Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

A Christmas road trip doesn't quite go to plan. A festive Mondler AU hookup.

A/N – Okay, so here's the idea, there's gonna be a chapter posted each day, some short, some long depending on the events. Each chapter will hopefully be posted up on the day it's set, kinda like real time, so today's the 21st (in my part of the world anyhow) so everything in this chapter happens on the 21st. Make sense?

I had this random idea last year but I totally ran out of time and had only written a couple of chapters before the holiday was already over. It may not be the best idea, in fact it's quite silly really as I appreciate a lot of people go away this time of year, so I've no idea if anyone will be around to read this. Plus, instead of being all written and polished ready to just post up each day (as hoped), I've again left it to the last minute and it's still very much in progress...which will be interesting as I'm working full time and out most evenings for Christmas festivities...opps...but I love writing and Mondler and just couldn't let this roll into a third year, besides it's always good to have a challenge, right? ;o)

Also, a huge thanks to C-Rokkk for helping me with the locations and a few 'American' things that I was clueless about.

Anyhow, enough of my ramblings...

December 21st

"No! But I can't!"

The rest of the gang remained silent, watching as Monica paced, one hand gesturing wildly whilst the other clutched the phone to her ear, tight enough that her knuckles were turning white.

"You're talking about Christmas Eve, you know I already have plans with my family…no...but..."

Chandler winced, glancing down at the floor. His heart was sinking for his friend; he knew how excited she'd been about this family vacation.

"I'm supposed to leave Friday morning. I'm not even gonna be in New York on Christmas Eve."

He could tell that despite her best efforts she was losing the battle.

"Can't Jeanie? What about Marc? But…ok, ok, I guess I have no choice then…"

Aw crap.

Chandler raised his head again, letting his eyes fall on her as she swallowed hard, disappointment written across her pensive face, "Fine, ok, bye."

She pressed the off button and just stood there, not moving, as if in shock. A silence settled over the apartment for a moment as each wondered how to start.

"Mon?" Ross was the one brave enough to finally ask.

"They're making me work Christmas Eve," she confirmed, her voice cracking slightly, causing Chandler to grimace again. Why did nothing seem to go right for her? She deserved so much more than she got.

"But you've had it booked off for weeks!" Phoebe protested pissed. "How can they do that?"

"Um," Monica shrugged slightly, her arms coming around to hug herself tightly, "Finn quit on them, just walked out, Sandra's ill and Tony is still in hospital," she shook her head, "What am I going to do? I have to do it, I can't afford to lose this job…I can't…but I can't miss this Christmas vacation. I mean Ben…"

Her voice cracked again and Chandler wanted to spring up from his chair and envelope her in his arms. He wanted to hug her, comfort her and just hold her for as long as she'd let him. He wanted to whisper nonsense reassurances into her ear whilst stroking that soft hair. Instead, he remained on the over-stuffed armchair, watching as the girls, who were nearest, went over to her; they led her to the couch, cooing over her, holding her hands, stroking her shoulders in sympathy.

"He'll understand," Ross tried to offer without much conviction.

"But it's the first time that Ben will spend the holiday with us and will be old enough to understand what's going on. I want to be there!"

"Can you go down later, after work?" Rachel suggested gently as she rubbed her back.

Monica shook her head, "No, the stupid shift won't finish until late and Dad's hired this off-road van thing to get everyone to the cabin on Friday. I can't ruin everyone's plans."

"Can't you fly over? Meet them there?"

"No," she shook her head again, "I have no money. Besides Christmas Eve flights were probably sold out ages ago and even if I did manage some miracle and got a flight, I'd still have to get from there to the cabin. It's in the middle of nowhere."

Chandler listened to her heavy sigh and took in her slumped shoulders. Defeated didn't suit Monica. She usually had a fire in her, a drive and passion which he'd always admired...loved.

"You can spend Christmas with me if you like?" Phoebe offered, "I'm volunteering at the soup kitchen this year."

"Aw, that's really nice, Phoebs," Joey praised.

"Yeah, I thought it would be a good thing to do, plus I'm hoping to catch up with some of my old buddies."

