Rachel sat on the couch , her glasses resting on her nose. Reports were spread all over the coffee table. She didn't know what she was going to say when he got home. Rachel could only hold him and that was about it. How would she tell her children that their grandmother was dying?
Chandler was a stranger to death. He had went out of his way to avoid the topic. Now it was going to be brought into his life. He had always built up a resentment for the way that Judy treated Monica. It all started the first night that they got together in London. She made Monica feel that she would be an old maid and never get married. It was that emotion that made Monica drink and end up in his bed.
Monica walked into the living room and hugged Chandler.
"Oh honey, how is she?" he asked with concern.
"She is fine now, they started a transfusion to get her strength back and when I left she was eating something." Monica said unemotionally.
"It's going to be alright." Chandler said as he stroked her back . "I am going to be here for you ."
"What did I ever do to deserve such a wonderful husband as you ?" she said as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"You loved me, Monica." he simply said.
Rachel heard the key in the lock. She stood up and ran to the door. He didn't need to say a word. She knew and she was ready to show him how much she loved him.
Taking Ross' hand, she led him to the couch. He sat down next to her as she cradled his head and caressed his hair. He sighed and then she could feel the tears flowing from his eyes. Seeing him hurt this bad, made her lay her own head on his shoulder. Quietly they comforted each other in the dark apartment.
"I told you I would never leave you again." she whispered.
"It's cancer, Rach." he said softly.
"I have always thought of your mother like my own mother. She is the one that would listen to me when I was growing up and she was one of the people that fought so hard for us." Rachel said. "She will beat this."
"Are you doing anything tomorrow?" Ross asked.
"Yes I am going with my husband to the hospital. The year end reports can wait another day." Rachel said.
"You know you don't have to." said Ross.
"For better , for worse, in sickness and in health. I believe Joey said." Rachel said.
Ross got up from the couch with his arm around Rachel. "Let's go to bed. It's been one hell of a day." They walked slowly to their bedroom looking in on their twelve year old daughter. Emma laid in her bed so peaceful and oblivious to the news around her.
"We'll tell her tomorrow." Ross said .
"Jack,Erica, " Chandler started. "Nana is in the hospital and she is very sick. "
"When you say very what do you mean?" asked Jack, who was very inquisitive for his age.
"Kids ,grandma has cancer of the blood." Monica said as she bent her head over.
"You mean leukemia?" asked Erica. "Poor grandma Geller."
"Yeah the only thing that Grandma Bing goes in for is plastic surgery." said Jack.
Chandler had to smile. Jack was a chip off the old block. Cracking jokes was his own way to deal with tragedy. Erica was more like her mother, very meticulous and neurotic. Monica had taken very special care to not favor one child over the other.
"Is she going to die?" asked Erica.
"That we don't know sweetheart. But we are going to the hospital tomorrow with your mother, so we can show Nana Geller how much we care for her." Chandler said assuringly.
Monica took a breath and closed her eyes. Judy couldn't leave her yet. There were so many ghosts to exorcise and hurts to heal. She couldn't leave this world knowing that her daughter thought she had always failed her.
But she hadn't failed. In front of her stood a very loving husband, a product of a more dysfunctional household then her own. She was the mother of two very special children. She considered Jack and Erica , her gift from God. She had the best friends that anyone could have , including the relationship between her and her brother that was salvaged after years of torment and jealousy. No Monica Geller-Bing had not failed . In fact , she had succeeded at something her Phd brother could not, she managed to hold on to one person .
Chandler walked over to her and cradled her in his arms. "It's been a long day and tomorrow will be even longer. Why don't we go to bed?"
She looked up at him and smiled. Yes, she would feel safe in his arms.
The night sky twinkled and the lull had come. Forever their world was changing. A woman lay in a bed as memories flooded her mind, her husband restlessly wandered an empty house. Safely they were tucked away, in the arms of the person they loved. Grasping onto their lovers, they were sheltered from the pain.
Perhaps it was all just a bad dream….reality told them it was not.
