Work Text:
Christmas tree
Disclaimer:I don’t own Friends or its characters. Enjoy holiday one shot many readers. This is a long time friendship one shot.
The many ornaments rested on the floor. Monica picked them all up as best as she could. Her friends had to be busy, as she’s told that afternoon.
”Damn, who would help me decorate this tree?”
Her sudden door opens as two heads poked in. They’re smile at her coming inside the apartment. The door closes behind Chandler letting out a few yawns.
“How boring it is in our apartment.” Joey sits on the chair beside one of the bedrooms. He would look around noticing the ornaments were thrown around.
“Hey, Mon would you like any help?” He asks.
Chandler stood beside her. He could tell she was frustrated with her. Or her friends.
“Yes. It’s so many to hang on the tree, windows, and walls.” She would say checking on a cake she was preparing. The whiff of the cake has Joey clapping his hands. “How long until those are ready?”
”Give it another half an hour.” She sits on a seat beside the stove. “Would you like a piece?”
”Oh Mon, do you know us not saying no to your wonderful cooking?” Chandler says to her. “We’re honored to try it out. Any time, too.”
Monica smiles. How silly were those men. Joey joined in sitting by Chandler. What’s there to discuss as they’re for the cake. What kind of cake could it be, too? He would wander. He would check out Monica grabbing a shuffle of cards.
Could they be playing poker soon? Or, maybe another card game. She’d give the each a set of cards. Joey had to chirp in saying to play for money. Make not too much money, they could win or lose.
”As I’m the only girl I’ll be kicking your asses.” She would challenge.
A challenge she knew she couldn’t lose. The guys looked at each other laughing. Though they knew she could beat them. Challenge accepted of$100 or raise the stake for the loser to decorate the tree. For her way to decorate, how she loved for it to be
A while passes three plates with half eaten cakes. A cake of delicious red velvet. How was she able to decorate such a cake with so many strawberries on the side of the cake.
”I can’t believe I lost?” Chandler grumbles handing Monica $100 and Joey, too. “Damn I’ll do my best with the tree too.”
”Yes, those lights should be set up on the tree. Don’t forget about it.” She grins giving it to him.
Many lights tangled. He stares back at Joey. His best friend would wander what to do with his new money. Getting himself up from the chair thanking him in a low whisper.
”It’s nothing to brag, Jo. Don’t forget we have a few bills to pay.” He reminds him.
On the couch grabbing for the remote Monica expected for Chandler to get started. “Hey, keep quiet and begin decorating.” She demands clapping her hands.
”No need for your bossiness, Mon.”
An annoyed face upon Chandler going close by the tree. He would think how to set it up. Maybe start up with the candy cane.
As soon as Joey sees him with a pack of candy canes he happily takes one. “Yoink how delicious this will be watching you doing all the work.”
Monica giggles resting her head on the couch. He definitely needed to do it the correct way. Would he fail she would think.
A time passes after half an hour. She looked at him, as he’s untangling the lights. Was that a lot of work? She would know as she stood up from the couch.
“I should fail you with an F.” She teases.
Chandler chuckles giving her a pouty face. How couldn’t she resist that face? Maybe helping him could calm her down. Already deciding on it grabbing for a candy cane nibbling on it. He would stare. What was she doing? Could she be teasing him not to help out with the tree.
He was able to put up a few lights. How it looked nice on the tree. What’s missing many Santas and Reindeers to set up by the tree. She couldn’t resist helping him taking the star from a black bag that was kept.
“Doesn’t the star go on last, Mon?”
”Yes it does. I just want to do it myself. Is it a problem?” She gives him a look. A look of disappointment that he wasn’t a fan of. “My tree will rock this Christmas.”
Chandler could chuckle. He does so taking a few tinsels that needed to be on tree. Monica maybe could help. Or not?
”How bright are those tinsels?”
”Really bright. Did you had to get a lot, too?”
”Oh come on. I’m in love with this holiday.”
He knew how true it was. Especially when she expected her friends to help er decorate. Monica nods her head. He wasn’t such a bad job.
Joey comes back to the apartment. He wanted to see how it was. Chuckling finishing his candy cane. “These are very good. I’ll need to get more. Is that alight, Mon?” He would go to the tree. Checking it out. It seemed he wasn’t doing a bad job.
”I guess I’ll approve how he’s done it.” She smiles showing off her teeth and giving Joey two candy canes. “Please help out too, Joey.” She pleads giving her a few tinsels.
”How about the lights? Any help putting it throughout the apartment?”
”He was able to do it. Especially in the rooms.” She goes up to her stereo. Christmas music playing in the background. She sung along as did Chandler with a few hearty laughs.
Joey goes to both rooms. How careful they’re set up. Monica must had been behind him correcting him.” He thinks closing the door to both rooms.
”I’ll help out, too.” He takes off his coat. Giving it to Monica as soon as she reaches it. “We’ll have it a good time.”
”Yes, I just wished the others would help, too.”
