The One With The 1^st Christmas

By: Jana~

Chapter One 

*****~*****

--Monica lamented over her dilemma. It shouldn't have been such a huge thing, but it was. He was new to the group, sure, but also not so new… in that he and Ross went way back. They'd been college roommates, and fairly close friends while still in school… even though they did lose contact after school for a bit. But now he was her across-the-way neighbor. That alone deserved a holiday gift, but to add to that the fact that he was part of the group now, and Ross' old friend… she had to get him something.

And that alone wasn't the problem… that was simple enough. The problem was, this holiday brought back memories. Thanksgiving did too… he'd called her fat Thanksgiving 1987. She'd cut off his pinky toe Thanksgiving 1988, after losing weight because he called her fat the year before.

And if that wasn't bad enough, when he had stopped by several weeks later, during the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays… she shuddered as she remembered. She wondered if he remembered it too. How could he not? He never said anything though. Well, neither did she for that matter. It's like when he moved in next door, it was like the event never took place. 'Event'… strange thing to call it.

"I'm home!" Phoebe called out, breaking Monica's thoughts like a fist through plate glass…

"Hey. You're home early." Monica greeted her roommate…

"Yep! Such a great day! My last appointment… weird, fat, hairy guy cancelled his massage! Yay!" She put her bag of groceries down and started to off-load them… "He's annoying and a lousy tipper." she added… "And how was your day?"

"It was ok. Two waiters called in sick, so it was a bit chaotic… but ok."

"You seem upset… or down about something. Your aura is all discolored!"

"Just got a lot on my mind…"

"Care to share?"

Monica shook her head… "I think it'd be better if I worked this out for myself."

"Ok. You know I'm here if you need me."

"I know. And thanks."

The brief consoling hug Phoebe offered Monica was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing…

"I'll get it…" Monica volunteered, picking up the phone a second later… "Hello?"

She stopped to listen for a moment, then turned to Phoebe… "I'm gonna take this in my room. It's Rachel… she's having seconds thoughts about marrying Barry again."

Phoebe nodded and took the phone, waiting to hear Monica pick up the bedroom extension before hanging up.

"Hello one and all…" Chandler announced as he walked through the door after only an obligatory knock. Seeing just Phoebe, he smiled… "Or, just 'one', as the case may be."

"Hey Chandler…" Phoebe greeted with a smile…

"Where's Monica? Working late again?"

"Nope. On the phone with Rachel."

"Barry troubles again?"

"Yeah."

"If she has this many doubts now, maybe she should just break it off."

"Yeah, but, with him lies security. She's not likely to give that up… she's too dependent on others."

He shrugged… "You might be right. So, you think Mon will be done soon? Was hoping to go holiday shopping with her."

"Knowing Rachel, probably not. She can talk your ear off, that's for sure."

He chuckled… "Yeah, most women can. Think I'll wait anyway though. I haven't the slightest clue how to shop. I usually end up buying people crap they return or throw out… or pass off to other people the following Christmas."

"Well, I could go with you!" she offered excitedly.

He inwardly did not want Phoebe's help with shopping. She would likely suggest odd things that only she and Shirley Maclaine would like. "Well, I appreciate the offer… but I have to buy your gift too. I figured, who else would know Phoebe as well as her roommate, right? Plus I need to buy for Ross."

"What about Monica? You have her gift already?"

"Yeah, actually, I've had it for a couple months now."

"Really? Wow! Must be something special!"

"I'm hoping she'll think it is." He seemed to go into thought, and Phoebe thought it odd…

"What did you get her?"

He looked to her, silent for a moment as if processing the question… "I'd rather not say."

She shrugged, then grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge… "Ok. If you want, give her door a tap and see if she can break away from the 'As The Rachel Turns' saga."

He laughed as he headed for Monica's door… "I think I will."

--"Rachel, if you think he's cheating, you shouldn't be marrying him." Chandler heard Monica say into the phone after he knocked once and slowly opened the door, peeking in.

He smiled and waved, and she smiled in return, waving him in…

"Rach, hang on one sec, Chandler just walked in…" she then turned her attention to him… "Yeah?"

"If you can get away…" he gestured to the phone… "Would you wanna go shopping with me? I suck at it… could use your help."

Monica smiled and shook her head lightly… "That's cause you're a guy. Men can't shop."

