Here's the next part! YAY! Thanks for all the great reviews! Also, I'm going on holiday on Sunday for two weeks so I'm going to try and update the most I can, so please let me know what you think.
Overshadowed - 4
Chandler only left Monica's room when he was sure she was asleep. He knew he had to let everyone know what was going on. He wasn't surprised to see them all, still there waiting in silence.
Ross was the first to notice him, he opened his mouth to ask what was going on but no words come out. He was afraid of hearing something he didn't want to hear if they did.
One by one, they all looked towards where Ross staring, still no one spoke. Chandler leant against the wall, feeling emotionally drained. He knew they would all be wondering what was happening but he couldn't bring himself to speak. Everything was just flying around in his head; the last couple of hours had been hell.
"Chandler?" Judy Geller was the first the break the silence.Once he heard his name, he looked back at them. Tears shone in his eyes, he desperately wanted to let them fall but they would suspect the worse had happened.
"She's okay…." He managed to choke out. "Monica is going to be okay…"There were various cries of relief before once again silence took over as they waited for more news.
"The baby…. he's…ummm" Chandler struggled to find the words, "he's pretty sick…"
"But he'll be okay?" Rachel queried.
"The doctor said it's to early to tell…he's heart failed once…" Chandler explained in the calmest voice he could manage. "But he's a fighter, he'll be okay…"
"Dude… you have another son!" Joey said, excitedly.
Chandler finally allowed his tears escape; he managed to grin before he felt a pair of arms wrap around him that soon followed by 4 more.
"Thanks, guys…" Chandler said, as they all released him.
"It's what friends are for.." Phoebe told him."Yeah, if you need anything…then just ask…" Rachel added.
"I really appreciate it…" Chandler said, "why don't you guys come and see Mon…"
"I thought only family were allowed…" Joey said, worried that maybe they would leave, Phoebe, Mike and himself there on their own.
"Joe, you are family!" Chandler smiled at him.
Joey smiled back before they all followed Chandler down to Monica's room.
"Remember she needs her rest…" Chandler stated before opening the door to found her already awake.
"Hi, I got some visitors…" He told her, as they all walked in.
"Hey, Mon…How you feeling?" Ross asked, moving towards her bed.
"Tired…" She admitted as Chandler took hold of her hand.
"Yeah, well I'm just glad you're okay…" Chandler kissed her hair.
"We all are…" Rachel added, tearfully.
Monica smiled slightly, leaning up against Chandler when he sat on the edge of her bed and put his arm around her.
Just then Dr Gorman entered the room, looking surprised at the number of people in there.
"What's this?" He asked, smiling slightly. "A party?"
"Oh, sorry…" Ross said, standing up from the bed. "We just wanted to see Mon for a minute."
"Yeah, we'll leave…" Phoebe added.
"No, no…don't worry…" He stopped them. "Just don't stay to long and don't make to much noise…"
"Thank you, Doctor…" Judy flashed him a smile.
"No problem…" He glanced over at Chandler. "I just come to tell you, your son his back from having tests…"
"He's okay, though?" Chandler panicked, his arm tightening around Monica.
"We're still waiting for the results but I could take you up to him if you like…" He told him, "but I'm afraid only and Monica are allowed in there at the moment."
"Oh right…well, thanks…" Chandler glanced at the others sympathetically.
"And I would prefer if Monica got a bit more rest before…" He added. "But it's up to you…if you think you're up to it…"
"I'll stay here with the guys…" Monica decided, knowing she didn't have enough strength at the moment. "But you go…"
"You sure?" Chandler asked, he didn't really want to leave her but he also didn't want Jonathon alone either.
"Yeah, go see our son.." She gave him a small smile.
"Okay, but if anything happens get some to find me!" He told her.
"I will…" she added, as he kissed her softly.
"I love you so much…" He whispered, forgetting about everyone else there, who just watched the couple.
"I love you too…" She replied. He gave another kiss before get off the bed. "Say Hi to Jonathon for me…"
"Who's Jonathon?" Joey frowned.
Chandler grinned and turned to look at his friends. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you… our son his called Jonathon Chandler Bing…"
"Chandler? That's not fair!" Joey moaned. "You should have Joey!"
"Yeah! Phoebe Joey…" Phoebe added. "Oh, that's has a nice ring to it!"
"Pheebs, it's a boy.." Rachel told her.
"So? I named one of the triplets after Chandler and she was a girl!"
"Yeah but Chandler is a girly name…" Ross teased.
"Hey guys, thanks for staying and moaning about my son's name and insulting mine!" Chandler replied, sarcastically.
"Aw, don't listen to them…I think it's a beautiful name!" Rachel told him.
"Yeah, we were only joking…" Ross said.
"I wasn't!" Joey shook his head, causing Rachel to slap him.
