Chapter 6
"Do you think she'll stop anytime soon?" Phoebe screamed to Joey, her hands over ears. She was referring to the fight her mother, Phoebe Sr., and Gloria had gotten into. It had had been surprising, to say the least, that Phoebe's mom spoke fluent Italian. And understood every word of the insult Gloria had directed at her.
"'She'll'?" Joey exclaimed, his palms also pressed against his ears. "It's your mom too!"
Pretending she didn't hear him, she asked another question. "What exactly did Mrs. Tribbiani say?"
"Something about your mom being an airhead," he responded. He and Phoebe waited out the fight, she curled up on the easy chair, he near her end on the couch. Gloria was sitting next to him, but looked as if she was ready to jump out of her seat any minute now. Phoebe Sr. sat at the edge of the coffee table (much to Monica's chagrin) facing the older woman.
Finally, Phoebe Sr. shouted a word in Italian and stalked off to the kitchen. Dying to know what it meant, Phoebe glanced over at Joey, her question written on her face. Joey simply shook his head as he reassured her, "Trust me Pheebs, you don't wanna know."
"What was that all about?" Judy Geller asked. She walked over to the group and sat on one of the folding chairs Monica had set out, since the living room had limited seating. Sandra, who she had been talking to, also did the same.
"Apparently my mom and Mrs. Tribbiani don't get along too well," Phoebe explained, a little unsure herself.
Suddenly, Mrs. Tribbiani spoke a few sentences. Joey replied to her in Italian, a bit uneasily. Then she got up and started walking over to the bathroom. Smiling proudly at the others, Joey proclaimed, "That I know how to say."
The other three laughed, and soon they were deep in conversation. Phoebe was explaining about her job. "It's so rewarding being a masseuse. Especially when the guy is really hot and you 'accidentally' let your hands slide down a little to far - "
"So I heard that Monica got a new job?" Sandra asked Judy, wanting to cut Phoebe off before she could get any more explicit.
"Oh, yes," Judy affirmed, her wide grin showing her delight in getting to brag about her daughter. "It's head chef at Javo. They certainly made the right choice in hiring Monica. She works so hard, not to mention her food is marvelous."
Standing within hearing distance at the drink table, Monica froze, not believing what she was listening to. Her mother was actually bragging about her. Her mother. Bragging. About Her. This is the same woman who has never paid her a compliment all her life. Regaining the ability to move, Monica put her cup back on the table, went over, and tapped her mother on the shoulder. She wasn't leaving until she explained herself. "Uh, Mom? Can I talk to you in the bedroom for a minute?"
As she watched her daughter shut the door to the guest bedroom, which she had been almost dragged into, Judy Geller demanded impatiently, "What's this all about, Monica? Do you wish to continue the conversation we were having earlier?"
Monica sighed heavily as she turned around, summoning whatever patience was inside her. "No, actually, I wanted to talk you about…what you were just saying to everyone out there."
"Why do you want to talk about that?" Judy asked, one eyebrow raised. "Can't a mother praise her only daughter? Last time I checked, that wasn't a federal offense."
"You're aware of that?" Monica shot back derisively. "Because past actions prove otherwise."
"Well, of course I never flatter you. That would be silly." Judy explained slowly, as if to a child.
"Why not?"
"Because then you would never strive for the best. If you knew that I was pleased with everything you did, you wouldn't reach your full potential."
Monica stared at her mother, more amazed than anything else. "Mom, do you not know me at all? I'm all about striving for the best. The other day, Joey and Chandler were having a burping contest. I drank ten cans of soda just to beat 'em! That's how far gone I am!"
Judy stifled a laugh, knowing that this wasn't the right time. "But competition isn't enough. I need to make sure you keep doing your best until - "
"Until what, Mom?" Monica interrupted. "Until I burst? Until I wear myself down? Until you're satisfied?"
"No, Monica. Until you're the best. Like you were always meant to be."
"What could they possibly be doing in there?" Rachel demanded, glancing at her watch for the hundredth time. The hostess and her guest of honor had locked themselves in the spare bedroom about a half hour ago, and everyone was eager to have dessert.
"Well, they're not screaming yet. That's a good sign." Chandler responded from the kitchen. Still, he reached into a draw and took out a screwdriver. Just in case.
"Unless that's because one of them killed the other," Phoebe reasoned.
Chandler put his hand over his forehead. He could feel a headache coming on. "No, Pheebs. Me, Rach, and Joey already had this discussion and would not like to have a similar one."
"I just can't believe it," Phoebe Sr. commented. "It can't be healthy for Monica to have so much anger pent up in her. I knew I should have cleansed her aura as soon as I got here."
