A/N: Thank you all for your beautiful reviews! I'm sorry for leaving you hanging out there, especially with that cliffhanger. Here's the next chapter and I'll only say one thing: I bet this isn't how you saw it coming.

Chapter 2

CHANDLER'S POV

It's half past nine and I was now getting ready to go to bed when I got a call on my phone. I looked over who it was and saw that it was my brother. Sam is working tonight and he rarely calls while he's on the job. I wonder why he would call, given that if he needed to tell me something important he could just come home. "Cha-ch-cha-chandlerr he-hehelp me. Come here please..quick. I-I don't know what to do. I'm right outside the city. Please h-help me." He was sobbing in between those words and I could feel that he is very scared. He didn't say more and just desperately begged for me to come and see him. A lot of scenarios popped in my head and I could never forgive myself if I hadn't done something to prevent those from happening. I need to help my brother. I need to save him. I hope that I'm not too late.

I changed into my work pants then proceeded to get the keys of the car on the nightstand. The 1969 Beetle is our only property. It's really old but we maintain it to be always in top-shape. It has been our family's car since my father was a little kid. It was my grandfather's first and only car which he bought using one big bonus he had. He took really good care of it and wanted to pass it on to the next generations of our family as long as possible. Our dad was sleeping but I decided to leave a note because he'll get suspicious when he sees that the car isn't outside. I started the engine and drove to the place my brother told me.

I pulled up my car and was left astonished with the sight before me. There was my brother with bruises all over his body, sweating profusely and crying childlike tears beside a partially-wrecked van. I looked around him and saw two men and a woman laying at the passenger side of the vehicle, unconscious. All of them had bad injuries, evidencing the extent of the crash. The woman had it the worst, with a bleeding cut on her head aside from some small scratches around her body. I could not bring out a word as I stare at the scene with my eyes wide while I feel my heart pounding fast. I came closer to the unconscious lady and I recognized her. I can't believe it.

It was Monica. Just a few hours ago, I was having the best day with this beautiful and cheerful woman and now, here I am looking at her beauty, now scathed by her bleak form. I immediately checked if she was still alive. I gained hope when I sensed that she still has a pulse.

"Sam, what the hell did you bring yourself into?!" I asked him feeling anger and fear rush through me. "It was Jim and Danny, the-they said they had a job for me. They said they'll give me $1,000 if I drive this van from point A to B, no questions asked. They said that we just needed to deliver some important cargo. And-and I know we could use the money, with dad's medications getting more and more expensive. I didn't know we're gonna kidnap a woman and when I found out, it was too late. I heard them Chandler; they were gonna make the woman suffer, saying that her dad owes their boss a lot. They weren't afraid to kill her. I was so scared, I don't want them to kill her, I don't want to witness her suffer either. I really sensed that she is a good person who was just brought into this mess because of where she came from. This was the only way I knew I could save her. I needed to screw up their plan so I crashed the car. Chandler, please forgive me! I'm so sorry! I have done such a disgraceful thing. I am so sorry! You should be all ashamed of me!" He said to me in between his weeping.

"Jim and Danny?! You knew we had suspicions that those two were involved in a gang! And money? We're still doing fine! I still have enough money that we can use for at least two months. I told you I'll handle dad's medication for this month. Why would you allow yourself to do something so risky? You have a decent and honorable job! Crashing the car? What if you died?! Where would that leave us? I just can't take all of this right now; this is too much. Oh God!" I knelt on the ground burying my face in my head. I was finding it difficult to breathe. Tears were now forming in my eyes. I feel like my head could explode.

"I knew I was taking a chance crashing the car, but I was left with no choice. Wait. Yes. Oh my God, is she alive?!" He asked me, nervousness and guilt all over his face. "Yes, I checked. Thankfully, she still has a pulse." I told him calmly. "What about those two?" He pointed at Jim and Danny who were still lying motionless. I checked. "Well what do you know, these two bastards are living too." I said. "Oh shit." He just said. "Wait, let's do something about the woman's injury, do you have a towel or any cloth with you?" I asked my brother. "Yes, right here." He said while handing me the fabric. "Okay, I'll just get the first-aid kit we always have in the car."

We cleaned up the wound on Monica's head and wrapped it with the towel. I held her and ran my hand through her face. She looked peaceful. God, I hope she stays alive.

"Sam, this is all just overwhelming. Of all the people you would be involved in the kidnapping with, you get involved with hers. Damn, I loathe stupid kismet for playing his stupid games with my petty life." I told him still not letting go of the woman in my arms. "Wh-what do you mean?" He asked me. "I know her. I know this woman. She's the woman in my dreams: Monica Geller. She's very wealthy and very popular. Again, this is crazy. God, Sam! Why, just why?!" I said to him letting out my frustrations and he did not answer back.

