Anything for Love
Chapter 21: The One Where Joey and Phoebe Get Married
"Are you nervous?" Monica asked Phoebe as they headed toward the Plaza in a horse drawn carriage.
"So nervous! But so happy too," Phoebe said. She smiled big. "I'm finally going to marry my best friend. I'm glad we were able to find me a wedding dress that doesn't show my pregnancy." She ran her hand over the beautiful silk bodice of her gown. It was white silk covered in beautiful diamond colored gems. The skirt was a flowy white silk, and the back laced up with a white satin ribbon. She wore a blue guarder on her right thigh underneath. Rachel had let her borrow her diamond earrings. Her necklace was an old pearl necklace her grandmother had handed down to her that her grandmother herself had worn at her wedding. As for her something new, her dress and white satin shoes were new of course, but Monica had given her a beautiful tiara to wear that her veil attached to with the help of a seamstress.
"You look like a princess!" Rachel told her.
Phoebe grinned. "I feel like one, and I'm about to marry my prince!"
"So you're not mad we planned the wedding without you?" Monica asked her for the tenth time, just to be sure.
Phoebe looked at her friends. "How could I possibly be mad? You both know my taste, and you both have even better taste than I do. Anyway, you're helping me to marry Joey sooner than I normally would have been able to. That means more to me than you could ever know."
Rachel and Monica both beamed, and squeezed her hands.
They had decided to forgo bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead, Joey was having Ross and Chandler both be his best men, and of course, Phoebe chose both Rachel and Monica as her matrons of honor this time.
They arrived at The Plaza before they knew it, and the coachman helped the girls out, taking special care with Phoebe, so as not to mess up any of the beautiful bride's wedding attire.
Phoebe's brother was at the entrance waiting for her.
"Never before have I seen a more beautiful bride, and that's including my wife!" he said. Then he muttered. "Just don't ever tell her I said that or I'll be sleeping on the couch for the next month!"
Phoebe grinned at him. "Your secret's safe with me."
The wedding guests were already seated. Phoebe's birth mother, her sister-in-law, nephews, and niece, Joey's whole immediate family, Ross and Monica's parents, and a few co-workers of Joey's as well as co-workers of Phoebe's came. Even Cliff was there with a friend.
Monica and Chandler's twins were serving as the flower girl and ring bearer. Ross and Rachel's daughter Emma was a co-flower girl with Erica.
Ursula, or course had told Phoebe she would rather party on a yacht in Ibiza with her new boy toy than go to a boring old wedding. Phoebe didn't really care. She was surrounded by enough people who loved her and had much better ways of showing it than Ursula could ever be bothered with.
"Are you ready?" Phoebe's brother asked with a smile, taking her arm as the music began to play, indicating the start of the wedding.
Phoebe smiled. "Yes." She could hardly wait to see Joey. She hadn't seen him since they parted ways the night before.
The ring bearer followed ahead of the flower girls who each took a side to toss red rose petals on.
The audience cooed about how cute they all were.
Chandler and Ross headed up on the arms of Monica and Rachel. Chandler and Monica heading up first, and then Ross and Rachel.
Finally, the wedding march started and Phoebe's brother, Frank took her hand and gave hit a gentle squeeze. He smiled at her admiring how beautiful his sister was. Then, he slowly led her down the aisle at a leisurely pace.
Joey smiled as he saw Phoebe walking down the aisle to him on the arm of her brother. She looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her look before.
When she met him, he had to hold back tears of happiness. He didn't want to look like a sucker in front of every one. Though, not one sole would have thought differently of him if he had allowed his tears to fall.
The music stopped and the reverend asked who was giving Phoebe to marry Joey.
Frank announced that he was. He then kissed Phoebe's cheek and she smiled at him.
Frank gave her hand one last gently squeeze before he went to sit down next to Phoebe's birth mother, who was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
Joey took Phoebe's hands in his own. "You look so beautiful," he told her.
Phoebe grinned. "So do you!"
Joey looked confused.
"Handsome I mean," Phoebe corrected.
Joey smiled. "Yeah, I do!"
Phoebe laughed.
The minister began the wedding then. There was a lighting of a candle together to symbolize their unity as one.
