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Mixed Up Life

"Ross?" Chandler called out as he ran down the corridor towards his friends. "What happened?"

"We're not really sure…" Ross told him. "All we know is she was driving home from work and someone ran a red light and went right into her."

"But…but she's okay?"

Ross shrugged and dropped back into his seat, he couldn't believe this was happening to his sister.

"They haven't really told us much…" Joey sighed, glancing at the others. "But they did say that maybe we should say a pray."

Chandler dropped down next to Ross and stared at the wall in front of him.

"But hey, she's strong…she'll be able to get through this." He added quickly.

"Yeah, I mean this is Monica…" Rachel said tearfully, but not entirely convinced.

"Mr Geller?"

They all stood up quickly when they saw the doctor approaching them.

"Yes, how's is she?" Ross asked quickly. "How's Monica?"

"Well, we've managed to stabilize her for the moment but she's still in a critical condition." He explained. "And unfortunately we were unable to save the baby."

"Baby?" Rachel questioned. "What baby?"

"You wasn't aware that Miss Geller was 3 months pregnant?"

"N…no…no, we didn't….no…" Ross stuttered.

Chandler felt his legs go weak and they collapsed from under him. He dropped onto the chair and stared ahead at the wall again. Pregnant? How could she be pregnant? She's not pregnant, not now away… the baby was dead…his baby… their baby. He suddenly felt sick and breathless. He stumbled to his feet and down the corridor into the restrooms, his friends not giving him a second glance as they tried work out how Monica got pregnant and who by.

Chandler splashed cold water on his face, before glancing into the mirror that hung above the sink. He couldn't believe this was happening…just when he thought he had everything finally figured out, something goes wrong.

He never meant for their relationship to go this far. It only started because they both needed comfort after finding out about their cheating partners…then they fell in love.

His head was hung, his right hand clutching a sports bag at his side as he waited for Joey to answer his door. He heard the lock turning and laughing as the door opened.

"Hey Chandler…" Joey said before his grin slowly faded into a frown. "What's wrong, is everything okay?"

"I need a place to stay." He whispered, still looking down.

"Uh, yeah sure…come in.." Joey stepped aside.

"Chandler?" Rachel got up from her seat and walked towards him. "What's wrong? As something happened?"

He lifted his head when she placed a hand on his arm as Ross, Phoebe and Joey gathered around him….all of them looking at him concerned.

"I….I need somewhere to stay." He repeated.

"Yeah but why?" Joey asked.

"Did you and Kathy have a fight?" Phoebe asked gently.

"She's….she's been sleeping with someone else." He explained, trying to keep a hold on his emotions.

"What?"

"Oh, honey…" Rachel pulled him into a hug.

"Dude, you can stay here as long as you need." Joey told him.

"Thanks, man…" He muttered, pulling away from Rachel, wiping away a few tears that had escaped his eyes.

"What about the kids?" Ross asked, watching as Chandler sat down in one of barcaloungers.

"They went to Kathy's parents for the weekend." He replied, quietly.

"Uh, we were going to go to the movies but we can stay with you." Joey told him, sitting opposite him.

"No…its okay…" Chandler told him. "I'll be fine."

"Chandler, you've just found out that your wife has been cheating on you." Rachel said, knelling next to him and taking his hand.

"Actually I saw them…in our bed…." He mumbled.

Rachel looked at him sympathetically and squeezed his hand.

"Okay, we'll stay here and get some beers in… and watch Die Hard." Joey told him.


"It'll good. We haven't all hung in ages." Phoebe added.

"Yeah, Monica might not be here but the five of us can have a good time." Ross said.

"Where is Monica?" He asked, glancing up, realising she wasn't there for the first time.

"It's her and Richard's anniversary…she's cooking him dinner."

"Here, catch…" Joey said, from the fridge as he threw him a beer.

He just managed to catch and stared at it, deep in thoughts.

"I'll get some popcorn." Rachel got up.

"No, wait…guys…go out." Chandler told them.

"Chandler, it's okay…we're your friends…we want to help you." Phoebe told him.

"I know but you don't need to stay…I…I'd rather be alone anyway."

"But you shouldn't be alone." Rachel sighed.

