On the top

After she comes home from work Monica walks up the stairs to her apartment. The whole last week she couldn't stop worrying about Ross and Rachel. Their break-up still really bugs her and she wonders if the two of them would ever be able to talk normally to each other again. It's hard for the whole group, but she feels like it hits her the hardest. They are her best friend and her brother after all. The moment she reaches her floor she knows that she has to talk to Chandler. She hasn't seen him much lately, because after Ross and Rachel had broken up the group somehow divided into boys and girls. She misses just talking to him. He's going to help her figuring some things out.

"Hey, Chandler," she yells as she enters his apartment.

Chandler, Joey and Ross are all standing at the kitchen counter, talking about something that looks serious.

"Oh, sorry, I can come back later," she mumbles and wants to open the door again.

"Mon, you don't have to leave," Ross says.

"So, it's not a guy-thing?"

"No, we don't talk as much as you girls. We've already finished."

Monica walks over to Ross. "So, how are you?" She hasn't seen her brother much in the last few days either, because she was hanging out with Rachel all the time.

"I'm okay," Ross says and shrugs.

"Sure?"

"Yes, I really am. I'm glad you came over. I missed you lately, Mon."

"I missed you, too, Ross, that really sucks, huh?"

"Ehh," Ross mumbles.

"Hey, Mon, did you want to talk to me?" Chandler asks.

Monica shakes her head. "It can wait," she says. She really wants to talk to Chandler alone.

The door opens again. "Hey, Chandler," Rachel shouts.

"Wow, I'm a popular guy today!" Chandler says and smiles.

"What? Uh, never mind, I just came over to ask if I can borrow your moisturizer?"

Chandler choughs. "I … I don't have something like that."

"Come on, Chandler."

"I … I don't even know what that word means!" Chandler shouts and blushes.

"Chandler. You let me borrow your moisturizer every time I ask you for it."

Without saying anything Chandler walks into the bathroom, his cheeks still red.

"Don't you have enough cosmetics already?" Ross mumbles quietly, but Rachel spins around immediately.

"Excuse me, what do you care?"

"Oh, I don't care. I really don't. It's just … really sad … that a woman like you has to borrow a moisturizer from a guy."

"Shut up, Ross," Rachel yells and rolls her eyes.

And within a few seconds they are both yelling at each other, forgetting that there are other persons in the room. Monica looks at Joey, whose eyes are wide open and fixed on his yelling friends.

Chandler comes out of the bathroom and stops abruptly. "How long was I in there?" He asks.

Monica grins at him. "If you don't want your ears to get permanently damaged you should just go back in there." She points at the bathroom door. "To be honest, I really want to come with you."

"Then come with me, Mon." Chandler grabs her hand and pulls her into his room. The two of them can still hear their friends fighting, but it's better to have a door between them.

"So, what do you want to borrow? My mascara? My nail polish?" Chandler asks while sitting down on his bed.

Monica looks at him confused. "What?"

"I know I sounded annoyed when Rachel came over earlier, but, hey, I would lend you my best make-up!" Chandler smiles.

Monica chuckles and sits down next to Chandler. "I don't wanna borrow anything, Chandler. You can keep your precious make-up."

"So why did you come over then?"

"I just missed you."

"Huh?"

"Since the night Rachel and Ross broke up we haven't really seen each other. Well, maybe we've seen each other at the coffee house or so, but we didn't really talk. And I don't like that!" Monica's head sinks down on Chandler's shoulder.

Chandler wraps his arm around her. "I don't like that either."

"You said they are going to get through this, Chandler!"

"I know. I really thought they will."

"And now? You don't think that anymore?"

Chandler stays silent.

"We were on a break!" They hear Ross shout.

Chandler shakes his head. "No, to be honest, I don't think so."

"But they are Ross and Rachel!"

"I know, Mon. And, I know he's your brother and you really love him, but Ross is a wuss!"

