A/N: About seven (!) years ago, I used to frequent the Friends fanfic page. I recently revisited this account and deleted the incriminating evidence of my awful and naïve writing. However, there was an unfinished story of mine that had promise and this is my attempt at re-writing and (hopefully) finishing it. I still don't make any claims about being a fabulous writer, but I'm enjoying the process.

This is a Mondler-centric AU story set during the peak of the Oregon Trail. Hopefully the relationships between everyone explain themselves in this chapter. I tried to be accurate in regards to historical fact as much as possible.

April 1846.

Chandler Bing stood up and stretched, running a hand through his hair. His sparkling blue eyes searched the mass of people surrounding him. He glanced at the town to the East.

Independence, Missouri.

He was on the verge of the long journey towards Oregon; one that he knew wouldn't be easy and hoped would be worth it. He looked at the bundle of letters by his side. Even if all the things his best friend had written him about the West were exaggerated, the prospect of their reunion and staking his claim on a piece of land propelled him onward.

He shook himself from thoughts of the future and walked around to the back of his farm wagon, patting one of the oxen that stood tied and grazing. He leaned in and spoke.

"Jess, I'm going to go talk to some people and hopefully find us some traveling companions. Will you be alright while I'm gone?"

His wife turned at the sound of his voice and smiled at his muscular frame filling the opening in the canvas.

"Of course, I'll be fine."

Pieces of strawberry blond hair had come loose from her bun, framing her honey colored eyes. Chandler grinned back at her. Sometimes he still couldn't believe his luck; that he was her husband. They married just under a year ago, days shy of Chandler's 20th birthday.

As he turned to leave, she called out a reminder. "Chandler, make sure some other women join us. We're going to need help when this little one arrives." She looked up at him as she lovingly rested her slender hand on her rounded abdomen.

"I will," he nodded as he walked towards the center of the encampment.

They were the reason Chandler had dreamt of a plot of fertile land to call his own. The reason he wanted a better life. The reason he spent three years worth of savings on supplies to carry them across the country. Jess and his unborn baby were the reason for everything he did. He was determined to provide his family with the best he possibly could and if you listened to anything people were saying these days, the best was out West in California or Oregon.

After several minutes of scanning the surrounding wagons, he spotted two couples by a makeshift cooking fire. Three kids played in the dirt nearby. He approached with a courteous wave,

"Excuse me. Hello. My name is Chandler Bing. My wife and I along with ..."

"Chandler! Chandler!"

He was interrupted by a small, familiar voice. He apologetically smiled at the family in front of him and turned to kneel face-to-face with Becky Tribbiani. The six-year-old's dark brown braids were coming loose and dirt was smudged across her cheek.

"I lost dolly!"

Chandler gently took her hand. "Do you remember where you had her last?"

She shook her head violently.

"Well, you know what? How about you go ask Aunt Jess to help you look and if you still can't find her after that, I'll come help you. Okay?"

Becky nodded with enthusiasm and ran back towards their wagon. Chandler's gaze followed her until he was sure that she met up with Jess.

It had been one year since Joseph Tribbiani, his best friend, moved to Oregon. Joey wrote Chandler constantly, asking him and Jess to come join him his soon as they could. But he also asked that when they did, that they bring along his little sister Becky.

His mother, Mary Tribbiani, had 8 children. Their father ran off for good when Joey was thirteen, although his presence prior to that was unpredictable at best. The children were often left to fend for themselves and Joey, being both the oldest and the only boy, helped raise his sisters.

He loved them all dearly, but he and Becky had a special relationship. He was more like a father to her than a brother. He knew he could help his mother by taking care of his youngest sister, but he was unable to bring her with him when he left the year before. So now, as per his request, she was traveling with Chandler and Jess.

"I'm sorry about that. Like I was saying before, my wife and Becky and I are all headed to Oregon. If you folks are headed the same place, I was wondering if you might want to travel together?"

The young man with jet black hair replied, reaching out to shake Chandler's hand. "We are headed to Oregon ourselves. My name is Henry Hale."

