Don't Tell My Heart
Part 4: Friends and Daughters
[Right, well, like I have nothing better to be doing now than writing a fic. So since I'm doing it anyway, y'all better ENJOY IT! Oh, and I made up an outline for this series and I think it's gonna come along nicely now! Yeah! I'm excited to get all the way to the end now. :0) Oh, and btw, I don't know anything about the legal issues I'm putting in this. Just my own little thing, lol.]
Hi, Monica, Allison greeted Monica the next afternoon, right at noon on the dot.
Monica said, opening the door a little wider, and her stomach tying into knots. Come in, please, she said.
I know you must be feeling sick, Allison said. That's how I felt when you and Chandler came to see Schuyler, she added.
God, I just feel like throwing up! she said, relieved that she wasn't the only one who had felt like this, that she wasn't wrong for feeling like this. Although, it could be morning sickness, she joked, and Allison smiled.
Let me go get Autumn, she said, closing the door and heading towards her room. She found her sitting on her bed, coloring in a coloring book.
Autumn, can you come out here? Mommy has a friend who wants to meet you.
You have more friends besides Aunt Rachel, Aunt Phoebe, Uncle Joey, and Uncle Ross? she asked, surprised. Monica smiled.
Yeah, as a matter of fact I do. And one wants to meet you.
What's her name?
Her name is Allison, she said. No, come on, Sweetie. Autumn jumped off the bed and followed Monica to the living room. Autumn, this is Allison. Allison, this is Autumn.
Hi, Autumn, Allison said, taking in the sight of her daughter. It's great to meet you, she added.
You, too. Autumn said. You're friends with my mommy?
Yeah. We're friends. That's why it's great to meet you.
I didn't know my mommy had other friends, she told Allison. Do you know my daddy, too?
Yes. I'm friends with him, too.
My mommy and daddy have all the same friends, Autumn said.
Well, at least that way they like each other's friends, right?
Yeah, yeah! Autumn said with a laugh. That's true.
Wow, I- I'm just so excited to finally get to meet you, Allison said. Would it be okay if I hugged you? she asked. Autumn shrugged.
Sure, I guess, she said, and let Allison hug her. Did you ever meet me before? she asked.
Yeah, once. A long, long, long, time ago.
She looks so much like you, Monica told Allison.
I- I know, Allison said, trying to hold back tears. Sorry. Sorry, it's just so hard.
I know, Monica said. Believe me, I know.
I know you do, Allison says. At least you understand.
What about your ex-husband? Monica asked. Does he know yet?
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, he was suspecting something after the weird test results, but he figured it was just a mix-up, too. But I called him and told him what I know now.
How'd he take it?
He was shocked, and in disbelief. He didn't want to believe me. But I sent him a copy of the results and he had to.
He doesn't want to meet her?
Well, I told him I was coming to see her, and he got all mad. I guess he thinks it's better not to know. I don't know. That's Steve. He's got his own thing going on in his head and no once can change it.
Monica said.
Thanks for letting me come by, Allison said. It was nice to see her.
Yeah, sure, no problem, Monica said. Thanks for letting us see Schuyler.
Of course, Allison said. I better be going, though. I have the kids with a baby-sitter and I don't want to be late.
Okay. I'll see you... sometime, Monica said.
Allison said, neither of them sure what they should do from here. Yeah, sometime, she added, and left.
Mommy, why do we have to go to the grocery store today? Autumn whined. There is gonna be a good show on TV!
Look, we're almost done, Monica said, pushing the shopping cart which contained a few items and Autumn. We were just out of a few things.
Daddy eats too much, Autumn said. Maybe he should stop.
Nice idea, but I think it's better he eats too much than not enough. We wouldn't want a Daddy who couldn't pick you up now, would we?
Autumn thought about that for a minute, then shook her head. No, we wouldn't want that.
They turned the corner to go to the next aisle, when they almost ran into someone else with their shopping cart.
both women said at the same time.
Hey, look, Mommy, it's your other friend! Autumn exclaimed. She looked up and saw Allison was the owner of the other cart. With her, she had Schuyler and two other children.
Monica said. Didn't think we'd run into you here. Literally, she added with a smile.
Allison agreed. How've you been?
Monica said. And you?
