I'm sorry that it took so long. God, how often did I already say that? hehe. But again, I did my best. So please enjoy.
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"Ross, darling, there you are." Judy Geller greeted her son. "We've looked for you everywhere." His mother pointed at her husband, who strolled slowly behind her.
"Well, now you've found me." Ross said, casting a worried sideway glance at his sister before turning fully to face his parents. He knew that since Monica's divorce her relationship with her mother reached another low point.
"Hello, son. Now, where is that little new grand child of mine?" Jack Geller asked while clapping Ross on the back.
"Oh, uhm, right here." Ross led them to the big window where Monica was now again watching the babies hoping her mother would ignore her.
"Aww, she's precious, Ross. But you always have pretty cute babies." Judy stated with a meaningful look at Monica.
"Your mother is right, Ross. Little Christina is by far the sweetest thing in there." His father added.
After five minutes of silent watching Ross decided to go join Joey and Phoebe in the cafeteria. Jack perked up as soon as his son mentioned the chance of getting something to eat so he went to accompany him.
"You coming, Mon?" Ross asked his sister.
"Sure." Monica answered in the direction of her already leaving brother.
Just as Monica wanted to go after Ross and her father to get away from her mother, Judy started to talk to her.
~*~
Chandler made his way back to Rachel's room. When he saw none off his friends in the hallway in front of it he thought that Rachel was allowed to have visitors now and that they were all in there with her. He didn't want to talk to Monica with all the others there but he was sure that she would come with him to a more private spot if he asked her to.
Chandler was surprised to be alone in the room after he stepped through the door. Well, almost alone, since Rachel was lying asleep in her hospital bed. After he turned around to leave the room again it became clear that Rachel wasn't asleep like Chandler had thought.
"Chandler?" came Rachel's weak voice from the white bed. "You are still here." She added with relief.
Chandler walked over and looked down at her taking in her pale appearance. He noticed her tiredness when she fought to keep her eyes from closing.
"Rachel, maybe you should rest a little more. You had a hard day."
"Where is…" Rachel started but didn't manage to end her sentence.
"Your baby is perfectly fine. She is in good hands." Chandler answered what he believed was her question. "And the others are around here somewhere too." He added.
"Monica?" Rachel questioned. Chandler just nodded and tried to ignore the surprised look on Rachel's face.
"You should really get some sleep now. You have to get better soon for little Christina, ok?" Chandler told Rachel almost whispering. "I'll go find the gang and tell them that they can see you later."
When Rachel nodded lazily, her eyes already closed again, Chandler made his way out of the hospital room. He stood in front of the door again but there was still no sign of anyone familiar. So he made his way to the first place he could think off to search for the rest of the group. He figured they would be visiting the baby. And if he didn't find anyone there he was sure he could at least find Joey. "At the cafeteria." Chandler thought with a smirk on his face. So he went to check the nursery first.
But since the hospital hallways all looked the same to Chandler he decided after a few minutes of walking around to ask a passing nurse for the right directions. Of course he had been going the wrong way so he turned around and walked the way back he came, passing Rachel's room again and traveled on hopefully heading to the baby ward.
After a few turns he got confused again and stopped to re-orientate when he heard a familiar voice behind the next corner. He went a little closer and confirmed that it was Ross talking. Chandler heard that they wanted to head down to the cafeteria, so he took a deep breath to calm himself before turning the corner. But just as Chandler wanted to join the others he stopped dead in his tracks. He heard another voice now. One, that made him realize that he wouldn't go over to them now for all the money in the world.
~*~
"So, Monica…" Judy Geller began what Monica knew would be another praising about what a great human being Ross was and a reminder of what a big failure she was. And sure enough her mother didn't let Monica's lack of an answer stop her.
"Isn't Christina the cutest baby?" Judy started. "I could tell at the first look that she was Ross'. She is by far the prettiest."
"Mhm." Monica still tried to focus on the babies but knew that this was too good of a chance for her mom to let pass.
"Do you realize that this is Ross' second child already?" Judy went on with another side glance at her daughter.
"I'm painfully aware of that." Monica mumbled.
"What was that?" Judy asked but before Monica could repeat what she said or think of something better to say her mother went on again. "I always thought you wanted to have kids too." Judy said.
Monica turned her head to look at her mom, not sure what to make of that comment. It hadn't even sounded accusing or anything. But just as Monica thought she could talk to her mother about her worries and problems Judy Geller proved again what kind of person she was, at least in regard of her daughter.
"But then again you managed to ruin your probably last chance for children." Judy mused as if she didn't know how much that little comment would hurt her youngest child.
~*~
Chandler almost gasped loudly at what he eavesdropped and had to bite his fist to stay quiet. But then he winced because he had bitten down too hard. He stepped away from the corner and hoped that they hadn't heard him. What he listened to had been a shock to him. He knew Judy Geller was sometimes unnecessarily cruel with her comments directed at Monica. But he'd thought even Judy wouldn't stoop that low. He edged his way back to his former position to hear Monica's counter.
~*~
Judy knew the second the words left her mouth that she went too far this time and the wounded look on her daughters face confirmed it. But just as she wanted to take it back Monica lowered her head and spoke up.
"You know what, mom?" Monica started and Judy knew she deserved everything she'd get to hear. "You are right."
That sentence left two people speechless. Chandler couldn't understand how Monica, who never admitted defeat easily, would give up like that without telling her mother off. And Judy saw, maybe for the first time, that her daughter needed her as mother who would listen to her kid's problems and not just criticize it.
But right then as Judy wanted to apologize, Monica went on.
"Yes, you are right. I ruined my chance for being a mother and even worse than that – for being a wife. I drove away that one person that stood by me almost my whole life. The one person I loved…no, love, more than anything." Monica corrected herself. "But I lost him. And I know deep down that I'll never get another chance. Because I don't want anyone but him and it's time to realize that I'll never have him again. I hurt him…so bad." Monica shook her head and suppressed a sob. "And I don't blame him for never wanting to see me again after what I did to him." Monica had tears streaming down her face now. "I regret it. Every day, I'm paying for my horrible mistake. So you see, mom" Monica continued. "You are right. I'll never have this." She turned around to point at the sleeping babies. "I'll never have a child or a family because I don't deserve that. And that is my punishment. So save whatever mean remark you have to throw at me. Because you can't hurt me worse than the pain I'm already in." Monica finished bitterly and turned to go.
But before she got away Judy grabbed her arm and spun her back around. She threw her arms around her crying daughter and pulled her into a long overdue hug. "I'm sorry, Monica. I didn't mean what I said." Judy said with a tear choked voice. "I don't know why I always say things like that to you. But you have to believe me: I don't really mean them." Judy explained. "You are an amazing daughter and I'm sorry that I don't tell you that more often. But I'll work on that."
Monica pulled back and smiled a little through her tears. "Thanks, mom."
Judy hugged her a little harder. "You're welcome, dear."
~*~
Chandler felt a tear run down his cheek so he wiped it away before someone saw it. To say that he was shocked by what he had heard would be an understatement. He never liked to see Monica cry. And hearing her there pouring her heart out and crying over him made him incredibly sad. But it made him also realize that he couldn't talk to Monica. Not then and there at least. So he turned around and went back to his hotel.
TBC...
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Ok, another chapter done. Woohoo. I can tell you that it's coming to an end now. Maybe one or two more chapters. And hopefully within this year. ;-P Now do your job and review.