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Chapter 9: More Changes of Direction

As he rode in the taxi to the hospital, with Monica by his side, Chandler was silently cursing himself. He knew perfectly well that he should not flirt with Janice like that. It was not fair to her; it only encouraged her to have hopes that could never now be fulfilled. It was strange how, this time around, the spark between them had failed to reignite. Why was this? She had been well behaved tonight, and she looked as good as always. That, of course, was why he could not resist flirting with her, just as he did with Monica and Paula and Wendy and good-looking women customers in the restaurant, not to mention Rachel. After all the years of being nervous around attractive women, he was really enjoying his new-found ability to converse with them easily and get them interested. He loved seeing their eyes sparkle and making them smile, even laugh. But it was becoming obvious to him that he could not go on like this; indeed, he did not want to go on like this. More and more he wanted to have one special woman to love – but who, now that the relationship with Janice was so clearly over? The only new woman he had met recently was Joanna Waterman, and one date with her was enough. She was entirely too demanding, and rather older than him anyway. As for the women he already knew well, he found Monica very attractive, but in his belief she was really in love with her restaurant, now named Monica's Place, and after that with Joey. Phoebe was with Ross, in as solid a relationship as he'd ever seen, and he wouldn't dream of trying to cut in on it, even if he didn't find the new, intellectual Phoebe rather formidable. That left Rachel.

He smiled. Thinking about Rachel always made him smile. Of course, her great body was enough to make anyone smile, but he always thought first of that perky, expressive face with its sharp little chin, appealing eyes, and extremely kissable lips, and even more than these he loved the characteristic aspects of her behaviour, her sudden wild enthusiasms, her readiness to hug any of her friends who seemed like they needed hugging, and most particularly the way she did a little throat-clearing noise when she was embarrassed or perplexed by what someone had said, or wanted to change the subject quickly. Yes, there were a great many things to like about Rachel, and it would be easy to fall in love with her. He knew that he had been on the verge of doing so before he got back together with Janice for what had proved to be the final time, and he had then believed that she was developing feelings for him too. So, should he try again?

'Move it, dozy,' said Monica a little sharply. 'We're here.'

'Oh gosh, sorry,' said Chandler, and hastily grabbed for the door of the cab. As so often when he tried to do something requiring physical dexterity, he got in a tangle and took some while to sort himself out, to the amusement of Monica and the cab driver.

They had hardly entered the hospital when Rachel and Janice came hurrying after them, Rachel now dressed in more ordinary clothes.

'Janice?' said Chandler incredulously.

She looked down, evidently embarrassed, but Rachel spoke up, looking at him rather challengingly. 'I felt, she's been around so long, she's almost part of the gang and has as much right to be here as any of us. Have you got a problem with that?'

'Oh no, no,' said Chandler hastily, but for the moment he did not feel capable of dealing with Janice.

'Come on, let's find out where to go,' said Monica impatiently.

In a while they clattered into the waiting room, where Susan, Ross and Phoebe were already gathered around Carol. She displayed no surprise at seeing Janice, but rather thanked her for coming, and Ross too seemed pleased to have her there. As it proved, she was a definite asset, having attended the labours of friends and relations before, so she was able to give Carol advice and encouragement. She intervened decisively when Ross and Susan became competitive over helping her, pointing out that they were distressing Carol. Then they got into an argument over the baby's name, but with Phoebe's help she managed to get that quietened down too. So finally, without much more than the normal hassle, Ross and Carol's son was born, named Ben to general approval, and everybody was happy.

When they eventually left the hospital, Chandler found himself in the company of Rachel and Janice. It was quite early in the morning, with little traffic or people about yet, and shaping up to be a nice day, so they decided to walk back to the Village. Chandler began to notice that Janice was giving him significant glances, and finally decided he would have to speak.

'Janice, I'm sorry,' he said. 'I, um, shouldn't have been … flirting with you like that at dinner.'

'Which means …' she said, firing a painfully intent glance at him.

'I'm sorry,' he said again. 'But it really and truly is over.'

Janice stopped walking, her face fell and she produced a sound very like a strangled sob. Rachel immediately put an arm around her, but then Janice took a deep breath and drew herself up.

'You're right, you shouldn't have done that,' she said, looking him in the eye. 'It … raised hopes. At least you've been honest now.' She heaved a deep sigh. 'I knew it, really. I had more or less accepted it after that time in the restaurant, it's just that … well, anyway, so it's over. I'll be okay, and I hope we can remain friends, because I like hanging out with you guys.'

'You do that,' said Rachel, giving her a little hug. 'If I'm ever having a baby, I know who I'd want there, after seeing you with Carol,' she added lightly.

