Chandler woke the next morning to the sound of his alarm. He had work this morning, before he swapped over with Monica and took care of Joey while she went off to work for the afternoon. He rolled over and was surprised to see an empty bed. When he went into the living room he saw Monica fast asleep on the BarcaLounger with Joey snoring in her lap, clutching Hugsy. He smiled and tried to be as quiet as possible as he crept around getting ready. When it was nearly time to leave he shook Monica gently.
"Babe," he whispered.
"What time is it?" She asked sleepily.
"It's 8 I'm gonna head off to work in a minute," he whispered.
She stretched and yawned loudly and Joey began to stir.
"Joey had a nightmare and he fell asleep when I was calming him down and I didn't want to wake him," Monica explained.
"Aww, well I've got to go, I'll be back around 1, love you," he said kissing her good bye before rushing out the door.
Joey woke up around ten minutes later.
"Do you want to go to Rachel's for some breakfast?" She asked him.
He nodded; Rachel always put extra syrup on his waffles.
As they opened the door Ross was just leaving.
"Off to work?" Monica asked.
"Yeah I'm just taking Ben to school on my way, Joey I'll bring him round after school and you guys can play," Ross told him.
Inside Rachel was just emerging from her bedroom.
"We thought we'd come and have some breakfast," Monica said, lifting Joey up to sit at a chair and placing Hugsy in the one next to him.
"You working today?" Rachel asked; she was between jobs at the moment.
"This afternoon," she replied.
"Joey, you want some waffles?" Rachel asked holding up the packet.
"Yes peeez" Joey exclaimed.
Monica and Rachel laid the table and started to cook the waffles as Joey was babbling to Hugsy. Then he began to sing a song he was clearly making up as he went along, all about waffles. Monica and Rachel exchanged a look; it was definitely Phoebe's influence.
"Mommy, where's daddy?" He asked all of a sudden.
"Oh sweetie he's at work, he left while you were sleeping," Monica told him.
Joey frowned.
"Hey what's that face for, we're going to have loads of fun," Monica said tickling under his chin and placing his plate of waffles down in front of him. When Monica nipped to the bathroom Rachel put Joey some extra syrup and chocolate sauce on, winking at him saying "don't tell mommy,".
After breakfast they all got ready and then Phoebe arrived.
"Hey Mon, you know how I'm dating that fireman, he said if we want to come by he can show Joey around the fire truck," Phoebe said.
"Wow that's would be great, wouldn't that be fun Joe," she said.
"Neeeeenoooorrrr!" Joey said as he began to spin round and imitate the sirens.
"Ooh and we might see some cute firefighters as well," Rachel said.
"Ooohhh" Joey whooped, making all the girls laugh.
"Oh before we go and do that can you guys help me pick out an outfit for my job interview this afternoon," Rachel asked.
"Yeah sure," Monica said.
"Joey honey, do you want me to get you some paper and crayons so you can do some drawing?" Rachel said, noticing the three year old wondering aimlessly around the room.
"Yes peeeez," Joey replied.
"Joey remember it's please, not peez," Monica reminded him.
"That's what I said, yes peez," Joey argued, sitting down at the coffee table as Rachel laid out some paper and crayons for him.
Monica just rolled her eyes and followed the other two into Rachel's room.
It took a while for them to select an outfit and many times they thought they'd cracked it but then had to restart when they couldn't find the right shoes to match. But finally they landed on a smart black shirt tucked into a smart tartan skirt with black tights and boots. When they walked back out into the living room, Joey came running over.
"I made you something," he said to Rachel, passing her his drawing.
"Oh wow, what is it?" She asked crouching down.
"It's a good luck card, look it says good luck Auntie Rachel, you will get the job love from Joey and Hugsy," he told her proudly.
Although the scribbles on the page didn't remotely resemble any of the words he just mentioned, the drawing was perfect in her eyes.
