Chapter 1-April 15th, 1994
"Oh my God, this hurts so much," Monica panted as she held her pregnant belly breathing in and out quickly to help "control" the excruciating pain she was feeling. Though nothing helped to make it any better. It just seemed to get worse and worse as time went on, and she knew it wasn't going to get any better until she delivered this baby.
"Just keep breathing," her sus chef Franny said as she breathed in and out showing Monica what she should be doing. She loved Franny dearly, but she was annoying the hell out her. She knew exactly what to do! More than Franny did. She had practiced her Lamaze breathing a million times, and she even went to expectant mother yoga with Phoebe to help prepare for a "zen" labor, but there was nothing zen about this. Her stomach felt like it was tightening into the world's biggest knot. This was by far the worst pain she had ever felt.
"Oh, shut up!" Monica snapped as another contraction hit making her stomach tighten even more as if that was even possible. God, this sucked. This was like the most painful menstrual cramp ever amplified by affinity pain.
"It's ok, I understand you're in pain" Franny said trying to remain calm, "But just keep breathing," Monica was about to tell her to "shut up" when another excruciating contraction hit in succession making her stomach clench so tight it robbed her of breath. Unfortunately, it could get worse and with every contraction it did. She loved every minute of her pregnancy, morning sickness and all, but labor truly sucked. Labor could kiss her ass!
"Oh God!" Monica screamed getting the attention of everyone waiting in the emergency room waiting area, and Monica was in so much pain that she could care less who or what was staring at her.
"Another one that fast! Oh God!" Franny asked as she frantically wheeled her friend over to the check in desk.
"Hello, my friend…Monica is in labor, and I think she is really, really close to delivery. She's been in labor for like fifteen hours already! Fifteen! I know she should have come in here sooner. We all tried to tell her too, but she was like 'I'm fine'. Cause she's so stubborn," Franny laughed nervously as she rambled on at a million miles and hour, and Monica just rolled her eyes and put her head in her hands. She really did wish Chandler would get there. Sure he would be cracking jokes, but he would be far less annoying then this.
Plus, if she were really honest with herself, it was because she needed him. He had been her rock through the entire pregnancy. He was there with her every step of the way, and she really didn't want him to miss this. It was his child she was about to give birth to after all.
"Ok, slow down," the receptionist said looking over at Monica who was now engaged in slow deliberate breathing. She was breathing in fresh air and out pain….
"Have your waters broke?" The receptionist asked.
"Yeah, twenty minutes ago," Franny said quickly.
"And how far apart are the contractions?" the receptionist asked.
"Ow!" Monica squealed as her stomach literary caved in on itself.
"I see," the receptionist replied. "And as she said," pointing to Franny but looking at Monica. "You have been in labor for fifteen hours?" Monica just nodded as she slowly, peacefully exhaled filling her with love and light.
"Ok, I think we need to get you straight to delivery," the receptionist said picking up the phone.
"Oh and it's Monica, right?" The receptionist asked as she looked up an extension.
"Yes," Monica gasped as she shifted uncomfortably in the chair thinking a change in position would help or at least take the pressure of her enflamed who ha, but not it didn't help at all-not one single bit.
"Last name?" the receptionist asked as she dialed the extension.
"Geller," Monica added as she rubbed her spasming belly.
"And you're, Olivia?" Monica asked looking at the older women's name tag.
"Right," the receptionist, Olivia, smiled as she awaited response on the other line of the phone. "Yes, hello, we have a young women here in active labor…" the women said to whoever answered.
"You got a hold of Chandler and Ross right?" Monica asked Franny as Olivia spoke to what they assumed to be someone in labor and delivery.
"Yes, and they are on their way," Franny confirmed.
"And Phoebe?" Monica asked.
"Yes, and she said she was going to pick up Joey and then head on over," Franny answered brightly.
"Thank you," Monica between deep breaths.
Franny was about to respond when the receptionist pulled the phone away from her ear to talk to Monica.
"Whose your Doctor, hun?" Olivia asked.
"Dr.-long!" Monica said through gritted teeth holding her stomach in pain. Olivia just nodded in response before asking, "Has she been called or do you need us to do that for you?"
"She's been called," Monica replied. Olivia just nodded and put the phone back to her ear to continue talking to whoever was on the other side of the phone.
