No, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth. I am very much alive and well...yeah, I'm alive, what do you expect?
Thanks for your reviews they are always greatly appreciated!
Monica tucked Jackson in that night "I love you baby." She kissed his forehead
"I love you too Mommy." He hugged his bunny in closer "Can you tell me a story?" He asked
She smiled warmly at him "Of course I can." She paused before beginning "Once upon a time there was a prince-"
Jackson shook his head "I want a different story." He said softly
Monica hesitated as she thought of one "What kind of story do you want tonight honey?"
He thought long and hard before saying his request "I want a story about Chandler."
She was surprised by his answer but managed to think of one "Okay...once upon a time, there was a really sweet gentleman, named Chandler." She started, "When one day he found this little family. He began to love them like his own and didn't want to ever leave..."
"But he did Mommy." Jackson said softly
Monica nodded sadly "He did leave. But only because he had to." She told him, just like she told him every night "Chandler wanted to be a police man and fight all the bad guys away. And that was why he had to leave. But only for a little bit." She stated "Then he would be back and happy with his little family."
Jackson started to close his eyes as she ended.
Monica brushed her fingers through his dark hair "He loves you very much."
It was late when Chandler had the chance to call Monica. He knew it was almost one in the morning and she was most likely asleep right now so he decided against it and would call her in the morning. Meanwhile, to get his mind off the test, him and a couple other friends he made in the department went out to grab a drink and have some fun.
He was sitting up at the counter when someone sat right beside him "A shot." He called out to the bartender as he sighed and loosened his tie.
"Ruff day?" Chandler asked him
The man looked over and nodded "Yeah." Was all he said "What about you?" He motioned to his drink
Chandler looked down at the cold beads of condensation inching closer and closer to the counter "Nah, just a beer." He lifted it up and took another drink.
An hour later the guys left while Chandler decided to stick around and talk to the gentleman that he began to know.
"So last name is Geller?" He questioned
The man nodded
"You know, I didn't think Geller was a common last name but my girlfriends last name is also Geller." Chandler told him
"Really?" He asked "What's your girlfriends name?"
"Monica."
The man about spit out his drink "You're kidding."
Chandler shook his head "I'm sorry, is that funny to you?" He asked a bit hurt
"No no." He stopped "It's just that my sisters name is Monica...but I haven't seen her in almost two and a half years."
"Why's that?" Chandler took a drink of his third beer he just ordered
"I actually moved here for business and well..." He raised his drink "It's not going so well I guess you could say."
"Where did you move from?" He asked
"New York."
It was Chandler's turn to be shocked "You're kidding, I'm from New York also." He started "I actually came here a week ago for that Police Force Testing that is being held a few blocks down."
He just looked at Chandler "You don't think that we are talking about the same Monica, do you?"
Chandler shook his head "No, it can't be." He said with full confidence "New York is a pretty big state, I'm sure there is more than one Monica Geller there."
Two days later...
"Hey Mon, it's me, when you get this call me back."
Ross looked down at the phone in his hand. He wasn't sure what made him dial the number that he once called his own.
There were so many feelings about what Chandler said to him at the bar, it made him think of his baby sister back home and how he left her at the worst possible time in her life. He needed to be with her again, see her again and talk to her again.
He wanted to reunite with his nephew.
Deciding this career, here in Ohio, was just going down hill. He knew that this was the end of the road and he was heading back home where he belonged.
That night...
Monica was at the kitchen table coloring along side her little boy as the rain fell outside and started melting the snow that covered the ground.
"Did he call?" Jackson asked as he took a bite of his freshly baked cookie.
Monica shook her head "Not yet honey."
"Is he going to call?"
"I'm not sure."
"Well can we call him?" He kept asking
Monica sighed "No Jackson."
"Do you know if he will ever call?"
"Probably honey," Monica stood up with her drink and rubbed his head a she passed by "Why don't you finish coloring while I go check the messages to see if he called."
Jackson nodded and finished coloring in his green puppy dog.
Monica pressed the button on the answering machine.
"Hey Mon, remember me?...anyway I just called to let you know I'm coming home. See you soon."
Monica smiled as she heard Ross' voice.
Picking up the phone she dialed his number.
As Monica waited for him to pick up she walked back into the kitchen where Jackson was sneaking another cookie.
"Hello?" He answered
Monica grinned "Hey Ross."
Jackson looked back at his mom "Can I have a glass of milk?" He asked
Monica nodded and went to get him a cup
"Hey Mon, I'm so glad you called. I left a few messages." Ross replied as he was about to board the plane
"Yeah, So you are really coming back, ha?" She smiled as she placed the phone between her neck and shoulder so she could pour some milk for Jackson "Did you tell mom and dad yet?"
