3 Weeks Later

"Monica, Monica, Monica!" Phoebe was chanting. She was out of breath after racing up all the stairs. Monica turned to face her when she came bursting through the door.

"What? What is it?" she asked, feeling worried.

"I got us a van!" Phoebe shouted. Monica gave her a quizzical look.

"A van?"

"For our catering business!" Ever since Richard died, Phoebe had been sticking to Monica like glue to the point she became her partner in the catering business, which had been slow lately because Monica hadn't felt up to working much.

"Wow!" Monica exclaimed.

"Come see it!" Phoebe urged, grabbing her hand and pulling her along. Joey and Chandler were coming out of their apartment and saw them rushing down the stairs.

"What's the hurry?" Chandler asked.

"The van!" Phoebe shouted over her shoulder. Joey and Chandler looked at each other and shrugged before following them down. Ross and Rachel were approaching the coffee house when they saw them all standing around a van.

"This is great," Monica said, examining it. The woman with the sword was a bit much, but they could fix that.

"I think I know that girl," Joey said, tilting his head.

"Bitchin' van!" Ross exclaimed, putting his arm around Monica's shoulders.

"Very noticeable," Rachel commented.

"I don't know what to do about this, though," Phoebe said, flicking a switch and making the woman's nipples light up red.

"Oh yea, I know that girl," Joey nodded. Phoebe gave him a look, which made him smirk in return.

"Well, I gotta go to work," Rachel said, kissing Ross. "Big job interview today!"

"Good luck!" the others called after her. The others went back up to Monica's apartment except Chandler. Kathy was coming over. Monica had some news herself, but she was worried that Phoebe would get upset.

"Everything all right?" Ross asked her, noticing she seemed nervous.

"I'm fine. I just got a chance to be a food critic," she blurted out. She looked at Phoebe.

"Oh," Phoebe said, looking disappointed.

"It's only one night a week, and it means we all get free food," Monica went on hurriedly.

"Oh!" Phoebe exclaimed. "Cool!"

"Yea, awesome!" Ross chimed in. Joey pumped his fist. Who would turn down free food?

Chandler & Kathy

"So, I'm going to my parents' tonight," Kathy said, kissing Chandler. "You'll be okay by yourself?"

"I...I think so," Chandler said, feigning fear and worry. Kathy laughed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go have fun. I'm sure I can find something to do around here," he told her. His phone rang then, so he reached to answer it. Kathy rested her head on his chest while he greeted the person. Then he suddenly jumped off the couch, making her fall onto the floor.

"Gandolf!" he practically shrieked. Kathy looked up at him, rubbing her head. "No way! You are! Aaaawesooome! See you soon!" He hung up and started jumping up and down.

"Who was that?" Kathy asked, getting up.

"The one and only Mike 'Gandolf' Ganderson," Chandler said excitedly.

"Who is he?"

"The best partier in the whole world!"

"Oh boy," Kathy laughed.

"He's coming tonight. Oh my God! I have to tell Ross!" Chandler said, racing to the door.

"Goodbye then," Kathy said, laughing. He ran back to give her another kiss before turning and running over to Monica's. Kathy grabbed her purse, shaking her head in amusement as she left.

Monica's Apartment

"Hey, Ross, quick question. Are you ready to party tonight?!" Chandler asked. The others looked at him.

"I dunno. I was gonna have some beers and watch this thing on bumblebees on Discovery Channel," Ross answered.

"No, no. Are you ready to party?!" Chandler said again.

"Nooooo, Gandolf?! Gandolf is coming to town?!" Ross exclaimed, getting excited. Chandler hopped up and down.

"That's right! Kathy's going to her parents' place, and I have nothing to do, so tonight and tomorrow we're partying with Gandolf, dude!"

"Dude, we are soooo gonna party!" Ross cried, pumping his fist.

"Dude alert," Phoebe snorted. "Who is this guy?"

"Mike 'Gandolf' Ganderson, the funnest guy in the world," Ross told her.

"I'm gonna call in sick for work tomorrow," Chandler said, running for the phone.

"I'm calling after you!" Ross called after him. "This is gonna be great! We never party anymore!"

"That's cos you're respective adults," Monica pointed out. They both ignored her.

"What do you mean we don't have fun? We have fun together. Remember when we saw the strippers and you paid me 50 bucks to eat a book?" Joey asked.

"Joey, you will love this guy. He is a party wizard!" Ross said.

"Why is he called Gandolf?"