"Thank you Joey, that's so sweet, I'll put it in my purse when I go to the interview and it'll bring me luck," she said, giving him a cuddle.
"Do you guys fancy going to see the fire truck now?" Phoebe suggested.
"Oooh yeah, I'll go and get my stuff," Monica said.
"Same, are we driving?" Rachel called and she walked around the apartment getting her things ready.
"Yeah I brought my taxi," Phoebe said.
Since Joey had been born the taxi had been thoroughly childproofed by Monica, so now it actually felt safe to be a passenger in.
"Do I get to go neeeenoooorr?" Joey asked, erupting into a new siren sound.
"Yeah I think so, if you're really good Tom might even let you slide down the pole," Phoebe told him.
"Woah!" Joey gasped.
"Joey come get your jacket on," Monica called, coming back into the apartment with her handbag, packed with Joey essentials. He put Hugsy on the couch and told him he would be back soon, but he had to go and be a firefighter for a little while, Hugsy understood. As Monica finished layering him up to try and protect him from the New York cold, Rachel finally finished gathering everything she would need for a short outing. Eventually they headed out the door, Joey and Phoebe raced each other to the car but were both overtaken by Monica who decided she needed to win.
When they got to the taxi Rachel and Phoebe sat in the front and Monica strapped Joey into the child's seat and then sat beside him. As they drove anytime there was any sirens or blue lights flashing Joey would ask: "is that your boyfriend?" and get very excited. When they pulled into the station he was desperately trying to free himself from his seatbelt. As soon as his seatbelt was undone, Joey was out the door and charging off.
"Joey, come back!" Monica called after him.
"Fire truck!" He called looking over his shoulder as he ran towards the line of fire trucks.
"Joesph come here!" She said shouted.
Joey knew that tone meant business, so he trudged back to her, looking longingly at the fire trucks.
"If you run off again, we'll be going home," she warned.
Tom walked over to meet them.
"Hey Phoebs," he greeted with a kiss to her forehead.
"Hey Tom, this is Rachel and Monica and this is Joey," she introduced, pointing to each of them.
Joey was in awe and his eyes wide as he looked around at all the fire fighters and fire engines.
"Hey nice to meet you all," he said smiling.
"Are you a fireman?" Joey asked looking up at the tall figure.
"Yeah I am, do you want to come and see my truck?" He asked.
"Yeah yeah!" Joey said jumping up and down, unable to contain his excitement.
"Well right this way," Tom said, leading them inside.
They walked along past the long line of fire trucks and then came to a stop.
"This one is mine," he told them, as they walked down the side between two trucks.
"Woah!" Joey gasped.
Tom opened the door to the inside where all the equipment was kept. He lifted Joey in and he was immediately fascinated by the hose and kept pretending to splash everyone and then erupting into giggles.
"Hey Joey do you want to try this on," Tom asked, holding out a fireman's hat.
"Yeah!" Joey replied.
Tom placed the helmet on his head, it was far too big but that made it look even cuter.
"Aww Joey, look at me and say cheese," Rachel said, holding up her camera.
"Shheeeezzeee!" Joey smiled. Monica was too preoccupied with how happy her son was, she didn't even correct his pronunciation.
"Now would you like to come and sit in the front?" Tom asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes!" Joey said beaming with excitement. They all stepped down and walked further down to the front of the truck. Tom opened the door and lifted Joey up into the drivers seat. Rachel started snapping more photos and Joey pretended to drive, having the time of his life.
"Neeeeeenoooorrr!" He cried.
"Hey Joey look," Tom said, then pressing a button which caused the siren to blare and the lights to flash.
"Woahhhh!" Joey exclaimed in awe, with the widest smile across his face.
Tom switched off the siren, to not cause alarm amongst the other firefighters.
"Say Joey as you've been such a good firefighter, how about I take you for a quick spin around the parking lot," Tom said.
