"Ka-- Kathy?" Chandler was only dimly aware of the sound of Monica dropping a plate into the sink, and almost immediately she was beside him, staring at Kathy.
"Hi, Chandler," Kathy said nervously, fidgeting with the hem of her coat. She uneasily looked at them, as they both stared at her, open-mouthed and wide-eyed. "Do you, uh... mind if I come in?" she asked quietly. Unable to speak, Chandler simply shook his head and stepped back, holding the door open for her. As she made her way into the kitchen, Monica glared at her back, wondering why on earth she had shown up. Kathy glanced uneasily around the apartment, which was still decked out with birthday decorations. A broad smile took over her face as she spied Jack, still playing with the birthday ribbon, oblivious to her presence. "Jackson!" she said, bending down and looking at him. She gently brushed his hair away from his face and touched his cheek. "Oh, you've grown so much!" she remarked as he stared at her momentarily with no recollection of who she was and then returned his focus to the knot of ribbon. She slowly stood again, her eyes still on the baby.
"Kathy," Chandler eventually managed, having regained control of his ability to speak. "What are you doing here?"
She turned to face him, the anxious look returning to her face. "I-- I've come for Jackson," she said quietly.
"What?!" he practically yelled, incredulous. "What do you mean, you've come for Jackson?"
"I came back for my son," she replied, almost defensively as she stood before Chandler and Monica.
"Yeah, well, he's my son, too. I've been raising him for the past six months, I'm his father, and this is his home. You gave him up... hell, you ABANDONED him on my doorstep! If you think for one minute that I'm ever going to let him go, you're out of your mind."
"Please, Chandler," she interrupted, not wanting to argue with him. "I know that what I did six months ago probably just looks like irresponsibility or selfishness, but you have to understand... I was virtually broke. I barely had enough money to feed myself, let alone take care of a child. I knew that you would be able to take care of him, and that's the reason that I left him with you. Look, I know you probably think I'm an unfit mother or something, but I'm not. I did what I thought was best for my son, and now I'm ready to be his mother again."
"Oh, how convenient," Monica retorted, glaring at her. She had hated Kathy for breaking Chandler's heart the first time, and here she was trying to do it again. Kathy turned to face her, a challenging look on her face.
"Excuse me, but how exactly is this your business?" she asked icily.
"Chandler's happiness is my business," she replied, placing an arm around his waist. "And you're messing with that," she added. Choosing to ignore Monica's comments, she turned to face Chandler once again.
"Look, Chandler," she said in a soft voice. "I've missed out on six months of his life that I can never get back. I'm not going to miss out on any more."
"No," Chandler replied stubbornly. "Look, it's not like I've just been raising him and hoping that one day you'd come back and take him off my hands. Sure, at first, I was scared stiff at the idea of raising a child. But now... he is everything to me, and you're not taking him away. Maybe we can work out some agreement where you can see him once a week or whatever, but this is his home and I'm not letting him go." Kathy sighed and averted her eyes nervously.
"Well, it's not that simple," she said quietly.
"What do you mean, 'it's not that simple?'"
"I-- I'm not living in New York."
Chandler's eyes narrowed as he stared at her, a mixture of anger and wariness playing in his icy blue eyes. "What?" he said, barely above a whisper.
"Well, um--" Kathy nervously glanced at Monica, who was simply shooting her a look that could have burned a hole right through her, and almost immediately returned her gaze to Chandler's expectant face. "You remember Nick?"
"Vividly," Chandler answered dryly.
"Well, Nick and I-- we got married a few months ago. We live out in L.A. He landed a part in an independent movie that's filming out there... I only came to New York to get Jackson," she finished meekly, uneasy about what his reaction would be. Her anxiety increased when he said nothing, instead only glaring at her coldly.
"You've got some nerve," he eventually managed, and his tone of voice was unfamiliar to her. She'd never heard his voice sound the way it did at that moment: a combination of hatred and fury, although both were tempered by his even voice, which she was sure was merely the calm before the storm. She noted the way his blue eyes flashed, and she wondered how this was all going to end.
As he stood in front of her, feeling himself getting angrier, Chandler tried to think of something articulate and effective to say, but nothing sprang to his mind except the blind rage that he was sure his eyes and stance conveyed. He couldn't believe she had the audacity to suggest taking Jack away from him, especially after all this time. He almost visibly flinched as she spoke again.
"We can give him a good life now," she contended. "I can watch my son grow up, like a mother should be able to."