'Señorita, you don't know how good that makes me feel,' said Janice in an attempt at imitating Marlon Brando in One-Eyed Jacks. She and Rachel looked at each other and smiled. Before anyone could say any more, Joey and Monica came up beside them.

'All that is making Monica hanker for a baby,' said Joey in a rather resigned way.

'Natural enough,' said Rachel. 'It made me a bit antsy. Problem is finding a man who wants a baby too.'

'Ain't that the truth,' said Janice fake-mournfully. 'But weren't you hitting it off with that cute obstetrician, Rachel?' She flashed her a mischievous glance.

Rachel giggled. 'Yes, he was cute, but clearly I didn't make enough of an impression on him.'

'That surprises me,' said Chandler suddenly. Everyone looked at him questioningly. He felt slightly embarrassed at having blurted out his thought, but decided to expand.

'I can't understand why men aren't beating each other up to get to you first,' he said seriously.

Rachel blinked. 'Well, where I work, I'm … not around a lot of men who might be interested.'

'You should get out more,' he said, smiling.

'Yeah, right,' she said. 'Like I'm going to go out on my own, hoping to pick up some nice guy.'

'I have the perfect solution,' said Janice. 'Chandler asks you for a date.'

They all looked at her in disbelief.

'This is a joke, right?' said Chandler. 'Ha ha.'

'I'm perfectly serious,' said Janice. 'It's obvious you're interested in her, and maybe you'd have gotten round to it before, if I hadn't … turned up again. Besides, I'd like to feel you're in good hands.' She emphasised this in her old way and added the dreaded laugh. 'Go on, Chandler, do it – just for me.' She looked at them slyly and did the laugh again.

Chandler now felt acutely embarrassed. Janice had really put him on the spot. But before he could say anything, Monica said in a humorous voice, 'You'd better do it, Chandler, or Janice will laugh a third time, and you know what they say about the third time.'

'That men can rarely manage one?' said Chandler, glad of the opportunity for a joke. This produced a burst of laughter and a half-serious protest from Joey, which gave him time to think.

'Would you like a date, Rachel?' he said softly.

She looked at him very directly, then gave a little smile. 'Okay.'

'Monday night we're closed,' he said. 'How about then? Any movie you'd like to see?'

'Let me check that out,' she said, 'but Monday sounds good.'

Janice gave an ironical cheer. 'Well, that's that settled,' she said. 'Now, how are we gonna get Monica her baby?'

'Oo, that's a tough one,' said Rachel, suddenly feeling playful. 'Joey had better surprise her in her restaurant, because she's barely out of there these days.'

'That's making a big assumption, that Joey wants a baby too,' said Janice. 'How about it, Joey? Do your sisters want to be aunts?'

'Seems to me, Monica and me are not getting much say in this,' said Joey, grinning and playing along. 'But maybe I should talk to my agent about scheduling in time for a baby, eh Mon?'

'Oh ha ha,' said Monica rather bitterly. 'It's not funny really, you know.'

'Take it easy, Mon,' said Rachel, moving over to hug her. 'We're just kidding around. Seriously, I see no problem with combining cooking with a pregnancy, at least in the early months. It's running a baby and a restaurant that looks hard.'

'I bet you could do it, Monica,' said Janice. 'You're so organised.'

'Yeah, well, my personal life is not organised,' said Monica firmly, 'so let's drop it, shall we?'

Rachel and Janice looked at each other and giggled guiltily, like a pair of teenagers told off in school. Searching for another topic of conversation that might divert attention from the Monica-Joey situation, Chandler said, 'How's your work, Joe? Don't see you so much these days.'

'Yeah, I'm sorry about that,' said Joey, 'but what with rehearsals and publicity shoots and commercial shoots and all that, I'm pretty darn busy, and you guys are always at the restaurant. I suppose this is what it's like, being grown up.' He grinned at them, then sighed. 'I just wish sometimes the plotlines for Days Of Our Lives weren't so dumb. I really have trouble trying to act them convincingly.'

'Well, if that's how you really feel, you're doing a great job,' said Rachel. 'It never shows that you're not taking it seriously. But do you think you can keep that up?'

'It's the only game in town at the moment,' said Joey, 'and it is making me a lot of money, of which, I think you will be glad to hear, I am putting some away. But an even worse problem is, my acting career has got stuck on a plateau. Seems I've been pigeonholed as a soap actor. But I don't see anything else to do.'

'Maybe you should try a singing career,' said Monica. 'There's always a good crowd in the restaurant when you do a spot.'

'You don't think they come just because I'm a star on Days Of Our Lives?' said Joey diffidently.

'Hell no, Joey, you sing well,' said Monica in surprise. Indeed, while no Sinatra, Joey had a good tenor voice and could put over the simple romantic songs and old ballads that he had learned really well.