"No, not yet. You are the first one." He walked over to the line and checked his ticket "I'm about to board the plane so I got to let you go soon."
"Alright." Monica smiled, happy that she will be seeing her brother soon again "Call me when you land."
"Will do." He began to get on the plane and put his suitcase up top.
"Have a safe flight." She handed Jackson his drink
"I will, I love ya and keep that kid of yours in order, I can't wait to see how much he has grown."
Monica smiled looking at Jackson dunk his cookie in his glass of milk along with half his hand "Love you too."
As she hung up Jackson started to ask questions once again "Was that Chandler?"
"No," Monica said sadly "That was your Uncle Ross." The smile returned to her face
Jackson was confused
"Remember..." She took her seat next to him once again "You colored him pictures and we sent them to him."
Jackson nodded slowly "Did he not like them?"
Monica shook her head feverishly "No! No honey, he loved them very much." She reassured him "He is going to come and see you."
"He isn't coming back to return them?"
Monica smiled at her four year old and how much he loved to color. He gave everyone a colored picture; Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Eli, his grandma and grandpa's, even her; which was almost every day. Each person that Jackson grew to know he would color them a picture so that they would never forget him. Including the ones far away.
Chandler ran in and out of the tires that lied at his feet. Sweating, he continued the course as he sprinted up the rope wall and jumped down the other side to erase some time on the clock. Looking over he saw the guy beside him start to slow down. This was it. If he won this race he was awarded and got to go home a day early. He wouldn't have to stay and rerun the course until he beat the arranged time. Home for Valentines Day.
Home.
The reminder of what was waiting for him back home caused Chandler to pick up speed at the very last point.
'27.8'
The time stopped as he crossed the line. Resting his hands upon his head he took a few deep breaths as he got his heart rate back.
"Nice job Bing." The lieutenant congratulated
"Thanks Sir." Chandler shook his hand
"You have a family back home." He told him "Go see them."
They weren't technically his family. But he loved them like a family. He wanted to call them his family. And soon he hoped he would.
Ross pulled up to his sisters house and got out; leaving his bag in the car.
When he looked through the window a smile suppressed on his face as he saw his sister chasing a little boy. They seemed happy. He knew they would do just fine.
Monica picked up a laughing Jackson in her arms. His legs hanging over her elbows and his body close to her. As she smiled she leaned down and kissed his forehead
"I love you."
"I love you most." Jackson argued
"Not possible."
Hearing a knock at the door Monica knew who it was.
"Is that him?" Jackson asked, sliding down from his mothers arms and running to the door.
Monica helped him pull open the door. A huge smile spread across her face at the sight of Ross in front of him.
He took a step forward and hugged her tightly "I've missed you." He pulled back to see his nephew down at his side "You must be Jack."
"People call me Jackson." He told him, his shyness returning to his nerves. "But you can call me whatever you want."
Monica wrapped her arm around Jackson "Sweetie, why don't you show Uncle Ross the picture you colored him today." She suggested moving to close the door behind Ross.
Jackson's worry about his uncle left and he quickly grabbed Ross's hand, leading him over to the table.
An hour later as Monica was cooking dinner she over heard the conversation they had in the living room.
"So you are my moms brother?"
Ross nodded "That's right." He smiled
"Do you like having a sister?" Jackson asked
Ross nodded "I love having a sister. She is like my best friend sometimes."
Monica smiled
"I wish I had a sister to be my best friend."
Ross's realization kicked in and he glanced over at Monica by the stove.
"Well, Jackson, having a sibling isn't always the best. We use to torture each other growing up and always get in trouble." He tried to make him feel better "There are a lot of only children. You aren't missing out on anything."
"But I am Uncle Ross." Jackson looked up at him "Because I am missing out."
Ross didn't know what to say, he wasn't sure if he made matters worse or better?
"Maybe Chandler will be my brother."
Chandler? Why did that name sound so familiar? Ross thought
"Ross are you staying for dinner?" Monica asked
"No, I was actually going to run by mom and dads, surprise them." He told her, looking at his watch "I should really be going if I want to catch them before Family Feud does..." He stood up "Thanks for the invite." He hugged his sister and looked back at Jackson "I'm going to hang this up in my new place." He grabbed the colored/faded paper that was torn out of the book.
Jackson smiled and hugged Ross "Are you going to come back?"
"Are you kidding? I'll be back tomorrow." Ross assured him
He smiled and hugged him one last time.
"I don't wanna go to bed yet." Jackson argued after his bath as Monica tried to get him in his pajamas.
"Sweetie you are going to be tired in the morning."
"No I won't..." He yawned
Monica smirked "Are you sure about that?"