"The closest thing he's got to a mother," Chandler retorted wryly, "is Monica." He felt her arm, which was still around his waist, tighten slightly as she stood silently next to him. After shooting another irritated look at Mon, she sighed.
"I know I've surprised you by showing up unannounced," Kathy said amicably, "so I'm just going to go. Chandler," she said ruefully, "I've come for my son, and I'm not leaving New York without him."
"Over my dead body," Chandler snarled to her retreating figure. As she closed the door behind her, Chandler felt his emotions hit him suddenly, and his eyes began to sting.
"Chandler," Monica said softly, but he ignored her, knowing that if he discussed it, he would lose his cool. Instead, he walked over to Jackson and lifted him off the floor, hugging him tightly, oblivious to the chocolate icing that was being smeared across the front of his shirt.
"Don't worry, Jack," he whispered reassuringly. "I promised you I'd be here for you, and I will. I'll never let you go." Jack grinned and placed his sticky hand on Chandler's cheek, causing his father to smile, if only briefly, for the first time since Kathy had shown up.
Two days later, Chandler was bathing Jackson with Monica's help. Since Kathy's spontaneous arrival, he had heard from her once, on the phone, telling him that she would be willing to work out a situation where he could see Jackson on some holidays. Chandler had angrily turned her down, refusing to even consider the idea of only seeing his son at certain times of year. He told her once again that he wasn't about to let her take Jack away from him, or from his home.
"Want your duckie?" Monica asked, grinning at Jack as he reached for the rubber duck. As Chandler gently ran a washcloth over Jack's back, he heard a faint knock on the door. "I'll get it," he said, handing Mon the cloth and shaking the excess water off his hands, quickly drying them on a towel as he left the bathroom. He opened the apartment door to reveal a somewhat short, somewhat fat, and somewhat bald man on the other side dressed in a suit. "Can I help you?" he said warily. Last time someone had come to the door in a suit, Joey had somehow managed to end up with only one encyclopedia.
"You Chandler Bing?" the man asked.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Okay. Delivery for you. Sign here, please." Chandler did so, and accepted the manila envelope that the man handed him. "Have a nice day," the man said cheerfully, and walked away. Chandler closed the door and looked at the envelope in his hands, carefully tearing off the flap to see what it was. Monica emerged from the bathroom with Jackson wrapped in a towel and walked over to him.
"Who was it, sweetheart?" When he didn't answer, Monica glanced at the paper he was reading. "What's that?"
"Legal documents," Chandler said in a quiet, strangled voice. "Kathy's suing me for custody of Jack."
"She's doing WHAT?!" Chandler remained silent, knowing that she'd heard him, and continued reading the paper. Monica stepped closer to him, trying to see what it said. "Wha-- How-- When--" She tried to come up with a meaningful question, but her mind was awhirl and she found that she could do nothing more than stare at him intently and await his reaction. Moments later, he angrily threw the envelope and the papers across the room, wishing that it were that simple to get rid of the problem itself. He turned to face Monica and wordlessly took Jack from her arms, kissing him lightly on the head.
"Time for bed," he said in a dull voice, and went into the baby's room to dress him, with Monica following close behind.
"I can't lose him," he whispered into Monica's hair as they laid in bed together, his voice trembling. She gently ran her hands soothingly over his t-shirt and could feel his steady heartbeat.
"You won't lose him," she replied reassuringly. "You're his father, and he belongs here, with you." Chandler sighed, wishing he could believe her. The possibility that he might lose his son made him feel as though someone was wringing out his lungs, and he fought back the tears of worry that threatened to surface. Monica lifted her head to look into his eyes, detecting his fear and distress. "It's going to be okay," she promised him. "It will be." He nodded, hoping that she was right, both for Jackson's sake as well as for his own.
As Chandler sat in his apartment with Jack a week later, he fidgeted nervously with his tie. It seemed like the week had flown by, and suddenly it was the day of their first court date. As he gazed at his son, who was fidgeting with the collar of his shirt, he felt a pang of grief as he acknowledged that the possibility existed that Jackson might be taken away from him. He almost immediately pushed the thought aside, knowing that if he allowed himself to fully consider it, he would break down then and there. "You guys ready?" Chandler was torn away from his misery by Monica's voice. She was standing at the door, dressed and carrying her purse. "The guys are downstairs waiting," she said gently. Chandler stood and nodded. He was grateful that his friends were willing to go with him and support him, as well as that they had agreed to attest to his credibility as a stable father figure for Jackson. He grabbed the baby bag and followed Monica out of the flat.
