sugar and spice, friends

viii. no date new year's

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The gang, minus Ross and Chandler were scattered around Monica and Rachel's apartment, Marty lying down on the couch, her head on Joey's lap as she played with his fingers.

"Guys?" Ross said, poking his head into the apartment, "There's a somebody I'd like you to meet." He said, before opening the door fully, revealing the monkey on his shoulder.

The friends gasped and smiled upon seeing the ape, Marty jumping up from the couch to run over and say hello to the money.

"W-wait. What is that?" Monica stuttered.

"Monica, it's an animal, not a 'that'." Marty scolded the woman.

"'That' would be Marcel," Ross told his little sister, "You wanna say hi?"

"No, no, I don't." Monica refused, shaking her head and jumping away from him.

"I do!" Marty grinned, Ross letting the animal climb up onto her shoulder, "Well, hello there, little one."

"Oh, he is precious!" Rachel cooed, "Where did you get him?"

"My friend Bethel rescued him from some lab." Ross told them.

"That is so cruel!" Phoebe exclaimed, "Why? Why would a parent name their child Bethel?"

"I'd like to meet this Bethel so I can give her a hug." Marty said, holding her finger out, which Marcel took in his hand.

"Hey, that monkey's got a Marty on its ass!" Chandler laughed, as he entered the apartment, making his friends roll their eyes at him.

"This is Marcel, Ross' new monkey." Marty told the sarcastic man.

"Ross, is he gonna live with you, like, in your apartment?" Monica stuttered out, eyeing the monkey.

"Yeah. I mean, it's been kinda quiet since Carol left, so..." Ross shrugged with a sheepish smile, as he stroked his pet, who had taken a liking to sitting on the redhead's shoulder. 

"Why don't you just get a roommate?" Monica asked him.

"Nah, I dunno... I think you reach a certain age, having a roommate is kinda pathe-" The man stopped himself when Marty elbowed him in the side, as their friends glared at him, "...Sorry, that's, that's 'pathet', which is Sanskrit for 'really cool way to live'."

"Nice save." Marty told him sarcastically with a grin, as she brought Marcel into a hug.

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The friends, besides Joey, were sat in Central Perk, as Phoebe was getting ready to sing.

"So you guys, I'm doing all new material tonight. I have twelve new songs about my mother's suicide, and one about a snowman." The blonde smiled.