Encore

An Alternate Universe Mondler Fan fiction

AN: Okay, so I saw the reviews (thanks by the way) and I completely agree that it would be odd that Monica went on a date so soon while still hung up on Chandler. The thought crossed my mind while I was writing it but I didn't want to question my muse. A bad analogy for it would be, would you commit a bank heist your first day on parole? Anyway, my only justification is that it was months later from their talk and Chandler still hadn't done or said anything that would let her know. Meanwhile for a year since he left she did nothing, barely leaving the apartment except to work. Then she wants to urge Chandler along by dating. There are other things like the fact I don't want to make this really easy and have them get right back together.

Chapter 11:

Finally the gossiping became too much for Chandler to ignore. Abruptly he stood up, his irritability partly due to his hangover, and stalked past the couch towards the door. Without a word he flung the door open and swung it shut behind him making it into his apartment before the door fully closed.

The loud bang of the door echoed around Apartment 20 that had grown eerily quiet following Chandler's abrupt exit. Finally, Ross broke the silence.

"Really guys?" he asked, staring judgmentally at Phoebe and Rachel.

It soon dawned on them.

"Oops." Phoebe muttered sheepishly.

"Yeah, oops." Responded Ross harshly.

Monica turned to face them. "What's going on?"

"Don't play stupid Mon, it's insulting. You know very well what's wrong." Ross retorted.

"But I-" Monica tried to respond but Joey cut her off.

"Stop messing around with Chandler Monica!"

"I'm not messing around with him!"

"Oh please. Like you didn't know that talking about a date in front of him would bother him." Joey snapped.

"But-"

"No buts! He's my best friend and I will not allow you to screw with his head like this! It took an insane amount of courage for him to come back here and reconnect with you! You know very well he has feelings for you so make a decision! Wait for him or move on! Don't use other guys to make him jealous! You spent a whole year waiting and wishing for him to come and get back together with you! Why are you throwing that away?"

"Exactly!" Monica snapped, "I spent a whole year of my life wallowing in my grief, thinking when he came back that would change! But it didn't! He isn't yet willing to get back together and I'm not going to waste more of my time waiting! I'm an aging woman who has goals, dreams and aspirations for her life. I will never achieve them if I sit around waiting for him!"

"So you're just going to ignore your feelings for him and move on?" Rachel quietly piped up.

"I have to." Monica said, lowering her voice. "I don't know how much longer he'll take just to trust me again, and I imagine he's reverted back into his commitment phobia. I've got a shelf life and I can't afford to wait. I can move on and love someone else. People remarry all the time, and not just Ross and widows. If they can love again, so can I."

The other four friends sighed, dropping it, as they knew Monica had made her decision.

Meanwhile in Apartment 19 Chandler lay on his bed, bouncing a tennis ball against the wall repeatedly, trying to get his mind in order.

Okay, mental interrogation.

Do you love her?

Of course you do imbecile!

Do you trust her?

…No.

Which risk are you more willing to take; losing her to another man because you waited too long, or losing her due to a fight caused by your lack of trust?

…The first one.

So there's your answer, live with it or get over yourself.

Sighing Chandler caught the ball as it bounced back at him before promptly dropping it on the bed and curling up in a ball, the absolute depiction of misery. The thought of losing Monica was unbearable no matter what the context was. Ultimately he had to try to pick the lesser of two evils.

Having Monica, even if only as a friend, is better than nothing, he decided, knowing if they fought again they would lose their friendship once more.

Having done his best to convince himself that it was the best option available, Chandler closed his eyes and drifted off into a fitful sleep.

AN: Okay, so I apologize this chapter is so short, but I felt that was a good place to leave it because I didn't know what else to do with this and I figured you guys deserved a quick update after the lapse before Chapter 10. I assure you all that Mondler will get back together, but this is definitely more of a drama than a comedy.