A/N: So sorry that is has been so long since I've updated. I'm in the process of trying to graduate from college in August and have been extremely busy. This is probably the last chapter, but there will hopefully be an epilogue. I had thought about taking this in another direction, but decided to have just a sweet, sappy ending instead!
Rachel laid in her hospital bed and just bawled. She couldn't believe her new-found daughter had to leave. She was so afraid that she would never see Mandy again. Just as she was about to lose it, she heard a whimper from the little bassinet beside her bed. She wiped the tears from her eyes and reached for her son. She had to hold it together. She had a husband and two children who needed her.
After she had fed Caleb, she got out of bed to finish packing. Ross had gotten almost everything ready that morning, but there were still a few little things that needed to be packed. As soon as Ross got back from the airport and from picking Emma up at her grandparent's they were going home. Monica was bringing dinner over that night and all their friends were coming over to welcome home the newest member of the Geller family. Just as Rachel was finishing getting the last of her things out of the bathroom, Ross and Emma walked in the door.
"Sweetie, why are you up? You're supposed to be taking it easy!" exclaimed Ross.
"I had to do something to get my mind off of, well everything," Rachel quietly replied.
"Oh, sweetie come here," stated Ross as he took Rachel into his arms. "Everything is going to be just fine. Mandy is going to come in a month or so when school is out to visit. She's back in your life now, for good."
"I'm just so afraid that her parents are going to forbid her to see me again or something," Rachel said as tears filled her eyes once again.
"Honey, that is not going to happen. Now I'm going to go and get the nurse to come dismiss you so we can get home," said Ross.
After Ross left to go get the nurse, Emma came up and hugged her mommy. "Mommy, are you sad because Mandy had to go home?" she asked.
"Yes, sweetie, I am. I'm going to miss Mandy very much," replied Rachel.
"I'm going to miss her too, mommy, but don't worry I'm never going to leave you," Emma said seriously.
Rachel stifled a giggle then replied, "Sweetheart, one of these days you're going to want to move out on your own, but not for a very long time. And you don't have to worry either because your mommy will always be here." Rachel then hugged her little girl tightly and thought about just how blessed she was to have this precious angel. Ross and the nurse then came back in and the Geller family headed home.
When they got home Ross fixed the bassinet in the family room for Caleb and helped Rachel to relax on the couch. He then unloaded the car and went about putting everything away. Emma curled up with her mommy on the couch and after a little bit they were both sound asleep. Ross walked into the living room and wiped the tears from his eyes and the sight of his family all asleep. He loved Rachel and his children so much. The only thing that could have possibly made this day any better would be if Mandy and Ben were here. Then their family would be complete. He missed Ben so much since he and his mommies had moved to California after Susan's job got transferred, but he would be seeing him in a few weeks because he was coming to spend the summer with his dad.
Rachel was awakened about an hour later by her son's cries. She took him out of his bassinet and began to feed him. Emma stirred on the couch then went right back to sleep. When Rachel was finished feeding Caleb, she got up to take him to his room to change his diaper. Just as she was fixing to head up the stairs, Ross came and took him from her. "Here, let me do that. I want you to get as much rest as you can for these next couple of days before I have to go to work on Monday. You just go relax," said Ross.
"Okay, honey. Thank you so much," Rachel replied as she gave her husband a kiss. Just as Rachel was about to sit down on the couch, her cell phone began to ring. She didn't recognize the number, but answered it anyway.
"Hello," said Rachel.
"Hey, it's me!" came Mandy's excited voice over the line.
"Hey sweetie, are you home?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, I just got back to my house. I'm calling on my new cell phone that my parents gave me! Isn't that great! And I get to go get my learner's permit tomorrow,." Mandy enthusiastically told her mother.
"Wow, Mandy that is so great. It sounds like your parents weren't too mad," replied Rachel.
"Well, they weren't too happy that I ran off, but they also realized that they had been way too strict with me. They told me about how hard they had tried for a baby and how they thought of me as their miracle. They were so afraid that I would meet you and not love them anymore, but I do still love them because they are my parents," said Mandy.
Rachel's heart broke just a little at this. She knew that Mandy loved her parents, but somewhere deep down she had hoped that Mandy would love her more and maybe want to come live with her.
"Well," began Rachel, "that's great. I'm really glad you and your parents worked everything out. I hope you'll be happy."
"I think I will be happier now than I was before. Not just because my parents are going to be more lenient, but because I have you in my life too. I finally feel like I belong now," said Mandy.
"That's great. So are you going to get to come visit this summer?" asked Rachel.
"Yeah, mom and dad said it was just fine. I'm really excited! How's my baby brother?" asked Mandy.
"He's great. Ross is changing his diaper now and he just finished eating," Rachel said.
"Oh," said Mandy, "my mom wants to talk to you. Here she is!"
This threw Rachel for a loop! "Hello?" she questioned.
"Hi, Rachel," said Anita Jones. "I just wanted to thank you for taking care of Mandy this week. No, actually I want to thank you for Mandy. She is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I don't know what I would have done if it had not been for her. I know it must have been so hard for you to give up your child, but I just wanted you to know that by doing that you, well, you made my life." Anita was now crying.
Rachel had no earthly idea what to say to this. "Umm, well, giving up Mandy was so hard, but I believe at the time it was the right thing to do. You and your husband sound like you have been wonderful parents for her and that's all I ever really wanted. I'm just happy that now maybe I can have her in my life because I have missed her so much all these years." Rachel was now also bawling.
"Well," started Anita, "I was so afraid for Mandy to meet you because I didn't want her to forget about me, but I'm glad Mandy got to meet you. I have never seen her this happy and she just adores your husband and your children. All she's talked about since she got off the plane is her little sister and her new little brother. Mandy deserves to have that."
"Well, my husband and daughter absolutely love Mandy," began Rachel. "Emma has been upset all afternoon because Mandy had to go home. She loves having a big sister. We're all looking forward to Mandy coming and visiting this summer."
"I know Mandy is too," said Anita. "I hope that maybe sometime my husband and I can meet you as well. We would love to meet the woman who gave us our precious Mandy."
"Maybe you guys can fly out with her or something," said Rachel.
"I'm sure we'll work something out," replied Anita. "I'll let you go now because I know with a new baby in the house you have a lot going on. Bye."
"Bye," said Rachel.
As Rachel hung up the phone she could hear Ross letting her friends into the front door. She just couldn't get over just how perfect her life was. She had the best friends in the world, a wonderful husband, and THREE perfect children. She had to be the luckiest girl in the world!
