“Are you okay?” It was Chandler’s turn to look after Rachel. Ross had to bring home Emma and Ella because it was way too much for them to still be around and anticipate things that scared them the most. It was the only thing he could do.
Rachel let out a somewhat sarcastic laugh. “What do you think?”
“I’m sorry, I’m an idiot.” And then his worried look just a while ago turned into sadness.
Rachel held his hand and he looked at her. “Hey, you’re not an idiot.” Chandler gave her a “Really?” look. “Well, maybe a little.” This time, her laugh was real.
“Do you remember back when I was in college and you, in high school... when we had that kiss?”
“And we are remembering this, why?” Rachel surely remembered but she had no idea why Chandler suddenly asked.
“Nothing. Just trying to relieve some memories. Man, you almost threw up in my mouth!”
“First of all, that’s gross. And secondly, surely you could think of another memory, right?”
“It was the first thing that came to my mind. Why does it bother you so much?” Chandler was having fun teasing her. He knew it didn’t mean anything to her, just like it was to him but she seemed really uncomfortable talking about this.
“Because my husband and your wife are siblings and this is awkward?”
“What, it’s not like it meant anything.” Rachel shook her head but she was smiling and Chandler knew he had made her feel better. “Okay, I’m shutting up... just trying to make you laugh. Evidently, that wasn’t funny to you.”
“No, of course it was. But you have no idea how much I’m wishing right now that I actually threw up right in your mouth.” Both of them cringe at the thought then suddenly laughed at the same time. “Thank you, Chandler. For everything... for being my husband’s best friend since forever, for being my best friend’s loving husband, for being my kids’ greatest Uncle... and for being the best friend I never thought I could take..”
Rachel gave him a genuine smile. Everything she said was true. She didn’t spend a lot of time with Chandler, alone. But that wasn’t a reason for him to become any less of a friend than what he was to her. He was a great parent and he was always there to give her advice about the matter when she needed one. When he was supposed to turn her back on her because of what everybody thought she did, he did not. He chose to listen to her and believe whatever she said. He was always there for her and she knew she couldn’t take him enough.
Chandler squeezed her hand. “You don’t need to thank me for that...” Chandler knew he was starting to lose it. “I am all those things because I love you... so, so much...”
Phoebe arrived at the hospital and saw Chandler at the lobby. Her heart almost stopped at the sight of him. She knew he was crying and bad thoughts immediately came to mind. “Hey, what happened?? Is Rachel okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. She’s sleeping.” Phoebe just looked at him. He then shook his head. “I think I need to go home. C-can you look after her for me for a while?”
“S-sure, that’s what I came here for. We’re taking turns, remember?” Phoebe hasn’t seen Chandler this way ever before and just the fact that she was seeing him like this now scared her. It just meant one thing. Rachel wasn’t getting any better. “Okay, I gotta go in.”
When Chandler had left, Phoebe entered Rachel’s room. She was up. “Hey, Chandler told me you were sleeping.” Phoebe laughed at what she said. “Apparently, you’ve woken up.” She went and kissed her. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m doing great. You? How’s Mike and the kids?’
“They’re fine. They went to Mike’s parents in the mean time. And I’m fine, too. Couldn’t be better.” She suddenly realized what she said. “N-not because of this, though, I didn’t mean it like that.”
Rachel let out a soft chuckle. “I know. Phoebe, honey, can you hand me my purse, please? I have something in there that I need to give you.”
“Oh sure.” She got the purse and hand it to Rachel. Rachel started searching inside it then after a while, she seemed like she found it. She brought it out and it was a plastic with a cotton swab in it.
“Remember when I was supposed to move to Paris and you left me a cotton swab?”
“Yes. You kept it??”
“No, I told you I was gonna throw it away,” she laughed. “Okay, tell me if I’m doing this right.” Rachel straightened up. “Here’s a cotton swab, with a bit of my saliva in it... so if they perfect the cloning here, you’re still gonna have your own Rach!”
Phoebe suddenly felt like someone was choking her. Before she came in here, she told herself she wasn’t going to cry because there was nothing to cry about. Rachel was going to be fine and she’d eventually go home. But maybe it was wrong that she was letting herself hope for something with a remote chance of happening. It just got more painful than it already was.
“You know why I didn’t accept the cotton swab you gave me?” Phoebe shook her head. Rachel knew that she was trying all she could not to cry in front of her and she loved her for it. “Well first, because it was gross. But the main reason was... I didn’t want to have another Pheebs. Coz why want other one when I already got the best one right here?” She breathed deeply. “I love you Pheebs.”
Monica and Chandler’s
Chandler was just waiting for Monica to come out of her room so they could go visit Rachel in the hospital. But it was taking her too long that he had to go pick her up in their room. To his surprise, he found her just sitting in their bed, not dressed yet, just staring at nothing. “What is going on?”
“What?”
“We’re supposed to be going to see Rachel... right?” Monica just inhaled deeply. “Mon?”
“I don’t think I can, Chandler. I can’t see her that way. I’d rather stay here and think of the Rachel I knew before this... not the Rachel that... that I might not be able to see anytime soon... ever again...”
YOU ARE READING
FRIENDS Til The End
RomanceA fanfiction I made about the best television series ever. Not that I want to ruin the perfect series that Friends was and still is, just wanting to share with you some thoughts I've had after the show ended... The 'What If's' on my mind. Hope you l...
