MrAdh1997RANDRFAN: This is not an R&R story. I'm sorry that ruined the story for you. This story is more focused on Mondler anyhow.
Thank you everyone for your encouragement! Here is the final chapter. I hope you enjoy :)
Rachel entered her apartment to find Phoebe frantically pacing around.
"Phoebs? What's wrong?" she asked, concerned.
"Monica and Chandler are gone," Phoebe blurted out.
"What?! No!" Rachel cried. "I didn't get to say goodbye!"
"I know! They said to say it before they left. Well, I didn't get to say goodbye to Chandler, but...moving on! We gotta go after them!"
"We can't, Phoebe. They're dead, and we're alive."
"No, no! You see, Chandler's gone to confront his father as his UB."
"UB?"
"Unfinished Business. Keep up, will you!" Phoebe said, exasperated.
"All right. Don't get snappy," Rachel said, disgruntled.
"They went to Las Vegas, so they're still here here. They haven't crossed over yet."
"So, Monica's UB is to talk to Chandler's father too?" Rachel asked, confused.
"No! Hers is to tell Chandler she loves him. Honest to God, Rachel. Any slower and a snail will pass you."
"Hey!" Rachel snapped. Then it hit her what Phoebe had just said. "Wait..."
"Uh huh," Phoebe nodded, seeing that Rachel finally got it.
"Monica loves Chandler?" Rachel breathed.
"Yes."
"We have to find them!" Rachel cried.
"Yes! There you go! Finally! Let's go," Phoebe urged.
"Wait! What about Ross and Joey? "
"Ugh, fine. I'll tell them," Phoebe said. She marched over to Joey's apartment, banging on his door.
"What?" Joey asked, opening it. He was wearing a robe.
"We're going to Las Vegas," Phoebe said firmly.
"Uh...why? Is Ross getting married there?" Joey asked, confused.
"Yes! Come ON!" Phoebe shouted, pulling on him.
"Phoebs! I'm in my birthday suit under this. I can't just hop on a plane with no clothes on," Joey said, pulling back. Rachel couldn't help but wonder about that when Phoebe growled in frustration.
"Fine, but hurry up!"
Joey went inside. Rachel suppressed a laugh.
"How are you going to get Ross to go?"
"I have my ways," Phoebe dismissed. "Get ready! Go, go, go!"
"Okay, okay!" Rachel shouted, rushing back into the apartment.
...
"Hey, Phoebs," Ross said, opening the door. "What's up?"
"We have to go to Las Vegas," Phoebe urged.
"What? Why?"
"So you can get married!"
"What?! Phoebe, I'm not getting married in Vegas," Ross declined, getting agitated.
"Why not?! Life is short. Have we learned nothing from Monica and Chandler's untimely deaths?" Phoebe demanded.
"We're not ready."
"You're engaged! You're 90 percent there! What's the hold up?"
"We've only been together six months," Ross answered. "Barely. That's what."
"And you got engaged practically a week after you met," Phoebe said dramatically.
"More like five months," Ross corrected.
"Whatever! Look, do you want to live life on the edge or sit around and wait for it to hit you with a car?" Phoebe challenged. Ross stood there, thinking.
"I don't want to get hit by a car," he shook his head.
"What's going on?" Julie asked, confused. She appeared behind him.
"Phoebe says we should go to Vegas right now to get married," Ross said.
"Seriously?"
"I...I think she could be right."
"You do?" Julie asked, getting emotional.
"Yes. I mean, I love you. You love me. We want to be together forever. Why not?" Ross asked. Phoebe mentally fist pumped. Her plan was working.
"Does it have to be right now? Can it wait until morning?" Julie asked.
"It's morning in Africa," Phoebe pointed out. "And besides, it ruins the whole spur-of-the-moment thing if you wait."
"Right," Ross nodded. He turned to Julie. "You in?"
"Yea, I'm in," Julie smiled. They kissed.
