monica sat at the table the next morning wait for everyone to turn up. They all decided it would be best for them all to say goodbye to Chandler here instead of the airport. Which was fine by her because she knew the longer she stayed with him, the harder it would be to let him go.

"Morning," Rachel said, walking out her room.

"Hey." Monica forced a smile.

"You okay?" Rachel asked.

"I'm fine…" She replied, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I dunno, you just seem a bit depressed."

Monica didn't say anything else; she wanted to tell Rachel everything. She wanted to tell her how the last couple months have been brilliant because of her new relationship. She wanted to tell her how much it killed her just thinking about not seeing Chandler everyday.

"What time did you get in last night?" Rachel interrupted her thoughts, as she poured herself some coffee.

"I dunno…not late."

"Oh, well I waited up for you but after an hour I went to bed." Rachel stated.

"Yeah, I was talking to Chandler…" Monica informed her.

"Is everything all right?" She asked, concerned with her friends odd mood.

"Course it is." Monica replied too quickly. She sighed when she saw Rachel's look of disbelief. "It's going to weird without him here…"

"I know…" Rachel soothed, "But 6 months isn't that long."

Monica tried to force a smile; she knew it wasn't convincing her best friend.

"What's going on, Mon?"

"Just something Chandler said last night…"

"What?" Rachel questioned.

"He was having seconds thoughts about going…"

"Really?" Rachel looked up, hopefully. "What did you say to him."

"I told him to go…"

"Why?!"

"Because I know he really wants to!" Monica told her, "I don't think he'll be happy if he stayed."

"What if he's un-happy while he's out there?"

"Then he'll come home!" Monica said, "I know I did the right thing…."

"But?" Rachel predicted.

"But it was so hard to tell him to go." Monica tried to hide the tears that formed in her eyes, "He would have stayed if I told him to."

"That's because he's your best friend!" Rachel responded, wrapping an arm around her. "He'll do anything to make you happy."

"I know.." She smiled a little bit more genuinely.

Rachel moved back to her seat as Monica started to prepare breakfast. She knew Chandler's leaving would be hard on Monica; they had been best friends for years. She used to be jealous of how close they were sometimes, she knew there was a lot of Monica's secretes that Chandler know and she didn't but over the years she had learnt to deal with it. She just wished she had a best friend like that.

"Joey, no means no!" Chandler snapped as he walked through the door, with a suitcase in hand.

"Why not!?" Joey followed him.

"What's going on?" Rachel asked curiously.

"Joey wants me to go and find that bridesmaid and bring her back with me!"

"She was hot!" Joey exclaimed.

They all just rolled their eyes and ignored him.

"So, you ready?" Rachel asked Chandler.

"Yeah, I think so.."

"Excited?"

"Kinda…"

"What do you mean 'kinda' you get to go to London again!" Joey added, with a mouthful of pancakes.

"Just going to weird…" He shrugged, "I mean, last time I was there, you guys were too…"

"Yeah, London, Baby!" Joey cheered.

"Okay, I'm not going to miss that!"

"Hey, can you get me another hat? I can't find my one…" Joey asked.

"Yeah, sure…" Chandler replied.

"I thought you hated that hat?" Monica whispered to him.

"I did…. But I feel kinda of guilty…." He admitted, "I was the one who throw it away."

"Hey, Guys!" Phoebe said cheerfully as she walked through the door.

"Hey, Pheebs… you're in a good mood."

"Yeah, I'm so happy for Chandler!" She stated.

"You are?" Chandler smiled at her.

"Yeah course…" Phoebe replied, "You get to go home to France."

"Ermm, I'm not French…" Chandler frowned, looking around the others.

"No, silly! Not in this life!" She shook her head, "But you use to be a French teenage, you ran off to England with your girlfriend…"

"Right…"

"Yeah, that's where Shakespeare got the idea for 'Romeo and Juliet' from."

Chandler exchanged looks with Monica and Rachel, who shrugged in reply, indicating they didn't understand either.

"Okay, anyway…." Rachel said, changing the conversation, "Where's Ross?"

"Oh, he's down at the coffee house…" Phoebe told them, "He said he'll be right up."

"So, where are you going first?" Rachel turned to Chandler.

"Umm, Italy, I think…" He frowned, he wasn't to sure on the plans, he had left that up to his Dad.

"Oh cool, go and see my Nan!" Joey told him, "She'll love you!"

Before Chandler could answer, Ross walked in and handed him a paper bag.

"Hey, man, got you some muffin's for the trip…" He smiled; he had acted really bad about the whole situation and just wanted to show Chandler that he was okay about his decision.

"Thanks…" Chandler smiled, knowing the silent message behind it.

"What time do you leave?" Rachel asked.

Chandler looked down at his watch, "Actually my Dad should be here any minute."

"Well, we better say bye, now then…" She forced a smile and hugged him.

"I'll see you soon…" He whispered.

"Yeah, you better write!" She warned, tearfully.

"Course I will.." He promised.

"Have fun, Chandler…" Phoebe was next.

"I will."

"I can't believe you're going…" Joey was already crying when Chandler turned towards him.

