Author’s Note –This is the first Friends fanfic I’ve ever written so I hope it turns out alright!!  Anyway – if you have any comments good or bad, I’d love to get feedback (alexkdg@aol.com).  The title should explain the subject of this story but just in case, this takes place in the middle of TOW Ross’ Wedding.  But enough of me – enjoy!!

Disclaimer:  These characters do not belong to me -they belong to Warner Bros. and Bright, Crane and Kauffman, and anyone else who legally owns them - I’m just borrowing them and they’ll be returned, no damage done =)

Scene – Emily and Ross’ Rehearsal Dinner

CHAN: The guy was hammered, okay?  There’s no way, you look like Ross’ mother!

MNCA: Then why would he say it?

CHAN: Because he’s crazy.  Okay?  He came up to me earlier and thanked me for
my very moving performance in Titanic.

MNCA: My mother’s right.  I’m never going to get married.

CHAN: Ahh, you know what? That is....Who wouldn’t want you?

MNCA: Oh please?! I’m a single mom, with a thirty year old son!!

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[Later that night]

MNCA: I mean can you believe that guy?  God, between him and my mother this night falls under the ‘really sucky’ category.

CHAN:  Look Mon, you have to stop obsessing about this.

MNCA:  I know I should.  I shouldn’t let my mom get to me like this, but it’s so hard when every other thing she says to me involves how proud she is of Ross, or how much she wishes I’ll get married.  I’m tired of not being good enough for her.

CHAN:  That’s not true.  I’m sure in her own way she’s just as proud of you as she is of Ross.  She just has a …… funny way of showing it.

MNCA:  But maybe she’s right.  I mean, am I ever going to find the right guy?  I’ve spent so long with guys where there is no future.  They’re all too young, or too old, or too…. rich and crazy.  I mean, is there something wrong with me?

CHAN:[taking her face in his hands]  Listen to me Monica.  There is nothing wrong you.  You are amazing – you’re funny, and smart, and the most beautiful woman I know.  You just haven’t found the guy who deserves you yet.  And I promise – you will find who you’re looking for.  The guy who is going to be with you just doesn’t know what he’s missing out on.  But you’ll find him.  God knows you deserve it.

[Monica is stunned and can only reply to his words by looking at him.  Just as it seems as though something may happen, Judy Geller walks over and breaks the moment.  Chandler quickly draws his hands away and takes a step away from Monica]

JUDY:  Monica dear, have you seen Ross?  I had a question about the bill for this wedding.

MNCA:  [Still thinking about what Chandler has said to her]  Uh, yeah mom.  I think he’s over there with Emily.

JUDY:  Emily is such a nice girl.  And she’ll make such a beautiful bride tomorrow.

MNCA:  Yeah she will.  Her wedding dress is so amazing.

JUDY:  Now honey, you don’t have to be jealous.  I’m sure you’ll be in the same position someday.  At least I hope you will.  Mind you, that would require a boyfriend.

MNCA:  OK, look mom.  That’s it.  I’m sick and tired of being compared to Ross.  God knows I’m not perfect and maybe I don’t have a boyfriend right now, but you know, a boyfriend isn’t a measure of my worth.  Why can’t you just accept who I am without taking every opportunity to point out how much of a failure I am.

[Chandler has started to inch away from the argument]

MNCA:  Besides, I have it on good authority that I’m going to find someone someday who appreciates me and wants the same out of life as me.  [At this, Chandler stops and turns around to look at her]

JUDY:  Now I never said you were a failure.  I do accept who you are and I only want the best for you honey.  I just wish you could be yourself but…. more like Ross!

MNCA:  OK, I can’t take any more of this.  I have to get out of here.  [She turns and walks out of the room]
[Judy doesn’t know quite what to say.  She and Chandler smile awkwardly at each other and then she walks away.  Chandler seems torn but then comes to a decision and starts walking after Monica]

Scene - Outside the restaurant

[Monica is waiting for a cab]

CHAN:  [Running out of the restaurant]  Monica wait!

MNCA:  [She turns around and it’s obvious that she’s been crying]  Look Chandler, I just want to go back to the hotel room and try and forget about tonight.

