That's Quite A Waste of Time

Upon hearing some low, gentle snores emit from the other side of the couch, Monica peers over the top of her book to confirm her suspicions; Chandler has fallen asleep. She drops the book she was reading to her chest and smiles as she watches him. She always thought he looked cute when he was sleeping. There is no sign of tension in his face, instead he has this serene, content expression. She could swear he even smiles in his sleep. His hair becomes ruffled just enough to look adorable. His snoring is quiet and low, making it so it is not too disturbing, and occasionally his nose crinkles as a result. Despite his protests to the contrary, he always seems to need something to snuggle in his arms when he sleeps. Normally, at night, he would have her to wrap up in his slumberous embrace; but, for this impromptu afternoon nap, he appears to be content, gently squeezing one of her purple throw pillows.

She would normally be a little insulted that he is napping on one of the only days of the week that they both have off work together, yet she cannot blame him for nodding off. They were up all night playing that ridiculous game of catch. She was exhausted herself, and surprised that sleep had not found her yet as well; it seems a lazy Sunday relaxing at home with her boyfriend is all she needs.

They have been alone together all day, ever since Phoebe put an end to their marathon game of catch. Even when she ran off ahead of everyone, racing to the luncheonette for breakfast, he resigned himself to chase after her once he realized she was not coming back. She ran all the way to that diner, thinking everyone was racing there, never noticing that the others did not follow her out of the apartment. It worked out to her benefit though, because once they got there, the two of them enjoyed a nice, quiet breakfast alone, sharing toast and a side of bacon. It was wonderfully quaint.

When they finally returned to the apartment, everyone was gone. Ross and Joey probably went home to crash; they were playing catch the longest out of everyone and were no doubt exhausted. Phoebe must have gone back to her own apartment as well, and Monica felt a slight sting of guilt at not thinking about consoling her more after her break-up with Gary this morning. Rachel was the wild card. Monica has no idea where she went. Maybe she has more cat paraphernalia to give to Gunther, or maybe she ran down to the drug store to get some Bactine for her scratches, or maybe she even went into work. She is mildly surprised that she does not know her roommate's whereabouts. She normally does. Before she can think further upon that thread, the image of that wrinkled cat floods her mind, and she starts to get agitated at Rachel all over again.

"That stupid cat. How could Rachel think I would allow her to bring a cat into my, no wait, our home? An ugly cat at that! Spending all that money when she still owes me three-hundred dollars. She even made a profit off poor Gunther. She better believe I'm getting my money back from her today."

Monica can already feel her blood start to boil as she thinks about how irresponsible her roommate has been lately. From her ill-advised trip to London to confront Ross before his wedding, wanting to tell him she was still in love with him, to the whole Danny fiasco, kissing her new boss, smoking at work, and even as recently as yesterday, when she bought that damn cat.

She looks back at Chandler on the other side of the couch and smiles as her mood softens. Even asleep he can sooth her. Who would have thought that Chandler Bing of all people would have this effect on her? Before they got together, she would never have guessed that this is where they'd end up, and now that they are together, she cannot imagine anyone else making her this happy.

She shivers a bit, feeling a chill as the late afternoon sun slowly starts to disappear behind the buildings. The room already losing the warm light that had been trickling through the window, bathing them in its radiance while they lie there in the living room. She shifts her legs so they wedge between his and the couch, warming herself with his body. She reaches up and pulls the blanket down on top of them from over the back of the couch. As gently as she can, she tries to cover them both. Taking care not to wake him as she ensures the blanket covers their legs. He shifts a bit, but continues to snooze the day away, and she does not want him to be anywhere else than right here with her while he does.

Her thoughts return to Rachel and the up and down year she has had. She acknowledges to herself that really, the last two years have not been kind to her. Sure, she got a new job that she loves, but between the two break-ups with Ross, her parent's divorce, her failed relationship with Joshua, dealing with Ross and Emily, and finally flailing around with Danny, she just has not been having any luck.

Monica realizes that maybe she is being too harsh on her friend. Sure, she owes her money, and does not clean as often as she would like her too, and brought a cat that looks like a raw chicken into the apartment, but maybe she should cut Rachel some slack. She is stuck. And, in a moment of honesty, Monica knows that she has not made much time for her best friend. She has been too focused on Chandler and their relationship. Remembering how she felt when she could not turn to Rachel during those first few months and how it was killing her not to confide in her makes her realize, that maybe Rachel feels like that right now. Maybe she has all this stuff bubbling under the surface with no one to share it with because Monica isn't around and available as much as she used to be.

Never in a million years could Monica envision a time where she and Rachel would switch roles. All through high school Rachel was the one dating boys and experimenting with sex and Monica was left behind. The late bloomer. She looks back down at Chandler and smirks. "I guess that goes for the both of us."

