(A/N) Wow, I'm updating really quickly for my standards! the readers of my other incomplete fics must be pissed (or wishful thinking? haha). Anyway, thank you to BluEyes, elizzabethavary, BundyShoes, and friendsfan101 for the kind reviews! :) Most of you have expressed excitement for upcoming chapters, and I really hope I don't disappoint. Thank you for the motivation; they make me super happy! :) Onwards!
"Oh, honey," Rachel's soothing voice came from out of the darkness. "Are you okay? Are you feeling better?"
Chandler opened his eyes slowly. He was lying in the soft Central Park grass, on a peach picnic blanket. He looked up to realize he was lying in Rachel's lap. The sun streamed onto her golden hair, so glossy it made his weakened eyes hurt. He grimaced.
"What's wrong?" Rachel placed a warm hand onto his forehead.
Chandler chuckled and slowly sat up, consciously aware of the burst of pain through multiple limbs and joints. "Thanks, Rach," he smiled crookedly, "but if I had just been dropped on my neck from four feet in the air, my sweaty forehead would probably not be the worst of my worries." He put a sore arm around his friend and squeezed her shoulder.
"Ugh, you're right," Rachel sighed, frustrated. "I'm sorry I'm so useless. If I would've caught you…"
"You and about six other people," Chandler said half-jokingly.
"Oh!" Rachel's hands flew to her ashamed face, and she buried her head in Chandler's chest. "I'm so sorry, Chandler. We could've killed you." She added as an afterthought, "And my shoes."
He smiled and stroked Rachel's soft hair comfortingly. "It's okay, I forgive you. Thanks for taking care of me."
She murmured something incomprehensible into his sweater.
Chandler smiled down at the top of Rachel's head, and then looked around the park. It really was a nice day out – a perfect New York afternoon. The sun was out (a rare treat for this time of year), a slight breeze was blowing, and the sky was cloudless and blue. It was apparently lunchtime at the retreat, as groups of employees were scattered across the grass, eating identical bag lunches provided by the Ralph Lauren execs.
And on this beautiful day in beautiful New York, Chandler had a beautiful woman wrapped in his arms. Something is not right with this picture.
It could be the fact that it wasn't every day he sat around embracing beautiful women in parks, Chandler mused. But more importantly, it could be how utterly comfortable and happy he felt at that moment, holding Rachel. I mean, it's Rachel. She wasn't supposed to feel so perfect, there, lying against him that it felt like they had previously been molded as one. She wasn't supposed to be so warm – Chandler felt as if he were grasping a puppy to his chest. She's your wife's best friend. The thought made him feel icky.
Well, it's only biological! he insisted to himself, as he traced his thumb along Rachel's back in slow circles. Men will simply always feel a biological attraction when a woman is in such close proximity to them. Getting married doesn't automatically erase those biological reactions. No, married men just learn to ignore them over time. Overlook them. Not act on them.
Chandler's musings were interrupted by another one of Jack's shrill whistles, indicating the end of lunchtime and the beginning of another trust game.
"Ugh," Rachel grumbled, her voice vibrating against his sore chest. "God. I'm tired of trust games."
"Can't say I'm too fond of them right now either," Chandler deadpanned.
Rachel laughed and pushed herself off of Chandler with two well-placed palms. "Well, come on," she sighed, flicking the bangs out of her face and picking up her empty lunch bag. "Let's go see if this next game is a little less extreme for Ms. Chanandler Bong."
As it turned out, Rachel's prediction was correct; the next activity turned out to be much milder – a show and tell. Each employee was supposed to bring an item of importance to them – "to promote greater understanding of and foster personal bonds between your fellow coworkers," according to Droopy Jack.
They were all separated into about five different groups and seated into circles. Chandler duly noted that Droopy Jack was still their activity leader. When they were all seated, Chandler hissed in Rachel's ear, "You never told me we were supposed to bring anything!"
"I didn't know either," she hissed back, rummaging through her fringed side bag.
The middle-aged woman next to Rachel turned to them. "It was in the company newsletter." She was clutching a photo of a fat white cat in her arms.
"Oh, you know I don't read the company newsletters, Maureen!" Rachel snapped in exasperation.
Maureen looked a bit hurt as she muttered, "Don't know why I bother writing them…"
"Aha!" Rachel suddenly gasped, pulling out a pacifier from her bag. "Perfect! This represents Emma, and Emma is obviously very important to me… ha, in your face, Maureen!"
"That's not fair!" Chandler huffed, beginning to rummage through his own pockets. "I don't have a purse to look through… or a baby whose stuff I can steal!"
"Yeah, good luck with that, hon," Rachel replied inattentively, no longer invested in his search now that she had found something for herself.
Chandler pulled out the contents of his pocket and sifted quickly through them. The show and tell had started already, with a thin gay man across the circle who brought a large gaudy dragonfly brooch.
Well, I have my wallet, Chandler thought, thumbing through it. I could say… money is important to me… because it buys stuff? He rolled his eyes. My apartment keys… because my apartment is important. Lame. Oh hey, a condom. I guess this could symbolize Monica. Another eye roll. That would not go over well. Suddenly, he paused his rummaging. Wait. Perfect.
It wasn't long before the show-and-tell reached Rachel.
"Okay." She took a deep breath and gave the group a winning smile. "Hi. I'm Rachel Green, merchandising manager. Um, I brought along this - " She held up the plastic pacifier. Several women 'aw'-ed. "As some of you might know, I have a beautiful baby girl named Emma… and she's really important to me." Rachel's voice faltered a little, inciting more 'aw'-ing. Chandler placed a hand on her knee and squeezed.
Rachel cleared her throat. She continued, "Ten years ago, I could barely take care of myself. I was the baby – still living off of my parents. I didn't have a job. I'd never even done my own laundry before! And now, I'm responsible for this whole other living being… and the best part is, I actually feel competent. Like I've grown so much. And like I actually deserve to raise a child. I never thought I'd feel that way, and the feeling is… amazing." She smiled briefly and finished, "You can't even imagine loving something – someone – as much as you can until you look into your baby's eyes."
All the women employees in the circle sniffled and smiled; some nodded fiercely in ardent agreement. The men smiled awkwardly, trying to show the socially appropriate amount of emotion. The gay man with the dragonfly brooch dabbed at his eye.
Chandler watched Rachel, unable to avert his gaze. She was so radiant; she practically shined with pride and love. She turned and met his eyes. She smiled and squeezed his hand. He smiled back.
"That was lovely," Jack said flatly. "Thank you, Rachel. Next? Chandler, was it?"
Regretfully, Chandler looked away from Rachel and towards the group. "Well." He glanced down at the slip of paper in his hand. "I'd hate to follow that performance, but Rachel actually stole what I was going to say." He chuckled.
The group remained silent.
"Tough crowd. Okay, then." Chandler held up the piece of paper he had found in his wallet. "This is a receipt from Central Perk Coffeehouse." He turned briefly to meet Rachel's gaze before continuing,
"I can't even begin to describe how important this place is to me."
(A/N) How was it? I hope you liked it! As always, everyone is welcome to leave comments/reviews/questions! I always smile when I see one in my email inbox :D Well, thanks for reading, and I'll update soon!