Phoebe's mother read a passage of scripture, and one of Joey's female Love and Freedom co-workers sang a beautiful rendition of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love".
Then it came time for the vows. They both gave traditional vows, and then they both wanted to give their own personal vows.
Joey went first. "I know I'm not always the smartest person in the room, but I'd like to think I'm pretty darn smart to marry you. The only thing I did that was stupid was to let you marry Mike instead of marrying you before he could. You're the only woman who ever made me want to give up all other woman. You're my soulmate, Phoebs, and my best friend, and I promise to spend the rest of my like proving my love to you and making up for lost time."
Ross, Rachel, Monica, and Chandler were all impressed with his short but sweet vows. He had come up with them all on his own in the spur of the moment. He had come a long way from when they had first met him.
Phoebe was never happier to have on waterproof eye makeup, for she started to tear up. "You're not the only one who wishes I had skipped straight to marrying you. You're my true sole mate and my best friend. I'm pretty stupid too for not seeing that the love of my life was in front of my face the whole time. I can hardly wait to spend the rest of my life with you as your wife and I know you're going to be the best father I could ever have for our twins. I love you more than I could ever express in words."
Joey grinned. "I don't mind if you express it in a physical way if you catch my drift." He wriggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively.
Phoebe giggled, as did most of the guests. "Joey, not in front of my family!" she murmured, but her smile showed she wasn't angry.
"Not in front of the reverend either," Monica mumbled low.
The reverend laughed. "It's okay, they're about to be married." He smiled and winked at her.
He then turned his attention to the guests. "If anyone has any objection to these two getting married, please, speak now or forever hold your peace."
There was a silence in the room.
The minister grinned, then looked at Joey and Phoebe who were both grinning as well. "Well, then, by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Joey told him.
Everyone laughed, and then cheered as Joey pulled Phoebe in for a long and passionate kiss, which Phoebe eagerly returned with just as much passion and love as he was kissing her with.
They then held hands in the air as the reverend pronounced them Mr. and Mrs. Joey Tribbiani.
Every one cheered loudly, and Joey and Phoebe were both so happy and relieved to finally be husband and wife. They posed for a few quick pictures, and then ran down the aisle as their guests continued to cheer. They kissed outside of the room, so full of love for each other they thought they would burst.
The reception in the grand ball room was breathtaking. Rachel and Monica had done an excellent job planning, and since the wedding party wasn't that big, Monica and her staff had been able to cater a delicious reception lunch. She had even made the three-tiered red velvet cake with butter cream frosting. It had red roses and green vines swirled all around it and had a plastic Joey and Phoebe as well as a plastic Prince Harry on top. Both Phoebe and Joey loved it.
"I almost feel too bad to cut it!" Phoebe told Monica after everyone had enjoyed a delicious lunch of mango chicken (vegetarian lasagna in Phoebe's case), peas, mashed potatoes, buttered rolls, and a fruit platter. Champagne, wine (red, white, and rosé), water, and sodas, were the drink options, along with an open bar for those who wanted something stronger.
"Not me! Let's cut into this baby so I can eat it!" Joey said.
Everyone laughed.
"Don't worry. The photographer took tons of pictures of it already," Monica assured her. "And Joey, it's not all for you. You have to share."
Joey pouted, but then when he saw how happy Phoebe looked, he couldn't help but smile.
Together, they cut the first piece, and then, as tradition, smashed it in each other's mouths.
The photographer took lots of photos of that as well.
Everyone laughed, then awed as Joey and Phoebe kissed, getting frosting all over each other's mouth.
Ten minutes later, the bride and groom were cleaned off, and enjoying their cake at the table while every one else enjoyed their own cake slices at their tables.
Soon it was time for the speeches.
"I just want to say to Joey that it is so nice of you to want to include Ross in the wedding by letting him think he is a best man. We all know I'm your one true best man," Chandler said in his.
Ross, stood up, I think it's the other way around, Buddy!"
They both grinned, knowing the other was joking.
"Seriously though, Joe, you're the best friend I've ever had. I wouldn't give up all the good times we had together for anything. In fact, one day, when I'm old and losing my mind, I know my time with you is the one thing I won't forget!" Chandler continued.
Monica coughed loudly.
