Thanks for the reviews keep them coming please or else I lose interest!!!P.S ill continue Life in New York if anyone is interested.

"Hey Joe" Monica said looking up from the dishes she was cleaning as Joey entered her apartment.

"Hey Mon, no chance of any food around here" Joey asked wishfully.

"No I just cooked enough for me and Darren I didn't realise you were calling over" Monica explained apologetically to him.

"Hey don't worry about it I was just gonna call over to Chandler to ask him about the knicks game I have some tickets and we said we would bring him" Joey explained.

"Oh are you gonna let him join your cool group Joey" Monica teased knowing Joey and Ross didn't ask everyone to their sacred knicks nights.

"Well he seems nice and he is new here, why are you jealous you wont be able to ask him over to show of your cooking skills" Joey replied.

Seeing Monica flush and roll her eyes up to heaven Joey decided to change the subject he knew how weird Monica could get about men especially after that jerk Jeff.

"Hey where is Darren" Joey asked eager to play with his little friends "I learned some new word I am planning to enrol in a sign language class Môn but I'm just so busy right now." Joey explained sheepishly. he felt guilty that he couldn't really talk to Darren but he always played with him so he hoped that made up for it.

"Don't worry about it" Monica chimed but secretly it frustrated her how her friends had never really learned to communicate with her son. She accepted their busy schedules but they found it very hard to interact with Darren because of this. Sure he had his friends at the deaf school he was attending but the only adult he could really communicate with was his mother and Ross who had attended some classes.

"Anyway he is with his Ross and Rachel they are going to the zoo he just left their with them"

"Oh listen ill calls over in a while again I'm just going over to check if Chandler is up for the game"

Monica rolled her eyes when he emphasised the again knowing what he was hinting at "Ok ill cook you a lasagne" She sighed.

Joey gave his friend a quick kiss on the cheek and ran out the door shouting "You're the best"

Chandler stirred from his laptop when he heard the banging on the door from the childish knock he thought it was Darren, unlocking the door he was surprised to be greeted with Joey.

"Hey Joey" Chandler smiled

"Hey Chandler" Joey said walking past him "Just wanted to see if you are still up for the game Monday night"

"Oh definitely I wouldn't actually mind seeing some of New York as beautiful as this apartment is" He gestured at the four dull brown walls.

"Cool Ross is coming too" Joey replied.

"Don't worry soon you will never ant to go back to Boston, so what made you leave there woman,ex wive,ex boyfriend" Joey laughed.

"The first one" Chandler laughed from the way Joey carried himself Chandler guessed he got a lot of woman.

"Burn" joeys said.

"yeah it was slept with a friend of mine and now they are living happily ever after," Chandler said sarcastically.

Of joeys look chandler said "Sorry sometimes I wonder if I will ever get over it I really thought she was it, how about you ever had your heart broken"

"no Joey replied I'm more so doing the breaking I don't believe in long term commitment but I know enough about it through Monica, Ross and Rachel, they are like dysfunctional relationships magnets, well Ross and Rachel used to be they are perfect now"

Chandler immediately raised his head hearing Monica's name. Trying to act non chalantly

"Yeah I was wondering about Monica's situation is their a father in the picture"

"no, no better of though his name was Jeff, he was fine until he realised Darren was deaf I guess it freaked him out, Monica signed him up for sign language classes, he made all these excuses that he was working late,Monca felt bad for him as she thought he really did want to go but was under too much stress so decided to surprise him at his office after she had been to a class and found him with his secretary and they definitely weren't working if ya know what I mean"

"God" Chandler replied "She is so strong so she is raising Darren by herself holding down a job and living in New York city, I don't think I could manage that"

"Well she does great but she almost never dates, we are her only friends she simply doesn't have time and although she doesn't like to admit it I think money can get pretty tight" Joey explained.

"God she is always so cheerful and upbeat when I meet her in the hall and at breakfast the other morning, you never really know" Chandler mused. "So you say she doesn't date"

"Well most guys run a mile when they here she has a kid and those who do stay around are too last to bother with Darren, it takes a lot of hard work for someone to break Monica's barriers"

"But she is so beautiful" Chandler whispered more to himself.

"Have you got a crush there man" Joey asked jokingly.