"From the Lord of the Rings? Didn't you read that in high school?"

"No, I had sex in high school," Joey answered, looking at them.

"Woooooo! Gandolf!" Chandler hollered as he raced back out the door. Ross was on his heels.

"I could be a wizard," Joey said after they left.

"Of course you could be," Phoebe agreed, patting his arm. "You're a wizard in bed." Monica raised her eyebrows at them.

"What?" she asked.

"I mean, that's what I've heard," Phoebe hastily corrected herself. "I don't know that firsthand." Joey felt nervous suddenly as Monica surveyed them with a curious look.

"Nope. Sure don't. I, uh, have an audition to get to," Joey said, coughing and leaving.

"I gotta figure out what to do with the van," Phoebe said, hurrying out the door behind him. Monica stood there feeling like she was missing something.

Ross & Rachel

"How was your interview, sweetie?" Ross asked when Rachel came home. She stood in the doorway looking furious before slamming the door behind her.

"That good, huh?" he asked. "What happened?"

"Joanna! That's what happened! She made me look like an incompetent bimbo!" she shrieked. "Every question they asked, she piped up with a story or an example of how I looked like I could barely get to work in the morning!"

"What a bitch!" Ross exclaimed. "Come here." He pulled her into a hug, and she started crying.

"How am I going to ever get ahead when she's holding all the cards?" Rachel asked.

"I dunno. Maybe she'll get hit by a bus or something," Ross said, trying to make a joke.

"Ross! Don't even say that! That's not funny," Rachel scolded, but there was a hint of a smile on her face.

"That's all I was going for," Ross said, touching her cheek. "Of course I don't wish that on anyone."

"I am so not getting that job," Rachel moaned.

"You just march in there tomorrow and demand her to make it right," Ross said, trying to encourage her.

"Yea. I will," Rachel said. "For right now, I just want a glass of wine and my feet up." Ross went to get her a glass while she took her shoes off and propped them up on the coffee table.

"Here you go," he said, handing her the glass.

"You spoil me," she smiled. "What's on the agenda for tonight?"

"Well, Gandolf is coming to town," Ross started.

"Gandolf! Ross! Be careful. Don't forget what happened last time," Rachel warned.

"You're right. I need to go buy a snake bite kit," he said. Rachel just shook her head.

"You guys are nuts," she said.

"It's fun, and a little fun around here wouldn't hurt, especially since..." Ross trailed off. He didn't like bringing up Richard's death much, but Rachel knew what he was referring to.

"I know. Have fun, but good, clean fun not something crazy, okay?"

"I will try," he said, kissing her forehead. "I'll see you later."

"Come home in one piece!" she shouted after he went out the door.

Joey & Phoebe

"You know I'm a little bit insulted," Joey said. Phoebe was giving him a massage at her place in the bedroom. "I'm a fun guy, right? Why would Ross and Chandler say they haven't had fun?"

"You are a fun guy. I guess this Gandolf is just more fun," Phoebe said.

"Well, I'll show him. Tonight I'll show him who's the funnest guy ever," Joey said, making a face.

"Of course you will," Phoebe encouraged. He rolled around so that he was facing her, pulling her down for a kiss.

"I hate to leave you," he said.

"Go. Show up the wizard," Phoebe said. "Then tell me all about it later."

"Will do," he grinned, kissing her again. Then he got up and got dressed. Phoebe watched from the bed.

"Do you think Monica is doing okay?" she asked while Joey put his t-shirt on.

"I think so. She took the critic gig, so that means she's willing to go out in public and work again."

"She was working with me," Phoebe said, disgruntled.

"Yea, but she stayed in the back and cooked while you mingled with the customers. This way, she's going out in public."

"I see," Phoebe nodded. "I'm worried she's going to abandon our business."

"Maybe it's for the better if she does," Joey suggested.

"But what am I gonna do?" Phoebe complained.

"You'll find work again I know it," Joey assured her. "I gotta run. I'll see you later." Phoebe flopped back down onto the bed, feeling disgruntled.

The Next Day

"I'm so bummed Gandolf didn't come," Ross said. He was with Chandler and Joey at the Perk, and all three were supporting sore, dry throats and headaches from their attempt to party last night.

"Well, we did learn that we are too old to party," Chandler said. "I mean, come on, we can't do that stuff anymore. We have responsibilities. Ross, you're married for God's sake, and Joey, you're an actor. The time for acting like an idiot has passed."

