Listen To Your Heart – Chapter Sixteen
xx
Joey stormed down the walkway towards his parents' home, his angry breathing rough and unsteady. He forced himself to take a deep breath in an attempt to settle some of his anger at his sister. The whole cab ride he'd had his fist balled up, and had to continually remind himself that punching something was not a good idea. He wasn't a violent person, but seeing Chandler in such a horrible state due to his damn sister's selfishness had thrown him into a fury. He couldn't believe she'd dare try such a thing! He was going to give her a piece of his mind if it was the last thing he did.
He banged on his parents' front door, loudly, ignoring the doorbell. Screw not hitting something.
Almost immediately Gloria answered the door, eyeing her son, her warm brown eyes wide with worry. "Joey, dear, what's wrong? Are you okay, darling? Tell me what's happened."
Joey swallowed down a lump of anger and demanded, without answering the question, "Where's Angie?"
His mother glanced up at him carefully and suggested, "Your sister isn't here. Maybe you should come inside. There's no point in yelling on the doorstep and attracting the attention of all the neighbours."
Joey huffed but listened to his mother anyway, stepping through the doorframe and stomping into the kitchen – so she'd know he still wasn't pleased – and settled at the table, where his father was already seated. Joey Sr. looked up at his son, and chuckled. "What's got your pants in a twist? Rachel tell you she's pregnant?"
Gloria shook her head severely at her husband, behind her son's back, suggesting now was not the time for jokes. He shrugged back sheepishly.
Joey just glowered. "Dad, do you know where Mary Angela is?" he snipped.
Joe raised an eyebrow at his wife questioningly, "Why? What's going on? Is your sister in trouble?"
Joey scoffed, "No. But she will be by the time I get through with her! You will not believe what she did!"
Joe sighed, and removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose warily, "Look, son, is this about Chandler? I know you want what's best for him… but don't you think it'd be a good thing if he and Angie could make it work? They have a child together. Think of Michelle. Angie only made a stupid mistake. She was hardly 20, for God's sake."
"I am thinking of Michelle!" Joey insisted, "Angie is being selfish, and… and stupid. I'm not even sure she's in love with Chandler at all, the way she's acting. She's just jealous of Monica, and messing with Chandler's head because of it! She needs to grow up and move on. Letting her do this to him is cruel!"
"Joey, dear," his mother interjected, "Trust me, we know how you feel," Joey Sr. scoffed and rolled his eyes, "but this isn't our battle. We adore Chandler – and Monica, too – as much as anyone. We want what's best for them. But we want what's best for Mary Angela, too. This is something that the three of them have to figure out on their own. They're all adults, now. They don't need us to complicate their lives."
"But Ma," Joey whined, "Angie's messing everything up! Chandler was happy! It took us years to get him over her and happy again! And it's all because of Monica! If Mary Angela ruins that…"
"She'll feel horrible and never forgive herself," Gloria finished, "You've got to trust that your sister will do the right thing. She was raised to be a good girl. She's asking Chandler to make a choice. It's ultimately his decision."
"Dad?" Joey looked to his father for support.
Joe raised his hands defensively, "Your mother is right. It's in Chandler's hands. He's got two beautiful women in love with him – the lucky bastard. The choice is his, not yours. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
"But you don't get it! She's ruining everything!" Joey wailed, "Chandler's happy. Monica is the closest thing that Michelle has ever known to a mother! Who is Angie to make him decide between the two of them! Angie may be my sister, but Chandler is as much my brother! And if I have to choose between supporting her or him, after she pulled this, it's gonna be him!"
"Support him, dear?" Gloria questioned, looking at her husband hesitantly, "Who says you have to choose a side? If Chandler decides he doesn't want to be with Mary Angela, he'll tell her. Nothing is stopping him from staying with Monica if he wants to. We'll be happy for him and Michelle, no matter what happens."
Joey stared open-mouthed at his parents, "You mean Angie didn't tell you? Chandler shot her down, Ma. So she gave him an ultimatum; either he dumps Monica or, she's going to sue him for custody of Michelle."
