Not surprisingly, the plan turned out to be more of Phoebe's devising than Chandler's. He was still very unsure about Joey's feelings for him, and his guilt regarding his wife and son gave him second thoughts about pursuing the matter.
"Maybe we should leave things alone," Chandler protested. "If he doesn't love me, and it's all for nothing--"
"He loves you," Phoebe insisted. "He's always loved you. You were both just too blind to see it. I mean, come on, couldn't you tell when he hugged you all the time and bought you jewelry and even kissed you at New Year's? Or when he would fight with you and get jealous just like a lover? Or when he was dating Kathy, the girl who was eerily like you in almost every way?"
Chandler frowned, having never thought of these incidents in quite that way before. He had always assumed that Joey was just puppy-like in his unwavering devotion and affection.
Phoebe continued, "And do you notice how most of the women that he dates seriously are either his roommates or very smart or both? He's still trying to find a substitute for you. If Joey's dating anybody in L.A., I bet it's some brainy girl who likes sandwiches, foosball, and making sarcastic jokes."
Chandler got worried at that. "Do you, do you think he is dating anybody? It's been two years. He must have found somebody--"
Phoebe shushed him and patted his head patronizingly. "Leave everything to the puppet master to deal with."
Chandler started to protest again, but was interrupted by noisy squealing coming from the playpen. Daniel was getting rather mad and wouldn't let Frannie play with his toys.
The parents had to break up the squabble, then Phoebe packed up Frannie and the diaper bag so that they could go home. Going to the door, Phoebe said, "Well, we gotta head back now, but I'll work on the plan some more. See ya."
Left alone with his son, Chandler quieted him down then sat brooding again, wishing that he and Joey had got together years ago, or at least after that Christmas on the balcony.
***
Phoebe on the other hand had no doubts about resuming her role as puppet master for the group; it was hard work, of course, and Ross and Rachel had resisted all her manipulations for years, but at last she had successfully reunited them and they were finally mature enough to stay together this time. Phoebe was sure that she could resolve Joey and Chandler's mess as well, so she put Frannie to bed, then put her plan into action.
First, she found Don's number again and called him up to find out how he was now. Unlike Phoebe's other friend Steve, who had lost his restaurant due to his drug use, Don still had a thriving business, importing various kinds of cheese from France. He also remained a connoisseur of fine wine and food.
After catching up and ascertaining that Don was currently single, Phoebe asked casually, "Oh, do you remember my friend Monica, from Allesandro's? Yeah, she's the head chef at Javu's now! You should eat there! The food is not at all pretentious or garlicky... What? Oh, you have eaten there? And you loved it? Oh." She giggled as if she were still a flaky hippie, and not a scheming wife and mother. "Well, of course you did, Don, 'cause you loved Monica's cooking at Allesandro's too. I remember, when you guys talked, you both looked so happy chatting on and on about food and restaurants; it's like you're kindred spirits."
"I wouldn't go as far as to say that," Don answered mildly. "I've met many such people in my profession."
"Oh. I guess I just never moved in the fancy-shmancy gourmet circles that you and Monica have."
"Still, you lived quite an interesting and satisfactory life in your own circles," Don answered, somewhat flirtatiously. He wondered if Phoebe had rung him in order to start things up again. Though he and Phoebe did not have much in common, Don still liked her generally and had certainly enjoyed the sex they had. Phoebe was very bendy and talented, due to her years of practicing yoga and massage. Perhaps she now regretted breaking off their earlier fling.
Phoebe recognized the tone of Don's voice and realized that she hadn't mentioned her husband and daughter yet. She better get Don focused on Monica in a hurry. "Hey, wait a minute, Don--if you've eaten at Javu's, then why haven't you asked to go into the kitchen and say hello to Monica? She hasn't mentioned you coming by at all."
"Oh, well, I was always there during very busy nights when the restaurant was completely booked and I didn't want to disturb her making her culinary masterpieces. Besides, I don't think she would remember me."
