The One With Emma's Coming Out
The One With Emma's New Dad Epilogue
Emma Gellar Green stared out at the river from her hotel room's balcony. She was still in awe that she was in Paris and couldn't be happier with the amazing vacation her aunt and uncle had taken her on. For the past forty eight hours she was fighting with how to continue to keep her secret from her father Ross about her sexuality, This Father's Day was a more melancholy one than past ones had been since her mother's marriage to Gunther.
Her Aunt Monica appeared in the doorway.
""Good morning Emma. You're up early today"."
"Yeah, I know. I couldn't sleep.." she whispered.
Monica looked at her niece worriedly. She gently put her hand on Emma's shoulder.
"Honey, are you okay?""
" No, I've been feeling pretty shitty lately Auntie Monica."
"You can tell me anything, you know. I hate to see that you are hurting."
"It's just that today is Father's Day and I really miss Gunther."
" Your mom feels the same way. I know how special he was to both of you."
Emma collapsed into her aunt's arms and started to cry.
" My darling girl... It's alright. Auntie Monica's here." Monica whispered and rubbed Emma's back rocking her back and forth. They sat this way for 20 minutes.
" Is anything else on your mind?"
Emma nodded.
"What's wrong sweetheart?"
Fresh tears came to the edges of Emma's eyes.
"I'm bisexual" she whispered.
Monica's heart broke. "And you're afraid to tell your father aren't you?"
Emma nodded.
"Oh my sweet Emma, I wish that I could take your pain your away and I wish your Dad was not such a bastard."
"What should I do Auntie Monica? I just restarted my relationship with him and I don't want to lose it all over again. Keeping this secret is making me so miserable."
Monica sighed . "When we get home later this week we can go talk to him how about that?"
Emma nodded. "Okay."
"Uncle Chandler and I will always love you no matter what and you have so many other people who love you too." Monica kissed Emma's forehead gently.
"I know that. I love you so much Auntie Monica." Emma nestled deeper into her aunt's embrace.
"That's a lovely sunrise isn't it?"
Monica and Emma looked up and noticed Chandler standing in the doorway.
"It is. Happy Father's Day Uncle Chandler." Emma whispered.
Chandler joined the embrace that Monica and Emma were in. "Thank you sweetheart. How are my two favorite girls this morning?"
"Could be better." Emma whispered/
Concern filled Chandler's eyes. " I thought you were having a great vacation."
Emma nodded. "This has been the best trip ever. Thank you so much for the tickets Uncle Chandler."
"What's the matter Emma?"
Monica squeezed her husband's hand gently. "Emma came out as bisexual Chandler.. she's very afraid to tell Ross because of how he disowned Ben."
Fresh tears filled Emma's eyes. "I really resent Daddy Uncle Chandler."
Chandler opened his arms. "Come here beautiful." he whispered.
Emma unfurled herself from Monica's lap and fell into her uncle's embrace.
Chandler's concerned eyes met Monica's. Just let those tears flow my girl. Uncle Chandler's right here. Auntie Monica and I resent your father too for how much his close minded behavior has hurt you."
Emma cried for ten minutes and felt like a little girl again as her uncle rocked her back and forth.
"Why was Daddy so mean to Ben?"
Monica sighed. "Aside from his homophobia I don't really know. He blames it on Grandpa Jack thinking he was too sensitive but I think that's bullshit."
"Do you think he will disown me too?"
Chandler and Monica exchanged a shocked glance between each other. "Oh honey, he has always loved you. Please don't doubt that okay?" Monica whispered. Tears gathered at the edges of her eyes.
"I do though... all the time because of what happened to Ben.."
"Princess, we hate to see how much you're hurting. Everything will be okay. We promise." Chandler whispered.
"I love you Uncle Chandler." Emma kissed her uncle's cheek softly.
Tears filled Chandler's eyes. "You have a piece of my heart always Emma. I love you too honey."
Emma nestled her head on her uncle's shoulder shut her eyes and fell asleep.
Chandler walked in to the bedroom through the open balcony doors, put Emma down in her bed and pulled the covers over her. "Sleep well baby girl." he whispered
Monica joined her husband a few seconds later. "I'm so worried about her Chandler." she whispered.
Chandler nodded his head in solemn agreement. "So am I. I hate the fact that Ross's behavior has not really changed too much since he started to go to therapy again."
Tears formed at the edges of Monica's eyes/. "Why is my brother such an inconsiderate jerk?"
Chandler's arms circled around his wife consolingly. "I wish I knew believe me. Don't cry honey."
Monica sighed. "This is so frustrating."
Chandler nodded. "It really is. Everything will be okay Mon. I promise."
