Anything for Love
Chapter 3: The One with the New Year's Party
The next morning, Joey woke up with Phoebe already in the shower. He at up and stretched, the kiss from the night before still on his mind. Sure, they had only kissed because of the mistletoe, but still… It had had an effect on him. He wondered if Phoebe had felt the same thing. She didn't appear to have felt anything. She hadn't mentioned the kiss, so maybe it had meant nothing to her. Then again, it was starting to mean a little something to him, yet he hadn't said anything about it either.
The sound of her shower turning off was heard. He contemplated ordering breakfast for them, but then decided that it might be nice to take her out for breakfast this time. He decided to wait to see what she wanted to do.
He opened the door and grabbed the paper, and then took it back to bed and read it while he waited for Phoebe to finish in the bathroom.
She came out ten minutes later looking refreshed. She wore a white turtleneck sweater, and dark washed jeans that looked terrific on her.
"Good morning," he said to her with a smile.
She smiled back. "Good morning, Joey." She grabbed a pair of navy colored socks from her suitcase, then sat down at the end of the bed to put them on.
Joey sat up straighter and put the paper aside. "I was thinking we could go out to breakfast this morning. It might be a nice change from eating room service in."
Phoebe looked at him with remorse on her face. "I so wish I could, but I am back to work today and I have early appointments. I don't like to make my clients wait."
Joey was a little disappointed. "Oh, okay. Well, maybe dinner tonight then."
"We'll see what time I get out," Phoebe said, standing up and grabbing her purse from the closet.
"Wait. You're leaving already?" Joey asked.
"I have my first client in an hour," Phoebe explained.
"Are you still staying with me?" Joey asked.
Phoebe smiled. "I really appreciate you letting me stay these last two nights with you, but there's really no point in me staying here again. My place is where I conduct my business, so I really need to be there now that Christmas and my days off are over."
"I just kind of got used to you being here is all," Joey said.
Phoebe grabbed her suitcase, and after ensuring that everything was still in it, she zipped it up and prepared to leave. "You're sweet, but I have to leave some time. That time is now."
Joey got up out of bed and quickly followed her to the door. He placed a hand over her arm. "Phoebs, is something wrong?"
Phoebe shook her head. "No, why would anything be wrong?"
"Well, we did kiss last night," he reminded her.
Phoebe laughed. "Don't be silly! That was just because of the mistletoe. Besides, it's not like we never kissed before." She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "See? No big deal. I'll call you if I finish my appointments in time for dinner." She opened the door, and looked back at him once more. "Thank you so much for letting me stay with you these past two days. I don't know how I would have gotten through them without you."
"You're stronger than you think, Phoebs," Joey said.
But Phoebe had already left and was halfway down the hall.
Joey sighed, and closed the door. Something was wrong and she just wasn't admitting it. He made a note to himself to get to the bottom of what it was. However, he first needed to get some food into him before he could even begin to try to think.
He grabbed the room service menu and dialed the number. He wasn't in the mood to go out anymore.
Phoebe could hardly concentrate on the way back to her apartment. The truth was, the kiss had meant something to her, and she had a feeling that it had meant something to Joey as well. She had acted like it meant nothing to him because she didn't know how she felt about what had happened. Had it given her butterflies? Hell yeah, it did! Did she want to start a relationship with him beyond friendship? She was unsure. She honestly didn't know who he was any more. It had been a little over three years since they had hung out together every day. Sure, they had talked on the phone nearly every day for the past few years, but it wasn't the same as hanging out together. All she could think of was the way Joey used to be a womanizer. True, he seemed to have settled down a bit. He had been engaged at one point, or almost engaged, she was unclear. She and Joey hadn't talked much about Alex. Then again, it hadn't worked out between the two of them because of commitment issues.
Phoebe arrived home, and headed into her apartment. She brought her suitcase into her bedroom, then left it there and shut the door. She had only been gone for two days, but already she was feeling the loneliness of her apartment. She had forgotten what it was like to live alone, and she was no longer used to it.