"Of course she would remember you! You're one of the few people who ever get as excited about food as she does, and definitely the only one who said that he'd like to live in a house of cheese."
Don chuckled fondly at the memory and replied, "Well, perhaps I will go in to see her the next time I dine at Javu's. That is, if I can get a reservation at all. The restaurant seems to get more popular with every passing month."
"You should mention that you're an old friend of Monica's then."
"I hardly think I'm an old friend!" Don protested. "More like a brief acquaintance. A chap who dated her friend a few years back. I'm sure she doesn't even remember my last name."
"Of course she does!" Phoebe insisted. "If you want me to, I'll remind her, but I'm sure she'll remember on her own. Or, you know, maybe you could drop by and meet her some night when she's not busy working? You two could catch up and discuss cheese again."
Don was confused by this continual prodding towards Monica. "Phoebe, dear, what exactly are your intentions here? Are you trying to fix me up with Monica? But isn't she still married to that fellow? You know, the one who hates smelly cheese?"
Phoebe knew that she had to tell the truth about this. "You mean Chandler. Yeah, they're still married. In fact, they have a son named Daniel now."
"A son? Oh, splendid! I'm very happy for them. Now, about your intentions, Phoebe--"
She interrupted him with exasperation. "Don! Okay, I'll admit I'm up to something. I just, um, I had a very strong psychic premonition that you and Monica are supposed to meet again, very soon. Can you just trust me and meet with her please?"
Don remembered Phoebe's charming enthusiasm for psychics and tried to humor her. "Well, er, that's interesting. Um, I'm not sure if I believe in psychic stuff--"
"You don't have to believe, Don. You just have to meet with her. Please! You could, um, have dinner with her and congratulate her on the new restaurant and the new baby and all of that stuff. Please go along, Don. It's very important to both your futures."
"Our futures? Mine and Monica's?" Then inspiration struck him. "Oh, do you mean perhaps that I make a business deal with her to import cheeses for Javu's, and then we become very successful?"
"Um, maybe." She should have thought of that before. "I mean, I don't have a head for business, you know, but uh, I-I kinda get the feeling that a... a partnership may come out of it. So, will you meet with Monica and find out?"
"I think I shall, then. Yes, all right, Phoebe. I'll go along. Even if nothing comes of it, we'll have a pleasant chat about food again. Can you arrange things with Monica for me?"
"Yep, and I promise that she will remember you, Don."
"All right. Well, ring me when you've spoken with her. It was nice talking to you again."
"Yeah, me too. I'll call you soon. Bye." Then she hung up and checked off Phase One of her plan. For Phase Two, Phoebe would have to arrange the dinner date with Monica and remind her of all the details about her soulmate Don.
However, Monica probably wouldn't be home until late tonight, so Phoebe decided to save Phase Two for tomorrow. Getting up from the couch, she went to go check on Frannie again.
When Phoebe entered the baby's room, she saw her husband bent over the crib, happily watching Frannie sleep. With an adoring smile, he whispered to her, "You're so beautiful. Just like your mother."
"Thank you," Phoebe said with a giggle.
David turned around in surprise and blushed, pushing the glasses onto the bridge of his nose again. Then he pulled Phoebe close and kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you too." They embraced, then looked fondly on their sleeping infant.
[Surprise! Phoebe's husband is David the physicist. Take that, Mike! (Sorry to any Mike fans out there, but I just hate him, especially after his behavior at Barbados.) I will explain in a later chapter how Phoebe ended up dumping Mike and reuniting with David. Anybody care to suggest a surname for David? I think I should name him after some eminent physicist, like Fermi or James Clerk Maxwell, but would that be too corny?
I need suggestions for Don's last name too, something that will go well with Monica's name, when she remarries. The only details we learn about him are in episode 816, TOW Joey Tells Rachel; Don is tall, brown-haired, British, sophisticated, older than Monica (but then, so was Richard), and I quote Phoebe, "so centered and mature and confident."]
