They all laughed when Edison recorded sound

Chandler placed his trusty trumpet onto his lap and listened to the scattering of applause as Julie bowed seductively, blowing the crowd a kiss before she totted off the stage. He didn't need to look at his schedule to know who was up next. He'd been waiting for this moment all evening, counting down the acts.

"Right guys," Mike spoke quietly, interrupting his thoughts. "This is the new gal, ok? Everyone got the new music I handed out earlier?"

Everyone nodded obediently.

"Great, oh, and Chandler, keep your eyes on the music, right?"

Chandler glared in reply as he felt Phoebe elbow his ribs with the bow from her cello. He flicked the crumpled sheet music over, finding the new song quickly and grabbed his trumpet ready, looking at Mike pointedly.

"It starts muted," Mike smirked.

Damn.

"Right," he blushed, quickly fumbling around for the dented mute under his chair and slotting it into the dented bell of his instrument.

He ignored Phoebe giggling at his antics and instead turned his attention onto the stage. Moments later the spotlight came on and his breath hitched in anticipation, his heartbeat doubling as Doug announced Monica's name with flare. And then there she was. She looked even more spectacular than earlier with the bright lights on her. The diamonds on her bold red dress sparkled insanely, dazzling in all directions as she strode across the stage as if she owned it. You wouldn't guess it was her first live performance.

The club fell silent, every eye on her as she reached the microphone.

As the gentle piano notes filled the air, Chandler watched with bated breath as she opened her red stained lips and started to sing. She was just as amazing as she'd been earlier, her sultry voice captivating the entire club as a quiet hush spread over the dumbstruck audience. They seemed just as mesmorized as he was.

The song picked up and she started to move around the stage, giving the crowd glimpses of those long legs through the equally long slit. Oh, he wished he was down there, experiencing it like they were. She would make her way into the crowd any moment and-

He felt a sharp kick on his shin and jerked his attention away from the beautiful woman and onto the troublesome woman to his right.

"Ow!" He complained.

"You missed your cue!" she hissed, her eyes never leaving the music.

Crap. His eyes flickered onto a glaring Mike as he placed the mouthpiece to his lips and started to play. He knew the song well so tried to fumble his way through as he quickly scanned the music trying to work out where they were.

Once confident he was in the right place, he let his eyes leave the black sqiggly notes for a few moments and land on Monica again. She was in the crowd and it wasn't hard to tell they were loving her and the attention she was giving them. Stealing hats, fingering ties, stroking hair; they were putty in her manicured hands.

A sad feeling went through him, a pang of regret, as he tried to concentrate on his music. Even if she wasn't already engaged, she could have her choice of men. Every single one of them was drooling over her. He was also pretty damn sure each would happily steal their mother's pearls just for one date with her.

Someone like him had no chance. Why couldn't he have fallen for someone else? Someone that might even know he existed?

The song ended and he couldn't resist watching her as she took in the applause. The audience was going mad, easiest the loudest cheer to fill the old brownstone for a long time. It just rubbed the salt into the wound that little bit more. Everyone loved her, everyone wanted to be with her, she was going to be a star, he could tell.

He sighed, he was pleased for her, pleased she'd been such a hit, he was, but at the same time he couldn't help feeling just that little bit sorry for himself that he had no chance with someone like her. It was stupid though- although he liked her, she'd never been his to lose. He didn't even know anything about her.

Chandler felt something hit his forehead and looked up meeting Mike's eyes.

"Focus," he instructed, though there was a light humor in his voice. "Just one more act until the break, ok? Please pay attention for this one."

"S-sure, absolutely, sorry," he mumbled swallowing down his poignant thoughts.

He glanced at the schedule, he'd only really paid attention up until Monica's act. He did a double take at the next listed song, throwing a suspicious look at a smug Mike as the start of I've got a crush on you began to fill the club.

He couldn't help himself. Despite knowing it was hopeless and that a doll like that would break his heart in seconds, he found himself loitering among the boxes in the dim corridor, not far from the dressing rooms. He stayed mostly in the shadows as he watched various acts leaving. Against all better judgment he just needed one more look at her; there was something about her that he just craved.

"Whatcha doing?"

He grimaced as he heard Phoebe behind him; the second time today she'd caught him attempting to stalk the woman

"Nothing," he lied casually although he had no chance of fooling her, she'd known him far too long.

"Not waiting for a certain lady?" she teased and he resisted rolling his eyes.

