A/N - I'm sorry that this took so long to get up, but it's been hectic around here. But thank you for your reviews - and your guesses about what was at the door. Were you right? Well, you'll find out soon... Actually, if you just look down a few lines... Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Please let me know what you think...

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There You Are

Chapter Twelve

"Joey? What are you doing here?" Monica asked, completely shocked by his appearance. She hadn't seen him since their conversation about Emily months earlier.

Joey stood to greet them. "I know I should have called or something… Well, I probably shouldn't even be here to begin with," he added. "But I need to talk to you."

Monica turned to look at Chandler, then looked back at Joey. "I'm kind of busy right now," she said, beginning to pick up the items she'd dropped from her purse. Chandler leaned over to help her.

Joey looked at his friend and sighed. "Actually, I should probably just go ahead and talk to both of you." He turned back to Monica just as she and Chandler stood up again. "Is that okay?"

"I, um…" She looked over at Chandler and he simply shrugged. "Yeah," she sighed. "I guess so," she answered as she unlocked the door, leading Chandler in behind her, and Joey behind him.

"I need to call and check on Emily, so just make yourselves comfortable," she said once they were inside. "I'll be right back," she said before disappearing into her bedroom.

Joey and Chandler sat on opposite ends of the couch in complete silence, waiting for Monica to return. A few minutes later, she emerged from her bedroom and stood by the coffee table, facing the two men.

"Emily okay?" Chandler asked as Monica walked over to sit in the armchair by him.

"Yeah. She told me to tell you that Grandpa Jack gave her a new toy that she's gonna let you play with," she smiled at him. Chandler smiled back at her, then she looked over at Joey and sighed. "Listen, Joey. I'm not really sure why you're here, and I'm really not sure if I'm gonna like it," Monica began. "So let's just get it over with."

"Okay," Joey began, taking a deep breath. "I know that I told you that I didn't want to be in Emily's life and, at the time, I guess I meant that. But then… Something made me change my mind."

"Excuse me?" Monica replied. "What are you saying?"

"I want to be her dad."

"You've got to be kidding me," Chandler replied angrily. "You can't keep changing your mind, Joe."

"Well, it's your own fault," he responded. "Ever since you told me about your little girl," he said, looking at Chandler, "I haven't been able to stop thinking about what you said about how it felt to be somebody's dad. I want that. I want to be her dad."

"But you said that you didn't," Chandler reminded him. "You said that you were stepping aside."

"I changed my mind," he answered simply.

"You said you wouldn't!" Chandler yelled.

"Hey," Monica interrupted, reaching over to put her hand on Chandler's knee. "Just calm down, okay?"

"Sorry," Chandler apologized. "I'm just getting a little upset again." He turned back to look at Joey. "Joey, you told me that you wanted to do the right thing. You said you didn't want to hurt her. You said that you weren't good enough to be her dad."

"I know what I said. But I've thought about it, and I want to be her dad. I am her dad," he said, looking at Monica.

"No, you're not her dad," Monica answered.

"What?!" Joey exclaimed, jumping up from his spot on the couch. "You said that she was my kid!"

"Sit down and keep your mouth shut, Joey," Monica demanded. Joey obeyed, and she continued. "You're her father. You're not her dad. The closest thing she's ever had to a dad is Chandler," she said sincerely.

"I know I've not been there, but don't I deserve another chance?"

"Another chance? Joey, I've given you two chances already, and both times you made it perfectly clear that you didn't want Emily. I'm not sure you do deserve another chance."

"But she's my kid. Not Chandler's."

"She might as well be mine," Chandler added into the discussion. "In the past six months, I've spent more time with her than you have in the past four years. You've never even met her, Joey."

"Well, I, um… I want to."

"Why the sudden change of heart, Joe? What made you want this now? You stepped aside. You told me that I deserved it more than you. What happened to all that stuff?"

"I was wrong, okay? I've been wrong plenty of times before."

"You've got that right," Chandler sighed.

"She's my daughter, Monica," Joey continued, ignoring Chandler's comment.

"I know that. Believe me, I know that," Monica sighed. "I just... I don't understand. Why now? What if you change your mind again? Joey, she's barely four years old. She doesn't need someone walking in and out of her life whenever he feels like it. She deserves some kind of stability, and I don't want her to be hurt if you decide you don't want to be there for her. She gets attached to people really easily, and I'm not sure that this would be a good idea - for Emily's sake. I mean, can you honestly say that you're willing to be there for her anytime she needs you? A child is a huge responsibility, Joey. Trust me, I've learned that and a whole lot more in the last four years."

"I just want to be in her life. I'm not asking to move in here or take her away from you. I don't see what the problem is. I'm her father."

"She doesn't know you, Joey," Chandler said quietly. "It's not that easy."


"Well, it was easy for you. Why wouldn't it be easy for me?"

"It's different."

"Yeah, it's different. I'm her father."

"Yeah, I got that," Chandler sighed.

"I'll let you meet her," Monica said quietly, looking up at Joey. Upon hearing her statement, Chandler looked up at her, surprised. "But I don't want you to let her know that you're her father. You can meet her, and we'll go from there."

Joey smiled. "Thank you... When?"

"Um... Tomorrow would be okay, I guess." She turned to look at Chandler. "Do you want to be here? Emily was expecting you to be here tomorrow night."

"Yeah. Yeah, I want to be here," he answered, then glanced over at Joey.

"Okay," Monica sighed. "Tomorrow at five."

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Monica helped her daughter up the stairs to their apartment as she returned home from picking her up at preschool. When they reached the door, Chandler and Joey were standing outside, waiting for them.

"Hi," Monica smiled slightly. "Sorry we're late. Emily had been finger-painting, and we had to get her cleaned up," she laughed lightly.

"It's for you," Emily smiled brightly, holding up her finger-painting masterpiece for Chandler.

"Thank you," he said as he took the picture from her. "Well, someone's quite the artist," he grinned at Emily.

"This is Mommy," she began, pointing out the figures on the paper, "and this is me and this is you."

"That's beautiful," Chandler smiled and kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Em."

"Well, guys, let's go inside," Monica said, looking over at Joey. She led the group inside and helped Emily take off her jacket before they all went into the living room. "Emily, honey, this is Joey," Monica said, pointing over at Joey. "He's Chandler's friend."

"Hi, Emily. It's nice to meet you," Joey smiled nervously, reaching out his hand to her. Emily clung to her mother.

"It's okay, Em. Don't be shy," Monica urged, gently turning the little girl to face Joey.

"Hi," she said quietly, reluctantly reaching over to take his hand. She looked at Joey briefly, then turned to look at Chandler who was sitting beside Joey. She took her hand away from Joey and reached over for Chandler.

"Well, did you have fun today?" Chandler asked as the little girl made herself comfortable on his lap.

"Uh huh," she answered. "I made a new friend today."

"You did?" She nodded. "That's great," Chandler smiled. "What's your friend's name?"

"Megan. Her mommy and daddy brought her. But I don't have a daddy."

"Emily, we've talked about this," Monica said, causing Emily to look at her. "All families are different, sweetie, and you have tons of people who love you."

"But I want a daddy, too," she said quietly, then looked at Chandler. "Chandler, can you be my daddy?"