Joey was overjoyed. Tom climbed into the drivers seat and put Joey on his lap. Monica, Phoebe and Rachel squeezed into the other seats in the front. He turned the keys and soon they were moving.
"Neeeeeenoooooorrr," Joey said as they drove slowly round.
"Wow Joey you're driving a fire truck," Rachel said.
Tom and Joey's hands both steered the wheel and then Tom pulled back into the parking spot before helping them all down.
"Now there's one more thing to show you," Tom said.
They followed him inside the building and there was the fireman's pole.
"Joey do you want to have a go?" He asked.
"Ummm I don't know," Joey said, backing away a little looking nervous.
"Hey look I'll go first and then I'll be at the bottom to catch you," Tom said.
He wrapped his arms and legs around the pole then slid gracefully below the floorboards to the room down below.
"You ready Joey?" Monica asked.
"Umm I don't want to," Joey said timidly.
"Well let's watch Phoebe do it and then you go afterwards," she suggested.
Phoebe slid down gleefully and joined Tom.
"Can you go first Mommy?" Joey asked, still looking apprehensive.
"Of course, but you have to come after," she said.
Monica got in position and then descended to the floor below, planting her feet on the ground and looking up towards Joey.
"Come on buddy you got this," she encouraged.
"What if I fall," he called back.
"Joey I promise you won't fall, we are right underneath you and we will catch you," Tom replied.
Joey hesitated, then leaned over and wrapped his arms and legs round the pole and slid down. He had a big smile on his face when he reached the floor.
"Good boy!" Monica praised.
Rachel followed close behind.
"Hey Joey, Tom said as you've been such a good firefighter, you can keep the helmet," Phoebe told him.
"Wow, what do you say Joey?" Monica said.
"Thank you!" Joey said delighted.
"That's okay, it was lovely having you guys. I've got to go now, but see you tonight Phoebe, bye guys!" He said, jogging off to his station.
On the way home Joey would not stop babbling about firefighters. They all sat and ate lunch and then Rachel had to head off to her interview. She got a big good luck hug from Joey.
"Right Joey, Daddy is going to be home any minute, so you sit here with Phoebe while I go and get ready for work," Monica said.
As soon as Monica left the room Joey turned to Phoebe.
"Do you have your guitar?" He asked hopefully.
Chandler got home from work and went into his apartment, Monica was dashing about getting ready for work.
"Hey babe," he greeted.
She walked over to him smiling and then kissed.
"I've got to leave in 5 minutes, Joey is across the hall with Phoebe, I'll be over in a sec I just need to grab my bag," she told him as she hugged him.
Chandler dumped his bag on the chair and then headed across the hall. When he opened the door, Phoebe was so sitting on the couch with guitar in hand, Joey next to her as they both sung a nonsense song about waffles.
"And some people say music is dead," he said as he entered.
Joey and Phoebe finished up the chorus of their song and Joey ran over to chandler.
"Hey look who I found in my work bag," chandler said, holding up a toy.
"GI Joe!" Joey exclaimed grabbing him excitedly.
"Yeah he's not lost after all, so what have you been doing today. Other than writing America's new national anthem of course," Chandler said.
"Phoebe's boyfriend showed us his fire truck and look he gave me a hat and we got to go neeeeenooooorrrr!" Joey said, blaring back into a siren.
"Oh I take it back, that is America's new national anthem," Chandler said covering his ears, Joey giggled.
Monica hurried in.
"Right I'm off, you be a good boy," she told Joey hugging him goodbye.
Chandler walked her over to the door, she called bye to Phoebe and then kissed her husband farewell and rushed off to work.
"Let's sing the waffle song!" Joey suggested, running back over to sit next to Phoebe and her guitar.
"Yeah and your Daddy can help sing," Phoebe said, matching Joey's enthusiasm.
"I don't know about that, I'm more of the guy in the band who sits and watches from afar," Chandler said, but the look from Joey persuaded him otherwise and soon he had memorised the waffle song and even helped to write another verse.
