By the end of the first week, Monica was not just tolerating her new job, but actually enjoying it

By the end of her first week working nights, Monica was not just tolerating her new job, but actually enjoying it. She loved the challenge of putting together a totally new dinner menu, trying out at least one new entree every night. At the end of the month, she would pick out the best meals and present a menu with about a dozen dinners on it.

But it wasn't just the cooking that Monica was enjoying. For the first time that she could remember, Monica was having fun at work. She wasn't exactly partying with the dinner crew, but they were mostly pleasant to her. And Ted, it turned out, was quite the talker. He already had gotten in the habit of meeting Monica in the kitchen after her afternoon shopping to chat with her while she worked out her recipes. Then, during the busy dinner hours, he would pop his head in frequently to pass on complements or make fun of the diners _ how the fat guy at table three, for example, couldn't reach across the table for the salt, or how the couple at table seven was clearly having a fight about the man's hot secretary.

Ted was even staying late with Monica, long after the last customers had left, to help her plan the next night's meals. After all, he said, he was the best judge of what people were actually eating. So they would sit in the kitchen until long after midnight, Ted sampling Monica's cream sauces and apple tarts, and Monica laughing and rolling her eyes at his lame jokes.

On her first Sunday afternoon off, after enjoying a leisurely morning in bed with Chandler, Monica decided to run down to Central Perk for some fresh coffee, hoping also to run into Rachel and Phoebe, whom she'd barely seen all week.

She was in luck. She bought a mocha and joined the women on the couch, and immediately set into talking about her job. Before long, she was repeating a story Ted had told her about some customers from the night before.

"So when they complained about the prices being so much higher than the ones at lunch, he told them the food was totally worth it. Isn't that sweet?" Monica said, a proud smile lighting up her face as she took a sip of her drink.

Rachel, who was sitting in the armchair at the end of the coffee table, caught Phoebe's eye and they both grinned.

"Mon, you have a crush on this guy," Rachel said.

"What? I do not," Monica said, her smile disappearing as she put down her mug.

"Uh huh, yup, definitely a crush," Phoebe said.

"I do not have a crush," Monica said defiantly. "That's crazy. You're both crazy."

"It's OK, honey," Rachel said. "It's totally normal to have a crush even when you're dating someone. It doesn't mean you don't love Chandler."

"Unless you really don't love him," Phoebe added quickly. "Because that'd be totally understandable. You said this guy was dreamy, right? God, don't you just love dreamy waiters?"

"No, I didn't say he was dreamy," Monica said, shooting Phoebe an angry glare. Phoebe just shrugged and sipped at her tea. "And of course I love Chandler. I don't want anyone else."

"Mon, really, it's no big deal. You think I didn't get crushes on guys when I was with Ross? Remember Mark? Remember how hot he was?" At this Monica joined Rachel in turning glassy-eyed, and they both sighed.

"My God, I'm only human," Rachel said, jolting out of her flashback. "But it doesn't mean I acted on it. That's the difference."

"Really?" Monica asked. "It's OK? Because, well, not that it matters at all, but Ted's pretty cute."

"See, totally normal," Rachel said.

"I mean, he's hot. Like, unbelievable," Monica continued. "Great hair, dark, expressive eyes. And he's a lot of fun-"

"OK, Mon? Crossing the line now," Rachel said.

"Is he single?" Phoebe asked. "Do you have a picture? Or a phone number?"

+++++

By the second week of the job, Monica was rarely coming home before midnight, often not climbing into bed until 1 or even 2 a.m. Chandler would try to stay up for her, but found there really wasn't much point. Once she got home, they would maybe chat for 15 minutes before they were both asleep. And staying up so late was making him tired and cranky all day. At the same time, because Monica was getting home so late, she was waking up much later too, so they were rarely able to spend even breakfast together.

So, after just a week with the new hours, Chandler found that he was lucky if he saw Monica at all.

At first he had thought that it might be OK to not have her around all the time. They had only been living together for about two months, so he figured it would probably be good for them to have a little space. But, as it turned out, he wasn't liking it at all. He missed spending quiet evenings with her at night, and even when the rest of his friends were around, which was just about all the time, he craved having her close by, being able to hold her hand or pull her into his arms while everyone watched a movie.