'Aw, I don't think I'm good enough to make a living at it,' said Joey. 'At least, not as good a living as Days Of Our Lives is giving me.'

'It's a problem, all right,' said Rachel in a reflective manner. 'You get a job that you think is going to be exactly what you wanted, and then you find out all the things you didn't expect, that take the shine off it. There are times when I wish I was back waitressing or managing Central Perk.'

'Well, if you ever want a waitressing job, there's one permanently open for you in the restaurant,' said Monica. 'In fact, I'd like you for head waitress. Wendy's okay, but she's not as good as you would be.'

'Oh Mon, that's a great offer,' said Rachel, beaming at her. 'And I will say here and now, I'm taking it very seriously, but I need some time to think.'

'Take all the time you want,' said Monica, smiling back. 'But it's only fair to warn you, I'll work your tail off.'

'I'm used to hard work now,' said Rachel. 'In fact, I was working harder in Central Perk than I am in Bloomie's. Joanna stomps about, but she's not very efficient, really, except at making Sophie feel miserable. I wish I could think of something to do about that situation.'

'What's this?' said Janice, who had been listening to them attentively. 'Oh yeah, I remember you talking about it now. Is Sophie a good secretary?'

'As far as I can tell,' said Rachel. 'At least, she seems to run her part of things okay.'

'Then, you have to wonder, why doesn't she get a job elsewhere, if she's miserable,' said Janice. 'Does she seem hung up on the wonder of working at Bloomie's?'

'Not particularly,' said Rachel. 'It seems like it's just a job to her.'

'Well then, do you get the feeling, she hero-worships Janice?' Janice pursued.

'Mmmm,' said Rachel, looking very thoughtful. 'I see where you're going. You think she actually likes being bullied by Joanna?'

Janice nodded. 'There are people like that. If you'll take my advice, you won't try to intervene. Chances are, this Sophie would not be pleased. Just leave them to their little games. But if it makes you uncomfortable, either try to transfer to another department or dump the job. Life's too short to waste it doing something you only half enjoy.'

They looked at her, amazed at all this good sense coming out of Janice. Rachel was particularly struck and came to a halt, staring at her, which made all the rest stop as well.

'Janice, that is such great advice,' she said in a wondering tone. 'You know what?' She suddenly looked decisive. 'I'm going to take it. I'll tell Joanna it isn't working out. I'll probably have to work off some notice, but when that's done I'll gladly come work for you, Mon.'

'Oh sweetie, that would be marvellous!' said Monica enthusiastically. 'But are you sure? I can't afford to pay you what Bloomie's does.'

'I don't care,' said Rachel. 'I've decided, I want to work where I can interact with people. And although managing Central Perk was fun, I'd rather work for you.' She gave her an affectionate glance.

'Oh, Rachel, I love you!' cried Monica in a high-pitched squeal.

'I love you too!' replied Rachel on a similar note, and they embraced.

'No reason why you should be just an employee, now that I think about it,' said Monica, beaming at Rachel. 'You could be a partner, especially if you could invest something, eh Chandler?'

'Oh, absolutely,' said Chandler. 'And you could help manage, Rachel. I have more than enough for one person to do, with the wine cellar as well, and you could take over some of what Monica is doing at present.'

'I'd love that,' said Rachel, beaming at them. 'But I'm afraid I've only got a very little I could invest.'

Monica and Chandler both made dismissive gestures. 'Just to have you on board and helping in the management would be terrific,' said Monica. 'Then I'd have more time for Joey.' She gave him a significant glance.

'Hey, that's great,' said Joey. 'Now you're talking about it, maybe I should invest too.'

'Aw shucks,' said Janice. 'I haven't got a penny to invest. I'll just have to be a regular customer.'

They all laughed. 'You do that, Janice,' said Monica, grinning at her. 'You'll always be welcome, if only for giving Rachel a push in the right direction – at least, it's right from my point of view.'

Chattering excitedly, they began to walk on again.

-----

It was Monday night, and Chandler was on his date with Rachel. There had been none of the unease he associated with first dates. They had enjoyed Clueless, and had just finished a great meal at a Chinatown restaurant, and the whole time they had been in complete harmony, talking readily and making each other laugh. Just now, though, he was getting rather frustrated. In her enthusiasm for what would soon be her job, Rachel had begun asking him a million questions about Monica's Place, and he was finding it wearing. He wanted to relax, not think about the restaurant on the one night he could get away from it. Fortunately, just as he felt he was going to have to say something to that effect, she paused.

'Gee, here I have been going on and on about the restaurant, when it's probably the last thing you want to think of, on your night off,' she said, looking at him with big remorseful eyes. 'I'm sorry, Chandler.'