"Please…just….just go…"

"Chandler, bottling things up isn't going to help." Ross said. "I should know."

"I'm not bottling things up… I just…I just need to get my head straight."

They all looked at each other, wondering what to do.

"Are you sure?" Rachel asked.


"Yes….just go have a good time." He replied.

"Well, okay…." Ross reluctantly agreed.

"I can stay if you want…" Joey offered. "Just me, we can talk."

"No, Joe…I'll be fine."

"Come on, guys….we're going to be late." Rachel told them, glancing at Chandler once more.

"Okay, we'll see you in a while, okay man…" Ross said.

"Yeah, have a good time."

Once they had all gone, Chandler pushed back against the barcalounger and covered his face with his hands as more tears filled his eyes. He led there for a few minutes, trying to get a hold of himself before getting to his feet. He walked across the hall and gently tapped on Monica's door.

"Mon? Are you here?" He called out quietly as he slowly opened the door.

"Yeah, just making dinner." She said from in front of the stove.

"Uh, can I talk to you about something?" He asked, stepping fully inside and closing the door.

"Yeah, okay…but I haven't got long…Richard will be home soon and I still need to get dressed…" She started but her voice trailed off when she saw him. "Have you been crying?"

"Uh, sort of…" He replied, rubbing his eyes again.

"What's wrong? Has something happened to the kids?" She asked, concerned.

"No, they're fine…Kathy and I ….sort have split up."

"What?" She gasped, shocked before grabbing his hand and leading him to the couch, forgetting about dinner. "Come and sit down…tell me what happened?"

He sighed and dropped down next to her. "I walked in on her with someone else."

"Oh my god…" She said, tightening the hold on his hand. "Chandler, I'm so sorry."

"The thing is, Mon…I know him…." He started. "And he's engaged… I don't know whether I should tell his fiancée or not."

"She has a right to know what's going on….if she's marring this guy then she needs to know the truth before she does." She replied.

"But what if she doesn't believe me?"

"Well, that's not really your problem… all you can do is tell her what you know and the rest is up to her…"

"I guess….but she's a good friend… I don't want to lose her."

"If she's that good of a friend then you won't." She smiled slightly and squeezed his hand.


Chandler looked down at their joined hands, trying to gain the courage to tell her the truth.

"Would you like something to drink? A beer?" She asked, standing up and heading for the fridge.

"Mon…." He started, standing up and watched as she looked through the fridge.

"Yeah?" She asked, stepping back from the fridge holding a bottle of wine. "I don't have no beers…I've got wine…or I think I've got some scotch somewhere…"

"It was Richard." He cut her off.

"What was?" She asked.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "It was Richard who was in bed with Kathy."

"My….my Richard?" She stuttered.

Chandler nodded slightly. "I'm sorry."

Monica sat down on a kitchen chair, clutching the wine bottle to her chest, staring ahead.

"How…how long?"

"A few weeks….since you recommended that Kathy went to Richard for that eye infection." He explained. "Apparently, it just sort of happened."

"Bastard." She muttered, causing Chandler look up at her quickly. "No, not you…Him….that bastard….I can't believe he did this to me!"

"I know…" He said quietly, looking down. "Uh, what…what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know…"

"Are you going to marry him?" He asked.

"I don't think I can…" She cried slightly.

"Mon, I'm sorry…" He moved to her side, knelling down next to her chair; placing a hand on her shoulder.

"What for?"


"I don't know…maybe…I shouldn't have said anything."

"I'm glad you did…" She told him. "I needed to know."

"And you don't hate me?" He asked, uncertainly.

"Why would I hate you?" She asked, standing up and quickly brushing away her tears. "He's the bastard that slept with someone else….a friends wife!! I can't believe him!"

"Mon…" He only just stood up from his knelling position and started to follow her as she paced.

"Have you eaten? Are you hungry?" She stopped to face him. "I made dinner for me and Richard but he can starve to death for all I care!"

"Mon, you don't have too…" He started but she was already putting the food on plates.

"It's just roast chicken…" She rambled, before pushing the bottle of wine at him. "Here, open this."

Chandler stared down at the bottle, the only sound was Monica slamming food loudly on the plates. He started to pick at the bottle label nervously, he didn't know what to say or do now. He only looked up when he heard a quiet cry. He put the bottle on the table and moved to stand behind her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Mon…." He whispered quietly.

