This is an AU fic that takes place in the beginning of season 4 right after TOW The Jellyfish. Ross and Rachel got back together while they were at the beach and stayed together. Monica and Chandler aren't together yet. Joey and Phoebe are both single and Kathy never existed.
Disclaimer: All Friends characters belong to Bright, Kauffman and Crane. I do wish I owned Chandler!
Title: Through It All
Rated: PG
Summery: An illness brings a couple together
Chapter 19: The Epilogue
Monica squeezed Chandler's hand as they along with their family and friends walked into Javu. The elegant dining room was decorated in Red, White and Gold balloons and various types of posters stating facts about Leukemia and Heroes. "Hi welcome to the Light the Night dinner" a woman smiled at the group. "Hi" Chandler smiled "We're the Bings" The woman looked at her list "Ah yes here we go" she checked the box "Would your group like a picture" she asked
"Sure why not" Chandler led his wife over to the camera. Their family and friends gathered around them and the picture was snapped. "Thanks have a great time" the woman smiled. The headed into the dining room, it was filled with people affected by Leukemia whether they were survivors, family or friends who lost someone, or someone who were currently fighting the disease. "Ooh Shrimp!" Joey exclaimed heading for the buffet line.
It didn't take long for everyone to start mingling but Monica was having a hard time with it. Even though Chandler had basically been given a clean bill of health she still worried about him. "Hi" a soft voice broke her from her thoughts "I'm Jessie" she extended her hand "Hi I'm Monica" she shook her hand. "Is this your first light the Night" Jessie asked "Yes" Monica nodded "My husband had AML so we're doing this walk for him" she explained
"Had? Does that mean he lost his battle or he is a survivor " Jessie asked "A survivor" Monica replied with a smile. "I'm glad" she nodded "My Robbie wasn't so lucky he lost his battle last year" tears filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry" Monica hugged the young woman. "Thank you, I better head back to my team nice meeting you Monica " she hugged her before leaving Monica alone again.
"You okay babe" a soft voice whispered in her ear as two arms circled her waist coming to rest on her small bump. "Yeah I'm okay" she turned in his arms "I thank God for every day I get to fall asleep with you and wake up with you" she smiled "Me too" he smiled placing a soft kiss on her lips. "I got you two a plate of food" he commented "Good I'm starving" she pulled him to their table. He just laughed.
Later in the evening the spokesperson for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society took the stage "Hello everyone my name is Courteney Sheridan and I want to welcome you all to the Light the Night Walk dinner. Every one of us in this room tonight has been affected by Leukemia in some way and we're all here for the same reason to find a cure for this and other blood cancers. Together I know we can achieve our goal" Everyone applauded. "Everyone here who is a survivor I'd like you to raise your hand our staff has a special gift for you tonight"
Monica watched her husband raise his hand. A staff member walked over putting white lei around his neck and handing him a little white teddy bear with a tiny Light the Night t-shirt. She watched as other survivors got the same. She never realized how many men women and children this disease affected. " Would anyone like to come up and share their stories" Courteney asked "Anyone who shares a story will get a free sweat shirt"
After hearing many stories of triumph and defeat in the hands of this disease Monica watched her husband raise his hand. He walked up to the stage and took the microphone "Umm hi I'm Chandler Bing" he spoke softly "In 1997 after weeks of flu like symptoms, and weakness I was persuaded to see a doctor and with in a few days I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia " he started "my course of treatment was rounds of chemo and radiation followed by a bone marrow transplant" he took a breath
"When I was told I would need a bone marrow transplant I thought I was screwed matches are found in siblings, I'm an only child" he paused "I had five great friends who were tested one of them matched but she was unable to donate her bone marrow she had just learned she was pregnant she was willing to terminate the pregnancy but being a mother had been her dream since she was a little girl I wasn't going to let her give that up" he looked out at the audience and smiled at Monica
"The search for a donor continued and to my surprise one was found,my estranged father who I hadn't seen since I was a kid showed up he was the match I so desperately needed, it was because of him I was able to be there for the birth of my son Daniel, it was because of him I was able to marry the woman of my dreams, and its because of him that I will be here for the birth of my second child in 4 months. Chandler looked directly at Charles "Thank you Dad" he smiled. Charles fought back tears smiling at his only son "I hope to see everyone out there along side Team Bing walking in the fight against all blood cancers, in the fight to find a cure"
Everyone applauded as Chandler received his sweat shirt as he left the stage "Aww I'm so proud of you honey" Monica ran up and hugged her husband "I Love you" she kissed him "I love you too Mon" he kissed her back.
2 months later on a warm fall night Team Bing was assembled in Central Park along with hundreds of other teams. The team was made up of Monica and Chandler their 4 year old son Daniel, Chandler's parents, Monica's parents, Ross and Rachel, and their 3 year old daughter Emma, Carol, Susan, and 7 year old Ben, Phoebe and her new husband Mike, Joey and his girlfriend Alex, his sister Gina and nephew Michael and Gunther.
They all wore t-shirts adorn with the words Team Bing on them Chandler's father made them. Every member carried a red blinking balloon except for Chandler he carried a white blinking balloon because he was a survivor which he thanked God for everyday. He glanced at Monica her belly expanding under her t-shirt holding Danny's hand. His only hope was that this walk would eventually help everyone battling any type of blood cancer become a survivor like him. Chandler walked over to his wife and took her hand in his as they started the walk toward a cure.
The End!!
Author's Note: Hello Children here is the final chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed it. I worked hard and did a lot of research and I am now involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I attended my first Light the Night dinner a few days ago it was so awesome and inspiring. My bff and I started a team for the walk in memory of her mom who died of Leukemia in 1998 the team is called Joyce's F.R.I.E.N.D.S. We have a team web page for raising money for the walk but last time part of the link didn't post I will try it again at the bottom. Any donation big or small will be greatly appreciated and anyone who donates and mentions this fic will get special recognition. Please read, review and help if you can. Thanks!
.org/il/ChicagoL09/JoycesFriends