A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! It means a lot that you like the story J I hope I live up to your expectations for this series! Here's the second chapter. I'm not gonna try to drag out this series, but I also don't want to rush it. So just bear with me, kay? It'll lead up, I promise. Oh… and if you don't mind… in your reviews (if you review. Please review!), can you just tell me how soon you want them to be found out? I'm gonna try and listen to the readers' opinions and use them for this story! Do you want all the mushy stuff longer, or do you want the real part of the plot to begin? And… yet another thing I may want to add… thanks to Becca for explaining a few things about the Jewish religion! I am doing my research, but I still don't know everything since I don't practice the religion. So, if I get something wrong anywhere in this series about it, please tell me! I'd appreciate it, and I wouldn't get mad ;) And if I offend anyone in ANY way, tell me, and I'll change whatever offends you so that it doesn't. I'm not trying to favor anyone, offend anyone, or pick on anyone… I don't like doing that. So please… I don't want anyone hurt! And a note on the story… their parents are very, very religious. Very.
Chapter Two
A hushed voice came from outside her window, causing Monica to sit up abruptly in her bed. She rubbed her eyes, blearily checking her digital clock.
2:03 AM
Monica yawned, stretching her arms and legs, still sitting on her bed. When she heard the whisper once more, she sighed and threw the heavy, cotton-filled quilt to the side. She stood up and walked over to her large window, peering through her blinds.
When she saw Chandler, her eyes instantly lit up. Quickly, she opened her window, ignoring the wind that blew to her face the instant it was open. Chandler smiled upon seeing Monica's face, melting her heart.
"Chandler! What are you doing here so late?" she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear. Chandler shook his head and began climbing up the fire escape, one hand holding onto the bars, the other holding onto a bag. When he reached her window, she stepped aside, letting Chandler in. He closed the window behind him and quickly gave Monica a short kiss.
"I come bearing gifts!" he announced, trying to use the most regal voice he could muster. Monica rolled her eyes, and Chandler set down the bag he was holding. "No, do not roll your eyes. These gifts are sent straight from the king himself, sent only to the most beautiful woman in all of America."
"Only America?" Monica kidded, moving in closer to Chandler, a mocking face of anger written across her. Chandler stepped closer, pretending panic.
"In all of the world!" he replied, throwing his arms out. Monica smiled, moving as close to Chandler as she could without touching him.
"That deserves a kiss," she said, standing on her tiptoes, gently brushing her lips against his. She smiled and stepped away, Chandler with his eyes still closed. When he opened them, he grinned slyly.
"In all of the universe!" he said, stepping closer to Monica. She laughed, putting her hand to his cheek.
"All that says is that I'm more beautiful than aliens." She walked away from Chandler and walked over to her door, locking it just in case anyone decided to check up on her. She then walked over to her bed and sat on it, patting the side next to her. "Sit."
"Is that an order?"
Monica gave one nod, trying to keep her face as straight as possible. "From you're supreme commander," she replied, using a sturdy, deep voice. Chandler picked up the bag and saluted Monica.
"Sir, yes sir!"
Monica suddenly narrowed her eyes. "Sir?"
Chandler saluted once more. "Ma'am, yes ma'am!"
Monica smiled and put her feet up on her bed, hugging her knees. "Better. Come and shower me with gifts, now," she said, smiling. Chandler laughed, walking over to the bed and sitting down on it. He opened the bag, but covered it so Monica couldn't peek inside. He took out a small notepad with flowers on the cover, handing it over to Monica. "What's this?" she asked, looking from the book to Chandler. Chandler smiled.
"This," he said, motioning to the notebook, "is a notebook. A journal, to be more exact." He smiled at Monica's confused look and took another notebook from his bag that was just a plain blue. "And this is my journal," he continued, holding up his book.
"What do we need journals for?"
Chandler's smile widened. "It's to record our every move. Ok, so maybe not our every move, but…" Chandler stopped, seeing the far-off look on Monica's face. "Ok, so here's how it goes," he said, trying to explain it in another way. "This book," he said, holding up his plain blue book, "is really for you. And the book you're holding is really for me." He stopped, setting the notebook down. "Whenever we're not together, we can write in these books. Whether we just can't see each other or we're on vacation, we write in our journals. We say what we're doing, or what we're feeling, or anything. Then, every two weeks, or when either us come from vacation, we exchange our books and read them for a day. Then we take the original notebooks back and write again." Chandler smiled as Monica slowly nodded.
"So this is a way for us not to miss anything on each other's lives? To get even closer, right?" Monica asked, looked up at Chandler, her gaze locking with Chandler's. Chandler nodded.
"Exactly."
"Sounds great," Monica decided, a smile appearing on her face. She took her book and carefully tucked it beside her. Chandler put up his index finger.
