October 2002-December 2002

After Emma's birth, Phoebe was more determined to find someone. She was lonely, very lonely. Monica and Chandler had each other although she was a little pissed again at Chandler when he inadvertently agreed to go to Tulsa for his job. She thought it was ridiculous for him to go especially since he hated his job. The anger she felt for him returned quickly but her loneliness and desperation to find someone made her put her feelings of anger about Chandler leaving again on the back burner. She wanted someone so she enlisted Joey's help.

Phoebe called her friend Sue Ellen because she thought Joey would like her and Phoebe had thought Joey would bring a friend of his. He had said the friend's name was Mike. At the double date, it soon became apparent that Joey had no clue who Mike was. It was embarrassing and when Mike showed up the next day at Central Perk, she wasn't sure how much she wanted to talk to him. He seemed cute and nice. He was a piano player but the deception she wasn't sure about. But he was a smooth talker and she decided to go out with him, one date. They met at an Italian restaurant and across from each other in one of the dimly lit booth as Phoebe asked him questions.

"So you are a piano player...tell me more. Like...where are you from? Where did you go to high school?" Phoebe asked.

"Well, I grew up in upstate New York and um...I went to boarding school," Mike said.

Phoebe raised an eyebrow, something in her gut told her to press further.

"Really?"

"An all boys boarding school in Scarsdale."

"One of my best friends went to an all boys boarding school...what was it called?" Phoebe asked.

"The Perry School. Why? Do you know someone from there?"

"It might be a stretch...but um...Chandler Bing?"

"I know him," Mike said, his eyes getting big.

"No, you don't."

"Yes I do...I definitely don't know your friend, Joey. But Chandler Bing lived in my hall. I was friends with him. He let me play on his Commodore 64 a lot. He was really funny and a very good tennis player...he had a car...awesome car-"

"Sally," Phoebe said.

"You know of Sally?" Mike asked.

"I've seen pictures. Heard stories."

"Does he still have that car?" Mike asked.

"No. Sally died," Phoebe said.

"Awww...how?"

"He drove Sally into a house," Phoebe said.

"Oh. Does he hang out at Central Perk a lot?"

"Yeah but now he's traveling back and from New York and Tulsa for work. But he lives in New York. He's been married for a little over a year," Phoebe said.

"Really? What's her name?" Mike asked.

"Monica."

"Awwww, not Lizzie?" Mike asked.

"No," Phoebe said. She hadn't heard that name in a long time. Chandler had told her about Lizzie once, a girl he had known when he was younger. A girl that amongst the six of them was now referred to simply as, 'the oh crap girl'.

"Wow...weird. I'd love to see him again."

"He'll be back in town tomorrow. We're usually at Central Perk in the late afternoon. We're there every single day."

There was something about this guy. Something about Mike she liked. She had only had that feeling twice in her life. That feeling of not wanting the night to end, of wanting to absorb herself with the man sitting in front of her. Once was with Duncan and the other was with David. Her hope was this would end better.

The next day, Mike met her at the coffee house as they had planned. She was curious if Chandler would remember him and then if he remembered Mike, would Chandler would tell Mike that she was a horrible person. She was worried. Ever since he had gone to Tulsa, things had returned to tense between Phoebe and Chandler. When he had said goodbye to the group, she had shoved him out the door. She didn't want to hear his goodbyes as he left. She had felt like he was abandoning them yet again.

"Hey, Bing...can I play with your Commodore 64 later?" Mike asked.

Phoebe shook her head and jumped at the sound of Mike's voice. She had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts, she hadn't even noticed Chandler, Joey and Monica walking into Central Perk. Phoebe looked at Chandler who was staring at Mike until it seemed to dawn on him.

"Mike Hannigan. What the hell are you doing here?" Chandler asked as Mike got up to give him a hug.

"I'm going out with Phoebe," Mike said and the way he said it made her feel a bit tingly. "Cool, Mike, this is my wife, Monica and um...my buddy, Joey," Chandler said.

"Joey and I have already met," Mike said.

"Dude, we're not playing that anymore," Joey said which made Chandler look at Joey with a look of confusion. Monica and Phoebe just laughed..

"What?" Chandler asked.

"I'll explain it later, honey," Monica said, patting Chandler on the back as the three took seats. Chandler sat on the other side of Phoebe.

"So you're dating, Phoebe?" Chandler asked.

"Well...yeah, we're dating...right?" Mike asked.

"Yeah," Phoebe said.

"Pheebs is awesome...even though she hates me," Chandler grinned.

"I do not hate you," Phoebe said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, you know who Phoebe is, Mike?" Chandler asked as Phoebe's eyes suddenly began to widen. She had feeling as to what story Chandler was going to tell and she hadn't told Mike that she was homeless yet. She was always so scared of telling anyone about that past of hers that she almost never did.

"Chandler," Monica said.

"She's the girl. Remember the blonde chick who blew me off when we went to see the Hot Dog Movie? Phoebe was the blonde chick," Chandler said, sounding very excited.

"Really?" Mike asked.

