Lazy Summer Days

A/N: I like where this story is going so far, so here is my next installment. This is in mixed POV's so I hope you can understand it okay. Someone brought to my attention that Joey would have more contact with Chandler, so I guess I didn't make it clear that no one knew where he was… I know he wouldn't leave Monica after one fight, but I wrote this after I saw the episode where he thought they were over because of one fight, so it was a future spin-off sort of thing. Hopefully this chapter will clear it up better though! Enjoy!

CHANDLER'S POV – 2 WEEKS AFTER THE FIGHT

After I left my family, life was nothing for me. I went completely into hiding. Joey, Ross, Rachel and Phoebe didn't even know where I was, and I wasn't planning on telling them. I thought it would be best for everyone somehow, me leaving. I stayed at my Mom's summer cabin down at the beach 2 hours away, and stayed there for 2 weeks. As the days passed on, I realized I couldn't go another day without seeing my family. I couldn't imagine going back to them, thinking that they hated me so much they never wanted to see me again, but the selfish part of me still wanted to see them. I ruined my girls' birthday, and the pain intensified little by little as I thought of their future without a father.

Finally, after I had run out of bears for the 4th time in a row, I knew I somehow had to get my life on track. I hoped to God that they would take me back, and love me like they would as if I had never left, but since I knew it wasn't possible, I sought the help of my best friend, hoping he still considered me his, too.

It pained me to pick up the phone, and my arm and fingers felt limp as I tried dialing his number. I couldn't do it, so I cleaned the living room before I brought up my courage again. Cleaning: one of Monica's favorite hobbies. Monica… just thinking about her made my heart race. I hadn't meant any of the things I said to her, so why didn't I go back? Why did I have to stay away for so long? And most importantly, why did I leave her in the first place? I just couldn't understand why I didn't realize how much she meant to me before. Then, it hit me. Thinking about my kids, and my wife, and the yearning I had to see them again brought up the courage I needed buried deep beneath my soul. I called Joey.

"Hello?" Joey answered.

"…"

"Hello? Is anyone there?" he tried again.

"Hey, Joe…It's me…" Silence. "I need to talk to you, man…" Even more silence. "Joey? Please… I need some help, man."

"Chandler… Do you realize just how bad you hurt Monica and the kids? Do you? On Tabby and Allie's birthday, too! How could you, man?" Joey was hysterical.

"Look, Joe, I know what I did was wrong, and I just… I know they hate me, and I'm sorry. All I want is to come back, and forget all of this ever happened, but…"

"But you can't, I know. I wish you would come back too, Chandler. We all miss you."

"But you know they won't take me back. I just wanted to know if you would do me a favor…"

"Sure, man. Anything. Where are you? Do you need me to pick you up?" Joey asked hopefully. I hate bringing him down, but there's nothing left to do. What's done is done, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

"I can't tell you where I am, okay? But I just need some pictures: pictures of Monica, pictures of my children, and pictures of all my best friends and nieces and nephews… my family, Joe. I need something to remember my family." And that was when I lost it. I began to cry, only softly, but I knew Joey could tell. He and Monica were the only people who had ever seen me cry, and I had only cried twice in my entire life.

"Okay, man… I will email them to you. Phoebe and I just got a computer and Ross showed us how to use it. Isn't that cool, man?" I knew he was trying to brighten the mood, but I wasn't in the mood to be cheered up.

"That's great man. Ross knows my email address, so get it from him. I'll talk to you later, Joe. You have always been such a great friend to me, and I love you for it. Tell Mon and the kids I love them and miss them, and I will come back when they are ready to accept me." Then I hung up, and fell asleep on the couch.

ALLIE'S POV – RIGHT AFTER LAST CHAPTER

"Isn't that like, the greatest plan ever?" I screeched. Danny, Tabby, Landon and I were all huddled around the table in the kitchen. Danny looked eager, Landon looked scared almost, but hopeful, and of course, Tabby looked confused.

"Al, are you out of your MIND? Do you realize how much trouble we will get in if we do that? Yeah, we have the money and all, but that's CRAZY! We could get kidnapped and killed, or in an accident, and besides, we don't even know where he is! Danny and Landon would have to get Matt and Vanessa in on it, and Matt will screw it up because he can't keep a secret any better than Aunt Phoebe!"

"Look, I know it's risky, Tabs, but you don't love and miss Dad like I do. I need him…"

She softened, and so did my brothers. They both tilted their heads down, and twiddled their thumbs. "Allie, I don't think you realize… I love Dad. I do. I miss him, too. I may not have been as close to him as you are, but I still want him to come back. More than anything, actually." This surprised me a great deal, and Landon and Danny too. They both looked up, bewildered.

"Really? You really mean that? So you will go through with 'Operation Homecoming' with me?" she chuckled.

"Yes, Allison. He is my dad too, ya know…" Now it was my turn to smile. This really was going to happen.

JOEY'S POV – NEXT DAY

Man, this is going to be hard…I thought to myself as I walked up Monica's porch. Without knocking, I walked in to the chilly house. Without Monica cooking all the time, the house seemed to lose all its warmth.

