Well, perhaps there could be a best friend character. Let's say it's Lily. Lily could be the one who gives Mary advice on her marriage to Joey and often gets involved in their little dramas. She might be a very sassy and fun character.
People are drawn to the idea of Joey and Rachel kissing because it adds an element of drama. In the context of the show, it would have been a major shift in the relationships among the main characters. Fanfiction writers can take this idea and run with it, creating all sorts of interesting scenarios, from love triangles to reconciliations, which is why it's so popular.
One interesting plot could be Mary and Joey facing challenges in their new married life, like dealing with in - laws. Maybe Joey's family has some unique traditions that Mary has to adapt to.
You can start by looking on fanfiction websites like Archive of Our Own (AO3). It has a large collection of fanfictions, and you're likely to find quite a few Mary x Joey ones there. Just use the search function and type in 'Mary x Joey' and it should show you relevant results.
Mary and Joey in Another Cinderella Story. Mary was always the girl in the background, cleaning up after the big events in town. Joey was the local heartthrob who was always surrounded by fans. One day, while Mary was cleaning the stage after a concert, she found Joey's songbook. She opened it and was immediately captivated by the lyrics. Joey came back looking for it and was surprised to see Mary so engrossed. Instead of being angry, he was intrigued. He asked her what she thought of the songs. Mary gave her honest opinions, and Joey was impressed. This led to them spending more time together, sharing ideas about music and art, and slowly falling in love as they discovered more about each other in the world of the story.
Often, it was a build - up of shared experiences. They had been through so much together that one day, while reminiscing about their memories, the mood just got so right that Joey kissed Rachel.
In the fanfiction, their first kiss might be a moment full of surprise. Maybe it happened suddenly during an emotional conversation. Joey, with his charming yet goofy self, might have been caught up in the moment and leaned in to kiss Rachel. Rachel, initially shocked, then slowly melted into the kiss, making it a sweet and unexpected moment.
One great story could be 'The Unspoken Attraction'. It delves into the moment after their first kiss and how it complicates their friendship. The author beautifully describes their internal turmoil.
One interesting aspect could be the exploration of their deep friendship in a different, more intimate way. It might show how their bond is so strong that it can be expressed through a kiss, perhaps in a moment of extreme emotion or as a result of some kind of misunderstanding that leads to a surprisingly tender moment between them.