Monica nestled against her husband's chest. "I love you."
Chandler wiped his wife's tears away gently with the tips of his fingers. "I love you too sweetheart. Let's go back to bed okay?"
Monica nodded.
Chandler. Monica and Emma arrived home from Paris late afternoon on Friday. Rachel met them at the airport.
"Hi Honey. How was your trip?" Rachel embraced her daughter.
"Amazing! Definitely the best vacation I've ever had."
Monica sent Rachel a glance.
"Is something wrong?" Rachel asked.
Emma nodded.
"I'm bisexual Mom. I told Auntie Monica that I am afraid to tell Daddy about my sexuality a few days ago."
Rachel's muscles tensed. " Honey, I hate knowing you are in pain. I have a bad gut feeling that he will have a similar reaction than he did to when he found out Ben was gay."
"Do you think we should go back to family therapy once I tell him?"
Chandler shrugged. "He started to go to therapy again after Ben moved in with us in February 2014. I haven't heard any recent updates on improving with Ben. Overall this process of going to therapy has been a long process for your dad Em and he has a lot of other things to work through before dealing with Ben's sexuality"
Rachel sighed and rolled her eyes. "Let's just say that Ben finally approached Ross at counseling about being disowned."
Chandler let out a low whistle. "Could things be any more awkward?"
"What happened Rachel?" Monica asked.
"Carol called me earlier this week. Let's just say that Ben and Ross finally had the talk they should have had a long time ago and it went pretty awful.. He screamed at Ross for ten minutes and then stormed out of Dr, Weinburg's office. There is a lot of hurt and resentment in Ben's core emotions for sure Mon."
Monica's heart fell to the pit of her stomach. "My poor baby." she whispered.
Chandler rubbed Monica's back reassuringly. "Everything is going to be okay honey. I promise."
Emma sent Ross a text message.
"Daddy, can Auntie Monica and I come over tomorrow? We have something we need to talk to you about."
It didn't take too long for Ross to respond.
"Sure honey. Come over at lunch time. I'll cook some burgers on the grill. . Can't wait to hear all about your trip."
"Here goes nothing." Emma whispered.
Monica hugged her niece tightly. "We'll get through this sweetheart. I promise."
Monica picked up Emma at 11:15. Ross lived on the NYU campus. His staff housing had a first floor apartment with courtyard for barbecuing,
Ross smiled when he answered the door. "Welcome home!" Come in! I can't wait to hear about your trip."
Ross looked at his sister and daughter and noticed they were not smiling.
"You didn't have a good time on your trip?" he asked.
Monica shook her head. "No, we absolutely had an amazing time."
"What' s the matter then?"
Monica sighed. "I have a question for you Ross."
"What is it?"
"What has caused you to be so homophobic?"
Ross's muscles tensed. " I wish you guys would stop saying that. I'm not homophobic. Dad always said I should have played with more masculine toys. He was so judgmental of me because I played with dinosaur toys."
Monica rolled her eyes. "Grow up and get the fuck over yourself Ross. Everyone is so sick of how immature you can act sometimes. Act like your are thirty eight and not like you are seven."
Ross shot an uncomfortable look at his daughter.. "What's going on? Why are you all of a sudden asking me about why I am homophobic Monica?" he asked.
Monica cleared her throat. " Emma told me something on our vacation that she admitted she has been afraid to tell you. Keeping this secret has been making her miserable and Rachel and I hate seeing how much she is hurting."
"And what was that?" Ross asked.
Emma let out a long breath.
"I'm bisexual Daddy"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm bisexual. I've been afraid to tell you especially after how you treated Ben so badly. He doesn't want to have anything to do with you anymore because of how you disowned him."
Ross was silent.
"Well Ross, what do you have to say for yourself?" Monica asked.
"Are you afraid I am going to disown you Emma?" Ross whispered.
Emma had tears in her eyes. "Yes." was all she could reply. Monica rubbed her back.
"What turned you in to such an asshole Ross? We all have such a hard time understanding this." Monica said.
"Is that what you all think of me?" Ross asked
Monica nodded. "What you did to Ben was horrible. I tried to get you to understand that back last fall after family therapy but you are unable to put your ego aside for two seconds."
Ross's muscles were tensed up. He still did not reply.
"What you did to Ben was so mean Daddy. I thought parents were supposed to love their children no matter what. I guess I was wrong. " Emma said. She then buried her head into Monica's shoulder.
"Ross, I will always love you but I will never forgive you for what you did to Ben. No one is going to forgive you. You have really fucked things up." Monica rubbed Emma's back and kissed her forehead.
Ross knelt down next to his daughter.