She looked at her watch. Her first client of the day was to arrive in fifteen minutes.
Phoebe plopped herself down onto the couch with a sigh and looked at her satchel that Joey had given her. She smiled. He had been so thoughtful to get her it as her Christmas gift! She really did love it.
She sighed again. She had never really had feelings for Joey. True, she had always found him sexy, and it certainly wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world if she had ended up married to him. Heck, she was sure she would have been better off than she was now, after having married Mike. Still, she needed more time to reconnect with him as a friend before she knew what she wanted now. Though, she had to admit, she was feeling more for him than she ever had before. He was so caring, and sweet… He had gotten even better looking in time in her opinion. He was financially stable. She just didn't know! She did want the friendship to be ruined. He meant the most to her out of all her friends, and she was worried that if they dated, and something went wrong, it would ruin their relationship. Losing Joey even as a friend would hurt even more than losing Mike, she knew.
There was a knock on the door. Her first client of the day was there.
She got up of the couch and headed to the front door. For now, all thoughts of Joey were going to have to wait.
Phoebe never did have dinner with Joey that night. She felt bad not going out with him, but she needed a few days to herself to think. Though, by the time New Years Eve had come, she was still torn. She didn't even know if he felt the same way about her. She decide to just play it by ear.
As for Joey, he had been disappointed that Phoebe seemed to be stepping away from him. He knew it had to be the kiss. She was all for hanging out with him until the kiss. He didn't know why he had kissed her. He was just having a great time with her and when he found that mistletoe, he was inspired by the season.
Besides, it wasn't like he had never kissed her before. She had never seemed to mind until now.
To cope with being lonely, and being worried he had messed things up with Phoebe, he kept himself busy going to clubs and bars. He picked up a few women, but they had gone back to their place. It sounded silly even to himself, but he didn't want to bring them back to The Plaza. It somehow felt like his and Phoebe's place, and it didn't seem right to him to bring another woman back.
He was surprised to realize that, although he enjoyed being with other women, he still found himself missing Phoebe. It was just different with her than it was with them. He supposed it was because they were friends and knew each other's likes and dislikes. They just clicked after all these years as friends.
When New Years Eve finally arrived, he was excited, needless to say, to see Phoebe again. He was also looking forward to all of them getting together as a group again. He missed the days of them all just chilling together and living life. It was sad to him that they had all drifted apart a little.
"I think Joey and Phoebe would make the perfect couple. I mean, it makes sense! Ross and I are together, and you two are together," Rachel said as she and the others sans Joey and Phoebe drank coffees together at Central Perk. Monica had gotten there on a break for lunch. She wanted to go over a few last minute things with Candler about the party. Rachel and Ross had just happened to be there, and they all sat together to enjoy coffees and sandwiches and chat like old times.
"They so would! We have to figure out a way to get them together," Monica agreed.
"Don't they need to decide that on their own?" Ross asked skeptically.
"We wouldn't be forcing them into anything," Monica replied.
"We'd just be helping to push things along; that's all," Rachel said with a smile.
Chandler sipped his coffee. "I have to admit, I think Phoebe would be perfect for Joe. He lights up whenever she walks into a room—he always has. Not to mention they both have a childlike innocence to them. I actually think they'd be sweet together. Joey's a good man. He's childlike at times, but he's still mature enough to take care of her."
Rachel nodded. "He is a complete and total gentleman around her. Just when you think he couldn't be any more of a pig, Phoebe walks in and you see him morph into a completely different person. He's respectful, he's caring, and he's sweet… He's a total gentleman with her!"
Monica nodded her agreement.
"Well, I must had admit, he'd be a huge step up from Mike. What a jerk he turned out to be." Ross sipped his coffee and shook his head.
"So it's settled then. Operation get Joey and Phoebe together is in play!" Monica said.
"What exactly do you plan on doing?" Chandler asked her.
