Blessed
Chapter Five
Everyday for the next week, Katie came to visit Monica and Chandler. They were becoming more and more like a family each time she was there. Eight days after their initial meeting, Katie was ready to make a permanent move to her new home.
"She's gonna be ours, Chandler," Monica sighed. They were putting the finishing touches on Katie's new room. The walls had been painted pale pink, requested by the new occupant. Monica had filled the room with lots of frilly little girl touches. She was making the bed while Chandler tried to assemble a brand new dollhouse.
"She sure is," he replied. "Mon, I'm never gonna get this thing put together," he continued, referring to the dollhouse. "For some reason I'm no longer believing this 'some assembly required' thing. I could have built one myself faster than this."
Monica couldn't help laughing. He might be complaining, but she knew that he had never been happier. "I guess now you know how it feels to be a dad."
He smiled at that remark and looked up at her. "Yeah, and it feels pretty wonderful... How does it feel to be a mom?"
"It's the most incredible feeling in the world," she answered honestly, then heard a knock at the door. "Chandler, she's here."
"Yeah... For good," he grinned and walked with her to the door.
"Hi, Katie," they greeted her.
"Hi, Monica! Hi, Chandler! I get to stay here forever!" she exclaimed.
"I know!" Monica said happily.
"Chandler, could you help me bring in her things?" Lauren asked. "Then I'll leave you guys alone."
"Sure. Be right back. Don't you ladies have too much fun without me," he teased.
"We'll do our best," Monica smiled at him. "Come on, Katie. Your room is all ready for you."
"Wow," Katie said, amazed at how great her room looked. "This is the bestest room ever!"
Monica sat on the bed and put Katie on her lap. "I'm very glad that you like it, sweetie."
"Hey, what happened to the dollhouse?" she asked curiously.
Monica laughed. "Oh, Chandler hasn't finished putting it together, but I'm sure he'll do it later - if you ask him really nicely."
"Girls?" Chandler called.
"Chandler!" Katie said, running into his arms. "Will you please finish my dollhouse?"
"Of course I will," he assured her. "But first, Lauren wants to say good-bye."
"Bye, Lauren," Katie said.
"Bye, Katie. I'll see you guys again soon," she said and hugged the little girl.
"Thank you for finding my new family," she said innocently.
"Yes, thank you," Monica added, on the verge of tears - of joy.
"It's been my pleasure," Lauren said before turning to the door. "Congratulations - to all three of you."
==========
Later that night, Monica and Chandler were tucking Katie into bed when she made a request that neither Chandler nor Monica had anticipated so soon.
"Monica?" Katie said quietly, fighting back a yawn.
"Yes, sweetie?" Monica brushed the little girl's hair away from her face. She couldn't believe that she was finally a mother.
"My real mommy and daddy are in Heaven, right?"
"That's right, Katie," she answered.
"But you love me, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. I love you very, very much. And so does Chandler," she said honestly. She had to wipe another tear from her cheek. She'd been very emotional all day.
"Can you and Chandler be my new mommy and daddy?" she asked, and yawned again.
Monica looked over at Chandler who was wiping a tear from his own cheek. She'd never seen him as emotional as he had been since Katie had entered their lives. She'd changed them both for the better.
Chandler smiled at Monica and then looked at Katie. She was quickly losing her battle against sleep.
"Katie, we would love to be your mommy and daddy," he answered for Monica then bent over to kiss his daughter - his daughter.
"Good," she sighed. "Good night, Mommy... Good night, Daddy..."
Monica smiled and leaned over to kiss her daughter - her daughter. "Good night, sweetie... I love you."
"I love you, too, Katie," Chandler whispered.
Chandler and Monica walked away from the bed when they saw that Katie was sound asleep. They stood in the doorway for awhile, just holding each other, watching their little girl sleep.
"We're pretty lucky, aren't we?" Chandler whispered.
"We certainly are... I love you, Chandler."
"I love you, too..."
