This is set in season 5 before anyone knew about Monica and Chandler's relationship. Please review and let me know what you think.
Father of Mine
Monica glanced around at her friends as she sat down on the sofa in Central Perk. She noticed that Chandler wasn't there and decided it was the best opportunity to discuss his up and coming birthday.
"So, what we going to do next week then?" She asked the other 4, sipping her coffee.
They all turned to look at her with confused looks on their faces.
"What's next week?" Ross asked.
"You've all forgotten?" She asked in disbelief, looking at each of them.
"Course we haven't!!" Phoebe stated before looking un-sure at the others.
Monica looked at them and rolled her eyes, "It's Chandler's birthday!"
"It is?" Joey frowned, "I thought he was a few months ago…"
"Yeah it was," Monica said sarcastically, "about 12 months!"
"See!" Joey grinned proudly but it slowly started to fade as his brain tried to work out what she meant.
"What do you wanna do then, Mon?" Rachel asked, turning her attention away from Joey, who was using his finger to help him work out the number of months in a year.
"Well, we could throw a party…" She suggested; She wanted his birthday to be perfect. They'd only be together for a couple of months and none of the others knew about them.
"Sounds good!" Ross agreed.
"Yep, why not…" Rachel added.
Monica smiled and looked towards Joey to see what he thought but he was still deep in thoughts.
She shook her head, "What do you think Pheebs?"
When she looked over at her, see noticed, she kept quickly turning around and then back to again.
"What you doing?" Ross asked.
"That guy keeps staring at us!" She informed them, looking back again, trying to catch him in the act.
"Which guy?" Joey asked, giving up and turned around.
"The one with the paper!"
"He's reading, Pheebs.." Ross pointed out.
"He is now, we're all looking at him!" Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Do any of you know him?"
They all looked at him again but then shook their heads.
"Maybe he fancies you!" Rachel grinned at her.
"Oh please, he's like twice my age, that would be weird!" Phoebe replied and then looked at Monica, remembering Richard. "But totally alright!"
"Whatever!" Monica said quickly, not really bothered, "We've gotta start planning Chandler's party…"
"No we can't…" Ross told her quietly.
"Why not?" She frowned.
"Cos he just walked in!"
"Hello children!" Chandler grinned at them all, sitting down next to Monica.
"You're in a surprisingly happy mood…" Rachel commented.
"I have a lot to be happy about."
"Oh, like what?"
"Like, having great friends!" He told them and then smiled slightly at Monica.
"So, I'm turning over a new leaf…" He replied, "Carpe Diem."
"Huh?" Joey frowned.
"Seize the day…" Ross explained.
"What the day?" Joey leaned forward, listening closely.
"Seize the day!" Ross repeated.
"It's a phrase, Joe.." Chandler told him.
"Yeah, like Hakuna Matata off the Lion King…" Rachel added.
"Ah, Hakuna Matata…" Joey drifted of in his own thoughts, "…What a wonderful phrase…"
They all stared at him for a second before carrying on their conversation.
"Okay, who is she?" Rachel asked.
"Who's who?" Chandler frowned.
"Come on, only a women could put you in this kind of mood!"
"She's right…" Ross added and Phoebe nodded her agreement.
"Can't I just be a good mood?" He asked them.
"What, right after work?" Ross laughed, "Yeah right!"
"Thanks a lot, guys…" He pretended to look hurt.
"Oh oh oh…He's coming over!!" Phoebe hissed, quickly turning around back around.
"Who is?" Chandler frowned, looking around.
"That guy!" Rachel pointed him out, "he fancies Phoebe.
Chandler looked over where she was pointing and when he saw the man who was heading over to then, he turned white.
"What the hell do you want?" He demanded as the man reached them.
"Chandler!" They all glared at him.
The man, kept his eyes on Chandler, not once looking at the others.
"Well? I asked you a question!" Chandler jumped up, "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you…" He said slowly.
Monica looked from Chandler to the man, wondering who he was.
"Why?"
"I've missed you…" He told him.
Ross raised an eyebrow, "Maybe it wasn't a women who but him a good mood."
Chandler spun around and glared at him. Ross held up his hands, apolitically once he saw the look in Chandler's eyes.
"That's a load of rubbish!" Chandler turned back to face the man.
"I mean it…"
"No you don't!" Chandler yelled causing everyone to fall silent and watch what was going on.
"Please, Chandler…can we talk?" He pleaded.
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because I've just managed to sort my life out…I'm not letting you come back and mess that up for me!"
"I wouldn't do that!"
"You've done it before…" Chandler whispered, looking down to the ground, suddenly embarrassed by everyone staring at them.
"I know and I'm sorry about that…" He moved closer, putting his hand on Chandler's arm.
"Why do you wanna talk…" Chandler asked, more calmly but still jumped back when he felt his hand on his arm.
"I wanted to give you this…" He held a white envelope out, "I know it's not your birthday for another week but…"
"You remembered my birthday?" Chandler's head snapped up quickly, in surprise.