Monica shrugged. "I don't know yet. But I'll think of something."
Monica had gotten back a little early from the restaurant. She had gotten the last of the reservation guests welcomed and settled in, and made sure everything had come out to everyone's liking. Then, after making sure that her sous chef had things well under control, she had wished him a Happy New Year, and then hightailed it out of there. She went back to her place and immediately got the food cooking.
It was now time for the party. Monica and Chandler had left their tree up since they would all be exchanging their Christmas gifts to each other that night. Everyone arrived and they all placed their gifts for each other under the tree. It was a bit of a late dinner for all of them, but none of them minded. Joey had eaten a few hours before he arrived, and was now, of course, still very hungry for dinner.
By the time they all sat down to dinner, they were ravished.
Monica had placed seating place cards all around the table. She of course had sat Joey and Phoebe next to each other.
Joey held Phoebe's chair out for her again, and she giggled. "I could get used to this!"
Joey smiled too. He always smiled when she smiled. He couldn't help it!
They enjoyed their dinner, and raved to Monica how good it was. It was mango chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy and butter, buttered dinner rolls, and a variety of drinks including sodas, Champagne, wine, and water. Though, the Champaign was being saved for the ringing in of the New Year. Phoebe's main course was a personal mushroom pizza. Monica made the most amazing pizza, and Phoebe had special requested one.
They made New Year's Resolutions and had more small talk.
"So, Joey, any luck on the apartment hunting yet?" Ross asked him.
Joey shook his head. "No. I haven't really been looking."
Phoebe looked at him. "Why not?" She was instantly concerned. "Are you still planning on staying in New York? You're not moving back to LA are you?"
Joey shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. I want to give it a little more time before I fully decide. The Plaza is letting me pay by the month instead of by the night, so that helps. Regardless, I can afford it now, so I'll see how I feel after a month living here." The truth was, he just wanted to put feelers out. He wanted to see how Phoebe would react to the thought of him not staying in New York. He had zero plans to move back to Los Angeles, and the only reason he hadn't started looking for an apartment was laziness. He was enjoying being waited on and treated like royalty at The Plaza. In all honestly though, he was thinking of buying a house near Chandler and Monica's. Ross and Rachel were talking about buying one near them as well. However, Joey would never move there until he could convince Phoebe to move too. He wanted them all to be together again.
"Oh." Phoebe looked a little crestfallen.
"What's wrong, Phoebs?" Monica asked with a smirk. She knew Joey well. She had a feeling this was him playing games with Phoebe.
"I just really missed you when you were gone," Phoebe said to Joey. "I don't want to lose you to LA again."
"Well, it's not set in stone. I am kind of getting used to being back in New York again, so I'll probably stay here. Moving back to LA was just a thought, really," Joey assured her.
"Good!" Phoebe said.
After dinner, and the girls cleared the dishes, they all enjoyed some crème brûlée for dessert, which they all enjoyed.
While the girls were clearing those dishes, Erica came out of her room and wandered over to Chandler. "Daddy, I can't sleep."
"Do you need a bedtime story?" Chandler asked her, picking her up.
Erica looked over at Joey. "Can Uncle Joey read me one?"
Joey smiled. "I'd love to!" He had always felt a little awkward around kids, but he had a special place in his heart for little Erica. She was a sweetie, and with Chandler being like a brother to him, he really did feel like Erica was his niece.
He carried her to her bed and tucked her back in. "What would you like me to read you?"
"That one!" She pointed to one on her bedside table.
Joey picked it up and read the cover, "Eloise at the Plaza." He laughed at the irony.
"That's my favorite!" Erica informed him.
"That's where I'm staying at the moment," Joey informed her. "The Plaza!"
"Did you meet her?" Erica, almost four, asked.
Joey laughed. "No, but I walked past her room before.
Erica giggled. "I love Eloise!"
Joe smiled, then opened the book and began reading to her.
