The one with the appeal

It had now been nearly a month since Erica was unexpectedly abducted during her and Jack's birthday party and both Monica and Chandler were totally amazed at all the support they had been receiving people were leaving flowers and teddies on their doorstep with cards containing sympathy messages, people were walking around wearing orange wristbands along with white t-shirts with Erica's picture imprinted on them reading out BRING ERICA HOME, bright orange ribbons had been put up around the world and Monica and Chandler hadn't been expecting all of this support the people where showing them and Erica, even her and Jack's school had made a shrine with pictures of Erica stuck on it along with some school work she had done and the children who attended the school wrote little messages on small cards and put them around the shrine.

One morning, the whole gang where over at the Bing's and Ross suggested that they should hold an appeal because it might increase the chance of Erica being found.

"I'm not sure, what if the person who took her is watching and sees how desperate and worried we are, they might think it's amusing, knowing that they've got away with snatching our daughter and that her parents desperately want her back" Chandler pointed out "I can just imagine them sitting there all smug with our little girl locked up in his house somewhere, away from the public making it impossible for her to be found whilst me and Monica make an emotional plea for her safe return."

"I'm sure it won't come to that" Rachel said "maybe if the kidnapper or kidnappers see how upset you both are then maybe they'll do the decent thing and maybe let her go or reveal to the cops where she is. Don't worry, everything is going to be fine."

"You know what you should do" Phoebe suggested as she came walking into the front room from the kitchen "you should give a little message to Erica in case she's watching and tell her that everything is going to be fine and that she will be found because there is a lot of people out there looking for her." Chandler then pointed out that she might not see the appeal if she was locked up in her abductor's basement or some place like that but both he and Monica where still believing that she was still alive because they didn't find any clues or evidence to say that she was dead but they both knew that she was out there and probably scared to death.

"Are you sure this appeal will help my baby being found more easily?" Monica asked as she clutched Ronald the rabbit close to her chest. She hadn't let go of the stuffed rabbit since the moment she discovered it laying in the doorway of the open fire exits at the play center after she had discovered that Erica had been snatched because it made Monica feel close the Erica as she could smell her on the stuffed toy.

"I'm sure sweetie" Rachel said, giving Monica's hand a reassuring squeeze "now you need to contact the news people and tell them that you want to do an appeal." After a week of arranging things, Monica and Chandler writing down what they were going to say, the whole gang where down at Cumbridge street Police station where the appeal was taking place and both Monica and Chandler where dressed in their smart clothes, both of them very nervous.

"Now remember to keep calm and let the person or people who have Erica know that the whole world knows what they did and that her parents are desperately worried about her and want her back" Ross said to Monica as she and Chandler prepared to go into the room where the appeal was taking place.

"You okay?" Chandler asked Monica who nodded and took a deep breath "Okay, now remember, this is for Erica."

"Yeah, for Erica" Monica agreed before the two of them went into the room accompanied by Officer Benson who had been involved in the case of Erica's abduction where there was a long table in front of a crew of paparazzi and news people. Behind the long table was a enlarged image of Erica which had been taken on the same day she was abducted.

"I feel sick"Monica pointed out as she saw all the cameras and people in the room.

"I know but the quicker we get this done, the better it will be for Erica" Chandler advised her before the pair of them sat down at the long table as an Officer Benson began the appeal.

"On the sixth May 2010, an unfortunate incident occurred during a birthday party at kiddie winks play center when Six year old Erica Bing was believed to have been abducted and hasn't been seen since that day. Erica is of average six year old size with shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes, she was last seen wearing the same outfit as you see in the photo behind us but there could be a good chance that they may have been changed but her parents Monica and Erica Bing believe that she is still alive and would like to make an appeal to whoever is holding Erica at this precise time" Officer Benson stated before Chandler began reading his speech from the piece of paper he had with him whilst he and Monica both held hands, reassuring each other.

"I am speaking to whoever has Erica, if you are watching this then we beg you to let Erica come home, she has family and friends who miss her very much and if you have any decency you will let Erica come home to us. She is only six years old and she must be so scared" Chandler read out as he felt tears threatening to fall but quickly brushed them away before continuing "Erica is our only daughter, her mommy, daddy and twin brother miss her so much and we are pretty sure that she misses us too, so we are begging you, please don't hurt our little girl, please let her come home to us or tell us where to find her, thank you " He then covered his face with his hands as he sobbed silently whilst Monica stated that she wanted to give a little message to Erica herself.

"Erica, it's mommy darling, if you're watching this then please know that we are doing everything we can to find you and bring you back home so stay strong honey and you will be home soon. Mommy and daddy love you so much and we will be reunited again one day." Monica then also burst into silent tears as Officer Benson finished off the appeal.

"If you have anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Erica or know who has her, then we advised you to come forward with any information that you have. Please, help bring this little girl home to her family and friends." After the appeal had finished, the other four where still sat outside and walked up to the pair when they came out the room.

"How did it go?" Joey asked.

"Chandler gave a message to the person who took Erica, begging them to let her come home" Monica replied. Both her and Chandler were sobbing silently with their eyes red and puffy.

"Well at least it's over and done with" Ross said "now all we need to do is wait until someone calls to say they either found Erica or knows who has her."

Later that night, Monica tossed and turned in her sleep as she had another nightmare about Erica. She and Chandler where walking through a woodland with a search team, calling out Erica's name and they had been searching for what felt like hours until someone came across a garbage bag near the river bank which contained a small lump. Both Monica and Chandler clung to each other as a Police officer cut the bag open to reveal a lifeless Erica, naked and covered in bruises. Monica screamed and screamed until she woke up screaming, only to realize that it was just a dream.

"Mon, what's wrong?." Her screams had woken up Chandler and he was now switching on the bedside lamp as she sat up in the bed, panting and shaking.

"I had another nightmare about Erica" she sobbed " we were out looking for her with a search team and they found her body battered and bruised in a garbage bag." Chandler threw his hand over his mouth and pointed out it must have been such an awful dream as Monica nodded in agreement.

"It was just a dream, it was just a dream, Erica is still alive" Monica muttered to herself as the phone suddenly rang " oh my god, I think someone must have found her." She then jumped out of bed and raced downstairs as Chandler followed behind to find Jack stood in his bedroom door way.

"Hey buddy, what are you doing up?" Chandler asked as he lifted the little boy into his arms.

" I heard Mommy screaming and it woke me up" the little boy replied "why was she screaming."

"She just had a nasty dream about your sister but it's over now" Chandler told his son as Monica came walking up the stairs, clutching the phone and looking as though she had received a big shock.

"Monica, what's wrong?" Chandler asked as he set Jack down and walked over to his wife.

"It's about Erica" she replied in a quiet voice "the police have just called, saying that they've received CCTV footage from the kiddie winks play center of Erica being abducted."