Thanksgiving

Monica was in a fluster. Her parents were there for Thanksgiving Dinner, and of course her mother had already flown through the comments of her being single, her job, her hair, her nails, etc., etc. Monica was fed up.

"Whoa," Joey said when she slammed down the turkey onto the counter. "You okay, Mon?"

"Who, me? Yea, I'm fine," she snapped. Joey's eyes widened, and he searched her forehead. Then, he swallowed hard. He got up from the chair and ran over to Phoebe. Monica rubbed the sweat off her forehead, wondering what it was that made him run away so fast.

"Can I help?" Chandler asked, coming up next to her. Monica turned to look at him. Ever since Janine moved in with him, she felt angry. Chandler wasn't going out with the woman, but Monica still felt like it was a betrayal to their relationship, which technically didn't even exist yet. She didn't know if it ever would. She was too afraid to bring it up, and she wished she wasn't so scared.

Chandler looked back at her knowing he should have talked to her sooner about everything, but he had chickened out as well. He didn't know where things would go. He didn't want to lose their friendship, but he also didn't want to leave it like this either. He figured he would pick the right moment, and it just hadn't presented itself yet.

"Not if you can somehow take my mother far, far away," Monica answered finally. Chandler smirked.

"I know. She isn't really fond of me."

"She's not?"

"No. I don't know why," Chandler mused. They both looked over at Judy sitting on the couch beside Jack. She was examining the back of Monica's pillows, making Monica grunt in frustration.

"She thinks I live like a slob in secret," she growled.

"It's outrageous. I watched you hand wash all those pillows too," Chandler commented.

"So how's Janine," Monica said, changing the subject. She hated the woman's name really.

"Hm? Oh, great. She invited me to join her and her friends uptown for Thanksgiving."

"And you came here instead?" Monica asked, surprised.

"Well, it's not Thanksgiving without a little bit of Geller drama of some sort," Chandler winked. She jabbed him with her elbow in return.

"Thanks," she said sarcastically. Then she noticed what was going on with the stove. "Hey, Rach? Your dessert is on the fritz."

"Ah! Sorry," Rachel cried, coming over. Monica wondered what the hell she was even making. It looked weird. After a little more preparation, dinner was ready.

"No cranberries?" Judy asked, sitting down. Monica groaned inwardly. She knew she had forgotten something.

"Right here," Chandler replied, pulling them out of the fridge. Monica gawked. Where had they even come from? Chandler winked at her as he set them on the table right in front of Judy. Monica blushed a little.

"Smells good, Mon," Ross smiled at her. Monica noticed he and Rachel kept giving each other secret looks all evening. Something was up. She could tell.

After Dinner

"Okay," Rachel said, setting down the dessert onto the table. She was quite proud of it. Some of the things seemed odd to put in the trifle, but her pregnancy was making her crave some weird combinations anyway. She found the potato/custard mix to be not too shabby. Even the jam and the beef was tolerable. She looked around at everyone's faces, and she knew she had done something wrong.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Nothing," Ross answered instantly, jumping up. He started cutting it up and serving it. "Looks great, honey."

"Excuse me," Rachel said, rushing to the bathroom. Ross knew she was going to be sick. The morning sickness was hanging on still. She was a little over six weeks pregnant.

"What the hell is this thing?" Joey asked. Phoebe got up and examined the cookbook.

"Oh no," she said, holding it up. "The pages were stuck together. We have a Shepple Pie."

"A what?" Monica asked, confused.

"Oh, I put together Shepherd's Pie and Trifle," Phoebe said grinning.

"I like it," Joey said. "Shepple Pie."

"Just pretend to like it, okay? She worked really hard on it, and I don't want to make her feel bad," Ross ordered everyone.

"Sorry about that," Rachel said, returning. She looked a little pale. Ross noticed Monica watching her. Their plan was to announce the pregnancy to everyone after dinner. He hoped his sister wouldn't give it away before they did.