"Awwwwyuck," Phoebe said, grimacing. "Meet me outside when you're finished."
"Okay," Ross agreed.
...
"How did you convince them to get married?" Rachel asked Phoebe once they were on the red eye flight. She saw Ross and Julie with their heads together chatting excitedly.
"I have my ways," Phoebe dismissed. She sipped her drink.
"How cool is this? We get to watch Ross and Julie get married, and we get to gamble!" Joey exclaimed.
"Yes, Joe. Big day for all of us," Phoebe said sarcastically. She was fidgeting now. Rachel grabbed her hand.
"You really think we can find them?" she asked.
"We have to."
"How are we gonna explain this to Ross and Joey?"
"We don't."
"But that's not fair. They deserve to know," Rachel whisper hissed.
"They won't understand," Phoebe hissed back.
"Why is it so important that we find them?"
"Because! Monica can't miss her brother's wedding," Phoebe said, tearing up.
"Oh, honey," Rachel soothed, pulling in for a hug.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked, sticking his head between the seats.
"Nothing. Phoebe is just emotional thinking about her future wedding someday," Rachel lied.
"Really? I didn't even know she was dating," Joey said, puzzled. Rachel stifled a laugh. This was her boyfriend. She smiled. Maybe he got easily confused at times...or a lot...but it was okay. He was good enough for her.
...
Monica arrived in Las Vegas after a very long flight. She was tired, which surprised her because she was dead. How could she feel tired? She paused on the streets, trying to figure out where Chandler's father was. She couldn't remember. She hovered the streets, searching. Something was going to pop out at her.
"Monica?"
"Ahhhh!"
That'll do it too.
"What are you doing here?" Chandler asked, surprised. Monica clutched at her heart. When she crossed over, she was going to have some questions about how a ghost can feel like they've had a heart attack.
"I...I didn't want you to do this alone," Monica lied.
"So you flew all the way here?"
"Yes."
"Wow," Chandler nodded.
"Have you talked to him?"
"You mean have I talked at him? No, not yet."
"Right," Monica nodded. She still got it wrong. You don't talk to the living (except for Phoebe). You can only talk at them. That's still getting what you need to say off your chest, though.
"It's just...hard," Chandler sighed, sinking to the bench in front of them. A passing dog sniffed at his leg and growled. Monica wondered if they could sense ghosts.
"Well," she said, settling next to him. "What harm could it do? He can't hear you. He can't contradict what you have to say."
"I know, but I haven't seen him in years, Mon. I'm afraid I won't know how to say what I need to say."
"Try it on me," Monica urged. She turned to face him. He looked at her, skeptical.
"I'm not picturing you as my father."
"I'm not asking you to. Talk to me."
Chandler looked at her then, and he felt his throat tighten. Why was this so hard for him? He cleared his throat.
"All right, Mon. I'm angry that you left me and my mother when I was just a kid. I'm angry that you cheated. I'm angry that you never thought to ask me if I was okay with all of it. I'm angry that you let me stop talking to you so easily. I'm very angry that you have no idea that I'm even dead. I'm so...ANGRY!" Chandler finished. Monica flinched a little.
"There, you did it," she said. He stood.
"Yea. Now I'm pumped. It's time to find him," Chandler said, charging ahead. Monica hurried after him. She'd had her speech in her head to say to him, but he wasn't exactly making it easy for her to say it. Then, she saw something that amazed her.
"Wait!" she shouted, making Chandler pause.
"What?" he asked. She pointed.
"Look!"
"Oh my God," Chandler said. They saw Ross, Julie, Phoebe, Rachel, and Joey making their way down the street towards them.
"What are they doing here?" Monica asked, incredulous.
"Didn't you tell them I was leaving?" Chandler questioned.
"I did."
"They knew you'd be back, though, right?"
"Um..." Monica trailed off.
"Wait, did you figure out your UB too?" he asked.
"Sort of..."