Chandler was spending most of his free time with Joey or Ross, doing all of the things they used to before he moved in with Monica. He and Joey had managed a "Baywatch" marathon, watching eight hours straight over pizza and beers one Saturday. And Ross had invited him over for dinner several times, which was odd, because, all things considered, Chandler was probably the better cook.

A week and a half into Monica's job, Chandler decided it was time he paid her a visit and tasted what she was really up to. So he made reservations for the gang on a Wednesday night, which Monica had said was her slowest. He toyed briefly with the idea of surprising her, but then figured she wouldn't appreciate that at all, and in fact would probably throw them out of the restaurant. As it was, Monica was totally prepared for them when they arrived and was even able to step out of the kitchen for a moment to chat with them.

"Hey, sweetie," Chandler said as she walked up to them just as they were being seated. "Look at my little professional chef." He patted her head, careful not to knock off the hat she wore, and then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and a hug with one arm. Monica smiled and spread her arms out to their group.

"Welcome to Cafe Monica," she said with a smile. "Everything on the menu is excellent-"

"And on the house?" Joey said, lifting his eyebrows.

"And very reasonably priced," Monica said, glaring at him then smiling.

Rachel waved for Monica to come to her.

"So, which one is he," Rachel whispered once Monica was crouching between her and Phoebe.

"Sshh," Monica shushed her abruptly, looking quickly at Chandler to see if he'd noticed. When she saw him chatting with Ross, she jolted her head to the left.

"That one," she whispered between her teeth. "Blond hair. Tall."

"Oooh, very dignified," Phoebe said appreciatively.

"No, not him," Monica sighed, catching Phoebe wink at the maitre d', who was 60 and balding. "Him," she said, tossing her head so hard in Ted's direction that her hat almost flew off. Ted was across the room, balancing a tray loaded with dinners. He hadn't seen Monica's friends arrive.

"Very nice," Rachel said. "Broad shoulders, good posture, great ass."

"I know," Monica hissed, a grin on her face. Then she stood up and announced to everyone, "Your waiter will be with you in a sec. I'll come out again before you're done."

"Oh, and seriously," she added in a very soft voice, leaning in to the table. "Um, the chicken? Not tonight."

+++++

The dinner was excellent, everyone declared two hours later, as they sat back in their chairs and breathed around full stomachs. Monica, it turned out, hadn't been able to revisit their table. So as everyone stood up and made to grab their coats, Chandler told them to wait so he could sneak back to the kitchen and say a quick goodbye.

It was still busy enough in the restaurant that nobody noticed him walking back to the kitchen, and he was able to stand in the doorway and watch Monica for several minutes before she saw him. A soft smile crossed his face as he watched her racing around the kitchen, dancing between three pots on the stove and two ovens. She looked frenzied, her hair starting to come undone, a single strand slipping into her face. But she looked happy, he noticed. She was humming softly to herself as she chopped a carrot, and whisked her hands with satisfaction after dropping the pieces into a pot.

"Oh," she said in surprise when she finally saw him standing there. "I didn't see you."

"I know," Chandler said, smiling. "You're beautiful when you work."

"What are you talking about?" Monica said, stirring another pot on the stove. "My hair's a mess, I'm sweating from this hot kitchen, I've got stains all over my shirt-"

"Exactly," Chandler said, and then walked toward her so he could kiss her cheek. Monica smiled at him but didn't stop stirring. "I know you're busy, I just wanted to say goodbye. Oh, and your food was incredible."

"Thanks," Monica said, finally turning toward him. "And thanks so much for coming out here. I'll see you in a couple hours, OK?"

Chandler sighed, but nodded and gave her another quick kiss and a squeeze on her shoulder.

"I love you," he said.

"Me too."

+++++

"You know, Monica's really a good cook," Joey said a few nights later, as everyone gathered at his place for pizza. He was answered with a round of "uh-huhs" from everyone, their mouths too stuffed with pizza to respond more enthusiastically.

"I'll be really glad when she goes back to the lunch hours, though," Chandler said once he had swallowed, wiping off his face with a crumpled napkin. "I swear, that night was the most I've seen her in two weeks. I mean, unless you count sleepy sex at 2 in the morning."

Ross shot him a dirty look, and Chandler added, "Just kidding," before catching Joey's eyes, shaking his head and mouthing, "not kidding."

