The Greatest Gift, Part One

*~Revised 3-09-03~*


Three in the morning was not the time for this. Monica stood in the doorway of her six-year-old son's room. He insisted that he needed to get a drink of water. It had been one thing after another since midnight. Water had been his excuse at least three times.

Michael, you've been downstairs for THREE drinks of water already! she said when he returned to his room after the last trip.

But, Mom, I'm thirsty! You want me to drink from the toilet? he asked.
Monica sighed. If only he didn't have my stubbornness and Chandler's sarcasm put together, she thought. It made him impossible and he was only six.

Fine, but no more drinks of water after this, okay? she gave in.

he said and ran downstairs. By the time he returned and settled down, Monica was half asleep. She went back to the bedroom and flopped down on her half of the bed. Chandler was awake on his side. Whenever one of them got up, it woke the other up.

He asleep now? Chandler asked

I hope so, Monica said with a sigh

Me, too, he said, turning over to his stomach. They were both asleep in five minutes.

Mornings were always hectic in their house. Michael, of course, was tired. Monica told him he should've thought about that before he had to get four drinks of water the night before.

Chandler was trying to get their four-year-old daughter, Megan, to eat her breakfast. She wouldn't. And two-year-old Andrew was running around the house screaming. It was always a relief when the mornings were over and Michael was at school, Megan at preschool, and Andrew at daycare. It was 24 hours before they had to do it again.

Monica and Chandler both had Fridays off from work. They had done that when Michael was a baby so they could spend more time with their kids. Now Michael had to go to school, so they sent Megan and Andrew on their way, too, to be fair. Or, as Rachel thought to have a day alone with each other.'

Around noon on Friday, Rachel came over carrying her and Ross' seven-month-old daughter, Katie. Katie was, as of now, the younger of two. Her older sister, Kylie, had just turned four. Kylie and Megan were very close. They went to the same preschool, and were probably playing together at this moment.

Ross and Rachel had gotten back together at Chandler and Monica's wedding. They got married a year and a half later, in New Zealand. No one was sure why they went there, but it had been a nice wedding, and New Zealand was a nice place.

And who knew what was happening with Phoebe and Joey. They had gotten drunk and slept together a while back. They had almost gotten together until David, Phoebes scientist guy, came back and took her off to Minsk. Now Phoebe and David were married and had a one-year-old son, Nathan. The others had only seen him once, when he was a baby. Joey had gotten over Phoebe. Luckily he didn't have much time to get her.

Hey, Mon, Rachel greeted her.

Hey, Rach, Monica replied, looking up.

Where's Chandler?

Monica said.

Rachel said. Chandler and Monica actually locked their front door now. However, Ross and Rachel lived right across the street, and had their own key.

How's Kylie? Monica asked, as she smiled at Katie, who was falling asleep in Rachel's arms.

Good. She and Megan were singing in the car this morning, Rachel said with a smile. Rachel, Ross, Monica, and Chandler had a carpool going on. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other Friday, Ross or Rachel took all the kids to school and day care. And on Tuesday, Thursday, and every other Friday, Monica or Chandler did it. I heard from Phoebe today.... Rachel went on.

Oh yeah? How is she? Monica asked.

Good. She's good. David's good. Nathan's good.

That's good. You know, I still can't get over how she really hurry Joey, Monica said with a sigh.

I know. He's wanted a close relationship, like you and Chandler have, since he knew about you two. He was so close to that, Rachel said with sigh, bouncing Katie up and down as she stirred.

I know. Too bad she went for David.

Yeah. It would've been cool. You know, six friends turn into three couples.

Yeah, it would, Monica agreed. But I guess things don't go like that.

I guess not, Rachel said. Well, Katie and I have to go grocery shopping, need anything?

No, I think we're okay, thanks. Bye, Kate! Bye Rach, she said, waving to Katie.

Bye, Mon. See ya, Rachel said, and left. Twenty minutes after they left, Chandler came back from the bank.

he greeted Monica.

Hey! You're home!

Looks that way.

You know, we still have two hours before the kids get home, she said with a smile.

Again? I mean we've had sex, like, a million times. It's getting kinda old now, Chandler joked

Oh, haha. Don't blow it, she said, kissing him.

That night, Andrew came home with a headache. Being at daycare, he caught colds a lot. Monica hated it when one of them was sick. She felt so bad for them. But an hour later, Andrew was running through the house with Megan, so Monica didn't think twice about it.

At midnight, Michael started pulling his I have so much to do tonight' thing again. Chandler was sent to deal with it this time. Michael, this is the second night you have done this! What's going on?

Nothing, Dad. I just have to go to the bathroom. You want me to go in the bed?

If that means you stay there! Chandler replied. The only one who could beat Michael with Chandler's sarcasm was Chandler himself. And he had, over the years, figured out how to out do Monica's stubbornness, as well. He pretty much had Michael figured out.

Okay, fine, Michael conceded and lay down in bed again.

What's with him? Monica asked when Chandler returned to bed.

Beats me. It's a phase, I guess.

He's never done this before, she said. I guess your right. It's weird, though.

The next morning, everyone but Megan was tired. Andrew's tiredness was nothing compared to Michael's, who hadn't gone to bed until after four last night.

After a few nights of Michael pulling that stuff, he had to stop because he was too tired. And that was the end of it.

