A/N: Ok, this isn't very good. It's the product of half an hour where I was unable to sleep.

The One Where Monica Needs Someone

Monica was drunk. She knew she was drunk. She was alone, in her hotel room in London and she was drunk. It was not the fun drunk where the room was spinning or everything was exceptionally funny. It was the depressed kind of drunk where she wanted to brood and stare at her drink for hours until the alcohol had passed through her system, the numbness gone and all she was left with was a headache.

She was a single mom with a 30 year old son. She was an old spinster cook. She was all alone, without a boyfriend's shoulder to cry on. She could feel tears threatening to well up in her eyes and she forced them down with a determined gulp of her drink. She didn't know what made tonight different from any other night, maybe it was the alcohol or Ross finding someone again or the drunken guy's comment, but Monica needed someone tonight. Someone who could make her feel good for a little while. She didn't want some random guy. It could easily end in disaster and that was not what she needed. The answer presented itself clearly in her mind. Joey was the one she needed. She already knew from his flirting that he knew how to make a woman feel great about herself. Hooking up with him, having meaningless sex as friends… That was what she needed. To feel wanted and sexy, just for a moment.

Somewhat awkwardly she stood up from the bed. Joey would give her that. Walking down the hallway, drink and keycard in hand. It was still early. Joey would be there. She knocked before she could convince herself that it was a bad idea. She probably wouldn't have been able to, anyway.

Chandler opened the door. In his pajamas he looked as pathetic as she felt. Drunk and sad, she couldn't resist making a jab at him. He wouldn't mind. He'd understand. He always did.

"Cute PJ's. You're really living it up here in London?"

Stirring her drink, she shot him a quick glance, noticing he looked confused and… timid? She couldn't identify it and it was gone before she could study him more closely.

"Well, I wasn't exactly expecting company after… 9.15."

She pushed her way past him, eager to find who she had come to find. "Is Joey here?"

The room was empty except for an uncertain Chandler. Uncertain was what he was. Monica scowled confused at him. What was up with that?

"Last time I saw him he was heading out the door with the bridesmaid and a bucket of strawberries."

Disappointment surged through her and she felt herself slip back into the depressed state. Joey was gone. She knew what she needed, and now there was no one to give it to her.

"You're not still upset about what that guy told you, are you?"

Surprised that her emotions had shone through so easily, she hesitantly lifted her gaze to meet his. "Wouldn't you be?"

She wasn't sure about what she was doing. Joey was gone, but Chandler was here.

"It's been a really emotional time, you know, and you've had a lot to drink. You've just got to let that go, okay?"

She wasn't sure about what he was doing either.

"I mean, you were the most beautiful woman in the room tonight!"

Her heart was pounding too fast. She felt heat rise and suddenly everything felt the way it was supposed to be.

"Really?"

She wanted more. She wanted to savor and relish this feeling forever.

"Are you kidding? You are the most beautiful woman in most rooms-"

Everything was suddenly clear to her. Later she would marvel over that it was Chandler, Chandler that had made her feel wanted and sexy and beautiful, and for so much longer than just one night. She would wonder at how good it felt and the weirdness of it not being weird. She would risk their friendship for a shot at something that felt so right. Love. It would be heartache and thrill and want. It would be proposals and marriage and babies. It would be everything she ever wanted.

For now she did what she had to do.

She kissed him.