I just had a thousand new ideas for this series. :) Okay, well, maybe not a thousand, but a few. I really loved writing this one. What do you think of it?

The Other Way Round

The phone is ringing. Monica moans. She just sat down after a busy day and isn't in the mood to get up again to see who's calling. She closes her eyes and tries to ignore the phone. But it's not working. Whoever it is that is on the other side of the line doesn't want to give up so easily. With a sigh Monica gets up.

"Hello?" She asks.

"He-he-lo-o. Mo-on?" The connection is really bad. The words come out of the phone very chopped. And there is this loud hissing sound that makes understanding really difficult.

"Hello? Who is it?"

"Cha-andle-er" comes out of the phone.

"Chandler? Is that you? I can hardly hear you!" Monica shouts.

"Wa-ait." Monica hears steps. "Is it better now?" The noises are still loud but at least the words aren't chopped anymore.

"Not good but better. What is going on, Chandler?"

"Well, turns out Yemen is a really nice country. You should definitely visit some time soon."

"Chandler, don't be silly. You didn't really go to Yemen, right?"

"Unfortunately I have to say, yes."

"Chandler!"

"What?"

"I can't believe you really got on the plane. What were you thinking?"

"Not much, Monica. Janice wouldn't leave until the plane took off. What else should I have done?"

"Tell her the truth!?"

"What? No, I couldn't do that."

"And now you're in Yemen?"

"Yes, I asked an old woman if I can sleep at her house tonight. I don't think she understood me, but she took me to her house anyway. Because the next plane to New York is only leaving tomorrow."

"I can't believe you're in Yemen," Monica laughs.

"Please, would you stop laughing at me and help me out here?"

"Okay, what do you need me to do?"

"Could you please book my flight at the New York airport? I tried it here, but they didn't understand a word. Can you believe that? I mean, everyone should be able to understand English. At least at the airport."

"Okay, I can do that."

"The flight leaves at 6am tomorrow morning, but Yemen time. I already found that out. Speak to them at the airport and tell them I have to be on that flight."

"Okay, I try. See you tomorrow, Chandler. I'm gonna be at the airport to pick you up!"

"You don't have to do that, Mon."

"But I want to be the first one to laugh in your face for being so dumb and going to Yemen."

"Janice?" Monica asks and looks at the woman on the chair at the airport. Her eyes are red and she doesn't look up at Monica. "Janice?" She repeats.

Janice lifts up her head. "Monica? What are you doing here?"

Monica came to pick up Chandler, but she doesn't think it's a good idea to tell that to the girl he run away from. She went to the airport immediately after she put down the phone and was able to talk to a very nice lady at the airport. She booked the flight for Chandler. The only thing he had to do was go to the airport in Yemen, identify himself and pick up the ticket. Monica still can't believe Chandler really went through with his plan. She knows how scared of commitment he is, but flying to Yemen? That's crazy, even for Chandler Bing.

"Monica?" Janice is still looking at her. "Why are you here?"

Monica doesn't know what to say. "Umm, sometimes I … I just really like to hang out at the airport."

"Really?"

"Of course. I … I love the airport," Monica says. She starts to sweat, because Janice is looking at her intently. Monica is sure that her face is really red by now.

"You like the airport? It's not even that clean," Janice states.

"Yes, I like the hustle and all the noises here, they calm me down."

"Okay," Janice says slowly. Monica has a headache from listening to this horrible voice already. How has Chandler ever be able to go out with this talking siren?

"Yeah, but I really have to go now," Monica says quickly. "I really wanna grab something to eat here. I love the food at the airport."

"You're a cook, Monica. I always assumed you only like fancy food," Janice says. Damn it. Janice has definitely spent too much time with Chandler. Why does she know everything about Monica?

"Oh, Janice, please don't tell anyone," Monica says pleadingly. "Nobody knows. And they are not supposed to. Yes, I always say I like fancy food, but …. I crave fast food. So I have to sneak away. That's why I'm here. Nobody knows me here."

"I understand," Janice suddenly says. "I won't tell anyone, Monica. You know? It's great that we have our own little secret now. What do you think, maybe we can hang out some days until Chandler comes back?"

"I really have to go now, Janice," Monica says elusively. "I'm soo hungry!" With a red head she hurries away. Luckily Janice doesn't follow her but makes her way to the exit now.

Janice would have been devastated to hear that Chandler lied to her. But more than that, Chandler's flight to Yemen would have been for nothing. Because Monica knows him good enough and she also knows that he would have never been able to tell Janice he doesn't like her.

When Monica arrives at the gate, the first few people are already leaving the plane. She hopes Chandler hasn't come out yet. Monica tries to cast a glance at the door, but the people standing in front of her are too tall. She gets on her tiptoes, but still can't see anything.

"You really came?" Chandler suddenly moans. He is standing right next to her. He looks tired, really tired.

Monica turns around and smiles. "Of course, Chandler. I wouldn't want to miss my best friend coming back from Yemen. So, what did you do there?"

