Don't Tell My Heart
Part 5
[I'm sooooooo sorry for how long it took to get this part up! Want to hear my excuses? Okay. I started this like, eleven months ago, last updated it like ten months ago. All of a sudden it was prom, graduation, etc. etc, and I got kinda caught up in all that. Then by the time summer came around and I had a chance to write, we were going on trips, had sick pets, and I started college. Then I was busy in school and blah blah blah, then by Christmas, I'd totally forgotten what I was gonna do in this story and where it was going! I had an outline, but when I was cleaning last summer or so, I threw it out, thinking when I got back to this, I'd just do what I thought of at the time. Boy, do I wish I had that now! Anyway, I'm gonna try and do this. I hope I can remember where I was going... SO SORRY for the wait. But it's getting done now!]
What, what do you mean it may not be so simple? Monica asked Allison.
Nothing. It's just that, well, when I told him about all this, he wanted to get custody of Autumn. AND keep Schuyler.
Monica asked, worry rising inside her.
No, don't worry. I won't let him do that. I won't. Besides, he can't just keep them BOTH. I was just saying that it wasn't going to be easy for me. I'm gonna have to argue with him for a while. She sighed. She felt terrible for bringing it up and freaking them out. She knew it would freak them out. If the situation had been reversed, she knew SHE would freak out.
*~*
How you holding up, Babe? Chandler asked Monica when they got home that afternoon. Autumn was with Ross and Rachel, playing with Emma.
Okay, I guess. Allison kind of got me worried there, today, though.
He can't get both of them.
Yeah, yeah. I know. But now I'm afraid that he's not going to make this easy. Chandler pulled her to him and kissed her on the head.
It will be fine, Mon. I promise you that. She sighed and rested her head against his shoulder.
Oh my God! she said, suddenly, her head jolting up from his shoulder. Her hands flew to her stomach.
What, what? he asked, concerned. Her face broke into a huge grin.
The baby kicked! she said.
Right now? he asked, wondering why he asked that. Of course right now.
Yeah, yeah! she said with a smile. She took his hand and placed it on her stomach where the baby was kicking, and put her own hand over his. She waited until she felt the baby kick again. You feel it?? she asked, excited.
I feel it! he said.
I love you, she said, her eyes sparkling and a huge smile on her face.
I love you, too, he replied, pulling her close to kiss her. He pulled away and smiled when he felt the baby kick her while she was pulled so close to him.
*&*&*
We're late! Monica worried, yelling to Chandler up the stairs. It was a month later, and they were meeting with Allison, her ex-husband, and a lawyer about the adoptions.
I'm coming, Chandler assured her. He appeared in the living room a minute later.
Monica asked, nervously playing with the hem on her shirt.
Chandler said, glancing at her hand. Don't be so nervous, he added. It's gonna be okay.
I hope you're right.
Have I ever been wrong? he asked with a smile.
Really want me to answer that? Monica asked with a smile.
*~*
Mr. and Mrs. Bing, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, thank you for coming, the lawyer said. My name is John Lopez, he introduced himself. So I understand what we have here are two children, switched at birth?
Yes, that's right, Allison told him.
Well there are two options. Either you switch them back, or you legally adopt the child you have now. And technically you need to change their names, legally. I'm pretty sure you don't want to switch them, being that they are already four. So in order to start the adoption procedure--
Ummm, excuse me? Michael, Allison's ex husband interrupted.
Yes, Mr. Williams?
Well, let's just say that we do want to switch them,
Michael, we're not doing that, Allison interrupted. You want to lose Schuyler?!
No, that was my next question. I mean, can't we get them both?
No, Mr. Williams, you can not, Mr. Lopez said. You can keep your current daughter, or switch with the Bings to have your biological daughter, but you can't have them both.
Allison said. What do we have to do to start the adoption procedure?
You just both have to sign away your rights to your biological child, then you sign the adoption forms. The procedure is simple in cases like this.
Allison asked.
I don't want someone else raising my daughter, he stated.
Damnit, Michael! Allison exploded. This is not their fault! Okay? And no, it's not our fault, either, but we love Schuyler, she's our daughter. We can't switch them! You know how devastating that would be for BOTH girls? They would think we just don't want them!
Michael sighed. Okay. You're right. I'll sign.
*&*&*
Well, wow, Chandler said as he and Monica left the lawyer's office after signing all the needed papers. I thought that Michael guy would be more of a problem.
Yeah, I know, me too, Monica agreed. I mean, the first impression of him I get is that he's a jerk. I hope Autumn doesn't get that from him, she stated.
Nah, she won't, Chandler said optimistically. But I mean, look at the good thing? We've signed the papers, the ball is rolling.
Yeah, true. Now we have to deal with the name change stuff, though. Since I guess Autumn is legally Schuyler. You know that's expensive? she asked him.
They said the hospital will cover the costs with the lawsuit.
I still can't believe this. It's like one of those bad dreams, Monica said with a sigh.
Maybe it happened for a reason, Chandler tried to be optimistic.
*&*&*
Autumn whined while they were in a department store shopping for baby stuff. Autumn loved to help picking out clothes, and name ideas, anything to do with her new brother or sister.
What, Sweetie? Monica asked, trying to ignore the fact that she was whining.
Can we get some dresses? she asked.
You know we don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet, Monica reminded her. I don't think a boy would want to wear dresses.
Mommy, I saw you buy some boy clothes, Autumn protested. So why can't we buy girl clothes? What if it's a girl? She won't have any dresses.
I only bought those boy clothes in case we have a boy. Ever. And I figure if we don't, someone we know will. Like Phoebe or Rachel, or-
So why can't we buy girl clothes? Autumn asked.
Because we have boxes and boxes of girl clothes at home from when you were a baby.
