A/N: I'm not sure if everything I'm saying about how adoption works is accurate. I know a couple who adopted quite awhile ago, and I'm just going by what I know from their experience. So I'm not sure if this is exactly how it works.
On with the story...
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Blessed
Chapter Four
Later that evening, Chandler and Monica were waiting impatiently for Katie to arrive. They told Ross and Rachel about the little girl when they had picked up their own daughter. Chandler had just returned from across the hall where he'd been filling in Joey and Phoebe. Now all they had to do was wait.
"Do you think she likes chocolate chip cookies?" Monica asked as she took the cookies from the pan she'd just removed from the oven. She couldn't just sit there. She had to find something to keep her busy.
"All kids like chocolate chip cookies, Mon," he assured her. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist, then kissed her lips tenderly. "Don't worry about it. She'll love you... I don't see how anyone couldn't," he grinned.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Bing," she teased and kissed him once more.
Knock, knock.
"That's her," Monica said quietly. She and Chandler walked to the door, hand in hand, and opened it.
"Hi," Lauren smiled at the couple. By her side, holding tightly onto her hand, was a little girl with long, curly, dark hair. She glanced up at Monica and Chandler who both smiled at her. Chandler kneeled to her level.
"You must be Katie," he smiled at her. "My name is Chandler, and this is my wife, Monica."
"Hi, Katie," she began, a little nervously. "Would you like to come in and have come chocolate chip cookies?"
The little girl nodded, hesitantly took Monica's extended hand, and followed her into the apartment. Monica handed her a cookie and everyone walked over to sit down on the couch. Katie sat between Lauren and Monica while Chandler sat by his wife.
"Katie," Lauren began, "these are the people I told you about. They'd like for you to become a part of their family." Lauren looked over at Monica and Chandler as if urging them to speak.
"That's right," Monica added. "We've been looking for a little girl just like you to stay with us."
"Like the Johnsons?" Katie asked, looking up at Lauren.
"Not quite, Katie," the woman replied. "The Bings would like to adopt you. Do you remember what I told you about that?"
"Yes," she answered, then looked at Monica and Chandler. "Bings. That's a funny name," she giggled.
"It is, isn't it?" Monica laughed.
"If I live here, can I be 'Bing,' too?" she asked innocently.
"We would like that," Chandler smiled at her.
The group heard the door open and immediately heard a voice. "Mon, Chandler, do you have any - Uh oh. Social worker. Sorry, I forgot," Joey said and turned to leave.
"No, it's all right," Chandler stopped him. He turned to Katie. "Would you like to meet our friend, Joey?"
Katie got up from the couch and turned to get a better look at the visitor. Joey smiled and waved at her, then came a little closer. "My name is Joey Tribbiani," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.
"My name is Katie. And I get to be 'Bing' if I live here," she said, looking back at Monica and Chandler. They smiled at her as she shook Joey's hand.
"Katie, maybe Mr. Tribbiani could show you where your room would be. I need to talk to Monica and Chandler about some things. Would that be okay?" she asked, looking to "the Bings."
"Sure," Monica said. "Joey, would you mind?"
"It would be my pleasure. Right this way, my lady," he said, causing Katie to giggle as Joey led her to the guest room.
Lauren discussed the legal matters with Chandler and Monica. Since they had been through all the interviews, home studies, and the major legalities, she informed them that it might be possible for Katie to become a part of their home in little more than a week.
"You're funny, Joey," Katie giggled when they returned to the living room.
"Yeah, I know," Joey grinned.
"Did you have fun?" Monica asked. Katie walked over to stand beside her.
"Uh huh. Monica, will you play with me? Joey won't play with the dolls."
Monica laughed. "Oh, you found that box, huh? I was saving those for a very special little girl, and now she's finally here..." She wiped a single tear from her cheek and smiled over at Chandler. "Come on, Katie. Let's play with those dolls. "She took her hand and they walked toward what would - hopefully - soon become Katie's room.
"Chandler, I think you've found your daughter," Lauren smiled.
"Yeah... We've definitely found our daughter..."