She turned and fell into his arms, burying her face in his chest; tears spilling down her face.

"I thought he loved me." She cried.

"I know…" He whispered, slowly running a hand up and down her back, soothingly.

"How could they do this to us?"

He shrugged wordlessly, tears forming in his owns eyes once more.

XxXxX

"Mon, are you okay?" Ross asked, as she made breakfast the next day.

"I'm fine!" She snapped, slamming the fridge shut.

"Are you mad that we came over for breakfast?" Rachel asked.

"Why would I be mad?" She questioned, putting the juice in the middle of the table. "You always come over."

"But last night was your anniversary with Richard." She replied. "Maybe we should leave and you guys can continue to celebrate."

"Speaking of which….Where is Richard." Ross looked around the apartment.

"Don't know! Don't care!" She muttered, throwing a pancake on each one of their plates.

They all looked at each other concerned and confused.

"Mon, are you sure you're okay?" Ross asked again.

"Perfect!" She started to scrub the pans, hard. She had sat and cried in Chandler's arms for about an hour. They didn't talk, they just held onto each for comfort. Richard got back about 20 minutes after Chandler had left and she confronted him about it all. He denied it and said Chandler was lying but they got into a massive fight and he ended up admitting everything. So, she kicked him out…she told him she never wanted to see him again and pushed him out of the apartment, locking the door behind him.

They all looked up when the door opened and Chandler walked in.

"Uh, hey…" He said, quietly.

"Hey, man….want some breakfast?" Ross asked.

"Uh not really…" He replied.

"Honey, you should try and eat something…" Rachel said softly.


"Fine…" He sighed and sat down, glancing at Monica's back. He wanted to ask her what had happened with Richard but was sure she hadn't mentioned it to any of the others.

"So, what's everyone up to today?" Joey asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.

"I'm going to go to the park and feed the pigeons." Phoebe answered.

Ross glanced at her quickly before back at Joey. "I've got work in a bit."

"Me too…" Rachel nodded.

"What about you, dude?" Joey asked Chandler.

He shrugged in reply, pushing the food around on his plate with his fork.

"Wanna hang out and do guy stuff?"

He looked up from his plate. "No, actually I should probably go home and see Kathy."

"Oh…." He replied. "Uh, what are you going to say to her?"

He was silent for a moment before thinking about it. He notice that everyone was looking at him, waiting for his answer; even Monica had turned around to face him.

"I guess I'll figure that out when I get there."

Rachel reached over, stroking his arm supportively and they all went back to their breakfast.

The silence was broken once again when their was a knock on the door. Monica opened it and saw Richard stood on the other side. She let the door open for him and headed towards the bedroom.

"Monica…." He called after her but she didn't stopped. "Mon, can we please just talk?"

Chandler stared down at his plate…trying to calm his urge to get up and punch Richard right in the face….Not only had he destroyed his marriage….his family… but he had broken his best friend's heart.

"What's going on?" Ross asked Richard.

"Nothing….nothing is going on." Richard replied, walking towards the bedroom but Monica came back out before he had chance to enter.

"I packed your stuff…" She said, throwing a bag at him before going back into the bedroom and getting two more bags.

"Mon, please…." He begged.

"Get the hell out of my apartment and out of my life!" She exclaimed.

"If you would just let me explain…"

"Get out!" She said again, storming towards the door and opening it for him.

He picked up his bags and followed her, pausing beside her.

"Mon, please… give me one more chance…I'll never do it again." He pleaded.

"Just go…" She sighed weakly.

"Just five minutes….please?" He asked.

"She said, she wants you to leave!" Chandler cut in, getting up and moving towards them.

"Look, this doesn't concern you so why don't you….." Richard started to turn around to face him but when he did, Chandler swung out and punched him in the face.

"Chandler!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Okay, can someone tell us what's going on?" Ross demanded, looking at Richard picking himself up from the floor…Chandler who was holding his now injured hand… and Monica who was still stood at the door.

"Monica?" He asked his sister but she stayed silent. "Chandler?"

"He's been sleeping with Kathy." He muttered, still glaring at Richard.

