I know I didn't put a year, but this takes place in (now) 2002. I put it in the same year that the movie came out. The few dates I mention put it between the November and February 2001 and 2002 calendar.

Disclaimer. I don't own Monsters, Inc or any of the characters in the movie. Though I'd like too. For I'd write a better ending for poor Randall.

Now WARNING. There is talk of sex and sexual content, but it's safe. No heavy descriptions what so ever. And wow. This was sad.

Chapter 34

XXXX

Danielle was woken up when she heard a loud gasp and then a mad scramble as Randall shot out of the bed, like the devil was hot on his heels. He almost ran into the wall, but he stopped and groaned, putting his head in his hands.

Danielle sat up and wrapped the sheet around her and waited, her own head still pounding. After a few minutes he turned around and stared at her. His smoky purple scales were paler and his eyes were blood shot. He took in the sight of her sitting in the bed, the sheets around her, her freckled shoulders bare. "Did…" Randall winced and lowered his voice. "Did we do what I think we did?" he asked softly.

Her own blood shot eyes and the slight guilty look on her face told him yes before she even nodded. "Yes. I'm quite sure that we did."

Randall winced again. What had he done? "How… how you doing this morning?"

Danielle shrugged, "Good…I think…you?"

Randall also shrugged as he stared at her. "Good… I think," he muttered.

"You think?" she repeated with a questioning look in her eye. "What's wrong?"

Randall looked at her like she had grown a second head. "Danielle, we had…."

"Yes, I know I was there," she said with a small half grin. "What's the problem?"

Randall was trying to determine if she was serious. "I think we need to talk."

Danielle nodded, "Maybe. Give me a minute." She then slowly stood up with the sheet still around her. She groaned as her belly flip flopped but then settled. She then walked carefully into the bathroom, picking up her bag as she went. Closing the door, she let the sheet drop. As she got dressed she noticed a trail of blood on her chest that went up to her neck. She then looked in the mirror and moved her hair to the side. There was a good size discoloration on the side of her neck. The skin was broken slightly. She felt annoyed and embarrassed as she remembered how that came about. Those teeth of his. She then sighed and took a washcloth and got it wet. She then pressed the warm wet cloth against her neck hissing at the sting. She wiped the blood up and got dressed noting the aches and soreness. To top it off her belly was still flip-flopping. After she had got dressed she opened the door to find Randall still in the corner though he didn't look as pale. "We don't need to talk about anything," was the first thing she said.

Randall looked at her again like she was crazy. "We…had…. and you say that there isn't anything to talk about?"

"Randall…we were drunk…it was a accident." Danielle really wasn't sure how to talk about this.

Randall felt a tiny flicker of anger rise inside him. "So are you saying you could care less about this?"

"What do you want me to say?" Danielle told him honestly.

Randall scoffed once more. "We had… Danielle, and you're acting like all we did was talk about the weather."

"Did it make you feel better?" she demanded a bit harsher then she wanted to.

He wanted to say no. He wanted so bad to tell her no, that their one night did nothing for him but the truth was he couldn't. He couldn't because it DID make him feel better. Though he didn't remember too much, he did remember that they indeed had sex. All of the rage, and aggression, and pure outstanding frustration over the years had begun to disappear and by the end of the night, he had nearly forgotten all about everything that had happened, everything that had brought him to that moment.

His silence spoke volumes to her. "So it made you feel better," Danielle began, "and I had a hell of a good time making you feel better," Randall and Danielle blushed at her words, "I don't understand what the problem is. Why can't you let it be what it is?"

"We…had…I think means something to me. It may not to you but-."

A familiar fire began burning inside her that only seemed to be lit when she argued with Randall. "Hold on," Danielle hissed, "You think that I'm some prude that I don't care? Or should have been shocked that I had sex with you? It's kinda sounding to me that you are too shocked yourself…that what we did was some sort of bad gross thing. I don't care if you are a monster, a separate species! You are human enough for me! You are a walking, thinking intelligent PERSON. Not an animal. I had with you sex because I was drunk and because I find you very attractive and beautiful. Inside and out. Call me sappy, cliché or what! You are very good with the name calling anyway."

