CHAPTER SIX: NEW YORK

"We have begun our final descent into New York City, we ask at this time that you fasten your seatbelts, straighten your seats and put your service tables up. Thank you for flying with us". The flight attendant's voice intruded into Phoebe's thoughts and brought fresh tears to her eyes. The plane hadn't landed yet and already she felt she couldn't breathe. Emotion had been choking her for the better part of the trip. It had been a test to her self-control not to cry when she'd said goodbye to Joey a mere four hours ago. She hadn't wanted to part on a sad note, so the goodbye at the airport had been rushed. But once on the plane, she was unable to stop the tears. The memories of the time she and Joey spent together were too fresh and she'd cried for the better part of the flight.

She smiled as she remembered how they had hardly left his apartment after that first night on the beach. They had started to go to Disneyland the next day, but they had woken up around noon and waking up next to each other was new for both of them and they had spent a good deal of time making love.

Some time in the late afternoon they had changed and gone out to eat. It amazed Phoebe how easy it had been for them to isolate themselves from their regular lives. From the world, as a matter of fact. They had done a lot of talking. Joey had told her about his plans to buy a house a little closer to all of them so that he could visit more often. He also talked about how he never realized that as people get older, making new friendships wasn't as easy. Just anyone wouldn't do. People get pickier.

She hadn't said much. Her only major change was being married and that was a subject that neither of them had brought up. It was as if the entire world but them had ceased to exist.

Her remaining time in L.A. was now a blur of long walks, long talks, many laughs, a million hugs and tender kisses. Their lovemaking had been sometimes gentle, and others passionate, but the last two times, sex had had a desperation to it that had torn at both their hearts.

The thud of the plane landing brought Phoebe back to the present. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She was nervous about seeing Mike. Only once during her stay had she called him, and that call had been brief. When she had finally taken out her cell phone at the airport, she'd seen she had many missed calls, none of which she had bothered to check. She was sure a good number of them were from Mike, and that mildly annoyed her, but she shook the feeling since that was unfair to him. She would call him from baggage claim.

She felt relieved she'd picked a window seat. She watched the commotion of everyone getting their stuff and exiting the plane, but made no move to do the same. She waited until the plane was almost empty to leave her seat. Because all the rush had died down by the time she reached baggage claim, she was in and out in no time. Once she was in a cab on her way home, she finally called home.

"Hello"

"Mike, it's Phoebe..." she said hesitantly. She was expecting him to be angry for not returning his calls.

"Hey stranger!" came the enthusiastic reply. "Ready to come home yet?"

"As a matter of fact, I am home. Well, in New York. I'm on my way. I took a cab."

"You should have called me. I'd have met you at the airport"

"I'm sorry"

"Oh please, it's no big deal. I'm glad you're back. How's Joey?"

She knew that question was coming. She expected it.

"He's fine. He sends his love. Well, I'll see you in a little bit. Ok?"

"Sure thing. Bye"

"Bye"

Being in familiar surroundings soothed the choking feeling she'd had since leaving L.A. All of a sudden, she felt like having coffee in the all-too-familiar Central Perk, with their big cups. She felt like turning back time a few years. Why was it that you never knew what you had till it's gone? Why, when she was so careful of paying attention to signs, had she not called off the wedding when they were snowed in?

Well, there was no use in lamenting what couldn't be undone.

She paid the cab fare and walked into her and Mike's building. He'd been watching for her and he was there to help her with her luggage. He gave her a big hug and a peck on the lips that she hesitantly returned.

"Long time no see" he said "how was L.A.?

She made her smile as bright as she could and started into the building. "It's not New York, I'll tell you that much, but it was fun. How were things here?"

"Busy. My parents called me the day you left. They wanted to invite us to go to Cape Cod with them and some of their friends for the weekend"

They got into the apartment and Phoebe went straight to the answering machine, and was a bit disappointed not to find a message, which was ridiculous considering Mike had been home for most of day.

"Wow. Did you go?" she said absentmindedly

"Yeah. We had a good time too. I saw an old childhood friend" He said taking her stuff into their bedroom. "I hadn't seen her in ages."

"Really? That's great! It's good to see old friends, isn't it?" The ringing of the phone prevented her from hearing Mike's answer. She hurriedly picked up before Mike had a chance to come out of their bedroom.

"Pheebs? How are you? Welcome back, honey. How's Joey?" Rachel's voice brought Joey back to Phoebe's thoughts and a lump quickly formed in her throat. She swallowed hard and answered as normallyas possible.

"He's doing great! He misses you guys so much." Phoebe was talking excitedly a mile a minute. It felt good to talk to Rachel. She wished she could tell her all that happened. She needed another woman's view on the situation, because hers was clouded by the overwhelming feelings she recently discovered she had for Joey. Seeing Mike again had only confirmed that although she cared for him a great deal, she was no longer in love with him and she wondered if she'd ever been.

"Aw... did you tell him we missed him too?"

"Yes, I did. So... how was your weekend?"

"Well, honey, you know we had to work, so my parents...yes. BOTH my parents got Emma Thursday and Friday. Their love for my daughter is one thing they both agree on. Anyway, Ross's parents were watching Ben and they called to see if Emma could go too. I just got Emma back and since Ross is still at work I was wondering if you guys wanted to have dinner with me."

"I'd love to, Rachel but let me ask Mike"

"Ask me what?" he said from behind her, startling her

"Rachel wants to know if we wanna have dinner with her"

"Sure. We'll just have our reunion, later" he whispered and winked at her.

Phoebe's smiled tightly and nodded and quickly went back to making dinner plans with Rachel.

"Oh good. I hate eating by myself. Well, I know I'm with Emma but, you know, with someone... oh hell, you know what I mean."

"Yes, I do" Phoebe said smiling into the phone "We'll see you there in an hour. I just have to change out of these plane clothes"

"Phoebe, we're not going anywhere fancy, plain clothes will be just fine"

"Airplane, Rachel, airplane clothes"

"Oh. Alright then. See you guys in a bit"

Rachel was already at the restaurant when they got there and she was on her cell to Monica.

"Wow... I thought those never expired..."

"....."

"I bet you are. Well, I don't know what to say...just do it again"

"..."

"I don't mean the reception, Monica!!! Just the official part"

"...."

Rachel rolled her eyes at Phoebe and Mike as she got up to hug and kiss them while still listening to Monica rant and rave about something.

"What the hell difference does it make? You can celebrate any damn date you want!"

"...."

"I know. How are they doing?"

"..."

"Oh, Mon, I'm so sorry! I'd go visit, but Emma hasn't had the chickenpox and I don't want her exposed"

"..."

"Hang in there. And look at it this way, we have a good excuse to throw a big party"

"..."

"You do that. Take care. Bye" she hung up and turned to Phoebe and Mike. "I guess it's true that when it rains, it pours. Poor Monica. She was already going crazy from the twins' being sick and then she said she got a letter from City Hall telling her that their marriage was invalid"

"What?!?" Phoebe and Mike said at the same time.

"Why?" asked Mike

"Well, apparently Joey's internet ordainment had a very short-lived expiration date that had already come and gone by the time Chandler and Monica got married. Monica is flipping because she thinks...." She halted in mid-sentence, when seeing their shocked expressions made her realize what that implied.

"Well" Rachel said nonchalantly trying to lighten the blow she'd inadvertently dealt them "I guess we'll be having two weddings pretty soon..."