The Caretaker
I hope you like the story, and that you tell me his opinions, through them I know if I'm on the right path.
Remember English is not my native language, I hope the translation is correct, check it, but sometimes I miss some incorrect personal pronouns for the phrase, sorry.
I reiterate, I do not own the characters of Friends I only rely on them for the pure pleasure of writing stories without any economic interest, and Monica and Chandler they inspire me
Chapter 8
The next day Phoebe arrived at Central Perk with a big smile.
"How lucky that I found you three alone, listen to the theme of Romeo and Juliet, I thought of several paths…"
"Yes, I tried to think of one, it occurred to me to lock them in Monica's bedroom, they talk and they already have the bed nearby," Joey said excitedly with his idea which was received with Ross who turned red and gave him a Geller look.
"Well, it was just an idea…" Joey said, scared by Ross's reaction.
"Listen, I also thought about locking them up to force them to talk, but where and what excuse do we give to get them together?" Rachel said.
"Guys, I thought of several excuses, like celebrating a birthday, but Chandler's has already passed and Monica's is still missing, it could be a surprise party, but we would all have to be there and even invite friends, and how can we leave them alone? "Then it occurred to me that the excuse was to celebrate Monica's recovery for six." Phoebe said.
"That's a good excuse," Rachel said.
"But where we celebrate, if we go to a restaurant they won't be alone," said Joey.
"It could be in a hotel suite…" Rachel said.
"She's crazy, that's so expensive!" exclaimed Ross…. "And if we take them to the Empire State Observation Deck"
"No, it has to be in a neutral place, so that it takes them by surprise, Chandler is depressed and distant, it will cost us more to bring him there," Phoebe commented and proposed
"Guys, I was thinking about Central Perk."
"But it's full of people there…" Rachel jumper.
"Think, Central Perk closes at 7 pm, we can talk to Terry and Gunther to let us borrow them after that time, or to charge us something, we ask Gunther to decorate it with flowers and some candles, that's for sure. Rachel can ask for it…. Hahaha and he will gladly do it," Phoebe explained.
"We can tell them that my parents are also coming to the celebration, it will be more credible," said Ross, now more enthusiastic about the idea.
Phoebe laughed inside, she thought "Ross especially likes it because in Central Perk there is no bed, of course he forgot the couch…"
"We bring them and then what," Joey asked.
"My idea is that the main entrance is closed and with the gate down, therefore, we will all have to enter through the back door, you two" addressing Joey and Ross, "arrive first with Chandler and leave him alone with some excuse, go to the bathroom, for example. Gunther will be inside with him giving him a chat, then we arrive with Monica, we go in, we tell her to enter the room, but we also stay outside with some excuse, for example, we saw Joey, we have to think carefully, then in the room there will only be the two of them, with a nice table, flowers and candles, Gunther will go to the back of the premises, turn on music and leave the door closed" Phoebe explained.
"And how do we make sure they talk, because when they see themselves locked up they might get scared or upset" Joey asked.
"From outside the main door we shout surprise and a sign that says…. "I don't know… something to make them realize they have to talk…" Phoebe concluded with her idea.
"We all agree? Phoebe asked.
"Yes" everyone said.
"Well, the first thing is to talk to Terry and Gunther, Rachel and I do that with our sexuality… we have to see what day they can lend it to us and from there we tell them about the celebration," she proposed, laughing.
Obviously Gunther was quickly convinced, he couldn't say no to Rachel, and Terry ended up accepting, he had known them for years, he had always liked Chandler, if he could help him he would. So they agreed that the celebration would be held on Sunday after closing, the cafe even closes at 6 pm on Sundays, so they would have time for decoration, and the "party" would take place at 7:30 pm
Between the four of them, they established the schedule of the tasks that each one would have, and the excuses they would give to leave the premises. How would they do to force them to talk... everything was prepared.
Meanwhile, Monica and Chandler continued to be sad and depressed.
On Friday Phoebe entered apartment 19, the friends were in the kitchen eating some spaghetti, "Hello Guys, I wanted to let you know that Rachel and I organized a celebration among the 6 of Monica's recovery, Terry left us Central Perk on Sunday starting at 19:30 pm, we will bring something to eat and Gunther will prepare the drinks for us"
"Great," Joey said, while Chandler looked at her with furrowed eyebrows and said, "I don't know if I can go."
"What are you saying, why are you not coming, there is nothing more important than that celebration that also involves you, you took care of her, you are also deserving of our gratitude. Look, Chandler, if you don't come, we'll never be your friends again…" Phoebe said.
