Thank you all for the reviews! I was excited to post this chapter, so that's why it's a bit earlier than a week.

"I can't believe I got chicken pox!" Phoebe shouted. She had rushed over to Monica's upon the first itchy red dot she'd seen on her arm. The rest of the dots just spread like wildfire, and she panicked. She had called Ryan and told him she couldn't make it to pick him up and gave directions to Monica's. Her grandmother had never had chicken pox, and she wasn't about to give it to her.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Monica said.

"Do you think he'll care that I look like this?" Phoebe asked.

"Honey, he's been underwater for a very long time. I don't think he'll care," Monica soothed. She finished dolling Phoebe up and left so she wouldn't be there when Ryan arrived. She went over to Richard's place. She had been able to share her quirks with him, and since he seemed to love her more for them, she was eager to share more. The only disappointing thing was Richard had no quirks. He was too normal.

"I really am trying to figure out my quirks," Richard promised her while they were eating dinner together.

"If you have to look that hard for them, then I doubt you have any," Monica sighed.

"Oh!" he said suddenly. "Here's one. I have to have my fork on the left hand side of my plate before I start eating."

"That's the proper way to set the table," Monica replied.

"You're just too intuitive for this," Richard said. "Throw me a bone here!" He laughed.

"I'm sorry. That's another one of my quirks," Monica laughed nervously. He patted her hand reassuringly.

"We will find something," he told her. Monica was pretty sure they wouldn't, but she let it go.

Phoebe

Of course the lightning and thunder had to go off the same time she revealed her face. Something had to accentuate her ugliness. The fact that Ryan had screamed was interesting. Wasn't he supposed to be used to frightening situations?

"I'm sorry," Ryan said, holding his chest. "I am. So sorry. That was such an unfortunate coincidence."

"It's okay," she replied. He came closer to her. "I'm sorry I'm so hideous."

"I've been eight months in a steel tube with nothing but other men, so I'm not gonna let some itchy spots keep me from being with you," Ryan said, grabbing her and kissing her.

"Wow," Phoebe said after. "This disease is so romantic!" Any thoughts of Joey were long gone once Ryan kissed her again. She considered that progress.

Ross

He wondered if it was too soon. They had only been dating for about eight months, but he knew Rachel was the one for him forever. He was standing over the glass case, looking at all the rings. They could always have a long engagement. He didn't want to rush things, but then again, he didn't want to miss his chance either.

"Can I help you?" the lady behind the glass counter asked.

"Um, I don't know," Ross said honestly.

"Not sure what style she'll like?" the lady asked sympathetically.

"No, it's not that. I just don't know if it's too soon," Ross told her.

"How long have you been dating?"

"Six months," he replied.

"I've seen couples here after six weeks," the lady said. "I think it depends on the relationship and the people within it. Have you talked about a future together?"

"A couple of times," Ross answered. Rachel had seemed open to the idea of spending forever with him, not that she vocalized it much.

"Are you in love?"

"So in love," Ross replied.

"I think it's up to your judgment," the lady said. "You can always try. If she says no, then wait a little longer and try again."

"You know what? You're right," Ross said. He pointed to the ring that had caught his eye from the beginning. "I'll take that one."

"Excellent choice," the lady smiled.

"You say that to everyone don't you?" Ross asked. She just kept her smile on her face, not giving anything away.

Rachel-A Few Days Later

"Hey! Stop that right now!" Rachel shouted, seeing Phoebe and Ryan scratching each other in earnest.

"But it feels so good!" Phoebe protested.

"I want five feet between you two at all times," Rachel ordered. They obeyed glumly. Maybe she could be a mom, she mused.

"Hey," Ross said, entering. "Uh oh. Were Itchy and Scratchy at it again?"

"Yes. With dice of all things!" Rachel said, pointing.

"You know, I expected this from Phoebe," Ross said. "But you, Ryan, you're a military man." Ryan hung his head.

"I'm ready to go," Rachel said, giving Ross a quick peck.

"Great. Cab's waiting," he answered. He gave Phoebe and Ryan the "I'm watching you" gesture. Phoebe stuck out her tongue at him. Once they were in the cab, Ross felt nervous. He had been hanging onto the ring for the past few days, and he wasn't sure when the right time would be to give it to her. Then he got an idea.

"So this couple I know just got engaged," Ross said casually. "After only a few months of dating."

"Really?" Rachel asked. "That's awfully fast of them."

"You think so?" Ross questioned.

"Yes. I mean, wouldn't you want to know for sure you're with the right person? Get to know them better? I don't think jumping into a marriage is a good idea," she finished. Ross felt his stomach drop. There was his answer. She would most definitely turn him down if he asked her right now.