Joey seemed a little sad lately. It was the time of year when Phoebe had left. It had been three years. Joey didn't feel sad all the time, only when he saw something that reminded him of Phoebe, or it was the time of year she left. Joey didn't put everything into it. He had changed, though. Phoebe had no idea how she changed him. He had dated only two other women in this time. He didn't like being the only unmarried, childless member of the gang anymore. He figured, with his luck, he always would be. When they were all single, he always wondered who would be last. And it was him.


Megan was mad at Chandler. She didn't want to go to school and he told her she had to. And this made her mad. Chandler wasn't sure why he put up with all this nonsense. He figured it was only because he loved his kids.

Andrew had been born a month and a half premature. He was healthy, though, and the doctor said he shouldn't have any health problems due to that.

Michael, however, was two weeks late. The doctor was going to induce labor, but Michael came the day before.

And Megan came pretty much on time, give or take a few days. All the kids were so different. They didn't feel the need to have another, or not to. They'd just wait and see what happened.

Monica was driving the ever growing car pool today. Andrew, Megan and Kylie were in the back, making as much noise as kids under the age of five could, and Michael was up front, contributing his six-year-old noise. Monica dropped Michael off, then Megan and Kylie. As she drove to Andrew's daycare, she noticed Andrew looked tired. He was very quiet, too. But she shrugged it off and dropped him off and headed to work.

That night, again, Andrew had a lot of headaches. Monica figured he was coming down with a cold. But five minutes later, he would be fine. It was weird. He was never not feeling well for too long.

The next morning, Andrew felt even worse. Chandler said he would stay home with him. Andrew was quiet all morning and slept until noon. Chandler was sure he wasn't feeling well, he never slept past ten.

Well, look who's up, Chandler said when Andrew finally woke up that afternoon.

Hi, Daddy, Andrew gave a weak smile.

Still feel bad? he asked.

he said with a sigh.



he replied.

Want some medicine?

EEEEW! NOOO!

Well, too bad, you're gonna have it anyway, Chandler told him



Chandler went downstairs and got some Children's Tylenol. When he returned, Andrew insisted he didn't want it.

You have to take it. You' ll feel better, he promised.



It tastes good!

Tastes bad!

No, tastes good!



Okay, fine. Then how about a soda? Chandler said, moving on to the next technique.

Andrew agreed happily. Chandler went downstairs and poured Andrew a glass of coke, then poured the medicine in it. A trick that worked for both, Michael and Megan, and hopefully, now, Andrew, too.

Whatever works, he shrugged

Ross brought Michael and Megan home around three. Andrew was still asleep and had been since one.

He feeling any better? Ross asked

Nope. He's asleep. He has been all day. He was only up for an hour, so far, Chandler said.

Well, that has to be good for him, Ross said.

Chandler agreed. Except now he'll probably be up all night.

*~*~*
Andrew was out of school all week. Either Monica or Chandler stayed home with him, except for one day when Joey baby sat. He didn't show any signs of feeling better. Monica was worried about him. On Saturday afternoon, he woke up with stomach pains.

Maybe we should take him to a doctor, Monica told Chandler.

It hasn't been a week yet, Mon. It's probably just the flu.

What if its appendicitis?

Mon, is just the flu, or a cold, or something, he said. I'm sure.

Yeah, okay, yours probably right, she said. But still, he's not feeling any better,

Megan called from the other room.

What is it, Megs? Monica asked, poking her head in to see.

I don't feeeelll good! she whined, lying on the couch.

You, too? Monica asked.

she whimpered.

Okay, go get into bed and I'll give you some medicine, Monica said, heading for the kitchen.

ICK! But fine, she said, and headed towards the stairs. Not the grape flavor, though, please! she yelled.

Megan and Andrew were both out of school until Thursday. Then Megan went back, feeling fine. But Andrew was still as sick as he had been. Chandler and Monica were both really worried about him by now. Especially since Megan had gotten sick and gotten better already. They took him to the doctor the day that Megan went back to preschool.

The doctor examined him carefully. Well, he looks perfectly healthy, but he has something going on to have stomach pains, headaches and being so drowsy. I think we should take a blood test, the doctor said.

Monica agreed reluctantly, knowing Andrew hated needles.

Hey, Andrew, here's a lollypop! the doctor said, to take his mind of what she was about to do. Andrew took it and said nothing. Usually he would have screamed yay, or smiled, or something, but he wasn't himself anymore. The doctor managed to get blood without too much of a fuss. Andrew was too tired to put up a big fight I'll call you with the results in three days, the doctor told Monica before she left with Andrew.

Thank you very much, Monica said, picking up Andrew and leaving the office. Monica worried about him. If he needed a blood test, it couldn't be good.

Hey, Mon? Chandler asked Monica the next night



What's wrong?

I m thinking about Andrew. I mean, if he needs a blood test, something must be wrong!

I know, I thought that, too. But he has to be okay, Chandler said. It's probably nothing, he added.

I hope so, she said.

Me, too. I mean, he's only two,

I know, Monica said. Believe me, I know.

Monica was in the middle of resolving a fight between Michael and Megan over a ball, when the phone rang. Monica froze. Andrew had been doing a little better, but not much. She had a weird feeling about this, and she knew it was the call. Megan grabbed the phone.

she listened, then threw the phone to Monica.

It's for you, Mommy, Megan said, throwing the phone to Monica.

Monica said into the phone.

Monica Bing?

Yes, that's me, she said.

This is Dr. Trent. I have the results of your son Andrew's blood test, and it doesn't look so good....