"Well, I can see Baby Jonathon has a lovely family to look out for him…" Dr Gorman smiled at them all. "He's very lucky."
"Thank you…" Chandler smiled at him before looking back at the others. "Look after her, okay?"
"Yeah, sure…don't worry, just go be with your son…" Rachel told him.
As soon as he left the room with Dr Gorman Monica turned to the others.
"How is he really?" She asked, knowing that he was trying to be strong for her.
"He's holding up pretty well…" Ross told her.
"Seriously?" Monica enquired, knowing they were holding something back from her.
"Yeah, well…of course he was a bit worried about you and the baby…" Rachel moved to sit next to her on the bed, "But now he knows you're okay…he's fine."
"Guys…please…just tell me what happened."
"He was feeling a bit guilty…that's all…" Ross sighed.
"What for?"
"He signed a form giving permission for them do to a C-section…he thought if anything happened, you would blame him…"
"That's crazy!"
"Look, Mon…I think he was just scared and nervous…I wouldn't worry about it."
"Umm…" She replied, staring at the door that he just walked out of.
XxXxX
Chandler looked down at the sleeping baby; he was beautiful even with all the wires and tubes around him.
Chandler slowly lowered himself into a chair as he stared through the glass at his son.
"Hey, Jonathon…how you doing?" He whispered, not really knowing what else to say. He tried to ignore the steady beeping of one of the machines but he couldn't, not while knowing that it was beat of his son's heart.
"You just hang there, okay? You're going to fine…" Chandler could feel tears burning in his eyes, as he watched his son's little chest rise up and down painfully slow. "We're going to look after you…me and your Mom will do everything we can… then there's your bother and sister…they can't wait to met you…and the gang, you've got so many people who love you already so you…yo-you just hold on…please…"
Chandler continued to look at him for a few more minutes before leaning back in his chair, his eyes still on Jonathon. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, brushing away the tears.
He knew he probably go and see everyone else but he couldn't bring himself to live. He was so scared that if he did, when he came back, Jonathon wouldn't be there and there was no way he would be able to handle that.
He could feel his eyelids slowly closing; he had been a long day. He decided to have a short nap, just for 10 minutes before going back to see Monica.
An hour later, Monica was wheeled into the baby care unit; she smiled when she saw Chandler fast asleep in the chair.
"I'll give you guys some privacy…" The nurse who had been pushing her said quietly.
Monica thanked her before turning her attention back to Chandler. She placed a hand on his cheek, noticing it was damp with tears.
"Hey…" He said groggily, slowly opening his eyes.
"Hey, yourself…" She smiled at him. "You okay?"
"Yeah, sorry I fell asleep…" He said, stretching.
"Doesn't matter…" Monica replied quietly, she stopped paying attention to him, her eyes fixed on the baby in front of her.
Chandler noticed the tears in her eyes, he placed his arm around. "That's our son Mon…"
"He's so tiny…" She whispered, leaning against Chandler.
"I know…" He took her hand and gently squeezed it.
"He's going to be okay, right?" Her grip tightened around his hand.
"He's a fighter, Mon… he's going to get through this…" Chandler told her, kissing the side of her head before pulling her closer. They just sat there all night, holding each other, while watching their son.
XxXxX
Ben yawned as he listened to his Maths teacher drone on and on about multiplying fractions. Normally he enjoyed maths, he was pretty good at it but not today. He had to spend the night with his Moms because his Dad and Rachel were at the hospital all night.
"Ben? Ben…dude!" Matt threw his pen at him to get his attention.
"Hey!" Ben chucked it back.
"You are alive then…" Matt grinned at him. "What's up with you today…"
"Nothing! I'm just tired…" Ben sighed, "And my Aunt was rushed into hospital yesterday…"
"Is she okay?"
"I don't really know what's happening…" Ben shrugged. "They delivered the baby…its to soon…he's quite ill.."
"I'm sorry, dude…" Matt shot him a sympathetic look.
Ben gave him a half-hearted smile as the bell rang, signalling the end of the lesson.
"Well, guess you can have a nap in the next lesson…" Matt said, while they picked up their books.
"What we got?" Ben asked, following him out of the room.
"Science!" Matt grinned widely, causing Ben groan.
XxXxX
"Daddy!!" Erica screeched when she saw Chandler walking down the corridor towards them. She wriggled out of Joey's arms and run to him, with Jack closely behind.
"Hey guys!" He crouched down and they both ran into his arms. "I've missed you two…"
"It's only been one night!" Jack stated, rolling his eyes.
"Shut up, Jack!" Erica glared at him and hugged her Dad again. "I missed you, Daddy."
Chandler grinned and picked her up, he looked over at Ross, Joey and Rachel.
"Thanks for looking after them last night…" He said to them.
"Hey, no problem!" Rachel told him. "How are they doing today?"