Gloria eyed him warily, "This isn't some joke you cooked up, is it, dear? This isn't funny, Joey. You should know better than this. My little Mary Angie would never blackmail anyone."
Joey Sr. nodded in agreement. "You must be mistaken, son. She wouldn't do that. Angie's a good girl. You know that."
"I'm serious!" Joey insisted, "I wouldn't have believed it either, if I hadn't walked into my brother's apartment to find him freaking out! He was beside himself with panic! He even forgot to pick up Michelle from daycare and you know how much he loves that little girl! Monica's with him now, trying to calm him down, while I sort this out," he spat. "So if you know where Mary Angela is, please, please tell me. For Chandler and Michelle's sakes," he pleaded.
"I'm sorry, dear," Gloria apologized, "We really have no idea where your sister is. She hasn't been back in the city long. I don't think she has a permanent place, yet. She hasn't given us a number, either. She always visits us, here."
"Pa?"
After a brief pause, Joe averted his eyes and shook his head as well, responding quietly, "Sorry, son."
Joey stomped his foot in frustration and cursed under his breath, "How the hell am I supposed to help him?" he implored, "I'm a shitty friend and brother. I can't let this happen… if she sues and wins… he'll be destroyed. Michelle is his life. And he loves Monica so much. You don't understand…"
"Oh, honey, come here," his mother insisted, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting hug, "Chandler is going to be fine. You can't blame yourself for this. He's an amazing Dad and we all know this. We love our daughter, but if it comes down to a custody battle, we know that Michelle needs the parent she's grown up with. She's four now, she'll be asked who she wants to live with, too. Trust me on this, sweetie. Chandler will be fine."
"But I don't want him to be fine!" Joey wailed, "I want him to be happy, like he was! It's not fair. What if it doesn't work out like that? I can't take that chance! I need to talk to Angie and make her see!"
Joe, who had been sitting silently up until that point, spoke up, his voice soft. "I know where you can find her." Before Joey could interject, he amended quickly, "Don't be upset at your mother. She didn't know I knew."
Joey glared at him angrily, "What the hell, Dad! So Mom didn't know. What about you? You just said you didn't know where she was, either!"
"Joe!" Gloria questioned, shocked, "I can't believe you would even think twice about this! Poor Chandler. And Michelle! Michelle, Joe!"
"I know, I'm sorry," Joe apologized, "I thought I was doing what's best for my little girl, letting her have a shot with the man she loves – Chandler's a good man. And Angie deserves her family! But…"
"But…?" Joey drawled, mockingly, glaring at his father, "You suddenly had a little light bulb go on in your head, and realized she's being a selfish bitch? Or…?"
"Don't call your sister that," Joe said defensively, "She made a mistake."
"Sure, what happened three years ago was a mistake. What's she's doing now is calculated and cruel, and selfish, and Chandler doesn't deserve it."
"You're right," Joe agreed, simply.
Joey stared at his father, open-mouthed, "Did you say I was right, Pa?"
"I did," Joe nodded, "Chandler's a good man and father. He doesn't deserve to have his daughter taken away. I'm a father, too. I understand," he paused, adding carefully, "Chandler's lucky to have you, son."
Joey shook his head emphatically. "No. I'm lucky to have him; he's done so much for me. I owe him this much. So where is she?"
xx
"Angie!" Joey cried, banging repeatedly on his sister's apartment door, "Open up! I know you're in there! Dad told me you were! So open up! I'm not leaving until you let me in! I'll sleep out here if I have to! Open uuupppp!" Sighing when he received no answer, Joey plopped down, leaning against the door, and called out, "That's okay! Fine! I'll just be sittin' here. Waiting!"
After an indistinguishable amount of time, Joey awoke to the feel of someone kicking his boot, and jolted into full awareness, his hands raised defensively. Had he fallen asleep?
He stood up quickly, coming face to face with his sister. He glared at her.
"Hey, sleepyhead! What're you doing sleeping against my door?" Mary Angela asked, her tone bordering on playful.
Recalling the embarrassing ordeal of pounding and kicking on her apartment door, begging her to open it, when she wasn't even home, Joey shrugged sheepishly. "I thought you were inside. Where the hell have you been?!" he asked, before remembering that he was mad at her, and setting his face into the appropriate scowl.
