A/N: When I said this type of plot has been used, I meant in general – a.k.a. Freaky Friday and the Parent Trap (okay, so they don't switch bodies, but it's basically the same idea). Anyways, I'll be shutting up now. Thanks for all the reviews!
Oh, and sorry the chapters are kind of short. They'll get longer when they center around each of the Friends' experiences in someone else's body.
By the way, okay, this has been driving me nuts. At this point, do any of the Friends have their own mode of transportation? It's totally not important; it's just at the back of my mind. I know Monica has the Porsche, but what about the others?
Phoebe dashed up the stairs to Monica and Chandler's apartment, unlocking the door with her key and running into the kitchen. She had left everybody at Central Perk a few minutes early. She needed time to figure out how to give the elixir.
Taking the vial from her purse, she stood still in the kitchen, thinking. She wished Joey was here to calm her nerves, but the new film star was at a press conference. Apparently the producers of the comedy Joey was to be in, City Life, wanted to create a stir about the movie before it was even filmed. She really hoped this wouldn't go to his head – they had said that Joey was the perfect actor for the job, but somehow Phoebe could tell it had been the elixir talking.
Looking around, she spotted the kettle on the stove. Perfect! She could tell Monica and Chandler the different taste was a new type of tea. Boiling some water, she poured some into a mug, in which she had already put a tea bag. After she took the bag out, she poured a drop of the elixir into the tea. She then, if a bit hesitantly, brought the mug to her lips and took a sip.
Joey had been right. The tea was amazing. She couldn't even describe the flavor; it was just so great that she couldn't wait to swallow her current mouthful so she could take another. Not waiting another second, she drained the mug,
Hm, that's interesting…She didn't know if it was just her, but she could feel the elixir inside her. Now, what wish would she use? "I wish…that my friends could understand each other." That was weird. What had made her say "friends" instead of Monica and Chandler? She shrugged it off. Oh well. It probably won't make a difference.
"Phoebe, is anything wrong?" Monica, coming into the apartment, asked with concern. Chandler was right behind her. "You seemed to be acting a little strange in Central Perk."
"More so than usual," Chandler muttered.
Ignoring Chandler's remark, that she heard, Phoebe shook her head. "No, I'm, ah…sick! Yeah, I think I'm coming down with a cold. My throat's all scratchy."
"Aw, Pheebs, want me to make you some soup?" Monica offered, removing her coat and hanging it on the back of a chair. She then rolled up her sleeves. For some reason constantly fighting with her husband made her want to cook. Normally she cleaned when she was upset, but the apartment was already spotless, even by her standards.
"I thought we were going to watch that movie together," Chandler reminded her.
Monica glared at him. "You can wait a few minutes to watch a movie while I make my sick best friend some soup."
"But isn't that why I took the day off? So we could 'rebuild our crumbling relationship'?" Chandler had used air quotes on that last part. "And, may I recommend you stop watching Oprah? That episode on couples rekindling their love is really starting to bug me, and I didn't even watch it!"
"Well excuse me for wanting to rekindle our love!" Monica snapped, opening one of the bottom cupboards to get a pot for the soup. "At least someone in this relationship is trying rather than fooling around with my sexy assistant!"
"Will you let that go already?" Chandler begged. "And, for your information, I did try! Didn't I suggest we have sex last night?"
"Sex is not rekindling!" Monica shouted. "It's the complete opposite of rekindling!"
"It's not to me! In fact, how can we get any closer? One of my reproductive parts is in one of your reproductive parts! I'd say that's pretty damn close!" Chandler yelled.
"You know what, I'm good! I don't need soup!" Phoebe screeched. "And you know why? Because I have tea!"
This caused both Monica and Chandler to look at her in confusion. Undeterred, Phoebe went on, "Uh huh, that's right. I have here the best damn tea in the world, and you should both have some! Maybe it'll get you two to stop fighting like a couple of five-year-olds!"
Glancing down, Monica and Chandler mumbled, "Sorry Pheebs," and took a seat opposite each other.