"Yea. I mean, did the music have to be that loud," Ross said, gripping his forehead as another pulse from his headache went past.

"Hey, guys," Monica said, entering. "How was the wizard?"

"He didn't show," Ross answered.

"Oh, that's too bad," Monica said sympathetically. "You guys were so excited."

"Eh. We discovered we're too old to party," Chandler sighed.

"Well, are you too old for free food?" she asked. "I'm going to Allesandro's tonight to critique."

"We are never too old for free food," Joey said seriously.

"Yea, did you even have to ask?" Ross laughed.

"Good. I'll see you guys there," Monica said, smiling. Chandler felt glad to see her smile. It seemed like she hadn't smiled so freely in a long time.

Evening

"Thank you guys for coming," Monica said. They were about to dig into their meals. She raised her glass. "To us."

"To us," the others replied, smiling at each other and clinking glasses.

"And to Rachel, for becoming an assistant buyer!" Monica added.

"Oh, you guys," Rachel blushed. She had convinced Joanna to make that position for her. She would be starting tomorrow.

"Well, tuck in! Enjoy the free food," Monica said, picking up her fork. Joey was the first to put his fork into his mouth as always. Monica noticed his facial expression change to one of disgust.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing," he lied. "It's great!" He swallowed hard.

"Oh, sweet Mother of God," Phoebe choked, pounding her chest with her fist. She caught Monica's eye. "It's just so good."

"I, uh, I forgot I already ate," Rachel said, setting her fork down. Ross started coughing, his eyes watering.

"Mmmmmm," Chandler said sarcastically, forcing himself to swallow.

"Okay, that's it," Monica said, shoving some food into her mouth. She immediately wanted to spit it right back out. "Oh my God!"

"It's...it's..." Joey tried.

"Awful," Monica finished for him. "I'm so sorry you guys."

"Well, at least we didn't have to pay for it," Ross said.

"How is anyone eating this?" Rachel asked, looking around. The restaurant was fairly dead save for an elderly couple in one corner and what looked like a bunch of high teenagers in the other.

"I'm afraid to say that my review isn't going to pleasant," Monica said.

"Oh my God," Rachel said. "Is our waiter carrying our breadsticks in his pants?!"

"Let's get out of here," Monica said. They all stood up and piled out the door.

The Next Day

"It's Allesandro from Allesandro's," the man's voice said. Monica panicked. He'd read her review! How did he know where she lived? It was a little creepy.

"I'm not letting you in," Monica said.

"Oh, do you need to get in?" Phoebe's voice said. "Here you go."

"Phoebe!"

"Oh, hey, Mon!"

"Damn it," Monica muttered. Within moments there was banging on her door. She opened it to find a very disgruntled looking man standing there.

"You must retract your review!" he demanded. "Our food is not inedible swill!"

"I couldn't eat it! I have five friends who couldn't eat it, and one of them eats books!" she cried. They glared at each other.

"Well, our service wasn't grossly incompetent," he argued.

"Um, what do you call a waiter who carries breadsticks in his pants?" Monica asked.

"All right, but still, you said we accept the Discovery Card, which we do not," Allesandro finished.

"Fine, I'll take that out, but the rest stays! You're an Italian restaurant for God's sake, and your food tasted nothing like it. I will show you what a good sauce tastes like. Give me those tomatoes," she ordered. Allesandro obliged. Within the hour, she had a sauce made, and after he tasted it, he offered her the job as head chef right away.

"I...I don't know what to say," she said.

"Say yes," he begged. "I will lose my restaurant if I keep going the way I am."

"Well..."

"You will make it beautiful," he went on. "I know you will."

"Oh all right," she said, blushing. "I'll do it!" Allesandro gave her a huge hug, which she reluctantly returned.

"I will see you tomorrow!" he cried before leaving. Monica felt ecstatic, but then she felt worried. How was she going to tell Phoebe that she was abandoning their catering business?

Phoebe

She had been incredibly hurt that Monica was bailing on their business, but she decided to hear her friend out after her initial reaction of storming off.

"Hi," Monica said. "I'm so glad you're gonna hear me out."

"I'm hearing," Phoebe replied.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I've found some things you could do with the van," Monica started. "You could be a flower delivery person!"

"What?!" Phoebe was outraged.

"Or a bakery delivery person..." Monica tried.

"Wha-what?!"

"Pizza?"

"Mon!"

"Okay I'm sensing you don't want to deliver."

"No."

