A/N: So, this chapter will be based on TOW all the cheesecakes. I, for one thought the hugging-scene was very cute and decided to do something more with it. Once again, I don't take credit for the first part of the dialogue, since that's from the actual episode.

NOTE: I previously posted this as the first chapter of an actual fic a couple of months back, but I changed my mind and made some changes at the end to transform it into a oneshot, so it could be added here. It seemed more fitting.

Phoebe was standing just outside of Central Perk. She could literally feel the life seep out of her, as she watched the person that just might have been the love of her life leave her behind, for the second time around. Just then, Joey appeared from around the corner. She sighed in annoyance, as she really didn't feel like dealing with him right now. He was probably still angry with her for breaking her promise, anyway.

" Okay, now's not the time, Joey. All right? You can yell at me tomorrow," she brought out dejectedly.

" No! No! No, Pheebs, I'm not gonna yell at you. I just, you know, started thinking about you and David and I… remember how bummed you were the first time he left. And I just… Oh Pheebs, come here," Joey retorted caringly, as he pulled her in for a warm hug.

" Are you okay?"

" No, I'm not okay. The only guy I've ever been crazy about has gone to Minsk and I may never… I may never see him again," his blonde friend explained sadly, right before bursting out into tears and melting further into her good friend's comforting embrace.

" Hey, you know you could always visit him," the actor suggested, momentarily releasing her.

" Oh right, like they're gonna let me have a passport."

" Anything I can do? Whatever you need," Joey offered. He hated seeing his best friend like this. Phoebe didn't cry a lot, but when she did, it always broke his heart a little and nearly caused him to start tearing up as well.

" Well… but… now, if… if you can achieve positronic distillation of sub-atomic particles you know, before he does, then he can come back," Phoebe replied, right before she pulled him close again.

Joey didn't say anything, just held onto her tighter, silently hoping he could make her feel better in time.

" I can give it a shot," he finally muttered, bringing a small, hardly detectable smile to her face. He was so sweet, but all of it wasn't much of a comfort to her right now.

" Hey, here's a thought: why don't you come over to my place, so we can do something fun?"

" No offense, Joey, but I really don't feel like doing anything fun right now," Phoebe retorted lifelessly, as she slowly broke away from him.

" I… I think I'm just gonna go home and sulk over there. I don't want to get you down with all the negativity in my aura," she stated, while turning around.

" Hey, hey, no! Don't do that. Come with me, I'm here for you, you know," her friend protested, placing a hand on her wrist, effectively causing her to turn around.

" I don't know, Joseph… I really feel like being on my own right now."

" Oh come on, Pheebs, please. We can just sit around and say nothing, if you'd like. I hate seeing you like this. Rachel's out visiting some cheesecake factory with Chandler, so it'll just be the two of us. I only want to cheer you up."

The blonde let out a deep sigh, then finally gave in: " Okay, fine, I'll go with you, because it's ya know… you. Lead the way."

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Once they'd arrived at Joey's apartment, he opened the door and gently guided his depressed friend inside.

" Would you like something to drink? I've got orange juice," the Italian offered, holding up the carton, which had previously been standing on the counter.

" No, thanks. I'm not thirsty," Phoebe retorted, as she went to sit down in one of the Barcaloungers.

" Well, thank god you didn't say yes, because I think this stuff expired quite a while ago," Joey stated, after he'd taken a sip. Then, he suddenly made a gagging noise, following it up with several coughs.

" Oh my god, Joey, are you alright?" his blonde friend inquired worriedly, right before rising up from her seat and promptly rushing over to his side.

" Yeah… yeah, I'm fine. It's just… I really shouldn't have drank that stuff, it gives off quite a powerful aftertaste," he explained hoarsely, while smacking his lips.

Phoebe said nothing, just gave him a concerned look, along with a few pats on the shoulder.

" So listen, Pheebs: I'm really really very sorry about giving you a hard time and making you late for your date earlier. You couldn't compare my date to yours in any way, I mean: mine was some girl I'd only just met, while yours was…" Joey began seriously, after he'd recovered somewhat.

" I know, Joey, I know you're sorry. It's alright. I didn't mean to abandon you at first either, but then again… it was David! Ya know, from the first minute we met, I felt this connection to him and I figured: what if this is my last chance to properly be with him? You know, I couldn't just… I couldn't not do it. And I'm sorry too, I should have told you about my plans."

" I understand, it's okay: I forgive ya," he brought out calmly, while affectionately rubbing at her shoulder. The last thing he wanted was for her to get upset again.