You saved my baby clothes? Autumn asked, excited.
Of course, Monica told her. Like I could get rid of any of those!
Can I see them? Autumn wanted to know.
You know what, maybe when we get home we can get Daddy to get them down from the attic. Then you can pick some you really like, and we'll wash them in case we have a girl.
Autumn said, happily. Monica smiled, glad that she was so enthused about having a little brother or sister. The baby that was on the way was a welcome distraction for Monica and Chandler, something to keep their minds off of the Autumn and Schuyler situation. If Autumn were dreading the baby, it wouldn't be working out so nicely. Autumn inquired again.
Monica asked.
Why is Daddy my daddy? she wondered. Monica looked at her, only one thought in her mind.
He's really not.
What do you mean? Monica asked.
I mean, I know you're my mommy because you carried me in your tummy like with this baby, she said. But why is Daddy my daddy?
Because he's married to me, Monica said, deciding that was a good answer.
Why is he married to you? Who decides who marries who?
We decided, Monica told her. You get to pick who you want to marry.
But you both had to pick each other? she wondered.
Monica told her.
So why did you and Daddy pick each other?
Because we love each other, she explained, knowing that was going to bring a thousand more questions on.
Why do we love each other? Monica asked.
Don't you love Daddy? Monica asked.
Yeah, but that's because he's Daddy! Why did you pick him to love?
It just happened that way, Monica said. I mean, you don't pick someone and think I'm going to fall in love with them.' You just fall in love with them.
That's weird, Autumn decided, crinkling her nose.
We knew each other for a long time, Monica furthered her story. And then eventually we just fell in love.
Monica said, not sure how to explain that. I can't explain that. I don't know. I mean, we started dating, and--
Why did you decide to start dating?
Monica though. What do I say now? Oh, we got drunk and slept together, Sweetie.' One night he was just really sweet to me when I was upset, she said. And it just kinda happened from there.
Monica asked, wondering how much longer the game of questions would last.
Where do babies come from?
Do you ever ask Daddy hard questions like this? Monica wondered. She looked at Autumn, who was waiting for an answer. You know what, why don't we pick just one dress out.
Autumn said, and Monica smiled at how she'd avoided the question.
*&*&*
Chandler said, coming through the door, Autumn in his arms. He threw his keys on the kitchen counter.
Hey guys, Monica smiled. Chandler put Autumn down and she ran into the living room.
So Autumn's been asking some interesting questions, Chandler said once she was out of the room.
You, too? Monica asked. I got about fifty of them when we were shopping for baby stuff the other day.
Yeah, well, Do you ever ask Daddy questions like this?' Chandler mimicked Autumn. Why did Mommy ask me that?' he added.
Monica said sheepishly. But she asked me where babies came from! I was trying to distract her.
She asked me that, too.
What did you tell her? Monica wondered.
She's got a new doll, Chandler stated.
Monica laughed. Yeah, and the baby's got a dress even though it could be a boy.
She could learn real soon that if she keeps asking that she gets whatever she wants at the time. He sorted through the mail he had brought in. Hey, what's this? he asked, holding up a large manilla envelope.
No idea, Monica said, looking through the mail he had tossed to her.
He opened it up and pulled out a piece of paper.
What is it?
It's Autumn's birth certificate, he said. I mean, her new one. With her new legal name, but the real time and weight and everything from when she was born.
Monica said, looking at it has he handed it to her. Well this is...
I know, Chandler said, patting her on the back. I mean, sometimes I feel like... well, I love Autumn more than anything. Well, not true. I love you and Autumn and the baby more than anything. But I can't help but feel...
Like you've given something up, Monica stated. He nodded. Yeah, I know.
he said. It's better not to think too much about it, right?
Yeah, you're right, she nodded and placed the birth certificate on the table, then smiled up at him.
How are you feeling today? he asked.
she said with a smile. Your son or daughter is thoroughly enjoying kicking me, she said with a smile. I mean, you know how when Autumn learns something new she does it over and over and over? she asked. He nodded. That's like what's going on here. The baby learned to kick, so it's kicking over and over. And over.
Isn't that... strange? Chandler asked. I mean, I can't even imagine having a baby, like, inside you, kicking you...
Yeah, it's really strange, Monica said. But in a good way. You know, strange like it was strange when you and I first got together.
He smiled at her. Okay, I get you, he said. That was really strange, but a good strange.
You know what? she asked with a smile.
I love being pregnant. I mean, it's just so... amazing. I mean, uncomfortable at times, and it's not always great being fat, but most of the time I love it. I think you're gonna have to keep me this way.
Chandler grinned. Well, we'll see what we can do about that. He kissed her on top of the head and started massaging her shoulders. Besides, I think you're even more amazingly beautiful when you're pregnant, so I don't have a problem with it.
Monica said. How the hell did I end up with the sweetest guy in the world.
I don't know, Chandler laughed. But if you figure it out be sure to tell Autumn, because she wants to know.
She asked you that, too?! Monica laughed, getting up from her chair. She was asking me about you and me, too, she paused. God, my feet are sore!
Okay, then there's only one thing we can do about that, he said, taking her hand and pulling her into the living room. Sit down, he said pointing to the couch. Monica obliged and let him rub her feet and ankles.
Mommy? Daddy? Autumn asked, coming into the living room a few minutes later.
the both asked in unison. They figured she had more questions.
This says I was born at 1:14, she told them, showing them the paper that she had in her hand, which was her new birth certificate. Daddy told me that I was born at 1:22!
Monica and Chandler looked at each other, not sure what to tell her.
Okay, so that's where I'm gonna leave off for now! Not much happened in this part, but I'm trying to get back in the flow of it. Hopefully part 6 will be out before another ten months! ;)