"Maybe we should leave things alone," Chandler protested. "If he doesn't love me, and it's all for nothing--"
"He loves you," Phoebe insisted. "He's always loved you. You were both just too blind to see it. I mean, come on, couldn't you tell when he hugged you all the time and bought you jewelry and even kissed you at New Year's? Or when he would fight with you and get jealous just like a lover? Or when he was dating Kathy, the girl who was eerily like you in almost every way?"
Chandler frowned, having never thought of these incidents in quite that way before. He had always assumed that Joey was just puppy-like in his unwavering devotion and affection.
Phoebe continued, "And do you notice how most of the women that he dates seriously are either his roommates or very smart or both? He's still trying to find a substitute for you. If Joey's dating anybody in L.A., I bet it's some brainy girl who likes sandwiches, foosball, and making sarcastic jokes."
Chandler got worried at that. "Do you, do you think he is dating anybody? It's been two years. He must have found somebody--"
Phoebe shushed him and patted his head patronizingly. "Leave everything to the puppet master to deal with."
Chandler started to protest again, but was interrupted by noisy squealing coming from the playpen. Daniel was getting rather mad and wouldn't let Frannie play with his toys.
The parents had to break up the squabble, then Phoebe packed up Frannie and the diaper bag so that they could go home. Going to the door, Phoebe said, "Well, we gotta head back now, but I'll work on the plan some more. See ya."
Left alone with his son, Chandler quieted him down then sat brooding again, wishing that he and Joey had got together years ago, or at least after that Christmas on the balcony.
***
Phoebe on the other hand had no doubts about resuming her role as puppet master for the group; it was hard work, of course, and Ross and Rachel had resisted all her manipulations for years, but at last she had successfully reunited them and they were finally mature enough to stay together this time. Phoebe was sure that she could resolve Joey and Chandler's mess as well, so she put Frannie to bed, then put her plan into action.
First, she found Don's number again and called him up to find out how he was now. Unlike Phoebe's other friend Steve, who had lost his restaurant due to his drug use, Don still had a thriving business, importing various kinds of cheese from France. He also remained a connoisseur of fine wine and food.
After catching up and ascertaining that Don was currently single, Phoebe asked casually, "Oh, do you remember my friend Monica, from Allesandro's? Yeah, she's the head chef at Javu's now! You should eat there! The food is not at all pretentious or garlicky... What? Oh, you have eaten there? And you loved it? Oh." She giggled as if she were still a flaky hippie, and not a scheming wife and mother. "Well, of course you did, Don, 'cause you loved Monica's cooking at Allesandro's too. I remember, when you guys talked, you both looked so happy chatting on and on about food and restaurants; it's like you're kindred spirits."
"I wouldn't go as far as to say that," Don answered mildly. "I've met many such people in my profession."
"Oh. I guess I just never moved in the fancy-shmancy gourmet circles that you and Monica have."
"Still, you lived quite an interesting and satisfactory life in your own circles," Don answered, somewhat flirtatiously. He wondered if Phoebe had rung him in order to start things up again. Though he and Phoebe did not have much in common, Don still liked her generally and had certainly enjoyed the sex they had. Phoebe was very bendy and talented, due to her years of practicing yoga and massage. Perhaps she now regretted breaking off their earlier fling.
Phoebe recognized the tone of Don's voice and realized that she hadn't mentioned her husband and daughter yet. She better get Don focused on Monica in a hurry. "Hey, wait a minute, Don--if you've eaten at Javu's, then why haven't you asked to go into the kitchen and say hello to Monica? She hasn't mentioned you coming by at all."
"Oh, well, I was always there during very busy nights when the restaurant was completely booked and I didn't want to disturb her making her culinary masterpieces. Besides, I don't think she would remember me."
