THE ONE WHERE RICHARD IS BACK

Author's Note: I've gotten intense, I realize that, now a bit of Mondler before the best part, I have yet to figure some stuff out but well, here we go. R&R!

Disclaimer: If FRIENDS were mine I'd have weekly coffee with the cast, I don't do that, so it's safe to know FRIENDS is not mine.

This chapter {and I guess the rest of the story} is dedicated to Mondlerfan101 thanks for everything, you're a doll and this is dedicated to you.

CHAPTER 7

Before Chandler knew it the tears were falling, streaming down his face, he knew he needed to be strong, be there for Monica who was probably just as terrified as he was, yet, he couldn't help it. He was standing in the same spot looking out the window, tears running down his face, and he soon stopped trying to fight them and instead let them fall freely. He could hear commotion happening behind him, but he couldn't turn, he couldn't move, it was as if Chandler was frozen on the spot.

The first thing he realized was the voices, the chattering going behind him. Slowly turning around the world which had seemed to fade slowly came back. Ross was already on the phone.

Chandler opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He closed his mouth and tried again. "What're you doing?"

Ross covered the phone with hand and spoke to Chandler, "Getting in touch with the Detective. Go. Monica needs you right now, I'm right behind you," he said as he stepped out of the doorway and further into the room, Emma holding for dear life onto his leg.

"Yeah," was all Chandler muttered as he left the room. Walking down the hallway was an autopilot command, he could already feel himself lost, what would he do? What could he do?

As Chandler found himself at the top of the stairs he looked down and found Monica and Rachel, pacing. He cleared his throat and both women looked up at him expectantly.

"Well," Monica said, the last shred of hope she had could be heard in her voice.

"We, we-" he took a deep breath, "Richard was there, in, in the room," why was he muttering he thought to himself, "he, um, he took her."

Monica's eyes opened, her jaw dropped. Chandler began walking down the stairs.

"Richard has Erica," he stated as he reached the final step.

Monica flung herself into his arms, their embrace saying everything they couldn't put into words. The hurt, anger, worry, it was all said as they held each other. Monica whispered into Chandler's ear, "We'll get through this," as the last silent tear escaped both their eyes.

Rachel stood afar, hands clutching each other, this was too much, too much for them. They didn't deserve this, she thought. "I'm going to get some sandwiches, the cops, you called them right? They'll probably need food, you, you need food. We, we need food." She muttered to no one really, escaping to the haven that was the kitchen.

Rachel entered through the door, reached the kitchen table and held on for dear life. Her knuckles were turning white and sobs escaped her. The door opened as Monica and Chandler walked in hand-in-hand and Rachel, with her back turned to them, still clutching the table, let go. Her hands wiped the tears and she turned to her friends, a small smile on her face.

"How about I call Pheebs and Joey? Hm? They'd probably like to know what's going on?" she tried a lighter tone.

Monica nodded, "Yeah, that'd be great." Rachel began to walk towards the phone in the living room as she opened the door Monica spoke, "Rach?"

"Yeah," Rachel turned her head.

"Thanks." There was a slight pause, "For everything."

"No need. It's all gonna work out, you'll see," and with that Rachel left the room in order to call their friends.

"I really hope so," Monica whispered as her grip on Chandler's hand tightened.

•••••••

As soon as Richard knew he was safe, he put Erica onto the ground, still holding her. Her tear stricken face was all he could see, he took a moment to really look at Erica, he could see some resemblance to Monica, and if he looked closer, even to him.

The small and still sane part of his brain spoke in his mind 'They're adopted, don't be foolish'. The sick part however shut the voice up and focused on the resemblances.

She was shaking, but with courage asked, "What you gonna do?"

"Nothing." he hugged her, "Nothing, sweetie. I'm just taking you to your brother." He smiled, even his smile was sick, anybody could see that, "Your mommy's gonna be joining us soon." He grabbed her hand, "Come on kiddo," and they walked, almost fourteen blocks.

