A/N: *comes out from hiding place* Hello guys! I guess the first chapter left you with more questions and I'm sorry about that. This will answer some, and probably leave you asking more. I would like to thank you for your reviews.
I would like to give a special shout-out to Monica for the detailed review she gave. I realized some of the characters decisions are uncharacteristic of them but sometimes people make decisions that they didn't know they were capable of. Sometimes, we make a choice and regret it afterwards but we just have to deal with it. I plan to explain the reason for the events that conspired between Monica and Chandler in the future chapters.
Anyway, here's the mystery person...
"Monica?" She stopped dead on her tracks. She knew this voice.
She turned to face the man. She least expected to see him enthusiastic in seeing her, but it turned out the complete opposite. "He-hey!" he hugged her excitedly, to her utter surprise; but then she gave in and hugged him back. They were good friends after all.
"Monica, it's really you!" The man said when they let go. "It's been so long, we thought we'd never see you again. We missed you so much, Mon. Thanksgivings just weren't the same without your cooking!"
"It's nice to see you, Joe. I missed you guys too." Monica said with a hearty smile. she looked down on Daniel who was once again crept behind her. The little boy kept a shy face and occasionally stole glances on the friendly unfamiliar man.
Once the happiness of the sudden reunion wore off, Joey voiced out his resentment about the way she left the group five years ago. "But Mon, you just left...You know, we were so lost. You didn't say goodbye. We didn't know why you left, and we had all this thoughts coming into our mind of what could've happened. We talked to your parents and they just told us that you were in Europe and that you had to take a job. We asked if we could have your contact but they wouldn't give us anything. We thought that you were mad at us. We felt bad, especially Chandler." Especially Chandler.
"I'm so sorry for putting you through the guilt. I know I should have told you guys. I really care about you. I wasn't thinking straight. I got scared, so I tried to run away from everything." Monica tried to explain. Joey bore a hurt expression on his face, but Monica could see that he was trying to be understanding.
"We really got hurt Mon, but we love you so much for us to stay mad at you for so long. The guys are going to be so happy to know you're here. But wait, are you gonna stay for good?" Joey asked, hoping that they would have all the time to make-up for five years of friendship which they lost.
"As of now, yes. I think so..." She looked down at Daniel with concern and Joey realized that he didn't notice the little boy the time they were talking.
"Uhh, Mon...Who is this little boy who's been hiding at your back?" Joey inquired.
Monica whispered something into Daniel's ear and led him to face Joey. "Oh, I'm sorry. Joey, I'd like you to meet Daniel, my son. Daniel, say hi to Joey." She introduced the two and Joey bent down to shake the boy's hand.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Joey. My name is Daniel." The boy said in his adorable little voice. Joey found little boy's courteousness amusing. "Wow Mon, he's very polite." Joey commented. "How old is he?"
"He just turned four last month." Monica said. "Four. Monica left five years ago. So she got pregnant that's why she left?" Joey thought. "Hey little buddy, just call me your Uncle Joey. Is it okay for him to call me uncle, Mon?"
"Yeah, I guess he can." Monica said with a small smile. "Uh, Mon...Where is Daniel's father?" Joey finally asked. Strangely enough, he noticed that the boy looked very similar to someone they all knew so well. Then again he thought this suspicion to be impossible; or at least, very unlikely. If something as huge as this happened, he believes they would have known.
"He's not here." Monica simply said. She didn't want to deal with telling just yet. Chandler, at least, deserves to know first.
"Oh okay." Joey said. He wanted to ask more but he figured his questions will have to be answered another time. Maybe it was better for her to tell the story to the gang.
"I guess we'll head now. We have to check-out more stuff. I promise I'll try to make it up to you guys." Monica said. "Oh, and you're still after the same grocery list, I see." Monica said as she happened upon the contents of Joey's cart. There were a number of six-pack beers and big bags of chips and chocolates among others.
