Remember English is not my native language, I hope the translation is correct, I check it, but sometimes I miss some incorrect, sorry.

I repeat, I am not the owner of the characters, I only rely on them for the sheer pleasure of practice writing stories without any economic interest, and these two characters inspire me.

Chapter 6: The reunion - Hope's decision -

Dr. Mercier returned to Montreal, the next day, it was April 22, she went to visit Hope to give her the news.

She asked her to go to the front garden and they sat quietly.

"Hope, look at, some people who were walking along the road, close they where they found you, buried in the mud, they found this bag"

Monica looked at the bag curiously, but without recognition.

"Inside it we find your documents, credit card, registration, a mobile phone, wallet and various photos…. yours with your family…"

Hope's jaw dropped. -

The Doctor opened the bag and took out the belongings one by one.

"Your name is Monica Geller Bing, you are from New York, you were exactly living on Long Island."

"You have a husband, see here he is in the photo with you and two children…"

Tears filled Hope's eyes and began to trickle down her cheek.

"And why didn't they look for me..." she asks the doctor

"Hope, they've been looking for you tirelessly since you disappeared for them at the end of June last year, almost a year ago, they just were looking in the wrong place."

"You had gone to a bakery convention in Burlington"

"Isn't that in Vermont, USA?" asked Hope

"Yes, the congress was for three days, you were supposed to come back on Thursday, but you left a message for your husband, his name is Chandler, telling him that you were coming back on Friday, that you didn't have a battery and then you explained to him"

"Doctor, my husband's name is weird..." Hope said.

"Seem to you? … His name is Chandler Bing"

"But doctor, if I was in Burlington how did I show up in Montreal?

"Apparently you were traveling with two friends who had a bakery here in Montreal, surely they offered you to go with them to see their bakery, but on the way you had an accident, somehow you got out of the car, but the car overturned and fell into the river and the friends died" " We don't know for sure that the events were like that because there were no witnesses, but it's the only explanation for you appearing near Biloeil."

"And they want to see me…"

"Of course, Hope, they haven't heard from you for almost a year, your husband didn't know if you were dead or kidnapped and they were hurting you, for your family all this time it was a nightmare, your husband during all these months was traveling Saturday for half to Burlington and nearby cities leaving posters with your photo…"

"Oh…. I thought they didn't care…" Hope said sadly.

"Well, you are very wrong..." The doctor said and continued

"I went to NY and I talked to your whole family, obviously they are desperate to see you, but I explained to them that I had to talk to you first and you would decide if you want to see them…"

"I don't know …. I don't remember them…" Hope said sadly.

"Hope, that ring that you always caress was given to you by your husband when you got engaged, he loves you very much, your children, your parents and your friends too, you don't have to be afraid to see them, they already know that you don't remember, and they will respect your decisions, but I think you should meet them, talk to them, maybe that will help bring up some memories."

"And when would they come?" asked Hope

"When you are ready, they are waiting for my call…. First your husband Chandler would come with a friend of yours from childhood, Rachel, who is currently also your sister-in-law, she is married to your brother whose name is Ross "

"I have a brother …. Said Hope

"Yes, you have a father and a mother, a married brother, nephews, another friend named Phoebe who everyone considers another sister"

"But Chandler and Rachel would come first..." the doctor finished.

"Can I think about it for a couple of days…?"

"Of course Hope"

The decision didn't take that long, the next day Hope called Dr. Mercier to tell her she was ready to see these people.

The doctor immediately called Chandler, who jumped with happiness, and they agreed that they would travel on Friday, early in the morning.

That day Hope was nervous, on the one hand, she was anxious to see those people who were her family, and on the other, she was scared by what she would feel when she saw them and what they would expect of her.

The first meeting took place in the doctor's office.

When Chandler and Rachel were at the door to enter, Chandler froze, his heart was pounding, his hands were sweating and trembling, he looked at Rachel "Rach, I don't know how I'm going to keep from running to hug her, kiss her, turn her in the air…"

"Honey, you know we can't, it's going to be difficult for both of us, but the doctor told us that it's for her health…"

"Yes Rach I know, but it's a terrible effort..."

"Chandler, you've been trying so hard to live for a year now, it's just a little more…"

Chandler smiled at Rachel, and knocked on the door.

Hope was sitting in an armchair when Rachel and Chandler walked in, both with soft smiles, and said Hi…

They both sat in front of Hope, while she watched them carefully, the man was very handsome, tall, he had beautiful blue eyes, somewhat messy hair, and a nice smile... she liked him.

The woman was small like her, blonde, very pretty, very well groomed, and she seemed nice, she liked her too.

But she remained serious.

They saw a little Monica, dressed in jeans and a white shirt, her hair up and no makeup. Chandler noticed her rings on her finger and how she caressed it with the thumb of her other hand all the time.

Chandler was the first to speak, "Mon, you don't know how happy I am to see you well, we've been looking for you for months, we never imagined you'd be in Canada…. But now the uncertainty that was killing me is over, now I know that you are alive and well"

"My name is Hope" Hope said with a cold tone.

"Oh yeah…. I'm sorry..." Chandler said and a blush rose on his face, but he continued:

"Look, I put together a photo album for you, Rachel helped me, there are photos from your childhood, and the last ones are from our children…" Chandler handed her the album that Hope put on her lap without opening it.

She didn't speak, just examined each one, and kept looking the man straight in the eye.

Rachel began to falter and her eyes filled with tears.

"Why are you crying?" I ask Hope remotely.

"Because you are my lifelong friend, we are sisters, I love you and it hurts that you don't remember me, I know it's not your fault, but it hurts just the same, also if you remembered me you would know that I always cry..." Rachel said and smiled softly.

