Ten weeks. Monica is ten weeks pregnant. She hasn't talked to Richard for two weeks, Chandler is with Janice, and Monica is having a baby she'll have to love and care for but no man is loving and caring for her.

Joey is with girl after girl almost every night. Chandler has some how managed to fall head over heels with Janice. Even Janice has somebody. Ross has the girl of his dreams and Rachel is so glad that she is with the right person for the first time in her life. Phoebe is Phoebe. Fooling around with a random guy one week then single the next.

Monica is alone.


Fourteen weeks pregnant. Today, Monica has to call Richard. She picks up the phone, dials his number, waits for three rings, and hears someone answer the phone.

"Richard?" Monica asks.

"No," says a woman's voice. "This is Sandra."

"Sandra? Who are you?" Monica bursts with jealousy.

"I'm Richard's girlfriend."

"What?" Monica questions in a barely audible voice.

"We've been dating for a few weeks. Are you his daughter, Michelle?"

Monica hangs up the phone and sits on the couch, her head in her hands. Now Richard has someone else and Monica is still alone. A couple of seconds later, Chandler walks through the door.

"Well, I'm single," Chandler announces to the room.

"Really? What happened?" Monica turns around to look at him.

"She went back to her ex-husband. I could really use a friend right now," Chandler replies sadly.

Monica gets off the couch and walks to hug Chandler. They stand there holding each other, neither of them wanting to let go. After five minutes, Phoebe walks into the apartment and Monica quickly lets go of Chandler.

"Thanks, Mon," Chandler tells her quietly. He walks out of the door and Monica melts back onto the couch.

"Oh my God. You so love Chandler!" Phoebe squeals.

"What?" Monica gasps.

"I was standing there watching you two for, like, thirty six seconds. You eyes were closed and you kept on sighing all dreamy-like. Your leg was practically up in the air. You love him."

Monica laughs nervously. "It's not exactly love."

"But you have feelings for him."

"Yeah. A little. So?"

Phoebe jumps up and hugs Monica.


Chandler is sitting on the couch, dozing off. Did he even have feelings for Janice or was she just a rebound? He had almost gotten Monica but then Richard came back. But Richard was gone again. And Chandler had been holding Monica for minutes. She didn't even try to get out of his grip. She had to have been feeling something.

"Thinking about Monica?" Joey questions as he sits at the counter.

"What?" Chandler says.

"You were practically moaning her name just now."

"What?" Chandler says, his voice getting defensive. "That is so not true!"

"Yes, you were, Chandler," Rachel whispers lightly as not to scare Chandler.

"When did Rachel get here?" Chandler asks himself.

"Chandler," Rachel explains, "you walked right past me. And, yes, you were saying Monica's name."

"So? It doesn't mean anything."

"Then why are you getting defensive?" Rachel questions. "I think you like her."

"Pfffft. I don't like Monica," Chandler tells even though he knows he is lying. Chandler lies back on the couch, still thinking about Monica.


Ross walks into Monica's apartment to grab a soda from her fridge. Phoebe and Monica are talking with a lot of animation in the living room.

"You almost had sex with Chandler?" Phoebe shrieks excitedly.

Ross slams the fridge door shut with surprise and the girls stare at him. Ross walks over to them staring at Monica's frozen face. "You almost had sex with Chandler?"

"Yes," Monica replies nervously. "But just almost. We didn't actually have sex."

"Okay. He must have thrilled," Ross grins.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's crazy about you."

"See, Mon. I told you!" Phoebe joins in.

Monica looks at Phoebe then turns her attention back to Ross. "You don't think that's weird?"
"What?" Ross answers. "Are you kidding? My best friend and my little sister together? Think of how cool that would be."

"Well, not really together," Monica contradicts. "He and Janice just broke up; plus, I should try to make things work with Richard first for our baby."

"But, Mon, Richard is dating someone else," Phoebe tells Monica lightly. "And if you don't feel that way for Richard anymore you shouldn't fake it. You deserve real love."

"Well, I think so," Monica agrees. "Maybe… I'll talk to Chandler."

~.~

A half hour later, Monica picks up the trash bag by the front door that Rachel had set there that morning. She walks out of her apartment, closes the door, turns around and sees Chandler. He is sitting on the step by the stairs, his head in his hands.

"Chandler?" Monica says.

At the sound of Monica's voice, Chandler stands up. He walks toward her, grabs both of her hands in his one hand then puts his other hand on her cheek. He looks into her eyes and Monica gets lost in his.

"I can't stop thinking about you," Chandler whispers. "I know we've been friends for a long time but…"

Chandler is silenced by Monica's kiss.

"I know," Monica murmurs.

Chandler kisses Monica again like he never has kissed a girl before. Monica and Chandler are so absorbed that they don't notice when Joey and Rachel walk out of the apartment.

"We should go back inside," Joey tells Rachel.

"Yeah," Rachel agrees. The two turn around and close the door behind him.

By the stairs, a man clears his throat. Monica is snapped out of the kiss as she turns around.

"Richard," Monica gasps.

Richard turns around and heads down the stairs. Monica follows him like a reflex, leaving Chandler traded up for Richard. Again.

*~* to be continued. :)