I just happened to be almost finished this chapter when I saw the request for an update today. That was lucky! It won't happen every time tho ;)
A week went by, and Monica was still on pins and needles as Chandler was hemming and hawing about talking to his father. It wasn't helping her case either. She started thinking more and more how she had hidden feelings for Chandler that started back when Joey had moved in and Chandler had hugged her after her tearful speech and commented on her towel softness. The spark had been lit. They just needed time for the fire to stoke and burn. They'd died before it could. Monica wondered if they were still alive, would it have come up sooner or later?
"Monica?" Rachel asked, coming in. "I know I can't hear you, but you can hear me."
Monica sighed. Since she'd found out they were here, Rachel had been nonstop chatter.
"I need to know if I should go for it with Joey," Rachel said. Monica's ears perked. Finally! Some good stuff! She went to join Rachel on the couch. She made her sneeze to let her know she was there.
"Okay," Rachel went on. "You're here. Good. I can't help but look at Joey and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I think he feels it too. I don't know what to say to him or how to even start the conversation. I don't want to freak him out, but I don't want to miss out either, you know?"
"Hey," Phoebe said, coming in.
"Oh good! You're here. Can you see what Monica says about what I just told her?" Rachel asked.
"What did you tell her?"
"That she has feelings for Joey and doesn't know how to tell him," Monica said.
"You like Joey?!" Phoebe exclaimed. Rachel winced.
"Right. I forgot you didn't know. Yes, I do. I think he does for me too."
"Tell her to just go up to him and say it," Monica said, thinking about Chandler. "Just say it with all your heart and soul and hope for the best."
Phoebe relayed the information to Rachel, who mused over it.
"Maybe I will," she agreed.
"You guys! "Joey exclaimed, coming in hurriedly. "You gotta help me ditch my roommate!"
"Why? Eddie's so nice," Phoebe said.
"He's weird!" Joey said loudly.
"Weird in what way?" Rachel asked.
"He stands over my head watching me sleep. His fish is a cracker. He is dehydrating everything in our kitchen, and he thinks I slept with his ex girlfriend," Joey whined.
"Did you?" Phoebe asked. That scenario was entirely possible. It was Joey.
"No! He's a nut. I have to get rid of him. I told him to move out, and he seemed to get it, but just now he claimed that conversation never happened."
"Okay, okay, we'll help," Rachel laughed.
"So what's the plan?" Joey asked, sitting down next to her. Rachel felt her face heat up. Monica noticed that Joey looked a little blushy too.
"Well, we could pretend he never moved in," Phoebe suggested. "We could put all his stuff in the hallway, and I could pretend to live there."
"I like it," Joey said instantly. "He's at work right now. Let's do it!" He rushed back over to his apartment. Phoebe and Rachel followed. Monica stayed put. Her Nana had just come home.
"I talked to him," Nana said, knowing what Monica was going to ask.
"And?"
"He agreed."
"Really?!"
"Yes."
"Aww. I'm going to miss you guys," Monica said, tearing up. Nana hugged her.
"We'll see you again soon, dear. I'm just saying goodbye to the old place before I go."
"You're going now?"
"Yes. I don't want him to change his mind."
"Right," Monica nodded. She felt very sad. It was down to her and Chandler now. She'd said goodbye to her Pop Pop that morning, not knowing it would be the last time. She wanted to bury herself in her bed and never leave again.
...
Chandler was practising his speech to his father when he heard the commotion outside. He poked his head through his bedroom door, curious.
"What are you doing, man?!" Eddie shouted. "I live here. I'm your roommate!"
"I already have a roommate," Joey said, revealing Phoebe. Eddie looked confused for a second, but his face then cleared.
"Oh. Okay. Um, I'm really sorry. I guess...I guess I was wrong," Eddie said.
"I guess you were," Joey agreed.
"Take care," Eddie said, turning to go. Once he was out of sight, Phoebe and Joey high fived.
"Yes!" Joey fist pumped.
"Ding dong, the kook is gone!" Phoebe giggled.
"Thanks for doing this," Joey said.
"No problem. It was fun," she smiled.
"Did it work?" Rachel asked, coming out of Joey's room.
"Like a charm," Phoebe replied. She caught Rachel's expression then.
"I, uh, gotta go do that other thing," she said, coughing. "I'll see you later."
Chandler was wondering what was happening when Rachel moved closer to Joey.
"Can we talk?" she asked him.
"Oh. Oh no," Chandler said. He didn't want to witness this. He felt trapped even though they couldn't see him. He ran into Monica at the door.
"Phoebe said it's happening," Monica said, excited.
"You want to watch?!" Chandler asked, incredulous.
"Yes! I told you it was gonna happen, so I want a front row seat."
"But..."
"Shhhh! It's starting," Monica said, silencing him.
"I think what I'm trying to say," Rachel was saying. "Is that...I...I have feelings for you." The silence was so loud Monica thought she could hear Phoebe using the washroom in her apartment from there. Was that possible? How did no one think to tell her this?
"Wow," Joey said, clearing his throat.
"Am I being crazy? Is it stupid?" Rachel asked.
"No! No, no, no," Joey shook his head, taking her hands in his. "I, uh, I have feelings for you too."
"You do?"
"YES!" Monica shouted, pumping her fist.
"Yea. I didn't know what to do with them since I thought you were into Ross," Joey explained.
"I think at another time and place I could have been with Ross, but this is not that time or place."
"It's not?"
"No."
"So, what do we do?"
"I...I don't know," Rachel said nervously.
"Go on a date you morons," Monica said, impatient.
"They can't hear you," Chandler reminded her.
"I know," she sighed.
"You wanna get some dinner?" Joey asked.
