Part 1: Richard
[Well, here it is. I had written part of it before, but didn't really know what it was gonna be about, but than I was in bed, and it came to me! I did it before FAMOUS, and I wanna put it up, but I'm still working on FAMOUS. There is a commentary that goes w/ this, too. I'll put that up later, as chapter 2. So, read and review. BTW, I have an outline for this whole series, so I know what I'm doing. LOL.]
And then the monster came out of her closet, Mommy! It was REAL! Six-year-old Hannah was saying to her mom.
Hannah, the monster can't be real. No monster can be real, Sweetie, Monica tried to explain to her.
This one was! Hannah told her
How do you know? Monica asked her
Because Lauren told me!
Maybe Lauren is wrong, Monica said.
Lauren's NEVER wrong, Hannah said seriously.
Don't be so sure, Monica told her She is, after all, only six.
But a smart six, Hannah said, and Monica shrugged. She gave up, knowing Hannah wasn't going to accept that the monster wasn't real. Richard came downstairs and kissed Monica on the cheek.
Hey, Mon, he greeted her.
she replied.
Let me start breakfast, he volunteered. Hannah rolled her eyes and moved away from them.
What's wrong with Hannah? Richard asked.
Who knows, something about monsters, Monica said with a laugh,
Oh. I see. Typical six year old problem, Richard said with a chuckle.
Yeah, I suppose, Monica said.
There really was a monster in Lauren's closet!!! Hannah insisted.
Hannah, monsters don't exist, Richard tried to tell her.
I don't care! Shut-up! Hannah screamed angrily.
Monica said Don't talk like that to-- But it was too late, Hannah had already fled the room.
Richard said. Always a pleasure.
Monica sighed, and went upstairs to find Hannah and make her go apologize to him. Instead, she ended up in Hannah, and her eleven-month-old daughter, Abby's room. Abby had been asleep, and was now awake and throwing things out of her crib.
Abby, what are you doing? Monica asked her playfully, going to the crib where she was standing and throwing the next stuffed animal out.
Abigail B-- Hannah had come into Abby's room, but had only gotten the ba' sound out of her last name before Monica cut her off.
Hannah, you go downstairs right now and apologize! she insisted.
NO WAY!!! Hannah said angrily, then she stormed off out of their room.
That sister of yours, Monica said to Abby. I don't know about her, Monica said as she picked up things and put them back into the crib. And you, missy, you make a fine mess, she added.
Abby laughed.
You think that's funny, do you? Well, we'll see how funny it is when your the mom and cleaning up a mess. Then maybe I'll laugh, she joked.
Rachel, Chandler, and Phoebe appeared in the doorway. Monica hadn't heard them come in. She wondered for a second how they acted around Richard downstairs.
It was obvious that they were never completely comfortable around him. Especially after what happened six years ago when he proposed to her, and Chandler had been planning on it, none of them were too fond of him. But things were fine now, and that was a long time ago.
Hey, Mon, Phoebe said. Just thought I'd stop by and say hi since Rachel was coming over to pick up Jamie's stuff.
Oh yeah, Monica said referring to the old baby stuff they were giving to Rachel for her newborn daughter, Jamie. Rachel was married to a guy named Robert. They had been married for three years now. It's in the kitchen.
Okay, thanks a lot, Mon, Rachel said heading toward the stairs.
Let me give you a hand, Phoebe said to Rachel.
Sure, thanks, Pheebs, Rachel said, and they left Abby's room and went downstairs.
Chandler said.
Yeah, I know. Interesting morning already, Monica said with a smile. I'm still looking for Hannah. She's in big trouble.
Nothing new. So, Richard's still here, huh?
Well he has been for a while now. No thanks to you, she said.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he replied. Monica picked up Abby and turned to Chandler
Would you go downstairs and find your daughter and make her apologize for yelling at Richard this morning? Monica said. Because she doesn't listen to me.
Well, the big tree probably deserved it, Chandler said.
Just do it! Monica said to Chandler.
Okay, okay, fine, Chandler said, heading out the door.