Chandler just rolls his eyes.

"Oh, and I want to know everything about the food there. Did you have the chance to eat something? Or was your trip too short for that?" Monica is laughing out loud.

Chandler doesn't say anything.

"Are you tired? I'm sure. It was a long and hard way to break up with somebody."

"Shut up," Chandler says.

"What? I pick you up at the airport and all you say is that? I hope you brought me a souvenir as an excuse!" Monica smirks.

"I hate you!" Chandler moans, but he has a smile on his lips.

Monica smiles, too. "I'm glad you're back," she says and pulls him into a hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," he whispers in her hair. Then he pulls away. "And I actually brought a souvenir. I bought it at the airport, but I guess it counts."

He puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out a small booklet.

Monica takes a look at it. "Taste The Yemen?"

Chandler scratches his head. "Yeah, well, I wasn't able to try the food there, but I … well, it's a thank you for booking my flight. And I guess also for picking me up. But now it seems stupid." Chandler blushes and begins to walk through the airport.

Monica runs after him. She wraps her arms around his left arm. "Chandler, that is so sweet. Thank you."

"You like it?"

"Yes, I like it. Even though you wanted to fly home immediately, you thought about me. For that reason alone I love it."

"Maybe we can have dinner …"

"Chandler?" A voice suddenly asks.

Oh no, Monica would recognize this voice out of a thousand voices. And she's sure Chandler does, too.

"Janice?" He cracks out. "What are you doing here?"

"I … I couldn't stay here without you, Chandler. I just booked a flight to Yemen."

"Oh no, Janice," Chandler sighs.

"But you are here? What is going on you two?"

Chandler starts to look around hecticly. How can he escape that situation? Run away! Run away! A voice in his head shouts. But then he looks at Monica. He couldn't do that to her. He can't leave Monica here with his ex-girlfriend. Or girlfriend. Chandler really doesn't know what this is between them.

Okay, he tells himself and talks a deep breath. He has to tell the truth now.

"Monica and I are dating," he bursts out.

Janice's jaw drops and Monica has to laugh so hard that she starts coughing.

"Why are you laughing, honey?" Chandler asks her and squeezes his arm.

"I'm … it's just so funny," Monica stills laughs and Chandler looks at her pleadingly. "Because … you know, everyone thinks we are just friends and in truth we are dating. That is … funny."

"You two are dating?" Janice asks in disbelieve.

"Well, yes. I'm dating Monica," Chandler says and another fit of laughter escapes Monica's mouth.

Chandler presses his lips on her cheek and whispers: "Stop laughing and help me out, please!"

Monica takes a deep breath. "Yes, it's true," she says, her voice shaky as she is still trying not to laugh.

"I … I can't believe I haven't noticed earlier," Janice mumbles.

"What?" Chandler asks.

"Well, now that I know it's just so obvious. You both had a crush on each other for a very long time now. I'm happy it finally happened."

"What?" Chandler repeats.

"You have always been so close. I noticed that but then Ross explained me that you've always been that way and that you just have a very special friendship. Do none of your friends know?"

Chandler shakes his head. "No, and we would really beg you to keep it a secret, Janice. It's going too well and we don't want to ruin it by telling everyone."

"I understand," Janice says slowly. "And I can keep secrets very well, right, Monica?" Janice gives her a wink and Chandler looks from one woman to the other with a questioning look on his face. Monica rolls her eyes and Chandler smiles at that.

"Thank you, Janice," Monica says.

"Well, Chandler, I guess this is goodbye then, right?" Janice says cautiously.

Chandler nods.

Janice moves towards him and pulls him into a tight hug. "It's so obvious why you chose her, Chandler. I didn't want to say it in front of her, but she looks a lot like me. You love her because she remembers you of me, right?"

Chandler doesn't know what to do. So he just nods.

"Goodbye Bing-a-ling," Janice says.

"Goodbye Janice," Monica smiles, curious about what Janice has told Chandler.

"Bye you two," Janice waves. "I think I'm going on a vacation in Yemen. Is the beach nice?"

"Of course," Chandler nods and smiles.

Then she is gone.

Chandler takes a deep breath.

"What did she say to you?" Monica asks.

"That I chose you because you remember me of her," Chandler smiles.

"Of course you did," Monica laughs.

Chandler laughs along, but his thoughts are still on Janice's words. You love her because she remembers you of me, right? He doesn't think he ever chose a girl just because she remembers him of someone. But when he looks at Monica and she smiles up at him, he starts to wonder. He has always loved Monica in a friendly way, but lately he is asking himself if there could be more. Maybe, maybe in the future he can really think about that. But all he wants to do right now is get some sleep. He wraps his arm around Monica's shoulder and pulls her close. As she snuggles closer to him, there is one thought on his mind: Janice was wrong. He would never choose Monica because she reminds him of Janice. If he did something like that, it would definitely be the other way round.