It wasn’t their fault they had to work. At the museum at a meeting. Rachel at a huge store helping out her customers. And, Phoebe on her date. A long time coming for her as soon as David returned for a few weeks. Then he’ll be off to Minsk. She knew she couldn’t say no. How Phoebe pleads with her. Not wanting to feel guilty she would let one of her best friends to enjoy a nice date that night.
Joey throws a few lights in the balcony. She would check on him clapping her hands. A nice job he has done. It wasn’t too over the top as Monica dreamed as a child.
”Great job. You get a B for your effort, Joe.” How happy she was she checks up on Chandler.
”Don’t grade me until I’m done.” He says to her.
A few balls all set up on the tree. A few familiar pictures that had many memories with their friends. She could or should relax with a mic bath.
”Mon, we got this.”
Joey says. Reaching out his hand he awaits for Chandler to give him many balls to spread out throughout the tree. He would sit on the floor, doing so at the bottom of the tree.
A few Christmas tunes playing in the background. They join along with voices that weren’t good when singing. They knew they were bad, but for a good time they’ll sing along.
A ribbon rests at the couch. Chandler reaches out for it, showing it to Joey.
”Let’s add it around the tree.” Of course it’s how it should be done. Chandler wouldn’t say a word agreeing with the Italian guy. “It’s time to fluff the tree. As Monica love.”
”Yes. Let’s not do a bad job. She’ll kill us.”
His comment would have them laughing.
”Are they’re doing a good job?” Monica thinks. She was splashing water all over herself. A bubble bath she knew she needed. Closes her eyes letting out a few breaths. “I should check on them soon.” She mumbles to herself getting out the bathtub.
A towel she wraps around herself. She relaxes staring at herself at the mirror. The mirror all wet she wipes down with a bathroom rag.
A few minutes she gets out the bathroom. She would see the, nearly done. How the tree looked dreamy. Proudly she clapped her hands. “My friends it’s wonderfully done.”
”We waited for you to put up the star.” Chandler says. “It’s your tradition and you have don’t want to ever ruin it.”
Joey sipped on his beer nodding his head. Opening the fridge taking out another beer shaking it not with too much shakes. “Are you up for a drink, too, Mon?” He sets it up on her table. “You’re guys are making me have a good night.”
”How couldn’t we? We love you, Mon, keeping us on our toes every time.”Chandler compliments. He grabbed a chair taking a seat. “It should be done. All decorated best as we could.”
”I helped out, too. Don’t forget to mention.”
”I guess you have set it yourself, Joey.”
Monica goes to her room changing to her comfy pjs. Fixing her hair not too much. “Oh no. This would Rachel do. Checking herself out.” She finalized brushing her hair. A few happy tunes she sings.
In the living room the guys await her. How could she taking long? Maybe she has a date tonight. They’ll know she tells them even as she decorates the trees.
”What‘s taking long?”
” I have no idea. I do know women tend to take quite a while. Is Monica any different?”
Oh no. She was different and would comfortably get herself comfortable. Yes, Joey was right. She wasn’t like Rachel. How the brown haired girl wanted to make an impression on her dates.
Coming out of her room, Monica waves. They’ll wave back giving her the star. Nods her head calling them close to her. They’ll follow suit as she reaches for the top part of the tree.
Would she need help? Chandler couldn’t help myself. He had to help her. Standing behind her he’d lift her up. A quick glance his way whispering at him.
”Thank you.”
”I wouldn’t want you to fall onto the floor.”
Closely Joey watches them. How cute they look too? As soon as the star was set up on top of the tree Joey clapped his hand getting their attention.
”Let’s turn off the light and watch this tree light up at night.” He goes to the light turning it off.
In the dark they’ll stare at it. Chandler did a wonderful job. She had to grade him an A. They would gather together hugging each other in each other’s arms.
How Joey wasn’t even by their side. By the refrigerator he’d watch them. A chuckle comes his way going behind them. “Hey, are you two alright?”
”Yes. How silly of a question to ask Joey.” Chandler defends himself. “Good friends just enjoying this beautiful tree.”
“Yes. And, an A for your hard work.”
He would chuckle. Silly of Monica to grade them. It wouldn’t matter as she was an incredible woman loving what her friends do. For her. And each other.
”It’s picture time, boys.”
Monica takes her old camera. Though she knew pictures could be taken with phones, she didn’t want to ruin another tradition.
A tradition of the friends together gathering for a nice picture.
“How the others will say about the tree.”
”Don’t forget our picture, too.” Joey stood behind them. A speck of sparkle between the eyes of Chandler and Monica, Joey catches on.
”Isn’t it about time?”
Joey mutters under his breath.
The trio continued on taking pictures. The decorations behind them looking lovely and beautiful. A side glance Joey kept on watching his two best friends sharing sweet looks between each other.
Should he do something for the twosome? But, he would make sure not to cause them any problems. Have the others taking notice too?
The end.
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Laters ;3 December upon us, too.