Warm Soda

Okay, when I started writing this I had a completely different idea on my mind for this episode. But somehow – I don't know how – when I was writing it that came out … This doesn't even have a real plot, but I decided to show you anyway. Please tell me what you think. :)

Chandler is watching Ross and Monica exchanging their Christmas gifts they just got and feels bad. Why didn't he go shopping earlier this year? Why was all he could get gifts from the gas station? When he told Joey about his idea, Joey was very keen. And Chandler didn't really think of it as a bad idea either. But now, seeing his friends' reaction, he isn't sure anymore. He has always been the king of crappy presents, but he thinks this year he just bought the crappiest. He doesn't really feel sorry for Rachel. It's hard to find a present that she likes anyway. And Phoebe was really thrilled about her present. Well, at first. Chandler doesn't know how she feels about it now. And Ross … he's actually really happy about the gift they've gotten Monica in the first place. It's Monica whom he feels bad about. He got a great present from her and he gave her condoms? He doesn't remember being that stupid ever.

Monica opens her cola drink.

"Alright, guys, I'm gonna head home now," Ross says and gets up. "I have to get up early tomorrow."

Monica gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Ross. You have Ben tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah!" A smile lights up Ross' face.

"Say hi to him and merry Christmas!"

"Will do. See you later, guys."

"Oh, Ross, wait! I'm coming with you," Phoebe decides just then and gets up as well. "That whole looking for my father thing was really exhausting for me. Merry Christmas, guys!"

"Merry Christmas!" They all yell.

"Hey Chandler, what about us?" Joey asks.

"What?" Chandler didn't really concentrate on the conversation going on around him.

"I have to get up early tomorrow as well. I'm spending the day with my family. So I think I'm gonna go to sleep as well. You?"

Chandler stays in his seat, not sure what to do now. He really wants to apologize to Monica, but how?

Rachel yawns as well. "I'm gonna go to bed as well. Good night, guys!"

"Good night, Rachel."

"So, are you coming?" Joey asks.

Chandler shakes his head. "No, I think I'm gonna help Mon clean up the mess."

"Okay, sure, good night, Chandler. And thanks, Mon!"

As soon as the door is closed behind Joey Monica turns to Chandler. "So, you are really going to help me?" She is smiling. She has spent enough time with him during the last few years to know that he is not a great help.

"Yes, of course."

"Chandler, that's not why you stayed, right?"

Chandler sighs. "No, I wanted to apologize."

"What for?" Monica looks at him confused.

"Well, the present ..." Chandler blushes and looks away.

Monica begins to laugh. "Chandler, you don't have to apologize for that. It's okay." She is already putting plates away put comes back to the couch when she sees the look on Chandler's face. "Sit down." She points to the couch.

Chandler sits down, not at all comfortable with that kind of situation.

Monica holds up the two cans of soda. "Cola drink or lemon lime?" She asks. "I already opened the cola one, but haven't tasted it yet, so you can still choose."

"Mon, these are your gifts, I'm not gonna drink any of them."

Monica smiles, opens the lemon lime and hands him the can. "Don't worry, I'd love to share it with you."

"Thank you, I don't deserve it though."

"I don't think that's true, Chandler." She clinks her can to his. "Merry Christmas, Chandler." Then she takes a sip.

Chandler shrugs and begins to drink as well. "I feel so horrible because of this bad, bad joke with the condoms. I … I didn't … it was Joey's idea, but I didn't tell him not to buy them, so I'm sorry, Mon."

"Chandler, don't think about it too much. It's not like I've given you a very precious present."

"I love your present, Mon!" Chandler says and takes the framed picture in his hands. It's a photo of the six of them. They are all standing in a line. Monica and Chandler are standing in the middle, their arms wrapped around each other. Chandler has his other arm around Joey loosely, but Joey is turned away and sticking out his tongue to Phoebe, who rolls her eyes at him. Rachel has both of her arms wrapped around Monica's waist, giving Ross the cold shoulder, but looking at him intensely. "I love it," Chandler repeats.

"I thought you can maybe take it to work and put it on your desk. So it might get you through a boring day of work." Monica blushes slightly.

Chandler puts an arm around her. "I will do that." He takes a look at the photo again. Monica is smiling directly at the camera, but his eyes are on her. He remembers the day this picture was taken vividly. They have been drinking coffee at the coffee shop and Monica decided that it's time for a picture of the six of them. They haven't taken a picture since Rachel showed up, so it was about time. Chandler remembers how it was really important to Monica, but everyone else just kept joking around. She was so serious that moment, but every time the camera clicked she just smiled. Chandler was amazed by that, by her and couldn't take his eyes of her.

"We sure destroyed that photo, right?" Chandler chuckles.

Monica shrugs.

Chandler puts his left hand over Phoebe, Joey and himself and his right hand over Ross and Rachel so that now only Monica is to be seen. "That's a pretty picture."

But Monica shakes her head. She moves his left hand just a bit so they can see the both of them. "I think that's great." She smiles at him sheepishly.

Chandler grins. She's right. Then he removes his hands again and nods. "Yeah, I love it. Because it just … it describes our small group the best."

"You're right. I don't think we would ever be able to take a normal picture."

"Normal is boring, Mon." Chandler takes another sib of the soda and grimaces. "Ugh, we didn't even buy the good stuff."

Monica chuckles. "It's not that bad. Actually, I think it wouldn't taste that bad if we would have put it in the fridge first. Warm soda is never tasty."

Chandler nods and smiles. "We should totally do that more often," he says.

"What? Drink warm soda? Because, while I really enjoy it right now, I don't think I would be able to drink that every night."

"No, this. Just us, hanging out, talking."

"Oh, this. Yeah. We should definitely do that more often."

"I kinda miss this. We did that a lot when we first moved in, remember?"

"Yes, of course I remember, Chandler. I was always looking forward to it."

"Yeah, me too."

They lapse into silence. Chandler is thinking about the first days in his new apartment. He was so proud to have an apartment in the big city. And then he found out that the girl next door wasn't only his best friends' sister. He knew that before. But when he moved in here he realized that she is also one of the greatest women he has ever met. On his first evening she invited him over for a drink, and it was a millionth times better than the soda they are drinking right now. They had the drink and talked. Then had some more drinks and talked more. They talked for hours. It was almost morning when he got up and left for his apartment. He remembers this moment like it was yesterday: he didn't really wanted to leave, but got up anyway. She told him what a nice evening it was. He didn't know what to do and then kissed her on her cheek. And his face turned a dark shade of red afterwards. And when he opened the door to his apartment he just knew he had found a friend for life.

"So, we have a deal?" Chandler asks.

Monica looks at him with a puzzled look on her face. "What?"

"We have a deal? We're gonna do that more often again?"

"I'd love that."

"Great, I'll bring the drinks."

Monica takes the last sip of her soda, puts the can down with a disgusted grimace on her face and shakes her head. "No, honey, please. I can only put up with a limited amount of warm soda. Let me take care of that!"

He knew it. He knew it from the very beginning: This woman is going to make his life so much better. And she is. Every day. Chandler chuckles and pulls her close to his side. "I'm okay with that," he says. "But you know what, Mon? As long as you are sitting next to me, warm soda doesn't even sound that bad."