"All rise, honorable Andrew J. Mitchell presiding," the bailiff announced, and everyone in the courtroom obediently stood. "Be seated," he directed once the judge had taken his seat on the bench.
"Okay," he said, donning his glasses and reading a paper on the table in front of him. "Case number 28974, Kathy Larson v. Chandler Bing for custody of a one Jackson Carter Bing, minor." He looked up and surveyed those present in the courtroom. "I take it that both plaintiff and defendant are present and are in the company of their respective legal representatives?"
"Yes, your honor," Kathy's lawyer replied. "Jake Lipscomb."
"Yes, sir," Chandler's mimicked. "Gregory Turner."
"Very well," Judge Mitchell answered. "Court is in session. Now, as I understand it, the child is currently living with Mr. Bing, is that correct?" Chandler felt his lawyer nudge him in the side, and he cleared his throat nervously.
"Um, yes, your honor. He lives with me." The judge nodded and looked once again at the papers in front of him.
"And how long has he been in your care, Mr. Bing?"
"About six months, sir." Judge Mitchell nodded again.
"Okay, from what I can gather, Mr. Bing was unaware that he had a son until six months after the child was born, at which time said child was left in his care by the mother, Mrs. Larson, who was at the time unable to continue caring for the child. Now, six months later, Mrs. Larson has returned to reclaim her son on the grounds that she can now provide him with a stable home, is that correct?"
"Yes, your honor," both Kathy and Chandler mumbled, noting that neither of them came off particularly well or particularly badly in the judge's synopsis.
"All right, then," the judge said, placing the papers back down on his table. "We'll pick up from there then, shall we? Mrs. Larson, please explain to the court why you believe yourself able to provide this child with a secure home now, when six months ago you were forced to leave him behind." Kathy took a deep breath, throwing a nervous glance at Chandler and then facing the judge.
"Well, your honor, six months ago I was more or less entirely broke. I had no job, no money, and was on the verge of losing my apartment. I didn't have the means to support a child, and I thought that it would be in Jackson's best interest to leave him with Chandler. Mr. Bing. His father."
"Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but Mr. Bing had no knowledge of the fact that he even had a son, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir," Kathy replied.
"And why exactly is that?" the judge asked.
"Well," she answered, "by the time I found out that I was pregnant, we had already broken up, and I didn't think he'd even want a child, so I just didn't tell him. But when I ran into all the problems, I left Jackson with his father, believing that it was in his best interest. Now, however, I'm married, I have a good home, a good job, and I know that I can provide my son with everything he needs." She looked intently at the judge as she finished her speech, awaiting his next question. He simply nodded and turned toward Chandler.
"Mr. Bing, what exactly do you think of all this?" Chandler was surprised by the casual nature of his question, and it took him a minute to think of a suitable answer.
"I'm upset, sir," he admitted. "I've been raising that child, my son, for six months. I love him. I can't imagine my life without him. And I'm angry that suddenly I run that risk. She," he said, referring to Kathy, "dumped him on my doorstep with a note and not much else. Not only can I not imagine my life without my son, I can't imagine what might happen to him if she gets him."
"Your honor," Kathy interrupted, "I wasn't abandoning my son on the doorstep of some stranger. I knew Chandler could take care of him better than I could at the time, and that's why I did what I did." The judge held up his hands and nodded quietly, taking it all in. He always hated custody cases where it was obvious that neither parent was in any way unsuitable; it was always so difficult to have to choose between two loving parents, knowing that both deserved to be able to care for their child. He sighed, knowing that was exactly the type of situation he faced.
"Chandler is a wonderful father," Monica declared as she faced the judge. "He is a loving, caring, doting father, and there is nothing that he wouldn't do for his son." She threw a reassuring smile at Chandler, and he almost felt hopeful as she did so.
"And your relationship with Mr. Bing is...?"
"I'm his girlfriend," she replied evenly. The judge nodded.
"He deserves that baby," Monica continued, unaffected by the interruption. "Not only does he deserve him, but it would be wrong to remove Jackson from his home. That boy adores his father, and he's happy and settled. He didn't even recognize Kathy when she showed up." She noted with satisfaction the way Kathy flinched slightly at that, and she hoped that the judge had as well.
"Thank you, Miss Geller," Judge Mitchell said, and she nodded and returned to her row of benches, once again taking Jackson into her lap.