"You know it." Joey responded before bringing out a piece of paper and pen. "Wait, Mon. Could I have your contact number and address? We would love it if you could hang out with us. Or we could visit you sometime."
"Okay, sure." She wrote her cell number and the address of the apartment she and Daniel temporarily live in. Monica leaves Daniel with her parents in Long Island during workdays. She would go home after her shift on Thursdays and they would go back to the Manhattan apartment on the next day. "Oh, why are you in New York by the way? You still live in LA?" Monica asked while handing him the paper.
"I'm visiting my parents. And yeah, we all still live in LA. We visit New York every third Friday of the month, though. We would always hang out on Central Perk and do some usual New York stuff the rest of the weekend. It just feels nice to lay low and go back to the simpler times." Joey said. The four of them; Joey, Chandler, Ross and Monica were friends way before they got their tickets to fame. They all lived in the Village. Joey and Chandler were roommates while Monica lived in the unit opposite theirs. Ross on the other hand, lived in the building across the street. Rachel was Monica and Ross' childhood friend but they fell apart and reconnected in LA. They met Phoebe in LA and discovered that she traced back from New York too, so they easily hit it off.
"I see. Well, it's nice to see you, Joey." Monica said sincerely and they once again pulled for a small hug. "I'll call you, Mon. See you, buddy." Joey said while waving goodbye to Monica and Daniel.
A few days after the encounter, Joey told the story to the rest of the friends. Joey, Phoebe, Rachel and Chandler were all hanging out at Chandler's place.
"Guys, you would not believe who I saw at a supermarket in New York.." Joey started.
"Who is it Joe?" Rachel asked.
"She's someone we'd never thought we'd see again." Joey said.
"Oh at least we know that it's a 'she'. Spill it out, Joey!" Phoebe said a little annoyed.
"Alright! I saw Monica and she's not alone." Joey stated. The girls let out a small gasp. Just as Joey said Monica's name, Chandler entered with a tray of drinks in hand. Chandler had to compose himself before carefully setting down the tray.
"Monica? As in our Monica?" Chandler asked nervously.
"Yeah, man. How many Monicas do you even care about?" Joey said with a shrug.
"Good point." Chandler said. "And you said she wasn't alone?" he added.
"Yeah, she has a son. You should see the kid, he's really cute." Joey said. "Great, she's married." Chandler thought.
Chandler remained silent the rest of the discussion.
"I can't believe Monica got married and she didn't invite us." Rachel said disappointingly.
"Well it makes sense. One day, she was just gone in our lives. She didn't give out a proper goodbye." Phoebe commented.
"Yeah, not even to Chandler." Rachel commented. The three of them looked at Chandler and the latter kept a tense look on his face.
"She said she was sorry for leaving us like that. She said she just had to deal with some things. And that she feels really bad." Joey continued.
"Well, if she really cared she should have contacted us at least once." Rachel said.
"Yeah, it hurt when she left without saying goodbye, you know. It's hard dealing with the press too, because of her sudden disappearance." Phoebe added.
"I know, I told her how hurt we felt too. She said she's going to try and make it up to us. I also don't get why she didn't bother letting us know where she went or at least to tell us she's alive. But, I could see that she's gone through some pretty serious stuff. She said she missed us and I know we miss her so much too. I got her contact and she said we could call her anytime." Joey said.
"Well, I guess...But, it's just so hard...She says she missed us but it didn't seem like it." Rachel said.
"She's got a lot of making up to do, that's for sure! I guess I missed her too...How long's it been?" Phoebe asked.
"It's been five years." Joey stated.
"Wow, that long." Phoebe remarked.
"Yeah... So, it's okay if she could join us next time?" Joey asked.
"I guess we could give her a chance." Phoebe said.
"Yeah., I can't believe we'd ever be complete again! Gosh, I'm going to cry." Rachel said, teary-eyed.
"But of course, it wouldn't be easy at first. We'd have to adjust again. But, I'm glad too." Phoebe said.