Meanwhile, the girls had heard from Ross and Chandler that he was reading to Erica, and they couldn't resist going up to her room and taking a peak.
"That is so stinking cute!" Rachel whispered.
"The twins don't call him Uncle Joey for nothing!" Monica whispered proudly.
Phoebe watched with no words, but a smile. It warmed her heart to see Joey talking to sweetly to a child.
Ten minutes later, Erica was asleep tucked tightly in her bed, and Jack, being a heavier sleeper than his sister, was sound asleep still.
Ross and Rachel had a babysitter back at their apartment who was willing to watch Emma. She was a very nice widowed lady in her early fifties. New Year's Eve and the New Year were just another day to her, and she didn't mind staying past midnight.
They all sat around the fire, and took turns opening their presents.
Chandler had passed around everyone's gifts until they each had their own pile sitting in front of them.
Monica went first. She was very pleased with a pair of ankle boots she had been dying for. They had always been sold out, but seeing as she worked at Ralph Lauren, Rachel was able to pull some strings and got Monica the boots she wanted before the new shipment was even placed on shelves of Ralph Lauren.
Monica squealed with delight and side hugged Rachel, who was sitting beside her. Ross had gotten her a bucket of cleaning supplies that Rachel thought was a horrible gift, but Monica was ecstatic over.
"Clorox wipes, Lysol spray, floor cleaner, Windex… Ross, you're the best brother in the whole world! You get me," Monica cooed.
Ross grinned, and then shot Rachel and I told you so look.
Rachel rolled her eyes.
On Christmas day, Chandler had already given Monica a diamond necklace and bracelet, and a promise to clean any room in the house for her, which she had been over the moon about. Today, he gave her a cashmere sweater as an extra gift. Of course, it was a big hit. Joey had gotten her monogrammed oven mitts, an apron that read Queen of the kitchen, and a custom sign he had had made up that read Monica's Kitchen: Her way or the highway to hang in her restaurant's kitchen.
"It's to remind your staff of who's in charge," Joey had told her.
Monica smiled. "Joey! You're so sweet!"
Joey smiled shyly, and looked away. "I know."
Phoebe had gotten her a dress Monica had been eyeballing but didn't want to spend the money on, and Monica had been very grateful for that as well.
Chandler's gift from Joey included a rubber duck and a rubber chick for baths.
"It can make you think of our babies when you're in the bath," Joey said to him.
Chandler made a face. "Cuz that doesn't sound weird at all," he said sarcastically.
"You know what I mean!" Joey said with an eye roll.
Chandler grinned. "I'm just messing with you. It was very thoughtful of you, Joe. Thanks."
"I also got you and Ross season passes to the upcoming Yankee's season," Joey informed him.
Ross and Chandler's eyes lit up and they high-fived each other, letting out a collective "Yes!"
They thanked Joey.
Joey had also gotten Ross also got a new Frankie Say Relax t-shirt from Joey since Rachel had stolen his original one. Ross was very grateful for it.
On Christmas, Monica had given Chandler a Rolex and a couple nice sweaters, she had also given him a coupon book for bedroom related things that he liked. The coupon book she had given him that day, before she had left for work. It was no mystery which gift he liked best, even though he loved them all.
Phoebe gave Chandler Miss Congeniality One and Two on Blu-Ray DVD, which Chandler was embarrassed about, but secretly excited to binge watch. She had informed Rachel and Ross of her gift to him, and they had gotten him a Blu-ray player to go with it. He had opened the player first and been excited, but now he was even more excited now that he had his favorite movies to watch on it.
Rachel had gotten leather pants from Phoebe, a new purse from Ross, which Monica had helped him pick out, and he had also gotten her a day at the spa and a diamond and emerald bracelet, ring, and necklace set to match Emma's and her birthstones. Chandler and Monica went in on a Louis Vuitton suitcase for her that she had been wanting, and Joey had gotten her a locket with Emma's picture in it. Rachel had been moved to tears. She hugged all her friends tightly.