She bounced the bag of groceries in her arms, pointedly. "Hmm, getting food, maybe?" Joey peered into the bag curiously, ignoring his sudden hunger pains. Mary Angela smiled at him. "Hungry?"
Damn! Why did she have to know all his week spots? "No," Joey glared at her, "I think we need to talk."
Mary Angela sighed in resignation, pausing in the process of unlocking the door, and turned to her brother. "Chandler told you, huh?" she asked, settling the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter.
Joey nodded emphatically. "Hell, yeah!"
"Joe, before you start thinking I'm the biggest bitch alive, I-" she started to explain.
"I don't want to hear it!" Joey interrupted, "Do you have any idea what you're doing, Angie?! Any idea at all?! I never thought I'd say this, but I'm ashamed you're my sister! I don't recognize you! I love you, but this is the stupidest thing you've ever done! I was there when you got busted for smoking at school! When you got suspended for punching Tina Delvecchio! When you got pregnant out of wedlock at 21! This is nothing compared to those. How could you do this to him?"
"I just want to see my daughter, Joe!" she claimed, innocently.
"Don't fucking lie to me," Joey fumed, "Chandler would never, ever stop you from seeing Michelle. Never. He just wouldn't."
Mary Angela sighed in acceptance, knowing that if she didn't spill, Joey would just get more and more upset, "Fine. I'm in love with him. I need him. Is that what you wanted to hear? Because that's all I've got," she shot back.
Joey scoffed, "Love? That's what you'd do to someone you're in love with! No wonder Tony Ciccio dumped you in 8th grade after you told him you loved him!" Joey spat.
"Fuck you." Mary Angela fumed, "You wouldn't understand!"
"Try me!" Joey snapped, glowering, "I can't wait to hear your dumbass excuse for pulling this shit."
"When I saw him at your reception with that stupid little girlfriend of his, it felt like a piece of my heart had been torn out! I just wanted to rip her eyes out. After I'd left him, I never really realized how much I missed Chandler and everything about him until just then. The way he smiles… how great he is with Michelle… How he wraps his arms around your waist in just the right way… I mean, I always regretted leaving, in the back of my mind, but I could always almost justify it to myself, thinking I did the right thing because I was so young and un-prepared to settle down… but then, seeing him again, there… our kid in his arms. He looked really amazing. Then he walked off into her arms…. And I just lost it. I knew I needed that connection with him, again. All the feelings from years ago that I'd almost managed to bury, just came rushing back full force. Maybe even stronger than before."
Joey scoffed. "So you're jealous that Chandler has someone new? So you're trying to steal his daughter? What's wrong with you?!" he snapped.
"I'm not stealing Michelle! She's my daughter, too!" Mary Angela cried, "I gave birth to her! She's mine!"
"Now you sound like a little child claiming a toy!" he seethed, "Michelle is a person, not a toy! You can't pick her up and drop her whenever you damn well feel like!"
"You know what, screw you!" Mary Angela spat petulantly, "I don't need to talk to you about this. Get out of my apartment!"
"Yes. You do," Joey insisted through clenched teeth, "You don't have to talk, but you're going to listen to me! I found my brother lying on his couch hysterical! And it's your damn fault!"
Mary Angela paused, her icy stare melting slightly, her rigid stance softening. "Chandler was crying?"
"You forgot the 'because of you!'" Joey spat, "And yes! He was!"
"Look," Mary Angela said half-apologetically, her tone still edgy, "I'm sorry it had to happen this way. But he's got a choice to make. It's either his daughter or his stupid girlfriend."
"Her name is Monica," Joey snipped, his voice hard, "And she's ten times the woman you are." Joey sneered, "If you thought you were going to trick Chandler into dumping Monica so you'd get everything you want, without earning it, you're out of your mind. We both know if this case went to court, Chandler would be a shoe in to win custody."
"You don't know that!" Mary Angela insisted, her tone flustered, "I - I consulted my lawyer, and–"
"Bullshit," Joey stated, "Lie to everyone if you want, but I see right through you. I may not be the smartest man in the world, but I know you. You're just a scared little girl, blackmailing to get what you want."