"Yeah, I thought so, too. Why didn't he fight for her? Is that just a guy thing? I mean, I want a guy who fights for me, who doesn't bail at the first opportunity."

"If I would ever have a relationship like they had, that lasted so long and seems to really go somewhere, believe me, even I wouldn't let the girl go that easily. And you know what a wuss I am!"

"You're not, Chandler. I'm pretty sure that, if you finally find the right girl, you will do anything to keep her. That's just the kind of guy you are."

"If …"

"Hey, you will. Any girl would be lucky to have you."

They sit together in complete silence for a while. Both are dwelling on their own thoughts. Monica is still thinking about Ross and Rachel. She had a hard time getting used to the fact that her best friend is dating her brother. Even though Ross had a crush on Rachel since forever it was a whole other story seeing the two of them together. But she got used to it and after more than a year she couldn't imagine the two of them not being together. They were Ross and Rachel, like Chandler had said the night they broke up.

"Chandler?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think we will ever have a relationship like they had?"

"What?" Chandler pulls away from her and moves over a bit.

Monica laughs. "No, Chandler, you should have seen the look on your face!" She chuckles. "I meant, you with a girl and I with a guy."

"Hm, what kind of relationship do you mean?"

"Well, you know how we always used to say: They are Ross and Rachel. Like their names couldn't go by themselves anymore. I mean a relationship that everyone else thinks as the perfect one. A relationship everyone wishes to have."

Chandler thinks about it for a few seconds. "No," he then says. "I don't think so. Thinking about the last women I went out with, and this was mainly Janice, I don't think I will ever have a relationship everyone else wishes he would have."

"Well, I haven't had the perfect relationship yet either. Remember how all the guys a date are either idiots, too young, too old or … idiots? But whatever, I don't need the perfect relationship everyone wants."

"Me neither."

Monica puts her head down on Chandler's shoulder again. "Do you know how happy I am to have you?"

"Really?" Chandler smiles.

"Yeah, if I wouldn't have you I would be the only neurotic person around here."

"Hey!"

"I'm sorry, Chandler."

"You are kinda right. We are the most neurotic people." Chandler wraps his arms around her tightly. "But …"

Just then Joey opens the door to her room.

"Oh, hey, Joey, did they leave?" Chandler asks.

"Yes!" Joey puts his arms to his sides. He looks angry. "Hey, Chandler, do you remember how you had the idea to hide in your room? And do you remember how you thought, hey, let's take Monica with me?"

"Yes, Joe?"

"Bad idea!" Joey points at the two of them. "Very bad idea!"

"What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? I had to spend half an hour just listening to Ross and Rachel's fight and they always tried to pull me in it so I couldn't go."

"I'm sorry I didn't save you."

"Well, don't be, 'cause I know you're not."

"Joey …"

"You were in here, talking to Monica about unimportant stuff and I was out there …"

"Joey, it's not like I abandoned you in the middle of war."

"Yeah, but still."

"Joey, are you jealous of Monica?"

"No!"

"We haven't seen each other in a while and we just needed to talk."

"Yeah, but I needed you, too."

"Joey, I'm sorry. I try to help you next time."

"Thanks, it's just, Monica is always on top of your list."

"Joey, you are both on the very top of the list!"

Now Joey begins to smile. "Yeah, I know. I love you, too, dude!" With that Joey closes the door again.

Monica turns around to look at Chandler. "So, I'm on top of your list?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"What kind of list is this?"

"That's my very special list of people who annoy the crap out of me," Chandler smiles.

Monica hits him playfully.

"Just kidding. You're my favorite, Mon!"

Monica feels her heart fastens its beat. She doesn't understand why Chandler always seems to be bad with women, because with her he's always great. And so cute. That's why she doesn't need the perfect relationship. Because she has the perfect friendship. They might not be Ross and Rachel, the perfect couple everyone wants to be. But they are Monica and Chandler, the very best of friends. And that's all she needs right now.

"You're my favorite, too, Chandler!"