Allison said, smiling. Oh, well, you know Schuyler, but this is Nancy and Micah.
Nice to meet you, Monica said to the two young children who smiled at her. She could see that Schuyler looked nothing like either of them, and they both looked much like Autumn. It made her heart skip a beat for just a second. Don't think about it, she said to herself. Just don't think about it.
This is Autumn, she said to the kids. My daughter.
The one who's the same age as me? Schuyler asked. Clearly, she remembered Chandler mentioning Autumn to her.
How old are you? Autumn asked, curiously.
Schuyler said, suddenly becoming shy. How old are you? she asked, looking at the tiles on the floor the whole time.
I'm four, too! Autumn said. I just turned four a little while ago.
Me, too! Schuyler said. Allison looked at Monica nervously. Monica shrugged and gave her a reassuring smile.
What's your favorite TV show? Schuyler asked.
Perry the Penguin! Autumn said.
I love that show! Schuyler said. Do you have the new video?
I got it for my birthday, Autumn said.
Me, too! Schuyler said. She looked to her mom. Mommy, I think Autumn and I should play together!
Allison looked at Monica, who shrugged. Neither of them knew what to do at that moment. Great, Monica thought Now to make this more complicated, the girls like each other and want to be friends.
I tell you what, Allison said. If you're good the rest of the time shopping, then I'll call Monica up and see what we can do.
Schuyler and Autumn chorused.
That goes for you, too, Monica said to Autumn. You have to be good.
Of course, Mommy! Autumn said, her eyes showing her excitement of her new friend. Of course!
NOW, what do we do? Monica asked Chandler that night. Now the girls want to be friends.
Chandler asked, confused as to why this was making Monica go so crazy. Isn't that a good thing? Now you can see Schuyler and Allison can see Autumn, but on the she's my daughter's friend' basis.
But I just, I don't know, Monica said. I just feel weird about it. Like I don't want to let Autumn go to their house. What if she loves it there?
Of course she's gonna love it there, Chandler said. It's someone else's house, not her own. That's how kids are. Just like she'd rather be with Emma at Ross and Rachel's any day.
But this is different, Monica sighed.
Not to her, Chandler said. She doesn't know, he added. It's a good thing. She'll have a new friend, and we'll get to see Schuyler once in a while, assuming they stay friends.
Monica said. But what happens when they find out what happened?
They probably won't even be friends or remember each other by then, Chandler said. You know how kids are.
Monica said. Yeah, you're right.
&*&*&
Be good, Allison said to Schuyler as she headed inside Chandler and Monica's. And have fun, she added.
I will, Mommy! she said. I love you, she added, kissing her on the cheek.
I love you, too, Allison said. She smiled at Monica. Thanks for having her, she said. The irony of the statement hit her and she decided she should go. I'll, ummm, be back at five?
That's fine, Monica said. See you then.
Are you guys hungry? Monica called up the stairs. She had been listening to Autumn and Schuyler having a good time all morning. At least, she assumed they were having a good time from all the giggling she heard from Autumn's room.
Autumn called down the stairs.
Come down here, then, and I'll make you lunch, Monica said, and a few seconds later Autumn and Schuyler hurried down the stairs, giggling the whole way, and stopping to catch their breath when they reached the bottom.
Having fun? Monica asked Schuyler.
she said. Autumn has a lot of neat toys!
I wanna come and see your toys, Autumn told Schuyler. Monica knew that was coming. The girls had hit it off and were having a great time. Somewhere, deep down, it still bothered her, but she was glad Autumn was having so much fun with Schuyler and put it out of her mind.
Schuyler said. I'll ask my mommy if you can come over one day.
Autumn said, her face breaking out into a smile. Is that okay, Mommy?
If it's okay with Schuyler's mom, it's okay with me, she said, and went to make them their lunch.
Do you want to play with us, Mommy? Autumn asked. Lunch was over, and she and Schuyler were now sitting at the table with a deck of cards that were especially made for Go Fish, with animals on them for kids.
What are you guys playing? she asked.
Go fish! Schuyler said. It's my favorite.
Well, of course I'll play, then, Monica said. How could I pass up a chance to play Go Fish?
Autumn said. Mommy is so easy to beat, she added.
Hey, that's not true! Monica said. Truth was, she always let Autumn win.