"I think they're going to have a long engagement though," he tried.

"See, if I got engaged, I'd have the wedding within six months," Rachel said. "But that's because I'd have spent time with the other person and know for sure he was the one. Ross, are you okay?" She frowned, noticing he was sweating profusely.

"I'm fine," he replied. "Gosh it's hot in here." He lowered the window and stuck his head out for some air. There was no point in asking her. He'd only end up rejected.

"So where are we going?" Rachel asked him once he had brought his head back inside.

"To a nice restaurant for a nice dinner," he answered. She snuggled up against him. He was thinking about how he needed to catch the violinists before they bombarded his table.

Later

"This'll make you stop," Monica said, taping oven mitts onto Phoebe and Ryan's hands. Joey was watching, amused.

"Looks like some lame puppet show," he commented.

"Guess which finger I'm holding up," Phoebe snarked at him.

"Oohh touchy," Joey said.

"Joey, go away," Monica sighed.

"Fine. I know where I'm not wanted," Joey said, leaving, but not before he snagged the leftovers from Monica's fridge. It bugged him to see Phoebe with Ryan. He headed over to his apartment where Chandler was typing on his computer.

"Hello, Joseph," Chandler said sarcastically, looking over his computer. "Thanks to you, I've got to work all weekend to get these numbers finished."

"Joseph does things by the book," Joey said seriously. He had been working with Chandler as a processor, and it turned out he rather enjoyed creating a whole different life for himself.

"Joseph's gonna get fired," Chandler muttered. He really hated the suck up personality Joey had created for said Joseph.

"What's that now?" Joey asked, cupping his hand to his ear.

"Joseph is gonna get tired from helping Chandler do these numbers," Chandler rephrased.

"Joseph doesn't work on weekends," Joey replied, going to his room. Chandler wanted to chuck his computer at the guy. He had an entire fake life, and what was worse, he believed it was real! Joseph was gonna get a big wake up call, oh yes he was.

Monica & Richard

"I got it!" Richard said excitedly. "I have to sleep on this side of the bed." He gestured to her. Monica looked at him.

"No, it's cos I have to sleep on this side of the bed," she replied. "Everyone has a side of the bed they like better."

"Hear me out," Richard said, leaning on his arm. "I have to sleep on the west side cos I grew up in California, and if I slept on the right side, the ocean would be on the wrong side." Monica sat up, getting excited.

"You're a freak!" she exclaimed.

"Yea. How 'bout that," he smiled. She kissed him passionately. It made her unbelievably happy that he finally had a quirk.

Phoebe-A Week Later

"I'm so sorry we spent two weeks together sick," Phoebe apologized. Ryan shrugged.

"I wouldn't have had it any other way," he said. "I got to spend time with you, and that was what mattered." Phoebe blushed.

"I'll miss you," she said.

"And I you," Ryan smiled. They kissed goodbye, and Phoebe watched him leave. Joey came up beside her then as she was standing outside of the Perk.

"He's leaving huh," Joey commented. He was still sore from Chandler firing him and having an affair with his imaginary wife, Karen.

"Yup," Phoebe nodded.

"You really like him?"

"I do. I won't see him for a few years though," Phoebe said.

"That's too bad," Joey responded.

"Eh. You win some, you lose some," she shrugged. She turned to leave when Joey stopped her.

"You've been avoiding me," he said.

"I haven't. I've been sick," she replied.

"Before that, you were avoiding me," he corrected. "Why?"

"Because you made it super awkward by kissing me and then saying you didn't mean it. I was a little disoriented by the whole thing and needed time to get it straight," Phoebe answered.

"I thought you said we were good after that?" Joey asked, confused.

"We are. But I am still processing it," she confirmed.

"How long before it's processed?" he prodded.

"I don't know, Joey. I will tell you when I do," she promised. "Excuse me." She left to return home to her grandmother. She didn't want to think about Joey. She was finally feeling like she was moving on. She didn't need to replay the incident in her mind. There was no point.

A few days later

"Did you go buy the same coat as Richard's?" Monica asked Ross. She was examining it.

"Nooo," Ross lied. Richard chuckled to himself. Because he was the "old guy" everyone was mimicking him. If he hadn't known any better, he believed Chandler and Joey had attempted mustaches a while back too.

"All of men's coats look the same. We're not picky like you girls," Richard replied, saving Ross from further rambling and digging his hole deeper. Monica sighed and piled it back on top of the other coats.

"You guys are so simple yet so complicated," she muttered.