"Do you want us to tell you about our past…"

"Well…" Hope said, still looking into Chandler's eyes, she didn't know why, but she needed to look into his eyes.

"Look, I was your brother Ross's roommate in college, and that's how we met. At first we didn't get along, but then when you entered the Academy you went to live in the apartment that belonged to your grandmother in the villa. Apartment 20. When I graduated I settled in apartment 19, right in front of your door in the middle corridor. And we became neighbors and then friends, and then best friends, you had two roommates, first Phoebe who today is the other best friend you have and then Rachel, who left her boyfriend at the altar and went to live with you " Chandler said with a smile and looked at Rachel who smiled back.

After the pause, Chandler continued, "We're an inseparable gang of six, the girls, Rachel, Phoebe, you, and the boys, Ross, your brother, Joey my roommate and me. The two of us were neighbors and best friends for 7 years, and suddenly, one day I will explain the details to you, we realized that we were in love, we lived together, we got engaged and married in 2001, we were looking for a baby when we found out that we both had problems, and we decided to adopt and thus two little angels came into our lives, Erika and Jack who have just turned 4 years old"

"That's pretty much our story," Chandler concluded.

Hope listened to him attentively, but none of that meant anything to her, just that they both inspired her with some confidence, she liked them, but nothing more.

Hope looking at the doctor told her that she was tired, if she could continue the next day.

The doctor looked at Chandler who quickly said yes, "whenever you want..."

"It's fine tomorrow, but at my house, in the afternoon," said Hope.

Chandler quickly said "yes of course, we will be as long as you need and want"

They said goodbye to each other, and Chandler and Rachel greeted the doctor and left.

Chandler stopped and looked at Rachel "Did you see her look, it's sad, she doesn't have the sparkle of Monica's eyes, it's a cold, distant look, Monica isn't in that look…"

"My friend, it's early... she just met us…. Probably in the next meeting she will be more animated, more relaxed... although I was struck by the fact that she looked you in the eye almost all the time"

"God help Rach, I don't feel like I found my wife…"

The next day they met the place where Monica lived, her new home full of her children, she looked better, more in her environment, more animated by her.

They sat in the garden, always with the company of Dr. Mercier

This time they asked Hope about her life, and she told them that she felt that this was her home, she felt protected and at peace.

These words were like a dagger in Chandler's heart, she liked where she was, what she made of her, and they were nothing to her. It was not a good omen.

Chandler told her about her nephews, Ben, Emma, and Sofia to Phoebe's daughter.

Rachel told her the story of how Monica had given her the name Emma.

The two told her stories about the gang. -

At some stories they managed to get a little smile from Hope, but she quickly returned to her serious face.

Before the third meeting Chandler asked the doctor if he could invite Monica to travel with them to NY and meet the rest of the family.

"Chandler, I don't see any problem in asking her, not as an obligation but as an invitation, and we'll see what she says."

After talking for a while, something from the past and something from the present, Chandler was encouraged to invite "Hope, would you like to travel with us to NY and meet the rest of the family there, the children, your parents, your brother, the rest of the family and the Friends?"

Hope was silent and just said "I have to think about it"

After Chandler and Rachel left, extremely worried and saddened by Monica's response, Hope spoke to the doctor.

"Doctor, I am happy here, with Janet and Francis and the children, I like what I do. Those people seem like good people, but I don't remember them or feel anything for them. I don't know if I want to be in their world, in Monica Geller's world, which is no longer mine,"

"Hope, you don't have to go, just think about it, maybe it would help you remember, but it's you who has to decide and you have to tell them your decision clearly, it's not fair for them to keep hope after everything they've been through."

A couple of days after the last visit, and the doctor still hadn't summoned them to a new meeting. From NY everyone called them to see how things were going, and they told them the truth, not very well...

Finally, Dr. Mercier called them at the hotel to let them know that they would meet at Hope's house that afternoon, at 5 pm, and Hope would give them her answer.

Chandler could not eat a bite, as the meetings had gone he did not have much hope, Hope physically resembled his wife, but Monica was no longer there, and he did not notice interest on her part to meet the family, not even their children ….

When they arrived at the house, Hope and the doctor were waiting for them. The doctor looked at Hope as if to signal her to speak.

"Look, I thank you for the invitation, but I really don't want to go, I don't remember you, I'm not going to feel good in a house I don't recognize and surrounded by people I don't remember, even if they say they love me. This is my life now, I like it and I want to stay here."

Chandler's throat tightened, and he can't help but let tears well up in his eyes. Rachel also cried silently.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt you, I know you were looking for me, but well, now things are like this..."

"ah, and here is the album you gave me, you better take it with you."

Chandler could barely speak, "Okay Hope, we respect your decision, but please keep the album, keep it in the bottom drawer of your dresser so it won't bother you, because maybe someday in the future you'll want to look at it."

And addressing both he asks them; "Would there be any chance, Hope, that I would give you a hug, after looking for you so much, so desperately, it would be the only and the last thing that would take me from who was my wife to my heart "

The doctor looked at Hope, and she said "Yes, it's okay, a hug is no problem..."

Chandler approached carefully, first he took Hope's face in his hands, looked deep into her eyes, and then he gave her a deep hug, one of those he used to give her when she was sad or bad about something."

It didn't last more than thirty seconds, Chandler gently let her go, by now his tears were running down his cheek, it was inevitable.

Rachel didn't come closer. -

Chandler just said "Bye Hope, I wish you to be incredibly happy."

They greeted the doctor with a goodbye and thanks for everything and left.

Hope stood still where the hug had taken place, she was surprised, it was the first time, in all these months, that she had felt a deep peace, she had felt so safe, his scent and his warmth had enveloped her, that hug seemed like a home and this intrigued her and also scared her.

The doctor asked her if something was wrong with her, but Hope answered that she was not, and she went back to her routine.