Phoebe stared at her mother, shocked. "You do that too! Oh my God!" The two hugged.
"Aw, isn't that nice." Ross suddenly noticed Rachel standing close to the guest bedroom door. "Uh, Rach, honey, what are you doing?"
"What?" Rachel replied guiltily as she tried to hide a glass behind her back. "Nothing! Just, you know, standin' by the door…making sure Joey doesn't spike the punch…"
"Hey! I resent that!" Joey, who was also in the kitchen, yelled. He then regretfully snuck the bottle of alcohol he had been holding back in its cabinet.
Ross continued to stare at Rachel. Then it dawned on him. "Oh my God, you're eavesdropping!"
"No! I swear, I was…ok, ok, I was eavesdropping!" She confessed, stamping her foot. "I can't help it! Two people talking in private – I gotta know!" She then turned back to her spying, shamelessly pressing the glass against the door.
"Rachel! You can't do that! It's an invasion of privacy! If my mother and sister want to talk amongst themselves, they…" Ross trailed off, realizing something. They could be talking about me! Without giving it another thought, he went over Rachel and copied her position.
Smiling at him, Rachel congratulated, "Welcome to the dark side, Ross. How does it feel?"
Ross was about to retort, then mulled it over for about a second. "Oddly satisfying!"
"That is pathetic." Joey shook his head. "Two grown adults using the old hand trick. Everyone knows you're supposed to use a glass!" He grabbed three glasses from the cupboard, walked over to the bedroom door. He handed two of the glasses to grateful Ross and Rachel, and then proceeded to listen in.
"Oh, come on!" Chandler exclaimed. "Monica and Mrs. Geller deserve a little privacy! After all the hell Monica went through this weekend, she should be able to battle it out with her mother without an audience! I mean, how would you feel if you knew if the most important conversation of your life was…" Chandler abruptly stopped talking when he saw that no one was paying attention to him. They were all crowded around the door, glasses to their ears. Even Sandra and Nora hand joined them. Hanging his head in defeat, he sauntered over to the buffet table to get a glass.
"'Like I was always meant to be?'" Monica mimicked, tweaking her voice so that it remotely resembled that of her mother. "If you start shooting out words like 'destiny' and 'prophecy' I'm out of here."
"No, not that way…" Judy sighed as she sat down at the foot of the bed, now only used the rare times that the Bings had overnight company. "It's just…your father and I…we always had such high hopes for you - "
"Gee, I'm sorry I let you down," Monica remarked sarcastically.
"Don't interrupt dear; it doesn't become you." Judy ignored the eye roll she received and continued. "Anyway, ever since you were little, we knew you were going to make it in life. You were determined, hard working, and caught every curve ball that came your way. You're a fighter, Monica, you always were."
"Ha, yeah right." Monica folded her arms across her chest, still standing by the door. "Then why do you love Ross more than me?"
At that, Judy's eyes widened with shock, unable to comprehend that her daughter would ever think such a thing. "Monica, it's amazing how you're so full of absurd ideas today. We love you just as much as we love Ross, maybe even more. But don't tell him I said that."
"Oh, come on Mom. All my life you've favored Ross over me. When we were kids, he would always get the last lollipop. My curfew was a lot earlier than his than when he was that age. Even now, every little thing he does helps him keep his title as 'the perfect one.' Meanwhile, I compliment you on your earrings, and you say how my ears are too small for my head!" Monica's voice was rising again, but she made a conscious effort to keep it down. No need to rile everyone at the party outside.
Judy waved her hand, as if dismissing her arguments. "Please, Monica. You know how low your brother's self esteem is. He isn't strong-minded like you, which we realized from the beginning. He doesn't stick things out until they go his way. I mean, sure, he's stubborn, but he's never willing to do more than yell. We've babied him because he constantly needs to know that we approve of every little choice he makes." Judy paused, then added, "Oh, and about your curfew, that's because Ross never needed one. You had much more of a life than him, what with Rachel being so popular and all. I only gave him a later curfew so he could brag bout it to his little friends in the music club."
Oh, wait 'till Ross hears this, Mr. "I'm sure they love you too," Monica thought happily. It wasn't just that, though. It was kind of nice to know that after believing the contrary all these years, their parents secretly thought very highly of her. "So, the reason you never criticize him is because he's too much of a wimp to take it?"