"You don't understand!" Mary Angela wailed. "I need him!" She scanned the room, as if looking for inspiration, before offering a comparison, "How would you feel if you saw Rachel with another man? You watched her kiss him, and then, just to drive the point home that you're no longer a part of her life, her new guy picked up your daughter and she called him Dad!" she grumbled.
"What?" Joey questioned, fighting down a laugh at the poor comparison, "You paint quite a picture, Ange. Besides… the situation with me and Rachel is totally different." He smiled thinking of his wife. "Neither of us has left the other! And Michelle doesn't call Monica Mom, anyway. Though she might as well," he huffed.
"She doesn't?" Mary Angela asked, her voice sounding small and child-like.
"No." Joey paused to consider, answering thoughtfully, "Maybe Michelle called her 'Mon?' Her name is Monica…"
"Oh," Mary Angela said quietly, suddenly feeling stupid for not making the connection, or having the courage to ask Chandler about it, previously.
"Look," Joey said, matching her softer tone, "I understand that you're hurt Chandler moved on and has 'replaced' you. You're only human. But, please, if you love him like you say you do, you won't go through with this. Do you know what a custody battle between the two of you would do to him? Or Michelle? Think of your daughter. If you want to see Michelle, tell Chandler. He would never keep you from her. Just don't destroy his happiness. Please, as your brother, I'm begging you, Angie."
Mary Angela sniffed, fighting back the impending sting of tears, "I really am sorry about all of this. I know I've done some bitchy things… but I was desperate. And it hurts, God it hurts, to know that he could replace me so easily. Like, maybe he thought I did the right thing leaving, so he could find someone better."
Joey's tone softened further, "Trust me, it wasn't like that at all. For months he'd just sit and wallow, thinking about you, just hoping you'd come back. He loved you so much, Ange." Mary Angela winced at the past tense, "He wore his wedding ring for two damn years after you left! He wore it for a while, even after he met Monica! If you think he replaced you, just like that," Joey snapped his fingers, "you have no idea. It took years, and it was a struggle. He worked hard to get where he is now and he deserves his happiness. Seeing you trying to push him back there, it just…" Joey stumbled, unable to find a fitting word to complete the sentence, "It makes me so angry."
"Joe, I'm not changing my mind on this. I'm sorry. I think you should just go," Mary Angela stated evenly, "We're just getting one another upset. It's my legal right to sue for custody of my biological child! We're done, here."
"But you're doing it to get back at Chandler for getting over you!" Joey snipped, as Mary Angela pulled him forcibly towards the door. "It was you who forced him to eventually have to get over you, in the first place! You left him. He couldn't wallow for the rest of his life! Now to see you resenting him for that… Angie, I swear, if you weren't family…" he cut himself off, forcing down his anger, and stated his purpose for coming, clearly and evenly, "Look, just, don't do this. This is me asking you nicely. Trust me, if Chandler gets subpoenaed, I'll be the first person on your doorstep. And you don't want to see me really angry. I know some things that would look very bad for you in court," He paused huffing angrily at his sister's shocked expression, and snipped threateningly, "That's right; you aren't the only one who know how to blackmail," just as the door slammed in his face.
xx
"It's going to be okay, honey," Monica comforted her boyfriend, stroking his back soothingly, "Trust me on this."
Chandler ran a hand down his face warily. "Do you think Joey has convinced her to change her mind?" he wondered, almost innocently, looking up at Monica with wide blue eyes, begging her for an affirmative answer.
"I don't know, sweetie," she answered truthfully, not willing to offer the more comforting lie, adding helpfully, "I do know that everything is going to turn out okay, though."
"What if it doesn't, though?" Chandler worried, "There's a chance I could lose Michelle. And if not her, then you! This isn't fair. I finally manage to pick up the shattered pieces of my life, and glue them all back together… figure out what I want… and now it's all up in the air again."
Monica hugged him tightly. "Shh, honey. You're over-thinking everything. You are an amazing boyfriend, and an even better father. You're not going to lose anyone because that woman is blackmailing you. We won't let that happen."