"What?"

"Seriously?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah, apparently it just happened." Chandler mocked what Kathy had said to him.

"I think its time you left?" Joey said, standing over Richard.

"Monica…" He started again.

"Just get out!" She cried, running to her room.

"Mon…" Rachel and Phoebe followed her.

"I can't believe you." Ross said to Richard. "I thought you were a good guy."

"I can explain."

"You'll never be able to explain this to me." He shook his head and walked towards his sisters room.

"Like I said….I think its time you left." Joey repeated.

Richard sighed and turned to go.

Once he had closed the door behind him, Joey faced Chandler.

"Dude, I'm sorry…" He said. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I had to talk to Monica first."

"Yeah, I guess I can understand that." He nodded.

"Look, Joe…I better go…"

"Go where?" He asked.


"I've got to talk to Kathy… decided what we're going to do now."

"What are you going to do?"

He shrugged slightly. "I don't know."

"You're not going to get back with her, are you?" He asked.

He sighed. "I don't know."

"Chandler!" He exclaimed. "You can't!!"

"Joe, I didn't say I was going to." He replied. "But….she's….she's my wife…we have kids."

"But she's slept with someone else."

"Yes, I know that!" He answered. "I was the one who saw them!"

"Oh, yeah…right, sorry.."

"Look, I'll see you later…" He opened the door.

Joey sighed as he watched his friend leave.

XxXxX

"How's Chandler?" Rachel asked Joey as she walked into his apartment a few days later.

"Since he went to talk to Kathy, he's hardly been out his room." Joey replied. "She's said something to him…but I don't know what."

"Maybe he just wants some alone time to think about everything…" Rachel told him. "Just give him time."

"Yeah…" He sighed. "So, how's Monica doing?"

"Cleaning everything in sight." She answered. "She's trying to keep herself busy."

"Y'know, I can't believe this is happening." Joey stated. "I mean, I'm not entirely surprised at Kathy…I mean, she was with me when first got with Chandler….but I thought Richard was a good guy."

"Joe…." Rachel whispered, seeing Chandler stood in the bedroom doorway.

"What?" He asked confused, turning and following her gaze towards Chandler. "Oh…"

"No, please…carry on." Chandler said.

"I'm sorry, man….I didn't realise you were stood there." He replied.

Chandler sighed and rubbed his eyes…he couldn't really say anything, he agreed with his friend.

"Uh, where you going?" Rachel asked, seeing he had his bag in his hand.

"Home." He replied. "Thanks for letting me crash here, man."

"No problem…any time." Joey said, frowning slightly. "Is Kathy moving out."

Chandler was quiet for a moment, looking at the floor.

"I take that as a no then…" Rachel said.

"You're getting back with her?!" Joey exclaimed.

"I've got to…" He replied.

"No, you don't!"

"Yes, Joe…I do….I have a family!"

"So! A lot of divorced couples raise kids."

"I need to give it one more chance…not just for the kids, but for me as well." Chandler answered. "She's my wife!"


"Do you love her?" Joey asked.

"What?"

"Do you love her still?"

He looked at him and nodded slightly. "Yes."

"Really? After everything she's done?"

"You don't just fall out of love like that, Joe…" He sighed.

Before Joey could reply the door opened. Ross, Phoebe and a reluctant Monica walked in.

"Oh good, you're all here…" Ross started. "We've convinced Monica to come out with us…. We thought we could to the movies."

"I can't…." Chandler replied.

"Oh come on, man….you'll both feel better afterwards…you need some fun."

"No, I mean can't go because I have to be somewhere."

"Where?" Ross frowned.

"Home."

"Home?" He repeated.

"You're….you're getting back together with Kathy?" Monica asked.

He looked over at her. "Yes."

She shook her head slightly before turning and leaving, slamming the door behind her.

"Monica." Ross called after her before turning to glare at Chandler.

"What?" Chandler asked.

"How do you think, she's feeling?" He asked. "That woman destroyed her relationship with Richard and you're just running back to her to play happy families!"

"That woman is my wife!" Chandler raised his voice. "And she wasn't the only one there…Richard was in the wrong as well!!"

"I know that…." Ross started. "And that's why she's ended things with him….you should do the same thing."