CHAN:  Ok, I just don’t think that you should be alone.  If you want I can come with you and we can hang out.

MNCA:  I guess I do need a friend tonight.  [At this, Chandler’s face falls]  Thank you for being so nice!

[She steps towards him and gives him a hug.  He smiles at her but over her shoulder he looks depressed]

Scene – Chandler’s hotel room

[Monica and Chandler enter.  She throws her purse on a chair and sits down on the bed]

MNCA:  Oh God, what a night.  I think I need a drink.  [She walks over to the mini-bar and pulls out a few bottles]  Chandler – do you want one?

CHAN:  Yeah why not?  We might as well drown our sorrows together.

MNCA:  What are your sorrows?

CHAN: [VOICEOVER]  My sorrows.  Huh.  Well I’ve just realised how incredible you are and I can’t do a damn thing about it because you’ve never looked at me as anything except a friend.
To Monica:  Uhhh, I meant that I might as well help you drown your sorrows.

MNCA:  Okay!  [She gives him a strange look]

CHAN: [VOICEOVER]  Oh good one.  Real smooth!

Scene – Hotel room – later that night – Monica and Chandler are sitting at the top of Chandler’s bed watching TV.  He has her arm around her shoulders and she is cuddled under his arm [imagine the way they were sitting in the chair together in TOW The Free Porn]

MNCA:  Chandler, thank you so much for tonight.  Between that guy thinking that Ross was my son, and my mother driving me crazy, I’ve had a pretty lousy night.  And I just want to thank you for being there.

CHAN:  No problem Mon.  I’m here for you when you need me.  Besides, how could I pass up the chance to watch a marathon evening of ‘The Avengers’ – could it get any better?

[Monica laughs and Chandler looks pleased]

CHAN:  Seriously – this has been much more fun than that dinner would have been.  Joey has spent all evening being homesick, and my speech…… well, enough said!  I could tell they were about to start throwing stuff!

[Monica laughs again]

CHAN:  At least I made someone laugh tonight!

[Silence falls again and both appear to be watching TV although it’s clear that their minds are on something else]

MNCA: [VOICEOVER]  Chandler is so sweet.  I can’t believe what he said to me earlier.  That is literally the nicest thing that anyone has ever said to me.  And I sure as hell never thought that Chandler would be the one to say it.  I always thought he was joking when he asked me why he wasn’t boyfriend material.  Oh …. My …. God.  Was he serious?

CHAN: [VOICEOVER]  Monica is so beautiful.  I can’t believe I never got how amazing she is.  God, what I wouldn’t give to kiss her………NO!  I can’t think stuff like that!  Monica is my best friend.  I don’t want to throw away our friendship for a kiss…..  And I may be a little drunk so maybe now is not the time to make a move on her!  But man I want to kiss her!  Look – just don’t think about it.  Remember that time at the beach?  Yeah.  She just thinks of you as a friend, so let it go.  [Pause]  I wonder just how much Ross would kill me if I made a pass at his sister?

MNCA: [VOICEOVER]  You know, he was probably only saying it to make me feel better.  Of course.  Chandler doesn’t think of me like that….right?  I don’t want him to think of me like that.  [Pause]  Right?

CHAN:  Look Monica……

MNCA: [At the same time]  Chandler……

[They both smile]

CHAN:  You go.

MNCA:  No, you started first.

CHAN:  [VOICEOVER]  Well this is it man.  It’s now or never.
To Monica:  OK, uhhh.  I may be drunk, and I may certainly regret saying this but……. [he trails off]

MNCA:  You don’t have to say it.

[She turns her head, reaches up and kisses him.  It’s a soft kiss and they pull apart after a few seconds]

CHAN:  Yeah, that’s pretty much what I was thinking!  Did we just, I mean do you…….

MNCA:  Yeah, we just……

CHAN:  Look Monica, I just want to tell you….

MNCA:  You know what Chandler?  Shut up and kiss me.

[He leans towards her and kisses her again – more passionately than the first time.  As he pulls her down on top of him the scene fades out…………]

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So that’s all!!  Hope you liked it!!!!