Author's Note: First of all, I'm sure I'll come up with a better title for this story. Flip the Script — as it's called for now — is a re-write of the series from the beginning. The course of the series will change almost immediately; as the first scene in this chapter is something we're familiar with. Lines were either reassigned to Joey, Phoebe, or omitted altogether. Of course, I also took my own creative liberties as well.

Monica Geller sighed in exasperation, glancing between Phoebe and Joey as they continued to ask her an endless stream of questions about the guy, Paul, she was going out with later that evening. This wasn't the first time her friends have done this sort of thing, but it bothered her anyways. It was nowhere as bad as her mother's critical comments whenever Monica called her on the phone.

"Monica, you're twenty-five and you continue to associate yourself with these hippies. Don't you think it's time you start looking for a husband? It's time to grow up, sweetie."

"Monica, your fashion sense is atrocious. You continue to dress like you're two hundred pounds. Let the world see your beauty and Lord knows a guy will finally ask you out."

"Monica, is being a chef really something you want to do for the rest of your life? It's time-consuming, and I worry that it's taking time away from you finding a husband."

No matter what her mother said, the conversation always came back to Monica needing to find a husband. It certainly didn't help when she received a wedding invitation in the mail that past spring to her former childhood best friend's wedding. Monica hadn't seen Rachel in years; and she knew that it would be wise not to attend the event, which was just a few weeks away.

Monica understood her friends were only looking out for her, especially after what happened with Kip Wilson. Her Nana Thea had warned her about Kip when Monica first moved to the city; that he was known to be a bit of a Lothario in the apartment building. But Monica had been young, naïve and was feeling good about her figure for the first time in her life.

It was nice to be wanted by a guy for once, instead of it being the other way around. Kip said all the right things so Monica would trust him, and Kip made all the right moves to fool her into believing that she was safe with him; that he actually cared about her, and they were going somewhere; that this relationship was it for her.

Until one day, Kip dumped her out of the blue and left without saying as much of a good-bye to the group. A few months later, Ross and Phoebe had received a wedding invitation from him; but both declined to go. Monica was left feeling sickened and heartbroken. It wasn't until she looked back some time later that her Nana Thea had been right about Kip.

The worst thing about it all was that Monica had lost her virginity to Kip. She was far from being the religious sort who believed in abstaining from sex before marriage; but she did believe that sex was meant to be between two people who loved and cared about each other deeply.

While Monica was in love with Kip and cared about him, he clearly didn't feel the same for her.

After what happened with him, Monica decided never again; never again would she commit herself to a relationship with a guy. She couldn't bear to go through the heartbreak again and nobody has ever come as close to eliciting the same feelings within her soul as Kip Wilson had.

"There's nothing to tell, he's just some guy I work with." Monica sighed.

"Come on, Monica," Joey laughed, a look of disbelief on his face. "You're going out with the guy, so there must be something wrong with him. We all know you're a magnet for losers; this isn't going to go anywhere, and you'll end up heart-broken all over again."

"No, really?" Monica shot back wryly. She knew she had a bad track record when it came to dating, but there must be some decent guys out there; but none of them matched what she was looking for in a romantic partner. She was not ready to get married, not until she found 'Mr. Right'. For now, she was focused on no-strings-attached sex, no commitment so she won't get her heart broken.

"Wait a minute!" Phoebe cried suddenly as she sat up on the sofa. "Does he eat chalk?"

"What?" Monica shook her head. "No, he does not eat chalk."

"I just don't want you to go through what I went through with Carl." Phoebe shrugged, leaning back in her seat. Monica rolled her eyes at the typical antics of her best friend. She loved Phoebe more than words could describe; but goodness, that woman was on another planet most of the time.

"Just relax, all right? This isn't even a date; it's just two people going out to dinner."

"And…" Joey queried. Monica shot him a glare.

"We may or may not have sex. Whatever we do really isn't any of your business."

"Sounds like it's a date to me!" Joey said to Phoebe with a smirk on his face.

"Whatever." Monica laughed, taking a sip of her lukewarm coffee. The three friends fell into a comfortable silence. While Phoebe and Joey could irritate her at times, she felt nothing but absolute adoration for the two. She couldn't help but think back to how she first met them years earlier.

