L Stands for Friends
Author's Note: Chapter 3.
Previously…
"She ran her own gallery… she worked at the California Arts Center… she was the dean of a college…"
"Joey Tribbiani is crushing on Bette Porter."
"That's insane."
"You know, I think Joey likes you."
"He knows I'm gay and even if he didn't, he was just being friendly."
"Yeah, I mean you don't have to worry about an affair because you aren't really attracted to dicks, right?"
"Oh my god."
Tina looked up from Angelica as Bette walked through the door, clearly exhausted, "What's wrong, babe?"
"I forgot how hard it was to get a job here," Bette sighed, walking over to Tina and Angelica, kissing her daughter on the forehead before turning to greet her partner, their lips brushing for a moment before the two of them pulled back. "How was your day?"
"Good, good," Tina smiled, "Actually it was great. I love working here. Everyone is so much more professional and there is no crazy writer breathing down my back." Tina then paused, realizing what she said and her face fell, "God. I cannot believe I just said that."
"It's been four months, Tee," Bette whispered, pressing her lips against Tina's forehead, "It's not a crime to talk about Jenny."
"Jenny," Angelica giggled from Tina's arms and both women glanced down at their daughter, their eyes widening slightly. Angie probably wouldn't remember Jenny that much, but she would remember all the chaos that followed her death. Bette and Tina had been accused of murdering Jenny… Alice had actually gone to court to defend herself… those months were hell for everyone.
"So I was thinking…" Bette murmured, pressing quick, gentle kisses on Tina's neck, "We stay in tonight and just relax."
"Aw babe, I thought I told you," Tina turned, a guilty expression crossing her face, "Joey invited us over to meet his friends."
"What about, Angie?" Bette asked, glancing down at her daughter.
"Emma's babysitter is going to come over here and watch both of them," Tina explained, "Is that okay?"
"Yeah," Bette said with a small smile and a nod, her thoughts returning to what Alice had told her a week previously… about how she thought Joey had feelings for her. She was not attracted to him in the slightest way, but would it really be a good idea for them to go out to dinner with one another?
"After dinner, I'm sure we can have some time to… uh relax," Tina grinned, kissing Bette quickly.
"I'd like that a lot."
"So… when are we going to meet these new neighbors of yours, Joe?" Chandler asked as he and Joey paced around Joey's apartment while Monica hovered in the background, fretting about whether or not a bottle of wine was going to be enough for nine people. Chandler glanced at his wife and raised an eyebrow, "Sweetheart, it's going to be fine."
"Yeah, calm down, Monica," Joey said, "Pheebs said she and Mike were going to bring over a bottle too."
"But everything has to be perfect," Monica exclaimed, her voice shrill, "I'm the hostess."
"This isn't our home," Chandler argued, rolling his eyes as he and his wife partook in their usual good-natured banter.
"Yeah, Monica, relax," Joey said, "I'm the hostess now."
"But I'm always the hostess!" Monica practically screamed.
"Can you scream a little louder? I don't think the people in the hall heard you."
"Actually we did," Mike's voice came from outside the door and Monica, in an attempt to reclaim her title as the hostess, practically knocked Joey down in her hurry to answer the door.
"Hey Pheebs, Mike," Monica greeted, giving her two friends a peck on the cheek.
"We brought alcohol!" Mike crowed and Joey shot Monica a look that clearly said 'told you so.'
"Where's Jack and Erica?" Phoebe asked, referring to Chandler and Monica's adoptive kids.
"Our friend in the suburbs are keeping them over night," Chandler explained, walking over to embrace Phoebe before he noticed something, "Pheebs… why is there a twig in your hair?"
Phoebe and Mike exchanged a quick glance and Monica gasped, "You guys didn't?"
"Of course we didn't," Phoebe rolled her eyes, but as Chandler, Joey, and Monica continued to stare at her, she sighed, "Fine we did."
"Nice," Joey grinned, giving Mike a wink.
"Nice?" Monica asked, her voice going shrill once more as her gaze darted from Phoebe and Mike to Joey and then back again, "You two act like teenagers! What are you going to do when you have a kid?"
"I don't know," Phoebe said with a shrug, "When do you two do it?" Chandler and Monica exchanged a glance and Phoebe gasped, "Can you two not remember the last time you did it?"
"Uh…" Chandler stammered as someone knocked on the door and he instantly jumped at the chance to change the subject, "Oh look someone's here. Someone's here."
Mike glanced at Chandler, "How much have you drank tonight?"
Chandler shrugged while Joey opened the door, revealing Ross, Rachel, and the two newcomers: Bette and Tina.
"Ross, Rachel," Joey gave Rachel a peck on the cheek before moving over to allow Bette and Tina to enter the apartment. He closed the door behind them and gestured towards everyone, "Everyone, this is Bette Porter and Tina Kennard. Bette, Tina, this is everyone."