"Please wait for daddy," Monica murmured to her belly as she gently rubbed it. "He'll be here soon sweetheart, just wait a little while longer," and she smiled through tears as the contracting of her belly subsided somewhat as her baby must have gotten the message. She didn't want him to miss this either.
"Frank, We need to get this young women to delivery NOW," Olivia called out to a passing orderly.
"Which room?" the orderly named Frank replied.
"Five, and hurry! This one is ready!" Olivia replied as Frank nodded and rushed over to Monica.
"Your doctor's on site and waiting for you, hun," Olivia smiled.
"Thanks," Monica smiled as Frank wheeled her around.
"And Good luck!" Olivia said as Frank rushed towards delivery with Franny power walking to keep up. They could hear the receptionist shout for Monica's insurance card.
"I can give it to her," Franny offered wanting very much to do anything other than seeing her coworker in labor, and Monica nodded in understanding preferring very much not to have Franny see her in such a compromising position. She was hoping for Phoebe and Chandler anyway.
"You have my purse?" Monica said referring to Kate Spade the bag that contained the needed insurance card.
"Yup! and the hospital bag," Franny replied. "And don't worry…." Franny sang knowing her friend "I'll make sure they get back to you," Franny finished having a good grasp of Monica's anal retentive ways.
Monica snorted in laughter and then through her pain managed to quip, "And don't get any ideas about taking my money because I don't have any."
"Oh, your credit cards will do just fine," Franny sang as Monica burst out in laughter despite the pain.
"Love ya," Franny said as she kissed her friend on the cheek whispering a reassuring, "He'll be here," Franny said before rushing back to the check in desk. Monica closed her eyes holding back tears and praying that she was right.
He couldn't miss it. He just couldn't. She desperately wished that she could get into Doc Brown's DeLorean and go back in time to tell Chandler about the contractions and the labor when it all started last night…after their fight…after the made love…after he left. Monica shook her head at the memory. She couldn't think about that right now.
As Monica and the orderly made it past the emergency room entrance, they saw a breathless Phoebe and Joey sprint through the hospital entrance, and Monica swore she could have head a choir of angels singing halleluiah.
"Monica," Phoebe said rushing over to her friend following alongside the fast moving wheelchair. "We got here as fast as we could; my grandmother's cab is in the shop, and we had to take a REAL cab, but we were having a hell of a time trying to get one, and Joey just had to stop for a meatball sub" Phoebe said pointing accusingly at Joey who was holding the aforementioned sandwich.
"Hey I was hungry," Joey said with a mouth full of sub. "Do you want some?" Joey asked Monica.
"No thanks, I'm not hungry," Monica said shaking her head.
"You can't eat that in here," the orderly Frank said.
"Throw it away," Phoebe said pointing to a nearby trash can.
"No, I'm hungry!" Joey pouted. "And it sooo good," Joey added before chumping down on it as Phoebe gritted her teeth and frustration.
"Then, I'll do it," Phoebe said snatching it from Joey's hand and back peddling to throw it away herself.
"Phoebe!" Joey whined.
"Don't Phoebe me, Joseph Francis Tribbiani, you heard the man! You can't have eat in here anyway!" Phoebe practically shouted as Joey did a double take.
"Jeez, Phoebe calm down!" Joey replied.
"I will not calm down! Us stopping for that meatball sub set us back ten minutes; we would have already been here by now," Phoebe exclaimed.
"Trust me you didn't miss much," Monica said waving dismissively.
"See," Joey said sticking his tongue out at Phoebe who just rolled her eyes in response.
"Where are Chandler and Ross?" Monica asked changing the subject.
"They are at the health club playing raquette ball," Joey said dumbly.
"I know that!" Monica said as she rolled her eyes, "But Franny said they are coming. Are they coming?"
"Yes, of course!" Phoebe replied reassuringly. "They are on their way, but the health club is way across town, and the traffic is a bitch this time of day. You know that! But they'll be here" Phoebe replied.
"Great, so they may not make it," Monica panted as she held her contracting belly.
"Oh, they'll make it, Mon" Joey reassured her as he jogged alongside the orderly, and Monica smiled up at Joey gratefully.
"Oh, your aura is all red and angsty, let me do a cleaning," Phoebe said as she waved her hands around Monica, as both Monica and Joey rolled their eyes.