Joey walked through Chandler then, and he sneezed on cue. Phoebe froze, yanking Rachel back with her. The others kept walking.
"What?" Rachel asked.
"Monica? Chandler?" Phoebe said after the others were out of earshot.
"Yea?" Monica said.
"Oh my God! We found them!" Phoebe squealed. Ross turned around then, noticing they weren't with them.
"What's wrong?" he called.
"Nothing! Keep going. We'll meet you there," Rachel called back. He shrugged and took Julie's hand.
"What are you guys doing here?" Chandler asked.
"Ross and Julie are getting married," Phoebe explained.
"What?!" Monica exclaimed. "So soon? Is he crazy?"
"I convinced him," Phoebe said. "It was the only way we'd get down here to see you guys and say goodbye without them knowing."
"That's sweet and slightly disturbing," Chandler said.
"You can come to the wedding before you tell Chandler!" Phoebe went on.
"Tell Chandler what?" Chandler asked, looking at Monica.
"I have no idea what she's talking about," Monica lied. Phoebe clapped a hand to her mouth, realizing what she'd said.
"Come on," Rachel urged, tugging at her. "We can't miss the wedding. Come on, you guys!"
"What was she talking about?" Chandler pressed as they moved forward.
"I don't know," Monica answered. "It's Phoebe. She's kooky."
"I am not," Phoebe said, outraged.
"Kooky or not, she was clearly right," Chandler pointed out. "You're face is a giveaway."
"We'll talk later, okay? Let's go watch my crazy brother get married," Monica said. She went ahead of him so he wouldn't keep pestering her about it.
...
"You nervous?" Joey asked, watching Ross adjust his tie. They were getting ready.
"Actually, no," Ross answered. He turned to Joey. "Is that weird? I feel like this is right."
"I don't think it's weird," Joey shook his head. "You love her, right?"
"Yea."
"Isn't that all you need sometimes?" Joey asked.
"Sometimes," Ross murmured. He looked at himself in the mirror.
"Hey, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," Ross nodded.
"Are you really okay with Rachel and I dating?"
Ross held his breath for a beat before answering.
"I am. I know I was crazy about her, but I think it was more the idea of her that I was in love with, you know? I mean, Rachel Green: Girl Next Door, right? I realized that after I met Julie, I was in love with her, not the idea of being with Julie. I mean, I don't know if Rachel and I are even compatible. Julie works in my field, she has a great family, and she gets me, you know? Rachel is Rachel, but there are some differnces."
"So, you're okay with it," Joey confirmed. Ross clapped a hand on Joey's shoulder and squeezed it.
"I am totally okay with it."
"Thanks," Joey grinned. It made him feel better. Ross sneezed hard suddenly.
"Wow," he said, his eyes watering. "Where did that come from?"
"No idea. I've been doing that for months. Actually, since Chandler and Monica..." Joey trailed off. His mind was going a hundred miles an hour.
"What?" Ross asked, seeing his face.
"I'll be right back," Joey said, hurrying off. He was remembering something Phoebe had said at the funeral. If anyone would know, it would be her.
...
"She looks lovely," Monica said, watching Julie get the finishing touches done on her hair by Rachel. Chandler had gone to be with Ross and Joey.
"Phoebs!" Joey hissed, bursting into the room. "We need to talk!"
"Hey! You can't see the bride!" Phoebe declared.
"Oh!" Joey said, covering his eyes with his hand. He stumbled in, reaching for Phoebe with his other arm.
"That only applies to the groom," Rachel confirmed. She couldn't help but laugh.
"I'll be back," Phoebe said, leaving with Joey. Once they were in the hall, she asked what was wrong.
"Remember back at the funeral when you said you could hear Monica and Chandler?" Joey said. "Um, I never did ask if you could still hear them after."
"And if I could?" Phoebe asked, curious.
"Then I'd be very excited," Joey answered. "You haven't, have you?"
"Well..."
