So this is it. The end of almost a years work (practically).

So here it is, the end. Thank you all for reading it and sticking with it despite the months when I didn't update.Thank you all for reviewing, they made my day :D and I'm not sure if the ending is as clear as it could have been so lemme know if you get stuck! Hehe.

And rossandrachelforever (I think that was your name ... ) to understand why Ross sent Monica to Texas you can either read back a few chapters, or read this one!

Just a little bit of news, I'm currently in the process of turning this into a novel, adding bits to the begining and explaining more about Monica's time in jain (only with original characters). If it ever gets picked up by a publisher I expect you all to read it!

Happy New Year dudes.

Nina

While You Were Sleeping

Part 22

Monica walked off the plane, her eyes still red and bloodshot after hours of crying. She still couldn't quite comprehend that her life was effectively over. She was almost 40, so any chance of children was pretty much gone. Her one dream, her one ambition, the only thing she'd ever wanted to be, her chance to be a mother, gone. Her husband, her marriage, everything that she had held so close to her heart was gone now. Never to be hers again. Her family obviously didn't care about her anymore, the only words Ross had said to her since she'd been released were

"Here's your ticket. Your plane leaves in about three hours"

Not exactly the joyous reunion she'd wanted. Still, who could blame him? She'd been a convicted murderer for over five years; everyone probably still believed she was. She'd never be able to put it behind her. She'd never be able to get another job, who'd want to employ Monica Geller? The women who'd opened fire on a New York coffee house. No one. She'd never date again, she knew that. So her life from now on would be nothing. Complete and utter nothingness.

She walked over to a payphone and mechanically reached for the Yellow Pages in front of her, turning the pages until she found the number of a local cab company. She dialled the numbers without even thinking about it and waited outside, not even caring that the rain was beginning to fall. It didn't matter anymore, nothing did. No matter what she did, where she went, how well she hid, people would always find out who she was. Rooms would empty and conversations would die as soon as she approached them. And all because of one night, a night that was nothing to do with her.

Or was it?

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Rachel watched as Ross sat on the sofa, the tension visibly removed from his body now. She knew he'd hated this, having to watch Monica released when he'd cut all ties with her. In a strange way it had been easier for him to accept that she was a killer and have nothing to do with her, than to try and explain all that to her now she'd been acquitted. Still, sending her on a plane to Texas as soon as he saw her probably wasn't the best thing to do …

"You want a drink?"

Rachel shook her head, unable to look at him. She thought she knew him, thought he'd be there for her no matter what, but what if he did it again? Dumped her at the first sign of trouble, like he had Monica? What if he ran away because that was easier than to fight for a relationship?

"You OK, Rach?"

She looked up at him and suddenly all the emotion she'd suppressed came surging up.

"Why did you do it Ross?" she ignored his confused expression and continued, not even caring what she was saying anymore, just needing to say it. "Why did you just drop her without a second thought? She's your sister Ross, your little sister and as soon as she wasn't perfect anymore you ran away. Are you going to do that with me? I stay out late one night and suddenly you're gone? And today, you said one sentence to her, you didn't even apologise. How can you live with yourself? A plane ticket?! You gave her a plane ticket, some big hint to drop there Ross. How can you even sleep at night? You're really not the person I thought you were … "

She sat down, exhausted, turning her back on him, not even sure if she wanted him to defend himself. It would be easier if he simply accepted that he'd been an idiot, a heartless bastard, and phoned Monica in the morning to apologise. But that would never happen, this was Ross after all.

Ross smiled to himself, trying desperately to hide it from Rachel. She'd probably castrate him if she saw him smiling now. But he couldn't help it, and a part of him wanted desperately to tell her why, to tell her exactly why he'd put Monica on the first plane to Texas. Not yet. Not yet.

--------------------

Looking down at the piece of paper in her hand Monica repeated the address to her taxi driver.

"3500, Elmhurst Drive please"

He nodded. Monica sat in silence. Contemplating a strange, empty house. A house that she now had to live in, miles away from everyone and everything that she loved, that she had thought loved her. Until she made a mistake, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then suddenly she was evil and needed to be cut from their lives. She knew exactly why Ross had sent her here. Out of sight, out of mind right?

"$25.50 please"

Monica paid her driver and stared up at her new house. In the fading light of the sun it looked eerie, yet beautiful. Unoccupied, yet homely. But it still wasn't her home, it never could be. Not when everything she loved was back in New York. She was still watching the strange orange glow of the sun behind the house when she heard the door open and whipped around, terrified of who, of what, she might find.

He was letting a dog out; an Irish setter that bounded straight passed him, making a clear path towards the oak tree at the edge of the garden. She saw him laugh, his face older than she remembered, each new line adding more and more character. In that instant she realised exactly why Ross had sent her here, and she couldn't help but smile. Seeing him face her she feel in love,

A shout

"Chandler?"

A scream

"Monica?!"

A struggle

They ran

A life

Regained …

No one slept as the others suffered.

"Chandler … " she whispered as he wrapped his strong arms around her. Lifting her into the air as they spun around in the moonlight, the dog chasing at their feet. It was perfect, and Monica knew this was where she wanted to be. All alone, growing old together, and now she had Chandler all to herself, just like she'd always wanted. And she knew they wouldn't be bothered here, her one night of madness had made sure of that.