Before he could argue some more the phone rang and he ran out of his room to answer it.
"Hi, its me." He answered with the phone facing a little more up than down.
Chandler smiled "Aren't you suppose to be in bed?"
Jackson gasped and looked back at his mom standing in the doorway "It's Chandler!" He turned back to the phone "Mommy said you would call and you did!"
"I could never forget to call." Chandler told him "Do you know what tomorrow is?" He asked
Jackson shook his head, not fully aware that Chandler couldn't hear that movement.
After hearing nothing but a pause Chandler continued "It's Valentines Day." He told him
Jackson wasn't all familiar with the holiday. Mainly because each year when this day came Monica would never go out. She always stayed home with Jackson and would spend the day with him. Him being the only man in her life and the only one she loved.
"And on Valentines Day people that love each other very much get together and spend the day together."
"But you won't be here..." Jackson said sadly
Monica folded her arms across her chest, allowing Jackson some time to talk to Chandler. He has been asking often about him and when he was coming back. Monica knew that he wouldn't be back for at least another two weeks and that killed her to see her son down about it. They both have grown to love Chandler as more than just a friend or boyfriend and knew that when he came back they would take it to the next level in their relationship.
"Jackson..." Monica said softly knowing that it was getting later and he should be in bed now.
Jackson ignored his moms voice and continued to listen to what Chandler told him.
She noticed this but all she could do was smile.
It was Friday and Monica dropped Jackson off at day care before going to work.
"Do you have your chocolates for Ms. Amy?" Monica asked, looking at him in the back seat of Chandler's car.
With Chandler gone, she started to drive his car instead of taking the bus. Not to mention something Chandler hated her doing and insisted that she use his car to get to and from places like work or the store.
Jackson nodded with a small smile on his face.
He has been smiling all day and Monica still wasn't quite sure why.
"I'm going to pick you up a little early today." She told him as she parked the car outside and undid her seat belt.
"Why?" Jackson wondered
Monica got out and opened the back door "Because I love you that's why." She smiled, helping him unbuckle
Without further questions, Jackson hopped out of the car and held his mothers hand as she walked him up to the doors.
She handed the lady his lunch to put next to his hook before bending down and helping him with his jacket "I'll be back at 2." She told him along with the receptionist.
And she was. If not, she was off by a couple minutes.
Monica headed home with a smile on her face as Jackson told her about his day "Then Eli and I colored our hearts purple and Ms. Amy made a hole through the top so now it's a necklace." He picked in up to show her it around his neck with the white string that held it together.
"That is really pretty sweetie."
Jackson nodded "We also made cards. And I made you and Chandler and Uncle Ross and Rachel one." He opened his plastic bag where the cards were at as he looked at them while his feet kept dangling from his booster seat he sat in. "I know your favorite color is pink so I colored it with lots of pink and I got some pink hearts too." He told her excitedly
Monica smiled as she pulled up to the house and lifted Jackson out of his seat with him holding onto everything he made that day.
"Do you know why they call it Valentines Day?" Jackson asked while he waited patiently for his mother to unlock the front door.
"No, why do they call it Valentines Day?" She questioned knowing far too well that Jackson loved telling her things she didn't know because it made him feel smarter.
Yes, at the age of Four.
"Because they didn't want to change the names on the cards. This way they can all say Be My Valentine." He laughed
Monica chuckled "Who told you that?" She asked opening up the door
"I did..."
Monica looked over as her smile dropped.
In her living room, stood Chandler surrounded by heart shaped balloons and dozens of roses.
Monica was speechless at the surprise.
Chandler grinned, stepping closer to his love. "I love you so much."
He held one long stem rose in his hand as the other snaked around Monica's waist.
"I couldn't be away on this holiday. I couldn't stay away another day. I want you to be my Valentine. Today, and a billion other today's to come." He smiled
Monica grinned as a tear escaped with excitement. "God I've missed you so much!" She leaned in and kissed her boyfriend sweetly. "I love you." She held the side of his face as she looked into his eyes with nothing but love.
Chandler matched her grin as he pressed his forehead against hers "And to Jackson.." He looked over "For keeping a secret-"
"Wait," Monica stopped him from saying another word "You knew about this?" She asked, shocked that her little boy kept a secret from her
He nodded with a cheeky grin on his face.
Chandler smiled and leaned down, putting his arm against his knees before standing back up.
Jackson wrapped his arm around Chandler's neck as he stood as tall as him now. "I got you some chocolates." He kissed his cheek "They are on your bed."
Jackson's eyes glowed as he tried to squirm down Chandler's body.
They smiled as they watched him run off.
Looking back at Chandler, Monica moved her hands over his chest and around his neck.
"I will always be your Valentine."
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!