"Are we going to see a movie tonight?" Rachel asked, coming out of the bathroom.

"We can," Ross nodded. He noticed Monica and Richard then. "Did you guys want to come?"

"Nah. We're good here," Monica replied. Richard agreed. Rachel ran to get her coat, knocking both coats off.

"Woops," she said, shoving them back.

"Now what would you say if I threw your coat on the ground and then crammed it like that?" Ross asked, taking the one off the top and putting it on.

"I wouldn't say anything because you wouldn't do that," Rachel smirked. Ross just laughed and they walked out together.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom and then maybe we could...you know," Richard said once they were gone.

"All right," Monica grinned. When he was gone, she jumped up and went to fix the coats. It had been driving her nuts all night, them being piled so wrong. She fixed them up when she heard a clattering sound on the floor. She bent down to retrieve what fell, and her heart stopped. She stared at it for what seemed like hours. It was a ring box. With shaky hands, she picked it up and opened it.

"Oh," she gasped, seeing the ring. Richard was going to propose! She was going to get engaged! She heard Richard moving in the bathroom, and she shoved it back into the pocket it fell from. She leaped over to the couch and tried to act nonchalant. Richard noticed immediately as soon as he exited the bathroom.

"You re-arranged my coat, didn't you?" he asked.

"Nooo," Monica lied, sounding like Ross.

"It's all right," Richard said, going over and scooping her up into his arms. "I still love you just the same." She spent the night half in the present and half in the future. She's be Mrs. Burke, the doctor's wife. Her mother would be thrilled, or at least, Monica hoped she would be. She couldn't wait to tell Rachel.

Chandler

"What are you doing?" Joey asked. Chandler was furiously typing on his computer.

"Talking to a woman," Chandler replied. He'd given up on Monica. She had the big doctor now. There was no longer any hope for him to have a relationship with her.

"A cyber woman?" Joey asked. "Cool!"

"She's a real woman, Joe," Chandler snorted.

"I know," Joey said indignantly.

"You're hovering," Chandler noted.

"Yea. I'm nervous for my audition tomorrow," Joey told him.

"You'll be great," Chandler said absently. Joey knew he wasn't even paying attention to him. He left, giving up on any further conversation. Chandler stared at the computer screen. He was really enjoying getting to know this woman. He liked the whole computer aspect too. It saved him from further embarrassing himself. Surprisingly, Monica was not in the front and center part of his brain tonight. Maybe he could move on. If Phoebe could, then he certainly could try.

Richard-Later

He was getting ready to leave when he put on the coat. It was a bit snug, but he didn't think anything of it. When he went outside to grab a smoke, that's when he noticed. He pulled out the ring box and stared at it. How did that get in there? Did Monica plant it in hopes that it would be a hint? It was a nice ring. He examined it thoroughly. Then he went to find his cigars, and they weren't there. After some shuffling around his pockets, he came to the proper conclusion: this wasn't his coat. Then he saw Ross and Rachel coming back from their movie.

"Ah," he murmured to himself. It all made sense now.

"Good night, Richard," Rachel said, going inside.

"Hey, Ross," Richard said. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure," Ross said. He told Rachel he'd be right up then went over to Richard.

"I hope you didn't need this tonight," Richard said, holding up the ring box.

"Oh my God!" Ross yelped. He took it from Richard gingerly.

"You got any cigars?" Richard asked. Ross felt around until he found one, and he handed it to Richard, knowing what had happened. They traded coats.

"Don't say anything to Monica," Ross begged. "Rachel told me earlier that she thinks people should date longer than six months before getting engaged. I can't give this to her yet."

"I won't," Richard promised. He patted Ross' shoulder and smiled as the kid took off. The whole thing made him think.

The Next Day

"I am getting something wrong," Joey was saying. "Warren Beatty called me a bad kisser. That's like saying Mother Theresa is a bad mother. Would one of you girls prove me wrong?" Rachel, Phoebe, and Monica just stared at him. He really wanted Phoebe to pipe up and do it. She wasn't giving him an inch though. So much for his plan to kiss her again without her knowing what he was up to.

"I'm sure it's just because you were kissing a guy," Monica reassured him. "Maybe you were tense."

"Hmm. Ross?" Joey asked, turning to him.

"Over my dead body," Ross scoffed.

"Chandler?"

"I'll be hiding behind his dead body like it's a shield," Chandler replied.

"You guys suck," Joey said.