Later in the afternoon Joey was napping and Phoebe had some clients to attend to, leaving Chandler to watch Baywatch alone on peace.
"Hey I've got Ben if you want to bring Joey over," Ross said, poking his head around the door.
"Yeah he's napping at the moment, when he wakes up I'll bring him over," Chandler replied.
He hoped he could get another episode of Baywatch in before Joey woke up, but 10 minutes in he heard a funny noise. At first he thought it was on the show but when he turned the volume down, he could still hear it. Chandler stood up and tried to follow the noise, as he got closer he realised it was definitely coming from Joey's room. He pushed open the door and found the 3 year old jumping up and down on the bed.
"Well I guess someone is awake. Joey, you have been told before, no jumping on your bed, you could hurt yourself," Chandler explained, lifting him down. When he put him on the floor, Joey continued to jump up and down. Chandler sighed, he could tell Joey had woken up in one of his hyperactive moods and they usually led to trouble.
"Okay Tigger, ease up on the jumping pal. Ben's over at Ross' do you wanna go and play?" Chandler proposed, but as soon as Joey heard Ben was over there, he'd took off out the door.
"Joey!" Chandler called, he sighed running after him. "How come you were good for Monica all morning," he muttered.
Across the hall, Joey ran around after Ben giggling. Even though Ben was nearly 9, he liked playing with Joey.
"Well he slept well," Ross muttered to Chandler as Joey continued to run laps on the table.
"He's possessed by energy," Chandler signed, sensing this afternoon was going to be tough.
Eventually Ben got tired and settles down to build a towers on the floor but Joey continued to bound around the room.
"Joey slow down buddy," Chandler called, but Joey ignored him.
Eventually Joey stopped running, Chandler breathed a sigh of relief as he headed over to join Ben. However, Joey actually just wandered over and knocked down the tower Ben had been building for the last 10 minutes.
"Hey!" Ben exclaimed, but Joey laughed and began running round again.
"Joey!" Chandler said seriously "come over here please,"
As Joey continued to ignore him Chandler decided to raise him voice slightly, something he hardly ever did.
"Joey I'm going to count to 3," Chandler warned but this time Joey took notice and wandered over.
"That wasn't very nice, I want you to say sorry to Ben," Chandler told him calmly, as Joey swayed around in front of him.
"Sowwwy," Joey said in a silly voice.
"Right you're going in timeout!" Chandler said firmly, taking his hand and leading him to the corner.
"Noooooo!" Joey protested, trying to drag his heels in.
Chandler lifted him under the arms and put him on the floor in the corner. The 3 year old sat pouting as Chandler helped Ben to rebuild his tower. The boredom of timeout started to get to Joey, he glanced over at his dad and then made a break for the door. Chandler was hot on his heels and marched him straight back to the corner.
The door opened and Rachel came in.
"Oh someone's in timeout," she said noticing Joey.
"How's the interview go?" Ross asked.
"I think it went okay, I'll find out tomorrow whether I actually got it," she replied.
"Daddy can I come out now?" Joey whined.
"Nope you need to stay in for a full five minutes without escaping, so far you managed 1 minute," Chandler told him.
Joey groaned loudly and kicked his feet against the floor.
"What did he do?" Rachel whispered to Ross, who explained the tower incident.
"Joey stop!" Chandler said trying to imitate the voice Monica used when Joey was playing up. The 3 year old groaned and fidgeted, trying to push all the boundaries of timeout. Joey continued despite his warning so Chandler marched over to him.
"No I'm sorry I'll be good," Joey blurted out.
Chandler crouched down to his son's level.
"Right look at me, you are going to sit in time out for 10 minutes, no fidgeting, you face the wall and you think about your behaviour. When Mommy gets home, I'm going to tell her how naughty you have been," Chandler said calmly but seriously.