"So, Rach, does this have meat in it?" Phoebe asked.

"Yea," Rachel answered.

"Shoot. I can't have any. I don't eat meat," Phoebe said, giving the others a smug look. Ross glared back at her. He wasn't looking forward to this at all, but she wasn't helping.

"Oh, that's okay," Rachel smiled. Once everyone had the dessert in front of them, she watched expectantly. Ross caved and had the first bite.

"Oh my God," he said, hiding his grimace. "This is so good!"

"Mmmmmm," Monica chimed in. Ross could tell she was about to throw it back up from the face she was making.

"Oh, wow," Chandler commented. "This is so good...I have to share it with the world." Rachel watched confused as he went to the balcony.

"I'm gonna call my friend Mary and tell her how amazing this is from Monica's room," Judy said, getting up and hurrying away.

"I'll hold the phone for you," Jack said, rushing after her.

"I gotta go to the bathroom and watch myself eat this in the mirror," Monica said, leaving. Phoebe sat there smirking as Joey shoveled it all into his mouth with no breaks for breathing.

"You're so sexy when you eat," she told him. Joey flashed a grin back at her between bites.

"Why is everyone leaving the table? Is it that bad?" Rachel asked, reaching for Ross's plate.

"No! Ah uh!" he shouted, cramming the last bit into his mouth until his cheeks were full.

"Ross," Rachel started.

"Chandler probably has some left," Ross said with his mouth full. She went out to join him while Ross rushed to the garbage and spat it all out.

"Nice," Phoebe laughed.

"Oh, God," Ross choked. "It tasted like dirty socks!"

"I liked it," Joey said.

"How could you like that?"

"What's not to like? Jam? Good. Custard? Good. Potatoes? Good. Beef. Goood," Joey finished. He went in pursuit of the other people's plates.

"So, you used my dessert as a shield from a bird by throwing it at it?" Rachel asked, returning with Chandler.

"It was going for my eyes!" Chandler exclaimed. "I had to defend myself!"

"Mon?" Rachel asked when Monica emerged from the bathroom.

"Yea?"

"Was it really that bad?"

"No, sweetie, it was fine," Monica lied. She hurried to her room to prevent her mother from further snooping when she overheard Judy and Jack talking about Chandler.

"I don't see why they let him hang out with them if he enjoys getting high," Judy was saying.

"Excuse me?" Monica asked, confused.

"Oh," Judy said, covering her mouth.

"Chandler does not do drugs," Monica defended.

"That's not what Ross said," Jack shrugged. Monica turned and charged to Ross.

"Uh oh," Ross said, seeing her coming. He flinched when she whipped out her finger into his face.

"You told Mom and Dad that Chandler does drugs?" she asked.

"No," he answered, unsure.

"You know, he said they didn't like him and were acting weird around him all night. This is why!" she cried, jabbing Ross's chest vigorously. "Fix it!"

"I can't," Ross said.

"Why not?"

"Cos then they'll know I was the one who got high."

"So?"

"I'm Ross," he answered. "I don't do that sort of thing."

"Oh please," Monica snapped. "Tell them or I will." Judy and Jack returned to the living room at this point, and they were watching Monica and Ross arguing.

"I can't," Ross said.

"Ross does drugs!" Monica shouted, turning to face their parents. Their eyes widened.

"What?" Judy asked.

"Not Chandler. Ross," Monica added.

"Is it true?" Jack asked him.

"It was in college, and it was only two times!" Ross exclaimed. "I was coerced into doing it!"

"Oh, Ross," Judy said, shaking her head. Monica had to admit that it felt good to see Ross get taken down a little bit.

"He also stole your playboys, Dad, not the mailman you fired," Monica chimed in. Ross glared at her.

"Hurricane Gloria didn't break the porch swing, Monica did!" he shouted.

"Hey!" Monica cried. "Ross was the one who borrowed your dresses, Mom!"

"Monica lost Chichi once!"

