An: So I know it's been awhile since I updated this story, but I had a major writer's block. Hopefully you like the turn of events in this chapter. Please R&R.

Disclaimer: I own no one. They all belong to Bright/Kauffman/Crane.

Chapter 11: New Year, New Beginnings

With the new year came a lot of new things for Chandler and Sophie. His mom went back to her book tour after the first of the year. The new semester started and he was able to get his same schedule. School three times a week, and four days off. His new classes were pretty easy so he didn't have to spend too much time on his assignments.

With the new semester, Carol and Ross offered to take Sophie two times a week to give him a break. As recommended by his doctor, Chandler went to a single parents' support group and he took Sophie to a parent and child swim class on Saturday mornings at the rec center in town.

With the end of her senior year approaching, Monica spent most weekends at the dorms with Carol. Her parents were getting on her case about choosing a college and filling out all those applications in time.

Joey had a falling out with his dad over going into his pipe fitting business, but Joey said he wanted to become an actor. It got to be unbearable at his house, so Phoebe offered him the couch at her grandma's place.

Chandler walked out of his last class on Wednesday, which was Composition 1, and went to get Sophie from the daycare. He made sure he had enough diapers, wipes, and food to get her through the night and took her to Carol's dorm room. He didn't work that night, so he was just going to do his work at Central Perk and watch Phoebe perform.

"Hey, Chandler." Carol smiled at him as she opened the door to her dorm room. "How is she today?"

"The daycare staff said she was calm the whole day. You might get lucky."

"Or not." Carol said as Sophie started screaming her head off when she saw Chandler starting to leave. "Don't worry. She'll be fine after awhile."

"I'll just be at Central Perk. So call me there if you have any problems."

"No problem." Carol shut the door and he went out to his car and drove to Central Perk.

Chandler walked into the entrance and spotted Joey and Phoebe sitting on the ugly orange couch. He went to them and sat beside Phoebe.

"Hey," she smiled at him. "How was class?"

"It was ok. My next writing assignment is supposed to be about the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I think I know what I'm going to write about. Or shall I say who."

"So where is Sophie?" Joey asked.

"She's with Carol."

"I guess I'm on." Phoebe stood up with her guitar as the lights dimmed and she was introduced.

"So what's this song about?" Chandler looked at Joey.

"I'm not sure." He looked back at him. "Listen, Phoebe wants me to ask you if you're up to dating anyone right now."

"Why? Are you going to set me up with someone?" he noticed his strange look. "Phoebe wants to ask me out?"

"She wants to. But not if you don't want her to. So what do you think?"

"Well, I think she's nice. Truthfully, I thought you were dating her."

"No. We're just friends. Her and her grandma have helped me out a lot."

"Well, I've kept saying that I don't have time for dating right now. But you're serious that she's interested in me?"

"I wouldn't joke about that."

"I guess we can try going on a date." He smiled as Phoebe performed her songs. "But I hope it ends well."

"Come on, man. Take a chance. I think she'll be worth it."

"Maybe you're right."

Fifteen minutes later, Phoebe finished her set as the coffee house was getting ready to close up. Chandler packed up his books as Joey stood up and Phoebe joined them again.

"I have to get some sleep." Joey told them. "I have acting class tomorrow."

"Do you need to get home now, too?" Chandler looked at Phoebe.

"I think I can stay out a little longer." She packed up her guitar.

"Do you want to go get some ice cream with me?"

"Sure." She smiled at him. "Joey, can you take my guitar back?"

"No problem," he took it from her and they all walked out and went their separate ways.

"So he asked you," Phoebe looked at him as they walked into the ice cream parlor. "Is this a forced date?"

"No. I didn't think you were available. I thought you and Joey-"

"We're just friends." She assured him. "I didn't think you'd be up to dating."

"I always say that to the girls on campus because they get freaked out when I mention my daughter. But you're comfortable around Sophie."

"She makes it easy."

"Some days," Chandler mumbled. "I didn't think you were interested in me. I always consider myself to be too weird for girls to be interested in me."

"You're not weird. And why does being weird have to be a bad thing?"

"I guess you're right." He smiled at her as they got to the counter and ordered their ice cream and sat at a nearby table.

"So you really had no idea that I liked you?" Phoebe asked him.

"None," he smiled at her. "I think I was too focused on Sophie and school to notice anyone else."

"I can understand that. You do work really hard."

"So I have Saturday night off. Want to go out on a real date if I can find a baby-sitter?"

"Sure. I'd love to." She looked at her watch as they both finished their ice cream. "I should get home. I have a massage therapy class tomorrow."

"Ok." They threw their trash away and walked out of the shop.

Chandler walked Phoebe to her building and went to his car and drove to the dorms. Carol opened the door with Sophie in her arms as she rocked her.

"How's she been?" he took her from her as she went to get the diaper bag.

"She's been fighting sleep. I think she was waiting for you."