Chandler offered her half a smile, his attention still very much on the raven-haired beauty on the couch. She still looked so sad and Chandler still felt so sorry for her. She didn't usually look forward to Christmas Day at the Gellers. Without Ben as a buffer, her mom would pick at her all day, driving her crazy with the endless cooking criticisms and 'oh another special holiday without a special someone' comments.

This year though, she had bounced off the walls with excitement when she'd gotten off the phone to her parents. He'd been the only other person in the apartment so he'd gotten the full-force of her hug and the rapid 100 words per second itinerary. Her eyes had been so bright, her face glowing and it had taken every ounce of self-control not to lean in and just kiss her. To remind himself he was just a friend.

Just a friend.

"Thanks Phoebs," Monica tried offering her a small attempt at a smile, "unless it's all just some horrible prank and the restaurant phones back tonight, or I manage to magically hitch a ride on Santa's sleigh, then I may have to take you up on that offer."

Again, she looked so defeated despite her best efforts that the words were out of Chandler's mouth before he could even process them, "I-I can take you."

Suddenly every eye was on him and he swallowed hard. Crap.

"What?" Ross was the first to query confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Um," Chandler said quickly, wetting his lips as his brain tried to catch up with his mouth, "I-I could, uh drive you?"

"I thought you were staying with your mom in Maine?" Phoebe asked with a frown.

"I, uh am," he swallowed, panicking a little. He really wished that he'd had time to fully form this plan; he hated having to think on his feet, "but I'm driving there and the cabin is just a little detour, so I could drop you off on the way," he fumbled, hearing Joey chuckle and shooting him a pointed look which thankfully shut him up.

"I thought you were flying?" Rachel asked confused.

"No, uh, no, see I was...but there was a problem with the flight booking, so I had to hire a car," he flustered, digging his hole even deeper.

"I thought you were leaving Friday?" Ross questioned. "Like us?"

Chandler resisted scrubbing a hand through his hair, hating this intense game of 20 questions, "No, I uh, I have an emergency meeting on Christmas Eve now, so I have to go into work," he lied badly.

"They're making you work on a Saturday? Over Christmas?" Rachel asked. "Really?"

"Yeah, see um there's these statiscal reports that are needed for year end and because of the holidays they needed volunteers, so..."

"But I won't finish until late," Monica worried, her teeth troubling her lower lip. "I don't want to delay you, you wouldn't make it to see your mom until early morning!"

"It doesn't matter, she won't care, she'll probably be out at some party anyhow," he promised, leaving the chair in favor of perching on the coffee table in front of her. "Seriously, I can hang around and wait for you, you'll actually be doing me a favour; it's a long drive and it would be great to have some company. It's win win," he waited, holding his breath.

"Oh god, Chandler, are you serious?" she asked, leaning forwards, her hands reaching for his, grabbing them tightly, "Are you really sure?"

He nodded, smiling as she squeezed his hands. He watched as her beautiful eyes started to get their sparkle back.

"Of course, I'm sure, Mon," he said softly, offering her a smile, which widened at her squeal of excitement.

In the blink of an eye he had his arms full of a very happy and very excited Monica. He hugged her back just as fiercely, closing his eyes as he savored the moment. Committing it to memory.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou."

"You're welcome, can't have you missing Christmas," he murmured.

After a moment she unfortunately pulled back but her face was lit with so much joy that Chandler felt his stomach doing little flips. She was this happy because of him, he had caused that smile, that...buzz around her.

"I can't believe this!" she exclaimed her hands gripping his forearms. "This is...it's amazing! I can't thank you enough." Her blue eyes were bright and focused on him and right now he was in heaven. Sadly though, she pulled completely out of his embrace and stood up; whilst he immediately missed her, he was still beaming proudly. "I better call my parents and let them know the change of plans. Thank you again, Chandler, you're the best."

He felt her hands ruffling his hair and leaned into the quick caress as she made her way to the kitchen, speed dialing her folks. He allowed his eyes to longingly follow her pacing for a moment before snapping himself out of it. He had some plans of his own to make.