Randall flinched at her words. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, only half meaning his apology. "But… look I think that we should…"

"Randall…It was sex. Nothing more! Why are you making such a big deal about this? You can't even say the word…like you are ashamed that you had sex with me…with a human!"

"Sex! We had sex!" Randall snarled, his tail swishing back and forth. "And sex always means something!" he shouted back, "As much as you hate admitting it, it does!"

Danielle nodded her head, looking at him with a fire in her hazel eyes. "You're right, for me it always does. I'm not the one to jump into the bed with any man. I knew it would be a bad idea to kiss you. To have sex with you."

"And just what was so bad about it?" Randall demanded. "That I actually care about you enough to want to talk about this? That I actually… I actually maybe want to take it some-."

"No!" she shouted, almost desperately. "We're not taking this ANYWHERE! You are going home tonight! You have been wanting to go home for months…it was such a bad idea to fall in lov-to become so attached to you!"

"You waited all this time and you act on it the night before I go home? You were the one that kissed me! You were the one that told me that it would be fine! YOU were the one that started it all!"

"We were both drunk! And I didn't hear you complaining! In fact you were the one that wanted a second round!" Danielle hissed.

Randall chuckled low and cruelly, "And for a prude, you sure did scream."

Danielle's eyes widened and she then squeezed her eyes shut not seeing the look of regret on his face. "Fine. Whatever." She then snatched the key and stormed out of the room, slamming the door.

XXX

Randall didn't know what to do. He had thought he was getting better, but then his confusion at how cold and detached Danielle had seemed had gotten to him. He knew he care for her more then he should, and her detachment had hurt him, after all he wouldn't have initiated it no matter how much he wanted it. She had started it and had told him that it was ok, that she did want it. After a little longer he was indeed glad she had. But now…"What am I going to do?" he groaned to himself.

He really didn't want to leave on such a bad note but he didn't know how to talk to her about this. He had had a few one-night stands before he had become wrapped up in the Scream Extractor, but none of those females had saved his life before, never helped him as much as she had.

He had become the first known monster to sleep a human– unless, of course, one believed all those old myths about half monster half human hybrids… At any rate, no one would be able to deny that he would definitely be the first modern male to have sex with a human, and that was sure to stir up some trouble. Not that he would go back and sing about it. But was that really the crux of the issue? No. He decided. The few months he had been with her he had all ready decided that though she was human, he could care less. She was his equal. No longer the lower being. Humans have always been equals…after all they were all more alike then some may care to admit. But that still brought him to this current trouble. Things had turned so sour in the course of a few minutes. He was just so confused as to why she didn't want to talk. He knew she wasn't the kind for just casual sex. She was the kind that would want deeper meaning. But why had she been so cold? It wasn't like she was ashamed that she had. She had even told him this. "I don't care if you are a monster, a separate species! You are human enough for me! You are a walking, thinking intelligent PERSON. Not an animal. I had with you sex because I find you very attractive and beautiful…"

So the coldness could be in the form that she had liked him too much, she had almost said something, but his hungover brain hadn't really picked up on it. Love. She had almost said love.

Randall closed his eyes and held back a shudder but it turned into half sob. He needed air. He went to the window and blended and opened the window and slithered out and up the side of the building to the roof.

XX

It was a few hours later then Danielle came back. She was so pissed off when she had left. Pissed off and hurt. But now that she had calmed down she knew that Randall was right. They needed to talk. The only thing that she regretted was that it had to be a one-night stand. She didn't regret the kiss, the sex. She was only really hurting that it had turned so bad, that they had obviously had said some hurtful things. Her first plan when she had stormed out was that she would wait until dark and then go back and get Randall and sneak him into her sister's and then go home. But now she wanted the time to talk, to apologize.