"It was her first night," he shrugged a little defensively, "I just wanted to let her know I thought she did good."

"Good?" Phoebe laughed, "you mean great don't ya? She was stunning."

"Yeah she was," he couldn't help but grin somewhat proudly, "she nailed it didn't she?"

"The audience tonight sure loved her, I have a feeling Big Joe won't be in a hurry to get rid of her."

Just then the dressing room door opened and both paused and then sighed as Julie waved them good night. They gave a half-hearted wave back.

"What's taking her so long?" he muttered under his breath, checking his watch.

"Maybe she already left?" Phoebe ventured, "you might have missed her?"

"No," he shook his head in denial of that possibility as disappointment started to sneak its way into his gut, "not possible."

"Mind out the way," they both jumped at the voice behind them, sheepishly shuffling to the side as Gunther came through with a tray of glasses in his hands.

They waited a few beats longer, both with their eyes expectantly on the green door.

"Can't you like…" Chandler shrugged awkwardly, "stick your head in there or something and see if she's still there?"

"No," she argued, shaking her head, "I'm not doing that. It's not my dressing room."

"But you're a female, you're allowed in there. I'm not."

"I'm not going in there just to see if your crush is there. What do I do, walk in there and go 'oh hi, Chandler just wanted me to check you were still here so he could continue to lurk outside'?" She shook her head again, "Nope."

"You could do something a little more subtle," he muttered, stepping back as Wendy rushed passed them.

"If you wanna see her, then you go in there," she stated, "I can live without seeing her for another day."

He simply glared at her unhelpfulness.

"You waiting for the new broad?" Gunther asked overhearing as he came back with the empty tray.

"Maybe," Chandler frowned, he was never quite sure how to take the man.

"Well if you are, she's at the bar waiting for Rachel."

"What?" Chandler said surprised, annoyed that he'd been staking out the wrong room this whole time.

"They're roommates," he shrugged as if it was obvious. "She's hanging out on one of the barstools as she waits for Rach to finish, which," he glanced at his watch, "will be about now."

"But-"

At that precise moment the door to the main club swung open and the three paused as Monica and Rachel stepped out and froze, not expecting to see the little gang clogging up the corridor.

"Excuse us," Rachel put on a fake smile as she pushed passed them.

"I'll see you tomorrow Rachel," Gunther called after her longingly, "I had a great evening working with you."

Rachel threw him another fake smile over her shoulder, which he seemed more than content with. As Monica squeezed between them, Chandler's hand reached out by its own accord and grabbed her arm. Halting her. She stopped mid-step, her eyes traveling from his hand, up his arm to his face. He blinked, surprised by his own actions and quickly released her arm as if burned. Damn.

"S-sorry," he stammered embarrassed, "I, uh, I just wanted to say you were amazing tonight," he said quietly, his stomach immediately filled with little butterflies as she offered him a shy smile back.

"Thanks Chandler," her eyes met his for a brief moment before she dropped the contact and followed after Rachel.

As the two woman disappeared up the stairs, Gunther came to stand beside Chandler. Both sets of eyes hopelessly watched the women walked away, letting out matching sighs of disappointment when they vanished out of view.

"God, look at you two," Joey laughed as he came up behind them. "You're like love sick puppies."

Chandler shot his friend a look as Gunther hurried away from his boss' son.

Phoebe just laughed, "It's cute right?"

"You ready to go already?" Chandler asked his roommate quickly, trying to nip this 'cute love sick puppy' thing in the bud. He glanced at his watch, surprised to see it was still fairly early...well, for them. Most sane people would have been tucked up in their cozy beds hours ago.

"Yeah, everything's pretty much done," Joey shrugged, "Dad and Louie are gonna lock up," he looked over at Phoebe, "where's Mike?"

"I'm here!" Mike called as he came out of the band room and down the short corridor, some sheets in hand, "I had a few bits I wanted to get ready for tomorrow night. I'm thinking of opening with Chattanooga Choo Choo, what do you think?" he asked excited.

Joey and Chandler both pulled faces, "Again?"

He sighed down-hearted, "I'll have another think," he promised as Phoebe reached up to console him by kissing his cheek.

"Come on," Phoebe coaxed, "let's get outta here."

"Mike," Chandler called after him, "Won't you choo choo me home?"

Chandler bit back a laugh as Mike continued walking, not even bothering to turn around or release Phoebe as he flipped him the finger.