"It's not up to you, though, if this goes to court!" Chandler reasoned, "What if a judge decides I'm not a 'good enough' father? Who decides what's 'good enough' for me to keep my daughter?"
"If it goes to court, you'll be a sure thing, sweetie. Mary Angela abandoned her daughter! She hasn't seen her in three years; Michelle doesn't even know her! And what's more, everyone that knows you will testify that you're a good Daddy. Me, Joey, Rachel, Ross, Julie, Phoebe, your parents, Joey's parents, Gunther… the list goes on. Trust me on this, baby. You need to calm down, stop over-thinking this and just let your thoughts settle."
Chandler sighed, heavily. "Easier said than done. This is all I can think about."
"We're back!" Rachel announced, unknowingly interrupting her friends' serious conversation, as she and Michelle burst through the front door. Michelle immediately ran for her father and Monica, weaseling her way into the few inches between them.
"Daddy! I had the bestest day at daycare!"
Rachel laughed, "Hard to believe we were worried about her at all, she was having the time of her life! She didn't even notice I was late to pick her up, and didn't want to come home when I did show up!"
Chandler smiled, relieved that Michelle didn't seem any worse the wear for being forgotten at daycare a few extra hours. Chandler turned to his daughter, addressing her, as he wrapped an arm affectionately around her, and by extension, Monica. They were sitting so closely it was impossible not to. "What happened, sweetie?"
"I got to stay extra time!" she explained, happily, "Usually you or Mon or Auntie Pheebs or Uncle Joey or Auntie Rach comes and picks me up before painting time. But I got to do a painting today!"
They smiled, as she produced a paper proudly. "Yeah? What did you paint, sweetie?" Monica asked, and the three adults gathered expectantly around the painting.
Michelle unfolded the paper, reverently, and they all chorused praise simultaneously, "It's beautiful," "Pretty," "Nice job, sweetheart!"
Michelle smiled and pointed to different vaguely 'people' shaped blobs, that had been labeled with a marker, clearly with help from a teacher, "I painted our family! Here's Daddy. And Mon. And Auntie Rach. And that one's me. And this is Uncle Joey. And these ones are Uncle Ross, Auntie Julie and Auntie Pheebs. And this is Granpa and Gramma and Grandma." Michelle looked up at them proudly, looking for approval.
"Wow," Chandler said, impressed with his daughter's child-like interpretation of her family, "You've got a big family, huh? You managed to fit us all on one paper, though!"
"Yep! Miss Meer asked me how come I didn't want to call any of them Mom, but I told her that I don't got one, 'cause I got a Dad and Mon and lotsa Uncles and Aunties instead."
"That you, do," Chandler agreed.
"And we all love you very much," Monica added. Chandler and Rachel nodded in agreement.
"Yeps. I know. See that's why I put a heart here," Michelle explained pointing to a red shape, in a messy heart shape, "'Cause hearts are for love. And families are aposed to love one another."
Chandler grinned at her, his spirits immensely lifted. "Did anyone ever tell you you're really smart?"
Michelle beamed back. "Yep! You did, Daddy! And Uncle Ross told me I can come visit him at the musim if I want to learn more," she informed seriously. Chandler, Monica and Rachel laughed.
Rachel whispered to her niece, "Just make sure you don't let Uncle Ross take you by the dinosaur exhibit, or you'll never get away!"
Michelle shrugged noncommittally, "I like it when Uncle Ross talks about dinosaurs! He makes funny sounds for them!"
Rachel laughed and joked to the others, "Well at least Ross has someone to listen to his stories." She kissed the top of Michelle's head. "Thanks for saving our ears, sweetie." Michelle giggled, not understanding what the big deal was.
Rachel gasped, suddenly, "Ah, crap," she glanced at Michelle, then Chandler, "uh, I mean sugar, my soap is on! You guys don't mind if I head back to my apartment to watch, do you? Who knows what's going on with Luke and Laura today?"
Monica shook her head, answering sardonically, for her and Chandler, "Nah. Who are we to get in the way of great entertainment? Thanks for picking up Mishi for us."
