The Greatest Gift, Part 4
I wanna go home! Andrew whined. Everyone had thought he was finally used to and comfortable with his hospital room now, but he had kept complaining about going home.
C'mon, Andrew, your doing so well! Monica told him. You'll be feeling better in NO time, but you just have to stay here.
Uh-uh, no! Andrew told her, before he began crying.
Please, Andrew? Just keep going? Andrew sighed and rolled over. He was beginning to get weak, and it wasn't helping him to be crying, whining, and unhappy.
It had been a month since Andrew began the chemo, and two weeks since Monica had found out she was pregnant. And it had also been two weeks that Chandler had no idea. Monica had managed to hide it. He just assumed her sickness was due to Andrew, as she had thought it was, too, before she found out she was pregnant. So far, she had stayed overnight every night but two with Andrew. She hadn't eaten for a week. The hospital food was gross. And when she was at home she didn't take time to eat, but to play with Megan and Michael, so they wouldn't think she was deserting them for Andrew. She had been spending a lot of time with Michael, after what Rachel had told her. And other than that, she just didn't feel like eating.
Phoebe had kept her word. Two days after she had talked to Monica on the phone, she showed up at their door with two suitcases.
Hey, Monica! she had greeted Monica when she opened the door.
Oh my god! Phoebe, hi!
Chandler came up the stairs, carrying Megan, behind her. Well, well, look who it is!
Chandler! HI! And Morgan, right?
Chandler corrected her, astonished that she didn't even remember Megan's name. Had she drifted that far from them?
Oh! Duh! Right! I am soo dumb!
And, how's, you know, Nelson? Monica asked her, giving a sarcastic smile that Chandler, and only Chandler could tell it was a sarcastic smile.
Okay, yeah, I deserved that one Phoebe conceded to Monica. Behind Phoebe, Chandler gave Monica a thumbs up sign.
The truth was, the others were all skeptical of Phoebe after she left so suddenly, without even a goodbye to Chandler or Rachel.
I'm staying at a hotel, a few blocks from here, and I just had to stop by and say hi.
There is no hotel a few blocks from here, Monica told her.
Phoebe said under her breath.
Okay, then, since you're homeless, I guess you can stay here, Monica told her, knowing fully well that was what she wanted.
Really? Well, wow, thanks!
There's an empty room upstairs, Chandler told her.
Wow, thanks Monica, thanks Chandler.
they both told her.
And that's how they acquired a new house guest. Phoebe wasn't in the way or anything. Until Joey came by.
Phoebe gave him a smile when she saw him in the living room. Hey, Joey, hi! she said, hugging him, just like she had done with the other five. She had no idea what she'd done to him. He wasn't about to tell her. And she had called Kylie Kelly. She either paid no mind to the rest of the gang once she went off to Minsk. Either that, or she had a name problem.
Monica almost told Chandler about the baby twice. But then Andrew got weaker and weaker and kept asking her to stay with him at night, and she couldn't tell him no, so she couldn't tell Chandler, either.
Andrew was losing patience with the hospital. He wasn't feeling better, and he missed home. And he wanted to go home now.
Dr. Levin came in when both Chandler and Monica were both in there to talk to them about Andew's options.
At the rate this is going, Andrew could have three kidney transplants before the cancer is cured.
It's not working? Chandler asked.
Oh, it is. But way, way too slowly. We are going to keep him on the chemo for now, and see if things speed up. If not, he's going on to the transplant list.
What are his chances? Monica asked
Andrew is only two. We are not gonna lose him. You can count on that.
Chandler said.
Hey, it's my job Dr. Levin told him, then left the room.
Chandler smiled at Monica How you holding up? he asked her
Okay, I guess. You?
The same.
He HAS to be okay, right?
He will, Monica, I can feel it.
Mon, I miss you so much. Please, please come home tonight. One night, Andrew will be fine. Michael, Megan and I need you, too, you know.
Monica smiled. Okay, I'll be there.
Thank God, he said Believe me, you won't be sorry.
Oh, really? Well, we'll see.
When Monica got home that night, Michael and Megan were overjoyed to see her.
Megan screamed.
Wow, you really have missed me! Monica told Megan, giving her a kiss on the head.
I told you, Mon, Chandler said.
I know, I know... you know, I'm a terrible mother, she realized.
How can you even say that? Look at everything you're doing for Andrew! Chandler told her.
Yeah, but while I'm doing that, I'm being terrible to my other three... Monica froze. She had given it away. Hopefully, she could fix it. Family members, she covered.
We're fine, Monica. We just miss you.
How have I even been fair to you? I am always the one with Andrew, never you. I'm hogging him. And I never let YOU be upset, because I'm too busy being upset!
Monica, it's fine. We're all okay. And Andrew will be home soon, and we'll have our three kids with us. It's all gonna work out.
FOUR kids, Monica thought. If only you knew.
Monica and Chandler spent the next two nights home with Michael and Megan. They played games with them, read to them before bed, and watched them laugh. And they were all happy.
