One-Shot: This is Home
Monica did leave to stay with her parents, the night that she had intended to be her engagement night ultimately fell apart. Joey had been right: she needed to work through some things.
No, not about Richard: if there was one thing she was clear on, it was that she wasn't going to go back to him. No matter what promises he made, telling her what she wanted to hear.
What Monica really needed to think about was if she was going to go back to Chandler and fight for them, and the marriage she still wanted to have with him. Or was she just waiting around for a wedding that would never happen, based on the man's professed views about marriage?
It was physically painful, to be away from her love, as necessary as it was. Monica cried a lot, leaning on her parents. But she wasn't scared, not even about doing the reflection that needed to be done.
By the time she got truly scared, she had her answer.
Monica had been at her parents' for nearly a week when Joey called in a total panic: Chandler wasn't sleeping. He wasn't eating. Joey and the others were considering staging an intervention and dragging Chandler to the hospital, as he refused to leave his old room in Apartment 19.
When she hung up the phone, Monica felt physically ill. Tears streaming down her face, she glanced back to her mom and dad helplessly. Jack just smiled grimly, knowingly.
Within minutes, her bag was packed and Monica was in her car and driving like a bat out of hell for Manhattan.
It was night when she arrived at Bedford Street. Monica took the stairs to the third floor two at a time, pounding on the door to Apartment 19. Joey looked relieved and terrified in equal measure when he answered.
"Through here," he told her. Monica burst into her boyfriend's former room. She froze at what she saw:
Her Chandler was pale. Painfully thin - nearly emaciated. Monica drew a horrified hand to her mouth.
"My poor darling…" she whispered tearfully, and crossing to the bed, she gathered him in her arms, cradling him. Good God, what had she done?
Chandler was gazing at her as if she wasn't real. "Monica…."
Monica beamed weakly. "Hi…."
"You….. came back…."
"Of course I came back! When Joey told me you were…." She couldn't finish, overcome. "I'm so sorry…."
"Maybe it's better this way…."
"Ssssh….." she hushed him. "We're together now - you'll see…."
"At least I got to see you…. One more time…."
Cradling him in her lap, Monica quietly sang to him:
"We are home…. We are where we shall be forever…." Chandler started to say something and she quieted him. "Trust in me, for you know I won't run away… From today… this is all that I need and all that I need to say… home should be where the heart is: I'm certain as I can be…. I've found home… You're my home… Stay… with…. me…."
"Monica, I…."
"Y-yes?…" she wept. Chandler shifted in her arms and something inside Monica made her panic. "No, wait! I need to say this:" she gazed into his eyes, heartsick. "Please, marry me, Chandler…" She ducked her head with remorse at how she could have ever left him. "That is…. If you'll still have me…"
When she glanced up, Chandler was beaming at her in what seemed like relief, and he was holding something in his fingers. Seeing the ring, Monica drew both hands to her mouth to hold in her gasp.
"I was going to give this to you… that night at the restaurant. But then stupid Richard…" Monica laughed wetly at the madness of it. "Monica… of course I'll have you. … Will you marry me?"
She giggled through her sobs. "…. Yes!" She warbled.
Chandler beamed and slipped the ring onto a weeping Monica's finger. Monica kissed him sweetly, deeply.
When she ran for the kitchen to start cooking, Joey was already on the phone with 911, asking for paramedics and a stabilizing IV strip.
Monica lovingly nursed her fiancé back to health and full strength. The thought of how close she came to nearly losing him gave her an I-Can't-Live-Without-You kind of urgency. She was delirious to learn that Chandler felt the same way.
Weeks later, the couple wed, in a quiet and intimate ceremony inside their Apartment 20. Monica wore a gorgeous white dress that she had bought literally off the rack. The apartment was filled with close friends and family, which even then brushed up against the capacity limit set by fire codes. Chandler and Monica had requested that Joey be the one to marry them.
Chandler and Monica were each solemn and introspective as they gave their heartfelt vows. When Chandler at last drew his bride close and kissed her, Monica happily knew that she was home, once and for all. Her simple bouquet was tossed aside almost absently, caught by a bemused Phoebe.
Central Perk was closed for the reception, the orange couch and coffee tables pushed back so the newlywed Bings could dance at their wedding. But the most touching moment came when Chandler presented his gift to his bride: a cake that he had apparently baked himself. OK, he had baked it with help from Joey and Ross, but still…
Monica was happily stunned. "It's wonderful! But how did you….?" Her sapphire eyes were sparkling with emotional delight.
"Do you like it…?"
In answer, Monica threw her arms around her husband's neck and kissed him soundly.
"Oh…. Darling, I love it! I love you!"
Chandler fed his wife the first piece, looking far too pleased with himself. Husband and wife then danced and kissed the night away.