She stopped and got some couche-couche though it was almost time for lunch. She walked slowly up the iron stairs and to the room. She unlocked the door and walked in. she didn't see Randall. She heaved a sigh and put the tray on the dresser and walked into the bathroom where she had left the sheet and tossed it on the bed. Turning to the dresser, rubbing her temples she didn't see Randall's blended form shift as he came back into the room. He unblended and stared at her back. Her stance told him that she looked as miserable he felt, and it wasn't the headache that was pounding away inside his skull.

He walked up and touched her shoulder. "Danielle?"

She jumped slightly and then turned, "Randall…you are right. We do need to talk."

He nodded, "Please."

"Randall, you..." Danielle wished she knew how to say this right. It was just so awkward!

"I don't know really what to say other then I'm sorry?"

"Why?" Randall caught on then, "You're that ashamed, aren't you?"

"Well, I, uh..." Danielle stammered, struggling to find the right words. She let out a loud sigh. "I'm very ashamed of myself actually."

He gave her a puzzled look. What did this mean then? Why would she be ashamed of herself?

"I allowed myself to get drunk…I drug you right down along with me. You are right, I did start it all. Since all this is out in the open, I might as well tell the truth. I what you to know that as cheesy as this sounds, I don't regret that I kissed you. I don't regret that we had sex. I just want you to know that's just not the real me, you know?" Danielle closed her eyes with her fingers poised over her face, her head slightly bowed.

She opened her eyes quickly as she felt Randall's arms go around her. He held her close to his chest in great endearment as he pressed his cheek against hers.

"I know," he said softly, breathing in her scent. He pulled away just enough to face her.

"I would apologize for this, but I'm not sorry. The only thing I'm sorry for is for what I said," he told her, gently smiling; he then hesitantly kissed her lips softly.

Danielle kissed him back. It was different now that she wasn't drunk. It was better, but she better stop this before they get hurt even more. She pulled back and ran her fingers across his crest. "How's your head?"

Randall let her go, knowing what she was doing and he while he would've rather have held her without them both drunk, he knew it was better this way. "It's still pounding," he groaned slightly.

"Mine too. We now know not to mix Everclear and wine together huh?" Danielle said as she too rubbed her head.

Randall nodded. "Yes. Remind me to smack that friend of yours."

Danielle chuckled then winced. "Oh don't worry, Liss is going to get an earful." She then turned and picked up a bottle of aspirin. She opened it and shook two out and then passed the bottle to Randall. "I have couche-couche if you are hungry."

Randall backed away shaking his head. "I don't think my stomach could handle that." he took the aspirin however. He swallowed four and groaned again. "When did you want to take me to your sister's?"

"About 7. She already knows that I'm coming over for dinner. So we have about 5 hours. So if you don't mind and I suggest that you do the same…I'm going to sleep some of this off." Danielle said as she sat down on the bed and pulled her shoes off.

Randall suddenly looked unsure.

"Come on. It's just a nap." Danielle said as she stretched out, looking over at him.

Randall slowly walked over to the bed. "I know…but…"

"I trust you Randall and it's not like we haven't sleep in the same bed," she said softy, giggling a little.

"And more," Randall almost whispered as he blushed lightly.

"And more," Danielle agreed as she blushed too. She watched him as he slowly walked to her and then with his fronds pressed against his head, he crawled up on the bed behind her on all eight limbs until he was stretched out on the bed beside her. His body was tense as he lay beside her.

Danielle sighed then turned over. "Randall?"

He looked at her. "Yes?"

"Relax."

"That tense huh?"

"Oh yeah. I thought that at least the sex would relax you some." Danielle said as she flushed.

Randall reached out and stroked her cheek with his velvet fingertips. "It did. More then you can imagine."

"Then what is the problem?" Danielle asked as she met his eyes.