"Yea," Rachel smiled. "I do." He took her hand then, and they walked out together.
"Wow," Monica grinned. "I knew it!"
"Yes, yes, don't rub it in," Chandler groaned. "Anyway, I gotta go find my Dad."
"Y-you do?"
"Yea."
"Oh."
"If it's okay with you, I'd like to be alone when I do it," he said.
"O-o-okay," Monica stammered. This was bad. Very bad. He couldn't go alone! She needed to be there to blurt out her feelings before he disappeared!
"You all right?" Chandler asked, concerned.
"Nana and Pop Pop are doing their unfinished business today and leaving," she blurted out. "I'm just really sad."
"Aw, Mon," Chandler said, hugging her. "They'll be happier in the better place."
"I know."
"You want me to stay?"
"No. You go."
"If I end up leaving, will you be mad?" Chandler asked.
"What? No. Of course not," Monica shook her head.
"I guess this could be goodbye then," Chandler said, looking at her.
"I guess," she nodded.
"The afterlife has been great with you," Chandler told her. "I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else."
"You're sweet," Monica smiled, feeling sick. He was leaving. Stop him! Stop him!
"See you on the other side," he winked.
"Bye," she said, waving sadly.
"Oh, and say goodbye to everyone for me," Chandler threw at her as he left. "I'm not good with messy, teary goodbyes."
"Okay," she promised. Then she was alone. Completely, utterly alone.
...
"This is really nice," Rachel said, looking around. Joey smiled.
"It is," he agreed. "You look beautiful today."
"Oh, stop that," she blushed.
"Is this weird?" he asked.
"I think we'll get used to it," Rachel replied. She squeezed his hand.
"Rachel? Joey?" Ross's voice asked. They froze. Rachel finally looked to see Ross and Julie standing in front of them.
"Hey," Rachel said, trying to act casual. Ross was staring at her and Joey's intertwined fingers.
"Are you on a date?" Ross asked.
"Um.." Rachel started.
"Yea, we are," Joey answered for her. "We didn't think it would be a problem since you're engaged to Julie."
"Why would it have been a problem?" Julie asked, confused.
"No reason," Ross said hurriedly. He cleared his throat. "I'm really happy for you guys. Seriously."
"Thank you, Ross," Rachel said, smiling weakly. This was so incredibly awkward.
"Honey? Our table?" Julie prodded, gesturing.
"Right," Ross nodded. He moved past them without looking back.
"Do you think he was upset?" Joey asked, worried.
"He'll move on," Rachel said. "He already has! I'm a thing of the past. I'm with you now."
"Okay," Joey said nervously. He kept looking over at Ross, but when nothing happened, no big scene erupted, he slowly started to relax. Perhaps Ross really was fine. He did look very happy with Julie.
"To us," Rachel said, raising her glass. He followed suit.
"To us."
...
"Mon? Are you here?" Phoebe asked. She could hear muffled crying coming from Monica's bedroom. "Mon?" She pushed open the door.
"Hi, Phoebs," Monica said tearfully.
"What's wrong?"
"Chandler's gone. He's off to do his UB."
"WHAT?! He didn't even say goodbye!" Phoebe cried, outraged.
"He said to say it," Monica said. He had. It was an over the shoulder last minute comment before he went through the door, but Phoebe didn't need to know that.
"So, you're alone now? That's so sad! Have you figured out what your UB is?"
"It's Chandler," Monica replied.
"It's...what?" Phoebe asked, stunned.
"I love Chandler."
"Why didn't you tell him?!"
"Because I'm not really sure if it is. Because I'm scared to tell him."
"But...you'll be stuck here if you don't tell him!"
"I'm guessing it's my UB, but I don't know for sure. He knows what his is."
"His father," Phoebe nodded.
"You knew?" Monica asked, surprised.
"I heard him mention it last week," Phoebe admitted.
"I don't know what to do," Monica said sadly.
"Go! Find him! Tell him!"
"And what if his father isn't his UB? What if I leave, and he gets stuck here?!"
"I can help him," Phoebe dismissed.
"This is really scary for me," Monica whimpered.
"Buck up, Geller!" Phoebe shouted suddenly, making Monica jump. "Pull yourself together and go tell Chandler you love him! Now!"
"But..."
"Now!"
"You're right," Monica finally agreed, thinking. "I do need to tell him."
"Yea!"
"I'm going!"
"Yea!"
"Phoebe, this means this is goodbye," Monica said.
"No!" Phoebe cried. "You can't leave!"
"Phoebs, it's time. I can't stay here forever."
"Yes, you can!"
"I can't," Monica said gently. Phoebe started to cry then.
"I'll miss you," she said.
"I know. I'll miss you too. We'll be all together again one day," Monica soothed. She resisted reaching out to touch her. She knew from Nora to not do that when someone was crying.
"But...that's so far away," Phoebe cried.
"I know. Phoebe, you're gonna be all right. I'll always be with you," Monica promised. "You just won't hear me."
"Oh my God," Phoebe moaned. Then she pulled herself together. "I know you're right. I'm sorry. Oh God. You gotta go before it's too late. Don't worry about me."
"I will worry about you, but I also know you'll be fine. You're tough."
"I am tough."
"Okay, I'm going."
"Wait! A hug for the last time?"
"You sure?"
"Yes," Phoebe nodded. Monica hugged her, making her explode with the most violent sneeze ever.
"Thank you," Phoebe said, wiping her eyes.
"I love you! Tell the others I love them too," Monica urged.
"I will. Good luck!"
"Thanks."
Monica set off. She hoped she could catch Chandler just before he found his father. She prepared for a long flight. Las Vegas was a bit of a haul, but it was going to be worth it.