When Monica first moved to Manhattan, her Nana Thea offered her the spacious apartment that she was somehow able to afford. Monica had been advised to get a roommate and Monica set off to do that almost immediately. She posted Roommate Wanted advertisements in the newspaper with help from Ross and Carol, both of whom had already spent some time in the same apartment.

Barely a whole day after she posted the "Roommate Wanted" ad in the newspaper, a woman showed up at the door of Apartment 20. Her outfit was wild and nothing like Monica had ever seen back on Long Island. She and Ross were immediately skeeved out by this stranger, but Carol welcomed her in with a wide smile, open arms, and offered her a cup of tea.

When the woman introduced herself as Phoebe Buffay and began telling the 'normal' parts of her life story – as instructed by her grandmother – Monica started to warm up to this quirky woman. It took Ross a bit longer but, soon enough, he welcomed Phoebe into their little group of friends. Kip Wilson, the neighbor across the hall, found his way into the group and they became five.

Joey moved into that apartment after Kip left, who had been recommended to him by a friend. The first encounter between Monica and Joey was awkward, and she was left feeling sick afterwards. But Joey was an honest man, apologized for the misunderstanding, and soon became friends with all of them. He demonstrated that he was true to his words and loyal to his companions. Although Joey could be inappropriate at times, he had nothing but a heart of gold.

"Hi," the dejected voice of Monica's brother broke through the comfortable silence some time later. The three friends turned and gasped when they saw that he was soaking wet. Ross sat on the vacant loveseat with a miserable sigh, running a hand through his damp hair.

"Ross?" Monica began, alarmed by her brother's disheveled appearance. "Are you okay?"

She knew that Ross had been taking this divorce from Carol hard. Ever since it became finalized a month earlier, her brother was struggling to cope. As she looked over the past year, the dissolution of the marriage, Monica now wished she had been more present for Ross.

"I- I just feel like some- someone reached down my throat, grab- grabbed my small intestine, pulled it out of my mouth, and- and tied it around my neck."

Monica noticed Phoebe's alarmed facial expression and Joey's confused one. She understood better than them as to why Ross embellished his misery in such a graphic way. Monica knew that Carol Willick played a significant role in her brother's life for several reasons. If it hadn't been for her… well, Monica shuddered internally at the horrific alternative.

Carol had saved Ross. Saved Ross from himself, and his destructive thoughts and action.

"Let me get you some coffee." Monica offered as she stood up, not taking her eyes off her brother as she approached the bar. She ordered a cup of decaf with no milk and two sugar.

"Oh, no! Get away!" Phoebe began to cry suddenly as she made frantic plucking motions with her hands in front of Ross. "Go, go on!"

"No, Phoebe. Don't do that. Stop cleansing my aura. Just leave my aura alone, okay?"

"Fine, then!" Phoebe snapped. "Be murky!"

Monica bit her lips as she fought back a laugh. Typical Phoebe trying to help in her own way.

"Look, I'll be fine. Alright? Really, I hope she'll be very happy." Monica didn't miss the sarcasm in her brother's voice. He really was taking this divorce pretty hard; she couldn't remember the last time he had looked so miserable.

"No you don't." Monica grabbed the cup of coffee and placed a couple dollar bills on the bar top before handing the beverage to her brother, who took a generous sip.

"You're right." Ross smacked his lips and sighed. "I don't. To hell with her, she left me!"

"Ross, look. I know you're feeling a lot of pain right now. You're angry, you're hurting. D'you want me to tell you what the answer is?" Joey suggested eagerly.

Monica rolled her eyes, anticipating what was about to be said based on Joey's grin.

"Sure, what is it? I'm up for anything." Ross shrugged, leaning forward in the seat.

"Strip joints! C'mon, you're single. Have some hormones, man!"

Yep, that's pretty spot-on, Monica thought with another eyeroll. She knew Joey meant well, but strip joints were something Ross didn't need right now. He needed support from his friends in meaningful ways that didn't involve watching women get undressed.

"I don't want to be single, all right? I want to be married again and Carol was it for me."

