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The following week Daniel and Chandler had spent more and more time together as Monica got everything situated and their life was pretty much back to the way it was before.
Chandler was in Monica's apartment with Daniel in the kitchen helping him make lunch "How is school going?" He asked
Daniel shrugged "I don't really wanna talk about it." He said sitting on the counter.
Chandler nodded knowing this situation that he was dealing with "What's his name?"
"How'd you know?" Daniel asked looking up at him
"I've been there."
"Eric Smith." He sighed "He is a lot bigger than me."
"I know how you feel."
"You were picked on too?" Daniel asked looking over at Chandler.
Chandler nodded "It's not easy being small." He told him stirring the noddle soup "But you need to just stand up straight and stand your ground. Telling him to back off."
Daniel nodded "To back off."
Chandler smiled "That's right."
"Can you not tell my mom about this? I don't want her to worry. She has been through enough." He said softly
Chandler looked over at Daniel "Yeah, sure." He nodded
Monica walked through the door. "Daniel go get ready for bed."
"Back off." Daniel said before jumping down and going to his room.
Monica was surprised by his behavior and turned to Chandler "What did he just say?" She asked
He shrugged "I might have gave him some advise."
"To tell people to back off?" She asked shocked he would give that kind of advise "Why would he even need advise?"
Chandler sighed knowing that Monica needs to know about Daniel "He is having problems at school." He told her softly
Looking in Monica's eyes he saw worry. "What kind of problems?" She asked him
Chandler shook his head "I can't tell. I'm sorry but he asked me not to."
"Chandler if my son is being bullied I need to know about it." Monica asked firmly "So is he being bullied?"
Chandler nodded slowly.
Monica sat down in the chair at the table "Oh my God. I'm such a terrible mother that my son is hiding things from me now."
Chandler hurried to her side kneeling in front of her "No no no." He said soothing "He loves you so much. You raised a great kid!" Chandler said "You know what.." He paused thinking "I'm off all day tomorrow. What do you say you take him out of school for the day and we hang out. Just the three of us?"
Monica wiped away the few tears she let slip and nodded smiling "Thank you." She stood up with him and they hugged.
Chandler closed his eyes taking in this moment he had with her. It's been forever since they've been this close. It was nice.
"Daniel you ready?" Monica called out to her son the next day as Chandler stood in the doorway waiting for them to start their day together.
Daniel came out of his room with his shoes untied.
"You gonna tie your shoes there kiddo?" Chandler asked
Daniel went over to Monica who tied his shoes for him.
Monica bent down and tied them.
"Does he not know how to tie his shoes?" Chandler asked
Monica shook her head. "His feet are smaller than usual at his age. They never had shoe laces. We just got these ones a few days ago." Monica told him standing up and grabbing her purse "You ready?"
Daniel nodded and took her hand as Chandler followed them out.
"Chandler, do you have a dad?" Daniel asked as he held onto his mothers hand crossing the street.
Monica looked over at Chandler.
"Well, I do but he is never around."
"Do you love your dad?" He then asked
Monica continued to look over at Chandler.
"I never really get to see him. There is not much to love." He said honestly
Daniel nodded kicking a rock "I don't have a dad either." He said sadly.
Monica looked down at Daniel and brushed back his hair. "Honey why don't you go play for a while."
"Okay." He piped up and ran off.
"I'm sorry about that. He has been asking me questions about his dad and I just don't know what to say." Monica apologized
"Don't worry about it. At least he hasn't forgotten about his dad and shoved him out of his life."
"Yeah." Monica nodded "I keep wondering what my life would be like if I was with the donor, Daniel's father. Would we be happy?" She questioned "Or do you think that he never thinks about us?"
Chandler shook his head "He would be crazy not to think about you every day when he wakes up. I know it's tough now but pretty soon you will find a guy that truly loves both you and Daniel. That will accept him as his own son and not care about the choices you made seven years ago."
Monica fell silent at how much he cared about her feeling. "Yeah." She said softly looking into his eyes "Someday."