Joey's eyes filled with tears, he was a pretty well behaved kid in he rarely and really hated it when he upset his parents.
"Right face the wall," Chandler instructed, getting up, leaving a sniffling Joey facing the wall.
Chandler tried to distract himself, but the whole 10 minutes he couldn't help but look at Joey. He felt an immense guilt as he looked at his 3 year old son, who was obviously crying, huddled in the corner, his face buried in his knees. Chandler was impressed Joey managed to sit still the full 10 minutes, but he couldn't go back on his word now. Joey had been pretty bad this afternoon; Monica needed to know. Rachel nudged him, breaking his thoughts.
"You're doing great," she whispered, squeezing his hand.
He smiled back and then headed over to the corner.
"Look at me buddy," he said calmly, crouching down.
Joey swivelled round his face covered in tears.
"I'm sorry!" He sobbed.
"Are you going to be a good boy now?" Chandler asked.
"Yeah" Joey spluttered in between sobs.
"Okay come on, let get you out of timeout," Chandler said, lifting him up and taking him over to the couch. He put Joey on his lap and rubbed his back as he calmed himself down.
It didn't take long and soon enough Ben, Joey and Rachel were building a make belief spaceship. Joey had apologised to Ben and the incident was forgotten.
Monica arrived home after about half an hour, a bag full of groceries in her hand that she immediately began to unpack the second she got in the door.
"How do people fancy lasagne?" She called.
There was a mumbled agreement. Whilst Ben and Joey were busy fighting aliens with Phoebe and Rachel, Chandler headed over to Monica.
"Hey honey, how was your day?" He asked, wrapping his arms round her waist and resting his head on her shoulder.
"It was fine, was you okay? How was Joey?" She smiled hugging him.
"Well let's just say he wasn't on his best behaviour; he woke up from his nap super hyper and knocked down Ben's tower and wouldn't do timeout properly. He calmed down a bit now," Chandler explained as they embraced.
"Joey!" Monica called, raising her eyebrows with her hands on her hips.
Joey looked up guiltily. Monica motioned for him with her finger. He trudged over slowly, starring at the floor.
"Were you naughty for Daddy?" She asked him.
He nodded, looking very ashamed.
"Did you say sorry?" She continued.
He shook his head.
"Sorry Daddy," Joey said solemnly, looking up at Chandler.
Chandler smiled and ruffled his hair, Joey face cheered up a bit.
Then Monica crouched down.
"We talked about this last week, when you get put in timeout you have to sit there. Now if you leave the corner before you're allowed again, I'll take Hugsy away for a week," Monica told him.
"Nooooo," Joey whined.
"Well then you be a good boy and do timeout properly and that won't happen, can you do that?" She asked him.
"Okay," Joey agreed, anything to keep Hugsy.
"Okay go play," she said kissing his cheek before he scurried off to help Ben fight the aliens.
"Boys there is more lasagne round your faces than in your bellies," Ross said to Joey and Ben who erupted into giggles.
Joey and Ben sat sword fighting with their forks as the adults cleared away.
"Boys do you want some Jell-o?" Rachel asked as she topped up all the adults drinks.
"Yeah!" The boys replied.
"What flavour for you want?" She said opening the refrigerator.
"Strawberry," Ben replied.
"Peanut butter," Joey replied.
"Joey for the last time there is no peanut butter flavour, jello" Rachel laughed.
"Just give him a cherry one," Monica told her.
After the boys finally stopped playing with their Jell-o and ate it, dinner was over.
"Hey Ben, let's do your homework," Ross said.
"Okay," Ben said, going to get his books.
"Can I play?" Joey asked Ben, toddling behind him.
"Homework not playing Joey, it's work," Ben replied as he sat at the table with Ross.
"I help?" Joey asked, trying to peer up to see the pages.
"Joey, homework is for big boys who go to school, sweetie you might not understand it," Monica explained.