"Court will recess until tomorrow at noon," he said decidedly, "at which point I will read my decision. Court adjourned." At the sound of the gavel hitting the desk, Chandler immediately rose and reached out toward Monica, taking Jackson into his arms. Ever since he'd received the court papers, he'd become almost attached to his son, feeling the need to hold him whenever he had the chance. Monica obligingly handed him over and Chandler smiled faintly as Jackson grinned up at him and placed his small hands on his father's cheeks. Monica smiled and linked her arm through Chandler's as they left the courtroom together.
"Coming!" Monica shifted her weight nervously as she stood outside the hotel room door. As the door opened, Kathy's eyes narrowed and her smile faded somewhat. "Monica," she said, the surprise evident in her voice. "What are you doing here?" Mon cleared her throat nervously.
"I was, uh, wondering if I could talk to you for a few minutes," she answered timidly. She was fully aware of the fact that Kathy wasn't particularly fond of her, especially now, and she wouldn't have been surprised if she'd simply slammed the door in her face. She was somewhat surprised, therefore, when Kathy held the door open for her and stepped back, silently inviting her in. Monica nodded her gratitude and entered the hotel room.
"I take it this has to do with Chandler?" Kathy said, not wanting to waste any time. Monica nodded.
"Look, Kathy, I understand why you're doing what you're doing. I mean, I understand that you want to raise your son, but so does Chandler."
"Monica, I don't want to hurt Chandler--"
"Then don't."
"--but it's not that simple."
"Why not?"
"Because... Jackson is my son, and I love him. I can't bear the thought of missing out on his life, so I am going to do everything in my power to get him back." Monica sighed, realizing that she was getting nowhere.
"Kathy," she tried again. "Jack is Chandler's life. He lives for that baby's happiness... if he loses him, it's going to break his heart. I'm begging you... please don't do that to him. You broke his heart once. Don't do it again." Kathy sighed.
"Monica--"
"Jack doesn't even know who you are," Monica continued. "What do you think is going to happen if you take him away from his home, now that he's old enough to have some idea of what's going on around him. Don't you think that's going to hurt him as well?" Kathy remained silent, not knowing what to say. Mon sighed. "Please," she said once more. "Please don't do this to Chandler. Or to Jack. Please." She let herself out and took a deep breath as she leaned against the hallway outside the room, praying that Kathy would do the right thing.
"Court is in session." Monica felt Chandler's hand tighten around hers, and she looked into his face. Although his gaze was directed toward the judge, she could see the anxiety and the pain in his clear blue eyes, and she hoped that it would soon be relieved. She had decided that, instead of sitting in one of the rows of benches, she would sit beside Chandler for at least some level of support. His eyes were fixed on the judge and, after a moment, Monica followed his gaze. The judge cleared his throat. "Before I read my verdict," he began, "I would like to take this opportunity to say a few things. Firstly, although this decision was a hard one, I felt comforted in knowing that, whatever my decision, this boy will no doubt be taken care of and loved in a stable environment. Too often it is the other way around, and a judge is forced to choose the more stable of two unstable households. This is obviously not the case here, and I am glad that the boy has two loving parents." He paused and took off his glasses, playing with the earpiece and addressing the court once again. "I have met with the child," he continued, "and it is obvious, Mr. Bing, that you have done a wonderful job raising him. I found him to be well-adjusted and happy... not an easy feat in this day and age, and I commend you."
"Thank you," Chandler mumbled, hoping that the judge's praise was a good omen.
"However--" When the word was uttered, Monica felt Chandler stiffen and grip her hand, his breath caught in his chest. "The courts are always hesitant to separate mother and child, especially in cases where the child in question is so young. In light of this, the court finds in favor of the plaintiff, Mrs. Larson. Mr. Bing will have visitation rights on odd holidays, to be determined at a later date. The child will be placed in the custody of Mrs. Larson within 24 hours. Court adjourned." Chandler made a strangled noise. Never had he felt such intense pain as he did at that moment. It felt as though someone had stabbed him through the heart, leaving him pained and helpless. He looked around desperately, and his eyes fell on Jackson, sitting in Rachel's lap playing with a stuffed animal. He pushed past Monica's concerned eyes, knowing that if he allowed himself to feel the pain that was building up in his heart, he would collapse. He went over to Rachel, took Jack from her arms, and held onto him tightly, burying his face into the baby's stomach as he held him in his arms. He hid his burning tears and sat down on the bench, rocking slightly and feeling his happiness vanish, with a promise that the leftover pain was there to stay.
