I haven't forgotten about this story I promise. I was trying to wrap up some shorter stories first. I also have been trying to get my house ready to move into, and it's a LOT of work still to go. Anyway, happy reading!

A Week Later

"Joey! You were supposed to let me fire you!" Monica hissed. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"I'm so sorry! I was gonna do it, but I'm standing here with 258 dollars in one hand and 327 dollars in the other, and I was thinking that it's been a long time since I've had..." He stops to do the math.

"585 dollars," Monica finished.

"How did you do that?" he asked, surprised.

"That is so not the issue here," Monica interrupted gruffly. "You were supposed to make me look tough! I've got to fire you!"

"And I've got to pay rent! Look, what if I stay here and gain their trust, and after a while they'll start listening to the nice things I've been saying about you?" he posed.

"You've been saying nice things about me?" she asked, happy.

"Well, not yet. They really hate you, and I want to fit in," he replied sheepishly.

"I think it would be best for you right now to get out of my sight," she said tightly.

"Yes, ma'am," Joey bowed before scurrying off. Monica sighed. She went back to work, trying not to think about Richard for the millionth time. Ross had told her about Joanna dying, and even though she promised it wouldn't upset her, a tiny part of her felt upset. She was sick of death. Sick of bullies. Sick of feeling this way. It had only been seven weeks and a bit since Richard died, but it still felt like yesterday. There was no way she was going to lie down and take this nonsense. She would fight back. It was time to pull a Monica one more time.

Phoebe

"Argh! This song is driving me nuts," Phoebe groaned, throwing her pen and paper down.

"Then don't write it," Joey suggested.

"But I have to! It's almost Christmas, and I need a holiday song," Phoebe argued.

"What's got you stumped?" he asked. They were at his apartment, and she was sitting on the stool at the counter. He leaned over her shoulder to look.

"Nothings rhymes with Rachel," Phoebe complained.

"How about angel?"

"It's better than dreidel," she agreed, crossing it out.

"Oohh Chandler, that's a hard one," Joey mused.

"I might lump him in with someone," she answered.

"Good idea." He gave her a kiss then.

"Hello, children," Chandler said, entering as if on cue. "Oh, no do you guys have to do that?"

"It's part of dating," Joey shrugged.

"Yes, but do I have to see it?"

"You're the only one who knows about it," Phoebe laughed.

"Does it have to stay that way? I mean come on, you guys have been together a while now. Let the world know," Chandler begged. Phoebe and Joey looked at each other.

"Nah, we're not ready," Phoebe replied.

"Damn it," Chandler muttered.

"Hey, look. I got rent!" Joey exclaimed, waving the cash around.

"Wow, where did you get all that?" Chandler asked.

"Tips at Monica's restaurant."

"Dude, you gotta let her fire you! She's suffering over there," Chandler chastised.

"I know, I know! I just...it's been a long time having this much money, man," Joey whined. "I can't do any more experiments right now my doctor said it could really damage me."

"All right, but promise you'll do it soon," Chandler warned.

"Deal."

Ross & Rachel

"What are we going to do for Christmas this year?" Rachel asked. Ross was flossing his teeth.

"I dunno. I haven't really thought of it," he replied truthfully.

"I mean, we could go to my Mom's and listen to her cry about past Christmases and put down Dad, or we could go to your parents and hear about how Monica needs to move on," Rachel mused. "Which sounds more appealing?"

"Neither," Ross answered.

"What if we did our own thing?" she asked.

"I'm listening," he said, sitting down beside her.

"I mean, we could stop by and visit your parents in the afternoon and see mine the next day but have dinner here with our friends."

"I think Phoebe is going to her birth mom's this year," Ross said. "And Joey always goes to his family's."

"Chandler?"

"I think he's going to Chicago with Kathy," he answered.

"Well, I guess it would be a lot of work for just the three of us," Rachel said wistfully. "Let's just go to your parents' then."

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Ross apologized.

"It's okay. Maybe one day we will have our own traditions," she smiled. Ross hoped so. Little did she know, though, that he had a plan formulating.

Two Days Later

"What do you want from me? Do you want me to quit?" Monica cried. She was standing outside the freezer covered in marinara sauce. Joey knew he had to do something, and he knew exactly what.

"Hey, Chef Geller," he piped up. "Remember your speech the other day? Well, I got a problem with it."

"You do?" Monica asked hopefully.

"You bet I do. I just, uh, wasn't listening then."

"Well, if you want a problem, I'll give you a problem!" Monica cried, getting into it now.

"Oh yea? What are you gonna do? Fire me?" Joey challenged.

"You bet your ass I'm gonna fire you! Get out of my kitchen! Get out!" Monica shouted. Joey made a show of throwing down his apron and storming out. He wasn't an actor for nothing. Everyone was stunned. Monica finally had their attention.

"Anyone else got a problem?"

"No, ma'am," the one called Chuckles said.

"Then you, get the swordfish! And you, start chopping those onions! And you, get a haircut!" she hollered. Power back felt very good. After about a few minutes of reveling in her victory, Joey came back in.