"OK, OK, I'll go…"
"Well, we will all be very elegant, you with a suit and tie, and we with beautiful dresses."
"No problem Phoebe, we'll put on our best suit" said Joey.
Chandler looked at him surprised, Joey hated dressing in a jacket and tie, what was wrong with him?
For her part, Rachel had a hard time convincing Monica about the celebration.
"Mon, we are so happy that you are well now, and we want to celebrate it all together, on Sunday after 7 pm Terry will lend us the Central Perk and we will celebrate, everything is already scheduled"
"Why there and not here at home?"
"Phoebe and I don't want any of the three of us to have to work, for it to be a big celebration, Gunther will take care of us, and the six of us will enjoy a nice and fun dinner, Phoebe already told the boys to come elegant, and we will dress in nice clothes."
"Chandler will come, because I treated him badly, he must be angry, I haven't seen him in the last few days"
"Of course he's coming, we also want to thank him for how well he took care of you," Rachel said enthusiastically.
"I should apologize, but I felt so bad that I didn't have the courage to do it," Monica said with a sad look.
"Well, on Sunday you apologize and explain why you reacted like that," Rachel told her.
"And according to you, what is that reason? Monica asked her, surprised by the comment.
Rachel turned to go to her room while she told her, "I don't know why, but I suppose you have some reason for acting like that. I'm going to choose the dress I'll wear on Sunday."
Monica also entered her room and she thought, if he is dating a pretty girl, I will show him that I am more beautiful and sexy.
On Sunday Phoebe stopped by Central Perk when she was closing and handed out candles to all the tables. He went over the steps with Gunther again, once Monica and Chandler were alone in the living room, he would tell them I'm coming, he would leave an envelope on the counter, he would play the cassette with the song that Monica liked, "The way you look tonight" by Rod Stewart, he would turn off the lights, go out and close the back door.
The boys were ready, very well dressed, with suits and ties, Chandler was a little nervous, he hadn't seen Monica for a few days, he hoped she wouldn't be too upset with his presence at the party.
Monica put on a low-cut red dress that hugged her body, she put on makeup trying to hide her paleness and tried to smile to ward off her sadness. Today they would celebrate her recovery and most importantly she would see Chandler and if she had the chance she would apologize, she promised herself not to cry.
The boys arrived first, Chandler was surprised by the decoration, "Monica will be delighted, the place looks beautiful…"
Joey said, "I'm coming, I'm going to the bathroom" and hid in one of them without completely closing the door, since once Monica passed by it he would go behind it.
Ross told Chandler, "The girls are late, they were already leaving, wait here and I'm going to the door to see the alley."
Chandler stared at the place, they had made it so romantic, he said to Gunther, who was behind the counter waiting to enter the scene, "You decorated it very well, it's very nice, Monica would love it."
"Yes, I'm sure everything will fascinate her," Gunther answered with a small mischievous smile.
The girls arrived and Ross at the door said "I was waiting for you, you didn't see Joey on the way, he said he had to go back to the apartment."
"No," Phoebe said, "we didn't see it, that's strange, come with me to see where he is" and Ross and Phoebe left in the direction of the apartment.
"Mon, why don't you go in, that dress is low-cut and it's cold, I'll wait for the others here" Rachel said.
"Yes, I'm really cold, I'll go in," Monica answered.
When Monica walked to the living room, Joey quietly slipped towards the back door.
Upon entering the living room, Monica found Chandler alone leaning on the back of the orange sofa.
"Hi," Monica said, "the others went to look for Joey." and God, thought, how handsome he is!
"Hello," Chandler answered, "I understood that Joey was going to the bathroom," but his heart raced and his hands began to sweat when he saw her so beautiful.
At that moment Gunther said, "why don't you sit down, I'm going to the back, I'm coming,"
While Monica sat on the sofa, each one on one end, the lights went out, only the candles remained as all lighting and the music began.
Chandler was surprised and stood up from his seat, "Gunther? Joey? Are they there? The light went out…"
But no one answered.
"What's wrong?" Monica asked.
"I don't know, wait here," he went to the back of the room, but there was no one and the door was locked.
"They are there?" asked Monica, who had also gotten up.
"No, there is no one, the door is closed, I don't know, it seems like we are locked in.
At that, behind the glass of the entrance and the front windows they saw the gang and Gunther dying of laughter shouting "SURPRISE! ENJOY!
And Ross yelled at them, read the letter that's on the counter, and they all left laughing.
Monica and Chandler froze, they looked at each other, what was happening.