"Oh my God! You have! And you didn't think I'd want to talk to them too?" Joey demanded, upset.
"What's going on?" Rachel asked, coming out. "You're causing a commotion."
"Phoebe can hear Monica and Chandler, and she didn't tell me," Joey whined. Rachel paused then.
"Oh..."
"You knew too?! Come on!" Joey cried.
"Monica says to calm down, that she asked me not to tell. I disobeyed and told Rachel because she heard me talking to them," Phoebe explained.
"Monica is here?" Joey asked.
"Yes," Phoebe nodded.
"What about Chandler?"
"He was in with you and Ross."
"Is that why I've been sneezing so much?" Joey asked, narrowing his eyes. Trust Chandler to abuse something like that.
"Yup," Rachel answered. "That happens when they touch us."
"Wow. This is great! We gotta tell Ross," Joey said, moving to go back into Ross's room. Phoebe caught him by the collar and yanked him back.
"Ow! Phoebs!"
"He won't believe it," Phoebe said firmly. "You can't tell him."
"Can't tell me what?" Ross asked, standing in front of them suddenly. Everyone held their breath.
...
"You had to make him sneeze, didn't you?" Monica asked Chandler, who looked sheepish.
"I couldn't help it. I got all emotional and wanted to hug him. He's getting married!"
"Now look what it's caused, though," Monica gestured.
"So what?" Chandler asked. "So they find out. Who cares?"
"Ross might have Phoebe checked into a psych ward, that's what," Monica huffed.
"He knows she's capable of communicating with the dead. Remember the other old lady?" Chandler pointed out. "Ross believed it then. He even got told off by the old lady through Phoebe a couple of times."
"You might be right, but..." Monica started.
"Phoebe can hear Monica and Chandler!" Joey blurted out, cutting her off.
"Oh boy," Chandler said.
"What?" Ross asked, looking at Phoebe. "Is this true?"
"Um...yes," Phoebe nodded. Ross looked at Rachel for confirmation, and she nodded too.
"It's true. They've been living at the apartment since they died."
"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Ross asked. "Maybe I wanted to talk to them too!"
"We can't hear them or talk to them, Ross," Rachel soothed. "Just Phoebe."
"Are they here now?" Ross asked.
"Yes," Phoebe nodded. "Chandler hugged you, that's why you sneezed in there."
Ross got a faraway look on his face as though he was realizing something.
"It's why I'm always sneezing," Joey chimed in. "Think about it. Chandler would find it funny."
"He would," Ross agreed. He looked around then. Chandler poked his head, making him sneeze again.
"Chandler's right beside you," Phoebe told him.
"Of course he is," Ross said.
"Hey," Julie's head popped around the door. "Are we getting married or what?"
"Yes!" Ross exclaimed. "One second, sweetie." Julie smiled and disappeared back into the room.
"You okay?" Rachel asked him.
"Yea. I'm just...processing. So, Monica and Chandler are here."
"Yes. They have unfinished business to do before they can pass on. Chandler's is his father's, and Monica's is..."
Monica shoved her fist through Phoebe's face so fast and hard the poor girl had no chances of finishing her sentence.
"Wow," Chandler laughed. "You really don't want her to tell me, do you?"
"I think it's a secret," Joey said, getting excited.
"Ugh," Phoebe said, wiping her face with the tissue Rachel had handed her. "Thanks a lot, Mon."
"Are we ready?" the minister asked, coming into view.
"Yes," Ross nodded. He knocked on Julie's door. "We're ready!"
"Okay," Julie said, coming out. Ross's breath was taken away. She looked incredible.
"Where did you find that dress?" he asked, taking it all in.
"It's my mom's. I had it in storage. I brought it with us," Julie said, blushing.
"You look amazing," Rachel said, touching her arm.
"I'm speechless," Ross said.
"Come on," Phoebe urged.
"You guys go. I'll catch up," Ross said, giving Julie a nudge forward. "I want to talk to Phoebe for a second."