"Is that a yes?"

She nodded… "Just give me a few minutes."

*****~*****

--"Ok, so, I got Phoebe, Ross, Rachel, and Joey bought for…" Chandler recounted as he and Monica walked through the mall…

"Joey?" she asked, the name not familiar…

"Yeah. Joey Tribbiani… he's a temp at my office. Actor by trade… though I don't think he's very successful at it."

"Ah. What about your folks?"

"Nah… we've never really done the gift-exchange thing."

"Not even when you were little?"

"Well, before they divorced, yeah. But after… not so much. As an adult, never."

"That's sad."

He shrugged.

"Well, ok, who else is on your list?"

"No one. I'm done! And early for once!"

She chuckled… "I hardly call the Friday before Christmas 'early'."

"Well, it's early for me. I usually wait till the day before."

"That's a guy for you."

"Oh, so, you have all your presents bought?"

She wanted to say 'yeah', even though she still had to buy his gift… even though it was a lie, but the truth popped out…

"No, I have one gift left to buy."

"See!" he gloated, a smug smile on his face… "Who do you have left? Maybe I can help you grab it now while we're out."

"No, it's ok."

"Ah, c'mon! You helped me, I can help you! I ain't totally incompetent!"

"I know, it's just… the gift I still have to buy is… yours."

He paused for a moment before responding… "Oh. Ok. I'm that hard to buy for?"

"Well, in that you're new to the group and I don't know you that well."

He stopped in his tracks… "You know me better than most."

Monica froze. Was that his way of starting a conversation about the subject they'd ignored since he'd come back into her life?

He gazed into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity before turning away and walking again… "If you need gift ideas, I could use some dress socks."

She gathered her composure, her breathing just off from normal as she took a few long strides to catch his pace… "Yeah, well, I was hoping to buy you something a little nicer."

He smiled… "Ok… I like Porches."

She nudged him as they walked… "Not that nice."

"Well, I'll leave it in your capable hands then."

*****~*****

--"You get all your shopping done?" Phoebe asked as Monica entered the apartment…

"Chandler did, I'm still lacking one gift."

"Whose?"

"Chandlers."

"Really? He's had yours for months."

"What?"

"What? That's what he said earlier."

"Phoebe, I got a problem. I don’t know what to get him!"

"Well, you could get him one of those sweater vests he's always wearing."

"No, it's gotta be… special."

"What is it with you two?"

"What do you mean?"

"Something he said earlier… he seemed, I don’t know, anxious maybe? Hoping you'll like his present. And now with you… being all… squinchy…"

"I'm not being 'squinchy', I just… I want to get him something nicer than a vest or socks."

"Mmm-hmm…" Phoebe smirked… "And what did you get Ross?"

She shifted uncomfortably… "A dinosaur calendar…"

"Uh-huh."

"What's that little sarcastic snippet supposed to mean?"

"Nothing…" Phoebe shook her head… "Nothing at all."

*****~*****

--"Hey, Mon, I got a favor to ask…" Chandler said into the phone… "Remember my friend Joey I was telling you about?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, he's just told me that he has nowhere to go for Christmas… I was hoping…"

"Yeah, he can come." She answered his question before he even asked it.

"Thanks Mon! You're a sweetie. I'll let him know."

As Monica hung up the phone, Phoebe questioned the call… "Who was that?"

"Chandler. He's bringing a friend tomorrow. Joey… from his office."

"So, what's that put the head count to?"

"Well, me and you, Ross and Carol, Rachel and Barry, Chandler and Kip, and now Joey. So, nine."

"How're things with Kip?"

"Eh. We're ok. I mean, we knew it would be awkward when we broke up, him living across the way, but, we're civil to each other."

"Won't that make the party awkward?"

Monica shrugged… "That's not the only thing that will."

"Will be what?" Phoebe repeated…

"Awkward."

She scowled in confusion… "What?"

"Nothing. It'll be fine… we're adults."

"If you say so." She shrugged it off… "Let's make cookies!"

*****~*****

--"Hey! Merry Christmas!" Chandler greeted Monica as he entered her apartment, his friend Joey in tow… "This is Joey. Joey, this is Monica."

"Hey there…" Joey smiled slyly… "How you doin?"

Monica just looked at him with an odd expression… "Hi."