"It's funny, I've been eating her food for years, but I'm always amazed at how much better it tastes in a restaurant," Ross said, looking thoughtful as he leaned back in Joey's recliner. "You think it's like the ambiance?"

"The staff wasn't too hard to look at," Rachel muttered to Phoebe, who smiled and nodded in agreement. "How does Monica get anything done with that man in her kitchen?"

"What was that?" Ross asked.

"Nothing," Rachel said quickly.

"Well, it's been great, kids, but I've got to go," Chandler said, setting his empty plate in Joey's sink. "Monica's off work tomorrow, and I promised to do the laundry this week. I saved her panties for last."

"Dude, doesn't she have her period this week?" Joey asked, looking disgusted.

"Eeww," Ross moaned, spitting out the pizza in his mouth.

"First, that's disgusting and none of your business, Joe," Chandler said. "And second, no."

"Man, I used to be on top of that stuff," Joey said, sounding perplexed. "Now that you two are living together, I have no idea what's going on."

"And that's a very good thing," Chandler said, opening the door. "Bye, everyone. Thanks for the pizza, Joey."

"Hey, I bought the pizza," Ross called out.

"Yeah, but I supplied the ambiance," Joey said.

When Chandler had closed the door, Ross turned in the recliner to face Rachel and Phoebe, who were sitting on two stools at the counter.

"So, what was that about the man in Monica's kitchen?" he asked.

Rachel's mouth dropped open and her eyes grew large, and then she recovered.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, taking a delicate bite of pizza.

"Come on, I heard what you said," Ross said.

"Me too," Joey said, nodding vigorously. "There was a man in Monica's kitchen..."

"You didn't hear a thing," Rachel said to Joey, who pouted but then fessed up.

"OK, but I want to hear about the man in Monica's kitchen," he said, starting to whine.

"Oh for God's sake, it was a fan in her kitchen," Phoebe said. "A fan. Rachel said, 'How does she get any work done with that loud fan in her kitchen?'"

Ross ignored Phoebe and just stared at Rachel.

"Fine," Rachel said. "But you can't tell Chandler. Monica has, well, a little crush on one of the waiters."

"And he's really cute," Phoebe added, hers and Rachel's eyes glazing over as they pictured Ted.

"She has a crush?" Ross said, interrupting their thoughts. "How can she have a crush? What about Chandler?"

Rachel sighed. She knew Ross was never going to understand.

"Look, I know you won't believe this, but it's totally normal to have a crush even when you're dating someone. It's no big deal," Rachel said.

"Besides, she's with Chandler," Phoebe said. "Can you blame her for wanting to check out a hot guy every now and then?"

"I don't know. This isn't right," Ross said.

"Yeah, does Chandler even know this guy exists?" Joey asked, sitting in a chair next to Ross to face the women.

"I don't think so," Rachel said.

"Seriously, guys, this is not a big deal," Phoebe said. "I mean, I've always looked at other guys when I was dating. And Rachel had a crush on Mark when-"

She stopped suddenly at the glares she got from Ross and Rachel.

"What?" Ross said.

"What?" Rachel said, glaring at Phoebe and trying to look innocent for Ross at the same time.

"What?" Phoebe said, looking at Joey as though he had said something. Joey just looked bewildered.

"I knew it!" Ross finally yelled, bolting out of his chair. "You liked him!"

"Fine, I admit it, I had a little crush on him," Rachel said, throwing the napkin she'd been holding onto her plate. "But I never acted on it. I never even wanted to act on it. Even after you cheated on me, I never wanted to do anything with him."

"Yeah, right," Ross said. "So are you still claiming that it was a coincidence he called you that night we broke up? And you guys definitely went on a date later on. Don't deny it. I saw everything."

"Oh my God, Ross," Rachel said. "I never lied to you about him. But you know, it doesn't even matter now. All that happened what, like four years ago? Who even cares anymore?"

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?" Ross yelled then stopped and looked thoughtful for a moment. "OK, you're right. It doesn't matter. But if you liked him, then we definitely were on a break, right?"

"Ooohh, you're impossible," Rachel growled, standing up and heading to the front door, then turning around to add, "Thanks for the pizza, Joey."

"I bought the pizza!" Ross yelled just as the door slammed shut.