"Why so that Monica doesn't get upset." Chandler snapped. "I get that she hates Kathy…I get that she's probably never going to forgive her….but this is about me! This is what I want!"

"How can you forgive her?" He asked. "She slept with someone else in your bed!"

"I know but we have a family!" He replied. "If I can get over what she did and move then so should you guys! You're meant to be my friends!"

"We are but we don't want you to get hurt." Rachel said softly.

"I know what I'm doing…." He lowered his voice slightly. "I vowed to stay with Kathy till 'death do us part'… I can't just throw all that way."

"But she was the one who messed up! She's the one who threw it all away."

He sighed and shook his head. "I'm giving my marriage a second chance…not just for me and Kathy but for my kids as well."

"But Chandler…." Joey started.

"I've got to go…" He started walking towards the door. "I said I'd be home for dinner."


No one could think of anything more to say to stop him or to change his mind; so they just let him walk out.

"Do you think he really can forgive her?" Rachel asked, once he was gone.

Ross shrugged slightly. "I hope so."

"Come on, lets go check on Mon…." Phoebe suggested and they all headed for the door.

XxXxX

Chandler stood outside apartment 20, hesitating before knocking on the door. It had been a few months since he had left Joey's to go home and he had only spoke to his friend on the phone. He had tried talking to Monica but she never answered and wouldn't return his messages either.

Monica answered the door wearing sweats and yellow rubber gloves.

"Hey…" He said quietly.

"Hi." She replied but didn't say anymore.

"Can I come in?" He asked, after a few seconds of silence.

"Okay…." She said, stepping aside.

"So, how have you been?" He asked after she had closed the door behind him.

"Okay…I guess…" She shrugged slightly before adding bitterly. "How's the wife?"

"Mon….don't…" He sighed slightly.

"Don't what?" She asked.

"I just….I just came here to talk… I miss my friend." He told her.

"She cheated on you with my fiancés!" She exclaimed suddenly. "And you just go running back to her!"

"I didn't just run back to her!" He raised his voice slightly.

"How can you just forget and forgive?!" She asked.

He looked at her, trying to find the right words to make all this make sense to her.

"I have kids, Mon…" He whispered. "I did it for them."

He dropped down onto the couch and ran his hands over his face. She watched him for a moment before silently sitting down next to him. She suddenly felt guilty…. All this time she had been thinking about herself… Not only by Richard's betrayal but also how Chandler easy went back to Kathy… she never thought about how hard it must have been for him to try and forgive Kathy for the sake of their children.

"I'm sorry for avoiding you…" She whispered.

"I understand…." He replied quietly.

"It wasn't your fault…I shouldn't have blamed you." She shook her head slightly. "I should have realised that you couldn't just walk away."

He sighed slightly and turned to face her. "I should have learnt my lesson…"

She frowned slightly. "What does that mean?"

"This…this wasn't the first time…" He whispered, looking down.

"What?"

"She's cheated on me before."

"When?!"

"Before we were engaged…" He told her. "She slept with one of her co-stars."

"And…and you still married her?!" She looked at him in disbelief.

"She said it was one night…they'd gone for a drink after a show one night and had to much… she promised it would never happen again…"

"Until now." She muttered sarcastically but then noticed a look on chandler's face. "What?"

"What?" He glanced at her.

"That look…." She started, her voice trailing off slightly before continuing. "That wasn't the only time, was it?"

"uh… the day before….we…we got married." He admitted.

"Are you crazy!?" She asked. "How can you stay with someone like that?"

"The first time, it wasn't long after we got together…I loved her… and I don't want people to say 'I told you so' because she cheated on Joey with me…and after a while…we got over it…I got over it"

"And the second time?" She asked, gently.

"Jack." He whispered.

"Jack?" She frowned. "What about him?"

"He….he was born 9 months after we were married…"

"He…is…he…" Monica struggled to find the right words. "He is yours, right."

He smiled, slightly. "Yeah…we had a test done…but waiting for those results were hell…."

"Why didn't you tell us?" She asked.

He sighed and stood up. "I don't know…I found out about 2 months after she told me she was pregnant…that is 2 months of thinking I going to become a father… I was excited. I wanted to be a father…"

"But we would have been there for you. Help you through this."