"Of course she would remember you! You're one of the few people who ever get as excited about food as she does, and definitely the only one who said that he'd like to live in a house of cheese."
Don chuckled fondly at the memory and replied, "Well, perhaps I will go in to see her the next time I dine at Javu's. That is, if I can get a reservation at all. The restaurant seems to get more popular with every passing month."
"You should mention that you're an old friend of Monica's then."
"I hardly think I'm an old friend!" Don protested. "More like a brief acquaintance. A chap who dated her friend a few years back. I'm sure she doesn't even remember my last name."
"Of course she does!" Phoebe insisted. "If you want me to, I'll remind her, but I'm sure she'll remember on her own. Or, you know, maybe you could drop by and meet her some night when she's not busy working? You two could catch up and discuss cheese again."
Don was confused by this continual prodding towards Monica. "Phoebe, dear, what exactly are your intentions here? Are you trying to fix me up with Monica? But isn't she still married to that fellow? You know, the one who hates smelly cheese?"
Phoebe knew that she had to tell the truth about this. "You mean Chandler. Yeah, they're still married. In fact, they have a son named Daniel now."
"A son? Oh, splendid! I'm very happy for them. Now, about your intentions, Phoebe--"
She interrupted him with exasperation. "Don! Okay, I'll admit I'm up to something. I just, um, I had a very strong psychic premonition that you and Monica are supposed to meet again, very soon. Can you just trust me and meet with her please?"
Don remembered Phoebe's charming enthusiasm for psychics and tried to humor her. "Well, er, that's interesting. Um, I'm not sure if I believe in psychic stuff--"
"You don't have to believe, Don. You just have to meet with her. Please! You could, um, have dinner with her and congratulate her on the new restaurant and the new baby and all of that stuff. Please go along, Don. It's very important to both your futures."
"Our futures? Mine and Monica's?" Then inspiration struck him. "Oh, do you mean perhaps that I make a business deal with her to import cheeses for Javu's, and then we become very successful?"
"Um, maybe." She should have thought of that before. "I mean, I don't have a head for business, you know, but uh, I-I kinda get the feeling that a... a partnership may come out of it. So, will you meet with Monica and find out?"
"I think I shall, then. Yes, all right, Phoebe. I'll go along. Even if nothing comes of it, we'll have a pleasant chat about food again. Can you arrange things with Monica for me?"
"Yep, and I promise that she will remember you, Don."
"All right. Well, ring me when you've spoken with her. It was nice talking to you again."
"Yeah, me too. I'll call you soon. Bye." Then she hung up and checked off Phase One of her plan. For Phase Two, Phoebe would have to arrange the dinner date with Monica and remind her of all the details about her soulmate Don.
However, Monica probably wouldn't be home until late tonight, so Phoebe decided to save Phase Two for tomorrow. Getting up from the couch, she went to go check on Frannie again.
When Phoebe entered the baby's room, she saw her husband bent over the crib, happily watching Frannie sleep. With an adoring smile, he whispered to her, "You're so beautiful. Just like your mother."
"Thank you," Phoebe said with a giggle.
David turned around in surprise and blushed, pushing the glasses onto the bridge of his nose again. Then he pulled Phoebe close and kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you too." They embraced, then looked fondly on their sleeping infant.
[Surprise! Phoebe's husband is David the physicist. Take that, Mike! (Sorry to any Mike fans out there, but I just hate him, especially after his behavior at Barbados.) I will explain in a later chapter how Phoebe ended up dumping Mike and reuniting with David. Anybody care to suggest a surname for David? I think I should name him after some eminent physicist, like Fermi or James Clerk Maxwell, but would that be too corny?
I need suggestions for Don's last name too, something that will go well with Monica's name, when she remarries. The only details we learn about him are in episode 816, TOW Joey Tells Rachel; Don is tall, brown-haired, British, sophisticated, older than Monica (but then, so was Richard), and I quote Phoebe, "so centered and mature and confident."]