A/N - Wow. I haven't written an author's note in a really long time... Guess this one will have to make up for all the lost time, so sorry for the length... Okay, I haven't posted anything here in a long time, but I've been writing tons of stuff. The only problem is, nothing ever seems to go anywhere. Most of it has been really sappy stuff, which I love, but I can't come up with a plot to fill in the rest of the story. Maybe there doesn't need to be a "rest of the story." Hmm... Anyway, this one does go somewhere, I think. I've written the first couple of chapters, and I think I'm pleased with them so far. Although I might be taking this somewhere I thought I'd never go... We'll see. Maybe you'll hate it...
Okay, enough of that. Here's all you need to know. This is mostly Monica and Chandler, but, when the story begins, they've never met. Monica's "group" consists of Ross, Rachel, and herself. Chandler's got Joey and Phoebe. And Ross and Chandler weren't roommates in college, so they haven't met either. I think that's all you really need to know to get started. You'll learn the rest as we go... As always, let me know what you think, and I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I own none of the characters from Friends. They belong to their brilliant creators - who I'm sure are very excited about the ten million dollars an episode that NBC is going to fork over for a tenth season. Woohoo!
A/N- I'm sorry, but did I just say "woohoo?" Please forgive me. Never thought I was a "woohoo" kind of girl... And Merry Christmas, by the way!
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There You Are
Chapter One
Chandler walked into the familiar coffeehouse and up to the counter to place his order. He'd had a busy day, but he needed a cup of coffee to keep him up for the ride home.
"Coffee to go, Gunther," he said to the man at the counter.
"I just put on a fresh pot. Have a seat, and I'll call you when it's ready," Gunther answered, obviously consumed with his work. Central Perk was extremely busy at the moment.
Chandler nodded, then turned to glance around the crowded room. He spotted a vacant space on the ratty orange couch beside a beautiful, dark-haired woman. He stepped over to the couch and cleared his throat, causing the woman to look up from her magazine.
"I'm sorry, but is this seat taken?" he asked.
"Oh, no. Have a seat," she answered, moving over a little to give him more room. She looked back to her magazine as he took the spot beside her.
"Waiting for someone?" Chandler asked. He didn't even know this woman, but something about her made him want to talk to her.
"Yeah, actually," she replied, closing her magazine and looking at him. She didn't know this man, but she was up for a little intelligent conversation. Maybe he could give that to her. "How about you?"
"No. I just stopped in to grab a cup of coffee to keep me awake for the ride home... No hot date for me tonight," he chuckled.
"Yeah, me neither," she smiled. "I haven't had a hot date in a long, long time... I'm waiting for my best friend, actually. She and I are supposed to have a girls' night out tonight."
"Ooo... Fun," he smiled. "I think my roommate and I are having a guys' night in... Although, actually, I'll probably be the one staying in; he'll probably be out on his own hot date," he continued.
"Poor guy," she smiled slightly.
"Hey, buddy, your coffee's ready," Gunther called from the counter.
"I guess that's me," Chandler said, and stood up. "It was really nice to meet you," he smiled.
"It was nice to meet you, too," she said sincerely, then watched him turn toward the counter. He seemed like a good guy - although that kind of thinking had gotten her into a lot of trouble in the past.
He suddenly turned back to face her. "Um, do you think it might be okay if I gave you a call sometime?" he asked.
"Well... I guess that would be okay," she answered after a slight hesitation.
"Great," he smiled brightly as she took out a pen and wrote her number down on a napkin. "I'm Chandler, by the way," he said as he took the napkin from her. "Chandler Bing."
"Monica Geller," she replied.
"Well, Monica Geller, I guess I'll talk to you again soon."
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"Well, was he cute?" Rachel asked excitedly after Monica had told her about the coffeehouse guy.
"Yeah. He was," she smiled. "I just... I shouldn't have given him my phone number. I wish I hadn't said he could call me. These things never work out for me."
"Oh, Mon, don't be so pessimistic. He might be the one," Rachel smiled.
"Yeah, right," Monica scoffed. "They're all the same, Rach. He'll never stick around."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do. For the past three years, I've had to come to terms with the fact that there is no man out there who is going to want a relationship with me."
"Monica, you know that's not true. There's someone out there for you. You just haven't found him yet... Maybe tonight you did."
Monica laughed. "Sure, Rach... Now, come on. I need to get home."
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"Hey, Ross," Monica said when she walked into her apartment with Rachel a little later. She and Rachel hung their coats and purses on the hooks by the door, then walked over to the living room to join him.
"Hey. Did you girls have fun?" he asked, then kissed Rachel's cheek as she took the spot on the couch beside him.
"Yeah. Lots of fun," Rachel replied. "Guess what? Monica met a guy!" she informed her boyfriend excitedly.
"Really? That's great," he smiled at his sister. "Are you gonna go out with him?" he asked curiously.
"I don't know," Monica sighed. "He's supposed to call, but I don't think I want to go through this again. It's just too complicated."
"So, what? You're gonna be alone forever?" Rachel asked. "Mon, you can't let one little thing control your life like this."
"Rachel, that 'one little thing' is my life. And she's hardly little anymore."
"Mommy!" a little girl cried from the bedroom.
"Mommy's coming, sweetie," Monica called, then turned back to Ross and Rachel. "Thanks for baby-sitting, Ross, and I had a good time, Rachel. Good night, guys," she said before retreating to her daughter's bedroom.
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A/N - I know, I know. Another author's note? Wasn't the first one bad enough? Sorry. This chapter was kind of short, compared to the others I've written, but the next one will be longer. And the author's note will be shorter, I promise. Please let me know what you thought.