"Well, Mon's doing good…Phoebe's with her at the moment…" Chandler told them, watching Jack as he sat on the floor by his feet playing with a toy car and then looked at Erica who was still in his arms, playing the gold chain around his neck.
"What about Jonathon?" Ross asked, gently.
"Nothing's changed.." He sighed loudly. "They keep taking him for test and stuff…but then been no more news…"
"When do I get to see him?!" Erica asked, not understanding the situation.
"Don't know, Honey…" Chandler told her softly. "He's not very well at the moment…"
"Oh…" Erica thought about it for a moment and then looked at Chandler again. "Can we swap him for a girl? I don't want another brother…I want a sister."
Chandler laughed lightly, "I'm sorry…doesn't quite work like that…"
"Well, how does it work then?"
"Um, erm…." Chandler wasn't quite sure how he should explain it. "Maybe next time it'll be a girl."
"When will that be?" Erica continued.
"Um, I dunno…."
"Oh…" Erica frowned, thoughtfully. "Who gave us Jonathon?"
"Erm…no one, really.."
"So, how did he get here?!"
Chandler glanced around, noticing Jack was now paying attention to the conversation, staring up at him, waiting for his answer. While Joey, Ross and Rachel stood back, watching in amusement.
"Hey, lets go see Mommy!" Chandler said, over enthusiastically.
"Yeah!" Erica forgot about the conversation and jumped out of Chandler's arms. "I drawed her picture…"
"I did a better one!" Jack stated.
"No! Mine is the bestest!" Erica argued as they both took their bags from Rachel.
"Nice parenting there, man…" Ross laughed.
"Oh, like you could have done better!" Chandler glared at him.
"Yeah! Ben's 14 and you still haven't had 'the talk' with him!" Rachel added.
Before anyone could say anymore, Erica and Jack each grabbed one of Chandler's hands, pulling him down the corridor.
"Come on!" Jack told him. "We gotta see Mommy!"
"Alright, slow down.." Chandler laughed, stood still, causing them to stop. He crouched down to their height again. "Okay, right I want you two to be on your best behaviour, okay? Your Mom's very tired."
"Okay…" Jack shrugged, not really bothered.
Erica smiled innocently at him and held her arms open for him to pick her up again.
"Wow, she really is a Daddy's Girl…" Rachel commented. "How does Monica compete with her?"
"She has her ways!" Chandler grinned.
"Ew! Dude, that's my sister!" Ross moaned.
Chandler shook his head slightly and rolled his eyes as they began walking towards Monica's room. He couldn't help the small smile that formed on his face when he felt Jack take his hand silently and walked beside him. Jack rarely showed loving affection, he was at the stage where he hated be kissed or hugged but Erica loved it. She would always wanting a hug or kiss, especially off Chandler.
As soon as they walked into Monica's room, Jack ran straight to her side to show her the picture he drew for her.
"Hey…" Chandler gave her small smile as he bent down and placed Erica on the bed beside her, while also leaning in to kiss her softly.
"Hi!" She smiled at him but then turned her attention back to the kids as they both tried to show that their picture was best.
No one else talked, they just listened to the two of them argue amongst themselves, all wearing the same amused smile. They looked towards the door when they heard someone clear their throat.
"Sorry, I'm not interrupting am I?" Dr Gorman asked.
"No, not at all.." Monica said, searching for Chandler's hand but her eyes never left the doctor. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes…well actually, I've got some good news…" He smiled reassuringly at them. "You'll be able to go home tomorrow."
"That's great!" Chandler grinned widely.
"But you will have to take it easy…"
"She's not doing nothing!" Chandler stated.
"That's sweet, Honey but…" Monica laughed slightly.
"No, no… you're not doing nothing until you're completely better!" He insisted, cutting her off.
"Yeah, you better listen to him, Mon!" Rachel added, "He sounds serious."
"I am!"
"Oh and some other news…you'll be glad to hear that tomorrow Jonathon will be allowed visitors.."
"Oh Yay!" Phoebe exclaimed.
"Great! I get to see my namesake.." Joey put in.
"Um, Joe…he's named after Chandler…" Monica reminded him.
"What? I thought you changed it!"
"Why would we change it?!"
"Because Chandler is a girly name!"
"HEY!"
XxXxX
Jack and Erica stood at the front, staring through the glass in awe while the adults stood back with the same look.
"He's so beautiful…" Rachel whispered.
"We know." Chandler smiled.
"What do you guys think?" Monica asked the twins.
"He's alright for a boy…" Erica shrugged."His tiny!" Jack stated. "Was I that small?"
"No, you were a bit bigger…" Chandler told him.
"Oh…"
"I can tell he's going to break some hearts when his older…" Phoebe mused.
"Yeah! I'll be his teacher!" Joey grinned. "Not like Chandler could do any good!"