The room exploded with 'hellos' and Bette and Tina easily fell into conversation with everyone. Tina bonded with Monica and Rachel over their children while Chandler instantly began asking Bette a bunch of questions about L.A. Joey walked over to Bette and stood next to her and Chandler, smiling softly, "Can I get either of you a drink?"
"Better not let Monica hear you say that," Chandler murmured with a small smile, glancing at his wife who was controlling the conversation between her, Tina, and Rachel, "She'll think you were trying to steal her hostess title."
Joey chuckled before turning to Bette, "Do you want a glass of wine or something?"
Remembering what Alice had said a week before, Bette shook her head, "I can get it myself." She made her way over to Joey's fridge and pulled out a beer. Almost a second later, Ross made his way over to her, smiling politely.
"I never would have begged you as a beer drinker," Ross said, nodding towards Bette's beer, "You seem more like the type who drinks sophisticated wines or bottles of champagne."
"Nope," Bette laughed, "I love my beer." She then glanced at Chandler who was talking to Joey and the Hannigans and whispered, "Hey Ross, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Is Chandler… gay?"
Almost at once Ross began to laugh hysterically.
"What? Is he?"
"No," Ross laughed, "He's not, but he must sure send of some signals if you thought he was."
"He really isn't?" Bette asked in wonder.
"No, but don't worry, you're not the first one to think it," Ross chuckled before gesturing towards Monica, "He's actually married to my sister, Monica. They have two kids."
"That's wonderful," Bette smiled and Monica, who probably had heard her name, made her way over to Bette and Ross, leaving Rachel and Tina to talk alone.
Rachel watched Monica leave their circle before apologizing to Tina, lowering her voice so her dark-haired friend couldn't hear them, "I'm sorry about Monica, she's a little… stubborn when it comes to some things."
"Believe me, I live with someone who is stubborn as hell," Tina smiled, glancing at Bette who was talking to Ross and Monica, laughing at something the short woman said. "I find it an endearing trait."
"So I'm not the only one?" Tina and Rachel turned to face Chandler and Joey as they made their way over to them. It was Chandler who had spoken. "I thought I was the only one who found stubbornness attractive."
"Richard did," Rachel pointed out as Phoebe and Mike made their way over to the circle.
"Oh yes," Chandler muttered, "Richard."
Tina turned to Rachel and whispered, "I'm guessing we don't like Richard?"
"Just don't bring him up in front of Chandler and you'll be fine," Rachel whispered back.
"So, Bette, how long have you and Tina been together?" Monica asked.
Bette glanced at Tina who was laughing with Rachel and smiled, "We were together for eight years and then we were on a break and we just got back together two years ago."
"You were on a break?" Ross asked, his tone almost excited.
Monica shot Ross a swift look, "I'm sure you and her have two different opinions on what 'on a break' means."
"Did I miss something?" Bette chuckled softly.
"By on a break," Ross said slowly, "Did you mean a breakup?"
"Yes…" Bette murmured, curious as to where Ross was going with this.
Ross turned to stare smugly at Monica, "Seems the same to me."
"Please tell me you aren't having the 'we were on a break' conversation with Bette," Rachel commented loudly, turning around to stare at Ross, "She should learn that we are a dysfunctional group of friends on her own."
"Believe me," Tina laughed, "We come from our own group of dysfunctional people."
"So what made you two leave L.A.?" Joey asked as Bette, Ross, and Monica moved closer to the rest of the group and the nine of them were all in a circle. "I mean I've been there once and its amazing."
"Well Tee got a job offer here and it was too great of an opportunity to pass up," Bette explained, smiling at her partner.
"What do you do, Tina?" Mike asked.
"I'm head of productions at a movie studio in the city," Tina explained, "What about you?"
"I play piano at a couple local bars and clubs," Mike smiled, "It doesn't pay well, but I couldn't imagine doing anything else."
"Speaking of which Mike," Joey began, "Did you hear anything about playing at that one club?"
"I don't know," Mike sighed, "The woman who owns it hasn't returned my call yet."
"Who owns it?" Rachel asked, "Maybe we can find them and 'persuade' them to let you play."
"I don't even remember her name," Mike laughed, "Some Latina chick. I couldn't even pronounce her last name."
"What's the club?" Tina asked curiously.
"It's called 'Club de Amor,'" Mike said, "It means Club of Love in Spanish."
Tina exchanged a look with Bette, "We should check it out. It'll be nice to see what clubs New York has to offer."
Bette nodded and Rachel offered, "I was thinking about going too. We should do a girls night."
"I'm in," Phoebe exclaimed, "Why don't you come too, Monica?"
"Okay."
They continued talking for about an hour before Ross and Rachel said they were going to head out and Bette and Tina followed them. As the two of them laid in bed, Tina turned to Bette and smiled, "They really are great people."
Bette returned Tina's smile and tucked a strand of gold hair behind her partner's ear, "Yes they are."
"You know I'm not really tired yet," Tina said with a sly smile.
"Oh really?"
It was another forty minutes before they went to sleep.