"It's okay," Ross told her "Come here Joe, you can try to help," He said lifting Joey onto his lap.
Joey watched Ben as he read the worksheet and started to fill it in.
"What's he doing?" Joey whispered to Ross.
"Math, it's some division equations," Ross answered, Joey nodded even though he had no idea what any of that meant.
Chandler nudged Monica.
"Look," he whispered pointing at the table.
Joey sat starring in awe as Ben did his homework. Asking Ross every few minutes what Ben was doing and then nodding at the answer, even though it meant nothing to him.
Monica smiled at Chandler.
"Finished!" Ben announced, Joey gave him a round of applause.
"Right I think we need to get you boys ready for bed," Ross said.
"Can we just play for a bit longer," Ben pleaded.
"Okay 10 minutes but then it's bedtime," Ross bargained.
"Come on Joey," Ben said, leading Joey into his bedroom.
"I love how well our boys get along," Monica said sitting down next to Ross.
"I know, Joey's like Ben's little brother," Ross smiled.
"They certainly get along a lot better than we did, Ben is so great at taking care of Joey," Monica said.
"I know, it is so cute how Joey looks up to him," Ross replied.
"Oh and you're still okay to have Joey while I go shopping with the girls tomorrow?" Monica asked.
"Yeah no worries, he loved the museum," Ross said.
Suddenly there was a deafening crash from Ben's room, all heads shot round.
"Dad! Dad!" Came the panicked shout and then the eruption of cries.
Ross, Monica and Chandler ran towards the room closely followed by Phoebe and Rachel.
Joey was laying on the floor next to the bed crying and Ben was crouched down beside him. Chandler and Monica rushed to his side.
"He was jumping on the bed and then he fell, I think he hit his head on the cabinet," Ben said.
Joey was crying at the top of his lungs.
Chandler eased him up and he had blood pouring out his nose.
"I'll get some tissue," Phoebe said running off.
"Where else does it hurt baby, did you hit your head?" Monica asked as Chandler carried him out into the living room.
Joey nodded unable to speak through his sobs.
"It's okay buddy, you're okay," Chandler comforted, rubbing his back as he continued to cry.
He sat down on the sofa with Joey on his knee and Rachel retrieved the first aid kit.
Monica held the tissue on his nose to stem the bleeding.
"His nose isn't broken I don't think, but he has a massive bump on his head. Do you guys have any ice?" She asked.
"Umm yep!" Rachel said checking the freezer.
They made an ice pack and Chandler held it on the bump. Joey continued to cry hysterically and his breathing was becoming rapid the more he worked himself up.
"Come on buddy, slow your breathing down, in and out, nice and slow," Chandler comforted.
Monica managed to get Joey to breathe with her and calm himself down. He sat there sniffling and hiccoughing as Monica wiped his face.
"You nose has stopped bleeding," Monica announced. "I'll put a bandaid over the cut on the outside of it,"
"Oh Joey you're so brave," Rachel said.
"You're gonna have a nice bruise here," Chandler said, removing the ice from the bump on his forehead.
Once they knew Joey was okay Ross put Ben to bed and Phoebe helped to tell him a bedtime story. The others sat watching the television, Joey sprawled across them. His head in Monica's lap as she stroked his hair and Rachel holding his hand and Chandler hoping they could move him soon because he needed the toilet.
Eventually Joey began to snore quietly and when Monica looked down he was fast asleep sucking on his thumb.
She lifted him gently managing not to wake him up as she tiptoed back to their apartment as Chandler rushed to the toilet. Monica tucked Joey into his own bed and placed Hugsy under the covers next to him and almost instantly the fast asleep boy began to hug it. When she opened Joey's bedroom door Chandler was stood there holding a bottle of wine and two glasses, she smiled. Monica really had the best family in the world. Her and Chandler spent the rest of the evening cuddled on the sofa watching telly and Joey slept the whole night through.