"I'll be back…" He assured him, "6 Months will fly by!"

"Yeah, I guess…"

"Look after the birds, yeah?" Chandler said softly, hugging him, fighting his emotions.

"Only if you look FOR some birds in Europe…" Joey replied.

Before Chandler replied, he glanced quickly at Monica, who smiled slightly at him.

"Nah, Joe…" He shook his head, "I don't need any European girls…"

"Why not?!" Joey demanded, confused why anyone wouldn't want my type of girl.

"I'll explained when I get back…" Chandler said, him and Monica decided they would wait till he returned before they told anyone about them. They didn't them all interfering but Chandler knew it was going to be hard on her and wished someone were there to help her.

"Huh?" Joey frowned, looking at the others.

"Oh, forget it, Joe!" Ross rolled his eyes and then looked at Chandler.

"Look after yourself…" He told him quietly.

"I'll be fine…" Chandler sighed; they had many conversations about all the trouble Chandler could get into while on the trip.

"You better be!" Ross joked, he held out a hand.

Chandler smiled and grasped his hand, doing the little 'handshake' they made up while in college.

They grinned at each other before hugging, Ross really wanted to be happy for Chandler but he had a bad feeling about this trip.

Ross stepped back and stood next to Rachel, Phoebe and Joey, they smiled sadly at each other as they watched Chandler turn towards his best friend.

Chandler stared at Monica, she had her head down, her glaze fixed on her shoes but Chandler could still a few tears that had managed to escape.

They had said a proper goodbye last night, in hope that it would be easier for him to leave but it was killing him.

She looked up at him when she noticed it had all gone quiet. She hadn't been paying attention to what the other had said to him, she just tried to concentrate on letting him leave.

Chandler moved towards her and pulled her into his arms. He closed his eyes in attempted to hide his tears.

"Always and forever…" She mumbled into his shirt, only loud enough for him to hear.

"Always and forever…" He repeated softly, he slowly released her from his arms and opened his eyes. He took and deep breath and turned back around to face the others. "So, I guess this is it!"

"Yeah…" Joey nodded slowly, gripping onto Phoebe's hand.

"I'll phone, write, and email you…" He assured them all.

"Have a good time…" Rachel choked out.

"Erm, have you got everything?" Monica asked.

"Yep, my bag…my passport…" He pointed to his suitcase first and then padded the pocket where his passport was but then he started to search his other pockets. "Hold on, where's my passport?"

"I never took it!" Joey added, quickly.

"Joe, where is it?" Chandler sighed.

"I don't know!" He insisted, looking away, guiltily.

"Joey…" He warned.

"I told you I never took it!" He said again before adding, "And I never but it in your bedroom, either…"

Chandler rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"I'll just go get it…" He told them, heading towards the door, "My Dad should be here any minute, I'll be right back."

They all nodded silently and watched him walk out, bouncing slightly with excitement.

Ross took a deep breath and walked away from the others, not sure what do. Rachel handed Phoebe and Joey a box of tissues, smiling slightly. While Monica stood by herself, staring at the suitcase. She smiled when she thought of the words Chandler had said to her the night before. She knew they were going to be okay.

"Y'know, there was a part of me that thought something would happen and he wouldn't go…" Phoebe broke the silence.

Monica looked back down at the flooring, as Ross and Joey agreed with her. She wondered what her friends would say if they knew she had the chance to make him stay.

"Hi…" They looked towards the open door to see Charles stood there.

"Oh hi…" Monica smiled slightly at him. "Chandler's just gone to get his passport, he'll be here in a minute."

Charles nodded but never spoke, Ross frowned when he noticed, he wouldn't look at none of them either.

"What's going on?" He asked.

Charles looked over at him, "Nothing…"

"You're going to let him down again aren't you…" Ross predicted, after a few seconds.

"Ross!" Monica hissed, she couldn't believe her brother was acting like this, after everything they had been through.

"Something has come up…" Charles started to explain quietly, causing everyone to turn their attention to him.

"What?" Monica questioned.

"This is a once in a life time opportunity…" Charles added.

"So, you're leaving and not taking Chandler with you!?" Ross barked

Charles didn't say anything; he just nodded and looked down at floor as his son's 5 friends glared at him.

Ross rubbed his eyes and turned around, trying to keep his temper under control. He couldn't believe this was happening.

"Hey, Dad..you're here!" Chandler said, practically running back into the apartment. His smiled faded when he saw the looks on his friends faces, Phoebe, Rachel, Joey and Monica was stood stare angrily at his Dad. While Ross paced the room, fighting the urge to punch Charles. "What's going on?"

"Look, Chandler, there's something you need to know…" Charles told him.

"Can't it wait?" He asked, "We've got a flight to catch…"

"No we haven't…."

"What?" Chandler took a step back, looking confused at his Dad.

"I'm jot going to Europe…"

"Why not?" He asked, he looked around at the others, "have you lot said something?"

"No Chandler, it wasn't them…" Charles sighed.

"When, what's going on?"

"Remember when I came here?" Charles asked, "I told you I just split up with someone…"

"Yeah, so?"