"Ross borrowed Dad's car for a date in high school!"

"Nice try," Ross said. "Like they'd believe that. I didn't date in high school."

"Then where did you go with the car?" Jack asked, incredulous.

"I'd rather not say," Ross answered, shifting awkwardly. They all got shouting then, and Ross was about ready to shout that Monica had married Chandler when Rachel stood on the kitchen chair and shrieked loudly.

"STOOOOOP!"

They all turned to face her. She glared at them all.

"Enough!" she cried. "You're all acting crazy! If anyone is going to act crazy, it's gonna be me. I'm pregnant!"

There was a stunned silence in the room then until everyone erupted at once with "congratulations," "we love yous," and "why didn't you say so earlier?"

"So, I just want to clarify that I don't do drugs," Chandler said to Jack and Judy while the others were still hugging Rachel.

"We're sorry we believed it," Jack said, shaking his hand. "You seem like a nice guy."

"I'm gonna be a grandmother!" Judy cried, hugging Ross tightly.

"You already are a grandmother," Ross replied.

"I am?"

"Ben!" Ross cried. He hadn't seen much of his son lately with Carol and Susan traveling so much. He had the odd weekend visit, but that was all. He was thinking of asking for joint custody soon.

"Oh, right. Ben," Judy nodded. She hugged him again. Monica sighed in relief. The attention had been taken off of her for a little bit. It was nice. The door opened then, and Janine stuck her head in.

"Chandler? My friends decided to hang out in the apartment after all. You wanna come hang with us?" she asked. Monica cringed inside.

"Oh, all right. Twist my rubber arm," Chandler said, grinning goofily. He followed her out. Phoebe rushed over to Monica.

"If you like him, you have to tell him," she ordered. Monica hugged herself.

"I don't know how."

"What do you mean, you don't know how? Just tell him," Phoebe said, exasperated.

"He got an annulment, Phoebs. That speaks volumes."

"About him not wanting to be married. You guys haven't even dated, so why would you stay married?" Phoebe asked, laughing. "Any logical person would have done the same thing. It's not his way of saying he doesn't want to date you."

"You think?"

"I know. Go talk to him," Phoebe said, giving her a small push. Monica went to the door and closed it behind her. She stared at Chandler's door, heart pounding. This was it. She knocked, and he answered. She noticed the lipstick on his mouth and cheek instantly.

"Hey," he said.

"You've been making out," she commented, pointing.

"Oh," he said, wiping it off. "Yea, the one girl got a little carried away." It wasn't something he had instigated. He hoped Monica realized that.

"Can we talk?" she asked. He came out and closed the door.

"What's up?" he questioned.

"Did you make the cranberries?" she asked, chickening out. He tilted his head. He had a feeling this was about more than the cranberries.

"Of course."

"You knew I forgot?"

"I noticed. I didn't want to make you feel bad, though, so I just did them."

"That was...really sweet," Monica smiled. He smiled back. She wasn't going to say anything else. He wondered what she really wanted to say to him.

"Chandler!" voices called.

"I should entertain my guests," he said. "Unless..."

"No, that's it," Monica said quickly. God she was a coward. He went back inside with a wave and a smile, and she hit herself in the head a couple of times. What was the matter with her?! Why was she so afraid?! She went back inside. Phoebe met her eyes, and Monica shook her head slightly. Phoebe looked disappointed. Monica busied herself with tidying up while Ross and Rachel talked to her parents about the pregnancy. After a while, Phoebe joined her.

"I know you can tell him," she said. "The time has to be right,"

"I should have said something when we were married," Monica sighed.

"You'll have your time," Phoebe said to her. "And you'll know exactly when that time is. You just will."

Two Weeks Later

"You hang out with your friends way too much," Janine commented. "How can you stand them? Joey is all about food. Ross and Rachel are so absorbed in their own lives to care about anything else, Phoebe is spacey, and Monica is so loud."

