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Part Ten
One Month Later
Monica and Chandler were enjoying some rare time together. They both had the day off from work and the kids were in school. They were cuddled up on the couch watching a movie when there was a knock at the door. Chandler flipped off the television and got up to answer it. Ross was outside, fidgeting nervously. In the past month, Ross had been getting a lot sicker. Everybody knew he had a month left, at best. But still, he was amazingly strong. Still walking, still doing most things for himself. He'd moved out of Rachel's apartment and into a small studio of his own because he didn't want Josh and Gracie to see him so sick.
"Hey, Chandler," Ross said softly, "Is Monica here?"
"Yeah," Chandler nodded, "We've both got the day off." Monica got up and came to the door.
"Great," Ross said, "'Cause there's someone I need you to meet." He motioned with his hand, a very tall, college-aged girl came to the door. It took very little time for the Bings to register that she was also very pregnant. "Mon, Chandler, this is Kaci. When I was in Chicago, I taught college classes, and she was one of my best students." Monica and Chandler nodded and Chandler stuck out his hand towards Kaci.
"We're Chandler and Monica Bing," he said, still very confused. Kaci nodded and shook back.
"Kaci Andrews," she said softly.
"Kaci, why don't you tell them why you're here," Ross urged.
"Well," Kaci began slowly, "As you can see, I'm pregnant. The baby's father doesn't want to be involved and I decided I couldn't raise him on my own so.I'm giving the baby up for adoption. Ross has told me a lot about you guys and I was wondering if, maybe.you'd like to adopt the baby. You really sound like the kind of family I'd like him to be in."
Monica and Chandler looked at each other, grinning happily. "We've wanted another baby for so long." Chandler finally said, "But the waiting list.it's so long."
"Well, I'd like this to be a private adoption," Kaci said, "And you're first on my list."
One Month Later
"Matthew," Chandler said softly.
"Huh?" said Monica, confused. Kaci had just given birth to a gorgeous baby boy. Monica and Chandler had been able to sit by her side the whole time. Now, Kaci was in her hospital room and Monica and Chandler were in another room with the new baby.
"Matthew, that's what we should name him. It means 'gift from God'"
Monica smiled, "Matthew Bing. Oh, Chandler, I love it. And it fits.he's certainly a gift." "Matthew Bing." Chandler marveled and kissed his new son, "We need a middle name."
"Why don't we let Kaci pick it?" Monica suggested.
Chandler nodded and smiled and they walked to Kaci's room. "Kaci?" Chandler asked, "We'd like you to pick Matthew's middle name."
"Matthew? That's his name?" They nodded, "It's beautiful," she sighed. "And you really want me to pick the middle name?"
Monica smiled, "We'd love it if you would."
"Well," Kaci said softly, "Then I choose.Ross. Matthew Ross. Because Ross helped me find the perfect family for my baby."
Monica and Chandler smiled softly at that. Ross was fading fast. He was weeks away from death. Having a baby named after him seemed appropriate, no matter what his past mistakes were. "Matthew Ross," they smiled together. "It's perfect."
Two Weeks Later So it'd finally come to this. Ross's funeral. Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, Joey, Juliana and Mike were sobbing. Rachel, however, wasn't crying. She was beyond tears. Ross had died peacefully, in his sleep, a few days before, so she was slightly comforted by that. The funeral went on, and people spoke, but Rachel was scarcely listening. She was trying hard not to remember this Ross. The Ross she wanted to remember was the one she'd married, the Ross who'd been her best friend. She wanted to remember Ross the way he was the day Josh and Gracie were born. She wanted to remember the Ross she had once loved.
There was a small gathering after the funeral and Rachel knew she had to attend. For hours she shook hands and let people tell them how sorry they were. People kept asking where Josh and Gracie were and Rachel found it annoying that she had to tell people they didn't know their dad over and over. In truth, none of the kids had come. Josh and Gracie didn't know Ross was their dad and it'd been agreed they wouldn't find out just now. Rachel was glad. She was explaining enough to strangers.