"Guess I shoulda thought about my wife and kids before back talking to Chef Geller," he said loudly. Monica squeezed his arm.

"Thanks," she smiled.

"Gonna be a lean Christmas in the Tribbiani household this year."

"Okay, enough," Monica warned.

"Yup. Lean, lean, leeaan," Joey continued as he walked out the door. Monica just shook her head, containing her laughter.

Later

Phoebe cleared her throat at the microphone. The gang turned to face her. It was time for her big Christmas song.

"Went to the store, sat on Santa's lap.
Asked him to bring my friends all kinds of crap.
Said all you need is to write them a song.
They haven't heard it, so don't try and sing along.
No, don't sing along.

Monica, Monica, have a happy Hanukkah.
Saw Santa Claus, he said hello to Ross.
And to tell Rachel that she's an angel.
And please tell Joey, Christmas will be snowy!
And lastly to Chandler, have err-umm-glander!"

"Wow," Monica said.

"She couldn't find anything for my name," Chandler pouted.

"The angel line was my idea," Joey bragged.

"Well, it was sweet," Rachel grinned. "Thanks, Joey!"

"Merry Christmas everybody!" Phoebe called, waving.

December 25

Monica opened her eyes. Here it was. Another difficult day to get through. She didn't think she could deal with her mother today. The fussing and "Why don't you try dating again?" b.s. was getting annoying. The man was barely 8 weeks gone! She slid out of bed and padded out to the living room.

"Merry Christmas!" Emily called.

"Wh-what?" Monica stammered. "What are you doing here?!"

"Well, my flight got cancelled because of the weather," Emily explained. "So I'm spending Christmas here with you." Monica felt a little relieved. Emily hadn't been around lately, but she knew about Richard. She had this way of making Monica feel better without trying too hard.

"Huh," Monica said, looking outside. The snow was indeed coming down. The clock said nine in the morning.

"Merry Christmas!" Phoebe and Joey called, bursting through the door.

"Hey! I thought you were going to Montauk?" Monica asked Phoebe.

"My Mom had other plans," Phoebe shrugged. "And I don't think I could get out there in this weather anyway."

"And you," Monica said, turning to Joey. "You've always got a big dinner..."

"I wanted to spend it with you guys," Joey answered. "I get to skip the whole who's gonna eat the most turkey before throwing up game."

"Sounds...interesting," Monica laughed.

"My Dad always wins," Joey mused.

"Hey, you guys!" Rachel cried, coming in with Ross in tow. "Merry Christmas!" Monica saw Joey and Ross share a look, and she knew her brother was behind all this. The only one missing was Chandler. She felt a little bit sad, but not enough to ruin her mood. Ross set down the bags of ingredients and the turkey.

"You didn't have to do this," Monica said to him while the others chatted.

"I wanted to. Besides, you don't need Mom going at you today," he said.

"You're the best," she replied, hugging him.

"Ho, ho, ho!" Chandler chanted, coming inside. Monica looked over at him.

"You're not in Chicago?" she asked.

"No. I promised a friend I'd take a wreath to her loved one's grave today," he answered. Monica teared up a little.

"You want us all to come?" Ross asked.

"No. I'll be okay," Monica promised.

...

The snow was coming down heavy while Monica and Chandler stood before Richard's grave. Someone else had left a wreath already, and Monica suspected either Richard's ex wife or one of his children.

"You okay?" Chandler asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Yea. I mean, I'm sad, but I don't feel like the world is ending anymore, you know? Is that bad?" she asked, worried.

"Not at all. We are allowed to move on. It doesn't mean we forget or love them any less," Chandler answered. "I don't think Richard would want you to stay so sad anyway."

"You're right. He'd give me a kick in the pants," Monica grinned ruefully.

"He knows you love him, and he loves you. Don't let it bring you down," Chandler advised. "Let it fill you up and make you smile."

"I feel like he's with me sometimes," Monica nodded.

"Hopefully not when you're dropping a deuce," Chandler joked.

"Chandler!"

"I'm kidding," he laughed. She swatted him anyway.

"Did Kathy like the book?"

"She loved it."

"I'm glad."

"Me too."

"You really love her, huh?"

"I do. I honestly think one day, she might be my wife," Chandler said. Monica felt a small twinge inside of her. It surprised her.

"Look at you, all grown up," she teased.

"I know. It scares me," Chandler laughed.

"Shall we?" she asked, gesturing. He looped his arm through hers, and they walked back to the apartment where all her friends and brother were working to make it a happy Christmas after all.

Two to Three Weeks Later

"Frank and Alice want you to what?!" Joey asked, incredulous. His news about working at the museum with Ross went flying out the window.

"They want me to carry their children," Phoebe confirmed. Joey gaped at her.

"You have to have sex with your brother?!"

"No! Ew! I'm just the surrogate. It's their sperm and egg. I'm literally just the oven to their bun," Phoebe explained.

"Oh, I get it. You had me going for a second," he laughed. "So, are you gonna do it?"

"I don't know. It's huge. So huge."