"Besides my wife and kids of course," Chandler quickly corrected.
Everyone laughed. "Seriously, I love you, man. Thanks for being the best friend I ever had and ever will have."
Joey nodded at him, tearing up a little. "I love you too man," was all he was able to get out without choking up. He nodded as Ross. "And you! I love you too!"
"And I didn't forget you, Phoebe. You're one of a kind, and I am so lucky to have this one of a kind treasure as my friend," Chandler said.
Phoebe had tears in her own eyes now. "Back at you, Chandler!" She dabbed her eyes with her napkin.
"I'm so lucky to have both of you as friends. No matter where we go in life, I know we're always going to be close, and I know you two are going to be so happy together. I couldn't be happier for you two because I know you're both so perfect for each other. You compliment each other. Joey you're a fun-loving goof-ball, and so is Phoebe. Phoebe, you get Joey's sense of humor and you're there to encourage him and take care of him. Joey, I know you can take care of her in return, and make her laugh, and I know you can each be there for the other when you need each other the most. As far as I'm concerned, neither one of you could have been paired with anyone more perfect for you than the other. I love you guys," Ross concluded.
Rachel and Monica gave similar speeches to their friends, and then, when the cake and toasting was over, they all went onto the dance floor to dance, letting Phoebe and Joey have the first dance.
They danced to "Anything for Love" by Meatloaf.
"How do you like being married to me so far, Mrs. Tribbiani?" Joey asked. Then he made a disgusted face. "That sounds like my mom. Gross!"
Phoebe laughed. "I love it, Mr. Tribbiani. "Maybe I could be Mrs. Tribbiani the second?" she suggested.
Joey kissed her cheek. "How about you just stick with being my Phoebs?"
Phoebe smiled and blushed. "I'd like that," she said as she rested her forehead against his as they danced.
When the song was over, they kissed once more, and then Phoebe danced with Frank Jr., and Joey danced with his mother.
The reception went on for two hours, then it was time for Joey and Phoebe to head to their hotel suite to enjoy the rest of the evening alone together before they had to leave early the next morning for Paris. Due to Joey's filming schedule, they had to make their honeymoon short, but they were going to make the most of it. Phoebe planned to hang out in Las Vegas with him for a few days after Paris, and then fly back home on her own while Joey finished filming his movie. After that, he planned on taking some time off from movies. He would just do Love and Freedom, so that he could still be near Phoebe.
They decided not to do the bouquet and guarder tosses since Cliff, his friend, and the kids were the only single ones as the party. They could have tossed it to single employees of The Plaza, but they felt that would be weird even for them. Besides, they wanted to keep the bouquet and guarder as a memento. Rachel promised to press the flowers for them, and Ross promised to bring the guarder back to their place when he fed Prince Harry.
Everyone blew bubbles at Joey and Phoebe as they left. They had chosen that instead of birdseed or rice so that no mess would be made on the ballroom floor.
Phoebe and Joey then headed up to their usual suite in The Plaza to finish the rest of their wedding night in private as husband and wife.
Phoebe laughed as Joey struggled to carry her over the threshold of their suite.
He grinned at her, and they kissed. "Sorry, but don't expect me to do that again until you've had the twins. You don't look like you'd be that heavy, but you are. I'd only ever admit this to you, but I'm a wimp. I've never been that strong."
"You're not a wimp! You carried me just fine when I wasn't pregnant." She kissed him again.
"Who would have thought the day you joined me here that night I got back in town that we would end up married?" he asked her as he set her down on the bed.
She stretched, and threw herself back against the pillows. "Only in my dreams," she said smiling.
He threw himself down next to her and they kissed again. "I never want our marriage to end."
Phoebe propped herself up on her elbow and faced him. "Who says it has to? You better not be planning our divorce already, Mr. Tribbiani!"
Joey took her hand in his and kissed it. "Never Mrs. Tribbiani the second." He grinned at the silly name, and then turned more serious. "I'm just worried you'll tire of me and that you'll be the one wanting a divorce."
Phoebe shook her head. "Never! Even if I weren't pregnant, you're the only one I want to spend the rest of my life with."
They kissed some more, but before it could go any further, Phoebe gently pushed him away. "We have to do this right. I'll be right back."
