The house in Westchester was decked for the holidays. There was lights strung out on the front porch and holly draped on the mantel in the living room. A stack of Christmas cards was on the table and on the other side was a stack of RSVPs for a wedding. It looked like the perfect suburban home.
Chandler was sitting in his chair reading the Times and Monica was on the couch holding recipe cards. On the coffee table, was a menorah, a symbol of Monica's Jewish heritage. The two Bing children were playing on the floor. Erica was playing with a stuffed bunny and Jack with some blocks. Their silence was interrupted when the phone rang. "Hello , Bing residence. "Chandler sang out.
Joey thought that tears would come to his eyes when he heard the voice of his dear friend." Hey buddy." He said smiling.
"Well this is a surprise. So how is the big movie star?" asked Chandler as he put down his paper.
"Well that is why I was calling. How would you all like to come to a big , fancy Hollywood New Year's party?" Joey asked curiously.
"That would be great. Who's party would it be? " Chandler had quite a knowledge about celebrities and any of Joey's friends could be considered star struck at any time.
"Mine. I just bought this great house in the Hollywood Hills and had it decorated and was planning to move in during the holidays. This house is huge, bigger than you guys, a real house for a star. I wanted to invite you guys to LA for New Years."
"I'll ask Mon." Chandler said. Monica said that right now she was in deep with wedding plans. Since Monica stayed home to take care of the kids, she started her own wedding consultant business. The very first client that she had was her brother and his fiancé, planning their upcoming wedding.
"She is busy, but she says sounds great. We'll be there." Smiled Chandler. Joey hung up the phone and then went to the next name on the list.
The tree was decorated in a very unusual way. Fine ornaments from France were staggered on the artificial tree. On some of the branches hung minature ornaments of various things like little shoes, dinosaurs , and a small jet plane. The plane had special significance for it was this very jet that brought a certain man back to life. On the apothecary table, was a copy of the photo that was in the New York Times. It was very artsy as pictures would go . Rachel had a friend who did work for Ralph Lauren take her engagement picture. She had on a black strapless dress and Ross was wearing a tuxedo as they had a picnic in Central Park and held two champagne flutes.
The phone rang and Emma ran to pick it up. She stood and held the phone to her tiny ear. "Hello?' she asked to the voice on the other end.
"Emma?" Joey asked. "Is Mommy or Daddy there?" Rachel came out of the bathroom , her daughter cradling the phone. "Emma, who is on the phone? Give Mommy the phone." Rachel took the phone from her daughter. "Professor Geller's ." she answered never knowing who would be calling. Joey was so glad to hear his friend's voice. "Rachel is that you." Her face told the story. "Joey! Oh my God, this is so great. So how is the movie going?" she eaglerly curled up in an afghan on the leather couch in the living room.
"It is so much fun. How are the wedding plans coming?" he asked curiously. "Well sometimes I get the feeling that Ross would rather just go to city hall and just get it over with . I get the feeling that he is just doing this because I never got to have my wedding. "
"That's too bad. Listen, how would you guys like to come to LA for New Years. I was telling Chandler that I bought a new house and…"
"Joey that sounds wonderful. I just got a new gown and that would be perfect for a fancy Hollywood party." At that moment, Ross came in the door carrying his briefcase and looking tired. "I swear those kids are just getting dumber." He mumbled.
"Ross, it's Joey and he is inviting us to his house for New Years." Rachel said excitedly. "Yeah I would like nothing more than to escape the tedious job of picking out napkins and flowers ." Ross said sarcastically. Rachel smacked him. "We'll be there , Joey. Can't wait to see you. Bye." Rachel turned to Ross. "Now what was that sarcastic comment about , Professor?"
Ross felt bad about the comment. "I'm sorry , hon. It's just all this marriage nonsense. I have been through this before, and I just wish we could go off somewhere and just get married without my sister driving me crazy. I mean it's almost like we are married already."
Rachel wondered. Maybe there might be a way.
Mike sat by the piano as he had a pencil in his mouth and tried to play the notes. He took the pen from his mouth and began to write the notes and lyrics to the latest jingle. It was all thanks to Chandler, a client had wanted a jingle for an advertising campaign and Mike stumbled upon it , by accident. The agency that Chandler worked for was so pleased, they began to send Mike clients. He began to play again.
"Hello?" Mike said as he put the phone on his shoulder.
"Mike? It's Joey. Is Phoebe there by any chance?" Joey asked.
"No she's not. But hey Joey, what's going on?" Mike smiled as he remembered he was partly responsible for him and Phoebe getting to gether in the first place.
"Well I have a new house and I want to open it up with a New Year's party and I want you and Pheebs to come.It's going to be very high class and very Hollywood." Joey explained.
"Sounds like fun and the California weather will be a nice change from the snow." Mike said. "Phoebe will call you when she gets in, but I'm in. See ya Joey."
After calling everyone, Joey went into the other room where Gina was sitting and watching the Sopranos.
"That is not how Italians should be portrayed on television. It's like saying we are bunch of gun wielding gangsters." She said. Joey looked at her like foreign words were coming out of her mouth.
"When did you swallow an encyclopedia. Michael certainly didn't inherit his brains from you." Joey said.
"I read an article in People, smart guy." Gina explained. "So what's going on . Are you feeling better? " Gina was concerned about what had happened earlier.
"Yeah I even thought, hey I have this new house and it would be the perfect place to have a high class New Year's party" Joey was brightening up and he didn't seem as depressed as before.
"That sounds great and it will get your mind off all this Alex crap. Who are you planning on inviting , and can I bring a date? "
"Well there is me, you, Michael, Howie , Zach, Bobbie, and dates. Then I am inviting everyone from New York. And of course , Alex, I can't let this effect our friendship."
Gina watched as her brother walked away. Alex had to tell him ..