When he left, Monica turned to Abby Well, I don't know about you, but I say you and me are the only normal ones in this house. Daddy's lost it, too,
Big tree, Abby said, smiling. She repeated everything she heard.
You know, Daddy's right. Richard is a big tree, she said. But I didn't say that.
[Author's Note: GOTCHA! Well, I hope I did, anyway!! Okay, okay, I was bored, hehe.]
*
I'm sorry I yelled at you this morning, Hannah said to Richard. It was very rude, she said almost on auto pilot.
That's okay, Hannah. Don't worry about it. Richard told her
Good, big tree, Hannah laughed as she ran off. Monica hit Chandler on the back of his head
Wonder where she learned that! Monica said sarcastically to Chandler.
Well, hey, he's tall! he defended himself. Monica couldn't help but smile at the attempt Chandler was making to get out of the hole. Richard rolled his eyes and left the room, preferably to avoid some sappy moment between this woman he was still in love with and her husband.
So, how long till we kick him out? Monica asked Chandler
How about an hour?
Monica said.
I'm DEAD serious! The doctors said he needed full time care for a month and a half. It's been FOUR months! He's worn out his welcome. Goodness, Mon, he was cooking breakfast this morning! How injured could he still be?
You know, I think you offering to let him stay here was one of the sexiest things you've ever done.
Why, so you could ogle him? Chandler asked.
No! Of course not, she rolled her eyes, it just shows how much trust you have for me, and how great of a man you are.
Monica, I know it's not like you to even think about cheating. Let alone with that ancient tree, he said with a laugh.
He is kinda old, isn't he?
Monica, when you were sleeping with him, you were sleeping with some guy who was born a few months before your father.
Well, when I sleep with you, I'm sleeping with a guy who was born two months before my brother, she said.
That sounds a lot better, he said.
she said, smiling. Besides, you have an edge, she added.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah, two daughters, she said. So I have to keep you around.
Hannah and Abby seem to do a lot more than just be our kids, he laughed.
So we want him out, right? she asked.
Yeah. But how do we do it?
I'll do it, Hannah said jokingly from the doorway.
Sweetie, that's really okay. Chandler said, and I only say that because he won't take you seriously.
*
Richard was up in Hannah and Abby's room. He knew it was a burden on them to share the room. Abby had moved into Hannah's room so he could have a place to sleep. The truth was, this three bedroom house was too small for Monica. She had two kids now and he was sure she wanted more. But maybe she was planning on kids sharing rooms. He was never sure with her. But he knew he was still in love with her. He wished he wasn't, because he was sure she'd never feel the same way. As long as she had Chandler, anyway. When he had learned after the accident that Monica was going to be letting him live with them, he wished he had died. It may sound dumb, but he knew it would be hard to live with Monica, the love of his life, and her husband and two kids. Hannah hated him. He wasn't too sure why, but she did. Maybe she caught on to how he felt towards her mom, and didn't want anything to happen to her mom and dad. But could a six year old pick up, and understand all that?
Abby, she liked him. Sure, she was just barely one, but she always smiled and laughed when he played with her. That made Hannah mad. She felt like she was the only one hating him, when in fact they all should.
Hannah knew about her mom and Richard. How they dated but broke up while still in love because he didn't want kids. And how he tried to propose to her when she and dad were living together and her dad was planning on it. And she knew he still did love her. That's the thing about being small, and quiet when you can be. People forget you're in the room. That's how come she knew the whole Richard saga. And why she could see how Richard looked after her mom left the room or did something he found cute. And how sad and upset he looked when her mom and dad were kissing or goofing around, something that they always did, and everyone knew they never goof like that with the others. She didn't want Richard breaking her mom and dad up. And she also knew that if he did, he would be her step father one day. And she may as well die.
*
Richard, can we talk? Monica asked him the next night.
he agreed. What's up?
Richard, it's been four months since the accident, Monica began The doctors said you only needed to be taken care of for a month and a half. That time's passed...
he said, knowing what was coming.
