TOW Pete's Persistence

Author Note: The framework came from David Crane and Marta Kauffman. If any die-hard fans picked up where the last chapter left off, the Hypnosis Tape episode will happen - strongly at points - but it will divert.

It became apparent that something was wrong in apartment 20 as Rachel got up. She couldn't smell any of Monica's cooking, and her brunette friend always cooked breakfast. A plan immediately dawned on Rachel and she put her dressing-gown to go across the hall. She knocked on the guys' door to have Joey standing before her.

"Morning Rach." he said with a sleepy smile.

"Morning Joe. Did you already have breakfast?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.

"No. Why?" Joey pondered.

"Mon's not in the apartment. Usually she's cooked by now, right? It's..." she paused to glance at her watch. "Eight? Something must've happened." she said, slightly shrill as her face turned white. Joey put a consoling hand on her shoulder.

"Rach, there's no need to start a search party. I'm sure she just went down to the coffee-house. We all had a late night yesterday." he said, being unusually logical.

"Yeah, late night..." she mumbled. "Right, I'm off to the coffeehouse." she said, words tumbling out of her dry mouth, running back into apartment 20. Five minutes later she rushed down the stairs of their building, hair tousled and not looking remotely as groomed as she prided herself as being. A stitch in her side as she reached familiar territory, she nearly collapsed on the counter, seeing whitish-blonde hair.

"Gunther, Gunther." she panted. The faithful barista turned around, his face looking hopeful - ever since Ross and Rachel's break-up he'd been even happier in her presence, and the sound of her panting his name was ecstasy to his ears.

"What is it, Rachel?" he said, cracking a smile at first but then noticing the dishevelled and emotionally frayed state she was in.

"Monica... missing... She's here, right?" the fashion enthusiast breathed heavily. Gunther paused for a second and shook his head.

"Sorry, I haven't seen her, I'm afraid." he said. Rachel hit her head on the counter.

"Oww... decaf please." she mumbled, a tear running down her face - Monica had ordered that as Rachel's first drink ever had in Central Perk. After a tense minute, Gunther handed it to her. Shifting her gaze to the window direct from the gang's favourite spot, it brought back memories of another friend playing her instrument...

"Why didn't I think?! Pheebs!" she breathed. Luckily she knew where the spacey blonde lived, and immediately set off there. As Phoebe prepared something that might be considered brunch since it was mid-morning but the dish itself was more suited to breakfast, she heard a series of knocks in rapid succession.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming." Phoebe said. She opened the door to find a haggard Rachel Green, and bit back a smile.

"Phoebe, where's Mon? I've been looking for her all morning." Rachel all but begged.

"Oh, she's in the second bedroom." Phoebe whispered. Rachel raised her eyebrows.

"And why is she sleeping over at yours?"

"It's not my place to say." Phoebe said steadily, remembering her promise a few hours ago. "Let's just say she's really tired and didn't feel in any way like getting up when she usually does - I think last night took a lot out of all of us." the blonde smiled, delighted with her lie. Rachel struck a stroppy pose.

"Pheebs, you drove your grandmother's cab, and yet you seem peppy. So it clearly wasn't 'all of us'." the golden-brown-haired woman deadpanned. The day progressed and soon enough all six of them but Chandler were at Central Perk. Monica was miffed about the obvious missing person from the group, but was distracting herself on purpose - who knew that Monica Geller would have trouble battling new-found feelings? And was it her imagination, or was Phoebe looking her way as if to empathise? All of a sudden, Joey laughed out of nowhere.

"What's so funny?" Monica pondered. Joey looked her in the face.

"Oh, nothing, no. It's an acting exercise, I'm practising my fake laugh." the actor replied. Monica laughed in a fake manner after him, and of course Joey being Joey, asked her what was funny. Chandler came in with a cigarette. Gunther walked over.

"Oh no-no, no-no-no, there's none of that in here." the snow-haired man complained.

"Oh come on man! At least let me finish this last one." Chandler pouted. Gunther seemed to consider it, and then realised a solution.

"Okay, but only if you give me a drag." he demanded. Chandler passed it to him. Gunther took a long drag. "Oh dark mother, once again I suckle at your smoky teat." he breathed almost orgasmically. Chandler shivered with disgust, mumbling 'no-no, why don't you hang on to that one'. As he sat down next to Rachel, she confiscated his cigarettes, he whined, and she handed him a hypnosis tape. After more of his dry wit, Monica pretended to fake-laugh with Joey, but on the inside her heart was sent fluttering - it was one of the things that made Chandler the lovely guy she'd come to adore. Phoebe gave Chandler some advice about quitting, only to be on the end of Monica's glare. The day after, Rachel and Monica walk into apartment 20.

"Why don't you want to go out with Pete, Mon? He's a genuinely good guy, and he's proved he can be sweet." Rachel nearly whined. Phoebe's head lifted at this.

"I'm not someone who can be bought for $20,000." Monica said in a no-nonsense tone. Phoebe's interest was truly peaked at that brash statement.

"Twenty grand? What's this about?" the airy blond asked. Monica exhaled.

"This customer who likes me gave me a ludicrous tip, Pheebs." she said.

"And that's not the way to your heart." Phoebe replied, finishing her friend's train of thought, an unspoken message passing between them. Monica shook her head.

"No." she breathed, a slither of longing entering her voice. "I want to be swept off my feet, but not that way. I see the cheque as abrasive, not romantic." she said sadly.

"OK, I get you Mon." Rachel said. "But - and I'm not going to say about money here, but let's say, let's say Pete asked you in a way you liked, would you say yes?"

"Perhaps. He's a nice guy, so I don't want to break his heart." Monica said gently. "Bleurgh, feelings and romance!" she suddenly shouted, high pitched. Phoebe immediately hugged her. Rachel looked on, puzzled Pheebs had got the cuddle. Phoebe mouthed 'I've got this'. Rachel felt like she was missing out on something.

AN: Aw, poor Mon! If you could offer tissues to fictional characters, I would. And don't worry Mondler lovers, I've got one hell of a plan worked out. OK, the banter I promised wasn't here yet, but it will be! As far as 'cheque' goes, it's the British spelling - proud Brit here!