"Right, now that I've saved Christmas, I need to uh-" he gestured towards the door, not attempting to finish his sentence as he nodded to himself and promptly left.

Making it to his own apartment, he made a beeline for his bedroom, grabbing his flight tickets from his drawer as he went back into the living-room and grabbed the phone and perched on a barstool.

He selected a few of the options and rolled his eyes at the tinny Christmas hold music he was forced to listen to. After a few hideous songs he eventually got through to a human being, "Yes, I'd like to cancel my flight please," he informed her happily, not caring in the least that they were non-refundable.

He gave over the relevant information and reference numbers and smiled as he hung up. Job done.

At that moment the door swung open to reveal a smirking Joey, Chandler rolled his eyes, "'Come on, get it over with," he insisted as he started to look up car hire companies in the phonebook.

"I didn't say anything," Joey said in mock innocence as he sat on a Barcalounger, spinning it to face to the other man.

"I know, but you wanna," Chandler stated.

"I'm just curious to know your motives," Joey admitted, still using that smug tone, "do you think spending a what a 6 hour drive, just the two of you will cause her to fall madly in love with you? Or that when you drop her off at the Geller's cabin and it's all dark and romantic, that she'll be so grateful she'll lean in for that Christmas kiss? Or maybe we could ask Ross to attach some mistletoe to the cabin's porch and you can surprise her-"

"Are you done?" Chandler raised an eyebrow.

Joey shrugged, clearly having more suggestions.

"Look there's no plan or ulterior motive here," he insisted "it's just a friend helping out a friend."

"A friend who happens to be madly in love with that friend and has just changed his entire holiday plans for her."

"Minor detail," Chandler dismissed, starting to dial a car company's number and hitting the button, "Hello? Yes, I was hoping to hire a car on Christmas Eve until- really? Completely booked up? Ok, thanks." He hung up and glanced at his friend. "Onto the next, right?"

Joey nodded, listening as his roommate made attempt after unsuccessful attempt to secure a car.

"Crap," Chandler muttered as he hung up on the last one on the list.

"What are you gonna do?"

"I don't know," Chandler muttered, his good mood fast diminishing. "I can't cancel on her. It will crush her especially as I just got her hopes up."

"Maybe you could just buy her a car…wait no, you've already bought her an expensive present despite her not being your secret santa. Let me guess are you gonna hand it to her at the cabin or sneak it into her suitcase for her find magically on Christmas morning, in the hope she'll discover your crush and realize that she instantly likes you too?"

"You aren't helping," Chandler sniped, starting up the laptop. He prayed there might be some new company that had started since the phonebook was printed. "And I'm not expecting her to fall in love with me. It's just…it's Christmas, Joe, and sometimes miracles happen. All I know is spending time just the two of us is gonna be fricking amazing, whatever happens."

"I just don't want you to get your hopes up."

"I haven't, I promise, ok? I'm used to crushing disappointment and misery, especially around the holidays, so let me enjoy it."

"Fine, as long as you know what you're doing," Joey shook his head, standing up and stretching. "I'm going back across the hall."

"Fine, have fun. I'll be here trying to learn how to start up a car-hire business in less than 4 days,"

Chandler was close to admitting defeat and wondering how long it would take to piggy back her across the country when the apartment door opened. He was surprised to see Phoebe entering.

"Hey Phoebs," he greeted, closing the laptop in the hope she wouldn't see what he was doing.

"Hey," she bounded in, a large smile on her face, "Joey mentioned your hire firm had let you down, so I wanted to offer you the cab."

He blinked, the knot in his stomach instantly loosening, "Really?"

"Yeah," she waved easily, "I gonna be walking to the soup kitchen and won't need it over Christmas. You guys are welcome to use it for your roadtrip."

He was off the stool and hugging her within seconds, "Phoebe, you're a lifesaver."

"Don't mention it," she grinned, "happy to help. I've gotta go, but I'll see you later," she waved.

The second she was gone Chandler jumped into the kitchen space, doing his happy dance; Christmas was back on.

TBC...

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it. I would love to hear any comments you have. Next update tomorrow...