Erica's feet hurt, but she knew something was off, she was smart, so she kept quiet and walked with an unknown man to an unknown place.

Some sore feet and fourteen blocks later accompanied by some right and left turns they reached stairs leading underneath a house. Richard, still holding Erica's hand walked them down the stairs, the small windows on top of the door were shattered. Richard reached through the lowest broken window to unlock and open the door from the inside, a sound was heard from behind the red door and they were in.

It seemed like a trashed garage. Tables were kicked over, papers scattered all over, a stench coming from the filled trashcans, and in the corner in a cage was Jack! Erica freed herself from Richard's grip and ran towards the cage where her poor brother was pressed against the farthest corner. When Jack saw Erica's face in the dim light he crawled towards her and without exchanging words grabbed her hand and squeezed it, she squeezed back and with that they gave each other strength.

"Erica," Richard sang, "come here." He said as he grabbed her sweater and puller her away from the cage. "Tsk tsk tsk, no no no, you have your own cage! We wouldn't want you to share!"

Richard carried Erica to the other side of the room and put her into her own cage, opening the elaborate latch and placing her in. Once he closed the cage he peered into it and spoke to himself as he stared at Erica, "You look so much like your mother, your mother, yes, I think I'll go find her now." Richard left the room still muttering to himself about Monica.

When Richard was gone the twins turned to look at each other, through the grates they stretched a hand like if they were reaching for each other. Jack spoke first, "We're gonna be fine," Erica followed, "We'll be ok."

•••••••

Chandler and Monica were asleep on the couch when the police arrived. All the worry and stress had gotten to them and they unwillingly took a nap. Ross could remember the way Monica fought to stay awake in case there was any news, how here eyelids closed but as soon as she realized it, they snapped open again. Exhaustion finally beat them and they fell asleep together, Chandler's arm draped over Monica's shoulder and her head resting on his chest.

The sirens woke them up, they jumped off of the couch and headed outside where they met with Detective Riley. Chandler grabbed Monica's hand as they pushed through the crowd of unwanted onlookers and policemen in search of the Detective. When they finally reached him he was on the phone.

"… great, hmph, put out an amber alert, ok, get their faces on every newspaper, I want all the networks broadcasting this, let's have this country searching for them." He hung up, "Sorry 'bout that, how are you two?"

"Distraught," Monica answered emotionless.

"I know it can't be easy, we're searching for them, every American is looking for their faces now."

"What do we do about Richard?" asked Chandler.

"Listen, I already told you th-" the Detective was cut off.

"NO. I mean he's threated taking my children and my wife, currently he's succeeded in taking my kids, he's after my wife. What can we do?!" Chandler was angered, exhausted, worried, all the emotions were causing him to be someone other than himself.

The Detective spoke in slow steady words so as to have a calming effect on Chandler, "Until we find Richard, there's not much we can do?"

"Not much?" Monica interjected.

"Well, we can put patrols on you at all times-" once again cut off by Chandler.

"Yeah! Woop-de-doo! Cause that worked out pretty well, we had patrols here and oh look! He entered without problem!"

Monica put a hand on Chandler's arm steadying him, "What else can we do to find him?"

"Well…" Detective Riley trailed off.

"What?" demanded Monica.

"We could track him one sure way…"

"Yes…" Monica urged him on.

"If we set a trap… listen. You might not like this but the best fool proof way is to put a tracker on you and let him grab you, we'll crash his party and no harm no foul."

"No harm no foul?! This is my wife you're talking about!"

"Wait Chandler…" Chandler just looked at Monica.

"You're actually considering this!" he screamed at her.

Monica turned to Detective Riley, "Is this how I get back my children?"

"Its our best shot," he answered.

"Let's do it," she said, determination written all over her face.

Author's Note: Apologies again guys, but I'll be more constant, write back any comments, thoughts, questions, anything. Love you all.

-M