"Excuse me?" Chandler looked at him. "I'm the one who's married."
"Exactly! Never catch me getting married!"
"Oh you well! When you find the love of your life you'll change your mind!" Chandler said.
"Whatever dude!" Joey laughed.
"What's happened to you?!" Rachel asked, staring at Chandler.
"Huh? Nothing!" He frowned.
"No, no…you've changed!" She told him.
"Yeah! You use to be this sarcastic, commitment freak… who was living with an actor and had a duck and a chick as pets…kinda guy." Phoebe added. "Now, you're married, with three kids…"
"Is that a bad thing?" He looked between the two women.
"No, no…" Rachel assured him. "It's kinda…sexy."
"Yeah!" Phoebe agreed quickly.
"Excuse me…" Ross tapped Rachel on the shoulder. "Remember me?"
Rachel rolled her eyes at him before turning back to Chandler. "What I mean is that you've really grown up over the last few years."
"Well, thanks…I guess…" Chandler replied.
"Yeah but as long as you remember he's mine…" Monica said, putting a possessive arm around him.
"Oh, I'm own now am I?" Chandler teased.
"Hey, I tamed you, I keep you!" Monica told him.
"I can live with that!""See! There! The old Chandler would have made some sort of sarcastic comment!"
"Sarcasm is SO over rated!" Chandler grinned and gave Monica a kiss on the cheek, causing the others to moan, teasingly.
"Grown ups are weird!" Jack concluded.
"Yeah, I know!" Chandler agreed and ruffled Jack's hair.
Silence settled over the group again and they all looked down at baby Jonathon again, happy smiles on their faces.
"We better get going…" Ross said after a few minutes. "Visiting hours are nearly over…"
"Okay, thanks for everything guys…" Monica said, while hugging each other then.
"Do you want us to take the twins again tonight?" Rachel asked. "Give you more time with Jonathon and you get some time alone to."
"I don't know.." Chandler looked back at them, both still amazed by the baby. "You've guys have done so much already…"
"Hey, its not a problem.." Ross told him. "We're just glad we can help somehow…"
"You sure?" Monica checked. Over the last couple of days, she and Chandler haven't had much time alone together and she wanted to spend as much time as she could with Jonathon.
"Yeah, course we are!" Rachel smiled. "We'll drop them off in the morning…"
"Thanks, guys!" Chandler said before turning back to the twins. "You two are staying at Uncle Ross' again tonight.."
"But I wanna stay with Jonathon!" Erica pouted.
"You can come back and see him tomorrow." Chandler promised.
"Okay…" She sighed dramatically."Alright, I'll see you tomorrow!" Monica said to them, giving them each a kiss.
"Yeah, be good!" Chandler added, also kissing them both.
"DAD!" Jack whined, wiping his cheek. He accepted it when Monica did it because she was his Mom but his Dad was a guy.
"Night guys!" He grinned at him. After they all had left the room, Chandler turned back to Monica. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, looking over her shoulder down at Jonathon.
"We're so lucky…" He whispered.
"I know!" She replied tearfully, leaning back in his arms. They heard the door open and close again, expecting it to one of their friends, returning but when they turned and they saw Dr Gorman stood with a grave look on his face.
"Mr and Mrs Bing…. there's something I have to tell you…" He told them slowly.
"What? What is it?"
"As you know, we've been running tests…" He started. "We've discovered that Jonathon's is not responding to the treatment…"
Chandler felt Monica tense in his arms and he tightened his grip around her. He tried to swallow the lump that rose in his throat.
"Well…what, umm what does that mean?" He stuttered.
"I'm sorry…his organs are slowly failing…"
"Is he going to die?" Monica asked, quietly the question causing tears to form in both hers and Chandler's eyes.
"I'm sorry…it's hard to say…" Dr Gorman admitted, he hated breaking this kind of news to anybody, but this time it was worse. He really thought that Baby Jonathon would be okay and saw how many people how loved him.
"So, there's a chance he'll be okay?" Chandler asked, if there was any kind of hope, he was going to hold onto it as tight as he could.
"He would some operations…"
"Well, when can that be?" Chandler cut him off.
"He'll need a heart transplant…" Dr Gorman said sadly. "The waiting list is quite long…"
"Waiting list!! This is my Son we're talking about!!" Chandler cried.
"I know, I'm sorry…we're trying everything we can…" He tried to explain but neither of them was paying attention to him. "I'll leave you alone…I'm sorry…"
"He'll be okay, won't he?" Monica asked Chandler.
He looked down at her, tears overflowed in his eyes. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight, not saying a word, not wanting to make any promises he couldn't keep. He turned his attention to Jonathon, watching as his chest slowly rose up and down with the help from all the machines around him. He closed his eyes and leant his head against Monica's as sobs shook their bodies.
TBC
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