TOW The Prime and Prejudice

By Vellaa

based on Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. I do not own the novel or the characters of Friends. (Obviously ;p)

…

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. (Pride and Prejudice, first line)

"Morning everyone!" Phoebe sang as she waltzed into the well known apartment under the ownership of her two dearly close girlfriends.

"Hey Phoebe," Monica greeted from the kitchen table, joined by her fellow roommate, Rachel, and brother, Ross.

"So…do I have great news or what?!" Phoebe announced as she helped herself with some of Monica's pancakes. The wide grin on her face clearly showed her news to be good, so Monica smiled along, intrigued by her friend's enthusiasm.

"What is it Pheebs?" Rachel asked.

"Okay! Guess who's moving into the building?" She posed eagerly, waiting for any response to come from the table.

"Ryan Seacrest!" Rachel shouted hopefully. Monica gave her a scowl, wondering how on earth she had come up with such a random answer. "What, he's cute," she defended.

"Anyway!" Phoebe interrupted. "I don't their names, but they are the two cutest guys I've ever seen. And I think their famous cause there's a whole bunch of paparazzi outside…"

"Oh my God!" Rachel cheered, rushing towards the large bay window.

"Yeah, I just passed them down at the lobby. Oh, and one of them was totally checking me out but I totally blew him off. But you know, I think this could be really good for you, Mon," Phoebe said with bated breath.

"And why is that?" Monica responded, though knowing what Phoebe meant by her statement.

"Because...you need to go out there and become a woman again. You're always stuck in here, cleaning and cooking, and plus, you don't even have a job," Phoebe griped.

"Oh, c'mon Pheebs. You know I'm not looking for any relationships. I told you I'm happy with my life," Monica stated casually, hiding her face to not show her blushing cheeks. She began to clear up the table but Phoebe was not going to put it at rest.

"That's a whole lot 'a crap Mon. C'mon! You need this more than anyone," said Phoebe, but Monica's embarrassment only rose. Sure she had been single and desperate for almost a whole year, but she's passed on the need to have a boyfriend. Hasn't she?

"Hey, what about me? I'm not in a relationship," Rachel disrupted, as she returned from gawking through their window. Her comment however brought slight pain into the heart of the man sitting at the table.

"Rach! Monica's the one who needs help, not you!" Phoebe scolded.

"Thanks," Monica remarked unenthused.

Rachel had no idea, but Monica and Phoebe had known about Ross' feelings for Rachel ever since she had recently moved in. They had always pursued the idea of Ross and Rachel together as they were considerably the perfect match, but Ross, being the coward he was, did not want to risk losing Rachel as a friend. God only knew that Rachel held the same feelings towards him.

"Phoebe, I told you. I'm happy with my life," said Monica, though not at all convincingly.

"Okay fine. But don't come crying to me when you're all alone and fed-up about your lonely life cause I won't be there handing you Kleenex's," she rebuked, pointing her finger at Monica.

"A little harsh Pheebs," said Ross.

"I'm just saying, don't blow off another opportunity," said Phoebe. "Remember Richard? How you broke up with him because he wasn't 'up for children'. And then when he got married you started to have feelings for him again. That was hard on you. I don't want you going through that again," Phoebe consoled. Monica had finished with the dishes before turning around to face her friend.

"Aw, that's okay, Pheebs," she said as she wrapped her arms around the blonde. "But it won't be like that again, I promise, but…" she sighed exasperatingly, "Just to make you happy, I'll think about it, okay?"

"Okay, thanks," Phoebe smiled.

"Alright, so while you girls sulk over your love lives, I'm just gonna head off to work," Ross stood up from the kitchen table after having finished reading his morning newspaper. "Thanks for breakfast Mon."

"No problem. Oh don't forget about tonight. Mom and Dad are coming for dinner, remember?" said Monica.

"Oh shoot! Forgot about that. I'll be there," he said, taking one quick glance at Rachel, before rushing out the door.

"Bye," Phoebe and Rachel announced simultaneously.

As the door shut firmly, Monica sighed and sat herself down at the couch. Rachel, who had been sitting at the table, announced her departure shortly after.

"Okay, I'm off. I got another job interview at Fortunata Fashions," she called out, and began to fix her hair, which did not go unnoticed by Phoebe and Monica.

"Well, you better hurry up – those guys downstairs won't be there for long," Phoebe teased.