Seeing Chandler going bright red Joey laughed "Woahh Ross is going to beat you up man your toast"

"Does Ross get over protective"Chanlder asked inquisitively "I mean I don't like her I'm just wondering"

"Sure you don't like her, you just spent the last ten minutes asking about her, don't worry man we teased her that she fancies you so ye are equal"

"You think she likes me" Chandler probed

"Yes but ill tell you after English class" Joey rolled his eyes indicating Chandler was acting like a school child.

"Sorry" Chadnler apologised "If I'm honest I'm just feeling a bit inquisitive about her which of I'm being even more honest indicates I may be developing a teeny tiny crush, but please don't say anything to her she has enough to worry about her without finding out her moron neighbour likes her"

"She doesn't think you're a moron, Phoebe is usually right about this that when Monica likes someone her voice tilts when she talks to them, happened at breakfast the other day with you, it was Ross who started teasing her so at least it means if you sleep with her your ok form Ross side" Joey laughed.

"Well I wouldn't just sleep with her, I mean lets change the subject so call up here around seven tomorrow for the game" Chandler deiced to cut this conversation short he got the idea that Joey might not be able to keep some things to himself.

After watching an episode of Baywatch with Joey Chandler heard a voice yell behind them.

"Joey your lasagne has been ready for a half hour"

"Sorry I was about to go over to you and then I realised Chadnler had cable and Baywatch was on so I forgot sorry" Joey said while running past Monica into her apartment where he knew there was plenty of food waiting for him leaving Monica and chandler alone.

"just so you know I don't usually spend my Saturday afternoons watching Baywatch, its just I don't know the city that well and I didn't fancy my first Saturday here being moshed by a crowd of angry Christmas shoppers" Chandler explained embarrassed.

"oh we all know how Joey is about Baywatch don't worry,hey if you want I could show you around dome of the sites today I'm Darren free for the day and as much as I've been looking forward to the day of relaxing I think I'm going to have to get out the house feels dead without him and I could do with some adult company" Monica offered.

"Are you sure you don't want the day off id hate to think I'm imposing on your free day I understand that they must be hard to come by raising Darren by yourself."

"They are but when I have them I tend to miss him that I need to keep myself busy."

Two hours later Monica and Chandler left Joey who was having an audition at Broadway. Feeling awkward Monica offered to show him around Central Park, it had been so long since she had been on her own with a man she wasn't sure what to say or how to act since Chandler wasn't technically a friend he was just a neighbour.

So Chandler said as he took in his surroundings "Are you all set for Christmas, where do ye spend it"

"Oh me ross Rachel, Darren go to my parents every year it's a tradition"

"How about you" Oh my parents are long story: separated so I usually spend Christmas with my sister and her husband and two kids in Connecticut(sp) but his year they are going to his parents, so its just me and my mom and her whoever her new boyfriend is"

Monica noticed the sting in the way he talked about his mother and felt inquisitive, "what about your father"

"Huh yeah right my father stars in a gay drag show at Vegas every Christmas eve so the chances of us getting together are about as likely as me marrying Beyonce"Chadnler replied even more bitterly.

"Sorry I didn't mean to pry" Monica said

"No its my own issue I'm not like them so I'm usually ok its just holidays can be hard when your family is as crazy as mine"

"Well at least you agreed to come to the New Years ball so you wont be with your family" Monica offered trying to cheer him up

"True that should be fun I meant to ask do we bring dates to that or what"

Monica felt her heart skip a beat she felt pangs of jealousy at another person going to the New Years ball with him, she hated to admit it but she had a crush.

"Well technically you don't need a date but every year Ross and Rachel are together, Phoebe is with her husband Mike, Joey gets himself some random women and I've been so busy with Darren that its New years eve before I realise I don't have a date and go alone."She replied honestly and sadly

Chadnler looked at her sympathetically and ordered 2 bagel and coffee vendor they were standing in front of. Looking at her he felt pangs of desire running through his body but tried to dismiss them." She has a kid, its too much work" he tried to convince himself. However all those feelings obliterated when he looked into her deep brown eyes and noticed the sadness the enveloped the corners of them.

"Monica" Chadnler started.

"Yes" she replied sipping her coffee.

"The New years ball how about you be my date, I mean I don't know any woman and your too busy to get a date it could be fun" he said trying to justify his question.

"Yes Chadnler id like that" Monica replied quietly.

As they left he parks Monica couldn't help but analyse whether he had asked her out of romantic interest or out of pity.

Chandler at the same time was hoping Monica didn't ask him outta pity.

How was that I dunno if I liked it lemme know what ye think,,pleasse!!