Rachel Geller-Green had had a stressful day. After trying to explain to her boss why she didn't get on the plane to Paris, she'd had enough and decided to go home. She wasn't fired. Not yet, but she knew her time would come.

She'd meandered through the streets of New York City, musing over her day, and realised she was utterly lost. She saw signs of civilisation- a pub called MacLaren's. She went in and found it was very cosy and buzzing with life.

Over at the bar, she sighted a couple. One sounded very much like Ross: very intelligent and very talkative but almost conservative in his attitude to life. His partner was very musical, making an English Muffin sing in a very swing-like style. They laughed. He begged her to do it again with a scone, which she did to the same hilarious effect.

Rachel gently interrupted them and asked them where she was.

"New York."

"Ted!" the woman playfully slapped her husband. "Sorry about him, dear. I believe you are on the Upper West Side, 85th Street."

"Oh." Rachel frowned. She didn't realise just how far away she was. "I'm sorry, I'm a bit lost, that's all."

"Where do you live?"

"Greenwich Village."

The woman whistles. "Long way away. Long, long way away."

"Hey." a blond man sauntered up to the bar and leaned on the bar between Rachel and the couple. "Daddy's home."

"Excuse me." Rachel flashed her wedding ring, annoyed at this act of rudeness.

"Daddy's going away." the blond man disappears and sits back down in a booth with two other women and a man.

"Sorry." Ted laughed. "That's Barney. Now that his daughter's started college he's slipping back into his old womanising ways."

"He's, like, 50." Rachel felt sick.

"Yeah, but it works on some girls. By the way, I'm Ted and this is my wife, Tracy."

"Hi." Tracy smiles.

"I heard your little Scone song. Sweet."

Tracy giggles. "I've done that for ages. Ted rolls around with laughter. The kids just think I'm weird."

"Hey, Mom!"

"What, Penny?"

"Look what Aunt Robin just did!"

One of the other women who was with Barney had spilt a glassful of wine all down her front, creating an unfortunate clash of pink and red. Rachel winced, imagining her boss' reaction.

"Lily! Lily! Lily! Look at me!" she screeched.

"Calm down, Robin. Marshall, look after Marvin." Lily patted her son's head and took Robin to the lavatories.

"That's the gang." Ted shrugged.

"That's really nice, but I've got to get home. I have a husband and a daughter waiting for me. Er, bye."

"Wait!"

Rachel turned round as Tracy grabbed her arm. "Greenwich village is ages away, how are you going to get home?"

"I can get a cab." Rachel shrugged.

"No, no, the fare will be enormous. I'll drive you over."

"Really, you don't-"

"Look after Penny, Ted. I'm taking her home!" Tracy had already decided. "What is your name?"

"Rachel."

"OK, come on Rachel. See you later!"

"Listen, you don't have to drive me there, I can call Ross and-"

"I love Ted's lot, but they can be a little overbearing sometimes. I need breaks. Come on."

Tracy led Rachel to her car and opened the door for her. Rachel got in, surprised at this stranger's friendliness. Tracy shut the door and got in her side.

"The ride won't be great. Ted tried to fix it, but made it worse. It's going in to the garage on Monday."

Rachel tried to laugh but the thought of Monday turned her stomach.