""Hey, no problem," Rachel waved off the statement, noncommittally.
"Can I come?" Michelle pleaded looking up at her Aunt, "I like watching soapies with you."
Rachel shrugged. "As long as your Daddy and Monica are okay with it," she said, lacing the statement with a question, looking to her friends.
Michelle looked to her Dad, pleading, "Can I?"
"Sure, honey," he agreed.
"Yay!" Michelle chorused, hopping off the couch and running over to her aunt, and taking her hand, bouncing it up and down with childish exuberance.
"Let me know what happens when Joey returns, okay?" Rachel asked, as she led Michelle to the door, " And, just so you know, Chandler, we're all behind you no matter what happens. Feel better, okay?"
Chandler smiled, "I appreciate that."
"Okay, I'll be right across the hall if you need me."
Once the door had closed behind Rachel and Michelle, Monica turned to Chandler, "You feel a little better now that you know Michelle's okay?"
Chandler nodded. "Yeah. I just feel so guilty for letting it happen at all. But it's always nice to know you haven't traumatized your child," a hint of a self-depreciating smirk on his face.
"Hmm, that almost sounded like a joke, mister," Monica teased gently, fully aware of the tense atmosphere, "I'm thinking you're a little more relieved than you're letting on."
Chandler sighed. "You know me too well."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"God, no. I love it." Chandler smiled at her, "Thanks. For, you know, keeping me from becoming a total basketcase. If it weren't for you, I'd have been put in a straitjacket weeks ago."
Monica grinned back, pleased with the lightened atmosphere, and kissed him gently. "With me around that'll never happen. You know what I think you need?"
Chandler wrapped his arms around her gently, kissing her temple. "What's that?"
"You need to curl up in bed and just relax, and forget about all this shit that's happening. Just… take some down time from it all."
Chandler smiled. "That sounds nice. On one condition."
"What's that?"
"You stay with me."
Monica laughed. "You've got yourself a deal."
Chandler guided her into his room, by her hand, pulling down the blankets so she could scoot underneath them, and quickly followed her, pulling the duvet up to their chins, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
After several minutes of contented silence, spent just holding one another, Chandler spoke up, his voice soft and uncertain. "Mon? You don't think I'm being selfish, do you? Wanting to keep both you and Michelle?"
"Of course not, sweetheart. What gave you that idea?"
She felt Chandler shrug and answer quietly, "Just something Mary Angela said..."
"It's not selfish, baby," she promised, "You've worked hard to have the connection you do, with both me and Michelle. Good relationships aren't built overnight. You've earned your happiness."
Chandler shrugged again and turned his eyes downward. Sensing his hesitance, Monica shifted in his arms, so she was facing him, and kissed him deeply, more for the emotional aspect than for the physical sensation, hoping the familiar touch would convey to him how much he meant to her, and ease the lingering tension in the room. Maybe then he would be able to drift off. It was killing her to see him so upset over something he had no control over. The fact that Mary Angela, his ex-wife and the mother of his child, could be so cold and cruel to two people she claimed to love was mind-blowing to Monica. She couldn't imagine doing that to anyone, let alone people she loved. If Joey hadn't stormed off to confront her first, Monica knew she would have felt compelled to say something on her boyfriend's behalf. It just wasn't right.
"I love you," Chandler mumbled quietly, once they broke away, sinking back into his pillow, wrapping his arms tighter around her.
"I love you, too," Monica agreed, stroking his hair gently, "Now, rest. You've had a rough day." She ran a hand gently across his forehead and eyelids, encouraging him close them, which he did obediently. Within minutes Monica was relieved to feel his breathing deepen and regulate, as sleep overcame him. She smiled, pleased to see the tension of the day had left his face, leaving a relaxed and peaceful expression in its wake.
Quietly, careful not to disturb him, Monica crawled out from the circle of his arms, pulling the blankets tighter around him, and kissing him gently on the forehead. "Sweet dreams, baby," she mumbled.
Exiting the bedroom, closing the door softly behind her, she was surprised to find Joey sitting on the couch.
Nervously she took a seat next to him, asking expectantly, her anxious tone obvious, "So? How'd it go?"