"C'mon Pheebs, I gotta look perfect for this interview. This could be my only chance to get a real job," she swayed, before moving swiftly out the door.

"I guess you have to leave too?" Monica griped a while later.

"Well, soon. I can keep you company till nine," Phoebe replied, and took a seat beside Monica.

Monica sighed again as she watched the blank screen of her TV. Phoebe looked at her friend, wondering what was on her mind that seemed to be bothering her.

"What's the matter?" Phoebe asked, concerned.

Monica simply shook her head, not wanting to talk at the moment.

"You want a boyfriend now, don't you," Phoebe quipped, though she meant it seriously.

"No," Monica idly laughed. "Can we please drop that?"

"Okay, alright," Phoebe smiled.

"I'm just so bummed now that I don't have a job," Monica brought up, after a long silence, afraid that Phoebe might somehow force the truth out of her.

"Oh. I can't really help you there, but I can tell you… that no matter how hard your life has become, always remember that it's easier with a man by your side," Phoebe proclaimed, as though she were imparting sage advice.

"Phoebe!" Monica rolled her eyes, knowing that from this day forward, she was not going to hear the end of Phoebe's proposal. She knew very well that her friend was only joking with her, but in all seriousness, Phoebe really did care for Monica's well-being. Monica did not want to admit it, but in reality, she truly did wish for her 'Prince Charming' to come knocking on her door, someday soon.

"Anyway I better go, before I unleash the beast," Phoebe said, referring to Monica's anger as it rises at its peek.

Monica rolled her eyes and scoffed, before following Phoebe out the door.

"See you soon," said Phoebe.

"Take care," Monica waved into the hall before closing the door.

It was going to result into yet another day filled with solitude and despair. There was always a cure for Monica during a time like this - Cleaning. It usually resulted when put under stress, but Monica really needed to feel comforted and in control, therefore cleaning the apartment until spotless was the solution.

It was not long after she had mopped her kitchen floor when a knock on the door startled her. Monica looked attentively at the door, wondering who on earth it could be before noon. Sliding out of her apron and taking off her rubber gloves, she gussied herself up before opening the door, just slightly.

"Yes?"

"Hi, I'm Joey Tribbiani. I'm gonna be living across the hall with my friend. This woman named Phoebe told me to come here…?" he smiled awkwardly at the situation, knowing that from the look on Monica's face, he had been set up by the kind blonde stranger.

"Uh," Monica stood dumbfounded, not knowing what to say in explanation of Phoebe's emblematic behaviour. She could not help but stare at this man before her: His charming looks and smile were enough to dazzle her. Realising that her silence was freaking him out, she shook out of her reverie and smiled politely.

"Hi. Sorry if my friend made you uncomfortable in any way. I'm Monica," she opened the door wider and offered for a handshake.

"That's okay. She was friendly. It's nice to me you Monica," said Joey, who returned her handshake.

The two stood gaping at one another, before Monica abruptly pulled her hand away. She cleared her throat and looked down at her feet to hide away her blushing cheeks. Was it always going to be ill at ease for her when in the presence of handsome men?

"So, uh, I'm just gonna head back to unpacking," he said in reference to the boxes sprawled out in the hall. I'll hope to see you soon?" he hoped.

"Y-yeah. Sure," she replied. "Uh, do you need some help unpacking?" She asked politely, knowing very well how much she loved to unpack and organise.

"Oh no, that's alright. I've got my good friend Chandler to help me. Chandler!" he called out towards the staircase. Joey grinned sheepishly at Monica before heading back to finish his job.

"You take care of yourself, Monica," he smiled, before turning back into his own newly bought apartment across the hall.

"Okay. Bye," she smiled in return, before closing her door.

Monica leaned against her door, smiling at the sudden turn of events. Perhaps Phoebe was right: she really did need a boyfriend, and who knows, Joey could maybe turn out to be her 'Prince Charming'.

…

That night, Monica had busily prepared a very prestigious dinner for her parents' upcoming arrival. As she was just about done with the lasagne, Ross strolled into the apartment, looking well done up and smart in his shirt and tie.

"Hey," she greeted, before setting the large tray onto the bench.

"Hey, something smells good," Ross commented, sniffing the air filled smell of Monica's professional cooking.

"Yeah, I just took out the lasagne to cool it off. Have you heard from Mom and Dad yet?" she asked.