"We have to get you out of here. You and Monica. Come on. We'll hide from them. When she wakes up we'll explain everything to her then everything will be alright." I told him decisively. I was now the one taking chances. We could easily get away with this, leave them in their current state and put Jim or Danny in the driver's seat to explain the crash. But I don't want to leave Monica here. Sam already said that they're ready to kill her. I can feel my guts twisting from the grim thought. But then, how can I be so sure that Monica will believe us? After what she'd been through? But I just have this feeling that Monica can learn to trust us, if we just take care of her. I know she is a good person and she'll see right through us. She trusted me after all. "No, no no. Just save her. It's the main reason why I called you. I'm staying here." He answered back. "Are you out of your mind? With these two?!" I asked my brother in disbelief. "Yes. Please, Chandler. Just take her away from here. Go far away. Go up North. Go to Canada. You can go there, we have dual citizenship. Do hide, take good care of her. I need to stay here. It will only get worse if I also get away from them. They'll know I got involved with her escape. I'll pretend that I'm also unconscious and that Monica got away from us. Or I could tell them that she died and I buried her for them. I-I'll figure something out. And we can't both just leave dad alone, remember? I'll tell him that you accepted a permanent job far away. Just please, go now! Before they wake up!" He explained. "But Sam, I just can't leave you here." I answered, crying. I hate this. I could lose my brother forever by leaving him here alone. But, I want to save Monica. She deserves to live and I also couldn't take losing her when I had the chance to save her. "Please Chandler, just do it. I'll be okay. Monica will not be if you do not do this." His eyes were now pleading. "O-okay. Promise me you'll make yourself live." I hesitantly agreed. "I promise. Thank you, Chandler! Please forgive me. I love you." I then hugged him. "I love you too, Sam.

I carried Monica to my car and put her in the front passenger seat. Her face was now facing towards the right, looking like she's sleeping peacefully. I put a blanket over her. It was the one we used during those times when we had to sleep in the car because we were kicked out of our apartment. This car contained many memories. both good and bad; that is why no matter what happened, we didn't sell it. And now, Monica is part of those memories which I am unsure how I would feel about. We were brought together by this unfortunate situation, yet I can't help but feel special about everything that's happening. Of all the sandwich guys she could've bought a snack from in that one day where she lets herself free from her wonderland, she approaches me. And now, out of all the people who can come running and be her 'knight-in-shining-armor', I become that guy. Although, I despise the fact that it had to be my brother who has something to do with putting her into harm despite him not intending to.

For the first time in my life, I have no plan. Despite being impoverished, I had always been very full of hope. I had a clear-cut view of my future. I believe that through hard work and patience, I could reach those dreams. I was gonna take it all one step-at-a-time. But now suddenly, those plans need to be put in the backseat. I have this all-new burden; all-new reality I have to deal with. It scares me really, I couldn't figure this all out all at once yet I need to make decisions fast. After some thought, I decided to do as Sam told me, and drove away. I'm just gonna go where the road takes me, not knowing what to do with what I come across with out there.

I was driving for about six hours now, looking at Monica every once in a while. I lack sleep. I know I'm very tired: physically, emotionally, mentally. But still, there's this rush inside me that's telling me to keep going. We now passed the border between the two great Northern countries; which was all out of luck. The police thankfully did not ask any more questions about the unconscious woman beside me and just let us pass through. When we entered Canada, I made sure to only go through the roads which led to the most suburban areas there are. I drove to the countryside where mountains and farmlands surround. I could see the morning light coming out very soon. It was now raining, and I could feel the chilling air contain me. "No, don't die on me!" Isn't that great? I ran out of gas. We were now stuck in the middle of nowhere. Not that we really had some place to go. Monica's only wearing that shirt that she had that day we met underneath that blanket. The shirt was also ruined because of the crash. I know that the cool breeze will be too much for her. I would rather her be kept warm than me so I took off my buttoned down shirt and put it over her body. I was now only wearing my undershirt. I wrapped my arms around her and put the blanket over us. Not soon after did I succumb myself into sleep.

Someone shouting and loud banging on the car's window awakened me. "Ouvrez la porte! Ouvrez la porte!" (Open the door!) I heard someone say in an angry tone. "What?!" I answered back as I carefully let go of Monica and looked to my side. There was a blonde lady beside the car looking very pissed off. "Vous homme sale!" (You dirty man!) she shouted once again. "I'm sorry I don't understand French." I told her as I opened the window. I looked outside and I saw that the rain has now stopped and it was almost noon. "What did you do with this woman? Why is she unconscious? Why does she have an injury on her face?" She was looking at Monica intently. "Oh my, dear God, you violated her! You were wrapping your arms around her and you look flustered! And her shirt has parts ripped off!" She added with a shocked expression on her face. "Oh no no no no no no no! It's not what you think! I'm completely dressed for Christ's sake!" I immediately got out of the car and explained myself. "You are the reason why it rained so hard today, when it hasn't rained in months! You ruined our peace and the gods of the mountain got very angry! We, the poor locals, suffered because of your disgraceful act! How could you explain yourself when I caught you red-handed? I can sense it in your aura; it's so vicious!" The lady rambled on. "I was wrapping my arms around her because-because she's my wife! That's right, she's my wife!" I immediately squeaked out. "What the hell, Chandler?! When Monica wakes up you'll have more explaining to do. But, I can't tell this lady what really happened either." I thought.