He motioned to his wife, a brown haired woman with grey eyes. "This is Catherine and those are our children, James, Abigail, and Ruth." One glance had already told Chandler as much; they were all carbon copies of their parents.

Henry gestured to the man with the graying hair, "This is my father, Thomas Hale." Thomas stepped forward with a kind smile and quick handshake.

"And my mother, Caroline. We've also already agreed to travel with another group; a young man and his fiancée, Ross Geller and Rachel Green, and Mr. Geller's younger sister, Monica."

"Sounds great; the more in our caravan the better."

Thomas spoke up, "When were you planning on leaving, Mr. Bing?"

"Please, call me Chandler. I would say within a week or two. I think the grass is long enough to graze on, so we should be safe. I am still waiting for my horse to be shod at the livery in Independence, but I'm actually headed over there soon to check on it."

"Then it sounds like we have a plan, Chandler. How about tonight you and your family come over here to our camp for some supper? We can get to know each other and ya'll can meet the Gellers."

"Great idea. Thank you, Thomas." He nodded towards Caroline and Catherine. "My wife will sure be glad to see some female companions. It was nice meeting you folks."

Upon his return to their wagon, he found Becky asleep, sandwiched amongst their belongings, with Dolly clutched firmly in her hand. Jess was sitting outside mending a pair of his pants.

"I see you found Dolly. All the excitement wore her out?"

"Sure did. Can you blame her?"

Chandler laughed and shook his head, as he perched on the edge of the wagon. He felt like a giddy schoolboy himself.

"I found some people to travel with; an older couple, their son and his family. We're going to eat supper at their camp tonight."

Jess came over and sat by his side. "Then they sound wonderful already; cooking over the fire makes my back ache." Chandler drew her into his lap and rested his hands on her stomach.

"How's the baby today?"

"Good. Not moving as much as last week, but still making himself known," she smiled and sighed. Chandler massaged her shoulders and gently began kissing the nape of her neck. His hot breath was toying with her senses.

"Chandler!" She gave him a pointed look as she stood up. His face was a picture of innocence. "People can see us."

He laughed and reached up to push a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I want the whole world to know how much I love my wife. What's wrong with that?"

He leaned in to kiss her, but she moved out of his reach.

"You always have known just what to say, Mr. Bing." He nodded seriously in agreement. She laughed, modesty forgotten, and kissed him.

Pulling away, he glanced back at Becky's sleeping figure, "You probably should rest a little while too, Jess. You need to keep your strength up and our trip has barely begun." His hand found hers and he squeezed it tightly. "I'm going to go see if Flash is ready. I'll be back soon."

He helped her up into the wagon, grabbed his hat, and headed towards Independence.


Monica Geller browsed the shelves of the growing mercantile, waiting while her brother loaded supplies onto their wagon. She was a striking beauty; her pale smooth skin showed her wealthy upbringing, delicate curls of ebony hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes were unusually blue. But they also betrayed her sadness, her loneliness. She had the look of woman who's searching for something to make her whole. An elegant silk and lace dress lay on her tiny frame as her fingers browsed the plain wool clothing that would soon adorn her body.

"Monica, are you ready?"

She nodded, picking out two plain and practical dresses from the selection. She was grateful to finally be free from the finery of her upbringing in the East.

The voice belonged to her brother Ross, a handsome man with dark hair and eyes. As always, at his side stood Rachel, his fiancée. Rachel was also Monica's best friend; the three of them grew up together.

Rachel's golden brown hair was pulled up in an attractive bun and her blue eyes were focused on Ross. She, on the other hand, was less than thrilled at the prospects of roughing it on the trail, leaving behind all the galas and balls in Pittsburgh. But love will make you do anything and Ross wanted, well, needed to move to Oregon.

Purchases in hand, the trio headed out into the street, preparing to camp for the night in the fields. There were people swarming all over Independence; preparing to set out for a better life.

Monica laughed sarcastically to herself. Anything would be better than what I'm leaving behind. She climbed into the wagon beside Rachel and closed her eyes. There was no turning back now.

AN: I hope people are interested in this story. If you have any feedback, please leave a review!