"I didn't blow you off, Bing. Can we talk about something else?" Phoebe asked, getting nervous.

"Yeah, Mike was supposed to come with us actually, but he didn't want to," Chandler said.

"'Cause it was a horrible movie," Mike said.

"Well, yeah...but turns out...she was not actually blowing me off. She was homeless," Chandler said and suddenly it seemed liked everything just stopped. Phoebe looked at Chandler who was sitting with a stupid grin on his face, completely oblivious to what he had said. Phoebe looked at Mike who just looked stunned.

"What?" Mike asked.

"Smooth," Joey said.

"Wait...you were homeless?" Mike asked.

"You haven't told him?" Chandler asked.

"No, Chandler," Phoebe said, glaring at him.

"Crap," Chandler said as it dawned on him what he had done.

"Honey, let's go for a walk," Monica said, getting up. Chandler nodded and stood up. "Joe, come with us."

"Got it," Joey said standing up.

"Wow...I am getting good at leaving uncomfortable situations," Monica said as she, Chandler and Joey walked out of Central Perk leaving Phoebe and Mike alone.

"You were homeless?" Mike asked.

"Yeah...for ten years. From ages of fourteen to twenty four. It was my Sweet Sixteen, that day that I met Chandler for the first time. He paid for my movie."

"How did you end up homeless?"

"My mom killed herself and I ran away before they could put me in foster care. I made friends on the street and that's how I survived...and I did other things too. I worked really hard, Mike...to get to this point. I got my GED. I have a masseuse license. I have an apartment. I did a lot to make my life good. I mean, I did get some help. I wasn't completely alone, but a lot of stuff I had to do myself."

Phoebe's heart beat out of her chest as she looked at Mike, trying to figure out what he was thinking. She didn't want him to leave. She had only known him a week but she wanted him to stay...although she wasn't going to start begging. Suddenly, a smile soon appeared on his face.

"That's amazing, Pheebs."

"You think so?" Phoebe asked.

"Yeah."

"So I didn't blow Chandler off," Phoebe said.

"I believe it...although, I remember he totally thought you did."

"I'm sure and he still does," Phoebe said.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Mike asked.

"What would he have done? And given that you guys went to an all boys school, what would you have done with a tall, blonde chick," Phoebe said. Mike got a look on his face which made Phoebe laugh, realizing what she had just said. "Shut up."

Mike leaned in and kissed her. She loved kissing Mike. They really had only been together a week but it had been an amazing week. It had been incredibly and the weeks soon turned into months. Phoebe was truly enjoying this new relationship, sure there had been a few bumps. Ross had almost screwed everything up by telling Mike that Phoebe had never had a long term relationship. David had come back from Minsk for a brief visit and Mike had caught them in an embrace and of course, the horrors of meeting Mike's parents. Phoebe wasn't sure what had gotten into her. Her brain to mouth filter had completely broken down. She had started saying things that no one should be saying in public but it did not seem to damage their relationship at all. Mike actually just seemed to like Phoebe and she felt the same. She had always thought that David and Duncan were her true loves. Her heart was for those two, but as 2002 came to a close, it seemed as if Mike was taking over completely.

It was Christmastime now, Phoebe was spending the holiday with Rachel, Monica, Ross and Joey as she always did. Chandler was in Tulsa. Mike was with his parents and Phoebe had declined the offer. After what had happened with meeting them the first time, she really didn't want to repeat the experience. Phoebe could not stop talking about Mike.

"You're all giddy," Rachel grinned, as she peered into the baby carrier that held a sleeping seven month old, Emma.

"I know and he said for New Years, he has something special planned," Phoebe said.

"Awwww...I'm so going to live vicariously through you. My husband won't be here for New Years," Monica said.

"Who am I gonna be with for New Years? I'm a thirty two two year old single mother," Rachel said.

"We'll just kiss each other," Monica joked.

"What?" Joey asked, suddenly perking up from across the room where he was staring out the window.

"Nothing, Joey," Rachel said. "You know, Mon...why doesn't Chandler just quit this damn job? I mean, he hates his job. He's hated his job for...how long has he had it?"

"Eleven years," Monica said.

"Wow and he's in Tulsa for a job he hates and that company just seems like an awful company to work for. I mean, they forced him to move without a raise and they...I don't know," Rachel said.

"He's a coward, that's why he won't quit," Phoebe said.

"Phoebe, you have to be nice to Chandler in 2003," Monica said.

"Yeah, you don't like Chandler anymore," Rachel said.

"I do too. I like Chandler," Phoebe said.

"No, you don't," Joey grinned.

"Yeah, you hate him," Ross said as he walked towards the chair and sat down.

"What? Wait, do you all think I hate Chandler?" Phoebe asked when all of them together that yes they all thought she hated him. That made her heart sink a little. She hated that. She hated that they truly believed that she hated him. "Okay...but seriously...alright, let me ask you. I asked Mon this when Emma was born. He ran out before the wedding. He has screwed us all over many times. How do you guys forgive him? I don't give me, 'I just do.'"

