Chapter Three: Monica and Pete Get Engaged

Joey and Phoebe had gotten back from Atlantic City five minutes ago. They knocked on Monica's door. There was a shout that it was open, and they went in. Rachel and Chandler were there. ''Hey, Rach, Chandler.'' Joey exclaimed.

Rachel got up. ''Pheebs! How was your honeymoon weekend?'' She asked, giving her friend a hug.

Phoebe said, ''Great. How was your guys' weekend? Anything exciting happen?'' Joey helped her sit down on the couch.

Rachel said, ''Well, Ross and Emily broke up because Emily had been cheating on him with this guy named Steven.''

Phoebe said, ''Oh my God! How's Ross handling it?'' She leaned back better against the couch and took Joey's hand.

Chandler replied, ''Better than we thought. He's already talking about getting another girlfriend. He was even flirting with this girl Elizabeth at Central Perk.''

Phoebe said, ''That's good, then. He's not going to be broken up about it. What about Monica? What did Pete have to ask her?''

Chandler asked, ''How did you hear about that? He only called yesterday.''

Joey explained, ''Ross called us to ask us how the honeymoon was going, and to apologize for how he acted before the wedding. He also told us about Pete having something to ask Monica.''

Chandler shrugged. ''Well, we haven't heard anything. Monica's not been home yet. Rachel thinks that it's that he wants to marry her.''

Phoebe said, ''I hope so. Pete could be even better for Monica than we thought. She's been really happy with Pete. If they get married, then maybe he can keep her happy for the rest of her life.''

Rachel nodded. ''Yes. I agree with you. I also have a suspicion that she had a crush on Chandler before he and I got together. If that was so, then I'm glad that she's been able to move on.''

Joey gasped. ''Monica had a crush on Chandler? No way. She was dating Richard and whatever. Why would she date Richard if she had a crush on Chandler?''

Chandler sat on the arm of Rachel's chair. ''If she knew that I had a crush on Rachel, which I did, by the way, then why try to get me? If I am correct, you all knew that Rachel and I had crushes on each other, right?''

Joey nodded. ''Yeah, we all knew. Monica, Pheebs, and I all used to talk about it all the time. We knew that it had to be bothering Ross, so we didn't talk about it with him. He really was in love with you, Rach, and we didn't want to hurt him by flaunting the fact that you guys liked each other in front of him.''

Rachel said, ''Well, in any case, I hope that Pete does want to marry her, and that they're engaged, because she deserves some happiness.''

They were interrupted by the woman in question. She entered the apartment, grinning. ''Hi, guys. I have an annoucement to make. Pete and I are engaged!'' She exclaimed.

Everyone squealed and hugged her. ''Oh, Mon, I'm so excited for you!'' Rachel cried, giving her best friend another hug.

Monica exclaimed, ''I know!'' She sat down on the couch, and everyone else followed suit. ''I'm so happy. I really think it's going to be great with Pete and I. I really do love him. I'm going to marry a millionaire!'' She squealed.

Her friends laughed. Phoebe asked, ''So, Monica, this means that Rachel gets to be your maid of honor, am I right?''

Monica turned to Rachel. ''Rach, she's right. Unless, of course, you and Chandler get married before Pete and I do. Pete and I aren't going to get married for like, a year. So you've got time. So if you get married before us, you'll be matron of honor.''

Rachel looked to Chandler and then back at Monica. ''We haven't talked about that seriously yet. We both agreed that we might, someday, but there are no definite plans.''

Chandler smiled to himself. He had definite plans, but Rachel didn't know about them. He had been thinking since Rachel had brought it up on Joey and Pheebs' wedding day that maybe they should. Things had been better than ever lately, and he couldn't imagine anyone else he wanted to be with, ever. He had a feeling it would be brought up. He knew it would be, Rachel was a woman. They reached that point when they wanted to bring it up. It was undeniable.

They had moved on to the topic of Monica's dress when he resurfaced to the conversation. Monica was looking at her watch. ''Hey, it's lunchtime, you guys. Let's whip something up.'' She moved to the kitchen, to start making sandwhiches. Everyone else got up slowly and followed her.

Rachel got the bread off the top of the refrigerator. ''Monica, how did he ask you? Where did he take you? Was it romantic?''

Monica said, ''We went to Rome. We had the best time. We had pizza again. He wanted to make sure that he recreated our first date.''

Chandler had taken Joey outside to the balcony. They were talking about Rachel. ''Joey, I'm going to ask Rachel to marry me.'' He pulled a ring out of his pocket. Instead of going to work, he had gone ring shopping that morning. ''Look, Joey, isn't it gorgeous?''

Joey took a good look at it. ''Oh my God, Chandler! You're really ready for marriage?'' He was surprised that he had been ready. If Chandler really was, then he was happy for him.

Chandler said, ''If you can be ready, then I can be ready.'' He slipped the ring back in his pocket. ''I'm going to wait for a little while, but it's going to be soon. I really love Rachel, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.''

After lunch, Ross and Pete had joined them, and they all sat in the living room. Rachel was sitting on Chandler's lap in the armchair, and Phoebe and Joey sat with their arms tangled around each other on the couch. Monica and Pete sat next to them, and Ross sat on the green automan. Ross looked like he was feeling left out with all the coupling going on. They had a movie on. Joey had rented Die Hard, like he always did.

Rachel said, ''The only reason this movie is any good is because Bruce Willis is so sexy.'' Chandler looked at her. ''Well, not as sexy as you, honey.'' He turned back the tv, appeased, but she shook her head at Monica and Phoebe, who both smiled.

Joey looked at her. ''What are you talking about, Bitch? This movie kicks ass.'' Die Hard was his favorite movie of all time.

Chandler asked, ''Joey, how many times have you seen this already today?'' He knew he had to have seen it at least once, because he was already calling people 'Bitch'.

Joey said, ''Just once, when Pheebs and I woke up this morning. Why?'' He asked. His arms were entangled around Phoebe so one hand rested on her belly.

Chandler said, ''You're already calling people bitch.'' He turned to Rachel. ''Rach, do you want to go out to the balcony? I want to be alone with you.''

Rachel looked surprised. ''Sure, honey. Just let me get my jacket.'' She got up and headed into her bedroom, wondering what was up with Chandler.

Chandler headed out to the balcony and stared out at the sky. He was really happy for the first time in his life. He was glad that he and Rachel had been able to work things out. He loved her and wanted to always be around her. He wished that she was going to be getting a job in his office building instead of Bloomingdale's. It really sucked.

He was jolted out of his thoughts by the woman he was thinking about. ''Hey, Rach. I was just thinking about you. Were you thinking about me?''

Rachel tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. ''Yeah, actually, I was. I was thinking about how happy I am, and how long it's taken me to be happy. I really am, Chandler. This is the best relationship that I've ever had.'' She stepped comfortably into his embrace.

Chandler kissed the top of her head. ''I'm happy, too. I just wanted to be with you. Just like this. It's nice.'' He said, squeezing her tighter.

Rachel said, ''This is nice. I want us to be together forever. Don't you?'' She turned to look up at him.

Chandler smiled. ''Yes, I do.'' He kissed her cheek, and fingered the ring box in his pocket. He wanted to ask her now, but Monica was so happy about Pete, that he decided to wait.