"Sorry I'm later than I said I would be. I went for ice cream with Phoebe. I found out tonight that she likes me."

"She finally told you?"

"Joey told me," he looked at her. "You knew?"

"It was so obvious. So are you going to go out with her?"

"I asked her out for Saturday if I can find a sitter."

"I can watch her for you." Carol found one of Sophie's toys and gave it to him. "You go out and have a good time."

"Isn't Saturday your date night with Ross?"

"We'll go out on Friday. You deserve this, Chandler."

"Ok. Thanks." He smiled at her as he took Sophie out to his car and drove back to his place.

By Saturday night, Chandler was as nervous as he could be about his date with Phoebe. He had dropped Sophie off at Carol's dorm room with her and Ross earlier so he could get ready without interruption. He arrived at Phoebe's grandmother's apartment at seven o'clock sharp and Joey opened the door.

"She's almost ready," he told him. "Come on in."

"Hey," Phoebe came out wearing a long skirt and a dressy blouse.

"You look great." Chandler smiled at her.

"Thank you." She smiled at him. "Should we go?"

"Shouldn't I meet your grandmother?"

"She's not here right now," Phoebe pulled him down the hall. "And you don't want to meet her just yet. She can be scary."

"Ok." He led her out to his car and opened the passenger side door for her.

"So where are we going?" she looked over at him as he climbed into the car.

"Well I wanted to take you someplace nice, but I'm on a budget." He looked over at her. "I was going to take you to the pizza place where I work since I get a discount on food whenever I eat there."

"Sounds good." She smiled at him as he started up the car. "As long as they don't try to make you work."

"I don't think that'll happen." He smiled at her as he pulled away from her apartment building.

Fifteen minutes later Chandler pulled up to the pizza place and held the door open for Phoebe as they walked inside.

"Hey, Chandler." Todd spotted him walking in. "I thought tonight was your night off."

"It is. I'm on a date. This is Phoebe." He introduced them.

"We met at the Christmas party, right?" Todd looked at her. "It's nice to see you again."

"You, too." Phoebe smiled politely.

"I'll show you to the table where no one can bother you," Todd took them to the back of the shop and they slid into the booth. "You guys want something to drink first?"

"Yeah. How about a pitcher of soda?" Chandler looked at Phoebe. "Unless you want something else."

"Soda is fine." She smiled at him.

Todd walked away from their booth and Chandler smiled at Phoebe. She smiled back at him as they both decided what to get.

"So how exactly will this work with us?" Chandler asked her once they placed their order with Todd. "I mean, I do want us to give this a try. But with my busy schedule of school, work, and most importantly Sophie, I'm not sure we'll be able to get much alone time."

"I think if we really want it we'll make it work somehow." She told him. "Or we can just hang out at each others' places. There's nothing wrong with staying in and watching a movie."

"And taking care of my daughter?" he questioned.

"Sure. Why not?" she shrugged as their half vegetarian, half pepperoni pizza came. "If I wasn't comfortable with dating someone who had a kid, I wouldn't have had Joey ask you if you were ready to date anyone."

"Who knows," he smiled. "Maybe this will be worth the risk."

"Maybe," she took another slice of pizza.

After they finished eating, Chandler paid for their meal and they walked out of the pizza shop. Instead of going to Chandler's car, they took a short walk around the neighborhood. Chandler stopped briefly at a flower stand and purchased a single rose for Phoebe. She smiled at him as they made their way back to his car and he drove her back to her apartment.

Phoebe unlocked the door and saw Joey still awake and waiting up for her so he could find out how her date went.

"So?" he sat up as she sat beside him. "How did it go?"

"It was good." She smiled at him. "But we decided to take it slow."

"That's reasonable." He looked at her. "So did he make a move on you?"

"I said we're taking it slow."

"So you guys didn't even kiss?"

"No. He kissed me good night." She got up. "I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."

"Good night," he told her. "I'm glad you had fun tonight, Pheebs."

"Me, too." She smiled at him before she went to her room.

Chandler arrived at Carol's dorm room to pick up Sophie. As soon as she opened the door, Carol was bombarding him with questions.

"Calm down, Carol." Ross told her. "Let him breathe."

"I just want to know how it went." She smiled as Chandler picked up a sleeping Sophie and slung the diaper bag over his shoulder.

"It went fine," he told them. "But we're taking it slow. So how was she tonight?"

"She was fine." Carol told him. "She fell asleep early."

"I should get her home and get her in bed." He told them. "I'll see you guys Monday at school."

Chandler went back out to his car and drove back to his house. He put Sophie in her crib and got himself ready for bed and fell right to sleep. He had a smile on his face as he drifted off, thinking about his night with Phoebe.

AN: So what'd you guys think? I'm not sure if how long the Chandler/Phoebe relationship will be. I do know that it's probably not going to last. Hope you guys liked this chapter. Please R&R.