"I know…" He was looking at the window, his back to her. "But you guys mean so much to me… you're like my family…and I know you all thought we were doing the wrong thing getting married…you already didn't like her…you all would have hated her…I just wanted you all get along."

"It wasn't her….we just thought you guys were rushing into things…you'd only been together a few months…" She sighed. "We didn't want you to get hurt… but I guess we couldn't stop it."

He turned back to look at her, tears glistening in his eyes. "The first time, I forgave her…I really did think it was a one time thing…. The second, it was different because there was Jack… I had to give it another chance for him…."

"And this time?" She queried, curious when his voice trailed off.

"I don't… I don't think I can get over it…" His voice cracked slightly.

She walked over to him and took his hand, leading him back to the couch.

"You don't have to stay with her."


He leant his head against the back of the couch. "I thought we were going to be okay….I thought we were happy again….I mean, it was hard getting over it all… but once I found out Jack was mine, there was no doubt in my mind in staying…I had to give it another chance for him….then Holly and Gracie came along and everything seemed perfect…Now this."

"Chandler, the question you need to ask yourself is…do you still love her?"

His eyes fell down to look at his hands. He could Monica watching him, waiting for his response. He didn't know why he was taking so long to reply…he knew the answer… he had known that answer for a long time but he had refuse to admit it… until now.

"No…" He whispered, glancing at her. "No, not anymore…not for ages."

She didn't know what to say to him so instead she reached over and squeezed his hand.

"What am I going to do, Mon?" He whispered.

"Hey, its going to be okay….we're all going to be here for you…" She assured him. "I'm sure that Joey will jump at the chance to have you back as a roommate….or you can stay in my spare room."


"What?" He asked looking at her. "I can't leave."

"Well, you can't stay there!" Monica replied. "Not if you don't love her."

"But what about the kids?"

"Chandler, just because you move out or get a divorce doesn't mean you stopping being a father."

"I can't be a 'weekend dad'…" He replied. "I can't not see them everyday!"

"So, take Kathy to court… get custody of them!"

"When have you ever heard that a father won custody over the mother?"

"Come on, Chandler…things have changed now… they put the kids with whoever is the best parents…" She replied. "And those kids love you… they wouldn't want to live without you."

He sighed. "But what if it doesn't go the right way…I could lose them totally."

"But Chandler…." She started but didn't know what to say to him…to convince him that everything would be okay. She sighed, deciding to let it go for now. "I think you're crazy but its your decision."

He rubbed his eyes and stood up. "I better go…"

"Okay…." She stood up too. "Thank you for coming over and talking."

"Thanks for listening…" He smiled slightly and lend forwards to kiss her cheek.

"No problem…" She smiled before kissing his cheek but she left her lips on his cheek a little longer.

He looked at her whilst she slowly pulled away. He didn't know what made him do it but placed his lips on hers for a second before pulling back. She looked into his eyes for a moment before pressing her lips back on his. She stepped closer to him when she felt him kissing back and when she did, he slowly wrapped his arms around her, deepening the kiss.

Soon they were locked in a passionate embrace, his hands moving all her body before slowly slipping them up her shirt. Whilst she fumbled to get his belt undone at the same time as back slowly towards her bedroom.

XxXxX

Chandler splashed cold water on his face, looking at himself in the mirror. When they first started the affair it was meant to be a one time thing but very time they were along together, they'd always end up in bed. Then after a few months they couldn't and didn't want to stop.

"Chandler?"

He turned and saw Joey stood by the door.

"Uh, hey…"

"I just wanted to check that you were okay…."

"I'm fine…" He replied. "Any news?"

"No, not yet…"

"I guess we should get back."

"Okay…" Joey nodded, looking at him.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing…it doesn't matter…" He shrugged. "Lets go."

They slowly made their way back to the others and sat down silently, no one speaking.

"Mr Geller…" The doctor walked towards them.

They all jumped up and moved towards him, apart from Chandler who hung back. He had a sickening feeling in his stomach and a lump rose his throat and threatened to choke him.

"I'm sorry…..your sister was suffering from numerous injuries… and we did all we could……"

TBC

Please review and let me know what you think!!