"Uh Phoebes, maybe now's not a good time to do that," Joey said apprehensively. He could tell Monica was not pleased with the whole thing, but he sure as hell didn't want to piss Phoebe off especially after the whole sub thing.
"Now, is the perfect time. Monica can't go into labor with such a negative energy. It isn't a good energy for the baby to be born into," Phoebe replied indignantly.
"Phoebes, how can Monica have positive energy right now? She's is labor… and A LOT of pain for Christ sakes," Joey replied as they began arguing, but all Monica could think about and pray about was that Chandler would make it in time to see their daughter being born, and her heart skipped a beat as they made it to the delivery room.
"No, no, we can't go in yet," Monica said bracing her feet on the floor.
"Why not?" Phoebe frowned.
"Chandler's not hear yet; what if he doesn't know where we are? What if…" Monica asked as she began to sob uncontrollably.
"He will," Phoebe reassured her putting a comforting hand over Monica's and pushing back a stray lock of hair from her face. "Joey will go to the waiting area and wait for Chandler and Ross to arrive, and when they do, he will tell them which room we are in. Right, Joey?" Phoebe asked looking up at Joey.
"Right, on it," Joey said before jogging off and then back peddling to go over to Monica.
"You're going to do great, and I can't wait to meet my God daughter," Joey smirked giddily as he kissed the top of her head.
"I promise we haven't decided that yet, Joe," Monica smiled lightly.
"Well, I am sure you and Chandler will make the right choice and choose me," Joey whispered in her ear before jogging off for real.
"You ready?" the orderly asked as he rolled her in, and Monica just looked up at Phoebe and reluctantly nodded yes.
Once they entered the delivery room. Everything happened so fast-too fast. First, Monica had to change out of her work clothes into a flimsy hospital gown as Phoebe was prompted to scrub up. Then, a nurse who reminded her so much of her mother, who annoyed the hell out of her, hooked her up to machines to monitor her heart rate and yada, yada while another younger more inexperienced nurse who Nurse Judy ,as she was nicknamed by Monica, kept directing the younger nurse as if she was doing everything wrong, and all Monica could muster were a few sympathetic smiles at the young girl. Then, suddenly doctor Long showed up, and with Phoebe at her side, she began pushing.
"Monica you are going to have to push harder," Doctor Long said as Phoebe held her right leg and the younger more pleasant nurse held her left one. Nurse "Judy" stood stoically monitoring her vitals.
"I can't," Monica shook her head which was all sweaty and flushed. "Not without Chandler," Monica said as she looked up at Phoebe and then back down at doctor Long whose face was partially hindered by a hospital mask.
"I understand," Dr. Long replied sympathetically. "But this baby is ready to come out NOW, and if we keep her in longer than necessary she will become distressed, and I know you don't want that to happen," Dr. Long patiently explained.
"I can't," Monica cried as she threw her head back onto the pillow in despair. "Chandler can't miss this, he just can't," Monica shock her head.
"I know sweetie, but you heard what Dr. Long said. If she stays in too long, it could cause her harm," Phoebe said as she patted Monica's forehead with a cloth which was quickly becoming saturated with Monica's sweat.
"It's all my fault," Monica cried. "I waited too long now he is going to miss this," Monica sobbed as Dr. Long and Phoebe exchanged helpless glances.
"Monica," she heard her name being called, and she snapped her head towards the source.
"Chandler," Monica smiled brightly.
"You made it," Monica smiled through her tears.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Chandler said as he made his way towards her nodding towards the young nurse to step aside so he could take her place immediately falling into the role he had practiced taking her leg in one arm and extending the other arms so she could squeeze his hand. God, she was so glad he made it.
"I didn't think you were going to make it; I'm so sorry…" Monica said as Chandler glanced at her curiously, but before either could say anything else Dr. Long interjected.
"Ok, Monica push," Dr. Long directed and Monica nodded obediently pushing with all of her might Dr. Long counting down the push.
"Your doing great, Monica" Dr. Long said as Monica pushed with all of her might.
"You can do this, baby," Chandler whispered in her ear which didn't go unnoticed by Phoebe who looked on at the couple with interest.
"Ahhh!" Monica screamed as threw herself back on the bed utterly exhausted.
"I can see the head!" Dr. Long said. "Just a few more big pushes, Monica," Dr. Long said.
"You've got this, Monica!" Phoebe said.
"I know," Monica nodded as she sat up again as she bore down pushing with all of the strength inside of her.