"My sweet girl..." he whispered.
Emma turned her tearstained face toward her father's
" I didn't realize how much the fact that I disowned Ben upset you.. Can you forgive me?"
"I'm not sure I can Daddy because I'm still afraid you're going to disown me too."
Ross kissed his daughter's forehead "I'm so sorry for hurting you honey."
"Do you mean that?" Emma whispered.
"Of course I do Emma."
"Did you disown Ben because you were mad with Carol and Susan about the custody agreement or were you really mad about his sexuality?" Emma asked.
Ross's jaw dropped.
"Well Ross what do you have to say for yourself?" Monica asked
Ross gulped. "Yes. to be honest it was a mix of both things."
"Even further proof that you're an asshole. This is why everyone else resents you. " Monica hissed.
"Are you going to change your mind about disowning Ben Daddy?" Emma asked.
"I don't know. It seems like Carol and Susan have their minds made up about Ben living with Uncle Chandler and Auntie Monica."
Monica sighed. "Rachel told us when she picked up Emma at the airport that your joint appointment with Ben did not go well.."
Ross nodded. "He is still very angry at me Monica."
"Can you fucking blame him Ross? I think it will take him a long time to rebuild your relationship with you. He has felt like you don't love him for a long time."
" I do love him though."
"He doesn't trust you Ross and quite frankly neither do the rest of us. I don't think things are at a good place to renegotiate the child custody agreement with Carol and Susan."
There were ten minutes of silence. Ross cleared his throat.
"How have the living arrangements gone the past couple years with Ben living with you and Chandler Monica?"
Happy for a change in subject even though it was a small one Monica smiled. "It has gone pretty well. At first I think he had a difficult transition but I don't think he's ever been happier. He told me before we left for Paris that he and Trevor are having a commitment ceremony in the fall and they are planning to adopt."
Emma looked at her aunt in shock in surprise. "How come you didn't tell me about that when we were on vacation Auntie Monica?"
Monica rubbed Emma's shoulder. "I wanted to surprise you sweetheart. I got a voicemail from Ben and he said that the adoption went through. They will be adopting twin girls in January from a birth mother who lives in Ohio."
Ross's eyes grew misty "Is this through the same adoption agency you & Chan adopted Jack and Erica from Mon?"
Monica was quiet for a few minutes. "You know what? I did not even consider this. You are probably right Ross."
A smile spread across Emma's face. "This is such great news. I can't wait to be an aunt."
Ross smiled at his sister. "I'd say you've learned from the best. Mon, have you and Chan considered adopting Ben?"
Monica looked at her brother in shock. "What are you talking about Ross?"
Ross let out a sigh. "I think we can all agree that there is too much damage in my relationship with Ben that cannot be repaired. I couldn't be happier for Ben and Trevor but I don't think feel I comfortable being part of their journey of raising children."
Tears were at the edges of Monica's eyes. "Ben and I have definitely grown a lot closer in the past couple years. This means a lot to me. Thank you Ross."
Ross kissed his sister's forehead softly. " I love you so much Monica. Thank you for always being there for me over the years. I'm so glad we have grown closer as we've grown up."
"So do I. I love you too Ross." Monica whispered/
"Would it mean a lot to you if we went to family therapy together just the two of us?" Ross asked his daughter."
Fresh tears filled Emma's eyes. "Yes, Daddy. It really would. All those years Mom and I were in Paris by ourselves and you never came to visit us I always felt neglected and that you hated me. "
Ross had tears in his eyes. " Oh sweetheart, I never realized that you've been hurting for this long. That just isn't true. I have always loved you. I feel so horrible you have thought otherwise."
"When do you want to start going to therapy with me Daddy?" Emma asked
Ross's eyes met Emma's/ "How about I give Dr. Weinburg a call? What day works best for your for appointments?"
"Well I work at the boutique with Mom every day from 9-2pm now that school is out. I can do appointments for counseling after work... probably at like 4:15 or something like that."
Ross smiled. "Sounds great honey. How about we have some lunch?"
Ross pulled Emma and Monica into a hug. "I love you both very much. Never forget that okay?"
"We love you too Ross." Monica whispered.
As the embrace with Ross broke apart Emma leaned in against Monica's chest.
"Thanks for all your help Auntie Monica. I couldn't have done this without you."
Monica's arms enveloped around her niece and she gently kissed her forehead.
"You're welcome honey. You and your mother will always be my best friends. We've always got your back. Never forget that, alright?"
All Emma could do was nod her head. She felt so safe in her aunt's embrace.
"I love you so much Emma." Monica whispered.
Emma kissed her aunt's cheek gently. "I love you too Auntie Monica."