"Yeah, I was just on the phone with them. They said they're on their way now," he replied.

…

"…oh, and my new apartment is really amazing. It's just a few blocks from here. You guys should come around and check it out," Ross finished in self-appreciation.

The night had been filled with nothing but Ross' daily achievements and his endless accomplishments at work and life. Poor Monica could not have any say in their conversations, nor had she even been complemented once on her food, or the cleanliness of her home.

"Sure son. Just tell us when you're free from all your work and we'll come any day," their father stated, helping himself with the salad that was situated in the middle of the table.

Sure, and when I ask for them to come over they're always inconveniently 'busy', Monica thought before preparing to clear up the table.

"So, Monica," her mother began as Monica stood from the table, "anything new with you? Work, life, relationships…?"

"No! Mother," Monica snipped, before laughing off to hide her sudden outburst, "Nothing's new with me, at the moment."

Her mother smiled, knowing well of the expected answer that was received from her daughter. Monica was currently not in the disposition to handle her mother's scrutiny. She began with the dishes, hoping that she would be forgotten and that they would go straight back to praising their son. She was wrong.

"I just assumed that at your age you would have at least met the man, or a man, in any case. Cause you know, a man should be the prime deal in your life as a woman," her mother rambled on. Monica had to bite her tongue to avert the improper words, directed at her mother, from escaping. "It's just that, your bother has married and divorced and you still have yet to become engaged. I mean, you don't even have a job -" she rambled on.

"That's enough Mom!" Monica slammed down the dish that she had held and turned around from the sink. "I'm a grown woman. I think I can be capable of what goes on in my own life. Now, could you please just let it go?" Monica did not want to say anything, but the look of disbelief on her mother's face made her just want to point and laugh. All her life, she had been put under the pressure of her mother's expectancies that she, in her mother's eyes, could not seem to obtain. It had come to the point where she almost felt despised by her own mother.

After a long uncomfortable silence, Ross, who had been looking back and forth between Monica and his mother, broke the silence.

"So, Dad – anything new with your life?"

…

"Argh, I can't believe her. She thinks she can just come up here and do whatever she thinks. I mean, I invite her to my home, I cook them dinner, and all I get is an enquiry of the status of my life. I think I would know by now that I do need a job and a husband…," Monica yelled in her shrill tone, whilst putting away all the left over food into the fridge. After the awkwardness between mother and daughter finally cleared off, their parents thanked them for dinner and left the apartment. Monica, on the other hand, had been dying to let out the frustration that she had held in her system all throughout the night.

"Mon, you need to calm down," said Ross from the couch. "Mom was just…"

"Mom was just what? Tired? Stressed? Annoyed by the growing knowledge that I would soon be incapable of marriage? Or even kids?" she interrupted. "I was all those things!"

Ross was taken aback by his sister's stressful state, and wondered if it may have been caused by the absence of alcohol tonight. Usually, when she was under her mother's strain, Monica would normally be in a corner sipping her scotch, just the way she liked it - on the rocks with a twist.

"Monica, come here," Ross approached his sister and wrapped his arm around her. "You need to sit. Let's just relax a little on the couch, and maybe watch a bit of TV, huh?" he moved her away from all the commotion in the kitchen and guided her towards the couch. "It'll get your mind off of jobs, and your love life, and anything else that has to do with mom, okay?" he said, in a soothing tone that he hoped would ease her off her anxiety. To his advantage, she obliged and slumped down onto the couch, before watching whatever was being played on the television. "See, isn't that much better?"

"You can shut up now Ross. I'm fine," she declared in annoyance.

"Okay, then. I'm just gonna head off now. I'll leave you alone for a while," he whispered and slowly backed away towards the door.

As Monica heard the door shut firmly, she sighed in relief for finally being left alone. Sometimes being alone wasn't all that bad. Sometimes she liked having her time to herself, to think things over, or maybe even re-organise some of her belongings. How would she be able to achieve those things with a man constantly in her face? See, it wasn't always happily-ever-after with a boyfriend. Wasn't it?

…

Hey, so I've had this on my mind for quite some time but the site's been unable to work for some reason...wierd. Anyway, now that it's working i've had the opportunity to publish this. I hope it's good, so enjoy! Next chapter's up soon.

Oh, and please review.

Thanks!!