AN: Here's another chapter for you guys! Hope you like it. Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I own no one. They all belong to Bright/Kauffman/Crane.
Chapter 14: Saying Good-Bye
Chandler found a parking spot near the front of the building and got Sophie out of the back seat and grabbed the diaper bag. He walked into the front entrance of Lincoln High and quickly found the gym. He found Ross and Carol sitting near Ross' parents and he went to them.
"Hey. I didn't think you'd come to the ceremony." Ross told him.
"I promised Monica that I would." He sat next to Carol and she gladly took Sophie from him. "But I couldn't find a sitter. Beth left with her family on vacation."
"We don't mind," Ross told him as he gestured his head behind them where his parents were sitting. "Them however-"
"It's fine." Chandler said as the music started up and the graduates all walked in.
The ceremony was long and monotonous; and the gym was really hot. Sophie started getting cranky from the heat and Chandler took her out into the hall to walk her around. He stood in the doorway of the gym to watch as Monica's name was called and she went up to get her diploma.
"You made it!" Monica ran to Chandler once she followed her classmates out of the gym and she saw him with Sophie.
"I told you I would," he smiled at her. "I just hope you don't mind that I brought Sophie."
"Of course not. I like having her around." She smiled at him.
"Well, congratulations." He told her.
"Thank you." She smiled as she spotted someone coming out of the gym with her parents and ran to them. "Nana! You came!"
"I wouldn't miss it." She smiled at her.
"We'll be waiting outside for you." Jack told her as Judy followed him.
"Nana, this is Chandler. I told you about him." She introduced them.
"Yes, of course." She smiled at him holding Sophie to him. "I bet the little one is a little cranky in this heat."
"Just a little," Chandler told her.
"I just want you know that I'm not as closed-minded as Monica's parents. I think it's commendable what you're doing; raising your daughter on your own with practically no help at all."
"Thank you," Chandler told her. "You're one of the very few people that think that way."
"I think mom and dad are waiting outside to get some pictures taken." Ross came up to them with Carol.
"Come with us, Chandler." Their Nana told him. "We'll give them a stroke."
Monica smiled as Chandler looked back at her bewildered as they all walked outside together and she insisted on Chandler joining in with them on the pictures much to the dismay of Judy.
Chandler followed Ross back to his parents' house where Monica's graduation party was being held. He got the diaper bag out of his car and walked to the backyard with Sophie and put her down as she wobbled across the yard on unstable feet. He glanced around trying to find some familiar faces.
"Hey, stranger." He heard behind him and turned around and smiled at Phoebe with Joey.
"Hi." He greeted them. "It's been awhile."
"I haven't seen you since Sophie's birthday," Phoebe said softly. "I kind of thought that maybe you were avoiding me."
"Not at all," he assured her. "I've been put back on delivering at work since my arm is healed now. And I had finals to study for. Plus Sophie started teething again."
"Well, we're glad you're here." Joey cut in. "It's good to see you."
"Hold on a minute," Chandler walked away and got Sophie who was about to attack the cake. "No, Sophie."
She started to pout from Chandler scolding her and Carol offered to take Sophie for him while he went to get them some food. He sat down with her and started to feed her as someone set up some music. Ross came up to them as they all sat down at a picnic table to eat.
"When Monica comes out, just act like nothing is wrong." He told them.
"What's going on?" Carol asked as she handed Sophie back to Chandler.
"My parents are arguing with her." He sighed. "Nana is playing mediator."
"This should be a happy day for her. Why would they start in on her today?"
"I don't know." He sighed as the back screen door slammed and Monica stormed out of the house.
"Hey," Chandler smiled at her as she joined them at their table.
"Just so everyone knows, I'm leaving tomorrow." She announced. "I've already told Nana and she agrees with me."
"What'd your parents do now?" Joey asked.
"The only reason they want me so close is so they can control me."
"They don't control me." Ross told her and she rolled her eyes.
"You're fooling yourself." She told him and Chandler tried not to laugh.
"Ok. Change of subject," Phoebe said. "What does everyone have planned for the summer?"
"My mom wants me and Sophie to go on vacation with her and her new 'flavor of the moment'." Chandler told them. "We're supposed to leave tomorrow morning."
"Where are they going?" Carol asked.
"We're going to the Mall Of America. We'll be staying at a hotel across the street. There are plenty of things that will keep us all occupied."
"Rachel would be so jealous." Monica told him.
"Where is Rachel anyway?" Joey looked around at the party.
"After the ceremony, she disappeared with Chip."
Jack and Judy Gellar came outside after awhile and Monica shot them a dirty look. Her Nana came out a few minutes later and gave Monica a reassuring smile. Sophie climbed off Chandler's lap once she was done eating and started running around the yard as everyone watched her and laughed.
Chandler arrived back home later that night. He had stayed much later than he had planned to, but he felt that Monica needed someone on her side to stick up for her against her parents. He carried a content Sophie inside and got her changed and into bed. He finished packing up everything they would need for their trip and placed it all by the door. He finally collapsed onto his bed and fell right to sleep.
The next morning, Chandler woke up early and got himself and Sophie ready to leave. Chandler got Sophie some dry cheerios and a sippie cup of milk as he heard a light knock on the door. He left her to eat by herself in the highchair as he went to open the door.
"Hey," Monica greeted him softly. "I was hoping you would be up."
"Come in." he led her into the living room. "What's going on?"
"I just wanted to tell you good bye. In person. My Nana is waiting for me at her hotel."
"So you're really leaving today, then? Right now?"
"Yeah. I woke up early so I could pack up my car."
"Well, I'm going to miss you. You're one of the ones who kept me sane with dealing with Sophie."
"I'll be back."
"Holidays," he sighed. "It won't be the same, though."
"I know, but I need to put some distance between me and my parents. You can understand that, can't you?"
"Yes, I do. Believe me, I would do the same if I didn't have to depend on my mom for so much because of Sophie."
They spent the next several minutes talking until Sophie screamed from the kitchen, having finished her breakfast and wanting out of the highchair. Chandler walked Monica out onto the porch and gave her a hug before she walked down the steps and got into her car. He waved to her as she pulled away, and then went inside to get Sophie.
"Dada!" Sophie reached out for him and he lifted her out and put her down so she could play for a little bit before they had to leave.
Chandler did some last-minute cleaning up since he wouldn't be back from his vacation for at least a month. He started packing up the back of his car and got himself and Sophie ready to leave.
An hour later, Chandler walked into the airport with Sophie and all their belongings. He went to the ticket counter and showed the attendant his ticket and was led on board. He got Sophie secured in the seat that the airline provided and waited for everyone to finish boarding.
He got out a couple toys to occupy Sophie as he thought back to all of the friends he had managed to make and keep that year despite having a daughter that depended on him their every waking moment. He was grateful for all their loyalties to him, but mostly for Monica's. He couldn't explain it, but he felt a weird feeling in his gut when she announced that she would be going to college out-of-state. He knew that he depended on her friendship the most because he always felt good after he hung out with her. And he knew that it just wouldn't be the same without her here for him to see as often as he has been.
He got out a storybook to read to Sophie as the plane took off and they were on their way to their destination.
AN: Don't worry, everybody! This is not the end of the story. I didn't mean to scare you all. I don't want this story to go through ALL of chandler's college years, so the next chapter is going to skip a few years. But don't worry. Monica will be coming back to town. Anyway, hope you liked this chapter. Please R&R!