"Wait! That's not all!"
"Goody!" Monica replied, "Treats!"
Chandler laughed, beginning to dig into his bag. He took out a single thorn-less rose from the bag and smiled, handing it over to Monica.
"This is… a rose for a rose," he whispered, handing it to Monica. "But it's a thorn-less rose. See, a regular rose may have a beautiful blossom, but a thorny layer. This rose has both a beautiful blossom… and a thorn-less layer. Just like you, Mon." He smiled. "You're the perfect person, so I decided to get you the perfect rose." Monica smiled gently at Chandler, her heart overwhelmed with emotions.
"Chandler…"
"No, no speaking until the final gift is given to you."
Suddenly, he took out a small golden locket with jewels outlining it. In the center, in script writing, was written the word "Monica." When Monica saw the necklace, she quickly shook her head.
"We promised, no expensive things! Just because you're rich doesn't mean you should-"
Chandler put his finger to her lips, "shushing" her. She stopped talking, so Chandler put the necklace on Monica's neck, clasping the back shut. "I wanted to get this for you." He smiled, and Monica looked down at it, running her fingers over the smooth surface. Finally, she smiled, looking into Chandler's eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips. She moved closer to Chandler, leaning her head on his shoulder. When she opened the heart-shaped necklace, she saw two pictures: one of her and Chandler hugging, and one of just Chandler.
"So I'll be with you forever, no matter what happens," he whispered into her ear, kissing her hair. "I'll be wrapping myself around you, no matter what." He paused, looking down to Monica's face. "And know… that I'll love you no matter what."
Suddenly, tears sprung to Monica's eyes, and she hastily wiped them away. She quickly hugged Chandler, burying her face in his shoulders. She lifted her head to Chandler, their faces inches apart. "I'll keep it… no matter what."
* * *
"Ok, what the hell does nihility mean?"
Monica let a small laugh escape her lips as Chandler threw down his pen, angered with frustration. Monica shook her head, looking at him from across the room. She watched as the teacher walked over to him, shaking her head.
"Chandler, absolutely no swearing in my class, first of all." She looked down at him, her brown hair falling from her shoulders. "And second of all… why don't you use a certain book full of definitions? What was it called…" The teacher put her finger to her chin, pretending to think.
Chandler stood from his desk and walked over to the dictionaries as the rest of the class giggled, expecting no less from Chandler Bing. "Thanks, Ms. Unger," he mumbled, taking one from the shelf and walking back to his seat.
"Only 'cause you're my favorite," she sighed, turning back towards the blackboard. She began to write new directions, so Chandler sighed and crumpled up his current paper. Without standing up, he shot it into the trashcan and picked up his dictionary. He flipped through it a few minutes and finally shot up from his desk, still holding the book.
"Nihility. Noun. Nonexistence; nothingness," he read the definition. Everyone looked towards him, clapping. Chandler bowed, and Ms. Unger smiled.
"Very good. Now sit." Chandler sat, so the teacher continued writing as the rest of the class went back to work.
At the other end of the room, Monica smiled, her thoughts of Chandler clouding her work. A million thoughts entered her mind, and she had difficulty focusing on one.
How can he manage to be so cute all of the time?
I'm so lucky I found him.
I wonder when I'm going to see him alone again.
God, I love him so much.
Her heart was enlightened with all of her thoughts and their answers, but there was one that lingered that was yet unanswered.
How long is it going to be before he finds someone just as perfect as he is?
* * *
Monica gaped at her mother, shocked. She shook her head, standing up from the dining room table.
"So you mean to tell me that if I start dating someone that isn't Jewish… you'd what? Kill me?"
Judy Gellar narrowed her eyes at her daughter. She pointed at her, so Monica quickly sat down. "I wouldn't kill you, for heaven's sake! I'd…" She paused, putting her finger to her lips, thinking. "I don't know what I'd do. Let me just tell you now, I will not allow it." Judy began to continue eating her dinner, but Monica shook her head wildly.
"Mom, you can't tell me who to date!" she cried, throwing her fork to the table. Ross slowly put his head up, looking from across the table to Monica.
"A-actually, it's whom."
Monica glared at Ross, so he continued to pick at his food, keeping one ear on the conversation his sister and mother were having. Monica looked back at her mom, her eyes burning. "It's my life. You can't tell me how to live it! I decide who I want to date, I decide what I do. Not you!" She watched Ross lift his head again. "Shut up, Ross!" she yelled before he could correct her grammar.