"What letter is Ross referring to?" Chandler said, turning around and going to the counter, where he found an envelope that he had not seen until then, he opened it and took out the paper.
"What does it say?" Monica asked.
He looked into her eyes, her hands were shaking.
"Please tell me what it says, what is happening?" Monica demanded.
Chandler began to read and his voice began to tremble, the lump in his throat prevented him from continuing, Monica took the paper and tried to read through the tears that flooded her eyes.
Dear "Caretaker"
It's a good time for you to express everything you feel, convince yourself, there is no one better than you! She will never have someone better than you, and we know that she is everything to you. It's time, speak, we'll fix the atmosphere for confessions.
Dear "Monica"
Do not hesitate, do not be afraid, there is a lot inside you, as much as inside him, we also tell you, it is time, speak, you know that he is the best of all, the best thing that could happen to you, do not wait any longer, catch it now.
Signed, the gang
Chandler with wet eyes looked at Monica, raising his eyebrows and with a soft smile.
"It seems like they know more about us than we do ourselves," he said.
Chandler took Monica's hand, and looking into her eyes he began to speak.
"Mon, it's true, the time has come to speak, to confess that I love you, I have loved you for a long time, I don't know how long, since I don't remember what my life was like when I didn't love you.
Monica listened to him with tears running down her cheeks, and fixing her eyes on his.
Chandler continued, "I always believed that it was an impossible love, that you would never feel anything more for me than affection for a friend, and those months in which we were together were the happiest of my entire life. When I offered to take care of you, I knew that I was going to be dangerous for my heart, but I don't care, and I would do it again a thousand times, because being with you is all I want in life, I want to make you happy, with you I am not afraid of anything, I want you to be my Fiance, my wife, the mother of our children, I want absolutely everything with you until the end of my life."
Chandler held her face and wiped away her tears, "don't cry, it hurts to see you cry."
"Chandler, I cry with happiness, I love you so much, I don't know how long I have felt this love rooted in my heart, but I know that I realized the moment you said "I can" there I knew you were the only one I could be with, the only one I need to live, and forgive me for treating you badly, it made me jealous that you accepted the date that Joey presented to you, what's more, I hated Joey for taking you on a date, I also thought that for you I was just a friend, that everything the wonderful thing you had done for me was just out of friendship, while I was crazy in love and I also wanted everything."
Chandler took his face again, approached gently and gave her a tender kiss, but a second later that kiss transformed into a volcano that awakened all their mutual repressed desires.
In short, as Phoebe thought, there wasn't a bed in Central Perk, but there was a couch, a table, pillows, a rug, everything served.
He had been the best lover she had ever had, just like she had dreamed of, and she had been the most beautiful and hot woman he had ever dreamed of holding in his arms.
When light began to enter through the front of the store, Chandler sat up. In reality, they hadn't slept at all, but when they saw the dawn it was necessary for them to get dressed, at any moment Gunther would come to open the store.
After arranging themselves to appear decently dressed, the two of them removed the candles, threw away the bottles of water and beer they had consumed in the heat of the night, arranged the couch and the pillows, and Chandler put the letter in his pocket, which they would treasure as the Best memory.
They waited for Gunther, cuddling on the couch, still smiling and giving each other soft kisses.
As expected, the whole gang entered alongside Gunther.
The smile broke out on their face, "Evidently they talked a lot," Phoebe said.
Everyone went up to the apartment to have breakfast, Phoebe and Rachel had prepared everything, they knew that Monica would not be in a position to do anything.
"And your tie? Ross asked.
"I have no idea," Chandler replied, "it must have fallen on the couch, I'm sure Gunther will find it."
"And you don't have any underwear either," Joey said, laughing until he saw Ross's icy eyes. "Sorry, it was just a joke…"
From that moment on, the Caretaker and his beloved began their journey into the future.
A few months later, Chandler managed to publish his stories in the New Yorker magazine and, at Joey's request, he made contact with a producer who was interested in his scripts and from there he began his work as a screenwriter, which over time had wide recognition in the world half. Monica, for her part, obtained well-deserved compensation for all the damages suffered. She worked in a couple of restaurants as a sous chef until two years later she obtained the position of executive chef in a prestigious restaurant in Tribeca.
But the most important thing was that that night at Central Perk, came with some unexpected surprises, no one anticipated that there would be protection and the lovers did not even notice it, therefore, nine months later, was born Daniel Chandler Bing, and a few months later, when Monica recovered her figure, the wedding arrived, and no one more logical than their godfathers and godmothers were their beloved friends, the Mondler love elves.
