"I can't believe me and Richard are going to Barry and Mindys wedding tomorrow. Mindy – who wouldn't even talk to me back in high school", says Monica.

Chandler grins. "Well, to be honest, it does sound weird. You're going to the wedding of your best friend's ex-fiancée and a girl who teased you all the time in your childhood."

The two of them are sitting on Chandler's bed talking. That's what they do on nights they both got nothing to do. They meet in one of their bedrooms and talk about everything. Sometimes they even sit in silence, just enjoying each other's presence. Monica isn't sure if there is anything she enjoys as much as these late night talks with Chandler.

"You're right. But I'm going as the date of Richard, so it's not that weird."

"Still weird. Especially because your boyfriend is so much older than you."

Monica shoots a killing glance at him. She hates it when her friends are joking about Richard's age and the fact Monica is dating him. And Chandler knows that better than anyone.

"Okay, I'm sorry", Chandler gives her an apologizing smile. "So it's going pretty well between you two, huh?"

Monica giggles. Chandler knows exactly how to avoid an uncomfortable discussion with her. She begins to think about Richard and herself. They are definitely doing very well. She is even beginning to imagine her future with him, something she hasn't done with any guy she knows. When she dreams of her wedding now, her groom doesn't have no face anymore, he has Richards face. When she imagines her children, they look a little bit like her and a bit like Richard. She looks over to Chandler, smiling, and just nods her head.

"Oh please, you don't have to pay attention to my non-existing love life. I know he is the love of your life. And I'm happy for you."

"Thank you", Monica whispers. When she was growing up she hadn't had many friends. Most of the kids her age used to tease her. Now she has this group of very close friends who mean the world to her. And then there is Chandler, the very best of a friend, who she can just talk with about everything. Her friends and her boyfriend, they really make her life perfect.

Monica is running up the stairs to her apartment. Perfect life, perfect life, very funny. Her life sucks. She always knew it, she just needed a small reminder. Well, it wasn't a small reminder, Richard telling her he doesn't want to have kids, ever. With her last ounce of strength she opens the door to apartment 20, walks into her bedroom and falls onto the bed. She didn't even have the strength to take off her shoes or the dress she was wearing for the wedding. She would laugh at the irony, Monica, the neat freak on her bed with shoes on, but she's too depressed. Her dream is over. Richard is the only guy who would have married her, that's for sure. No one wants to marry a former fat neat freak with a need to control everyone around her. Just as her thoughts are getting darker and darker there's a knock on the door and Rachel peeks in.

"Hey, what happened? I saw you running away from…" Then she notices Monica's crying. "Oh, Monica, what's wrong?"

"Ri… Richard and I … we don't … he is … we broke up", sobs Monica.

"Oh honey", Rachel rushes over to Monica, putting her arms around her friend. "Why? I thought he loved you?"

Monica isn't able to answer. Her heart is broken and she doesn't want to talk about it. She can't even stop crying. After a while Rachel leaves the room again. Monica feels relieved. She doesn't want to see anyone. Never again. People just make her feel bad. It's what they did in the past, it's what they do now. Crying and thinking about her sad life Monica makes a decision: She will never leave this room again. All she needs is in this room.

Monica waits to fall asleep. But her thoughts keep her awake.

"I don't know what to do anymore", Ross sighs. It kills him to see his sister suffering like this. It's been three days since Barry and Mindys wedding and Monica doesn't look any better.

"She doesn't sleep, she is barely eating, she won't go out anymore…" Rachel looks at the others seeking help.

Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe are sitting in the boy's apartment talking about Monica. They all feel for their friend, but don't know what to do to help her. The two girls and Ross tried again and again to talk to Monica, but she is just laying on her bed, her face covered with a shirt, which Richard obliviously forgot.

"I think, Chandler should go and talk to her", Phoebe says, who was quiet for a long time.

Chandler looks at her, a little shocked. "What?" He can't stand seeing Monica like this. He has always thought of Monica as a strong woman who doesn't need anyone's help, but – in return – helps him to figure his complicated life out. Now, that she really needed help, he doesn't really know what to say or do. He feels so helpless.

Rachel looks at Phoebe, nodding. "Yes, that will work!"

"How … What … Why should she want to talk to me when she doesn't even talk to you? You are girls, you understand … I'm just …"

"They are right, man", says Joey, now also taking the side of the girls. "You always have these night talks, which, by the way: very weird. You know there are other activities you could do at night, in your bed? Like…" "Joey" "Okay, okay, you should really go and talk to her. It's worth a shot!"

Chandler looks at Ross. Surprisingly Ross seems to agree as well. "You really think… I don't know what to say. What if I make stupid jokes? What if…"

"Chandler, you'll be fine", Rachel puts an arm around Chandler. "You and Monica, you have this really strong connection. If you can't help her, no one will."

"Just talk to her and ask her what happened", advises Ross.

Chandler nods. He will do it. He can do it. But not like the others said. He won't ask any stupid questions. It doesn't matter what exactly happened. He gets up from the couch and walks into apartment 20.