"Don't be long. I miss you already," Joey said as Phoebe grabbed one of her smaller bags and headed to the bathroom.
Joey watched the game while he waited, but when Phoebe came out of the bathroom ten minutes later wearing nothing but a lacy red strip of material that left almost nothing to the imagination, he turned the television off with the remote, his eyes never leaving her.
She grinned. "Do you like it?"
He moaned. "Oh, Phoebe, I love it!" He held out his arms to her. "Come here."
She sat down on the bed next to him.
"You are so beautiful," he said to her, his hands, roaming slowly up and down her arms.
"So you are you," she said in a barely audible voice. "But now we need to get you undressed."
They undressed each other, and in no time at all, they were making love, expressing all the love they held for each other in one magical moment in time, no words needed.
As they lay in each other's arms afterwards, they held hands.
"I love being married," Joey commented. He looked at her. "I love you."
"And I love finally being married to the right man," Phoebe said. She kissed his hand. "I love you too."
They made love again, and then showered, and dressed into their pajamas. They wanted to pay homage to their first nights together in The Plaza, the nights they spent before they were even a couple.
They found a good movie station, and ordered dinner and dessert from room service, for even though lunch had been plentiful, they were both somehow hungry again.
"I wonder if I should call and ask Ross to put Prince Harry on the phone," Phoebe said.
Joey rolled his eyes. "I think he'd kill you if you asked," he teased.
Phoebe smirked. "You're probably right." She then remembered something. "Oh! I forgot to give you my wedding present to you."
"Oh, and I forgot to give you mine," Joey said.
They both got out of bed and grabbed wrapped gifts, which they handed to each other.
"You open yours first," Phoebe ordered.
Joey did, and was thrilled to find the black leather jacket he had been dreaming of. It had originally been worn by Henry Winkler on Happy Days, and was sold on EBay in an auction to benefit a childhood cancer hospital. Phoebe had used up her maximum balance on her credit card, but she had some money set away that she had saved for years and had been planning on using for a rainy day. She decided this was as good of a use for it as any. It benefitted a great cause and it would make the man she loved extremely happy.
"You're Guitar Princess 1967?" Joey asked, his mouth dropped open upon seeing the gift. "I was so mad then this chick outbid me at the last second! I never knew it was you!"
"You're Food Lover 4 Ever?" Phoebe asked. "I was mad because some dude kept raising the price on me!"
"I never told you I planned on buying the jacket because I thought you'd be angry that I was spending so much money on a dumb jacket," Joey explained.
Phoebe kissed him. "It's not dumb if it means so much to you. Anyway, with your movie money and now Love and Freedom, you still have plenty of money to take care of the twins and yourself."
"And you. You're my wife. It's my job to take care of you now too," Joey told her.
"I still want to keep my job. I don't want to be dependent on any man, even my husband," Phoebe said to him. "And of course my income will also go toward the twins and you're needs."
Joey nodded, knowing it was never wise to argue with Phoebe Buffay Tribbiani. "Fair enough. Now open yours. Though, I didn't spend nearly as much on it as you spent on mine."
"It's the thought that counts; not the price." Phoebe opened her gift, and gasped when she saw the heart-shaped locket.
"I figured you can put one of our wedding photos in one side, and Prince Harry and the twins in the other side. We'll have to get a picture like that when the twins are born," Joey explained.
Phoebe looked at him. "Oh, Joey, I love it! Thank you so much!"
He nodded toward the locket. "Look at the inscription on the back."
Phoebe looked and read it out loud. "To my eternal love, Phoebe. Love your sexy husband, Joey." Below had their wedding date inscribed on it as well.
Phoebe kissed him. "It's perfect!"
Joey smiled. "I'm glad you like it."
They rested their foreheads against each other.
"Like it?" She asked. "I love it!"
They kissed, and then their meals came and after Joey paid the tip, he and Phoebe sat down at the table to eat their meal.
"To us and a marriage that lasts forever," Joey said to her, holding out his Champaign glass.
Phoebe held out her glass to his. "To us and our marriage lasting forever!"
And as they toasted, then drank down their celebratory Champagne, they knew that that was one toast that would most definitely come true. For both of them were willing to do anything for love.