Yeah. So don't take this the wrong way, but the girls are really cramped in Hannah's room, and-
Okay, Mon, say no more! I can be gone! Michelle and her husband, Gregg moved back to New York. I don't have an apartment, so I can stay with them until I find one.
Really? You're okay with this?
Look, Monica, you and Chandler, and even Hannah and Abby have done so much for me, that I can't be a burden. I'll be out of here by Friday, if that's soon enough.
Oh, that's fine. Take your time. Thanks, Monica said, going into the kitchen.
Did you do it? Chandler asked. Monica nodded. How did it go? he asked.
Better than I thought. He took it well. He'll be out by Friday.
Great! You know, once he's gone, we can have sex again, Chandler said. Monica looked at him, confused.
I don't know where you were, but we've been having sex even when he was here, she said.
Yeah, but with him in the next room, I mean, that was quality lacking sex. Monica smiled and hit him as she walked passed him
Not from my point of view.
Richard moved out and in with Michelle, Gregg, and their two kids. First he needed a job. Once he got a job, he could have money to get an apartment. But that would take a while.
*
Happy birthday to you-
Cha cha cha, added Hannah
Happy Birthday to you-
Cha cha cha!
Happy birthday, dear Abby, happy birthday to you,
Cha cha cha, Hannah and Richard said together. [Hey, this little girl did that once. I'm not totally nuts]
Hannah didn't know if she should ignore him, or laugh. In a way, she didn't hate him anymore, because he had moved out, and she had her room all to herself again, and everything. But she didn't want to let him know she didn't hate him anymore yet. So she ignored him.
It was Abby's first birthday. The party wasn't too big, because she didn't know too many people. Just Monica, Chandler, Hannah, Hannah's best friend Kelly, Rachel, Robert and Jamie, Ross, Joey, Phoebe, Richard, and Michelle and Gregg came, too, with their two sons. [WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES?!?! Have they ever told us? I know one is Henry. And he is two years old when Monica and Richard were dating in season two..... so now he's let's say 7. And his brother is gonna be 5, b/c Michelle was pregnant then. Let's name him Troy.]
Daddy, can I have candy now???? Henry whined to Gregg.
Henry, not now. Later.
Wow, he really loves his candy, doesn't he? Richard commented to Gregg.
Yeah, I guess so, Gregg said. He and Richard were typical in-laws, Richard got along fine with Gregg, but Gregg was annoyed to death with Richard.
Monica looked tired. Okay, okay, who wants cake? she asked.
Hannah, Kelly, Henry, and Troy said together.
How did I know that? she joked to Hannah
Mommy, when was the last time I didn't eat cake?
Yeah. Probably on January 12, 2001.
I was born on the 13th.
I know. That was the only time you didn't eat cake. Hannah got a goofy smile on her face and laughed. She was easy to make laugh.
Abby's adorable, Gregg told Chandler. I'd like to have a daughter, since I have two sons, but Michelle says if I wanna have another kid, it isn't gonna be hers. [LOL, my brother's best friends dad told that to his mom.] So I guess that's out.
Well, I'd say that since I have two daughters I'd like to have a son, but, with this woman I'm married to I'll probably get one. I mean, FOREVER, she's wanted loads of kids. For her, that was quite a gap in between Hannah and Abby. She's already on me about the next one.
I wish Michelle was like that. I was an only child, so you know, I want a lot of kids.
So was I. That's why I really don't mind so much.
Well, Abby, and Hannah, for that matter, are adorable.
Thanks. I try, Chandler joked. Y' know, Hannah hates Richard.
So do I, Gregg laughed. I really wished you hadn't sent him over to us.
It sounded more of a threat than a comment.
[Okay, the end of part one. Famous got crazy. I have one part left to finish. I'll deal w/ the epilogue in a week or so. Anyway, like I told you before, I had this done already. I don't own Happy Birthday To You. Some smart person does. The song is so simple, yet look how often it's used? And, ironically, today is my dad's b-day. Thanks to CHA CHA CHA girl, and my brothers best friends dad for those couple of lines, LOL. Review!]