"Uh oh," Monica said. "Busted."
"So, about your UB..." Chandler started.
"Not now," Monica hissed.
"Is this really why we're here?" Ross asked Phoebe. "Because Chandler had to come here to talk to his father, and you didn't want him to leave without him saying goodbye to me?"
"You got me," Phoebe laughed nervously.
"That's so sweet," Ross said.
"You don't have to go through with the wedding if you don't want to," Phoebe told him.
"No, I'm going to. I want to. I'm glad Monica and Chandler get to see it," Ross said.
"We love you so much," Monica said, sniffing.
"Monica said they love you so much," Phoebe passed along. Ross teared up.
"I love them too," he said.
"Come on, big guy," Chandler said. "You have a wedding to do."
"Chandler said we should get in there," Phoebe said, pointing.
"All right," Ross agreed. He led the way.
...
"That was a beautiful ceremony for a Las Vegas wedding," Chandler said. They were outside the chapel now.
"It was," Monica agreed. The others came along then.
"I just have to use the washroom," Julie said. "I'll be right back." She kissed Ross before picking up her dress and heading off.
"Congratulations," Chandler said after she was gone. Phoebe relayed it.
"So," Joey said. "What now?"
"We gotta go do our UB," Monica said. "It's time to say goodbye."
"They...they gotta go," Phoebe said, starting to cry.
"What? No," Joey said, getting upset again. "They just got here."
"Technically, no," Phoebe corrected. "I'm sorry, you guys. I should have told you sooner so you could have had more time with them."
"It's okay, Phoebe," Rachel soothed. "We have this moment right now."
"I'm sorry for every bad thing I ever said or did to you guys," Ross said then, choking up.
"It's okay," Monica said. Phoebe told him.
"Please be safe," Rachel said. "Wherever you end up. Please stay together."
"We will," Chandler promised.
"They will," Phoebe said.
"Um, before we go," Monica said. "I have something to say." She stared at Chandler as Phoebe relayed her message. It was now or never. She had to tell him first before he disappeared on her. That way, he could finish his and meet her on the other side.
"Chandler," she started. "All this time, I had something inside of me that I didn't fully realize until the moment we died. I was in denial for a while, but the more we tried to figure out our unfinished business together, I realized what mine was with such clarity, and it scared me."
"Mon..."
"No, let me finish. I'm going to disappear after this, but you need to talk at your Dad and join me. I can't let you disappear before I say this," Monica said. She took in a deep, shaky breath. "I love you. I think I loved you since I met you, really, but it became more apparent that night you hugged me after Joey moved in. It's been festering ever since. When we died, it became all too clear, and my only regret is not telling you in person before this happened." She finished then, and looked at him. He was stunned.
"Monica, my God. I...I love you too. I realized it the moment I pushed you out of the way of the car. I hate that it didn't save you, but I also don't hate that we got to be together after."
"They did it!" Phoebe cheered. "They confessed their love to each other!"
"It's happening," Monica said, feeling light headed. Everything was becoming bright and blinding. "Chandler!"
"I'm here," he said, taking her hands in his. "I guess my UB was you after all, too."
"Chandler," she whispered. He kissed her then, and everything around them disappeared as they crossed over to the other side.
...
"They're gone," Phoebe said, her voice thick with tears.
"They are?" Rachel asked. "Oh God." She buried her face into Joey's shoulder as he hugged her tightly, crying himself.
"This somehow hurts more than when they died the first time," Ross said, his voice hoarse.
"Are they together?" Joey asked tearfully.
"Yes," Phoebe nodded emphatically. "They went together. They're gonna be together forever."
The friends encircled each other in an embrace. Monica and Chandler were gone, but they felt a reassurance that despite everything, their best friends would indeed be all right. And so would they.
The End
I always get sentimental after finishing a story. I'm so glad all of you went on the ride with me. Thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting. It meant so much to me. I hope the ending was a satisfying one. Until next time!