"Really? Then why don't you have a wedding ring? What's your name? And what's her name?" She took my left hand and pointed at my ring finger. "My name is Chandler, and her name is-" I took a small pause. "Juliet. Her name is Juliet." It was the first name that popped into my head. I'm not surprised. She was even the one who gave herself that name. So it fits. I couldn't tell her real name, 'cause then she can be easily traced by those who want to hurt her. I couldn't say that I was Romeo either, because really; who would believe that? The woman in front of me was still raising an eyebrow. "We're celebrating our first anniversary today and we had this weekend road trip all planned out. I mean a really long trip. We came from New York, so we really drove far away up here. It all got messed up when my car's engine here wore out. And it stopped suddenly so Juliet hit her head on impact, which explains her injury. You see, it's a very very old car." I paused and tried to gauge if she was believing me. She just kept staring at me waiting for the next thing I say. "As for our wedding rings, we had to pawn them because we needed the money. We're only poor and we have been saving up for this trip for months. See, if we had a good amount of money, we would have gone to somewhere, more romantic, like Paris; and not to a cross-country adventure where we didn't really know where we're heading to."

"Hmmm." was her only response. "And please would you help us? I'm just really worried for my wife. She hasn't been awake since the little accident we had. Do you happen to know a doctor around here? Uhmm, preferably someone who doesn't watch TV or read lifestyle magazines?" I asked her with concern on my voice. I was trying to hide the anxiety I was feeling. "Okay, Chandler. First of all; fine, I'll believe you. But only because I can sense that you're a genuinely nice person. Your aura's still all messed up and warm though. Doctor? Pheww. So you're one of them. You believe all those Western crap? Not in my place. I'll be the one to treat your wife. I and my grandmother. We'll give her herbal medicine and cleanse her aura all through-out. And we need to sway off all these bad spirits that's surrounding her. You really got the gods pissed Chandler, and they're putting it all on your wife. What we need to do is reconcile with nature. So, will you cooperate with me and get your wife to feel better?" She asked. "Yes, I guess. Anything to get her better. Thank you." I reluctantly agreed. Man, this is one weird lady. She honestly believes that there are gods in the mountains who can deliberately change the weather patterns when they get angry, and these things about auras and stuff. The herbal treatment is okay though, I have read things that said they worked sometimes. I just don't think it's what Monica needs right now. Oh well, there's no turning back. I guess we're heading for this lady's home. "Then follow me." she said.

"Hey, I just want to say thank you again. I'm sorry, but I did not catch your name earlier?" I asked the blonde lady. I was now following her to the small town she said she lived in while I was carrying Monica at my back. We pushed the car to a small bush on the corner of the street where we came from. The lady told me that it would be just fine. I hope she's right. "You're welcome. And I'm sorry, how rude of me; my name's Phoebe." she answered with a small smile. "That's a nice name. And if you don't mind me asking, how big of a town are we supposed to be going into?" I asked. "Oh, not a big one. Just about 30 families, including mine." She said as she stopped walking. "Here we are. Hey everybody! I brought new friends!" She said excitedly to the small crowd in front of us. "Wow, this place is so- so bucolic." I told her. "Isn't it relaxing? I tell you, this is the life. Tranquility. Peace. Joy." she gushed. I just nodded and lifted Monica up as she was already slipping down.

"So this is my husband, Michel, but just call him Mike." A man with black curly hair shook my hand. "Nice to meet you-" Mike turned to his wife. "Chandler." she said. "Nice to meet you, Chandler." Mike ended with a smile. "So, what happened with the woman at your back?" He asked. "She's actually my wife. It's a long story."

Oh it sure is a long story; and it's just the beginning.

A/N: And there you go. So, how was it? I would like to apologize for some geographical and foreign territory law inaccuracies that may be in this chapter. And also, if you find the thing about the 'gods of the mountains' stuff weird, I'm sorry. Actually, some people in other cultures still believe that, and it's perfectly fine. For the purposes of this story, there is a little town in Quebec, Canada who lives this way. It's fiction after all. ;) Lastly, I would like to thank Google translate for those French lines I used. (Even if I'm not sure if they're right.) Please send me reviews and tell me how you feel about this chapter. Thank you so much! :)