Then

Chapter 6: And I Lost It

"Hey, you," Chandler crawled into bed, still completely dressed, and snuggled up next to Monica from behind.

"By 'late' I didn't think you meant this late," she mumbled in return, already half-asleep.

"I know. I got caught up at work. Stupid presentation in the morning," he kissed her neck. "But don't worry, I'm quitting tomorrow.

"No, you're not," she smiled, turning to kiss him.

"No, I'm not," he smiled in return, kissing her again.

_._._

Chandler came in through the garage door, closing it softly behind him. The last thing he wanted was three screaming babies. Since it was late enough for them to be asleep, he knew he would already have an angry Monica, and that was enough. Seeing her sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, he assumed reading the magazine in front of her, he figured that was happening very soon.

"You used to call," Monica said meekly as Chandler set his briefcase down, not even looking up. "When you were going to be late, you used to call. And then you used to call when you were on your way home," she played with the corner of the magazine in front of her. "You never call anymore," she finally looked up at him.

"Mon, it's been a long day, I have to be back to work at 7 tomorrow. Can we just talk about this later?" he sighed, loosening his tie.

"When, Chandler? When are we going to talk about it? We never see each other! And when we do, we don't talk!" her voice was elevated, but not quite yelling. More pleading. At the silence she received in return, she threw up her arms. "Ya know what? If this," she motioned between them with the magazine, "is how we're gonna be, then I quit. This is a two person game, and I'm sick of doing it alone! I'm done!" she threw the magazine down on the counter.

"If that's how you're gonna be, fine!" Chandler raised his own voice. "But I know how much you hate to lose, so I won't make you quit. I'll do it for you," he grabbed his jacket from on top of his briefcase, slamming the door shut on his way out.

Monica sank back down onto the barstool, leaning her elbows against the counter, willing the tears not to come. How had they come to this?

Before she even had time to finish that thought, Chandler was back in the door, arms around her from behind. He hadn't even closed the door on the way back in. "I''ll never leave," he whispered into her hair, and she could feel his warm tears against her neck. "Never, never, never," he added, and she turned to face him. "I'm sorry. I just…I miss…us…"

"Me, too," Monica nodded, wiping away her own tears.

"They don't tell you how fucking hard this is going to be," he shook his head. "Marriage and kids should come with some sort of book or instruction manual or something. Marriage: for dummies."

Monica laughed slightly at his attempted joke, and he sank down onto the stool next to her. "I miss you," she looked at him, and he nodded.

"I miss you, too."

"I could quit. Sell my part of the catering business. I'll be home every night then. Every weekend," she offered.

Almost a year before, one of their neighbors had brought up her dream of starting a catering business earmarked especially towards weddings. When Monica said she had some experience catering, had tons of experience in the food business, and was looking for work without the commute to the city, their idea had fallen into place. It was called 'Happily Ever After,' and thanks to word of mouth and a few of Monica's loyal customers from the restaurant, it had very quickly turned into quite a success. Maybe too much of a success.

Though she had started out helping with the food preparation, she now ran a lot of the business and planning portion of it (she was Monica, after all), and ended up being gone at a lot of events when Chandler could be home with the kids. It worked better that way, or so they had thought. They were only thinking about being with the kids. It hadn't crossed their minds that they would never see each other.

"Don't do that," Chandler took her hands in his. "You love your job."

"I love you more," she squeezed his hand.

Chandler sighed. "Don't quit your job. We'll figure this out. It's just a rough spot right now. Most people think three kids under three is crazy, and we have three kids under two. Which is a little crazy," he laughed. "But, maybe we're a little crazy. But, good crazy," he smiled. "We'll make it."

"I know," Monica nodded. "It just really sucks right now."

"Really, really sucks," he agreed, and they both looked up at the crying coming from upstairs.

"I'll get her, before she wakes up Jack and Erica, too," Monica stood up.

"Mon?" she stopped and looked back. "Do you work this Friday?" she shook her head. "Wanna see if Ross and Rachel can babysit? Maybe go out, ya know, on a date? Or whatever the kids are calling it these days?"

Monica smiled. "I'd like that."

"K," he smiled in return, grabbing his briefcase and jacket he had tossed on the floor. He closed the garage door, and smiled. His first real smile in weeks.

_._._

"What do you think you're doing, mister?" Monica laughed as Chandler continued to plant kisses on various parts of her body.

"Mmm, I'm still dressed," he pointed to his dress shirt and pants. "I figured I could persuade you to help me with that predicament," he grinned, kissing her neck again. "What time do you have to work tomorrow?"

"Jeanie's taking care of my clients until 10 so I can take the kids to school since someone has a big presentation in the morning," she started unbuttoning his shirt.

"Well, don't I just have the best wife ever?" he pulled at her shirt. She was sleeping in one of his old t-shirts that was ten times too big for her. But, god, did he love it when she slept in his old shirts.

"Probably. But, no to this," she pulled his hand away. "You're the one who needs help undressing, remember?"

"Oh, yea," he feigned ignorance, letting her pull his shirt and undershirt off.

"What time are you getting up?"

"5. But, really, sleep is overrated," he kissed her again. "I love you so much, Mon," he whispered, playing with her hair.

"I love you, too, Chandler."

_._._

Well the honeymoon ended and life began

Jobs and bills, losing touch with friends

And that apartment got smaller every day

Then one night the walls finally closed in

I came home late, she said 'Where've ya been?

You used to call and tell me you're on your way'

She said 'If this is how it's gonna be, then I quit'

She walked out the door

I lost it

I picked myself up off the floor

She walked back through the door

And we made love like it was the first time

No one can make me cry

Make me laugh

Make me smile

Or drive me mad like she does

It's like a curse that is the cure

Better or worse, one thing's for sure

It's real love and I don't know what I'd do

If I lost it

Oh, if I lost it

I don't wanna lose it

(I Lost It, Kenny Chesney)

_._._

to be continued….

This fic just makes me smile as I write it. I'm such a freaking sap, haha. And I have no idea how long this is going to be, overall. But, you can never have too much Mondler mush, right?

K. So, go review, and I'll keep trying to update fast :)