"Course I did, I am you father!"
Chandler said nothing, he just stared back at the man he hadn't seen or heard from in nearly 15 years.
The others looked at each other, shocked. None of them suspecting the mystery man was Chandler's dad.
"I don't want it…" Chandler said slowly, sitting back down. He was glad to see everyone else in the coffee house had turned their attentions back to whatever they were doing before.
"Oh come on, Son…"
"Don't call me that," He replied, quietly.
Monica exchanged looks with Ross, wondering if they should say or do anything. Ross looked helplessly back at her. Chandler had never gone into real detail about his father to none of them.
"You have a right to be mad…"
"How did you know where to find me?" Chandler ignored his comment.
"I talked to your mother…"
"You talked to Mom?" Chandler jumped up again and stood right in front of him, "If you've upset her…"
Charles held up his hands in defence, "I never…I swear…"
"Chandler…" Monica said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder, hoping it would calm him down.
Chandler sighed and moved away from him, rubbing his eyes.
Charles gave Monica a small smile, which she returned un-easy, not wanting to upset Chandler. She glanced over at him; he was sat down again, deep in thoughts.
"Chandler, can we please talk…" He begged.
"I dunno…"
"Please, an hour, tonight." Charles asked.
"I'm busy tonight." Chandler informed him.
Monica looked over at him, even though they had plans to see a movie that night, she give him a silent look, telling him it was okay to cancel but he refused to.
"Tomorrow?" Charles suggested, "we could do lunch.."
"I've got meeting all day tomorrow.." Chandler lied; he couldn't even look at his father at the moment, let alone 'do lunch' with him.
"When are you free then?"
"I dunno…"
"Okay…" Charles sighed in defeat and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a small piece of paper, "Here is my mobile number and number for the room where I'm staying…"
Chandler looked up at him and then back down to the paper, he slowly reached out and took it.
"Call me anytime…" He told him, "I'm staying here for a while, a couple of weeks a least."
Chandler nodded, his eyes never leaving the paper. Charles smiled at the rest of them before turning around and heading towards the exit.
Once he reached the door, he turned back around, "I hope to see you soon, son.."
There was silence after he had left, no one knew what to say, they all watched Chandler carefully, wondering what they should do.
Chandler could feel his eyes start to burn but he was determined not to cry in front of his friends. In all the years they had known him, he'd never let them see him cry and he wasn't going to let that happen now. He closed his eyes and tried to slowly the lump that rose in his throat, while trying to work out what to do.
"Are you okay?" Monica asked gentle, breaking the silence.
He opened his eyes and saw them all staring at him. He nodded slowly.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine!" He insisted as he stood up, "I'm going to go…I'll see you later…"
They watched as he left, all feeling helpless.
"You think he'll be okay?" Joey asked, worried about his friend.
The others looked at each, waiting for someone else to answer.
"I dunno…" Ross shrugged, "He's never really talked about his Dad to me…"
"Nor me… " Monica asked, biting her lip in concern.
XxXxX
"So…anyone see that documentary on the discovery channel last night?" Ross asked, in a tempt to break the silence as they all sat around eating later that night at Monica's.
"No, any good?" Rachel asked, faking interest.
"Yeah…" Ross replied; he eyes rested on Chandler as he sat playing with his food, not once taking a bite.
"Well, that was great, Mon…" Joey said, putting his knife and fork down, "Any left overs?"
"No, sorry, Joe.." Monica gave him a small smile.
"Here, have mine…" Chandler told him, pushing his plate over to him.
Joey looked around at the others, "you sure?"
"Yeah.." Chandler said, he sighed and stood up. He knew that the others had been watching him all night, wondering if he was okay.
"Ermm, thanks…" Joey answered, slowly starting to eat.
"I'm sorry…" Chandler muttered, causing them all to turn their attention back to him.
"What for?" Rachel frowned.
"For acting this way…"
"Hey, you haven't got anything to be sorry about…" Monica assured him.
Chandler looked over at them and then sat back down, "What should I do?"
"What do you wanna do?" Ross asked.
"I dunno…"
"Do you wanna see him again?"
"I dunno…" Chandler rubbed his eyes, in frustration.
"I think you should…" Joey said slowly, everyone turned and glared at him. "Look, if you don't try and make up with him then you'll regret it…he's your Dad, you only get one…"
Chandler was silence for a few seconds letting Joey's words sink in.
"What do the rest of you think?" He asked.
"I think Joey's got a point…" Phoebe told him.
"Yeah…" Rachel nodded.
"It couldn't hurt…" Ross added.
"What about you, Mon…" Chandler asked her, she was the one he trusted the most, "What do you think?"
"I think it's your decision…" She started, "I mean, only you know how you feel about him."
Chandler looked at her for a moment then he stood up. He reached for the phone and pulled out the piece of paper.
He took one more glance back at his friends for reassurance before starting to dial with a shaky hand.
After a couple of rings, the phone was picked up.
"Hello?…Dad?"
XxXxX
Please review and let me know what you think.