"Whoa," Chandler said, holding up his hands. They were standing in the kitchen. Janine was leaning on the counter while Chandler was by the fridge.

"What?" she asked, seeing his hands.

"Don't attack my friends," he told her.

"I'm not attacking. I'm...noticing," Janine corrected.

"I don't see much of a difference," Chandler commented. Monica entered just then, and he knew how bad she'd feel if she knew what Janine had just said about her.

"Hey," she smiled. "You ready?"

"Sure," Chandler smiled back.

"Where are you two off to?" Janine asked.

"To find a big open space to yell in," Chandler answered, steering Monica out the door.

"What was that about?" she asked as they went down the stairs.

"Nothing," Chandler replied. "But I think we need to find me a new roommate..."

A Week Later

"So, Janine is gone? Just like that?" Joey asked. No one had noticed his apron yet as he sat on the couch beside them in Central Perk.

"Yea," Chandler sighed. "She was too judgy."

"In what way?" Rachel asked. Ross was holding her hand while looking through a magazine.

"Just in a not nice way," Chandler shrugged. He didn't want to tell them.

"Oh my God!" Ross exclaimed.

"What?" Rachel asked, peering at the magazine. "Hey! That's a playboy!"

"I know," Ross replied, pulling it back from her grip. "They published my joke!"

"You tell jokes?" Chandler asked.

"They put jokes in playboy magazines?" Monica asked. She shared a look with Phoebe.

"It breaks up the photos," Joey defended. Phoebe shot him a look at this, and he cowered.

"See?" Ross said, shoving it into their faces. They read it, and they laughed a little half-heartedly at it. Chandler didn't laugh at all.

"That's my joke," he said to Ross.

"No, it's my joke," Ross corrected.

"That I had told to you," Chandler threw back. "Thus making it mine!"

"Are you two seriously fighting over a joke in a magazine?" Monica asked. They both turned to face her. "Seriously? It's not even that funny. You do know that it's actually offensive to women, doctors, and monkeys, right? You're seriously going to fight over ownership of a terrible, offensive joke?"

"It's his joke," Chandler said instantly.

"No, it's Chandler's joke," Ross started.

"How about we just throw it away and pretend it never happened?" Rachel asked, taking the magazine out of Ross's hands.

"Sure," he agreed. Joey stood up then.

"Well," he said. "Back to work." Everyone stared at him.

"You work here?" Chandler asked.

"Oh, yea," Joey nodded. "I need the money."

"We wanted to surprise you guys," Phoebe laughed.

"Well, I'm surprised," Monica commented. Chandler gave her a look, which she returned. Joey working at a coffee shop. This would be interesting.

A Week Later

"Ross, I'm so sorry," Rachel said, breathing heavily as she entered their apartment. She leaned on the chair where he was sitting.

"About what?" he asked, puzzled.

"This," she replied just as a blonde woman entered the apartment behind her.

"This is where you live?" the woman asked.

"Hi, Jill," Ross said, plastering a fake smile on his face. He knew of Rachel's sisters, but he hadn't spent much time with them. The time he had spent with them was not enjoyable at all.

"Daddy kicked me out, so I thought maybe I could stay here," Jill said.

"For how long?" Ross asked. Rachel kicked him. "Ah! I mean, of course!"

"Where's my room?" Jill asked, wandering around. Rachel took her to see it. She gave Ross a look over her shoulder as they rounded the corner. Ross just knew this was going to suck.

Chandler & Monica

"I'm not sick," Monica said, her voice thick with mucus. She coughed violently into Chandler's mouth.

"Oh, I think you're sick," he replied, wiping his face. They were in her apartment, and he had seen her come staggering up the stairs and had decided to help her out.

"I don't get sick," she argued.

"I hate to disagree, but I'm disagreeing with you," Chandler said. "Come on. Get into bed. I'll make you some soup."

"You gonna read me a story too?" she asked, teasing. Then she sneezed loudly.

"Of course," he grinned. Monica did feel lousy, and she knew she really was sick.