Rachel finally arrived home and collapsed on the couch. Finally, she had a little time to think. As much as she hated to admit it, she was finally at peace. There'd be no more worrying about Ross. There'd be no more wondering if he was cheating on her, if he had other kids someplace else. She was grieving because at one time, she had loved Ross. But she knew she had to let some things go. And she was finally at peace. Rachel moved over on the couch and suddenly felt paper crunch underneath her. She reached behind the cushion and pulled out an envelope marked "Rachel". She opened it.
Dearest Rachel, If there had been any way for me to take back those eight years, I would have, in a heartbeat. But we both know what's done is done. For what it's worth, I'm so sorry. I just want you to know that during all that time, I never stopped loving you. And it wasn't your fault, it never was. You did nothing wrong.
I may not be able to take back the past, but I'd like to make your future better, hopefully. Please don't hesitate to find somebody else to love. You deserve somebody amazing who will treat you a lot better than I did. If he'd like to adopt Josh and Gracie, that's fine too. You've done an amazing job with them, Rachel. They're wonderful children.
Monica mentioned that you might be interested in moving out to Scarsdale, since she and Chandler are moving out there soon. I know I haven't sent child support or anything, since I left it all in the bank, but I still want to give you one last gift. Enclosed in this letter is a check, no strings attached. I checked out some of the houses near the one Monica and Chandler bought and the check is more than enough to buy one of them. You can spend it on the house or whatever else you want. Anything that makes you happy.
You're an amazing mother and friend, Rachel. How you were able to let me back into your life, I'll never know. You're a much bigger person than I am, I can tell you that. Thank you for everything. You gave me my life, and though I know I screwed it up, it doesn't change the fact that, for many years, you made me the happiest man alive. You are the most wonderful woman on Earth, Rachel. Never forget that. I love you.
Love,
Ross Rachel smiled to herself. Did she still love Ross? Not really. He'd hurt her to much for that. But she'd made her peace with him. She was finally happy. Smiling, she looked up towards the sky. "Thank you, Ross," she whispered under her breath, "Thank you."
There will be a epilouge...but only if you review! THANKS!
Part Ten
One Month Later
Monica and Chandler were enjoying some rare time together. They both had the day off from work and the kids were in school. They were cuddled up on the couch watching a movie when there was a knock at the door. Chandler flipped off the television and got up to answer it. Ross was outside, fidgeting nervously. In the past month, Ross had been getting a lot sicker. Everybody knew he had a month left, at best. But still, he was amazingly strong. Still walking, still doing most things for himself. He'd moved out of Rachel's apartment and into a small studio of his own because he didn't want Josh and Gracie to see him so sick.
"Hey, Chandler," Ross said softly, "Is Monica here?"
"Yeah," Chandler nodded, "We've both got the day off." Monica got up and came to the door.
"Great," Ross said, "'Cause there's someone I need you to meet." He motioned with his hand, a very tall, college-aged girl came to the door. It took very little time for the Bings to register that she was also very pregnant. "Mon, Chandler, this is Kaci. When I was in Chicago, I taught college classes, and she was one of my best students." Monica and Chandler nodded and Chandler stuck out his hand towards Kaci.
"We're Chandler and Monica Bing," he said, still very confused. Kaci nodded and shook back.
"Kaci Andrews," she said softly.
"Kaci, why don't you tell them why you're here," Ross urged.
"Well," Kaci began slowly, "As you can see, I'm pregnant. The baby's father doesn't want to be involved and I decided I couldn't raise him on my own so.I'm giving the baby up for adoption. Ross has told me a lot about you guys and I was wondering if, maybe.you'd like to adopt the baby. You really sound like the kind of family I'd like him to be in."
Monica and Chandler looked at each other, grinning happily. "We've wanted another baby for so long." Chandler finally said, "But the waiting list.it's so long."
"Well, I'd like this to be a private adoption," Kaci said, "And you're first on my list."
One Month Later
"Matthew," Chandler said softly.
"Huh?" said Monica, confused. Kaci had just given birth to a gorgeous baby boy. Monica and Chandler had been able to sit by her side the whole time. Now, Kaci was in her hospital room and Monica and Chandler were in another room with the new baby.