Judy looked back at her daughter. "You will not talk to your brother like that, Monica!" She paused, then set her fork down. "And with what you're telling me and how you're reacting, you'd think you're already dating a Muslim or Christian or something!" Monica's eyes darted nervously from around the room, but Judy was oblivious. "Monica, there are thousands of fine Jewish boys! It's so much better to date and marry a Jewish man than a… Christian! Jewish guys are far more respectful, responsible, caring-"
"A person's religion has nothing to do with what kind of person they are!" Monica cut off her mother, her eyes back to burning. "You're so oblivious to the world around you Mom! It's what the person believes that makes them Jewish, not how they act! Look at yourself, Ma. You pretend like you're in love with God, then you pass these judgements!" Monica sat up from the table, throwing the napkin she was holding onto her plate. She began to walk out of the door when her mother began to say something.
"Sit back down here, Monica! You will not speak to me like that! And you need to understand my prospective! If you marry anyone but someone that's Jewish, you'll have different beliefs! If he were Christian, you'd have to have Christmas. You'd have to sacrifice a lot, Monica! Do you want that?"
"If I were truly in love with him, I wouldn't care. And neither should you. Jeez, why are you making this so difficult?" Monica began to open the door, but stopped before she walked out. "And you know what? After what you did years ago, I'd be lucky if anyone would want to marry me." And then she was out the door.
* * *
Chandler rolled his eyes, sipping his glass of water. He leaned back in his chair, his fork still in his hand. Nora Bing looked at her son from across the long, marble table, her eyes telling him not to push it. He shrugged when he caught her eye, and looked back at the typical blonde, big-busted, blue-eyed girl sitting next to him. The Christian girl sitting next to him.
"Tell me about yourself," he said, trying to keep from yawning. That is… if you haven't already told me every single detail about you and your BMW, he thought bitterly. The girl began to speak, but Chandler's mind was shut off from her words. Only one thought occupied his head at that moment: When is she going to leave? Before he could say another word, or think another word, the large, grandfather clock struck eight, and the girl excused herself. Chandler happily showed her to the door, closing it behind her. When he was sure the door was closed, he let out an exasperated sigh. "Finally!"
Nora shook her head, walking closer to Chandler. "She wasn't that bad." Chandler stared stupidly at his mother, his mouth hanging open.
"Mom, she spent two hours talking about her 'precious' car!" he replied, throwing his hands up into the air. "She was the worst match you could ever try to give me!" He shook his head, walking over to the living room, Nora right behind him. He flopped onto their leather couch as his mom sat in the armchair. "And, by the way, I can not believe you gave me a blind date. Especially without consulting me first!"
"That's because I knew you'd say no!"
"Oh, that's so much better," he retorted, kicking up his heels onto the armrest, laying down flat on the couch. Nora sighed.
"Chandler, I was just trying to find you a nice, Christian girl that was the same level as you!"
"Ma, I'll find my own girl, okay?"
"I'm just afraid you'll find someone… different than you." Nora laid her head onto the back of the chair and rubbed her forehead, while Chandler shot up from his position on the couch.
"What do you mean… different?" he replied, almost yelling. He threw his feet off of the couch and looked straight into Nora's eyes.
"You know perfectly what I mean. See, girls that aren't on the same level in… money… as you may use you for all that you have. And girls that aren't Christian don't share the same beliefs as you!"
Chandler shook his head, his eyes lost. "You mean I can't date anyone that isn't Christian or… rich?" he asked, bewildered. Nora nodded her head. "Ok, so… do you mind if I give you a hypothetical question?"
Nora looked hesitant, but still replied, "Sure."
Chandler shifted his weight on the couch, his eyes darting to anything visible. "So… just because they're not the same as me… I wouldn't be able to date… say, at the top of my head, Phoebe Buffay, or Monica Gellar?"
"First off, I have no idea who Phoebe Buffay is. And as for Monica Gellar… isn't that the cheap little… whore I've heard about from off the streets? The one with… Judy as her mother?" Nora shook her head quickly. "No, no I would never let you date her! Not only is she Jewish and lives in a cheap house, but her family is horrific! And she's just the same!" Nora shuddered just at the thought of her son and 'a cheap little whore' together.
Chandler clenched his fists together, biting his lip to keep from shouting at his mother until his throat was sore. He felt tears about to prick his eyes, but hid them.
Monica? Horrific? She's an angel, no less, Chandler thought to himself, hate for his mother bubbling up inside of him. She's my angel.
Chandler shook his head, lying back down on the sofa, trying to erase his mother's words from his mind. But her words weren't exactly the problem. The problem was… now Chandler wasn't sure if they'd ever reveal their relationship.
And it terrified him.
To Be Continued…
Ok, how was it? Sorry if it was too short, too boring… anything. But please, please, please review to let me know what you think! Hate it, love it? It doesn't matter to me; I want your reviews either way! Let me know what you think! Please? And wasn't this chapter posted fast? Yes, I am very proud of myself ;) Okay… so do you want me to continue? And… once again, thank you for all of the wonderful reviews for the previous chapter! I hope to get the same response for this one :D