"Well, I wouldn't use those words exactly, but basically yes." Judy smiled, glad to have this deep-rooted misunderstanding cleared up. "He would crumble if he wasn't sure of our support. You, on the other hand, only get stronger. For instance, let's say that…" Judy glanced around the room, searching for an example. "…I felt that you should have more furniture in your guest room. I would make a comment about it. You would get annoyed, but as always, you would hide it. And, as much as you don't like the idea, you would realize I was right and follow my advice. If I ever said something like that to Ross, he would make a big stink over it and not talk to me for a week."
Monica processed this for a minute. "So all those insults and snide remarks…that was your way of trying to make my life better?" When Judy nodded slowly, Monica went over, sat next to her mother, and hugged her. "Thanks, Mom. I guess deep down I always knew that you never wanted to hurt my feelings."
"Of course, dear." Judy smiled and hugged her back. "I'm very sorry you felt that way. If you hadn't, maybe we would have more of a relationship."
"Yeah, it's a shame. But we're never going to have 'more of a relationship' unless you start trying to make my life better a little less often."
Judy didn't get it at first. Then it clicked. "I'll try, but don't expect a miracle."
"They're coming!" Nora shrieked, a tad too loudly. They all could hear footsteps getting close and closer to the door. They reached it too fast – the door was opened, and the entire party fell in, almost toppling a stunned Monica and Judy.
"And I tried so hard to keep my voice down!" Monica complained, although she must admit, she wasn't surprised. At least, that her friends were listening. She was slightly taken aback to see Mrs. Green and Mrs. Bing with empty glasses in their hands.
Judy had a similar reaction. Moving further into the living room, she chided, "Don't you people have any sense of dignity?" She resisted the temptation to roll her eyes when "No"s and "Not really"s came from the crowd.
"We couldn't help it!" Joey whined as the others put their glasses back on the buffet table. "We wanted dessert!"
"Oh my God I'm so sorry!" Monica panicked, then turned to her mother, expecting her to say something. She was pleasantly surprised when the older woman kept her mouth shut. "I made dessert already – I'll get it now." Monica went to go into the kitchen, but hesitated. She gave her mother a fierce hug, tears suddenly forming in her eyes. Quickly wiping them away, she practically ran into the kitchen, Rachel and Phoebe on her tail, demanding to know details.
"Well, Ross, looks like we have a bet to settle." Chandler smiled smugly as he wandered over to Ross, who was watching the scene from his seat in the easy chair.
"What, uh, makes you say that?" Ross said nervously. He hated losing, especially when it came to bets.
Chandler crouched down so he was the same height as Ross. "You see what just happened? Monica, who we both know freakishly well, just hugged her mother. Not one of those, 'hi, great to see you' hugs. No no no, my friend. Her eyes were glistening, which means that that hug came from pure love, which is not something they shared at the beginning of this party, correct?"
Ross knew he was beat, but stalled. "Oh, now wait a minute, she could have…eaten really spicy food…"
"Come on, what else could they have been talking about for over ten minutes!" Chandler exclaimed, yet still making sure his voice was a whisper. "Face it – I win, you lose, now pay up!" Groaning, Ross pulled a twenty out of his pocket and forked it over. Smiling, Chandler said, "My wallet and I thank you." Ross only grunted in response.
"Dessert's out everyone!" Monica's call reached all corners of the living room. "I have an apple pie, lemon meringue, and homemade chocolate chip cookies."
Instantly forgetting the bet, Ross and Chandler dashed to the kitchen, but were still beat by Joey. That is, until the group started to seat themselves around the table. Both did not fail to notice Judy staring at Monica while she was cutting the apple pie. "Sweetie, you really should tie your hair back while serving food. It's so unmanageable that a strand or two might fall into the pie."
Chandler's anguished face matched his wife's as he grudgingly took out his wallet.
THE END
A/N: It's over! Does "I actually finished a story dance" Here's the last review response! Thank you SO much to all of my reviewers!
Oh, and some were mentioning the lack of Ross and Rachel action. Please remember that that was only a side plot. This story was mainly about Monica's relationship with her mother. I am sorry if youwere disappointed, but that's the way I decided to go.
Emma: In the immortal words of Stephanie Tanner (Full House): How rude! It is not polite to guilt trip others and advertising a story in a review of someone else's work. I appreciate all of the nice comments, but please, recruit readers on your own time.
MinnieLover: He he, don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll do great.
Rachgreengeller: Yeah, me too. That's exactly why I wrote this story. Thanks for all the great reviews!
Exintaris: Lol, Mrs. Bing is, too put it mildly, a bit eccentric.
Special (and many) thanks to all of my other reviewers! Takes a REALLY deep breath DrKerryWeaver, Steph, LilMondlerLuver, LucyGoose, americnxidiot, miss jasadin, and Jayne Leigh