Later

"For the love of God tell her she looks good," Ross begged the others. Rachel was about to come out wearing her maid of honor dress for Barry and Mindy's wedding. They all nodded. When she came out, Richard choked and started coughing. Monica clenched her jaw so tightly she felt almost broke a tooth. Joey couldn't help it. He sniggered.

"This is ridiculous!" Rachel cried. "I have to waltz around in this in front of 200 people and resemble something that gets drunk when you're nauseous!"

"Then don't go," Ross said. "I'm not sure why you're going in the first place."

"Because I promised Mindy," Rachel sighed. She flopped down in the chair.

"Hello children...whoa ho!" Chandler hooted, seeing Rachel. "When did you become the newest model for Barbie?"

"Oh stuff it," Rachel snapped.

"I just noticed," Phoebe said to Chandler, "that you're wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Did you get some last night?"

"No," Chandler replied.

"It's the cyber woman," Joey offered. Chandler shot him a dagger look.

"Oohh!" Monica cried. "Who is she? What does she look like?!"

"I haven't actually met her yet, but I really like her. I do. She caught on to my smarmy games and told me to get real, so I did," he shrugged. "I'm going to meet her soon."

"Good for you, man," Ross smiled. He was happy for his friend.

"Well, I'll see you all later," Richard said. "Time for work." He kissed Monica on his way by. Phoebe saw that Chandler had averted his gaze. Monica stared at the door longingly after he had left.

"Oh my boyfriend is ever so dreamy," Phoebe said to her. "I wonder what our wedding will be like?" Monica's head snapped up then, her attention back.

"I am not thinking that at all. We are living in the moment," she replied.

"You're too scared to ask?" Phoebe nodded knowingly.

"I'm terrified," Monica agreed. She didn't mention that she already knew about the ring Richard was going to give her. If he was that far ahead in planning their future, then why couldn't she bring it up to him?

Later

Richard just told her she was in his future. He wanted her in his future! Monica was growing excited. Then she looked at Ben.

"So, we're in France," she said. "Is there a baby crawling around?"

"A baby?" Richard asked, sounding skeptical.

"Yea. You know. A mini Monichard," Monica laughed, trying to sound French. Richard cracked a smile, but only just.

"I love kids, I really do," he said. "I just don't want to be 70 years old when they go away to school and we finally get to have a life together."

"I see," Monica said. "Well, this is way, way into the future anyway. Like space shuttles around town future." She stopped talking then. Things had grown awkward between them. So he had the ring, but he didn't want any children. It made no sense to her at all.

Across the hall

"If you're looking for your sheep, we don't have them," Chandler snorted, seeing Rachel in her dress complete with the hat. It made her look like Bo Peep.

"Oh ha, ha," Rachel scoffed.

"I think you look cute," Joey said, kissing her cheek. He turned and looked at Ross.

"You touch me, I will hurt you," Ross warned him.

"Okay, here we go," Rachel said, tugging on Ross' arm.

"Richard got us a cab," Monica said at the door. She saw Chandler on his computer.

"Richard's downstairs?" Joey asked. "I gotta go say goodbye." He took off. Monica charged right after him, knowing what he was trying to do.

"Good luck," Phoebe called after Rachel. She truly wished her friend the best in this situation. She turned to Chandler then and watched his screen.

"What does HH mean?"

"Holding hands," Chandler blushed.

"You're so cute! Hey, so does that mean you're over Monica?" Phoebe asked.

"Shhh!" Chandler said, looking over her shoulder for anyone who might be listening. "Yes, it does."

"Wow. So, how did you do that?" she asked.

"It just...happened," Chandler shrugged.

"I get it. I did the same thing," Phoebe nodded solemnly.

"Which impresses me very much. You were so into Joey," Chandler said.

"I don't think he can commit. He got so jumpy just after kissing me. He regretted it instantly," she said wistfully.

If only you knew, Chandler thought to himself. Joey had gone back and forth with the whole liking Phoebe thing, and for the moment, he was stuck on liking her still. Chandler wished they would have a proper conversation and get it out in the open. Being caught in the middle sucked like hell.

"You sure that's a woman you're talking to?" Phoebe asked.

"It is so a woman," Chandler replied, outraged.

"Ask her what type of birth control she's on," Phoebe suggested. Chandler typed it in. When the response came, he sat there, dazed.

"She's married," he breathed.

"Her husband is cheating on her," Phoebe added, reading the screen.

"She's married! What am I gonna do?" he asked. Joey came back in just then.

"I got this close," he gestured, "but Monica kneed me in the back..."

Barry & Mindy's Wedding

"I have never been so humiliated in my life," Rachel hissed at Ross.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think shouting it out in front of everyone that your tushi was showing would help the situation," Ross said.