For the fourth night in a row the applause for Monica took the roof off the place. It seemed to get busier every night as word grew. Chandler smiled as he watched her appreciate the applause, just for a moment slipping out of her sultry persona and into that insecure woman that needed the approval. Then she turned sharply and sashayed off the stage to wolf whistles.

He couldn't believe that Joey Sr had given her the closing spot after less than a week, it was a big achievement…even in a place like this.

"Good job, people," Mike praised his band members.

Dismissed, he jumped up from his seat and high-tailed it from the stage. Loosening his trumpet valves as he went, he made it to the band room in record time, putting his instrument safely back into its case. He was eager to try and see Monica. She made a habit of waiting in the bar after it closed and Chandler decided he was going to make it a habit of his own to hang there instead of the usual band room.

"You're in a rush," Phoebe commented, walking into the dingy room with Bonnie. She sat in her usual beat-up chair and grabbed a snack from their ever-present stash as Bonnie started packing away her saxophone.

"I fancied a change of scenery," he shrugged taking off his suit jacket and rolling up his shirt sleeves. "I'm gonna go wait for Joey at the bar," he loosened his tie.

"So you want Monica to be the scenery," she grinned knowingly. "Fine go, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night Phoebs, Bonnie," he smiled, tipping his hat in a mock farewell to them both before throwing it on his chair.

He narrowly avoided the wrapper that she threw at him. He winked cheekily and then left quickly before she found anything else to throw at him. Chandler pushed through the doors and strolled back into the club, hands in pockets as he surveyed the large room. Most of the punters had dissipated but their smoke and smell certainly hadn't.

He dodged the waitresses who were busy clearing away glasses and plates from the small tables as he headed to the long bar. Monica wasn't there yet and he prayed that she hadn't already changed her routine.

"Gunther, can I get a whiskey?" he asked, easily catching the glass that moments later was slid across to him.

He pulled out a smoke and lit it, inhaling it before blowing it gently to mingle with the rest of the smoky atmosphere.

"Ya know some people are saying they're bad for you," a smooth voice said and he froze, shivers running through him. He looked up and met the beautiful blue eyes of Monica Geller as she settled onto the stool next to him.

"Yeah well, people say a lot of things," he informed her, his own blue eyes sparkling before making a show of taking a large puff, smiling as he exhaled. "You smoke?" he asked and she shook her head. "You're missing out," he teased as he slid the packet back into his pocket. "Gunther? A drink for the lady?"

"The usual?" Gunther asked her, ignoring Chandler.

"Please," she nodded before her eyes fell back to the musician, "I haven't seen you here after hours before," she commented as she thanked Gunther for the drink.

"I like to keep people on their toes," he grinned, delighted that his plan had worked. Not only was she here but she was actually talking to him. Having a conversation. "You were brilliant up there tonight by the way."

"You too," she smiled and it seemed like she meant it.

"Thanks," he said, "we don't get complimented much."

"Well you should," she said, her hand reaching out to touch his knee and he tensed as sensations went rushing through his body at the simple contact.

"T-thanks," he swallowed hard, "I'll ask Mr Tribbanni to put a sign next to the stage asking customers to put bread in the jar for the band."

She let out a throaty chuckle and he loved the sound instantly.

"Have you worked here long?" she asked, taking a sip from her glass.

"Ever since I was old enough," he shrugged, "actually, probably before I was old enough...legally. What about you? Always been a singer?"

"No, well, maybe yes, this is my first job. I've just moved away from my parents in Long Island."

"Wow," he commented impressed, "that's pretty brave. Living the New York dream, eh?"

"Something like that but-"

"Bing!" Chandler winced as he heard his boss bellow his name across the quiet room, "we need your ass for poker, we're a man down. Get in here."

He closed his eyes and sighed, "I'd better…."

"Not a poker fan?" she asked sensing his mood.

"I don't mind playing," he shrugged, "just not with them," his eyes indicated the closed door at the other end of the club. "He usually has some serious, uh, characters in there."

"Oh, are you any good?"

"I hope not," he offered her a crooked smile, "I'm hoping Lady Luck gives me a wide berth as they are the sorta people that don't like losing."

"Well in that case, I won't wish you luck," she teased, that gorgeous smile lighting her face again.

He swallowed, smiling back and getting lost in those alluring eyes.

"Chandler?!" Joey Sr hollered, "what's the matter with you kid? There's people waiting. Beat a lead."