"You know, I was thinking about that...I mean, it really sucked what he did but and...here's thing, we always make comparisons between you and Chandler and we say how you two are so similar because of how sucky your backgrounds are but they're really not similar. You had to learn survival skills, Pheebs. You had to learn how to live to see the next day so you could take the crap and just put it aside because you had to find something to eat or whatever...Chandler had no one protecting him. That's why he keeps pulling this crap. It's how he protects himself. It's why he keeps telling jokes. It's why he keeps trying to fuck things up with us. He's trying to protect himself," Rachel said.

"That's why I keep forgiving him," Joey said, "come on, he has screwed me over a lot. He hooked up with my sister, he kissed my girlfriend, he fell asleep at my movie premiere...he forgot to give me that message about the show I was on. He's fucked up with me a lot. But I'm not letting him push me away. He's my friend. My brother and that's it."

"That's how I look at it too. He keeps wanting to see how far he can push us because I think it would be easier for him to deal with us leaving. I disagree. I don't think he'd crumble if we'd all left, it's us staying that he's not sure how to deal with," Ross said.

"See...you just gotta look at it that way," Monica said.

"I do love him guys...it's just-" Phoebe said.

"Hey guys...it's snowing," Joey said, suddenly and soon the attention shifted to outside as they all began watching the snow. It made Phoebe miss Mike. It made her feel sad about Chandler as well.

"Merry Christmas, you guys."

Phoebe, Joey, Ross, Monica and Rachel all turned to see Chandler walk through the door with a grin on his face. They were all shocked. Monica ran to him and hugged him.

"It's a Christmas Miracle," Joey remarked.

"What are you doing here?" Monica asked.

"I quit," Chandler said.

"You finally quit your job?" Ross asked.

"Yep...it was a stupid job. Look, I love my life right now. I got the best wife, forgiving and patient friends...the most gorgeous niece in the world and Em, we are still trying to get you a cousin...I've also been clean and sober for nineteen months. But I hate that job. I've hated it for eleven years. I wanna be happy in every part of my life and that includes my job," Chandler said.

"I can't believe you finally quit," Rachel said.

"I did," Chandler said.

"So what do you wanna do now?" Rachel asked.

"Not a clue," Chandler said. "But I know I don't wanna do that."

"Oh my G-d...I think I like you again," Phoebe said as Chandler let out a snort.

"Thanks, Phoebe," Chandler said as Monica kissed him again. Monica grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the window where the six continued to watch the snowfall. Phoebe looked at Chandler who could not stop smiling.

"You actually just said you love your life right now?" Phoebe asked.

"Yeah...I mean, it's not good enough yet, but it's pretty damn close," Chandler said.

"Good. I'm sorry," Phoebe said.

"Me too," Chandler said as he hugged Phoebe and gently kissed her on the head. Phoebe noticed Monica beaming as well. Phoebe knew how badly Monica had wanted Chandler and Phoebe to make up. Phoebe could feel the anger she had towards Chandler melting away and slowly being replaced by the love she had always had for him. He was figuring it out which made her incredibly happy.

2002 was ending perfectly. For New Years, Mike took her to Times Square. She had not been there in so long. They sat together although now it seemed far colder than it had the last time she was there. Perhaps it was the age but she had remembered it being far more fun. She didn't relay that to Mike though, just happy to be with him.

"Wow...this is amazing," Phoebe said.

"So are you, Pheebs. I'm glad you're here with me."

"G-d, Mike...it's been a long time since I've felt this way about anyone. I mean, Duncan was so long ago. I spent my twenties waiting for him to come back and David...he's in and out of my life so much that I don't know what I would even count him...but meeting you, it makes me feel good and I'm so glad we recovered from all those horrible bumps," Phoebe said.

"Minor."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Chandler finally quit his job."

"Nice. You know, he called me...after the thing with Ross telling me that you hadn't been in a serious relationship."

"He did?" Phoebe asked, getting nervous.

"Yeah...well, we talked about high school and crap but he said that you were amazing and the strongest person he had ever met and if I ever hurt you, he's gonna have Joey punch me in the head."

Phoebe laughed as she shook her head. Chandler was definitely making it difficult for her to keep hating him.

"By the way...Joey and Chandler? What gives?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, we all think they're secretly lovers," Phoebe grinned. "They say they're just close friends, but we don't buy it."

Mike laughed, "hey, okay...I have another question. Um, I know you love this and I am out here in the freezing cold for you. I've done this before as well but...I don't remember it being this cold or have this many people."

Phoebe let out a sigh of relief, so thankful Mike had said it first. For so long, she had loved Times Square on New Years. She had been in Times Square watching the ball drop from the ages of fourteen to about twenty four. It had been her thing but now, it just seemed rather annoying.

"I think it's always been this cold and crowded in Times Square on New Years. I think we're just old," Phoebe said.

"Crap, you wanna go somewhere warmer? And quieter," Mike said.

Phoebe nodded as the two grabbed hands and continued to walk off. Mike leaned into kiss her. She smiled as they continued to stroll along the streets of New York. Yep, it was looking like 2003 was going to be a very good year.