" And now… now I keep wishing I didn't, cause I just feel miserable and I knew he was leaving. I knew what I was getting myself into, the minute I agreed to it," Phoebe retorted, as she felt fresh, unwanted tears gradually making their way down her cheeks.

" Hey, hey, please don't cry. It's going to be okay, I promise," Joey muttered comfortingly, as he gently wiped at the salty droplets with his thumbs.

The minute she felt his fingers come into contact with her face, she relaxed somewhat. The mere presence of Joey always did have a soothing, calming effect on her and it did help that his hands were always warm.

" There, that's better. Hey, this is not the end of the world, Pheebs. Just remember that you'll always … always have me, right by your side. I'd never ever leave you," her friend went on sincerely. He always did have a soft spot for her.

" You… you really mean that?" she then asked softly, gazing up into his coffee-brown orbs, suddenly seeing something there which she'd never seen before. She was really touched by his words, all of a sudden.

Joey was at loss for words for a minute, as he felt himself drinking in the sight of his best friend's beautiful face. Phoebe was the only girl who could cause him to go speechless, for some reason.

" uh… s…sure," he finally managed to stutter, right before sending her a warm smile.

" Thanks, Joey, I knew I could count on you. You truly are my rock, Joseph Francis," Phoebe retorted, returning the smile.

" Hey, it's nothin'," he brought out modestly, while making a gesture with his hand, now trying to figure out what she meant, when she said he was her " rock".

" Hey, Pheebs?"

" Yeah?

" Say: that rock-stuff, that isn't a bad thing, is it?"

The blonde only chuckled, then clarified: " No Joseph, it's quite the opposite: I just meant that you're always there, when I need someone. You're like the new and improved version of the albino-guy. Yeah, you're just like him… well except for the fact that you're… you know: a little less dead."

" Oh, o-kay," Joey retorted, frowning.

Then, he suddenly beamed at her and exclaimed: " Well, look at you! You've got that pretty smile back! And all cause of me, I'm so proud!"

" Yeah… yeah, I guess it was your doing. Say… Joey?

" Yeah?"

" You really think my smile is pretty?"

" Sure I do, I mean… how could I not think that, Pheebs? I mean: your smile is pretty, your face is pretty, you are pretty…" he blurted out spontaneously, effectively causing the blonde to stare at him with wide eyes.

" What?!" she asked, suddenly quite shocked by that whole revelation.

" What?" the actor threw back awkwardly, as he started scratching at the back of his head. He needed to think of something else to say, quick.

" Say… would you like me to order you some pizza? The Joey special, just for you. I won't have a bite, I promise…. well, maybe just the one."

Phoebe thought about that proposal for a minute, then replied: " Well, yeah… sure. I'd like that."

" O-kay, should I make that two veggie pizzas, then?" Joey asked, while reaching for the phone.

" Yep," the feisty blonde replied, cheerfully popping the p. She already felt much better than before and it had everything and more to do with Joey. She glanced over at him again, involuntarily smiling at the way he was gesticulating with both of his hands. His whole demeanor was pretty funny.

" Pizzas are on the way," her friend suddenly announced with a slight smile, effectively pulling her from her thoughts about him.

" Oh… okay," Phoebe retorted, as she went back over to the chair she'd previously sat on.

" Hey Tribbiani, get your ass over here and sit with me," she demanded playfully, as she patted the surface of the other BarcaLounger.

" Sure,' he replied, right before doing as she'd requested.

" So, you sure seem to be feeling better, huh," he stated, while gently poking her in the side.

" Well, yeah… a little bit."

" You're not thinking about David anymore?"

As soon as she heard the name of her beloved scientist guy, Phoebe couldn't help but start to feel gloomy again.

" Well, I wasn't, but now I am," she brought out lifelessly, attempting to glare at him, as she suddenly felt new tears pricking behind her eyes. She just couldn't help it.

" Oh god, Pheebs, I am so, so sorry. I shouldn't have said that, it was stupid. I… am stupid," Joey stated, while lowering his face down into his hands, inwardly scolding himself for making his best friend cry again.

" No, no, oh Joey, please don't say that. You are NOT stupid," Phoebe proclaimed strongly, as she pried his hands away from his face and softly stroked his cheek. She really did feel sorry for him: beating himself up like that.

" I'm not?" he asked unsurely, as he really felt like an idiot at this point.

" No, no, you listen to me, Joseph Francis: you are great. I'm the one that's stupid. I'm crying over something, which was unescapable in the first place."