"I'm really fine-d," she said.

"If you're putting the letter 'd' at the end of 'fine' then you're not fine," Chandler commented.

"I'm fine-d," she tried. "Fine-d!"

"Fine-d your way to the bed," he ordered. She obeyed. She crawled in under the covers. It was nice to be taken care of. She had been going back and forth in her head for a while now about telling him she was still crazy about him despite the whole marriage/annulment thing. Maybe this was the time Phoebe had talked about at Thanksgiving.

"There we go," Chandler said, setting the soup on the nightstand beside the bed. Monica gave a feeble smile.

"Thanks," she said.

"Eat it before it gets cold. I'll be back with some water," he said. Monica sat up and sipped at her soup. It did taste good, and it made her feel good too. Chandler gave her some cold medicine, and before she knew it, she was asleep.

...

Monica awoke in the dark, panicking. What time was it? Was she late for work? Where was she? She flailed in the dark, hitting the glass of water on the nightstand.

"Oh, no," she cried. She turned her lamp on and assessed the damage. "No!" She picked up the origami swan she kept on her nightstand that Chandler had made her for Christmas all that time ago. It was ruined. She felt like crying. It was the nicest gift he'd ever given her, and she had wrecked it. She held it in her hands for a moment before she noticed something on the paper. She gently adjusted it so the words were glaring up at her in a wet, smudged kind of way.

Monica, I love you.

What?

"Oh my God," she gasped. He had given this to her years ago, so this meant he had loved her back then?!

"Mon? What's wrong?" Chandler asked, coming into her room and startling her.

"How did you...?" she started, confused.

"I slept on the couch. I didn't want you to be alone while you had a fever," he answered. Then he saw what was in her hands. "What's that?"

"Your origami swan," she answered, not breaking eye contact. She saw his eyes flick to the writing and back to her face.

"I see," he said.

"You love me?" she asked. She had to know. He rubbed his hair with his hand tightly. Then he looked at the floor. "Chandler?"

"I do," he replied. "I did then, and I do now. I think I always have. I've just gotten swept into different relationships when you were taken, but they weren't nearly as good as the way I feel about you."

"You're serious?" she asked, standing up.

"You have a fever," he tried, worried about her getting cold.

"Chandler, you're serious that you love me right now?" she cut him off. He kept her eye contact.

"I'm dead serious," he answered. Monica felt her heart start to race.

"Well, I love you too," she said. He stared.

"You do?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"Since Kathy."

"Since Kathy?!" he exploded. "That long ago?!"

"I'm sorry," she winced.

"No, no," he said, calming down. "It's okay. You thought I was happy. You didn't want to ruin it."

"I have been trying to figure out how to tell you for so long. When we got married, I had my opportunity then, but I got scared."

"I did too." He knew it. Her coming to his apartment on Thanksgiving had been her attempt to say something. He had been right after all.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yea. I mean, who gets married before even dating?" he asked, laughing. He noticed her shivering then. "Come on, get into bed. You're sick."

"So, what happens now?" she asked.

"Well, would you like to go on a date with me?" he suggested.

"Okay," she smiled.

"When you're feeling better," he noted. "I want to do this right. I don't want to rush into anything."

"Right," she nodded. He touched her cheek then, feeling how hot it was from the fever. She shivered, but not because of the fever.

"Get some rest. We can talk more in the morning," he said.

"Okay."

Chandler turned out the light, and Monica set her head back down. Then she got back up.

"I got it," Chandler said, returning with a cloth to wipe up the spilled water. She relaxed then.

"Thank you," she said sleepily.

"I have known you long enough to know that would make you get out of bed," he laughed. "Good night."

"Good night."

She smiled as she fell asleep. She was finally going to go on a date with Chandler Bing.

I bet you're all gonna go look for the chapter where Chandler gives her the origami swan aren't you? Just so you know, her finding that message was my plan all along to finally get them to confess feelings. Thanks for reading!