Chandler grabbed Joey's arm discreetly, and Joey turned his attention to him, then an expression of understanding crossed his face… "Oh, right, gotcha."

Monica was about to ask about the little exchange between them when Chandler quickly changed the subject… "Oh, Kip wanted me to tell you that he can't make it."

"Why not?"

"He has… well, a date."

"He has a date?"

Chandler looked down uncomfortably… "Yeah. Sorry."

"No, it's ok. It's fine."

"What's the deal with Kip?" Joey asked…

"My roommate…" Chandler informed quietly… "They were dating, but he broke up with her."

"Oh. Bummer."

"Yeah…" Monica mumbled… "Excuse me."

Chandler hit Joey lightly… "Good going!" he whispered sternly… "First you hit on her, then you bring up her recent break up!"

"Hey! I hit on every pretty woman I see! And I didn't know about the break up!" Joey defended himself…

"It's ok… sorry. I didn't mean to snap."

"S'ok. When I have the hots for a gal, I get protective of her too."

"Ssshhh!"

"Oh, right, sorry… I forgot. It's a secret."

--"So, that's the friend of Chandler's?" Phoebe asked Monica, her tone quiet…

"Yeah. Joey. He's a bit… odd."

"Great! I like odd! Besides, his aura is so bright… very beautiful person I think." She smiled as she watched him… "Maybe this will be a very Merry Christmas."

Monica rolled her eyes… "Go. Go flirt…"

Phoebe did a little hop… "Yay!"

--"Hey guys!" Ross exclaimed as he entered his sister's apartment…

"Ross! Hey!" Monica greeted him with a hug… "Where's Carol?"

"Oh, she'll be along later. Her folks called--"

"I thought you were seeing them tomorrow."

"Yeah, we are, but an old friend stopped by… a Susan something… and Carol wanted to say hi to her."

"Ok, well, we're two down then."

"Two down?"

"Kip's not coming either."

"Oh. Well, maybe he thought it'd be awkward."

"Yeah, or maybe he didn't want to show up with his new girlfriend."

"He has a new girlfriend?"

"Apparently."

Ross touched his sister's shoulder in sympathy… "Wow. I'm sorry."

"Thanks."

It was then that Ross noticed Joey… "Who's the new guy?"

"Oh, he's a friend of Chandler's."

Ross approached Chandler… "Hey man! Happy Holidays!" He hugged his friend…

"Yeah! And to you!" Chandler returned the hug… "Oh, and this is my friend, Joey. Joey, this is Ross."

Joey and Ross shook hands… "Nice to meet you."

Joey nodded… "Likewise."

"So, where's Carol?" Chandler asked…

"Oh, she's at her folks', she'll be by in a bit."

"Oh good." Chandler patted his shoulder… "So, how're things in the world of the extinct?"

"Good. How are things at…" Ross hesitated as he tried to remember where Chandler worked… "Wherever you work?"

Chandler chuckled… "Well, ya'know, it's the same whether I'm there or not." He joked.

Ross laughed… "And what do you do Joey?"

"Well, I'm an actor, but to make some extra money I've been working in Chandler's office."

"Would we have seen you in anything?" Phoebe asked flirtatiously…

"Well, I was in the Rerun's production of Pinocchio."

"Ah, well…" Phoebe's smile never wavered… "Didn't see that."

"Yeah, not many did."

"Dinner's about ready…" Monica announced… "I hope everyone's hungry."

Everyone replied in the affirmative, and Chandler headed for the kitchen…

"Can I help?" he asked softly, and Monica whipped around at the sound of his voice…

"No, thanks, I got it under control."

He smiled, then joined his friends at the table as everyone settled in.

*****~*****

--After all the guests had left, and Phoebe had called it a night and went to bed, Chandler decided it was time…

"Great party." he complimented as she started to clean up, lending a hand…

"Thanks."

"Look, Monica, I wanted to wait till we were alone…" he produced a small, beautifully wrapped gift from deep beneath the Christmas tree. A gift hidden from view… "I wanted to wait till we were alone to give you this."

He handed her the gift, and she accepted it hesitantly…

"What's this?"

"Open it."

She looked at him inquisitively before tugging at the wrapping paper, removing it… then she opened the box.

She gasped, the gift bringing that day back like a whirlwind…

TO BE CONTINUED

Thanks for reading!