A few hours later the friends were sitting around at Monica's apartment watched a telenovela 'El Deseo Rojo del Amor.' Although none of them really knew any Spanish beyond the basics it was still enjoyable to watch and come up with imaginary dialogue.

"Well, I'm guessing he bought her that big pipe organ, and she's not too happy about it." Monica guessed as a man and woman argued on the television screen.

"I'll have whatever Christine is having," Phoebe said in a deep voice before the scene changed to show two women standing on a flight of stairs, one holding the other's bleach-blond hair.

"I say push her down the stairs." Joey pumped his fist eagerly as an argument escalated between the two women on the screen.

"Push her down the stairs! Push her down the stairs!" Phoebe and Ross cried alongside Joey.

The intercom suddenly buzzed, but Monica was too focused on the program to really pay it any attention. The low-pitch droning lasted for thirty seconds until Joey pulled himself away from the screen to answer the intruder.

"Hey, what's up?"

"It's, uh, Paul." The voice came through the intercom speaker, sounding awkward.

"Oh, my god!" Monica looked at her watch and saw the time. "It's 6:30! Buzz him in, Joey!" Monica hurried off the sofa and rushed into her bedroom, quickly changing into a nicer blouse. She hurried to the bathroom to make sure she looked presentable, quickly running a brush through her hair.

"Who's Paul?" Joey asked once she'd returned to the kitchen.

"Wait. Not Paul the Wine Guy, Paul?" Ross walked over to his sister.

"Maybe?" Monica shrugged, knowing that Phoebe and Joey would've figured it out.

"So your 'not a real date' tonight is with Paul the Wine Guy? Dude, that's a big deal!"

"He finally asked you out. I'm so happy for you." Ross wrapped his arms around Monica, who just rolled her eyes in response. It seemed like her brother was back to his usual teasing self, which was good; but she was still concerned about him and felt guilty about going on this date.

"Will you be okay, Ross? I can cancel this date."

"No way, are you crazy? Go! It's Paul, the Wine Guy!" Monica was a little alarmed at how excitable her brother was suddenly being; but she decided to let it go for now. Hopefully Phoebe and Joey would support him for the evening, as long as it didn't involve going to a strip joint.

There was a knock on the door and Monica hurried to answer it.

"Hi, come on in! Paul, these are my friends. Guys, this is Paul."

"So, Paul the Wine Guy, was it?" Ross quipped with a teasing smile. Monica shook her head, debating on whether or not she should cancel the date tonight. She didn't want to pass up an opportunity to relieve herself; but her brother was clearly becoming unhinged.

"How are you a 'wine guy' exactly? Do you make it? Do you deliver it? Do you serve it?"

Monica shot a glare at Phoebe, who nodded and pulled Ross away.

"Go on your date and have fun. Don't worry about us." Monica tried to protest but Phoebe pushed her and Paul out the door.

"Nice meeting you!" Paul waved after the friends as the door shut behind him and Monica.

"I'm sorry about my brother. He just got divorced and is going through a difficult time right now."

"Don't worry." Paul brushed off her apology an hour later as they sat at a candlelit table. "I want to say you're looking very nice tonight, Monica. Honestly, this is my first date since the divorce. I'm trying to get myself back out there, but it's been a bit challenging. I think the main issue is trusting the woman. My, uh, my ex… well, she cheated on me with her dentist. It went on for about a year before I caught her, and she didn't deny the affair."

"Oh, my god, that's awful!" Monica took his hand and squeezed it gently.

"I know, right? I'm such an idiot. I mean, I guess I should've caught on when she began going to the dentist four or five times a week. Seriously, how clean can teeth get?"

"Like I said, my brother just got a divorce and he's a complete mess. How'd you get through it?"

"Well, he could try breaking something valuable of hers. I went for the watch."

"Wow! So, you actually broke her watch? I don't think I've ever done that kind of damage." Monica laughed, thinking back to when Kip had suddenly up and left her. She didn't have anything of his to break, otherwise she probably would have; just as he'd broken her heart.

"Yeah, I took it pretty hard; she was my first girlfriend." Paul went silent for a moment. "You know, ever since she left me, I… uh, well… this is more of a fifth date kind of revelation. I feel a bit embarrassed about this."