"This is great guys." Joey responded.
"But wait what if she leaves us again?" Rachel said sadly.
"She said she might stay for good this time." Joey responded.
"Well, that's good to know." Rachel said. "When did she arrive by the way?" she inquired.
"She said she came back about a month ago." Joey answered.
"That long? Ross is supposed to say everything to me. I can't believe he didn't tell me!" Rachel exclaimed.
"I don't know if Ross knows, Rach." Joey said.
"Of course she knows; he's her brother. Oh, he's going to get an earful from me about this!" Rachel hissed. She went to the other room and started dialing Ross' number.
The evening went on as they would always spend their bonding nights. Chandler, who was noticeably quiet during their discussion about Monica was now more involved when they changed topics. Rachel and Phoebe left earlier than Joey and Joey saw this as a chance to talk about something that has been bothering him ever since that day he saw Monica again.
"So…Monica has a son." Chandler said matter of factually.
"Yeah…Hey, there's something I need to tell you. I just didn't want to talk about it with the girls around." Joey started.
"What is it Joe?" Chandler said curiously.
"I don't know if something 'happened' between you and Monica before she left but man…that kid, he looks like you man." Joey said.
"What?" Chandler, who was listening intently simply said. Flashbacks of their night five years ago were now filling his head.
"Chandler?" Joey asked him with brows furrowed, when he noticed that Chandler was just staring blankly.
"Uhh… Yeah, why?" Chandler managed to let out.
"Like I said, the kid looks like you man. He's got your eyes, he's got your hair, and he acts a little like you too. He even loves YooHoo." Joey explained.
"Why can't people who aren't related have the same interests? Kids love chocolate. You love YooHoo too." Chandler said defensively.
"Not as much as you do. Anyway, I don't know anything about you doing it or having a child or something –" Joey said casually.
"Joe!" Chandler said.
"What? I'm just making assumptions based on what I saw. I think you should call her. You know, you were so quiet when we were talking about her earlier that I'm beginning to think you know more about why she left. Here's her number and her address. Why don't you catch up?" Joey said while handing out a piece of paper to Chandler and grabbing his coat. "I'll head out, man. Thanks, again. I still have a date."
"You got a date at 11:30? Chandler asked incredulously.
"Well, it's not much of a date if you know what I mean, it's more of a-" Joey explained.
"Yeah, I got you Joe." Chandler stopped him.
"Okay. Call her man." Joey said before driving away.
Chandler sat on the balcony of his bedroom later that night, puffing on his cigarette once in a while. He has tried to quit smoking sporadically through the years. During the times when he's deep at thought or when he's faced with a tough decision like now, he would always give in the temptation. He had the piece of paper Joey gave him on one hand, staring at the numbers written on it. He has stared at it too long that he could actually see the digits swirling in his head.
He tried looking at the dark blue sky, seeking solace from his jumbled thoughts, but it just reminded him more of his dilemma. The stars were shining bright just like the way her eyes sparkled that night. He never forgot about that night and he regrets not having the guts to deal with the consequences that bore through it.
"They're beautiful, right?" Monica said in a sluggish mumble while seating on Chandler's lap. They were seating on a bench in the balcony and she had her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Yes, they are. Look at that Mon, it's smiling." Chandler laughingly said while pointing at what he claims to be a constellation. "They're still not as beautiful as you though." He added.
He laid on his bed trying his best to sleep be he just couldn't. His mind was going in overdrive; thoughts of everything that had been, things that would've been keeping him company.
Chandler got up the next day after having barely an hour of sleep. He spent countless hours of the previous night contemplating before arriving at a decision. He dialed the phone, eager to make sure that this time he would set things straight.
"Hello. Yes, I would like a ticket to your latest flight to New York please."
A/N: And that's it for the second chapter. I know, it's still a little vague but it will all make sense in the future chapters. Please leave me your thoughts. Thank you! :) *goes back to my hiding place*