Joey sighed. "Not as well as I hoped. My sister is stubborn; she's got her heart set on getting her way, and it doesn't matter who she hurts in the process."
"So she's still planning to sue for custody?" Monica asked despondently, worried about the strain that would put on her boyfriend.
Joey shrugged. "I really don't know. I said some things and she said some things. There was some yelling. The best we can hope for, is for her to come around on her own."
Monica flopped back on the couch, tiredly, "This is just so frustrating! I can't imagine repeating this process and all the stress of it, tenfold for a custody battle!"
Joey shrugged sheepishly at this, picking a cuticle nervously and looking at his friend apologetically, "There's one more thing. I kinda implied that if she brought the case to court, I'd show the letter she wrote me the day she left."
"Joey!" Monica scolded, "You blackmailed her?"
"I know, I know!" Joey whined, "But she was being so stubborn and she wouldn't listen and I just got mad and said it to hurt her."
"Do you think it'll stop her?" Monica asked, suddenly hopeful. Joey shrugged, pleased to be off the hook for stooping to such a level. "What did the letter say? Does Chandler know about it?"
"No, I never showed him." Joey looked suddenly alarmed, "You won't tell him will you? I never showed him, because he was so hurt that Angie didn't leave him anything to say goodbye… but she did me! I felt guilty. In the letter she basically said how she never wanted to be a mother, and that she regretted having Michelle so young, before she'd had a chance to sow any wild oats. She loved Chandler, but just couldn't deal with being a mother. She wasn't in that place, and that Michelle was better off with Chandler than with her. You know, basically stuff that wouldn't sound good at a custody hearing."
Monica shook her head as if to clear it, "Wow. I don't even know what to say. Is it wrong of me to hope that that puts her off? I mean I know it's just as wrong as what she's doing to Chandler… but, God, it'd be nice for all of this to just be over."
Joey nodded in agreement. "So how's Chandler doing?"
"He's resting," Monica explained, "I thought it'd be a good idea for him to take a nap. He's been all over the emotional map today, and needed some down time." Joey nodded, again.
"Did Rachel pick up Michelle okay?"
Monica nodded, "Yeah, they're over at your place watching General Hospital. Your wife has got our kid hooked on soap operas!"
Joey smirked, "Our kid? As in yours and Chandlers?"
Monica flushed, "Would that be so bad?"
Joey's smirk deepened. "Nah, it's just funny to hear you say it. I bet you two will have a kid of your own one day. A little Mondler!" he joked, "And Michelle loves you. I bet you anything that if she could pick anyone in the world to be her 'Mom,' it'd be you."
"Really?" Monica asked, trying not to sound too needy.
"Yeah," Joey agreed, easily, "You know… when I was talking to Angie today… that was the clincher. She was jealous of your relationship with Michelle. She thought she heard Michelle calling you 'Mom' at my wedding reception, and wow. She knows she can't hold a candle to you in Michelle's eyes and it's driving her crazy."
Monica smiled, squeezing Joey's hand tearily, "Thanks for telling me that. Somehow that was just what I needed to hear right now."
Joey grinned, "No problem. It's true, you know."
xx
"Michelle!" Monica called from the bathroom where she was filling the bathtub with warm water for the little girl's pre-bedtime bath, "are you ready for bath time?"
Michelle immediately came galloping into the bathroom, an eager smile on her face. Most children either loved or hated bath time; fortunately Michelle was in the former category. "Yeah! Can you make funny shapes in my hair like Daddy does?" she wondered, innocently.
"Of course, sweetie," Monica agreed, "Now c'mere, and stick 'em up, so I can take off your shirt and overalls." Michelle immediately applied, allowing Monica to remove her clothes and help her into the bubbly water. She giggled as Monica splashed her and handed her her squeaky rubber duck 'Quacker'.
Frowning, Michelle pointed to a grey plastic ship sitting on the ledge of the bathtub, "Mon? What's this?"
Monica laughed, "That's Daddy's boy boat," Monica explained, remembering how she has used the boat as a ploy to get her boyfriend to try taking a bath. She fought down another laugh. She'd never understand how a toy boat helped him feel more secure in his masculinity when taking solo baths.