And now, Monica is moving forward with this amazing relationship and closing in on a one-year anniversary. A whole year. It almost doesn't feel real when she thinks about where she was before this. Her lowest point. She felt so unwanted, so unloved. And now here she is, lying on the couch with the man she loves who is snoring the day away and she cannot believe how happy that makes her.

Maybe now, Rachel is where she was last year. Desperate, lonely, sad, unsettled. Monica thinks about how she was feeling at that time before London, and she wonders if it would have helped if someone noticed back then and said something to her. Spent time with her. Would she have benefited from that? Would she still have found Chandler if she had? Maybe she should arrange for her and Rachel to do something together. See if she needs to talk. Give her a sympathetic ear. Maybe offer advice, or at least provide some comfort if she can.

Just as the wheels start to turn in Monica's brain, game-planning a one-on-one Rachel Green intervention, the front door to the apartment opens up and Rachel walks in. She stomps over to the kitchen table and slides her purse off her shoulder as she removes her jacket. "Mon? You home?"

Monica, not able to sit up without disturbing Chandler, raises a finger up over the back of the couch. "Shh. Chandler's sleeping."

Rachel twists her face up, bemused, and walks gingerly around the couch to find the two of them there. She studies them as they lay there, their bodies squeezed together, heads at opposite ends, sharing a blanket. "Aw, look at you guys. If this was any sweeter, I think it would give me diabetes."

Monica smiles and speaks in a hushed tone. "I know."

Rachel sits down on the edge of the coffee table and allows a half-smile to linger on her lips, her eyes still marveling at their relaxed closeness. "Ooo, look at him with that pillow. Does he even know he's a snuggler?"

Monica shakes her head. "Nope."

Rachel touches her arms and winces a bit, as they are still sore from the scratches she received from Mrs. Whiskerson. "I had to go to the doctor to get a prescription strength ointment for these. They even gave me a tetanus shot. I swear, I don't know what I was thinking about with that cat."

Monica shifts a bit so she can lift her head up a little more and rest it on the arm of the couch. "Sorry Rach."

"That's okay. So, what are you two doing here? I thought you guys were planning on going away for the weekend."

Monica quickly glances over at Chandler and then back to Rachel. "Oh yeah, well, we decided to postpone that."

"Really? This is like the second-or-third-time you guys made plans to go away but then backed out. You really just stayed here all day, lying on the couch? It seems like such a waste."

Monica adopts a slightly exasperated tone. "I got called into work the last time. It isn't like we didn't want to go."

"Okay. I just thought you guys were looking forward to a weekend alone together."

"We are. We just have to work out all the details."

They sat in silence for a few moments. Rachel looking apprehensive. Monica looking offended. Rachel turns her eyes down awkwardly. "Well, I guess maybe I'll leave you guys alone." She starts to lift herself up off the coffee table.

Monica holds out a finger, gesturing for her to stay. Rachel tenses up slightly which seems to go unnoticed by Monica. "Hey. You want to try and do something this week? Just us? Maybe dinner or something?"

Rachel's shoulders loosen up after hearing Monica's question. She thought Monica was going to admonish her for some minor transgression and was pleasantly surprised at the offer. She smiles and reaches out to hold Monica's hand. "I'd like that. I don't think we've done that in a while."

"Hey, you know, when Chandler wakes up, we are probably going to order some take out from the Chinese place down the block. Do you want to eat with us?"

"Sure. Let me know when he wakes up."

"I'm not asleep." Chandler opens his eyes groggily, shaking off the fuzz that he still has around his brain as he tries to return to the waking world. He looks at the pillow in his arms and snaps back, startled by the embrace. "I was just resting my eyes."

"Honey. You've been out cold for over an hour."

"No, I'm sure I was awake."

Rachel and Monica share an amused look and silently laugh. "Well Chandler? Did you have any dreams while you were out?"

Chandler looks up at Rachel and ponders her question for a moment and then looks over at Monica and smiles. "This is the dream Rach." He reaches over and starts to rub Monica's thigh as he closes his eyes again. "Being here with Monica."

Rachel gets up and shakes her head. "I'm telling you. Diabetes." She playfully storms off and walks into her bedroom.

Monica's eyes follow her until the door closes and then she turns towards Chandler and smiles. "So, this is the dream?"

"Oh yeah. There's nothing my mind could conjure up that would compare to you." He smiles dreamily.

Monica smiles sweetly but then an expression of discovery washes over her face as she opens her mouth wide in shock. She slaps Chandler on the leg as she glares at him. "You dreamt you were on Baywatch again, didn't you!"