"I don't know. Maybe because you do regret it." Randall then looked away.

"Well…I have to ask you. Do you regret it?" Danielle asked staring at him.

"In all honesty…no. I don't. I wouldn't have even thought of doing this with a human a few months ago. So much has changed. I changed…you are no longer just a human to me. You are a friend," he said looking back at her.

"Then no. I don't regret it. You are a friend to me too Randall. And even if I never see you again…you will always be a friend. You may not look like a human, but you are smarter, more interesting and more 'human' then most people I know. So even though this was a one time thing, that we both were drunk…" She reached out and placed both of her hands on each side of his face and gently pulled his head toward her. Danielle kissed his nose, "I'm glad that it happened and with you." she then gently press her lips to his in a sweet gentle kiss though she pulled back before he could even kiss her back. She let go of him and snuggled down into the bed, her head still pounding.

She closed her eyes not seeing the happy and relaxed look cross over his face, though she did feel him shift as he fully relaxed beside her and him reach out and take one of her hands and hold it as they both gave into the painful hangover.

XXX

Danielle stared down at her bowl of soup. She really wasn't hungry. True her hangover was long gone, but the time had come. In a hour of so she would have to leave her sister's house, leaving Randall to go back through one of the closet doors and back home to Monstropolis, to try to tell his side, to start over. He needed to do this…but why did it hurt so much? She knew. She loved him. Be a big girl about this. Don't cry…not here. Wait until you are at the room and alone. Then you can cry. She thought to herself.

"You know Danielle…that soup is cold by now."

Her sister's snotty voice had her looking up. Margot was leaning against the dining room door way. It was then Danielle noticed that the two kids were gone and all the dishes were cleaned up. She hadn't even noticed it. "Oh. Yeah. I'm not really hungry." Danielle stood up and picked her bowl and glass up and carried it to the kitchen. He sister followed shaking her head.

"You are acting like a zombie. What happened during Mardi Gras? You actually have a one night stand?" Margot chuckled. The laugh died off when Danielle didn't say a word. "Oh my god! You did? Danielle…the so-called careful prude had a one night stand!"

Danielle spun around and glared at her sister. "Come on! Stop calling me a 'prude'! And it's not like you…little miss prefect, haven't had the one nights as well."

Margot just laughed, "Oh I've had a few of them. I just hope you used protection."

Danielle blanched slightly. They hadn't…but then, nothing would happen. He was a Monster. This reassured her, but Margot had seen her pale.

"Oh god D…you didn't? That was very stupid."

"I won't get pregnant," Danielle said quietly. "I know I won't. It'll be fine."

Margot shook her head. "I hope so. Well, I hate to rush you off, but the kids are in bed and I have to go to bed myself."

Danielle nodded, "Yeah, yeah. You don't want your swamp dwelling sister smelling up the couch. I need to be alone anyway, but I'm going to use the bathroom before I leave." Danielle spun on her heel.

"That's not what I meant!" her sister called after her.

Danielle didn't answer. She went down the long dark wood floor and the yellow orange walled hallway. She stopped at the base of the stairs. She looked around. "Randall?" she whispered. "Randall?" she tried again.

A tap on her shoulder had her turning.

Randall was standing there looking miserable. She tried to smile but couldn't. "Well…I guess this is good-bye." Her voice cracked a little as she whispered to him.

"I guess so." He looked down then back up at her. "Danielle…thank you. Thank you for putting up with me, for showing me this world, for saving my life."

"Randall…I couldn't…I…you're welcome." Tears came to her eyes and she looked away embarrassed. She then felt Randall take her left hand in his right and felt his warm finger on his left hand under her chin. He lifted her head and then pressed his sagittal crest against her forehead. His left hand trailed over to her cheek and gently stroked it.

She lifted her eyes slightly and looked him in the eyes.

"Don't cry." He whispered to her, tears in his own eyes. "I'll never forget you."

