i'll be there - chandler bing (on hold)

the one where nana dies twice

third person pov

"hey gorgeous, how's it going?" chandler was sitting in the tea room at work when shelley walks through the door. 

"dehydrated japanese noodles under fluorescent lights...does it get better than this?" chandler replies sarcastically and shelley smiles. 

"question. you're not dating anybody, are you, because i met somebody who would be perfect for you." a soft smirk is on her face as chandler looks up at her. 

"ah, y'see, perfect might be a problem. had you said 'co-dependent', or 'self-destructive'..." chandler replies. 

"do you want a date saturday?" shelley interrupts and chandler smiles up at her. 

"yes please." 

"okay. he's cute, he's funny, he's-"

"he's a he?" chandler questions, looking at her with a raised brow. 

"well yeah!" from the look on chandler's face, shelley begins to fade to a flushed red. "oh god. i just, i thought. good, shelley. i'm just gonna flush myself down the toilet now..." she begins to back out of the room. "okay, goodbye.." chandler stares at his food in disbelief as she leaves. 

*

in monica and rachel's apartment, everyone but gianna was discussing why and how they thought chandler could've been gay. he is in disbelief at their answers, deciding to stand and head into the kitchen. as he does, gianna pushes open the door and shuts it loudly behind her. 

"oh rough day sweetie?" monica asks, turning to look at gianna. she looked miserable. her eyes were tired, her hair a mess. 

"bet it wasn't as rough as mine." chandler mutters sarcastically to himself and gianna raises an eyebrow at him. 

"alright, this'll be good." phoebe smiles. "gianna, when you first met chandler did you think he was gay?" she asks and gianna places her coat on the coat hook before placing her bag on the side table, her shoulders shrugging. 

"i don't know. i never really thought about it." gianna replies, heading towards the kitchen table as the phone rings. monica reaches over and answers. 

"hello? hello? oh! rachel, it's paolo calling from rome." monica smirks, handing the phone to her. 

"oh my god! calling from rome!" she exclaims, taking the phone and looking over at gianna suggestively. "bon giorno, cara mio." 

"so he's calling from rome. i could do that. just gotta go to rome." ross mutters to joey and rachel holds the phone away from her ear. 

"monica, your dad just beeped in, but can you make it quick? talking to rome." rachel smiles giddily as she looks over at gianna and chandler at the kitchen table. "i'm talking to rome." 

"hey dad, what's up?" monica listens for a moment before her face falls. "oh god." she looks over at ross. "ross, it's nana." the room goes silent as the pair rise quickly and exit through the door. 

"i hope everything is okay." phoebe mutters, placing her plate in the sink. rachel begins to talk to paolo on the phone again, excusing herself to the balcony. phoebe goes over to joey and picks up her guitar whilst gianna and chandler remain in the kitchen. 

"so when you first met me-"

"no, chandler. i did not think you were gay." gianna interrupts him and continues filling up a glass of water. 

"really?" his voice was soft now as he leans against the counter next to her. 

"well, no maybe a tiny bit." his face drops slightly. "but i don't think that anymore okay? now can i eat in peace?" gianna continues, and chandler's eyes soften as he sees how tired she looks.