Richard was beginning to wonder if he had found himself in a slump. He looked around the room. The time was 1am. He laid by himself on the couch, wearing nothing but the burgundy robe Monica had bought him years ago. The tv was playing infomercials non-stop, blonde women in beehives and perms trying to sell him tacky jewellery.

He should be in bed right now, but he'd rather be a loser watching late-night tv than be alone with his own thoughts.

He had been happy just a couple of years ago. What had gone so wrong? Did losing Monica really hurt him that much? He had dated multiple women since then, most of them considerably younger than him, but all the relationships had quickly fizzled out. It seemed like nothing excited him anymore. Maybe it was a mid-life crisis, he was fifty-five this year after all.

He took another swig of whisky and switched off the tv. Fuck it, he would go to bed and jack off. That'd help him get to sleep. He brushed the cookie crumbs off his chest and stood up.

There was a knock at the door.

A… knock? On his door? Richard tensed up. Who would be knocking on his door at this ungodly hour?

"Richard?" A voice from the other side. Richard couldn't place it exactly, but it sounded familiar. He opened the door.

The strangest thing. One of Monica's buddies, a guy named Chandler. Richard hadn't seen him in years. They hadn't exactly been friends, but they had gotten on pretty good, they had played foosball with Joey at his apartment. He remembered thinking that he liked those boys a lot, until Joey had said something about Richard being "like a dad." He hadn't liked that.

Chandler's mouth hung open stupidly, he glanced around the hallway, as if he was still deciding whether he should have come. Richard was surprised, but cordial. "Chandler, good to see you. Um, can I help you with something?"

Chandler swallowed, nervous. "Hey, um… Sorry, I uh, I saw the lights through your window so I… I knew I wouldn't be waking you. I was just… in the neighbourhood. I'm kinda… I don't know what to do…"

Richard could tell that something must have happened. Chandler looked lost and sad. Suddenly, he felt sorry for him. "Okay, well, why don't you come on in, I"ll grab a drink and you can tell me all about it?"

Chandler nodded absently as Richard led him into the apartment.

"Scotch?" Richard offered a drink, but Chandler shook his head and took a seat on the couch. "So what's up?"

He buried his face in his hands. "Man, I don't know what to… Richard, you ever… you ever have someone cheat on you?"

"Ah." Richard fixed himself another scotch and sat beside him. "So that's what's happened, huh? Was it you or her?"

Chandler looked uncomfortable. "It wasn't me." He said. "But the thing is… we didn't exactly say we were exclusive, y'no? I just assumed… I mean, I've never had a serious relationship before. I guess I thought I was finally in one. Only problem is I kinda forgot to ask."

"I'm sorry." Richard patted him on the shoulder. Without asking, Chandler took a swig of his scotch. "What are you doing out here at this time? I thought you lived near Central Perk."

"I can't go back home. They live with me, I… can't see them right now."

"Huh. Last I knew you were still living with Joey."

"I am." Chandler took another swig.

"Oh. Oh." Richard was surprised, but not that surprised. The boys had always seemed overly friendly with each other, he remembered wondering if they were a couple when he first met them. "I see."

"Yeah."

There was an awkward silence, neither man knew what to say.

"Well, Joey's a good guy but uhh, maybe not the sharpest knife in the drawer." Richard said, gently. "Maybe he doesn't realise how you feel, and maybe if he did then things would be different."

Chandler seemed not to hear him. "He cheated on me with Ross. Ross! You know how much that hurts? My best friend… our best friend…"

Richard was taken aback. Joey and Ross? "Wow." He let Chandler keep hold of the glass and poured himself another drink. "Boy does your friend group know how to have fun."

"It was fun. Not anymore. Now it's all fucked up."

"Is it?" Richard asked. "I mean, you like Ross right?"

"Well, yeah, of course."

"So what's the problem? Isn't there a way for you all to be happy?"
Chandler blushed. "I don't know… it's not that I haven't thought about that… it's just… Joey didn't even ask me, y'no? He just went out and fucked Ross like it was nothing. If he had asked, or if we had all… it might have been different then."

"I get it." Richard rubbed Chandler's forearm. "You're feeling betrayed. I know that feeling. But don't throw away what you have with Joey over all of this. Take it from an old man, Chandler. Happiness can be hard to find, so when you do find it, you better hold onto it."

"But I'm so mad at him." Chandler sighed. "If he can go around fucking whoever he wants, why shouldn't I do the same thing?"

Richard was starting to wonder why Chandler had really come to his apartment. He looked the younger man up and down. His hair was a mess, and his face was wet from the rain outside. He looked adorable, and pitiable, like a lost puppy. "Do you think that would help you forgive him?" He asked.

"Maybe."

Chandler bit his lip. He was blushing, he would not look Richard in the eye. Richard felt surprisingly turned on. Sure, he had admired young men before, and he remembered thinking that Monica's friends were a particularly cute group of boys, but he had never been with anyone except women before.

Could that change tonight? The thought was interesting to him. It was the first interesting thought he had had in a while. It seemed he had found that feeling of excitement which he had been looking for.

"Then maybe you should." Richard said, in a deeper voice than he had intended.

Chandler gulped and looked around nervously.

"I'm sorry, Richard. Maybe I shouldn't have come. I just feel so… lost."

Richard patted his hand, and Chandler's blush deepened further. "It's okay." He said. "I'm here if you need me."

Chandler smiled at him. A shy smile.

Richard smiled back. "I won't send you back to Joey tonight. Why don't you jump in the shower? I'll make up the bed."

"You sure that's okay?" Chandler asked. "I can use the couch."

"That hunk of junk?" Richard refused. "Don't worry about it, there's room for two in my bed."