"I'm just coming, Sir," he reassured quickly, before nodding at her, "I better go," he continued to stare at her a moment, desperately wishing he could stay with her longer, "Night Monica."

"Night, Chandler," she replied softly, "I hope it goes terribly in there for you."

"You and me both," he chuckled, offering her one last smile before finally turning and running to the office, receiving a clap around the head from Mr Trib.

Before the large office door closed he caught one last look at her and smiled stupidly. Boy he was in trouble.

Chandler stayed in the shadows for a moment, watching the heated conversation taking place in the dark corridor, the man and woman were in the middle of an intense argument.

"Men are lusting over you," the mysterious man argued.

"It's what men do," Monica protested. "You're a man, you should know!"

"It's disgusting," he shot back, shaking his head, "this isn't work. You can't have this as your job."

"I enjoy it," she informed him, "I'm good at it, I'm doing it!"

Chandler frowned, was this the fiancé that he'd been secretly expecting? Was this the man that she had chosen? His chest tightened at the thought and he swallowed hard. He didn't want to let go of the dream just yet. He couldn't. Couldn't accept that someone, this man, had got there first before he'd even known her. It wasn't fair. His mind had been filled with thoughts of this woman since she'd sauntered into his life that night just seven days ago.

Seven days. It felt like a lifetime; a crazy, exhilarating lifetime.

"And what happens when one of these 'customers' gets a little too friendly, huh?"

"I can look after myself," Monica protested hotly.

"Monica-"

The guy stepped forward and Chandler decided it was time to make his presence known, emerging from the shadows and approaching them, "Is there a problem here?" he asked, trying to make his voice sound hard as he assessed the stranger.

"Who are you?" the stranger asked, narrowing his own eyes, assessing him.

"This is Chandler," Monica introduced, "he's in the band here. Chandler, this is Ross, my brother."

Oh. A wave of relief went through him as he politely stuck out his hand, "Pleased to meet you."

'Ross' looked him over before reluctantly accepting the hand.

"So, is everything ok?" he ventured, his question aimed solely at Monica as Ross scowled at him further.

"Everything's fine, thanks for checking," she smiled genuinely before turning back to her brother. "Look, Ross I have to get ready for my next act, we can continue this later."

"Mon-"

"Later," she said firmly and he rolled his eyes.

"Fine," he muttered.

"Go sit and stare at Rachel," she said and Chandler tried to hide a smile. How did Rachel attract all the freaky ones?

Still muttering, Ross left and once alone Chandler turned to her, his eyes softening, "You really ok?" he asked gently.

"Yeah," she smiled, her hand touching his arm for a brief moment, "I just didn't know he was coming here tonight, it surprised me."

"And not in a good way," he finished for her and she shrugged.

"He's a good brother, a decent guy," she promised, "he's helped me out a lot after my parents cut ties and-"

"You don't speak with your parents?" he asked surprised and she shrugged awkwardly, obviously she hadn't meant to divulge that.

"It's complicated."

"Sure," he nodded, not wanting to press the issue, especially as she didn't seem all that comfortable. Why would her parents have cut ties with this wonderful woman?

"Thanks for stepping in, Chandler but right now…"

"Oh, yeah!" he glanced at his watch and cringed. Mike was not going to be a happy camper. He'd sneaked out for a bathroom break over 10 minutes ago. "I better go too before Mike finds another trumpeter to take my place."

"Nah, not possible," she smiled, her eyes sparkling, "you're pretty irreplaceable."

He swallowed, "T-thanks," he blushed happily as an unexpected warmth spread through him, "same goes for you too."

"Thank you."

They shared one last long look before Chandler coughed somewhat awkwardly, looking away, "I, um really better run as I don't really wanna test that 'irreplaceable' theory of yours."

"Ok," she nodded, "Enjoy the rest of the show. Hopefully, I'll see you later?"

She was hoping to see him later? His heart skipped a beat. He definitely wanted to see her. No question.

"Yeah," he wet his lips, a cheeky smile appearing, "Count on it."

"Great."

They stared at each other for just another beat before mutually turning and quickly running in opposite directions.

A/N - I can't thank you enough for your reviews! I have a new appreciation for AU writers as not only are you hoping people will like the plot, but also the entire world its set in. I'm very glad some of you are interested in this and the other 100 pages won't go to waste. So again, a huge thank you from me :o)