Phoebe was barely noticed. Ever since she'd flubbed with the name, she'd felt dumb. Then, when she did it to Kylie's name, she knew they all must be talking about how wrapped up in her own life she was.
She went to the stairs, and looked down. Monica and Chandler were having fun with Michael and Megan. They seemed to have forgotten about Andrew for the moment. She liked seeing them happy. If only Andrew was here, they'd be the perfect family, Phoebe noted as Megan collapsed in a fit of giggles as Chandler tickled her.
***
Chandler went to the hospital to see Andrew the next morning. Andrew was notable weaker now. He didn't even ever feel like sitting up.
Hey, Andrew, how you feeling, buddy?
he said.
Yeah, I figured. It has to be helping, though. Hang in there, okay? Andrew sighed. Everyone kept telling him that, but he wasn't so sure anymore.
Chandler stayed with him until noon. When he got home, they had taken on Kylie and Katie as well, for Ross and Rachel. Katie was crying when Chandler walked in the door. Chandler picked her up and bounced her up and down, hoping to stop her crying. It worked after a few minutes.
Monica smiled at him from the doorway, watching him hold Katie. He was so good with kids. He always had been. And soon, he's gonna have another one, Monica thought. Not that he knew that yet.
Monica had been trying to spend more time at home during the day, because it was obvious Michael and Megan missed her. And Chandler, too. But she couldn't just leave Andrew. It was tough.
That afternoon, Monica and Chandler were in the kitchen, making lunch for Michael and Megan.
Well, Phoebe's been keeping to herself lately, Chandler observed.
I know, Monica agreed. I wonder why?
Maybe she thinks we're mad at her?
Maybe, but I mean, aren't we kinda?
Yeah, kinda, I mean, after how she hurt Joey...
What did I do to Joey? Phoebe asked, coming into the kitchen. She had been standing outside the door and heard what they said.
Monica and Chandler exchanged a glance.
Monica said
Y'know, you left for Minsk. With David.
We both agreed what we did was a drunken mistake
Yeah, so did Monica and I, Chandler told her.
In our case, it was a mistake.
Maybe to you, Monica told her, but not to Joey.
So, what, is he like in love with me? Phoebe asked in disbelief.
No, but y'know, maybe you should talk to Joey, not us, Monica told her.
I NEVER hurt Joey, Phoebe said I never would!
Well, you did, Ross's voice came from behind.
Ross? You think I hurt him, too? Phoebe asked him.
No, I don't. I know.
How can you say that?
Because I've been here with him for three years that you HAVEN'T.
Fine then. Monica, Chandler, maybe YOUR drunken mistake led to four kids, and a marriage, but mine didn't, okay!
THREE kids! Chandler told her.
Monica's eyes had widened then she said four kids. What did Phoebe know? How COULD she know? Or was it just a new-Phoebe-name flubber mistake?
Phoebe turned and gave Monica a look. She was sure Phoebe knew. But how COULD she?
Phoebe went up to her room. She was confused. Did she really hurt Joey? Is that why he wasn't talking to her? He had seemed so distant to her. Maybe it was the truth. But hadn't they agreed it was a drunken mistake?
***
Monica and Chandler were at the hospital the next day, and Chandler was in the room with Andrew, while Monica was in the waiting room. Chandler came out.
How could you DO this? he asked her when he came out of Andrew's room.
Do what? Monica asked, confused.
HIDE this! he spat out.
HIDE what? Monica asked, pretty sure she knew what it was he was talking about she was hiding.
That you're a month and a half pregnant, Monica!
Monica gasped. How did you find out?
It doesn't matter, I KNOW! How could you hide it? Why would you hide it?
I had to! Otherwise I know you wouldn't let me stay here with Andrew! And I just couldn't bother you with it!
OOH, I see! My wife didn't tell me she's pregnant because she didn't want to BOTHER me with it!
Okay, okay, I SHOULD'VE told you! I know that! But I didn't!, okay?
Why not? Chandler pressed her.
Because with Andrew and everything...
ANDREW? You, Monica, are the one who couldn't take it! You are the one who freaks out if you don't spend six of the seven nights in a week with him!
He has cancer! He can DIE! He's WEAK! How can I leave him alone?
You don't have to, Monica! You're doing well! But don't blame the reason YOU didn't tell ME that YOU'RE pregnant on Andrew!
I'm SORRY!
How could you NOT tell the father of your child?
There was a long pause, as Monica was thinking about what he said.
Or, is that it? I'm not the father?
Chandler, HOW can YOU SAY that? Of COURSE you are! Monica said, not believing the words that just came from his mouth. She knew that long pause hadn't helped, and she knew he didn't mean it, he was just upset, but still, it made her mad.
Okay, look, I'm sorry, he told her. You know I didn't mean that. But I can't believe you would hide this!
Monica shrugged and went into Andrew's room. Dr. Levin was still in there, writing in her file. It dawned on Monica that she had told Chandler she was pregnant.
I'm sorry, I let it slip, I thought for sure you would have told him by now, she said to Monica. I can't believe you didn't tell him you're pregnant.
Yeah, well, join the club, Monica told her.