"Monica? Are you awake?" I yelled as I walked in. It was 10:00 in the morning, and no one was around.

"In here, Joey!" Monica called from the kitchen. I scrunched up my face in surprise. What was Monica doing in the kitchen? Man, I never thought I would ever think those words…

I walked into the kitchen to find Monica doing dishes… in Chandler's t-shirt and boxers. "Hey, Joey."

"Hey, Mon… Look, there is something I have to tell you…"

"No, wait. I have to tell you something first… I… I found something out today, and it made me realize that Chandler isn't here, and he never will be again. I need to get off my ass and start being a mother. I have left everything up to you guys for two weeks while I moped, and that was two weeks too many… Thank you so much for taking care of us… It means more to us than you know. I just… I can't let my kids lose another parent. Losing one must be hard enough…"

"Monica, they didn't lose him…"

"Yes. They did. He isn't here, so for all I know, he is lost. But moving on from that, I think I can now officially say that I am done letting Chandler Bing hurt me. I am done wasting myself away while he lives worry free. I'm done."

"But, Mon…"

"Joey, I'm pregnant."

TABBY'S POV – 10:00 a.m.

"Hey Allie, you awake?" I knocked on her door gingerly.

"Yeah, come in…" I heard her call from behind the door. I walked in, and saw her at her desk typing furiously at her keyboard.

"Allie, what are you doing?" I asked. I pulled up a chair and sat next to her after I closed the door.

"Just making plans for tonight. I have everything in order: a schedule, emergency contacts, our itinerary, a list of things we need to bring, how we will spend our money and how much we need in case of an emergency, and a plan for Danny and Landon. Danny is on the phone now with Vanessa. She is on her way to pick up Matt to take him to the park. She is babysitting him while Aunt Phoebe is at work. When she gets there, Aunt Phoebe wouldn't have left yet obviously, and Danny is going to get her to casually ask how to trace credit cards. You know howshe is good with computers and stuff because of that classshe is taking.Well anyways, bottom line is that Vanessa is going to try and find where Dad is, and since Phoebe won't suspect a thing (cause you know how she is) we can find Dad's location and know where we're going."

"Wow… my twin sister, ladies and gentleman! The smartest, most organized and most mischievous sneaker-outer there ever was!" she laughed.

"I don't think 'sneaker-outer' is a word, but thanks anyway…" she smiled, and continued typing. I sighed, and just read over what she has already typed. Just then, Danny burst in.

"Girls, we have a possible location of Dad. Vanessa found out from Aunt Phoebe how to back trace a credit card, because that is what Aunt Phoebe just learned in her computer class or whatever she is going to, and I guess Aunt Phoebe just thought she was showing off or whatever because she traced Dad's credit card for her without asking any questions what-so-ever! It says that he last used it at a grocery store at a beach about 2 hours away from here! Not only that, but Aunt Phoebe told Vanessa that Grandma has a beach house down there! We found where he is staying! We actually have an address!" I don't think I have ever seen Danny so happy, but then I realized Aunt Phoebe might be oblivious sometimes, but this is pretty self-explanatory. She knew what we were up to, and she was on our side.

"Hey, Dan…?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

"Aunt Phoebe knows. She isn't stupid." He thought for a moment, and then he grinned.

"Yeah, you are probably right… but she won't tell, right?" I glanced at Allie who was looking worried.

"She won't unless trouble comes. If we are successful, this could really change things around here. Just make sure that when Allie and I leave tonight to go get Dad and bring him home, you and Landon cover for us. Tell Aunt Phoebe we are okay, and we both have our cells. Make sure she keeps everyone occupied tomorrow. Tell her to have all the adults go out, and you and Vanessa offer to baby-sit for free. Then, at around 9:00 make sure Mom is home. We will meet you there at 9:00 sharp. Until then, tell her Allie and I went to Natalie's house, okay? She is our best friend, and we go over there all the time, so hopefully that'll keep Mom from being suspicious. Got that? While everyone is gone and it is just you, Matt, Landon and Vanessa home, set up something romantic. Help Landon cook something up, he is really good for a 9 year old. Get him whatever he needs. Vanessa can decorate, and remind her not to light the candles until 10 minutes before 9, so she doesn't burn the house down. Make sure Matt is occupied, too. He can pick out music, he likes that. Teach him how to make a play-list, and burn it onto a CD for him when he is done. This is VERY important, okay?"

Danny nodded. "Yes, ma'am!" and he left.

Allie shook her head in disbelief. "Ok, now who is the brilliant one? That was great! I have to add all that stuff to their list of things to do!" I smiled, and repeated everything for her to type up. Once everything was in order, we printed it all out, and started packing. Tonight is going to be a LONG night…I thought.

A/N: I hope the plan is pretty clear! Next chapter is the entire plan written up. Then the next one after that will be after Chandler and Monica meet up again. So, all in all, probably about 5 chapters for this story! Only 2 more to go. Review if you want more.