Her friend gave a loud sigh, then said: " Look at us: here you are comforting me, when it should be the other way around. Cause let me tell you something, Phoebe: you are in no way stupid for crying. It's okay to cry, we all do it from time to time… well except for Chandler, who is dead inside. But anyway, yeah, I mean: the other day I was watching Titanic and when Jack said goodbye to Rose and died, I…" he abruptly stopped his rant, when he saw the impatient look on her face.

" Well, I guess that doesn't really count, since that's only a movie and you're crying over something that actually matters, huh? Come here," he went on quietly, pulling her into his strong arms and allowing her to cry into the crook of his neck.

" Shh, it's okay, it's gonna be okay. I'll help you through this. You'll get over this guy," the actor muttered lovingly into her ear, while he started to softly rub her back.

" No, Joey it's not. That guy was my only chance at a real relationship. Other guys only go for me, because they want some cheap fun. I'll never find a guy like David again, someone who truly loves and respects me," she hiccupped, as she pulled away from him.

" Don't talk like that! You know as well as I do, that that is not true, Pheebs. I mean: who wouldn't love you? You're funny, confident, talented, smart, sexy…. smokin' hot even. You're everything a guy could ever ask for and more!" Joey suddenly brought out rather strongly.

" Joey," Phoebe whispered, once again taken aback by his confession.

" What?! I mean it, Phoebe. You are like… you are like perfection, no you're better than that, you… you are, I mean, you…" his rant was abruptly cut off, when Phoebe suddenly grabbed a hold of his face and pressed her lips to his, in a brief, yet meaningful kiss.

Then, realizing what she'd done, she quickly broke away from him and jumped up from her chair.

" Oh… oh my god, no… no! Joey, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have done that. It's just that you were saying all those nice things and I… oh god, oh my god. I… I'm just gonna go," she rambled, as she walked over to the door in quick strides.

" Phoebe, no, wait," the actor declared passionately, quickly chasing her and positioning his hand on her arm.

" What?! I said I was sorry okay?! I mean: for the love of god, it was just a mistake, Joseph! God!" the masseuse snapped, as she whirled around and loosened herself from his grip.

" It was, huh?" Joey stated quietly, his face suddenly inches away from hers, while he allowed his hand to find hers.

" Joey… Joey, uhm… what?" Phoebe muttered, confused, looking down at their intertwined hands, then back up at his face, suddenly finding herself to be mesmerized by that hungry gaze, which was now lighting up his eyes.

Then before, she'd had the slightest notion of what was really going on: he was kissing her, kissing her like there was no tomorrow, like he needed to do this, in order to stay alive.

" Mmh," she subsequently moaned, when his hand slowly moved up to stroke her cheek, his callous fingertips lightly adding pressure to her heated skin.

Then, as soon as the amazing encounter had started, it was already over, as Joey gradually pulled away, opening his eyes to take in the sight of her flushed features- god, she was gorgeous. He could've just stood there all day, just… looking at her. Yet, he knew he couldn't: she didn't love him, she'd just kissed him on a whim. Then again… judging by the sounds she'd just made. ' No, no, just get the hell outta there, you embarrassed yourself enough already,' he inwardly scolded himself.

When he subsequently grabbed a hold of the door handle, however, he was surprised to feel her hand stopping him in his way.

" Hey, get your ass back here, Tribbiani!" Phoebe bellowed, as she flipped him around to face her with surprising force.

" Why?"

" Because you can't just… just go around kissing people like that and then run off and leave them hanging. You know, that's not very like… gentlemanly," the blonde commented, now pulling him close, instantly causing Joey's breathing to speed up and grow louder.

" Not very gentlemanly at all," she then mumbled, almost huskily before her lips swiftly latched themselves back onto his, hereby nearly shocking him at first, his eyes widening, before he slowly allowed himself to relax and properly join in, causing Phoebe to gasp, when his able tongue entered through the recesses of her mouth.

"Awh baby, I could do this all day," the actor finally brought out longingly after they'd parted, causing his love interest to chuckle.

" Mmh, you know what else we could do all day?" she subsequently purred, while throwing him an impish grin, gently tracing a finger over the length of his jaw.

" No… what?" the man opposite her queried, utterly clueless.

The masseuse then rolled her eyes, giving out an annoyed: " Joseph," before giving a slight nod in the direction of his bedroom.

" Oh, oooh that, sure thing, sweetheart," Joey eagerly agreed, sending her a flirty smile, before he took her hand and walked them over to their destination, stealing several kisses from her along the way, feeling all giddy in knowing there would be a lot more to come, with the woman of his dreams.