"If you don't want to deliver, then I guess you don't want to pick up either."

"No," Phoebe said quickly. Monica deflated.

"Okay, you know what? Let's...let's just do the catering business," she said.

"Really?" Phoebe asked, getting excited.

"Yea. I made the commitment to you, it'll be fun," Monica said. Phoebe noticed she didn't look too happy in her eyes when she said it.

"Oh it will be so much fun!" Phoebe cried. "I already got us a wedding reception! Oh, I'll start making plans!" She grabbed the notebook and flipped to find a blank page. Ten pages later, there still was ideas for the van, so Phoebe stopped. She looked at Monica.

"You really wanted me to do something with this van," she said. Monica didn't respond. "You know what, I want you to take the head chef job."

"Are you sure?" Monica asked, getting a little bit of the light back in her eyes. Phoebe knew she was doing the right thing.

"Yes. You really want it, and I want you to be happy. I don't want to be the reason you're unhappy," Phoebe said. "Especially since..."

"I know," Monica said softly. "It's kind of the first time I've felt excited about anything since Richard died."

"And I don't want to ruin that," Phoebe said. "Take the job. You'll be fantastic at it."

"Aww Phoebs," Monica said, tearing up. Phoebe pulled her into a huge embrace.

"I love you," Phoebe said.

"I love you too," Monica sniffed.

Ross & Rachel

"How was your first day as an assistant buyer?" Ross asked when Rachel came in.

"I will never be an assistant buyer. I am being demoted to Personal Shopper," Rachel said.

"What? What happened?"

"Joanna died, that's what happened," Rachel answered. Ross covered his hand with his mouth.

"Oh my God! How?"

"Hit by a cab," she answered, looking at him. Ross felt nauseous suddenly.

"I...I said bus," he said. "Not cab. I had nothing to do with it."

"Maybe not, but you still said it out loud!" she said. "What am I going to do?!"

"I had no idea I had that much power," Ross said, thinking.

"Ross! I'm being serious here!"

"I'm sorry. This is just so...wild. I don't know what to say."

"I should have made her write the contract on the spot," Rachel muttered. "Don't tell Monica that Joanna died."

"Why not?"

"I just think it's still too soon after Richard..."

"Rachel, she's not fragile. She can hear about people dying it's not going to make her worse," Ross said.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. We can't treat her with kid gloves it won't help. People die, Rach, it's the way of life."

"I know. I just didn't want to make her sad again, especially since she got the head chef job."

"It won't make her sad," Ross promised. He hugged her tightly. He really hoped it wouldn't. He didn't let on to the others, but he was worried about Monica. Her light was slowly coming back, but he knew she was still sad deep inside. He knew he wouldn't be fully himself if something happened to Rachel.

Monica & Chandler

"Hey," Chandler said, coming into the apartment. "Christmas is coming up fast, and I have no idea what to get Kathy. Any suggestions?"

"Why? Cos I'm a girl?" Monica asked, trying to hide her tears.

"Well, ye-what's wrong?" he asked, seeing her wipe her eyes. "Are you all right?"

"I just...I really miss Richard," she said, crying again. It wasn't just about Richard. Her staff at the restaurant were being complete assholes, and she didn't want to admit that to anyone right now, especially Phoebe. She didn't want anyone to worry about her.

"Aww Mon," Chandler said, going around and pulling her into a hug. "I know you do. I'm sorry I'm so daft."

"You're not. I just have these moments every now and then," Monica said.

"And you will," Chandler nodded.

"He loved Christmas," she sniffled.

"Mmhmm," Chandler said, not sure of what else to say.

"Anyway," Monica said, pulling away. "You're having a crisis?"

"Mon, my crisis can wait," Chandler said.

"No. I need things to distract me, and this is good," she said. "Didn't you mention about a book she loved as a child?"

"The Velveteen Rabbit!" he exclaimed. "Yes! That's perfect!"

"Glad to help," Monica smiled through her tears. Chandler squeezed her hand.

"If you ever need to talk, Mon, I'm here," he said.

"Thanks, Chandler," she replied. There really wasn't much to say other than she missed Richard like crazy. "Actually, I want to take a wreath to his grave on Christmas Day. Will you go with me?"

"Sure," he said instantly. "Count me in."

"Okay," she nodded.

"We'll get through, eh?" he said.

"Yea. We'll get through," she answered. She knew her friends loved her, and she loved them. She couldn't ask for more.

Thanks for reading and reviewing!