'When you look at me like that, I can forgive you anything,' he said playfully, although it was no more than the truth. 'So Joanna thinks she can manage without you, huh?'

'Oh yeah,' said Rachel a little wearily. 'She said she had been coming to feel the same thing, that, after all, maybe I didn't care enough. I have to finish all that reorganisation of her filing system that I was doing, and work out a full month from when I started, doing anything else she wants, and then I'm through. Some brilliant career in fashion, huh?'

'You seem a little down,' he said sympathetically.

'Well, I suppose I am,' she said. 'Ever since I tried out for that job at Saks, I thought it was what I most wanted to do. But, now I think about it, this was not like the job at Saks would have been.' She sighed. 'Oh well, it was worth it for the experience, and if I ever spot a fashion job that seems more my sort of thing, I can always say I have worked in Bloomingdales' fashion department.'

'I hope we can make your job at Monica's Place interesting enough to keep you,' said Chandler, giving her his best smile. 'So, are we all done here?'

'I guess so,' she said. 'Let's head back to the apartment and see what's doing.'

In the cab home, she proclaimed herself tired, and put her head on his shoulder. Almost automatically he put an arm round her. She made a happy little noise. Breathing in her perfume and the clean smell of her hair, he suddenly felt an intense desire to kiss her. Not wishing to give the cab-driver a free show, he tried to control this, but it was hard, and when they were standing on the sidewalk outside the apartment block, and she was looking at him seriously with those big eyes, he could stand it no longer, and put his arms round her.

'I would like very much to kiss you,' he said a little hoarsely.

She smiled enchantingly. 'I would very much like you to kiss me.'

And there it was. They moved, finally, from being good friends to something more. The elation he felt when he was kissing her properly and she was kissing him back made the blood in his temples pound. The kiss went on and on, until they heard a ribald voice yell, 'Get a room!'

They turned, and it was Joey, beaming at them. 'So, you had a good date?' he said, raising his eyebrows.

'I had a great date,' said Rachel softly, squeezing Chandler and looking up at him with sparkling, almost mischievous eyes.

'Maybe you'd like another?' said Chandler, even hoarser than before.

Her smile broadened. 'There's nothing I'd like better.'

'Let's … let's go upstairs and talk about it,' said Chandler, taking her hand.

They went up the stairs. Joey was saying something about having the chance of a part in a new kind of series, some adventure thing, but Chandler could hardly focus on it. Instead, he was intensely conscious of Rachel beside him, her hand trustingly in his. Was this all it took, one kiss? Maybe it was that the kiss brought to the surface feelings that had been there for a long time, just waiting for their moment to show. He knew that he was mixed up with Rachel now, that his life had changed for ever. But the feeling did not scare him, as it once would have done. Now that he had a job that he enjoyed, he realised, his whole attitude to life had altered.

When they entered Monica and Rachel's apartment they found Monica, Ross and Phoebe there.

'Well, guess what?' said Joey, but before he could say anything more, Phoebe bounced up, her eyes shining.

'You've done it, haven't you?' she said to Chandler. 'You've kissed her.'

Chandler smiled and put an arm round Rachel. 'Yes, I have,' he said, looking at them confidently. 'The smartest thing I've done since leaving my old job.'

'Oh, that's so great, you guys!' cried Phoebe, and threw herself at them, just getting her arms far enough round to hug them both. Then Monica joined them, and Ross came up and whacked Chandler on the back, followed a moment later by Joey.

'I think you'll be great together,' he said. 'Now about my news …'

'Yes, Joey, you have some news?' said Ross.

'Well, I have this good chance of the lead part in a kind of adventure series, that takes place way back in the past,' Joey said. 'It has all sorts of weird stuff in it, magic and gods and monsters and all, kind of like that Prince Valiant comic strip. But there's one problem.' He sat down, looking at Monica with a serious, even sad expression.

'You have to go to LA to shoot it?' she said.

'Further than that,' he said. 'New Zealand. It has great countryside for this kind of thing, they said. But I'd be there for months, and if the series takes off I'd be going there year after year.'

'Oh,' said Monica. She looked at her feet. Everyone else felt uneasy and could think of nothing to say. Then she looked up again, with a slightly rueful smile on her face.

'Joey,' she said. 'You go for it. We've had fun, you and me, but it hasn't been easy for you when I've been tied up at the restaurant, I know. Maybe it's time to say, our affair has run its course.'

Joey's face showed pain. 'No, I don't feel like that,' he said. 'I'd like us to go on, but … I can't ask you to wait for me. It wouldn't be reasonable.'

'Well, we don't even know if you've got the part yet,' said Monica practically. 'So no need for sad break-up speeches and farewells. Let's celebrate Rachel and Chandler getting together.'