"Oh. So, there'll be a fifth date?" Monica was a bit wary about this. Paul has been the wine distributor at her restaurant for a few months. Monica spoke to him just a handful of times before he expressed interest in going out on a date with her. Monica found him to be attractive, charming, and she imagined he'd be great in bed; but she wasn't looking to get into a relationship right now, and she almost felt bad for leading him on if he was indeed looking for something more.

"I think so? Ah, I mean, I hope I'm not being too forward here. But Monica, I really do feel like we could have something. I feel this intense chemistry with you. Whenever I'm in that restaurant, all I can think is 'I've gotta see Monica!' Seriously, nothing but great things have been said about you. You're smart, funny, charming, beautiful; all the qualities I look for in a woman.

"We don't have to rush into anything; but I'd like to see where this could go. I really think we could have something good. But, you know, if you're not looking for any of that, then I totally get it." Paul looked away from her, biting his lips. Monica could feel her resolve threatening to break.

"I- well, we'll see how this date goes. Anyways, what were you going to tell me?" Monica asked as she reached for her cup of coffee.

"All right, please don't laugh. But ever since my ex left, I haven't been able to perform… sexually."

"Whoa!" Monica spat out her coffee. She was not expecting to receive that kind of information.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She repeated, frantically reaching for a napkin. This guy was clearly vulnerable, he understood the meaning of heartbreak in the way she did, and he needed her now.

"No, it's ok." Paul laughed nervously, wiping his suit pants with a napkin.

"Being spit on is not what you need right now. I'm sorry about that. So, how long?"

"Two years."

"Wow!" Two years? This guy hasn't been able to have sex in two years. It took her a while before she was ready to engage in sex again with another man after Kip. After what he did to her, she decided that maybe being intimate shouldn't have to be such a sacred activity; being intimate didn't require two people to feel a deep connection and feeling of love. Sex could just be about having fun and relieving yourself from the day's stresses or whatever it may be.

"It's probably a good thing you smashed her watch, then!"

"So, do you think we could go on another date? Even after what I just told you?" Monica considered this for a moment. She was able to empathize with Paul. They both went through tremendous heartbreak by the ones they loved; but those people didn't love them in the same way. Maybe it was time to get back into the dating game and see where this relationship went. After all, it'd been more than two years since Kip left her.

"Yeah, I think so." Monica smiled as she resumed drinking her coffee.

A few days passed, and Monica still hadn't heard from Paul the Wine Guy. She figured that he really was trying to take it slow and not rush into a committed relationship just yet. After their date, they went back to Monica's apartment, where they watched a movie before moving to the bedroom. As usual, Monica enjoyed the relief that sex gave her, and she made sure to 'make up' for Paul's lost two years of not being able to perform in that way.

Monica understood that Paul was still traumatized from being cheated on by his ex-wife and the subsequent divorce. She didn't understand how a woman could carry on an affair for so long and not even care that she was hurting her significant other. Why not just leave him? Monica herself was still trying to warm up to the idea of being in a committed relationship after such a long time.

As she'd done for the last couple years, Monica turned her focus to work. The busy season was starting to slow down at Iridium; but it was the most popular place to be in Tribeca. While she enjoyed the company; the food and atmosphere were not her style.

She liked a laid-back environment for dining and ordinary, every-day American food. Sure, she liked to eat out at a nice restaurant occasionally, like she had done the other night with Paul; but she would never go to an expensive upscale restaurant such as Iridium.

"Hey, Monica!" Frannie, another line cook, greeted her as she stepped into the kitchen.

"Welcome back, Frannie! How was your vacation?" Monica smiled, eager to finally share her rendezvous with a work colleague. Joey and Phoebe have been giving her a hard time for the past few days, knowing very well that she could be falling for this Paul guy. Phoebe insisted that she call him, but Monica continued to remain guarded; she wanted Paul to call her so they could go on that second date. She wanted to see if they were compatible before she committed to a relationship.

"You had sex, didn't you?" Frannie inquired as she prepared her station. A blush formed on Monica's cheeks and Frannie gasped. "Girl, you not only had sex; but it seems to me that you're falling in love? Don't say no, because I dang well know the look of a love-sick puppy."