"I gotta get out of here," she said, getting up to leave.

"Oh! And there she goes," Barry said. "Who had 9:45?" Rachel froze on the spot. Ross was unsure of what to do next. Then she surprised him by going up to the microphone.

"You know what, I'm not gonna leave," she said. "Cos I promised myself I'd get through at least one of your weddings." The drummer made his noise with the cymbals in response. Then she started singing Copa Cabana, and everyone soon joined in. Monica, however, was sitting beside Richard and feeling the impending sense of doom coming closer and closer. Once Rachel was finished and everyone was slow dancing, Monica got up with Richard to dance. After a few moments, he spoke. He was saying all the right things that she wanted to hear. He'd have kids with her, if he had to. He'd do it all again, if he had to. If kids would make her happy, then he'd have to do it. He was looking at her expectantly, but she knew what she had to say.

"If you hadn't said 'if I have to' 17 times, I would be saying yes to you right now," she said. He clutched her harder, knowing where this was going. "I want to have a baby, but I want to have it with someone who wants to just as much. I'm so sorry."

"I love you," Richard said, holding her tightly.

"I know you do. So, now what?" she asked.

"We keep dancing," he said.

Chandler

He was gonna do it. He was gonna meet his cyber woman. Phoebe had convinced him. Then she kept telling him what to do until they were both spinning in circles. He wasn't taking any of her advice. He was going before he chickened out. Monica briefly flashed across his mind, but it wasn't as sharp as before. That ship had sailed. It was time to board a new one.

Monica-Later

Miserable and alone, Monica returned to her apartment. She felt like crying. She had lost Richard. This was too much to bear. She needed a friend. She went over to Joey and Chandler's, but no one was home. The door was unlocked, though, which was odd. She went inside, thinking maybe one of them was sleeping, but it was still and quiet. She saw the laptop open, and she went over to it. Now, Monica was not one to snoop on her friends (oh, who was she kidding. Of course she was!), but the temptation was great. She skimmed the conversation, seeing that the woman was married with a cheating husband. Surprised, Monica read on, seeing that Chandler was going to meet her. Monica chuckled to herself and shook her head. Chandler in a serious relationship. Now that she had to see. She clicked down the conversation, but just before she went to leave, something caught her eye. It was a document on his desktop with her name on it. Curious, she opened it. She started to read, then gasped.

Reasons to tell Monica how I feel: I'm crazy about her. She's amazing. She's my best friend. We'd have great sex.

Reasons not to tell Monica how I feel: I'm a loser. I can't commit. Babies terrify me. Marriage makes me feel like I'm suffocating. I'm not good enough for her.

What was this? What was this?!

"Oh my God!" Monica cried. "Oh my God!"

"What's oh my God?" Phoebe asked, peeking into the room. Monica looked up at her, pointing to the laptop. Phoebe came over and read the screen.

"Oh my God!" Phoebe shouted in an obvious tone that suggested it was not shocking news to her. Monica caught on to this quickly.

"Oh my God! You knew!" she shrieked.

"Yea, I knew!" Phoebe yelled back.

"Where is he?!" Monica asked, panicked.

"He's gone to meet his cyber woman. Monica, it's over. He moved on," Phoebe said, grabbing her friends arm before she could rush out.

"But...how could he...when did...why didn't you...?" Monica rambled.

"When you got with Richard, he decided to move on," Phoebe explained gently.

"Oh Chandler," Monica said sadly. "Oh God. That had to have hurt."

"It did, but he moved on. He did, Monica," Phoebe said firmly. Monica looked at her, wounded.

"Richard and I broke up," she said miserably.

"Oh my God!" Phoebe shouted. "Why didn't you say so! Let's go!" She grabbed Monica's hand and dragged her out the door. They had to catch Chandler before he met his cyber girl. By the time they got to the Perk, however, it was too late. Chandler was kissing the woman deeply and passionately. Monica felt tears well up in her eyes. She was really too late. This whole time he had had feelings for her, and she blew it. He was now with...

"Janice?!" Monica cried. Phoebe made a choking sound in her throat.

"Whaddya know?" she said.

"I...I can't do this. I gotta go home. My head is gonna explode," Monica moaned.

"Do you want company?" Phoebe asked.

"No. Thanks, Phoebs, but I need to be alone right now," Monica said. Phoebe gave her a hug before she left. Then she turned to watch Chandler and Janice reunite. How on earth was she gonna tell Chandler that Monica now knew about his feelings?

Cliffhanger! Sorry 'bout that. Tis a good place to end until I get the next chapter written ;)