TO BE CONTINUED SOON! PLEASE REVIEW! THANKS! :)
"Hi, Chandler," Kathy said nervously, fidgeting with the hem of her coat. She uneasily looked at them, as they both stared at her, open-mouthed and wide-eyed. "Do you, uh... mind if I come in?" she asked quietly. Unable to speak, Chandler simply shook his head and stepped back, holding the door open for her. As she made her way into the kitchen, Monica glared at her back, wondering why on earth she had shown up. Kathy glanced uneasily around the apartment, which was still decked out with birthday decorations. A broad smile took over her face as she spied Jack, still playing with the birthday ribbon, oblivious to her presence. "Jackson!" she said, bending down and looking at him. She gently brushed his hair away from his face and touched his cheek. "Oh, you've grown so much!" she remarked as he stared at her momentarily with no recollection of who she was and then returned his focus to the knot of ribbon. She slowly stood again, her eyes still on the baby.
"Kathy," Chandler eventually managed, having regained control of his ability to speak. "What are you doing here?"
She turned to face him, the anxious look returning to her face. "I-- I've come for Jackson," she said quietly.
"What?!" he practically yelled, incredulous. "What do you mean, you've come for Jackson?"
"I came back for my son," she replied, almost defensively as she stood before Chandler and Monica.
"Yeah, well, he's my son, too. I've been raising him for the past six months, I'm his father, and this is his home. You gave him up... hell, you ABANDONED him on my doorstep! If you think for one minute that I'm ever going to let him go, you're out of your mind."
"Please, Chandler," she interrupted, not wanting to argue with him. "I know that what I did six months ago probably just looks like irresponsibility or selfishness, but you have to understand... I was virtually broke. I barely had enough money to feed myself, let alone take care of a child. I knew that you would be able to take care of him, and that's the reason that I left him with you. Look, I know you probably think I'm an unfit mother or something, but I'm not. I did what I thought was best for my son, and now I'm ready to be his mother again."
"Oh, how convenient," Monica retorted, glaring at her. She had hated Kathy for breaking Chandler's heart the first time, and here she was trying to do it again. Kathy turned to face her, a challenging look on her face.
"Excuse me, but how exactly is this your business?" she asked icily.
"Chandler's happiness is my business," she replied, placing an arm around his waist. "And you're messing with that," she added. Choosing to ignore Monica's comments, she turned to face Chandler once again.
"Look, Chandler," she said in a soft voice. "I've missed out on six months of his life that I can never get back. I'm not going to miss out on any more."
"No," Chandler replied stubbornly. "Look, it's not like I've just been raising him and hoping that one day you'd come back and take him off my hands. Sure, at first, I was scared stiff at the idea of raising a child. But now... he is everything to me, and you're not taking him away. Maybe we can work out some agreement where you can see him once a week or whatever, but this is his home and I'm not letting him go." Kathy sighed and averted her eyes nervously.
"Well, it's not that simple," she said quietly.
"What do you mean, 'it's not that simple?'"
"I-- I'm not living in New York."
Chandler's eyes narrowed as he stared at her, a mixture of anger and wariness playing in his icy blue eyes. "What?" he said, barely above a whisper.
"Well, um--" Kathy nervously glanced at Monica, who was simply shooting her a look that could have burned a hole right through her, and almost immediately returned her gaze to Chandler's expectant face. "You remember Nick?"
"Vividly," Chandler answered dryly.
"Well, Nick and I-- we got married a few months ago. We live out in L.A. He landed a part in an independent movie that's filming out there... I only came to New York to get Jackson," she finished meekly, uneasy about what his reaction would be. Her anxiety increased when he said nothing, instead only glaring at her coldly.
"You've got some nerve," he eventually managed, and his tone of voice was unfamiliar to her. She'd never heard his voice sound the way it did at that moment: a combination of hatred and fury, although both were tempered by his even voice, which she was sure was merely the calm before the storm. She noted the way his blue eyes flashed, and she wondered how this was all going to end.
As he stood in front of her, feeling himself getting angrier, Chandler tried to think of something articulate and effective to say, but nothing sprang to his mind except the blind rage that he was sure his eyes and stance conveyed. He couldn't believe she had the audacity to suggest taking Jack away from him, especially after all this time. He almost visibly flinched as she spoke again.
"We can give him a good life now," she contended. "I can watch my son grow up, like a mother should be able to."