"Do this for Emma, do this for Emma," Chandler repeated over and over again as he leaned into her and Phoebe couldn't help but watch in amazement at the scene. What happened to the goofy, immature Chandler she met two years ago? This wasn't the same Chandler. This Chandler was so tender, so together, so mature, and clearly there was something more between the two of them that had evolved over the last nine months that she and everyone else had missed. She vowed to get down to the bottom of this once this baby was born and all was said and done. She would give Monica some time to rest before accosting her with questions like a day or an hour. She decided an hour was all she could wait.
"Ahhh!" Monica bellowed as she fell back onto the bed again panting and sweating profusely.
"I've got shoulders," Dr. Long beamed up at the parents to be.
"You do?" Monica smiled through the pain.
"She's almost here," Chandler smiled lovingly at Monica.
"She is," Monica smiled lovingly in return.
"Thank you for her, for everything, for being here for me and with me," Monica smiled.
"It's my pleasure, now and forever," Chandler whispered quietly in her ear before Monica let out another howl of pain and popped up in the bed.
"Push, push, push," Dr. Long repeated as Monica pushed down with all of her might feeling her baby's shoulders push through the opening of her vagina the same opening that Chandler had penetrated nine months ago that put her in this state, and Monica laughed through her pain at the image as both Chandler and Phoebe looked at her oddly.
"The heads out," Dr. Long said as Nurse "Judy "stood near Dr. Long at the foot of the bed ready to assist.
"Ok, just one more big push, Monica, and this baby is out," Dr. Long said.
"She's almost here!" Phoebe said giddily as Monica smiled through her tears and here pain. Her baby was so close to being born. She was impatient to meet her, and to hold her. Her little Emma Grace.
"Ok," Monica said determinedly as she barred her teeth pushing as hard as she could as she squeezed the life out of Chandler's hand who oddly wasn't protesting but was whispering words of encouragement and admiration in her ear helping to fuel her onto the big finish.
"You're doing so good, sweetheart, keep going," Chandler chanted refueling her strength and renewing her purpose.
"Push, push, push," Dr. Long and Phoebe chanted, and Monica pushed-oh she pushed. She pushed the hell out it! She pushed through the pain as she felt her baby nudge her way out of her and into the world, and she didn't stop pushing until she heard the beautiful sound of her baby crying and Dr. Long sing "She's out".
"She's so beautiful," Phoebe gasped as she put her hands over her mouth tears spilling from her own eyes.
"Do you want to cut the cord, daddy?" Dr. Long asked Chandler who just nodded speechlessly through tear clouded eyes.
Monica beamed as Chandler cut the cord as Nurse "Judy" cracked a smile for the first time and took the baby, wiped her off, wrapped her in a pink blanket, and gingerly placed her in Chandler's waiting arms.
"Hi, baby girl, I'm your daddy, and this is your mommy," Chandler said as he handed her to a sobbing Monica.
"Hi, baby girl," Monica said as she took the baby into her arms. "She is so beautiful," Monica agreed as she held the warm bundle in her arms. "So perfect," Monica smiled up at Chandler who was smiling down at her through tears of joy.
"She has your hair," Phoebe said pointing to Chandler, "And your eyes," Phoebe said pointing to Monica. "She really is so beautiful," Phoebe conquered. "I'll go let everyone know she's finally hear, yeah!" Phoebe added bouncing up and down and clapping her hands together giddily.
"I'm so happy for you guys! " Phoebe beamed before giving Monica a friendly peck on the lips, gently kissing baby Emma's forehead, and then going over to Chandler to give him a big hug.
"Thanks, Phoebe…for everything," Monica said extending her free arm to gently give her friend's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Yes, thank you Phoebe," Chandler said giving Phoebe a side hug.
"It was nothing," Phoebe said waving dismissively. "I'll see you guys a little later….with visitors, yeah!" Phoebe exclaimed as she blew Monica and the baby a kiss before exiting the delivery room.
"You did it," Chandler said as he kissed her forehead.
"No, we did it," Monica smiled up at him and then back at their baby. "We really did it," Monica echoed as she looked into the eyes of her little princess, and in that moment she just knew. She knew that her baby was not an Emma Grace, and then she frowned because she didn't know what she was. The perfect name she had planned and dreamed about for years just didn't seem perfect enough for her perfect little angel.