"Really huge," he agreed.

"But I mean, it's the greatest gift I could give them," she went on.

"I think we should hear from the others," Joey said nervously, heading to Monica's where everyone was hanging out. Phoebe followed.

"Hey," Monica said. "What's up?"

"Frank and Alice want me to be their surrogate and have their babies," Phoebe said happily. Ross dropped his toast. Rachel covered up her gasp with a cough. Monica stared, and Chandler's eye brows disappeared into his hairline. Emily was not there as she had returned to England for a week.

"And no, she doesn't have to sleep with Frank to do it," Joey added, feeling that needed to be clarified. Ross just stared at him.

"Wow, honey, that's a big thing to do for someone," Rachel said finally.

"Yea. Not to mention that you'll be pregnant," Monica chimed in.

"I know," Phoebe said cheerily.

"You'll put your body through so much and for someone else," Ross finished. "Like morning sickness and labor."

"What's your point?" Phoebe asked.

"The stuff I just said," Ross answered.

"You guys were more supportive when I wanted to make denim furniture," Phoebe complained.

"We will support you," Joey said for everyone. "We just want you to think it through first."

"Yea. Maybe talk to your mom," Monica suggested.

"My mom didn't have a baby. Oh, but my birth mom did!" Phoebe exclaimed, jumping up. "I'll go talk to her!" She went running out the door. Chandler sidled up to Joey.

"Are you okay with this?" he asked quietly.

"What? Yea, totally. I think it's a nice thing she's doing," Joey nodded.

"There will be a point where she's so pregnant she won't want to...you know," Chandler gestured.

"Really?"

"Well, I don't know cos I'm not a woman, but being around a pregnant woman might be hard. I hear those hormones go all over the place," Chandler grimaced.

"Yea, but I can take it," Joey said. "It's Phoebs."

"You're a good man, Joe," Chandler said, patting his shoulder. Joey just grinned.

Later-Monica's Apartment

"Okay," Chandler said, coming into the apartment. Monica and Rachel turned to face him. "I know you're gonna go ahead and laugh, but I need help. I had sex with Kathy for the first time, and, well..."

"Was it bad?" Rachel asked.

"It was fine, but I don't think it shattered her world," Chandler said dejectedly.

"Well, it was your first time together. It's not always earth shattering," Monica said helpfully. She wasn't sure why he was talking to her about this. She hadn't really thought about sex much in the past eleven weeks or so.

"You gotta help me. I swear she stifled a yawn. I gotta do better or she might leave me," Chandler begged. Rachel looked over at Monica, who decided to help him.

"All right," she said, pulling out a pad of paper. "I'm going to show you something that a lot of guys don't know..."

Joey & Ross

"What is the big deal with sitting next to me at lunch, huh?" Joey asked.

"I just...I sit with the other guys," Ross answered.

"But we're friends!"

"Yes, but..."

"But what?"

"I dunno," Ross sighed. Why did he sit with the doctors? Was he really that pompous? Joey was making a good point, not that he'd admit it.

"I'm just saying, it hurts our feelings," Joey added. That made Ross feel much worse.

Later

"What an adorable puppy!" Joey said, bending down to play with it.

"Uh huh, yea. I have to give it back," Phoebe said.

"What? Why?"

"Cos that's my Mom's lesson here. I have to give it back to learn how hard it is."

"Oh. That's a fair point," Joey said, agreeing with Phoebe's Mom.

"I can't do it," Phoebe cried. "I can't give him up."

"Well, look at it this way. He makes messes, cries, and wants all your attention. If you give him up, you get to see him and not have to deal with any of that," Joey pointed out.

"Wow, you make a valid point," Phoebe said, getting it. "You know, you're smarter than most people give you credit for."

"I know," Joey beamed.

Two Days Later

"Well?" Joey asked when Phoebe came in.

"I gave up the puppy. There was a bit of an issue trying to get it back from Frank since it was my Mom's dog, but in the end they saw her point," she answered.

"So you're having their babies?"

"I'm having their babies," she smiled. "I'm really doing this."

"Wow, Phoebs," Joey said, pulling her into his lap. "You're amazing."

"I know," she grinned. He went to kiss her when Chandler's bedroom door blew open. Joey shoved her off quickly. Kathy didn't know yet. It didn't seem like she noticed them anyway as she went barreling past over to Monica's.

"What's going on?" Joey asked, seeing Chandler standing in the doorway with a smirk.

"The Earth shattered," he answered before going back inside his room and closing the door. They heard a resounding "Yes!" afterwards.

"What do you suppose that means?" Phoebe asked.

"No idea," Joey shrugged.

"How did it go with Ross at the museum?" she asked.

"We broke the pattern. I also learned a lot about a few of his coworkers," Joey answered, furrowing his brow.

"Good or bad?"

"I'm not sure."

Kathy came running back then, and she practically hurled herself back into Chandler's room.

"Pizza?" Joey asked.

"Ya." They hurried out before all the noise started again.

I have so much more planned. I know I keep saying that, but I'm excited :D