It is so true, Autumn said with a giggle. Let's play, she added. Schuyler goes first.
I do?? Schuyler asked.
Autumn said. Now go! she added with a giggle.
she said. Autumn, do you have any horses?
Autumn said with a laugh. Go fish!
Two hours later, they were still playing. No one realized that they had been playing for so long, until Chandler arrived home.
Hey, girls, he said.
Autumn said, jumping up to give him a hug.
Monica said. I guess we've been playing for a while, huh?
What are you playing? Chandler asked, going to give Monica a kiss.
GO FISH! both Autumn and Schuyler yelled.
Awww, yes. A favorite around here.
Monica is so easy to beat, Schuyler said.
I told you Mommy was easy to beat! Autumn added.
Chandler said. You guys must be real good at this game. I can never beat her. At anything. Monica smiled and gave him a light shove.
That's because you're terrible at this game, she said with a smile, and getting up from her chair. Okay, girls, I'm out.
they both whined.
Sorry, but it has been two hours, she said.
We've been playing this for two hours? Autumn asked, frowning.
I want to play something else, Schuyler said. Before Mommy comes.
Autumn said. Let's go to my room! and they were off and up the stairs, leaving the pile of cards on the kitchen table.
Soooo, how's it going? Chandler asked. Monica smiled at him.
It was fun, she said. But almost too fun.
Too fun?
Yeah, you know. Now I actually have a relationship with Schuyler. It makes it worse, I think, in some ways. But then again, I really like being able to spend time with her. I just- I'm so confused, she said, burying her head in his chest. I don't know if I'm happy or sad. There was a knock at the door. I'll get it, it's probably Allison, she said, looking at her watch. Can you go find Schuyler?
Yeah, sure, he said, heading to the stairs.
Monica said when she opened the door.
Allison repeated. How'd it go?
Oh, it was great. The girls had a great time, and Schuyler was perfect, no problem at all.
Good, good. Glad to hear it, Allison said. Chandler came down the stairs, Schuyler and Autumn following him.
Hi, Mommy! Schuyler said.
Hey there! she said. Have fun?
I did, it was soooooo much fun! she said. Can we have Autumn come over soon?
Sure, I don't see why not, Allison said. It it's okay with Monica and Chandler.
Yeah, that would be fine, Monica said.
both the girls yelled.
But right now we have to get going, Allison said. We're already late to pick Nancy up.
Schuyler said with a sigh. You should have gotten her first, she said. Allison smiled.
Next time I will, she said. You ready?
she said, sadly. She gave Autumn a hug.
Tell Monica and Chandler and Autumn thank you, Allison instructed.
Thank you! she said, happily. I had fun!
Monica said. You're welcome here anytime.
&*&*&
Mr. and Mrs. Bing, Ms. Williams, the lawyer said. Thank you for coming. Thank you for seeing us, Chandler said.
That's my business, he said with a smile. So I understand what we have here is a children switched at birth lawsuit, yes?
Allison said.
Against Beth Israel Hospital?
Monica said.
Well, the lawsuit should be easy, he said. The hospital know they're in the wrong, and they will most likely pay you what you ask. They have the money, and they will want to keep it out of the public's eye, he said.
So you think it will be easy? Monica asked
It should be, he said. I've actually had one of these cases before, he said. Now, what isn't easy is the whole parental rights to which child deal.
What do you mean? Chandler asked.
Well, technically, legally, you each have no right to the child you are currently taking care of and considering your daughter.
Wait, so what are you saying? Allison asked, a hint of panic in her voice.
Well, I'm saying you either switch the children back, which I know you don't want to do, or you start the procedure for an adoption.
I don't get it, Allison said. Who am I adopting?
the lawyer said. Legally, Schuyler is Chandler and Monica's, and Autumn is yours. So we just need to go through and make sure that you each have the parental rights to the child that you have.
So what does that involve? Chandler asked.
Simple, really, in this case, the lawyer said. All you have to do is each terminate your rights to the opposite child, then the adoption can go through. Since you all want to keep the child you have, it's a simple procedure. He looked at Allison. You'll need to get your ex-husband to sign as well.
Allison said. That's what I think may not be so simple.
To Be Continued!!!!!
Sorry so short!