Michelle tilted her head questioningly, "Daddy's got a toy for bath time, too?"
"He sure does, sweetie," Monica agreed, "He doesn't like baths very much, and it makes it more fun for him."
"Maybe you should help him take his baths!" Michelle suggested helpfully, "I like bath time a lot when you help me, acause it's more fun that way."
Monica laughed. "You know, sweetie, I think Daddy just might agree with you on that."
Michelle nodded proudly, pleased that her idea was helpful. She was quiet for a moment, and stared at the ship longingly, wanting to play with the newfound toy. "Can I play with Daddy's boat?"
"Sure you can sweetie, I don't think Daddy would mind," Monica agreed, laughing as Michelle immediately reached for the ship, her ducky abandoned as she skated the floating ship across her bath water, cutting through the bubbles.
As she played, Monica ran a soapy washcloth gently over her back. When she began to shampoo up Michelle's hair with her 'no tears' shampoo, Michelle demanded that she bring the handheld mirror over to the bath, so she could see the funny shapes Monica sculpted into her hair. She laughed when Monica created a pair of devil horns and squealed, "Put in a halo, Mon! I wanna be an angel!"
Monica laughed back, "I think that goes beyond my creative talent, sweetie," Monica explained, diverting her attention, "Hey, how would you like to be a punk rockstar," she asked, creating a mohawk in place of the horns.
Michelle shook her head, sending bubbles flying, "I don't want to be a rockstar. I wanna be a actor when I grow up. Like Uncle Joey."
Monica smiled, wondering what Chandler would think of his daughter's childish ambition to follow in her uncle's footsteps, "Have you told Daddy that?"
"Nope. I'll tell him tomorrow," she claimed, suddenly changing the topic out of the blue, "How come Daddy is gone to bed so early? He never goes to bed afore me."
"He was tired, honey," Monica explained, "He had a hard day, and it made him sleepy."
Michelle nodded solemnly in understanding, protesting as Monica started to rinse the shampoo out of her hair, tilting her head back and using a little bowl to pour water over her hair, "Aww, I wanted to make more shapes!"
"It's getting late, hon," Monica explained, "It's bedtime, now, bathtime is over. There's always tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay," Michelle agreed, unwillingly, a pout on her face.
"Do you wanna pull the plug?" Monica questioned.
Michelle looked at her nervously, asking as was her routine: "I won't get sucked down?"
Monica replied with the usual reassurance, "Of course not, sweetie. You're getting too big!"
Reassured, Michelle pulled the tab to release the stopper, and the water immediately began rushing out of the tub, swirling down the drain. Monica scooped Michelle out of the bathtub, wrapping her in a warm fluffy towel, drying the little girl's limbs off, setting her on the fuzzy bath mat and repeating the towel-drying process on her hair. Wrapping her in her favourite hooded Elmo towel, Monica lifted Michelle on to her hip, carrying her toward her room. "What jammies do you wanna wear to bed, tonight?" she asked, only to be interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Carrying the little girl, still on her hip, to answer the door, she wondered aloud to her, "I wonder who that could be? Auntie Rachel and Uncle Joey never ring the doorbell do they?"
"Nope!" Michelle agreed, cheerfully.
Erring on the side of caution, Monica peered through the peephole, surprised to see Mary Angela on the other side. She stepped back as if burned, causing Michelle to question her, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, sweetie," Monica answered, distracted, as she unlocked and opened the door, against her better judgment.
"Hi."
xx
Hey all, and thanks for the great enthusiasm. This is one of my favourite chapters of the series, and I hope you'll all agree. So leave me a review and let me know what you think! I've got a cold (winter sucks, btw) so they'd really brighten my day.
This series is drawing to a close (one chapter and an epilogue left, guys!), so I'm going to have to decide on a new project soon, so I may be asking you all for opinions on that soon :)
However, my university is almost certain to resume (after a more than 11 week labour dispute) next week, so I'm not sure how much time I'll have to write what with trying to catch up with 3 months of work! I'll do my best, though, and certainly won't disappear forever.
Thanks for reading and reviewing :)