"His name is Terry…" His Dad explained, "he called me yesterday…"

"And said what?" Chandler had already guessed what was going on but he needed his Dad to say it.

"He wants to give us another shot and I've agreed…"

"Right!" Chandler nodded, adverting his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Charles told him, "But I have to give him another chance…"

Chandler nodded silently again; he couldn't believe he let his father convince him to trust him again. Nothing had changed, he still that same man who walked out on him when he was a kid.

"You understand, right?" Charles asked, "I mean, this is the guy I was with for 2 years…this is Terry…"

Chandler looked up slowly; all the others could see the disappointment, anger and hurt in his eyes. For the first time, they had known him; they saw a few tears brimming in Chandler's eyes.

"And I'm your Son…" Chandler replied quietly, looking at his father.

"I'm sorry…" Charles mumbled, looking away.

Chandler let out a small laugh, he knew he wasn't sorry. He turned away, blinking away the tears. He wasn't going to let his Dad make him cry. Not again, not after all those times he did before.

"I guess this is goodbye then!" Rachel said, wanting him out of her apartment.

"You only say goodbye to people you're not going to see again…" Charles smiled, holding out his arms to Chandler. "This is more of a cya later…"

Chandler stared at him; the tears were gone along with all the emotion in his eyes.

"Goodbye, Charles…." He said, nodding slowly agreeing with his statement, not once taking his eyes of his father.

Charles' arms dropped to his side, he smiled sadly before slowly walking out, once he reached the door he turned back to look at Chandler before closing it.

Chandler stared at the door, anger boiled inside him, it happened again.

"You okay?" Joey asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He didn't reply, he just shrugged it off and reached for his suitcase. They all followed as he stormed out of the apartment and into his own.

"Guess I don't need this any more!" He stated, throwing his case across the room.

"We're so sorry, Dude…" Joey said.

"Why?" Chandler looked at them, "This means that I'm staying…"

"Yeah, that great." Rachel smiled, "But we know how much you wanted to go…"

"Nah, not really…" He lied, "Who was I kidding? I not cut out for all that family stuff…"

"Yes you are…" Ross told him.

"No I'm not…" He shook his head, "But it doesn't matter cos I'm staying, which is the best idea…"

"Yeah, we're roommate again," Joey tried to make him feel better.

"Yep… and me, you and Ross, we can go to that Knick's game that planned!" He forced a smile.

"Yeah…" Joey nodded, looking around at the other, wondering what he could do.

"Yeah, you wanna the best thing?" Chandler said, talking really quickly, in attempt not to let go of his emotions.

"What's that?" Phoebe asked, as they all exchanged worried looks at his behaviour.

"I don't have to wait 6 months to be with you…" He said softly, looking at Monica.

"Huh?" The other 4 asked.

"I don't have to wait 6 months to tell you I love you.." He added, taking Monica's hand.

She smiled at him, tears in her eyes. She didn't know whether to worried that the others now knew about their relationship and where staring at them with mouth wide open or to be happy to hear Chandler finally say the words she had been feeling for the last few months.

"And you know I love you too…" She replied, hoping it would help lessen the pain he was feeling.

"Wow…what the hell…" Rachel managed stutter, as the others were still speechless.

"Yeah, its good he's gone…" Chandler concluded and began to pace the room again, "There's nothing he can teach me!"

"You and Monica?" Joey squeaked.

"He wasn't there when I start to college and I got through that fine without him," He ignored his roommate, "And I've managed to get a decent job without his help."

"You're in love?" Ross asked, looking between his best friend and his sister. Monica nodded in reply when Chandler continued to ramble.

"I leant how to drive without him… I went on my first date without him…and I've had 15 great years without him!!!!" He said, his voice getting louder and louder.

"Yeah, we know…" Monica reached out and touched his arm.

"Y'know what? I'm going to be fine without him!" Chandler stated, trying to convince himself more then he was the others, "I don't need him to be there when we get married… when we buy our first house…when we have kids…"

Monica couldn't help but smile as she listened to Chandler, he believed that they were going to get married and have family.

"There's nothing he can teach me about being a father…" Chandler told them, not noticing that admitted his true feeling about their future, "I'm never going to leave my children…"

"We know you wouldn't," Rachel smiled; it was weird Chandler talking about having kids and a family.

"I'm never going to hit them or make them do anything they don't want to do!!" His voice started to crack as he shrugged to hold on to his emotions.

"It's going to be okay…" Monica soothed, trying to hug him but he moved away.

"Who needs him!?!" He yelled, causing the others to jump.

No one spoke as Chandler fell silent, leaning his forehead against the wall. They looked at each when they heard his quiet sobs. None of them had ever seen him cry before.

Monica moved forwards and put her hand on his shoulder.

He slowly turned his head to look at her. Tear spilling down his face and for once he didn't care.

"Why doesn't he want me?" He cried, "What did I do?"

The look of hurt in his eyes broke her heart and that alone made tears well in her own eyes. She hugged him into her arms and held him tight as he cried.

The others joined the hug, one by one…. Knowing there was nothing none of them could say to make him feel better.

Oh come on, you seriously thought I was going to let him go!? You mad?!

Please review and let me know what you think!