"The closest thing he's got to a mother," Chandler retorted wryly, "is Monica." He felt her arm, which was still around his waist, tighten slightly as she stood silently next to him. After shooting another irritated look at Mon, she sighed.
"I know I've surprised you by showing up unannounced," Kathy said amicably, "so I'm just going to go. Chandler," she said ruefully, "I've come for my son, and I'm not leaving New York without him."
"Over my dead body," Chandler snarled to her retreating figure. As she closed the door behind her, Chandler felt his emotions hit him suddenly, and his eyes began to sting.
"Chandler," Monica said softly, but he ignored her, knowing that if he discussed it, he would lose his cool. Instead, he walked over to Jackson and lifted him off the floor, hugging him tightly, oblivious to the chocolate icing that was being smeared across the front of his shirt.
"Don't worry, Jack," he whispered reassuringly. "I promised you I'd be here for you, and I will. I'll never let you go." Jack grinned and placed his sticky hand on Chandler's cheek, causing his father to smile, if only briefly, for the first time since Kathy had shown up.
Two days later, Chandler was bathing Jackson with Monica's help. Since Kathy's spontaneous arrival, he had heard from her once, on the phone, telling him that she would be willing to work out a situation where he could see Jackson on some holidays. Chandler had angrily turned her down, refusing to even consider the idea of only seeing his son at certain times of year. He told her once again that he wasn't about to let her take Jack away from him, or from his home.
"Want your duckie?" Monica asked, grinning at Jack as he reached for the rubber duck. As Chandler gently ran a washcloth over Jack's back, he heard a faint knock on the door. "I'll get it," he said, handing Mon the cloth and shaking the excess water off his hands, quickly drying them on a towel as he left the bathroom. He opened the apartment door to reveal a somewhat short, somewhat fat, and somewhat bald man on the other side dressed in a suit. "Can I help you?" he said warily. Last time someone had come to the door in a suit, Joey had somehow managed to end up with only one encyclopedia.
"You Chandler Bing?" the man asked.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Okay. Delivery for you. Sign here, please." Chandler did so, and accepted the manila envelope that the man handed him. "Have a nice day," the man said cheerfully, and walked away. Chandler closed the door and looked at the envelope in his hands, carefully tearing off the flap to see what it was. Monica emerged from the bathroom with Jackson wrapped in a towel and walked over to him.
"Who was it, sweetheart?" When he didn't answer, Monica glanced at the paper he was reading. "What's that?"
"Legal documents," Chandler said in a quiet, strangled voice. "Kathy's suing me for custody of Jack."
"She's doing WHAT?!" Chandler remained silent, knowing that she'd heard him, and continued reading the paper. Monica stepped closer to him, trying to see what it said. "Wha-- How-- When--" She tried to come up with a meaningful question, but her mind was awhirl and she found that she could do nothing more than stare at him intently and await his reaction. Moments later, he angrily threw the envelope and the papers across the room, wishing that it were that simple to get rid of the problem itself. He turned to face Monica and wordlessly took Jack from her arms, kissing him lightly on the head.
"Time for bed," he said in a dull voice, and went into the baby's room to dress him, with Monica following close behind.
"I can't lose him," he whispered into Monica's hair as they laid in bed together, his voice trembling. She gently ran her hands soothingly over his t-shirt and could feel his steady heartbeat.
"You won't lose him," she replied reassuringly. "You're his father, and he belongs here, with you." Chandler sighed, wishing he could believe her. The possibility that he might lose his son made him feel as though someone was wringing out his lungs, and he fought back the tears of worry that threatened to surface. Monica lifted her head to look into his eyes, detecting his fear and distress. "It's going to be okay," she promised him. "It will be." He nodded, hoping that she was right, both for Jackson's sake as well as for his own.
As Chandler sat in his apartment with Jack a week later, he fidgeted nervously with his tie. It seemed like the week had flown by, and suddenly it was the day of their first court date. As he gazed at his son, who was fidgeting with the collar of his shirt, he felt a pang of grief as he acknowledged that the possibility existed that Jackson might be taken away from him. He almost immediately pushed the thought aside, knowing that if he allowed himself to fully consider it, he would break down then and there. "You guys ready?" Chandler was torn away from his misery by Monica's voice. She was standing at the door, dressed and carrying her purse. "The guys are downstairs waiting," she said gently. Chandler stood and nodded. He was grateful that his friends were willing to go with him and support him, as well as that they had agreed to attest to his credibility as a stable father figure for Jackson. He grabbed the baby bag and followed Monica out of the flat.