"Thank you." Phoebe grimaced, realizing her voice had still been loud. Lowering it, she repeated, "Thank you. Now, a client of mine gave me some, uh…tea flavoring. It's supposed to…relax you, a lot. Afterwards you should be more open to talking instead of bickering." You have no idea, Phoebe thought smugly.
Turning to the counter, she poured two more cups of tea. She went to pour some elixir in Chandlers, but her hand was shaking so much from her outburst that not one, but five drops slid in. Gasping, Phoebe quietly panicked.
Hearing the gasp, Monica inquired, "What's the matter?" She really hoped her friend would bring them the drinks so she could get away from Chandler.
"Um, nothing," Phoebe assured her. "I…caught my finger when I shut the drawer. It's not that bad, though, don't worry." Wow, she was doing a lot of lying lately.
Returning her attention to the mugs, Phoebe deliberated what to do. She could always just get Chandler another cup of tea, but she didn't want to waste the elixir. Hm, putting four drops in Monica's tea should negate four of Chandler's so they're both left with only one… Satisfied with that logic, she inserted four drops of the elixir in Monica's tea, then put both mugs on the table. "Okay, drink up."
They both took a sip at the same time. Chandler was the first to react. "Yeah, I'm not much of a tea person, but after tasting that I think I might become one."
"Oh my God, Phoebe did your client say where he got the flavoring?" Monica questioned. If she used it at the restaurant, people would come from miles around just to order her tea.
Smiling, Phoebe replied, "He said it was a home recipe." In her head she was wondering when her wish would kick in.
Finishing her tea, Monica rose from the table. "Um, I think I'm going to go take a nap." She sent a pointed look to Chandler. "Care to join me?"
Chandler seemed surprised at first, but got over it. "Okay!" The two headed into their bedroom, neither bothering to say good-bye to Phoebe.
"Wow." I guess my negation theory didn't pan out, Phoebe fretted. But if all that happened was that Monica and Chandler understood each other a little faster, did she really have to worry too much?
Grinning from ear to ear, Phoebe grabbed her coat and purse, then headed out the door. She was glad that her friends were making up, but she didn't need to hear it.
"Ross, will you slow down!" Rachel called. They were arriving at Monica and Chandler's apartment a good ten minutes later than their other friends. That was due to Rachel wanting to stop at a few stores on the way there.
Ross plopped Rachel's many bags on the table, then fell into a chair. "I'm sorry, but I can only carry your gazillion shopping bags for so long!"
"Well, you don't expect me to be able to carry them, do you?" Rachel indicated her belly, as if he needed to be reminded.
Ross rolled his eyes. "Here's a tip. If you can't carry it, don't buy it!"
"You're such a wuss." Rachel sauntered over to the table and sat down. Then she noticed the mugs. One was empty; the other was half-filled with tea. "That's weird. Monica would never leave dirty cups on the table."
"Unless she wants to…um, do it with Chandler." Ross pointed to the couple's bedroom. He had heard noises coming from it, and could guess what they were.
"Ugh, that's so gross. It's the middle of the freakin' day!" Rachel exclaimed. Subconsciously she took the semi-filled mug and took a sip. "Oh my God, Ross, you have to try this!"
"What, having sex with you in the middle of the day?" Ross' back was turned, so he hadn't known what she was referring too. He had spotted the green vial on the counter and had picked it up out of curiosity. He could smell it without even holding it to his nose. That's disgusting! Deciding that whatever it was had gone sour, he poured it down the drain.
"No, this tea! It's amazing!" Rachel held out the mug for Ross to take.
After having some, Ross nodded. "I'm actually going to have to agree with you on that. I wonder how Monica made it."
Seeing that there was no reason for them to be here, Rachel pulled herself out of the chair. "All right, I guess I might as well get back to the apartment. You coming?"
Ross shook his head. "No, I have to get to class. You want me to get your bags?"
Rachel smiled at him. "Yeah, thanks sweetie."