Ross had gotten a generous Visa gift card from Monica and Chandler together. Ross was hard to shop for. Even as his sister, Monica never knew quite what to give him, but she knew that cash was always welcome.
Phoebe had gotten him a stuffed dinosaur dressed like him with a little wig to look like his hair. The dinosaur was wearing a shirt that said, Ross-a-saurus on it.
"This is so cool! Where did you get it?" Ross asked.
Phoebe grinned. "I bought a stuffed dinosaur I thought you'd like, and I had a client of mine make the props to look like you. I know many talented people."
"Well, it's like the coolest thing ever, so thank you!" Ross said.
Rachel had given him a coupon book similar to Monica's as well as a couple really nice sweaters from Ralph Lauren. She had gotten Joey some too, as well as some new dress shirts for the both of them. She had also gotten Ross a baseball off of EBay, autographed by his favorite player.
Ross had gotten Joey a picture of the newest Barcalounger, which was in Joey's opinion even cooler than the last version.
"As soon as you find a place to live, it's all yours," Ross told him.
Joey was excited. Chandler was jealous.
Chandler had gotten Joey a framed photo of Joey's favorite Sport's Illustrated Model.
Joey of course loved it.
Monica had rolled her eyes when Chandler bought it. She refused to go in on it with Chandler and had instead gotten Joey a pair of pajamas with chicks all over them and a pair with ducks all over them. She hadn't been able to find any pairs with both on them, but Joey was glad to have both pairs.
Phoebe had gotten a really good perfume from Rachel, a new guitar from Chandler and Monica with a case that had her name on it, and from Ross, she had received a satchel bag with guitars printed all over it to go with her collection of satchel bags. She loved all her gifts.
Joey then handed Phoebe a gift.
Everyone else was busy cleaning up their wrapping paper mess as instructed to do by Monica.
"But you already gave me my gift," Phoebe said to him.
"I know, but I wanted to give you something today too," Joey said.
Phoebe smiled, and opened the gift. She gasped when she saw it was a silver cat necklace with emerald eyes.
"Think of it as Smelly Cat," Joey said.
Phoebe put it on immediately. "It's so cute! Thank you so much!"
Joey grinned. "Forget about it!"
Phoebe then handed him a gift. "I got you a little something extra too."
"You shouldn't have," Joey said, but he opened it anyway.
He smiled when he saw a silver and gold framed photo of him and Phoebe. It was the selfie they had taken on the carriage ride.
"That came out really nice!" Joey said to her with a huge smile on his face.
Phoebe smiled and nodded. "I know, right? I have a framed copy for me as well."
"I'll cherish it forever," Joey said. He hugged her tightly. "Thanks, Phoebs."
"You're welcome," Phoebe said, holding him tightly, her eyes closed as she breathed in the wonderful smell of his cologne.
Joey had his eyes closed too, so neither of them saw the stares and smiles they were getting from the others who had suddenly stopped collecting their wrapping so they could spy on their friends.
It was fifteen minutes until midnight.
"It's almost time to start the countdown!" Monica called out. "Chandler, will you open the champagne? I'll get the glasses."
Chandler went over to the ice bucket and took off the foil, he then popped the cork. He had pointed it away from everyone, but Phoebe had been in the bathroom, and at just that moment she came back into the room and the cork hit her smack dab in the middle of the forehead.
"Okay, ow!" Phoebe snapped at Chandler, placing a hand to her forehead.
"Oh my gosh, Chandler! Why weren't you more careful?" Monica asked. She had come into the room just in time to see Phoebe get corked.
Joey rushed to Phoebe, practically pushing a concerned Rachel out of the way. "Sweetheart, are you all right?" He placed a hand over her lower back, and with his other hand, he gently rubbed her forehead where the cork had hit.
"Sweetheart?" Ross mouthed to Rachel, who grinned in response.
"I'm fine. I just have a little bit of an instant headache; that's all," Phoebe said, giving Chandler the evil eye.