"All rise, honorable Andrew J. Mitchell presiding," the bailiff announced, and everyone in the courtroom obediently stood. "Be seated," he directed once the judge had taken his seat on the bench.
"Okay," he said, donning his glasses and reading a paper on the table in front of him. "Case number 28974, Kathy Larson v. Chandler Bing for custody of a one Jackson Carter Bing, minor." He looked up and surveyed those present in the courtroom. "I take it that both plaintiff and defendant are present and are in the company of their respective legal representatives?"
"Yes, your honor," Kathy's lawyer replied. "Jake Lipscomb."
"Yes, sir," Chandler's mimicked. "Gregory Turner."
"Very well," Judge Mitchell answered. "Court is in session. Now, as I understand it, the child is currently living with Mr. Bing, is that correct?" Chandler felt his lawyer nudge him in the side, and he cleared his throat nervously.
"Um, yes, your honor. He lives with me." The judge nodded and looked once again at the papers in front of him.
"And how long has he been in your care, Mr. Bing?"
"About six months, sir." Judge Mitchell nodded again.
"Okay, from what I can gather, Mr. Bing was unaware that he had a son until six months after the child was born, at which time said child was left in his care by the mother, Mrs. Larson, who was at the time unable to continue caring for the child. Now, six months later, Mrs. Larson has returned to reclaim her son on the grounds that she can now provide him with a stable home, is that correct?"
"Yes, your honor," both Kathy and Chandler mumbled, noting that neither of them came off particularly well or particularly badly in the judge's synopsis.
"All right, then," the judge said, placing the papers back down on his table. "We'll pick up from there then, shall we? Mrs. Larson, please explain to the court why you believe yourself able to provide this child with a secure home now, when six months ago you were forced to leave him behind." Kathy took a deep breath, throwing a nervous glance at Chandler and then facing the judge.
"Well, your honor, six months ago I was more or less entirely broke. I had no job, no money, and was on the verge of losing my apartment. I didn't have the means to support a child, and I thought that it would be in Jackson's best interest to leave him with Chandler. Mr. Bing. His father."
"Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but Mr. Bing had no knowledge of the fact that he even had a son, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir," Kathy replied.
"And why exactly is that?" the judge asked.
"Well," she answered, "by the time I found out that I was pregnant, we had already broken up, and I didn't think he'd even want a child, so I just didn't tell him. But when I ran into all the problems, I left Jackson with his father, believing that it was in his best interest. Now, however, I'm married, I have a good home, a good job, and I know that I can provide my son with everything he needs." She looked intently at the judge as she finished her speech, awaiting his next question. He simply nodded and turned toward Chandler.
"Mr. Bing, what exactly do you think of all this?" Chandler was surprised by the casual nature of his question, and it took him a minute to think of a suitable answer.
"I'm upset, sir," he admitted. "I've been raising that child, my son, for six months. I love him. I can't imagine my life without him. And I'm angry that suddenly I run that risk. She," he said, referring to Kathy, "dumped him on my doorstep with a note and not much else. Not only can I not imagine my life without my son, I can't imagine what might happen to him if she gets him."
"Your honor," Kathy interrupted, "I wasn't abandoning my son on the doorstep of some stranger. I knew Chandler could take care of him better than I could at the time, and that's why I did what I did." The judge held up his hands and nodded quietly, taking it all in. He always hated custody cases where it was obvious that neither parent was in any way unsuitable; it was always so difficult to have to choose between two loving parents, knowing that both deserved to be able to care for their child. He sighed, knowing that was exactly the type of situation he faced.
"Chandler is a wonderful father," Monica declared as she faced the judge. "He is a loving, caring, doting father, and there is nothing that he wouldn't do for his son." She threw a reassuring smile at Chandler, and he almost felt hopeful as she did so.
"And your relationship with Mr. Bing is...?"
"I'm his girlfriend," she replied evenly. The judge nodded.
"He deserves that baby," Monica continued, unaffected by the interruption. "Not only does he deserve him, but it would be wrong to remove Jackson from his home. That boy adores his father, and he's happy and settled. He didn't even recognize Kathy when she showed up." She noted with satisfaction the way Kathy flinched slightly at that, and she hoped that the judge had as well.
"Thank you, Miss Geller," Judge Mitchell said, and she nodded and returned to her row of benches, once again taking Jackson into her lap.