"Matthew, that's what we should name him. It means 'gift from God'"
Monica smiled, "Matthew Bing. Oh, Chandler, I love it. And it fits.he's certainly a gift." "Matthew Bing." Chandler marveled and kissed his new son, "We need a middle name."
"Why don't we let Kaci pick it?" Monica suggested.
Chandler nodded and smiled and they walked to Kaci's room. "Kaci?" Chandler asked, "We'd like you to pick Matthew's middle name."
"Matthew? That's his name?" They nodded, "It's beautiful," she sighed. "And you really want me to pick the middle name?"
Monica smiled, "We'd love it if you would."
"Well," Kaci said softly, "Then I choose.Ross. Matthew Ross. Because Ross helped me find the perfect family for my baby."
Monica and Chandler smiled softly at that. Ross was fading fast. He was weeks away from death. Having a baby named after him seemed appropriate, no matter what his past mistakes were. "Matthew Ross," they smiled together. "It's perfect."
Two Weeks Later So it'd finally come to this. Ross's funeral. Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, Joey, Juliana and Mike were sobbing. Rachel, however, wasn't crying. She was beyond tears. Ross had died peacefully, in his sleep, a few days before, so she was slightly comforted by that. The funeral went on, and people spoke, but Rachel was scarcely listening. She was trying hard not to remember this Ross. The Ross she wanted to remember was the one she'd married, the Ross who'd been her best friend. She wanted to remember Ross the way he was the day Josh and Gracie were born. She wanted to remember the Ross she had once loved.
There was a small gathering after the funeral and Rachel knew she had to attend. For hours she shook hands and let people tell them how sorry they were. People kept asking where Josh and Gracie were and Rachel found it annoying that she had to tell people they didn't know their dad over and over. In truth, none of the kids had come. Josh and Gracie didn't know Ross was their dad and it'd been agreed they wouldn't find out just now. Rachel was glad. She was explaining enough to strangers.
Rachel finally arrived home and collapsed on the couch. Finally, she had a little time to think. As much as she hated to admit it, she was finally at peace. There'd be no more worrying about Ross. There'd be no more wondering if he was cheating on her, if he had other kids someplace else. She was grieving because at one time, she had loved Ross. But she knew she had to let some things go. And she was finally at peace. Rachel moved over on the couch and suddenly felt paper crunch underneath her. She reached behind the cushion and pulled out an envelope marked "Rachel". She opened it.
Dearest Rachel, If there had been any way for me to take back those eight years, I would have, in a heartbeat. But we both know what's done is done. For what it's worth, I'm so sorry. I just want you to know that during all that time, I never stopped loving you. And it wasn't your fault, it never was. You did nothing wrong.
I may not be able to take back the past, but I'd like to make your future better, hopefully. Please don't hesitate to find somebody else to love. You deserve somebody amazing who will treat you a lot better than I did. If he'd like to adopt Josh and Gracie, that's fine too. You've done an amazing job with them, Rachel. They're wonderful children.
Monica mentioned that you might be interested in moving out to Scarsdale, since she and Chandler are moving out there soon. I know I haven't sent child support or anything, since I left it all in the bank, but I still want to give you one last gift. Enclosed in this letter is a check, no strings attached. I checked out some of the houses near the one Monica and Chandler bought and the check is more than enough to buy one of them. You can spend it on the house or whatever else you want. Anything that makes you happy.
You're an amazing mother and friend, Rachel. How you were able to let me back into your life, I'll never know. You're a much bigger person than I am, I can tell you that. Thank you for everything. You gave me my life, and though I know I screwed it up, it doesn't change the fact that, for many years, you made me the happiest man alive. You are the most wonderful woman on Earth, Rachel. Never forget that. I love you.
Love,
Ross Rachel smiled to herself. Did she still love Ross? Not really. He'd hurt her to much for that. But she'd made her peace with him. She was finally happy. Smiling, she looked up towards the sky. "Thank you, Ross," she whispered under her breath, "Thank you."
There will be a epilouge...but only if you review! THANKS!