"I didn't mean to! Phoebe I am so sorry!" Chandler said.
Joey carefully led Phoebe to the couch and helped her sit down. "Do you need an ice pack or anything?" Joey asked her with concern.
"Maybe some ice would be nice. Does anyone have any Tylenol on them?" Phoebe asked.
"I'm on it!" Monica said, rushing to the bathroom.
Chandler went and got a glass of water and an ice pack.
Joey sat down next to Phoebe on the couch. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you need me to take you to the hospital to get checked out? What if you have a concussion?"
"Joey, I'm fine, but thank you," Phoebe assured him.
Chandler came back with the ice pack and water, and Monica came back with the Tylenol.
Phoebe took two Tylenol.
Joey took the ice pack from Chandler and iced Phoebe's head for her.
"Joey, I'm fine. I got this." Phoebe took the ice pack from him. "But thank you for taking care of me, my darling." She grinned at him.
He grinned too.
Rachel and Monica grinned as well. "My darling"? Getting them together was going to be piece of cake!
"It's time!" Ross said.
Chandler quickly poured them all a glass of champagne, and they counted down together.
"Five… Four… Three… Two… One! Happy New Year!" they all yelled as the ball dropped on TV.
They toasted and drank up.
Then, they set their glasses back down, and Monica and Chandler kissed while Rachel and Ross kissed.
Phoebe and Joey looked at each other awkwardly.
Joey didn't make a move since Phoebe had gotten all weird after their Christmas kiss.
Phoebe, however, made the move. She needed to find out if she still felt butterflies when she kissed him.
She pulled him into a kiss, and he pulled her by the waist closer to him as he kissed her more passionately than he had planned to. He couldn't help it; it was just instinctive.
Phoebe smiled when they broke the kiss. "Wow. That was a hell of a kiss!" She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but she had.
Joey blushed. "How you doin'?" He asked to break the ice as he smiled back at her.
Phoebe giggled, as she always did when he asked her that.
She had her answer about him. She had felt not only butterflies, but full on sparks!
No one stayed long after midnight. They were tired, and with the exception of Joey, they had to get up early for work.
Ross and Rachel thanked everyone for their gifts, gave hugs and friendly wishes of a Happy New Year, and then they were off.
Monica hugged Joey, and then Phoebe, and they went through the same routine they had gone through with Ross and Rachel.
Chandler hugged Joey while Monica was hugging Phoebe. "What's going on with you and Phoebe?" he asked quietly.
Joey broke the hug and shrugged. "Nothing. We're just friends."
Chandler smirked. "It doesn't look like it. You seemed pretty concerned about her when the cork hit her. Sweetheart? Darling?"
Again, Joey shrugged. "I was just making sure my friend was okay. People can have terms of endearment for their platonic friends. Why not?"
Chandler shrugged too. "I just think you guys would be great for each other; that's all. What about the kiss?"
"Trust me; she doesn't like me as anything more than a friend. The kiss was just because you and Monica and Ross and Rachel kissed on midnight. We had no other option but each other!" Joey thought back to their Christmas kiss. Then he thought of how Phoebe had seemed standoffish toward him the next day. He didn't want that happening again. At least Phoebe had been the one to kiss him this time and not the other way around. But still…
"Whatever you say," Chandler said. He didn't believe him for a second!
Joey and Phoebe said their last farewells for the night, and then left.
Phoebe gave Joey a ride back to the Plaza, and they made small talk on the way there. Neither one of them mentioned the kiss again. It was nothing but an innocent New Year's kiss, they both thought, even though they both felt very differently. They didn't think it meant anything to the other, so they just shut up about it.
"Goodnight, Phoebs," Joey said to Phoebe once they arrived in front of The Plaza. "Happy New Year!"
Phoebe smiled too. "Good night, Joey. Happy New Year!"
Joey then headed into The Plaza, and Phoebe headed home, both thinking about the other, but neither of them willing to admit it to each other.