"Gosh, Fran… I don't know if I'm in love; but I'm definitely warming up to being in another relationship. He wants to take it slow, and I'm okay with that."

"Well, who is he then? Girl, don't dangle a treat then take it away!"

"All right, you know Paul?"

"Paul? as in Paul the Wine Guy? Oh, Lordy, do I know Paul!" Frannie laughed, shaking her head as she prepared her ingredients for the day's specials.

"Wait," Monica paused. "You mean you know Paul like I know Paul?"

"Honey, you kidding me? I take credit for Paul. Before me, the boy couldn't work his junk for two years. I gotta say, it's a blessing I came along when I did."

Monica stared at her colleague as the other woman began to work on the restaurant's special of the day. She couldn't believe she'd even been considering getting into a relationship with Paul. Fury settled over her and she focused on work to get her mind off the filthy pig who claimed that he was falling for her. Just like Kip, he knew all the right things to say and do.

"… and then she tells me that she takes credit for Paul because, before her, he hadn't had sex in two years!" Monica finished angrily that night at Central Perk. Joey, Phoebe, and Ross listened intently as she told the story.

"Am I the last one to realize that this was some pick-up line to get me into bed? I mean, I'm all for sex." Ross let out a disgusted groan, but Monica ignored him. "That's great and all, but to come up with some ridiculous bullshit about a cheating wife, not being able to perform, and claim that he was falling in love with me? Ugh, I've had it! I hate men, I hate all of them!"

"Oh, Monica. Please don't hate anyone. You don't want to put that sort of energy out into the universe." Phoebe told her friend.

"Hey, how about becoming a lesbian?" Joey waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Joey…" Ross warned.

"Pig." Monica snapped.

"All right, you. Come over here. Give me your feet." Monica huffed as she laid back on the couch and rested her feet in Phoebe's lap. She remained in quiet contemplation as Phoebe gently pressed her thumbs in slow circles on the sole of her feet.

"He was so nice. He seemed so genuine that I began to care about him. I started to consider that maybe getting into a relationship after all this time might not be so bad. I am such a fuck-up."

The group fell silent, with Phoebe humming as she massaged Monica's feet. Monica could feel the tension and aggravation begin to ebb away when Joey broke out in sudden laughter.

"I still can't believe you didn't know it was a line!"

"Oh, screw you." Monica pushed Joey off the chair. She loved him but Joey could be completely inappropriate at times. He rounded out the group well enough, but Monica didn't feel the same sort of connection with him that Phoebe and Ross had.

"Hey, good thoughts." Phoebe warned.

Monica sighed, allowing Phoebe to resume her massage. Joey was wise enough not to make another remark and instead bid the group good night. When Monica, Phoebe, and Ross were done with their coffee, Phoebe headed home while the Geller siblings went upstairs to watch some television.

She must have fallen asleep at some point because when Monica woke up on the couch a couple hours later, the television was playing the National Anthem, indicating the end of broadcast before the station went off air.

"All right, that's it." Ross stood from the loveseat, stretched, and threw his soda can in the trash.

"Are you going to stay here?" Ross has been spending the last few nights alternating between Monica and Joey's apartment, not ready to embrace the reality of being alone.

"No," he answered with a sigh. "I've got to go home some time. Might as well do it tonight."

"Will you be okay? Do you want me to come over?"

"No, stay here. I'll be fine, I promise."

"All right." Monica stood from the couch.

"Hey, Monica. What's that?" Ross pointed towards a shiny object near the ottoman.

"Oh, it's Paul's watch." Monica smirked, knowing just what she was going to do with it.

"Well, are you planning on returning it to him?"

Monica mused for half a second before stomping on the watch and turning to her brother.

"Well, that'll do then." Ross laughed weakly. "Good night, Mon."

"Night, Ross."

Author's Note 2: Thank you to the individuals who have posted the script over on github. I really appreciate you guys. Thanks!

Author's Note 3: I do not give permission for this story to be remixed by anyone or to reproduced anywhere else on the Internet. This concept is completely original and the back story goes a lot deeper than a simple "oh, hey, wouldn't this be cool?" plot bunny. There's a story behind it, basically. So again, I do not give permission for this story to be remixed by anyone or to be reproduced anywhere else on the Internet.