"And I won't forget you."

They were like that for a few more minutes before she pulled Randall into a hug then pulled away. "I have to go. Remember if you can't for any reason go through…. come back to the motel. I'll be there until noon."

Randall nodded. "Thank you again."

Danielle stepped away, Randall not letting go of her hand just yet. "Be careful, be safe…" she whispered.

Randall nodded and then in a very bold move that surprised her and himself. He pulled her back and at first Danielle thought it was for another hug. She was surprised when he pushed his lips against hers. He then pulled away and blended, gone to hide.

Danielle bit her lip and then tuned on her heel and hurried out of her sister's house and to her truck.

It wasn't until she had got back to the room and locked the door and stripped of her clothes and standing in the shower that she broke down, the warm water hiding her tears as she leaned her head against the tiled wall and cried.

XXX

Like the night before the closet door in the light pink room in Danielle's house opened. But instead of a 7 foot tall blue and purple spotted furry monster and a four foot lime molted green one eyed monster, there was a reddish pinkish three eyed monster that stood maybe three and a half feet walked into the room. He looked on the verge of a heart attack as his eyes darted around. Then black speckled light blue hands shoved him forward. A thin and gangly black speckled light blue monster walked out of the closet. His twelve red eyes that moved around on long stocks looked around. "Nice little room." he said. "Come on Fungus. Let's began the search."

"Wh-wha-what if the human is home now? I-I-I-I-I-I-I hea-heard that s-sh-she wasn't l-l-last ninght." Fungus said with his stutter.

"I'll take care of the human." Jester grinned. He then walked to the other door and carefully opened it. He stuck his head out and looked around.

They had stolen the newly built closet door and it was now set up in a hidden corner down in an old door port in an old room that was never used. The idiots, Wazowski and Sullivan were looking for the door now, but they would never find it.

Jester not hearing anyone, reached behind him and grabbed Fugues and tossed him out into hallway. "Look out there and I'll look down this way." Jester said as he began to walk down the hallway. He looking into the other rooms not seeing anything or anyone he moved on. He opened another door and right away he knew that this was the human's room. Slightly curious he walked in and look around. The smell was nice. Spicy but also earthy. Simple. He liked simple. The room was nice as well. He wasn't too fond of the green, but at least it was the horrible white.

He then moved from the room back down the hallway. He heard Fungus whimpering and rolled his eyes. He walked into the living room and burst out laughing. Fungus was standing on the glass coffee table away from the dog that was wagging its short trail.

"Get down!" Jester laughed.

"Bu-but the d-d-d-d-dog!" Fugues gasped.

"Be a monster for once in your life!" Jester snarled in disgust. He then snarled lowly at the dog. The dog yelped and took off and huddled into a corner. Jester laughed, "Good doggie," he said cruelly.

Fungus climbed down from the table and move to the front door, Jester following. Suddenly Jester stopped and grabbed Fungus and dragged him to the kitchen. Jester then rolled Fungus like he was a bowling ball. Fungus rolled into the refrigerator. Jester laughed and then switched the light on.

Jester then went over to the refrigerator and pulled a picture off of the white door. He stared at it and then laughed. He bent down and shoving it into Fungus' face.

Fungus took it and drew in a sharp breath of air. Randall was very much alive and was even looking healthier then he had in years. Randall was stretched out on a couch holding a cup of coffee. His head was up and a look of surprise was in his green eyes, though he was smiling slightly at the person that had taken the picture.

"That's Randall Boggs isn't?" Jester asked as he took the picture back.

"Y-y-yes…but that means a-a-a-a-a-a human k-k-kn,"

"Knows about him. Yes. Ohh this is going to get good." Jester said. He then shoved the picture back on the refrigerator's door then grabbed Fungus. "Come on. We'll come back tomorrow night. And with Waternoose. I think it's time our little rich boy gets his claws dirty too."