"Court will recess until tomorrow at noon," he said decidedly, "at which point I will read my decision. Court adjourned." At the sound of the gavel hitting the desk, Chandler immediately rose and reached out toward Monica, taking Jackson into his arms. Ever since he'd received the court papers, he'd become almost attached to his son, feeling the need to hold him whenever he had the chance. Monica obligingly handed him over and Chandler smiled faintly as Jackson grinned up at him and placed his small hands on his father's cheeks. Monica smiled and linked her arm through Chandler's as they left the courtroom together.
"Coming!" Monica shifted her weight nervously as she stood outside the hotel room door. As the door opened, Kathy's eyes narrowed and her smile faded somewhat. "Monica," she said, the surprise evident in her voice. "What are you doing here?" Mon cleared her throat nervously.
"I was, uh, wondering if I could talk to you for a few minutes," she answered timidly. She was fully aware of the fact that Kathy wasn't particularly fond of her, especially now, and she wouldn't have been surprised if she'd simply slammed the door in her face. She was somewhat surprised, therefore, when Kathy held the door open for her and stepped back, silently inviting her in. Monica nodded her gratitude and entered the hotel room.
"I take it this has to do with Chandler?" Kathy said, not wanting to waste any time. Monica nodded.
"Look, Kathy, I understand why you're doing what you're doing. I mean, I understand that you want to raise your son, but so does Chandler."
"Monica, I don't want to hurt Chandler--"
"Then don't."
"--but it's not that simple."
"Why not?"
"Because... Jackson is my son, and I love him. I can't bear the thought of missing out on his life, so I am going to do everything in my power to get him back." Monica sighed, realizing that she was getting nowhere.
"Kathy," she tried again. "Jack is Chandler's life. He lives for that baby's happiness... if he loses him, it's going to break his heart. I'm begging you... please don't do that to him. You broke his heart once. Don't do it again." Kathy sighed.
"Monica--"
"Jack doesn't even know who you are," Monica continued. "What do you think is going to happen if you take him away from his home, now that he's old enough to have some idea of what's going on around him. Don't you think that's going to hurt him as well?" Kathy remained silent, not knowing what to say. Mon sighed. "Please," she said once more. "Please don't do this to Chandler. Or to Jack. Please." She let herself out and took a deep breath as she leaned against the hallway outside the room, praying that Kathy would do the right thing.
"Court is in session." Monica felt Chandler's hand tighten around hers, and she looked into his face. Although his gaze was directed toward the judge, she could see the anxiety and the pain in his clear blue eyes, and she hoped that it would soon be relieved. She had decided that, instead of sitting in one of the rows of benches, she would sit beside Chandler for at least some level of support. His eyes were fixed on the judge and, after a moment, Monica followed his gaze. The judge cleared his throat. "Before I read my verdict," he began, "I would like to take this opportunity to say a few things. Firstly, although this decision was a hard one, I felt comforted in knowing that, whatever my decision, this boy will no doubt be taken care of and loved in a stable environment. Too often it is the other way around, and a judge is forced to choose the more stable of two unstable households. This is obviously not the case here, and I am glad that the boy has two loving parents." He paused and took off his glasses, playing with the earpiece and addressing the court once again. "I have met with the child," he continued, "and it is obvious, Mr. Bing, that you have done a wonderful job raising him. I found him to be well-adjusted and happy... not an easy feat in this day and age, and I commend you."
"Thank you," Chandler mumbled, hoping that the judge's praise was a good omen.
"However--" When the word was uttered, Monica felt Chandler stiffen and grip her hand, his breath caught in his chest. "The courts are always hesitant to separate mother and child, especially in cases where the child in question is so young. In light of this, the court finds in favor of the plaintiff, Mrs. Larson. Mr. Bing will have visitation rights on odd holidays, to be determined at a later date. The child will be placed in the custody of Mrs. Larson within 24 hours. Court adjourned." Chandler made a strangled noise. Never had he felt such intense pain as he did at that moment. It felt as though someone had stabbed him through the heart, leaving him pained and helpless. He looked around desperately, and his eyes fell on Jackson, sitting in Rachel's lap playing with a stuffed animal. He pushed past Monica's concerned eyes, knowing that if he allowed himself to feel the pain that was building up in his heart, he would collapse. He went over to Rachel, took Jack from her arms, and held onto him tightly, burying his face into the baby's stomach as he held him in his arms. He hid his burning tears and sat down on the bench, rocking slightly and feeling his happiness vanish, with a promise that the leftover pain was there to stay.
TO BE CONTINUED SOON! PLEASE REVIEW! THANKS! :)